Abstract:
The present invention concerns a system for measuring the vibration an operator of a piece of the equipment encounters while operating the equipment. The system includes at least one motion measuring means, such as an accelerometer. The accelerometer may be affixed to the equipment or integrated into the equipment. In addition, motion data recording equipment that is in electrical communication with the accelerometer may also be provided. An alarm may be used to indicate that a preset limit has been or is about to be exceeded.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a system and method for measuring vibration. More specifically, the present invention concerns a vehicle seat which has built into the seat and other seat components such as armrests and control consoles accelerometers or transducers which are coupled to a processor for recording and processing data relating to the vibrations encountered by the occupant of the seat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An increasing concern in the workplace is the amount of vibration an operator encounters while operating various pieces of moving equipment such as motorized vehicles and construction equipment such as, for example, a jackhammer and the like. Currently, standards exist in the European Union which state that an operator should not be exposed to conditions exceeding 1.15 m/s 2  for whole body vibration during an eight hour period. Monitoring and insuring that an operator&#39;s exposure does not exceed prescribed limits is the responsibility of the employer.  
         [0003]     The problem, however, is that there are no known systems for monitoring whole body vibration in a working environment. The only system known by Applicants for measuring whole body vibration is a laboratory method set forth in ISO 10326-1:1992(E). The laboratory method involves taping discs to the outside of a vehicle seat. As recommended in ISO 10326-1, the discs have a raised center section so as to create a cavity in which to place the accelerometer.  
         [0004]     This laboratory design, however, suffers from several drawbacks that make it impractical for use in actual working conditions. First, taping a disc to a piece equipment such as a vehicle seat is not practical. Through normal usage it would almost be inevitable that the disc would fall off of the equipment or be damaged during use by being exposed to the working environment. Moreover, in a vehicle seat application, the disc, with its raised section would be uncomfortable for an operator to sit upon, and this would no doubt lead to the accelerometers being routinely removed. In addition, the laboratory set-up does not provide a way to measure vibration at other locations such as at the arms of an operator.  
         [0005]     Nor would having discs taped to the equipment present an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Once an accelerometer had either been removed, tampered with, fallen off, or simply have been damaged by virtue of being left exposed to the working environment, the ability to measure and record body vibration would be lost. Thus, there is a need for a system that can measure and record body vibration while taking into account the demanding needs of an actual working environment rather than a laboratory setting.  
         [0006]     The present invention overcomes the above mentioned problems associated with the laboratory device by providing on a piece of moving equipment, such as a vehicle seat, at least one motion measuring device that may be located under the seat cover and/or backrest cover. In another embodiment, the motion measuring device may be housed within the cushions to measure the motion component experienced by the seat occupant. Locating the motion measuring device in a location beneath the outer surface of the equipment eliminates operator discomfort and provides a secure and safe environment for the accelerometer.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment a motion measuring device may be located at other locations occupied by an operator. Such locations include, but are not limited to, armrests and control consoles.  
         [0008]     The present invention may also include components for storing and/or processing the motion related data. The system may also be equipped with an alarm to warn an operator or employer that a prescribed limit is either approaching or has been exceeded. In addition, a personal, portable data storage device may be used which accompanies the operator to any piece of equipment that may be used during the course of the work day. Lastly, the system may be adapted to wirelessly transmit the motion the data to other locations and devices as well. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in several views, and in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating how an embodiment of the present invention may be used with a vehicle seat.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating how an embodiment of the present invention may be used with an armrest and control console.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one embodiment, the present invention may be used with a seat  10 , which includes motion measuring devices such as accelerometers  20  and  22 . The motion measuring device may be designed to measure motion such a vibration and/or acceleration in various directions such as the x, y and z axes. While two accelerometers are shown in the preferred embodiment, with accelerometer  20  having the ability to measure acceleration or motion in the x, y, and z axes, and accelerometer  22  having the ability to measure acceleration or motion in the x and y axes other motion measuring devices and configurations may be used as well. For example, a single or multiple motion measuring devices may also be used. In addition, the motion measuring device may be used to measure motion in one direction or multiple directions.  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the preferred motion measuring device is an accelerometer  20  which may be located in seat cushion  12  of seat  10  and accelerometer  22  which may be located in backrest cushion  14 . Both accelerometers are located under seat cover  13  and backrest cover  15 . To accomplish this, the accelerometers and associated wiring  24  may be affixed to the backside of the covers prior to injecting foam into the seat mold. Once foam is injected into the mold, the accelerometers and wiring are securely held in place. Alternately, the accelerometers may be located in aperture  17  in seat cushion  12  and aperture  19  in backrest cushion  14  as well.  
         [0021]     Of course, the securement of the accelerometers and wiring may be accomplished in other ways known to those of ordinary skill in the art as well. For example, in non-molding applications, the accelerometers may simply be located in a pre-formed aperture in a cushion prior to the attachment of the covers. Regardless of the method of manufacture selected, locating the motion measuring device below the outer surface of equipment, such as seat  10 , will assist in maintaining the integrity of the apparatus.  
         [0022]     Wiring  24  electronically connects the motion measuring device to a data processor which may be located in housing  40 . The types of data processors that may be used with the present invention include, but are not limited to, a microprocessor, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, random access memory, as well as other known processors known to those of skill in the art.  
         [0023]     The processor is configured to convert the data received from the motion measuring device into a usable format, such as making the data recordable. In addition, housing  40  may also include an internal storage means for storing the data generated. The internal storage means may include, but is not limited to, hard drives such as those using random access memory and the like.  
         [0024]     In addition, housing  40  may also include a dock  41  through which a portable data storage device  70  or  72  maybe coupled to the system. The portable data storage device may include, but is not limited to, a portable storage data unit  70  or a card  72 . The portable storage device may also employ magnetic technology. This technology includes, but is not limited to, magnetic cards, tapes, floppy disks, hard disks, zip disks and the like. Optical storage technology may be used as well. This technology includes, but is not limited to, optical disks and the like. Other portable data storage devices that may be used include, as described above, a storage unit  70  that contains random access memory or a memory chip. Smart card technology may also be used to process and/or store the data received from the motion measuring device. Such technology includes, but is not limited to, integrated circuit microprocessor cards, integrated circuit memory cards, optical memory cards and the like.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the present invention may also include embodiments in which a motion measuring device is located in or integrally incorporated into either an armrest  50  or a control console  60  or both. In one alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a motion measuring device such as an accelerometer  62  may be located in a control console  60 . As with the accelerometers described above, the accelerometer may be used to measure motion in the x, y, and z axes. Locating an accelerometer in this position permits motion to be measured at a user&#39;s arm. As also shown in  FIG. 6 , an accelerometer  64  may also be located in armrest  50 . As with the accelerometers described above, the accelerometer may be used to measure motion in the x, y, and z axes. Locating a motion measuring device in this position permits motion to be measured at a user&#39;s arm.  
         [0026]     As with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the motion measuring device is preferably located under the outer surface of the control counsel. This may be done by locating the measuring device under outer surface  53  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Alternately, motion measuring device  62  may be located in aperture  65  of a cushion  67 .  
         [0027]     Likewise, motion measuring device  64  should be located under the outer surface of the armrest. This may be done by locating the measuring device under cover  71 . Alternately, motion measuring device  64  may be housed in aperture  73  of cushion  75 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment further includes a floating or movable motion measuring device  100 . Measuring device  100  may be an accelerometer as described above. By the term floating, it is meant that motion measuring device  100  may be placed or positioned in a wide variety of desired locations. For example, motion measuring device  100  may attachable to user&#39;s wrist or forearm so as to measure the vibration at this point on the operator. Motion measuring device  100  maybe affixed in this application through the use of a wristband. Of course, other ways to fasten measuring device  100  include, but are not limited to, pins, clasps, Velcro, adhesive, and snaps as well as in other ways known to those of skill art. In addition, movable measuring device  100  may also be located at other points on the operator or at other locations on the equipment.  
         [0029]     As is further illustrated in  FIG. 6 , movable measuring device  100  is connected to the system through flexible wiring  102 . Alternately, a wireless connection may be used as well to link measuring device  100  to the remainder of the system. Using either a wireless connection or flexible hard wiring provides the versatility that allows measuring device  100  to be positionable in a wide variety of desired locations.  
         [0030]     Using a portable data storage  70  or  72  device enhances the utility of the system. For example, multiple pieces of equipment may be provided with the necessary motion measuring devices and processors with all of the processors being designed to work the personal data storage device. Configuring the system in this manner allows an operator to take a portable data storage device, which is personal to the operator, from location to location and from one piece of equipment to another. Configuring the system in this manner maintains an employer&#39;s ability to monitor and record the total vibration encountered by the operator for a given work period no matter how many different pieces of equipment are used by an operator.  
         [0031]     The system may also be designed to recognize a unique identification code associated with a particular operator. This allows the activation of the equipment to be conditioned upon the proper recognition of an authorized user. The system may also be configured to record the date and time a user operated a specific piece of equipment. This would allow employers to retain the vibration data and create a long term record for future use.  
         [0032]     The data generated by the accelerometer may also be used to sound an alarm so as to warn the operator or employer when a maximum or prescribed limit is about to be reached or has been exceeded. The alarm may be visual in nature such as a warning on a display monitor or audio in nature. Readout  90  of the data may also be displayed to the operator or employer so that the vibrations encountered may be monitored. Lastly, the data may be transmitted wirelessly to a remote location for use and storage by an employer.  
         [0033]     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that changes and other modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.