Vehicle seat system

Abstract

A vehicle seat system comprises a vehicle seat and a pneumatic system (1). The pneumatic system (1) has the following components: at least one fluid actuator (4) preferably arranged in a vehicle seat; a plurality of pumps (11-41, 12-42) which are operated in a piezoelectric manner or by means of an actuator with a dielectric elastomer; and a common pipeline system (L). The piezoelectric pumps (11-41, 12-42) or the pumps (11-41, 12-42) operated by means of an actuator with a dielectric elastomer are fluidically connected to one another and to the at least one fluid actuator (4) via the common line system, such that the pumps (11-41, 12-42) can be actuated, the at least one fluid actuator (4) is arranged such that the pump affects a fluid pressure or / and a fluid flow in the line system (L) and thus affects a fluid pressure in the at least one fluid actuator (4) or / and a fluid flow into or out of the at least one fluid actuator (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a vehicle seat system, which comprises a vehicle seat and a pneumatic system. The pneumatic system can be used to operate and execute seat functions. Background Art

[0002] Such pneumatic systems usually have fluid actuators, which are supplied with a fluid, such as air, by means of a pump. By means of targeted control of the fluid actuator, which is preferably a bag that can be filled with a fluid, the fluid actuator can be used in a vehicle seat, for example, for seat adjustment or for implementing a massage function.

[0003] According to the prior art, the control is performed via a system comprising lines, valves and pumps, which supply the line system and thus the valves and ultimately also the fluid actuators with fluid or remove fluid from the fluid actuators. This places high demands on the selection of the components used and the performance of the pumps used, since rapid filling or emptying leads to high dynamics of the fluid actuators.

[0004] On the other hand, the corresponding control unit to which the fluid actuator is connected is usually integrated in the vehicle seat. Generally, with increasing technology, on the one hand, the installation space for accommodating components in the area of ​​the vehicle seat is scarce, and on the other hand, such systems must be produced economically in view of production costs. Utility Model Content

[0005] The object of the present invention is to specify a vehicle seat system which meets the aforementioned standards without having to accept corresponding losses in functionality.

[0006] This object is achieved by a vehicle seat system having the features of the claims. Advantageous embodiments are found in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, the vehicle seat system has a vehicle seat and a pneumatic system. The latter has as a component at least one fluid actuator preferably arranged in the vehicle seat, a plurality of pumps operated piezoelectrically or with the aid of an actuator using a dielectric elastomer, and a common pipeline system. A pump operated with the aid of an actuator using a dielectric elastomer is a pump that has at least one actuator for carrying out a pumping process or a pump cycle, in which a dielectric elastomer material is present, which can be changed, i.e. expanded or contracted, by applying an electric field. Such a pump is also referred to below as a dielectric elastomer pump.

[0008] It is also conceivable to use both one or more piezoelectric pumps and one or more dielectric elastomer pumps in the vehicle seat system according to the invention.

[0009] The pumps mentioned are fluidically connected to each other and to the at least one fluid actuator via a common pipeline system. In this case, fluid connection means that a fluid flow can be achieved between two components connected to each other via the fluid connection. Naturally, such a component can also be a shut-off or a valve, which at least temporarily blocks the flow of fluid. According to the utility model, the pump can be controlled in such a way that the pump affects the fluid pressure and / or the fluid flow in the pipeline system and thus the fluid pressure in the at least one fluid actuator and / or affects the fluid flow into or out of the at least one fluid actuator.

[0010] A piezoelectric pump or a dielectric elastomer pump has relatively little structural space, but has sufficient delivery power, so that the pump is suitable for the present application. Due to the small structural space and relatively low costs of such a piezoelectric pump or a dielectric elastomer pump, a plurality of such pumps can also be arranged in a relatively small space. The piezoelectric pump or the dielectric elastomer pump can be, for example, a disc pump, a diaphragm pump or an ultrasonic pump. In the presence of a series of different fluid actuators, it is preferably provided that at least one fluid actuator comprises a pneumatic bladder.

[0011] A series of advantages are obtained by combining a plurality of piezoelectric pumps or dielectric elastomer pumps through a pipeline system according to the utility model. The great advantage is that the pumps can be used in a mutually supportive manner, so as to increase the delivery power, that is, ultimately increase the fluid flow in the pipeline system and can fill a certain volume more quickly. On the other hand, it is possible that the filling process is realized by controlling the first piezoelectric pump or dielectric elastomer pump and the emptying process is realized by controlling the second piezoelectric pump or dielectric elastomer pump. In this way, different scenes can be mapped, and in the case of a given appropriate number of piezoelectric pumps or dielectric elastomer pumps, the use of additional valves, i.e., additional expensive components, is omitted.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pump can be controlled, for example, so that the pump can deliver fluid in a unidirectional and / or bidirectional manner. The corresponding control is performed by a control device, which, like a piezoelectric pump, can be electrically connected on a circuit board, for example, so that the piezoelectric pump or the dielectric elastomer pump can be controlled via printed conductors of the circuit board.

[0013] In addition to the targeted control of the pump, the arrangement structure of the pump or the wiring on the flow technology also plays a role in the following problem, that is, how different systems can be operated by the fluid actuator. In general, there is the following possibility to fill or empty the fluid actuator, two or more piezoelectric pumps or dielectric elastomer pumps are connected in series or connected in parallel. According to the utility model, it can be provided that the pump or a part of the pump is connected in series and / or in parallel with each other through a pipeline system. If two or more piezoelectric pumps or dielectric elastomer pumps are connected in series with the same delivery direction, that is, one of the pumps is operated on the suction side of the fluid, and the fluid is output on the pressure side of another pump, the delivery power remains constant, but the pressure in the pipeline system increases. And if two or more pumps are connected in parallel, the pressure in the pipeline system remains constant, and the delivery power increases according to the number of pumps used, connected in parallel with each other.

[0014] The latter can be achieved, for example, in that the line system comprises at least one common rail, which is fluidically connected to the at least one fluid actuator via at least one actuator line, and at least two of the pumps are fluidically connected in parallel to one another via the common rail. Naturally, in this embodiment, it is provided that the two pumps are operated in the same delivery direction and / or that the control device can be operated in such a way that the two pumps have different delivery directions. In this case, for example, the filling process of the fluid actuator can be regulated by one of the pumps, while the evacuation process of the fluid actuator is undertaken by the other pump.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least two pumps are connected in series with one another and are fluidically connected to at least one fluid actuator via an actuator line. Thus, in this embodiment, the pressure that can be achieved in the line system and therefore also in the fluid actuator is increased according to the number of pumps connected in series compared to the use of a single piezoelectric pump or dielectric elastomer pump. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The following is with the help of Figure 1-4 The invention is explained in more detail. In principle, it applies that whenever a pump is mentioned below or above, a piezoelectric pump or a dielectric elastomer pump is meant. Whenever the word fluid is used, this can be any fluid medium, but preferably air. The fluid actuator can be any actuator that is influenced by a fluid, but preferably a fluid-filled sac that has a flexible outer shell that is impermeable to the fluid.

[0017] Figure 1 A portion of a vehicle seat system according to the present invention in a first embodiment is schematically shown.

[0018] Figure 2A part of a vehicle seat system according to the present invention in a second embodiment is schematically shown.

[0019] Figure 3 A portion of a vehicle seat system according to the present invention in a third embodiment is schematically shown.

[0020] Figure 4 A section of a vehicle seat system according to the invention is schematically shown in a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] exist Figure 1 In the first embodiment shown in , a plurality of piezoelectric pumps or dielectric elastomer pumps 11, 21, 31, 41 are fluidically connected to a common pipeline 2, such as a common rail, via corresponding pipelines 211, 221, 231, 241. The dotted line indicates that at least two piezoelectric pumps or dielectric elastomer pumps can be used to solve the task according to the present invention, but more than two such pumps can also be used. The entirety of the pipelines 2, 211, 221, 231, 241 and the actuator pipeline 3 leading from the pipeline 2 to the fluid actuator 4 form the common pipeline system L, through which the pumps 11-41 are connected to at least one fluid actuator 4. In the illustrated embodiment of the pneumatic system 1, the pipeline system L is designed so that the pumps 11-41 are connected in parallel to each other. This results in the delivery power of the pumps 11-41 being added in the same pumping direction. It is naturally possible to use individual pumps of the pumps 11-41 for this purpose to convey fluid, preferably air, from the line 2 and thereby also from the fluid actuator 4. The fluid actuator can thus be filled or emptied depending on the control. A control device can also be provided, for example, if the fluid actuator 4 must be filled or emptied periodically, for example to realize a massage function, so that one or more of the pumps 11-41 work bidirectionally.

[0022] exist Figure 2 In the pneumatic system 1 shown in FIG. 1 , pumps 11, 12 and 13 (the latter are again optional and are therefore indicated by dashed lines) are connected in series. Pump 13 is connected to pump 12 via pipeline 311, which in turn is connected to pump 11 via pipeline 211. The latter is connected to the fluid actuator 4 via actuator pipeline 34 for control technology. The series connection of pumps 11-13 does not change the delivery capacity, but the fluid pressure at which the fluid is pumped into the fluid actuator 4 increases according to the number of pumps. This means that higher pressures can be generated in the fluid actuator 4 according to the number of pumps 11-13 used. Here, the total number of pipelines used also forms the pipeline system L.

[0023] exist Figure 1 and 2The pneumatic system 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a purely parallel connection of the pumps 11 - 41 or a purely series connection of the pumps 11 - 13. The aforementioned connection forms of the pumps can naturally also be combined.

[0024] exist Figure 3 Another embodiment is shown in FIG. Here, two pumps 11, 12 (connected via line 211) or 21, 22 (connected via line 221) or further optional pump trains 31, 32 (connected via line 231) or 41, 42 (connected via line 241) are connected in series. Each of these pump trains is connected to the common line 2 via a corresponding line 111 or 121 or 131 or 141. In this way, the pump trains 2 are connected to the common line 2. Figure 1 Compared to the embodiment in , not only is the delivery capacity doubled according to the number of pump trains, but the achievable pressure is also increased.

[0025] In accordance with Figure 4 In the implementation form of Figure 3 The pneumatic system of the embodiment in the embodiment differs in that an additional common pipeline 5 or common rail is used, which is connected to the pipelines 211, 221, 231, 241 in terms of flow technology. In this way, it is possible for the individual pumps to respond selectively in order to achieve the desired flow characteristics and, if necessary, also to work in different flow directions at the same time. For example, in this way, it is also possible to combine individual pumps with different delivery powers (for example pumps 22 and 11) with each other, depending on which function the fluid actuator 4 is to assume. By combining a second common pipeline and, if possible, also at least one other common pipeline, a pump matrix is ​​created, which is controlled by a control device (not shown here) of the pneumatic system 1.

[0026] In all embodiments, only a single fluid actuator 4 is shown by way of example. However, it is self-evident that a plurality of fluid actuators 4 can also be connected to the line system L according to the invention, which can then each be filled or emptied by one or more of the pumps used.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat system, comprising a vehicle seat and a pneumatic system (1), wherein the pneumatic system has: at least one fluid actuator (4) which is preferably arranged in the vehicle seat, It is characterized in that The pneumatic system also has the following components: A plurality of pumps (11-41, 12-42) operated piezoelectrically or by means of actuators using dielectric elastomers, A common pipeline system (L), The piezoelectric pumps (11-41, 12-42) are fluidically connected to each other and to the at least one fluid actuator (4) via the pipeline system, so that the pumps (11-41, 12-42) can be controlled so that they influence the fluid pressure and / or the fluid flow in the pipeline system (L) and thus influence the fluid pressure in the at least one fluid actuator (4) and / or the fluid flow into or out of the at least one fluid actuator (4), and The pumps (11-41, 12-42) can be controlled so that they can deliver fluid unidirectionally and / or bidirectionally, respectively.

2. The vehicle seat system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The pumps (11-41, 12-42) or some of the pumps are fluidically connected to one another in series and / or in parallel via a pipeline system (L).

3. The vehicle seat system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The pipeline system (L) comprises at least one common rail (2, 5), which is fluidically connected to the at least one fluid actuator (4) via at least one actuator line (3) and at least two of the pumps (11-41; 12-42) are fluidically connected to each other in parallel via the common rail.

4. The vehicle seat system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At least two pumps (11-13) are connected in series with one another and are fluidically connected to at least one fluid actuator (4) via an actuator line (34).

5. The vehicle seat system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The piezoelectric pump (11-41, 12-42) operated by means of an actuator using a dielectric elastomer is a disk pump, a diaphragm pump or an ultrasonic pump.

6. The vehicle seat system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At least one fluid actuator (4) comprises a pneumatic bladder.

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