Ventilated seating system with improved low pressure performance

A method of ventilating a seating area, the method comprising:

• creating a pressure differential between a seating area and a duct system;
• drawing a first flow of air across a seating surface of a seat arranged to receive a passenger seated thereon into an inlet of the duct system that is located adjacent the seating surface based on the pressure differential without passing through a seat cushion;
• drawing a second flow of air into the inlet of the duct system without passing through a seat cushion from an area surrounding the seat without affecting a passenger seated thereon;
• and
• adjusting the inlet of the duct system such that increasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be decreased and decreasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be increased.

A system for ventilating a seating area, the system comprising:

• means for creating differential pressure between a seating area and a duct system;
• means for drawing a first flow of air across a seating surface of a seat arranged to receive a passenger seated thereon into an inlet of the duct system that is located adjacent the seating surface based on the pressure differential without passing through a seat cushion;
• means for drawing a second flow of air into the inlet of the duct system without passing through a seat cushion from an area surrounding the seat without affecting a passenger seated thereon;
• and
• means for adjusting the first and second flows of air such that increasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be decreased and decreasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be increased.

A vehicle ventilation system comprising:

• an air supply to an interior of a vehicle;
• and
• at least one ventilated seating system including:
• a back rest portion in pneumatic communication with the interior of the vehicle, the back rest portion including an upper end and a lower end and having a back support surface arranged to support a back of a passenger seated thereagainst;
• an adjustable perforated duct positioned adjacent to the lower end of the back rest portion;
• and
• a seat base portion in pneumatic communication with the air supply to the interior of the vehicle, the seat base portion including a front end and a back end and having a seating surface arranged to receive a passenger seated thereon, the back end positioned adjacent to the perforated duct
• wherein a first flow of air is drawn across the seating surface of the seat base portion and the back support surface of the back rest portion and into the perforated duct without passing through the seat base and the back rest portions and a second flow of air is drawn into the perforated duct without passing through the seat base and the backrest portions from an area surrounding the seating system without affecting an occupant of the seating system, the adjustable perforated duct being adjustable such that increasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be decreased and decreasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be increased.

A ventilated seat for an aircraft, the aircraft having an air supply system and a return air system, the seat comprising:

• a back rest portion having a back support surface arranged to support a back of a passenger seated thereagainst in pneumatic communication with an interior of an aircraft;
• a seat base portion having a seating surface arranged to receive a passenger seated thereon in pneumatic communication with the interior of the aircraft;
• and
• an adjustable intake vent pneumatically communicable with a return air system of the aircraft and with the back rest portion and the seat back portion and with an area surrounding the seat that does not affect a passenger seated thereon, wherein a first flow of air is drawn across the seating surface of the seat base portion and the back support surface of the back rest portion and into the intake vent without passing through the seat base and the back rest portions and a second flow of air is drawn into the intake vent without passing through the seat base and the backrest portions from the area surrounding the seat that does not affect a passenger seated thereon, the adjustable intake vent being adjustable such that increasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be decreased and decreasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be increased.

A method of ventilating an aircraft cabin, the method comprising:

• supplying air to a cabin of an aircraft having a plurality of seats, each seat having a seating surface arranged to receive a passenger seated thereon and a back support surface arranged to support a back of a passenger seated thereagainst;
• at least partially restricting return air flow from the cabin of the aircraft such that a differential pressure is created between return air piping and a plurality of the seating surfaces and back support surfaces in the cabin of the aircraft;
• and
• flowing a first flow of air from the plurality of the seating surfaces and back support surfaces into a plurality of inlets of the return air piping disposed adjacent the plurality of the seating surfaces and back support surfaces responsive to the differential pressure without the first flow of air passing through the plurality of seating surfaces or the back support surfaces;
• and
• flowing a second flow of air into the plurality of inlets of the return air piping from a plurality of areas surrounding the plurality of seats that do not affect passengers seated thereon without the second flow of air passing through the plurality of seating surfaces or the back support surfaces, the first and second flows of air being adjustable such that increasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be decreased and decreasing the first flow of air causes the second flow of air to be increased.