Learning from the Wooden Model: How the Self‐Adjus;Ng Seat Supports Work

8/14/2019 LearningfromtheWoodenModel: HowtheSelfAdjus;NgSeat SupportsWork

1/33

Learning from the Wooden Model:

How the SelfAdjus;ng SeatSupports Work

Bill Warner

October 22, 2009


2/33

1/8th Scale Model

Photo by Alan Ball


3/33

Overview

Alan has created a new design for the morphthat provides for a selfadjus;ng seat boJomand seat back.

The new design creates a 3D space frame thatpushes frame members to the outside.

Alan realized that it is very hard to understandwhat is going on in the morphing and seatadjus;ng process, so he wanted to figure out alow cost way to see his designs in real life.


4/33

The Model

Working from his Solidworksmodel, Alan created a snaptogether model that couldbe made using a CNC router.

A friend of his has createdsuch a router (custom made)and offered to rout out thenecessary pieces.

The result is a scale modelmade for an amazingly lowmaterials cost, and a very low

labor cost (a few hours total!)


5/33

1/8th Scale Model

Photo by Alan Ball


6/33

1/8th Scale Model

Photo by Alan Ball


7/33

1/8th Scale Model


8/33

Anima;on

Watch this sequence of anima;ons carefully.Youll see that the seat boJom and the seat

back all adjust their angle as the morphingoccurs.


9/33


10/33


11/33


12/33


13/33


14/33

Anima;on With Seat BoJom Angle

Although many things are changing over themorphing sequence, if you follow the orange

lines, you can see that the seat


15/33


16/33


17/33


18/33


19/33


20/33

The selfadjus;ngmechanism in this case ;lts

the seat back in low rider

mode for beJer riding

posi;on.


21/33


22/33


23/33


24/33


25/33

In highrider mode, the self

adjus;ng seat mechanism

;lts the seat back to correct

for the ;lt due to li^ing therear.


26/33

1

2

The seat base rotates around

oint 1 in the front and oint 2

in the rear (actually two joints)


27/33

These joints allow the seat base

to change angle automa;cally

during the morphing.

1


28/33

This liJle coupler between oint

2 and oint 3 lets the rear of the

seat move up and down during

morphing. The distance between2 and 3 controls how much angle

change occurs.

2

3


29/33

If we were to have a manual

adjustment for this distance, wecould let the user adjust the seat

;lt very easily.2

3


30/33

2

3

1

The seat back has the same

three joints. Shown here in highrider mode.


31/33

2

3

1

Low rider mode.


32/33

2

3

1

If we make an adjuster for

the 23 distance, the seat

back will ;lt. If we allow 23to break open, we can fold

the seat down for pu`ng

the Morph in a car.


33/33

Conclusions

Alan has shown that a selfadjus;ng seat mechanism canbe made easily, and with very few parts.

We have already tested the seat boJom mechanism on thetest rig, and it works extremely well. We expect that the

seat back mechanism will work equally well. It seems that the selfadjus;ng seat mechanism doesnt

take much more effort than just offering manual seatadjustment.

The wooden model is a wonderful addi;on to our designprocess.

Following what goes on in a morphing vehicle is very tricky!A real life model is a wonderful way to understand whatshappening.

Date post:	30-May-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	api-25928518
View:	217 times
Download:	0 times

Learning from the Wooden Model: How the Self‐Adjus;Ng Seat Supports Work

Documents