Module carrier arrangement

Abstract

A module carrier arrangement (M) for attachment to the seat structure of a motor vehicle seat and for securing pneumatic components (6, 8; 41-50) or non-pneumatic components, comprises a module carrier (1) with a front side (A) and a rear side (B) opposite the front side (A). Optionally, the module carrier arrangement (M) comprises at least one further component (3), wherein air ducts and / or air duct sections (28, 201-210) are integrated into the module carrier (1) and / or into the at least one further component (3). At least one pressure accumulator (248, 249, 3) is integrated on or in the module carrier (1) and / or on or in the further component (3) and is in fluid communication with at least one of the air ducts or air duct sections (28, 201-210).

Description

The invention relates to a module carrier arrangement.Such module carrier arrangements, as are known, for example, from EP 3 845 415 A1, are generally attached to a vehicle seat structure and are designed to fasten specific functional components, such as, for example, fluid actuators, valve blocks or pumps, thereto. In addition, the module carrier arrangements also serve for fastening the corresponding lines for transporting air to the individual components. As a rule, such module carrier arrangements are found in vehicle seats behind the seat cushioning of the backrest or seat part.In the known systems, the functional components must generally be attached individually to the module carrier. It requires fittings for pipes, valve blocks, pumps, etc. The number of components required for complete assembly and thus the number of components required is relatively high in this procedure. Usually, by using a pneumatic pump, an air flow is generated in the fluid-carrying components. The pump is thus freely set into vibrations, whereby disturbing influences are produced which the vehicle occupant experiences. For example, signals are modulated with the frequency of the pump onto a massage system fed by the pump, which the occupant then feels. These sensed unwanted oscillations which the massage bladders used experience during their filling or emptying are to be avoided as far as possible. For this purpose, an external pressure accumulator is usually introduced into a pneumatic system at a specific point. Usually this is done between the pump and a valve block with the aim of stabilizing the air flow through the pneumatic system. However, this measure results in comparatively higher costs, since additional components have to be installed, which per se cause costs, but on the other hand also require additional assembly time.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a module carrier arrangement with which the disadvantages described can be avoided.This object is achieved by a module carrier arrangement having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle seat having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are found in the dependent claims.The present invention reduces the number of required components by virtue of the fact that parts of the line system are already integrated in the module carrier arrangement or the carrier material thereof. Thus, it is provided according to the invention that the fluid lines are no longer formed as hoses or the like, but are already integrated as air guiding channels or at least air guiding channel sections in the carrier material of the module carrier arrangement. In order to close channels that may still be open, only one further component, for example a cover, is then required. A complicated installation of fluid hoses is thus no longer necessary and the number of components is greatly reduced.The module carrier arrangement according to the invention, which serves for attachment to the seat structure of a motor vehicle seat and for fixing pneumatic components or non-pneumatic components, has a module carrier with a front side and a rear side opposite the front side. Optionally, the module carrier arrangement has at least one further component. In the module carrier and / or in the at least one further component, i) air guidance channels and / or ii) air guidance channel sections are integrated. The latter can be arranged recessed-preferably with respect to the rear side and / or with respect to the front side. In the case of alternative i), complete air guidance channels can thus be integrated.According to the invention, at least one pressure accumulator which is in fluid communication with at least one of the air-guiding channels or air-guiding channel sections is integrated on or in the module carrier and / or on or in the further component.This embodiment has numerous advantages. Firstly, components which are already present are used for forming the at least one pressure accumulator. If, for example, air-conducting channels or air-conducting channel sections are already integrated in a module carrier, a corresponding recess in the module carrier can be integrated in a simple manner during the same integration process in order to form a pressure accumulator. In this design, additional separate components and thus also additional assembly effort can be saved. The same applies to a further component which is to be or is installed on the module carrier in any case, for example a cover for air duct sections, which can be used at least for forming part of the pressure accumulator. Especially when the module carrier is formed from a plastic material, for example injection-molded material, corresponding recesses for pressure accumulators can be integrated in a simple manner by inserting parts into the injection mold.According to a preferred embodiment of the module carrier arrangement according to the invention, it is therefore provided that the at least one pressure accumulator is arranged in the module carrier and / or the further component. This arrangement can preferably be arranged in the vicinity of a pump which feeds a pneumatic system, which also includes the above-mentioned fluid channels, and / or of a fluid actuator, for example a fluid-fillable bladder of a massage system and / or adjustment system of motor vehicle seats. In this way, the air flow entering the fluid actuators is stabilized in the vicinity of an active pneumatic component by means of the pressure accumulator, so that vibrations caused by the pump are avoided.The pressure accumulator can in principle be completely completed by integration in a module carrier or a further component. However, a preferred embodiment provides that the pressure accumulator is formed from at least two parts which, after being joined together, form an airtight chamber. Thus, for example, a depression can be formed on the module carrier, which depression is formed in fluid connection with an air guide duct or air guide duct section and the cross section of which in the flow direction widens compared to the cross section of the adjoining air guide duct or air guide duct section. In principle, different cross-sectional area geometries are possible, as seen transversely to the flow direction. Thus, the cross-sectional areas of this mentioned depression or of the fluid reservoir, as viewed transversely to the flow direction, can be, for example, oval, circular, rectangular or a combination thereof.As indicated above, it is preferably provided that at least a part of the pressure accumulator is integrated in an air guide duct or air guide duct section. In this way, no artificial connections need to be made between the pressure accumulator and the air-conducting sections of the pneumatic system installed on the module carrier. Additional connections can thus be omitted, so that the assembly and installation effort can be further reduced.The pressure accumulator, which is preferably a chamber, can additionally have a silencer device, which is preferably introduced into the pressure accumulator before completion of the latter. For example, a depression can be provided in the module carrier as part of the pressure accumulator to be produced later; a sound-damping device, for example a foam material or the like, can then be introduced into this depression. Subsequently, the depression is closed by attaching the further component, preferably a cover, so that the silencer device is integrated therein.Preferably, preferably in the case of alternative ii), it is provided that air guide duct sections and / or a part of the pressure accumulator are integrated in the module carrier and / or the further component in such a way that each of the air guide duct sections and / or the part of the pressure accumulator comprises open longitudinal sides, wherein the module carrier or the at least one further component serves as a cover which closes the open longitudinal sides of the air guide duct sections of the part of the pressure accumulator for forming air guide ducts and / or a pressure accumulator. On the one hand, several covers can be provided for separately covering air duct sections on the one hand and the depression formed as part of the pressure accumulator on the other hand; on the other hand, all the mentioned components can also be closed by means of a single cover.Open longitudinal sides are formed here, for example, by virtue of the fact that U-shaped grooves are introduced in the module carrier only in cross section, said grooves being open to one side, the longitudinal side. Preferably, in the case of existing ventilation duct sections with open longitudinal sides, a cover is also present, which closes the open longitudinal sides of the air duct sections in such a way that air duct ducts are thereby produced. Air guidance channels formed in this way or already present are then designed such that air can preferably only enter or leave at the ends situated in the flow direction. Branches or openings between the ends are basically conceivable. Separate attachment of air lines or hoses can be avoided in this way, which saves assembly effort on the one hand and additional components on the other hand, since the cover can simultaneously cover a plurality of air duct sections. The cover can also be part of a housing which is designed to accommodate a further pneumatic component, for example a valve block or a pump. In this way, the integration can be increased even further.The module carrier and the at least one further component, preferably designed as a cover for air duct sections and / or as part of the pressure accumulator, can be connected, for example, by laser welding, high-frequency welding, vibration welding, adhesive bonding or clipping.Preferably, it is provided here that the module carrier has a depression in which the integrated air duct sections are arranged. When the further component, for example in the form of a cover, is then inserted into the depression, which is preferably effected in a positively locking manner, the further component is automatically correctly positioned in order to close the corresponding open longitudinal sides, which further simplifies the assembly. A further component or cover can also be formed of multiple parts.The material of the module carrier and / or of the further component can be formed in different ways. According to preferred embodiments, it can be provided, inter alia, that the material comprises or consists of a plastic material, a film material or a felt material. The carrier material or the module carrier arrangement can be or comprise a part formed by injection molding or formed by thermoforming.Other parts can also be integrated into the module carrier arrangement according to the invention. It can preferably be provided, for example, that the module carrier comprises integrated fastening sections for mounting or accommodating pneumatic components and / or non-pneumatic components. The pneumatic components can be selected, for example, from the following group: pump, valve block, fluid actuator. A non-pneumatic component may be selected from the group comprising: vibration system component, ventilation system component, electrical component, cable harness, connector, cover, for example. The optional further component may be a pneumatic or non-pneumatic component.According to the invention, sections can be provided on the module carrier, to which hose lines or fluid actuators can be fastened.The pressure accumulator can be formed from the same material, preferably plastic material, as the module carrier and / or the further component. Alternatively, the accumulator may also comprise other materials. Such a material is preferably selected from the following group: textile material, preferably nylon or PP, cellulose, open-cell or closed foam material, open-cell insulation material, damping material.Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle seat which has a seat frame structure and a module carrier arrangement described above which is suspended on the seat frame structure via a suspension.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1-5. FIG. 1 shows a schematic, lateral exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a module carrier arrangement according to the invention in a sectional illustration, FIG. 2 shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as a simple sectional illustration, FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the rear side of an example of a module carrier of a module carrier arrangement according to the invention, FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of an example of the design of a pressure accumulator according to the invention, FIG. 5 shows a top view of the pressure accumulator shown in FIG. 4 with an additional silencer device.FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sectional illustration which shows an exemplary structure of a module carrier arrangement M according to the invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded view and FIG. 2 is a composite view.The module carrier 1 has a front side A and a rear side B. As a rule, the front side A will face in the direction of the direction of travel of a vehicle seat equipped with the module carrier arrangement M according to the invention. Of such a vehicle seat, only the seat frame structure 11 and a seat cushion 5 are indicated here. The module carrier 1 can then be attached to the seat frame structure 11 via a suspension 10, which in the simplest case is metal wires or the like.The module carrier 1 is preferably produced from a material which preferably contains plastic, a film or felt. In a preferred embodiment, a depression 2 which is not absolutely necessary is arranged in the module carrier 1, preferably a depression which is accessible from the front side A. The module carrier 1 has, preferably in the base of the depression, air-guiding duct sections, not shown in detail here, or even complete air-guiding ducts, which are part of a pneumatic system, which is installed on the module carrier 1 as part of the module carrier arrangement M according to the invention. In addition to a line system formed by the air guidance channels, the pneumatic system can have further components, for example pneumatic components such as a valve block 6 and / or a pump 8.In the example shown, the module carrier arrangement M further comprises a further component, here in the form of a cover 3, which-with the recess 2 present, preferably in a form-fitting manner-can be attached to the module carrier 1 in order to cover air duct sections present there and to prevent the air flowing through them from escaping to the outside. If complete air guidance channels are already present in the module carrier 1, such a cover is unnecessary. However, it is also alternatively or additionally possible to integrate corresponding air duct sections in the named further component 3. The complete air guidance channels are then likewise created by joining module carrier 1 and further component 3. Reference numerals 4 and 41-45 respectively denote fluid actuators, which are preferably fluid fillable bladders, with the aid of which a seat adjustment function or also a massage function can be realized. These fluid actuators 4, 41-45 likewise form components of the pneumatic system and can be connected to air guidance channels present in the module carrier 1 and / or the further component 3 and can thereby be charged with air. A seat cushion 5 may then be mounted on the front A over the fluid actuators 4, 41-45.A plan view of the rear side B of the module carrier arrangement M according to the invention, more precisely of the module carrier 1 thereof, is shown in FIG. 3. The air duct sections 201-210 arranged in a recessed manner can be seen. These air duct sections 201-210 have at their one end corresponding connections 211-220 which serve to connect the above-described fluid actuators to the air duct system. Either the fluid actuators can be connected directly or, for example, via a short hose to these connections 211-220.At their other ends, the air duct sections 201-210 are arranged on one of the connection rows 240, 241 for the valve block 6. The valve block 6 is supplied by the pump 8 via the air duct section 28, and the air duct section 28 is connected to the valve block through the inlet valve 228 and supplies the valve block with the fluid, preferably compressed air. The compressed air is supplied from the pump 8 into the air duct section 28 via the pump connection 238. The vibrations and compressed air fluctuations of the pump should as far as possible not be transmitted into the valve block and thus into the remaining pneumatic system. For this purpose, in this embodiment, two pressure accumulators 248 are integrated into the air duct section 28. These are primarily sections of the air duct section 28, in which the cross section is greatly enlarged compared to the other air duct sections 28. The function can be explained more clearly with reference to FIG. 4.FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an air duct section 28 which is incorporated into the front side A of a module carrier 1. On the left side, the air guide duct 28 terminates in the inlet valve 228, to which the valve block 6 is connected. At the right end, the air duct section 28 opens into the pump connection 238. The strong widening of the air duct section 28 represents the pressure accumulator 248. The air duct section 28 is closed by the cover 3. Only a part of the pressure wave is passed on into the adjoining section of the air duct section 28. The remainder of the pressure wave substantially reflects in the accumulator 248 and slowly improves.FIG. 5 shows the air duct section 28 illustrated in FIG. 4 in plan view. The version shown in FIG. 5 differs in that a silencer device 249 has been introduced into the pressure accumulator 248. This silencer device 249 weakens a pressure wave or sound waves in the pressure accumulator even more strongly, so that they enhance more quickly.By means of such a device, the fluid actuators 4, 41-45 operate with less interference and more quiet, so that the device as such is perceived as more comfortable for a user in use.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedEP 3 845 415 A1

[0002]

Claims

Module carrier arrangement (M) for attachment to the seat structure of a motor vehicle seat and for fixing pneumatic components (6, 8; 41-50) or non-pneumatic components, having a module carrier (1) with a front side (A) and a rear side (B) opposite the front side (A) and optionally at least one further component (3), wherein i) air guidance channels or / and ii) air guidance channel sections (28, 201-210) are integrated in the module carrier (1) and / or in the at least one further component (3), wherein at least one pressure accumulator (248, 249, 3) which is in fluid communication with at least one of the air guidance channels or air guidance channel sections (28, 201-210) is integrated on or in the module carrier (1) and / or on or in the further component (3).Module carrier arrangement (M) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pressure accumulator (248, 3; 249) is arranged in the module carrier (1) and / or the further component (3), preferably in the vicinity of a pump (8) and / or a fluid actuator.Module carrier arrangement (M) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure accumulator (248) is formed from at least two parts (248, 3) which, after being joined together, form an airtight chamber.Module carrier arrangement (M) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one part (248) of the pressure accumulator (248, 3; 249) is integrated in an air guide duct or air guide duct section (28).Module carrier arrangement (M) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure accumulator (248, 3; 249) has a silencer device (249), which is preferably introduced into the pressure accumulator (248, 3; 249) before the completion of the latter.Module carrier arrangement (M) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that air duct sections (28, 201-210) and / or a part (248) of the pressure accumulator are integrated in the module carrier (1) and / or the further component (3) in such a way that each of the air duct sections (28, 201-210) and / or the part (248) of the pressure accumulator comprises open longitudinal sides, wherein the module carrier (1) or the at least one further component (3) serves as a cover (3) which closes the open longitudinal sides of the air duct sections (28, 201-210) and / or of the part of the pressure accumulator for forming air duct channels and / or a pressure accumulator.Module carrier arrangement (M) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module carrier (1) and the at least one further component (3), preferably designed as a cover (3) for air duct sections and / or a part (248) of the pressure accumulator, are connected by laser welding, high-frequency welding, vibration welding, adhesive bonding or clipping.Module carrier arrangement (M) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure accumulator (248, 249) is formed from the same material, preferably plastic material, as the module carrier (1) and / or the further component (3) or in that the pressure accumulator (248, 249) additionally comprises other materials, preferably selected from the following group: textile material, preferably nylon or PP, cellulose, open-cell or closed foam material, open-cell insulation material, damping material.Vehicle seat, comprising a seat frame structure and a module carrier arrangement (M) according to one of the preceding claims, which is suspended thereon via a suspension (10).

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