Suspension systems and vehicle seats

Abstract

This prevents the air spring from becoming unbalanced when the control unit is operated under abnormal conditions, such as when the power is off. [Solution] This suspension device includes an air valve 68 located in the middle of pipes 92, 94, and 96 connecting an air supply source 90 and an air spring 54, a normally closed solenoid valve 70 located in the middle of pipes 94, 94 connecting the air spring 54 and the air valve 68, and a height lever 72 that is mechanically connected to the air valve 68 and, when operated, puts the air valve 68 into an air supply state or an exhaust state. The control device 100 energizes the lock mechanism 60 when the height sensor detects the operating state of the height lever 72. The control device 100 opens the solenoid valve 70 when the height sensor detects the operating state of the height lever 72, the unlock sensor detects the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 60, and the lock sensor does not detect the locked state of the lock mechanism 60.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a suspension device for a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle seat provided with a suspension device. In this vehicle seat, the suspension device is disposed below the seat body. This suspension device includes an air spring, an air valve provided between the air spring and a compressed air supply source, a lock mechanism for locking a change in the height of the vehicle seat, a control unit for controlling the lock mechanism, and an operation unit operated by an occupant. In this suspension device, when the operation unit is operated upward or downward, the air valve is mechanically brought into an air supply state or an exhaust state, air supply or exhaust to the air spring is performed, and the control unit energizes the lock mechanism to release the lock of the lock mechanism. As a result, the height of the seat body is changed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above prior art, when the operation unit is operated under abnormal conditions such as when there is no power supply, the air valve is mechanically brought into an air supply state or an exhaust state, air supply or exhaust to the air spring is performed, while the lock mechanism is not energized, so the lock of the lock mechanism is not released. As a result, the balance between the load applied to the suspension device and the internal pressure of the air spring is disrupted, so when the lock of the lock mechanism is released later, there is a risk that the height of the seat body will be inadvertently changed.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a suspension device and a vehicle seat that can prevent the balance of the air spring from being disrupted when the operating part is operated under abnormal conditions such as when there is no power supply. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The suspension device of the first embodiment includes a lifting mechanism that connects the seat body of a vehicle seat to the floor of the vehicle so that it can be raised and lowered; an air spring connected to an air supply source provided in the vehicle, which raises and lowers the lifting mechanism by supplying and exhausting air; a locking mechanism that locks the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting mechanism and releases the lock when energized; an air valve provided in the middle of the piping connecting the air supply source and the air spring; a normally closed solenoid valve provided in the middle of the piping connecting the air spring and the air valve; and a mechanism that is mechanically connected to the air valve and operates The system includes an operating unit that puts the air valve into an air supply state or an exhaust state, a height sensor that detects the operating state of the operating unit, an unlock sensor that detects the unlock state of the lock mechanism, a lock sensor that detects the locked state of the lock mechanism, and a control device that energizes the lock mechanism when the height sensor detects the operating state, and opens the solenoid valve when the height sensor detects the operating state, the unlock sensor detects the unlock state, and the lock sensor does not detect the locked state.

[0007] In the suspension system of the first embodiment, the lifting mechanism connects the seat body of a vehicle seat to the floor of the vehicle so that it can move up and down. An air spring is connected to an air supply source provided in the vehicle, and the lifting mechanism moves up and down by supplying and exhausting air. A locking mechanism locks the lifting movement of the lifting mechanism and releases the locking mechanism when energized. An air valve is provided in the middle of the piping connecting the air supply source and the air spring, and a normally closed solenoid valve is provided in the middle of the piping connecting the air spring and the air valve. An operating unit is mechanically connected to the air valve and, when operated, sets the air valve to an air supply state or an exhaust state. A height sensor detects the operating state when the operating unit is being operated, an unlock sensor detects the unlocked state of the locking mechanism, and a lock sensor detects the locked state of the locking mechanism.

[0008] When the height sensor detects the operating state of the operating part, the control unit energizes the locking mechanism. This releases the lock on the locking mechanism and sets the air valve to either an air supply or exhaust state. Furthermore, in this state, the height sensor detects the operating state of the operating part, the unlock sensor detects the unlocked state of the locking mechanism, and the lock sensor does not detect the locked state of the locking mechanism, so the control unit opens the solenoid valve. This allows for air supply or exhaust to the air spring. On the other hand, if the operating part is operated under abnormal conditions, such as when there is no power, the locking mechanism is not energized, and therefore the lock on the locking mechanism is not released. In such cases, the unlock sensor does not detect the unlocked state of the locking mechanism, and the lock sensor does not detect the locked state of the locking mechanism, so the solenoid valve is not opened by the control unit. As a result, the air supply or exhaust to the air spring remains shut off, preventing an imbalance between the load on the suspension system and the internal pressure of the air spring.

[0009] The second embodiment of the vehicle seat comprises a seat body on which the vehicle occupant sits, and a suspension device of the first embodiment that connects the seat body to the floor of the vehicle so as to be able to move up and down by the lifting mechanism.

[0010] In the second embodiment of the vehicle seat, the seat body on which the vehicle occupant sits is connected to the vehicle floor so as to be able to move up and down by a lifting mechanism of the suspension device. Since this suspension device is the same as that of the first embodiment, the effects described above are obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] As described above, the suspension device and vehicle seat according to the present invention can prevent the balance of the air spring from being disrupted when the operating part is operated under abnormal conditions such as when there is no power supply. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing a suspension device for a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing a part of a suspension device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a system diagram showing a part of the hardware configuration of the suspension device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a truth table for the valve control circuit of the suspension device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a circuit diagram showing the logic circuit of the valve control circuit of the suspension device according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, a vehicle seat 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of clarity. Also, the arrows FR, LH, and UP shown in Figures 1 and 2 indicate the front, left, and top of the vehicle seat 10, respectively. Hereafter, when simply referring to the front, back, left, right, up, and down directions, these directions will be in relation to the vehicle seat 10.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment comprises a seat body 11 on which the occupant sits and a suspension device 12. The seat body 11 comprises a seat cushion 11A that supports the occupant's buttocks and thighs, a seat back 11B that supports the occupant's back, and a headrest 11C that supports the occupant's head.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the suspension device 12 is an air suspension device and comprises a pair of left and right lower rails 14, a pair of left and right upper rails 15, a pair of left and right X-links 16, an upper bracket 36, a lower bracket 40, and an air spring 54. The pair of left and right lower rails 14, the pair of left and right upper rails 15, and the pair of left and right X-links 16 constitute the lifting mechanism 13.

[0016] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the suspension device 12 includes a locking mechanism 60, an air valve 68, a solenoid valve 70, a height lever 72 which is an operating part, an unlock sensor 74, a lock sensor 76, a height sensor 78, a control ECU 102, and a valve control circuit 104. The control ECU 102 and the valve control circuit 104 constitute the control device 100. This suspension device 12 is a damping device that suppresses the transmission of vibrations of the vehicle body during vehicle operation to the seat body 11 of the vehicle seat, and is located below the seat body 11.

[0017] The left and right lower rails 14 are each formed of, for example, a press-formed metal plate material, and are elongated in the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. Each lower rail 14 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section that is open on the inner side in the left-right direction when viewed in the front-rear direction. Each lower rail 14 is fixed to the floor of the vehicle via brackets (not shown).

[0018] The left and right upper rails 15 are arranged parallel to each other above the left and right lower rails 14. The left and right upper rails 15 are each formed of, for example, a press-formed metal plate material, and are elongated in the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. Each upper rail 15 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section that is open on the inner side in the left-right direction when viewed in the front-rear direction. These upper rails 15 are connected to the left and right lower rails 14 via the left and right X-links 16. The seat body 11 is connected to these upper rails 15 via, for example, a well-known seat slide mechanism.

[0019] Each X-link 16 is configured by combining a pair of link arms 18 and 20 in an X-shape. The pair of link arms 18 and 20 are each formed of, for example, a press-formed metal plate material, and are elongated in the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction with the left-right direction as the plate thickness direction. One link arm 18 is inclined upward as it goes forward, and the other link arm 20 is inclined downward as it goes forward. The middle portions in the longitudinal direction of the pair of link arms 18 and 20 are connected to each other via a link shaft 22. The link shaft 22 has its axis in the left-right direction, and the pair of link arms 18 and 20 are relatively rotatable about the axis of the link shaft 22.

[0020] One link arm 18 of the left and right X-links 16 has a front end fixed to the upper slide shaft 24 and a rear end fixed to the lower rotation shaft 26. The other link arm 20 of the left and right X-links 16 has a front end fixed to the lower slide shaft 28 and a rear end fixed to the upper rotation shaft 30. The upper slide shaft 24, the lower rotation shaft 26, the lower slide shaft 28, and the upper rotation shaft 30 are constituted by, for example, metal pipe materials and are arranged with the left-right direction as the axial direction. The link arms 18 and 20 are fixed to the upper slide shaft 24, the lower rotation shaft 26, the lower slide shaft 28, and the upper rotation shaft 30 by means such as welding.

[0021] The upper slide shaft 24 is inserted inside the front parts of the left and right upper rails 15 and is slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the left and right upper rails 15. Both left and right ends in the left-right direction of the lower slide shaft 28 are inserted inside the front parts of the left and right lower rails 14 and are slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the left and right lower rails 14.

[0022] Both left and right ends in the left-right direction of the lower rotation shaft 26 are inserted inside the rear ends of the left and right lower rails 14 and are rotatably supported by the rear ends of the left and right lower rails 14 via bearing members. Both left and right ends in the left-right direction of the upper rotation shaft 30 are inserted inside the rear ends of the left and right upper rails 15 and are rotatably supported by the rear ends of the left and right upper rails 15 via bearing members.

[0023] In the suspension device 12 configured as described above, with the lower rotation shaft 26 as a fulcrum, the left and right X-links 16 expand and contract synchronously, whereby the left and right upper rails 15 move up and down in the vertical direction with respect to the left and right lower rails 14. Specifically, when the left and right upper rails 15 rise, the left and right X-links 16 extend upward so that the inclination directions of the pair of link arms 18 and 20 approach the vertical direction. At this time, the upper slide shaft 24 and the lower slide shaft 28 slide linearly rearward with respect to the left and right upper rails 15 and the left and right lower rails 14 and approach the upper rotation shaft 30 and the lower rotation shaft 26.

[0024] On the other hand, when the left and right upper rails 15 descend toward the left and right lower rails 14, the left and right X links 16 retract downward so that the inclination direction of the pair of link arms 18 and 20 approaches the front-rear direction. At this time, the upper slide shaft 24 and the lower slide shaft 28 slide linearly forward relative to the left and right upper rails 15 and left and right lower rails 14, and move away from the upper rotation shaft 30 and the lower rotation shaft 26.

[0025] An upper bracket 36 is spanned between one link arm 18 of the left X-link 16 and one link arm 18 of the right X-link 16. The upper bracket 36 is made of, for example, a press-formed metal plate, and is a long plate with its length in the left-right direction and its thickness in the approximately vertical direction. The upper bracket 36 is positioned above the left and right link arms 18, behind the link shaft 22, and is fixed to the left and right link arms 18.

[0026] Below the upper bracket 36, the lower brackets 40 are positioned on the underside of the left and right lower rails 14. The lower brackets 40 are made of, for example, a press-formed metal plate, and are elongated in shape with their length in the left-right direction and their thickness in the approximately vertical direction. The lower brackets 40 are positioned on the underside of the left and right lower rails 14, behind the link shaft 22, and are fixed to the left and right lower rails 14.

[0027] An air spring 54 is positioned between the upper bracket 36 and the lower bracket 40. Note that the upper bracket 36 and the lower bracket 40 are not shown in Figures 3 and 4. The air spring 54 is cylindrical in shape with its axis approximately in the vertical direction. The upper end of the air spring 54 is fixed to the upper bracket 36, and the lower end of the air spring 54 is fixed to the lower bracket 40. This air spring 54 receives a compressive load between the upper bracket 36 and the lower bracket 40, biasing the upper bracket 36 upward relative to the lower bracket 40. This air spring 54 deforms elastically with the expansion and contraction of the X-link 16, i.e., the raising and lowering of the upper rail 15.

[0028] The suspension system 12 includes a damper (not shown) that absorbs vibrations of the air spring 54. This damper is, for example, a hydraulic cylinder type. The load of the occupant seated on the seat body 11 is elastically supported by the air spring 54, and vibrations of the seat body 11 are absorbed by the damper. As shown in Figure 3, the air spring 54 is supplied with compressed air from an air supply source 90 via three pipes 92, 94, and 96. The air supply source 90 is, for example, an air compressor that constitutes the vehicle's air brake system, and the three pipes 92, 94, and 96 are, for example, air tubes. When air (compressed air) is supplied to the air spring 54, it expands upward, raising the height of the left and right upper rails 15 and the seat body 11. Conversely, when the air is exhausted, the air spring 54 contracts downward, lowering the height of the left and right upper rails 15 and the seat body 11.

[0029] An air valve 68 is provided between pipe 92 and pipe 94, that is, in the middle of the piping connecting the air supply source 90 and the air spring 54. A solenoid valve 70 is also provided between pipe 94 and pipe 96, that is, in the middle of the piping connecting the air spring 54 and the air valve 68. The air valve 68 is a mechanical valve and is connected to the height lever 72 via cable 98. The solenoid valve 70 is, for example, a normally closed single solenoid valve and is electrically connected to the valve control circuit 104, which will be described later. The height lever 72 corresponds to the "operating part" in this invention and is provided, for example, on the side of the seat cushion 11A (see Figure 1).

[0030] When the height lever 72 is operated to one side (see arrow R1 in Figure 3), the air valve 68 is in the supply air state. When the solenoid valve 70 is energized (i.e., opened) in this state, air from the air supply source 90 is supplied to the air spring 54 via piping 92, 94, and 96 (see arrow A1 in Figure 3). When the height lever 72 is operated to the other side (see arrow R2 in Figure 3), the air valve 68 is in the exhaust state. When the solenoid valve 70 is energized (i.e., opened) in this state, the air in the air spring 54 is exhausted (see arrow A2 in Figure 3).

[0031] In this suspension device 12, the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting mechanism 13 (i.e., the lifting and lowering of the left and right upper rails 15) can be locked by the locking mechanism 60 shown in Figure 3. The locking mechanism 60 comprises a pair of locking members 62 and 64 and an actuator 66 which is a drive source. The pair of locking members 62 and 64 are made of, for example, metal and have an elongated shape with their length in the vertical direction.

[0032] One locking member 62 is attached to one link arm 18 so as to be movable relative to it in the front-rear direction. This locking member 62 is, for example, pivotally supported at its upper end on one link arm 18 and is swingable in the front-rear direction. The other locking member 64 is fixed to the other link arm 20 and faces the one locking member 62 from the rear. One locking member 62 has a plurality of teeth (not shown in numerals) that protrude to the rear and are arranged vertically, while the other locking member 64 has a plurality of teeth (not shown in numerals) that protrude to the front and are arranged vertically.

[0033] The actuator 66, for example, includes a motor and is fixed to one of the link arms 18. When the motor is energized, the actuator 66 is configured to engage one locking member 62 with the other locking member 64 using the motor's driving force. Specifically, when the motor is energized, the actuator 66 moves the locking member 62 from the unlocked position shown in Figure 3 to a locked position (not shown). When the locking member 62 is in the locked position, the multiple teeth of the locking member 62 mesh with the multiple teeth of the locking member 64. This locks the extension and retraction of the X-link 16, i.e., the raising and lowering of the upper rail 15, and the suspension device 12 becomes inoperable. When the locking member 62 is in the unlocked position, the above meshing is released, and the extension and retraction of the X-link 16, i.e., the raising and lowering operation of the lifting mechanism 13 becomes possible.

[0034] The actuator 66 is electrically connected to the control ECU 102. The control ECU 102 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), storage, and input / output (I / O). The CPU, ROM, RAM, storage, and I / O I / F are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with one another.

[0035] The CPU is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls various components. Specifically, the CPU reads programs from ROM and executes them using RAM as a workspace. In this embodiment, programs are stored in ROM. ROM stores various programs and various data. RAM temporarily stores programs or data as a workspace. Storage consists of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores various programs, including the operating system.

[0036] The input / output interface is electrically connected to the vehicle power supply 86, which is a power supply installed in the vehicle, the actuator 66, the unlock sensor 74, the lock sensor 76, the height sensor 78, the lock switch 80, the seat belt reminder 82, and the buckle switch 84.

[0037] The unlock sensor 74 is, for example, a limit switch or Hall IC incorporated into the actuator 66, and indirectly detects whether the lock mechanism 60 is in an unlocked state by detecting the rotational position of the output shaft of the motor of the actuator 66. The lock sensor 76 outputs a high-level signal (Hi) when the lock mechanism 60 is in an unlocked state, and outputs a low-level signal (Lo) when the lock mechanism 60 is in a locked state.

[0038] The lock sensor 76 is, for example, a limit switch or Hall IC incorporated into the actuator 66, and indirectly detects whether the lock mechanism 60 is in a locked state by detecting the rotational position of the output shaft of the motor of the actuator 66. The lock sensor 76 outputs a high-level signal (Hi) when the lock mechanism 60 is in a locked state, and outputs a low-level signal (Lo) when the lock mechanism 60 is in an unlocked state.

[0039] The height sensor 78 is, for example, a rotary sensor or limit switch incorporated into the height lever 72, and detects whether or not the height lever 72 is being operated. The height sensor 78 outputs a high-level signal (Hi) when the height lever 72 is operated to one side or the other (hereinafter referred to as the "operated state"), and outputs a low-level signal (Lo) when the height lever 72 is not operated to one side or the other.

[0040] The lock switch 80 is a switch for operating the actuator 66 and is provided, for example, on the side of the seat cushion 11A (see Figure 1). The seat belt reminder 82 is a pressure sensor, for example, provided on the seat cushion 11A, which indirectly detects whether or not an occupant is seated on the seat body 11 by detecting the pressure applied to the seat cushion 11A by the occupant. The buckle switch 84 is provided on the buckle 83 of the seat belt device 81 (see Figure 1) provided on the seat body 11, and indirectly detects whether or not the occupant is wearing the seat belt 87 by detecting whether or not the tongue plate 85 is connected to the buckle 83.

[0041] The control ECU 102 is configured to energize the actuator 66 of the locking mechanism 60 when the lock switch 80 is operated while the seat belt reminder 82 and buckle switch 84 are ON. The control ECU 102 is also configured to energize the actuator 66 of the locking mechanism 60 when the height sensor 78 detects the operating state of the height lever 72.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, the vehicle power supply 86, lock sensor 76, unlock sensor 74, and height sensor 78 are electrically connected to a valve control circuit 104, separate from the control ECU 102 mentioned above. The valve control circuit 104 consists of an IF circuit, a control circuit, and a drive circuit. A solenoid valve 70 is electrically connected to this valve control circuit 104.

[0043] In the valve control circuit 104 described above, the logic circuit shown in Figure 6 is configured based on the truth table shown in Figure 5. This logic circuit consists of two AND gates and one NOT gate. In this logic circuit, when a high-level signal (Hi) is input from the height sensor 78, a high-level signal (Hi) is input from the unlock sensor 74, and a low-level signal (Lo) is input from the lock sensor 76, a high-level signal (Hi) is output. In this way, when a high-level signal is output from the logic circuit, the drive circuit of the valve control circuit 104 is configured to apply the voltage of the vehicle power supply 86 to the solenoid valve 70.

[0044] In other words, in this embodiment, the control device 100, which includes the valve control circuit 104 described above, is configured to energize the solenoid valve 70 (i.e., open the solenoid valve 70) only when the height sensor 78 detects the operating state of the height lever 72, the unlock sensor 74 detects the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 60, and the lock sensor 76 does not detect the locked state of the lock mechanism 60.

[0045] (Summary of the embodiments) In the vehicle seat 10 with the above configuration, the seat body 11 on which the vehicle occupant sits is connected to the vehicle floor so as to be able to move up and down by the lifting mechanism 13 of the suspension device 12. This suspension device 12 includes an air spring 54, a locking mechanism 60, an air valve 68, a solenoid valve 70, a height lever 72, a height sensor 78, an unlock sensor 74, a lock sensor 76, and a control device 100.

[0046] The air spring 54 is connected to an air supply source 90 provided in the vehicle, and the supply and exhaust of air causes the lifting mechanism 13 to move up and down. The locking mechanism 60 locks the lifting movement of the lifting mechanism 13, and the locking mechanism 60 is released when power is supplied. An air valve 68 is provided between the pipes 92 and 94 that connect the air supply source 90 and the air spring 54, and a solenoid valve 70 is provided between the pipes 94 and 96 that connect the air spring 54 and the air valve 68.

[0047] The height lever 72 is mechanically connected to the air valve 68 via a cable 98, and when operated, it puts the air valve 68 into an air supply state or an air exhaust state. The height sensor 78 detects the operating state of the height lever 72, the unlock sensor 74 detects the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 60, and the lock sensor 76 detects the locked state of the lock mechanism 60.

[0048] The control device 100 consists of a control ECU 102 and a valve control circuit 104. When the height sensor 78 detects the operating state of the height lever 72, that is, when the height lever 72 is being operated, the control device 100 energizes the lock mechanism 60. This releases the lock of the lock mechanism 60 and sets the air valve 68 to either an air supply or exhaust state. Furthermore, in this state, the height sensor 78 detects the operating state of the height lever 72, the unlock sensor 74 detects the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 60, and the lock sensor 76 does not detect the locked state of the lock mechanism 60, so the control device 100 opens the solenoid valve 70. This allows air to be supplied to or exhausted from the air spring 54.

[0049] On the other hand, if the height lever 72 is operated under abnormal conditions, such as when there is no power, the lock mechanism 60 will not be energized, and therefore the lock mechanism 60 will not be released. In such a case, the unlock sensor 74 will not detect the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 60, and the lock sensor 76 will not fail to detect the locked state of the lock mechanism 60, so the solenoid valve 70 will not be opened by the control device 100. As a result, the supply or exhaust of air to the air spring 54 will remain shut off, preventing an imbalance between the load on the suspension device 12 and the internal pressure of the air spring 54. Consequently, when the lock mechanism 60 is subsequently released, it is possible to prevent the height of the seat body 11 from being unintentionally changed.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the above effects can be obtained with minimal modification, simply by adding a valve control system S2 consisting of a valve control circuit 104 and a solenoid valve 70 to the conventional control system S1. Moreover, in this embodiment, the logic circuit of the valve control circuit 104 can be constructed using a logic IC without using a microcontroller. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the logic circuit can also be constructed using transistors or the like without using a logic IC. Therefore, the valve control circuit 104 can be made inexpensive and simple.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the X-link 16 is configured as a lifting mechanism, but this is not the only configuration. A well-known mechanism such as a sliding mechanism can be used as the lifting mechanism.

[0052] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from its spirit. Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 10 Vehicle seats 11 Seat Body 12 Suspension System 13 Lifting mechanism 54 Air springs 60 Locking mechanism 70 Solenoid valve 72 Height lever (operating part) 74 Unlock Sensor 76 Lock Sensor 78 Height Sensor 90 Air supply source 92, 94, 96 Piping 100 Control device

Claims

1. A lifting mechanism that connects the seat body of a vehicle seat to the floor of the vehicle so that it can be raised and lowered, An air spring connected to an air supply source provided in the vehicle, which causes the lifting mechanism to move up and down by supplying and exhausting air, A locking mechanism that locks the lifting motion of the aforementioned lifting mechanism and releases the lock when power is supplied, An air valve is provided in the middle of the piping connecting the air supply source and the air spring, A normally closed solenoid valve is provided in the middle of the piping connecting the air spring and the air valve, An operating unit is mechanically connected to the air valve and, when operated, causes the air valve to be in an air supply state or an air exhaust state. A height sensor detects the operating state in which the aforementioned operating unit is being operated, An unlock sensor for detecting the unlocked state of the locking mechanism, A lock sensor for detecting the locked state of the locking mechanism, A control device that energizes the locking mechanism when the height sensor detects the operating state, and opens the solenoid valve when the height sensor detects the operating state, the unlock sensor detects the unlocked state, and the lock sensor does not detect the locked state, A suspension system equipped with this device.

2. The seat itself in which the vehicle's occupants sit, The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the seat body is connected to the floor of the vehicle so as to be able to move up and down by the lifting mechanism, A vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

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