There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.

Automotive vehicle seat insert

There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.

Automotive vehicle seating comfort system

A vehicle seat with a backrest ( 16 ) that has a backrest cushion ( 18 ) and a rear backrest cover ( 20 ), and an air-handling device that is associated with the backrest ( 16 ) and is connected to an air distribution device ( 30, 32 ) in the seat. The rear backrest cover ( 20 ) is at least partially air permeable, and covers at least one passage ( 27 ) of the air-handling device ( 23 ). The air exchanged between the environment and the air-handling device ( 23 ) passes for the most part through the air-permeable regions of the backrest cover ( 20 ).

Vehicle seat and associated air conditioning apparatus

A seating construction (10) with a plurality of plenums (14) and (20) into which is received temperature conditioned air (5). The air passes through the seat via a plurality of channels (14, 16 and 17) formed in the foam (30) of the seat cushion. The air then migrates through a reticulated foam layer (40) that is itself covered with an air permeable layer of material (42). The reticulated foam (40) and stitching of the seat fabric (42) facilitate diffusion of the air from the foam channel conduits (14, 16 and 17). The air then convectively circulates against and near the occupant of the seat to facilitate climate control around the occupant.

Variable temperature seat

There is disclosed a comfort system suitable for use in a seat of an automotive vehicle. The system preferably includes an air mover in fluid communication with an open space below a trim layer of the seat for providing ventilation, heating and/or cooling to the seat occupant.

Automotive vehicle seat having a comfort system

The seat cushion of the seat is provided with a first chamber (12) which receives conditioned air from the air conditioning system through an inlet duct (11). A further chamber (16) disposed in the seat back (9) is connected to the chamber (12) through a bellows coupling (19), and is connected to an outlet (20) for directing air towards the rear passenger. Each chamber (12, 15) includes a cavity (13, 17) for heat exchange with the body of the front passenger, and means for adjusting the rate of flow of air.

A seat for vehicles having an air conditioned passenger compartment

To get early and reliable evaluations of preliminary 3D design on workplaces and vehicles it is essential to utilise manikins corresponding as much as possible to actual persons.This paper describes a methodology to generate body typologies from anthropometric data of Italian population, identifying realistic combinations of anthropometric measurements actually found among real subjects. We applied these results to Jack, a software with an interactive virtual human model able to be manipulated by adjusting individual joints to simulate realistic postures. We then made a postural comfort comparative test, using the new manikins and standard Human Scale manikins obtaining quite different results: in particular, with the former manikins we found lower comfort indexes because they show a higher global variability, important to consider when designing systems fitting the characteristics of a large part of the population.

Generation of Virtual Man Models Representative of Different Body Proportions and Application to Ergonomic Design of Vehicles

A ventilation outlet for use in a motor-vehicle dashboard has a cylindrical distributor (14) with an outlet slot (B) facing an outlet hole (16) in the dashboard. A duct (12b) with converging walls (15) is interposed between the outlet slot (B) in the rotatable distributor (14) and the outlet hole (16) to direct the air-flow in a predetermined direction according to the position of the distributor (14), without the use of deflecting vanes.

An air outlet for motor-vehicle air-conditioning systems

The vent, particularly for motor vehicle dashboards, has a fixed duct (1) for the air flow (2), having an inlet end (3) and an outlet end (4). An element (6) is situated in the duct (1) near the outlet end (4), and cooperates with the inner wall of the duct (1) to define at least two separate passages (8, 10) for the air flow (2), which are arranged in parallel at different inclinations to the axis of the duct (1). A shaped member (14) for shutting off the air flow (2) is also situated in the duct (1) and is adapted, by assuming different positions, to shut off the flow (2) of air and to allow it in only one passage or in several passages (8, 10) simultaneously.

An air vent with vertical fluid-dynamic deflection of the air flow

Due to its widespread diffusion, cars A/C systems will face two challenges: a better evaluation of perceived thermal comfort and the reduction of the impact on fuel consumption. In summer and during an urban cycle, the A/C system can increase fuel consumption up to 70%. In view of future regulations and of environmental concern, actions are needed to reduce A/C impact. This paper describes the development of an innovative climate control system accomplished by Fiat Research Center on a B Class Car. Significant results can be achieved thanks to externally controlled variable displacement compressors and to the integration of several control systems.

Antonio Tarzia

Papers

A seat for vehicles having an air conditioned passenger compartment

Generation of Virtual Man Models Representative of Different Body Proportions and Application to Ergonomic Design of Vehicles

An air outlet for motor-vehicle air-conditioning systems

An air vent with vertical fluid-dynamic deflection of the air flow

High-efficiency air conditioning - Improving comfort and reducing impact on fuel consumption