Vehicle seat having a device for controlling a pneumatic suspension system

• US 8,182,038 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Haller, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/433,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.16, 248/550, 248/631
• US Class Current: 297/344.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7837 Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]

Abstract

A vehicle seat having a device for controlling a pneumatic suspension system, by means of which the vehicle seat is spring-mounted relative to a vehicle body part, including at least one directional-control valve which is pneumatically connected to the device for controlling the suspension system and which is arranged in the region of a seat part of the vehicle seat, the seat part being movable relative to a base frame and which is adjustable by a movement of the seat part relative to the base frame.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a pneumatic suspension system of a vehicle seat that is spring-mounted relative to a vehicle body part, the vehicle seat having a seat part movable relative to a base frame and which is adjustable by a movement of the seat part relative to the base frame, comprising:

a control device for controlling the pneumatic suspension system; and

at least one directional-control valve, arranged in the region of the seat part of the vehicle seat, which is pneumatically connected to the control device,

wherein the directional-control valve has an open state allowing discharged air flow and a closed state restricting discharged air flow,

wherein the directional-control valve is in the open state after a downward movement of the seat part brought about as a result of seat occupancy, and

wherein the directional-control valve comprises a retractable and extendable slide, the distal end of which makes contact with the seat part in the open state of the directional-control valve.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air discharge line to control a discharged air flow of the suspension system, and wherein the at least one directional-control valve is arranged in the air discharge line.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the directional-control valve is connected via the air discharge line to at least one air spring for the suspension of the vehicle seat.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second directional-control valve for closing or opening the air discharge line arranged between the directional-control valve and the air spring.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a third directional-control valve, wherein the air spring is connected to an air supply line the third directional-control.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the directional-control valve is in the closed state after an upward movement of the seat part brought about as a result of seat non-occupancy.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the distal end of the retractable and extendable slide is below the seat part in the closed state of the directional-control valve.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one spring arranged between the seat part and the base frame.

9. A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle seat supported by a base frame, comprising:

a vehicle seat spring-mounted relative to the base frame and having a seat part, wherein the vehicle seat is adjustable by a movement of the seat part relative to the base frame;

a control device for controlling the pneumatic suspension system; and

at least one directional-control valve, arranged in the region of the seat part of the vehicle seat, which is pneumatically connected to the control device,

wherein the directional-control valve has an open state allowing discharged air flow and a close state restricting discharged air flow, and

wherein the directional-control valve is in the open state after a downward movement of the seat part brought about as a result of seat occupancy and the directional-control valve is in the closed state after an upward movement of the seat part brought about as a result of seat non-occupancy.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an air discharge line to control a discharged air flow of the suspension system, and wherein the at least one directional-control valve is arranged in the air discharge line.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the directional-control valve is connected via the air discharge line to at least one air spring for the suspension of the vehicle seat.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a second directional-control valve for closing or opening the air discharge line arranged between the directional-control valve and the air spring.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a third directional-control valve, wherein the air spring is connected to an air supply line the third directional-control.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the directional-control valve comprises a retractable and extendable slide, the distal end of which is below the seat part in the closed state of the directional-control valve and makes contact with the seat part in the open state of the directional-control valve.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising at least one spring arranged between the seat part and the base frame.