Vehicle Seat Temperature Control via Heat Exchanger and Blower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats lack an efficient and cost-effective solution for temperature control, both for the seat itself and its surroundings, which is essential for passenger comfort and climate regulation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a temperature-control device connected to a circuit transporting a liquid temperature-control medium, utilizing at least one temperature-control heat exchanger and a flow-generating device, such as a blower, to manage thermal energy transfer, along with optional features like radiation heating and control mechanisms for varying flow characteristics and massage functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a temperature-control device with heat exchangers is used to control seat temperature, then temperature control effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature control functions (heating, cooling, air circulation) into a single integrated temperature-control device that includes heat exchangers, blowers, and control units working together as one system, thereby achieving effective temperature control while managing device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-control device is designed to perform multiple functions including heating via heat exchangers, cooling via evaporative cooling elements, air circulation via blowers, and moisture management, allowing a single device to address various thermal comfort requirements without requiring separate systems for each function
2Temperature
If a flow-generating device is added to generate gas streams for temperature control, then temperature control of surroundings is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-generating device (blower) is integrated into the existing temperature-control device structure, sharing common components such as the control unit and housing, thereby adding air circulation functionality for surroundings temperature control while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through shared infrastructure
3Productivity
If multiple temperature-control heat exchangers are used for efficient thermal energy transfer, then temperature control efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is divided into multiple modular heat exchanger units that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the final device, allowing for standardized production of individual components at lower costs while achieving high overall temperature control efficiency through the combined effect of multiple segments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs heat exchangers with varying thermal parameters (surface area, material properties, flow rates) optimized for different operational modes (heating vs. cooling), allowing efficient thermal energy transfer across different temperature ranges while managing manufacturing costs through parameter optimization rather than simply increasing the number of components
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 enables effective and efficient temperature control of the vehicle seat and its surroundings, enhancing passenger comfort by allowing for both heating and cooling, while maintaining controllability even with seat movement, and providing additional features like targeted thermal radiation and mechanical massage.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature-control circuit (3) which transports a, particularly liquid, temperature-control medium and, by means of at least one temperature-control heat exchanger (4) of the temperature-control device, thermal energy can be released to and/or absorbed from the surroundings
Implementation Method 2
at least one temperature-control heat exchanger (4) of the temperature-control device, thermal energy can be released to and/or absorbed from the surroundings by the temperature-control medium transported in or at the temperature-control heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
at least one flow-generating device (5), in particular blower device, which generates a gas stream and which is in particular controllable by means of a control device (7), wherein temperature control of the gas stream can be performed
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat is provided with a temperature-control system which is connectable or connected to a temperature-control circuit that conveys a temperature-control medium. Thermal energy from the temperature-control medium conveyed in or to at least one temperature-control heat exchanger of the temperature-control system is deliverable to and/or absorbable from the surroundings. The vehicle seat has at least one flow generation system, in particular a fan system, which generates a gas flow. The at least one flow generation system is controllable by a controller, with the temperature of the gas flow being controllable via at least one temperature-control heat exchanger and/or via an electrically operated temperature-control element.