Temperature control device for a steering device

• US 10,196,079 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lofy, John David, Weiss, Michael, Philipp, Denise, Adldinger, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Elizabeth J
• Application Number:
  US15/784,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20180118248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292

Abstract

A temperature control device for temperature control of a steering device, characterized in that the temperature control device has at least one heat-conducting device, at least one thermoelectric device, and at least one fluid transport apparatus.

Claims

1. A temperature control device for a steering device including:

a. at least one decorative covering that forms at least a part of an outer surface of the steering device; and

b. a temperature conducting device with a heating mode and a cooling mode including at least one heat pipe;

wherein the at least one heat pipe is in communication with at least one heat-supporting conductor, the at least one heat-supporting conductor surrounds and holds the at least one heat pipe within a recess of the steering device;

wherein the at least one heat-supporting conductor is at least one bridging piece, the at least one bridging piece extending from inside the steering device to the outer surface of the steering device, the at least one bridging piece and the at least one decorative covering forming the outer surface of the steering device; and

wherein the at least one heat-supporting conductor transports thermal energy along the at least one decorative covering.

2. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat-supporting conductor is metallic.

3. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one decorative covering, the at least one bridging piece, or both include a plurality of perforations.

4. The temperature control device according to claim 3, wherein the perforations are filled with a heat conductive material.

5. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the steering device includes a hard support surrounded by a cushion, the recess is disposed around the circumference of the steering device within the cushion and is configured to accept the at least one heat-supporting conductor holding the at least one heat pipe.

6. The temperature control device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one decorative covering includes a first oblong hole and a second oblong hole located around the circumference of the steering device on a first side and a second side of the recess, respectively;

and

wherein the first oblong hole and the second oblong hole are engaged by the at least one bridging component, the at least one bridging component covering the first oblong hole and the second oblong hole of the decorative covering.

7. The temperature control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one bridging piece is a disk-shaped component.

8. The temperature control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one bridging piece is a rail-shaped component.

9. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative covering includes a heat transport component disposed on an underside of the decorative covering away from a user.

10. The temperature control device according to claim 9, wherein the heat transport component is elastic, flexible, and tear resistant.

11. The temperature control device according to claim 10, wherein the heat transport component is composed of a material that is shapeable before it is applied to the decorative covering but then becomes solid after the material is applied to the decorative covering.

12. The temperature control device according to claim 11, wherein the heat transport component is made of silicone rubber.

13. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature conducting device includes at least one thermoelectric device in communication with the at least one heat pipe.

14. The temperature control device according to claim 13, wherein the temperature conducting device is fluidly connected at least one fluid transport apparatus, the fluid transport apparatus uses a fluid stream to conduct heat created by the at least one thermoelectric device out of the steering device and away from the steering device and a user.

15. The temperature control device according to claim 14, wherein the fluid transport apparatus is a fan, the fan is fluidly connected to at least one heat exchanger of the at least one thermoelectric device.

16. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe is connected to the at least one heat-supporting conductor by heat-conducting adhesive.

17. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe is connected to the at least one heat-supporting conductor by solder.

18. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat-supporting conductor engages the at least one heat pipe in a snap-fit engagement.