U.S. patent application number 13/683227 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for ventilation apparatus for seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sang Hwa Han, Dal Young Jung, Ji Hoon Kim.
Application Number | 20130127210 13/683227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48222184 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130127210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung; Dal Young ; et
al. |
May 23, 2013 |
VENTILATION APPARATUS FOR SEAT
Abstract
A ventilation apparatus for a seat in which a positive
temperature coefficient (PTC) heater is equipped in the ventilation
apparatus which blows air to the seat in order to prevent
overheating as well as to reduce heat loss. The ventilation
apparatus includes a seat having a back and a seating section each
of which has a discharge passage which discharges air toward a
user. A blower is disposed in each discharge passage of the seat. A
PTC heater is disposed inside each blower, and heats air that is
being blown. A control unit simultaneously or individually controls
the blowers and the PTC heaters. Accordingly, heating efficiency is
improved and safety is increased.
Inventors: |
Jung; Dal Young;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Han; Sang Hwa; (Seoul, KR)
; Kim; Ji Hoon; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD.; |
Chungcheongnam-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD.
Chungcheongnam-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
48222184 |
Appl. No.: |
13/683227 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/180.12 ;
297/180.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/748 20130101;
B60N 2/5635 20130101; B60N 2/5657 20130101; A47C 7/744 20130101;
B60N 2/5685 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/180.12 ;
297/180.13 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/74 20060101
A47C007/74 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0122068 |
Claims
1. A ventilation apparatus for a seat comprising: a seat comprising
a back and a seating section, each of the back and the seating
section having a discharge passage which discharges air toward a
user; blowers each disposed in a corresponding discharge passage of
the seat; positive temperature coefficient heaters each disposed
inside a corresponding one of the blowers, the positive temperature
coefficient heaters heating air that is being blown; and a control
unit which simultaneously or individually controls the blowers and
the positive temperature coefficient heaters.
2. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the
blowers comprises a housing and a temperature sensor disposed
inside the housing, the temperature sensor detecting a temperature
of air which is taken in and transferring the detected temperature
to the control unit.
3. The ventilation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the temperature
sensor is disposed between a blower fan disposed inside the blower
and a corresponding one of the positive temperature coefficient
heaters.
4. The ventilation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit
controls a rate at which the blower fan rotates and power which is
supplied to the positive temperature coefficient heater depending
on the temperature which is transferred from the temperature
sensor.
5. The ventilation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control unit
performs control so that one of the positive temperature
coefficient heaters which is disposed in the back 1a is set to a
higher temperature when the positive temperature coefficient
heaters are operated, and so that one of the blower fans which is
disposed in the back rotates at a slowed-down rate when no positive
temperature coefficient heaters are operated.
6. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the
blowers comprises a connecting duct in a predetermined portion
thereof, the connecting duct being connected to a corresponding one
of the discharge passages such that all of air that has passed
through a place in which a corresponding one of the positive
temperature coefficient heaters is disposed is supplied to a
corresponding one of the discharge passages.
7. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the
positive temperature coefficient heaters comprises: a positive
temperature coefficient device connected to an external power
source to receive power therefrom; and heat exchange fins disposed
on both sides of the positive temperature coefficient device.
8. The ventilation apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the
positive temperature coefficient heaters further comprises a
connector electrically connected to the positive temperature
coefficient device, the connector being formed in a place of the
housing which forms an outer surface of the blower, and the
positive temperature coefficient heater being disposed in the place
of the housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2011-0122068, filed Nov. 22, 2011, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to a ventilation
apparatus for a seat and, more particularly, to a ventilation
apparatus for a seat in which a positive temperature coefficient
(PTC) heater is equipped in the ventilation apparatus which blows
air to the seat in order to prevent overheating as well as to
reduce heat loss.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In general, a seat of a vehicle serves to provide a cozy
feeling of seating using a cushion.
[0004] Recently, in response to the trends of consumers who demand
convenience in addition to basic functionality for vehicle parts, a
variety of convenience devices are being equipped in a vehicle
seat.
[0005] Among such convenience devices for a seat, most widely used
is a seat-warming apparatus in which heating wires are disposed in
the seat in order to provide warmth while driving in winter. Such a
seat-warming apparatus is applied to seats of a variety of
vehicles, since there are significant difficulties in designing and
construction. However, the ability of the heating wires to make a
user warm is limited.
[0006] In order to solve this problem, an approach in which a
cooler is disposed in the seat and a thermoelement is disposed in
the cooler in order to supply heated air to the seat is used.
However, when heating the air using the thermoelement, there is a
problem in that a separate overheat-preventing means is essentially
needed in order to prevent damage due to overheating.
[0007] In addition, when the thermoelement is used, there is
another problem in that a certain amount of air is discarded
attributable to the characteristics of the thermoelement.
SUMMARY
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the
present invention is intended to propose a ventilation apparatus
for a seat in which a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater
is equipped in the ventilation apparatus which blows air to the
seat in order to prevent overheating as well as to reduce heat
loss.
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, according to one
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ventilation
apparatus for a seat which includes a seat comprising a back and a
seating section, each of the back and the seating section having a
discharge passage which discharges air toward a user; blowers each
disposed in a corresponding discharge passage of the seat; PTC
heaters each disposed inside a corresponding one of the blowers,
the PTC heaters heating air that is being blown; and a control unit
which simultaneously or individually controls the blowers and the
PTC heaters.
[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the blowers may include
a housing and a temperature sensor disposed inside the housing, the
temperature sensor detecting a temperature of air which is taken in
and transferring the detected temperature to the control unit.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature sensor may be
disposed between a blower fan disposed inside the blower and a
corresponding one of the PTC heaters.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit may control a
rate at which the blower fan rotates and power which is supplied to
the PTC heater depending on the temperature which is transferred
from the temperature sensor.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit may perform
control so that one of the PTC heaters which is disposed in the
back 1a is set to a higher temperature when the PTC heaters are
operated, and so that one of the blower fans which is disposed in
the back rotates at a slowed-down rate when no PTC heaters are
operated.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the blowers may include
a connecting duct in a predetermined portion thereof, the
connecting duct being connected to a corresponding one of the
discharge passages such that all of air that has passed through a
place in which a corresponding one of the PTC heaters is disposed
is supplied to a corresponding one of the discharge passages.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the PTC heaters may
include a PTC device connected to an external power source to
receive power therefrom; and heat exchange fins disposed on both
sides of the PTC device.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the PTC heaters may
further include a connector electrically connected to the PTC
device, the connector being formed in a place of the housing which
forms an outer surface of the blower, and the PTC heater being
disposed in the place of the housing.
[0017] According to embodiments of the invention, unlike the
ventilation structure of the related art which uses heat wires, the
ventilation apparatus for a seat does not need an
overheat-preventing means attributable to the characteristics of
the PTC heater, thereby reducing the number of parts and improving
safety.
[0018] While the thermoelement of the related art which uses heat
wires wastes a certain amount of heat, the ventilation apparatus
for a seat of the invention uses all air that is being blown for
heating or ventilation, thereby improving efficiency.
[0019] Furthermore, it is possible to simultaneously or
individually control the heating and ventilation of the back and
the seating section and to control the blower fans and the PTC
heaters depending on the temperature that is detected by the
temperature sensors, each of which is disposed between a
corresponding blower fan and a corresponding PTC heater, thereby
improving efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a configuration view schematically showing a
ventilation apparatus for a seat according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blower shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the blower shown in FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Reference will now be made in greater detail to a
ventilation apparatus for a seat according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a configuration view schematically showing a
ventilation apparatus for a seat according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the
blower shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the
blower shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the ventilation apparatus for
a seat according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention
includes a seat 1 which includes a back 1a and a seating section
1b, blowers 10 which are mounted on the back 1a and the seating
section 1b, and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters 20
each of which is disposed inside a corresponding blower 10 to heat
air that is being blown. Also provided is a control unit which
controls the blowers 10 and the PTC heaters 20. Although it is
described by way of example that the seat 1 is disposed inside the
vehicle, the present invention is not limited to the vehicle seat
but is applicable to all sorts of seats.
[0027] Discharge passages 2a and 2b are formed inside the back 1a
and the seating section 1b. Air that is forcibly blown by the
blowers 10 is introduced into the discharge passages 2a and 20b,
which in turn discharge the air toward users.
[0028] Each blower 10 includes a housing 11, a blower fan 13 and a
connecting duct 14. The housing 11 has an inner storage space
defined therein, and has an inlet in a side portion thereof. The
blower fan 13 is disposed in the inlet side of the housing 11 in
order to take in and forcibly blow outer air. The connecting duct
14 is provided in a predetermined portion of the housing 11. The
PTC heater 20 is disposed in an intermediate portion of the passage
through which the air which is forcibly blown passes. A temperature
sensor 12 is disposed in the passage through which the air that is
blown is guided, between the blower fan 13 and the PTC heater
20.
[0029] The control unit 30 receives a temperature signal from a
temperature sensor 12 which detects the temperature of the air that
is blown by the blower fan 13, and controls the rate at which the
blower fan 13 rotates and the amount of heat which the PTC heater
20 generates. That is, the control unit 30 controls power that is
supplied to the blower fan 13 and the PTC heater 20. It is
preferred that the control unit 30 controls the components such
that the temperature of the PTC heater 20 which is disposed in the
back 1a is set to be higher when the PTC heater 20 operates, i.e.
at the time of heating. In contrast, is preferred that the control
unit 30 control the components such that the rate at which the
blower fan 13 disposed in the back 1a is slowed when no PTC heaters
20 operate, i.e. at the time of blowing. It is possible to freely
adjust the amount of heat which the PTC heaters 20 generate and the
rate at which the blower fan 13 rotates at the time of heating and
blowing at the request of the user.
[0030] Each PTC heater 20 includes a PTC device 21, heat exchange
fins 22 and a connector 23. The PTC device 21 is connected to an
external power source and radiates heat when receiving power from
the external power source. The heat exchange fins 22 are mounted on
both sides of the PTC device 21. The connector 23 is electrically
connected to the PTC device 21, with one portion of the connector
23 being exposed to the outside and connected to the external power
source. The PTC device 21 is a semiconductor device which
experiences a sharp increase in electrical resistance when its
temperature becomes equal to or higher than a Curie temperature
(about 180.degree. C. to 200.degree. C.). The PTC device has the
function of self-temperature control to maintain a predetermined
heating temperature irrespective of surrounding temperatures when a
voltage is applied thereto. Consequently, electrical resistance
increases at a predetermined temperature (about 180.degree. C. to
200.degree. C.) or higher and the amount of current decreases,
thereby lowering the temperature of heat.
[0031] The connecting duct 14 is provided in a predetermined
portion of the blower 10, in particular, in a predetermined portion
of the housing 11, such that all air which is forcibly blown by the
blower fan 13 can be supplied to the discharge passage 1a or 1b
through the PTC heater 20. The connecting duct 14 is connected to
the corresponding discharge passage 1a or 1b. Although it is
preferred that the connecting duct 14 be integrally formed in the
housing 11, the connecting duct can be formed of a separate member,
which is coupled to the housing.
[0032] The ventilation apparatus for a seat of this embodiment as
configured above provides indoor air to the seat by taking in
indoor air using the blower 10 and changing the number of
revolutions per unit time of the blower 10 in summer. In winter,
ventilation apparatus heats the seat using the PTC heater 20 by
sensing the temperature of air which is being taken in. The control
unit for a seat is formed of one electronic control unit (ECU), and
can simultaneously or individually control the blowers 10 and the
PTC heaters 20 disposed in the back 1a and the seating section
1b.
[0033] The control unit adjusts the rate at which the blower fan 13
rotates and the amount of heat which the PTC heater 20 generates,
depending on values which are set according to temperatures. In an
example, when it is intended to heat the seat, the blower fan 13 is
rotated while the PTC heater 20 is operated so that air which is
forcibly blown by the blower fan 13 is heated while passing through
the PTC heater 20. All of the heated air is supplied to the
discharge passages 1a and 1b through the connecting ducts 14. The
heated air which has been supplied to the discharge passages 1a and
1b is discharged toward the user who is sitting in the seat 1 so
that heating is carried out. In addition, in the case of heating,
it is preferred for the temperature at which the PTC heater 20
disposed in the back 1a generates heat to be set to be higher.
However, it is also possible to set the temperature of one of the
PTC heaters 20 to be higher or the temperatures of the PTC heaters
20 to be the same as required by the user.
[0034] In another example, when only the blowing operation is
intended for the seat, the operation of the PTC heaters 20 is
stopped and only the blower fans 13 are rotated so that air that
has been forcibly blown by the blower fans 13 is supplied to the
discharge passages 1a and 1b through the connecting ducts 14. The
air that has been supplied to the discharge passages 1a and 1b is
discharged to the user who is sitting in the seat 1 so that the
user feels cool because of the air that is discharged. When the
blowing operation is performed as described above, it is preferred
for the blower fan 13 of the blower 10 which is disposed in the
seating section 1b to be rotated faster than the blower fan 13 of
the blower 10 which is disposed in the back 1a. It is also possible
to control the blower fans 13 which are disposed in the back 1a and
the seating section 1b so that one blower fan rotates faster than
the other blower fan 13 or both the blower fans rotate at the same
rate.
[0035] In addition, since the present invention uses the PTC
heaters 20, overheating is prevented owing to the characteristics
of the PTC heaters 20, thereby improving safety. It is also
possible to reduce the number of parts since no separate
overheat-preventing means is required. Each PTC heater 20 is
provided with the connector 23 which is exposed out of the housing
11 such that the PCT heater can be easily connected to the external
power source.
[0036] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention
have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *