Simulator Seat Linkage for Heave, Roll, and Surge Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motion seat designs for flight simulators are cumbersome, expensive, and inefficient, lacking the capability to move fore and aft, which is essential for realistic simulation.
Innovation Solution
A motion seat design with a frame that mounts a seat pan and back, utilizing three actuators to produce heave, roll, and fore-and-aft motions independently, reducing complexity and cost while enhancing simulation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators are used to produce heave and roll motions independently on both sides of the seat pan, then motion capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines heave and roll motion capabilities into a single actuator per side by using a linkage assembly. The actuator drives both heave motion directly and roll motion through the linkage mechanism (including bell crank and connecting links), eliminating the need for separate actuators for each degree of freedom while maintaining independent control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator serves multiple functions by being coupled to a linkage assembly that translates its linear motion into both heave and roll movements of the seat pan. The linkage mechanism acts as a universal joint system that distributes the actuator's output to produce compound motion, making one component perform the work of multiple actuators.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional motion seat design is used without fore and aft motion capability, then device complexity is reduced, but simulation realism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the motion control into independent functional modules: heave/roll control through side-mounted actuators with linkage assemblies, and surge control through a separate third actuator with bell crank assembly. This segmentation allows each actuator system to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity and avoiding unnecessary complexity in other areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A motion seat for use in a vehicle motion simulator comprises a seat back, a seat pan, a first actuator coupled to a linkage assembly located on one side of the seat pan, a second actuator coupled to an identical linkage assembly on the other side of the seat pan, and a third actuator coupled to a linkage assembly on the aft end of the seat pan, wherein the first and second actuators are effective to independently produce roll right and roll left motion of the seat pan while collectively creating upward and downward heave motion of the seat pan and the third actuator is effective to create surge motion of the seat pan.