Air conditioning apparatus for seat of vehicle

• US 5,921,100 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Shinji, Ito, Hajime, Yoshinori, Takeshi, Sugi, Hikaru, Kajino, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US09/087,813
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 62/244, 237/12.3 A, 219/202, 165/43
• US Class Current: 62/244
• 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 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5628 coming from the vehicle ventilation system, e.g. air-conditioning system
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

An air conditioning apparatus for a seat of a vehicle includes a seat air-blowing unit disposed in a lower portion of the seat, and a seat duct for blowing air from an air conditioning unit to the seat air-blowing unit. The air conditioning unit includes a case for forming therein a cool air passage and a warm air passage, and a switching door for opening and closing the cool air passage and the warm air passage. When a stationary state is set from a cool-down state during cooling mode, the switching door closes the cool air passage to fully open the warm air passage. Thus, inside air is introduced into the warm air passage from a foot air outlet of the air conditioning unit, is supplied to the seat air-blowing unit through the seat duct, and is blown from a seat surface of the seat toward a passenger seated on the seat. As a result, in the air conditioning apparatus, cool air and inside air can be readily switched with a simple structure.

Claims

1. An air conditioning apparatus for a seat disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an air conditioning unit for adjusting a temperature of air blown toward the passenger compartment;

a seat duct for forming an air passage for leading air from said air conditioning unit to the seat;

a blower, disposed in said seat duct, for blowing air toward the seat; and

a mode switching unit for switching an air-blowing mode between a first mode where air from said air conditioning unit is introduced into the seat through said seat duct, and a second mode where air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct.

2. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said air conditioning unit has a first air outlet for blowing air toward a lower portion at a front side in the passenger compartment; and

air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct from said first air outlet, during said second mode.

3. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said seat duct has a second air outlet for blowing air toward a lower portion at a rear side in the passenger compartment; and

air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct from said second air outlet, during said second mode.

4. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mode switching unit includes a switching door for opening and closing said air passage, and control means for controlling an operation of said switching door.

5. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seat duct is a duct for supplying warm air conditioned in said air conditioning unit to a lower portion at a rear side in the passenger compartment.

6. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seat duct is a duct for supplying cool air conditioned in said air conditioning unit to an upper portion at a rear side in the passenger compartment.

7. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said mode switching door sets said first mode, when the temperature in the passenger compartment is necessary to change in an unstable state; and

said mode switching door sets said second mode, when the temperature in the passenger compartment becomes to a set temperature in a stable state.

8. An air conditioning apparatus for a seat disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an air conditioning unit for adjusting a temperature of air blown toward the passenger compartment;

a seat duct for forming an air passage for leading air from said air conditioning unit to seat;

a blower, disposed in said heat duct, for blowing air toward the seat; and

a mode switching unit for switching an air-blowing mode between a first mode where air from said air conditioning unit is introduced into the seat through said seat duct, and a second mode where air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct;

wherein said blower is rotated in the same rotational direction when said mode switching unit switches said air-blowing mode between said first mode and said second mode.

9. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said air conditioning unit has a first air outlet for blowing air toward a lower portion at a front side in the passenger compartment; and

air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct from said first air outlet, during said second mode.

10. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said seat duct has a second air outlet for blowing air toward a lower portion at a rear side in the passenger compartment; and

air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct from said second air outlet, during said second mode.

11. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mode switching unit includes a switching door for opening and closing air passage, and control means for controlling an operation of said switching door.

12. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said seat duct is a duct for supplying warm air conditioned in said air conditioning unit to a lower portion at a rear side in the passenger compartment.

13. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said seat duct is a duct for supplying cool air conditioned in said air conditioning unit to an upper portion at a rear side in the passenger compartment.

14. An air conditioning apparatus for a seat disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the seat having therein a seat air passage, said apparatus comprising:

an air conditioning unit for adjusting a temperature of air blown toward the passenger compartment;

a seat duct for forming a duct air passage through which air from said air conditioning unit is supplied to said seat air passage of the seat;

a blower, disposed in said seat duct, for blowing air toward said seat air passage of the seat;

air introduction means for introducing air inside the passenger compartment to said seat air passage of the seat through said duct air passage; and

air switching means for switching air supplied to said seat air passage of the seat between air from said air conditioning unit and air inside the passenger compartment,

wherein said seat duct is a duct for leading air from said air conditioning unit to a rear side in the passenger compartment.

15. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said blower is rotated in the same rotational direction when said mode switching unit switches said air-blowing mode between said first mode and said second mode.

16. An air conditioning apparatus for a seat disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an air conditioning unit for adjusting a temperature of air blown toward the passenger compartment;

a seat duct for forming an air passage for leading air from said air conditioning unit to seat;

a blower, disposed in said heat duct, for blowing air toward the seat; and

a mode switching unit for switching an air-blowing mode between a first mode where air from said air conditioning unit is introduced into the seat through said seat duct, and a second mode where air inside the passenger compartment is introduced into the seat through said seat duct without passing through said air conditioning unit.