ACTIVE SEAT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS INCLUDING SYSTEMS WITH NON-BACK-DRIVABLE ACTUATORS

• US 20190315254A1
• Filed: 04/13/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
• Original Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
• Inventors: Tucker, Clive, Wendell, Ross J., Cashman, JR., Thomas James
• Granted Patent: US 10,850,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2/506 Seat guided by rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/548 Torsion springs, e.g. torsion helicoidal springs

Abstract

Embodiments related to active vibration isolation systems for a vehicle seat, as well as their methods of use, are disclosed. In some embodiments, an active suspension system may be configured to support a seat above a floor of a vehicle. The active suspension system may include two or more actuators that may be operated cooperatively to control both the roll and heave of the vehicle seat. In some instances, these actuators may also be non-back-drivable actuators. Additionally, in some embodiments, an active suspension system may include one or more torsion springs that apply torques in parallel with associated actuators of the active suspension system to support at least a portion of the loads applied to the active suspension system during operation.

Claims

1. An active suspension system configured to support a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle, the active suspension system comprising:

a first non-back-drivable actuator;

a second non-back-drivable actuator, wherein the first non-back-drivable actuator and the second non-back-drivable actuator are configured to be operated cooperatively to control both roll and heave of the vehicle seat.

2. The active suspension system of claim 1, further comprising a first rotatable rocker arm configured to be attached to the vehicle seat and a second rotatable rocker arm configured to be attached to the vehicle seat, wherein the first non-back-drivable actuator includes a first worm engaged with a first worm gear that is rotatably fixed to the first rotatable rocker arm, and wherein the second non-back-drivable actuator includes a second worm engaged with a second worm gear that is rotatably fixed to the second rotatable rocker arm.

3. The active suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first non-back-drivable actuator is connected to the second non-back-drivable actuator such that actuation of the first non-back-drivable actuator axially displaces both the first non-back-drivable actuator and the second non-back-drivable actuator.

4. The active suspension system of claim 3, wherein the second non-back-drivable actuator is engaged with both the first and second rocker arms.

5. The active suspension system of claim 4, wherein actuation of the first non-back-drivable actuator controls a roll of the vehicle seat.

6. The active suspension system of claim 4, wherein actuation of the second non-back-drivable actuator controls heave of the vehicle seat.

7. A method of operating an active suspension system to support a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle, the method comprising:

cooperatively operating a first non-back-drivable actuator and a second non-back-drivable actuator to control both roll and heave of the vehicle seat.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising rotating a first worm of the first non-back-drivable actuator to rotate a first rotatable rocker arm and rotating a second worm of the second non-back-drivable actuator to rotate a second rotatable rocker arm.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising actuating the first non-back-drivable actuator to axially displaced both the first non-back-drivable actuator and the second non-back-drivable actuator.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising actuating the second non-back-drivable actuator to rotate both the first and second rotatable rocker arms.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising actuating the first non-back-drivable actuator to control roll of the vehicle seat.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising actuating the second non-back-drivable to control heave of the vehicle seat.

13. An active suspension system configured to support a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle, the active suspension system comprising:

a first actuator;

a first rocker arm operatively connected to the first actuator, wherein the first rocker arm is constructed to be connected to the vehicle seat, wherein the first actuator is constructed to apply a torque to the first rocker arm;

a first torsion spring, wherein the first torsion spring applies a torque to the first rocker arm.

14. The active suspension system of claim 13, further comprising a second actuator, a second rocker arm, and a second torsion spring, wherein the second rocker arm is operatively connected to the second actuator, wherein the second rocker arm is constructed to be connected to the vehicle seat, wherein the second actuator is constructed to apply a torque to the second rocker arm, and wherein the second torsion spring applies a torque to the second rocker arm.

15. The active suspension system of claim 13, wherein the torsion spring is a torsion bar spring.

16. The active suspension system of claim 13, wherein the torque applied to the first rocker arm by the first torsion spring is variable.

17. The active suspension system of claim 13, wherein the first actuator is a non-back-drivable actuator.

18. A method of operating an active suspension system to support a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle, the method comprising:

applying a first torque to a first rocker arm connected to the vehicle seat with a first actuator; and

applying a second torque to the first rocker arm in parallel with the first torque.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising applying a third torque to a second rocker arm connected to the vehicle seat with a second actuator, and applying a fourth torque to the second rocker arm in parallel with the third torque.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second torque is applied with a torsion spring.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising varying the second torque.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first actuator is a non-back-drivable actuator.