Apparatus for simulating motion

Abstract

The disclosed subject matter relates to an apparatus for simulating motion, comprising: a base; a seat with a seat pan and seat back, the seat having a roll axis and, orthogonal thereto, a pitch axis; a mount mounting the seat to the base at least pivotably about said roll axis and said pitch axis; a left seat back flap and a right seat back flap each of which being pivotably attached to a respective side of the seat back; and a linkage linking said seat back flaps to the base so that, when any one of the sides of the seat back is moved towards the base, the respective seat back flap is pivoted inwards and, when said side of the seat back is moved away from the base, said seat back flap is pivoted outwards.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simulating motion, comprising: a base; a seat with a seat pan and a seat back, the seat having a roll axis and, orthogonal thereto, a pitch axis; a mount mounting the seat to the base at least pivotably about said roll axis and said pitch axis; a left seat back flap and a right seat back flap each of which being pivotably attached to a respective side of the seat back; and a linkage linking said seat back flaps to the base so that, when any one of the sides of the seat back is moved towards the base, the respective seat back flap is pivoted inwards and, when said side of the seat back is moved away from the base, said seat back flap is pivoted outwards.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linkage comprises a first push rod and a second push rod, each of said first and second push rods having one end coupled to the base and the other end coupled, directly or via a gear, to the respective seat back flap.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said other end of each of the first and second push rods is coupled to the respective seat back flap via a gear comprising a pulley and a link to said seat back flap, the pulley being mounted to the seat back rotatably about an axis parallel to said pitch axis, and each of said link and said other end being eccentrically articulated on the pulley.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a left and a right shoulder strap, wherein one end of each shoulder strap is attached to the circumference of the respective pulley.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat pan has a left seat pan flap and a right seat pan flap each of which being pivotably attached to a respective side of the seat pan, and wherein a further linkage links said seat pan flaps to the base so that, when any one of the sides of the seat pan is moved towards the base, the respective seat pan flap is pivoted inwards and, when said side of the seat pan is moved away from the base, said seat back flap is pivoted outwards.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said further linkage comprises a third push rod and a forth push rod, each of said third and forth push rods having one end coupled to the base and the other end coupled to the respective seat pan flap.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a lap belt passed over the seat pan, wherein both ends of the lap belt are attached to the base.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a left and a right shoulder strap, wherein one end of each shoulder strap is coupled to the lap belt.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a left and a right shoulder strap, wherein at least one end of each shoulder strap is attached to the base.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a gimbal joint with two degrees of freedom, which gimbal joint mounts a forepart of the seat pan to the base pivotably about said roll axis and said pitch axis.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a gimbal joint with two degrees of freedom and a lever, wherein one end of the lever is mounted to the base pivotably about a horizontal axis and wherein the other end carries said gimbal joint to mount the seat pivotably about said roll axis and said pitch axis.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mount comprises an elastic element extending between a rear portion of the seat pan and the base.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a first and a second actuator for pivoting the seat about said roll axis and said pitch axis.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the mount further comprises a third actuator for lifting and lowering the seat, together with said first and second actuators.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mount comprises at least one further elastic element for bringing the seat in a rest position relative to the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosed subject matter shall now be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of an apparatus for simulating motion according to the disclosed subject matter in a partly transparent side view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a partly transparent back view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detail of a seat back of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a cross sectional view from above; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a partly transparent view from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIGS. 1 to 4 show an example of an apparatus 1 for simulating motion; for better visibility of the apparatus 1 and the components thereof, the views are partly transparent. The apparatus 1, which can be connected to a motion simulation controller (not shown), comprises a base 2 mounted to or resting on a ground 3, a seat 4 with a seat pan 5 and a seat back 6, and a mount 7 which mounts the seat 4 to the base 2. The seat 4 has a roll axis R in longitudinal direction, a pitch axis P orthogonal thereto in lateral direction, and a yaw axis Y orthogonal to both roll and pitch axis R, P. The mount 7 allows at least pivoting of the seat 4 about said roll axis R and said pitch axis P. Such pivoting includes the movement about both the roll axis R and the pitch axis P simultaneously, which could also be seen as a pivoting movement about a single axis in a plane of both said roll axis R and said pitch axis P.

(7) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the seat back 6 has a left seat back flap 8 and a right seat back flap 9. The left seat back flap 8 is pivotably attached to the left side 10 of the seat back 6 and the right seat back flap 9 is pivotably attached to a right side 11 of the seat back 6 by a respective hinge 12.

(8) The seat back flaps 8, 9 are linked to the base 2 by a first linkage 13 in a way that, when any one of said sides 10, 11 of the seat back 6 is moved towards the base 2, the respective seat back flap 8, 9 is pivoted inwards (arrow Ain) and, when said side 10, 11 of the seat back 6 is moved away from the base 2, said seat back flap 8, 9 is pivoted outwards (arrow Aout). In other words, when the left side 10 of the seat back 6 is moved towards the base 2, the left seat back flap 8 is pivoted inwards and, when the left side 10 of the seat back 6 is moved away from the base 2, the left seat back flap 8 is pivoted outwards. The same applies to the right seat back flap 9 pivoting inwards and outwards, respectively, when the right side 11 of the seat back 6 is moved towards and away from the base 2, respectively.

(9) In the present example, the seat back flaps 8, 9 are located left and right of a center of the seat back 6, respectively. Alternatively the seat back flaps 8, 9 could be located on the lateral edges of the seat back 6, in a respective opening or recess of the seat back 6, or elsewhere at the respective sides 10, 11 thereof. Moreover, the hinge 12 in this example runs in the direction from top to bottom of the seat back 5 6; however, the hinge 12 could alternatively run at an angle thereto, even aslant, when the seat back flaps 8, 9 are of suitable shape, e.g. triangular. It is also possible that each seat back flap 8, 9 is composed of two or more pieces (not shown). An optional cushion C on the seat back 6 smoothens the 10 seat back 6 and pivoting of the seat back flaps 8, 9.

(10) In this example, said first linkage 13 comprises a first push rod 14 and a second push rod 15. Each of said first and second push rods 14, 15 have one end 14.sub.1, 15.sub.1 coupled to the base 2 and the other end 14.sub.2, 15.sub.2 coupled to the respective seat back flap 8, 9. Such coupling can be achieved, e.g., by respective ball joints or the like. Alternatively, said one ends 14.sub.1, 15.sub.1 of the first and second push rods 14, 15 could be combined into a single end (not shown) which is coupled to the base 2, in which case the first and second push rods 14, 15 together form a substantially Y-shaped element.

(11) Said other end 14.sub.2, 15.sub.2 of each push rod 14, 15 can be coupled directly to the respective seat back flap 8, 9. Optionally as in this example, however, said other end 14.sub.2, 15.sub.2 of each push rod 14, 15 is coupled to the respective seat back flap 8, 9 via a respective gear 16, 17, i.e. a left gear 16 for the left seat back flap 8 and a right gear 17 for the right seat back flap 9.

(12) Each gear 16, 17 optionally comprises a pulley 18, 19 and a respective link 20, 21. Each link 20, 21 links the pulley 18, 19 to the respective seat back flap 8, 9. Each pulley 18, 19 is mounted to the seat back 6 rotatably about an axis G, which is parallel to said pitch axis P. On each pulley 18, 19, the link 20, 21 and said other end 14.sub.2, 15.sub.2 of the push rods 14, 15 are eccentrically articulated, respectively, i.e. the link 20 and the other end 14.sub.2 of the first push rod 14 are articulated on the pulley 18 at the same distances D.sub.1, D.sub.2 from the pulley axis G and at an angle a from each other. In alternative embodiments, the angle a could be larger or smaller than shown in this example—it could even be zero—and/or the distances D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 could differ from each other. The gears 16, 17 can alternatively be composed of, e.g., deflection levers or the like instead the pulleys 18, 19.

(13) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the seat pan 5 may optionally have a left seat pan flap 22 and a right seat pan flap 23, each of which is pivotably attached to a respective side (i.e. the left seat pan flap 22 to the left side 24 and the right seat pan flap 23 to the right side 25) of the seat pan 5 by hinges 26. A second or further linkage 27 links said seat pan flaps 22, 23 to the base 2 in a way that, when anyone of the sides 24, 25 of the seat pan 5 is moved towards the base 2, the respective seat pan flap 22, 23 is pivoted inwards (towards a person in the seat 4) and, when said side 24, 25 of the seat pan 5 is moved away from the base 2, said seat back flap 22, 23 is pivoted outwards (away from said person). In one embodiment, this can be achieved in that the second linkage 27 comprises a third push rod 28 and a forth push rod 29. Each of said third and fourth push rods 28, 29 have one end 28.sub.1, 29.sub.1 coupled to the base 2 and the other end 28.sub.2, 29.sub.2 coupled to the respective seat pan flap 22, 23, i.e. said other end 28.sub.2 of the third push rod 28 is coupled to the left seat pan flap 22 and said other end 29.sub.2 of the fourth push rod 29 is coupled to the right seat pan flap 23.

(14) It shall be understood that each seat pan flap 22, 23 may optionally be composed of more than one pivotable element and/or be attached to the lateral edges of the seat pan 5, in a respective opening or recess of the seat pan 5, or elsewhere at the respective sides 24, 25 thereof. The hinges 26 for pivotably attaching the seat pan flaps 22, 23 to the seat pan 5 can alternatively be oriented other than in longitudinal direction of the seat pan 5 (shown in FIG. 4); and all hinges 12 and 26 of the seat back flaps 8, 9 and the seat pan flaps 22, 23 may be of any type known in the art. Furthermore, the push rods 14, 15, 28, 29 can alternatively be push elements which are not rod-shaped.

(15) The apparatus 1 may comprise an optional lap belt 30 which passes over the seat pan 5 and can be attached thereto or to another part of the seat 4. In the present example, however, both ends 30.sub.1, 30.sub.2 of the lap belt 30 are attached to the base 2. The lap belt 30 may have a safety belt lock (not shown) for at least one of its ends 30.sub.1, 30.sub.2 or in the middle.

(16) Furthermore, the apparatus 1 of the present example optionally comprises a left shoulder strap 31 and a right shoulder strap 32. At least one end 31.sub.1, 32.sub.1 of each shoulder strap 31, 32 may be attached to the base 2. Alternatively or in addition thereto, one end 31.sub.1, 32.sub.1 of each shoulder strap 31, 32 can be attached to the circumference 33 of the respective pulley 18, 19, i.e. one end 31.sub.1 of the left shoulder strap 31 to the circumference 33 of the left pulley 18 and one end 32.sub.1 of the right shoulder strap 32 to the circumference 33 of the right pulley 19. One end 31.sub.1, 32.sub.1 of each shoulder strap 31, 32 is optionally coupled to the lap belt 30, e.g. by sewing it to the lap belt 30 or by plugging it into a safety belt lock thereof.

(17) The mount 7 can be of different type. In one embodiment, the mount 7 is composed of a hexapod of jacks (not shown), which jacks provide motion cueing in all six degrees of freedom as known in the art. However, different and particularly more simple mounts 7 may be applied, e.g., a mount 7 with three jacks providing motion cueing in three degrees of freedom. In another embodiment, the mount 7 may comprise a gimbal joint with two degrees of freedom, which gimbal joint mounts a forepart 34 of the seat pan 5 to the base 2 (not shown), wherein the seat 4 can be pivoted about the roll axis R and the pitch axis P due to the gimbal joint.

(18) In yet another embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 4, the mount 7 comprises a gimbal joint 35 with two degrees of freedom and a lever 36. One end 36.sub.1 of the lever 36 is mounted to the base 2 pivotably about a horizontal axis H and the other end 36.sub.2 of the lever 36 carries said gimbal joint 35. The gimbal joint 35 mounts the seat 4 pivotably about said roll axis R and said pitch axis P. As shown in FIG. 4, the lever 36 optionally has two arms 36.sub.A, 36.sub.B. Said one ends 36.sub.1 of the arms 36.sub.A, 36.sub.B of the lever 36 are mounted to the base 2, one below the left side 24 of the seat pan 5 and the other one below the right side 25 of the seat pan 5, respectively pivotably about said horizontal axis H. The respective other ends 36.sub.2 of the arms 36.sub.A, 36.sub.B carry the gimbal joint 35.

(19) As shown in FIG. 1, the mount 7 optionally comprises an elastic element 37, e.g. a spring or a rubber tube, extending between a rear portion 38 of the seat pan 5 and the base 2. The elastic element 37 can be used in addition or even as an alternative to the aforementioned gimbal joints, i.e. the gimbal joint mounting the forepart 34 of the seat pan 5 to the base 2 or the gimbal joint 35 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 carried by the lever 36. Moreover, the tension of the elastic element 37 can optionally be adjustable.

(20) The mount 7 may comprise a first actuator 39 and second actuator 40 for pivoting the seat 4 about said roll axis R and said pitch axis P. In this example, the first and the second actuators 39, 40 are equal, each of them mounted to the base 2; the first actuator 39 is coupled to the left side 10 of the seat back 6 and the second actuator 40 is coupled to the right side 11 of the seat back 6. In other embodiments, the first actuator could be coupled to a central part of the seat back 6 for pivoting the seat 4 about the pitch axis P, while the second actuator 40 is coupled to one of the sides 10, 11 of the seat back 6 or, e.g., to the upper end of said first actuator 39 for pivoting the seat 4 about the roll axis R. In still another embodiment, the first and the second actuators 39, 40 could be coupled to the seat pan 5 instead of the seat back 6, particularly to the forepart 34 of the seat pan 5.

(21) Here, the mount 7 further comprises an optional third actuator 41. Together with the first and second actuators 39, 40, 5 the third actuator 41 enables lifting and lowering the seat 4. According to FIG. 4, the third actuator 41 is coupled to the forepart 34 of the seat pan 5 at a central point 42 thereof. When, in contrast thereto, the first and second actuators 39, 40 are coupled to the forepart 34 of the seat pan 5, the third 10 actuator 41 could be coupled to the rear portion 38 of the seat back 6.

(22) The actuators 39, 40, 41 can be of any type known in the art, e.g. electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically extendable elements, e.g. linear actuators (“jacks”), as known to the person skilled in the art. Moreover, the first, second and third actuators 39, 40, 41 could be of different type. One possible embodiment of such actuators 39, 40, 41 shall now be explained on the basis of the first actuator 39 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

(23) The first actuator 39 comprises an electric motor 43 mounted to the base 2. The motor 43 has a worm gear 44 attached thereto and a lever 45, one end 45.sub.1 of which being coupled to an output shaft 46 of the worm gear 44 rotatably about a shaft axis S. The first actuator 39 also comprises a further push rod 47, one end 47.sub.1 of which being coupled to the other end 45.sub.2 of the lever 45 rotatably about a lever axis L and the other end 47.sub.2 of which being connected to the seat 4, in the present example, to the seat back 6, e.g., to the pulley axis G of the left pulley 18.

(24) Optionally, the mount comprises at least one further elastic element 48 which extends between the seat pan 5 or the seat back 6 and the base 2 at one of the respective sides 10, 11, 24, 25 thereof, for bringing the seat 4 in a rest position relative to the base 2 as shown in FIG. 1. In this example, there are four such further elastic elements 48, one of which extending from the left side 24 of the forepart 34 of the seat pan 5 to the base 2, another one from the left side 10 of the seat back 6 and the remaining ones (not visible in FIG. 1) from the respective right sides 11, 25 to the base 2.

(25) The disclosed subject matter is not restricted to these specific embodiments described in detail herein but encompasses all variants, combinations, and modifications thereof that fall within the frame of the appended claims.