Vehicle seat with cooling fluidflow
A seating assembly includes a seating surface extending over at least one of a seat and a seatback. The seating assembly also includes a fluid mover and a fluid transfer member including a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion. The fluid inlet portion is coupled to the fluid mover, and the fluid outlet portion is proximate the seating surface. The fluid mover is selectively operable to release a pressurized fluid through the tube so that the release of the pressurized fluid at the outlet cools a seating assembly occupant.
1. A seating assembly comprising:
a seating surface extending over at least one of a seat and a seatback and defined by a permeable substrate;
a compressor;
a fluid transfer member comprising:
a fluid inlet portion; and
a fluid outlet portion including a pressure-activated opening; and
a holder including a cap disposed below the seating surface;
wherein the fluid inlet portion is coupled to the compressor, wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidly coupled to the holder and is proximate the seating surface; and
wherein the compressor is selectively operable to direct a pressurized fluid through the fluid transfer member, the pressure-activated opening, the holder, and the cap to deliver a cooling effect at the seating surface due to an adiabatic expansion of the fluid at the pressure-activated opening, wherein the pressure-activated opening includes a metered valve, and wherein the metered valve measures one or more of: the output temperature of the fluid, the pressure of the fluid, and the flow rate of the fluid.
2. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer member comprises a tube.
3. A seating assembly comprising:
a seating surface extending over at least one of a seat and a seatback and defined by a permeable substrate;
a compressor;
a fluid transfer member comprising:
a fluid inlet portion; and
a fluid outlet portion including a pressure-activated opening; and
a holder including a cap disposed below the seating surface;
wherein the fluid inlet portion is coupled to the compressor, wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidly coupled to the holder and is proximate the seating surface; and
wherein the compressor is selectively operable to direct a pressurized fluid through the fluid transfer member, the pressure-activated opening, the holder, and the cap to deliver a cooling effect at the seating surface due to an adiabatic expansion of the fluid at the pressure-activated opening, wherein the pressure-activated opening includes a porous plug.
4. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes circular openings.
5. A seating assembly comprising:
a seating surface extending over at least one of a seat and a seatback and defined by a permeable substrate;
a compressor;
a fluid transfer member comprising:
a fluid inlet portion; and
a fluid outlet portion including a pressure-activated opening; and
a holder including a cap disposed below the seating surface;
wherein the fluid inlet portion is coupled to the compressor, wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidly coupled to the holder and is proximate the seating surface; and
wherein the compressor is selectively operable to direct a pressurized fluid through the fluid transfer member, the pressure-activated opening, the holder, and the cap to deliver a cooling effect at the seating surface due to an adiabatic expansion of the fluid at the pressure-activated opening, wherein the holder includes an orifice that is disposed in the fluid outlet portion of the fluid transfer member.
6. The seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fluid outlet portion of the fluid transfer member forms a sleeve-like fit around the orifice.