U.S. patent application number 12/879897 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for heating and cooling system for vehicle seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. Invention is credited to Wook JEONG, Duck Chae JUN, Man Ju OH, Jang Su PARK.
Application Number | 20110061403 12/879897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43662717 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110061403 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JUN; Duck Chae ; et
al. |
March 17, 2011 |
HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SEAT
Abstract
A heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat, may include a
heat exchanger cooling or heating air before the air is introduced
into the seat, and a blower blowing air toward the heat exchanger,
wherein the heat exchanger includes a positive temperature
coefficient element assembly provided inside a housing of the heat
exchanger to heat the air supplied from the blower, and wherein the
positive temperature coefficient element assembly operates in a
case of heating the seat but does not operate in a case of cooling
the seat.
Inventors: |
JUN; Duck Chae;
(Seongnam-si, KR) ; JEONG; Wook; (Cheonan-si,
KR) ; OH; Man Ju; (Ulsan, KR) ; PARK; Jang
Su; (Busan, KR) |
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
Kia Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43662717 |
Appl. No.: |
12/879897 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.61 ;
165/185; 165/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/5692 20130101;
B60N 2/5657 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.61 ; 165/59;
165/185 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/04 20060101
F25B021/04; F24F 7/007 20060101 F24F007/007; F28F 7/00 20060101
F28F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 17, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0088222 |
May 28, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0050013 |
Claims
1. A heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat, comprising: a
heat exchanger cooling or heating air before the air is introduced
into the seat; and a blower blowing air toward the heat exchanger,
wherein the heat exchanger includes a positive temperature
coefficient element assembly provided inside a housing of the heat
exchanger to heat the air supplied from the blower, and wherein the
positive temperature coefficient element assembly operates in a
case of heating the seat but does not operate in a case of cooling
the seat.
2. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the heat exchanger and the blower are connected to each
other by a duct, and the heat exchanger is detachably attached to
the duct.
3. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the housing is an integral housing enclosing the blower and
the heat exchanger therein, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed
in an output port of the integral housing and the positive
temperature coefficient element assembly and the Peltier element
assembly of the heat exchanger are aligned in series along a
longitudinal direction of the output port, and wherein one or more
of the integral housings are provided in one or more of a sitting
part and a back of the seat.
4. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 1,
comprising two of the heat exchangers coupled to both ends of the
blower, wherein one or more of the heat exchangers are provided in
one or more of a sitting part and a back of the seat.
5. A heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat, comprising: a
heat exchanger cooling or heating air before the air is introduced
into the seat; and a blower blowing air toward the heat exchanger,
wherein the heat exchanger includes: a positive temperature
coefficient element assembly provided inside a housing of the heat
exchanger to heat the air supplied from the blower; and a Peltier
element assembly provided adjacent to the positive temperature
coefficient element assembly to cool or heat air supplied from the
blower, wherein the positive temperature coefficient element
assembly operates in a case of heating the seat, and the Peltier
element assembly operates in a case of cooling or heating the
seat.
6. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 5,
wherein the housing of the heat exchanger has a seat inlet passage,
through which cooled or heated air in the housing is introduced
toward the seat, and an outlet passage, through which air in the
housing is exhausted from the seat.
7. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 6,
wherein the housing further has a partition forming a boundary
between the seat inlet passage and the outlet passage, and the
Peltier element assembly is arranged to extend from the partition
toward an entrance of the housing to guide air into the seat inlet
passage and the outlet passage respectively.
8. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 7,
wherein the housing further has an entrance-side partition provided
in an entrance area of the housing and extending from the Peltier
element assembly toward the entrance to prevent air heat-controlled
by the Peltier element assembly and air heat-controlled by the
Peltier element assembly from being mixed with each other, and the
positive temperature coefficient element assembly is arranged along
one lateral side of the entrance-side partition and is located in a
passage leading to the seat inlet passage.
9. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 6,
wherein the positive temperature coefficient element assembly is
located more adjacent to the blower than the Peltier element
assembly is, and the positive temperature coefficient element
assembly selectively operates to evaporate condensed water, which
is produced due to the Peltier element assembly, in case of cooling
the seat.
10. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 5,
wherein the positive temperature coefficient element assembly is
arranged in series from the Peltier element assembly toward the
entrance of the housing.
11. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 10,
further comprising heat sink fins attached to one lateral side of
the Peltier element assembly, which faces the seat inlet
passage.
12. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 5,
further comprising heat sink fins attached to both sides of the
Peltier element assembly and the positive temperature coefficient
element assembly.
13. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 5,
wherein the heat exchanger and the blower are connected to each
other by a duct, and the heat exchanger is detachably attached to
the duct.
14. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 5,
wherein the housing is an integral housing enclosing the blower and
the heat exchanger therein, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed
in an output port of the integral housing and the positive
temperature coefficient element assembly and the Peltier element
assembly of the heat exchanger are aligned in series along a
longitudinal direction of the output port, and wherein one or more
of the integral housings are provided in one or more of a sitting
part and a back of the seat.
15. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 5,
comprising two of the heat exchangers coupled to both ends of the
blower, wherein one or more of the heat exchangers are provided in
one or more of a sitting part and a back of the seat.
16. The heating and cooling system in accordance with claim 6,
further comprising heat sink fins attached to the Peltier element
assembly, wherein the heat sink fins adjacent to the outlet passage
are larger than the heat sink fins adjacent to the seat inlet
passage in order to enhance heat dissipation from the seat.
17. A heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat, comprising: a
heat exchanger cooling or heating air before the air is introduced
into the seat, wherein the heat exchanger has a duct that
introduces the air into the seat; a blower including an integral
housing communicating with the ducts and a blower fan mounted
inside the integral housing, wherein the blower fan blows air
toward the heat exchanger; a positive temperature coefficient
element provided inside the heat exchanger to heat air supplied
from the blower; and a Peltier element mounted inside the integral
housing of the blower, wherein the positive temperature coefficient
element operates when the seat is heated, and the Peltier element
operates when the seat is cooled.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Applications Number 10-2009-0088222 filed on Sep. 17, 2009 and
10-2010-0050013 filed on May 28, 2010 the entire contents of which
applications are incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat, and more particularly, to one which can
enhance power efficiency by efficiently cooling and heating the
vehicle seat.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In general, a vehicle is equipped with an air-conditioning
system including a cooler and a heater. The air-conditioning system
serves to control the temperature inside the vehicle. However, the
air-conditioning system does not have a function of controlling the
temperature of a vehicle seat. In the summer, even if an occupant
sitting on a vehicle seat lowers the temperature inside the vehicle
by operating the cooler, the seat is relatively slowly cooled down.
In addition, the seat is continuously warmed by the body heat of
the occupant. Then, the occupant may sweat at the buttocks and the
back, which would otherwise develop into heat rashes.
[0006] In the winter, even if the occupant sitting on the vehicle
seat raises the temperature inside the vehicle by operating the
heater, the occupant may feel chilly or cold at the buttocks or
back since the seat has stayed cold for a long time before the
heater is operated.
[0007] Accordingly, these days, a seat-dedicated heating and
cooling system is additionally provided, which is designed to
control the temperature of the seat. In particular, among such
systems, which control both heating and cooling, most prominent is
the technology that employs a thermoelectric element based on
Peltier effect as a heat source.
[0008] In a conventional heating and cooling system for a vehicle
seat using a thermoelectric element as a heat source, the vehicle
seat has a porous structure or air passages through which air can
freely flow. The heating and cooling system controls the
temperature of the seat by blowing air, heated or cooled by the
thermoelectric element, to the seat.
[0009] The heating and cooling system is configured to heat or cool
air using only the thermoelectric element. However, the problem of
the thermoelectric element is that the efficiency of a heating part
is about 50% of that of a cooling part under the same power supply
conditions.
[0010] The problem is not significant in the case of cooling the
seat using the thermoelectric element. However, in the case of
heating the seat, the low efficiency of the heating part of the
thermoelectric element increases power consumption, thereby
lowering the efficiency of the heating and cooling system.
[0011] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
provide a heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat, in which
can ensure improvement in power efficiency and heating performance
in the case of heating the vehicle seat.
[0013] In an aspect of the present invention, the heating and
cooling system for a vehicle seat, may include a heat exchanger
cooling or heating air before the air is introduced into the seat,
and a blower blowing air toward the heat exchanger, wherein the
heat exchanger includes a positive temperature coefficient element
assembly provided inside a housing of the heat exchanger to heat
the air supplied from the blower, and wherein the positive
temperature coefficient element assembly operates in a case of
heating the seat but does not operate in a case of cooling the
seat.
[0014] The heat exchanger and the blower may be connected to each
other by a duct, and the heat exchanger is detachably attached to
the duct.
[0015] The housing may be an integral housing enclosing the blower
and the heat exchanger therein, wherein the heat exchanger is
disposed in an output port of the integral housing and the positive
temperature coefficient element assembly and the Peltier element
assembly of the heat exchanger are aligned in series along a
longitudinal direction of the output port, and wherein one or more
of the integral housings are provided in one or more of a sitting
part and a back of the seat.
[0016] The heating and cooling system may include two of the heat
exchangers coupled to both ends of the blower, wherein one or more
of the heat exchangers are provided in one or more of a sitting
part and a back of the seat.
[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, the heating and
cooling system for a vehicle seat, may include a heat exchanger
cooling or heating air before the air is introduced into the seat,
and a blower blowing air toward the heat exchanger, wherein the
heat exchanger includes: a positive temperature coefficient element
assembly provided inside a housing of the heat exchanger to heat
the air supplied from the blower, and a Peltier element assembly
provided adjacent to the positive temperature coefficient element
assembly to cool or heat air supplied from the blower, wherein the
positive temperature coefficient element assembly operates in a
case of heating the seat, and the Peltier element assembly operates
in a case of cooling or heating the seat.
[0018] The housing of the heat exchanger may have a seat inlet
passage, through which cooled or heated air in the housing is
introduced toward the seat, and an outlet passage, through which
air in the housing is exhausted from the seat, wherein the housing
further has a partition forming a boundary between the seat inlet
passage and the outlet passage, and the Peltier element assembly is
arranged to extend from the partition toward an entrance of the
housing to guide air into the seat inlet passage and the outlet
passage respectively.
[0019] The housing may further have an entrance-side partition
provided in an entrance area of the housing and extending from the
Peltier element assembly toward the entrance to prevent air
heat-controlled by the Peltier element assembly and air
heat-controlled by the Peltier element assembly from being mixed
with each other, and the positive temperature coefficient element
assembly is arranged along one lateral side of the entrance-side
partition and is located in a passage leading to the seat inlet
passage.
[0020] The positive temperature coefficient element assembly may be
located more adjacent to the blower than the Peltier element
assembly is, and the positive temperature coefficient element
assembly selectively operates to evaporate condensed water, which
is produced due to the Peltier element assembly, in case of cooling
the seat.
[0021] The positive temperature coefficient element assembly may be
arranged in series from the Peltier element assembly toward the
entrance of the housing and the heating and cooling system may
further include heat sink fins attached to one lateral side of the
Peltier element assembly, which faces the seat inlet passage.
[0022] The heating and cooling system may further include heat sink
fins attached to both sides of the Peltier element assembly and the
positive temperature coefficient element assembly.
[0023] The eat exchanger and the blower may be connected to each
other by a duct, and the heat exchanger is detachably attached to
the duct.
[0024] The housing may be an integral housing enclosing the blower
and the heat exchanger therein, wherein the heat exchanger is
disposed in an output port of the integral housing and the positive
temperature coefficient element assembly and the Peltier element
assembly of the heat exchanger are aligned in series along a
longitudinal direction of the output port, and wherein one or more
of the integral housings are provided in one or more of a sitting
part and a back of the seat.
[0025] The heating and cooling system may include two of the heat
exchangers coupled to both ends of the blower, wherein one or more
of the heat exchangers are provided in one or more of a sitting
part and a back of the seat.
[0026] According to various aspects of the present invention as set
forth above, the heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat has
the following effects:
[0027] First, since the seat is heated using the PTC element having
excellent heating performance, the efficiency of the heater can be
raised when compared to the conventional heating using the Peltier
element. Accordingly, the heating of the vehicle seat and the power
efficiency can be improved.
[0028] Second, since the heating is performed using the PTC
element, it is not necessary to convert the direction of a current
supplied to the Peltier element unlike the related art. As a
result, the circuit configuration is simplified.
[0029] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the
Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of
the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view showing an
exemplary heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat of the
present invention.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing important parts of the
exemplary heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat shown in
FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with an exemplary heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with an exemplary heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with an exemplary heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with an exemplary heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with an exemplary heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a sixth
exemplary embodiment of the heating and cooling system for a
vehicle seat of the invention; and
[0038] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing important parts of the
heating and cooling system for the vehicle seat shown in FIG.
8.
[0039] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment.
[0040] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not
intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments.
On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only
the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives,
modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be
included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims. Above all, reference should be made to the
drawings, in which the same reference numerals and signs are used
throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar
components. In the following description of the present invention,
a detailed description of known functions and components
incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject
matter of the present invention rather unclear.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view showing a heating
and cooling system for a vehicle seat of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing important parts of the heating
and cooling system for a vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3
is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat exchanger in
accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the heating and
cooling system for a vehicle seat of the present invention.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, the heating and cooling system 1 for a
vehicle seat of the present exemplary embodiment is provided in the
rear side of a vehicle seat S, and supplies air into the seat S by
heating or cooling it. The seat S includes a sitting part S1 and a
back S2. The sitting part S1 and the back S2 has a number of pores
such that air, supplied from the heating and seating system 1, can
uniformly spread across the seat S.
[0044] The heating and cooling system 1 for a vehicle seat includes
two heat exchangers 10 and 20, a blower 30, and ducts 41 and 42.
The heat exchanger 10 is provided inside the rear side of the back
S2 of the seat S, and the heat exchanger 20 is provided inside the
rear side of the sitting part S1 of the seat S. The heat exchangers
10 and 20 heat or cool air, which is directed toward the pores of
the seat S. The blower 30 blows air toward the heat exchangers 10
and 20. The ducts 41 and 42 connect the blower 30 with the heat
exchangers 10 and 20, respectively.
[0045] The heat exchanger 10 and 20 perform heat exchange in order
to convert air, supplied from the blower 30, is into cold or warm
air.
[0046] More in detail, the heat exchangers 10 and 20 include the
first heat exchanger 10, which is provided in the rear side of the
back S2 to supply cold or warm air to the back S2, and the second
heat exchanger 20, which is provided in the rear side of the
sitting part S1 to supply cold or warm air to the sitting part
S1.
[0047] The heat exchangers 10 and 20 are connected to the blower 30
by the first duct 41 and the second duct 42, respectively. The
ducts 41 and 42 serve as passages that deliver air, blown by the
blower 30, to the heat exchangers 10 and 20, respectively. The
ducts 41 and 42 and the heat exchangers 10 and 20 can be provided
so as to be attachable to and detachable from each other.
[0048] The blower 30 supplies wind to the heat exchangers 10 and 20
through the ducts 41 and 42 by taking in air from outside. A fan,
which operates when electric power is supplied, is provided inside
the blower 30 to generate a flow of air. For this, an air intake
port, from which air is introduced from outside, can be formed in
one side of the blower 30, and an air blowing port communicating
with the respective ducts 41 and 42 can be formed in the other side
of the blower 30.
[0049] The first heat exchanger 10 is connected with the first duct
41 to supply wind, blown from the blower 30, to the back S2 by
heating or cooling it. For this, a heater and a cooler are provided
inside the first heat exchanger 10 in order to heat and cool air,
which is supplied from the blower 30.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, the first heat exchanger 10 includes a
housing 11 defining the outline of the first heat exchanger 10, a
seat inlet passage A through which air heat-exchanged inside the
housing 11 is introduced into the back S2 of the seat S, and an
outlet passage B through which air is exhausted from the seat
S.
[0051] The seat inlet passage A forms one passage inside the
housing 11, and the distal end of the passage defines a seat inlet
port 11a, through which air is supplied into the pores of the seat
S.
[0052] The outlet passage B is located adjacent to the seat inlet
passage A, forming a passage through which air is exhausted. The
distal end of the outlet passage B defines an outlet port 11b.
Another connector such as a duct can be connected to the outlet
port 11b such that air exhausted through the outlet port 11b does
not flow back into the seat S.
[0053] The second heat exchanger 20 is for introducing air, which
is heated or cooled down, into the sitting part S1 of the seat S.
Except for this feature, the second heat exchanger 20 has
substantially the same function and structure as the first heat
exchanger 10.
[0054] The most important feature of the present invention is that
the heater and the cooler are provided in the first heat exchanger
10 and in the second heat exchanger 20, respectively, in order to
heat and cool air to be supplied into the seat S. A Peltier element
13 is used as a main cooler, and a Positive Temperature Coefficient
(PTC) element 16 is used as a heater.
[0055] As is well known in the art, when a current is passed around
the Peltier element, one side is heated and the other side is
cooled. The side to be heated is changed according to the direction
of the current applied.
[0056] Accordingly, when the current is supplied to the Peltier
element 13 of the present exemplary embodiment, one side of the
Peltier element 13, which is heated, and one group of heat sink
fins 14 adjacent thereto serve as a heater. At the same time, the
other side of the Peltier element 13, which is cooled, and the
other group of the heat sink fins 14 adjacent thereto serve as a
cooler.
[0057] The PTC element is a semiconductor element that experiences
a rapid increase in electrical resistance at a temperature equal to
or more than Curie temperature. The PTC element has a
self-temperature control function that maintains a constant heating
temperature regardless of surrounding temperature when a voltage is
applied.
[0058] The heat sink fins 14 are attached to both sides of the
Peltier element 13 in a heat conductive structure, thereby
constructing a Peltier element assembly 12. The heat sink fins 14
are constructed to maximize the contact area between heat or cold
air created by the Peltier element 13 and air flowing inside the
heat exchanger 10.
[0059] In addition, heat sink fins 17 are also attached to both
sides of the PTC element 16, thereby producing a PTC element
assembly 15. The heat sink fins 17 raise the heat exchange
efficiency between heat generated by the PCT element 16 and air
flowing inside the heat exchanger 10.
[0060] Although the heat sink fins 14 and 17 are shaped as
corrugated plates, they can be modified into fin shapes. The heat
sink fins 14 and 17 can have any shape that allows air to come into
contact with the heat sink fins 14 and 17 while flowing inside the
heat exchanger 10.
[0061] The housing 11 also has a partition 11d defining the
boundary between the seat inlet passage A and the outlet passage B,
and the Peltier element 13 extends in the longitudinal direction of
the partition 11d. Specifically, the Peltier element 13 is oriented
such that one side faces the seat inlet passage A and the other
side faces the outlet passage B. Accordingly, the opposite sides of
the Peltier element 13 form the boundary of the seat inlet passage
A and the boundary of the outlet passage B.
[0062] An entrance-side partition 11d, which extends from the
Peltier element 13, is also provided adjacent to an entrance 11c of
the housing 11. The entrance-side partition 11d further separates
the seat inlet passage A from the outlet passage B so that air
heated by the Peltier element 13 and air cooled by the Peltier
element 13 are not mixed with each other inside the housing 11.
[0063] The PTC element assembly 15 is arranged along one side of
the entrance-side partition 11d and is located inside the seat
inlet passage A. Among the two passages A and B in the heat
exchanger 10, the seat inlet passage A extends from the area of the
entrance 11c of the housing 11 to the seat inlet port 11a or
21a.
[0064] This is because the PTC element assembly 15 generates only
heat unlike the Peltier element assembly 12. Thus, it is not
necessary to exhaust air, heated by the PTC element assembly 15,
through the outlet port 11b or 21b while the seat S is being
heated.
[0065] When the PTC element assembly 15 is located in the passage A
extending from the entrance 11c of the housing 11 to the seat inlet
port 11a as described above, it is possible to exclusively supply
air, heated by the PTC element assembly 15, to the seat S through
the seat inlet port 11a. This, as a result, can raise heating
efficiency and power efficiency by reducing heat loss.
[0066] Below, a description will be given of the operation of the
heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat in accordance with
the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
reference to the above-described components.
[0067] First, in the case of attempting to supply cold air to the
seat S in the summer, a controller of the vehicle controls the
heating and cooling system 1 so that the Peltier element 13
operates but the PTC element 16 does not operate.
[0068] When a current is applied to the Peltier element 13, one
side of the Peltier element 13 adjacent to the seat inlet port 11a
is cooled down and the other side of the Peltier element 13
adjacent to the outlet port 11b is heated. At the same time, the
heat sink fins 14 in contact with the Peltier element 13 are cooled
or heated according to their position and perform heat exchange
with air, which flows inside the heat exchanger 10.
[0069] Air performs heat exchange with the cooler of the Peltier
element assembly 12 while it is flowing along the passage A, which
extends from the entrance 11c of the heat exchanger 10 to the seat
inlet port 11a. As a result, cooled air is supplied to the seat S.
In contrast, air performs heat exchange with the heater of the
Peltier element assembly 12 while it is flowing along the passage
B, which extends from the entrance 11c of the heat exchanger 10 to
the outlet port 11b. As a result, heated air is exhausted from the
seat S through outlet port 11b.
[0070] Next, in the case of attempting to supply warm air to the
seat S in the winter, the controller of the vehicle controls the
heating and cooling system 1 so that the PTC element 16 operates
but the Peltier element 13 does not operate.
[0071] When a current is applied to the PTC element 16, the PTC
element 16 is heated and the heat sink fins 17 in contact with the
PTC element 16 are heated along with the PTC element 16 so as to
perform heat exchange with air introduced into the heat exchanger
10. Since the PTC element assembly 15 is located in the passage A,
which extends from the entrance of the heat exchanger 10 to the
seat inlet port 11a, the PTC element assembly 15 heats only a
portion of air, which is exhausted to the seat inlet port 11a, when
the air is introduced into the heat exchanger 10. In contrast, the
remaining portion of the air simply passes through the heat
exchanger 10 without heat exchange, and is then exhausted to the
outlet port 11b.
[0072] As such, the Peltier element 13 cools air in the case of
attempting to supply cold air to the seat S, and the PTC element 16
having excellent power efficiency heats air in the case of
attempting to supply warm air to the seat S. This, as a result,
makes it possible to improve heating and cooling efficiency as well
as to raise power efficiency.
[0073] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the
heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat of the present
invention. The present exemplary embodiment will be described
mainly with reference to the parts different from those of the
foregoing embodiment.
[0074] Unlike the foregoing embodiment, a heat exchanger 10a of the
present exemplary embodiment does not include the entrance-side
partition 11d (see FIG. 3), but a PTC element 16a further extends
in the longitudinal direction of a Peltier element 13. Thus, PTC
element 16a is located more adjacent to an entrance 11c, that is,
the blower 30.
[0075] Like the foregoing embodiment, heat sink fins 14 and 17a are
attached to both sides of the Peltier element 13 and the PTC
element 16a, thereby constructing a Peltier element assembly 12 and
a PTC element assembly 15a. However, in the present exemplary
embodiment, the PTC element 16a also forms the boundary between the
seat inlet passage A and the outlet passage B. Accordingly, the PTC
element 16a also acts as the entrance-side partition 11c of the
foregoing embodiment.
[0076] Like the foregoing embodiment, in the case of attempting to
supply cold air to the seat S in the summer, the heating and
cooling system 1 of the present exemplary embodiment is controlled
by a controller of the vehicle so as to operate the Peltier element
13a without operating the PTC element 16a.
[0077] In addition, in the case of attempting to supply warm air to
the seat S, the controller of the vehicle controls the heating and
cooling system 1 so that the PTC element 16a operates but the
Peltier element 13a does not operate.
[0078] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the
heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat of the present
invention. The present exemplary embodiment will be described
mainly with reference to the parts different from those of the
foregoing second embodiment.
[0079] Unlike the foregoing embodiment, in a heat exchanger 10b of
the present exemplary embodiment, heat sink fins 14a are attached
to one side of a Peltier element 13a, which faces a seat inlet
passage A. However, heat sink fins are not attached to the other
side of the Peltier element 13a, which faces an outlet passage
B.
[0080] According to this configuration, in the case of attempting
to supply warm air to the seat S, a controller of the vehicle
controls the heating and cooling system so that the PTC element 16a
operates but the Peltier element 13a does not operate. This, as a
result, can prevent heat loss, i.e., heat generated by the PTC
element 16a is transmitted to the Peltier element 13a, from which
the heat is exhausted through the outlet passage.
[0081] Meanwhile, the heat exchangers 10, 10a, and 10b of the first
to third exemplary embodiments can be controlled so that only the
Peltier element 13, 13a operates in the case of cooling the seat S
but both the Peltier element 13 and the PTC element 16a operate in
the case of heating the seat S.
[0082] In addition, if condensed water is produced due to the
Peltier element 13 in the case of cooling the seat S, the heat
exchanger can be controlled so that also the PTC element 16
operates to evaporate the condensed water.
[0083] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the
heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat of the present
invention. The present exemplary embodiment will be described
mainly with reference to the parts different from those of the
foregoing embodiments.
[0084] Unlike the foregoing embodiments, in a heat exchanger 10c of
the present exemplary embodiment, only a seat inlet port 11a is
formed in a housing 11 but an outlet port is not formed. In
addition, although a PTC element assembly 15a including a PTC
element 16a and heat sink fins 17a is arranged inside the housing
11, a Peltier element is not provided.
[0085] Accordingly, the heating and cooling system of the present
exemplary embodiment is operated differently from those of the
foregoing embodiments, i.e., the PTC element 16 is operated in the
case of heating the seat S, but cooling is performed by operating
only the blower 30 without operating the PTC element 16 in the case
of cooling the seat S.
[0086] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a heat
exchanger in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the
heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat of the present
invention.
[0087] Unlike the foregoing embodiments, according to the feature
of the present exemplary embodiment, an integral housing H, which
encloses a heat exchanger and a blower therein, is provided. The
integral housing H may include an entrance 22 at one side thereof
and the positive temperature coefficient element 15 and the Peltier
element 12 may be disposed in an output port 24 aligned in series
along a longitudinal direction of the output port 24.
[0088] As a result, the configuration of the heating and cooling
system for a vehicle seat is simplified.
[0089] In other words, the foregoing embodiments are realized
inside one housing by arranging a blower 30 in the center of the
housing and heat exchanging components, including a Peltier element
assembly 12 and a PTC element assembly 15, on both sides of the
blower.
[0090] As such, according to the heating and cooling system of the
present exemplary embodiment, one simple device can replace
complicated components. Accordingly, the heating and cooling system
can be easily installed in and separated from the seat, and the
maintenance of the heating and cooling system is made easier. It
should be understood that the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is only
a schematic illustration and the configurations of the foregoing
embodiments can be adopted for the heat exchanger unit of the
present exemplary embodiment.
[0091] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a sixth
exemplary embodiment of the heating and cooling system for a
vehicle seat of the invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view
showing important parts of the heating and cooling system for the
vehicle seat shown in FIG. 8.
[0092] In this embodiment, a heat exchanger 10 includes a duct 27a,
and a heat exchanger 20 includes a duct 27b. The ducts 27a and 27b
introduce air, which is heated or cooled, to the seat. In addition,
a PTC element assembly 15a, which heats air, is mounted on each of
the heat exchangers 10 and 20.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 9, referring to the first heat exchanger 10
by way of example, a housing 110 has an air inlet port 11a, but an
air outlet port is not provided.
[0094] In addition, a PTC element assembly 15a, which includes a
PTC element 16a and heat sink fins 17a, is disposed inside the
housing 11. However, a Peltier element is not provided inside the
housing 11.
[0095] In addition, a blower 30 includes an integral housing H
communicating with the ducts 27a and 27b, a blower fan 31 mounted
inside the central portion of the integral housing H, and Peltier
element assemblies 12 mounted inside the integral housing H. The
Peltier element assemblies 12 are provided in the portions of the
integral housing H that are connected to the ducts 27a and 27b.
[0096] Here, as in the foregoing exemplary embodiments, each of the
Peltier element assemblies 12 can include a Peltier element (not
shown) and heat sink fins (not shown) attached to one or both sides
of the Peltier element.
[0097] In this exemplary embodiment, the PTC element 16a operates
when the seat S is heated (or warmed), whereas the Peltier element
operates when the seat S is cooled. Accordingly, in this exemplary
embodiment, it is possible to immediately provide warm air to the
seat S using the PTC elements 16a, located on the distal ends of
the ducts 27a and 27b, during the heating. These characteristics of
this exemplary embodiment can advantageously prevent hot air, which
is supplied from the PTC element inside the integral housing H,
from making the duct flexible. Otherwise, in the structure of the
foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the hot air might make the
duct flexible when it flows through the duct.
[0098] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
* * * * *