Heating and cooling structure for seating article

Abstract

To suppress deterioration in cooling efficiency or heating efficiency on a thermal controller using a Peltier element in heating and cooling of a seating article.SOLUTION: A heating and cooling structure for a seating article includes at least: a heat insulation part 20 installed inside of a hollow part 10 that is installed inside of a seating article A; a thermal controller 30 disposed in the hollow part 10; and an air supply port 40 and an air discharge port 50 communicated to the outside of the seating article A. The thermal controller 30 includes at least: a Peltier element 31 including one surface 311 and the other surface 312 capable of exchanging cooling and heating therebetween; one thermal conduction part 32 disposed on an outer surface side of the seating article A and coming into contact with the one surface 311; and the other thermal conduction part 33 disposed on an inside of the hollow part 10 and coming into contact with the other surface 312. Installing the heat insulation part 20 on the inside of the hollow part 10 makes an internal space of the hollow part 10 be less likely to be subjected to heat impact due to external factor. Accordingly, heat radiation or heat absorption to the Peltier element 31 can be performed more efficiently with the ventilation into the hollow part 10 using the air supply port 40 and the air discharge port 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating / cooling structure for seating (chairs, sofas, beds, etc.) installed in vehicles (passenger cars, trains, airplanes, etc.) and facilities (stadiums, movie theaters, classrooms, etc.). [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A structure described in Patent Document 1 below is known as a vehicle seat that enables seat cooling using a Peltier element. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-8622 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Due to the characteristics of the Peltier element, the temperature of one surface is determined by the temperature difference between the one surface that performs cooling or heating and the other surface that performs heat dissipation or absorption. Therefore, when cooling or heating the sheet on one side, if the heat dissipation or absorption efficiency on the other side is insufficient, the cooling or heating efficiency on the one side will also decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain high heat dissipation or absorption efficiency on the other surface side.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of suppressing a decrease in cooling efficiency or heating efficiency in a thermal control unit that uses a Peltier element. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a heating / cooling structure for a seating object, comprising at least a hollow portion provided inside the seating object, a heat insulating portion provided inside the hollow portion, a heat control portion disposed in the hollow portion, and an air intake port and an exhaust port provided in the hollow portion and communicating with the outside of the seating object, the heat control portion comprising at least a Peltier element having one side and the other side capable of switching between cooling and heating, one heat conductive portion disposed on the outer surface side of the seating object and in contact with the one side, and the other heat conductive portion disposed inside the hollow portion and in contact with the other side, and the heat insulating portion is configured to be made of a multilayer heat insulating material including at least a layer made of an aluminum vapor-deposited polyimide film.

[0007] With this configuration, the heat insulating portion is provided inside the cavity, so that the internal space of the cavity is less susceptible to the effects of heat from external factors. As a result, heat dissipation or absorption from the Peltier element, which is performed by ventilating the cavity through the air inlet and exhaust port, can be performed more efficiently. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in cooling efficiency or heating efficiency in a thermal control section that uses a Peltier element. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a heating and cooling structure for a seating object according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a heating and cooling structure for a seating object according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0011] <1> Overall configuration (Fig. 1) The heating and cooling structure for a seating object in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, assumes an automobile seat as the seating object A, and is configured to include at least a hollow portion 10, a heat insulating portion 20, a heat control portion 30, an air intake port 40, and an exhaust port 50. Each element will be described in detail below.

[0012] <2> cavity The cavity 10 is a portion for ensuring a ventilation space within the seating object A. Possible methods for providing the hollow portion 10 in the present invention include a method in which a cavity formed by hollowing out the inside of the main body A1 constituting the seating object A is used as the hollow portion 10, or a method in which the inside of a housing contained inside the main body A1 is used as the hollow portion 10, as shown in FIG.

[0013] <3> Insulation section The heat insulating portion 20 is a portion for increasing the heat insulating property of the space inside the cavity 10 . In the present invention, possible methods for providing insulation section 20 within cavity 10 include attaching sheet or plate-shaped insulation material to the inner and outer walls of cavity 10, or spraying spray-type insulation material. The heat insulating material may be glass wool, urethane, or the like.

[0014] <3.1> Multi-layer insulation material In the present invention, a particularly preferable insulating material to be used as the insulating portion 20 is a multilayer insulating material (MLI) that includes at least a layer made of an aluminum-deposited polyimide film. This multi-layer insulation material is made by laminating multiple thin plastic mesh or films alternately under a layer of aluminum-vapor-deposited polyimide film, and is used in extremely low temperature and space applications such as superconducting equipment and artificial satellites. As the multi-layer heat insulating material used in the present invention, Super Insulation manufactured by Kaneka Corporation, Pyrogel XTE manufactured by Nichias Corporation, or the like can be selected.

[0015] <4> Heat Control Unit The heat control unit 30 is a portion that serves as a heat source for cooling or heating a person seated on the seating object A. In the present invention, the thermal control unit 30 is provided with at least a Peltier element 31 having two surfaces, and two thermal conductive parts (one thermal conductive part 32 and the other thermal conductive part 33) provided on each surface of the Peltier element 31, respectively.

[0016] <4.1> Peltier element The Peltier element 31 is a type of plate-shaped semiconductor thermoelectric element that uses the Peltier effect, and is a member that can switch between heating (heat generation) and cooling (heat absorption) on its two surfaces by changing the direction in which a direct current flows. In the present invention, of the two surfaces constituting the Peltier element 31, the surface facing the outer surface of the seating object A is defined as one surface 311, and the surface facing the cavity 10 is defined as the other surface 312. One surface 311 functions as a surface for cooling or heating a person sitting on the seating object A, and the other surface 312 functions as a surface for radiating or absorbing heat within the cavity 10.

[0017] <4.2> One heat conducting part One of the heat conductive portions 32 is a portion for conducting heat applied to cooling or heating by one surface 311 of the Peltier element 31 to the outer surface side of the seating object A. One of the heat conductive parts 32 is disposed on the outer surface side of the seating object A so as to be in contact with one surface 311 of the Peltier element 31 . The heat conductive portion 32 can be made of a material having excellent heat conductivity, such as an aluminum plate or mesh material. Moreover, it is preferable that one of the heat conductive parts 32 is made of a material having a strength sufficient to prevent damage when it receives a load associated with the action of a person sitting on the seating object A. As this material, a 6000 series aluminum alloy such as A6063 aluminum can be used.

[0018] <4.2.1> Example of arrangement of one heat conducting part In the present invention, the location of one of the heat conductive parts 32 may be appropriately determined within a range where a person sitting on the seating object A can feel cooling or heating from the seating object A when sitting, and is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, one of the heat conductive parts 32 may be arranged to be in contact with the back side of the cover A2 constituting the outer surface of the seating object A, or one of the heat conductive parts 32 may be arranged to be exposed to the outer surface of the seating object A.

[0019] <4.3> The other heat conductive part The other heat conducting portion 33 is a portion for conducting heat dissipated or absorbed by the other surface 312 of the Peltier element 31 . The other heat conducting portion 33 is disposed inside the cavity 10 so as to be in contact with the other surface 312 of the Peltier element 31 . The other heat conductive portion 33 can be made of a material having excellent heat conductivity, similar to the first heat conductive portion 32, and can be, for example, an aluminum or ceramic heat sink.

[0020] <5> Air intake / exhaust port The air intake port 40 is a portion for taking in air into the cavity 10 . The exhaust port 50 is a portion for discharging air from the cavity 10 . In the present invention, the locations where the air inlet 40 and the exhaust outlet 50 are provided, as well as the shapes and structures thereof, are not particularly limited. Further, in the present invention, there are no particular limitations on the destination to which the air intake port 40 and the exhaust port 50 are connected. Further, a fan (not shown) may be provided near the air supply port 40 and / or the air exhaust port 50 to improve the air flow within the cavity 10.

[0021] <6> Usage image The details of the operation of the heating and cooling structure for the seating object A according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0022] <6.1> When cooling The use and action of the cooling of the seated object A are as follows: (1) When it is desired to cool the outer surface of the seating object A during high temperatures such as in summer, a direct current is passed through the Peltier element 31 in a certain direction to cool one surface 311, thereby cooling the outer surface side of the seating object A via one heat conductive portion 32. (2) On the other hand, the other surface 312 of the Peltier element 31 is heated and needs to be dissipated. Therefore, by taking in cooled air from the air intake 40, heat is dissipated via the other heat conductive portion 33 in contact with the other surface 312. This cooled air may be temperature-controlled air generated by an air conditioner installed in the vehicle. (3) At this time, the heat stored in the main body A1 of the seating object A, which is at a high temperature, is less likely to be transmitted to the space within the cavity 10 due to the insulation section 20 provided inside the cavity 10, thereby reducing factors that reduce the heat dissipation efficiency. (4) The warm air discharged from the exhaust port 50 may be discharged outside the vehicle, or may be discharged inside the vehicle and mixed with the cool, warm air discharged from the air conditioner into the vehicle.

[0023] <6.2> When heating The use and action of the seated object A when it is heated are as follows. (1) When it is desired to heat the outer surface of the seating object A under low temperatures such as winter, a direct current is passed through the Peltier element 31 in the opposite direction to that during cooling, so that one surface 311 is heated, and the outer surface side of the seating object A is heated via one heat conductive portion 32. (2) On the other hand, the other surface 312 of the Peltier element 31 is cooled and needs to absorb heat. Therefore, by taking in warm air from the air intake 40, heat is absorbed via the other thermal conductive portion 33 in contact with the other surface 312. This warm air may be temperature-controlled air generated by an air conditioner installed in the vehicle. (3) At this time, the heat stored in the main body A1 of the seating object A, which is at a low temperature, is less likely to be transmitted to the space within the cavity 10 due to the insulating portion 20 provided inside the cavity 10, thereby reducing factors that reduce the heat absorption efficiency. (4) The cool air discharged from the exhaust port 50 may be discharged outside the vehicle, or may be discharged inside the vehicle and mixed with warm air discharged from the air conditioner into the vehicle.

[0024] <7> summary Thus, according to the structure of this embodiment, by providing the insulating section 20 inside the hollow section 10, the internal space of the hollow section 10 is less susceptible to the effects of heat due to external factors, so that when cooling or heating is performed by one surface 311 of the Peltier element 31, heat dissipation or absorption can be performed more efficiently on the other surface 312 side of the Peltier element 31. EXAMPLES

[0025] <1> Addition of cold air separation section (Fig. 2) In the heating / cooling structure for the seating object A according to the present invention, a cold air separating section 60 made of a vortex tube can be used as the source of air supplied to the air supply port 40. A vortex tube is a known component capable of separating compressed air into cold air and hot air. By supplying the separated cold air or hot air to the air inlet 40 by the cold air separation section 60, heat can be dissipated or absorbed efficiently on the other surface 312 side of the Peltier element 31.

[0026] In the present invention, the source of the compressed air supplied to the vortex tube is not particularly limited. For example, if the seating object A is an automobile seat, possible methods include using outside air taken into the vehicle while it is moving, using an air compressor installed in the vehicle, or using compressed air stored in a separate tank.

[0027] <2> Addition of a mechanism for switching between hot and cold air (Figure 2) Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, a switching valve 61 is interposed between the cold air separation section 60 and the air intake port 40, so that either the cold air or the hot air separated by the cold air separation section 60 can be selectively supplied to the air intake port 40. With this configuration, when the seating object A is to be cooled, cold air can be supplied from the air inlet 40, and when the seating object A is to be heated, hot air can be supplied from the air inlet 40.

[0028] <3> summary Thus, according to the structure of this embodiment, the cold air or hot air separated by the cold air separation section 60 consisting of a vortex tube is switched and supplied depending on the cooling or heating by the thermal control section 30, so that heat dissipation or absorption on the other surface 312 of the Peltier element 31 can be performed more efficiently. In particular, when the compressed air supplied to the vortex tube is taken into the vehicle while driving, there is no need to operate the vehicle's air conditioning system just to supply cool or warm air to the cavity 10, which also leads to a reduction in electricity consumption. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] A: Seating object A1: Main body A2: Cover 10: Cavity 20: Insulation section 30: Heat control section 31: Peltier element 311: One side 312: The other side 32: One heat conducting part 33: The other heat conductive part 40:Air supply port 50: Exhaust port 60:Cold air separation section 61: Switching valve

Claims

1. A heating and cooling structure for a seated object, A hollow portion provided inside the seating object; A heat insulating portion provided inside the hollow portion; A thermal control section disposed in the cavity section; an air intake port and an air exhaust port provided in the hollow portion and communicating with the outside of the seating object; At least The heat control unit is A Peltier element having one surface and another surface that can be switched between cooling and heating; One heat conductive portion is disposed on an outer surface side of the seating body and in contact with the one surface; another heat conductive portion disposed inside the cavity and in contact with the other surface; At least one of the following is provided: The heat insulating portion is made of a multi-layer heat insulating material including at least a layer made of an aluminum-deposited polyimide film. Heating and cooling structure for seated objects.

2. The device further includes a cold air separation unit that is a vortex tube that can separate the compressed air into cold air and hot air. The cold air or hot air separated by the cold air separation unit is configured to be able to be supplied to the hollow portion from the air supply port. The heating and cooling structure for a seating object according to claim 1.

3. The seating object is provided in a vehicle or facility, and temperature-controlled air from an air conditioning device installed in the vehicle or facility can be supplied from the air intake port. The heating and cooling structure for a seating object according to claim 1.

4. The present invention further comprises a fan that generates an air flow from the air intake port to the air exhaust port. The heating and cooling structure for a seating object according to claim 1.

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