Seat Suspension Link Mechanism for Front-Rear Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seat suspension mechanisms for vehicles, particularly in earth-moving machines, fail to effectively absorb vibrations and impacts in the front-rear direction, which is crucial for comfort and operational efficiency on uneven terrain.

Innovation Solution

A seat suspension mechanism with a base frame, seat support frame, intermediate frame, and link mechanisms that include up-down and front-rear direction spring mechanisms, along with dampers, to absorb vibrations and impacts by adjusting elastic forces and damping forces, allowing for improved vibration and impact absorption characteristics in both up-down and front-rear directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spring-damper attached suspension units are stacked in plurality to improve vibration absorption in up-down direction, then vibration absorption characteristic in up-down direction is improved, but vibration absorption characteristic in front-rear direction remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration absorption characteristicVSAvoidmulti-directional vibration absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension mechanism is divided into two independent link mechanisms: a first link mechanism for up-down direction vibration absorption and a second link mechanism for front-rear direction vibration absorption. Each link mechanism operates independently with its own spring-damper units, allowing specialized optimization for each direction without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from single-direction (up-down) vibration absorption to multi-directional (up-down and front-rear) vibration absorption by adding the second link mechanism. This dimensional expansion allows the suspension system to handle vibrations from multiple axes simultaneously, significantly improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If emphasis is put on exhibiting high vibration absorption characteristic in up-down direction, then impact absorption characteristic in up-down direction is improved, but vibration absorption characteristic in front-rear direction is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact vibrationVSAvoidfront-rear direction vibration absorption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system is segmented into two functional modules: the first link mechanism with spring-damper units for up-down impact absorption, and the second link mechanism with spring-damper units for front-rear vibration absorption. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific directional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suspension mechanism achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both link mechanisms that can operate simultaneously. The system can absorb impacts and vibrations in both up-down and front-rear directions, making it universally effective for various terrain conditions and vibration types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 mechanism enhances vibration and impact absorption capabilities in the front-rear direction, improving comfort and operational efficiency by adjusting elastic forces and damping forces, thereby responding effectively to various vibrations and impacts.

Implementation Method 1

an upper frame (seat support frame) provided to be movable up and down relative to a lower frame (base frame) is elastically supported by a magnetic spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic spring: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a characteristic that restoring force of the magnetic spring in the same direction as a working direction of restoring force of the torsion bars increases in accordance with an increase in a displacement amount

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

energy caused by impact vibration is absorbed by a damper suspended between the upper frame and the lower frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4049891B1Seat suspension mechanism
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 DELTA KOGYO CO LTD
  • EP4049891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4049891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4049891B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are improved a vibration absorption characteristic and an impact absorption characteristic. A seat suspension mechanism (1) of the present invention is set so that links (131, 132) of a first link mechanism (130) on a base frame (100) side and links (231, 232) of a second link mechanism (230) on a seat support frame (200) side, between which an intermediate frame (300) is put, differ in operating angles, that is, so that the links (231, 232) of the second link mechanism (230) operate in the range of an angle closer to a vertical to a front-rear direction of a vehicle body. This allows front-rear movement of the seat support frame (200) through the second link mechanism (230) to mainly respond to input vibrations of front-rear movement to thereby improve a vibration absorption characteristic and an impact absorption characteristic in the front-rear direction.