NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search
Active seat suspension to control low back injuries.
Authors
Johnson CC
Source
Rehabilitation Technology, Inc., Burlington, Vermont 1993 Oct; :1-26
NIOSHTIC No.
00218237
Abstract
A prototype semi actively controlled vehicle seat suspension system was designed, built, and tested. The seat suspension system was intended to reduce low back injuries caused by exposure to vertical vibration. The suspension system used a computer controlled continuously variable hydraulic damper and passive spring elements. The system was tested using a truck seat rigidly mounted onto an hydraulically actuate cylinder used for vibration testing; the input signal was actual road test data for a truck. A human model was used to simulate the dynamic properties of a human sitting on the seat. An overall reduction of 16% root mean square acceleration was realized with the controlled seat suspension system when compared to the same system operating in passive mode. Vibration at the human's natural frequency of 5 hertz was reduced as much as 23.3%.
Keywords
NIOSH-Grant; Control-technology; Transportation-industry; Drivers; Vibration-exposure; Ergonomics; Equipment-design
Contact
Rehabilitation Technology Inc 1 So. Prospect Street Burlington, VT 05401
Publication Date
19931020
Document Type
Final Grant Report
Funding Amount
32613
Funding Type
Grant
Fiscal Year
1994
NTIS Accession No.
PB94-158482
NTIS Price
A03
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R43-OH-03018
NIOSH Division
OEP
Source Name
Rehabilitation Technology, Inc., Burlington, Vermont
State
VT
Performing Organization
Rehabilitation Technology, Inc., Burlington, Vermont
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Information Division