Active shock-absorbing seating system

• US 5,810,125 A
• Filed: 09/19/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stidd Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stidd Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gezari, Walter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US08/715,764
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 188/299.1, 188/266.1-266.7, 188/378-380, 188/280, 248/550, 248/566, 248/631, 180/282, 296/65.1, 114/363, 244/122 R, 267/136, 267/131, 267/117, 280/707, 701/49
• US Class Current: 188/266.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/527 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/0081 Vibration isolation or damping elements or arrangements, e.g. elastic support of deck-houses mounting of propulsion plant or unit B63H21/30; vibration dampers, suppression of vibration in systems F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/04 Furniture peculiar to vessels floatable furniture B63C9/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/46 allowing control from a distance , i.e. location of means for control input being remote from site of valves, e.g. on damper external wall attachment of valve units to cylinders F16F9/325

Abstract

An active shock-absorbing boat seat system has a seat system mounted to the boat deck through an active shock absorber. Sensors monitor both the shock to be passed from the deck to the seat as well as the shock actually received by the seat after passing through the shock absorbing system. A controller monitors the shock levels and provides a continuing control signal to the shock-absorbing unit to control the response of the shock-absorbing unit during the duration of the shock. The control system can provide for adjustment of various operating parameters for the system, including initial position of the seating system, overall ride stiffness, maximum allowable shock, and other parameters.

Claims

1. A active shock-absorbing seating system for attenuating high-G shock forces comprising a seat;

a mount for said seat coupling said seat to a shock-receiving platform;

an adjustable shock-absorbing unit having first and second elements comprising said mount, said first 14 element being connected to the shock-receiving platform and said second element being connected to the seat;

sensor means for monitoring shock forces applied to said shock-receiving platform and received by said seat; and

control means coupled to said force sensor means and said shock-absorbing unit to vary the response of said shock-absorbing unit in response to shock forces applied to the shock-receiving platform.

2. The seating system of claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means to vary the response of the shock-absorbing unit during the duration of a shock force.

3. The seating system of claim 1, wherein said shock-absorbing unit is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The seating system of claim 3, wherein said adjustable shock-absorbing unit further comprises an accumulator coupled to said hydraulic cylinder through a first valve, the operation of said valve being controlled by said controller.

5. The seating system of claim 4 further comprising a heat exchanger coupled to said adjustable shock-absorbing unit.

6. The seating system of claim 1, wherein said force means comprise accelerometers.