DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND MAINTAINING THE HEIGHT OF A SEAT

• US 20100224846A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Hannifin France Sas (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker Hannifin France Sas (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: VISTE, JEAN-FRANÇOIS
• Granted Patent: US 8,308,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 254/93.VA
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas

Abstract

Device for adjusting a height of a seat, including at least one actuator connected to at least one source of power via at least one control valve having at least one control member for controlling the pressurizing of the actuator and at least one control member for controlling the exhausting of the actuator, the device including a cam associated, on the one hand, with at least one means of driving as a function of a variation in height of the seat, and, on the other hand, with the valve control members, the said cam being configured to have at least one neutral position in which it actuates no control member, and at least two active positions about the said neutral position, these respectively corresponding to a pressurizing of the actuator when the cam has pivoted about the neutral position in a direction corresponding to a reduction in the height of the seat and to an exhausting of the actuator when the cam is pivoted about the neutral position in a direction corresponding to a raising of the height of the seat, the means of driving also being mounted so that they can be disengaged in relation to the cam.

Claims

1. Device for adjusting the height of a seat, particularly a seat of a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one actuator intended to be positioned between a fixed base and a base of the said seat, able to move relative to the fixed base, the said actuator being connected to at least one source of power via at least one control valve comprising at least one control member for controlling the pressurizing of the actuator and at least one control member for controlling the exhausting of the actuator,

a cam associated with at least one means of driving as a function of a variation in height of the seat and with the valve control members,

the said cam being configured to have at least one neutral position in which the cam actuates no control member, and at least two active positions about the said neutral position, the active positions respectively corresponding to a pressurizing of the actuator when the cam has pivoted about the neutral position in a direction corresponding to a reduction in the height of the seat and to an exhausting of the actuator when the cam is pivoted about the neutral position in a direction corresponding to a raising of the height of the seat, the means of driving also being mounted so that the means can be disengaged in relation to the cam.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cam is equipped with a return means for returning the cam to the neutral position.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means of driving is disengaged in relation to the cam using a pneumatic signal.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the disengaging means is mounted opposing an action of an elastic return member tending to return to the engaged position.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the control valve also comprises at least one control member for controlling the pressurizing and at least one control member for controlling the exhausting of the actuator, each of the control memebers being able to be connected to a control lever for controlling the height of the seat so that the height can be controlled manually, actuation of the said control members causing the means of driving to be disengaged in relation to the cam.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means of driving the cam is a gearwheel.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein a clutch means is provided as a clutch spider mounted inside the gearwheel such that it can effect a translational movement between a position in which the clutch means engages the gearwheel and transmits its movement to the cam and a position in which it no longer transmits the movement of the gearwheel to the cam.

8. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a means of exhausting the actuator that does not lead to a disengagement of the means of driving the cam.

9. Seat, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one device for adjusting and maintaining the height according to claim 1.

10. Motor vehicle, comprising at least one seat according to claim 9.