Method and apparatus for an adaptive suspension support system

• US 9,528,567 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suspension Systems Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zero Shock Seating, LLC
• Inventors: Robbins, Jody G., Woodbury, William E. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/907,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20130264455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,304 Days
• Field of Search: 248/550, 248/562, 248/564, 248/580, 248/636, 248/638, 248/584, 248/648, 280/5.514, 280/47.34, 280/6.151, 280/6.159, 180/65.1, 180/167, 296/190.07
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/052 Pneumatic spring characteristics B60G17/048 takes precedence ; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• 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 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0604 Cabs insulated against vibrations or noise, e.g. with elastic suspension resilient connections between superstructure sub-units B62D27/04; damping noise in general G10K11/00; for vehicles in general B60R13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0608 pneumatic or hydraulic suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/022 using dampers and springs in combination
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/027 comprising control arrangements F16F15/0237 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/00 Gun mountings, e.g. on vehicles; Disposition of guns on vehicles F41A25/00, F41A27/00 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an adaptive, multi-axis suspension system providing both coarse and fine suspension for payloads such as passenger seats, trailers, passenger compartments of motor vehicles, shock/vibration generating devices etc. Coarse suspension control is provided to maintain the payload within a selected position regardless of the weight of the payload. Fine suspension control is provided by monitoring and analyzing vibration characteristics in time and/or frequency domains to determine a variable amount of damper resistance to be exerted by a magnetorheological (MR) device. A nominal damper resistance of the MR device is selected based at least on the combined weight of the payload. A piston of the MR device is centered about its throw range and the piston is actuated at angles not parallel to the movement of the payload to provide low-profile operation.

Claims

1. An adaptive suspension support system, comprising:

a payload;

at least one damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on information indicative of a weight of the payload;

a gear drive coupled to a piston of the at least one damper and the payload, wherein the piston is actuated along a directional vector that is different than a directional vector of movement of the payload; and

at least one pneumatic device coupled to the payload and operable to maintain a position of the piston between a minimum and a maximum throw position.

2. The suspension platform of claim 1, wherein the payload is a passenger seat.

3. The suspension platform of claim 1, wherein the payload is a trailer.

4. The suspension platform of claim 1, wherein the payload is a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

5. The suspension platform of claim 1, wherein the payload is a machine gun.

6. An adaptive suspension support system, comprising:

a frame having movable couplings;

a payload platform movably coupled to the frame via the movable couplings, the payload platform operable to support a weight of a payload;

at least one damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on information indicative of the weight;

a gear drive coupled to a piston of the at least one damper and the payload platform, wherein the piston is actuated along a directional vector that is different than a directional vector of movement of the payload platform; and

at least one pneumatic device coupled to the payload platform and operable to maintain a position of the piston between a minimum and a maximum throw position.

7. The suspension device of claim 6, wherein the movable couplings include linear bearings.

8. The suspension platform of claim 6, wherein the payload is a passenger seat.

9. The suspension platform of claim 6, wherein the payload is a trailer.

10. The suspension platform of claim 6, wherein the payload is a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

11. The suspension platform of claim 6, wherein the payload is a machine gun.