Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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
-- 2
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.
-- 3
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~
-- 4 --
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.
-- 8
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~
- 9
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.
