Oscillating damped energy management device

US6416127B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Lear Corporation · US

Inventors

• Ashford A. Galbreath · Troy, US
• Dianna L. Sabo · Gaylord, US
• John R. Sims · Dearborn, US
• Stephen Lambrecht · New Hudson, US
• Joel P. Mendel · Bloomfield Hills, US
• Steve W. Schulte · Novi, US
• Greg Fraley · Farmington Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 26, 2000
• Grant date: Jul 9, 2002
• Expiry date: Oct 26, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2/42745
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom, a seat back pivotally connected with respect to the seat bottom, a seat track and an oscillating damped energy management device secured between the seat back and the seat bottom. The device includes a damper mechanism having a gear assembly coupled to a damper crank on a secondary gear shaft. Rotation of the damper crank causes an oscillating movement of a damper rod coupled to a damper cylinder. The viscosity of the fluid within the damper cylinder can be selected to vary the energy dampening characteristics of the damper mechanism. The damper mechanism may also include a pair of damper cylinders that can oscillate approximately ninety degrees out of phase with respect to each other to more smoothly control the damped energy during low and high impacts.