A magnetic force spring and its application in driver´s seat suspension

To improve the ride comfort of the off-road vehicles a magnetic force spring was designed and its characteristic curves were researched. Based on the magnetic force spring and the conventional passive seat suspension a magnetic force seat suspension was constructed and its dynamic characteristics and the adjustability of its equivalent stiffness were experimentally studied. Research results show that the dynamic amplification factor, its peak frequency and the responding acceleration RMS of the magnetic force seat suspension could be altered by changing the solenoid coil voltage of the magnetic force spring. Therefore it is feasible to introduce the magnetic force spring into the passive seat suspension and manufacture the seat suspension whose vertical equivalent stiffness behaves nonlinearity and can be adjustable. The research work laid foundation for the study of the semi-active magnetic force seat suspension.