JP2006304854A - Air conditioning unit for seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an efficiency of loading a Peltier element and its fins into a seat. <P>SOLUTION: A plate-like connection plate 27b constituting a seat frame is provided with a first and a second plate-like part 29a and 29b as a plate-like member 28 via a space 30. The plate-like Peltier element 2 is inserted into and disposed on the space 30 to bring a cooling face 2a and a heating face 2b into thermal contact with the member 28. The slit fins 33a and 33b are formed on the first and the second parts 29a and 29b. Ducts 9 are so assembled with the connection plate 27b that the member 28 is sandwiched by them. The blow from a blower 8 disposed in a blowward side of the ducts 9 is cooled and heated by the fins 33a and the fins 33b respectively and blown out from air outlets 10a and 10b in directions different from each other outside the seat. The fact, that the dedicated fins for the element 2 need not be provided, improves the efficiency of loading the element 2 into the seat. Radiation through all of the seat frame improves a radiation efficiency as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seat air conditioning unit, and is particularly suitable for being disposed in a vehicle seat.

Conventionally, as an automobile seat having a heating and cooling function, a Peltier element, which is an electrothermal conversion element, is arranged on the leeward side of a blower and cooled or heated by cooling fins and exhaust heat fins arranged on both sides of the Peltier element. There is one that blows out the air to the sheet surface (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-277020

  However, conventionally, the Peltier element and the fins for cooling and exhaust heat are used as an integral member and arranged in the seat or in the vicinity of the seat separately from the constituent members of the seat. For this reason, the mounting efficiency of the Peltier elements and fins is reduced, that is, the Peltier elements and fins occupy an unnecessarily large space in the seat or in the vicinity of the seat, and the space efficiency in the vehicle interior is reduced.

  Conventionally, the fins for cooling and exhaust heat formed in the Peltier element are used for heat exchange with the surrounding air, so the heat exchange area of the fin is limited, and the heat dissipation efficiency of the Peltier element is reduced. It was restricted.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to improve the mounting efficiency of a Peltier element and its fins on a sheet. Furthermore, it aims at improving the thermal radiation efficiency of a Peltier device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a seat air conditioning unit (1) disposed in a seat (20) having a number of air blowing holes (23) formed on a surface thereof,
Blowers (5, 8), ducts (6, 9, 9a, 9b) provided on the blowout side of the blower, and air outlets provided on the downstream side of the duct and opening to the air blowout holes on the surface of the sheet ( 7, 10a, 10b), and a Peltier element provided between the blower and the outlet in the duct and having a cooling surface (2a) that absorbs heat in accordance with the input electric power and a heat generation surface (2b) that generates heat (2), and at least one of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface of the Peltier element is in thermal contact with the surface of the plate-like member (27a, 28) formed on the skeleton (25) of the sheet. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, since at least one of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface of the Peltier element is disposed so as to be in thermal contact with the plate-like member formed on the sheet skeleton, the Peltier element is arranged through the contact surface. Heat conduction or heat absorption can be performed, and fins on the contact surface can be omitted. Therefore, the mounting efficiency of the Peltier element in the sheet can be improved. In addition, since the plate-like member of the sheet skeleton is used as a heat exchange fin, the heat exchange area can be increased and the heat dissipation efficiency of the Peltier element can be improved.

  When one surface of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface is in thermal contact with the surface of the plate-like member, the fin (4) is provided on the other surface of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface as described in claim 2. And fins are disposed in the duct to exchange heat with the wind from the blower.

  Furthermore, as described in claim 3, if the surface that is in thermal contact with the surface of the plate-like member is a heat generating surface, the cooling surface on which the fins on the opposite side are formed cools the air from the blower. The heat generated by the Peltier element can be efficiently radiated to the plate-like member of the sheet frame.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the plate-like member includes a first plate-like portion (29a) and a second plate-like portion (29b) facing each other with a gap (30) therebetween, and the Peltier element is a plate-like member. The cooling surface is in thermal contact with the gap-side surface (31a) of the first plate-like portion, and the heat generation surface is thermally contacted with the gap-side surface (31b) of the second plate-like portion. It is characterized by being in contact.

  According to the present invention, since the cooling surface and the heat generating surface of the Peltier element are both in thermal contact with the plate member of the sheet skeleton, the mounting efficiency of the Peltier element can be further improved.

  In this case, as described in claim 5, the air outlet includes the first air outlet (10a) and the second air outlet (10b), and the duct is connected to the first duct (9a) opening to the first air outlet and the first air outlet. Branched to the second duct (9b) that opens to the two outlets, the plate-like member and the Peltier element are arranged in the duct, and the surface (32a) opposite to the Peltier element of the first plate-like portion is It can be configured to exchange heat with the air flow in the first duct, and to exchange heat with the air flow in the second duct on the surface (32b) of the second plate-like part opposite to the Peltier element.

  Further, as described in claim 6, fins (33a, 33b) are provided on the surface of the first plate-like part opposite to the Peltier element and on the surface of the second plate-like part opposite to the Peltier element, respectively. ) Can be formed.

  In addition, the plate-like member of the sheet skeleton can improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the Peltier element using the high thermal conductivity of the metal by forming it with a metal as described in claim 7, As described in claim 8, by forming with a magnesium alloy material, it is possible to achieve both improvement in strength and weight reduction of the sheet skeleton.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vehicle seat 20 in which the seat air conditioning unit 1 of the first embodiment is disposed. The seat 20 includes a seat back 21 and a seat cushion 22. A headrest stay insertion opening 24 is provided at the upper end of the seat back 21.

  A seat air conditioning unit 1 is disposed inside the seat back 21. Similarly, a seat air conditioning unit (not shown) is also provided inside the seat cushion 22. In the following, the seat air conditioning unit 1 disposed in the seat back 21 will be described.

  The skins 21a and 22a of the seat back 21 and the seat cushion 22 are provided with a number of air blowing holes 23 (not shown) for blowing the conditioned air from the seat air conditioning unit 1 onto the seat surface.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the skeleton 25 of the seat 20 viewed from the same direction as FIG. 1, and shows only the skeleton 25 of the seat back 21. That is, the seat skeleton 25 is a strength member of the seat 20, and a cushion material (not shown) is disposed so as to wrap the seat skeleton 25, and the cushion material is held in shape by the skins 21a and 22a, so that the seating of the occupant To be served.

  The seat skeleton 25 includes side support members 26a and 26b and connecting plates 27a and 27b that connect the side support members 26a and 26b in the vertical position. The side support members 26a and 26b and the connecting plates 27a and 27b are integrally formed of a magnesium alloy material.

  The seat air conditioning unit 1 includes a blower 5, a duct 6 provided on the blowout side of the blower 5, and an air outlet that is provided on the downstream side of the duct 6 and opens to an air blowout hole 23 formed in the skin 21 a of the seat 20. 7. In the seat air conditioning unit 1, a part of the duct 6 is fixed to the upper connecting plate 27 a and attached to the seat frame 25.

  Further, the seat air conditioning unit 1 includes a Peltier element 2 disposed between the blower 5 and the air outlet 7 in the duct 6. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of the Peltier element 2 on the upper connecting plate 27a, and the duct 6 and the blower 5 are omitted.

  As is well known, the Peltier element 2 has a thin plate shape, and when power is supplied by the wire harness 3, the Peltier element 2 absorbs heat from the surroundings at the cooling surface 2a, which is one surface, and simultaneously generates heat at the other surface. Heat is generated on the surface 2b. The amount of heat of heat absorption / heat generation is in accordance with the input electric power, and the direction of heat absorption / heat generation is in accordance with the voltage polarity of the electric power.

  The heat generating surface 2b of the Peltier element 2 is exposed from the opening of the duct 6 (not shown) to the outside of the seat air conditioning unit 1, and is disposed so as to be in thermal contact with the upper connecting plate 27a as a plate-like member.

  The term “thermal contact” means that heat conduction between the surface of the Peltier element 2 (the heat generating surface 2b) and the plate-like member (the upper connecting plate 27a) is performed in a state where energy loss is reduced. In the first embodiment, a paste or adhesive film having a good thermal conductivity is formed between the heat generating surface 2b and the upper connecting plate 27a so as not to generate a gap, that is, to increase the contact area. The surface 2b and the upper connecting plate (plate member) 27a are in thermal contact.

  Fins 4 are formed on the cooling surface 2 a which is the other surface of the Peltier element 2. The fin 4 may be formed on the cooling surface 2a at the same time when the heat generating surface 2b of the Peltier element 2 is brought into contact with the upper connecting plate 27a. Alternatively, the fin 4 may be previously formed on the cooling surface in the manufacturing process of the Peltier element 2. You may form in 2a.

  In this way, the heat generating surface 2b of the Peltier element 2 is brought into thermal contact with the upper connecting plate 27a as a plate-like member of the sheet skeleton 25, and the fin 4 is formed on the other cooling surface 2a. The air conditioning unit 1 is covered with a duct 6.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the air flow FU formed by the blower 4 in the duct 6 passes through the fin 4 from the upstream side of the Peltier element 2, the air flow FU is absorbed into the cooling surface 2 a that is absorbed according to the input power. It is cooled by the provided fins 4 and is sent as cooling air FD to the downstream outlet 7.

  At this time, the heat generated on the heat generating surface 2b according to the introduced power is transmitted to the upper connecting plate 27a in thermal contact with a small loss. Further, this heat is transferred from the upper connecting plate 27a to other members of the sheet skeleton 25 made of the same magnesium alloy material, and is dissipated outside the sheet skeleton over a wide area of the entire sheet skeleton 25.

  Thus, the heat energy generated and absorbed by the Peltier element 2 is efficiently exchanged with the surrounding air by the fins 4 in the duct 6, the upper connecting plate 27a as the plate-like member, and the seat frame 25, respectively. .

  Further, the heat generating surface 2b, which is at least one surface of the Peltier element 2, is brought into thermal contact with a plate-like member (upper connecting plate 27a) that forms a part of the sheet skeleton 25 for heat dissipation, whereby the Peltier element. 2 is not necessary to form a space around the fins, so that the efficiency of mounting the Peltier element 2 in the seat air-conditioning unit 1 and the seat air-conditioning unit 1 in the seat 20 are not required. Mounting efficiency can be increased.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the seat air conditioning unit 1 of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seat skeleton 25 of the second embodiment, viewed from the same direction as FIGS. 1 and 2. The difference from the first embodiment is that the plate-like member 28 is provided on the lower connecting plate 27b.

  In FIG. 5, the perspective view of the assembly | attachment disassembly of the plate-shaped member 28 of 2nd Embodiment and the sheet | seat air-conditioning unit 1 is shown.

  The plate-like member 28 of the second embodiment is formed to protrude upward from the upper side portion of the lower connecting plate 27b. The plate-like member 28 includes a first plate-like portion 29a and a second plate-like portion 29b that face each other with a gap 30 therebetween.

  The Peltier element 2 is inserted and arranged in the gap 30 of the plate-like member 28. At that time, the cooling surface 2a is in thermal contact with the surface 31a on the gap 30 side of the first plate-like portion 29a through the film of the heat conductive material. Further, the heat generating surface 2b is in thermal contact with the surface 31b on the gap 30 side of the second plate-shaped portion 29b through a film of a heat conductive material.

  On the other hand, fins 33a and 33b are formed on the surface 32a of the first plate-like portion 29a opposite to the Peltier element 2 and the surface 32b of the second plate-like portion 29b opposite to the Peltier element 2, respectively. Yes. The fins 33a and 33b are formed with a plurality of grooves (slits) in the air flow direction in order to increase the heat exchange area. Note that such slit-shaped fins 33a and 33b can be formed at the same time when the sheet skeleton 25 is made of a magnesium alloy material.

  The duct 9 of the seat air conditioning unit 1 is assembled to the lower connecting plate 27b so as to sandwich the plate-like member 28. A blower 8 is disposed downstream (upwind) of the duct 9.

  The plate member 28 functions as a separation wall in the duct 9. That is, the air blown by the blower 8 is branched by the plate-like member 28 into the fin 33a forming surface 32a side on the first plate-like portion 29a side and the fin 33b forming surface 32b side on the second plate-like portion 29b side. .

  Then, one of the branched air flows is cooled by the fins 33a on the first plate-like portion 29a side, and blown out from the first air outlet 10a toward the sheet skin 21a through the branched duct 9a. Similarly, the other of the branched air flow is heated by the fins 33b on the second plate-like portion 29b side, and is discharged out of the seat 20 as exhaust heat through the branched duct 9b and from the second outlet 10b. The

  As described above, in the second embodiment, no dedicated fin is formed in the Peltier element 2 itself, and the Peltier element 2 is inserted and disposed in the gap 30 of the plate-like member 28 provided on the sheet frame 25 side. Therefore, the mounting efficiency in the seat 20 can be increased.

  In addition, since the fins 33a and 33b can be formed on the plate-like member 28 itself, the heat dissipation efficiency of the Peltier element 2 arranged in thermal contact with the plate-like member 28 can be improved.

(Other embodiments)
In each said embodiment, although the sheet | seat frame | skeleton 25 showed the example formed entirely with magnesium alloy material, you may form not only this but aluminum alloy material. Furthermore, the material of the plate-like members 7a and 28 and other portions may be changed, or only the plate-like members 7a and 28 may be formed of a metal material having high heat conduction efficiency.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the vehicle seat of an embodiment. It is a perspective view of the seat frame of the seat back part of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning form to the upper connection board of the Peltier device of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the seat frame of the seat back part of a 2nd embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment decomposition | disassembly of the plate-shaped member and sheet | seat air-conditioning unit of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Seat air-conditioning unit, 2 ... Peltier element, 2a ... Cooling surface, 2b ... Heat generating surface,
4 ... Fins, 5 ... Blower, 6 ... Duct, 7 ... Air outlet, 8 ... Blower,
9, 9a, 9b ... duct, 10a ... first outlet, 10b ... second outlet,
25 ... sheet skeleton, 27a ... upper connecting plate (plate-like member), 27b ... lower connecting plate,
28 ... Plate-like member, 30 ... Gap, 33a, 33b ... Fin (slit, groove).

Claims (8)

A sheet air conditioning unit (1) disposed in a sheet (20) having a number of air blowing holes (23) formed on a surface thereof,
A blower (5, 8);
Ducts (6, 9, 9a, 9b) provided on the outlet side of the blower,
Air outlets (7, 10a, 10b) provided on the downstream side of the duct and opening to the air outlet holes on the surface of the sheet;
A Peltier element (2) provided between the blower in the duct and the air outlet, and having a cooling surface (2a) that absorbs heat in accordance with input electric power and a heat generation surface (2b) that generates heat; With
At least one surface of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface of the Peltier element is in thermal contact with the surface of the plate-like member (27a, 28) formed on the skeleton (25) of the sheet. Air conditioning unit. When one surface of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface is in thermal contact with the surface of the plate-like member, a fin (4) is formed on the other surface of the cooling surface and the heat generating surface, and the fin The seat air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the seat air-conditioning unit is disposed in the duct and exchanges heat with wind generated by the blower. The seat air-conditioning unit according to claim 2, wherein the surface that is in thermal contact with the surface of the plate-like member is the heat generating surface. The plate-like member includes a first plate-like portion (29a) and a second plate-like portion (29b) facing each other with a gap (30) interposed therebetween,
The Peltier element is inserted into the gap between the plate-like members, the cooling surface is in thermal contact with the gap-side surface (31a) of the first plate-like portion, and the heating surface is the second plate-like shape. The seat air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the seat air-conditioning unit is in thermal contact with the surface (31b) on the gap side of the portion. The air outlet comprises a first air outlet (10a) and a second air outlet (10b),
The duct is branched into a first duct (9a) that opens to the first outlet and a second duct (9b) that opens to the second outlet.
The plate-like member and the Peltier element are disposed in the duct, and the surface (32a) of the first plate-like part opposite to the Peltier element exchanges heat with the air flow in the first duct, The seat air conditioning unit according to claim 4, wherein a surface (32b) opposite to the Peltier element of the second plate-shaped portion exchanges heat with the air flow in the second duct. Fins (33a, 33b) are formed on the surface of the first plate-like part opposite to the Peltier element and the surface of the second plate-like part opposite to the Peltier element, respectively. The seat air conditioning unit according to claim 5. The seat air-conditioning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plate-like member of the seat skeleton is made of metal. The sheet air-conditioning unit according to claim 7, wherein the plate member of the seat skeleton is made of a magnesium alloy material.

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