Device and method to control and/or regulate a pressure level

• US 7,156,467 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kimmig, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/949,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.41, 297/DIG.3, 297/284.6, 297/284.3
• US Class Current: 297/452.41
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/467 adjustable by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• 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 2/525 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/06 Hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

A device to control and/or regulate the pressure level of at least one volume variable recipient (10, 12) of a pneumatic system, in particular a pneumatic system for a motor vehicle seat (14). Means (24, 26) make it possible to increase or reduce the pressure in the recipient (10, 12) in a reversible manner. In addition, a method to control and/or regulate the pressure level of at least one volume variable recipient (10, 12) of a pneumatic system, in particular a pneumatic system for a motor vehicle seat (14). The method varies the pressure level in the recipient (10, 12) by volume changes in a volume-adjusting element (24, 26) allocated to the recipient.

Claims

1. A device for controlling and/or regulating the pressure level of at least one volume variable recipient of a motor vehicle seat pneumatic system having a static admission pressure, the device comprising a closed system communicating with the recipient so that the closed system and the recipient contain a working fluid, the closed system including a volume adjusting element adjusted to a defined zero setting, the volume adjusting element operably increasing or reducing the pressure in the recipient in a reversible manner by selectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the closed system, the system having an inlet with a pump that feeds a corresponding quantity of working fluid to the volume adjusting element and achieving initial static pressurization of the working fluid prior to active dynamic pressurization of the system, the dynamic pressurization increased or decreased with no losses in working fluid and the pump no longer feeding any working fluid to the recipient.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the volume adjusting element includes a motor which drives an adjusting element, which sets the volume of the volume adjusting element in accordance with pre-settable signals.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor of the adjusting element is a motor with rotational direction reversal.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the motor is an electric motor.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure in the recipient is determined from the setting of the adjusting element of the volume adjusting element.

6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one volume-adjusting element is arranged in an allocated vehicle seat.

7. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the pump is arranged in a vehicle seat.

8. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor element is provided, which obtains information about the occupation of the seat and transmits this information to a control unit for the device.

9. A method to control and/or regulate the pressure level of at least one volume variable recipient of a motor vehicle seat pneumatic system having a static admission pressure, the method comprising providing a closed system employing a working fluid communicating with the recipient, the closed system including a volume adjusting element adjusted to define a zero setting, the volume adjusting element operably varying the pressure level in the recipient by increasing and decreasing the volume of the working fluid of the closed system, the system having an inlet with a pump that feeds a corresponding quantity of working fluid to the volume adjusting element and achieving initial static pressurization of the working fluid prior to active dynamic pressurization of the system, the dynamic pressurization increased or decreased with no losses in working fluid and the pump no longer feeding any working fluid to the recipient.

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure level that is present in the recipient is detected via the setting of at least one volume-adjusting element that is allocated to the recipient.

11. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure level that is present in the recipient is detected via the regulating distance of a motor setting an adjusting element of the volume-adjusting element.

12. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat comprising at least one volume variable recipient of a pneumatic system having a static admission pressure, and a device for controlling and/or regulating the pressure level of the recipient, the device comprising a closed system communicating with the recipient so that the closed system and the recipient contain a working fluid, the closed system including a volume adjusting element adjusted to a defined zero setting, the volume adjusting element operably increasing or reducing the pressure in the recipient in a reversible manner by selectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the closed system, the system having an inlet with a pump that feeds a corresponding quantity of working fluid to the volume adjusting element and achieving initial static pressurization of the working fluid prior to active dynamic pressurization of the system, the dynamic pressurization increased or decreased with no losses in working fluid and the pump no longer feeding any working fluid to the recipient.

13. A seat according to claim 12, characterized in that the volume adjusting element includes a motor which drives an adjusting element, which sets the volume of the volume adjusting element in accordance with pre-settable signals.

14. A seat according to claim 13, characterized in that the motor of the adjusting element is a motor with rotational direction reversal.

15. A seat according to claim 13 wherein the motor is an electric motor.

16. A seat according to claim 12, characterized in that the pressure in the recipient is determined from the setting of the adjusting element of the volume adjusting element.

17. A seat according to claim 12 characterized in that the volume-adjusting element is located in the seat.

18. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the pump is located in the seat.

19. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one sensor element is provided, which obtains information about the occupation of the scat and transmits this information to a control unit for the device.