Industrial machinery cushions

Abstract

To provide a cushion for industrial machinery that can keep an operator comfortable. [Solution] The industrial machinery cushion 1, which can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery such as heavy machinery, comprises a seat portion 2 and a backrest portion 3 formed of breathable and moisture-permeable cushioning material, and air supply fans 23, 33 for drawing outside air into the seat portion 2 and the backrest portion 3, and is configured so that the air inside the seat portion 2 and the backrest portion 3 is exhausted to the outside. The industrial machinery cushion 1 also comprises Peltier elements 22, 32 disposed on the seat surface 2a of the seat portion 2 and the backrest surface 3a of the backrest portion 3, respectively.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cushion for industrial machinery used in the driver's seat of industrial machinery such as heavy machinery. [Background technology]

[0002] Various technologies have been proposed to support operators of industrial machinery such as heavy machinery. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a heavy machinery operator's seat that includes a thorax / abdominal support member attached to at least a pad member at the front edge of the seat, facing the backrest, and that is height-adjustable and elastically supported so that it can tilt forward and return to its original position with its base end as a fulcrum. With this heavy machinery operator's seat, the pad member of the thorax / abdominal support member abuts against the operator's thorax / abdominal area when the operator leans forward, pressing in the return direction, thereby reducing or eliminating the forward tilt moment of the upper body and reducing the strain on the lower back and spine associated with work. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-95549 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the case of industrial machinery, many of them are equipped with open-type operator seats without cabins (operating rooms), which poses the problem of significantly reducing the comfort of the operator during hot periods.

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its main object is to provide a cushion for industrial machinery that can keep the operator comfortable even in the summer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention provides an industrial machinery cushion that can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery, and is equipped with a seat and a backrest made of a breathable and moisture-permeable cushioning material, and an air intake section for taking in outside air into the seat and the backrest, and is configured so that the air inside the seat and the backrest is discharged to the outside.

[0007] In the above aspect, the air supply section may be provided in each of the seat section and the backrest section.

[0008] In addition, in the above aspect, the seat portion and the backrest portion may have a seat surface and a backrest surface, respectively, and may further include a Peltier element having a heat transfer surface for cooling or heating, and arranged on the seat surface and the backrest surface.

[0009] Another aspect of the industrial machinery cushion is an industrial machinery cushion that can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery, and includes a seat portion formed of a breathable and moisture-permeable cushioning material, and an air intake portion for taking in outside air into the seat portion, and is configured so that the air inside the seat portion is discharged to the outside.

[0010] Another aspect of the industrial machinery cushion is an industrial machinery cushion that can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery, and includes a backrest portion formed from a cushioning material that is breathable and moisture-permeable, and an air intake portion for taking in outside air into the backrest portion, and is configured so that the air inside the backrest portion is expelled to the outside.

[0011] In the above aspect, the cushioning material may be a three-dimensional network fiber structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] This invention makes it possible to maintain the comfort of the operator even in the summer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an industrial machinery cushion according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the cushion for industrial machinery. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an industrial machinery cushion according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an industrial machinery cushion according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of devices that embody the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the following. Various modifications can be made to the technical concept of the present invention within the technical scope described in the utility model claims.

[0015] The industrial machinery cushion of this embodiment can be retrofitted to the operator's seat of industrial machinery that requires long periods of seated work, such as heavy machinery, forklifts, agricultural machinery, and construction machinery. In particular, in recent years, an increasing number of industrial machines have adopted open-type operator's seats that do not have a cabin (operation room), and there are many cases where the comfort of the operator is significantly reduced in direct sunlight or in hot environments. The industrial machinery cushion of this embodiment is primarily designed to reduce the operator's perceived temperature and prevent excessive sweating and stuffiness, even in such environments.

[0016] 1 and 2 are a perspective view showing the external configuration of an industrial machinery cushion according to this embodiment, and a side cross-sectional view showing its internal structure, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1, the industrial machinery cushion (hereinafter simply referred to as "cushion") 1 integrally comprises a seat portion (seat cushion) 2 and a backrest portion (seat back) 3. The seat portion 2 and backrest portion 3 are used by placing them on the seat surface and back of the original seat of the industrial machinery.

[0017] The seat 2 comprises a seat body 21 with a seat surface 2a on which an industrial machinery operator sits, multiple Peltier elements 22 that regulate the temperature of the seat surface 2a, and an air supply fan 23 that introduces outside air into the seat body 21. The seat body 21 is made of a rectangular cushioning material and, as will be described later, is made of a three-dimensional network fiber structure, which provides high breathability. It also elastically deforms appropriately in response to the operator's load and has excellent vibration absorption properties, providing a stable and comfortable ride even in the vibration environment typical of heavy machinery.

[0018] In this embodiment, four Peltier elements 22 are used, arranged in two rows and two columns in the central region of the seat surface 2a. The Peltier elements 22 have a heat transfer surface that performs cooling or heating operations depending on the outside air temperature, the operator's body temperature, and the operating environment. This heat transfer surface is arranged in close contact with the seat main body 21, and provides a direct temperature adjustment effect to the operator's buttocks. However, the number and position of the Peltier elements 22 are not limited to this.

[0019] The intake fan 23 is used to forcibly send outside air into the seat body 21. Although FIG. 1 only shows the intake fan 23 provided on the left side of the seat body 21, a similar intake fan 23 is provided on the right side of the seat body 21. The intake fan 23 operates when connected to the power source of the industrial machine, and draws relatively cool outside air into the cushion. Depending on the usage environment and the required ventilation volume, the intake fan 23 can be installed on the front or rear side, or multiple intake fans 23 can be installed on each of the left and right sides.

[0020] The backrest 3 comprises a backrest main body 31 having a backrest surface 3a that supports the back and lower back of the operator, a Peltier element 32 that regulates the temperature of the back, and an air supply fan 33 that introduces outside air into the backrest main body 31. The backrest main body 31 is also formed from a three-dimensional reticular fiber structure, and has a structure that allows air to pass easily in the thickness direction, making it difficult for heat and moisture to accumulate between the operator's back and the back.

[0021] Four Peltier elements 32 are also used in the backrest, and like the seat-side Peltier elements 22 described above, they are arranged in two rows and two columns in the center of the backrest surface 3a. Because the amount of heat dissipated from the back varies greatly depending on the operator's posture and workload, temperature control on the back side has a significant impact on the operator's physical sensation. In this embodiment, it is possible to significantly reduce stuffiness that occurs from the back of the operator, even in summer. However, the number and positions of the Peltier elements 32 are not limited to this.

[0022] The intake fan 33 is used to forcibly send outside air into the backrest main body 31. Although FIG. 1 only shows the intake fan 33 provided on the left side of the backrest main body 31, a similar intake fan 33 is provided on the right side of the backrest main body 31. The intake fan 33 operates when connected to the power source of the industrial machine, and draws relatively cool outside air into the cushion. Depending on the usage environment and the required ventilation volume, the intake fan 33 can be installed on the upper side, or multiple intake fans 33 can be installed on both the left and right sides.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the seat body 21 includes a first cushion material 21a and a first cushion cover 21b that covers it. Similarly, the backrest body 31 includes a second cushion material 31a and a second cushion cover 31b. The ends of the first cushion material 21a and the second cushion material 31a are continuous, forming a single cushion material that extends from the seat surface to the back. This ensures an air circulation path, allowing air taken into the seat body 21 and the backrest body 31 to be expelled to the outside.

[0024] As described above, the air taken into the seat body 21 and the backrest body 31 is discharged to the outside, but because the underside of the seat body 21 contacts the seat of the operator's seat of the industrial machinery and the back of the backrest body 31 similarly contacts the back of the operator's seat, air is not discharged from the underside of the seat body 21 or the back of the backrest body 31, but is mainly discharged from the upper surface of the seat body 21 and the front surface of the backrest body 31. This allows air to be discharged toward the back of the buttocks and thighs of the operator sitting on the cushion 1, improving the comfort of the operator.

[0025] As described above, the use of a three-dimensional reticular fiber structure for the first cushion material 21a and the second cushion material 31a improves body pressure distribution, resistance to sagging, breathability, and moisture permeability. Similarly, the first cushion cover 21b and the second cushion cover 31b are made of a breathable material, allowing air and moisture to easily escape. Therefore, even if an operator works for long periods of time in a hot and humid environment, moisture and heat are less likely to accumulate inside the seat portion 2 and the backrest portion 3.

[0026] In this embodiment, the seat 2 and backrest 3 are provided with Peltier elements 22 and 32, respectively, which cool the heat transfer surface in the summer and heat it in the winter, allowing the operator to experience a comfortable temperature throughout the year. In particular, as the temperature is regulated directly on the buttocks and back, which tend to get stuffy, this has the advantage of being more comfortable and responsive than a typical air-blowing seat.

[0027] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, the cushion 1 includes both the seat portion 2 and the backrest portion 3, but it may include either one of them. FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of an industrial machinery cushion that includes only a seat portion. As shown in FIG. 3, the industrial machinery cushion 4 includes a seat main body 41 having a seat surface 4a on which an operator sits, and a Peltier element 42, similar to the seat portion 2 included in the cushion 1 of the above embodiment. In addition, an air supply fan 43 is provided on the left side of the seat main body 41, and another air supply fan (not shown) is provided on the right side. This configuration can easily accommodate cases where the original backrest portion is used or where ventilation function is to be added only to the seat side.

[0028] 4 shows an example of the configuration of an industrial machinery cushion that includes only a backrest portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the industrial machinery cushion 5, like the backrest portion 3 included in the cushion 1 of the above embodiment, includes a backrest main body 51 having a backrest surface 5a that supports the back and waist of the operator, and a Peltier element 52. An air supply fan 53 is provided on the left side of the backrest main body 51, and another air supply fan (not shown) is provided on the right side. In this industrial machinery cushion 5, like the cushion 1, air flows within the backrest main body 51, thereby maintaining the comfort of the operator.

[0029] In the above-described embodiment, a three-dimensional network fiber structure is used as the first cushion material 21a and the second cushion material 31a, but the present invention is not limited to this. The optimum cushion material can be selected depending on the actual application, operating environment, manufacturing costs, etc. For example, various cushion materials such as those shown below can be used in combination as appropriate. (1) Urethane foam It is also possible to use soft polyurethane foam, which is widely used as a cushioning material for general seats. Urethane foam has excellent moldability and its specific gravity and hardness can be easily adjusted, allowing for a comfortable seating experience tailored to the operator's weight and intended use. Its porous structure provides a certain level of breathability, so by combining it with an air supply fan, internal air circulation can be ensured. (2) Gel material A gel material with excellent body pressure dispersion properties may be used for at least a portion of the cushioning. The gel material can reduce localized pressure, contributing to reducing fatigue during long periods of piloting work. In addition, forming a ventilation layer around the gel material can ensure internal airflow. (3) Spring structure and air cushion structure Metal springs, resin springs, or air cells (air bags) may be used as part of the cushioning material. This will absorb the up-and-down vibrations of conventional seats and improve ride comfort against the back-and-forth swaying that is unique to heavy machinery. In the case of air cells, they may be configured to promote air flow in conjunction with an air exchange mechanism. (4) Multi-layered cushioning material It is also possible to comprehensively improve breathability, body pressure dispersion, and vibration absorption by creating a multi-layer structure by laminating a three-dimensional network fiber structure with urethane foam, gel sheets, etc. For example, one example is a configuration in which three-dimensional network fiber structures with excellent breathability are placed above and below, with urethane foam with high shock absorption placed between them. (5) Cushioning material with a mesh or hollow fiber structure It is also possible to use a mesh cushion material made of resin fibers woven into a net shape or a cushion material made of bundled hollow fibers. These materials have high breathability and moisture resistance, so they are well suited to the air circulation mechanism of this invention.

[0030] In this embodiment, no exhaust fan is provided to actively exhaust the air introduced into the seat body 21 and backrest body 31, but such a fan may be provided. For example, if the seat body 21 is provided with an intake fan and the backrest body 31 is provided with an exhaust fan, the air taken in from the seat by the intake fan will be exhausted from the exhaust fan in the backrest. This allows for one-way ventilation from bottom to top. Because heated air spontaneously rises due to natural convection, the air flow in this direction coincides with natural convection, enabling efficient ventilation. Furthermore, sufficient air circulation can be achieved even with a low airflow rate, reducing fan noise and power consumption. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Industrial machinery cushions 2 Seat part 2a Seat 21 Seat body 21a First cushion material 21b 1st cushion cover 22 Peltier element 23 Air supply fan 3 Backrest 3a Backrest 31 Backrest body 31a Second cushioning material 31b 2nd cushion cover 32 Peltier element 33 Air supply fan

Claims

1. A cushion for industrial machinery that can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery, a seat portion and a backrest portion formed of a breathable and moisture-permeable cushioning material; an air supply section for taking in outside air into the seat section and the backrest section; Equipped with The air in the seat and the backrest is discharged to the outside. Cushions for industrial machinery.

2. The air supply unit is provided in each of the seat and the backrest. The cushion for industrial machinery according to claim 1.

3. The seat portion and the backrest portion have a seat surface and a backrest surface, respectively; The seat cushion further includes a Peltier element having a heat transfer surface for cooling or heating, the Peltier element being disposed on the seat surface and the backrest surface. The cushion for industrial machinery according to claim 1.

4. A cushion for industrial machinery that can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery, a seat portion formed of a breathable and moisture-permeable cushioning material; an air intake section for taking in outside air into the seat; Equipped with The air in the seat is discharged to the outside. Cushions for industrial machinery.

5. A cushion for industrial machinery that can be installed in the operator's seat of industrial machinery, a backrest portion formed of a breathable and moisture-permeable cushioning material; an air intake section for taking outside air into the backrest section; Equipped with The air in the backrest is discharged to the outside. Cushions for industrial machinery.

6. The cushioning material is a three-dimensional network fiber structure.

6. The cushion for industrial machinery according to claim 1.

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