Pneumatic seat

Abstract

The present invention relates a pneumatic seat, wherein an air spring supports the weight on the seat (1), providing a solution that has a low natural frequency, thereby more effectively absorbing vibrations and impacts transmitted from the floor to the users of the vehicle. Said pneumatic seat is formed by an assembly comprising an elastic membrane which, when pressurised, acts as an air spring. When movements of the seat occur, the developed membrane rolls laterally over a lower support, avoiding the large variations in stiffness that occur in conventional bladders and, in this way, the present invention ensures user comfort. The geometry of the developed membrane incorporates an inner area that acts as a limiter of the lower travel of the seat, ensuring the absorption of higher-intensity impacts in a progressive manner and greatly reducing the transmission thereof to the user.

Description

[0001] PNEUMATIC SEAT

[0002] (001) The present patent application claims internal priority from patent application BR 10 2024 025569 0 of December 6, 2024.

[0003] Field of invention

[0004] (002) The present invention describes a pneumatic seat, more specifically a pneumatic seat for vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles or similar, which has a pneumatic spring to support the weight incident upon it, its main purpose being to absorb vibrations and impacts transmitted from the ground to the driver or passenger of the vehicle, hereinafter referred to as user(s). The low natural frequency of the system significantly increases user comfort, also providing significant protection to their health, as it reduces damage to their spine and organs in general, insofar as it significantly reduces the impacts caused by irregularities in the ground.

[0005] (003) The solution, according to the present invention, was made possible by using a conventional geometry seat supported by a pneumatic system acting as a low frequency pneumatic spring.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] (004) Most seats in the current state of the art use metal torsion or bending springs or elastic material to provide comfort to vehicle users; however, these solutions, due to the characteristics of these springs, do not allow obtaining the low and constant levels of natural frequency that are obtained with the pneumatic solution adopted in the present invention. It is unquestionable knowledge in the art that low natural frequencies are those that provide greater comfort to human beings. (005) All solutions in the current state of the art that use pneumatic systems to support seats and provide them with comfort adopt pneumatic bladders (bladders) to act as springs; however, it is characteristic of these bladders that when deformed under vertical load, they significantly increase their support area and, consequently, their spring constant.It is known in the art that the natural frequency of a system is directly proportional to its spring constant. Therefore, systems in the current state of the art, when subjected to vertical forces resulting from irregularities in the ground where the vehicle is traveling, have their air bladder deformed, greatly increasing their support area and spring constant, and consequently, their natural frequency, thus reducing the comfort they provide to the user. Air bladder solutions, despite their constructive simplicity, do not provide adequate user comfort.

[0008] (006) The pneumatic system according to the present invention has a pneumatic spring consisting of a membrane of elastic material which, when moving vertically (axially) under the effect of the acting forces, rolls laterally on a support, without the need to increase its support area and, consequently, without increasing its spring constant due to the increase in the support area. This ensures the present invention a low natural frequency and greater user comfort. This system also has the advantage that changes in the geometric shape of this support allow for maximizing comfort.

[0009] (007) The use of a pneumatic solution such as that developed according to the present invention, however, encounters great technical difficulties such as very limited physical space, functional solutions for fixing the components, limitation of the seat's displacement range and providing lateral stability in its movement, challenges and difficulties that have been overcome by the solutions developed in the present invention and at a compatible cost for the product.

[0010] (008) In addition to the difficulties mentioned above, it is known in the art that low frequencies, while maximizing comfort, can present the inconvenience of harmonic frequencies, and it is recommended that the system have a level of damping that reduces resonances and their discomfort. The present invention, for this purpose, has created a small air reservoir below the pressurized space of the membrane, such that, whenever any displacement of the seat occurs, a pressure differential is generated between the air contained in the pressurized space of the membrane and the pressurized air contained in the additional reservoir, forcing the air to circulate between them, through very small areas specially defined for this purpose, which generates friction, absorbing energy and consequently generating damping in the system.

[0011] (009) It is also known to science that systems with low spring constant and consequently low natural frequency can exhibit large displacements when subjected to strong impulses, such as those from large irregularities in the ground. Another characteristic of the present invention, which also differentiates it from the current state of the art, is that it has integrated into its elastic membrane a specially designed geometry protrusion so that, in the case of particularly strong impulses from the ground that bring the system to its end of travel, the energy of these impulses is absorbed by this protrusion, progressively, greatly reducing the impact transferred to the user. (010) To ensure the lateral stability of the system, according to the present invention which uses a low stiffness membrane, a central axis is used which also serves to separate the pressurized space of the membrane from the pressurized space of the lower air reservoir.The aforementioned shaft, according to the present invention, contains on its lower face a stroke-limiting washer which, upon contact with the protrusion on the supporting tube, limits the upper vertical displacement of the seat.

[0012] (01 1) The system according to the present invention has a pressurizing valve that allows maximizing user comfort by regulating the internal pressure according to the user's weight and also allowing variations in seat height without significant changes in its spring constant and comfort. It is very important to note that this is not possible in systems that use bladders as pneumatic springs, because these bladders have a spring constant that varies significantly according to their height. The present invention, therefore, is the only one in the current state of the art that allows maximizing user comfort by altering the internal pressure of the system and also allowing variations in height without significant changes in its spring constant and comfort.

[0013] (012) The system according to the present invention, and also unlike the current state of the art, allows the seat system to have its angle of attachment to the inserted tube adjusted by means of a slot in the external fixing plate. This is of particular relevance to confer versatility to the system, since the angle of inclination of the vehicle frame, where the inserted tube is housed, varies according to the make or model of the vehicle. (013) Solutions found in the current state of the art, such as US20130147151A1, US7431390 and EP1977962A1, use bladders as a pneumatic spring or, additionally, a great complexity such as solution US9440695, which requires air compressors for its operation.

[0014] (014) As can be seen, the current state of the art does not provide the main objective that a pneumatic system proposes, that is, to guarantee comfort to the user, presenting complex constructions that do not translate into benefit.

[0015] Objectives of the invention

[0016] (015) One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a seat that provides comfort and efficiently absorbs vibrations and impacts transmitted from the ground to the driver or passenger of the vehicle, with significant protection for their health.

[0017] Summary of the invention

[0018] (016) The pneumatic seat described in the present invention is formed by an assembly that has an elastic membrane which, when pressurized, acts as a pneumatic spring. When the seat moves, the developed membrane rolls laterally on a lower support, avoiding the large variations in spring constants that occur in traditional bladders and, in this way, the present invention ensures user comfort. The developed membrane incorporates in its geometry an internal area that acts as a limiter of the lower travel of the seat, ensuring the absorption of higher intensity impacts in a progressive manner and greatly reducing their transmission to the user.

[0019] Description of the drawings (017) To better understand the components and technical characteristics of the seat that is the subject of the present invention, the attached figures are presented, in which:

[0020] - Figure 1 represents a side view of the seat where the vehicle frame (3) can be observed, in which the inserted tube (4), the external fixing plate (8), the pneumatic membrane (5), the top cover (14), the seat (1) and the pressurizing valve (12) are inserted;

[0021] - Figure 2 represents a side view of the seat where we can observe the seat (1), fixed to the upper cover (14) where the pneumatic membrane (5) is fitted, which partially rests its lower face on the cylindrical support (7), which has the lower cover (16) where the pressurizing valve (12) is located. The inserted tube (4) is fixed to the cylindrical support (7) through the external plate (8). In Figure 2 and in the subsequent figures, the screws that fix the inserted tube (4) to the external fixing plates (8) are not shown, which allows visualization of the adjustment slot for the angle of the inserted tube;

[0022] - Figure 3 represents a side view in section where we can observe the seat (1), the top cover (14) which is fixed to the sliding shaft (6) by the top screw (15), the pressurized space of the membrane (17) and the pressurized space of the additional air reservoir (18), the curved surface (2) on which the pneumatic membrane (5) rolls when the seat (1) and consequently the top cover (14) and the top flange (9) move axially, carrying the pneumatic membrane (5) along with it; - Figure 4 represents a side view in section, where the seat (1) is in its lower stroke limit position and the inner projection of the pneumatic membrane (5) touches the lower face of the top flange (9);

[0023] - Figure 5 represents a side view in section, where the seat (1) is in its upper limit position and the limiting washer (10) rests against the shoulder of the cylindrical support (7).

[0024] Detailed description of the invention

[0025] (018) The pneumatic seat consists of a seat assembly. This seat assembly has a membrane that functions as a pneumatic spring and has the characteristic that when the seat moves axially, it rolls on a curved lower surface on which it rests, in such a way that its support area and, consequently, its spring constant does not change due to the area supporting the weight. Thus, the variation in spring constant is a consequence only of the volumetric variation, which, in the case of this membrane that rolls and has its lower part moving downwards, presents a reduced volumetric variation, maximizing user comfort. The assembly has a central guide shaft to provide linearity of movement and ensure lateral stability to the seat, having fixed to it a system limiting the upper travel of the seat, providing safety to users and preserving the integrity of the pneumatic membrane.

[0026] (019) The seat assembly, thanks to its constructive form and geometry, according to the present invention, has great versatility by using the same fastening system as the seats of vehicles already on the market, and can be easily adapted to these vehicles. (020) The developed seat has a tube on its lower part that inserts into the vehicle frame, in the same way as existing seats on the market, guaranteeing its great versatility.

[0027] (021) The pneumatic seat spring, according to the present invention, has a pressurizing valve that allows regulating the air pressure inside the membrane, adapting it to the weight of the users and thus optimizing their comfort. The pressure regulating valve is similar to that used in vehicle tires, making it very easy to use.

[0028] (022) The pressurized air that is contained by the pneumatic membrane in a hermetic manner maintains pressurization for an extremely long time, without the need for maintenance.

[0029] (023) The system has a lower air reservoir and the pressure difference between the air contained in this reservoir and the air contained in the membrane space, whenever the seat moves axially, causes the air to be forced to circulate between the reservoirs, passing through very small areas that generate friction and energy absorption, causing damping in the system.

[0030] (024) The geometry of the solution developed according to the present invention is extremely compact, which allows the seat used to have optimized ergonomic shapes.

[0031] (025) The present invention describes a construction system applied to vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles or similar, more specifically applied to their seats, which provides a significant improvement in the comfort and health of users by absorbing vibrations and impacts transmitted from the ground. The present construction system uses pressurized air to support the user's weight through a membrane whose geometry provides a low spring constant, which guarantees a low natural frequency solution, presenting as advantages, in relation to the current state of the art, a better absorption of vibrations and impacts transmitted from the ground to the users.

[0032] (026) The solution developed, according to the present invention, uses a pneumatic spring consisting of a flexible membrane containing pressurized air that deforms elastically to allow the vertical linear movement of the seat, rolling on a lower curved surface, in such a way that it does not alter its support area and guarantees a lower spring constant, which does not occur with the bladders used in the current state of the art. The pneumatic membrane is fixed to an upper closing flange. This fixing can have its geometry constructed in different ways, without altering the spirit of the present invention.

[0033] (027) The pneumatic membrane incorporates in its geometry a central region designed to act as a limiter of the lower travel of the seat, when it comes into contact with the inner face of the upper flange. This innovative membrane geometry acts on high-intensity impacts, in order to absorb a large part of their energy, thus preventing it from being transmitted to the user.

[0034] (028) The upper closing flange of the pneumatic membrane also serves to support a closing cover of the assembly, where the user's seat is fixed. The compact size of the assembly and its flat upper surface allow the use of seats with a wide variety of ergonomic geometries, providing great versatility to this invention. (029) Internally to the pneumatic membrane there is a shaft fixed to the upper flange that slides axially in a linear fashion within a cylindrical support that contains the curved lower support surface of the membrane, where it is fixed.

[0035] (030) The tube that inserts into the vehicle frame is fixed to this cylindrical support. As this method of seat attachment is the usual one on the market, the pneumatic seat according to the present invention has the versatility to be used in a wide variety of vehicles on the market.

[0036] (031) The vertical shaft has a washer fixed to its lower face which, when it interferes with the cylindrical support, when the seat moves vertically upwards, acts as a limiter of the upper stroke of the seat, ensuring safety to the system and preserving the life of the membrane.

[0037] (032) The cylindrical support has a hermetically sealed cap on its underside, where the system's pressurizing valve is located. This valve is similar to that used in the tires of this type of vehicle, allowing the user to pressurize the system with the same equipment used in their tires. The use of this valve provides the present invention with the additional advantage of allowing the system to adapt the seat to the weight of the users, optimizing their comfort. The upper flange together with the membrane, the cylindrical support and the lower cap form a hermetically sealed space that contains the pressurized air.

[0038] (033) The constructive solution for pneumatic seat support, according to the present invention, can be obtained in various constructive forms and different geometries, without altering the spirit of the present invention. (034) The rigid components developed for the present invention can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials such as steel, aluminum or engineering plastics, without altering the spirit of the present invention.

[0039] (035) The present invention proposes a new solution for supporting weight on the seat of vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles or similar, by means of a pneumatic spring that provides better comfort and protection to the user's health.

[0040] (036) A characteristic of the present invention is a constructive arrangement introduced in seats of vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles or similar, where the seat support and weight bearing is made by a pneumatic spring consisting of an elastic membrane that rolls laterally on a curved surface, maintaining its support area constant and consequently its spring constant does not vary as a result of this area, which translates into a lower natural frequency and better absorption of impacts and vibrations transmitted from the ground to the vehicle user.

[0041] (037) It is characteristic of the present invention that the geometry of the membrane that performs the function of a pneumatic spring rolls over a curved lower surface when the vehicle seat moves, in such a way that its support surface and its natural frequency remain practically constant, maximizing comfort.

[0042] (038) It is characteristic of the present invention that the geometry of the membrane that performs the function of a pneumatic spring, by having a practically constant natural frequency as a function of its height, allows the user's comfort to be maximized by altering the internal pressure of the system.

[0043] (039) It is characteristic of the present invention to have an additional lower air reservoir, such that during the axial movement of the seat a pressure differential is generated between the air in this reservoir and the air contained in the membrane space, forcing a transfer of air from one reservoir to the other through a very small area, which generates friction and consequent loss of energy in the system, causing its damping. The pressure differential between the reservoirs occurs because the membrane, when rolling laterally over the curved surface, generates a volume variation different from that which the shaft promotes in the lower reservoir.

[0044] (040) It is characteristic of the present invention that the pneumatic membrane has its upper edge fixed to a flange and a cap, in a hermetic manner, and the vehicle seat is fixed to this cap. Variations in this form of fixation do not alter the spirit of this invention.

[0045] (041) It is characteristic of the present invention that the pneumatic membrane incorporates in its geometry a region intended to act as a limiter of the lower travel of the seat, when the inner surface of the upper flange rests on it. This innovative geometry of the membrane allows it to act on high-intensity impacts, absorbing a large part of their energy, thus preventing it from being transmitted to the user. (042) It is characteristic of the present invention that the upper closing flange of the pneumatic membrane has incorporated into it a vertical axis that slides within a cylindrical support, guaranteeing lateral stability to the seat and safety to the user.

[0046] (043) It is characteristic of the present invention that the cylindrical support has a curved surface, where the membrane is partially supported and hermetically fitted.

[0047] (044) It is characteristic of the present invention that the vertical shaft has a washer fixed to its lower face which serves as a limiting device for the upper vertical travel of the seat, when it collides with a protrusion on the inner surface of the cylindrical support. This travel limitation provides safety to the user and protects the life of the membrane.

[0048] (045) It is characteristic of the present invention that the cylindrical support has on its lower face a hermetic cap where the system's pressurizing valve is located.

[0049] (046) It is characteristic of the present invention to have a pressurizing valve that allows regulating the system pressure in order to optimize its comfort according to the weight of the users and also to change the height of the seat without compromising this comfort.

[0050] (047) A characteristic of the present invention is that it has a tube that is inserted into the vehicle frame to allow the seat assembly to be fixed. This tube, which is fixed to the cylindrical support, has standard market dimensions, thus allowing the pneumatic seat, according to the present invention, to be easily adapted to existing vehicles and therefore have great versatility.

[0051] (048) A characteristic of the present invention is that the seat system can have its angle adjusted in relation to the vehicle frame, providing it with great versatility since different makes and models of vehicles have variations in the angle of their frames. Other forms of adaptation to the vehicle can be used to allow the pneumatic seat this angle adjustment, without altering the spirit of the present invention.

[0052] (049) Figure 1, which is intended only to provide an overview of the layout, shows a 2D side view of a generic bicycle-type vehicle where the vehicle frame (3) can be seen, in which the inserted tube (4) is inserted, the external fixing plate (8), the pneumatic membrane (5), the top cover (14), the seat (1) and the pressurizing valve (12).

[0053] (050) Figure 2 shows a 2D side view of the pneumatic seat assembly where the seat (1) can be seen, fixed to the upper cover (14) where the pneumatic membrane (5) is fitted, which partially rests its lower face on the cylindrical support (7), which has the lower cover (16) where the pressurizing valve (12) is located. The inserted tube (4) is fixed to the cylindrical support (7) through the outer plate (8) which has slots that allow the seat (1) to have its angle adjusted to the vehicle frame.

[0054] (051) Figure 3 shows a side view in section of the pneumatic seat assembly, in an intermediate position of its stroke, where the seat (1) and the top cover (14), which is fixed to the sliding shaft (6) by the top screw (15), can be observed. The pneumatic membrane (5) is hermetically fitted into its upper part between the top cover (14) and the upper flange (9), which is integral with the sliding shaft (6). The sliding shaft (6), which moves vertically guided by the cylindrical support (7), has a limiting washer (10) on its lower face, fixed by the lower screw (11). The pneumatic membrane (5) has its lower part hermetically fitted into the cylindrical support (7) and its lower face is partially supported on the curved surface (2), on which it rolls whenever the seat (1) moves. This curved surface (2) is integral with the cylindrical support (7). The figure also shows the pressurized membrane space (17) and the lower pressurized space (18).The inserted tube (4) that allows the pneumatic seat assembly to be fixed to the vehicle frame has an internal fixing plate (13) that is screwed to the external plate (8), which is integral with the cylindrical support (7). The cylindrical support (7) is hermetically sealed on its lower face by the cover (16) where the pressurizing valve (12) is located, in such a way that the pressurized air is hermetically contained in the space delimited by the upper flange (9), the pneumatic membrane (5), the cylindrical support (7) and its lower cover (16). When the seat (1) moves vertically due to stimuli from the floor, the upper cover (14) and the upper flange (9) move together with it, carrying with them the upper part of the pneumatic membrane (5), which generates a volumetric and pressure change in the air contained in the hermetic system.This pressure change has a spring effect that substantially absorbs the vibratory and impact effects caused by irregularities in the floor. This movement generates a difference between the air pressure contained in the pressurized space of the membrane (17) and the air contained in the lower pressurized space (18), forcing the air to circulate between them through a very small area, generating friction that absorbs part of the system's energy and dampens it.

[0055] (052) Figure 4 shows a side view in section of the pneumatic seat assembly where the seat (1) is in its lower stroke limit position. In this position it can be observed that the inner upper face of the pneumatic membrane (5), whose geometry was developed to limit the lower stroke of the seat (1), touches the lower face of the upper flange (9), preventing the seat (1) from moving downwards.

[0056] (053) Figure 5 shows a side view in section of the pneumatic seat assembly where the seat (1) is in its upper stroke limit position. In this position it can be observed that the face of the limiting washer (10) touches the face of the protrusion in the geometry of the cylindrical support (7), preventing the seat (1) from moving further upwards.

[0057] (054) A person skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be configured in other specific ways without departing from the spirit or scope defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. PNEUMATIC SEAT, characterized by having the driver's or passenger's seat (1) supported by a pneumatic spring that significantly absorbs vibrations and impacts transmitted from the floor, this spring being constituted by a membrane (5) of elastic material that acts as a pneumatic spring supporting the seat (1) and which rests on a curved surface (2) on which it rolls laterally whenever the seat (1) moves axially, in such a way that the area of ​​this membrane (5) that is responsible for supporting the vertical forces does not change and, consequently, its spring constant also does not change as a result of variation in this area, keeping the natural frequency of the system practically constant, maximizing user comfort.

2. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized by having a lower pressurized space (18) such that whenever the seat moves axially, this movement generates a pressure differential between this space and the pressurized space of the membrane (17) forcing air to circulate between these spaces through very small areas, which generates friction and energy absorption, damping the movement.

3. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized by having a vertical axis (6) that is inserted and guided in a cylindrical support (7) to ensure the seat (1) a linear movement, which provides lateral stability and safety to the system.

4. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized by having a pneumatic membrane (5) which, when rolling on a curved surface (2) practically without altering the natural frequency of the system, allows the use of a valve. pressure regulator (12) maximize comfort according to the user's weight and height adjustments can be made without compromising this comfort.

5. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized by having a curved surface (2), over which the membrane (5) rolls, wherein altering the geometry of this surface allows adjustments to be made to the pneumatic spring constant.

6. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pneumatic membrane (5) has an internal geometry that acts as a limiter of the lower stroke of the seat (1) and absorbs impacts of greater intensity.

7. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower region of the movable shaft (6) has a limiting washer (10) that limits the upper stroke of the seat (1), providing safety to the system and protecting the pneumatic membrane (5).

8. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pneumatic seat assembly fixed to the inserted tube (4) allows the pneumatic seat to be adapted, according to the present invention, to normal market vehicles.

9. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized by allowing the seat assembly to have its angle adjusted to the vehicle frame, enabling its adaptation to different makes and models of vehicles.

10. SEAT, according to claim 1, characterized by having a pressure regulating valve (12) which, acting in conjunction with a pneumatic membrane (5) that keeps the natural frequency of the system practically constant, allows the system pressure to be adjusted to the weight of the users, optimizing the comfort of the system.

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