JP2008080966A - Seat surface cooling/heating device of seat for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seat surface cooling/heating device of a seat for a vehicle capable of suppressing temperature irregularities on the seat surface to be cooled/heated. <P>SOLUTION: An in-seat heat exchanger 11 is embedded in a seat surface 2a of a seat cushion 2 and a seat surface 3a of a seatback 3, respectively. An out-of-seat heat exchanger 12 is arranged on a lower surface 2b side of the seat cushion 2. A heat exchanging medium is circulated between the in-seat heat exchanger 11 and the out-of-seat heat exchanger 12 by a medium circulating means 13. At the same time, by heating the heat exchanging medium to be fed from the out-of-seat heat exchanger 12 to the in-seat heat exchanger 11 by a medium heater 14 provided on the out-of-seat heat exchanger 12, the heat exchanging medium cooling or heating the in-seat heat exchanger 11 is circulated, and the seat surfaces 2a, 3a can be evenly cooled or heated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seat surface cooling / heating device for cooling / heating a seat surface on the front side of a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat back.

As a conventional device for cooling and heating a vehicle seat, heat generated by a heat source having a cooling or heating function is transferred to a temperature-adjusted portion serving as a seat surface via a heat conduction portion, and is blown from a blower. It is known to cool and heat the seat surface by blowing cold / warm air from a large number of blowing holes formed on the entire surface of the temperature controlled portion through the convection portion (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-42590 A

  However, in such a conventional seat surface cooling and heating apparatus, since the heat of one heat source is transferred to the temperature controlled part via the heat conduction part, the temperature of the heat conduction part is close to the heat source. There is a problem that the temperature is high and low in a portion far from the heat source, and temperature unevenness occurs in the temperature-adjusted portion, that is, the sheet surface.

  In addition, even when the cool air of the blower is blown out from the blowout holes of the temperature controlled portion to cool and heat the seat surface, the amount of air blown from the blowout holes is changed by the blowout holes depending on the direction of the wind blown from the blower Therefore, there is still a problem that temperature unevenness occurs on the sheet surface.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat surface air conditioner that can suppress the occurrence of uneven temperature on the seat surface to be air-conditioned.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the interior of the seat embedded in the seat surface (2a, 3a) on the surface side of the vehicle seat (1) comprising the seat cushion (2) and the seat back (3). A heat exchanger (11), an out-of-seat heat exchanger (12) disposed on the back side of the vehicle seat (1), the in-seat heat exchanger (11), and the out-of-seat heat exchanger (12 ) And a medium circulation means (13) for circulating a heat exchange medium between the sheet heat exchanger (12) and the sheet heat exchanger (12). And a medium heating heater (14) for heating the heat exchange medium supplied to 11), and when the sheet surfaces (2a, 3a) are cooled, the medium circulating means (13) is operated to heat the sheet outside heat. Supply low temperature medium of exchanger (12) to in-seat heat exchanger (11) Rutotomoni, heating operation is characterized by supplying the heat exchange medium heated by operating the medium heating the heater (14) in the sheet in the heat exchanger (11).

  In the invention according to claim 2, the medium flow path (12p) of the heat exchanger outside the sheet (12) and the heater side medium flow path (14p) of the medium heating heater (14) are arranged in parallel. And a flow path switching means (17) is provided at a branch (T) between the medium flow path (12p) and the heater-side medium flow path (14p).

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a cooling fan (20) for the out-of-seat heat exchanger (12) is provided.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a duct (21) for introducing conditioned air conditioned by an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle is connected to the outside seat heat exchanger (12). .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the vehicle seat is parked under the hot summer sun and direct sunlight is applied to the vehicle seat, the seat surface on the surface side of the vehicle seat is heated. In this case, since the heat exchanger outside the seat disposed on the back side of the vehicle seat is in a state avoiding direct sunlight, the heat exchange medium in the heat exchanger outside the seat is the seat surface, that is, heat exchange inside the seat. The temperature is lower than the vessel.

  Then, by operating the medium circulation means to circulate the heat exchange medium between the heat exchanger outside the sheet and the heat exchanger inside the sheet, the heat exchange medium in the low temperature state of the heat exchanger outside the sheet becomes the heat inside the sheet. Since it is supplied to the exchanger, the in-seat heat exchanger can be cooled, and thus the seat surface can be cooled.

  At this time, since the heat exchange medium of the heat exchanger outside the sheet circulates through the medium flow path of the heat exchanger inside the sheet, the heat exchanger inside the sheet is cooled evenly as a whole, and the sheet surface is cooled evenly. can do.

  Further, when heating the seat surface, the seat surface may be heated by supplying a heated heat exchange medium to the in-seat heat exchanger by operating a medium heating heater provided in the external heat exchanger. Even in this case, since the heated heat exchange medium circulates in the medium flow path of the in-seat heat exchanger, the in-seat heat exchanger is heated evenly as a whole. It can be heated evenly.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the medium flow path and the heater-side medium flow path are provided in parallel, and the heat exchange medium is transferred to the medium flow path at the time of cooling by switching the flow path switching means provided at the branch portions thereof. Since the heat exchange medium can be circulated only to the heater side medium flow path during heating, the effects of cooling and heating can be enhanced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the cooling fan is provided in the outside seat heat exchanger, the cooling efficiency of the heat exchange medium of the outside seat heat exchanger is increased, and consequently the cooling efficiency of the in-seat heat exchanger is increased. The cooling effect of the sheet surface can be further improved.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the duct for introducing the conditioned air conditioned by the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle is connected to the outside seat heat exchanger, the outside seat heat exchange with the conditioned air supplied from the duct. Thus, the cooling efficiency of the seat can be increased, and consequently the cooling efficiency of the in-seat heat exchanger can be increased to further improve the cooling effect of the seat surface.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a seat surface cooling and heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a vehicle seat equipped with a seat surface cooling / heating device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the seat surface cooling / heating device in an exploded manner. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 1 to which a seat surface cooling / heating device 10 according to the present embodiment is applied includes a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a headrest 4, and the seat cushion 2 is a support leg. (For example, a slide device) 5 is installed on the vehicle body floor 6.

  In the vehicle seat 1, the upper surface which is the front surface side of the seat cushion 2 and the front surface which is the front surface side of the seat back 3 are the seat surfaces 2 a and 3 a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the seat surface cooling / heating device 10 includes an in-seat heat exchanger 11 embedded in the seat surface 2 a of the seat cushion 2 and the seat surface 3 a of the seat back 3, and the vehicle seat 1. And a medium circulation means for circulating a heat exchange medium between the in-seat heat exchanger 11 and the out-of-seat heat exchanger 12. 13 and a medium heating heater 14 provided in the outside seat heat exchanger 12 for heating a heat exchange medium supplied from the outside seat heat exchanger 12 to the in-seat heat exchanger 11. The

  During cooling of the seat surfaces 2a and 3a, the medium circulating means 13 is operated to supply the low temperature medium of the outside heat exchanger 12 to the in-seat heat exchanger 11, and during heating, the medium warming heater 14 is turned on. The heat exchange medium that has been operated and heated is supplied to the in-seat heat exchanger 11.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the in-seat heat exchanger 11 includes a seat cushion side heat exchanger 11 </ b> A provided in the seat cushion 2 and a seat back side heat exchanger provided in the seat back 3. 11B. In FIG. 2, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11 </ b> A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11 </ b> B are collectively shown as one in-seat heat exchanger 11 for convenience.

  The outside seat heat exchanger 12 is provided only on the seat cushion 2 side, and the outside seat heat exchanger 12, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A, and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B (that is, the seat). The internal heat exchanger 11) is connected to each other by a seat cushion side circulation path 15 and a seat back side circulation path 16 for circulating a heat exchange medium such as engine coolant.

  The seat cushion side circulation path 15 includes an outward path 15a and a return path 15b communicating the seat outside heat exchanger 12 and the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A, and the seat back side circulation path 16 includes the seat outside heat exchanger 12. And a return path 16b communicating with the seat back side heat exchanger 11B, and the medium circulation means 13 is disposed in each of the return paths 15b and 16b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medium circulation means 13 includes an electric water pump 13a and a reservoir tank 13b arranged in series on the upstream side of the water pump 13a.

  Then, by operating the water pump 13a, the heat exchange medium in the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B is sucked through the reservoir tank 13b, and then the sucked heat exchange medium Is pumped to the heat exchanger 12 outside the seat. The heat exchange medium pumped to the outside seat heat exchanger 12 flows through the medium flow path 12p arranged in a bellows shape inside the outside seat heat exchanger 12, and then is distributed to the forward paths 15a and 16a to be seat cushion side It flows into the heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B and circulates through the medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp arranged in the bellows shape of the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B. Then, it collects in the reservoir tank 13b.

  Then, by being sucked again from the reservoir tank 13b to the water pump 13a, the heat exchange medium is between the seat outside heat exchanger 12, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A, and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B. It is circulated in.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medium heating heater 14 includes a heater-side medium flow path 14p arranged in a bellows shape, and the heater-side medium flow path 14p is provided with a heating wire 14h. By energizing 14h, the heat exchange medium in the heater-side medium flow path 14p is heated.

  Here, the medium flow path 12p of the outside seat heat exchanger 12 and the heater side medium flow path 14p of the medium heating heater 14 are arranged in parallel, and the medium flow path 12p and the heater side medium flow path 14p are arranged. A switching valve 17 as a flow path switching unit is provided at the branch portion T.

  That is, the heater-side medium flow path 14p arranged in parallel with the medium flow path 12p is branched from the return paths 15b and 16b at the branch portion T and then communicated with the forward paths 15a and 16a. By switching, the heat exchange medium discharged from the water pump 13a passes through the medium flow path 12p and is supplied to the forward paths 15a and 16a, and passes through the heater-side medium flow path 14p to the forward paths 15a and 16a. A supply path is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B include two flexible sheets 18a and 18b that are flexible, and medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp between them. It is formed by bonding by high frequency welding W while forming. As the flexible sheets 18a and 18b, for example, a sheet having a thickness of about 0.3 mm made of ether urethane is used.

  With the above configuration, according to the seat surface cooling and heating device 10 of the vehicle seat 1 of the present embodiment, when the vehicle is parked for a long time in the summer sun, the surface side of the vehicle seat 1 is irradiated by the direct sunlight irradiated into the vehicle interior. The seat surfaces 2a and 3a of the seat cushion 2 and the seat back 3 are heated. At this time, the rear surface side of the vehicle seat 1, that is, the lower surface 2b of the seat cushion 2 and the rear side surface of the seat back 3, in particular, the lower surface 2b of the seat cushion 2 in this embodiment is blocked by direct sunlight, The atmospheric temperature in the passenger compartment is substantially the same.

  For this reason, the seat outside heat exchanger 12 arranged on the lower surface 2b side of the seat cushion 2 is in a low temperature state substantially equal to the vehicle interior atmosphere temperature, while the seat cushion 2 and the seat back 3 on the seat surface 2a, 3a side. The seat cushion side heat exchanger 11 </ b> A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11 </ b> B arranged in the above are in a high temperature state.

  At this time, by operating the water pump 13a of the medium circulation means 13 to circulate the heat exchange medium between the seat outside heat exchanger 12, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A, and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B. The heat exchange medium in the low temperature state of the outside seat heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B.

  As a result, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B can be cooled, and consequently the seat surface 2a of the seat cushion 2 and the seat surface 3a of the seat back 3 can be cooled. It is possible to sit on the vehicle seat 1 cooled to the indoor atmosphere temperature. At this time, the switching valve 17 is switched to the medium flow path 12p side.

  Then, the heat exchange medium in such a low temperature state is supplied to the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B, so that the heat exchange medium circulates through the respective medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp. Therefore, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B can be uniformly cooled as a whole, and as a result, the seat surfaces 2a and 3a can be uniformly cooled.

  When the seat surface 2a, 3a is cold because the temperature in the passenger compartment is lowered during cold weather, the switching valve 17 is switched to the heater side medium flow path 14p side of the medium heating heater 14, By operating the medium heating heater 14 (that is, energizing the heating wire 14h), the heat exchange medium heated by the medium heating heater 14 becomes the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger. 11B.

  Thus, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B can be heated, and consequently the seat surface 2a of the seat cushion 2 and the seat surface 3a of the seat back 3 can be heated.

  The heat exchange medium thus heated is supplied to the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B, so that the heat exchange medium circulates through the respective medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp. Therefore, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B can be uniformly heated as a whole, and as a result, the seat surfaces 2a and 3a can be heated uniformly.

  Furthermore, since the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B join the flexible flexible sheets 18a and 18b while forming the medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp therebetween, heat exchange is performed. Since the medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp can be set in a collapsed state during normal times when no medium is supplied, the medium flow paths 11Ap and 11Bp can be seated comfortably on the vehicle seat 1 and when the heat exchange medium is supplied. The medium expands and the medium can be smoothly distributed.

  (Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an external heat exchanger according to this embodiment. In addition, the seat surface heating apparatus concerning this embodiment is equipped with the component similar to the seat surface heating apparatus concerning the said 1st Embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by common reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The seat surface cooling and heating apparatus according to the present embodiment basically circulates the heat exchange medium of the outside seat heat exchanger 12 to the in-seat heat exchanger 11 in substantially the same manner as the seat surface cooling and heating apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. It has become. However, in this embodiment, the cooling fan 20 is provided in the outside seat heat exchanger 12.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the cooling fan 20 is provided in the outside seat heat exchanger 12, the outside seat heat exchanger 12 is improved in cooling efficiency of the heat exchange medium by the blowing of the cooling fan 20, and as a result, The cooling efficiency of the in-seat heat exchanger 11 can be increased to further improve the cooling effect of the seat surfaces 2a and 3a (see FIG. 1).

  (Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger outside a seat according to this embodiment. In addition, the seat surface heating apparatus concerning this embodiment is equipped with the component similar to the seat surface heating apparatus concerning the said 1st Embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by common reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The seat surface cooling and heating apparatus of the present embodiment is basically configured to circulate the heat exchange medium of the outside seat heat exchanger 12 to the in-seat heat exchanger 11 in substantially the same manner as the seat surface cooling and heating apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. It has become. However, in this embodiment, a duct 21 for introducing conditioned air conditioned by an air conditioner (not shown) mounted on the vehicle is connected to the heat exchanger 12 outside the seat. In the present embodiment, an opening / closing door 22 is provided on the entrance side of the duct 21.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the air conditioner is in operation, the outside door heat exchanger 12 is conditioned by the conditioned air supplied from the duct 21 by opening the door 22 as shown by the solid line in the figure. Thus, the cooling efficiency of the seat surfaces 2a and 3a (see FIG. 1) can be further improved by increasing the cooling efficiency of the in-seat heat exchanger 11.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the air conditioning device is set in the cooling mode, and the cooling air is supplied from the duct 21 to the heat exchanger 12 outside the seat, thereby further improving the cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger 12 outside the seat, and the seat surface 2a. , 3a can be expected.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the seat cushion side heat exchanger 11A and the seat back side heat exchanger 11B are provided on the seat surface 2a of the seat cushion 2 and the seat surface 3a of the seat back 3, so that the seat cushion 2 and the seat back However, the in-seat heat exchanger 11 may be provided on either the seat surface 2a of the seat cushion 2 or the seat surface 3a of the seat back. An in-seat heat exchanger 11 may be provided on the front surface of the headrest 4.

1 is a side sectional view of a vehicle seat equipped with a seat surface cooling / heating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic block diagram which expand | deploys and shows the seat surface cooling / heating apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. The partial expanded sectional view along the AA line in FIG. The expanded sectional view of the heat exchanger outside a sheet concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. The expanded sectional view of the heat exchanger outside a sheet concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle seat 2 Seat cushion 2a Seat cushion seat surface 3 Seat back 3a Seat seat seat surface 10 Seat surface cooling / heating device 11 In-seat heat exchanger 11A Seat cushion side heat exchanger (in-seat heat exchanger)
11B Seat back heat exchanger (in-seat heat exchanger)
12 Heat exchanger outside sheet 12p Fluid flow path 13 Medium circulation means 14 Medium heating heater 17 Switching valve (flow path switching means)
20 Cooling fan 21 Duct T Branch

Claims (4)

An in-seat heat exchanger (11) embedded in the seat surface (2a, 3a) which is the surface side of the vehicle seat (1) comprising the seat cushion (2) and the seat back (3);
An outside seat heat exchanger (12) disposed on the back side of the vehicle seat (1);
A medium circulation means (13) for circulating a heat exchange medium between the in-seat heat exchanger (11) and the out-of-seat heat exchanger (12);
A medium heating heater (14) that is provided in the out-of-seat heat exchanger (12) and heats a heat exchange medium supplied from the out-of-seat heat exchanger (12) to the in-seat heat exchanger (11). When,
With
During cooling of the seat surfaces (2a, 3a), the medium circulating means (13) is operated to supply the low temperature medium of the outside seat heat exchanger (12) to the in-seat heat exchanger (11) and during heating. The seat heating / cooling device for a vehicle seat, wherein the heat exchanger medium heated by operating the medium heater (14) is supplied to the in-seat heat exchanger (11).   The medium flow path (12p) of the heat exchanger outside the sheet (12) and the heater side medium flow path (14p) of the medium heating heater (14) are arranged in parallel, and the medium flow path (12p). The seat surface cooling / heating device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a flow path switching means (17) is provided at a branch portion (T) between the heater and the medium passage on the heater side (14p).   The seat surface cooling / heating device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cooling fan (20) for the heat exchanger outside the seat (12).   The duct (21) which introduces the conditioned air temperature-conditioned by an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle is connected to the outside seat heat exchanger (12). The seat surface air-conditioning / heating device for a vehicle seat according to 1.

Images