Low-Profile Blower Design for Confined Vehicle Seat Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation and temperature control systems for vehicle seats are too large and noisy, making them difficult to integrate into confined spaces and undesirable due to their bulkiness and noise generation.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile blower design with an integrated filter, reduced axial thickness, and enhanced heat transfer features, including an exposed backplate and a circuit board configuration, to reduce noise and turbulence while maintaining efficiency and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional ventilation systems with large fans and heat exchangers are used, then adequate air flow and temperature control are achieved, but the system becomes too bulky to fit in confined seat spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reconfigures the blower assembly by arranging components in a compact, space-efficient layout that maximizes air flow capability within a reduced volume. The impeller, motor, and housing are designed to fit within tight dimensional constraints while maintaining adequate air movement through optimized component placement and streamlined airflow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board is positioned within the hollow cavity of the motor assembly, effectively nesting one component inside another. This nesting arrangement eliminates wasted space and reduces the overall volume of the blower assembly while maintaining all necessary functional components.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional ventilation systems with large fans are used, then sufficient air flow is generated, but noise levels increase making them undesirable in vehicle cabins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies operational parameters including reducing the rotational speed of the impeller and optimizing the air flow rate to minimize noise generation. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the system achieves adequate ventilation performance while keeping noise levels acceptable for vehicle cabin environments.
3Length of moving object
If the blower axial thickness is reduced to fit confined spaces, then space requirements are met, but heat dissipation from electronic components becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly backplate serves a dual function: it provides structural support for mounting the circuit board and simultaneously acts as a heat dissipation surface. The exposed backplate directly interfaces with ambient air to dissipate heat generated by electronic components, eliminating the need for additional dedicated cooling mechanisms and maintaining compact dimensions.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If wires are routed through the blower housing to power the motor, then electrical connections are established, but the axial thickness increases and wire contact with impeller becomes a hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts wires from the internal airflow path by routing them through channels in the housing exterior or along the outer surfaces. This extraction eliminates the hazard of wire contact with the rotating impeller while maintaining a compact axial profile, as wires are positioned outside the critical rotation zone rather than requiring additional protective structures within the housing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a more compact, quieter blower that effectively provides temperature-controlled air in confined spaces, enhancing occupant comfort and reducing noise pollution within vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
A filter can be disposed at least partly in the inlet such that at least some of the fluid passes through the filter
Implementation Method 2
The blower can have an exposed backplate, thereby enhancing the heat transfer between the blower and the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 3
The blower can have an exposed backplate, thereby enhancing the heat transfer between the blower and the surrounding environment
Data Source
AI summary
A blower configured to be positioned in confined spaces and to provide ventilation of a fluid, such as temperature controlled air, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the blower is configured to have a reduced axial thickness, which can be desired in such confined spaces. In some embodiments, the blower has an integral filter, a wire channel for the routing of one or more wires, and/or an exposed backplate. In some embodiments, the blower has a snap-fit circuit board, containment system for mounting the motor, one or more vanes for directing fluid flow, shrouded impeller, and/or integrated connector.