Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6302483
-
Patent Number
6,302,483
-
Date Filed
Friday, November 12, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 16, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Cuomo; Peter M.
- Vu; Stephen
Agents
- Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 297 34424
- 297 34422
- 297 34426
- 248 425
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A seat has: a moveable upper part (14) for receiving at least one occupant, the moveable upper part being carried by a fixed lower part forming a substructure (16), and a turning mechanism (28) for turning the upper part (14) backwards and forwards. The turning mechanism (28) contains a pivot (30) connecting the upper part (14) and the substructure (16). The axis (Z) of this pivot is substantially vertical. The turning mechanism (28) also contains a slide (36) mounted on the upper part (14) so as to be displaceable in rotation about the pivot (30) and in translational motion substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z), and two complementary cams (46, 48) carried respectively by the substructure (16) and the upper part (14). One of the cams has a developing profile imparting a predetermined turning travel to the upper part (14).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a revolving seat, in particular for a rail vehicle.
The prior art already discloses a seat of the type comprising a moveable upper part for receiving at least one occupant, the said moveable upper part being carried by a fixed lower part forming a substructure and means for turning the upper part backwards and forwards.
The seats of this type are arranged, in particular, in rail vehicles. The means for turning a seat make it possible to reverse the front/back orientation of the seat so as to place this seat and the passenger or passengers occupying it in the direction of travel of the vehicle, whatever the direction in which this vehicle makes a journey.
Conventionally, the seats of a rail vehicle are arranged in the vicinity of a left-hand or right-hand side wall of this vehicle.
Since the space between the seats and the adjacent side wall is preferably as small as possible, the movement of turning a seat backwards (and forwards) simply by rotating the moveable upper part of the seat about a fixed vertical axis is impeded by the side wall. The seat is therefore usually turned first by moving the moveable upper part away from the wall adjacent to the seat, then by rotating this moveable part about a vertical axis and finally by bringing this moveable part close to the wall adjacent to the seat.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a seat, in particular for a rail vehicle, equipped with turning means of small overall size which are light and simple to operate, in order to make it possible to reverse rapidly the front/back orientation of all the seats of a rail vehicle.
For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a seat of the abovementioned type, characterized in that the turning means comprise a pivot connecting the upper part and the substructure, the axis of this pivot being substantially vertical and connected to the substructure, a bearing-forming slide mounted on the upper part so as to be displaceable in rotation about the pivot and in translational motion substantially perpendicular to the axis of this pivot, and two complementary cams carried respectively by the substructure and the upper part, one of these cams comprising a developing profile imparting a predetermined turning travel to the upper part.
According to other characteristics of this seat:
a first cam forms a finger integral with the substructure, and the second cam forms a guide having a developing profile and formed in the upper part, this guide extending substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot;
the guide comprises two straight end portions forming ramps imparting to the upper part displacements occurring as a result of a combination of a rotational movement about the axis of the pivot and of a translational movement substantially perpendicular to this axis of the pivot, and a curved intermediate portion imparting to the upper part a displacement in rotation about the axis of the pivot;
the seat comprises releasable means for locking the upper part relative to the substructure;
the locking means comprise means for clamping two mutually confronting friction faces substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pivot and delimiting respectively the upper part and the substructure, these clamping means being carried by the pivot;
the pivot extends through mutually confronting walls of the upper part and of the substructure carrying the friction faces, and the clamping means comprise an end head of the pivot, the said end head forming a fixed jaw, and a moveable jaw mounted axially slideably on the pivot, the mutually confronting walls extending between the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw, the moveable jaw being elastically deformable axially and being displaceable between a decompressed position separating the friction faces and a compressed position clamping these friction faces;
the moveable jaw is displaceable and compressible axially by co-operation with a cam articulated on the pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of this pivot;
the cam forms the end of a lever controlling the locking means;
the friction face of the upper part comprises rolling members, preferably balls, displaceable substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot between the projecting position spacing apart the mutually confronting friction faces, in which position these members are in rolling contact with the friction face of the substructure, and the retracted position putting the mutually confronting friction faces into contact, the rolling members being returned elastically to the projecting position.
The subject of the invention is also a rail vehicle comprising a seat as defined above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be understood better from a reading of the following description given purely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is an elevation view of a seat according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a sectional view along the line
2
—
2
of
FIG. 1
on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 3
is a sectional view along the line
3
—
3
of
FIG. 2
in which the control lever is in the position for unlocking the moveable upper part of the seat;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view along the line
4
-
4
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 5
is a view, similar to that of
FIG. 3
, in which the control lever is in the position for locking the moveable upper part of the seat;
FIGS. 6
to
9
are diagrammatic top views of the seat illustrated in
FIG. 1
, showing the latter in successive positions during a seat-turning operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
illustrates a seat
10
according to the invention arranged in a rail vehicle
12
.
The seat
10
comprises a moveable upper part
14
carried by a fixed lower part
16
integral with a floor
18
of the vehicle
12
. The upper part
14
is intended to receive at least one occupant, for example two occupants, as illustrated in FIG.
1
.
Conventionally, the upper part
14
comprises sitting-surface upholstery
20
and back upholstery
22
as well as armrests
24
. The upper part
24
is arranged in the vicinity of a side wall
26
of the vehicle
12
.
The seat
10
also comprises means
28
for turning the upper part
14
backwards and forwards. These turning means
28
are illustrated in more detail in
FIGS. 2
to
9
.
The turning means
28
comprise a pivot
30
connecting the upper part
14
and the substructure
16
of the seat. The geometric axis Z of this substantially vertical pivot
30
is linked to the substructure
16
.
The pivot
30
extends through two mutually confronting, substantially horizontal walls, one
32
moveable and the other
34
fixed. The upper first wall
32
delimits a reinforcement of the upper part
14
. The lower second wall
34
delimits the substructure
16
.
The turning means
28
also comprise a slide
36
mounted displaceably in translational motion, substantially perpendicular to the axis Z, in a straight guide rail
38
formed in the upper part
32
. The slide
36
forms a bearing mounted displaceably in rotation about the pivot
30
. The rotation of the slide
36
is made easier by a needle bearing
40
inserted between the pivot
30
and the slide
36
(see
FIGS. 3
to
5
).
The pivot
30
extends through an oblong hole
42
which is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to that of the guide rail
38
and which is formed in the moveable upper wall
32
. The pivot
30
likewise extends through a bearing-forming circular orifice
44
formed in the fixed lower wall
34
.
The turning means
28
comprise, furthermore, two complementary cams carried respectively by the substructure
16
and the upper part
14
.
A first cam forms a substantially vertical finger
46
integral with the lower wall
34
. The second cam is delimited by a guide-forming groove
48
formed in the upper wall
32
. This groove
48
extends substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis Z. The profile of the groove
48
develops so as to impart a predetermined turning travel to the moveable upper part
14
.
Referring more particularly to
FIG. 2
, it will be seen that the ends of the groove
48
are aligned substantially in a plane containing the axis Z and, by co-operating with the finger
46
define the two positions of the upper part
14
which are turned relative to one another and which correspond to the two positions of normal use of the seat, as illustrated in
FIGS. 6 and 9
.
The groove
48
comprises two straight end portions forming ramps
48
A,
48
B and a curved intermediate portion
48
C.
The ramps
48
A,
48
B are inclined relative to the direction of translational displacement of the slide
36
, with the result that these ramps co-operate with the finger
46
, so as to impart to the upper part
14
displacements occurring as a result of a combination of a rotational movement about the axis Z and of a translational movement substantially perpendicular to this axis Z.
The curved portion
48
C co-operates with the finger
46
so as to impart to the upper part
14
a displacement in rotation about the axis Z.
The seat
10
comprises means
50
for locking the upper part
14
relative to the substructure
16
. These locking means
50
are controlled so as to be locked or released by means of a lever
52
equipped with an operating end
54
extending from inside this structure
16
outwards through an orifice
56
in the latter.
The locking means
50
comprise means for clamping two friction faces F
1
, F
2
delimiting respectively the moveable upper wall
32
and the fixed lower wall
34
. These friction faces F
1
, F
2
extend substantially perpendicular to the axis Z.
The clamping means, carried by the pivot
30
, comprise an end head of this pivot, the said end head forming a fixed jaw
58
, and a moveable jaw
60
mounted axially slideably on the pivot
30
. The moveable upper wall
32
and the fixed lower wall
34
extend between the fixed jaw
58
and the moveable jaw
60
.
An anti-friction pad carried by the moveable upper wall
32
is in contact with the fixed jaw
58
, so as to minimize the friction between the fixed jaw
58
and the moveable upper wall
32
when the latter is displaced perpendicular to the axis Z.
The moveable jaw
60
, deformable elastically in the direction of the axis Z, is displaceable between a decompressed position separating the friction faces F
1
, F
2
, as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, and a compressed position clamping these friction faces F
1
, F
2
, as illustrated in FIG.
5
.
The decompressed and compressed positions of the moveable jaw
60
correspond respectively to the unlocking and locking positions of the means
50
.
The moveable jaw
60
comprises, for example, two elastic washers
64
,
66
inserted between two plane washers
68
,
70
. The elastic washers
64
,
66
are, for example, of the Belleville type.
The moveable jaw
60
is displaceable and compressible axially by co-operation with a cam
72
articulated on the pivot
30
, if appropriate with play in the direction of the axis Z, about a geometric axis X substantially perpendicular to this axis Z.
It will be seen that the cam
72
forms preferably an articulated end of the control lever
52
, the said end being operated at its other end
54
.
It will also be seen that the cam
72
bears on a plane washer
74
immobilized axially by a stop nut
76
screwed onto that end of the pivot
30
which is opposite the fixed jaw
58
.
In order to make it easier for the upper part
14
to be displaced relative to the substructure
16
, the friction face F
1
carried by the moveable upper wall
32
comprises rolling members
77
illustrated particularly in FIG.
4
. Preferably, these members, of which there are, for example, three, each comprise a ball
78
. Each ball
78
is displaceable substantially parallel to the axis Z between a projecting position spacing apart the friction faces F
1
, F
2
, in which position the ball
78
is in rolling contact with the friction face F
2
of the substructure (see FIG.
4
), and a retracted position, in which the friction faces F
1
, F
2
are in contact with one another, so as to immobilize the upper part
14
of the seat relative to the substructure
16
.
The main steps in turning the seat
10
according to the invention will be described below, particularly with reference to
FIGS. 6
to
9
.
Initially, the upper part
14
of the seat is in a first normal position of use of this seat, as illustrated in FIG.
6
. The locking means
50
are activated (control lever
52
in the high position) so as to immobilize the upper part
14
relative to the substructure
16
.
In order to turn the seat
10
, the operator first lowers the control lever
52
(preferably with the foot) as far as its low position illustrated in
FIG. 3
, so as to release the locking means
50
. The moveable upper part
14
can then be displaced relative to the substructure
16
.
The operator then drives the upper part
14
of the seat manually by imparting to this upper part a general turning movement parallel to a horizontal plane and clockwise with reference to
FIGS. 7
to
9
.
The cam finger
46
then co-operates with the ramp
48
A, the effect of which is to impart to the upper part
14
a combined translational movement, tending to move the upper part
14
away from the adjacent side wall
26
in a direction transverse to the axis Z, and a rotational movement about this axis Z (see FIG.
7
). The translational displacement of the upper part
14
occurs as a result of the displacement of the slide
36
in its guide rail
38
. The displacement of this slide
36
is preferably assisted by a compression spring
82
(see, in particular,
FIG. 3
) inserted between mutually confronting ends of this slide and of the rail
38
. The rotational displacement of the upper part
14
occurs as a result of the rotation of the slide
36
about the pivot
30
.
The cam finger
46
subsequently co-operates with the curved portion
48
C, the effect of which is to cause the moveable part
14
to pivot about the axis Z so as to bring this part
14
into the position illustrated in FIG.
8
. It will be seen that the positions of the moveable upper part
14
which are illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8
are substantially symmetrical with respect to a transverse vertical plane of the vehicle.
Finally, the cam finger
46
co-operates with the second ramp
48
B, the effect of which is to complete the turning of the moveable upper part
14
and bring this part
14
closer to the adjacent side wall
26
, as illustrated in FIG.
9
.
In order to immobilize the moveable upper part
14
in the second normal position of use of the seat, as illustrated in
FIG. 9
, the operator raises the control lever
52
as far as its position, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, so as to activate the locking means
50
once again.
In order to return the seat to its position illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the operator displaces the upper part
14
along a path necessarily opposite to that described above. Thus, when the upper part
14
and the substructure
16
of the seat are equipped with electrical means (for example, motorizing means intended for driving the upper part
14
), the electrical cables, which, if appropriate, extend between this part
14
and this substructure
16
, do not risk being wound accidentally around the pivot
30
following successive rotations of the upper part
14
always in the same direction.
Among the advantages of the invention, it will be seen that the latter enables an operator to turn a seat very easily by driving the moveable upper part of the latter in a general turning movement, without this movement being impeded by the vehicle side wall near the seat.
Moreover, this movement can easily be automated with the aid of conventional command and control means (jack(s), rotary motor(s), etc.).
The control could be local (for example, one control pushbutton per seat) or centralized for all or some of the seats of a vehicle.
Claims
- 1. A seat,comprising a moveable upper part (14) for receiving at least one occupant, said moveable upper part being carried by a fixed lower part forming a substructure (16), and means (28) for turning the upper part (14) backwards and forwards,wherein the turning means (28) comprises a pivot (30) connecting the upper part (14) and the substructure (16), an axis (Z) of the pivot (30) being substantially vertical, a bearing-forming slide (36) mounted within the upper part (14) so as to be displaceable in rotation about the pivot (30) and in translational motion substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot (30), and first and second complementary cams (46, 48) carried respectively by the substructure (16) and the upper part (14), the first cam comprising a developing profile and forming a guide for the second cam extending substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular the axis of the pivot so as to impart a predetermined turning travel to the upper part (14).
- 2. The seat, according to claim 1, arranged in a rail vehicle.
- 3. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the guide (48) comprises two straight end portions forming ramps (48A, 48B) imparting to the upper part (14) displacements occurring as a result of a combination of a rotational movement about the axis (Z) of the pivot and of a translational movement substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot, and a curved intermediate portion (48C) imparting to the upper part (14) a displacement in rotation about the axis(Z) of the pivot.
- 4. A seat comprising a moveable upper part (14) for receiving at least one occupant, said moveable upper part being carried by a fixed lower part forming a substructure (16), and means (28) for turning the upper part (14) backwards and forwards,wherein the turning means (28) comprises a pivot (30) connecting the upper part (14) and the substructure (16), an axis (Z) of the pivot (30) being substantially vertical, a bearing-forming slide (36) mounted within the upper part (14) so as to be displaceable in rotation about the pivot (30) and in translational motion substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot (30), and first and second complementary cams (46, 48) carried respectively by the substructure (16) and the upper part (14), wherein one of the cams comprises a developing profile imparting a predetermined turning travel to the upper part (14), wherein the first cam forms a finger (46) integral with the substructure (16), and the second cam forms a guide (48) having a developing profile and formed in the upper part (14), the guide (48) extending substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot (30).
- 5. The seat according to claim 4, wherein the guide (48) comprises two straight end portions forming ramps (48A, 48B) imparting to the upper part (14) displacements occurring as a result of a combination of a rotational movement about the axis (Z) of the pivot and of a translational movement substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot, and a curved intermediate portion (48C) imparting to the upper part (14) a displacement in rotation about the axis(Z) of the pivot.
- 6. A seat comprising a moveable upper part (14) for receiving at least one occupant, said moveable upper part being carried by a fixed lower part forming a substructure (16), and means (28) for turning the upper part (14) backwards and forwards,wherein the turning means (28) comprises a pivot (30) connecting the upper part (14) and the substructure (16), an axis (Z) of the pivot (30) being substantially vertical, a bearing-forming slide (36) mounted within the upper part (14) so as to be displaceable in rotation about the pivot (30) and in translational motion substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot (30), first and second complementary cams (46, 48) carried respectively by the substructure (16) and the upper part (14), wherein one of the cams comprising a developing profile imparting a predetermined turning travel to the upper part (14), and releasable means (50) for locking the upper part (14) relative to the substructure (16).
- 7. The seat according to claim 6, wherein the locking means (50) comprises means (58, 60) for clamping two mutually confronting friction faces (F1, F2) substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot and delimiting respectively the upper part (14) and the substructure (16), the clamping means being carried by the pivot.
- 8. The seat according to claim 7, wherein the pivot (30) extends through mutually confronting walls (32, 34) of the upper part (14) and of the substructure (16) carrying the friction faces (F1, F2), wherein the clamping means comprises an end head of the pivot (30), said end head forming a fixed jaw (58), and a moveable jaw (60) mounted axially slideably on the pivot (30), the mutually confronting walls (32, 34) extending between the fixed jaw (58) and the moveable jaw (60), the moveable jaw (60) being elastically deformable axially and being displaceable between a decompressed position separating the friction faces (F1, F2) and a compressed position clamping the friction faces (F1, F2).
- 9. The seat according to claim 8, wherein the moveable jaw (60) is displaceable and compressible axially by co-operation with a third cam (72) articulated on the pivot (30) about an axis (X) substantially perpendicular to the axis (z) of the pivot (30).
- 10. The seat according to claim 9, wherein the third cam (72) forms an end of a lever (52) controlling the locking means (50).
- 11. The seat according to claim 7, wherein one of the friction faces (F1) of the upper part (14) comprises rolling members, displaceable substantially parallel to the axis (Z) of the pivot between the projecting position spacing apart the mutually confronting friction faces (F1, F2), wherein the members are in rolling contact with the other friction face (F2) of the substructure (16), and the retracted position putting the mutually confronting friction faces (F1, F2) into contact, the rolling members being returned elastically to the projecting position.
- 12. A rail vehicle comprising a seat having a moveable upper part (14) for receiving at least one occupant, said moveable upper part being carried by a fixed lower part forming a substructure (16), and means (28) for turning the upper part (14) backwards and forwards,wherein the turning means (28) comprises a pivot (30) connecting the upper part (14) and the substructure (16), an axis (Z) of the pivot (30) being substantially vertical, a bearing-forming slide (36) mounted within the upper part (14) so as to be displaceable in rotation about the pivot (30) and in translational motion substantially perpendicular to the axis (Z) of the pivot (30), and first and second complementary cams (46, 48) carried respectively by the substructure (16) and the upper part (14), the first cam comprising a developing profile and forming a guide for the second cam extending substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular the axis of the pivot so as to impart a predetermined turning travel to the upper part (14).
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
98 14291 |
Nov 1998 |
FR |
|
US Referenced Citations (12)