Air-Permeable Seat Ventilation Using Fiber Pad Airflow Rectification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems for seats, such as those described in JP 2003-237444A and JP 2004-073429A, inadequately remove heat and moisture from the spaces between the occupant and the seat cushion or seatback, as air flows primarily through narrow air passages, leaving remote areas of the fiber pad without effective ventilation.
Innovation Solution
The system draws air into a fiber pad through a trim cover and channels it into a chamber that rectifies the airflow, allowing it to flow thoroughly throughout the fiber pad, including areas remote from the air passages, thereby enhancing ventilation and moisture removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air is supplied through narrow air passages in the urethane pad to the fiber pad, then the air conditioning system can be simpler, but the air flow is insufficient to reach remote areas of the fiber pad, resulting in inadequate heat and moisture removal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the air conditioning system into two independent air supply paths: one path supplies air to air passages in the urethane pad, while another path supplies air directly to the fiber pad through air holes formed in the urethane pad. This segmentation allows each path to serve specific functions, ensuring comprehensive air distribution to both near and remote areas of the fiber pad, thereby improving heat and moisture removal efficiency without excessive system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces air holes as an intermediary structure that allows air to flow directly into the fiber pad, bypassing the limitation of narrow air passages. These air holes act as mediators between the air supply source and the fiber pad, enabling effective air distribution to remote areas while maintaining system simplicity
2Device complexity
If air passages are made narrow to control air flow, then the structure is simpler, but the air flow diffusion is insufficient, leaving remote parts of the fiber pad without adequate ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into multiple paths: air passages for controlled air flow and air holes for direct air supply to the fiber pad. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both structural simplicity and wide air flow coverage, as each path serves a specific function in distributing air to different areas of the fiber pad
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different structural characteristics to different parts of the air supply system: air passages with specific dimensions for controlled air flow in certain areas, and air holes for direct air supply in other areas. This local differentiation ensures that each part of the fiber pad receives adequate air flow while maintaining overall system simplicity
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 ensures comprehensive removal of heat and moisture from the seat areas, improving occupant comfort by ensuring air flows and diffuses throughout the fiber pad, not just near the air passages, and allows for a smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
a fan configured to draw air from a surface of the fiber pad through the trim cover, flow the air in the fiber pad
Implementation Method 2
a chamber shaped to rectify an airflow coming from the fiber pad
Implementation Method 3
air flows into the seat pad to remove heat or moisture from the seat pad
Data Source
AI summary
An air-permeable seat having a seat cushion and a seatback, each formed by mounting an urethane pad on a frame and then covering the urethane pad with an air-permeable trim cover, the air-permeable seat includes a fiber pad provided in at least one of the seat cushion and the seatback and penetrating a part of the urethane pad; a chamber defined at the back of the fiber pad, covering the fiber pad and shaped to rectify an airflow coming from the fiber pad; andair intake parts flow the air in the fiber pad and introduce the air from the fiber pad into the chamber; wherein as the air intake parts is driven, air is drawn from the surface of the fiber pad through the trim cover, flows from the fiber pad to the chamber, may be rectified in the chamber and flow out through the chamber.