SEAT RELEASE SYSTEM

Abstract

The following invention relates to occupant recovery from an armoured land vehicle, and to a system for occupant recovery. There is provided a quick release seat system suitable for a vehicle, comprising a base element operably attached to a floor pan, said floor pan being rigidly affixed to the vehicle, a back element for supporting an occupant, wherein said base element and back element are rigidly affixed by at least one quick release mechanical clamp, such as to allow removal of said back element from the base element during an evacuation of the vehicle

Claims

1. A quick release seat system suitable for a vehicle, the system comprising: a base element operably attached to a floor pan, said floor pan being rigidly affixable to the vehicle; and a back element for supporting an occupant; wherein said base element and back element are rigidly clamped by at least one quick release mechanical clamp, such as to allow removal of said back element from the base element during an evacuation of the vehicle.

2. The seat system according to claim 1, wherein said base element comprises a first structural member, and said back element comprises a second structural member, wherein said at least one quick release mechanical clamp releasably clamps said first structural member and said second structural member.

3. The seat system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one quick release mechanical clamp includes at least two quick release mechanical clamps, wherein the base element comprises at least two first structural members and the back element comprises at least two second structural members, wherein said at least two first structural members are each rigidly affixed to the base element, and said at least two second structural members are rigidly affixed to said back element, and wherein said at least two quick release mechanical clamps releasably clamp said at least two first structural members and said at least two second structural members.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the at least two quick release mechanical clamps are rigidly connected by an elongate support.

5. The seat system according to claim 1, wherein the back element comprises a first structural member and a second structural member, wherein said first structural member is mounted to the back element, wherein said second structural member is mounted to said seat element, and wherein said at least one quick release mechanical clamp releasably affixes said first structural member and said second structural member.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base element comprises a first structural member, and said back element comprises a second structural member, wherein the at least one quick release mechanical clamp comprises at least two clamping surfaces suitable for providing a releasable clamping engagement with said first and second structural members, the system comprising: a hinge member interconnecting said clamping surfaces; a clamp bar engaged with (1) at least one first clamping surface and (2) a release lever, wherein said release lever is releasably secured to at least one second clamping surface; and a tensioner configured to apply tension to allow the clamp bar to releasably secure the at least two clamping surfaces on the first and second structural members.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the release lever is pivotally attached to the clamp bar, wherein said release lever comprises a cam arrangement, such that rotation of the release lever about the clamp bar moves from a first tensioned position, which provides the releasable clamping engagement, to a second reduced tension position, which allows quick release of the releasable clamping engagement from said at least two clamping surfaces.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base element comprises a first structural member, and said back element comprises a second structural member, wherein the at least one quick release mechanical clamp and said first and/or second structural members comprise one or more co-operative voids and lugs.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said release lever is temporarily secured to at least one second clamping surface by a retaining pin.

10. A method of converting a rigid seat system in an armoured land vehicle to the quick release seat system of claim 1, wherein said rigid seat systems comprises a base element and a back element, the base element operably attached to a floor pan, said floor pan being rigidly affixable to the vehicle, said back element for supporting an occupant, the method comprising: cutting the rigid seat system at at least one location, to provide a severed seat system; removing the back element of the severed seat system from the base element of the severed seat system; and re-attaching the back element of the severed seat system to the base element of the severed seat system with the at least one quick release mechanical clamp.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said base element comprises a first structural member, and said back element comprises a second structural member, wherein the at least one quick release mechanical clamp comprises: at least two clamping surfaces suitable for providing a releasable clamping engagement with said first and second structural members; a hinge member interconnecting said clamping surfaces; a clamp bar engaged with (1) at least one first clamping surface and (2) a release lever, wherein said release lever is releasably secured to at least one second clamping surface; and a tensioner configured to apply tension to allow the clamp bar to releasably secure the at least two clamping surfaces on the first and second structural members.

12. A method of removing an occupant to be extracted from an armoured land vehicle comprising the quick release seat system as defined in claim 1, the method comprising: operating the quick release seat system; and removing the occupant from an access point of the armoured land vehicle.

13. A quick release mechanical clamp, comprising: at least two clamping surfaces suitable for providing a releasable clamping engagement with first and second structural members of a vehicle seat, the seat including base and back elements for supporting an occupant, wherein said base element comprises the first structural member, and said back element comprises the second structural member; a hinge member interconnecting a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface; a clamp bar engaged with (1) said first clamping surface and (2) a release lever, wherein said release lever is releasably secured to a second clamping surface; and a tensioner configured to apply tension to allow the clamp bar to releasably secure the first clamping surface and second clamping surface on the first and second structural members.

14. The clamp according to claim 13, wherein the release lever is pivotally attached to the clamp bar, wherein said release lever comprises a cam arrangement, such that rotation of the release lever about the clamp bar moves from a first tensioned position,. which provides a releasable clamping engagement,. to a second reduced tension position, which allows quick release of the clamp releasable clamping engagement from said at least two clamping surfaces.

15. A quick release seat system suitable for a vehicle, the system comprising: a base element comprising a first structural member; and a back element for supporting an occupant and comprising a second structural member; a quick release mechanical clamp that releasably clamps the first structural member and the second structural member, wherein the quick release mechanical clamp comprises at least two clamping surfaces suitable for providing a releasable clamping engagement with said first and second structural members, such as to allow removal of said back element from the base element during an evacuation of the vehicle.

16. The system according to claim 15, the quick release mechanical clamp comprising: a hinge member interconnecting said clamping surfaces; a clamp bar engaged with (1) at least one first clamping surface and (2) a release lever, wherein said release lever is releasably secured to at least one second clamping surface; and a tensioner configured to apply tension to allow the clamp bar to releasably secure the at least two clamping surfaces on the first and second structural members.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the release lever is pivotally attached to the clamp bar, wherein said release lever comprises a cam arrangement, such that rotation of the release lever about the clamp bar moves from a first tensioned position, which provides the releasable clamping engagement, to a second reduced tension position, which allows quick release of the releasable clamping engagement from said at least two clamping surfaces.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one quick release mechanical clamp and said first and/or second structural members comprise one or more co-operative voids and lugs.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the quick release mechanical clamp is a first quick release mechanical clamp, the system further comprising a second quick release mechanical clamp, the second quick release mechanical clamp for further releasably clamping the back element to the base element.

20. A vehicle comprising the system according to claim 15.

Description

[0026] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a representation of a seat

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of a seat system with quick release clamp.

[0029] FIGS. 3a-c show a quick release clamp

[0030] Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown a seat system 1, comprising a base element 8 which has a cushion for an occupant. The base element 8 is welded to the back element 9, at a welded joint 6. The seat as shown, in use, is slidably engaged with the floor pan 7. The seat 1 is rigidly attached by bracket 10a on the base element 8 to a mount point 10b on the floor pan 7. In an emergency the seat 1 cannot be removed from the floor pan 7.

[0031] The indicated cut lines 4 on the on the support 3, will give rise to a first support 3a which remains connected to the base 3 and second support 3b which remains connected to the back element 9 on the back support 2.

[0032] In an alternative arrangement The indicated cut line 5 on the back support 2, would provide a third support element 2b which remains attached to the base element 8, ie via the weld joint 6, and the fourth support element 2b, which remains attached to the back element 9.

[0033] Turning to FIG. 2 there is shown a seat 11, with a quick release clamp 15, which clamps first supports 13a to second supports 13b. The first supports 13a form a part of a structural support 13, which is part of the base element 18.

[0034] The second supports 13b form part of the back element 12, such that when the quick release clamp is removed, the back element 12 may be removed in its entirety, to allow facile removal of an occupant (not shown) in the seat 11.

[0035] Turning to FIGS. 3a-c, shows a dual quick release mechanical clamp 30, the clamps being linked by an elongate support 35. The quick release mechanical clamp 30 , comprises at least two clamping surfaces 40, 41 suitable for engagement with structural members(not shown). The clamping surfaces 40 and 41 are connected by a hinge member 42. A clamp bar 39 has a generally T-shaped profile and protrusions 37 engage with a recess 38 on the outer surface of the first clamping surface 40.

[0036] A release lever 31 impinges upon the outer surface of the second clamp surface 41, and the release lever is temporarily secured to at least one second clamping surface typically using a sprung pin (not shown). A tensioner 33, which is in the form of a threaded nut, cooperatively engages with a threaded portion on the clamp bar 39, so as to apply tension to the clamp bar to secure the at least two clamping surfaces 40 and 41, such that they secure fasten to the structural members (FIG. 2).

[0037] The clamp bar 39 comprises a trunion 34, to which is pivotally connected the release lever 31. The release lever comprises a cam outer surface 36, such that in the first position as shown tightening of the tensioner 33 pulls the first clamping surface 40 and second clamping surfaces 41 together. Upon removal of the sprung pin the release lever is moved away from the clamp surface by rotating about the trunion 34, to a second position (not shown), which moved the cam to a lower position and removes the tension in the clamp bar 39, thereby allowing the first clamping surface 40 and second clamping surfaces 41 to be removed from the structural members (FIG. 2)