US3879007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seat
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1973-12-07
•
Granted: 1975-04-22
•
Expires: 1993-12-07
Abstract
Abstract An improved vehicle seat wherein a bottom cushion assembly is pivotally attached to a back and resiliently mounted upon a base by an oscillation damping member to control oscillation of said vehicle seat with respect to the base. The back is pivotally joined to the base by substantially parallel links which maintain the back at a constant angle of inclination with respect to the base independent of elevational displacement. A swing link, pivotally connecting the bottom cushion assembly to the base permits the bottom cushion assembly to pivot about an imaginary point forward of the seat approximating the knee joint of an operator to minimize movement of the operator''s feet relative to the vehicle. A hydraulic circuit associated with a hydropneumatic suspension for such a seat includes dual damping capabilities for accommodating both normal and high impact loads on the seat.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Barton
- 👤 Jon C Christensen
- 👤 James P Mueller
- 👤 Larry W Sprinkle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:32
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/50; B60N2/502; B60N2/505; B60N2/506; B60N2/507; B60N2/52; B60N2/525; B60N2/527; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A suspension system for a vehicle seat, comprising a hydraulic cylinder effectively interconnected with said seat and responsive to vertical motion of the seat, the hydraulic cylinder including a working chamber containing hydraulic fluid and an inlet passage in communication with the working chamber, an accumulator, a first check valve means in communication with said cylinder inlet passage and said accumulator to regulate the rate of fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator and provide normal damping, said first check valve means comprising a check valve in series with a manually adjustable orifice, a second check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means, said second check valve means being biased to open at a higher pressure than said first check valve means to provide an additional path for fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator to provide impact damping, and a third check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means to provide for hydraulic fluid flow from said accumulator to said cylinder working chamber, said third check valve means comprising a check valve in series with an orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A suspension system for a vehicle seat, comprising a hydraulic cylinder effectively interconnected with said seat and responsive to vertical motion of the seat, the hydraulic cylinder including a working chamber containing hydraulic fluid and an inlet passage in communication with the working chamber, an accumulator, a first check valve means in communication with said cylinder inlet passage and said accumulator to regulate the rate of fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator and provide normal damping, said first check valve means comprising a check valve in series with a manually adjustable orifice, a second check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means, said second check valve means being biased to open at a higher pressure than said first check valve means to provide an additional path for fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator to provide impact damping, and a third check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means to provide for hydraulic fluid flow from said accumulator to said cylinder working chamber, said third check valve means comprising a check valve in series with an orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
A suspension system for a vehicle seat, comprising a hydraulic cylinder effectively interconnected with said seat and responsive to vertical motion of the seat, the hydraulic cylinder including a working chamber containing hydraulic fluid and an inlet passage in communication with the working chamber, an accumulator, a first check valve means in communication with said cylinder inlet passage and said accumulator to regulate the rate of fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator and provide normal damping, said first check valve means comprising a check valve in series with a manually adjustable orifice, a second check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means, said second check valve means being biased to open at a higher pressure than said first check valve means to provide an additional path for fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator to provide impact damping, and a third check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means to provide for hydraulic fluid flow from said accumulator to said cylinder working chamber, said third check valve means comprising a check valve in series with an orifice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
A suspension system for a vehicle seat, comprising a hydraulic cylinder effectively interconnected with said seat and responsive to vertical motion of the seat, the hydraulic cylinder including a working chamber containing hydraulic fluid and an inlet passage in communication with the working chamber, an accumulator, a first check valve means in communication with said cylinder inlet passage and said accumulator to regulate the rate of fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator and provide normal damping, said first check valve means comprising a check valve in series with a manually adjustable orifice, a second check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means, said second check valve means being biased to open at a higher pressure than said first check valve means to provide an additional path for fluid flow from said cylinder working chamber to said accumulator to provide impact damping, and a third check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means to provide for hydraulic fluid flow from said accumulator to said cylinder working chamber, said third check valve means comprising a check valve in series with an orifice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2195867A
Cited
US2381553A
Cited
US2760552A
Cited
US3036844A
Cited
US3150855A
Cited
US3168278A
Cited
US3215386A
Cited
US3375845A
Cited
US3308619A
Cited
US3430444A
Cited
US3436048A
Cited
US3420341A
Cited
US3706362A
Cited
US3559776A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |