Vehicle Seat Ventilation Funnel With Contact-Activated Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat ventilation systems do not differentiate between regions in contact with a person's body and those that are not, resulting in inefficient air distribution.
Innovation Solution
The integration of flexible air guide funnels with diaphragm valves that close when not deformed and open when deformed, allowing air to be directed only to areas in contact with the body, enabling adaptive ventilation based on body contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If full-area air discharge is used in conventional ventilation systems, then air can be supplied to all regions of the seat, but air is wasted in regions not in contact with the person's body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making each air outlet unit independently controllable through a diaphragm valve mechanism. Each unit can be individually opened or closed based on local body contact detection, rather than controlling the entire seat surface uniformly. This allows air to be directed only to specific regions where it is needed, eliminating waste in non-contact areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by using flexible diaphragm valves that can dynamically change their state between open and closed positions in response to body contact. The diaphragm deforms when pressed by a person's body, automatically triggering the valve to open and allow air flow, and closes when the pressure is removed. This dynamic response enables real-time adaptation to changing seating conditions.
2Productivity
If conventional ventilation systems discharge air uniformly across the seat, then the system structure is simple, but the ventilation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the seat surface into multiple independent air outlet units, each equipped with its own diaphragm valve. This segmentation allows the system to control air discharge at a granular level, opening only the specific units that are in contact with the person's body. The segmentation transforms a single uniform ventilation system into a distributed, selectively controllable network of air outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through the automatic operation of the diaphragm valves. Each valve responds autonomously to body contact pressure, opening or closing without requiring external control signals or complex sensor systems. The flexible diaphragm itself acts as the sensing and actuating mechanism, making the system self-regulating and reducing the need for additional control infrastructure.
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 allows for efficient, personalized ventilation of the vehicle seat by directing air only to areas in contact with the body, enhancing comfort and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
at least one flexible air guide funnel and at least one diaphragm valve arranged within the at least one flexible air guide funnel and connected to the at least one flexible air guide funnel such that the at least one diaphragm valve closes the at least one flexible air guide funnel when the at least one flexible air guide funnel is not deformed, and at least partially opens the at least one flexible air guide funnel when the at least one flexible air guide funnel is deformed
Data Source
AI summary
A seat component for a vehicle seat having at least one air outlet unit configured to be connected to an air supply. In order to be able to adapt a ventilation function of the vehicle seat individually to a contact area between the vehicle seat and a person sitting thereon, the air outlet unit has at least one flexible air guide funnel and at least one diaphragm valve which is arranged within the at least one flexible air guide funnel and which is connected to the at least one flexible air guide funnel in such a way that the diaphragm valve closes the air guide funnel when the air guide funnel is not deformed, and at least partially opens the air guide funnel when the air guide funnel is deformed.