airscarf?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Mercedes C240
AIRSCARF technology
AIRSCARF technology: heating element and blower in the seat backrest
Over the course of numerous test runs, the seat development team in Sindelfingen tried out a number of different ideas and concepts for the neck-level heating system, and soon came to the conclusion that only a system that was integrated into either the seat or the head restraint could achieve the desired level of heating.
In other words, the technology used had to be both small enough to fit into the SLK seats and at the same time powerful enough to generate enough thermal energy to heat the airflow in the roadster interior with the roof down.
The engineers at Mercedes were able to resolve these conflicting technical objectives using state-of-the-art, high-performance ceramic materials: various elements made of barium titanate and other metal oxides are energised, causing them to heat up in a matter of seconds and emit heat continuously.
This does not drain the car's 12-volt power supply though, as once a certain temperature is reached the electrical resistance of the ceramic material suddenly jumps, thereby reducing power consumption; heat output remains unchanged, however.
This produces an equilibrium between the electrical energy the ceramic material is fed with and the heat output it produces.
The experts refer to this state as a "Positive Temperature Coefficient" or PTC for short.
Meanwhile, the ceramic heating element is able to prevent itself from over-43 heating by monitoring its surface temperature and automatically reducing the output if necessary.
As well as the compact design, this technology's key benefits are its speed when heating up and the constant heat output.
The PTC air heater for the AIRSCARF system measures only a few centimetres in size, allowing it to fit into the backrest of the SLK seat.
It consists of a number of rectangular ceramic elements with a total heat output of around 216 watts.
The heat produced is dissipated into the air through aluminium fins which are positioned between the individual ceramic elements.
A blower directs the air though a plastic duct until it reaches the head restraint where it flows out of a special vent to warm up the neck, throat and head of the seat occupant.
Temperature control: adjusted according to the vehicle speed and outside temperature
AIRSCARF comes equipped with a three-speed switch and an electronic control module that adjusts heating at neck level to meet current requirements.
A data bus keeps the micro-computer in contact with the speedometer, the temperature sensor in the centre console and the exterior thermometer of the Mercedes Roadster.
The micro-computer then compares this up-to-the-minute data with the stored characteristic curves for particular ambient conditions and driving situations.
Pushing a button starts the system in switch position 3, after which it adjusts automatically depending on ambient temperature and road speed.
The AIRSCARF system adapts the blower speed constantly in order to achieve optimal distribution of the warm air in all situations.
This adaptive control based on stored characteristic data is active up to a speed of 120 km/h.
At higher speeds, the system operates at a constant setting.
Anyone preferring to regulate the heating effect individually can also select three different output settings manually via the buttons in the centre console.
Over the course of numerous test runs, the seat development team in Sindelfingen tried out a number of different ideas and concepts for the neck-level heating system, and soon came to the conclusion that only a system that was integrated into either the seat or the head restraint could achieve the desired level of heating.
In other words, the technology used had to be both small enough to fit into the SLK seats and at the same time powerful enough to generate enough thermal energy to heat the airflow in the roadster interior with the roof down.
The engineers at Mercedes were able to resolve these conflicting technical objectives using state-of-the-art, high-performance ceramic materials: various elements made of barium titanate and other metal oxides are energised, causing them to heat up in a matter of seconds and emit heat continuously.
This does not drain the car's 12-volt power supply though, as once a certain temperature is reached the electrical resistance of the ceramic material suddenly jumps, thereby reducing power consumption; heat output remains unchanged, however.
This produces an equilibrium between the electrical energy the ceramic material is fed with and the heat output it produces.
The experts refer to this state as a "Positive Temperature Coefficient" or PTC for short.
Meanwhile, the ceramic heating element is able to prevent itself from over-43 heating by monitoring its surface temperature and automatically reducing the output if necessary.
As well as the compact design, this technology's key benefits are its speed when heating up and the constant heat output.
The PTC air heater for the AIRSCARF system measures only a few centimetres in size, allowing it to fit into the backrest of the SLK seat.
It consists of a number of rectangular ceramic elements with a total heat output of around 216 watts.
The heat produced is dissipated into the air through aluminium fins which are positioned between the individual ceramic elements.
A blower directs the air though a plastic duct until it reaches the head restraint where it flows out of a special vent to warm up the neck, throat and head of the seat occupant.
Temperature control: adjusted according to the vehicle speed and outside temperature
AIRSCARF comes equipped with a three-speed switch and an electronic control module that adjusts heating at neck level to meet current requirements.
A data bus keeps the micro-computer in contact with the speedometer, the temperature sensor in the centre console and the exterior thermometer of the Mercedes Roadster.
The micro-computer then compares this up-to-the-minute data with the stored characteristic curves for particular ambient conditions and driving situations.
Pushing a button starts the system in switch position 3, after which it adjusts automatically depending on ambient temperature and road speed.
The AIRSCARF system adapts the blower speed constantly in order to achieve optimal distribution of the warm air in all situations.
This adaptive control based on stored characteristic data is active up to a speed of 120 km/h.
At higher speeds, the system operates at a constant setting.
Anyone preferring to regulate the heating effect individually can also select three different output settings manually via the buttons in the centre console.
Last edited by Palmateer; May 31, 2004 at 07:33 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Hong Kong
Originally posted by northbenz
Any idea if there is height adjustment available? Would a shorter person have the heat blowing into their hair and a taller person having the heat come out below their neck?
Any idea if there is height adjustment available? Would a shorter person have the heat blowing into their hair and a taller person having the heat come out below their neck?
YES, it moves with the head rest
