Adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat
First Claim
1. An energy absorption apparatus, comprising:
- a variable profile energy absorber operatively coupled between a vehicle and a structure to mitigate vibration and shock experienced by the structure, the variable profile energy absorber having a movable element to apply forces between the vehicle and the structure to mitigate vibration and shock, anda fixed profile energy absorber operatively coupled to said variable profile energy absorber and a structure to mitigate shock during a shock event experienced by said structure, said fixed profile energy absorber being constructed and arranged such that the fixed profile energy absorber is in a first structural configuration during mitigation of vibration,wherein the variable profile energy absorber and the fixed profile energy absorber are configured to be in series to mitigate vibration and shock.
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Abstract
An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat is disclosed, utilizing an adaptive energy absorber or variable profile energy absorber (VPEA) for mitigating occupant injury due to extreme vehicle movement (e.g., during a vehicle shock event), and/or for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operating conditions. Various configurations of dual-goal energy absorption apparatuses using both VPEA and fixed load energy absorbers (FLEAs) that enable both shock mitigation and vibration isolation are disclosed. A semi-active control absorption system, comprising a VPEA and FPEA configured to work in series, is also disclosed.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An energy absorption apparatus, comprising:
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a variable profile energy absorber operatively coupled between a vehicle and a structure to mitigate vibration and shock experienced by the structure, the variable profile energy absorber having a movable element to apply forces between the vehicle and the structure to mitigate vibration and shock, and a fixed profile energy absorber operatively coupled to said variable profile energy absorber and a structure to mitigate shock during a shock event experienced by said structure, said fixed profile energy absorber being constructed and arranged such that the fixed profile energy absorber is in a first structural configuration during mitigation of vibration, wherein the variable profile energy absorber and the fixed profile energy absorber are configured to be in series to mitigate vibration and shock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat; a structure comprising at least one fixed member for experiencing vibration and shock; a variable profile energy absorber operatively coupled between the vehicle seat and the structure to mitigate, with respect to the seat, vibration and shock experienced by the structure, the variable profile energy absorber having a movable element to apply forces between the vehicle seat and the structure to mitigate vibration and shock, and a fixed profile energy absorber operatively coupled between the variable profile energy absorber and the seat to mitigate shock during a shock event experienced by the structure, the fixed profile energy absorber being constructed and arranged such that the fixed profile energy absorber is in a first structural configuration during mitigation of vibration and such that the fixed profile energy absorber is operatively coupled to the variable profile energy absorber, wherein the variable profile energy absorber and the fixed profile energy absorber are arranged in series to mitigate vibration and shock. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of absorbing energy, comprising:
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mitigating vibration experienced by a structure using a variable profile energy absorber that is operatively coupled between a vehicle and the structure by moving a moveable element of the variable profile energy absorber between the vehicle and the structure, the mitigating of the vibration including using a stiffness element coupled to the movable element; mitigating shock experienced by the structure during a shock event using a fixed profile energy absorber that is operatively coupled between the variable profile energy absorber and the structure by moving the fixed profile energy absorber in series with the variable profile energy absorber. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of absorbing energy in an existing vehicle seat assembly, the vehicle seat assembly comprising a vehicle seat and a structure with at least one fixed member and having at least one fixed profile energy absorber coupled to the seat to mitigate shock during a shock event, the method comprising:
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modifying the existing vehicle seat assembly to further include at least one variable profile energy absorber, operatively coupling the variable profile energy absorber between the vehicle seat and the structure to mitigate vibration experienced by the structure, and operatively coupling the fixed profile energy absorber to the variable profile energy absorber such that the variable profile energy absorber and the fixed profile energy absorber are arranged in series to mitigate vibration and shock. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification