Patent ID: 12233762

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, in some embodiments thereof, relates a mechanism operable in two modes and, more specifically to the mechanism located between a frame structure and a base structure, but not exclusively, to two modes to provide a suspension feature to a passenger and a protection feature to the passenger.

By way of introduction aspects of the disclosure below, describe a vehicular seat fitted in an armored fighting vehicle (AFV). The vehicular seat includes a suspension system to provide on road comfort to security personnel such as soldiers from vibrations occurring due to travelling in off-road conditions. Vibrations occurring due to travelling in off-road conditions can be harmful and cause not only discomfort but can also cause long-term injuries and fatigue. Therefore, the suspension system for the vehicular seat avoids the effect of the vibrations, so that when security personnel arrive to their destination, they are mission ready and not affected from these vibrations. The suspension system is located between the seat and a base of the seat. The base of the seat attaches to the floor of the armored fighting vehicle (AFV). The suspension system further includes a locking mechanism and an energy-absorbing arrangement. The energy-absorbing arrangement is activated by the locking mechanism to mitigate the effects on security personnel from an unforeseen explosion on the armored fighting vehicle (AFV). The unforeseen explosion causes the locking mechanism to switch to the energy-absorbing arrangement between seat and a base of the seat. The energy-absorbing arrangement therefore, takes over the function of the suspension system to apply the benefit of the energy-absorbing arrangement to the vehicular seat and security personnel sat in the vehicular seat.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. The present disclosure may be a system and a method

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Reference is now made toFIG.1, which shows a vehicular seat10, in accordance with some embodiments. A base plate14is attached to two struts16. Base plate14attaches to the floor of a vehicle (not shown). According to descriptions below the vehicle may be an armored vehicle used to transport security personnel for example. Vehicular seat10includes seat18that may be foldable to the vertical back15and lockable in the horizontal position. Back15is shown without a seat material to show plate13which is attached to back15. Also attached to back15is head restraint12.

Reference is now made toFIG.2A, which shows the attachment of back15to struts16and base plate14, in accordance with some embodiments. Plate13is attached to back15and the other side of plate13attaches to two slide rails21. Slide rails21are slide-ably attached to four linear slider bearings26(only top two shown) to form a seat frame of vehicular seat10or in general to provide a frame structure. The frame structure for example may be a shelf used to hold ammunition or explosives for example. Slider bearings26attach to plate27, struts16are attached to plate27and bolted to plate27by plate28. Plate27struts16and plate28form a base frame or a base structure of vehicular seat10. The base frame includes mechanism30shown by dotted oval line. Mechanism30is covered by frame22that is attached to plate27.

Reference is now made toFIG.2B, which shows the attachment of back15to struts16and base plate14, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG.2Bis the same asFIG.2Bhowever, frame22is removed to show more details of mechanism30. Mechanism30includes a damper29or a shock absorber, one end damper29connects to arm24. The other end of damper29attaches to the base frame formed by plate27, struts16and plate28. Laterally adjacent to damper29is energy-absorbing arrangement23. One end of energy-absorbing arrangement23attaches to arm24and the other end attaches to the seat frame of vehicular seat10. Arm24attaches to frame22. With frame22removed, further details of locking mechanism32included in smaller dotted oval and are shown. The details of locking mechanism32are included in the descriptions that follow.

Reference is now made toFIG.3, which shows mechanism30with plate13removed from vehicular seat10and further details of mechanism30, in accordance with some embodiments. Four linear slider bearings26as shown which are move-ably attached to slide rails21. Slide rails21are attached to plate13. Plates39are bolted to back15, plates39are perpendicular attached to plate13. The further details of mechanism30include damper29attached to the base frame by base mount31. The other end of damper29attaches to arm24. Damper29includes a valve38that may be used to set the air pressure in damper29. Valve38, therefore enables the configuration of the suspension feature of vehicular seat10for when an armored vehicle is travelling off road. Energy-absorbing arrangement23connects to the seat frame by seat mount36. Beyond arm24, the fuse of energy-absorbing arrangement23move-ably attaches to toothed bar34. Toothed bar34is an example of a linear gear rack. Bar34may also include a friction based clutch type surface. Toothed bar34and its linear movement is through the control of locking mechanism32. Locking mechanism32includes, wedge35, spring52and top plate33that is attached perpendicular to frame22.

Reference is now made toFIG.4AandFIG.4B, which show further details of seat mount36and base mount31, in accordance with some embodiments. Damper29is shown bolted to base mount31. Base mount31is attached to frame22that is attached to the base frame formed by plate27, struts16and plate28(not shown). Energy-absorbing arrangement23includes fuse42and helical ribbon40through which a bolt both attaches energy-absorbing arrangement23to seat mount36. Seat mount36attaches to the seat frame. The seat frame is formed by plate13attached to back15and the other side of plate13attached to two slide rails21that are slide-ably attached to four linear slider bearings26(not shown).

Reference is now made toFIG.5A, which shows further details of fuse42, in accordance with some embodiments. Fuse42is designed as a rod with a neck42amachined out in the middle of the rod. The rod diameter and neck42aare chosen so that fuse42breaks when a load applied to helical ribbon40and fuse42is over 10G for example. Fuse42allows for the conservation of space as it is placed inside helical ribbon40and the same connections43and44used for helical ribbon40are used for fuse42.

Reference is now made toFIG.5B, which shows further cross sectional details of fuse42and helical ribbon40, in accordance with some embodiments. Fuse42is placed inside helical ribbon40and the same connections43and44are used for helical ribbon40and for fuse42. Fuse42is placed inside helical ribbon40allows for the conservation of space inside for mechanism30disposed between the base frame and the seat frame of vehicular seat10.

Reference is now made toFIG.6Awhich shows the in situ details of locking mechanism32, in accordance with some embodiments. The in situ details of locking mechanism32are shown with a portion of plate27removed. The portion of plate27is removable and re attachable to the remaining portion of plate27. As described above, slider bearings26on one side attach to plate27and the other side to sliders21, and struts16are attached to plate27. Pivot P1is perpendicularly attached through the base frame. Pivot point P1is centrally located and mounted through plates22and27above arm24. The base frame includes plate22(not shown but shown inFIG.2A) and the portion of plate27(removed). A slot in the side of the portion of plate27enables the up and down movement of locking arm50. The slot allows for the position of mass80to be changed in order for a moment provided by mass80to be higher or lower than a moment provided by spring52(not shown) attached at one end to pivot P1and the other end to a lug54located near to pivot P2. Pivot P2is located further up towards plate33and is laterally offset from centrally located pivot P1. Pivot P2is perpendicularly attached through the base frame.

Locking arm50is rotationally attached to pivot P1at one end, at the other end of locking arm50is mass80. Mass80is slide-ably attachable to a slot in locking arm50by use of nut and bolt. L plate55is rotationally attached at the elbow (not shown) of L plate55to pivot P1. A linear toothed pawl portion of L plate55on an interior arm of L plate55is shown engaged with a corresponding toothed portion of bar34. The engagement between L plate55and bar34may be a frictional one such as clutch type of surface may be provided on L plate55and bar34. Bar34protrudes and is linearly moveable through plate33. Plate33is attached perpendicular to plate22on three sides and to plate27on one side. One end of damper29is attached to arm24at attachment point24a. Similarly, helical ribbon40and fuse42are attached at attachment point24b. Bar34may be an integral part of fuse42or may be attached to attachment point24b. Wedge35rotationally attached to pivot P2and is rotatable through the aperture of the top plate33.

Reference is now made toFIG.6Bwhich shows the in situ details of locking mechanism32from the opposite of that shown inFIG.6A, in accordance with some embodiments. Spring52is attached at one end to pivot P1and the other end to a lug54located near to pivot P2. A slot in the side of the portion of plate27(not shown) enables the up and down movement of locking arm50(not shown). The slot allows for the position of mass80(not shown) to be changed in order for a moment provided by mass80to be higher or lower than a moment provided by spring52attached at one end to pivot P1and the other end to a lug54located near to pivot P2. Wedge35rotationally attaches to pivot P2and is rotatable through the aperture of the top plate33. A toothed portion of L plate55on an interior arm of L plate55is shown engaged with a corresponding toothed portion of bar34. Bar34protrudes and is linearly moveable through plate33. L plate (55) is rotationally attached at the elbow of the L plate55to pivot P1. Damper29is attached to arm24at attachment point24a. Similarly, helical ribbon40and fuse42are attached at attachment point24b. Attachment point24bincludes a dovetail slide receiver portion for which dovetail61on one-side slides into. The opposite side of dovetail61attaches to plate27(not shown). Valve38of damper29enables the configuration of the suspension feature of vehicular seat10for when a vehicle is travelling off road for example.

Reference is now made toFIG.7Awhich shows further details of locking mechanism32, in its locked position, in accordance with some embodiments. A partial top portion of damper29is shown bolted to arm24. A partial top portion of energy-absorbing arrangement23is shown bolted to arm24. Bar34is attached to the top of energy-absorbing arrangement23. Bar34may be of square section and include a teeth portion. Locking arm50and L plate55rotates about pivot point P1. Spring51connects between L plate55and lug54. The teethed portion of L plate55is shown engaged with the teeth portion of bar34. Pivot points P1and P2are attached perpendicular to plate58. Plate58attaches perpendicularly to plate33.

An engagement of the toothed portion of L plate55with the tooth portion of bar32may occur when the vehicle encounters an explosion. The engagement enables the energy absorption properties of helical ribbon42and the integral fuse40instead of the suspension feature provided through damper29. The integral fuse42breaks when the load from the explosion applied to the helical ribbon40exceeds an acceleration of 10Gs of the longitudinal upward and downward movement of the seat frame which includes plate13and slide rails21. Helical ribbon40may be implementable with a material that is plastically and/or elastically deformable. The plastically or elastically deformable absorbing element for helical ribbon40may be chosen or designed in response to stresses greater than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold being responsive to an excess of the acceleration of 10Gs of the longitudinal upward and downward movement of the seat frame. Helical ribbon40may be designed to operate subsequently to the explosion as a compressible element or an extendable element until fuse42and helical ribbon40are replaced. The ribbon or ribbons of helical ribbon40that undergo a plastic deformation may be designed to extend or compress at stress level controllable by the length, pitch, cross section, and material of the ribbon or ribbons.

Reference is now made toFIG.7Bwhich shows further details of locking mechanism32, in its unlocked position, in accordance with some embodiments. In the unlocked position, locking arm50is located upwards and held in place by spring52and the teethed portion of L plate55is shown disengaged with the teeth portion of bar34. With the disengagement of L plate55from bar34, the normal use of providing a suspension feature to vehicular seat10via damper39continues.

Reference is now made toFIG.8Awhich shows further details of locking mechanism32, in its locked position, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG.8Ashows the other side of locking mechanism32show inFIG.7A. A partial top portion of damper29is shown bolted to arm24. A partial top portion of energy-absorbing arrangement23is shown bolted to arm24. Bar34is attached to the top of energy-absorbing arrangement23. Bar34may be of square section and include a teeth portion. Locking arm50and L plate55rotates about pivot point P1. Spring51connects between L plate55and lug54. The teethed portion of L plate55is shown engaged with the teeth portion of bar34. Pivot points P1and P2are attached perpendicular to plate58. Plate58attaches perpendicularly to plate33. Additionally included is wedge35that rotates about pivot point P2and is shown dropped down so as to further secure L plate55into its locked position or “closed position”. Wedge35ensures the ongoing locked position of L plate55during an explosion. The teethed portion of L plate55correspond to the teeth of bar34so that when L plate55is placed in the “closed” position, L plate55is locked into the teeth of bar34and locks the suspension mechanism provided by damper29in place.

Locking arm50has a certain amount of mass at its end (not shown) opposite pivot P1. The moment provided by spring52is higher than the moment provided by the mass80of locking arm50under normal conditions. If an explosion happens and the G-force on mass80increases to over 4G, the moment of the mass becomes greater than the moment from spring52to cause L plate55to rotate and lock into bar34. Wedge35ensures the ongoing locked position of L plate55during the explosion to ensure that an energy absorption mechanism provided by energy-absorbing arrangement23is fully utilized.

Reference is now made toFIG.8Bwhich shows further details of locking mechanism32, in its unlocked position, in accordance with some embodiments. In the unlocked position, locking arm50is located upwards and held in place by spring52and the teethed portion of L plate55is shown disengaged with the teeth portion of bar34and wedge35is also disengaged. With the disengagement of L plate55from bar34, the normal use of providing a suspension feature to vehicular seat10via damper39continues.

Reference is now made toFIG.9Awhich shows the utilization of vehicular seat10in an armored vehicle90, in accordance with some embodiments. Struts16vehicular seat10are attached to the floor of armored vehicle90by base plate14. A security person91is sat in the seat of vehicular seat10. Armored vehicle90is shown travelling across a typical off road surface92. As described above, the bottom part of damper29is attached to the base frame and the top part of damper29is attached to arm24where the top part helical ribbon40and fuse42also connect. The bottom of helical ribbon40and fuse42connect to the seat frame. Arm24connects through locking mechanism32. During day-to-day motion of vehicular seat10, fuse42and helical ribbon40are intact and all the load from seat18and the security person91for example, goes through damper29to provide a suspension feature of vehicular seat10. The suspension feature allows the longitudinal linear movement of arm24and energy-absorbing arrangement23to go up and down without the energy absorbing properties of fuse42and helical ribbon40being engaged. The suspension feature therefore, provides the benefit of off road comfort to a security person91from vibrations occurring due to travelling in off-road surface92conditions

Reference is now made toFIG.9Bwhich shows the utilization of vehicular seat10in an armored vehicle90, in accordance with some embodiments. Armored vehicle90is shown travelling across a typical off road surface92. However, when there is an explosion96near the armored vehicle90, the moment provided by the spring52is lower than the moment provided by the mass80attached at the end of locking arm50in locking mechanism32. Consequently, L plate55is rotated at the elbow of L plate55at pivot P1to provide an engagement of the toothed portion of L plate55with the tooth portion of bar32. Wedge35is rotatable about pivot P2and falls to further lock the engagement. The engagement enables the energy absorption properties of the spiral42and the integral fuse40instead of the suspension feature provided through damper29. The engagement may be achieved when an acceleration of mass80of locking arm50is greater than 4Gs. The integral fuse42breaks when the load from the explosion applied to the helical ribbon40exceeds an acceleration of 10Gs of the longitudinal upward and downward movement of the seat frame which includes plate13and slide rails21.

Helical ribbon40may be implementable with a material that is plastically or elastically deformable. The plastically or elastically deformable energy absorbing element for helical ribbon40may be chosen or designed in response to stresses greater than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold being responsive to an excess of the acceleration of 10Gs of the longitudinal upward and downward movement of the seat frame with the security person91sat in vehicular seat10. Helical ribbon40may be designed to operate subsequently to the explosion as a compressible element or an extendable element until fuse42and helical ribbon40are replaced at some later stage. The ribbon or ribbons of helical ribbon40may undergo a plastic or elastic deformation. The plastic or elastic deformation may be designed to extend or compress at stress level controllable by the length, pitch, cross section, and material of the ribbon or ribbons.

Therefore, locking mechanism32fixes the seat frame to the base frame if an explosion occurs. During the explosion, locking mechanism30locks the teeth of L plate55to the teeth of bar32so that the energy absorption properties of damper29are no longer utilized. The explosion96may cause fuse42to break and so locking mechanism32locks the longitudinal upward and downward movement of seat18, by fixing arm24to the base frame. When damper29is locked in place, all the load goes through fuse42and helical ribbon40to fully activate and engage the energy absorbing mechanism provided by energy-absorbing arrangement23attached to arm24and seat mount36of vehicular seat10. Therefore, an engagement of the teeth of L plate55with the teeth of bar32enables a switch from using damper29, where the engagement is disengaged, to the use of the energy absorption properties of the energy-absorbing arrangement23.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

As used herein the term “about” refers to +10%.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”. This term encompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

The phrase “consisting essentially of” means that the composition or method may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only if the additional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.

The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particular embodiment of the disclosure may include a plurality of “optional” features unless such features conflict.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this disclosure may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

It is the intent of the applicant(s) that all publications, patents and patent applications referred to in this specification are to be incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually noted when referenced that it is to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting. In addition, any priority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its/their entirety.