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Air supply device for a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle

Air supply device for a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle description/claims

This application is a continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2005/012467, filed Nov. 22, 2005, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2004 057 640.8, filed Nov. 30, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to an air supply device for a vehicle seat, such as a vehicle seat of a convertible. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for adjusting airflow.

An air supply device of the generic type which can be integrated in a vehicle seat of a convertible is known, for example, from German Utility Model DE 92 01 474 U1. In the case of this air supply device, at least one air outflow opening is provided in the upper region of the vehicle seat, via which the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant can be acted upon by a defined airflow. An airflow of this type is intended to reduce the undesirable drafts which flow at the rear into the open passenger compartment when driving with the top open. To this end, the air supply device is charged with air which is trapped by designated inflow cross sections during driving and is conveyed to the air outflow opening by lines and ducts by generation of a dynamic pressure or with the assistance of a fan.

Furthermore, German Laid-Open Specification DE 102 26 008 A1 discloses an air supply device for a seat of a convertible, in which improved comfort for the seat occupants during driving with the top open is provided by the airflow flowing out of an air outlet opening which is adjustable by a control device as a function of automatically or individually adjustable parameter values in such a manner that the seat occupants find the outflowing airflow to be pleasant. To this end, a heating element is provided within the air supply device and can preheat the air taken in from the surroundings to a specific temperature. Furthermore, the throughput of air flowing out (i.e. the strength of the airflow) is adjusted by the control device via a fan.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an air supply device of this type which is capable of providing even greater comfort for the seat occupants, such as when driving with the top open.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an air supply device and a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device having at least one Peltier element which provides a heating surface and a cooling surface over which the airflow can be conducted as a function of parameter values.

A Peltier element is generally a thin plate which is composed of two different metal plates and, when energy is supplied, is hotter on the one side and, at the same time, is colder on the other side. The Peltier element makes use of the “Peltier effect” which constitutes a reversal of the Seebeck effect. The greatest advantages of a Peltier element include its small size, the avoidance of any mechanical parts and the avoidance of carrier media. A Peltier element can therefore be arranged in a simple manner within an airflow duct.

In the present case, the Peltier element is arranged in an air duct of the air supply device according to the invention, which air duct is arranged within the vehicle seat.

Below the Peltier element, between an air inlet opening for taking in the ambient air, which opening is generally provided on the rear side of the vehicle seat in the lower region of the backrest, and the Peltier element there is a pivotably mounted air flap which can be activated via an actuator. Depending on the parameter values selected, the air flap is pivoted in order to conduct the taken-in ambient air either over the heating surface or the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

Whether the taken-in air is conducted over the heating surface or over the cooling surface of the Peltier element depends on parameter values which are either detected automatically by the system or can be set as specified values which can be freely selected by the seat occupant.

External parameter values which can be detected via corresponding sensors are, firstly, the prevailing ambient temperature and, secondly, the travel speed prevailing in each case together with the associated backward flows of air. Individually adjustable specified values, from which the further adjustment of the airflow can take place as a function of automatically detectable further parameter values, are, for the seat occupant, for example, a desired minimum or maximum temperature for the airflow and a desired minimum or maximum strength of the airflow.

According to the invention, on the basis of all of these parameter values, the air strength is regulated and the temperature of the airflow adjusted, with the system then correspondingly conducting the ambient air either over the heating surface or over the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

In order to make this possible, the invention also provides a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device of this type for a vehicle seat of a convertible, with, at an outside temperature of less than 25° C., the airflow being conducted over the heating surface of the Peltier element and, at an outside temperature of greater than 30° C., the airflow being conducted over the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

Furthermore, it can be provided that, at an outside temperature of between 25° C. and 30° C., the Peltier element is switched off, and therefore the temperature of the outflowing airflow coincides with the outside temperature prevailing in each case.

Furthermore, both in the region of the heating or cooling of the outflowing air and also with the Peltier element switched off, the enhancement of the comfort for the vehicle occupants can be adjusted by corresponding regulation of the strength of the airflow as a function of the vehicle speed and, associated therewith, the strength of the backward flows of air in the neck region.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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