Vehicle Seat Insert With Airflow Layers and Noise Abatement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automotive vehicle seat designs lack effective solutions for providing comprehensive comfort through heating, cooling, and ventilation, particularly in enhancing occupant experience by ensuring even air distribution and noise reduction.

Innovation Solution

The development of an insert for automotive vehicle seats that includes a spacer material creating an open space with impermeable barrier layers, air movers in fluid communication, and optional heating elements, such as thermoelectric devices, to provide heating, cooling, or ventilation, with noise abatement features like double-walled air mover housings and mufflers to minimize noise and vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an insert with spacer material and barrier layers is added to provide heating, cooling, and ventilation, then occupant comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal discomfortVSAvoidseat structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is nested within the existing seat structure, placing the spacer material and barrier layers between the seat cushion and the occupant without requiring complete redesign of the seat. This allows the thermal comfort system to be integrated into the existing seat framework, adding functionality while minimizing structural complexity increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert is designed to provide multiple functions (heating, cooling, and ventilation) through a single integrated structure. The barrier layers and spacer material work together to enable both thermal regulation and air distribution, reducing the need for separate systems and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Temperature

If air movers are added to provide ventilation and cooling, then thermal comfort is improved, but noise and vibration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat temperature controlVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer material acts as an intermediary between the air mover and the occupant, distributing air flow through its porous structure. This mediation allows the air mover to operate at lower speeds and with less direct contact to the occupant, thereby reducing noise and vibration while still achieving effective ventilation and cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer material utilizes its porous structure to distribute air flow in a diffuse manner rather than through concentrated streams. This porous distribution reduces turbulence and associated noise, allowing the air mover to provide effective cooling with minimal disturbance and lower operational noise levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Productivity

If barrier layers are added to create open spaces and control air flow, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow control effectivenessVSAvoidinsert manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier layers are integrated with the spacer material to form a composite structure that combines air flow control functionality with the mechanical support structure. This composite approach allows both components to be manufactured together or pre-assembled as a unit, reducing the number of separate manufacturing steps and simplifying the overall production process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If thermoelectric devices are added for heating and cooling, then temperature control capability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating and cooling capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The thermoelectric devices are merged with the existing air mover and barrier layer system. The thermoelectric elements provide active heating and cooling, while the barrier layers and spacer material provide passive thermal management. This combination allows the system to achieve versatile temperature control by utilizing both active and passive mechanisms, reducing the overall energy consumption compared to using only active thermoelectric heating and cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 effectively enhances occupant comfort by providing controlled heating, cooling, and ventilation while reducing noise and vibration, ensuring even air distribution and improved seat comfort through the use of air movers and noise abatement techniques.

Implementation Method 1

an air mover in fluid communication with the open space within the insert

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

optional heating elements, such as thermoelectric devices, to provide heating, cooling, or ventilation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPeltier Effect: Peltier Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8360517B2Automotive vehicle seat insert

Publication Date: 2013.01.29 GENTHERM GMBH

AI summary

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