Title: Vibration exposure in a forestry machine fitted with a saddle type suspension seat

Authors: N.J. Mansfield, P. Holmlund, R. Lundstrom, T. Nordfjell, D. Staal-Wasterlund

Addresses: Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicesterhire, LE11 3TU, UK. National Institute for Working Life, Department of Technical Hygiene, PO Box 7654, S-907 13 Umea, Sweden. National Institute for Working Life, Department of Technical Hygiene, PO Box 7654, S-907 13 Umea, Sweden. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Operational Efficiency, S-901 83 Umea, Sweden. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Operational Efficiency, S-901 83 Umea, Sweden

Abstract: The shock and vibration isolation performance of two suspension seats with identical suspension mechanisms were tested in a forestry machine. The first seat was a standard suspension seat commonly used on forwarders; the second seat was a prototype suspension seat shaped like a saddle. The vibration exposure of two drivers using the machine on two test tracks was compared using acceleration and absorption of energy methods. On the test track designed to simulate off-road driving, there was little difference between the vibration exposures measured using the two different seats. The absorption of energy at the seat was consistently lower for the saddle seat, but absorption at the feet was higher for the saddle seat. Measurements of vibration exposure on the test track designed to generate end-stop impacts showed that there was less probability of an impact occurring for the saddle type seat than for the standard seat. It is concluded that a reduction in vibration exposure might be possible if a saddle type suspension seat is used in preference to a standard suspension seat.

Keywords: absorbed power; forestry machinery; seat design; suspension seating; whole-body vibration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2002.002034

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2002 Vol.30 No.3, pp.223-237

Published online: 15 Aug 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article