Seat weight having self-regulating fluid filled bladder
US5927427A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S297/03
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hydrostatic weight sensor incorporates a bladder having a plurality of cells in fluid communication with one another, and with the outlet of a check valve, the inlet of which is in fluid communication with a source of sensing fluid, preferably the atmosphere. A cell-filling restoring mechanism is operatively coupled to a portion of the cells of the bladder. When the applied load is removed from the hydrostatic weight sensor, the volume of those cells operatively coupled to the cell-filling restoring mechanism is restored, whereupon if the pressure becomes less than the local atmospheric pressure, then fluid is added to the bladder through the check valve, thereby restoring lost sensing fluid. A pressure sensor operatively coupled to the bladder generates a signal responsive to the pressure of the sensing fluid within the bladder, and a signal processor calculates the weight of the occupant therefrom.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.