US2014203602A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for a seat suspension system

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 6, 2005Filed: Mar 31, 2013Published: Jul 24, 2014
Est. expiryApr 6, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jody G. RobbinsWilliam E. Woodbury, IiScott A. BosterMark J. Miskill
B60N 2/0224B60N 2210/14B60N 2210/50B60N 2230/30B64D 11/0619B60N 2/527B60N 2/505B60N 2/501B64D 11/06B60N 2/1665B60N 2/231F16F 15/02F16F 9/535B60N 2/508B60N 2/502A47C 31/126B60N 2/522B60N 2/544
43
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an adaptive, multi-axis suspension system providing both coarse and fine suspension for a passenger seat. Coarse suspension control is provided to maintain the passenger seat and passenger within a selected position regardless of the weight of the passenger seat and the passenger. 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 on the combined weight of the passenger seat and the passenger.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seat suspension system, comprising:
 a payload;   a first pneumatic device; and   a first damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on first information indicative of a weight of the payload.   
     
     
         2 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a weight sensor operable to provide the first information. 
     
     
         3 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rheostat operable to provide the first information. 
     
     
         4 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein an inflation level of the first pneumatic device is based on a commanded position of the payload. 
     
     
         5 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein an inflation level of the first pneumatic device is based on a commanded position of the payload and the commanded position is substantially maintained regardless of a weight of the payload. 
     
     
         6 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pneumatic device, wherein an inflation level of the first and second pneumatic devices is based on a commanded position of the payload. 
     
     
         7 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on the first information. 
     
     
         8 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer operable to detect acceleration of the payload, wherein the damper resistance is based, at least in part, on the first information and the detected acceleration. 
     
     
         9 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer operable to detect acceleration of the payload; and   a second damper, wherein the damper resistance of the first and second dampers is based, at least in part, on the first information and the detected acceleration.   
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 pneumatically adjusting a position of a passenger seat;   generating a signal indicative of the weight of the passenger seat;   detecting an acceleration of the passenger seat; and   selecting a variable magnitude of damper resistance of a damper based on the detected acceleration, wherein a nominal magnitude of damper resistance is selected based on the signal.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a vertical position of the passenger seat is adjusted. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a reclined position of the passenger seat is adjusted. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a vertical position of the passenger seat is adjusted and the adjusted vertical position of the passenger seat is maintained regardless of the weight of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a reclined position of the passenger seat is adjusted and the adjusted reclined position of the passenger seat is maintained regardless of the weight of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the variable magnitude of damper resistance is based on a time-domain analysis of the detected acceleration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the variable magnitude of damper resistance is based on a frequency-domain analysis of the detected acceleration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the adjusted position is substantially horizontal with respect to a mounting platform of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the adjusted position is not substantially horizontal with respect to a mounting platform of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the signal is generated by a rheostat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the signal is generated by a weight sensing device.

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