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Patent

Thermoelectric heat exchanger

12 May 1999-
TL;DR: In this article, a system for thermally conditioning and pumping a fluid is described, which consists of a thermoelectric heat exchanger having a temperature-sensitive device configured to pump heat.
Abstract: Disclosed is a system for thermally conditioning and pumping a fluid. The system includes a thermoelectric heat exchanger having a thermoelectric device configured to pump heat. Heat exchangers are provided for transferring heat to and from the thermoelectric device and for generating a fluid flow across the thermoelectric device. The conditioned fluid may be placed in thermal communication with a variety of objects, such as a vehicle seat, or anywhere localized heating and cooling are desired. Thermal isolation may also be provided in the direction of flow to enhance efficiency.
Citations
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Patent
28 Mar 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle is described. But this insert is not suitable for the use in a commercial vehicle, as it is unsuitable for indoor environments.
Abstract: There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.

302 citations

Patent
10 Mar 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat is described. And 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.
Abstract: 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.

262 citations

Patent
28 Nov 2005
TL;DR: A vehicle seat with a backrest cover is at least partially air permeable, and covers at least one passage of the air-handling device as discussed by the authors, where the air exchanged between the environment and the air handling device passes for the most part through the air permeable regions of the backrest covers.
Abstract: 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 ).

192 citations

Patent
31 Oct 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors disclosed a comfort system suitable for use in a seat of an automotive vehicle, which preferably includes an air mover in fluid communication with an open space below a trim layer of the seat for providing ventilation, heating and cooling to the seat occupant.
Abstract: 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.

140 citations

Patent
17 Aug 2004
TL;DR: In this paper, a number of compact, high efficiency and high power density thermoelectric systems utilizing the advantages of thermal isolation are described, which exhibit high system efficiency and power density.
Abstract: A number of compact, high-efficiency and high-power density thermoelectric systems utilizing the advantages of thermal isolation are described. Such configurations exhibit high system efficiency and power density. Some configurations exhibit a substantial reduction in the amount of thermoelectric material required.

134 citations

References
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Book
01 Dec 1997

2,748 citations

Patent
17 Nov 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, a temperature climate control system comprises a variable temperature seat (10), at least one heat pump (26 and 28), one heat sensor (54 and 56), and a controller (64), each heat pump comprises a number of Peltier thermoelectric modules for temperature conditioning the air in a main heat exchanger (34 and 36) and a main exchanger fan (42 and 44).
Abstract: A temperature climate control system comprises a variable temperature seat (10), at least one heat pump (26 and 28), at least one heat pump temperature sensor (54 and 56), and a controller (64). Each heat pump comprises a number of Peltier thermoelectric modules for temperature conditioning the air in a main heat exchanger (34 and 36) and a main exchanger fan (42 and 44) for passing the conditioned air from the main exchanger to the variable temperature seat. The Peltier modules and each main fan may be manually adjusted via a temperature switch (60) and a fan switch (58), respectively. Additionally, the temperature climate control system may comprise a number of additional temperature sensors (102 and 104) to monitor the temperature of the ambient air surrounding the occupant as well as the temperature of the conditioned air directed to the occupant.

304 citations

Patent
18 Apr 1989
TL;DR: In this article, a portable thermoelectric cooling and heating food appliance adapted for use in a vehicle by travelers, hunters, and campers is presented, where a base unit (10) is activated when connected to the vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle and through a selective control system offers the heating and cooling to various appliances that can be detachably attached to the base unit and adapted through conducting transfer plates (47, 72) to heat and cool the appliance contents, which will retain a desired temperature when removed with the use of a toheat and cool bottom slide cover sealing off
Abstract: A novel portable thermoelectric cooling and heating food appliance adapted for use in a vehicle by travelers, hunters, and campers. A base unit (10) is provided which is activated when connected to the vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle and by utilizing thermoelectric Peltier elements (41, 42) and through a selective control system offers the heating and cooling to various appliances that can be detachably attached to the base unit (10) and adapted through conducting transfer plates (47, 72) to heat and cool the appliance (56) contents, which will retain a desired temperature when removed from the base unit (10) with the use of a to heat and cool bottom slide cover sealing off conducting plate (74). Ice cube making utilizes air-conditioner cold air ducted into area (11) cooling the action element (43) and at the same time further cooling ambient air in the vehicle.

203 citations

Patent
07 Nov 2003
TL;DR: In this paper, a vehicle seat air-conditioning system is used with a main airconditioning unit which operates in one of a plurality of air blow modes, and an air blower unit for blowing the air conditioned air.
Abstract: A vehicle seat air-conditioning system is used with a main air-conditioning unit which operates in one of a plurality of air blow modes. The main air-conditioning unit has an air-conditioned air outlet-port for supplying air-conditioned air irrespective of the air mode. The vehicle seat air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioned air duct connected to the air-conditioned air outlet-port, a seat-air duct connected to the air-conditioned air duct to supply the air-conditioned air to the inside of a seat and an air blower unit for blowing the air-conditioned air.

186 citations

Patent
18 Oct 1989
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a seat construction with joined seat and backrest parts, and a plenum into which is received temperature conditioned air, where coil springs define the plenum and a covering is secured over the springs consisting of, from the inside out, a metal mesh layer, an elastomer sheet with a number of openings, and an air permeable fabric layer.
Abstract: A seating construction with joined seat and backrest parts has a plenum into which is received temperature conditioned air. Coil springs define the plenum and a covering is secured over the springs consisting of, from the inside out, a metal mesh layer, an elastomer sheet with a number of openings, and an air permeable fabric layer. The elastomer sheet behaves as a viscous liquid when subjected to forces and shocks. An alternative to the elastomer sheet is a baglike layer filled with fluid with a number of openings provided to enable passage of conditioned air through the layer.

180 citations