Pneumatic Fore-Aft Vibration Isolator Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicle occupants, particularly drivers, experience discomfort and fatigue due to excessive vibrations from the vehicle's suspension systems, which prioritize load-carrying capacity over vibration protection, with existing solutions often focusing on mechanical locks that lack flexibility and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic vibration isolator lock system that uses air pressure to lock and unlock the fore-aft isolation system, allowing for one-touch fingertip control and adjustable pressure to provide partial locking, featuring a spring mechanism and restrictor plates to isolate vibrations effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical lock system is used for fore-aft vibration isolation, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the ease of operation is poor and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical lock system with a pneumatic system. The pneumatic piston uses air pressure to actuate the locking mechanism, eliminating the need for manual mechanical lever or latching actions. This substitution provides one-touch fingertip control while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of standard pneumatic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a pneumatic piston mechanism that uses compressed air to control the locking and unlocking of the fore-aft vibration isolator. The pneumatic system allows for flexible pressure adjustment and one-touch operation, significantly improving ease of operation compared to mechanical systems while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed mechanical lock is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability is poor and partial locking is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic locking system where the locking force can be adjusted by varying the air pressure in the pneumatic piston. This allows the system to adapt between fully locked, partially locked, and unlocked states, providing flexibility and adaptability that fixed mechanical locks cannot achieve. The dynamic adjustment is achieved through a simple pressure control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the locking parameter from a fixed mechanical engagement to a variable pneumatic pressure force. By adjusting the air pressure parameter, the system can provide different levels of locking force, enabling partial locking and adapting to different operational requirements. This parameter change approach maintains relatively simple device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration isolation components are added to reduce vibrations, then the protection from vibrations is improved, but the height of the operator's seat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking mechanism from a separate height-adjustable component and integrates it into the existing seat framework. The pneumatic piston and restrictor plates are positioned within the available space in the fore-aft direction, eliminating the need for additional vertical space that would increase seat height. This extraction and repositioning maintains vibration protection while avoiding the height increase problem.
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 pneumatic system offers flexible and efficient vibration isolation, reducing driver discomfort by allowing controlled movement during vibrations and enabling pre-programmed pressure settings for optimal isolation, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic piston mechanism communicating with the spring... based upon an amount of air pressure
Implementation Method 2
a spring in communication with the plurality of restrictor plates
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of restrictor plates restricts movement of a movable seat frame with respect to a fixed seat frame based on an amount of air pressure from the piston mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic fore-aft vibration isolator lock system (and method) is provided. The innovation provides a locking action through the use of pneumatically-actuated spring pressure to lock or unlock the isolation system. In one aspect, to unlock, air pressure is applied and the spring pressure is overridden by the air pressure. By overriding the spring pressure, plates are moved thereby unlocking the isolator. The system can allow for one touch, fingertip locking and unlocking of the fore/aft isolation system.