Active suspension for a marine platform

• US 7,039,512 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VSSI Commercial Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VSSI Commercial Incorporated
• Inventors: Simon, David E., Swinbanks, Malcolm A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/379,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/36, 701/38, 701/45, 701/300, 701/301, 701/96, 701/49, 701/21, 342/61, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 1882661-266, 267117-122, 280/707, 248/550
• US Class Current: 701/37
• 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 39/005 Equipment to decrease ship's vibrations produced externally to the ship, e.g. wave-induced vibrations propulsion mountings for anti-vibration purposes B63H21/30; vibration dampers, suppression of vibration in systems F16F
• 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

Abstract

An active suspension system is used to control the motion of a passenger seat in a high speed watercraft. A forward looking wave sensor is used in connection with a feed-forward wave impact shock predictor to determine characteristics of impending dynamic forces applied via the impact of the watercraft on waves. Information concerning the impending dynamic forces is used by a passenger seat suspension and control system to attenuate the shock effects on passengers, where such effects are characterized by large-amplitude, short-duration accelerations recurring at a low frequency and/or irregularly.

Claims

1. An active support system, comprising:

at least one forward looking sensor for generating output signals;

a support device for supporting a passenger;

a controller, coupled to said support device and said at least one forward looking sensor, wherein said controller adjusts forces in said support device in response to said output signals generated by said at least one forward looking sensor; and

a feedback unit, coupled to said controller, wherein said controller further controls said support device in response to control signals generated from said feedback unit, and

wherein the at least one forward looking sensor is a wave sensor.

2. The active support system of claim 1, wherein the feedback unit further comprises at least one seat sensor.

3. The active support system of claim 2, wherein the feedback unit further comprises at least one deck sensor.