CA1282677C - Apparatus for hydraulically actuating a vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULICALLY
ACTUATING A VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract of the Disclosure The present invention provides simple and effective mechanisms, apparatus and self contained fluid circuitry to hydraulically actuate the vehicle's seat in generally downward movement in response to general upward movement of the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicle's main body mass. The present invention also includes a simple device to remotely adjust and control the response movement of a hydraulic seat actuator. Also included in the invention is a means of controlling the actions of one or more hydraulic double acting piston pumps.

Description

APPARATUS FOR ~YDRAULICALLY
ACTUATING A VEH~CLE SEAT

Backqround o~ the Invention The present invention is directed toward providing an apparatus which may be adapted for use ~ith a large variety of vehicles and vehicle seats to actuate a vehicle seat. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a hydraulic system and assembly that will move a vehicle seat downward when the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus moves upward to better isolate the vehicle rider(s) from oscillatory movements in the vertical direction caused by the vehicle operating on other than smooth ~errain~
The prior art provides numerous examples of interconnecting linkages and resilient mounts for supporting a seat to a vehicle to isolate a rider from various forms of vertical motion. In spite of these linkages and mounts a rider still can have a bouncy or jolting ride due to the vehicle traversin~ rough terrain.
This is primarily caused by a rapid upward movement o-f the seat in response to a rapid upward movement of the vehicle terrain contacting apparatuæ via the vehicle main body mass. The present invention tends to prevent the ~eat from movinq in the same direction by causing the æeat to be moved a similar distance in the oppos;te direction;
thereby, preventing the seat rider from feeling movement ~2~ 7 in the seat to the ex-tent the rider normally would without the present invention.
The presen-t invention is particularly concerned with being used in conjunction with existing seat suspension systems to provide a better ride to the vehicle seat occupant(s).

Summary of the Invention It is accordinqly the primary object of the invention to provide a self-contained hydraulic system to actuate a vehicle seat. Mo outside power or energy source is involved other than that produced by movement oE the vehicle terrain contacting apparatus. Tt is also an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus to detect and hydraulically communicate movement of a vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus in the direction of the vehicle's main body mass to a device to move a vehicle seat in the direction of the vehicle seat's support structure. It is another ob~ect of the invention -to provide control and regulation of hydraulic fluid to and from a hydraulic seat actuator. It is a further object of the invention to provide a system of controlling piston movement of a hydraulic response actuator (double acting piston pump) by controlling the fluid of the hydraulic response actuator. The hydraulic response actuator is attached to the vehicle's terrain contactinq apparatus, running gear or suspension system and to the vehicle's main body mass to detect relative movement between the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus and its main body mass and to transmit fluid.
It is a still further object o~ the invention to provide a system of filterinq the fluid within the system.
Additional ob~ects and advantages of the present invention are made apparent below having reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description of the Drawings Fiq. 1 is a side view in elevation oE a vehicle seat resiliently mounted upon a suitable vehicle support structure including a portion of the present invention used to actuate the seat.
Fig. 2 is a schematic of the present invention consisting of Eluid circuits and components in section.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment A hydraulic system and assembl~ constructed accordinq to the present lnvention for use with various vehicles and seats is described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

2.
Referring to FIG. 1, a hydraulic seat actuator A is pivotally connected to a resiliently mounted vehicle seat 33 at 30 and to a suitable vehicle seat sup~ort structure 34 by pivotal connection 25. Hydraulic seat actuator A
may be used to supplement or replace most hydraulic shock absorbers which may be a part o any vehicle seat assembly. Seat 33 can be any vehicle seat havinq a back or no back or having an arm rest or no arm rest. Seat 33 must be resiliently mounted but not necessarily as shown in FIG. 1. Vehicle seat support structure 34 may be of any confiquration clependng on the vehicle and not necessarily as shown in FIG. 1. It is not be:Lieved necessary to illustrate any other portion of the vehicle except to note that the vehicle seat support structure 3 can be a portion of any vehicle.
The present invention is a system having a ~luid circuit including hydraulic components as illustratecl in FIG~ 2 and described as follow6: a hydraulic seat actuator ~, a hydraulic response controller B ana a hydraulic response actuator C.
The hydraulic response actuator C is connected to a vehicle's main body mass (not shown) by a pivotal ~23~

connection at 1 and to a part of a vehicle's susPension system, runninq qear or terrain contactinq apparatus (not shown) by a pivotal connection at 5. ~hen the vehicle's suspension system, runninq qear or terrain contacting apparatus moves relatively toward the vehicle's main body mass, fluid is pumped from the hydraulic response ac-tuator C primarily to the hydraulic response controller B, which may allow some Eluid to enter the top of the cylinder 28 of the hydraulic seat actuator A, which actuates a connected vehicle seat toward the vehicle seat's support structure. When the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus moves downward relatively away from the vehicle's main body mass, the hydraulic seat actuator does not actuate the vehicle's seat.
The pxesent invention fluid circuit as illustrated in FIG. 2 is described hereafter as particularly includin~
hydraulic components. However, within the scope of the present invention, the circuit and components mi~ht also be adapted for use with other fluids such as pneumatic.
The circuit includes a hydraulic response actuator C
which consists of a cylinder 3 within which a piston 4 is movable in correlation with relative motion between the main ~ody mass (not shown) connected at 1 and a part of the vehicle terrain contacting apparatus, suspension system or running gear (not shown) connected at 5. The piston 4 may be penetrated by restrictive orifices includin~ relief valve(s).
An upward movement of connection 5 causes movement of the piston 4 toward the head end of the cylinder 3 while downward movement of connecton 5 conversely moves the piston toward the rod end of the cylinder 3. The circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 also includes a conduit 10, which communicates with the head end of the cylinder 3, a restrictive orifice 13, a pressure relief valve ~, a one way check valve 12, and a hydraulic response controller B. Another conduit 9 communicates with the rod end of the cylinder 3, a one way check valve 7, a parallel restrictive orifice 6, and restrictive orifice 13. Still ~Lf~

another conduit 11 communicates with a one way check valve 7, a parallel restrictive oriEice 6, a relief valve ~, a one way check valve 12, a branch conduit 37, a branch conduit 32, a hydraulic response controller ~, and a one way check valve 3~ included in conduit 11 between the connection points of branch conduit 37 and hranch 32 with conduit 11. The conduit 11 may communicate with the hydraul;c response contro]ler B via communication with the conduit 26 rather than directly as shown in FIG. 2.
A fluid reservoir 15 of conventional design with filler cap 16 is communicated by means of a branch conduit 32 with the conduit 11 at a point between the hydraulic response controller B or the conduit 11 communication (not shown) with the conduit 26 and one way check valve 38.
The branch conduit 32 includes a one way check valve 35 arranged in series between the conduit 11 and the fluid reservoir 15. The fluid reservoir 15 is also communicated by means of a branch conduit 37 with conduit 1] at a point between the one way check valve 3~ and the parallel a~rangement of the one way check valve 7 and restrictive orifice 6. The conduit 37 includes a one way check valve 7 and restrictive orifice 6. The conduit 37 includes a one way check valve 36 and a filter 14 arranged in series, with filter 14 between the fluid reservoir 15 and the one way check valve 36. The filter 14, the one way check valves 35, 36, 38 and branch conduit 37 are only required when the system fluid is filtered. The system will work without filtering.
The circuit also includes a hydraulic response controller B which consists o~ cylinder 20 within which a piston or slug 22 is movable by Eluicl from ~he conduit 10 which communicates through the head end of the cylinder 20 to the area between the head end o~ the cylinder 20 and the piston 22. The movement of the piston 22 in -the direction away from the head end of the cylinder 20 is resisted by a resilient element 21, such as a spring, which can have its relative resistance chanqed. Changes in resistance may be desirable due to changes in terrain, ~ 6 vehicle operatlon or vehicle's mechanica]. apparatus. A
stem 18 havinq an appropriate handle 17 is one means to do so. The stem 18 may be risin~ (shown) or nonrising (not shown) stem. Changes in resistance of the resilient element 21 can be made remotely by systems that are no-t a part of the present invention. The movement of the piston 22 in the direction away from the head end of -the cylinder 20 is restricted by a restrain-t 19 located a distance sufficient to allow the pis~on 22 contact area with the wall of the cylinder 20 to pass beyond the communicatiny oriEice of conduit 24 with the cylinder 20 so as to allow the fluid from conduit 10 to communicate with conduit 24 via cylinder 20. The piston 22 may have other shapes than that shown in FIG~ 2 such as a sphere, frustrum of a cone, parabolic segment, ellipsoid, etc. The communicating orifice of the conduit 24 wi~h the cylinder 20 is located a distance from the head end of cylinder 20 sufficient to allow fluid communication with the cylinder 20 above the piston 2~, when the piston 22 is located at the head end of the cylinder 20.
Conduit 24 communicates the rod end of cylinder 28 of a hydraulic seat actuator A with the cylinder 20 of hydraulic response controller B. Another conduit 26 communicates the head end of cylinder 28 of the hydraulic seat actuator A with the stem ena of cylinder 20 directly or via a connection (not shown) with the conduit 11.
Another hranch conduit 31 is also in communication with the cylinder 28, closely adjacent to or at its head end, and the conduit 26. The conduit 31 includes another restrictive orifice 23. The distance between the centers of opening of the conduits 26 and 31 through the cylinder 28 wall are at least equal to the contact thinkness of the piston 27 with the cylinder 28 wall measured parallel with the rod 29. When the top of the piston 27 proceeds toward the head end of the cylinder 28 and while passing the conduit 26 opening to the cylinder 28 relieves the fluid pressure on the rod 29 side of the piston 27 via the conduit 26 thereby preventing further hydraulic force to piston 27 proqession toward the head end oE the cylinder 28.
The circuit also includes a hydraulic seat actuator A
partially described previously, which consists of cylinder 28 within which a piston 27 i.s movable, the piston 27 has a rod 29 which penetrates the rod end of the cylinder 28 and is pivotally connected at 30 to the vehicle's resiliently mounted seat 33 of conventional desiqn as indicated in FIG. 1 and the head end of the cylinder 28 is pivotally connected at 25 to the vehicle support structure 34 o the main body mass as indicated in FIG. 1.
The vehicle seat 33 as indicated in FIG. 1. is unrestricted in movement by the hydraulic seat actuator A
when no fluid is being communicated to the actuator A from the controller B throuqh the conduit 24. This occurs when the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus is not moving toward the vehicle's main body mass, or when the piston 22 is at or very near the head end of the cylinde.r 20. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 2.
The hydraulic response controller B, in combin~tion with the one way relie~ valve 8 and the restrictive orifice 13, control and influence the amount of fluid communicated to the rod end of the cylinder 28 Erom the head end of the cylinder 3 via the conduits 10 and 24 including the hydraulic response controller B. The restrictive orifice 13 may ~e one hundrea percent restrictive and totally closed when the vehicle is used over certain terrains or for other reasons. The one way relief valve 8 provides relie from undesirable pressure surges of fluid in the conduit 10 by passing some fluid at these times from the conduit 10 to conduit 11. Basically the pressure in the conduit 10 is always equal to or more than the pressure in the conduit 11. In the event fluid.
is passed through the relief valve 8 or the restrictive orifice 13 it is transmitted eventually by the conduit 9 to the rod end of the cylinder 3 and perhaps to the fluid reservoir 15 via the conduit 37 or the conduit 32 when the filter 14, the check valves 35, 36, and 38, and the conduit 37 are not part of the circuit.

The vehicle seat 33 as indicatecl in FIG. 1 is moved in the direction of the vehicles support struc'cure 3~ by the actua-tor A when fluid is hein~ communica~ed to it by the response ac~ua~or _ v;a t'he conduits 10, 24 and the response contro'ller B. This occurs when the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus is moving toward the vehicle's main body mass sufficiently to cause the piston 4 to move suf~iciently toward the head end of the cylinder 3 forcinq fluid from the cylinder 3 via the conduit 10 to the head end of the cylinder 20 causing the piston 22 contact area with the wall of the cylinder 20 to pass beyond the communicating orifice of the conduit 24 with the cylinder 20 thus allowing the fluid from the conduit 10 to communicate with the conduit 24, via the orifice just mentioned. Fluid ;s then transmitted through the conduit 24 to the inside of the rod end o-f the cylinder 28 causin~ the piston 27, the rod 29, and the ~ivotal connector 30 of the seat actuator A to move in the direction of the pivotal connector 25. With the vehicle seat 33 connected at 30 and -the vehicle support structure connected at 25 of the seat actuator A as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 33 will move in the direction of the vehicle support structure 34 when conditions are as described in this para~raph.
The rate of acceleration of the vehicle's terrain contacting apparatus away from the vehicle's main body mass can be controlled by operating, including remotely, the restrictiveness of the ori-fices 6 and 13 to fluid ~low from the cylinder 3 via the conduit 9. This restricts the rate of acceleration of the pivotal connection 1 away from the pivotal connection 5. Proper adjustments of the restrictive ori-Eices 6 and 13 ~or different terrains bein~
traversed by the vehicle and different vehicle mechanical variations will afford the ve~icle rider(s) a smoother ride. More than one hydraulic response actuator C may be used with the system provided they are connected at points 39 and 40 on conduits 10 and 9 respectively by similar s~stems and components as shown in FIG. 2 to the riqht of points 39 and 40.

~q~

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 numerous modifications may be made within -the scope of the present invention. In particular, the hydraulic response controller B includinq portions of its connected conduits, check valves 12, 35, 36, and 38, a relief valve 8, and portions of the conduits connecting the check valves and relief valve could also be formed by including them within a sinqle housing wherein the housing itself becomes an integral part of the components.

Claims (10)

1. Effective mechanisms, apparatus and fluid circuitry to actuate a vehicular seat in a general downward movement in response to a general upward movement of a terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass having no outside power or energy source involved except that produced by movement of the vehicle terrain contacting apparatus, comprising:
a piston reciprocally arranged within a cylinder, the piston and cylinder comprising a flexible coupling between a vehicular seat and a suitable support structure to the vehicle, this piston and cylinder hereafter known as the seat actuator, the piston tending to be moveable within the cylinder and to respond relative to upward movement of the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass;
a fluid control device (response controller) to provide control and regulation of fluid to and from a hydraulic cylinder which is part of the seat actuator;
another fluid cylinder having a piston slidable therein in response to relative motion between the vehicular main body mass and the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus and flexibly attached to each, this cylinder and piston hereafter known as the response actuator, this response actuator pumps fluid to the seat actuator via the response controller to actuate the vehicle seat toward the vehicle main body mass;
a fluid reservoir being in communication with all fluid cylinders directly or indirectly;
a check valve restricting fluid flow from the bottom of the response actuator cylinder to the fluid reservoir, the top of the response controller cylinder, the bottom of the seat actuator cylinder and the top of the response actuator cylinder and allowing fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the bottom of the fluid response actuator cylinder; and a restrictive orifice restricting fluid flow to the cylinder areas on either side of the piston of the response actuator.

2. Effective mechanisms, apparatus and fluid circuitry to actuate a vehicular seat in a general downward movement in response to a general upward movement of a terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass having no outside power or energy source involved except that produced by movement of the vehicle terrain contacting apparatus, comprising:
a piston reciprocally arranged within a cylinder, the piston and cylinder comprising a flexible coupling between a vehicular seat and a suitable support structure to the vehicle, this piston and cylinder hereafter known as the seat actuator, the piston tending to be moveable within the cylinder and to respond relative to upward movement of the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass;
a fluid control device (response controller) to provide control and regulation of fluid to and from a hydraulic cylinder which is part of the seat actuator, another fluid cylinder having a piston slidable therein in response to relative motion between the vehicular main body mass and the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus and flexibly attached to each, this cylinder and piston hereafter known as the response actuator, this response actuator pumps fluid to the seat actuator via the response controller to actuate the vehicle seat toward the vehicle main body mass:

a fluid reservoir being in communication with all fluid cylinders directly or indirectly;
a check valve restricting fluid flow from the bottom of the response actuator cylinder to the fluid reservoir, the top of the response controller cylinder, the bottom of the seat actuator cylinder and the top of the response actuator cylinder and allowing fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the bottom of the fluid response actuator cylinder;
a restrictive orifice restricting fluid flow to the cylinder areas on either side of the piston of the response actuator; and a pressure relief valve to relieve undesirable high fluid pressure in the bottom of the response actuator cylinder to the head end of the same cylinder and to a fluid reservoir which is a part of the fluid circuitry.

3. Effective mechanisms, apparatus and fluid circuitry to actuate a vehicular seat in a general downward movement in response to a general upward movement of a terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass having no outside power or energy source involved except that produced by movement of the vehicle terrain contacting apparatus, comprising:
a piston reciprocally arranged within a cylinder, the piston and cylinder comprising a flexible coupling between a vehicular seat and a suitable support structure to the vehicle, this piston and cylinder hereafter known as the seat actuator, the piston tending to be moveable within the cylinder and to respond relative to upward movement of the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass:
a fluid control device (response controller) to provide control and regulation of fluid to and from a hydraulic cylinder which is part of the seat actuator;

another fluid cylinder having a piston slidable therein in response to relative motion between the vehicular main body mass and the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus and flexibly attached to each, this cylinder and piston hereafter known as the response actuator, this response actuator pumps fluid to the seat actuator via the response controller to actuate the vehicle seat toward the vehicle main body mass;
a fluid reservoir being in communication with all fluid cylinders directly or indirectly;
a check valve restricting fluid flow from the bottom of the response actuator cylinder to the fluid reservoir, the top of the response controller cylinder and the top of the response actuator cylinder, the bottom of the seat actuator cylinder and allowing fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the bottom of the fluid response actuator cylinder;
a restrictive orifice restricting fluid flow to the cylinder areas on either side of the piston of the response actuator;
a fluid filter to filter all fluid to the fluid reservoir from the system;
a check valve to allow fluid flow one way to the fluid filter and from the fluid filter to the fluid reservoir;
a check valve to allow fluid flow from the fluid reservoir and restrict fluid flow to the fluid reservoir via the same conduit or outlet; and a check valve in the fluid system between the inlet fluid circuit of the fluid filter and the outlet fluid circuit of the fluid reservoir to promote better system fluid flow to the fluid filter.

4. Effective mechanisms, apparatus and fluid circuitry to actuate a vehicular seat in a general downward movement in response to a general upward movement of a terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass having no outside power or energy source involved except that produced by movement of the vehicle terrain contacting apparatus, comprising:
a piston reciprocally arranged within a cylinder, the piston and cylinder comprising a flexible coupling between a vehicular seat and a suitable support structure to the vehicle, this piston and cylinder hereafter known as the seat actuator, the piston tending to be moveable within the cylinder and to respond relative to upward movement of the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus in relation to the vehicular main body mass;
a fluid control device (response controller) to provide control and regulation of fluid to and from a hydraulic cylinder which is part of the seat actuator;
another fluid cylinder having a piston slidable therein in response to relative motion between the vehicular main body mass and the vehicular terrain contacting apparatus and flexibly attached to each, this cylinder and piston hereafter known as the response actuator, this response actuator pumps fluid to the seat actuator via the response controller to actuate the vehicle seat toward the vehicle main body mass;
a fluid reservoir being in communication with all fluid cylinders directly or indirectly;
a check valve restricting fluid flow from the bottom of the response actuator cylinder to the fluid reservoir, the top of the response controller cylinder and the top of the response actuator cylinder, the bottom of the seat actuator cylinder and allowing fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the bottom of the fluid response actuator cylinder;
a restrictive orifice restricting fluid flow to the cylinder areas on either side of the piston of the response actuator;

a pressure relief valve to relieve undesirable high fluid pressure in the bottom of the response actuator cylinder to the head end of the same cylinder and to a fluid reservoir which is a part of the fluid circuitry;
a fluid filter to filter all fluid to the fluid reservoir from the system;
a check valve to allow fluid flow one way to the fluid filter and from the fluid filter to the fluid reservoir;
a check valve to allow fluid flow from the fluid reservoir and restrict fluid flow to the fluid reservoir via the same conduit or outlet; and a check valve in the fluid system between the inlet fluid circuit of the fluid filter and the outlet fluid circuit of the fluid reservoir to promote better system fluid flow to the fluid filter.

5. A fluid control device (response controller) as defined in any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein fluid is free to flow to, from and between the cylinder area on either side of the piston therein of a fluid seat actuator when fluid is not being transmitted or in the initial stages of being transmitted from the fluid response actuator cylinder to the top of the fluid seat actuator cylinder thus allowing unrestricted vehicular seat movement by the seat actuator cylinder or piston and comprising:
a cylinder having a large and small bore, a piston or slug slidably arranged in the large bore restricting fluid flow from the cylinder area above the piston of the seat actuator to the bottom of the cylinder area of the response actuator; and a resilient resistance impinging the side of the piston facing the small bore.

6. The fluid control device of Claim 5 wherein there is a means of varying the resiliency of the resistance impinging the side of the piston or slug facing the small bore.

7. The fluid control device of Claim 6 wherein there is a means of remotely varying the resiliency of the resistance impinging the side of the piston or slug facing the small bore.

8. The response actuator as defined in any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein it also has a function as shock absorber, comprising:
a restrictive orifice restricting fluid flow to either side of the response actuator piston within the cylinder;
and a restrictive orifice with parallel arranged restrictive check valve restricting fluid flow from the top of the fluid response actuator cylinder.

9. The restrictive orifices of Claim 8 wherein each restrictiveness is changeable.

10. The restrictive orifices of Claim 9 wherein the restrictions may be remotely controlled.