TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to methods and systems for determining, displaying, logging and/or using performance data of isolators (e.g. shock absorbers such as coil-over shock absorbers or air-shock absorbers), and in particular to methods and systems for determining, displaying, logging and/or using performance data of suspension seats for military, commercial and recreational vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Suspension seats for military, commercial and recreational vehicles can reduce the forces experienced by operators or passengers as the vehicles move while travelling over rough surfaces. An example application of suspension seats is in fast boats travelling in rough water. A typical suspension seat comprises a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. An isolator (e.g. a shock absorber), such as a coil-over shock absorber or an air-shock absorber, mitigates (e.g. reduces or dampens) relative movement and acceleration between the first and second portions. The first portion is attached to a vehicle surface, and the second portion is attached to a seat or other support structure. Forces and accelerations applied to the first portion (e.g. the unmitigated end) as the vehicle bounces (e.g. as a boat moves through water) are mitigated by the isolator, such that the magnitude or severity of these forces and accelerations transferred to a person supported by the second portion (the mitigated end) is reduced.

Forces and accelerations experienced by operators or passengers of vehicles can be further reduced by fine-tuning various characteristics of the isolator of a suspension seat such as, for example, compression rate damping, rebound rate damping, air pressure, spring constant, preload, etc. Typically, such fine-tuning is done at the time of manufacture of the suspension seat or subsequently by trial and error. There remains a desire for methods and systems for displaying, determining, using and/or logging performance data of suspension seats in the field.

In some situations, the speed of the vehicle or the nature of the terrain may result in forces that are too great to be effectively mitigated by a suspension seat. Such forces could result in injury of an operator or passenger of the vehicle. There remains a desire for methods and systems for displaying, determining, using and/or logging performance data of suspension seats in real-time so that an operator can make real-time decisions to increase safety.

Suspension seats, particularly those on marine vehicles, experience harsh conditions. Suspension seats must be capable of withstanding large forces due to the interaction of the vehicle with rough terrain (e.g. waves). Suspension seats must be capable of withstanding various elements such as rain, ice, snow and seawater without failure or corrosion. There remains a desire for methods and systems for displaying, determining, using and/or logging performance data of suspension seats that can withstand the harsh conditions experienced by suspension seats (particularly those on marine vehicles).

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

One aspect of the invention provides an isolator performance data logging system. The system comprises a first accelerometer unit fixable relative to a mitigated end of an isolator to measure mitigated accelerations, a second accelerometer unit fixable relative to an unmitigated end of the isolator to measure unmitigated accelerations, a displacement unit, the displacement unit comprising a displacement sensor fixable relative to the mitigated end of the isolator, and a target fixable relative to the unmitigated end of the isolator, wherein the displacement sensor measures a displacement of the target relative to the displacement sensor for determining a displacement of the isolator.

In some embodiments, the target comprises a plunger fixable relative to an unmitigated end of the isolator and at least partially slidably received within a displacement sensor housing of the displacement unit.

In some embodiments, the displacement sensor housing is fixable to a first endcap of the isolator and the target is fixable to a second endcap of the isolator.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a cable connected to deliver power to the displacement unit and transfer measurements from the displacement unit to a data storage device, wherein the cable is housed partially in the displacement sensor housing; deliver power to the first accelerometer unit and transfer measurements from the first accelerometer unit to the data storage device. In some embodiments, the cable is connected to deliver power to the second accelerometer unit and transfer measurements from the second accelerometer unit to the data storage device.

In some embodiments, the guide bushing comprises a passthrough and the cable passes from a first side of the guide bushing inside the displacement sensor housing through the passthrough to a second side of the guide bushing outside the displacement sensor housing.

In some embodiments, the cable is at least partially doubled over itself on the first side of the guide bushing and within the displacement sensor housing such that as the guide bushing slides within the displacement sensor housing in a direction toward the displacement sensor, an amount of the cable that is doubled over increases and as the guide bushing slides within the displacement sensor housing in a direction away from the displacement sensor, the amount of the cable that is doubled over decreases.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a removable casing, wherein the removable casing contains the data storage device and the removable casing is non-permanently removable from a storage bay of the system.

In some embodiments, the removable casing contains a battery for powering the isolator performance data logging system.

In some embodiments, the storage bay is connected to the displacement unit, first accelerometer unit and second accelerometer unit.

In some embodiments, the battery is chargeable by wireless charging. In some embodiments, the battery is chargeable by solar panels located on the removable casing.

In some embodiments, the target comprises a magnet and the displacement sensor comprises a magnetometer.

In some embodiments, the displacement unit comprises a first wireless communication device for transmitting measurements from the displacement unit and a first battery to power the displacement unit.

In some embodiments, the first accelerometer unit comprises a second wireless communication device for transmitting the measurements from the first accelerometer unit and a second battery to power the first accelerometer unit. In some embodiments, the second accelerometer unit comprises a third wireless communication device, for transmitting the measurements from the second accelerometer unit and a third battery to power the second accelerometer unit.

In some embodiments, the displacement unit, the first accelerometer unit and the second accelerometer unit are interchangeable.

In some embodiments, each of first, second and third wireless communication devices is configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile device.

In some embodiments, the isolator is part of a suspension seat, the first accelerometer unit is attached to a mitigated portion of the seat and the second accelerometer is attached to an unmitigated portion of the seat. In some embodiments, the isolator is part of a suspension seat on a vehicle, the first accelerometer unit is attached to a mitigated portion of the seat and the second accelerometer is attached to a deck of the vehicle.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of logging isolator performance data. The method comprises measuring, in real-time, a displacement of the isolator, measuring, in real time, mitigated accelerations of a mitigated end of the isolator, measuring, in real time, unmitigated accelerations of an unmitigated end of the isolator, and displaying, in real time, one or more indicators based at least in part on one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements.

In some embodiments, measuring, in real-time, the displacement of the isolator comprises employing a magnetometer fixed to the mitigated end of the isolator to measure the magnetic field of a magnet fixed to the unmitigated end of the isolator.

In some embodiments, the method comprises obtaining one or more real time measurements from a mobile device and wherein the one or more indicators is based at least in part on the one or more real time measurements from the mobile device and the one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements.

In some embodiments, the one or more real time measurements from the mobile device comprise measurements obtained from a global positioning sensor of the mobile device. In some embodiments, the one or more real time measurements from the mobile device comprise measurements obtained from a heart rate sensor of the mobile device. In some embodiments, the one or more real time measurements from the mobile device comprise measurements obtained from an accelerometer of the mobile device.

In some embodiments, the method comprises adjusting one or more settings of the isolator, in real time, based at least in part on one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements. In some embodiments, the one or more settings of the isolator comprises a compression damping setting. In some embodiments, the one or more settings of the isolator comprises an air pressure setting. In some embodiments, the one or more settings of the isolator comprises a rebound damping setting. In some embodiments, the one or more settings of the isolator comprises a stroke length setting.

In some embodiments, the method comprises adjusting one or more settings of a seat attached to the isolator, in real time, based at least in part on one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements. In some embodiments, the one or more settings of the seat comprises a height of the seat.

In some embodiments, the one or more indicators comprises a bottom-out risk indicator based at least in part on one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements. In some embodiments, the one or more indicators comprises a bottom-out occurrence indicator based at least in part on the displacement measurements. In some embodiments, the one or more indicators comprises a vibration dose value based at least in part on one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements. In some embodiments, the one or more indicators comprises an equivalent compressive stress metric based at least in part on one or more of the displacement measurements, the mitigated accelerations measurements and the unmitigated accelerations measurements.

In some embodiments, the method comprises attributing the one or more indicators to a specific passenger and tracking the one or more indicators attributed to the specific passenger over time.

In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving an indication from the specific passenger of their identity, the indication comprising pairing a mobile device of the specific passenger to a sensor. In some embodiments, the method comprises displaying, on the same display as the one or more indicators, a communication received from the mobile device of the specific passenger.

Another aspect of the invention provides an isolator performance data logging system. The system comprising a first sensor unit, a second sensor unit and a third sensor unit, wherein each of the first, second and third sensor units comprises a sensor unit housing containing a wireless communication device, a battery, a magnetometer and an accelerometer. the first sensor unit is fixed relative to a mitigated end of the isolator and the magnetometer of the first sensor unit measures displacement of a magnet fixed to an unmitigated end of the isolator. The second sensor unit is fixed relative to the mitigated end of the isolator and measures accelerations of the mitigated end of the isolator. The third sensor unit is fixed relative to the unmitigated end of the isolator and measures accelerations of the unmitigated end of the isolator.

