JP3855935B2 - Vehicle seat air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat air conditioner built in a vehicle seat, and is effective particularly when a dynamic pressure type blower is used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various conventional vehicle seat air-conditioners have been proposed. The air blowing unit placed on the back side of the seat sucks indoor air into the air-permeable material placed near the seat skin through the ventilation holes, and further ventilates the material. Some of them are used as roads and are finally discharged from exhaust holes provided separately from the air holes. Thereby, it is going to improve the arousal in a sheet | seat by providing a ventilation hole and an exhaust hole separately.
[0003]
In the vehicle seat air conditioner, a blower unit is inserted into the blower hole. And the protection member is arrange | positioned with a ventilation unit and a clearance gap. This protection member has a plate-like portion facing the blower unit, and protects the blower unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-313730
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, the air permeability on the suction opening side of the blower unit when an occupant is seated has not been studied.For example, even if an exhaust hole is provided, the air permeability on the suction opening side is poor. The amount of air blown from the air blowing unit is reduced, and a pleasant air feeling cannot be obtained. Generally, when an occupant is seated, the gap between the protective member and the suction side end of the blower unit is reduced, resulting in poor air permeability.
[0006]
Therefore, the inventors experimentally verified the appropriate range of the blown-out air amount by appropriately setting a gap between the plate-shaped protection member facing the air blowing unit and the suction side end of the air blowing unit. As a result, it was confirmed that as the gap became smaller, a phenomenon occurred in which the air sucked by the blower unit flows backward from the blower hole side to the suction opening side, and the occupant could not obtain a sufficient amount of blown air. This is because, when an axial flow type (dynamic pressure type) blower is used under high pressure loss, a part of the sucked air flows backward from the blow hole side to the suction opening side.
[0007]
In addition, if the gap between the suction side end of the fan and the protection member is narrow, the flow rate of the blown air increases, the noise during suction increases, and the passenger feels uncomfortable.
[0008]
In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to ensure a sufficient amount of air flow and reduce discomfort due to noise in a vehicle air conditioning seat device.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1 , a cushion member (23) that performs a cushioning action of an occupant,
A blower unit (14) that is disposed on the back side of the cushion member (23) and blows air into the cushion member (23);
A vehicle seat air conditioner including a protective member (24, 16a) that has a clearance (27) on the back side of the blower unit (14) to protect the blower unit (14),
Of the protective member (24,16A), the site of the blowing unit (14) is opposed, set vent (28) for supplying air to the blower unit (14),
The protective member (24, 16a) is provided with a cover portion (24a, 29) that is blinded so that the vent (28) is not visible.
The cover portions (24a, 29) are disposed with a gap from the cushion member (23) .
[0016]
Thereby, since the vent hole (28) is provided in the protective member (24, 16a), even if the protective member (24, 16a) cannot be bulged out rearward of the seat in the space of the vehicle, 14) The air suction amount does not decrease.
Therefore, since the air suction amount of the air blowing unit (14) can be secured, the air permeability on the air inlet side is good, and a pleasant air feeling can be obtained. In addition, since abnormal noise during inhalation is reduced, passenger discomfort can be reduced.
Furthermore, since the vent hole (28) is blindfolded by the cover portions (24a, 29), the aesthetic appearance of the design is not impaired. In addition, it is possible to prevent an occupant from getting injured by putting his / her hand into the vent (28).
[0017]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1 , the vent hole (28) is formed of a plurality of holes (28a).
[0018]
Thereby, since the vent hole (28) is formed of a plurality of holes (28a), the inside of the vent hole (28) can be made difficult to see while securing the amount of air sucked into the blower unit (14). Large foreign matter can be prevented from being sucked from the hole (28a).
[0019]
As in the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect , if the hole (28a) is formed of a slit-like elongated hole, it is possible to further prevent foreign matter from entering.
[0022]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the protection member (24, 16a) includes a replaceable replacement member (30) in which a portion for sucking air is replaceable, and the replacement member (30) is provided with a vent (28).
[0023]
Thereby, even if dirt, dust, etc. of the air sucked from the vehicle interior adhere to the vent hole (28) of the replacement member (30), the replacement can be easily performed.
[0024]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in claim 4 , the replacement member (30) has a filter function of purifying air.
[0025]
Thereby, dust, dust, and the like of air sucked from the passenger compartment can be removed, and even if dirt, dust, etc. in the air adhere to the replacement member (30), it can be easily replaced.
[0026]
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.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the vehicle seat air conditioner of the present invention is applied to the seat back portion 12.
[0028]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a vehicle seat 10 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, the vehicle seat 10 is used as a seat for a driver seat or a passenger seat. 2A is a front view of the second air blowing unit 14 alone, FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3 is the second air blowing unit 14 to the seat back portion 12. It is sectional drawing which shows the mounting structure. In addition, v1 shown in FIG. 3 shows the air flow direction of the 2nd ventilation unit 14, and v2 shows the direction on the opposite side to the air flow direction of the 2nd ventilation unit 14. As shown in FIG.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion portion 11 that supports the butt portion of the occupant and a seat back portion (seat back portion) 12 that supports the back portion of the occupant. A first blower unit 13 and a second blower unit 14 constituting the blower unit of the present invention are built in the seat cushion portion 11 and the seat backrest portion 12, respectively. In the first embodiment, the first blower unit 13 uses a centrifugal fan.
[0030]
Among these, the 2nd ventilation unit 14 fulfill | performs an air ventilation function, and inhales vehicle interior air from the air inlet 26 (FIG. 3 mentioned later) arrange | positioned in the site | part of the lower part of the seat back part 12. FIG. Then, air (air conditioned air) is passed through the air passage 15 inside the seat back portion 12 from the blowout opening 17 formed of a large number of small holes provided in the skin member 16 of the seat back portion 12 as indicated by an arrow a. It blows out toward the passenger's body.
[0031]
The configuration of the second blower unit 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the second blower unit 14 has a frame-shaped blower casing 19 whose outer shape is a rectangular shape, and an axial flow blower fan inside thereof. 20 is rotatably arranged.
[0032]
The blower fan 20 has a large number of blades 20a arranged around the center of rotation. The blower fan 20 is rotationally driven by a driving motor 21 located at the center of rotation.
[0033]
Next, the internal configuration of the seat back portion 12 will be schematically described with reference to FIG. 3. A cushion member 23 is disposed on the back side of the skin member 16. The skin member 16 is usually made of leather or fabric (a generic term for knitted fabric) in consideration of the sheet design, and the cushion member 23 is made of an elastically stretchable material. The cushion member 23 is a portion in which a sufficient thickness dimension (for example, about 40 mm) is set and the cushion function of the seat can be mainly exhibited.
[0034]
A wire-shaped seat spring 22 having a circular cross section made of a spring steel material is disposed in a vehicle rear side portion of the cushion member 23 (a portion on the back side of the skin member 16) so as to extend in the vehicle left-right direction (horizontal direction). The casing 19 can be elastically supported so that it can be displaced.
[0035]
Although not shown in the figure, the seat back portion 12 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a frame portion serving as a strength (framework) member for maintaining the form of the seat back portion 12, and a seat spring 22 is supported by the frame. Has been. As a result, even if the pressing force from the upper body of the occupant to the vehicle rear side acts on the seat back portion 12, the cushion member 23 and the like can be elastically supported by the seat spring 22 so as to be displaceable.
[0036]
Next, the air passage 15 in the seat back portion 12 will be schematically described with reference to FIG. 3. The cushion member 23 has a ventilation hole 23a penetrating in the thickness direction (vehicle front-rear direction). It communicates with the blowout opening 17 of the skin member 16 via the air distribution groove that is not. This air distribution groove is for distributing the conditioned air from the air blowing hole 23a over a wide range of the occupant contact surface of the seat back portion 12, and in the vicinity of the surface of the skin member 16, the air distribution groove extends from the portion of the air blowing hole 23a. Is branched into a plurality of parts in the vertical direction of the vehicle and extends. Therefore, after the conditioned air in the air distribution groove reaches the space 18 on the back side of the skin member 19, the conditioned air is blown out so as to wrap up the occupant's body from the numerous outlet openings 17 of the skin member 16.
[0037]
Next, the suction side passage structure of the second air blowing unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. A resin backboard that covers the back side of the seat back 12 on the back side of the seat back 12 (vehicle rear side). 24 is arranged. In this example, the back board 24 constitutes the protective member of the present invention.
[0038]
Incidentally, a space 25 is formed between the cushion member 23 and the backboard 24, and the suction side end portion 19 a of the air blowing casing 19 of the second air blowing unit 14 communicates with the space 25. The vehicle rear side of the backboard 24 is formed so that the clearance 27 between the second blower unit 14 and the backboard 24 is 100 mm or less in consideration of foot-insertability. “Footability” refers to the ease of putting in and out the foot when the occupant is seated in the rear seat.
[0039]
The space 25 forms an air suction port 26 by a lower opening thereof, and the air suction port 26 communicates with a vehicle interior space on the back side of the seat back portion 12.
[0040]
Accordingly, when the blower fan 20 is rotationally driven by the driving motor 21 of the second blower unit 14, the air in the passenger compartment flows into the space 25 from the lower air inlet 26 as indicated by the arrow b, and the blower casing 19 from this space 25. It is sucked in. Further, the blown air discharged from the blower fan 20 reaches the blowout opening 17 of the outer skin member 19 from the blower hole 23a via the air distribution groove and blows out from here.
[0041]
The clearance L between the suction side end 19a of the air blowing casing 19 and the backboard 24 when the occupant is not seated is a clearance 27, and the suction side end 19a of the air blowing casing 19 and the backboard 24 when the occupant is seated The gap L2 is referred to as a sitting gap 27a. Therefore, when the movement amount by which the seat spring 22 bends and the blower fan 20 moves to the backboard 24 side when the occupant is seated is L1, L = L1 + L2.
[0042]
FIG. 4 is a prototype verified by the inventors, using a second air blowing unit 14 having an air flow equivalent to 70 m <3> / h, and blowing out the second air blowing unit 14 with the seating gap 27a as the horizontal axis. Airflow and noise are plotted on the horizontal axis. According to FIG. 4, it is confirmed that when the seating clearance 27 a is 30 mm or less, a phenomenon occurs in which air flows backward from the vicinity of the shaft of the second air blowing unit 14, and the amount of air blown from the air blowing casing 19 rapidly decreases. Yes. Therefore, by setting the minimum limit value of the seating gap 27a to 30 mm, the air blown by the second blower unit 14 is substantially prevented from flowing back in the direction v2 opposite to the blower direction v1, and a predetermined blown amount is secured. I can do it. Here, “substantially prevent” means that there is an amount of air that can be obtained by the occupant even when a phenomenon occurs in which the blown air slightly flows backward. In addition, it has been verified that the abnormal noise during suction decreases as the seating clearance 27a becomes 10 → 50 mm.
[0043]
Next, the effect by 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. According to the first embodiment, the seating clearance 27a is set so as to secure a space of 30 mm or more even when the occupant is seated and bent by the predetermined dimension L1. Therefore, even if an occupant is seated, the air hardly flows back from the vicinity of the shaft of the second blower unit 14, and the amount of blown air from the second blower unit 14 can be secured. In addition, since abnormal noise during inhalation is reduced, passenger discomfort can be reduced.
[0044]
(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, a portion of the backboard 24 that faces the blower fan 20 is not provided with a vent for ventilating air in the passenger compartment. However, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. The board 24 is provided with a vent 28 formed of one or more holes 28a at a portion facing the second air blowing unit 14, and is blindfolded so that the vent 28 is not visible to the passengers in the rear seat. The difference is that the portion 24a is provided. The blindfold 24a constitutes the cover of the present invention.
[0045]
6 shows the suction side end 19a of the air blowing casing 19 and the backboard seating clearance L2 (27a) when the occupant is seated on the vertical axis and the blown air volume V of the second air blowing unit 14 on the horizontal axis. The change of the blown-out air volume of the 2nd ventilation unit 14 by the opening ratio of the vent hole 28 of the backboard 24 is shown.
[0046]
In FIG. 6, D1 is a movable range of the mounting position of the blower casing 19, D2 is a design limit due to the ability to insert a rear seat, and V1 is a minimum required air volume for seat air conditioning, which is 10 mm, 100 mm, and 5 m 3 / h, respectively. The straight line m1 is when the opening ratio is 100%, and m5 is the opening ratio is 5%. In addition, the opening ratio said here means the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the vent hole 28 with respect to the cross-sectional area of the suction opening part 19b of the ventilation casing 19. FIG.
[0047]
According to FIG. 6, the range of the seating clearance L2 is set to 10 mm or more from the movable range of the mounting position, and to 100 mm or less from the design limit due to rear seat footability. Further, the blown air volume of the second air blowing unit 14 defines the minimum required air volume for seat air conditioning as 5 m3 / h. Therefore, the use space is defined as the seating clearance 27a of 10 to 100 mm and the blown air volume of the second air blowing unit 14 of 5 m3 / h or more. According to the above, it is possible to determine the sitting clearance 27a, the blown air volume of the second air blowing unit 14, and the opening ratio of the vent hole 28.
[0048]
According to the second embodiment, since the back board 24 is provided with the vent hole 28 constituted by one or more holes 28a, the back board 24 cannot be projected rearward in the space of the vehicle. However, the air suction amount of the second blower unit 14 does not decrease. Therefore, even when the backboard 24 cannot be extended to the rear of the seat, the air suction amount of the second blower unit 14 can be ensured, so that the air permeability on the suction port side is good and a comfortable blow feeling can be obtained. In addition, since abnormal noise during inhalation is reduced, passenger discomfort can be reduced.
[0049]
Further, since the hole 28a is formed as a long and narrow hole, the inside of the hole 28a can be made difficult to see, and a large foreign object can be prevented from being sucked from the hole 28a.
[0050]
(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the vent hole 28 is provided only in a portion of the backboard 24 that faces the second air blowing unit 14, but in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. In addition to the portion facing the second air blowing unit 14, it may be provided on the upper portion of the backboard 24.
[0051]
(Fourth embodiment)
In the first embodiment, a portion of the backboard 24 on the vehicle lower side than the second blower unit 14 is set so that a gap 27 between the second blower unit 14 and the backboard 24 is 100 mm or less in consideration of footing. However, depending on the type of vehicle, even if it is 100 mm or less, it becomes impossible to take a foot space and the foot footability may be deteriorated.
[0052]
Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the foot insertion portion secures a sufficient space by reducing the thickness of the seat back portion 12, and the second air blowing unit 14 in the backboard 24. Is provided with a curved portion 24b that is convexly curved on the back side of the seat back portion 12 only.
[0053]
Specifically, when the seating gap 27a between the second air blowing unit 14 and the curved portion 24b when the occupant is seated is L2, the vehicle upper direction and the lower direction of the portion of the backboard 24 facing the second air blowing unit 14 are arranged. The backboard 24 is formed so that the gap L3 between the second blower unit 14 and the blower casing 19 in the part is smaller than the sitting gap L2.
[0054]
The seating clearance 27a is set to be equal to or larger than a predetermined interval that substantially prevents the air blown by the second blower unit 14 from flowing backward in the direction v2 opposite to the blower direction v1, and the air suction amount of the unit 14 is sufficiently increased. It is set so that it can be secured.
[0055]
According to the fourth embodiment, the air suction amount of the second air blowing unit 14 can be secured, and the foot space can be secured while suppressing the feeling of pressure of the passenger in the rear seat.
[0056]
(Fifth embodiment)
In the first to fourth embodiments, the air inlet 26 is disposed in the lower part of the seat back portion 12, but in the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the lower part, An air inlet 26 is also arranged on the upper side of the seat back portion 12.
[0057]
(Sixth embodiment)
In the second embodiment (FIG. 5), the blind portion 24a is provided in the backboard 24 so that the vent hole 28 of the backboard 24 is not visible to the passenger in the rear seat. When the hole 28a does not suck in a large foreign object, for example, when the hole 28a is an elongated slit-shaped hole as shown in FIG. 10, the blindfold 24a may not be arranged on the backboard 24.
[0058]
(Seventh embodiment)
In the sixth embodiment, the case where the hole portion 28a of the vent 28 does not suck a large foreign matter has been described, but in the seventh embodiment, when the vent 28 sucks a large foreign matter, as shown in FIG. A lid 29 that blinds the vent hole 28 may be provided. The lid 29 constitutes the cover portion of claim 7.
[0059]
According to the seventh embodiment, the lid body 29 is fixed to the backboard 24 via the fixing member 29 a, and air is supplied from between the lid body 29 and the backboard 24 to the vent hole 28. Since the vent hole 28 is hidden by the lid 29, the aesthetic appearance of the design is not impaired.
[0060]
(Eighth embodiment)
In the second, third, sixth, and seventh embodiments, the air vent 28 is provided directly in the backboard 24. However, in the eighth embodiment, as shown in FIG. The part is constituted by a replaceable replacement member 30, and a ventilation hole 28 is provided in the replacement member 30. Specifically, the replacement member 30 can be formed of a punch metal formed by a plurality of punched holes. According to this, even if dirt such as dust and dirt of air sucked from the passenger compartment adheres to the vent 28 of the replacement member 30, dirt and dust such as dust can be easily removed by replacing the replacement member 30.
[0061]
(Ninth embodiment)
In the second embodiment (FIG. 5), there is no filter means for removing dust and dirt from the air sucked into the vents 28, but in the ninth embodiment, as shown in FIG. A filter 31 is provided in the vent hole 28 so that dust and dirt of air sucked into the vent hole 28 are removed by the filter 31.
[0062]
(10th Embodiment)
In the first to ninth embodiments, the backboard 24 that forms a protective member is disposed on the back side of the second blower unit 14 to form the space 25. However, in the tenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. A space 25 is formed so that the back side of the second air blowing unit 14 is covered with the back side skin member 16a without arranging the board 24, and communicates with the vehicle interior space at a lower part of the skin member 16a on the back side. An air inlet 26 is provided.
[0063]
Therefore, in the tenth embodiment, the protective member of the present invention is constituted by the back side skin member 16a. In addition, you may form the curved part equivalent to the curved part 24b of FIG. 8 in the said back side skin member 16a.
[0064]
(Other embodiments)
In the first to tenth embodiments, the vehicle seat air conditioner of the present invention is applied to the seat back portion 12, but may be applied to the seat cushion portion 11. Although the 1st ventilation unit 13 provided in the seat cushion part is a centrifugal type, when it makes an axial flow type, it can be set as the structure similar to the seat backrest part 12, and is the same as that of 1st-10th embodiment. The effect can be expected.
[0065]
Further, the hole portion 28a of the vent hole 28 of the second, third, sixth, and seventh embodiments is not limited to the slit shape as shown in FIG. 10, but a round hole, a rectangular hole, etc. Various hole shapes may be used.
[0066]
Moreover, you may attach the filter 31 of 9th Embodiment to the replacement member 30 shown in 8th Embodiment.
Further, the replacement member 30 may have a filter function for purifying air.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a seat mounting state of a blower unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a front view of a blower unit in a seat back portion according to the first embodiment. (B) is a side view of (a).
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the sitting clearance between the blower and the protective member, the air volume of the blower, and noise.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a sitting clearance between the blower and the protection member, an opening ratio of the vent, and an air volume of the blower.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a sheet according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a seat rear view for explaining air blowing holes according to a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a seat rear view for explaining air blowing holes according to a seventh embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a seat rear view for explaining air blowing holes according to an eighth embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a sheet according to a ninth embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet according to a tenth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
14 ... Air blowing unit, 16a, 24 ... Protection member, 24b ... Curved part,
23 ... Cushion member, 24a, 29 ... Cover part, 27 ... Gap,
27a ... a clearance at the time of sitting, 28 ... a vent, 28a ... a hole, 30 ... an exchange member,
31 ... Filter.

Claims (5)

A cushion member (23) for cushioning the occupant;
A blower unit (14) that is disposed on the back side of the cushion member (23) and blows air into the cushion member (23);
A vehicle seat air conditioner comprising a protective member (24, 16a) that has a gap (27) on the back side of the blower unit (14) to protect the blower unit (14),
Wherein one of the protective member (24,16A), the portion of the blower unit (14) is opposed, said blower unit (14) to supply the air vents (28) set to,
The protective member (24, 16a) is provided with a cover portion (24a, 29) for blinding the vent (28) so that it cannot be seen.
The vehicle seat air conditioner characterized in that the cover (24a, 29) is arranged with a gap from the cushion member (23) . The vehicular seat air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein said vent (28) is formed by a plurality of holes (28a). The vehicle seat air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein the hole (28a) is formed as a slit-like elongated hole. Of the protective member (24, 16a), the part for sucking air is constituted by a replaceable exchange member (30),
The vehicular seat air-conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ventilation member (28) is provided in the replacement member (30). The vehicular seat air conditioner according to claim 4 , wherein said exchange member (30) has a filter function which purifies air.

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