Seat Back Air Blower Layout for Thin, Low-Vibration Vehicle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats with embedded air blowers face challenges such as increased thickness and inferior appearance due to the need for a large air chamber to accommodate the axial-flow fan, which can cause discomfort from resonant vibrations and higher manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The air blower is positioned on the upper portion of the seat back, connected to the back frame via a bracket, and a centrifugal air blower is used, eliminating the need for a large air chamber and attachment to an elastic member, thus preventing vibration-induced discomfort and maintaining seat back thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the axial-flow fan is disposed on the central portion of the seat back, then air can be blown toward the passenger, but the seat back thickness must be increased to accommodate the air chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from an axial-flow fan arrangement requiring a deep air chamber in the thickness direction to a radial-flow fan arrangement where the air inlet is positioned on the front surface and air is blown radially outward. This dimensional reconfiguration eliminates the need for a thick air chamber, allowing the seat back to maintain a sleek, thin profile while still delivering effective air cooling to the passenger.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the air inlet at the rear of the seat back and blowing air forward through a thick chamber (axial flow), the patent inverts the approach by positioning the air inlet on the front surface and blowing air radially outward. This inversion of the air flow direction eliminates the thickness requirement while maintaining the cooling function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the axial-flow fan is attached to the elastic member of the seat back, then the fan can follow flexing motion, but resonant vibration occurs causing passenger discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fan mounting function from the elastic member, positioning the radial-flow fan on the front surface of the seat back where it is not attached to the flexing elastic structure. This separation eliminates the resonant vibration problem caused by the fan's rotation interacting with the elastic member's natural frequency, while the fan still effectively delivers air to the passenger.
3Reliability
If the air chamber is designed to accommodate volume reduction from seat back deformation, then the fan rotation is stable, but the seat back thickness must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for a volumetric air chamber by reconfiguring the air flow path. The radial-flow fan draws air from the front surface and blows it radially outward, eliminating the requirement for a deep chamber to accommodate deformation. This dimensional change maintains fan stability without increasing seat back thickness.
4Ease of operation
If a large capacity air chamber is formed, then the axial-flow fan can operate effectively, but the vehicle cabin appears narrower and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reconfigures the air blowing system from a depth-oriented axial flow requiring a large volumetric chamber to a surface-oriented radial flow. The radial-flow fan draws air from the front surface and distributes it radially outward, achieving effective air cooling without requiring a large air chamber that would reduce the perceived cabin width or increase manufacturing complexity.
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 design allows for effective air distribution without increasing seat back thickness, reducing manufacturing costs, and preventing passenger discomfort from vibrations, while maintaining the seat's structural integrity and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
the air blower comprises a centrifugal air blower
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes a seat back and a head rest. The seat back has an air blower that is capable of aspirating air, and a blower duct that is capable of introducing the aspirated air toward a blowhole formed in the seat back. The head rest has a head rest main body and a stay attached to the head rest main body. The stay is inserted into the seat back, so that the head rest main body is vertically movably attached to the seat back. The air blower is disposed on the seat back such that a rotation center thereof can be positioned above the level of a terminal end of the stay that is moved to a lowermost position.