CONTROLLED ENERGY ABSORPTION OF SEATS FOR IMPACT

• US 20170106981A1
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schaub, Justin Johnson, Bolukbasi, Akif O., Birchette, Terrence S.
• Granted Patent: US 11,066,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4242 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/58 Arrangements or adaptations of shock-absorbers or springs shimmy-dampers B64C25/50
• 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: B64D 2045/008 Devices for detecting or indicating hard landing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/04 Seat modifications
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/06 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons

Abstract

Controlled energy absorption of seats for impact is described herein. One disclosed example method includes determining a weight of an occupant of a seat of an aircraft, and calculating, using a processor, a stroke load of a seat energy absorber operatively coupled to the seat based on the weight of the occupant. The example method also includes setting the seat energy absorber to the calculated stroke load.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a weight of an occupant of a seat of an aircraft;

calculating, using a processor, a stroke load of a seat energy absorber operatively coupled to the seat based on the weight of the occupant; and

setting the seat energy absorber to the calculated stroke load.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further including determining an available stroke of the seat, and wherein calculating the stroke load is further based on the available stroke.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the available stroke is determined based on an optical sensor.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the stroke load is further based on conditions of an impact.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, the seat energy absorber is set to the calculated stroke load prior to takeoff of the aircraft.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further including re-calculating the stroke load based on impact conditions of a predicted impact.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein re-calculating the stroke load is further based on one or more of:

terrain topography;

velocity of the aircraft;

acceleration of the aircraft;

altitude of the aircraft;

weight of the aircraft; and

calculated impact characteristics.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight is determined by a load cell when the aircraft is on the ground.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a weight sensor on a seat of an aircraft;

a seat energy absorber operatively coupled to the seat;

an actuator operatively coupled to the seat energy absorber; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the actuator, the processor to calculate a stroke load of the seat energy absorber based on occupant weight data from the weight sensor, wherein the actuator is to adjust the seat energy absorber based on the calculated stroke load.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a position sensor to determine a relative position of a seat bucket of the seat to a frame of the seat, wherein the processor calculates the stroke load further based on the relative position.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the position sensor includes an optical sensor.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the actuator includes a rotational motor.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the stroke load is re-calculated based on data received from a flight interface, the data associated with an imminent impact.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the data associated with the imminent impact includes one or more of:

predicted impact conditions;

terrain topography;

velocity of the aircraft;

acceleration of the aircraft;

altitude of the aircraft;

weight of the aircraft; and

calculated impact characteristics.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the weight sensor includes a load cell operatively coupled to the seat energy absorber.

16. A tangible machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed, cause a processor of a seat controller of an aircraft seat to:

receive a weight of an occupant from a weight sensor of the seat; and

calculate a stroke load of an energy absorber operatively coupled to the seat based on the received weight.

17. The machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon as defined in claim 16, which when executed, further cause the processor to receive a relative position of a bucket of the seat from a position sensor mounted to the seat, wherein the stroke load is calculated further based on the relative position of the bucket.

18. The machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon as defined in claim 16, which when executed, further cause the processor to set the energy absorber to the calculated stroke load.

19. The machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon as defined in claim 18, which when executed, further cause the processor to re-calculate the stroke load based on predicted impact conditions.

20. The machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon as defined in claim 19, wherein the predicted impact conditions include one or more of:

terrain topography;

velocity of the aircraft;

acceleration of the aircraft;

altitude of the aircraft;

weight of the aircraft; and

calculated impact characteristics.