JP3443836B2 - Air conditioning system for seats - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat air conditioner, which is effective when used as an air conditioner for air conditioning the space around a vehicle seat and the inside of the seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automobile air conditioner, outside air is taken in through an outside air intake opening in the engine room,
Alternatively, the vehicle interior air is taken in from the inside air intake opening that opens to the front of the vehicle compartment, and this air is cooled and heated by a heat exchanger,
Air-conditioning air is discharged toward the passenger compartment from the air outlet formed in the dash panel in front of the passenger compartment. This conditioned air is convected throughout the passenger compartment regardless of the number of passengers.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-51115 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-163106, a plurality of air-conditioning air outlets are formed in a vehicle seat, and the air-conditioned air is discharged from the surface of the vehicle seat. An air conditioner that blows is disclosed. Similar to the above-mentioned conventional example, the air intake port is taken in from the outside air intake port opened in the engine room or the inside air intake port opened in the front of the vehicle compartment, and the conditioned air blown out from the seat surface is first discharged near the seat. After air-conditioning, after convection in the whole passenger compartment, after heat exchange with the passenger compartment wall etc. and temperature rise, it is re-inhaled from the inside air inlet or from the air outlet formed in the rear of the passenger compartment. It is discharged outside the vehicle.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the conditioned air is blown out from the air outlet formed in the dash panel or the seat into the entire passenger compartment to give a comfortable feeling to the occupant. More power is needed than is needed to power it. This is enough to give passengers a feeling of comfort if they can only air-condition the area around the occupant who is originally seated. Is consumed.

Further, in the case where the conditioned air is blown out from the air outlet formed on the seat surface, the air outlet is blocked when the occupant is seated, and the conditioned air is not sufficiently blown out, so that the air circulation performance is improved. It gets worse. In addition, the air introduced into the seat to cool the seat stays in the seat, gradually warming up, and conversely, the air introduced into the seat to heat the seat inside the seat. It stays and gradually cools down, making it impossible to fulfill the role of air conditioning inside the seat.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to reduce the power consumption and to guide the blown cold air or warm air into the seat to air-condition the seat.

[0007]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the seat air conditioner according to the present invention is provided in a vehicle interior space.
The seat consists of a seat, a backrest, and a headrest.
It is fixed to both floors, for introducing the air in the surrounding space of the seat from the suction port formed on one end side, and for blowing out the air toward the surrounding space from the air outlet formed on the other end side. An air guide duct, and a heat exchanger that is disposed in the air guide duct and cools or heats the introduced air by exchanging heat with the introduced air introduced from the inlet, the inlet or At least one of the outlets is arranged in the seating portion on which a seated person is seated, and the other mouth is arranged in the headrest facing the one mouth through the surrounding space.
And, wherein among the air guide duct, disposed at least a portion of the suction duct to the heat exchanger from the inlet port before Symbol the seat, a cold or warm air blown out from the air outlet, before
Suck into the suction port located opposite the air outlet.
The main point is to intensively air-condition only the area around the seated occupants .

According to the seat air conditioner of the present invention, the cool air or the warm air blown from the air outlet is sucked into the air inlet arranged to face the air outlet, so that only the seated occupant is seated. Can be centrally air-conditioned. Further, the cold air or the warm air blown out from the air outlet is introduced into the suction duct portion arranged inside the seat, and the seat can be cooled or heated by the introduced air. In addition, contract
As shown in Requirement 2, the other end is an L-shaped bent duct.
Have a bellows part at the tip of the duct.
The mouth, which is the open end of the duct, bends the bellows.
Therefore, the mouth opening direction is from above the seated occupant toward the vehicle ceiling.
It may be configured so that it can be set arbitrarily. Also, the claims
As shown in Fig. 3, the occupant can use
Both left and right seats that are not blocked when seated
It may be arranged so as to open upward at the end. This
By doing so, even if the occupant sits on the seat,
The suction port is not blocked, so the air circulation is
Good and air guided into the seat to cool the seat
Does not stay in the seat.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment in which the seat air conditioner of the present invention is used as an automobile air conditioner will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the front of a vehicle compartment of a vehicle. In a vehicle compartment space 126 surrounded by a ceiling 106, a windshield 108, etc., a seat including a seat 50, a backrest 52, and a headrest 58. Is fixed to the floor surface 114 of the vehicle.

The backrest portion 52 is connected to the seat portion 50 so that its inclination angle can be adjusted arbitrarily, and its outer shape is formed by a metal frame 88 and a spring 84. A cushion material 56 is arranged around the frame 88, and the surface of the cushion material 56 is covered with a skin 54 made of leather or cloth.

A connecting rod 11 is provided above the backrest 52.
A headrest 58 is connected via 6 so as to be vertically movable. The surface of the headrest 58 is also covered with a skin 57, and a cushion material 59 is packed inside the headrest 58. A second duct 66, which is the outlet side of a first duct 62 to be described later, is located in the backrest portion 52.
The duct 66 is connected to the first duct 6 via the bellows duct 61.
It is connected to 2. The second duct 66 has a backrest 52.
2 extends from the lower end to the upper end and is fixed to a spring 84 in the backrest 52 by a bracket 86, as shown in FIG. Further, in the second duct 66, the bellows duct portion 64 is formed near the lower end of the backrest portion 52, and the bellows duct portion 64 is formed.
Is for absorbing the angular displacement of the second duct 66 when the inclination angle of the backrest portion 52 changes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the headrest 58 in detail. One end of the second duct 66 protruding from above the backrest portion 52 is connected to the bellows duct 68,
The bellows duct 68 is used for the core member 12 of the headrest 58.
Connected to four. The core member 124 has a hollow inside and has a duct function and a core member function of the headrest 58. Bellows duct 68 is headrest 58
Is for absorbing the relative displacement between the core material 124 and the second duct 66 when the core moves up and down.

The third duct 7 is provided at the upper open end of the core member 124.
0s are connected. A leaf spring 122 is arranged at the connection end of the third duct 70, and the leaf spring 122 engages with a notch 128 formed in the inner peripheral surface of the core member 124, whereby the third duct 70 is formed. The position can be adjusted vertically.

The third duct 70 is bent into an approximately L shape, and a bellows portion 118 is formed at the tip thereof. The opening 72 of the air outlet 72, which is the open end, can be arbitrarily set by bending the bellows portion 118 from the overhead of the occupant to the ceiling of the vehicle. A punch metal 120 having a plurality of holes is fixed near the outlet 72.

These first to third ducts 62, 66, 70
Is made of a resin material and has a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of spaces are formed in the duct wall so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the duct. Due to this space, the heat mass of the duct itself is reduced, and the cooling time during maximum cooling can be shortened. In addition, the space portion also has a heat insulating function, and particularly the second duct 66 arranged in the backrest portion 52.
In particular, the effect of intercepting the heat applied to the seat itself or the heat from the occupant rather than the solar radiation is large.

On the other hand, the cushion member 5 in the backrest portion 52
A backrest introducing duct 201 is disposed inside the backrest 6, and a first suction port 203, which is an open end of the backrest introducing duct 201, opens at both left and right ends of the backrest 52. The backrest introducing duct 201 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The suction port 203 is divided into a plurality of parts, and has a rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction of the backrest portion 52 and short in the left-right direction, and does not hinder the seating operation of the occupant.

A lattice-like air passage 211 is formed inside by stacking a cooling / heating sheet 209 on a substrate portion 207 on which a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped portions 205 are erected.
The substrate portion 207 has a low thermal conductivity and is made of a hard rubber material that does not bend when back pressure is applied by an occupant, while the cooling / heating sheet 209 is made of a soft material having a high thermal conductivity.

An opening 213 is formed at the lower end of the backrest introducing duct 201 and communicates with a branch duct 217 which will be described later via a bellows duct 215. Figure 6
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the seat 50 of FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow A. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer shape of the seating portion 50 is formed by a frame 51, and the surface thereof has a skin 49.
And a cushion material 53 is packed inside. A fourth duct 63, which is the suction side of the first duct 62, is located on both sides of the seating portion 50, and a suction port 60 that is an open end of the fourth duct 63 is open. Air-conditioned air is introduced from the suction port 60 and is sucked into the first duct 62 via the fourth duct 63. The suction port 60 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and short in the left-right direction, and does not hinder the seating operation of the occupant.

A seating portion introducing duct 221 is arranged inside the cushion member 53 in the seating portion 50, and the second suction port 2 which is an open end of the seating portion introducing duct 221.
23 are open upward at both left and right ends of the seat 50. The configuration of the seating portion introducing duct 221 is similar to that of the backrest introducing duct 201, but as shown in FIG. 6, the bellows duct portion 225 is provided in front of the second suction port 223.
When the occupant is seated, even if the cushion material 53 sinks due to the weight of the occupant, the seating portion introducing duct 221 can be adjusted in the downward position accordingly.

An opening 227 is formed at the lower end of the seating portion introducing duct 221 and communicates with the branch duct 217 via a bellows duct 229. The branch duct 217 communicates with the fourth duct 63 after the passage from the seating portion introducing duct 221 and the passage from the backrest introducing duct 201 described above merge. Further, a first damper 231 is provided at a confluence portion of the passages from the both introduction ducts 201 and 221.
It is possible to adjust the ratio of the amount of air sucked from each one.

Furthermore, the branch duct 217 and the fourth duct 6
A second damper 233 is provided at a confluence portion with the third duct 3, and the ratio of the amount of air sucked from each of the branch duct 217 and the fourth duct 63 can be adjusted. The above-described first duct 62 is located in the space between the seating portion 50 and the floor surface 114, and a blower fan 74, which is rotationally driven by an electric motor 76, is arranged at the left-right center position of the first duct 62. The rotation of the blower fan 74 generates an air suction force from the suction port 60.

A blower fan 74 is installed in the first duct 62.
A conventionally known refrigerant evaporator 78 is arranged in the downstream of the latter, and the evaporator 78 removes heat of the air sucked from the suction port 60 and cools it. A heater 80 that heats air by utilizing heat of engine cooling water is disposed further downstream of the evaporator 78. An air mix damper 82 for adjusting the amount of air passing through the heater is rotatably arranged on the front surface of the heater.

The evaporator 78 is a part of a conventionally known refrigeration cycle, and as shown in FIG. 1, a compressor 90 for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser 92 for cooling a high temperature and high pressure refrigerant, and a condenser. A gas-liquid separator 94 that separates the separated refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant and a gas refrigerant, and an expansion valve 96 that expands the separated liquid refrigerant to reduce the pressure are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe.

The heater 80 is an engine 98 and a radiator 1.
00, and the amount of high temperature cooling water flowing into the heater 80 is controlled by the flow rate adjusting valve 104. Further, whether or not the cooling water is made to flow into the radiator from the engine is controlled by the thermostat 102 arranged in the pipe.

The air taken in through the suction port 60 is the evaporator 7
8. The air conditioner is controlled to a desired temperature by the heater 80, and a conventionally known method is used as the air conditioning control method. The means for cooling and heating the air is not limited to the evaporator 78 and the heater 80 described above, and for example, an electric heat exchanger using a Peltier element can be used.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. When an occupant turns on a fan switch and an air conditioner switch (not shown), the blower fan 74 rotates and the compressor 90 is driven at the same time. Blower fan 74
The air in the vehicle interior space 126 is sucked in through the suction port 60 by the suction force of and is cooled by the evaporator 78. Evaporator 78
The operation of is a conventionally known operation. The cooled air is distributed to air passing through the heater 80 and air bypassing the heater 80 according to the frequency of the air mix damper 82.

The heater 80 has a conventionally known operation, and the air passing through the heater 80 is heated to a predetermined temperature. The air heated by the heater 80 and the heater 8
The air bypassing 0 is mixed in the downstream region of the heater 80 to adjust the temperature to a desired temperature, and the second duct 66, the third duct
It is blown out from the air outlet 72 via the duct 70. The blown air flows down from the head of the occupant toward the feet.

Then, the conditioned air blown out is sucked into the suction port 6
0, the first suction port 203 and the second suction port 223 are sucked. This flow of air is shown by a broken line in the figure. In the conventional air conditioner, the entire vehicle interior space 126 is air-conditioned, whereas in the present embodiment, only the space near the seat is air-conditioned, which is so-called zone air-conditioning.

The conditioned air sucked through the first suction port 203 is introduced into the backrest introducing duct 201 arranged inside the cushion member 56 in the backrest 52. By passing the conditioned air through the lattice-shaped air passages 211, for example, when the conditioned air is cooling air for cooling, the cold heat sheet having high thermal conductivity is cooled. as a result,
The backrest 52 itself can be cooled. The conditioned air that has passed through the air passage 211 is discharged from the opening 213 and flows into the branch duct 217 via the bellows duct 215.

On the other hand, the conditioned air sucked from the second suction port 223 is introduced into the seating portion introducing duct 221 arranged inside the cushion member 53 in the seating portion 50. Like the backrest introducing duct 201 described above, the conditioned air passes through the seating introducing duct 221 so that the seating portion 50 itself can be cooled with cooling air, for example. The air that has passed through the seating portion introduction duct 221 is not covered by the opening 227.
It is further discharged and flows into the branch duct 217 via the bellows duct 229.

In the branch duct 217, the air from the seating section introducing duct 221 and the air from the backrest section introducing duct 201 merge and flow into the fourth duct 63. Then, it merges with the air sucked from the suction port 60 in the fourth duct 63 and is returned to the first duct 62.

As described above, the conditioned air is introduced into the backrest portion 52 and the seating portion 50 to air-condition not only the ambient air but also the seat itself on which the occupant is seated, so that more comfortable air conditioning can be performed. it can. Further, the first damper 231 can adjust the amount of air sucked from each of the backrest introducing duct 201 and the seating introducing duct 221. For example, the backrest 52 side is intensively cooled,
Delicate air conditioning can be performed, for example, by keeping the seat portion 50 at a slightly higher temperature.

According to the results of the study by the present inventors, the feeling test shows that the surface temperature of the backrest portion 52 is 26-.
It was found that about 28 ° C was comfortable. On the other hand, the seat 5
It was also found that if 0 is cooled too much, on the contrary, discomfort occurs. For example, in the case of a room temperature of 30 ° C. or higher in midsummer, the backrest 52 side is cooled intensively, and after some time elapses. After the inside of the vehicle is cooled as a whole, adjustment such as stopping the introduction of the conditioned air to the seating portion introduction duct 221 may be performed.

Further, the outlet 72 is above the seat, the inlet 60 is on both sides of the seat, the first inlet 203 to the backrest introducing duct 201 and the second to the seat introducing duct 221.
The suction ports 223 are provided at both ends of the seat, and when the occupant is seated, the air outlet 72 and the suction ports 60, 20 are provided.
3,223 will not be blocked. Therefore, the air circulation is good, and the air guided into the seat for cooling the seat does not stay in the seat, and good in-seat air conditioning can be realized.

Further, since the air outlet 72 and the air inlet 60 are provided so as to face each other, the cool air collecting efficiency is good. That is, most of the cool air is used for cooling the vicinity of the occupant, and the amount used for cooling the other parts is relatively small, and the power consumption can be reduced. This point is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-299276 filed by the applicant of the present application, and therefore will be omitted here.

In the above-described embodiment, the air outlet 72 is arranged above the suction port 60 so that the blowing air flows down. However, for example, the conditioned air is blown out from the suction port 60 shown in FIG. A configuration may be adopted in which air is sucked in through the air outlet 72. In this case, blower fan 7
4, the evaporator 78 and the heater 80 are arranged in the reverse order to that shown in FIG. Such a configuration is particularly suitable when performing air conditioning mainly for heating.

Next, the second embodiment will be described. Figure 7
8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the seating portion 50 of FIG. 7 seen from the arrow B direction. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, two suction ports, that is, the suction port 60 that is the opening end of the fourth duct 63 and the second suction port 223 that is the opening end of the seating part introduction duct 221, are provided on the seating portion 50 side. In the second embodiment, only the second suction port 223 is provided. Then, it branches in the middle of reaching the seating portion introduction duct 221, and communicates with the fourth duct 63. A third damper 250 is provided at this branching portion, and the ratio of the amount of air sucked to the seating section introducing duct 221 side and the amount of air sucked to the fourth duct 63 side can be adjusted. The other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, only one suction port is required on the seating portion 50 side, and there is no member on both sides of the seating portion 50, so that a space is provided. Also, the third damper 2
50, for example, when all of the conditioned air sucked from the second suction port 223 is guided to the seating section introducing duct 221 to rapidly air-condition the seating section 50, or when it is not necessary to air-condition the seating section 50 any more. Delicate air conditioning can be performed by, for example, guiding all to the fourth duct 63.

In the above-described embodiment, one seat is used as an example, but for two or more seats, the blower fan 74, the evaporator 78, the air mix damper 82, and the heater 80 are provided for each seat. Are arranged, the compressor 90, the condenser 92, the gas-liquid separator 94, the expansion valve 96, and the radiator 100.
Etc. can be shared.

Furthermore, a solar radiation sensor for measuring the amount of solar radiation, an indoor temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the air taken in by the suction port 60, a temperature setting device for the passenger to set a desired temperature, etc. are provided, and inputs from them are provided. The opening degree of the air mix damper 82 or the first to third dampers may be adjusted based on the signal.

Although all of the above-described embodiments are examples in which the present invention is used as an air conditioner for automobiles, the present invention is not limited to automobiles, and can be applied to air conditioning of other seats. It can be used.

[0042]

As described above, if the seat air conditioner of the present invention is used, it is possible to intensively air-condition only the periphery of the seated occupant, and to shorten the time required to reach the desired temperature. The required cooling capacity can be reduced at the same time. That is, power saving can be achieved and power consumption can be reduced, and cold air or warm air blown out from the air outlet is introduced into the suction duct section arranged in the seat, and the seat is cooled or heated by the introduced air. However, there is an effect that a better air conditioning can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment in which the seat air conditioner of the present invention is used as an automobile air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a mounting structure of a second duct.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a headrest portion.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the seat of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a backrest introducing duct.

6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the seating portion in FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow A. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing a second embodiment.

8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the seating portion of FIG. 7 viewed from the arrow B direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

50 ... seat part, 52 ... back part, 58 ...
Headrest, 60 ... Suction port, 62 ... First duct, 63 ... Fourth duct, 66 ... Second duct, 70
... 3rd duct, 72 ... Blowout port, 74 ... Blower fan, 78 ... Evaporator, 80 ... Heater, 90 ... Compressor, 92 ... Condenser, 201 ... Backrest introducing duct, 203 ... First suction port, 221, ... Seating part introduction duct, 223 ... second suction port,

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-191212 (JP, A) Fukukaihei 2-331548 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 1/00-3/06

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A seating portion, a backrest portion, and a head are provided in a vehicle compartment space.
A seat consisting of a drest and a seat is fixed to the floor of the vehicle.
Ri, air introduced in the space around the seat from the suction port formed at one end, a guide duct for blowing air toward the ambient space from the air outlet formed at the other end, the baffle A heat exchanger that is disposed in the duct and cools or heats the introduced air by exchanging heat with the introduced air introduced from the inlet, and at least one of the inlet and the outlet is attached. disposed on the seating part design is seated, the f of contrast mouth and face each other through the surrounding space and the other port
Disposed in Ddoresuto, among the air guide duct, wherein at least a portion of the suction duct than the suction port to the heat exchanger is disposed in front Symbol the seat, the cool air or warm air was blown out from the air outlet The said blowout
Suck into the suction port located opposite the mouth and sit down
A seat air-conditioning system that centrally air-conditions only the area around the seated occupants . 2. The other end is a duct bent in an L shape.
And a bellows portion is formed at the tip of the duct,
The mouth, which is the open end of the duct, is
The direction of opening of the mouth is from above the seated occupant depending on the song.
It can be set up to the direction of the vehicle ceiling.
The air conditioner for a seat according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The one side opening arranged on the seating part
The seating part that is not blocked when a member sits down
At both left and right ends of the
The air conditioner for a seat according to claim 1, which is characterized in that.