B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Christopher Wilson

Peter A Stahl

Catalin Bunea

Daniel I Udriste

Javier Valdes De La Garza

John R Kuyper

David Poole

Jeremy R Loman

A passenger seat assembly includes features to mitigate privacy and use concerns that accompany backrest recline. In embodiments, the assembly includes a seat frame, a seat pan coupled to the seat frame, a backrest coupled to the seat frame, a backrest extension movably coupled to the backrest, the backrest extension configured to move between a retracted position within the backrest and an extended position above a top of the backrest, and a monitor rotatably mounted to the backrest extension and movable with the backrest extension. In use, backrest extension movement and/or monitor movement may be coordinated with backrest rotation motion.

Reclining seat with coordinated lowering motion and sliding monitor

The present disclosure provides a climatized seat equipped with a ventilation system and a heating system for use separately or synergistically. The heating system includes electroconductive fabric sections having at least one perforation positioned in surrounding relation to a passageway formed in a seat element, for instance a cushion assembly. Each electroconductive fabric section includes conductors electrically coupled to a controller for activating the electroconductive fabric. The electroconductive fabric can be perforated to accommodate complex shapes, features and transitions associated with the surface to be heated and provides more direct and even heat distribution as compared to conventional resistive wires woven into fabric.

Ventilated seat with perforated electroconductive fabric heating elements

Two-stage vortex tube assemblies including an internal vortex generation chamber for generating a main vortex and a compressed air inlet having a tangential outlet port for creating a pre-vortex in an inflow of compressed air in a direction of flow of the main vortex. The two-stage vortex assemblies may be utilized in low pressure and low flow applications such as seat climatization, local heating or cooling, etc. Further disclosed are seat constructions and seat climatization systems utilizing a two-stage vortex tube as a single source for heating or cooling.

Multi-stage vortex tube assembly for low pressure and low flow applications

Vehicle seat assemblies including support structures having at least two supports parts coupled at an articulating joint and a pneumatic actuator system including at least one pneumatic chamber inflated and deflated to articulate the articulating joint to move one support part relative to the other or to synchronize movement of two support parts. Support structures can include a backrest coupled to a seat bottom or leg rest coupled to a seat bottom, wherein articulation of the joint causes movement of the backrest or leg rest along a non-hinged trajectory to change a sitting position of the support structure, change seat orientation, and generally improve seat comfort.

Pneumatically actuated vehicle seat assemblies

A conditioning system for a vehicle passenger seat and a vehicle passenger seat assembly, the system including at least one conditioning unit including a Venturi device configured to generate air flow relative to a seat element and a temperature element configured to heat or cool the Venturi device or the air flow, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature in relation to the at least one conditioning unit, and a controller communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and operably coupled to the at least one conditioning unit. The controller is configured to operate in a first operating condition in which the Venturi device is activated and the temperature element is inactive to ventilate the seat, and a second operating condition in which both the Venturi device and the temperature element are activated to heat or cool the seat.

Seat heat and ventilation systems and vehicle seat assemblies

A ventilated seat assembly such as an aircraft passenger seat including a cushion assembly supported by a structural element, a plurality of Venturi tubes positioned to direct a flow of air through the cushion assembly, an air compressor supplying compressed air, a manifold assembly coupled in fluid communication with the air compressor, a conduit network fluidly coupling the manifold assembly with the plurality of Venturi tubes, and a controller for activating the air compressor and actuating the manifold assembly. Supplying a small volume of pressurized air to the Venturi tubes induces a larger flow of ambient air and a multiplied air effect to ventilate the passenger seat.

Seat assembly with ventilation system utilizing venturi effect to multiply air flow

A system for heating and cooling a passenger seat utilizing a single unit for producing hot and cold conditioned air. The system includes a source of pressurized air, a vortex tube coupled to the source of pressurized air for producing hot and cold air streams, a duct network coupled to the vortex tube through a valve assembly, and a controller controlling passage of the flow of hot and cold air streams through the manifold assembly based on passenger selection. Conditioned air flow can be dispersed into a cushion assembly such as an interior of a spacer mesh component of the cushion assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Clemmons, NC, United States of America

Christopher Wilson