A ROL L ING PR EV E NTING SE AT SY ST E M F i el d of the I nventi on

The present invention relates to a rolling preventing seat system which is used in seat suspension systems in vehicles and which prevents lateral rolling movements caused by the nature of the road.

Background of the Invention

Drivers and passengers of large commercial vehicles such as trucks and tow trucks are subjected to many vibrations and oscillations occurring during moving of the vehicle due to the bad nature of the road. Since these types of commercial vehicles are high, vibrations and oscillations are felt more than regular passenger cars. This reduces the riding comfort of both the driver and the passenger.

There are various systems used for minimizing the vibrations and oscillations occurring in large commercial vehicles such as trucks and tow trucks originating from the road. Technologies such as suspension systems, seat air bellows and electronic control elements can be given as examples of these systems. These systems are elements, which are used for reducing the oscillations and vibrations occurring in the vehicle due to the nature of the road, and they show a reaction opposi te to the movement di recti on and proporti onate to the speed.

In a general vibration preventing suspension system, there are damping springs placed in specific points under the seats. The springs connect the seat and the vehicle floor to each other, and enable the seat to stretch during vibration. In air bellows systems, the pressurized air coming from the vehicle compressor fills into the air tube disposed under seat. By means of this pressurized air, the seat can move in vertical axis direction by means of the air bellows mechanism. The seat height can be adjusted at different levels. In addition, the seat is enabled to keep itself at the same height by using air pressure. This way, impacts of the vibrations coming from the road in vertical direction are reduced.

In order to reduce vibrations, electronically controlled systems try to keep the system in balance, by using electronic readers and hydraulic drivers compare to mechanical systems. E lectronically controlled systems are operated so as to keep the predetermined seat height fixed by the help of a position sensor by using the data coming from the accelerometer channels. This type of systems particularly reduces the oscillation occurring in vertical direction by 80-90%. These systems are systems that have the capability of damping vibrations from vertical direction during cruising. By means of these systems, the driver can always be riding at the same height during moving of the vehicle. However, the forces, to which the driver is subjected during driving, do not act only in vertical direction. Lateral rolling forces also impact to driver depending on the nature of the road. The vibration damping systems used in the current situations are not developed to prevent rolling movements. Therefore, in the current systems, the driver is subjected to lateral rolling loads and thus the driving comfort decreases. Additionally, road visibility is disturbed si nee the driver ^' s balance is disturbed and her/his position changes.

Obj ectives of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a rolling preventing seat system which prevents lateral rolling movements. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a rolling preventing seat system which eliminates the driver dissatisfaction resulting from rolling movements. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a rolling preventing seat system which eliminates the problem of poor visibility resulting from the rolling loads.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rolling preventing seat system, which is used in seat suspension systems in vehicles, prevents lateral rolling movements caused by the nature of the road, prevents structural damage resulting from rolling loads, eliminates the problem of road visibility, and enhances driver ^' s comfort.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The rolling preventing seat system developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which,

F igure 1. is a schematic view of the vehicle seat together with the rolling preventing seat system during use.

F igure 2. is a schematic view of the hinge system. T he components shown i n the figures are given reference numbers as f ol I ows:

1. R ol I i ng preventi ng seat system

2. Seat

2.1. Cavity

3. Fixed unit

4. V ertical damper 5. Hinge system

5.1. Connecting member

5.2. Clearance The rolling preventing seat system (1), which is used in seat suspension systems in vehicles and which prevents lateral rolling movements caused by the nature of the road, basically comprises

- at least one seat (2) on which the driver sits during driving,

- at least one fixed unit (3) on which the seat (2) is fixed,

- at least one vertical damper (4) which connects the fixed unit (3) to the vehicle cabin and damps the vibrations arising from the vertical forces during moving of the vehicle,

- at least one hinge system (5), which keeps the seat (2) always parallel to the ground plane even if the angle of the vehicle with the ground plane changes.

In the rol I i ng preventi ng seat system ( 1 ) i n one embodi ment of the i nventi on, there is a fixed unit (3) which is mounted to the vehicle cabin by the help of a vertical damper (4). A driver or passenger seat (2) is connected onto the fixed unit (3). The vertical damper (4) damps the vibrations in vertical direction caused by the nature of the road while the vehicle is moving. In the rolling preventing seat system (1), connection is provided between the seat (2) and the fixed unit (3) through a single point. By means of the fact that the seat (2) is connected to the fixed unit (3) through a single point, the seat (2) is suspended on the fixed unit (3). This point connection between the seat (2) and the fixed unit (3) is provided by means of the hinge system (5). In the hinge system (5), the connecting member (5.1) is placed into the cavity (2.1) which is located behind the seat (2) or on the fixed unit (3). The connecting member (5.1) can move within the cavity (2.1), in which it is placed. The end of the connecting member (5.1) placed into the cavity (2.1) practically has the same geometry with the cavity (2.1). The end of the connecting member (5.1) which is not placed into the cavity (2.1) is mounted to the fixed unit (3). If the cavity (2.1) is drilled on the fixed unit (3), the end of the connecting member (5.1) which is not placed into the cavity (2.1) is mounted to the seat (2). In this embodiment of the invention, the connecting member (5.1) is preferably a cheese head hinge. In the rolling preventing seat system (1), there is a clearance (5.2) between the seat (2) and the fixed unit (3) originating from the hinge system (5). The clearance (5.2) also provides sufficient movement area for the seat (2) during movement of the seat (2) on the fixed unit (3). By using the hinge system (5), the seat (2) acquires a rotation freedom around X axis (Figure 1) on the fixed unit (3). In other words, the hinge system (5) enables the seat (2) to rotate on the fixed unit (3) around the central axis of the connecting member (5.1). When the angle of the vehicle with the ground plane changes as the vehicle is moving, the seat (2) automatically rotates around the central axis of the connecting member (5.1 ) by the weight of the driver and the seat (2) by means of the hinge system (5). By this means, the lateral rolling movements are prevented and driving comfort of the driver is enhanced.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, when the vehicle is stationary or moving on a straight road, the hinge system (5) is electronically or mechanically locked thereby hindering movement of the seat (2). By this means, when there is no angle between the vehicle and the ground plane, spontaneous movement of the seat (2) is prevented and driving comfort of the driver is enhanced. Thus, by using the rolling preventing seat system (1), road visibility problem resulting from rolling is eliminated. In addition, structural damages caused by the lateral rolling movements are also prevented. In another embodiment of the present invention, in the rolling preventing seat system (1), the hinge system (5) enables the seat (2) to acquire mobility by the help of a bearing or an equivalent structure.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in the rolling preventing seat system (1), the hinge system (5) is controlled by an electric motor and changes position of the seat (2) according to the angle of the vehicle with the ground plane.