Cable release bypass system and vehicle seat with cable release bypass system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10415628-B2
Application number	US-201715611377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2017
Priority date	Jun 1, 2017
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A cable actuator system includes an actuating cable for connection to an actuator and to an actuatable device and a bypass assembly connected to the actuating cable. The bypass assembly includes a bypass input with a first input position and with a second input position. With the bypass input in the first input position the bypass assembly acts on the cable such that an actuating movement of the cable by the actuator moves the cable an actuating distance at the actuatable device to actuate the actuatable device. With the bypass input in the second input position the bypass assembly acts on the cable such that the actuating movement of the cable by the actuator does not move the cable the actuating distance at the actuatable device. A vehicle seat, with a seat base, a backrest, an actuator, and a vehicle seat actuatable device, also includes the cable actuator system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable actuator system comprising:
an actuating cable for connection to an actuator and for connection to an actuatable device; and
a bypass assembly connected to the actuating cable, the bypass assembly comprising a bypass input with a first input position and a second input position wherein:
with the bypass input in the first input position the bypass assembly acts on the cable such that an actuating movement of the cable by the actuator moves the cable an actuating distance at the actuatable device to actuate the actuatable device;
with the bypass input in the second input position the bypass assembly acts on the cable such that the actuating movement of the cable by the actuator does not move the cable the actuating distance at the actuatable device;
the actuating cable comprises an inner cable having an actuator end for connection to an actuator and an actuatable device end for connection to an actuatable device;
the actuating cable further comprises a sheaf with a sheaf bypass assembly end and an actuator end; and
the bypass assembly comprises:
a bypass housing; and
a sheaf piston positioned for limited movement in the bypass assembly, the sheaf bypass assembly end being fixed to the sheaf piston, wherein the bypass input comprises a locking arrangement fixing a position of the sheaf piston relative to the bypass housing in the first input position and releasing the sheaf piston in the second input position to allow limited movement of the sheaf piston relative to the bypass housing.

2. A cable actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the bypass assembly further comprises a biasing spring biasing the sheaf piston, with a biasing force, into the first input position for being locked by the locking arrangement; and
in the second input position the limited movement of the sheaf piston relative to the bypass housing is movement against the biasing force of the biasing spring.

3. A cable actuator system according to claim 2 , wherein the biasing spring, the bypass housing and the sheaf piston element are configured to establish the limited movement of the sheaf piston relative to the bypass housing against the biasing force of the biasing spring such that the limited movement is greater than an actuating distance movement of the cable at the actuatable device to actuate the actuatable device.

4. A cable actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass input locking arrangement further comprises:
an input unit housing portion connected to or forming a portion of the bypass housing;
a lock element; and
a lock element biasing spring supported by the input unit housing portion and biasing the lock element into a locked position with the sheaf piston in the first input position.

5. A cable actuator system according to claim 4 , wherein the bypass input further comprises an input cable with an outer sheaf connected to the input unit housing portion and an inner cable connected to the lock element to move the lock element from a locked position corresponding to the first input position to an unlocked position corresponding to the second input position.

6. A cable actuator system according to claim 4 , wherein the bypass housing holds the lock biasing spring and also forms a stop for piston at locked position, whereby bypass housing holds the lock biasing spring in place above the lock element.

7. A cable actuator system according to claim 4 , wherein the lock element comprises metal lock pins supported by a lock body, the pins engaging the piston to lock the piston in the position of the sheaf piston relative to the bypass housing corresponding to the first input position and releasing the sheaf piston in the second input position to allow limited movement of the sheaf piston relative to the bypass housing and wherein the lock pins engage the bypass housing for additional strength.

8. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat base;
a backrest mounted to pivot relative to the seat base;
an actuator moveable from a rest position to a release actuating position;
a vehicle seat actuatable device; and
a cable actuator system comprising:
an actuating cable connected to the actuator and connected to the vehicle seat actuatable device; and
a bypass assembly connected to the actuating cable, the bypass assembly comprising a bypass input with a first input position and a second input position wherein:
with the bypass input in the first input position the bypass assembly acts on the cable such that an actuating movement of the cable by the actuator moves the cable an actuating distance at the vehicle seat actuatable device to actuate the vehicle seat actuatable device; and
with the bypass input in the second input position the bypass assembly acts on the cable such that the actuating movement of the cable by the actuator does not move the cable the actuating distance at the vehicle seat actuatable device;
a fitting with a release latch is connected to the backrest, the fitting with the release latch preventing the backrest from pivoting forward relative to the seat base in a latched state and releasing the backrest to pivot forward relative to the seat base in a released state;
the actuator is a release actuator operatively connected to the cable actuator system;
the vehicle seat actuatable device is the release latch and is operatively connected to the cable actuator system;
the seat base is mounted to pivot up toward the backrest from a seat design position to a stadium position;
the seat base is operatively connected to the bypass input of the cable actuator system;
movement of the seat base from the design position to the stadium position changes the bypass input from the first input position to the second input position such that movement of the release actuator from the rest position to the release actuating position does not release the release latch; and
movement of the seat base from the stadium position to the design position changes the bypass input from the second input position to the first input position such that movement of the release actuator from the rest position to the release actuating position does release the release latch.

9. A vehicle seat according to claim 8 , wherein the actuating cable comprises an inner cable having an actuator end for connection to an actuator and an vehicle seat actuatable device end for connection to an vehicle seat actuatable device.

10. A vehicle seat according to claim 9 , wherein:
the actuating cable further comprises a sheaf with a sheaf bypass assembly end and an actuator end;
the bypass assembly comprises:
a bypass housing;
a sheaf piston element positioned for limited movement in the bypass assembly, the sheaf bypass assembly end being fixed to the sheaf piston element, wherein the bypass input comprises a locking arrangement fixing a position of the sheaf piston element relative to the bypass housing in the first input position and releasing the sheaf piston in the second input position to allow limited movement of the sheaf piston element relative to the bypass housing.

11. A vehicle seat according to claim 10 , wherein:
the bypass assembly further comprises a biasing spring biasing the sheaf piston element, with a biasing force, into the first input position for being locked by the locking arrangement; and
in the second input position the limited movement of the sheaf piston element relative to the bypass housing is movement against the biasing force of the biasing spring.

12. A vehicle seat according to claim 11 , wherein the biasing spring, the bypass housing and the sheaf piston element are configured to establish the limited movement of the sheaf piston

Assignees

• Adient Eng & Ip Gmbh

Inventors

• Kapusky Michael
• Potes Duane
• Caruss Nathan

Classifications

• F16C1/10

  Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms" (guiding-sheathings F16C1/26) · CPC title

• F16C2326/08

  Vehicle seats, e.g. in linear movable seats · CPC title

• F16C1/102

  Arrangements to mount end fittings of the sheathings to support walls or brackets · CPC title

• F16C1/18

  in which the end portion of the flexible member is laid along a curved surface of a pivoted member · CPC title

• B60N2/3013

  the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title