Supports – With condition responsive control means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-03-13
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
With condition responsive control means
C248S421000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199820
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seat suspension system controller for controlling both the latching and unlatching of a seat and the height adjustment of the seat when unlatched.
Numerous vehicle seat suspensions are known, including those having air bag or air spring suspensions for resiliently supporting a seat in a selected position. In such suspension systems, pressurized air is delivered to or exhausted from the air bag to adjust the elevation of the seat. The use of an air bag permits upward and downward vibrations of the seat. To counteract these vibrations, shock-absorbing cylinders have been used to dampen the seat vibrations.
In one known approach, as the elevation of the seat suspension is changed by inflating or deflating the air bag, the shock absorbing cylinder has a piston supporting rod which extends or retracts, depending upon the direction in which the seat elevation is changed. In this approach, the shock absorbing cylinder must be capable of extension and retraction throughout the entire range of seat elevation adjustment. In addition, these seat suspension systems are understood to use shock absorbing cylinders with pistons that apply a constant dampening force over the full stroke of the piston. If the dampening force were non-constant in such systems, problems would ensue. For example, in such systems a non-constant dampening force would mean that the ride provided by the seat would vary depending upon the seat elevation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,373 illustrates one form of seat suspension utilizing a shock absorbing cylinder and an air bag or air spring. In this construction, the shock absorber is understood to have a stroke which is capable of extending and retracting throughout the full range of seat height adjustment. However, in this construction, a hand knob may be operated to adjust the throw of a shaft to thereby change the effective length of the shock absorber.
Although numerous seat suspension systems are known, a need nevertheless exists for an improved seat suspension system controller having new and non-obvious differences from controllers used in known systems.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one embodiment, a seat suspension system for supporting a seat above the floor of a vehicle includes a seat support adapted to support the seat. A seat height adjuster is coupled to the seat and adapted to raise and lower the seat support and seat to various elevations relative to the floor of a vehicle. The seat height adjuster is controlled by a seat height adjuster controller operable to position the seat at a selected elevation. As one specific example, the seat height adjuster may comprise an air spring positioned below the seat and which is controlled so as to inflate to raise the elevation of the seat and deflate to lower the elevation of the seat. In accordance with this embodiment, the seat suspension system includes a latch coupled to the seat support and adapted to latch the seat at a desired elevation when the latch is in a first or latched state and which is adapted to unlatch the seat when the latch is in a second or unlatched state. A latch control controls the latch to latch and unlatch the seat. In accordance with this embodiment, the seat height adjuster is controlled to raise or lower the seat relative to the floor of the vehicle when the seat is unlatched, with the seat height adjuster permitting movement of the seat in response to vibrations when the seat is latched at the desired elevation.
An actuator is coupled to both the latch control and seat height adjuster control with the actuator being activated to control the latch control to unlatch the seat and the seat height adjuster to adjust the seat elevation when the seat is unlatched. In accordance with a specific embodiment, the actuator comprises a manually actuated lever coupled to both the latch control and seat height adjuster control. In this embodiment, unlatching of the seat and seat height adjustment by the seat height adjuster is simultaneously controlled by the lever.
The actuator may be positioned relative to the seat for shifting upwardly and downwardly from a first position. More specifically, in one embodiment the actuator lever controls the latch control and seat height adjuster control to unlatch the seat and cause the elevation of the seat to rise when the lever is moved upwardly. In addition, in this embodiment the actuator lever is adapted to control the latch control and the seat height adjuster control to unlatch the seat and cause the elevation of the seat to decrease or lower towards the floor of the vehicle when the lever is moved downwardly from the first position.
In one specific embodiment, a seat suspension controller includes a housing with the latch control and seat height adjuster control both being positioned within the housing. In an illustrated example, the seat suspension controller is a single suspension control valve.
The valve in one embodiment includes a valve body having a first port for coupling to a source of pressurized air, a second port for coupling to an air exhaust, a third port for coupling to a seat height adjusting air spring, and a fourth port for coupling to the latch. An air flow controller is positioned within the valve body and shiftable between first, second and third positions. When the air flow controller is in the second position, the first port is coupled to the third port to deliver pressurized air to the air spring to inflate the air spring and raise the seat. In addition, when the air flow controller is in the second position, the fourth port (the latch port) is coupled to one of the first and second ports to control the latch to unlatch the seat so that the seat height is raised without interference by the latch when the air flow controller is in the second position. In addition, the air flow controller is adapted to couple the second port (the exhaust port) to the air spring to deflate the air spring and lower the seat height when the air flow controller is in the third position. Also, when the air flow controller is in the third position, the fourth port (the latch port) is coupled to said one of the first and second ports so that the latch is unlatched and does not interfere with the lowering of the seat when the air flow controller is in this third position. When the air flow controller is in the first position, the third or air spring port is coupled through the air flow controller to neither of the first and second ports so that the air spring is neither being deflated or inflated through the air flow controller. In addition, when the air flow controller is in the first position, the fourth or latch port is coupled to other than said one of the first and second ports so that the latch remains latched. As a result, when in the first position the air flow controller is not causing the deflation or inflation of the air spring nor unlatching of the latch. The valve actuator in this embodiment is coupled to the air flow controller and adapted to shift the air flow controller between the first, second and third positions.
The air flow controller may comprise a slide plate positioned within the valve body, the slide plate being slid by the valve actuator between the first, second and third positions.
In one specific embodiment, delivery of pressurized air through the air flow controller to the latch control causes the latch to unlatch, although the latch may be constructed to unlatch in response to exhaustion of pressurized air from the latch.
A biasing means such as a spring may be used to bias the valve actuator toward the first position.
The valve actuator may comprise a manually actuated lever which, again, is oriented relative to the seat such that the lever is raised to shift the valve to the second position and lowered to shift the valve to a third position.
A seat suspension system may therefore include such a novel and non-obvious seat suspension controller.
The present invention is directed toward novel and non-obvious features of a seat suspension controller, both individually and c
Freightliner LLC
Klarquist Sparkman Campbell & Leigh & Whinston, LLP
Ramirez Ramon O.
Szumny Jon
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