SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING CLIMATE COMFORT FOR REAR VEHICLE PASSENGERS

• US 20150197136A1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: CHEN, KUO-HUEY, HAN, TAEYOUNG, KHALIGHI, BAHRAM, KAUSHIK, SHAILENDRA
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00021 Air flow details of HVAC devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/246 located in the interior of the vehicle or in or below the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/002 to front and rear part of passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow

Abstract

An air-delivery system, for use in a vehicle. The system includes a backrest of a vehicle seat assembly and an air-delivery port connected to or integral to the backrest. The system also includes an input conduit connected to the air-delivery port for delivering air received from an air source to the air-delivery port. The air-delivery port is configured and arranged in the backrest facing a generally aft direction to, during operation of the system, deliver air received from the air source aftward from the backrest.

Claims

1. An air-delivery system, for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a backrest of a vehicle seat assembly;

an air-delivery port connected to or integral to the backrest; and

an input conduit connected to the air-delivery port for delivering air received from an air source to the air-delivery port;

wherein the air-delivery port is configured and arranged in the backrest facing a generally aft direction to, during operation of the system, deliver air received from the air source aftward from the backrest.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the air-delivery port is adjustable by way of automated controls.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising the air source, the air source including a thermoelectric device positioned within the vehicle seat assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate air pump connected to the input conduit, downstream of a primary air pump when the system is installed in the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the air-delivery port is part of an air-delivery apparatus comprising at least one other air-delivery port; and

the air-delivery ports comprise a first air-delivery port positioned above a second air-delivery port in the air-delivery apparatus.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the air source comprises;

a thermoelectric (TE) device; and

a main vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) source connected also to vehicle HVAC openings distinct from the air-delivery port; and

the system further comprises at least one sub-system selected from a group consisting of;

a user-system interface configured and arranged to, during operation of the system, allow selective driver control of an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the main HVAC source versus an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the TE device; and

an automated sub-system configured and arranged in the system to, during operation of the system, control an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the main HVAC source versus an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the TE device.

7. A system, for fostering a customized microclimate for a rear-seat passenger of a vehicle, comprising:

a backrest of a vehicle seat assembly;

an input conduit; and

an air-delivery port connected to or constituent to the backrest facing a generally aft direction to, during operation of the system, deliver aftward from a vicinity of the backrest air received at the air-delivery port via the input conduit.

8. A system, for fostering a customized microclimate for a rear passenger of a vehicle, comprising:

an air-delivery port connected to or integral to a backrest of a vehicle seat assembly; and

an input conduit connected to the port for delivering air from an air source to the air-delivery port;

wherein the air-delivery port is configured and arranged in the backrest facing a generally aft direction to, during operation of the system, deliver air received from the air source aftward from the backrest.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising the backrest.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the air-delivery port has a generally rectangular opening.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the air-delivery port is adjustable by way of automated controls.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising the air source, the air source including a thermoelectric device positioned within the vehicle seat assembly.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising an intermediate air pump, for connection and operation downstream of a primary HVAC air pump.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising an air-delivery apparatus comprising at least two air-delivery ports, including said air-delivery port, the at least two air-delivery ports comprising a first air-delivery port positioned above a second air-delivery port in the air-delivery apparatus.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first air-delivery port is configured and arranged to direct air from the air-delivery apparatus toward an upper portion of the passenger and the second air-delivery port is configured and arranged to direct air from the air-delivery apparatus directly toward a lower portion of the passenger, below the upper portion.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the first air-delivery port and the second air-delivery port is adjustable by way of automated controls.

17. The system of claim 8 further comprising a user-system interface configured and arranged to allow control of one or both of an amount and a temperature of air delivered from the air-delivery port.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the air source comprises:

a thermoelectric (TE) device; and

a main heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) source connected also to vehicle HVAC openings distinct from the air-delivery port.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a user-system interface configured and arranged to, during operation of the system, allow selective driver control of an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the main HVAC source versus an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the TE device.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising circuitry configured and arranged in the system to, during operation of the system, control an amount of air received at the air-delivery port from the main HVAC source versus received at the air-delivery port from the TE device.