THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST ONE MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal management system (1) for at least one seat (3) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that said system (1) comprises: – an air supply duct (19); – at least one seat (3) equipped with internal air ducts (11) and an air inlet (13) configured to receive air from said air supply duct (19) and distribute it into said internal ducts (11); the air supply duct (19) and the air inlet (13) of said seat (3) being separated from each other. Figure to be published with the abstract: [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST ONE MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT AND VEHICLE FEATURING SUCH A SYSTEM

[0001] The present invention relates to the management of thermal comfort in a motor vehicle, in particular the thermal management of at least one seat which is located in a motor vehicle passenger compartment.

[0002] Indeed, in existing motor vehicles, thermal comfort management at the seat level, particularly heating, is achieved by means of electrical resistors positioned in the seat cushion. These electrical resistors, generally thermistors with a positive temperature coefficient, are configured to transform, by Joule effect, an electric current (passing through them) into heat, in order to diffuse the heat thus generated into the seat cushion.

[0003] These electric heating elements for the seats are generally used during periods when temperatures are very low (generally 5°C or less), for example during winter. Furthermore, these elements are generally used at the beginning of a journey, for a period of about ten minutes, the time required for the vehicle's interior to warm up and reach a comfortable (or set) temperature for the vehicle's user.

[0004] These electric heating elements for a seat are primarily a supplementary means to the vehicle's heating, ventilation, and / or air conditioning systems (also known as HVAC), which provide overall thermal management of the passenger compartment. These elements therefore allow, when the vehicle interior is very cold, for rapid heating of the seat cushion, thus providing an initial level of thermal comfort before the passenger compartment reaches the comfort temperature selected by the vehicle's user.

[0005] However, such electric heating elements for seats require large amounts of electricity, which can be problematic for the vehicle's electrical management, particularly for the batteries. Furthermore, in the case of electric or hybrid vehicles, the use of this type of heating element significantly reduces the vehicle's range, for example by up to 15%, as electrical energy is drawn from the vehicle's traction battery.

[0006] There are also other types of seats, known as "air-conditioned seats": - The so-called ventilated seat, in which one or more fans and a network of air ducts are integrated to create air suction within the seat; this type of seat It notably improves the anti-sweat properties of the occupants of said seat, but the seat remains at the ambient temperature of the passenger compartment. - The so-called refrigerated seat, equipped with thermoelectric devices (using, for example, the Peltier effect), cools the seat, but its performance is limited, especially when the outside temperature is high (as the Peltier effect is less efficient in such conditions). Furthermore, with such thermoelectric devices, it is necessary to circulate warm air in the passenger compartment (corresponding to the heat dissipated by the Peltier effect). In addition, thermoelectric devices are expensive for their relative efficiency.

[0007] Some seats may also include internal elastic pockets whose volume can vary under the influx of a fluid, such as air, the variation in the volume of said pockets providing a massaging effect to the occupant of said seat.

[0008] It is therefore necessary to find an economical and easy-to-implement solution on existing motor vehicles, while improving the thermal comfort of vehicle seat occupants.

[0009] It is also necessary to find a more economical and less energy-intensive alternative to allow rapid heating and / or cooling of the passenger compartment, or at least of one of its elements, for example a seat, when temperatures are low or high.

[0010] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of thermal management system for at least one motor vehicle seat, characterized in that said system comprises: - an air supply duct; - at least one seat equipped with internal air ducts and an air inlet configured to receive air from said air supply duct and distribute it into said internal ducts; the air supply duct and the air inlet of said seat being at a distance from each other.

[0011] The fact that the air supply duct and the air inlet of said seat are at a distance, i.e., do not have a mechanical connection with each other, makes it easier to install said system according to the invention on different types of vehicle without it being necessary to take into account changes in position (in particular along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle) of said seat.

[0012] Moreover, the system according to the invention is a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-implement solution for improving the thermal comfort of seat occupants in a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the system according to the invention offers improved energy efficiency compared to prior art solutions. The system according to the invention finds advantageous application in the within the framework of electric vehicles, because it allows for increased autonomy for electric vehicles.

[0013] According to one possible feature, said system includes a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, said supply duct being connected to said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system and configured to carry air from said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system to the air inlet of said at least one seat.

[0014] The system according to the invention can advantageously be connected to the vehicle's heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, and thus bring hot or cold air to said seat, thereby limiting the additional cost of having an additional device (housed inside or outside said seat) to thermally condition an airflow to said at least one seat.

[0015] According to another possible feature, said at least one seat includes elastic pockets connected to said internal ducts of the seat and configured to be inflated by air conveyed through said internal ducts.

[0016] Advantageously, said at least one seat comprises elastic pockets that can inflate and deflate depending on the amount of air supplied through the supply duct, thus allowing the seat occupant to be cooled or warmed depending on the temperature of the air injected into said pockets. Furthermore, said pockets are permeable to air and therefore deflate if the air supply to the seat is interrupted (and also due to the pressure of the seat occupant's body on said pockets). Said elastic pockets can also have a massaging effect by modulating the amount of air supplied to said pockets, thereby improving the comfort provided by the system according to the invention to the occupant of said seat.

[0017] According to another possible feature, said air inlet comprises an inlet duct, one end of the inlet duct or of the air supply duct surrounding one end respectively of the air supply duct or of the inlet duct. Advantageously, the inlet end of the inlet duct encircles the outlet end of the supply duct (or vice versa), in order to channel the air brought by said inlet duct into the seat as best as possible, and thus limit losses in the passenger compartment.

[0018] According to another possible feature, said inlet duct or said air supply duct has a substantially flared or funnel shape. Advantageously, the inlet end of the inlet duct or the outlet end of the air supply duct has a flared, funnel, or conical shape, etc., so that, among other things, when the seat position changes, for example along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the air supplied by the air supply duct is always channeled into the inlet duct and then inside the seat, therefore into the internal air ducts, and then into the elastic pockets when the seat is equipped with them.

[0019] According to another possible feature, said system includes at least one aerodynamic device configured so that the air circulating in the internal ducts is under positive pressure. An air handling system is defined as a blower, compressor, etc., that allows, for example, the intake (or exhaust) of air from the air supply duct into the seat. Advantageously, the air handling system is configured so that the air blown into the seat has positive pressure, among other things to compensate for any pressure losses and / or to promote the inflation of elastic cushions housed within the seat.

[0020] It should be noted that "air pressure relief" refers to the fact that the air entering the seat has a pressure higher than the pressure inside the vehicle's passenger compartment. Furthermore, when the seat includes elastic pockets, the air pressure must be sufficient to inflate and maintain these pockets.

[0021] According to another possible feature, said at least one aerodynamic device is housed in the air inlet of said at least one seat. Advantageously, said at least one aerodynamic device is located in the air intake of the seat, in order to best draw in air from the air supply duct and channel it into the seat, among other things to limit losses by dispersion.

[0022] According to another possible feature, said system comprises several seats, said air supply duct comprising several air outlets configured to supply air to each of said seats. Advantageously, a system according to the invention can be configured to power several seats in parallel, thus optimizing the cost of such a system and the thermal comfort of the vehicle's passengers.

[0023] According to another possible feature, said air supply duct includes a distribution flap configured to distribute the air flowing through said air supply duct between the different seats. The presence of one or more distribution flaps, for example located in the air supply duct, at the outlet ends of said supply duct, and / or at the air inlet of the seats, allows the airflow of the seats to be regulated, and therefore allows vehicle users to personalize the thermal comfort provided by the system according to the invention.

[0024] According to another possible feature, said at least one seat comprises a seat and a backrest connected to said seat.

[0025] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, hybrid or electric, characterized in that said vehicle includes a thermal management system for at least one seat as defined above.

[0026] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a very schematic view of a thermal management system according to the invention for at least one motor vehicle seat; - [Fig.2] illustrates a very schematic view of a variant embodiment of the system of [Fig.1].

[0027] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of". Furthermore, it should be noted that in the various figures, the same reference numerals designate identical or similar elements.

[0028] Fig. 1 thus illustrates a very schematic view of a thermal management system 1 of at least seat 3, system 1 intended to equip a motor vehicle (not shown), such as a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0029] The seat 3 comprises a seat 5, a backrest 7 mounted in an articulated manner on the seat 5, and a headrest 9, the headrest 9 being for example mounted on the backrest 7 by means of a frame (not shown).

[0030] Said seat 3 further includes internal air ducts 11 and an air inlet 13 connected to said internal ducts 11, the air inlet 13 being configured to distribute the air, entering through said inlet 13, into the various internal ducts 11. Said internal ducts 11 advantageously extend into the seat 5 and / or into the backrest 7, while the air inlet 13 is located under the seat 5 of said seat 3.

[0031] Said seat 3 may further advantageously include elastic pockets 15 connected to said internal conduits 11 of the seat 3 and configured to be inflated by the air conveyed through said internal conduits 11. Said pockets 15 are housed in the seat 5 and / or in the seat 7.

[0032] Said elastic pockets 15 can inflate and deflate depending on the amount of air supplied through the internal conduits 11, and also to the fact that said pockets 15 are permeable to air (i.e. they have small leaks) and therefore deflate if the air supply is interrupted and / or by the pressure of the body of the seat occupant on said pockets 15.

[0033] Said system 1 may also include an aerodynamic device 16 so that the air entering through the air inlet 13 and intended to circulate in the internal ducts 11. The aerodynamic device 16 is for example a blower, a compressor, etc. or any device enabling the intake and / or injection of air into the seat 3 via the air inlet 13.

[0034] The air handling device 16 is, for example, configured so that the air blown into the seat 3 has an overpressure, that is to say, a pressure higher than the pressure prevailing in the vehicle's passenger compartment. Furthermore, the air injected into the seat 3 must have sufficient overpressure to inflate said pockets 15 and maintain their inflation.

[0035] Advantageously, said at least one air-handling device 16 is housed (or located) in the air inlet 13 of said at least one seat 3. Furthermore, said air inlet 13 includes an air inlet duct 14 extending under the seat 5 away from said seat 3.

[0036] System 1 also includes a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 17 (or also referred to by the acronym "HVAC" for "Heating, Ventilating and / or Air Conditioning System" in English), as well as an air supply duct 19 connected to said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 17.

[0037] Said air supply duct 19 is further configured to carry air from said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 17 to the air inlet 13 of said at least one seat 3.

[0038] Thus, the air supply duct 19 includes at least one inlet end 19a connected to said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 17, as well as at least one outlet end 19b located opposite the air inlet 13 of the seat 3.

[0039] The air supply duct 19 and the air inlet 13 of said seat 3 are at a distance from each other, that is to say that the air supply duct 19 and the air inlet 13 do not have a mechanical connection with each other.

[0040] The air inlet duct 14 includes an inlet end 14a which surrounds the outlet end 19b of the air supply duct 19. The inlet end 14a of the inlet duct 14 encircles the outlet end 19b of the supply duct 19, said inlet end 14a advantageously having a flared, funnel or conical shape, etc.

[0041] Thus, whatever the position of the seat 3, the air brought in by the air supply duct 19 is always channeled by the inlet duct 14 inside the seat 3, therefore into the internal air ducts 11, then into the elastic pockets 15.

[0042] Advantageously, the aerodynamic device 16 is configured to vary the flow rate and / or pressure of the air injected into the seat 3, then into the elastic pockets 15, in order to provide a massaging effect to the occupant of the seat 3 by alternating inflation and deflation of said elastic pockets 15, the air coming from the system of heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning 17 which can also be hot, cold and / or at room temperature.

[0043] Figure 2 illustrates, very schematically, a variant embodiment of the thermal management system 1' according to the invention. Unlike the system in Figure 1, the system 1' comprises several seats 3, as well as an air supply duct 19' comprising several air outlets 19'b configured to supply air to each of said seats 3.

[0044] Said air supply duct 19' may also include a rear air outlet 19'c intended to supply the rear part of a motor vehicle passenger compartment.

[0045] Said air supply duct 19' may also include: - one or more distribution flaps 23 configured to distribute the air flowing through said air supply duct 19' between the different seats 3 and / or the rear outlet 19'c. - an additional aerodynamic device 21 (such as a blower, a compressor, etc.) located downstream of the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 17 and advantageously upstream of the branches of said air supply duct 19' and / or of the distribution damper(s) 23.

[0046] In another unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the system 1, 1' according to the invention includes an additional device, housed inside or outside said seat 3, for thermally conditioning an airflow to said internal ducts 11 and / or elastic pockets 15.

[0047] In another unrepresented embodiment of the invention, in the context of a hybrid or electric vehicle, the air supply duct 19, 19' is connected to a traction battery of the vehicle, the air cooling the battery (and heated by contact with it) being used to supply air to the seat(s) 3.

[0048] In another unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the seat(s) 3 have internal conduits 11 which open directly onto the face of the seat 5 and / or the backrest 7 with which the occupant of the seat 3 is in contact (the seat(s) 3 being for example without elastic pockets 15).

[0049] In another unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the outlet end 19b of the air supply duct 19 has a flared, funnel-shaped or conical shape, etc., and thus surrounds the end 14a of the inlet duct 14 of the air inlet 13 of the seat 3.

Claims

Demands

1. Thermal management system (1; 1') of at least one seat (3) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that said system (1; 1') comprises: - an air supply duct (19; 19'); - at least one seat (3) equipped with internal air ducts (11) and an air inlet (13) configured to receive air from said air supply duct (19; 19') and distribute it into said internal ducts (11); the air supply duct (19; 19') and the air inlet (13) of said seat (3) being at a distance from each other.

2. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said system (1; 1') comprises a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system (17), said supply duct (19; 19') being connected to said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system (17) and configured to carry air from said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system (17) to the air inlet (13) of said at least one seat (3).

3. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one seat (3) comprises elastic pockets (15) connected to said internal conduits (11) of the seat (3) and configured to be inflated by air conveyed through said internal conduits (11).

4. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said air inlet (13) comprises an inlet duct (14), one of the ends (14a, 19b or 19'b) of the inlet duct (14) or of the supply air duct (19; 19') surrounding one of the ends (19b or 19'b, 14a) respectively of the supply air duct (19; 19') or of the inlet duct (14).

5. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said inlet duct (14) or said air supply duct (19) has substantially a flared or funnel shape.

6. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system (1; 1') includes at least one aerodynamic device (16) configured so that the air circulating in the internal ducts (11) is under positive pressure.

7. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one aerodynamic device (16) is housed in the air inlet (13) of said at least one seat (3).

8. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system (1; 1') comprises several seats (3), said air supply duct (19') comprising several air outlets (19'b) configured to supply air to each of said seats (3).

9. Thermal management system (1; 1') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said air supply duct (19') comprises a distribution flap (23) configured to distribute the air flowing through said air supply duct (19') between the different seats (3).

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a thermal management system (1; 1') of at least one seat according to any one of the preceding claims.

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