[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2007117159A1 - CHAUFFE-litS économeS en énergie - Google Patents

CHAUFFE-litS économeS en énergie Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007117159A1
WO2007117159A1 PCT/NZ2007/000075 NZ2007000075W WO2007117159A1 WO 2007117159 A1 WO2007117159 A1 WO 2007117159A1 NZ 2007000075 W NZ2007000075 W NZ 2007000075W WO 2007117159 A1 WO2007117159 A1 WO 2007117159A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
heating
portable
heat
heating unit
energy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/NZ2007/000075
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Carl Ernest Alexander
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0607124A external-priority patent/GB0607124D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0705842A external-priority patent/GB2436801A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2007117159A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007117159A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C21/00—Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders or bed-cover holders; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
    • A47C21/04—Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
    • A47C21/048—Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating for heating
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
    • A61F7/08—Warming pads, pans or mats; Hot-water bottles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
    • A61F7/007—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body characterised by electric heating
    • A61F2007/0077—Details of power supply
    • A61F2007/0078—Details of power supply with a battery
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
    • A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
    • A61F2007/0292—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a bedside bed-warming means somewhat like the hot water bottle
  • This invention relates to bed-warming devices that use portable modules that receive energy, and then deliver that energy to the local environment as heat.
  • a well-known version of this sort of device is the domestic hot-water bottle which evolved from bedpans containing hot coals once rubber bottle technology was developed.
  • Hot-water bottles have a number of disadvantages including: (1) the amount of heat stored is good for perhaps two or three hours only and drops continuously during use so encouraging people to start at too high a temperature, (2) the initially filled hot water bottle is capable of causing tissue damage by overheating body parts in contact, especially if used with elderly or unconscious persons, (3) the process of filling a hot-water bottle with hot water often results in spilt hot water, while air rushes out of the bottle during filling, causing pain or scalding to the person filling the bottle, (4) the water heated for use is mostly wasted, and (5) the above aspects of conventional hot-water bottles are inconsistent with energy and water conservation which have become much more important in recent times. The inventor expects that rises in the cost of energy will tend to encourage the use of hot-water bottles and analogous devices as opposed to whole-house heating, along with thermally insulating clothing, coverings and bedding.
  • Portable heating means refers to an analogue of a hot water bottle, modified to be used as part of the invention.
  • Rewarming station refers to a closable cabinet within a bed heating system, each station including a separately temperature-regulated energy supply for rewarming a portable heating means.
  • Bed heating system refers to a combination of at least one rewarming station and a supply of the portable heating means. This is usually a bedside appliance but may be used in an institution providing bed care to a number of people, with perhaps 6-12 individual reheating stations..
  • Effective Specific Heat refers the amount of heat output required to cause unit mass of a substance to fall from a first to a second temperature and if that fall includes a change of state then the descriptor includes the amount of heat evolved during a change of state.
  • the "change of state” is the discharging of the battery from a fully charged to a fully discharged state.
  • the heat evolved is measured, as is the weight of the battery and associated electrical devices; active or pasive, used to extract the heat.
  • the term also includes "normal" specific heat of substances where no change of state is involved.
  • this invention provides a bedside system or bed-warming device including at least one rewarming station each capable of re-warming a portable, sealed heat source herein called a "portable heating means" capable of releasing heat during use though constrained to release it at no more than a predetermined, safe temperature, wherein the electrically powered heating element is contained within the container of the portable heating unit, and further includes thermally responsive interruption means capable of deactivating said heating element when the fluid mass in the container exceeds a first given temperature greater than 90 degrees Celsius.
  • a cold portable heat source is placed inside the station and left to reach an operating temperature.
  • said rewarming station includes a heat sensor arranged to detect a temperature of said portable heating unit when the two parts of the two-part connector are engaged together, and a switch by which said means to supply electrical power to said heating element can be deactivated, said switch being operable when a temperature detected by said heat sensor exceeds a second, selected temperature.
  • said heat sensor includes means for interpreting infrared radiation received from said portable heating unit as a temperature.
  • said rewarming station includes at least one chamber each shaped and dimensioned to receive and hold one portable heating unit, each two-part connector comprises a socket and complementary peg each including electrical contact means, the socket being provided at an end of said portable heating unit and the peg being provided as a projection inside said chamber of the rewarming station, so that power from within the rewarming station can pass through the electrically powered heating element inside the personal heating unit.
  • said rewarming station includes sensor means to detect the presence of the portable heating unit in said chamber, and includes means to permit the supply power to said heating element only when the portable heating unit is detected in said chamber.
  • the heat-retaining fluid mass in the portable heating unit is comprised at least in part of water.
  • the heat-retaining fluid mass in said portable heating unit comprises a plurality of envelopes filled with a meltable material forming filled cells, and a fluid for transporting heat about the contents selected from a range including water and oil.
  • the fluid mass has an effective specific heat at least about the same as for water. (Equivalent: 0.238 kJ/kg per degree C).
  • the latent heat properties of selected materials are employed in order to extend the 80 duration of supply of heat from a given mass at a medically safe temperature.
  • each particle of said particulate solids is comprised of a non-toxic encapsulated substance having a melting point of between 45 0 C and 95 0 C.
  • said rewarming station includes a power- supply unit having means for connecting to an electrical power supply and means for creating 85 electrical energy transmissible without wires and coupling said energy into a connector-less portable heating unit; the portable heating unit comprising a sealable flexible container containing a heat- retaining fluid mass; the mass including energy-capturing means capable of capturing oscillating electrical energy received from the power-supply unit and of converting said energy into heat within said fluid mass.
  • the heating element comprises a resistive wire coil as a closed loop in said container, and the means to supply electrical power to said heating element comprises an induction coil in said power supply unit, positioned and arranged to induce a current in said resistive coil when the two parts of said two-part connector are in proximity.
  • the closed loop includes a tuning capacitor so that the closed loop may serve as a 95 resonant secondary winding, in which case the thermally actuated switching means may act to destroy resonance.
  • the inductive power transfer is carried out at a frequency of over 20 kHz.
  • the energy-capturing means comprises water
  • the means to supply electrical energy to said energy-capturing means comprises a 100 generator of electromagnetic energy having a frequency such that the energy is capable of effective absorbtion by water, positioned and arranged to cause the water to become heated when the generator is in use.
  • the heating system of such options includes sensor means for sensing the temperature of the portable heating unit; the sensor means being operatively connected to cutoff means capable of 105 limiting the supply of energy to said portable heating unit so that said portable heating unit cannot be heated beyond a predetermined temperature.
  • said power supply unit includes sensor means to detect a presence of the portable heating unit in said chamber, and includes means to permit the supply power to said heating element only when the portable heating unit is in place within said chamber.
  • heating system characterised in that the heating system includes: a rewarming unit having means for connecting to an electrical power supply and means for transferring electrical energy into a rechargeable battery contained within a portable heating unit; the portable heating unit comprising a sealable flexible container containing activatable means for converting the energy within the battery.
  • the presence of internal metal items prevents the personal heating unitr from being heated to an unsafe temperature in a microwave oven.
  • the sealed bed warmer includes electrochemical reversible storage means comprising at least one rechargeable battery and means for controllably discharging said battery through an included resistance so as to maintain the sealed bed warmer at or about a 120 predetermined temperature, using an associated temperature sensor and control means.
  • the sealed bed warmer includes a loop of wire capable of serving both as an inductive power transfer pickup, as previously described in this section, during charging of the battery, and as a heat dissipating device during discharge, so that the sealed bed warmer may be (re)loaded from the exterior without physical contact.
  • a charged bed warmer according to the fourth version is provided with externally accessible control means that is capable of switching off the charged bed warmer until required.
  • Fig 1 is a diagram showing a sealed hot water bottle (portable heat source) having a fill including cells holding material having desired latent heat properties.
  • Fig 2 is a diagram showing an unsealed (closable) hot water bottle including cells holding material having desired latent heat properties.
  • Fig 3 shows a sealed hot water bottle (portable heat source) including within the fill a closed loop of wire.
  • Fig 4 shows a closed loop of wire with series components including a thermal cutout.
  • Fig 5 shows an open loop of wire with external electrical connections and a thermal cutout.
  • Fig 6 shows a prior-art (Boys) inductive heating circuit having a resonant primary loop 10b 145 (provided by way of example) .
  • Fig 7 shows a cross-section through a re-heating bedside unit including (in this embodiment) an inductive heating power supply.
  • Fig 8 is a block diagram of a bed warmer employing a rechargeable battery as a source of energy.
  • Fig 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an actual bedside unit.
  • Fig 10 is a simplified circuit diagram for a rewarming station, for a bed warmer using resistive heating.
  • Fig 11 Shows a multiple rewarming station for bed-warmers.
  • Fig 12 is a bedwarmer suitable for use with reheaters of Figs 11 and 14.
  • Fig 13 is an outline through a rewarming station
  • Fig 14 is an outline through a rewarming station with a bedwarmer in place, for reheating.
  • latent heat of e.g. solidifying wax or other suitable material (reversible).
  • the Effective 165 Specific Heat if just the latent heat is exploited, is (for paraffin wax) about 60 kJ/kg which is about eight times better than water alone. (The Effective Specific Heat is clearly higher than that for water but that particular example of paraffin wax has a rather high melting point).
  • Ni-Cd battery Conversion of stored electricity into heat (using a battery that is preferably, but not necessarily, rechargeable).
  • the specific energy of a fully charged Ni-Cd battery is about 45 kJ/kg and newer types of battery such as lithium can store several times that amount.
  • a Ni-Cd battery can be fully
  • the power may be dissipated as heat within a portable heat source containing a battery, or carried by connecting wires to warmed clothing. All possible inefficiencies during discharge (such as within semiconductors) are converted to heat and are captured as useful output in this application.
  • Microwave or similar energy which can be absorbed by water but substantially not by the walls of a sealed flexible bag and therein used to heat water or water with substance-filled capsules is 190 considered.
  • Fig 1 shows a bed warmer or portable heating means comprising a rubber or other flexible envelope (such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics with plasticiser) 100, having a handle 102 and a hollow interior filled with capsules or cells 101 each cell holding an amount of paraffin wax (or other latent
  • FIG 9 shows the appearance of a finished bedside unit or rewarming station 900, including support legs 901, two reheating stations (902, 903) each with a Hd 904, and a control panel 905 including, in this example (from top), a timer, a temperature control (which may prove incompatible with safety requirements), and power level control means to charge the portable heat source more quickly.
  • the power cord 907
  • a lifting handle (906) of one portable heat source is also shown.
  • the outer case 908 is thermally screened, preferably electrically earthed, and if necessary, electromagnetically screened. Similar units could be made to be mounted under a shelfor in other convenient places.
  • a corresponding portable heat source (hot water bottle) is shown in Fig 12 at 1200; the majority of the surface 1201 being waterproof, flexible, and may have a relatively low thermal conductivity (like a
  • Fig 11 shows an institutional version of a rewarming station 1100, configured for mounting on a wall. 1101 is one of nine closable lids, each bearing an example control panel 1102 with indicator lights to show when the contents are up to the predetermined temperature.
  • One portable heat source 906 is shown emerging from an opened lid at 906.
  • This invention relates to a bedside system relying on portable heat sources each of which comprises a mass having a high effective specific heat, at least as high as water, as exhibited at a preferred working temperature of at most about 45-65 deg C (the priority being, of course, not to provide a dangerously hot bed-warmer in contact with a person. Scalds and burns can be produced.
  • the threshold of normal subjects for pain from hot objects is at about 52 deg C, at which temperature
  • a "wax” as an example material that melts or freezes in the desired range at normal pressures.
  • Preferred materials will be non-toxic, non-allergenic, non-reactive and generally safe and acceptable, and will preferably exhibit a large latent heat of melting/freezing (which is, of course, reversible) in terms of joules per kilogram.
  • Different waxes may be mixed together to approximate a desired melting temperature although the
  • each cell may comprise a sealed sphere or cube or similar shape, containing the active material. A long sealed tube filled with wax may be pushed into the interior of the bottle. The heat diffusion distance into the centre of any one cell is small, so that the overall
  • a partially insulating jacket made for example of a woollen or polyester fabric may be provided over the outer rubber (or like) surface of the hot water bottle in order to extend its operating (cooling) period, reduce inherent danger of tissue damage, improve the "feel", and make it impractical to overheat the hot water bottle by immersion in a container of hot water.
  • a cell or capsule holding wax as intended may be provided over the outer rubber (or like) surface of the hot water bottle in order to extend its operating (cooling) period, reduce inherent danger of tissue damage, improve the "feel", and make it impractical to overheat the hot water bottle by immersion in a container of hot water.
  • 260 for use herein in large numbers can be made for example by heat-sealing a pellet of wax into a polyethylene tube to form short packets (cells) holding wax, which may be separated apart or remain in the form of a segmented tube.
  • the temperature of the heated bottle falls at a steady rate dependent on the overall specific heat 265 and amount of the mixed water and suspended closed blisters of frozen wax until...
  • the wax starts to freeze at its melting point, whereupon the temperature of the portable heat source remains relatively constant for a period while the latent heat is released, until ...
  • Fig 2 shows a variant portable heat source again employing the fill of wax capsules but in contrast to
  • Figs 9 to 14 show a way for bringing electric current into the portable heat source during a rewarming process by electrical connection at a "female" part of each connector pair that is placed 280 at an end (or side) of the portable heat source.
  • the current rating of these connectors should be 2 to 5 A, since local heating would heat up the rubber neck quickly. Good contact can be assured by means well known to those skilled in the art, such as gold flashing over contact surfaces, use of the resilience of the rubber neck to assure a good grip, and possibly magnets conealed within each side that pull the contacts together.
  • the male part is recessed within an open cylindrical or oval neck
  • the element includes at least one thermal reclosable fuse 1009 which
  • 290 may comprise the only temperature limiting device in a simple circuit, or which may be a backstop in a more complex circuit. It is also a backstop in the even of unauthorised direct connections to the mains.
  • the sealed personal heating unil should not be made to boil.
  • Fig 14 shows that one benefit of the orientation as shown here and in Fig 9 is that fluid within the personal heating unit will tend to flow down and cover the element. Use of a big heating station as shown in Fig 9, rather than simply
  • the corresponding "male" part of the connector is shown in Fig 13 and comprises a protruding round or oval object 1007, 1007A deep within the heating station. Safety is enhanced by distance separation of each contact and by use of a lid interlock so that no power is applied to the connector 300 if the lid is open.
  • a connector like those used on cordless kitchen appliances may be substituted for the one described.
  • Direct mains heating has advantages and disadvantages. There is a perceived raised safety risk as compared to for example 12 volt systems, and any design using this idea must use common sense as well as adhering to applicable standards and regulations. On the other hand it is easy to control a
  • the active components may be supplied for assembly pre-packed in a bladder 302 such as a sealed plastic bag ready to be 325 inserted into a sealed rubber (or the like) exterior bag, useful if a rubber goods factory making portable heat sources is separate from another factory making the electric components.
  • Figs 3, 4 and 5 show use of induction another, connector-free way of bringing electric current into the portable heat source during a rewarming process, for conversion into heat by conventional means such as by passing the high-frequency AC secondary current through an internal, immersed 330 heating wire loop 301 having a resistance.
  • this wire is lightly yet effectively insulated in order to protect against corrosion, shorting, or electrolytic effects). For example, if a 12 volt DC supply was connected to an internal coil of wire having a 1 ohm total resistance then 144 watts of heat would be generated within the wire by the 12 amperes flowing, and this would soon warm a thermally enclosed bed warmer.
  • a portable heat source 100 (as per Fig 1) is shown including a closed loop of wire 301 - the secondary winding - that may be supplied with electricity by inductive power transfer (also see Figs 4, 6 and 7).
  • the closed loop of wire is depicted with a series-connected thermal cutout device 402, which is preferably a switch that opens if the surrounding temperature exceeds a predetermined level such as 46-80 deg C. The switch would close again when the temperature drops
  • Fig 4 also shows an optional tuning capacitor 401 which has the effect of making the wire loop a resonant secondary at 350 the intended frequency, and thereby enhancing the transfer of inductive power by increasing the maximum current.
  • the capacitor is incompatible with direct current heating and would not be used in a Fig 5 embodiment.
  • Inductive power transfer techniques using a circuit such as the prior-art example shown in Fig 6, results in the formation of an alternating magnetic field at perhaps 25 to 50 kHz that is generated inside a rewarming station (Fig 7).
  • the alternating magnetic field that is radiated from the coil 10b passes through the bed warmer walls and intersects the coil 301 inside the bed warmer, generating electricity within the coil and having the effect of moving energy into the warming module.
  • Fig 6 shows an example inductive heating power supply circuit
  • 15B represents a DC power source.
  • 12B and 14 are high-inductance coils used to supply current to the resonant circuit, made up of capacitor 13b and inductance 10b (shown in section as "OOO" and "XXX” in Fig 7).
  • Either side of the resonant circuit is connected to the return supply of the power source alternately, at or about the resonant frequency of the circuit, through power switching devices 18b and 18b', which are
  • controller 19b 370 activated as required by controller 19b.
  • a circuit of this type can be adapted for the present application such as by including a load detector, having the effect of switching the circuit off unless a secondary winding is present within the space covered by a field generated in the primary winding, and can be provided with 24-hour timing circuits as previously mentioned.
  • the lid 375 701 should be connected to a switch to turn off the primary circuit whenever the lid is open.
  • the exterior of the bedside system 700 should preferably include a metal so that the inductive fields do not leak out of the box whenin use, which is both inefficient and may give rise to safety issues. At the same time the box walls should have good thermal insulation properties, also to increase efficiency.
  • Another safety device is one to sense the weight of the portable heat source presently 380 inserted. If the weight is zero, or below a predetermined weight, (such as if the portable heat source has lost some or all of its fluid), the heating circuit is disabled.
  • a rewarming station (bedside device) comprises part of the overall invention and would be physically and electrically matched to the warming modules (portable heating means). Externally, the rewarming station (see section 700 in Fig 7, or Fig 9 for an outside perspective view) would be physically and electrically matched to the warming modules (portable heating means). Externally, the rewarming station (see section 700 in Fig 7, or Fig 9 for an outside perspective view) would be physically and electrically matched to the warming modules (portable heating means). Externally, the rewarming station (see section 700 in Fig 7, or Fig 9 for an outside perspective view) would
  • 385 appear similar in all embodiments and would contain one or two pockets (rewarming stations) 902, 903 for holding portable heating means 100/900, and energy supply means (e.g. primary winding 10b) or contacts to the heating wires or element within the personal heating unit.
  • energy supply means e.g. primary winding 10b
  • Yet another approach is to simply heat the interior of the rewarming station for conductive transfer of heat into the heating the bed warmers by contact when placed inside the pockets. That may be too slow a
  • a typical rewarming station is located by a person's bed and would restore the energy within a bed warmer in about 5 to 30 minutes, whereupon the person can lift the protective lid 701 and remove a bed warmer. Through the night, if one bed warmer goes cold, the person would reach into the box, remove the other one, and put the cold one back. Termination of replenishment can be controlled 395 electronically such as by sensing battery charge amount, or internal temperature. Two stations provide for a double bed, for example. Many rewarming stations might be used in an installation in a rest home, as shown in Fig 11.
  • Each portable heating means should preferably control its own heating process.
  • a portable heating means can be left inside the charger until it is needed, where it will be raised or topped up to the 400 intended maximum temperature from time to time. Charging is always halted once the portable heating means in the charger is hot enough, as determined at least by the thermal cutout device.
  • the primary circuit may be arranged to charge up two "bottles" in adjoining compartments, so that one portable heating means can be re-warmed while the other is in use.
  • each portable 405 heating means with an internal, conventional, mains-operated "element” or thermally conductive looped pipe carrying a heating means, such as a spiral of resistance wire within, preferably embedded in a thermally resistant unsulation, as is used in electric kettles for example.
  • a heating means such as a spiral of resistance wire within, preferably embedded in a thermally resistant unsulation, as is used in electric kettles for example.
  • Fig 10 shows a preferred circuit 1000.
  • Alternating-current mains connectors 1001 are at the left, as is an earth return 1002.
  • Block 1003 could be a step-down transformer or more preferably is a 410 conventional residual-current detector (RCD).
  • RCD residual-current detector
  • Item 1006 is a conventional silicon -controlled switch or Triac rated to handle the load imposed by the cold resistance of heating element 1008.
  • An electromechanical relay is an option for 1006. The heating element resistance is determined by considering a desirable time to reach a desired
  • Block 1005 generates a phase-synchronised gate current to render the Triac conductive as required.
  • Block 1004 for which power supply reduction and DC conversion means are not shown, is a control 420 unit. Its complexity is dependent on the functions required of any particular version of the warming station. Inputs and indicator lamps are connected to the interface wires 1012. A smattering of safety devices are described, and further safety devices may be mandated by electrical safety organisations such as the Underwriters Laboratories or the like. Functions sorted by sophistication include, starting with the basic level:
  • the oopersting limits may be physiologically determined and may reflect the medical status of the person for whom it is being heated. For example one has to be particularly careful not to burn the body of a comatose person. (One preferred means for measuring temperature
  • thermometer 440 during the reheating process is to use, at each warming station, an infra-red thermometer (using a
  • Melexis MLX90614 device for example: Melexis, Concord, NH, USA) ) based on a thermocouple principle, which "looks at” the bed warmer being warmed and provides an accurate indication of temperature even if the bag is covered with a "woollen jacket” but is enclosed.
  • the internal thermal switch should be retained as a backup or safety device for preventing overheating, since if a bed
  • a relief valve may also be preferred as a safety measure.
  • Wire pairs such as 1012 may be run to safety sensors, control buttons or switches, and a numeric or alpha- 450 numeric display device That display may be used for displaying the time of day as a default activity. Circuit details are those well-known to persons skilled in the art of programming a microprocessor. (A digital clock/alarm chip may be used as one alternative for 1004).
  • the output of circuit at 1007/1007A may be used as a supply for a circuit such as that of Fig 6.
  • a bed-warmer module externally visually similar to that of the preceding example(s) emulates a mass having a high effective specific heat by using electric batteries, which can store effective amounts of energy.
  • the amount of energy storage available per unit weight is at least as good as a wax.
  • the Example 2 module uses a rechargeable battery as a store of energy and uses one or more active electronic modules to maintain a user-compatible heating surface at a predetermined temperature.
  • the heating surface is heated by controlled current from the battery as long as there is energy in the battery.
  • each electronic module has at least one of these features:
  • Fig 8 is a block diagram of this embodiment of the invention, adapted for inductive charging
  • 801 is a rechargeable battery (or assembly of batteries).
  • 802 is a control device that in a first mode rectifies coil current (derived from coil 301 when in the charging mode, or meters out battery current to the coil as direct current when in the discharge mode.
  • 802 preferably includes a resonating capacitor and means to detect when the battery has become charged.
  • the metering out process includes a feedback loop comparing the internal
  • thermo sensor 803 temperature as detected by thermal sensor 803 in relation to a predetermined target temperature. If the portable heating device uses resistive wiring buried within in the exterior wall, temperature sensing may be carried out by other wiring buried within in the exterior wall.
  • the bed warmer is supplied inside a user-friendly covering, and is supplied together with an electrically driven reloading device (as per Fig 7) capable either of reheating one or more modules
  • the module (or modules) and reheating device are intended to replace the hot- water bottle as a way of keeping people warm. While a rechargeable battery could start a fire if shorted out when charged, careful design shall minimise that risk.
  • the user-friendly covering in more detail, shall provide an external perception of softness rather than a hard heavy battery within.
  • a textile covering analogous to prior-art hot water bottle covers of wool, cotton or other materials
  • a rubber or analogous waterproof, preferably flexible layer Inside the waterproof flexible layer shall be probably a gel-filled sac containing and protecting the hard material of the electronic assembly.
  • the "gel-filled sac” may be made of a gel which is preferably thermally conductive. Convective heat transfer as with a relatively low-viscosity fluid
  • thermal conductivity 495 may be the simplest approach to thermal conductivity. Another approach is to embed heating wires in the waterproof flexible layer, and connect these to the discharge circuit. It will be appreciated that inductive power transfer is an efficient way to reload a battery because the secondary winding behaves as a constant-current source. It will also be appreciated that a charged battery does not have to be actively discharging straight 500 away. In other words, bed warmers using electronic energy storage as described herein can be in a cold state with respect to temperature even if charged up, and be switched off until needed. A suitable switch to initiate discharge might conveniently be closed by passing the device over a strong magnet. A status indicator such as a LED lamp (off/full/in use) would be useful.
  • the electronic bed warmer of Fig 8 may also be connected to clothing or footwear that includes 505 warming wires to be substituted for coil 301 when in discharge mode, useful in cold countries or for motorcyclists for electrically heated socks and gloves for example.
  • Heat energy is conserved - the only item heated is the hot water bottle (bed warmer) itself. Waste of hot water is abolished.
  • the higher Effective Specific Heat provides longer-lasting heat from the bed warmers than if water is used, and the use of latent heat release provides a reasonably constant temperature output until all the material has changed state.
  • a bed-ridden person can replace a cold bed warmer from a bedside re-warming unit as and when required - and there is no need to walk to a cold kitchen to boil a kettle.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de chauffe-lit comprenant au moins une station de réchauffage qui chauffe électriquement des unités de chauffage personnelles compatibles à une température sans danger. Des procédés de transfert de puissance inductifs ou par connexion directe sont préférés. L'évolution de chaleur latente par exemple à environ 45° C à partir de capsules contenant une cire à l'intérieur de chaque unité de chauffage simule une chaleur spécifique effective supérieure à l'eau seule, et à une température constante. Une chaleur effective supérieure est en variante simulée par l'utilisation d'une batterie à l'intérieur de l'unité de chauffage personnelle qui a été rechargée, puis déchargée par le dispositif de chauffage à l'intérieur du module avec une commande électronique de régulation de température.
PCT/NZ2007/000075 2006-04-08 2007-04-05 CHAUFFE-litS économeS en énergie Ceased WO2007117159A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0607124.5 2006-04-08
GB0607124A GB0607124D0 (en) 2006-04-08 2006-04-08 Improvements in bed warmers
GB0705842A GB2436801A (en) 2006-04-08 2007-03-23 Electrically heated hot water bottle and docking station
GB0705842.3 2007-03-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007117159A1 true WO2007117159A1 (fr) 2007-10-18

Family

ID=38581366

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NZ2007/000075 Ceased WO2007117159A1 (fr) 2006-04-08 2007-04-05 CHAUFFE-litS économeS en énergie

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2007117159A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2005922A1 (fr) * 2007-06-06 2008-12-24 Burkhard Schodde Dispositif de délivrance de chaleur, en particulier bouillotte
KR200445387Y1 (ko) 2008-11-14 2009-07-27 (주)혜왕 파라핀 스토브
EP2276438A4 (fr) * 2008-05-12 2012-07-18 Embrace Système et procédé de régulation de la température
WO2013048904A1 (fr) * 2011-09-30 2013-04-04 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Élément thermique de soin corporel et sa méthode d'utilisation
US20130085556A1 (en) * 2011-09-30 2013-04-04 Ronald J. Gillespie Thermal body-care element and method of use of same
WO2015110574A3 (fr) * 2014-01-23 2015-09-03 Wfi Wärmflascheninnovation Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt) Dispositif chauffant comportant un moyen d'accumulation de chaleur latente
US9605874B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-03-28 Warmilu, Llc Phase change heat packs
US10925766B2 (en) 2014-12-20 2021-02-23 Wfi Wärmflascheninnovation Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt) Safety closure for a hot-water bottle

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB296030A (en) * 1927-08-23 1929-11-22 Aeg Base for electrically heated articles, more particularly hot water bottles
GB2110060A (en) * 1981-11-20 1983-06-08 Aquatron An electric bed warmer
GB2135860A (en) * 1983-02-16 1984-09-05 Shavarsh Matossian An electric bed warmer
GB2192118A (en) * 1986-05-14 1987-12-31 Peter Mapplebeck & Associates Bed warmer
GB2291321A (en) * 1994-07-05 1996-01-17 Chainport Ltd Flexible electrically heatable bottle
WO1998017213A1 (fr) * 1996-10-17 1998-04-30 Thermal Energy Accumulator Products Pty. Ltd. Dispositif pour rechauffer une partie du corps
GB2323033A (en) * 1995-08-04 1998-09-16 Wang Ching Chuan Heat pack capable of being recharged by microwave energy
DE29820516U1 (de) * 1998-11-17 1999-02-11 Trapp, Wilfried, 77876 Kappelrodeck Wärmeflaschenthermosystem
US6141801A (en) * 1998-03-17 2000-11-07 Consumer Choice Systems, Inc. Thermal glove
WO2001021117A1 (fr) * 1999-09-20 2001-03-29 E.Co Engineering & Consultancy B.V. Reservoir chauffant tel qu'un bouillotte ou analogue, destine en particulier a chauffer les lits
JP2001276109A (ja) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-09 Yasuhiro Hashimoto サンホット（２１世紀の遠赤外線電気湯タンポ）
US6348678B1 (en) * 2000-10-24 2002-02-19 Patrick V. Loyd, Sr. Flexible heater assembly
US6416534B1 (en) * 2000-10-10 2002-07-09 Sunbeam Products, Inc. Portable heating pad with removable heat pad, removable gel pack and pressure bladder
GB2370993A (en) * 2001-01-15 2002-07-17 Jongbae Park Electric hot water sand bottle
GB2402346A (en) * 2003-06-04 2004-12-08 Peter Roy Howell Portable electric warming device

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB296030A (en) * 1927-08-23 1929-11-22 Aeg Base for electrically heated articles, more particularly hot water bottles
GB2110060A (en) * 1981-11-20 1983-06-08 Aquatron An electric bed warmer
GB2135860A (en) * 1983-02-16 1984-09-05 Shavarsh Matossian An electric bed warmer
GB2192118A (en) * 1986-05-14 1987-12-31 Peter Mapplebeck & Associates Bed warmer
GB2291321A (en) * 1994-07-05 1996-01-17 Chainport Ltd Flexible electrically heatable bottle
GB2323033A (en) * 1995-08-04 1998-09-16 Wang Ching Chuan Heat pack capable of being recharged by microwave energy
WO1998017213A1 (fr) * 1996-10-17 1998-04-30 Thermal Energy Accumulator Products Pty. Ltd. Dispositif pour rechauffer une partie du corps
US6141801A (en) * 1998-03-17 2000-11-07 Consumer Choice Systems, Inc. Thermal glove
DE29820516U1 (de) * 1998-11-17 1999-02-11 Trapp, Wilfried, 77876 Kappelrodeck Wärmeflaschenthermosystem
WO2001021117A1 (fr) * 1999-09-20 2001-03-29 E.Co Engineering & Consultancy B.V. Reservoir chauffant tel qu'un bouillotte ou analogue, destine en particulier a chauffer les lits
JP2001276109A (ja) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-09 Yasuhiro Hashimoto サンホット（２１世紀の遠赤外線電気湯タンポ）
US6416534B1 (en) * 2000-10-10 2002-07-09 Sunbeam Products, Inc. Portable heating pad with removable heat pad, removable gel pack and pressure bladder
US6348678B1 (en) * 2000-10-24 2002-02-19 Patrick V. Loyd, Sr. Flexible heater assembly
GB2370993A (en) * 2001-01-15 2002-07-17 Jongbae Park Electric hot water sand bottle
GB2402346A (en) * 2003-06-04 2004-12-08 Peter Roy Howell Portable electric warming device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Week 199912, Derwent World Patents Index; Class P32, AN 1999-133907, XP003018534 *

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2005922A1 (fr) * 2007-06-06 2008-12-24 Burkhard Schodde Dispositif de délivrance de chaleur, en particulier bouillotte
EP2276438A4 (fr) * 2008-05-12 2012-07-18 Embrace Système et procédé de régulation de la température
US8257417B2 (en) 2008-05-12 2012-09-04 Embrace System and method to regulate temperature
KR200445387Y1 (ko) 2008-11-14 2009-07-27 (주)혜왕 파라핀 스토브
CN103945803A (zh) * 2011-09-30 2014-07-23 强生消费者公司 热身体护理元件及其使用方法
US20130085556A1 (en) * 2011-09-30 2013-04-04 Ronald J. Gillespie Thermal body-care element and method of use of same
WO2013048904A1 (fr) * 2011-09-30 2013-04-04 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Élément thermique de soin corporel et sa méthode d'utilisation
US9605874B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-03-28 Warmilu, Llc Phase change heat packs
WO2015110574A3 (fr) * 2014-01-23 2015-09-03 Wfi Wärmflascheninnovation Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt) Dispositif chauffant comportant un moyen d'accumulation de chaleur latente
CN106232064A (zh) * 2014-01-23 2016-12-14 Wfi 沃姆费拉盛创新公司（有限责任） 带潜热蓄能单元的加热装置
CN106232064B (zh) * 2014-01-23 2019-04-19 Wfi 沃姆费拉盛创新公司（有限责任） 带潜热蓄能单元的加热装置
CN110123516A (zh) * 2014-01-23 2019-08-16 Wfi沃姆费拉盛创新公司（有限责任） 带潜热蓄能单元的加热装置
CN110123516B (zh) * 2014-01-23 2021-08-06 Wfi沃姆费拉盛创新公司（有限责任） 带潜热蓄能单元的加热装置
US11090187B2 (en) 2014-01-23 2021-08-17 Wfi Wärmflascheninnovation Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt) Hot water bottle containing phase change material
US10925766B2 (en) 2014-12-20 2021-02-23 Wfi Wärmflascheninnovation Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt) Safety closure for a hot-water bottle

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2007117159A1 (fr) CHAUFFE-litS économeS en énergie
US6770848B2 (en) Thermal warming devices
US6331695B1 (en) Thermal warming blanket for patient temperature management
US6329644B1 (en) Thermal retention-device
US5999699A (en) Thermal retention device with outer covering receiving a warmer and food to be heated
CA2267003C (fr) Couverture thermique pour gerer la temperature des patients
WO2014107590A2 (fr) Dispositif portatif de chauffage d'aliments
US20070267398A1 (en) Induction Heating of Footwear and Apparel
WO1993011651A1 (fr) Jouets et vetements pouvant etre rechauffes par micro-ondes
AU2004206218A1 (en) Beverage container warmer
US10786110B2 (en) Portable heating rod
WO2006040540A1 (fr) Appareil de chauffage d'aliments portatif
WO2021022329A1 (fr) Chauffe-boisson ou chauffe-aliments portatif
GB2436801A (en) Electrically heated hot water bottle and docking station
KR102174102B1 (ko) 다목적 휴대용 인덕션 장치
EP1894548A1 (fr) Coussin chauffant
CN106419508B (zh) 电热杯及儿童电热杯
CN104814661B (zh) 一种可充电便携式电热锅
US20120255941A1 (en) Heated stuffed animal clothes warmer
GB2484750A (en) Rechargeable fluid heating device
US9907119B2 (en) Heatable fluid bag
JP3253355U (ja) 携帯用加熱器
Monk An Investigation into the Functionality and Efficiency of an Electric Pressure Cooker Bought in Kenya Intended for the Domestic Market:‘Sayona PPS 6 litre’
CN207012027U (zh) 一种智能暖手水杯
EP0246243A1 (fr) Article de transfert de chaleur a un etre humain et/ou un lit

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 07747703

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 07747703

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1