Vehicle seat with damping device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat having a damping device for supporting the vehicle seat in a damping manner in a vehicle. The invention relates to a damping device for a vehicle seat which is a rotating seat and which can be rotated about a vertical axis via a rotating bearing, said damping device comprising a switching element which can be switched between a fixed position and a release position in which a vehicle seat movement in the vehicle is damped. The switching element can be switched according to the rotation angle of the vehicle seat around the vertical axis.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat having a damping device for dampingly supporting a vehicle seat in a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a vehicle having such a vehicle seat. Background Art

[0002] A seat for a motor vehicle is known from document DE 30 11 412 A1, in which damping is applied to the seat by a foam pad mounted on a shape-fixed seat shell. Damping of seat vibrations can be applied by a hydraulic damper integrated into the seat. The hydraulic damper includes a cavity with damping liquid located under the seat. An elastic intermediate layer with throttle holes is located in the cavity, and when the seat moves, the damping liquid flows through the throttle holes between the upper and lower regions of the cavity.

[0003] Document DE 563 663C discloses a rotary liquid buffer for a motor vehicle, which has working chambers connected to each other by passages controlled by valves. The components delimiting the working chambers are made of a thin-walled flexible material, so that the pressure generated during the operation of the buffer causes a shape change in the delimiting components, thereby releasing additional overflow channels. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first embodiment according to the present invention, a vehicle seat is equipped with a damping device for dampingly supporting the vehicle seat in a vehicle, for example, in a passenger vehicle. The vehicle seat is a swivel seat and can be rotated about a vertical axis via a swivel bearing, which coincides with the vehicle vertical axis. The damping device includes a switching element that can be switched between a fixed position for fixing the vehicle seat and a release position for releasing the vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat is fixed in the fixed position in a damping direction orthogonal to the vertical axis, and in contrast, in the release position, the movement of the vehicle seat in the vehicle is damped in the damping direction. The switching element can be switched from the fixed position to the release position according to the rotation angle of the vehicle seat about the vertical axis, wherein the rotation angle can be determined by a measuring element in the vehicle seat. The damping direction also represents the possible displacement direction of the vehicle seat in the vehicle, and the damping force overcoming the displacement acts along this direction on the vehicle seat and damps the movement of the vehicle seat. The damping direction or the movement of the vehicle seat consistent therewith is preferably located in the plane formed by the vehicle longitudinal axis and the vehicle transverse axis. The damping direction or the movement of the vehicle seat may be precisely located on the vehicle longitudinal axis when necessary, and the movement of the vehicle seat at an angle to the vehicle longitudinal axis and possibly coinciding with the vehicle transverse axis is also taken into account.

[0005] The advantage of this embodiment is that, starting from a specific rotational position of the vehicle seat, the damping path is released by changing the switching element from the fixed position to the release position. If the vehicle seat is rotated minimally and the rotational angle exceeds a threshold value, the feet and legs of the person sitting on the vehicle seat are located outside the footrest space, which is dangerous in the event of a collision of the vehicle with another vehicle or an object. Accordingly, an additional damping path extending into the footrest space can be used to damp the movement of the vehicle seat, such that in particular the sudden deceleration in the event of a vehicle collision and the deceleration force acting on the person on the vehicle seat are significantly reduced and the personal safety is improved.

[0006] With reference to the basic position pointing in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the threshold value of the rotational angle is advantageously at least 45°, preferably at least 60°. This ensures that the feet and legs of the person on the vehicle seat are located outside the footrest space.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment, the switching element can be switched between the fixed position and the release position according to the force acting on the vehicle seat. Here, it is advantageous that the switching element is in the fixed position as long as only a force below the activation threshold acts on the vehicle seat. Once the force exceeds the activation threshold, the switching element is adjusted from the fixed position to the release position, and then the damping device can exert its function and the movement of the vehicle seat is damped by the damping device. According to this embodiment, in order to adjust the switching element to the release position, two preconditions must advantageously be met: on the one hand, the rotational angle of the vehicle seat must exceed the threshold value, and on the other hand, the force acting on the vehicle seat must exceed the activation threshold.

[0008] Alternatively, it is also possible that once the threshold value of the rotational angle is exceeded, the switching element is adjusted from the fixed position to the release position.

[0009] The force acting on the vehicle seat is determined in particular via a suitable sensor device, which can optionally be part of another vehicle unit inside the vehicle, and this vehicle unit is preferably actively implemented, for example, it is an airbag system in the vehicle.

[0010] According to another advantageous embodiment, the switching element is switched between the fixed position and the release position by means of an actuator. Alternatively, the switching element itself can also be an actuator. In both cases, the switching element is actively changed between the fixed position and the release position by the actuator. The actuator is, for example, an electromagnetic actuator, an electric actuator or a pyrotechnic actuator.

[0011] According to another advantageous embodiment, the damping device has a damping element, which is a deformable structural element. The damping element is provided with a honeycomb structure, for example. Both reversibly deformable and irreversibly deformable damping elements are taken into account.

[0012] Another embodiment according to the invention relates to a vehicle seat in a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle. The vehicle seat is a swivel seat and can be rotated about a vertical axis by means of a swivel bearing, which coincides with the vertical axis of the vehicle. The swivel bearing is arranged at a distance from the center of gravity of the vehicle seat. This embodiment enables the vehicle seat to be automatically rotated about its vertical axis as soon as the vehicle undergoes a significant speed change, in particular a vehicle deceleration exceeding a threshold value. In this case, a moment about the vertical axis of the swivel bearing is applied due to the distance between the swivel bearing and the center of gravity of the vehicle, which forces the vehicle seat into a position in which the center of gravity of the vehicle seat moves forward. This allows the vehicle seat to be rotated about the vertical axis even in the case of a passive embodiment of the vehicle seat without an actuator when the vehicle undergoes a sharp deceleration, such as a collision. If necessary, a switching element that can be switched between a fixed position and a release position can also be provided as described above, wherein in the fixed position the vehicle seat is fixed and in the release position the vehicle seat can perform a rotation about the swivel bearing. The embodiment of the switching element and the conditions for converting the switching element from the fixed position to the release position correspond to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0013] Depending on the relative position between the swivel bearing and the center of gravity, different automatic rotations of the vehicle seat occur in the event of a sudden deceleration. On the one hand, the turned vehicle seat can be rotated back to a basic position in which the person sitting on the vehicle seat faces forward and the safety systems, in particular the seat belts and airbags in the vehicle, exert their optimal protective effect. However, for example, an opposite position is also possible, in which the vehicle seat assumes a position in the event of a sudden deceleration by rotating about a vertical axis so that the backrest of the vehicle seat points forward. This embodiment has the advantage that the footwell can be used as an additional deformation zone for dissipating kinetic energy. In the first case, the horizontal distance of the swivel bearing from the front side of the vehicle seat is greater than the horizontal distance of the center of gravity of the vehicle seat from the front side of the vehicle seat, in the second case, the situation is reversed and the horizontal distance of the swivel bearing from the front side of the vehicle seat is less than the horizontal distance of the center of gravity of the vehicle seat from the front side of the vehicle seat.

[0014] If necessary, the weight of the person sitting on the vehicle seat can also be taken into account when determining the center of gravity. For example, a weight class between a minimum value and a maximum value can be taken into account, if necessary distinguishing between children and adults.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, an additional weight is integrated into the vehicle seat, which causes a shift in the center of gravity in the vehicle seat. The additional weight is located, for example, at the front of the seat so that the center of gravity of the seat is closer to the front edge of the vehicle seat than the swivel bearing. Accordingly, the vehicle seat will be oriented forward in the event of a crash.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, additional counterweights can also be integrated into the rear region of the vehicle seat, so that the center of gravity of the vehicle seat is shifted rearward accordingly and is located further rearward than the swivel bearing. In this case, during a collision, the rear side of the seat of the vehicle seat faces forward.

[0017] It may be expedient to integrate a rotational damper element into the swivel bearing, which damps any rotational movement of the vehicle seat about the vertical axis. Especially in the case of a rapid deceleration, typically a collision, due to the rotational damper element, a relatively gentle rotation of the vehicle seat is achieved despite a large moment about the vertical axis of the swivel bearing, thus reducing the risk of injury to the person sitting on the vehicle seat. The rotational damper element can, if necessary, be activated via a switching element, which can in particular be actuated via the safety electronics in the vehicle, such as the safety electronics in an airbag system. Alternatively, embodiments in which the rotational damper element is permanently activated are also contemplated.

[0018] Finally, the invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a vehicle seat as described above. The vehicle is in particular a passenger vehicle. Description of the Drawings

[0019] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments result from the further claims, the description of the drawings and the drawings. Among them:

[0020] Figure 1 A vehicle with a vehicle seat is shown in a schematic top view, the vehicle seat being connected to the vehicle via a switchable damping device;

[0021] Figure 2 Shows the Figure 1 corresponding illustration of the moment of impact;

[0022] Figure 3 Shows the vehicle seat in a position of rotation about the vertical axis;

[0023] Figure 4 Shows the vehicle seat rotating about the vertical axis at the moment of impact;

[0024] Figure 5 Shows the moment of impact of another embodiment of a vehicle seat rotatably supported in the vehicle, the vehicle seat rotating about the vertical axis;

[0025] Figure 6 Shows after the collision Figure 5 the vehicle seat, where the vehicle seat rotates back to the starting position.

[0026] In the drawings, the same components are marked with the same reference numerals. Detailed Description

[0027] According to Figures 1 to 4 A first embodiment according to shows a vehicle seat 1 of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, which is a single-seat and is arranged to accommodate one person. The vehicle seat 1 is provided with a seat surface 2 and a backrest 3 in a known manner. The vehicle seat 1 is also equipped with a swivel bearing 4, via which the vehicle seat 1 is accommodated in the vehicle 6 in a manner rotatable about a vertical axis. The vehicle longitudinal direction is marked with an arrow 5, and the vertical axis of the swivel bearing 4, i.e., the axis of rotation, points out of the image plane orthogonally to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The swivel bearing 4 may be provided with a measuring element by which the current angle of rotation of the vehicle seat 1 about the vertical axis can be determined. In accordance with Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustration, the vehicle seat 1 is in its basic orientation, in which the front edge of the seat points forward.

[0028] The swivel bearing 4 may also be provided with a rotary damper element which damps the rotational movement in the swivel bearing 4.

[0029] Furthermore, the vehicle seat 1 is provided with a damping device 7 by which the translational relative movement of the vehicle seat 1 relative to the vehicle 6 in the vehicle longitudinal direction 5 is damped, in particular in the event of Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 the collision marked with reference numeral 8 in.

[0030] Furthermore, the vehicle seat 1 is respectively equipped with switching elements 9 in the left and right seat regions, which can be switched between the fixed positions shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and the release positions shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 . In the fixed position, the switching element 9 prevents the axial relative movement of the vehicle seat 1 relative to the vehicle body in the vehicle longitudinal direction 5, while in the release position, the vehicle seat 1 can perform such an axial relative displacement, wherein the forward movement of the vehicle seat 1 relative to the vehicle body is damped by the damping device 7.

[0031] Figure 2 shows a collision 8 of the vehicle 6 with another vehicle or an object. The switching element 9 is in the fixed position, so that the vehicle seat 1 cannot be displaced forward relatively, and the footrest space in front of the vehicle seat 1 is maintained without restriction.

[0032] In Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the vehicle seat 1 is in a position of rotating about the vertical axis of the swivel bearing 4. Compared to the forward-oriented basic position of the vehicle seat 1, the vehicle seat 1 has rotated clockwise by approximately 75° about the vertical axis (i.e., the axis of rotation) of the swivel bearing 4. The switching element 9 is in its release position, in which the vehicle seat 1 can be axially displaced forward relative to the vehicle body of the vehicle 6, as Figure 4 shown in the case of a collision 8. In this case, the feet and legs of the person sitting on the vehicle seat 1 are outside the footrest space, so that the vehicle seat 1 can be displaced forward without the risk of injury, and this forward movement can be damped by the damping device 7.

[0033] Preferably, the transition of the switching element 9 from the fixed position to the release position is carried out according to the rotation angle of the vehicle seat about the vertical axis from the basic position, i.e., the starting position. Once the rotation angle exceeds a threshold value, for example 45° or 60°, the switching element 9 changes to the release position, so that in principle the vehicle seat 1 can move forward relative to the vehicle 6. In this case, the feet and legs of the person sitting on the vehicle seat 1 are outside the footrest space, so that in the event of a collision ( Figure 4 ), the vehicle seat 1 can be displaced forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle without the risk of injury, wherein this displacement movement is damped by the damping device 7.

[0034] Figure 5 and Figure 6 shows another embodiment, in which the vehicle seat 1 in the vehicle 6 can rotate about the vertical axis as the axis of rotation about the swivel bearing 4 as in the previous embodiment. The vehicle seat 1 is additionally provided with an additional counterweight 10 in the region of the front edge of the seat surface 2, which moves the overall center of gravity of the vehicle seat 1 towards the front edge of the seat. Thus, the center of gravity of the vehicle seat 1 is located between the additional counterweight 10 and the swivel bearing 4. In the event of a collision 8, the vehicle 6 together with the vehicle seat 1 undergoes a rapid deceleration, so that the vehicle seat 1 is subjected to a restoring torque 11 ( Figure 6 ) about the vertical axis of the swivel bearing 4, wherein this torque 11 endeavors to orient the vehicle seat 1 towards the basic position pointing forward along the front edge of its seat surface 2. In this basic position, safety devices, such as vehicle seat belts and airbag systems, exert their best effect.

[0035] Alternatively, the additional counterweight 10 can also be located on the opposite side relative to the swivel bearing 4, for example at the height of the backrest 3. Correspondingly, the center of gravity of the vehicle seat is in a position displaced backward towards the backrest 3, so that in the event of a collision, the backrest 3 rotates forward and the person on the vehicle seat 1 sits in the direction opposite to the driving direction.

[0036] In accordance with Figure 5 and Figure 6In the embodiment, the switching element for activating the damping device 7 can be omitted. Due to the self - resetting characteristic, once a sharp deceleration acts on the vehicle, the vehicle seat 1 always rotates to the desired rotational position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat having a damping device (7) for damped support of the vehicle seat (1) in a vehicle (6), characterized in that, The vehicle seat (1) is a swivel seat and is rotatable about a vertical axis via a swivel bearing (4), and the damping device (7) includes a switching element (9) which is switchable between a fixed position and a release position, wherein in the fixed position the vehicle seat (1) is fixed in a damping direction orthogonal to the vertical axis, the release position releases the vehicle seat (1), and in the release position damping is exerted on the movement of the vehicle seat in the vehicle (6) in the damping direction, wherein the switching element (9) is switchable from the fixed position to the release position as a function of the angle of rotation of the vehicle seat (1) about the vertical axis.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, Only when the angle of rotation of the vehicle seat (1) relative to the basic position pointing in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (5) exceeds a threshold value, can the switching element (9) be switched from the fixed position to the release position in this case.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, characterized in that, The threshold value is at least 45°, preferably at least 60°.

4. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The damping direction points in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (5).

5. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The damping element of the damping device (7) is a deformable structural element having, for example, a honeycomb structure.

6. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The switching element (9) is switchable between the fixed position and the release position as a function of the force acting on the vehicle seat.

7. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The switching element (9) is switchable from the fixed position to the release position as a function of the deployment of the airbag.

8. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The switching element (9) is switchable between the fixed position and the release position by means of an actuator, or the switching element is an actuator.

9. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The actuator for actuating the switching element (9) is a pyrotechnic actuator or an electromagnetic actuator or an electric actuator.

10. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The vehicle seat (1) is a swivel seat and is rotatable about a vertical axis via a swivel bearing (4), wherein the swivel bearing (4) is arranged at a distance from the center of gravity of the vehicle seat (1).

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 10, characterized in that, An additional counterweight (10) is integrated into the vehicle seat (1) in order to shift the center of gravity.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The horizontal distance of the swivel bearing (4) from the front side of the vehicle seat is greater than the horizontal distance of the center of gravity of the vehicle seat (1) from the front side of the vehicle seat.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The horizontal distance of the swivel bearing (4) from the front side of the vehicle seat is less than the horizontal distance of the center of gravity of the vehicle seat (1) from the front side of the vehicle seat.

14. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, A rotational damper element is arranged in or at the swivel bearing (4).

15. A vehicle having a vehicle seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

Images