Climate comfort seat assembly

• US 9,168,852 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• 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, Hoke, Paul Bryan, Maranville, Clay Wesley, Jaranson, John W., Kolich, Michael, Ferretti, Daniel, Lem, Jeroen
• Primary Examiner(s): Junge, Kristina
• Application Number:
  US13/692,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.12, 297/180.15, 297/180.13, 297/180.14, 297/180.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5607 characterised by convection
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5614 by liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat structure. A carrier is disposed on the seat structure and includes a matrix of fluid transfer lines. A spacer material is positioned over the carrier. A trim cover is disposed over the spacer material. A desiccant is made from a volcanic ash and is supported by the seat structure. The matrix of fluid transfer lines thermodynamically influences a relative temperature of the trim cover through both the carrier and the desiccant.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

first and second supports;

a carrier coupled to and spanning between the first and second supports and including a plurality of channels on opposing sides of the carrier having a matrix of fluid transfer lines disposed therein;

a spacer material positioned over the carrier;

a trim cover disposed over the spacer material; and

a desiccant made from a volcanic ash and supported by the seat structure, wherein the matrix of fluid transfer lines defines a closed loop system that thermodynamically influences a relative temperature of the trim cover through both the carrier and the desiccant.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the desiccant is disposed between the trim cover and the spacer material.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier defines an aperture therein and the matrix of fluid lines substantially encompasses the aperture.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the matrix of fluid transfer lines are separate and distinct lines held in place by receiving channels disposed in the carrier.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an air movement system disposed in communication with the spacer material.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein a gas is routed through the matrix of fluid transfer lines.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a carrier supporting a thermoelectric device and a desiccant, the carrier having pre-defined voids disposed therein and a thermal seat manifold disposed within the voids through which a fluid is routed, the thermal seat manifold thermodynamically influencing a relative temperature of a trim cover;

a storage unit configured to hold the fluid; and

a spacer material disposed between the carrier and the trim cover.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

one of a thermopile and a thermistor disposed proximate the trim cover for measuring a relative temperature of a passenger.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein a phase change material is routed through the thermal seat manifold and stored in a phase change material container.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the desiccant includes volcanic ash.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the carrier defines an aperture therein and the matrix of fluid lines substantially encompasses the aperture.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the matrix of fluid transfer lines are separate and distinct lines held in place by the channels disposed in the carrier.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

an air movement system disposed in communication with the spacer material.

14. A climate control system for a vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat carrier defining an aperture therein and including a thermal seat manifold within the seat carrier that substantially encompasses the aperture;

a fluid line within the manifold routing a fluid therethrough, the fluid line disposed in pre-defined voids formed in the seat carrier; and

a trim cover disposed over a spacer member and a desiccant.

15. The climate control system of claim 14, further comprising:

a pump that forces fluid through the thermal seat manifold.

16. The climate control system of claim 14, further comprising:

an air movement system disposed in communication with the spacer member.

17. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the fluid lines thermodynamically influence a relative temperature of the cover through the carrier and the desiccant.

18. The climate control system of claim 14, further comprising:

one of a thermopile and a thermistor disposed proximate the trim cover for measuring the relative temperature of a passenger.

19. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the spacer member is constructed from a non-woven low-density material.

20. The climate control system of claim 14, further comprising:

a desiccant supported by the seat carrier.