Cooling device for headrests

Abstract

To provide a headrest cooling device which can inhibit discharge of warm air.SOLUTION: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a headrest cooling device including: a ventilation passage provided in a headrest; a fan which is disposed in the ventilation passage and enables discharge operation and suction operation; and a sound generation mechanism which is disposed at the downstream side of the fan performing the discharge operation in the ventilation passage and configured to generate sounds during the suction operation of the fan.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooling device for a headrest.

Background Art

[0002] A cooling device that blows air from inside the headrest toward the seated person is known (see Patent Document 1). This cooling device sucks air from outside the headrest by a fan disposed inside the headrest and performs air blowing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described cooling device for a headrest, when heat is trapped inside the headrest, warm air is discharged from the headrest at the start of air blowing. Therefore, there is a risk that the seated person may feel discomfort.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a cooling device for a headrest that can suppress the discharge of warm air.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cooling device (1) for a headrest, comprising a ventilation passage (2) provided inside the headrest (100), a fan (3) disposed in the ventilation passage (2) and capable of performing a discharge operation and a suction operation, and a sound generation mechanism (6) disposed on the downstream side of the fan (3) during the discharge operation in the ventilation passage (2) and configured to generate sound during the suction operation of the fan (3).

[0007] With this configuration, the inside of the headrest (100) can be cooled by the suction operation of the fan (3). Therefore, the discharge of hot air when the headrest cooling device (1) is started can be suppressed. In addition, since sound is generated by the sound generation mechanism (6) when the suction operation is in progress, the user can recognize that the headrest cooling device (1) is operating normally until cool air is supplied.

[0008] In one aspect of this disclosure, the sound generating mechanism (6) may have a plurality of fins (61) extending in the direction of airflow. Each of the plurality of fins (61) may have a first end (61A) shaped to guide air to the side of the plurality of fins (61) when the fan (3) is in discharge operation, and a second end (61B) shaped to allow air to accumulate when the fan (3) is in suction operation. With such a configuration, the sound generating mechanism (6) can be provided inside the headrest (100) with a relatively simple configuration.

[0009] In one aspect of this disclosure, the sound generating mechanism (6) may have a resonator (62) into which air flows when the fan (3) is in intake operation. Even with such a configuration, the sound generating mechanism (6) can be provided inside the headrest (100) with a relatively simple structure.

[0010] One aspect of this disclosure may further include a control unit (9) configured to cause the fan (3) to perform an intake operation, and then to perform an exhaust operation. The control unit (9) may set the rotational speed of the fan (3) during the intake operation to be greater than the rotational speed of the fan (3) during the exhaust operation. With such a configuration, the operation of the headrest cooling device (1) can be recognized by the sound generated by the sound generation mechanism (6) and the operating sound of the fan (3).

[0011] The symbols in the parentheses above are merely examples indicating the correspondence with the specific configurations described in the embodiments described later, and this disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations indicated by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1A is a schematic perspective view of the headrest in the embodiment, and Figure 1B is a schematic perspective view of the headrest in Figure 1A. [Figure 2] Figure 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IIA-IIA in Figure 1B, and Figure 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IIB-IIB in Figure 1B. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the sound generation mechanism shown in Figure 1B. [Figure 4] Figures 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of the fins shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C are schematic diagrams of fins in an embodiment different from that shown in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the first resonator shown in Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments to which this disclosure applies will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1. First Embodiment] [1-1. Structure] The headrest cooling device 1 shown in Figures 1A and 1B (hereinafter also simply referred to as "cooling device 1") is attached to the headrest 100 of a vehicle seat.

[0014] The headrest cooling device 1 is configured to supply cool air to the neck of the seated person. The headrest cooling device 1 comprises an air passage 2, a fan 3, a temperature sensor 4, a cooling mechanism 5, a sound generation mechanism 6, and a control unit 9.

[0015] <Ventilation channel> The ventilation passage 2 is located inside the headrest 100. The ventilation passage 2 has an exhaust port 21, a first air intake port 22, and a second air intake port 23.

[0016] The discharge port 21 is provided in front of and below the headrest 100. The first air supply port 22 is provided on the left side surface of the headrest 100. The second air supply port 23 is provided on the right side surface of the headrest 100.

[0017] <Fan> The fan 3 is disposed in the ventilation passage 2 and is capable of discharging operation and suction operation. The fan 3 is rotated by, for example, a motor.

[0018] The fan 3 is disposed at a confluence portion of a portion of the ventilation passage 2 communicating with the first air supply port 22 and a portion communicating with the second air supply port 23. In the present embodiment, the fan 3 has two propellers.

[0019] In the discharging operation, the fan 3 rotates in a direction of sucking air from the first air supply port 22 and the second air supply port 23 and discharging it from the discharge port 21. Further, in the suction operation, the fan 3 rotates in a direction of sucking air from the discharge port 21 and discharging it from the first air supply port 22 and the second air supply port 23 (that is, a direction opposite to the discharging operation).

[0020] <Temperature sensor> As shown in FIG. 2A, the temperature sensor 4 is disposed in the ventilation passage 2 on the downstream side of the fan 3 and the cooling mechanism 5 and on the upstream side of the sound generating mechanism 6 during the discharging operation.

[0021] Specifically, the temperature sensor 4 is disposed between the cooling mechanism 5 and the sound generating mechanism 6 in the ventilation passage 2. The temperature sensor 4 detects the temperature of the air inside the ventilation passage 2 and outputs it to the control unit 9.

[0022] <Cooling mechanism> The cooling mechanism 5 cools the air in the ventilation passage 2. The cooling mechanism 5 is disposed on the downstream side of the fan 3 during the discharging operation in the ventilation passage 2. As the cooling mechanism 5, for example, a Peltier element can be used. The operation and stop of the cooling mechanism 5 are controlled by the control unit 9.

[0023] <Sound generating mechanism> The sound generation mechanism 6 is located downstream of the fan 3 in the ventilation passage 2 during discharge operation. Specifically, the sound generation mechanism 6 is located between the exhaust port 21 and the cooling mechanism 5.

[0024] The sound generation mechanism 6 is configured to generate a louder sound during the suction operation of the fan 3 than the sound generated during the discharge operation of the fan 3. The sound generation mechanism 6 has a plurality of fins 61, a first resonator 62, and a second resonator 63.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the multiple fins 61 each extend in the direction of airflow. The multiple fins 61 are arranged with spacing between them in a direction perpendicular to the direction of airflow. Air flows along the longitudinal direction of the fins 61 through the slits between two adjacent fins 61, or through the slits between the fins 61 and the wall of the ventilation passage 2.

[0026] In Figure 3, the fan 3 is positioned at the top of the diagram. Therefore, when the fan 3 is operating in discharge mode, air flows downwards in the diagram, and when the fan 3 is operating in suction mode, air flows upwards in the diagram. The fins 61 also function as a barrier to prevent foreign matter from entering the ventilation passage 2.

[0027] The fin 61 has a first end 61A and a second end 61B. The first end 61A is the end of the fin 61 in the longitudinal direction that is closer to the fan 3. The second end 61B is the end opposite to the first end 61A (i.e., closer to the outlet 21).

[0028] As shown in Figure 4A, air collides with the first end 61A during the discharge operation of the fan 3. The first end 61A has a shape that guides the air to the sides of the multiple fins 61. Specifically, the first end 61A is curved so that its width decreases towards the tip. Therefore, the air that collides with the first end 61A is guided to the slit between the two fins 61, or to the slit between the fins 61 and the wall of the ventilation passage 2.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4B, air collides with the second end portion 61B during the suction operation of the fan 3. The second end portion 61B has a shape that causes air to stagnate (i.e., generates turbulence). Specifically, the second end portion 61B has a plane perpendicular to the direction of airflow. Due to the stagnation of air at the second end portion 61B, a louder airflow noise is generated in the sound generation mechanism 6 than during discharge operation.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5A, the second end 61B may be curved so as to be concave toward the first end 61A. Also, as shown in Figures 5B and 5C, the width of the first end 61A may continuously decrease toward the tip. In other words, the fin 61 may be wedge-shaped.

[0031] The first resonator 62 and the second resonator 63 shown in Figure 3 are configured to generate resonant sound when air flows in during the suction operation of the fan 3. The first resonator 62 is located on the wall of the air passage 2, in the portion facing the fins 61. The second resonator 63 is located on the opposite side of the wall of the air passage 2 from the first resonator 62, in the portion facing the fins 61.

[0032] As shown in Figure 6, the first resonator 62 has a passage 62A, a main body 62B, and a guide wall 62C. The passage 62A extends outward from the wall of the ventilation passage 2. The main body 62B is a container that communicates with the passage 62A. The main body 62B resonates the air that enters the interior from the passage 62A.

[0033] The guide wall 62C is positioned where air collides with it during the suction operation of the fan 3. Furthermore, the guide wall 62C is continuous with the passage 62A. Therefore, the air that collides with the guide wall 62C is guided into the passage 62A.

[0034] The ventilation passage 2 is narrower in diameter in the region closer to the fan 3 (i.e., the upstream region during discharge operation) than in the region closer to the outlet 21 (i.e., the downstream region during discharge operation), with the guide wall 62C as the boundary. Therefore, when the fan 3 is in discharge operation, the air does not collide with the guide wall 62C. The configuration of the second resonator 63 is the same as that of the first resonator 62.

[0035] <Department Head> The control unit 9 shown in Figure 1B is a device that controls the fan 3 and the cooling mechanism 5. The control unit 9 is composed of, for example, a computer that includes a processor, a storage medium such as RAM or ROM, and an input / output unit. The control unit 9 may be built into the vehicle seat or incorporated into an electronic control unit (ECU) mounted on the vehicle.

[0036] The control unit 9 is configured to perform both cooling and operation processes. Upon receiving an input to start supplying cold air, the control unit 9 first starts the cooling process. In addition, the control unit 9 activates the cooling mechanism 5 in conjunction with the start of the cooling process.

[0037] During the cooling process, the control unit 9 causes the fan 3 to perform a suction operation for a predetermined cooling time if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 4 is above a predetermined threshold. Specifically, the control unit 9 sets the cooling time based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 4.

[0038] The operation process is performed after the cooling process is completed. During the operation process, the control unit 9 causes the fan 3 to perform discharge operation. As a result, the air cooled by the cooling mechanism 5 is continuously discharged from the outlet 21. The operation process continues until the control unit 9 receives an input to stop the supply of cold air.

[0039] The control unit 9 increases the rotational speed of the fan 3 during suction operation to a higher speed than the rotational speed of the fan 3 during discharge operation. The rotational speed during suction operation can be, for example, 1.3 times the rotational speed during discharge operation. As a result, the operating noise of the fan 3 during suction operation is louder than the operating noise of the fan 3 during discharge operation.

[0040] [1-2. Effects] According to the embodiments described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) The inside of the headrest 100 can be cooled by the suction operation of the fan 3. Therefore, the discharge of hot air when the headrest cooling device 1 is started can be suppressed. In addition, since the sound generation mechanism 6 generates sound when the suction operation is performed, the user can recognize that the headrest cooling device 1 is operating normally until the cool air is supplied.

[0041] (1b) A sound generating mechanism 6 can be provided inside the headrest 100 with a relatively simple configuration using a plurality of fins 61 having a first end 61A and a second end 61B. (1c) The sound generation mechanism 6 can also be provided inside the headrest 100 with a relatively simple configuration using the resonators 62 and 63.

[0042] (1d) By making the rotation speed of fan 3 during suction operation greater than the rotation speed of fan 3 during discharge operation, the user can recognize the operation of the headrest cooling device 1 by the sound generated by the sound generation mechanism 6 and the sound of fan 3 operating.

[0043] [2. Other Embodiments] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and can take various forms.

[0044] (2a) In the headrest cooling device of the above embodiment, the control unit does not necessarily have to make the rotation speed of the fan during suction operation greater than the rotation speed of the fan during discharge operation. For example, the rotation speeds of each may be the same.

[0045] (2b) In the headrest cooling device of the above embodiment, the sound generation mechanism does not need to have one of the plurality of fins and resonators. (2c) The cooling device for the headrest in the above embodiment does not necessarily have to include a cooling mechanism.

[0046] (2d) The headrest cooling device of the above embodiment can also be applied to seats used in automobiles other than passenger cars, and to seats used in vehicles other than automobiles, such as railway cars, ships, and aircraft. Furthermore, the headrest cooling device of the above embodiment can also be used for seats installed in facilities other than vehicles (for example, movie theaters, theaters, etc.).

[0047] (2e) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, some parts of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Also, at least some parts of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to, substituted for, or otherwise replaced with the configuration of other above embodiments. Any aspect of the technical concept specified by the wording of the claims is an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1...Cooling device for headrest, 2...Ventilation channel, 3...Fan, 4...Temperature sensor, 5...Cooling mechanism, 6...Sound generation mechanism, 9...Control unit, 21...Exhaust port, 22...First air intake port, 23...Second air supply port, 61...Fin, 61A...First end, 61B...Second end, 62...First resonator, 62A...Passageway, 62B...Main body, 62C...Guide wall, 63...Second resonator, 100...Headrest.

Claims

1. A ventilation channel located inside the headrest, A fan is provided in the aforementioned ventilation passage and is capable of both discharge and suction operation. A sound generating mechanism is positioned downstream of the fan during the discharge operation in the aforementioned ventilation passage and is configured to generate sound during the suction operation of the fan. A cooling device for headrests, equipped with the following features.

2. A cooling device for a headrest according to claim 1, The sound generation mechanism has a plurality of fins extending in the direction of airflow, Each of the aforementioned fins is, The fan has a first end portion shaped to guide air to the side of the plurality of fins during the discharge operation, The second end of the fan has a shape that allows air to stagnate during the suction operation, A cooling device for a headrest.

3. A cooling device for a headrest according to claim 1, The sound generation mechanism is a cooling device for a headrest, having a resonator into which air flows during the suction operation of the fan.

4. A cooling device for a headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The control unit is further configured to cause the fan to perform the discharge operation after causing the fan to perform the suction operation, The control unit is a cooling device for a headrest that makes the rotation speed of the fan during the suction operation greater than the rotation speed of the fan during the discharge operation.

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