Force Bias Actuator Assembly for Active Seat Load Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle seat suspension systems fail to effectively isolate occupants from heave and roll forces, leading to an uncomfortable user experience, especially during high amplitudes at moderate frequencies.
Innovation Solution
An active seating system with a load leveling mechanism that includes coaxial actuators, torsion rods, and a force bias actuator assembly, which dynamically counteracts the mass of the occupant and seat structure using a DC motor and ball screw mechanism, eliminating the need for air compressors and auxiliary components, and optimizing the spring rate for a wide range of occupant masses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional passive seat suspension systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the occupant is subjected to heave and roll forces creating uncomfortable user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical passive suspension systems with an active seating system that uses sensors to detect heave, roll, and yaw forces, and actuators to actively counteract these forces. This substitution of mechanical passive systems with active electromechanical systems resolves the contradiction by providing superior comfort while accepting increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The active seating system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor forces and actuators that respond in real-time to counteract detected motions. This feedback mechanism enables the system to dynamically adjust to occupant needs, providing comfort while managing the complexity through intelligent control rather than purely mechanical means.
2Ease of operation
If active seating systems with multiple degrees of freedom are used to isolate occupants from road perturbations, then user comfort is improved, but the system complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a force bias actuator that generates a counterbalancing force equal to the occupant's weight, effectively canceling out the gravitational load on the active suspension actuators. This counterweight mechanism significantly reduces the power consumption of the active seating system while maintaining the ability to isolate occupants from road perturbations and provide enhanced comfort.
3Ease of operation
If air compressors and auxiliary components are used in active seating systems, then the system can provide active suspension, but the device complexity and packaging space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the air compressor and auxiliary storage tank from the active seating system, replacing them with an electric motor-driven actuator system. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the overall system architecture, reduces packaging space requirements, and removes the need for complex pneumatic infrastructure while maintaining active suspension capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the pneumatic actuation system (air compressor, storage tank, valves, hoses) with an electromechanical actuation system using electric motors and ball screw mechanisms. This substitution eliminates multiple auxiliary components and simplifies the system while providing equivalent or superior active suspension performance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the active mechanism is designed to accommodate a wide range of occupant masses, then adaptability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates mass sensing capabilities that continuously monitor the occupant's weight and dynamically adjust the force bias actuator's counterbalancing force accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to a wide range of occupant masses without requiring multiple fixed configurations, resolving the contradiction by providing versatility through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The force bias actuator dynamically adjusts its output force based on the detected occupant mass, transitioning from a static to a dynamic system. This dynamic adaptation allows the same mechanism to serve multiple mass ranges effectively, improving adaptability while avoiding the complexity of designing separate systems for different occupancy scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a compact, efficient, and noise-reduced solution that effectively isolates occupants from road perturbations, reducing power consumption and improving comfort by dynamically adjusting to the mass of the occupant and seat, without the need for air compressors or additional mechanical components.
Implementation Method 1
each of the force bias actuator assembly, roll actuator assembly, and heave actuator assemblies comprises a housing, a DC motor disposed within the housing
Implementation Method 2
a ball screw with a driveshaft, the driveshaft of the ball screw being coaxial with a rotor of the DC motor
Implementation Method 3
a first torsion rod connected to the force bias actuator and the roll actuator, and a second torsion rod connected to the force bias actuator and the heave actuator
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discusses an active seating system that includes a load leveling mechanism. The load leveling mechanism includes a force bias actuator assembly, a roll actuator assembly, a heave actuator assembly, a first torsion rod connected to the force bias actuator and the roll actuator, and a second torsion rod connected to the force bias actuator and the heave actuator. Each of the force bias actuator assembly, roll actuator assembly, and heave actuator assemblies comprises a housing, a DC motor disposed within the housing, and a ball screw with a driveshaft, the driveshaft of the ball screw being coaxial with a rotor of the DC motor. The active seating system also includes a seat top and an interface configured to mount the seat top to the load leveling mechanism.