GB1213123A - Device for effecting heating or cooling - Google Patents

Abstract

1,213,123. Heating soil; animal blanket. S. P. FOSTER and M. D. HAYWARD. 6 Nov., 1967 [8 Nov., 1966], No. 50077/66. Headings A1E and A1M. [Also in Divisions A4 and A5] A device for effecting heating and/or cooling is in the form of a laminate comprising a layer or sheet of air-permeable plastomeric or elastomeric foam sandwiched between layers of material of low air-permeability and includes air inlet means in the form of a pipe (or a socket to which a pipe may be connected) which serves to admit air at a desired temperature to the foam, the air permeating through the foam to effect heating or cooling of the device before leaving the device through the layers of material of low airpermeability and/or through separate air outlet means. The device may be in the form of a blanket which may be adapted for laying on a floor to provide warmth for animals, for example breeding animals or sick animals; alternatively, the device may be designed to serve as a soil heater or for seed propagation. The foam preferably is a low density foam, for example a foam of polyurethane, and may have a thickness of from # to ¢ inch, for example “ inch, and from 7 to 40, for example from 10 to 25, pores per linear inch. The layer or sheet of foam may comprise a layer of low density plastomeric or elastomeric foam sandwiched between two layers of high density plastomeric or elastomeric foam having a thickness of for example from 0.01 to 0.1 inch. The material of low airpermeability either may be blanketing material or may be air-impermeable heatconductive material, for example flexible thermoplastic sheet material which may be polyvinyl chloride sheeting. Each layer of material of low air-permeability may have a thickness of from 0.005 to 0.2 inch, preferably of from 0.01 to 0.1 inch. Alternatively, the layers of material of low airpermeability may be provided by sealing the surfaces of the foam, for example by heat sealing. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate such a device in the form of a blanket which comprises a layer 1 of low density polyurethane foam sandwiched between layers 2 of high density polyurethane foam, each free surface of the foam layer composite being bonded by adhesive or by flame sealing to a sheet 3 of air-impermeable heat-conductive thermoplastic material; edge sealing strips 4 of thermoplastic material are bonded by adhesive or by dielectric heating to each sheet of thermoplastic material. Situated at one corner of the blanket is air inlet means 6 in the form of a flexible plastics tube adapted for fitting to an air blower; extending from the air inlet means along one side of the blanket is a passage 7 which constitutes an air distributing duct, the opposite side of the blanket having an air outlet 5 formed by a gap in the edge sealing strips. Alternatively, the air outlet may be formed along either one of the or both sides of the blanket adjacent the side of the blanket which includes the air distributing duct. The device preferably is provided with a thermostat (not shown) to control the temperature of the air.