Delphi Automotive has announced a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that can be built into the seats of trucks and other heavy equipment, helping to simply cab design while efficiently keeping operators and passengers comfortable.
The E3 HVAC Seat combines Delphi’s Diavia HVAC application capability with the Cobo Group’s steering column, seat, lighting, electric and electronic devices. “This provides equipment manufacturers the opportunity to keep operators comfortable while simplifying the overall cabin design and installation process,” said Roberto Grotti, managing director of Delphi Diavia.
Designed for medium-size vehicle or equipment cabins or small rooms, the E3 HVAC has a cooling capacity of 6.2kilowatts (kW) and a heating capacity of 5.8 kW. It can provide climate control for the cab only or for the cab and seat cushion by channeling air flow from the vents, Grotti said. By adjusting the vents, the operator selects the most comfortable cab temperature and keeps the seat dry, he added.
Air is cooled through an evaporator provided with an expansion valve and using the cooling gas from the AC system, according to Delphi, while air is warmed using a heater containing the fluid coming from the endothermic motor. The air is circulated using an electric fan and the air flow is managed by an electronic voltage regulator PWM (pulse width modulator) allowing a linear voltage adjustment at the ends of the fan, the company added.
Since the seat and HVAC unit are fully integrated, plug and play installation is simple and design and assembly time are reduced. Additionally, all climate control functions are incorporated into the new electronic control board with CAN BUS interface, which has been specifically designed for industrial vehicle cabins. This new control unit – built in conformity with ISO 7637 and 2004/104/CE rules – is located inside the seat arm, stated Delphi.
