Abstract: A damper is provided on an upper frame which is a main vibrating body supported on upper portions of front links and rear links of a frame link mechanism, so as to be a sub-vibrating body which generates vibration whose behavior is different from that of vibration of the upper frame caused by the rotary motion of the front links and the rear links. When the upper frame is vibrated by input vibration, since the damper exhibits the different vibration behavior, energy of the input vibration not only is distributed as vibrational energy of the upper frame and heat energy generated by the elongation and contraction of the damper but also is consumed as energy which vibrates the damper itself provided as the vibrating body. Such arrangement and configuration of the damper improve basic performance of vibration absorbency and impact absorbency of the suspension and achieves a reduction in thickness.

Abstract: A seat support suspension improving an absorption characteristic of low-cycle vibrations resulting from rolling. A seat support member supporting a seat is provided via a rolling absorption mechanism for absorbing rolling on brackets as a vehicle body side attachment member attached to the vehicle body side. Thus, rolling, low-cycle vibrations, generated by a phase shift or the like of a hydraulic suspension of the vehicle can be absorbed by the rolling absorption mechanism, a lateral displacement of the body of the seated person can be prevented, stability of a seated posture can be increased, and moreover occurrence of motion sickness can be suppressed.

Abstract: A seat suspension with a compact structure while being capable of coping with input vibrations not only in a vertical direction but in six-axis directions. Three pantograph links between a vehicle body floor side and a seat side are employed. Thus, control in six-axis directions is possible, allowing simplification compared to conventional structures. In addition to an active control mechanism using the pantograph links, the seat suspension has a compressed coil spring and the magnetic spring as a first elastic member and a second elastic member. Specifically, damping is performed with high efficiency by controlling the seat side in a reverse phase to the vehicle body floor side with respect to the input direction of vibrations by the active control mechanism and meanwhile performing damping passively by these elastic members.

Abstract: An upper frame swingable between an inclined posture and a substantially horizontal posture along a trajectory of movement of a four-bar linkage is held in the substantially horizontal posture by a simple operation when necessary. A front link mechanism control gives an external force for pushing down an operation member to thereby control a front link mechanism so as to displace the upper frame rearward while lowering a front side of the upper frame. Since a displacement direction for bringing the upper frame into the substantially horizontal posture and an operation direction for locking the front link mechanism or a rear link mechanism by the operation of the operation member are substantially the same direction, it is possible to perform two movements, the displacement movements to the substantially horizontal posture and the locking movements, only by operating the operation member in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A seat suspension with a compact structure while being capable of coping with input vibrations not only in a vertical direction but in six-axis directions. Three pantograph links between a vehicle body floor side and a seat side are employed. Thus, control in six-axis directions is possible, allowing simplification compared to conventional structures. In addition to an active control mechanism using the pantograph links, the seat suspension has a compressed coil spring and the magnetic spring as a first elastic member and a second elastic member. Specifically, damping is performed with high efficiency by controlling the seat side in a reverse phase to the vehicle body floor side with respect to the input direction of vibrations by the active control mechanism and meanwhile performing damping passively by these elastic members.

Abstract: A seat support suspension improving an absorption characteristic of low-cycle vibrations resulting from rolling. A seat support member supporting a seat is provided via a rolling absorption mechanism for absorbing rolling on brackets as a vehicle body side attachment member attached to the vehicle body side. Thus, rolling, low-cycle vibrations, generated by a phase shift or the like of a hydraulic suspension of the vehicle can be absorbed by the rolling absorption mechanism, a lateral displacement of the body of the seated person can be prevented, stability of a seated posture can be increased, and moreover occurrence of motion sickness can be suppressed.

Abstract: An upper frame swingable between an inclined posture and a substantially horizontal posture along a trajectory of movement of a four-bar linkage is held in the substantially horizontal posture by a simple operation when necessary. A front link mechanism control gives an external force for pushing down an operation member to thereby control a front link mechanism so as to displace the upper frame rearward while lowering a front side of the upper frame. Since a displacement direction for bringing the upper frame into the substantially horizontal posture and an operation direction for locking the front link mechanism or a rear link mechanism by the operation of the operation member are substantially the same direction, it is possible to perform two movements, the displacement movements to the substantially horizontal posture and the locking movements, only by operating the operation member in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: To expand a body weight adjustment range and achieve thinning. An initial position adjusting member 15 which can adjust initial resilient forces of two torsion bars 31, 41 is provided. Therefore, a body weight adjustment range is expanded as compared with a conventional configuration where a resilient force of only one torsion bar is adjusted.

Abstract: Follow-up performance to respiratory movements is made higher than that of the prior art without obstructing movements of the pelvis of a person. A configuration is adopted that a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 and a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat cushion are displaced according to load fluctuation to a cushioning member for a seat back 40, 150 or a cushioning member for a seat cushion 20. That is, such a configuration is adopted that the cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 or the cushioning member for a seat cushion 20 not only moves according to load fluctuation but also frames themselves supporting them move via tension structure members spread over the frames (a cushioning member for a seat back and a cushioning member for a seat cushion).

Abstract: A seat in which a cushioning member has a high following ability to a human body motion and which can efficiently damp a vibration inputted from the outside is provided. The seat is constituted to use a torsion bar 112 and to support a cushioning member of a seat cushion section 150 by a parallel link mechanism having a first link plate 113 pivotally supported by the torsion bar 112, a second link plate 116 disposed in correspondence with the first link plate 113, and a connection link plate 117 connecting the first link plate 113 and the second link plate 116, and operational directions of the first link plate 113 and the second link plate 116 are set to almost coincide with a vertical direction along a surface of a seat back section.

Abstract: To expand a body weight adjustment range and achieve thinning. An initial position adjusting member 15 which can adjust initial resilient forces of two torsion bars 31, 41 is provided. Therefore, a body weight adjustment range is expanded as compared with a conventional configuration where a resilient force of only one torsion bar is adjusted.

Abstract: Follow-up performance to respiratory movements is made higher than that of the prior art without obstructing movements of the pelvis of a person. A configuration is adopted that a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 and a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat cushion are displaced according to load fluctuation to a cushioning member for a seat back 40, 150 or a cushioning member for a seat cushion 20. That is, such a configuration is adopted that the cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 or the cushioning member for a seat cushion 20 not only moves according to load fluctuation but also frames themselves supporting them move via tension structure members spread over the frames (a cushioning member for a seat back and a cushioning member for a seat cushion).

Abstract: A seat in which a cushioning member has a high following ability to a human body motion and which can efficiently damp a vibration inputted from the outside is provided. The seat is constituted to use a torsion bar 112 and to support a cushioning member of a seat cushion section 150 by a parallel link mechanism having a first link plate 113 pivotally supported by the torsion bar 112, a second link plate 116 disposed in correspondence with the first link plate 113, and a connection link plate 117 connecting the first link plate 113 and the second link plate 116, and operational directions of the first link plate 113 and the second link plate 116 are set to almost coincide with a vertical direction along a surface of a seat back section.

Abstract: A suspension unit includes a lower frame and an upper frame vertically movably mounted on the lower frame via a link mechanism. The suspension unit also includes a magneto-spring unit for resiliently supporting the upper frame relative to the link mechanism. The amount of motion of the magneto-spring unit is smaller than that of the suspension unit, making it possible to provide a relatively compact suspension unit having a large stroke.

Abstract: A booster of the present invention is structured to include one permanent magnet (first permanent magnet) 40 provided in an input rod 20, and the other permanent magnet (second permanent magnet) 51 forming a repulsive magnetic field between the second permanent magnet 51 and the first permanent magnet 40, and to apply a force amplified by a force received by the second permanent magnet 51 to an output rod 60 through a channel different from an output applying channel by an output applying member 30 to booster the inputted force. The booster can boost a force by applying a force to operate an inputting member without requiring such a negative pressure source or a hydraulic pressure source operated by a separate driving force different from a driving force to drive the inputting member as the conventional booster requires.

Abstract: A suspension unit includes a lower frame and an upper frame vertically movably mounted on the lower frame via a link mechanism. The suspension unit also includes a magneto-spring unit for resiliently supporting the upper frame relative to the link mechanism. The amount of motion of the magneto-spring unit is smaller than that of the suspension unit, making it possible to provide a relatively compact suspension unit having a large stroke.

Abstract: A magnetic spring device and a vibration damping apparatus, which are simpler and cheaper to manufacture, are disclosed. The magnetic spring device includes a plurality of stationary magnets, which are spaced apart to define a space between them, and a magnetic movable element, which is fit in the space. The magnetic poles of the stationary magnets are opposite to each other. The movable element is moved by the magnetic force generated by the stationary magnets in a parallel direction with the magnetic field. The properly positioned stationary magnets and movable element form a magnetic spring device, which together with additional properly positioned magnets alone may be used as a vibration damping apparatus. Also, when the magnetic spring device is combined with a cushioning member such as a metal spring, rubber or the like to form a vibration damping apparatus, the total elastic constant of the vibration damping apparatus may be near zero.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the production efficiency by making its bonding process unnecessary to simplify the production process. The method of production comprises the step of integrally incorporating a magnetic material when the stationary holders 21 and 22 of the stationary member and the movable holder 31 of the movable member 30 are molded with a non-magnetic material such as a plastic material and the like. Therefore, a magnet unit in which the stationary magnets 23 and 24 or the movable magnet 32 is integrally incorporated into the stationary holders 21 and 22 or the movable holder 31 can be provided only by giving magnetization treatment on the magnetic material without using a bonding process.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a vibration damping apparatus having 6 degrees of freedom using a magnetic circuit. Vibration transfer can be isolated by a vibration damping mechanism to set the spring constant utilizing a relative displacement of a movable magnet 37 to a stationary magnet 27 in an axial direction, and an elastic force of a metal spring 50 substantially to be zero. The displacement is quickly restored to an original position by a rubber 24a and the metal spring 50 composing a device to restore the displacement due to vibration not only in an axial direction (Z axis direction) but also in a horizontal direction (X or Y axis direction), in a rotational direction around each axis, or in a twisting direction which is an overlapping direction of these directions and is damped as a vibration in an axial direction. Accordingly, a vibration having 6 degrees of freedom can be controlled with a simple structure.

Abstract: A booster of the present invention is structured to include one permanent magnet (first permanent magnet) 40 provided in an input rod 20, and the other permanent magnet (second permanent magnet) 51 forming a repulsive magnetic field between the second permanent magnet 51 and the first permanent magnet 40, and to apply a force amplified by a force received by the second permanent magnet 51 to an output rod 60 through a channel different from an output applying channel by an output applying member 30 to booster the inputted force. The booster can boost a force by applying a force to operate an inputting member without requiring such a negative pressure source or a hydraulic pressure source operated by a separate driving force different from a driving force to drive the inputting member as the conventional booster requires.