ALTERNATIVE VIBRATION PROTECTING SYSTEMS FOR MEN-OPERATORS OF TRANSPORT MACHINES: MODERN LEVEL AND PROSPECTS

The up-to-date level and a few of the prospects are considered in transport biomechanical vibration protection systems. An experimental estimation of the maximum capabilities of traditional vibration protecting mechanisms (VPMs) used in driver seats is given. Some of the points of synthesis and research for the adaptive VPMs, called mechanisms of elastic links with small stiffness (ELSS-mechanisms) are presented. They contain a novel object of control: non-linear elastic elements with variable torsion “negative” stiffness (TNS). These TNS-elements help to optimize VPMs according to certain criteria and give them invariant structural and functional properties. Some experimental results are presented, and they correspond well with theoretical predictions. An approach is demonstrated for grade of quality of vibration protection of the men-operators of land unsuspended machines and pilots of helicopters.