JP3086088B2 - Locking method and locking structure for retractable seat - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention controls the expansion and contraction of a seat cylinder composed of an air cylinder by supplying and exhausting compressed air under the opening and closing of an electromagnetic control valve. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a locking method and a locking structure of a retractable seat for swinging a seat cushion between a storage position and a seating position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a general shared bus or a lift bus for the handicapped, a seat cushion is stored by jumping up around a hinge, and a space expanded by storing the seat cushion is used as a storage space for a wheelchair or the like. Possible retractable seats are known.

In such a retractable seat, the seat cushion is formed so as to be able to swing between a sitting position and a storage position set at a flip-up position, that is, to be flippable, and to be capable of compressing compressed air. It is supported by an air cylinder that can expand and contract under supply and exhaust so that swing can be regulated.

[0004] The air cylinder is, for example, an extension side,
Each flow port is formed with a flow port on the reduction side, and each flow port can communicate with an air supply source such as a compressor and an exhaust port to the atmosphere under switching of an electromagnetic control valve. ing.

The air cylinder expands and contracts due to the supply of compressed air to one of the air chambers communicating with the flow ports on the expansion side and the reduction side, and the discharge of the compressed air from the other air chamber. The seat cushion is returned to the retracted or seated position according to the total length of the seat cushion.

[0006]

Normally, the air cylinder is extended or contracted only by the pressure from the compressed air supplied to the corresponding side air chamber.
When the air cylinder is forcibly compressed and pulled in the expansion and contraction direction,
The overall length of the air cylinder fluctuates due to further compression or backflow of the compressed air. Such displacement of the entire length of the air cylinder is generally referred to as play of the air cylinder.

However, in the known retractable seat, the seat cushion is only restricted in swinging due to expansion and contraction of the air cylinder. Therefore, if the total length of the air cylinder fluctuates under play, The seat cushion is swung by an amount corresponding to the displacement amount.

In other words, when an occupant on a bus or the like places a hand on the seat cushion in the stowed position and applies a load in the swinging direction to the seat cushion, the seat cushion moves in the seating position direction under the play of the air cylinder. There is a risk of sudden swinging, which is not preferable for safety.

The seat cushion is easily rotated under a load in the swinging direction, so that the seat cushion cannot be sufficiently secured in the expanded space by the flip-up of the seat cushion, and the retractable type is not provided. The usability of the sheet may be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking method and a locking structure of a retractable seat for forcibly holding a seat cushion at a storage position to improve the usability and safety of the retractable seat.

[0011]

In order to achieve this object, a method for locking a retractable seat according to the present invention comprises the steps of:
The support rod is moved to a predetermined lock position under the expansion and contraction of the lock cylinder composed of an air cylinder, and the swing of the seat cushion at the storage position is regulated by engagement with the seat cushion at the lock position. I have.

According to this method, the delay means delays the start of air supply to the locking cylinder for a predetermined time after switching of the electromagnetic control valve in response to a predetermined storage switch operation, and locks the lock cylinder after a predetermined time has elapsed. The support rod is moved to the lock position under the expansion and contraction of the cylinder.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the retractable seat lock structure 10 of the present invention, the swing of the seat cushion 14 in the retracted position can be restricted by the support rod 12 in the locked position. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the retractable seat 16 is provided as a part of a seat such as a shared bus, and the seat cushion 14 is supported so as to be able to jump up with respect to the seat back 18. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat cushion 14 of the retractable seat,
The seat backs 18 are attached to, for example, the inner wall 22 of the bus.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, a pair of brackets 24 are fixed to the inner wall 22 on the left and right sides of the seat back 18, respectively, and pivot pins serving as hinges are provided.
The seat cushion 14 is pivotally connected to the bracket via 26. In such a retractable seat 16, for example, an engagement piece 28 engageable with the rear end of the seat cushion 14 is fixed to the inner wall 22. 4 can be held in the normal sitting position.

In such a configuration, the seat cushion 14
However, by swinging up and down around the hinge 26,
It is swung between the seating position shown in FIG. 4 and the storage position shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the retractable seat 16 is formed to have, for example, an armrest 30 that can be stored in conjunction with the seat cushion 14. The armrest 30 is, for example, pivotally attached to a bracket 34 of the inner wall 22 by a pivot pin 32, and is capable of swinging up and down similarly to the seat cushion 14. The extension end 36 of the support arm of the armrest 30 and the rear end of the seat cushion 14 are connected by a connection arm 38 so as to be interlockable.

In such a configuration, the armrest is linked to the swing of the seat cushion 14 about the hinge 26.
30 is swung between a use position corresponding to a seating position of the seat cushion and a storage position (see FIGS. 4 and 1).

The configuration of such a retractable seat 16 is well-known, and the configuration of itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and will not be described in detail here.

The retractable seat 16 only needs to be able to be stored by flipping up the seat cushion 14 about the hinge 26, so the presence or absence of the armrest 30 and the overall shape are not particularly limited.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in such a retractable seat 16, a seat cylinder 40 composed of an air cylinder includes a bracket 42 of an inner wall 22 and a seat back 18.
It is erected and pivoted between the bracket 44 at the rear end.

As can be seen from FIG. 5 in addition to FIG.
The seat cylinder 40 includes, for example, a cylinder main body 40a and an extension rod 40b slidable with respect to the cylinder main body, and is provided through two distribution ports 46 (46-1, 46-2). The air chamber (not shown) can be expanded and contracted by the supply and exhaust of compressed air.

Here, the circulation port 46-1 is a sheet cylinder.
The flow port 46 is formed as an inflow port in the extension direction, and the flow port 46-2 is formed as an inflow port in the reduction direction.

In the retractable seat having such a seat cylinder 40 mounted thereon, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4,
The seat cushion 14 is set to the seating position under contraction of the seat cylinder, and the seat cushion is set to the retracted position under extension.

It should be noted that a known air cylinder can be used as the seat cylinder 40, and the configuration of the air cylinder itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and will not be described in detail.

The seat cushion 14 is only required to be able to swing between the seating position and the storage position under the expansion and contraction operation of the seat cylinder 40. The relationship is not limited to this.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, such a seat cylinder 40 is connected to an air supply source 50 through, for example, an electromagnetic control valve 48, and the compressed air for opening and closing the electromagnetic control valve is controlled. The expansion and contraction of the sheet cylinder can be controlled by switching the flow direction. Usually, a compressor is used as the air supply source 50.

The electromagnetic control valve 48 is connected to a seat cylinder for supplying compressed air from a compressor 50 connected to the inlet.
It is formed to have two connection positions 48a and 48b, which are either the extension side or the reduction side, and the connection positions can be switched by supplying and cutting off current.

In such a configuration, the connection position 48a of the electromagnetic control valve 48 that supplies compressed air to the flow port 46-1 of the seat cylinder is set to the extended position, and air is supplied to the flow port 46-2. The connection position 48b is formed as a reduction position (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

As can be seen from FIG. 5, when air is supplied to one of the flow ports 46 of the sheet cylinder 40, compressed air is exhausted from the other flow port, and the electromagnetic control valve 48 is discharged.
The electromagnetic control valve is configured to discharge to the atmosphere via

Here, the connection position (extended position, reduced position) 48a, 48b of the electromagnetic control valve 48 can be switched under the ON / OFF operation of an operation switch 52 such as a holding type seesaw switch. (See FIG. 2). For example, the electromagnetic control valve 48 is switched to the extension position 48a under the supply of current from the power supply (battery) by the ON operation of the operation switch 52, and the supply current is cut off by the OFF operation of the operation switch. Then, the electromagnetic control valve is switched to the contraction position 48b.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation switch 52 is connected to a panel 56 adjacent to the driver seat 54, for example.
It is arranged at a position where the driver can operate, such as. However, it is not limited to the panel 56, and other positions,
For example, the operation switch 52 may be arranged in a crew space 58 or the like that can be operated by a crew member.

In the retractable seat lock structure 10 according to the present invention, the support rod 12 is engaged with the rear end (lower end) of the seat cushion 14 in the retracted position, and the retractable seat 16 is locked. It is provided on the inner wall 22 serving as a mounting base surface. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the support rods 12 are disposed, for example, at two positions separated from each other in the left-right direction, and are located between a side-falling position with respect to the inner wall 22 shown by a solid line in FIG. Is attached by a bracket 60 so as to be rotatable.

In such a configuration, the support rod 12
Is rotated in the horizontal direction, that is, in the left-right direction of the seat cushion 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The upright position of the support rod 12 with respect to 22 is a lock position for engaging the rear end (lower end) of the seat cushion 14 in the retracted position and restricting the swing, and the laterally inclined position relative to the inner wall does not restrict the swing of the seat cushion Each is set as a position.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Is formed, for example, with an integral extending piece 62, and the extending pieces are erected and pivotally connected by a connecting arm 64, so that the left and right support rods are operably connected. And, for example,
One end of the connection arm 64 is supported by a lock cylinder 66 composed of an air cylinder, and the support rod 12 is configured to be swingable between a lock position and a release position under the expansion and contraction operation of the lock cylinder. Lock cylinder 66
For example, it is fixed to the inner wall 22 via a bracket 68.

3 and 5, the lock cylinder 66 has a cylinder body 66a and an extension rod 66b, for example, like the seat cylinder 40, and has two flow ports 70 ( It can be expanded and contracted by the supply and exhaust of compressed air through 70-1 and 70-2). Here, for example, the flow port 70-1 is formed as an inflow port in the extension direction of the locking cylinder 66, and the flow port 70-2 is formed as an inflow port in the reduction direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lock cylinder 66 is connected to the compressor 50 via an electromagnetic control valve 48 together with the seat cylinder 40, for example. By switching
The expansion and contraction control of the locking cylinder is possible.

It should be noted that between the flow ports 46-1 and 70-2 of the seat cylinder 40 and the lock cylinder 66, and between the flow ports 46-2 and 70-
1 and 2 are connected by three-way joints 72 and 73, respectively, and are connected to corresponding connection ends of the electromagnetic control valve 48 by a common pipe.

Here, in such a configuration, for example, a seat cushion accompanying extension of the seat cylinder 40 is provided.
If the locking cylinder 66 is contracted at the same time as the storage of the storage cylinder 14 to set the lock position of the support rod 12, the swing of the seat cushion may be hindered by the protrusion of the support rod. Further, when the seat cushion 14 returns to the seating position, the seat cushion may press the support rod 12 and prevent the rotation of the support rod.

Therefore, in the retractable seat lock structure 10 of the present invention, as can be seen from FIG. 5, for example, the circulation ports 46-2 and 70- on the reduced side of the seat cylinder 40 and the lock cylinder 66 are provided. The delay means 76 and 78 are interposed in the pipeline 2 to delay the start of air supply to the corresponding cylinders, thereby setting a time difference between the start of expansion and contraction of each cylinder.

For example, an air timer that delays the flow of compressed air from one direction by a predetermined time from the start of inflow is
It can be used as delay means 76 and 78, respectively. The air timers (delay means) 76 and 78 are configured to delay the flow of the compressed air by a predetermined time only when the compressed air is supplied from the compressor 50.

The delay time by the air timers 76 and 78 can be arbitrarily set between 0 and 30 seconds, for example, and the time required for storing the seat cushion 14 and the support rod
These are individually adjusted and set according to the time required for the rotation from the lock position to the release position in FIG.

As the air timers 76 and 78, general commercial products can be used, and the configuration itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and therefore will not be described in detail here.

For example, the seat cushion 14 shown in FIG.
Is assumed to be the initial position of the retractable seat 16. In this state, when the operation switch 52 is turned ON, the electromagnetic control valve 48 is switched to the extension position 48a as shown in FIG.

Then, the compressed air from the compressor 50 is supplied to the seat cylinder flow port 46-1 through the electromagnetic control valve 48 and the corresponding pipeline, and the compressed air is supplied to the seat cylinder.
The seat cushion 14 is rocked together with the armrest 30 in the clockwise direction in FIG.

The compressed air exhausted from the other flow port 46-2 along with the air supply to the flow port 46-1 is supplied to the air timer 76.
Is released to the atmosphere via the electromagnetic control valve 48 without being delayed.

On the other hand, the compressed air branched to the other conduit by the three-way joint 72 is blocked by the air timer 78 until a predetermined time elapses, and after the predetermined time elapses, the air timer 78 , The compressed air from the compressor 50 is supplied to the circulation port 70-2, and the locking cylinder 66 is reduced.

In such a configuration, normally, the delay time of the air timer 78 is set so that the support rod 12 is rotated to the lock position after the swing of the seat cushion 14 to the storage position is completed.

When the connecting arm 64 is pulled by the contraction of the locking cylinder 66, the support rod 12 rotates to a lock position where it can be engaged with the rear end of the seat cushion 14, as shown in FIG. The swing of the seat cushion at the storage position is restricted by the support rod at the lock position.

That is, the swing of the seat cushion 14 at the storage position is forcibly restricted by the support rod 12 set at the lock position. Irrespective of the switching of the data, the data is held in the storage position.

When the operation switch 52 is turned off in the retracted position of the retractable seat 16 shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic control valve 48 is switched from the extended position 48a to the contracted position 48b as shown in FIG. Then, the compressed air from the compressor 50 flows through the electromagnetic control valve 48 and the corresponding pipeline, and flows through the seat cylinder 40 and the lock cylinder 66.
Air is supplied in the direction of inflow to 46-2 and 70-1, respectively.

At this time, one of the compressed air branched by the three-way joint 73 is delayed by a predetermined time by the air timer 76, and is supported by the extension of the locking cylinder 66 due to the supply of the compressed air. Prior to the swing of the seat cushion 14, the rod 12 is rotated from the lock position to the release position.

After the delay time of the air timer 76 elapses, the seat cylinder 40 is contracted by the air supply to the circulation port 46-2, and the seat cushion 14 is swung around the hinge 26. The seat cushion can be returned to the seating position shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the retractable seat locking method of the present invention, the support rod 12 at the lock position engages with the seat cushion 14 to restrict the swing of the seat cushion at the storage position. I have. That is, since the swing of the seat cushion 14 at the storage position is forcibly restricted by the support rod 12, the seat cushion can be held at the storage position regardless of the play of the seat cylinder 40.

Therefore, the stored seat cushion 14
Even if a load is applied to the seat cushion in the direction of the seating position, no unexpected swinging of the seat cushion occurs, and the safety of the retractable seat 16 is sufficiently improved.

Since the swing of the seat cushion 14 at the storage position is surely restricted by the support rod 12, the safety of the space expanded by the storage of the seat cushion can be sufficiently ensured. Therefore, the expanded space can be effectively used, and the usability of the retractable seat 16 is further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a time difference between the start of expansion and contraction of the seat cylinder 40 and the lock cylinder 66, and
After the storage operation of the seat cushion 14 is completed, or after the support rod 12 is rotated from the lock position to the release position, the expansion / contraction operation of the cylinder corresponding to the other member is started.

Therefore, the swing of the seat cushion 14 and the rotation of the support rod 12 are not hindered by the other members even under the operation of only the ON / OFF operation of the operation switch 52, and the operability is sufficient. To be improved.

According to the retractable seat lock structure 10 of the present invention, the above-described locking method can be appropriately performed in spite of the simple structure, and the seat cushion in the retracted position can be achieved.
14 swings can be reliably controlled.

Here, in the embodiment, the support rod 12
Is configured to release the lock by pushing the connecting arm 64 in accordance with the extension of the locking cylinder 66, and to lock by pulling the connecting arm in accordance with the contraction of the locking cylinder. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Conversely, the lock is released by pulling the connecting arm 64 with the contraction of the locking cylinder 66, and locked by pushing the connecting arm with the extension of the locking cylinder. It may be configured as follows.

Incidentally, as can be clearly understood from FIG. 7, the engagement end 12a which engages with and abuts on the seat cushion 14 is provided.
It is preferable to be able to expand and contract in the axial direction of the base 12b pivotally attached to the bracket 60.

The engaging end 12a is formed, for example, with a lead screw 80 which can rotate integrally, and is attached to the base 12b by screwing to a nut 82. In such a configuration, the engagement end 12a is expanded and contracted in the axial direction of the base 12b under the advancing and retreating of the lead screw 80 with respect to the nut 82.

According to such a configuration, the effective length of the support rod 12 is set in accordance with the position of the rear end of the seat cushion 14 in the storage position under the expansion and contraction of the engagement end 12a with respect to the base 12b. Adjustable seat cushion 14 in storage position
Can be sufficiently suppressed. For this reason, generation of abnormal noise or the like due to rattling of the seat cushion 14 can be sufficiently prevented, and the comfort of crew members and passengers is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the embodiment, the retractable seat 16 to be mounted on a shared bus or the like is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Particularly, it can be used particularly effectively for vehicles and the like that require expansion of space.

A retractable seat that can be stored under expansion and contraction of an air cylinder is sufficient, and is not limited to a seat such as a bus. For example, the present invention is applicable to a retractable seat such as a train, an airplane, and a ship. May be applied.

The embodiments described above are for explaining the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way.
It goes without saying that all modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0068]

As described above, according to the retractable seat locking method of the present invention, the swing of the seat cushion in the retracted position is forcibly restricted by the support rod in the locked position. Therefore, unexpected swinging due to the play of the seat cylinder does not occur in the seat cushion at the storage position, and the safety of the retractable seat is sufficiently improved.

Since the swing of the seat cushion at the storage position is reliably restricted by the support rod, the safety of the space expanded by storing the seat cushion can be sufficiently ensured. Therefore, the expanded space can be effectively used, and the usability of the retractable seat is further improved.

Further, a time difference is provided between the start and the start of the expansion and contraction of the seat cylinder and the lock cylinder. The cylinder has started to expand and contract. Therefore, the swing of the seat cushion and the rotation of the support rod are not hindered by the other member, the operability is sufficiently improved, and the malfunction of the seat cushion and the support rod can be reliably prevented.

According to the retractable seat lock structure of the present invention, the above-described locking method can be appropriately performed despite the simple structure, and the swing of the seat cushion at the storage position can be reliably restricted. .

If the delay means is an air timer,
By detecting the inflow of the compressed air, the measurement of the predetermined time and the flow of the compressed air after the elapse of the time are automatically obtained, so that the number of parts does not increase and the configuration is not complicated.

If the engaging end of the support rod can be extended and contracted with respect to the base, fine adjustment of the effective length of the support rod can be performed, so that rattling of the seat cushion at the storage position can be sufficiently suppressed. For this reason, generation of abnormal noise or the like due to rattling of the seat cushion can be sufficiently prevented, and the comfort of crew members, passengers, and the like is improved.

Further, if the engagement end of the support rod can be extended and contracted with respect to the base by the combination of the lead screw and the nut, the extension and contraction of the support rod can be easily performed by rotating the engagement end with respect to the base. Therefore, simplification of the configuration and simplification of the adjustment work can be sufficiently ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a lock structure of a retractable seat according to the present invention in a lock position of a support rod.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a shared bus with a retractable seat mounted.

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic perspective view of the retractable seat with a focus on a lock structure of the retractable seat.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a lock structure of a retractable seat in a release position of a support rod.

FIG. 5 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of a lock structure of a retractable seat at a seating position of a seat cushion.

FIG. 6 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of a lock structure of a retractable seat in a storage position of a seat cushion.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the support rod in a release position and a lock position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Retractable seat lock structure 12 Support rod 12a Engagement end 12b Base 14 Seat cushion 16 Retractable seat 22 Inner wall (base surface) 40 Seat cylinder 48 Solenoid control valve 50 Air supply source (compressor) 52 Operation switch 66 Lock Cylinder 76, 78 Air timer (delay means) 80 Lead screw 82 Nut

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A seat cylinder comprising an air cylinder is controlled to expand and contract by the supply and exhaust of compressed air under the opening and closing of an electromagnetic control valve. In the retractable seat that swings between the storage position and the seating position, the seat cylinder is extended and retracted to swing the seat cushion to the storage position under the switching of the electromagnetic control valve accompanying a predetermined storage switch operation. The delay means delays the start of air supply to the lock cylinder consisting of the air cylinder for a predetermined time after the switching of the electromagnetic control valve, and retracts the support rod under the expansion and contraction of the lock cylinder after the lapse of the predetermined time. Move to a predetermined lock position engageable with the seat cushion at the position,
A method of locking a retractable seat, wherein swinging of a seat cushion at a storage position can be restricted. 2. A seat cylinder comprising an air cylinder is controlled to expand and contract by the supply and exhaust of compressed air under the opening and closing of an electromagnetic control valve. In the retractable seat that swings between the storage position and the seating position, the seat cylinder is extended and retracted to swing the seat cushion to the storage position under the switching of the electromagnetic control valve accompanying a predetermined storage switch operation. The start of air supply to the locking cylinder consisting of the air cylinder is delayed by a predetermined time from the switching of the electromagnetic control valve. Moves to a predetermined lock position where it can be engaged with the cushion, restricts the swing of the seat cushion in the storage position, and accompanies the predetermined seat switch operation. Under the switching of the electromagnetic control valve, the lock cylinder is extended and retracted to move the support rod from the lock position to the storage position, and the supply of air to the seat cylinder is started for a predetermined time after the electromagnetic control valve is switched. After a predetermined period of time,
A retractable seat locking method, wherein a seat cushion can be returned to a seating position under expansion and contraction of a seat cylinder. 3. An air timer for flowing compressed air in a predetermined direction after a lapse of a predetermined time from the detection of the inflow of compressed air delays the start of expansion and contraction of the seat cylinder and the locking cylinder, respectively. How to lock retractable seat. 4. A seat cylinder formed from an air cylinder and swinging a seat cushion between a seating position and a storage position under its own expansion and contraction; compression to a seat cylinder under a predetermined switch operation. An electromagnetic control valve for controlling air supply and exhaust of air, wherein a support rod for engaging a seat cushion at a storage position and restricting the swing of the seat cushion at a predetermined lock position, It is provided movably between the lock position and the release position under the expansion and contraction control of the lock cylinder consisting of an air cylinder, and starts the flow of compressed air for a predetermined time when air is supplied to the seat cylinder and the lock cylinder. Delay means are interposed between each cylinder and the solenoid control valve. Lock structure for retractable seats in which each of the cylinders is extended and contracted by a predetermined time from the start of the expansion and contraction of the other cylinder. 5. The lock structure for a retractable seat according to claim 4, wherein the delay means is an air timer for flowing the compressed air in a predetermined direction after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection of the inflow of the compressed air. 6. The storage device according to claim 4, wherein the support rod is rotatable between an upright position and a side-to-side position with respect to the mounting base surface of the retractable seat in conjunction with expansion and contraction of the locking cylinder. Lock structure of the formula seat. 7. The retractable seat lock structure according to claim 4, wherein an engagement end of the support rod engaging with the seat cushion is provided so as to be extendable and retractable with respect to the base. 8. The retractable seat lock structure according to claim 7, wherein the engagement end of the support rod is provided so as to be extendable and retractable with respect to the base by a combination of a lead screw and a nut.