VEHICLE SEATING ASSEMBLY

• US 20180229632A1
• Filed: 02/14/2017
• Published: 08/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Hall, Amber LaVerne, Godin, Keith Allen, Dry, Alan George, Berry, S.M. Akbar
• Granted Patent: US 10,549,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5642 with circulation of air through a layer inside the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/00 Details of machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/02 using Peltier effects; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effects

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly comprises a body with a center portion and four corner portions and a seating surface. A supporting layer is disposed below the body. A thermal transfer node is disposed in the body. The thermal transfer node includes a heat sink and a thermoelectric device. The heat sink is located between the seating surface and the thermoelectric device. The heat sink and the thermoelectric device are configured to draw heat away from the heating surface. A fluid moves proximate the thermal transfer node and into the supporting layer to draw heat away from the thermal transfer node. A phase change material is disposed between the seating surface and the heat sink.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a vehicle seat including a body having a center portion and four corner portions, said vehicle seat further including a seating surface;

a supporting layer disposed below the body;

a thermal transfer node disposed in the body and including a heat sink and a thermoelectric device, the heat sink located between the seating surface and the thermoelectric device, wherein the heat sink and the thermoelectric device are configured to draw heat away from the seating surface;

a fluid moving proximate the thermal transfer node and into the supporting layer to draw heat away from the thermal transfer node; and

a phase change material disposed between the seating surface and the heat sink.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the heat sink is an upper heat sink and wherein the thermal transfer node further comprises a lower heat sink, the lower heat sink located between the thermoelectric device and the supporting layer, the upper heat sink and the lower heat sink being in a thermally conductive relationship with the thermoelectric device.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 wherein the phase change material is a phase change patch.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

a thermally conductive patch, the thermally conductive patch located between the phase change patch and the seating surface.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 wherein a fluid mover draws fluid from the supporting layer.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a column, the column positioned between the thermal transfer node and the supporting layer.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 wherein the fluid moves through the column.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 wherein the column surrounds a structure for directing the fluid.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 wherein the thermoelectric device is housed in an insulator wherein the insulator separates the upper heat sink and the lower heat sink.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 further comprising a carrier wherein the insulator mounts into the carrier and wherein the carrier is ventilated.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 wherein the column is compressible and made of a conductive material.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the thermal transfer node is a plurality of nodes and wherein the plurality of nodes are connected to one another.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 further comprising a vehicle seat back wherein the vehicle seat back includes a plurality of thermal transfer nodes that are connected to one another.

14. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a vehicle seat including a body with a seating surface;

a thermal transfer node, the thermal transfer node including a thermoelectric device; and

the thermoelectric device configured to change temperature when a voltage is applied to the thermoelectric device.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 wherein the thermoelectric device includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the thermoelectric device is able to use ambient air applied to the lower surface to heat or cool the upper surface.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 further comprising:

an upper heat sink between the thermoelectric device and the seating surface; and

a lower heat sink adjacent the lower surface of the thermoelectric device wherein the upper heat sink and the lower heat sink are in a thermally conductive relationship with the thermoelectric device.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 16 further comprising a phase change material wherein the phase change material is located between the upper heat sink and the seating surface.

18. A seating assembly comprising:

a seat having a body;

the body having a seating surface and a rear;

a plurality of columns extending between the seating surface and the rear, wherein the columns are proximate a thermoelectric device, an upper heat sink, and a lower heat sink, the upper heat sink located between the thermoelectric device and the seating surface and the lower heat sink located between the thermoelectric device and the rear surface;

wherein the upper heat sink and the lower heat sink are in a thermally conductive relationship with the thermoelectric device;

wherein a supporting layer is located proximate the rear surface; and

wherein the columns are proximate a structure for directing fluid flow into the rear surface, along the lower heat sink, and into the supporting layer.

19. The seating assembly of claim 18 further comprising:

a phase change material, the phase change material located between the upper heat sink and the seating surface; and

a thermally conductive patch located between the phase change material and the seating surface.

20. The seating assembly of claim 18 wherein the columns comprise cylindrical walls, the cylindrical walls being made of conductive foam and the cylindrical walls being compressible.