Automotive Seat Insert for Uniform Heating, Cooling, and Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automotive vehicle seat designs lack effective solutions for providing comprehensive heating, cooling, and ventilation to enhance occupant comfort, as existing solutions are either inadequate or inefficient in distributing air and heat uniformly across the seating surface.

Innovation Solution

The development of an insert for automotive vehicle seats that includes a spacer material creating an open space with impermeable barrier layers and air movers in fluid communication, allowing for the distribution of air and integration of heating elements like thermoelectric devices to provide heating, cooling, or a combination of heating and ventilation, with features such as perforations for directed airflow and noise abatement measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If existing heating, ventilation, or cooling solutions are applied to vehicle seats, then some level of comfort is provided, but the air and heat are not distributed uniformly across the seating surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of heating and cooling distributionVSAvoidstructure of seat insert

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat insert is divided into multiple functional layers including a first layer with first openings, a second layer with second openings, and intermediate spacer material. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer for airflow distribution while maintaining overall structural integrity and achieving uniform temperature distribution across the seating surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the seat insert have different properties: the first and second layers have different opening patterns and densities, the intermediate spacer material provides localized cushioning and airflow channels, and the barrier material is selectively placed. This local differentiation enables optimized airflow and heat distribution in different zones of the seat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If perforations are added for directed airflow, then airflow distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow distribution effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing of perforated layers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pneumatic principles by incorporating multiple layers with openings that guide airflow through the seat insert. The barrier material and spacer material work together to create controlled airflow paths that distribute air uniformly across the seating surface, improving operational effectiveness without requiring complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The seat insert combines multiple materials with different properties: permeable materials for airflow, barrier materials for directing flow, and spacer materials for maintaining structure and cushioning. This composite construction achieves effective airflow distribution while using standard manufacturing techniques for each material type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If noise abatement measures are implemented, then noise and vibration are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise and vibrationVSAvoidstructure of seat insert

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer material and multiple layers serve dual functions: they create airflow channels for ventilation while simultaneously acting as noise and vibration dampeners. The inherent structural complexity of multiple layers, which might seem to increase device complexity, actually provides noise abatement as a beneficial side effect of the ventilation structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively enhances occupant comfort by providing uniform heating and cooling, improving airflow distribution, and reducing noise and vibration, thus addressing the limitations of existing seat comfort systems.

Implementation Method 1

An air mover is also typically in fluid communication with the open space within the insert

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir movement:

Implementation Method 2

integration of heating elements like thermoelectric devices to provide heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

integration of heating elements like thermoelectric devices to provide heating, cooling, or a combination of heating and ventilation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPeltier effect: Peltier Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8162391B2Automotive vehicle seat insert

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 GENTHERM GMBH

AI summary

There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.