METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SEAT SUSPENSION SYSTEM

• US 20140203602A1
• Filed: 03/31/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zero Shock Seating, LLC
• Original Assignee: William E. Woodbury, II
• Inventors: Robbins, Jody G., Woodbury, William E. II, Boster, Scott A., Miskill, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US13/854,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1665 Hydraulic or pneumatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/231 by hydraulic actuators
• 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 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/522 characterised by dampening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/527 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/14 Inductive; Magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/50 Inertial sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0619 with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/535 Magnetorheological [MR] fluid dampers springs comprising magnetorheological [MR] elastomers F16F1/361

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an adaptive, multi-axis suspension system providing both coarse and fine suspension for a passenger seat. Coarse suspension control is provided to maintain the passenger seat and passenger within a selected position regardless of the weight of the passenger seat and the passenger. Fine suspension control is provided by monitoring and analyzing vibration characteristics in time and/or frequency domains to determine a variable amount of damper resistance to be exerted by a magnetorheological (MR) device. A nominal damper resistance of the MR device is selected based on the combined weight of the passenger seat and the passenger.

Claims

1. A seat suspension system, comprising:

a payload;

a first pneumatic device; and

a first damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on first information indicative of a weight of the payload.

2. The seat suspension system of claim 1, further comprising a weight sensor operable to provide the first information.

3. The seat suspension system of claim 1, further comprising a rheostat operable to provide the first information.

4. The seat suspension system of claim 1, wherein an inflation level of the first pneumatic device is based on a commanded position of the payload.

5. The seat suspension system of claim 1, wherein an inflation level of the first pneumatic device is based on a commanded position of the payload and the commanded position is substantially maintained regardless of a weight of the payload.

6. The seat suspension system of claim 1, further comprising a second pneumatic device, wherein an inflation level of the first and second pneumatic devices is based on a commanded position of the payload.

7. The seat suspension system of claim 1, further comprising a second damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on the first information.

8. The seat suspension system of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer operable to detect acceleration of the payload, wherein the damper resistance is based, at least in part, on the first information and the detected acceleration.

9. The seat suspension system of claim 1, further comprising:

an accelerometer operable to detect acceleration of the payload; and

a second damper, wherein the damper resistance of the first and second dampers is based, at least in part, on the first information and the detected acceleration.

10. A method, comprising:

pneumatically adjusting a position of a passenger seat;

generating a signal indicative of the weight of the passenger seat;

detecting an acceleration of the passenger seat; and

selecting a variable magnitude of damper resistance of a damper based on the detected acceleration, wherein a nominal magnitude of damper resistance is selected based on the signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a vertical position of the passenger seat is adjusted.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a reclined position of the passenger seat is adjusted.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a vertical position of the passenger seat is adjusted and the adjusted vertical position of the passenger seat is maintained regardless of the weight of the passenger seat.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a reclined position of the passenger seat is adjusted and the adjusted reclined position of the passenger seat is maintained regardless of the weight of the passenger seat.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the variable magnitude of damper resistance is based on a time-domain analysis of the detected acceleration.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the variable magnitude of damper resistance is based on a frequency-domain analysis of the detected acceleration.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusted position is substantially horizontal with respect to a mounting platform of the passenger seat.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusted position is not substantially horizontal with respect to a mounting platform of the passenger seat.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is generated by a rheostat.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is generated by a weight sensing device.