Patent Application
20210046801
The present disclosure relates to targeted thermal comfort for the interior cabin of an automobile. In an automobile, the heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system is typically a centralized system meant to provide climate control for the interior cabin of the automobile homogenously. To provide directable heated or cooled air within the interior cabin of the automobile, vents can be positioned within the vehicle will louvered openings that allow the occupant of the vehicle to direct the flow of heated or cooled air.
In this arrangement, ductwork is necessary to route heated or cooled air from the centralized HVAC system to the vent. These ducts occupy a large amount of space within the automobile. In addition, the structure of the automobile makes it impractical to provide such vents in locations where targeted air flow may be desired.
Thus, while current HVAC systems achieve their intended purpose, there is a need for a new and improved thermal comfort device and targeted thermal comfort system that allows airflow of ambient air to be directed to specific location within the interior of an automobile, and allows such air flows to be heated or cooled independently of the centralized HVAC system within an automobile.
According to several aspects of the present disclosure, a thermal comfort device comprises a pair of selectively contractable diaphragms, and a body sandwiched between the pair of diaphragms, the body defining a cavity and an opening, wherein, the diaphragms are adapted to be selectively contracted to flex outward, drawing air into the cavity through the opening, and to flex inward, forcing air out of the cavity through the opening.
According to another aspect, each of the pair of selectively contractable diaphragms is a piezo-electric diaphragm.
According to another aspect, each of the piezo-electric diaphragms are adapted to be selectively controlled by varying the voltage and frequency, wherein the velocity of the air being forced outward from the cavity is selectively variable.
According to another aspect, each of the piezo-electric diaphragms is adapted to operate at a voltage between approximately 50 volts and 200 volts, and at a frequency between approximately 100 hertz and 800 hertz.
According to another aspect, the thermal comfort device further includes a thermo-electric device adapted to thermally condition air that is being forced outward from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the thermo-electric device is adapted to thermally condition air forced outward from the cavity by one of heating the air forced outward from the cavity and cooling the air forced outward from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the thermo-electric device is positioned within the cavity, the thermo-electric device adapted to thermally condition air that is drawn into the cavity before the air is forced outward from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the body is formed of a conductive material adapted to conduct heat from the thermo-electric device.
According to another aspect, the thermal comfort device further includes fins extending from sides of the body adapted to dissipate heat from the body.
According to another aspect, the thermo-electric device is positioned in alignment with the opening, further wherein air that is forced outward from the cavity flows through the thermo-electric device and the thermo-electric device is adapted to thermally condition air that is forced outward from the cavity.
According to several aspects of the present disclosure, a targeted thermal comfort system for the interior cabin of an automobile comprises a plurality of thermal comfort devices located within the interior cabin of the automobile to provide focused air flow to specific areas within the interior cabin of the automobile, each thermal comfort device including a pair of selectively contractable diaphragms, and a body sandwiched between the pair of diaphragms, the body defining a cavity and an opening, wherein, the diaphragms are adapted to be selectively contracted to flex outward, drawing air into the cavity through the opening, and to flex inward, forcing air out of the cavity through the opening, the opening adapted to direct air forced outward from the cavity to a specific area within the interior cabin of the automobile.
According to another aspect, each of the pair of selectively contractable diaphragms within each thermal comfort device is a piezo-electric diaphragm.
According to another aspect, the piezo-electric diaphragms of each thermal comfort device are adapted to be independently selectively controlled by varying the voltage and frequency, wherein the velocity of the air being forced outward from the cavity of each thermal comfort device is independently selectively variable, each of the piezo-electric diaphragms adapted to operate at a voltage between approximately 50 volts and 200 volts, and at a frequency between approximately 100 hertz and 800 hertz.
According to another aspect, each of the thermal comfort devices further includes a thermo-electric device adapted to thermally condition air that is being forced outward from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the thermo-electric device within each thermal comfort device is adapted to thermally condition air forced outward from the cavity of the thermal comfort device by one of heating the air forced outward from the cavity and cooling the air forced outward from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the thermo-electric device within each thermal comfort device is positioned within the cavity, the thermo-electric device adapted to thermally condition air that is drawn into the cavity before the air is forced outward from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the body of each thermal comfort device is formed of a conductive material adapted to conduct heat from the thermo-electric device therein.
According to another aspect, the body of each thermal comfort device further includes fins extending from sides of the body adapted to dissipate heat from the body.
According to another aspect, the thermo-electric device is positioned in alignment with the opening, further wherein air that is forced outward from the cavity flows through the thermo-electric device and the thermo-electric device is adapted to thermally condition air that is forced outward from the cavity.
According to several aspects of the present disclosure, a thermal comfort device comprises a pair of selectively contractable piezo-electric diaphragms, a body sandwiched between the pair of diaphragms, the body defining a cavity and an opening and including fins extending from sides of the body adapted to dissipate heat from the body, the body being formed from a conductive material adapted to conduct heat away from the cavity to the fins, wherein, the piezo-electric diaphragms are adapted to be selectively contracted to flex outward, drawing air into the cavity through the opening, and to flex inward, forcing air out of the cavity through the opening, each of the piezo-electric diaphragms adapted to be selectively controlled by varying the voltage between approximately 50 volts and 200 volts and varying the frequency between approximately 100 hertz and 800 hertz, wherein the velocity of the air being forced outward from the cavity is selectively variable, and a thermo-electric device adapted to thermally condition air forced outward from the cavity by one of heating the air forced outward from the cavity and cooling the air forced outward from the cavity, wherein the thermo-electric device is positioned at one of within the cavity and outside the cavity aligned with the opening.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
Referring to
Referring to
Each of the piezo-electric diaphragms 12 is adapted to be selectively controlled by varying the voltage and frequency. By varying the voltage of the electric current fed to the piezo-electric diaphragms 12, and varying the frequency of the inward and outward contractions, the velocity of the air being forced outward from the cavity 16 is selectively variable. Each of the piezo-electric diaphragms 12 is adapted to operate at a voltage between approximately 50 volts and 200 volts, and at a frequency between approximately 100 hertz and 800 hertz, allowing the thermal comfort device 10 to deliver a flow of air up to 30 m/s. Placed at specific locations within an automobile, the thermal comfort device 10 provides a flow of air to or through a targeted location within the interior of the automobile.
Referring to
In an exemplary embodiment, the thermo-electric device 26 is positioned within the cavity 16. When the piezo-electric diaphragms 12 contract outward and air is drawn into the cavity 16, the thermo-electric device 26 is either heated or cooled, depending on the direction of the electric current fed to thermo-electric device 26. When the thermo-electric device 26 is heated, the ambient air that is drawn into the cavity 16 is exposed to the thermo-electric device 26 and is heated by absorbing heat from the significantly higher temperature thermo-electric device 26. If the thermo-electric device 26 is cooled, the ambient air that is drawn into the cavity 16 is exposed to the thermo-electric device 26 and is cooled as heat from the ambient air dissipates to the significantly lower temperature thermo-electric device 26. When the piezo-electric diaphragms 12 contract inward, the heated or cooled air is forced outward from the cavity 16.
In another exemplary embodiment, the body 14 of the thermal comfort device 10 is made from a material that is highly conductive. By way of non-limiting examples, the body 14 may be made from a metallic material, such as aluminum or steel, that will readily conduct heat away from the thermo-electric device 26 within the cavity 16, as shown by arrows 29. This allows excess heat from the thermo-electric device 26 to dissipate from the body 14 of thermal comfort device 10.
In another exemplary embodiment, the body 14 of the thermal comfort device 10 includes fins 28 extending laterally from sides of the body 14. The fins 28 will accelerate dissipation of heat from the body 14 of the thermal comfort device 10. Conduction of heat through the body 14 of the thermal comfort device 10 and the fins 28 extending from the sides of the body 14 of the thermal comfort device 10 help to ensure that the thermal comfort device 10 is able to quickly return to ambient temperatures after the thermal comfort device 10 has been used to provide heated or cooled air. By way of non-limiting examples, the thermal comfort device 10 may be square, as shown in
Referring to
When the thermo-electric device 30 is heated, the ambient air that is forced outward through the opening 18 passes between and is exposed to the plates 32 of the thermo-electric device 30 and is heated by absorbing heat from the significantly higher temperature of the plates 32 of the thermo-electric device 30. If the thermo-electric device 30 is cooled, the ambient air that is forced outward through the opening 18 passes between and is exposed to the plates 32 of the thermo-electric device 30 and is cooled as heat from the ambient air dissipates to the significantly lower temperature of the plates 32 of the thermo-electric device 26.
In another exemplary embodiment, the thermo-electric device 30 includes fins 34 extending laterally outward. The fins 34 will accelerate dissipation of heat from the thermo-electric device 30. The fins 34 extending from the thermo-electric device 30 help to ensure that the thermal comfort device 10 is able to quickly return to ambient temperatures after the thermal comfort device 10 has been used to provide heated or cooled air.
Placed at specific locations within the automobile, the thermal comfort device 10 provides a flow of air to or through a targeted location within the interior of the automobile. The thermo-electric device 26, 30 allows the thermal comfort device 10 to provide a flow of heated or cooled air to or through a targeted location within the interior of the automobile. The thermal comfort device 10 targets a specific location within the automobile to provide climate control at that location without the need to route ducts from a centralized HVAC system to that location.
Referring to
A frequency and power control unit 42 communicates with each of the thermal comfort devices 10. The frequency and power control unit 42 receives power from an electrical power source 44. The frequency and power control unit 42 receives information from an HVAC controller 46 to determine when to power the thermal comfort devices 10, at what frequency to operate the thermal comfort devices 10, and when to actuate the thermo-electrical device 26, 30 within each thermal comfort device 10 to heat or cool the flow of air.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frequency and power control unit 42 is adapted control each thermal comfort device 10 independently of one another. The frequency and power control unit 42 receives input from the HVAC controller 46 and allows an occupant within the automobile control the flow of air from any individual thermal comfort device 10 and to control the temperature of the air flow from each individual thermal comfort device 10.
The targeted thermal comfort system 40 allows the flow of air and temperature of the air provided by thermal comfort devices 10 located at various locations in proximity to the front passenger seat to be different than the flow of air and temperature of the air provided by thermal comfort devices 10 located at various locations in proximity to the rear passenger seat or the driver seat. Each occupant within the automobile can control the climate and air flows that are directed toward them.
Furthermore, the thermal comfort devices 10 that are directed toward a specific passenger location within the automobile can be controlled independently. The occupant sitting in the front passenger seat may desire to have a strong flow of cold air directed toward his feet, and a softer flow of warm air to be directed toward his face.
It should be understood, that the thermal comfort devices 10 can be located anywhere within the interior cabin of the automobile. Referring to
A thermal comfort device 10 and a targeted thermal comfort system 40 of the present disclosure offer the advantage of providing a flow of ambient air to be directed to specific location within the interior of an automobile, and allowing the flow of air to be heated or cooled independently of a centralized HVAC system within an automobile.
The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
