Pneumatic Seat Spring Control to Prevent Travel End Stop Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatically sprung vehicle seats face limited residual spring travel due to design constraints and installation space limitations, leading to a high risk of reaching travel end stops during uneven road surfaces, causing discomfort and potential pain for drivers, especially when the seat is adjusted for smaller individuals.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic springing system with control devices that dynamically adapt spring travel by supplying or discharging air during pre-determinable time intervals after reaching travel end stops, preventing contact with end stops and optimizing damping based on vibration frequency to maintain seating comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle seat is adjusted to a lower seating position for smaller individuals, then the driver can reach the pedals comfortably, but the residual spring travel is reduced and the risk of reaching travel end stops increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pneumatic spring system adaptive through real-time air supply control. The control device dynamically adjusts the air pressure in the pneumatic spring based on detected vibration frequencies and travel position, transforming a static spring system into a dynamic one that can extend its effective travel range when needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between fixed installation space and variable travel requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of air pressure in the pneumatic spring to extend the effective spring travel. By supplying additional air to the pneumatic spring when approaching travel end stops, the system effectively increases the spring's volume and pressure, which extends the travel range without requiring physical modification of the installation space, thus resolving the contradiction between fixed space and variable travel needs.
2Reliability
If additional hydraulic dampers with hard damping are added to counter vibration movements, then the travel end stops are not reached, but the vibration movements are only lightly damped and perceptible to the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hydraulic damper system with a pneumatic control system. Instead of using mechanical damping forces from hydraulic dampers, the system uses controlled air supply to the pneumatic spring to actively counteract vibration movements. This substitution allows for more effective vibration damping while preventing end stop contact, resolving both the reliability and comfort issues simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting the position and vibration frequency of the pneumatic spring system and using this information to control air supply. The control device receives feedback about the spring's travel position and vibration state, then adjusts air supply accordingly to prevent end stop contact and dampen vibrations effectively, overcoming the limitations of passive hydraulic dampers.
3Length of moving object
If the vehicle seat height is adjusted to a central position to optimize spring travel, then the springing system is centered in relation to available travel, but smaller individuals cannot safely operate the vehicle as pedals cannot be reliably reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the spring travel dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. By controlling air supply to the pneumatic spring based on real-time vibration detection and position feedback, the system can extend its effective travel range on demand. This allows the seat to be positioned for optimal pedal accessibility while the pneumatic spring dynamically extends its travel to prevent end stop contact during vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively supplying air to the pneumatic spring when approaching travel end stops or detecting severe vibrations. Instead of waiting for the end stop to be reached, the control device anticipates the need for extended travel and supplies air in advance, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs while maintaining optimal seating position.
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 effectively extends residual spring travel, preventing end stop contact and ensuring high seating comfort by dynamically adjusting air supply and discharge in response to vibration frequencies, thereby reducing perceived vibration and maintaining safe operation of vehicle controls.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pneumatic spring, by means of which the two parts are mounted so as to be movable in an oscillating manner and are sprung with respect to one another
Implementation Method 2
a first control device is arranged to supply air to and discharge air from the pneumatic spring... a second control device is provided to supply air to the spring and disable the discharge of air from the pneumatic spring during a pre-determinable first time interval
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a pneumatic springing system for vehicles with at least a first and a second part (3, 4), wherein the two parts (3, 4) are mounted vibration-mobile and pneumatically sprung in relation to each other by means of at least one pneumatic spring (8), wherein a first control device (10) is arranged to supply air to and extract air from the pneumatic spring (8), which carries out the extraction of air after a first travel end zone (62) of the springing system has been reached in which the pneumatic spring (8) is in a compressed state, and which carries out the supply of air after a second travel end zone (63) of the springing system has been reached in which the pneumatic spring (8) is in an extended state, wherein a second control device (20) is provided to supply air to the pneumatic spring (8) and disable the extraction of air from the pneumatic spring (8) during a pre-determinable first time interval (61) after a first travel end stop (58) in the first travel end zone (62) has been reached for the first time, and/or a third control device (30) is provided to extract air from the pneumatic spring (8) and disable the supply of air to the pneumatic spring (8) during a pre-determinable second time interval after a second travel end stop in the second travel end zone (63) has been reached for the first time.