Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gyroscopic vehicle seat structure which is created by integrating a gyroscope application to vehicle seat, and which prevents the driver/passenger sitting on the seat from being affected by vibrations from the road, rolling and pitching movements upon the operation of the gyroscope.

Background of the Invention

The vehicle seats known in the state of the art either cause the vibrations occurring due to roughness on the road on which the vehicle is driven to be transferred/felt to the passenger directly or absorption is provided until a certain level in a conventional dampener is used on the seat. On the other hand, the current seat systems have difficulty especially in dampening the rolling movement, and the vibrations in other directions are directly spread to the passenger, thereby causing back pain and decreasing driving comfort.

Currently, pneumatic or spring systems are used as solution for dampening this vibration in the vehicle seats. However these systems can prevent vibration only in certain levels. By means of using electromagnetic motor known in the state of the art, alternative to these applications, especially horizontal and vertical oscillations are prevented significantly, however these systems are high-cost applications (approximately 6000$).

Chinese Utility Model No CN204355217, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a self-balancing electric vehicle with front and back wheels and a gyroscopic stabilizing system enabling thereof. The uniaxial gyro-stabilizing system which the inventive self-balancing electric vehicle has comprises three pairs of gyroscopes. These are comprised of a gyroscope base, a rotor motor, a rolling motor, rotor, rotor base, rotor cap/cover, fixed ball bearing, cylindrical ball bearing and a seal. German Patent Document no DE4115639, an application known in the state of the art, discloses ambulance with position stabilized stretcher support platform that is continuously adjusted by motors responding to gyroscope coupled sensors to maintain horizontal position. The platform has a pair of electric motors placed inside a central unit. The commands for the motors' operation are based upon absolute angular measurements that are obtained by sensors responding to frame/chassis movements relative to a stable gyroscope.

Japanese Patent document no JPH0747876, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a device stabilizing the driver seat. If a centrifugal force is created during a sharp turn, it is detected by a sensor, and a drive sensor is transferred to an electric motor by a control member. If the vehicle is tilted by centrifugal force, the driver seat is tilted in the opposite direction by the same degree and it is kept horizontal relative to the ground. Turkish Patent document no TR 2008/07879, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a vehicle with driver seat that can be adjusted according to incline. A vehicle, particularly an electric wheelchair, comprising a chassis and a driver's seat adjustable to the inclination of the chassis along a rail designed as two springs, is characterized by an inclination sensor for detecting the angle which the seating surface of the driver' s seat has relative to the horizontal plane, a control device associated with the chassis and the driver's seat, and a control and adjustment mechanism that interacts with the inclination sensor and the control device and allows the driver's seat to be adjusted with the aid of a control device such that the seating surface is generally always parallel to the horizontal plane.

Summary of the Invention The objective of the present invention is to provide a gyroscopic vehicle seat structure which enables the passenger not to be affected from rolling and pitching movements coming from the road by means of a gyroscope application integrated under the vehicle seat, and increases driving comfort.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gyroscopic vehicle seat structure which enables to constantly maintain the stability of the vehicle seat placed thereon by balancing the gyroscope mass rotating with an electric motor.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a gyroscopic vehicle seat structure which can be used as a normal vehicle seat by deactivating the gyroscope system in accordance with the user preference. Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a gyroscopic vehicle seat structure which can be activated upon detection of inclinations on the road on which the vehicle is moving by means of the sensors.

Detailed Description of the Invention

"A gyroscopic vehicle seat structure" developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is the lateral view of the vehicle seat structure in previous technique applications.

Figure 2 is the lateral view of the gyroscopic vehicle seat structure of the present invention

Figure 3 is the top view of gyroscope system (wherein the gyroscope mass is not in the basin).

Figure 4 is the lateral cross-sectional view of the inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure in straight road (wherein the gyroscope mass is not in the basin). Figure 5 is the close view of (a) B part in Figure 4 in one embodiment, and (b) in a preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 is the lateral cross-sectional view of the inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure in straight road (wherein the gyroscope mass is in the basin). Figure 7 is the partial cross-sectional view of the inner structure of the inventive gyroscope system.

Figure 8 is the top view of the gyroscope mass.

Figure 9 is the lateral cross-sectional view of the inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure when it is not activated during downhill driving of the vehicle. Figure 10 is the lateral cross-sectional view of the inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure when it is activated during downhill driving of the vehicle.

The components in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Gyroscopic vehicle seat structure

2. Vehicle seat

2.1. Seat part

2.2. Back part

3. Seat lower frame

4. Gyroscope system

4.1. Gyroscope mass

4.2. Gyroscope slot

4.3. Gyroscope connection point

5. Contact shaft

5.1. Contact ball

6. Limiting frame

7. Limiting extension

8. Lock pin

9. Gyroscope wheel

10. Gyroscope rail channel 11. Gyroscope connecting terminal

T. Vehicle floor

OT. Previous Technique

The inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure (1), which prevents the driver/passenger sitting on the seat from being affected by vibrations from the road, rolling and pitching movements by integrating gyroscope application, comprises

- at least one vehicle seat (2) which is comprised of a seat part (2.1) on which the passenger/driver sits, and a back part (2.2) on which he leans his back,

- at least one seat lower frame (3) which is fixed to the vehicle floor (T) and disposed between the seat part (2.1) of the vehicle seat (2) and the vehicle floor (T) on which it is placed, which has a cross sectional area almost with the same width as the seat part (2.1) of the vehicle seat (2), and which is in form of a box having an inner volume accommodating mechanical components that provide the connection of the vehicle seat (2) to the vehicle floor (T) and pneumatic or spring systems depending on the seat type,

- at least one gyroscope system (4) which is situated between the seat part (2.1) of the vehicle seat (2) and the seat lower frame (3) and close to the seat part (2.1), and which comprises

o at least one gyroscope mass (4.1) which is manufactured from a heavy material (metal) in order to be used in gyroscope application, which is in form of a circular plate and which can rotate around an axis passing through the center of a circle upon the operation of a motor to which it is connected, and which is positioned parallel to the floor of the seat part (2.1), o at least one gyroscope slot (4.2) in which the gyroscope mass (4.1) is positioned and which has an inner volume wherein it can rotate freely without contacting its walls,

o at least one gyroscope connection point (4.3) which enables the distance between them to be maintained and to keep the inclination of the seat part (2.1) same as the inclination of the gyroscope slot (4.2) by the gyroscope slot (4.2) contacting the seat part (2.1), and which has balls placed rotatable inside the holes on the surface of the gyroscope slot (4.2) corresponding to the seat part (2.1), and which enables to perform angular balancing with constant fast rotation of the gyroscope mass (4.1), and also enables the gyroscope mass (4.1) and the vehicle seat (2) it is associated with to remain in balance independent from the inclination of the road on which the vehicle is moving, at least one contact shaft (5) which is fixed to the inner volume of the seat lower frame (3) corresponding to the vehicle floor (T) from its one end, and which extends towards the point of where the rotational axis of the gyroscope mass (4.1) passes, and which has at least one contact ball (5.1) which can rotate freely and is located where it contacts the gyroscope mass (4.1) in order to keep the gyroscope mass (4.1) at a certain distance far from the vehicle floor (T) without preventing its rotation,

at least one limiting frame (6) which is fixed to the floor of the seat lower frame (3) therein, and extends towards the seat part (2.1) from the vehicle floor (T) such that it will remain inside the gyroscope system (4), and the end of which close to the seat part (2.1) has a cross-section in form of L facing the hollow inner volume it forms,

at least one limiting extension (7) which extends towards the limiting frame (6) from the seat part (2.1) of the vehicle seat (2), which is placed close to the L shaped end of the limiting frame (6) such that it will not contact, and which provides limiting by contacting the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the L shaped end of the limiting frame (6) during oscillation of vehicle seat (2) during stabilizing with the effect of gyroscope system (4).

In one embodiment of the invention, the gyroscope mass (4.1) is comprised of two or more separable circular plates in order to be adjusted to different weights according to requirements.

In a different embodiment of the invention, gyroscope slot (4.2) and gyroscope connection point (4.3) are not used in the gyroscope system (4), instead there are gyroscope wheels (9) provided on the surface of the gyroscope mass (4.1) corresponding to the seat part (2.1) of the vehicle seat (2) and contacting the seat part (2.1) from at least one point and at least one gyroscope rail channel (10) provided on the base of the seat part (2.1) corresponding to the gyroscope mass (4.1) and determining the route at which the gyroscope wheels (9) can enter and move therein.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in case the user wants to deactivate the gyroscope system (4), at least one lock pin (8) extends towards the limiting extension (7) from the limiting frame (6), and enables the limiting extension (7) and thus the vehicle seat (2) to which it is connected to be fixed to the limiting frame (6) and the vehicle floor (T). In order to perform attachment process expressed herein, the said lock pin (8) enters into an opening (Figure 5(a)) provided on the limiting extension (7) and its movement is prevented or it enables the limiting extension (7) to be grabbed and stuck by means of a gripper it has. After locking, the vehicle seat (2) is used as a conventional seat. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of the lock pin (8) located inside a slot on the surface of the limiting frame (6) close to the limiting extension (7) close to the limiting extension (7) has a C shaped cross-section, upon activation by the user via a button on the vehicle (preferably by pushing via the springs between the end of the lock pin (8) corresponding to inside of the slot and the slot), it extends towards the limiting extension (7) and it grabs the protrusion by a protrusion on the limiting extension (7) entering into the opening of the C shaped cross section end, and thus it enables the limiting extension to be held (Figure 5(b)).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the limiting extension (7) is manufactured from rubber, plastic, magnetic or an equivalent material.

In the embodiments known in the technique, the seat is integrated to the vehicle floor (T) and directly transfers the shocks and vibrations occurring due to effects on the rod on which the vehicle is running to the person sitting on the seat (Figure 1). In the inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure (1), the vehicle seat (2) is not directly associated with the vehicle floor (T), but it is associated with the vehicle floor (T) through a gyroscope system (4). The gyroscope system (4) can remain vertical to the gravitational axis in balance depending on the principle of conservation of angular momentum with the high speed rotation of the gyroscope mass (4.1) which it has according to the operational logic of the gyroscope. The gyroscope mass (4.1) remaining in balance in such way is associated with the vehicle seat (2). The association of the gyroscope mass (4.1) with the vehicle seat (2) is provided via gyroscope connection points (4.3) in form of a freely rotating balls inside holes on the gyroscope slot (4.2) in case a gyroscope slot (4.2) accommodating gyroscope mass (4.1) therein is used, or it is provided by contact through the gyroscope wheels (9) located on the gyroscope mass (4.1) in case gyroscope slot (4.2) is not used.

Their locations are significant since gyroscope system (4) provides effect in opposite direction of inclination (the vehicle seat (2) applying force on the vehicle floor (T)) in order to enable the vehicle seat (2) to be stabilized. In order that no permanent shape changes (plastic strain) are experienced in seat connections under these forces, the main connection of the gyroscope system (4) (gyroscope connection end (11), gyroscope slot (4.2)) should be attached to strong regions where gyroscope system (4) is connected to seat frame and has sufficient resistance. It is important that these connections have sufficient resistance during rotation of gyroscope mass (4.1) and transferring response to the vehicle seat (4.1).

The inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure (1) is comprised of the combination of a current seat design and gyroscope system (4), and it aims to receive all kinds of vibrations in the seat and to keep the seat independent from all rolling movements. In the region between the vehicle seats (2) and the vehicle floor (T), there is provided the seat lower frame (3) which is a structure accommodating the metal components (also pneumatic or spring systems depending on seat type) providing connection of the vehicle seat (2) to the vehicle floor (T). Pneumatic or spring systems depending on the seat type are also included in inner volume of the seat lower frame (3) present in the current embodiments and providing support for the inventive vehicle seat (2). Furthermore, the seat lower frame (3) provides support for all components and mechanism within the scope of the invention, and functions as housing/casing for all of these. A gyroscope system (4) included in the said seat lower frame (3) enables the vibrations, rolling and pitching movements of the vehicle seat (2) desired to be realized within the scope of the invention occurring due to inclinations on the road not to be reflected on the user. By utilizing the principle of conservation of angular momentum of the gyroscope, which is the logic on which the invention is based, the vibrations occurring due to bumps of the road on which the vehicle is moving, and the vehicle seat (2) can remain stabilized. In operational logic of the gyroscope, due to the high speed of gyroscope weight rotation at the axis of a shaft passing through the center of the gyroscope, this weight can remain vertical to gravitational axis in a balanced way without falling and maintained as long as the rapid rotation is continued. Within the scope of the invention, circular plates made of a heavy metal are used as gyroscope masses (4.1), which are positioned parallel to the seat part (2.1), corresponding to below the seat part (2) to provide gyroscope application. The gyroscope masses (4.1) can be an assembly comprising one or a plurality of plates, and they can rotate both clockwise and counter clockwise. In order to attach the gyroscope slot (4.2) to the seat lower frame (3), at least two gyroscope connection ends (11) extend towards the seat lower frame (3) from the gyroscope slot (4.2). The end of the gyroscope connection end (11) extending towards the seat lower frame (3) is connected to the point (5) which is a part of seat lower frame (3) area, and it can move around its own axis. The connection of the gyroscope slot (4.2) with the seat part (2.1) is provided via welding or a bolt. The inventive gyroscopic vehicle seat structure

(1) , which provides increased driving comfort (reducing vibrations and allowing the vehicle seat (2) to remain in a flat/balanced position), operates at a certain angle range to avoid user discomfort. The limiting elements (limiting frame (6) and limiting extension (7)) are used within the scope of the invention for both this purpose and for activation during instantaneous accelerations of the vehicle. The limiting extension (7) which is located at a close distance from the inner surface of the limiting frame (6) extending from the vehicle floor (T) to the vehicle seat

(2) ensures that the oscillation movement of the vehicle seat (2) to which it is attached is kept at a certain range with the gyroscope system (4). Thereby, it is provided to create the motion share required for balancing (oscillation dampening) the vehicle seat (2) associated with the gyroscope system (4) and the gyroscope system (4) depending on the slope of the road. The limiting extension (7) is made of rubber, plastic, spring, suspension, magnetic or equivalent material/system in order to ensure that the seat oscillation motion is terminated by a softer transition and to prevent noise generation. The stabilizing effect of the particular gyroscope system (4) is prevented from affecting the vehicle seat (2) by securing a locking pin (8) extending from the limiting frame (6) to the limiting extension (7), limiting extension (7) and vehicle seat (2). The user causes the lock pin (8) to enable locking or unlocking with a button located in the vehicle (such as under the dashboard, under the seat) so that the gyroscope system (4) can be activated or deactivated in control of the user. By the user pushing the button to disable the gyroscope system (4), the lock pin (8) secures the limiting extension (7) to allow the vehicle seat (2) to function as a standard seat. At least one control unit, in accordance with the data received from a sensor for detecting the inclination changes on the road on which the vehicle is moving, enables the activation of the electric motor which rotates the gyroscope mass (4.1) in case of need, and the activation of the gyroscope system (4). By means of the sensor, the gyroscope system (4) is activated depending on the change on its X and Y (horizontal) plane, and enables the seat to remain horizontal. If the vehicle is described as longitudinal X-direction and lateral Y-direction (directional indication in FIG. 6), the vehicle seat (2) will perform rolling and pitching movements, especially around the X and Y axes. One of the main duties of gyroscope system (4) is to avoid these movements.

By means of the gyroscope masses (4.1) rotating in different directions, the rotation of the seat in Z axis (vertical) is prevented. If the gyroscope mass (4.1) rotates towards single point, it will generate a momentum force. If gyroscope mass (4.1) consists of two concentric parts and they turn in the opposite direction, they will not create any moment; the moments in the opposite direction that each part creates will dampen each other. While the gyroscope system (4) is active, there is no need for a different vibration dampening mechanism and the balance state obtained by the operation of the gyroscope system (4) is always sufficient. In a situation where the gyroscope system (4) is disabled - the user is able to switch to this state by pressing a button - the sensors can detect the amount of unbalance and enable the gyroscope system (4) to be engaged and ensure that the balance is achieved at that moment. The rotation of the gyroscope mass (4.1) is carried out by means of an electric motor and the gyroscope system (4) can be deactivated by stopping the electric motor when it is desired, and thus the vehicle seat (2) can switch to normal seat function.