Plural Springs Patents (Class 248/576)
  • Patent number: 4648578
    Abstract: A weight adjustment device for a seat suspension to be provided in a seat for a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed in which an upper frame and a lower frame are connected to each other by means of links, a rotary shaft is journalled between the two side portions of the lower frame and is provided at the two ends thereof with pinion gears integrally therewith, the pinion gears are intermeshed with sector gears freely rotatable in a vertical direction, and there are tension springs respectively extending between the respective first ends of the pinions gears and arms rotatable integrally with the links, whereby the sector gears are rotated by means of operation of an operation lever fixed to the rotary shaft to change the tensile forces of the tension springs so as to be able to adjust the height of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4615591
    Abstract: The invention comprises a compact substantially frictionless positioning device for guiding the motion of an object accurately along one or two axes. The object is supported on a pair of parallel motion solid hinges disposed either side of the axis of motion, each hinge comprising two flexible arms disposed in one plane. Springs are provided at one end of each hinge arm to permit the movement of the object along the axis and to restore it to its rest position when the displacing force is removed. Preferably the hinge arms and the springs are of rectangular cross-section to confine the motion of the object to one plane without the need for additional guides. The displacing force may conveniently be provided by an electromagnetic drive motor, the stator of which may be mounted on a further double parallel motion solid hinge assembly to minimize the change in the center of gravity which would otherwise occur when the object is displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: VG Instruments Group Limited
    Inventors: Ian R. Smith, Robert A. Harvey
  • Patent number: 4611089
    Abstract: A thermoelectric converter includes a heat source having a mating face and a heat sink also having a mating face. The converter also includes a thermoelectric conversion module positioned between these faces. The module includes an electrically insulative holder having a first side positioned adjacent the heat source and a second side disposed adjacent the heat sink. The holder includes spaced parallel first walls and spaced parallel second walls extending normal to the first wall so that these first and second walls define an array of compartments with each compartment containing a thermoelectric element. The module further includes a compressed resilient, thermally conductive pad positioned in each compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: GA Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert B. Elsner, John C. Bass, Charles C. Morris
  • Patent number: 4583158
    Abstract: A high voltage thyristor valve of the air insulation type erected upright on a valve hall is disclosed, which comprises a thyristor valve body erected in the valve hall and a plurality of reinforcing means stretched between the thyristor valve body and inner walls of the valve hall, each of the reinforcing means including a wire rope and an insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroo Ikekame, Toshiaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4557459
    Abstract: A load counterbalancing mechanism wherein the mechanically actuated interaction of two independent spring systems, one of which is adjustable, provides the necessary counterbalancing forces to balance the torque forces set up by a load being raised, lowered or tilted about a point on which it is pivoted. Various loads are therefore accommodated by the adjustable spring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: W. Vinten Limited
    Inventor: Richard A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 4455010
    Abstract: A resilient support for seats comprising telescoping members with a plurality of resilient members positioned therein in a series relationship with the telescoping members' relative movement; a plurality of resilient members stacked in a series relationship between the telescoping members, the resilient members each having an equal or different shore durometer hardness; an adjustment member for preloading said resilient members; and a lubricious bushing positioned between the contacting surfaces of the telescoping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Inventor: Robert Butler
  • Patent number: 4362335
    Abstract: A chair provided with a seat carrier and an associated backrest carrier includes a pneumatic spring connected between the seat carrier and backrest carrier, and a mechanical draw spring one end of which is connected directly to the backrest carrier and the other end of which is connected to an adjustable lever pivotally mounted on the seat carrier. The pneumatic spring and mechanical spring are disposed in side-by-side parallel relation to one another between a pair of generally vertical spaced bars forming a portion of the backrest carrier. The force exerted by the mechanical spring is in opposition to the restoring force exerted by the backrest carrier so that movement of the lever to increase the force exerted by the mechanical spring reduces the total restoring force exerted on the backrest carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventors: Fritz Drabert, Ulrich H. von Waldegge
  • Patent number: 4241894
    Abstract: A seat suspension apparatus comprises a pair of parallel link assemblies and a pair of balance springs. In order to reduce the elevation of the seating surface relative to a support base and to assure a stabilized suspension when the seating surface is depressed to a relatively low elevation, one of the parallel link assemblies is coupled with the other at a given angle therebetween. The resilience of the balance springs counteracts the load on the seat to maintain the pair of parallel link assemblies at a balanced position which depends on the magnitude of the load. The resilience can be adjusted through an eccentric cam which is operated by a lever located on one side of the seat. Thus the user can adjust the elevation of the seat by turning the lever while looking forward, avoiding the need for assuming a slouch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teiji Okuyama
  • Patent number: 4186963
    Abstract: This invention relates to supports, for vehicle seats, having a generally upright configuration. Provision of a plurality of seat adjustments, for operator comfort and safety, performable with an economy of movement and structure which tends to maximize free, usable space within a vehicle cab, is achieved by the invention. A housing member (13) has facing traces (17), and a carriage member (14) bears the seat and a plurality of rollers (51, 53) which engage the traces (17). A bracket assembly (15), disposed between housing and carriage members (13, 14), is selectively slidable with respect to the carriage member (14) to effect height adjustment and, when locked with respect to the carriage member (14), is operable upon to effect weight adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: L. John Koutsky
  • Patent number: 4151973
    Abstract: A seat mounting structure is provided including a stationary base and a generally horizontal seat support assembly disposed above the base. Spring controlled pivoted levers and connecting links support the assembly above the base for vertical movement relative thereto between upper and lower limit positions while maintaining the seat support generally horizontally disposed. Controlling springs of the seat mounting structure include a first pair of springs which are progressively tensioned as the seat support assembly is moved from its upper limit position to its lower limit position and a second pair of springs which are pretensioned and which are further tensioned, considerably more gradually than the first pair of springs, as the seat support assembly is moved from its upper limit position to its lower limit position. In addition, adjustment structure is provided whereby the tension of the first and second pairs of springs may be rapidly and selectively adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Inventor: Carl P. Sedlock