Pneumatic comfort seats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725177-B2
Application number	US-201615050866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Oct 20, 2015
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A pressure control system for an aircraft seat includes a base plate and a plurality of cells attached to the base plate, each cell having a bellows and a top inflatable diaphragm and defines a pressure chamber therein. Charging apertures are formed in the base plate such that each cell has an associated charging aperture such that each charging aperture is in fluid communication with a pressure chamber. Discharging apertures are formed in the base plate such that each cell has an associated discharging aperture such that each discharging apertures is in fluid communication a pressure chamber. A charging valve and a discharging valve is in fluid communication with the pressure chambers and configured to supply or extract air to or from the chambers through the apertures. A pump is configured to supply pressurized air to the at least one charging valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure control system for an aircraft seat comprising:
a base plate;
a plurality of cells sealingly attached to the base plate, each cell of the plurality of cells having a bellows and a top inflatable diaphragm, wherein each cell defines a pressure chamber therein;
a plurality of charging apertures formed in the base plate such that each cell has at least one associated charging aperture, wherein each respective charging aperture is in fluid communication with a respective pressure chamber;
a plurality of discharging apertures formed in the base plate such that each cell has at least one associated discharging aperture, wherein each respective discharging apertures is in fluid communication with the respective pressure chamber;
at least one charging valve in fluid communication with the pressure chambers and configured to supply air to the chambers through the charging apertures;
at least one discharging valve in fluid communication with the pressure chambers and configured to expel air from the pressure chambers through the discharging apertures; and
a pump configured to supply pressurized air to the at least one charging valve.

2. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one charging valve comprises a plurality of charging valves, and wherein each of the plurality of charging valves is configured in fluid communication with at least one of the pressure chambers of the plurality of cells.

3. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one discharging valve comprises a plurality of discharging valves, and wherein each of the plurality of discharging valves is configured in fluid communication with at least one of the pressure chambers of the plurality of cells.

4. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein the number of charging valves, the number of discharging valves, and the number of cells is equal.

5. The pressure control system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage chamber configured between the pump and the at least one charging valve, the storage chamber configured to be a pressure accumulator.

6. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein each top inflatable diaphragm is embedded in a cushion fabric of a seat.

7. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein the charging apertures are configured with diameters to control the airflow through the charging apertures.

8. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein the discharging apertures are configured with diameters to control the airflow through the discharging apertures.

9. The pressure control system of claim 1 , further comprising a control valve located between the pump and the at least one charging valve to control a flow of air between the pump and the at least one charging valve.

10. The pressure control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one charging valve or the at least one discharging valve is a solenoid valve.

11. A method for controlling the pressure in an aircraft seat having a plurality of cells, the method comprising:
pressurizing air and conveying it to at least one charging valve;
controlling an airflow through the at least one charging valve to supply air into the plurality of cells;
controlling an airflow out of the plurality of cells using at least one discharging valve; and
exhausting air from the cells to decrease a pressure within the cells; and
dampening pressure transients in a storage chamber prior to supplying air to the plurality of cells.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the device is a pneumatic comfort cushion.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising increasing a pressure in the plurality of cells by operation of the charging valves to increase a stiffness of the device.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising decreasing a pressure in the plurality of cells by operation of the discharging valves to decrease a stiffness of the device.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a seating profile is varied by the pressurizing and exhausting of the cells to vary a bellows height and radius of a top inflatable diaphragm of the cells.

16. A method for controlling the pressure in an aircraft seat having a plurality of cells, the method comprising:
pressurizing air and conveying it to at least one charging valve using a pump;
controlling an airflow through the at least one charging valve to supply air into the plurality of cells, wherein plurality of cells are sealingly attached to a base plate, each cell of the plurality of cells having a bellows and a top inflatable diaphragm, wherein each cell defines a pressure chamber therein and a plurality of charging apertures are formed in the base plate such that each cell has at least one associated charging aperture, wherein each respective charging aperture is in fluid communication with a respective pressure chamber;
controlling an airflow out of the plurality of cells using at least one discharging valve; and
exhausting air from the cells to decrease a pressure within the plurality of cells.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising increasing a pressure in the plurality of cells by operation of the charging valves to increase a stiffness of the device.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising decreasing a pressure in the plurality of cells by operation of the discharging valves to decrease a stiffness of the device.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein a seating profile is varied by the pressurizing and exhausting of the cells to vary a bellows height and radius of a top inflatable diaphragm of the cells.

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• John Poly Puthur
• Iyer S Shyam Sundar
• Prabhudevaiah Manjunatha

Classifications

• A47C27/10

  with two or more independently-fillable chambers · CPC title

• B60N2/914

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• B64D11/0647 Primary

  Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features · CPC title

• B64D2201/00

  Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use · CPC title