Shock and vibration isolation apparatus for motor vehicles seats

摘要

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes an air spring suspension system for effectively isolating the occupant of the vehicle's seat from shock, vibration and inertial forces directed along both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. A stationary base plate member is attached to the floor of the vehicle and it supports a pivot linkage assembly joining the stationary base member to a movable base member. An air spring is disposed between the stationary base member and the movable base member to displace the movable base member in a generally vertical direction to an extent allowed by the linkage assembly. Supported atop the movable base member is a seat slide assembly that permits fore and aft adjustment of seat position within the vehicle. A vehicle seat mount is affixed to the pair of slide members and includes shock absorbing springs that are disposed between the slide members and the vehicle seat mount for cushioning inertial forces due to acceleration and braking. Associated with the air bag is a control switch that operates to selectively inflate and deflate the air bag to offset vertically directed inertial forces acting on the seat assembly.