JP4322877B2 - Air conditioning unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit, and more particularly to an air conditioning unit connected to a ventilation introduction path formed in a cushion pad such as a vehicle seat.

  In the vehicle seat, warm air or cold air is supplied from the air conditioning unit body equipped with a Peltier element and a blower fan to the air blowing passage formed in the cushion pad, so as to improve the comfort when the occupant is seated There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

As conventional vehicle seats, there are known a type that uses the elasticity of a spring and the elasticity of a cushion pad, and a type that uses only the elasticity of a cushion pad without using a spring. The former is called a “spring type seat” (see attached FIG. 9), and the latter is called a “non-spring type seat” (see attached FIGS. 7 and 8).
7 and 8, the latter non-spring type seat supports the cushion pad 103 inside the seat cushion 102 only by the rigid metal frame 104, while the former spring type seat is as shown in FIG. Further, the cushion pad 103 is supported by the support frame 105 and the S spring 106.

  In the non-spring type seat, the air conditioning unit main body 107 is attached to the bottom surface of the metal frame 104 that houses the cushion pad 103, and a gas such as air is blown out from the outlet of the air conditioning unit main body 107. Since the cushion pad 103 is configured to be relatively thick (see FIG. 8A), even when the occupant is seated, the upper surface of the cushion pad 103 does not sink to the ejection port 108 (see FIG. 8). 8 (b)). Therefore, the ejection port 108 of the air conditioning unit main body 107 is not blocked by the skin of the seat cushion 102 that covers the cushion pad 103.

On the other hand, unlike the non-spring type seat, the spring type seat is provided with a spring 106 on the bottom surface of the cushion pad 103 (see FIG. 9A). Because of the weight of the air conditioning unit main body 107, it is difficult to attach and fix to the spring 106. For this reason, it is necessary to separately install a fixing frame 109 for attaching the air conditioning unit main body. However, even if the air conditioning unit main body 107 is fixedly arranged in this manner, the cushion pad 103 is thinner than the non-spring type seat (FIG. 9A), so that the problem of blockage of the spout 108 occurs (FIG. 9 ( b)). On the other hand, when a non-uniform load is applied on the seat, the jet port 109 is twisted with the swing of the spring, and in the worst case, there is a problem that the jet port portion is broken (FIG. 9C).
That is, in the spring type seat, even if the occupant is seated even if the fixing frame 109 is separately installed to fix the air conditioning unit main body 107 and the spout 108 of the air conditioning unit main body 107 is inserted into the cushion pad 103, Since the cushion pad 103 causes a problem of blocking of the jet port 108, and the spring 106 is bent to deform the cushion pad 103 as a whole, there is a problem of breakage of the jet port.
The blockage or breakage of the jet outlet causes a deterioration in the function of the air conditioning unit itself.
JP 2004-275370 A JP 2005-280710 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem that may occur when a separately provided fixing frame is attached to an air-conditioning unit in a spring-type seat, that is, the air-conditioning unit itself that is caused by jet-out blockage or jet-out damage. It is to provide an air-conditioning unit that can eliminate the functional deterioration.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor can solve the problem of blockage of the jet port by inserting a nested duct into the jet port, and is supported by a spring member to support the spring member. By attaching the duct support member that swings in conjunction with the bending to the telescopic duct, the problem of the spout (and therefore telescopic duct) breakage can be solved, thereby effectively preventing the air conditioning unit from functioning down. This finding has led to the completion of the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides hot air through a duct from an air conditioning unit main body fixed to a fixed frame attached to the support frame to a ventilation introduction path formed in a cushion pad of a seat supported by a support frame and a spring member. Alternatively, in the air conditioning unit that supplies cold air, the duct includes an outlet insertion portion that is nested in a gas outlet provided in the air conditioning unit main body and an outlet that is connected to the air introduction path. The duct body includes a duct body and a duct support member that supports the duct body to the spring member. The duct support member has an opening into which the duct body is inserted, and a shaft portion on a peripheral wall facing the duct body. There is provided an air conditioning unit characterized in that the air conditioning unit is swingably connected via the.

  The duct support member may be configured by a flange that surrounds the duct body, and may be pivotally supported by the duct body so as to be swingable.

  The duct body may be provided with a step portion facing the flange portion with the spring member interposed therebetween.

  When an occupant is seated on a seat with the air conditioning unit configured as described above, even if the spring member is bent and the cushion pad sinks downward, it is nested and connected to the gas outlet. Since the duct moves downward in conjunction with the bending of the spring member, the discharge port is not blocked by the skin of the sheet. On the other hand, when the occupant sits on the seat and the spring member bends, the duct support member attached to the duct body swings in conjunction with this, and a load is applied to the duct support member, which is applied to the discharge port portion of the duct body. The load can be reduced. Thereby, even if a nonuniform load is applied on the sheet, the discharge port portion is not damaged. Therefore, if it is an air conditioning unit comprised as mentioned above, the jet outlet obstruction | occlusion of the air conditioning unit which may occur in a spring-type seat, or a jet outlet damage can be prevented, and the function of air conditioning unit itself is not reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As described above, the air conditioning unit 1 of the present invention is an air conditioning unit that supplies hot or cold air to the air introduction path 35 formed in the cushion pad 34 of the seat 2 supported by the support frame 32 and the spring member 33. 1 and includes a base 12b disposed at a predetermined interval from the cushion pad 34, a fixed frame 12 attached to the support frame 33, and an air conditioning unit body 11 fixed to the base 12b of the fixed frame 12. And a gas jet port 11f provided in the air conditioning unit main body 11 and a duct 13 connecting the air blowing introduction path 35. The duct 13 is connected to the gas jet port 11f in a nested manner, and A duct body 13a that is displaced in conjunction with the bending of the spring member 33, and a peripheral wall of the duct body 13a. 33 is supported comprising a duct support member 13b to swing in conjunction with the deflection of the spring member 33

  FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is attached to a vehicle seat 2. The vehicle seat 2 is a seat that is generally placed in front of an automobile, and includes a seat cushion 3 that constitutes a seat where the occupant's buttocks and thighs are installed, and the occupant's waist and back. It consists of a seat back 4 constituting the backrest part.

  A cushion support member 31 is installed inside the seat cushion 3. The cushion support member 31 includes a support frame 32 and a plurality of spring members, for example, S springs 33. The S springs 33 are attached to the lower part of the support frame 32 and are arranged at equal intervals in the depth direction of the seat cushion 3.

The cushion pad 34 is placed on the support member 31 and supported by the support member 31. In the approximate center of the cushion pad 34, an air introduction path 35 to which the discharge port 13c of the duct 13 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is connected is formed.
The air introduction path 35 penetrates in the height direction of the cushion pad 34 and is configured in a horizontally long rectangular shape. On the upper part of the cushion pad 34, an air distribution path 36 communicating with the air introduction path 35 is formed, and is arranged radially with the air introduction path 35 as a center.

  The air conditioning unit 1 includes an air conditioning unit main body 11, a fixed frame 12, a duct 13, and a power supply unit 14.

  The air conditioning unit body 11 is fixed to a fixed frame 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioning unit body 11 includes an air conditioning unit housing 11a, a Peltier unit 11b as a heat exchanger, and a blower fan 11c. Further, the air conditioning unit main body 11 includes an air inlet 11d for introducing air from the air blowing fan 11c, an air outlet 11e for exhausting hot air or cold air generated by the Peltier unit 11b, and an air conditioner generated by the Peltier unit 11b. And a gas jet port 11 f for supplying cold air or hot air to the duct 13. The air-conditioning unit housing 11a is attached to the base portion 12b with the air inlet 11d portion inserted into the opening 12d of the fixed frame 12. The intake port 11d is located on the lower rear side of the center of the lower surface of the base portion 12b. The exhaust port 11e is located on the lower front side of the center of the bottom surface of the base portion 12b. The gas outlet 11f is located on the upper side of the center of the upper surface of the base portion 12b. Inside the air conditioning unit housing 11a, there are formed air passages 11g communicating with the air inlet 11d, the air outlet 11e and the gas outlet 11f, respectively. A blower fan 11c is attached to the air inlet 11d of the air conditioning unit housing 11a. The Peltier unit 11b is installed in an air passage 11g located between the intake port 11d and the exhaust port 11e. The Peltier unit 11b includes upper and lower heat sinks 11h and 11i, and a Peltier element 11j as a heat exchanger sandwiched between the two heat sinks 11h and 11i. The gas outlet 11f of the air conditioning unit main body 11 is connected to the air introduction path 35 of the cushion pad 34 via the duct 13 (FIG. 4 / FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed frame 12 is attached to the lower part of the support frame 32 of the seat cushion 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed frame 12 is formed by bending both ends of a rigid plate, and includes a side wall portion 12a and a base portion 12b. A flange portion 12c is formed on the upper portion of the side wall portion 12a. The fixed frame 12 is attached to the support frame 32 by fixing the flange portion 12c to the lower portion of the support frame 32 with a screw member or the like, and the base portion 12b is disposed at a predetermined interval from the cushion pad 34. An opening 12d is formed in the center of the base portion 12b. A gas outlet 11f of the air conditioning unit body 11 is inserted into the opening 12d.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the duct 13 includes a duct main body 13a made of a rigid material and a flange 13b as a duct support member. The duct body 13 a includes a discharge port 13 c connected to the air introduction path 35 formed in the cushion pad 34, and a jet port insertion portion 13 d connected to the gas jet port 11 f of the air conditioning unit main body 11. The size of the opening of the jet outlet insertion portion 13d is larger than the outer shape of the insertion portion of the air conditioning unit housing 11a in which the gas jet outlet 11f is formed, and the duct main body 13a is nested in the air conditioning unit main body 11. Connected to. A step portion 13e protruding outward is formed at substantially the center of the front and rear peripheral walls of the duct body 13a connected to the air introduction path 35. The step portion 13e may be a plate material protruding from the duct body 13a. The collar portion 13b is formed of a horizontally long rectangular plate material. The flange 13b may be formed by forming a wire material in a rectangular shape. A horizontally long rectangular opening 13f into which the duct body 13a is inserted is formed at the center of the flange 13b. A rubber pad 13g that protects the flange 13b is bonded to the back surface of the flange 13b. Rubber pads 13h that protect the duct main body 13a are bonded to the front and rear peripheral walls of the duct main body 13a located between the flange 13b and the stepped portion 13e. The flange portion 13b includes an arm portion 13i having a shaft portion insertion hole. The arm portion 13i is pivotally supported by connecting the arm portion 13i to the left and right peripheral walls of the duct body 13a via the shaft portion 13j. ing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the duct 13 is disposed between two S springs 33, and both ends of the flange 13b are adjacent to each other via rubber pads 13g bonded to the back surface of the flange 13b. It is supported by the S spring 33. The thickness of the rubber pad 13g is configured to be different in consideration of the difference in height of the S spring 33.

  The power supply unit 14 is connected to the Peltier element 11j and the blower fan 11c, respectively, and supplies power thereto.

  Next, the operation when the air-conditioning unit 1 having the above-described configuration is attached to the vehicle seat 2 and an occupant is seated will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when a seated occupant's load is applied to the seat cushion 3 of the vehicle seat 2, the S spring 33 is bent, and the cushion pad 34 is deformed and sinks downward. At this time, the duct body 13a telescopically connected to the gas outlet 11f moves downward in conjunction with the bending of the S spring 33, so that the discharge port 13c is blocked by the skin of the vehicle seat 2. There is no. At the same time, a load is also applied to the flange portion 13b connected to the duct body 13a, and the flange portion 13b swings about the shaft portion 13j in response to the inclination of the cushion pad 34, and the discharge port 13c of the duct body 13a. Reduce the load applied in the vicinity.

  Thus, with the air conditioning unit 1 of the present invention, even if a load is applied to the vehicle seat 2, it is not blocked by the skin, and the load applied to the vehicle seat 2 is uneven. Even if it is a thing, since the discharge port 13c of the duct main body 13a is not damaged, the function of the air conditioning unit 1 itself is not deteriorated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the flange portion 13b of the duct 13 is swung around one shaft portion 13j. However, as shown in FIG. 6, another embodiment having two shaft portions is also included in the present invention. Is included. That is, when the shaft portion 13j is provided on the frame body 13k, and the frame body 13k is swung around another shaft portion 13L orthogonal to the plane including the shaft portion 13j, the cushion pad 34 is three-dimensional. Can follow any deformation.

  The air conditioning unit 1 of the present invention is not limited to the vehicle seat 2, and for example, a cushion pad supported by a support frame and a spring member such as bedding, an aircraft seat, a sofa, a sofa bed, and a bed is used. It can also be applied to manufactured products.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat to which an air conditioning unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. It is a partial cross section figure of the seat cushion of FIG. It is a perspective view of the air-conditioning unit main body of FIG. It is a perspective view of the fixed frame of FIG. It is a perspective view of the duct of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the duct of FIG. It is a perspective view of a known non-spring type seat to which an air conditioning unit is attached. It is a partial sectional view of a seat cushion of a known non-spring type seat. It is a partial sectional view of a seat cushion of a known spring type seat.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning unit 11 Air-conditioning unit main body 11a Air-conditioning unit housing 11b Peltier unit 11c Blower fan 11d Inlet 11e Exhaust 11f Gas outlet 11g Blower 11h Upper heat sink 11i Lower heat sink 11j Peltier element 12 Fixed frame 12a Side wall part 12b Base Part 12c opening part 13 duct 13a duct main body 13b flange part 13c discharge port 13d spout insertion part 13e step part 13f opening part 13g, 13h rubber pad 13i arm part 13j shaft part 13k frame body 13l shaft part 2 vehicle seat 3 seat cushion 31 Cushion support member 32 Support frame 33 S spring 34 Cushion pad 35 Blower introduction path 36 Air distribution path 4 Seat back

Claims (6)

Hot air or cold air is fed through a duct from an air conditioning unit main body fixed to a fixed frame attached to the support frame to a ventilation introduction path formed on a cushion pad of a seat supported by a support frame and a spring member. In the air conditioning unit,
The duct includes a duct main body including a jet outlet insertion portion connected in a nested manner to a gas jet provided in the air conditioning unit main body, and a discharge port connected to the air blowing introduction path, and the duct main body as the spring. It consists of a duct support member that supports the member,
The duct support member is formed with an opening into which the duct main body is inserted, and is connected to an opposing peripheral wall of the duct main body through a shaft portion so as to be swingable.   The air conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the duct support member includes a flange portion surrounding the duct body, and is pivotally supported by the duct body so as to be swingable.   The air conditioning unit according to claim 2, wherein the duct main body includes a stepped portion facing the flange portion with the spring member interposed therebetween.   The air conditioning unit according to claim 2, wherein a rubber pad is provided on a surface of the flange that faces the spring member.   The air conditioning unit according to claim 3, wherein a rubber pad is provided in the duct body between the flange and the stepped portion. A duct used for an air conditioning unit,
The air conditioning unit supplies hot or cold air through a duct from the air conditioning unit main body to a ventilation introduction path formed in a cushion pad of a seat supported by a support frame and a spring member,
The duct includes a duct main body including a jet outlet insertion portion connected in a nested manner to a gas jet provided in the air conditioning unit main body, and a discharge port connected to the air blowing introduction path, and the duct main body as the spring. It consists of a duct support member that supports the member,
The duct support member has an opening into which the duct main body is inserted, and is connected to a peripheral wall facing the duct main body so as to be swingable through a shaft portion .

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