Personal heating ventilation and air conditioning system in aircraft seat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft cabin climate control systems lack personalized control, often resulting in passengers experiencing discomfort due to inadequate air flow and temperature distribution, particularly affecting the back and other pressure points during flights.

Innovation Solution

A personal heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for aircraft seats, featuring a heating/cooling device with multiple branches and sub-branches that provide adjustable air flow paths, controlled by a controller or mobile devices, integrated into seat components like cushions, back supports, and headrests, with outlets or holes for air expulsion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cabin-wide temperature control is used, then energy consumption is reduced and system complexity is lowered, but personalized comfort control is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalized comfort controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cabin climate control system is segmented into individual seat-level units, each with its own heating/cooling device, branches, and sub-branches. This allows personalized climate control for each passenger while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from traditional cabin-wide (macro) temperature control to seat-level (micro) personalized control by adding a new dimension of control granularity. The multi-level branching structure enables air distribution across different spatial dimensions within each seat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If traditional gaspers are used, then the system structure is simple, but air flow coverage is insufficient and cannot reach back and pressure points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow coverage areaVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air distribution system is divided into multiple branches and sub-branches that extend to different body areas (back, pressure points, head). This segmented approach enables comprehensive coverage of the entire seating area rather than concentrating flow at a single gasper location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different branches and sub-branches are directed to provide air flow to specific local areas of the passenger body (backrest, cushion, headrest). Each zone receives tailored air flow to address local comfort needs, creating localized climate zones throughout the seat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If single-point temperature control is used, then control device complexity is low, but temperature distribution uniformity is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distribution uniformityVSAvoidcontrol device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature control system is segmented into multiple independent heating/cooling devices, each serving specific zones through dedicated branches and sub-branches. This enables uniform temperature distribution across different body areas by allowing independent control of each zone rather than relying on a single control point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This system allows passengers to customize their micro-climate, enhancing comfort by providing targeted heating or cooling, addressing the limitations of existing cabin-wide temperature control systems.

Implementation Method 1

The heating/cooling device may be one of a combination at least one thermoelectric device and at least one fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermoelectric effect: Peltier Effect

Implementation Method 2

The heating/cooling device may be one of a combination at least one heating pad and at least one fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of branches configured to provide a plurality of flow paths from the heating/cooling device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 4

means for expelling air from the plurality of sub-branches to an interior surface of the plurality of aircraft seats

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3892541B1Personal heating ventilation and air conditioning system in aircraft seat
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 COLLINS AEROSPACE IRELAND LTD
  • EP3892541B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3892541B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

A personal heating ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) for an aircraft seat, comprising at least one aircraft seat (10A, 10B, 10C), a heating/cooling device (100) disposed on the at least one aircraft seat (10A, 10B, 10C), at least one branch (101A, 101B, 101C) configured to provide at least one flow path from the heating/cooling device (100), at least one sub-branch (102A, 102B, 103A, 103B, 104A, 104B) provided within the at least one aircraft seat (10A, 10B, 10C), wherein the at least one sub-branch (102A, 102B, 103A, 103B, 104A, 104B) is configured to provide flow from the at least one branch (101A, 101B, 101C) through the at least one aircraft seat (10A, 10B, 10C), and means for expelling air from the at least one sub-branch (102A, 102B, 103A, 103B, 104A, 104B) to an interior surface of the at least one aircraft seat (10A, 10B, 10C).