Fluid distribution device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12240294-B2
Application number	US-202017617987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2020
Priority date	Jul 8, 2019
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

A fluid distribution device that includes a distributor housing having at least one fluid inlet opening and at least one fluid outlet opening; and at least one rotary, elongated hollow element having a wall that has one or more fluid-passage openings, a fluid flow through the distributor housing is changed by rotating the at least one hollow element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid distribution device comprising:
a distributor housing having at least one fluid inlet opening and at least one fluid outlet opening; and
at least one rotary, elongated hollow element having a wall that has one or more fluid-passage openings, wherein a fluid flow through the distributor housing is changed by rotating the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element, wherein the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element has a length that extends along its longitudinal axis, and wherein the wall of the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element has a plurality of axially spaced fluid-passage openings;
wherein the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element includes a first rotary, elongated hollow element and a second rotary, elongated hollow element, each having a wall that includes one or more of the one or more fluid-passage openings, wherein the fluid flow through the distributor housing can be changed by rotating the first, rotary elongated hollow element and the second rotary, elongated hollow element; and
wherein the distributor housing has at least one first fluid outlet opening and at least one second fluid outlet opening, wherein the fluid flow through the at least one first fluid outlet opening and the fluid flow through the at least one second fluid outlet opening can be individually controlled by rotating the first, rotary elongated hollow element and the second rotary, elongated hollow element
wherein in one operating condition, the fluid flow is configured to:
enter the distributor housing through the at least one fluid inlet opening;
enter the first rotary, elongated hollow element;
enter the second rotary, elongated hollow element;
be redirected in opposing lateral directions;
be redirected to re-enter the first rotary, elongated hollow element; and
exit the distributor housing through the at least one first fluid outlet opening.

2. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein a free flow cross-section of the one or more fluid-passage openings can be changed by rotating the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element.

3. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid-passage openings are located in a circumferential outer surface of the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element.

4. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid outlet opening can be shut off by rotating the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element.

5. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element is arranged in sections inside of the distributor housing and in sections outside of the distributor housing.

6. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid distribution device includes a rotary actuation device, which is arranged at least partially outside of the distributor housing and via which the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element can be rotated.

7. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first fluid outlet opening and the at least one second fluid outlet opening can be shut off simultaneously and/or individually by rotating the first, rotary elongated hollow element and the second rotary, elongated hollow element.

8. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element has a pair or a plurality of pairs of opposite fluid-passage openings.

9. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid distribution device includes at least one actuator, for rotating the at least one rotary, elongated hollow element.

10. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of axially spaced fluid-passage openings have different lengths.

11. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of axially spaced fluid-passage openings have substantially equal lengths.

12. The fluid distribution device according to claim 6 , wherein the rotary actuation device is rotated manually.

13. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein in one operating condition, the fluid flow is configured to:
enter the distributor housing through the at least one fluid inlet opening;
enter the first rotary, elongated hollow element;
be redirected in opposing lateral directions; and
exit the distributor housing through the at least one first fluid outlet opening.

14. The fluid distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein in one operating condition, the fluid flow is configured to:
enter the distributor housing through the at least one fluid inlet opening;
enter the first rotary, elongated hollow element;
enter the second rotary, elongated hollow element;
exit the distributor housing through the at least one second fluid outlet opening.

15. A seat ventilation system, having:
at least one seat, which has one or more ventilation zones; and
a feed device to provide the one or more ventilation zones of the at least one seat with an air flow;
wherein the feed device has the fluid distribution device according to claim 1 .

16. The seat ventilation system according to claim 15 , wherein the fluid distribution device is arranged and/or fastened in or on a cushion body of the at least one seat.

17. A vehicle, having the seat ventilation system according to claim 15 .

Assignees

• Gentherm Gmbh

Inventors

• Johansen Thomas
• Botez Dan
• Arsenault Jeffery Steven

Classifications

• B60H2001/003

  Component temperature regulation using an air flow · CPC title

• B60H1/00285 Primary

  for vehicle seats · CPC title

• F16K27/065

  with cylindrical plugs · CPC title

• F16K11/0856

  having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug · CPC title

• F24F13/105

  composed of diaphragms or segments · CPC title