Abstract: A folding vehicle seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising at least one movable seat portion, and at least one fluid powered actuator. The actuators are connected to an operating system which is selectively activatable by a vehicle occupant. The movable seat portion is movably mountable within the vehicle and connected to an actuator. The actuator, when activated, is arranged to move the movable seat portion between a seating position for supporting a seat occupant and a stowed position.

Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle seat adjustment system for providing positional adjustment of at least two seat adjustments of a vehicle seat. The system comprises a common source of hydraulic fluid, and a control unit which selectively controls and directs hydraulic fluid from the common source of hydraulic fluid to respective first and second actuators to adjust the respective different seat adjustments, for example fore and aft position of the seat, and seat back angle. The system may further also comprise a seat position determining unit connected to the control unit and to a common fluid flow sensor to determine the flow of hydraulic fluid from the common source of hydraulic fluid to the respective first and second actuators and to thereby determine the adjusted position of the respective actuators and so of the respective seat adjustment.

Abstract: A vehicle seat adjustment system for adjusting the position of a portion of a vehicle seat. The system comprises a hydraulic actuator, a primary activation system for operating the hydraulic actuator and adjusting the seat position, and a secondary activation system for the hydraulic actuator. The secondary activation system is arranged to be activated in the event of a detected crash, to provide for movement of the hydraulic actuator to automatically adjust the position of a portion of the seat towards a predetermined position. The secondary activation system comprises a chamber to allow fluid to be displaced from the hydraulic actuator into the chamber. The secondary activation system may additionally comprise a fluid injection unit which supplies a quantity of fluid, preferably gas, to the actuator.

Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle seat system providing powered adjustment of the position of a seat or seat portion. The system comprises a pump, flow controller, and hydraulic actuator arranged in a hydraulic circuit. The actuator includes a first and second system protection valves for the respective inlet and outlet of the actuator. The system protection valves are adapted to be activated in response to pressure within the actuator exceeding a predetermined threshold level. When activated the system protection valves close off the respective inlet and outlets to hydraulically isolate the actuator and hydraulic fluid within the actuator from the remainder of the hydraulic circuit and adjustment system. This protects the remainder of the circuit and system from excessive pressures which may be generated within an by the actuators under crash loading.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat, and a seat track mounting adapted to slidingly mount the seat to a vehicle floor. The seat track mounting comprising an elongate slidingly engaged seat track member including a pair of spaced apart side flanges which define a channel section. The vehicle seat assembly further comprising a hydraulic actuator arranged in use to extend and retract as the seat is slidingly moved on the seat track mounting. This hydraulic actuator is located longitudinally within seat track member within the channel section and between the pair of side flanges.

Abstract: A control valve, and a control module including such a control valve, for selectively controlling a flow of pressurised hydraulic fluid from a pump in a hydraulically powered vehicle seat adjustment system. The control valve including a duct for pressurised fluid delivered from the pump, and a moveable valve member which selectively closes off the duct. The control valve also includes an integral set of contacts which are arranged to activate the pump to provide a supply of pressurised hydraulic fluid to the duct when the valve member is in the second operative position in which hydraulic fluid is permitted to flow though the duct. The control valves are preferably mounted within the control module which defines an internal chamber forming a reservoir of the hydraulically powered vehicle seat adjustment system. The control module is mounted upon a side valance of the seat as a single integrated unit.

Abstract: A fluid powered vehicle seat adjustment system comprising a fluid actuator a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a controller. The fluid actuator including first and second inlet/outlet conduits, and the controller selectively controlling and directing pressurized fluid selectively to either the first or second inlet/outlets of the actuator. The actuator further comprising actuator isolation valves associated with each of the first and second inlet/outlets of the actuator. Each actuator isolation valve allowing a flow of fluid from the actuator only when pressurized fluid is supplied to the actuator and other isolation valve in order to prevent movement of the actuator except when pressurized fluid is supplied to the actuator.