System for heating and cooling a seat and seat assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seat conditioning systems in vehicles, such as aircraft, either require separate heating elements for each seat or use multiple cooling systems that draw conditioned air from a single source, lacking a single unit capable of both heating and cooling.
Innovation Solution
A seat heating and cooling system utilizing a vortex tube to separate pressurized air into hot and cold streams, a manifold assembly to distribute and mix these streams, and a network of ducts embedded in a cushion assembly with spacer mesh for air dispersion, along with a controller for air flow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate heating elements are used for each seat, then heating function is provided, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex tube device is designed to provide both heating and cooling functions through a single unit. By controlling the directional valve, the system can switch between delivering hot air to the heating element and cold air to the cooling element, eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling systems for each seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate heating and cooling systems into a single integrated system. The vortex tube generates both hot and cold air streams from a single pressurized air source, and the manifold assembly distributes these streams to appropriate components, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cooling systems draw conditioned air from a single source, then cooling function is provided, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling elements that can be selectively activated. Each seat has its own cooling element that receives cold air from the vortex tube through the manifold assembly and directional valve, allowing individual control while sharing a common cold air source.
3Device complexity
If a single unit provides both heating and cooling, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a directional valve that can dynamically switch between different air flow paths. The valve responds to control signals from the controller to direct hot or cold air to the appropriate output, enabling flexible and precise control of temperature conditions despite the simplified single-unit design.
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 efficient and economical heating and cooling of seats using a single unit, providing comfort and versatility in passenger vehicles by effectively distributing conditioned air through the seat structure.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex tube having an air inlet coupled to the source of pressurized air, a hot air outlet disposed at a first end of the vortex tube, and a cold air outlet disposed at a second end of the vortex tube
Data Source
AI summary
A system for heating and cooling a passenger seat utilizing a single unit for producing hot and cold conditioned air. The system includes a source of pressurized air, a vortex tube coupled to the source of pressurized air for producing hot and cold air streams, a duct network coupled to the vortex tube through a valve assembly, and a controller controlling passage of the flow of hot and cold air streams through the manifold assembly based on passenger selection. Conditioned air flow can be dispersed into a cushion assembly such as an interior of a spacer mesh component of the cushion assembly.