NZ548186A

NZ548186A - Apparatus for temperature modification utilising a heat-exchange device consisting of flexible piping under the clothes and heated by a gas-powered soldering iron

Info

Publication number: NZ548186A
Application number: NZ548186A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Gabor Pusztay; Sandor Szekely
Original assignee: Sandor Szekely; Gabor Pusztay
Priority date: 2003-12-05
Filing date: 2004-09-20
Publication date: 2009-06-26
Also published as: UA21802U; HK1091642A2; DE212004000039U1; AU2004101107A8; SK4990U; PT2005055751Y; FI7335U1; DK200600162U3; HU2768U; JP3131296U; UA24068U; AT10362U1; CN200959839Y; AU2004296622A1; ES1064683U; AU2004101107A4; HU0300296V0; PL64907Y1; ES1064683Y; EE00637U1

Abstract

An apparatus for temperature modification, associated with garments or similar protective gear connected to, and in part covering, .the body of a living creature, in particular a human being, and equipped with a heat energy generating device and heat exchange equipment in thermal contact with it, providing heat energy to the body or withdrawing the same from it, the heat-exchange device is an inlay designed as a flexible piping 1, including and transporting a liquid heat transmitting medium, fixed as a pipe-coil 1 under the inner lining of the clothing, whereas the heat transmitting medium consists of water and/or anti-freezing liquid, conducted through a passage of a heat-exchange block formed within and arranged in a housing 3 that is thermally insulated from the environment, wherein the heat generating device is a small-size portable propane-butane burner in the form of a gas-powered soldering iron, linked to one side of the water/air heat exchange block.

Description

» 40 45 1 APPARATUS FOR TEMPERATURE MODIFICATION The subject of this invention is an apparatus for temperature modification, associated with garments or similar protective gear connected to, and in part covering, the body of a living creature, in particular a human being, and equipped with a heat energy generating device and heat exchange equipment in thermal contact with it, providing heat energy to the body or withdrawing the same from it.

Several attempts have been made to eliminate or reduce the physiologically unfavourable effects of excessively hot or cold ambient temperature on persons working outdoors permanently, with the help, for instance, of garments. This purpose is served either by clothing products made of heat-insulating material or including inlays made of such material or, in several solutions, by having recourse to electric power, whereas electric heating units are located inside the garment or the cover, occasionally as an external inlay stratum, connected to a power source, most often rechargeable battery units, also associated with the said garments. Solutions of this type are described for instance under Patent Applications BG 568 699, GB 163 205 and US 2003/0131840, respectively. It is a common feature of such solutions that their effective output greatly depends on the energy source itself, and higher efficiency for a longer period of time requires higher-capacity rechargeable batteries, but the inclusion of the latter in the garments or their wearing in some way together with the garments imposes serious constraints and limits on the wearer of such garments and is usually quite tiring.

Another common solution is to heat the air by burning fuels of some sort, and to conduct heated air into the clothing or under it. Heating is accomplished by small-size portable heating equipment generating the heat required for the heating process usually by burning alcohol or a petroleum derivative of some sort. The wearer of the garments usually has to wear and carry the apparatus concerned on his/her back, as a rucksack of some kind, implying inconvenience and far-from-negligible fire hazard as well.

US 3,406,678 describes an apparatus for temperature modification, associated with garments or similar protective gear connected to, and in part covering, the body of a living creature, in particular a human being, and equipped with a heat energy generating device and a heat exchange equipment in thermal contact with it, providing heat energy to the body or withdrawing the same from it, wherein said heat-exchange device is an inlay designed as a flexible piping, including and transporting a liquid heat transmitting medium, fixed as a pipe-coil under the inner lining of the clothing, whereas the said heat transmitting medium consists of water or water and anti-freezing liquid, conducted through a passage of a heat-exchange block formed within a heat-generating device. The heat-generating device, however, is bulky, its operation requires a certain degree of skill in order to avoid dangerous situations. The fuel tank is not designed for replacement and easy, quick and safe refilling of the tank is not possible under any circumstances.

In view of the above, our objective was to devise a solution ensuring that, with the help of the apparatus according to the present invention, a person be able to exist in excessively hot or cold ambient temperature for a relatively longer period of time, too, so that the apparatus concerned be small, convenient, flexible to use and of relatively high efficiency.

The said objective has been realised by an apparatus for temperature modification, associated with garments or similar protective gear connected to, and in part covering, the body of a living creature, in particular a human being, and equipped with a heat energy INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF -i, may received 2 generating device and heat exchange equipment in thermal contact with it, providing heat energy to the body or withdrawing the same from it, said heat-exchange device is an inlay designed as a flexible piping, including and transporting a liquid heat transmitting medium, fixed as a pipe-coil under the inner lining of the clothing, whereas the said heat 5 transmitting medium consists of water and/or anti-freezing liquid, conducted through a passage of a heat-exchange block formed within and arranged in a housing that is thermally insulated from the environment, wherein said heat generating device is a small-size portable propane-butane burner, in the form of a gas-powered soldering iron linked to one side of the water/air heat exchange block.

According to a preferable embodiment of the proposed apparatus, the gas-powered soldering iron is thermostat-controlled. If so, it is possible to maintain a pre-determined temperature value irrespective of the intervention of the wearer, and irrespective of any rise or fall in ambient temperature.

When the apparatus for temperature modification is in use, the activation of the instrument generating heat energy launches the process whereby the heat transmitting medium in the heat exchange equipment is warmed up and the heat exchange medium in the pipe system is circulated primarily by forced circulation or occasionally by gravitation, heating thereby the person wearing the apparatus. By controlling the burning/output of the instrument generating the heat energy, the temperature of the clothing can be adjusted to the weather/environmental conditions ever.

The said objective has further been realised by an apparatus for temperature modification, associated with garments and/or similar protective gear connected to, and in part covering, 3 the body of a living creature, in particular a human being, and equipped with a heat energy generating device and a heat exchange equipment in thermal contact with it, providing heat energy to the body or withdrawing the same from it, whereas said heat-exchange device is an inlay designed as a flexible piping, including and transporting a liquid heat transmitting 5 medium, fixed as a pipe-coil under the inner lining of the clothing, whereas said heat transmitting medium consisting of water and/or anti-freezing liquid is conducted through a heat energy generating device that is realised as a heat exchanging pipe-coil being in thermal contact with a cooling water circle or the exhaust pipe system of a vehicle equipped with internal combustion engine, such as a motorbike and using the heat thereof 10 to heat the heat transmitting medium circulating in it.

According to a preferable embodiment of the proposed apparatus, the piping is made of silicone pipe of 5-10 mm diameter.

It is also preferable for the piping to be conducted in the parts of the garment covering the limbs also.

According to a preferable embodiment of the proposed apparatus, the heat exchanging pipe-coil is thermostat-controlled. If so, it is possible to maintain a pre-determined temperature value irrespective of the intervention of the wearer, and irrespective of any rise or fall in ambient temperature.

In what follows, the proposed solution will be described in detail with reference to the 20 enclosed drawings showing an exemplary embodiment of the proposed apparatus, whereas Figure 1 shows an example of the application of a possible embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention in an upper clothing product, Figure 2 shows a sketch, partly in sectional view, of a possible embodiment of the heat-generating device of the proposed apparatus, and Figure 3 shows a further possible embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, in connection with a heat exchanger unit of a vehicle, preferably motorbike.

Figure 1 shows a preferable, exemplary, feasible embodiment of the proposed apparatus. As illustrated, piping 1 connected to heat-generating device 2 arranged or carried on the outside of the garment or independently of it, is designed as a pipe-coil, inside the upper 30 clothing product, such as jacket, worn by a person. The figure shows a symbolic arrangement of piping 1 inside a clothing article, but the actual arrangement depends, of 4 course, of the given garment and the area of utilisation. Piping 1 can be designed as a pipe-coil, as depicted in the left side of the figure, in the arm section of the garment, that is, located in spiral line in the arm section of the garment, but also as depicted in the right side of the figure, where piping 1 is shaped as a pipe-coil that is parallel with the arm section of 5 the garment. The density of piping 1 is selected in function of the area of utilisation ever and also as desired by the person wearing it, as the heat capacity to be transmitted by the apparatus according to the invention to the wearer of the garment in the given case, or to be withdrawn from the same in case of cooling, is partly determined by the density of piping 1.

Our experience suggested that piping 1 should be made of a flexible plastic, preferably silicone, pipe, of adequate mechanic characteristics as well as temperature resistance. According to the relevant experiments, in order to achieve the specified objective, a silicone pipe of diameter 5-10 mm should be used, although the desired effect can be ensured by a piping 1 of a smaller diameter as well. While the apparatus is in use, the heat 15 transmitting medium passing through heat-generating device 2 and taking up or emitting heat energy there flows in piping 1. In the simplest case, water is used as heat transmitting medium, although in case of cooling, considering the environmental effects, water may be mixed with an anti-freezing liquid or even be replaced by undiluted anti-freezing liquid. As the system is a closed one, commercially available anti-freezing liquids for the operation of 20 public-road vehicles are perfectly suitable for this purpose.

Figure 1 indicates heat-generating device 2 or, more precisely, housing 3 including it, schematically only, while an exemplary embodiment is shown in more detail in Figure 2.

In the present solution, heat-generating device 2 within housing 3 is a device generating heat energy by burning fuels of some sort, such as a small-size portable propane-butane 25 burner, or a portable gas-powered soldering iron, that is, gas-powered soldering iron 4. Such devices as gas-powered soldering iron 4 are commercially available at many places, but let us name by way of example the gas-powered soldering iron, type SI300, of the company Steinel, or the soldering iron, type Pyropen WP1, of the company Weller. Such gas-powered soldering irons are typically equipped with a piezo-electric sparking device 30 and an output controlling device, they have a maximum capacity in the range of 100-150 W, and operate with butane gas (lighter-gas), that is, they can be filled or re-filled easily. Tip 5 of gas-powered soldering iron 4 is usually associated with a heat-exchange block 6, also made of metal. Heat-exchange block 6 includes a passage for the heat transmitting medium, to be connected through connecting butt 8 to piping 1. As can be seen in Figure 2, heat-exchange block 6 is surrounded by thermal insulation 9, and gas-powered soldering iron 4 can be put into operation or switched off with the help of switch 10.

Heat-exchange block 6 is preferably made of copper or aluminium, of well-known heat-conducting capacity, and passage 7 in heat exchange block 6 can either be formed separately, or heat exchange block 6 can be put together out of several parts, in which case a separate medium passage 7, also made preferably of copper, can be placed in the appropriately shaped indentations of heat exchange block 6. Passage 7 should, obviously, be as long as possible within heat exchange block 6, to make optimum use of the capacity of the heat generating device, and, for the same reason, heat exchange block 6 is covered by heat insulation 9. Alternatively, the housing itself can be heat-insulated. Heat generating device 2 realised by gas-powered soldering iron 4 and heat exchange block 6 can be fixed in the well-known manner, by screwing, for example, in housing 3, so that its connecting butt 8 be connected to the silicone pipe constituting piping 1 by extending through the appropriate holes cut on housing 3.

In the case of the above solution, the simplest one, the heat transmitting medium, e.g. water, heated in heat exchange block 6 circulates gravitationally in piping 1, but the efficiency and operation security of this solution is adequate only in a few special cases. Therefore, in addition to the constituents presented already, a further liquid pump operated preferably by battery or rechargeable battery may be put in housing 3, connected in series, to ensure the circulation of the liquid, in the well-known manner. The pump may be any radial pump, axial pump, peristaltic pump etc. operated by low-voltage, selected for utilisation in consideration of its capacity requirement and the level of noise generated by it. Pumps suitable for the purpose of the apparatus according to the present invention include, for example, Conrad Electronics' external pump named "Extra" distributed under order no. 570265.

The housing is preferably made of rigid plastic or of metal, to be fixed in any manner known in the art to the piece of clothing including piping 1 or to another protective garment such as a cover, or through the piece of clothing itself or onto the person carrying the protective gear as a belt-bag for example.

The realisation of piping 1 as a pipe-coil providing a single liquid passage is not the only option for implementing the proposed apparatus. In order to prevent clogging due to an air 6 plug or a pollutant of some sort, and to maintain the flow continuously, piping 1 can be divided into several parallel branches.

If the solution shown exclusively as a preferable exemplary embodiment is being used, that is, gas-powered soldering iron 4 is used as heat energy generating device 1, then, given the 5 small effective output of gas-powered soldering iron 4 - the liquid used as heat-transmitting medium is warmed to approximately 40-50 °C -, it is possible to ensure continuous operation for a period of 4-6 hours, and hence the power source of the pump ensuring the circulation of the liquid must be selected accordingly. The high-capacity Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries currently in use, for example, are perfectly suitable for this 10 purpose.

In housing 3, in order to discharge the combustion products, either appropriate openings must be made, or a special ventilator may be used to air the inside of housing 3, although, due to the 1:15 ratio of the gas/air mixture in use, the use of heat energy generating device 1 implies no unpleasant odour.

It is furthermore advantageous to design a place suitable for de-aeration, such as a pipe butt, on piping 1. The heat-transmitting medium expands while being heated, but by selecting the material of piping 1 appropriately (e.g. as a silicone pipe, for example), there is no need to provide an expansion tank as well.

If an electric sensor unit, sensor or thermostat is placed in the range of piping 1, to measure 20 the temperature in the direct vicinity of piping 1, and this sensor unit, led preferably alongside piping 1, is connected to heat energy generating device 1, such as the switch unit controlling the operation of gas-powered soldering iron 4, then, in the simplest case, the temperature degree determined by the temperature sensor can be maintained in the clothing or the protective gear without the active contribution of the wearer of the apparatus. Of 25 course, beside the temperature sensor, other adjusting units can also be used, to ensure electronically, in combination with the temperature sensor, the setting of the desired temperature in the clothing.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the proposed apparatus shown in Figure 3, heat energy generating device 2 is also realised as a pipe-coil, in thermal contact with a 30 vehicle equipped with internal combustion engine, such as a motorbike, for example, connected to its cooling water circle or the exhaust pipe system, and using the heat thereof to heat the heat transmitting medium circulating in it. In such case, for example, the pipe- 7 coil for the purpose of heat exchange, made of a heat-resistant, mechanically solid material, expediently of metal, preferably of copper, can be wound on the exhaust pipe of the motorbike, or connected to a metal heat-emitting surface of the same, in a manner ensuring heat transmission, known in the art, and connected to piping 1 by one of the 5 commercially available, well-known, fast coupler solutions. In this case, while the motorbike is in use, that is, during the journey, it is possible to ensure, exclusively by the operation of the pump located in heat energy generating device 2, the adequate circulation of the heat transmitting medium and heat transmission to the person wearing the said garment.

Claims

8 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An apparatus for temperature modification, associated with garments or similar protective gear connected to, and in part covering, the body of a living creature, in particular a human being, and equipped with a heat energy generating device and heat 5 exchange equipment in thermal contact with it, providing heat energy to the body or withdrawing the same from it, said heat-exchange device is an inlay designed as a flexible piping , including and transporting a liquid heat transmitting medium, fixed as a pipe-coil under the inner lining of the clothing, whereas the said heat transmitting medium consists of water and/or anti-freezing liquid, conducted through a passage of a heat-10 exchange block formed within and arranged in a housing that is thermally insulated from the environment, wherein said heat generating device is a small-size portable propane-butane burner in the form of a gas-powered soldering iron, linked to one side of the water/air heat exchange block. 15

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas-powered soldering iron is thermostat-controlled.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said gas-powered soldering iron is built as a distinct part into a housing designed for that purpose. 20

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing itself is heat-insulated. SANDOR SZEKELY AND GABOR PUSZTAY WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P27255NZ00