US 10,370,020 B2Granted

Heating and cooling device for handles, especially of steering mechanism

AssigneeGentherm Automotive Systems (China) Ltd.

InventorsDmitri Kossakovski, Jonathan Yu Zhang, Fred Fufei Zhang, Melinda Meijing Hu

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Abstract

A climate control device (15) for influencing at least one climatic parameter of a handle (5) of a steering device (2), has an air moving device (21) for providing a stream of air, a handle distributor (26) for distributing a stream of air within at least a part of the handle, an air guidance device (22) for guiding air between the air moving device and the distributor. The air moving device (21) can be or is mounted to an area remaining static in relation to an adjustment movement of the steering device (2). The handle distributor (26) can be or is mounted to an area moving in relation to the static area when the steering device (2) is subject to an adjustment movement. The climate control device (15) is provided with a connecting device (30) allowing the air moving device (21) and the handle distributor (26) to move in relation to each other.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A climate control device for influencing at least one climatic parameter of a handle of a steering device comprising:

an air moving device configured to be within a static portion of the steering device;
a handle distributor configured to be within at least a part of the handle of a moveable portion of the steering device;
a connecting device fluidly coupling the static portion of the steering device to the moveable portion of the steering device;
a plurality of air guidance devices located on the static portion and the moveable portion of the steering device that fluidly connect the air moving device and the handle distributor through the connecting device;
and
at least one thermoelectric device fluidly connected with the air moving device and the handle distributor to heat the handle of the steering device in a heating mode and cool the handle of the steering device in a cooling mode;
wherein the plurality of air guidance devices directs a stream of air to and from the static portion of the steering device and the handle distributor through the connecting device without inhibiting the stream of air when the moveable portion of the steering device rotates relative the static portion of the steering device;
wherein the connecting device includes at least two interfaces between the static portion and the moveable portion of the steering device creating two air paths allowing an exchange of at least two air streams between the handle distributor and the connecting device, at least a first air stream being directed toward the handle distributor and at least a second air stream being directed away from the handle distributor
wherein the connecting device is provided with a ring connector channel arranged concentrically in relation toward an axis of a pivot pole.

6 more elements

A climate control device for a steering device comprising:

a. one or more connecting devices located between and fluidly connecting a static component of the steering device with a movable component of the steering device, the one or more connecting devices including:
i. a static part;
ii. a movable part fluidly connected to the static part,
iii. one or more inlet channels from the static component of the steering device to the movable component of the steering device that guide a fluid towards the moveable component of the steering device from the static component of the steering device;
and
iv. one or more outlet channels from the movable component of the steering device to the static component of the steering device that guide the fluid towards the static component of the steering device from the movable component of the steering device;
b. one or more air movers located within the static component of the steering device and being in fluid communication with the movable component of the steering device through the one or more connecting devices;
wherein the movable part of the one or more connecting devices moves with the movable component of the steering device so that the one or more inlet channels and the one or more outlet channels has a static relationship with the movable component as the movable component of the steering device is moved;
and
wherein the one or more air movers simultaneously blows fluid through the one or more inlet channels into the movable component of the steering device and through the one or more outlet channels away from the steering device.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/129,643Filed 31 Mar 2015 · continuation in part
Priority: 31 Mar 2014
Published: US 2017/0174246 A122 Jun 2017
Granted: 6 Aug 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B62D 1/065
Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers: steering wheels with heating and ventilating means
B60H 1/00292
HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit: for steering wheels
B60H 1/00478
Heating, cooling or ventilating devices: air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect
B60H 2001/003
HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit: component temperature…

Family

PCT/CN2014/074450Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Mar 2014
PCT/CN2014/088910Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Oct 2014
Application62/076,107Us provisional application · filed 6 Nov 2014
US 2017/0174246 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Jun 2017
US 10,370,020 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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