Methods and apparatus for a suspension system

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for a space-saving suspension system. In various embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a fine suspension device, a coarse suspension device, and a mechanical assembly. In various embodiments, the fine suspension device is arranged at an angle greater than zero degrees from the z-axis. In various embodiments, the mechanical assembly is coupled to the fine suspension device and a payload, such that when a force is exerted on the mechanical assembly by the payload, an applied force is transmitted to the fine suspension device.

1 . A suspension apparatus for use with a first element and a second element traveling along a first axis, comprising:
 a fine suspension device directly coupled to the first element or the second element, wherein the fine suspension device operates on a fine suspension travel axis, and wherein the first axis is not parallel to the fine suspension travel axis;   a mechanical assembly comprising:
 a bearing system directly coupled to whichever of the first element and the second element is directly coupled to the fine suspension device; and 
 a lever arm directly coupled to the bearing system and directly coupled to whichever of the first element and the second element is not directly coupled to the fine suspension device, wherein the mechanical assembly transfers movement of the first element relative to the second element to the fine suspension device; and 
   a coarse suspension device directly coupled to both the first element and the second element but not directly coupled to the fine suspension device or the mechanical assembly, wherein the coarse suspension device is arranged to operate parallel to the first axis.   
     
     
         2 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm comprises a first segment directly coupled to a second segment, the first segment being directly coupled to the bearing system, and the second segment being directly coupled to whichever of the first element and the second element is not directly coupled to the fine suspension device. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical assembly further comprises a lever comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being directly coupled to the bearing system, and the second end being directly coupled to the fine suspension device. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises a pneumatic device. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the coarse suspension device further comprises an air reservoir coupled to the pneumatic device. 
     
     
         6 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pneumatic device comprises an air spring. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises at least one mechanical spring. 
     
     
         8 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first element comprises a support mount;   the second element comprises a payload;   the coarse suspension device further comprises a first end and a second end;   the first end is coupled to the support mount and the second end is coupled to the payload; and   the first end and the second end are parallel to both the first axis and a z-axis.   
     
     
         9 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second element comprises a weight and wherein the coarse suspension device is configured to adapt to the weight of the second element to maintain a position of the first element relative to the second element within an established coarse position range. 
     
     
         10 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a position sensor, wherein the position sensor detects a position of the second element relative to a predetermined position. 
     
     
         11 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller configured to receive a signal from the position sensor, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the coarse suspension device to return the second element to the predetermined position in response to the signal from the position sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises a pneumatic device and the controller adjusts the coarse suspension device by inflating or deflating the pneumatic device. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat supported by one of the first element and the second element. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a scissor linkage coupled between the first element and the second element, the scissor linkage being configured to guide motion of the first element relative to the second element, wherein the coarse suspension device is not directly coupled to the scissor linkage. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle seat suspension system, comprising:
 a support mount;   a payload including a vehicle seat, the support mount and the payload being movable along a first axis; and   a suspension apparatus coupled to the support mount and the payload, the suspension apparatus comprising:
 a fine suspension device directly coupled to the support mount or the payload, wherein the fine suspension device operates on a fine suspension travel axis, and wherein the first axis is not parallel to the fine suspension travel axis; 
 a mechanical assembly comprising:
 a bearing system directly coupled to whichever of the support mount and the payload is directly coupled to the fine suspension device; and 
 a lever arm directly coupled to the bearing system and directly coupled to whichever of the support mount and the payload is not directly coupled to the fine suspension device, wherein the mechanical assembly transfers movement of the support mount relative to the payload to the fine suspension device; and 
 
 a coarse suspension device directly coupled to both the support mount and the payload but not directly coupled to the fine suspension device or the mechanical assembly, wherein the coarse suspension device is arranged to operate parallel to the first axis. 
   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle seat suspension system of  claim 15 , wherein the lever arm comprises a first segment directly coupled to a second segment, the first segment being directly coupled to the bearing system, and the second segment being directly coupled to whichever of the support mount and the payload is not directly coupled to the fine suspension device. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle seat suspension system of  claim 16 , wherein the mechanical assembly further comprises a lever comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being directly coupled to the bearing system, and the second end being directly coupled to the fine suspension device. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle seat suspension system of  claim 15 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises an air spring. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle seat suspension system of  claim 15 , wherein the fine suspension device and the bearing system are each directly coupled to the support mount, and the lever arm is directly coupled to the payload. 
     
     
         20 . A method for reducing vibration, comprising:
 absorbing energy transferred along a first axis between a first element and a second element utilizing a mechanical assembly, a fine suspension device, and a coarse suspension device;   wherein the mechanical assembly is configured to change position according to an amount of energy transferred between the first element and the second element;   wherein the fine suspension device operates along a second axis and absorbs energy transferred along the first axis according to the change in position of the mechanical assembly;   wherein the coarse suspension device operates in parallel with the first axis independently of the fine suspension device, the coarse suspension device absorbing energy transferred along the first axis according to movement of at least one of the first element and the second element; and   wherein the first axis and the second axis are arranged at a non-zero angle relative to each other.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the coarse suspension device is directly coupled to both the first element and the second element but not directly coupled to the fine suspension device or the mechanical assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises an air spring. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein absorbing energy transferred along the first axis between the first element and the second element comprises passively absorbing energy. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mechanical assembly comprises:
 a bearing system directly coupled to whichever of the first element and the second element is directly coupled to the fine suspension device; and   a lever arm directly coupled to the bearing system and directly coupled to whichever of the first element and the second element is not directly coupled to the fine suspension device, wherein the mechanical assembly transfers movement of the first element relative to the second element to the fine suspension device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the lever arm comprises a first segment directly coupled to a second segment, the first segment being directly coupled to the bearing system, and the second segment being directly coupled to whichever of the first element and the second element is not directly coupled to the fine suspension device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the mechanical assembly further comprises a lever comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being directly coupled to the bearing system, and the second end being directly coupled to the fine suspension device.