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Learning from the Wooden Model:
How the SelfAdjus;ng SeatSupports Work
Bill Warner
October 22, 2009
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1/8th Scale Model
Photo by Alan Ball
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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.
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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!)
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1/8th Scale Model
Photo by Alan Ball
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1/8th Scale Model
Photo by Alan Ball
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1/8th Scale Model
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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.
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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
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The selfadjus;ngmechanism in this case ;lts
the seat back in low rider
mode for beJer riding
posi;on.
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In highrider mode, the self
adjus;ng seat mechanism
;lts the seat back to correct
for the ;lt due to li^ing therear.
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1
2
The seat base rotates around
oint 1 in the front and oint 2
in the rear (actually two joints)
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These joints allow the seat base
to change angle automa;cally
during the morphing.
1
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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
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If we were to have a manual
adjustment for this distance, wecould let the user adjust the seat
;lt very easily.2
3
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2
3
1
The seat back has the same
three joints. Shown here in highrider mode.
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2
3
1
Low rider mode.
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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.
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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.