ARRANGEMENT FOR AIR CONDITIONING AT LEAST ONE CUSHIONED SURFACE

Abstract

An arrangement comprising an upholstery support structure associated with at least one upholstered surface and a thermoelectric device comprising a cold side and a warm side with heat exchange surfaces opposite one another horizontally, and which are connected together in a heat conducting manner via a Peltier element. A fan fluidically connected to the thermoelectric device via a connecting element forming a cavity. In accordance with a weight acting on the at least one upholstered surface, adjusting air distribution through the cold side and the warm side.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising: an upholstery support structure associated with at least one upholstered surface; a thermoelectric device comprising a cold side and a warm side with heat exchange surfaces opposite one another horizontally which are connected together in a heat conducting manner via a Peltier element; a fan fluidically connected to the thermoelectric device via a connecting element forming a cavity; and in accordance with a weight acting on the at least one upholstered surface, adjusting air distribution through the cold side and the warm side.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric device includes a housing, and wherein the air distribution is adjustable with at least one dimensionally stable air baffle extending beyond an outer circumference of the housing into the cavity formed by the connecting element.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the at least one dimensionally stable air baffle extends horizontally into the cavity formed by the connecting element.

4. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the at least one dimensionally stable air baffle comprises a single piece with the housing.

5. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the at least one dimensionally stable air baffle is fastened on the housing via a frame

6. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the Peltier element includes the at least one dimensionally stable air baffle.

7. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the at least one dimensionally stable air baffle is arranged on the Peltier element.

8. The arrangement according to claim 2 7, wherein the at least one dimensionally stable air baffle is formed by a lengthening of at least one of the heat exchange surfaces.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is reversibly deformable as a function of the weight.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises an elastomer material.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a bellows.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is detachably fastened on a housing of the thermoelectric device.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fan includes a fan housing, and wherein the connecting element is detachably fastened to the fan housing.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fan is pivotably mounted on the upholstery support structure.

15. An arrangement comprising: an upholstery structure; a thermoelectric device including a device housing associated with the upholstery structure, the thermoelectric device comprising a cold side and a warm side with heat exchange surfaces facing opposite directions; a Peltier element connecting the heat exchange surfaces; a fan including a fan housing associated with the upholstery structure; a connecting element fluidly connecting the fan with the thermoelectric device, wherein the connecting element comprises a cavity; and at least one baffle, wherein in accordance with a weight acting on the upholstery structure, adjusting air distribution through the cold side and the warm side with the at least one baffle.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the connecting element comprises a bellows extending between the fan housing and the device housing.

17. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein one or both of the fan housing and the device housing are pivotally mounted to the upholstery structure.

18. A method comprising: associating a thermoelectric device with an upholstery structure, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a cold side and a warm side with heat exchange surfaces facing opposite directions; connecting the heat exchange surfaces with a Peltier element; associating a fan with the upholstery structure; fluidly connecting the fan with the thermoelectric device with a connecting element that comprises a cavity; and in accordance with a weight acting on the upholstery structure, adjusting air distribution through the cold side and the warm side with a at least one baffle.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the thermoelectric device includes a device housing, and wherein the fan includes a fan housing, and the method including: pivotally mounting the fan housing to the upholstery structure; or pivotally mounting the device housing to the upholstery structure

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the connecting element comprises a bellows, and including extending the bellows between the fan housing and the device housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Additional details and features of the disclosure result from the following description of embodiment examples in reference to the drawing. In the drawings,

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first arrangement for air conditioning an upholstered seat in a cross-sectional representation,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement for air conditioning according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view,

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a second arrangement for air conditioning an upholstered seat in a cross-sectional representation,

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a third arrangement for air conditioning an upholstered seat in a cross-sectional representation,

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a thermoelectric device with frame elements arranged on the housing thereof in a perspective view, and

[0035] FIG. 6 shows the thermoelectric device according to FIG. 4 with air baffles arranged on the frame elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

[0037] One or more includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above. It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

[0038] The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term and/or as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms includes, including, comprises, and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0039] As used herein, the term if is, optionally, construed to mean when or upon or in response to determining or in response to detecting, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase if it is determined or if [a stated condition or event] is detected is, optionally, construed to mean upon determining or in response to determining or upon detecting [the stated condition or event] or in response to detecting [the stated condition or event], depending on the context.

[0040] It should be understood that terms such as about, substantially, and generally are not intended to be boundaryless terms, and should be interpreted consistent with the way one skilled in the art would interpret those terms.

[0041] Identical components are provided with identical reference numerals in the figures.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a first arrangement 1 for thermal, e.g., air, conditioning an upholstered seat in a cross-sectional representation. The arrangement 1 includes an upholstery support structure 2, a thermoelectric device 3, and a fan 4. In the unloaded state, the fan 4 and the thermoelectric device 3 are arranged in alignment, both in the backrest and/or the seat of a vehicle seat. The two components 3, 4 are fluidically connected to one another via the connecting element 6 forming a cavity 5.

[0043] The fan 4 comprises a fan housing 7 made of a plastic with a housing upper portion 8 and a housing lower portion 9. The housing portions 8, 9 are latched to one another. On the housing upper portion 8, an additional bearing plate 10 with two fasteners 11 is arranged. In the present case, the fan 4 is not pivotably fastened on the upholstery support structure 2 via the fasteners 11.

[0044] The connecting element 6 is manufactured in the form of a bellows from an elastic plastic. For fastening on the fan housing 7, the connecting element 6 is moved over the outer circumference 12 of the fan housing 7 and latched on the housing portions 8, 9. In addition, the connecting element 6 on the housing upper portion 8 is overlapped by the bearing plate 10.

[0045] The air suctioned by the fan 4 flows via the connecting element 6 to the thermoelectric device 3. The thermoelectric device 3 includes a housing 13 with at least one latching lug 14 on which the connecting element 6 is latched. Moreover, on the upper side 15 of the housing 13 which, in the installed state, is directed towards the upholstery (not represented), at least one fastener 16 is formed, by which the thermoelectric device 3 is pivotally mounted on the upholstery support structure 2.

[0046] Within the housing 13 of the thermoelectric device 3, heat exchange surfaces 17, 18 opposite one another horizontally are formed, which form a respective cold side 19 and a respective warm side 20. The heat exchange surfaces 17, 18 are connected to one another in a heat conducting manner via a Peltier element 21.

[0047] On the Peltier element 21, an air baffle 22, designed in the shape of a wedge, is affixed as a separate dimensionally stable component. The air baffle 22, in the unloaded state shown here, extends substantially parallel to the extension direction 23 of the heat exchange surfaces 17, 18 or to the extension direction 24 of the connecting element 6 into the cavity 5 thereof. Via the air baffle 22, as a function of a weight acting on the upholstered surface, the air distribution through the warm side 20 and the cold side 19 can be adjusted. Additional electronic components for closed-loop control of the air conveyance are not necessary thanks to this weight-dependent air distribution.

[0048] In FIG. 2, the arrangement 1 according to FIG. 1 is shown in a perspective view. Here, the latching of the bellows-designed connecting element 6 to the housing 13 of the thermoelectric device 3 can clearly be seen. The air suctioned by the fan 4 flows from said fan through the bellows, and, after flowing through the heat exchange surfaces 17, 18, it flows out of the air outlet openings 25, 26 on the cold side 19 and on the warm side 20. The air led out of the air outlet opening 25 of the cold side 19 is supplied to an upholstered surface (not represented) of an upholstered seat (not represented) and the air led out of the air outlet opening 26 of the warm side 20 is supplied, for example, to an interior space of a vehicle which is not represented. Here the quantity of the air flowing out respectively on the cold side 19 and on the warm side 20 is dependent on the weight acting on the arrangement 1 in the installed state.

[0049] In FIG. 3, a second arrangement 31 for air conditioning is shown in a cross-sectional representation. Said arrangement differs from the arrangement 1 according to FIG. 1 by the embodiment of the air baffle 32. Said air baffle is formed in the present case by the lengthening 33 of the heat exchange surface 17 of the cold side 19 of the thermoelectric device 3 and extends into the cavity 5 formed by the connecting element 6. In other words, the heat exchange surface 17 of the cold side 19 is used both for air cooling and also for adjusting the air distribution.

[0050] In FIG. 4, an arrangement 41 for air conditioning is represented in a cross-sectional representation, in which, in addition to the lengthened heat exchange surface 17 of the cold side 19, the heat exchange surface 18 of the warm side 20 is also lengthened. Due to the lengthening 42 of the heat exchange surface 18 of the warm side 20, an additional air baffle 43 is formed. In the present case, the air baffle 32 formed by the lengthening 33 of the heat exchange surface 17 of the cold side 19 extends further into the cavity 5 than the lengthening 42 of the heat exchange surface 18 of the warm side 20.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows the thermoelectric device 3, on the housing 13 of which two frames 51, 52 are arranged. The frames 51, 52 are latched on the front side 53 of the housing 13 on said housing and serve to hold or fasten air baffles.

[0052] Said air baffles can be seen in FIG. 6. The air baffles 54, 55 comprise respective recesses 56, via which the air baffles 54, 55 are positioned on the frames 51, 52. For improved fixation, the air baffles 54, 55 can additionally be glued on or to the frames 51, 53.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0053] 1 Arrangement for air conditioning [0054] 2 Upholstery support structure [0055] 3 Thermoelectric device [0056] 4 Fan [0057] 5 Cavity [0058] 6 Connecting element [0059] 7 Fan housing [0060] 8 Housing upper portion [0061] 9 Housing lower portion [0062] 10 Bearing plate [0063] 11 Fastener [0064] 12 Outer circumference [0065] 13 Housing (of the thermoelectric device) [0066] 14 Latching lug [0067] 15 Upper side of housing [0068] 16 Fastener [0069] 17 Heat exchange surface [0070] 18 Heat exchange surface [0071] 19 Cold side [0072] 20 Warm side [0073] 21 Peltier element [0074] 22 Air baffle [0075] 23 Extension direction of heat exchange surface [0076] 24 Extension direction of connecting element [0077] 25 Air outlet opening on cold side [0078] 26 Air outlet opening on warm side [0079] 31 Arrangement for air conditioning [0080] 32 Air baffle [0081] 33 Lengthening on cold side [0082] 41 Arrangement for air conditioning [0083] 42 Lengthening on warm side [0084] 43 Air baffle [0085] 51 Frame [0086] 52 Frame [0087] 53 Front side [0088] 54 Air baffle [0089] 55 Air baffle [0090] 56 Recess

[0091] Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. In addition, the various figures accompanying this disclosure are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show certain details of a particular component or arrangement.

[0092] One of ordinary skill in this art would understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and non-limiting. That is, modifications of this disclosure would come within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.