Chairs and seats – With heat exchanger or means to provide fluid or vapor... – Electric heating element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-12
2001-07-03
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
With heat exchanger or means to provide fluid or vapor...
Electric heating element
C297S180100, C297S180150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254179
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the area of interior climate comfort in motor vehicles. Standard motor vehicle equipment in this respect is the conventional motor vehicle heating system which calls for the air blown into the passenger compartment to be heated by the engine coolant. Alternatively, heating this air via a heat exchanger by means of auxiliary heating plant is also known. Finally, use of either the motor vehicle air conditioning system which works only when driving or alternatively an auxiliary air conditioning system is known.
Climate comfort in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle furthermore includes the selective heating of the vehicle seats. Seat heating systems integrated into the seat have electrical heating elements which work solely when driving because they consume a relatively large amount of electric power which would have to be drawn from the motor vehicle battery when the vehicle is not moving.
2. Description of the Related Art
DE-OS 25 24 943 discloses an alternative electrical seat heating system in which a coolant-heated heating element is made using the principle of a rubber hot water bottle and is attached as a heat dispenser on the seat or back rest surfaces of the vehicle seat. These heating elements are connected to the engine coolant circuit; this entails the disadvantage that corrosive and toxic coolant is routed into the passenger compartment and in case of a leak can come into contact with a motor vehicle user.
Another measure for increasing the climate comfort in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is known for example from DE PS 1 962 665 in which an essentially rubber heating plate is described which is connected to the engine coolant circuit of the motor vehicle and which can be used for example for floor heating in the passenger compartment. Also with respect to this heating element, what was stated above with respect to the coolant applies. A similar floor heating body is known from DE GM 12 059.
From German utility model G 80 35 045.4 a piece of clothing for a motor vehicle user is known, especially for the uses of a commercial vehicle or an otherwise open motor vehicle which is provided with a hot air-carrying channel system with air passage openings to the individual wearing the piece of clothing. The hot air is delivered preferably from a hot air producer which is independent of the motor vehicle engine, for example, from a hot air fan. Aside from the obviously low level of comfort of this measure, it is a disadvantage that the entire body of the user is exposed to the blown air; this can lead to health problems in users who are correspondingly sensitive. This also applies to another known proposal according to which the blown air is routed through a motor vehicle seat to the vehicle passengers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of this invention is to devise a motor vehicle seat which affords great ease of climate control by energy-favorable measures and which is safe to use.
All the measures for increasing the ease of climate control by means of a motor vehicle seat are based on a fluid for transport of heat or cold to a corresponding heating or cooling element or to a combined heating/cooling element which is installed in the motor vehicle seat and which is connected to a heat or cold source which is present in the vehicle for other heating or cooling purposes. This heating or cooling of the motor vehicle seat is favorable in terms of energy and in contrast to the corresponding prior art is also unobjectionable especially with respect to health and thus safe to use, because the corresponding heating and cooling fluid is taken from the secondary circuit of a heat exchanger which is preferably filled with pure water, i.e. with water which does not contain any harmful additives.
The present invention relates exclusively to heating of a motor vehicle seat and the heat exchanger provided for this purpose is connected on the primary-side for example to the conventional motor vehicle heating plant or auxiliary heating plant.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is solely cooling of the motor vehicle seat and the secondary circuit of the heat exchanger in this case is connected to a motor vehicle air conditioning system or to a motor vehicle auxiliary air conditioning system.
The highest degree of climate control ease is afforded by another embodiment in which there is alternative heating/cooling of the motor vehicle seat, and the motor vehicle seat for this purpose can be connected selectively via a heat exchanger to the motor vehicle heating plant or the auxiliary heating plant or to the motor vehicle air conditioning system or the auxiliary air conditioning system.
In agreement with one especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, there is a means for switching between the different heat and cold producers present in the motor vehicle.
In the simplest case the heating or cooling element or the combined heating/cooling element for the motor vehicle seat can be connected to its own corresponding heat exchanger of the respective heat or cold producer.
Preferably the seat and backrest of the motor vehicle seat each have at least one heating and cooling element or a combined heating/cooling element which advantageously has hoses or tubes through which the respective fluid flows, which are laid in a meander configuration, and which are advantageously used in a flat construction shape. These hoses or tubes are integrated preferably into a flat cushion-shaped part which is installed in the backrest or the seat bordering the seat cover or backrest cover.
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Hammerschmid Gunther
Kempter Michael
Kortüm Franz-Josef
Cuomo Peter M.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Safran David S.
Webasto Thermosysteme GmbH
White Rodney B.
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