JPH06249540A - Steering wheel temperature adjustor for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a capability of adjusting a steering wheel at a proper temperature and an adaptation to a drop in the temperature of the steering wheel in winter seasons. CONSTITUTION:A steering wheel body 100 is made up of a material with excellent heat conductivity and is provided with a Peltier element 200. The steering wheel body 100 is heated or cooled with the Peltier element 200 and is packed with a heat medium 300.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the temperature of a steering wheel of an automobile or the like to an appropriate temperature in summer and winter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a car is parked under the hot sun in summer, the temperature inside the car becomes extremely high. If the vehicle is parked outdoors in winter, the temperature inside the vehicle will be low. Therefore, the temperature of the steering wheel is high in the summer and the temperature of the steering wheel is low in the winter. For this reason, the driver immediately after getting on the vehicle feels uncomfortable due to the temperature of the steering wheel, and in some cases, the steering wheel cannot be grasped sufficiently, which may hinder quick and reliable driving.

In order to solve such a problem, the actual flatbed 2
The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 120216 has been proposed. This has a solar cell, an air blower driven by the solar cell, and a Peltier element operated by the solar cell, and the cool air cooled by the Peltier element is supplied to the periphery of the handle by the air blower. It is configured to prevent temperature rise.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional device has the following problems. That is, since the Peltier device is operated by the solar cell, a large amount of solar cells are required. This is unacceptable due to vehicle design issues. Further, since the cold air is blown around the handle to prevent the temperature of the handle from rising, the ability has a certain limit. Further, although the conventional device described above can prevent the temperature of the handle from rising in the summer,
The problem that the temperature of the steering wheel becomes low in winter has not been solved at all.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel temperature adjusting device for a vehicle which has a high ability to adjust the steering wheel to an appropriate temperature and can cope with a decrease in the temperature of the steering wheel in winter. Has an aim.

[0006]

A handlebar temperature adjusting device for a vehicle according to the present invention has a handlebar body made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity, and a Peltier element provided in the handlebar body. A handle Peltier element heats or cools the handle body, and the handle body is filled with a heat medium.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic partially broken side view showing a vehicle steering wheel temperature adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view around a driver's seat of an automobile incorporating the vehicle steering wheel temperature adjusting device. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the vicinity of a driver's seat of an automobile incorporating this vehicle handle temperature adjusting device.

The vehicle handle temperature adjusting device according to the present embodiment is provided on the handle body 100, which is made of a material having excellent heat conductivity and which is filled with the heat medium 300. And a Peltier device 200.

The handle main body 100 is a rim portion 1 to be gripped by a hand.
10, a boss portion 120 connecting the steering wheel main body 100 to an automobile steering device, and an inner side of the rim portion 110,
It has a radial connecting portion 130 (see FIG. 3) that connects the rim portion 110 and the boss portion 120. The rim portion 110 is made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity such as aluminum alloy. The inside of the rim portion 110 is hollow and is filled with the heat medium 300. That is,
The rim portion 110 is configured like a heat pipe. The surface of the rim portion 110 is adhered with synthetic resin, leather, or the like so that the rim portion 110 has a good feel when grasped with a hand.

On the other hand, the boss portion 120 has a surface (that is,
A horn button (not shown) is provided at the location closest to the driver. Further, on the back surface side of the boss portion 120, the radiating fin 400 is provided with the Peltier element 200 interposed.
Is attached. In addition, this radiation fin 400
Is an air conditioner 510 installed on the dashboard 500.
The cold air or the warm air F from the blowout port 520 of the above is hit.

The radiating fin 400 is covered with a cover 410 due to a design problem, and cold air or warm air F hits the radiating fin 400 through an opening 411 of the cover 410.

The Peltier device 200 is connected to the battery 550 through an ignition switch 530 and a main switch 540 for turning on / off the vehicle steering wheel temperature adjusting device. In addition, the Peltier device 200
Between the battery 550 and the battery 550, an automatic cutoff switch (not shown) that turns off the Peltier device 200 when the rim portion 110 reaches a predetermined temperature is provided. Also,
The Peltier device 200 is a changeover switch for changing the polarity.
(Not shown). The operation unit 541 of the main switch 540 and the operation unit 542 of the changeover switch are provided on the dashboard 500 and the like.

Next, the operation of the vehicle steering wheel temperature adjusting device thus constructed will be described. When the ignition switch 530 is turned on, the engine starts.
At this time, if the main switch 540 is on, the Peltier element 200 operates and heat absorption or heat dissipation of the Peltier element 200 is started. The heat absorption or heat dissipation by the Peltier element 200 is performed through the boss portion 120 and the connecting portion 130 to the rim portion 1.
10 and the heat medium 300 filled in the rim portion 110.
Thus, the rim portion 110 is cooled or heated.

At this time, the cold air or the hot air F from the air conditioner 510 hits the radiation fins 400, so that the rim portion 110 is cooled or heated more efficiently.

When the rim portion 110 reaches a predetermined temperature,
Power supply to the Peltier device 200 is automatically stopped by the automatic cutoff switch.

In the above embodiment, the boss portion 120
Although the Peltier element 200 is interposed between the heat radiation fin 400 and the heat radiation fin 400, it may be directly provided on the rim portion 110. If the rim portion 110 reaches a predetermined temperature,
Instead of the automatic cutoff switch for stopping the power supply to the Peltier device 200, a timer may be provided for stopping the power supply to the Peltier device 200 when a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0017]

The vehicle handle temperature adjusting device according to the present invention comprises a handle body made of a material having excellent heat conductivity and a Peltier element provided on the handle body. Since the handle body is heated or cooled by the element to adjust the handle body to an appropriate temperature, the ability to adjust the handle body to a proper temperature is high and it is possible to cope with the temperature drop of the handle wheel in winter.

Further, when the handle body is filled with the heat medium, the handle body becomes like a heat pipe, so that the handle body can be cooled or heated more efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic partially cutaway side view showing a vehicle steering wheel temperature adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a driver's seat of an automobile incorporating the vehicle handle temperature adjusting device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the periphery of a driver's seat of an automobile in which the steering wheel temperature adjusting device for a vehicle is incorporated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Handle body 200 Peltier element 300 Heat medium

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for adjusting the temperature of a vehicle handlebar to an appropriate temperature, comprising a handlebar body made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity, and a Peltier element provided in the handlebar body. A handle temperature adjusting device for a vehicle, wherein a handle body is heated or cooled by a Peltier element. 2. The vehicle handle temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the handle body is filled with a heat medium.