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DE-102024133263-A1 - Valve unit, valve assembly, device for massaging or supporting a seat user, seat and method for operating the device for massaging or supporting a seat user

DE102024133263A1DE 102024133263 A1DE102024133263 A1DE 102024133263A1DE-102024133263-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve unit for a device for massaging or supporting a seated user by means of fluid bubbles, comprising: - a first inlet for connection to a pressure supply, - a first exit and - a fluid bladder connection; The valve unit further comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, as well as a first additional actuator and a second additional actuator, wherein the first actuator can be switched between a powered and a non-powered state and wherein the second actuator can be switched between a powered and a non-powered state, wherein the valve unit has a first state, a second state and a third state, in the first state the first inlet is closed and the first outlet and the fluid bubble connection are open, in the second state the first inlet is open, the first outlet is closed, and the fluid bubble port is open, wherein in a third state the first inlet is closed and the first outlet is open and the fluid bubble port is closed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a valve arrangement, a device for massaging or supporting a seat user, a seat and a method for operating the device for massaging or supporting a seat user.

Inventors

  • Matthias Mitzler

Assignees

  • Gentherm Präzision SE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241113

Claims (14)

  1. Valve unit (20) for a device (200) for massaging or supporting a seated user by means of fluid bubbles (13), comprising: - a first inlet (2) for connection to a pressure supply (1), - a first outlet (7) and - a fluid bubble connection (12); wherein the valve unit (20) further comprises a first actuator (22) and a second actuator (24), as well as a first further actuator (6) and a second further actuator (10), whereby the first actuator (22) can be switched between an energized and a non-energized state and wherein the second actuator (24) can be switched between an energized and a non-energized state, whereby the valve unit (20) has a first state, a second state and a third state, whereby in the first state the first inlet (2) is closed and the first outlet (7) and the fluid bubble port (12) are open, whereby in the second state the first inlet (2) is open, the first outlet (7) is closed and the fluid bubble port (12) is open, whereby in a third state the first inlet (2) is closed and the first outlet (7) is open and the fluid bubble port (12) is closed.
  2. Valve unit (20) after Claim 1 , wherein in the first state the first actuating element (22) and the second actuating element (24) are not energized.
  3. Valve unit (20) after Claim 1 or 2 , wherein in the second state the first actuator is energized and the second actuator is not energized and/or wherein in the third state the first actuator is not energized and the second actuator is energized.
  4. Valve unit (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first further actuating element is actuated by the first actuating element and/or the second further actuating element is actuated by the second actuating element, wherein the first further actuating element comprises a third sealing element (6) and/or the second further actuating element comprises a fourth sealing element (11), in particular wherein the first further actuating element and/or the second further actuating element comprises a further return element.
  5. Valve unit (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first actuating element and/or the second actuating element comprises a plunger (4, 9) which can be switched by means of an SMA wire (3, 8), wherein the plunger is held in a rest position by a return element in a non-energized state of the SMA wire and is deflected against the force of the return element in an energized state.
  6. Valve unit (20) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a first valve comprising the first actuating element and the first further actuating element and a second valve comprising the second actuating element and the second further actuating element, wherein the first valve comprises the first inlet and the first outlet and the second valve comprises the fluid bladder connection, wherein the first valve further comprises a connecting channel outlet and the second valve a connecting channel inlet, wherein the connecting channel outlet is fluidly connected to the connecting channel inlet via a connecting channel.
  7. Valve arrangement (100) comprising: a housing, one or more, in particular fluidically separated, valve units (20) according to one of the preceding claims, which are received in the housing, and at least one circuit board comprising a main circuit board.
  8. Valve arrangement according to Claim 7 combined with Claim 6 , comprising several valve units, each valve unit having a U-shape, wherein the first and second valves form the legs which are connected via the connecting channel, wherein in particular the connecting channels of the valve units are arranged parallel to each other and the first inlets are arranged adjacent to each other, in particular wherein the first inlets are connected via a common pre-chamber.
  9. Valve arrangement according to Claim 8 , wherein the valve units are arranged adjacent to each other in a first area of the housing and a main board is arranged adjacent to each other in a second area of the housing, or wherein the valve units are arranged in the housing such that a main board is arranged between the legs and below the connecting channels, wherein pressure sensors are accommodated in the connecting channels, which are preferably electrically connected to the main board.
  10. Device (200) for massaging or supporting a seated user by means of at least one fluid bladder, comprising a valve unit according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , in particular comprising a valve arrangement according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 , further comprising a fluid bladder (13) assigned to each valve unit (20), which is arranged at and connected to the fluid bladder port of the valve unit, and a compressed air supply (1) which is connected to the first inlet of the/each valve unit.
  11. Seat (300) with a device for massaging or supporting a seat user according to Claim 10 , wherein the fluid bladder(s) is contained in a seat cushion and/or a backrest of the seat, which is in particular a motor vehicle seat.
  12. Method for operating a device (200) for massaging or supporting a seated user by means of at least one fluid bladder according to Claim 10 , comprising: - filling the at least one fluid bladder by means of a second state of the valve unit, wherein in a second state the first inlet is open, the first outlet is closed and the fluid bladder connection is open, in particular by energizing the first actuating element, - emptying the at least one fluid bladder by means of a first state of the valve unit, wherein in the first state the first inlet is closed and the first outlet and the fluid bladder connection are open, wherein in particular in the first state the first actuating element and the second actuating element are not energized.
  13. Procedure according to Claim 12 , further comprising: - Maintaining pressure in the at least one fluid bladder in a third state of the valve unit, wherein in a third state the first inlet is closed and the first outlet is open and the fluid bladder port is closed, wherein the seat user is supported by maintaining the pressure, in particular by energizing only the second actuating element.
  14. Procedure according to Claim 12 or 13 , comprehensively alternating the steps of filling the at least one fluid bladder and emptying the at least one fluid bladder, wherein the emptying is in particular not a complete emptying in order to massage the seat user, wherein optionally the filling pressure is maintained between filling and emptying by means of the third state of the valve unit.

Description

The invention relates to a valve unit, a valve arrangement, a device for massaging or supporting a seat user, a seat and a method for operating the device for massaging or supporting a seat user. From the DE 10 2017 116 841 A1 A valve is known with a valve housing comprising a housing cover, a housing base, and an intermediate housing arranged between the housing cover and the housing base. The valve housing encloses a valve chamber comprising a flow chamber and an actuating chamber. The valve housing has at least one valve opening leading from the flow chamber into the actuating chamber. Within the actuating chamber, at least one actuating element axially movable between a closed position for closing the valve opening and an open position for releasing the valve opening, a wire- or strip-shaped shape memory alloy (SMA) element for actuating the actuating element in the opening direction, a return element for moving the actuating element in the closing direction, and a printed circuit board are arranged. The SMA element is fixed to the actuating element by a central section and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board at its ends for energizing. The actuating element can be coupled to a switching finger for opening and closing a further opening of the valve. From the DE 10 2021 106 253 A1 A valve is known comprising a valve housing, wherein the valve housing has at least a first port and a second port, wherein the valve housing encloses a valve chamber, and wherein the valve includes an actuator and an actuating element, the actuating element being arranged for opening or closing the first or second port. The valve further comprises at least one air mass measuring device for measuring the mass of air flowing through the valve. Furthermore, for example, from the WO 2020/233868 A1 An air cushion arrangement for a seat is known, which is equipped with a pulsation module, wherein the air cushions can be subjected to pulsation while the arrangement is separate from a compressed air supply. However, there is a need for an alternative solution for devices used to massage or support a seated user, particularly a cost-effective and space-optimized solution. Furthermore, there is a need for a solution that eliminates residual air in the fluid bubbles of such a device. A solution for this exists, particularly with regard to suitable valve units, valve arrangements, and a method for operating such an arrangement. The aforementioned problems are solved with respect to the valve unit according to claim 1, the valve arrangement according to claim 7, the device according to claim 10, the seat according to claim 11, and the method according to claim 12. Suitable embodiments are described in the respective dependent claims. The valve unit according to the invention for a device for massaging or supporting a seat user by means of fluid bubbles comprises: a first inlet for connection to a pressure supply, - a first exit and - a fluid bladder connection; The valve unit further comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, as well as a first additional actuator and a second additional actuator, wherein the first actuator can be switched between a powered and a non-powered state and wherein the second actuator can be switched between a powered and a non-powered state, wherein the valve unit has a first state, a second state and a third state, in the first state the first inlet is closed and the first outlet and the fluid bubble connection are open, in the second state the first inlet is open, the first outlet is closed, and the fluid bubble port is open, in the third state the first inlet is closed and the first outlet is open and the fluid bubble port is closed. A pressure supply can refer in particular to a compressed air line or a pump. The first outlet is, in particular, a vent hole connected to the ambient air. The valve unit is either controllable or equipped with a control unit. The first and second actuators are active actuators. The first and second additional actuators are, in particular, passive actuators which are expediently controlled by the first actuator. or the second actuating element can be operated. Advantageously, in the first state, the first and second actuators are not energized. This allows for the emptying of a fluid bladder. This design is advantageous because complete residual emptying can occur in the de-energized and therefore switched-off state. Furthermore, because the first outlet is open in the de-energized state, unintentional filling of the bladder can be prevented if the first inlet closes poorly or incompletely. Advantageously, in the second state, the first actuator is energized and the second actuator is not. Advantageously, in the third state, the first actuator is not energized and the second actuator is energized. The second state allows the bladder to be filled when it is connected to the fluid bladder port. The third state is designed to maintain existing fluid or air