Vehicle Seat Ventilation Layout for Rear Spot and Diffuse Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle ventilation systems often struggle to provide effective air conditioning functions, particularly spot and diffuse outflows, for rear seat rows due to installation space restrictions, making these functions typically available only for the front seats.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device with a central air outlet and two side air outlets arranged in an inverted U-shape, connected to an air duct system, allowing for directional and diffuse air flows, which can be adjusted and controlled for efficient air distribution, including integration into vehicle seats and backrests for rear seat passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ventilation devices are integrated into rear seat rows, then climate control functions for rear passengers are improved, but installation space constraints worsen due to limited available space in rear seats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the ventilation device from the traditional seat cushion area to the backrest of the front seat, utilizing the vertical dimension and the space behind the front seat. This dimensional shift allows the ventilation outlets to be positioned in the B-pillar region, effectively using previously underutilized space to provide climate control for rear passengers without compromising rear seat installation space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an air guide arrangement as an intermediary component that channels airflow from the front seat backrest region through the B-pillar area to reach rear passengers. This mediator enables the transfer of conditioned air across the spatial gap between front and rear seating zones, solving the space constraint problem by creating an efficient airflow path through available structural spaces
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air outlets are integrated into the vehicle seat, then various climate control functions (spot and diffuse airflow) are improved, but device complexity worsens due to additional integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the ventilation device with multiple air outlets (central and lateral) that can operate in different modes (spot and diffuse airflow) from a single integrated unit. This multi-functional design allows the system to provide various climate control functions simultaneously without requiring separate ventilation systems for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the ventilation system into distinct functional components: central air outlets for spot cooling and lateral air outlets for diffuse airflow. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, reducing integration complexity by clearly defining the role of each outlet rather than requiring a single complex multi-functional outlet
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
Enables cost-effective and structurally simple provision of multiple air conditioning functions for rear seat rows, ensuring comfortable air flow and efficient climate control for rear passengers while optimizing space usage within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
an air distribution system which is connected to an air source, such as a fan and/or the vehicle's air conditioning system, in order to direct the airflow (as a conditioned airflow) at least partially from the air source to the respective air outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
A ventilation device (60) for providing an air flow in a vehicle (1), with an air-guiding arrangement (30) which is connected to at least two air outlets (10) in order to conduct the air flow to the air outlets (10). It is provided here that the air outlets (10) comprise: - a central air outlet (12) for integration in a vehicle seat (2) of the vehicle (1) in order to provide a directed air outflow (20) into a ventilation region (6) behind the vehicle seat (2), - at least one lateral air outlet (11) which is arranged for integration in the vehicle seat (2) laterally with respect to the central air outlet (12) in order to provide a diffuse air outflow (21) into the ventilation region (6).