Vehicle seat

• US 4,645,169 A
• Filed: 09/04/1984
• Issued: 02/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GEBR Isringhausen
• Original Assignee: GEBR Isringhausen
• Inventors: Mischer, Hans-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US06/647,120
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 248/550, 248/564, 248/563, 248/562, 248/588, 248/631, 248/575, 248/585, 248/157, 248/430, 297/347, 297/339, 297/345, 297/338
• US Class Current: 248/550
• 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 2/525 using gas

Abstract

The invention concerns a vehicle seat having pneumatic suspension with automatic regulation of the seat height and an integrated height adjustment system. The height adjustment is designed in such a way that it can be used, even in the rest position of the vehicle seat, for the direct and precise setting of the selected static height of the seat. There is provided that, during the adjustment of the static height, tappet stops of control member are changed in such a way that during the adjustment process they render the valve tappets substantially free from play.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat having pneumatic cushioning comprises a seat frame supported for up and down movement relative to a base frame by levers and by a pneumatic spring, and an automatic levelling device for maintaining the seat height at a predetermined static height independently of the weight of the occupant including an inlet value for the supply of air to the pneumatic spring, an outlet valve for the pneumatic spring and a control member with two tappet members to actuate the valves, the valves being arranged in a common housing or on a common mounting plate and being movable relative to the control member by a coupling device connected to said support levers, so that, during up and down movement of the seat, movement above the static height causes the internal pressure of the pneumatic spring to be decreased by means of the outlet valve and movement of the seat below the static height causes the internal pressure to be increased by means of the inlet valve, wherein, in order to adjust the static height of the seat, the effective separation of the two tappet members of the control member relative to one another is adjustable so that an operating tappet of the air inlet valve and an operating tappet of the air outlet valve are rendered simultaneously substantially free from play relative to the tappet members of the control member, and a manually-operated adjustment device for adjusting the setting of the control member about its pivot, an auxilliary control member somewhat smaller than said control member and mounted coaxial with said control member on a common pivot, said control member having two tappet members for actuating the valves during normal operation of the seat, the auxiliary member having two tappet members which locate with the valve tappets to render them substantially free from play, the auxiliary member being able to freely pivot during normal use of the seat, and, to alter the static height of the seat, the auxiliary member being lockable relative to the control member in a position in which the tappet members of the auxiliary member are located between the tappet members of the control member.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the control member is formed of two components one of which carries the tappet member for the air inlet valve and the other carries the tappet member for the outlet valve, the components being adjustable about a common pivot relative to one another, and during normal use of the seat the two components have a predetermined relatively large separation from one another, whereas, in order to change the static height of the seat the components are locked relative to one another in a position in which the tappet members of the components render the actuating tappets of the valves free from play.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 comprising a follower pin carried on an adjustment lever and by moving the follower pin into a locking slot in control member and into a locking slot in the auxiliary member the control and auxiliary members are locked relative to one another and relative to the follower pin.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 2 comprising a follower pin attached to an adjustment lever and by moving the follower pin into a locking slot in one component of the control member and into a locking slot of the other component of the control member the two components are locked relative to one another and to the follower pin.