JP7576853B2 - Heat Exchange Equipment and Wear - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heat exchange device suitable for regulating body temperature.

As temperatures rise due to global warming, working outdoors in the summer and working indoors without air conditioning is becoming more difficult. Working in a site close to a heat source is difficult regardless of the season. Measures to prevent heatstroke are an urgent issue in order to secure a workforce in such scorching hot sites.

In recent years, therefore, there has been progress in the development of cooling wear that allows for the circulation of cooled fluid close to the body of the worker, thereby enabling body temperature regulation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, a body temperature regulation system has been proposed that provides a path for conveying cooling water so that it is widely distributed over the surface of the workwear, and circulates cooling water maintained at a low temperature.

JP 2019-196571 A

However, the body temperature regulation system in Patent Document 1 is quite large-scale, as it is equipped with a refrigeration cycle including a compressor and a condenser as a temperature regulation device to keep the temperature of the cooling water constant. Furthermore, a tank for storing water is provided in the cooling water transport path, which increases the weight of the device worn by the worker. This weight in particular places a heavy burden on the worker. Such problems can occur with any heat exchange device that can regulate body temperature, not only for cooling in high-temperature environments, but also for keeping warm in low-temperature environments.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and one of its objectives is to realize a simplified and lightweight heat exchange device that can be used to regulate body temperature.

A heat exchange device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid circulation passage for circulating liquid, a heat exchange pad in which a portion of the liquid circulation passage is disposed, a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat with the liquid flowing through the liquid circulation passage, a pump disposed in the liquid circulation passage, and a liquid injection mechanism connected to the liquid circulation passage. The liquid injection mechanism includes an injection port for introducing liquid from the outside when injecting the liquid into the liquid circulation passage, and an outlet port for discharging air to the outside when injecting the liquid into the liquid circulation passage. This heat exchange device does not have a tank for storing fluid in the liquid circulation passage.

A heat exchange device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a liquid circulation passage for circulating a liquid, a heat absorbing pad in which a part of the liquid circulation passage is disposed, a cooling unit for cooling the liquid flowing through the liquid circulation passage, and a pump disposed in the liquid circulation passage. This heat exchange device does not have a tank for storing a fluid in the liquid circulation passage. The cooling unit includes a Peltier element as a cooling element.

The present invention makes it possible to simplify and reduce the weight of a heat exchange device that can be used to regulate body temperature.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appliance to which the heat exchange device is applied. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of application of the prosthesis to a subject. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a heat exchange device. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a heat exchange pad and its surroundings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a liquid circulation passage in a heat exchange device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a heat exchange unit. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration and operation of a pump. FIG. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating a configuration of a liquid injection mechanism. 13 is a partial enlarged view showing the configuration of a modified example of the brace. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of application of the prosthesis to a subject. FIG. 13 shows the insulating structure in the heat exchange area of the appliance. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a garment according to another modified example. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of a pocket. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat exchange pad. 6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating a method of filling the liquid circulation passage with cooling water. 3 is a diagram showing the function of each part when cooling water is filled and circulated. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for convenience, the positional relationship of each structure may be expressed based on the illustrated state. In addition, in the following embodiments and their modified examples, substantially identical components are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

The heat exchange device of this embodiment is attached to clothing or equipment (hereinafter also referred to as "equipment, etc.") and is used to regulate the body temperature of the subject person. This heat exchange device is capable of not only cooling in high-temperature environments, but also keeping warm in low-temperature environments, but the following description will be given taking as an example the case where it functions as a cooling device in a high-temperature environment.

(Composition of the Orthosis)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appliance to which a heat exchange device is applied.
The brace 100 is made of fabric with a mesh structure and is worn on the upper body of the subject. The brace 100 has a back support part 102 (corresponding to the "wearing part") that is worn on the back of the subject directly or through innerwear (such as a shirt). The heat exchange pad 10 of the heat exchange device 1 is attached to the inner surface 103 of the back support part 102. The heat exchange pad 10 is kept at a low temperature by supplying cooling water (described in detail later).

In this embodiment, the heat exchange pad 10 is removably attached to the brace 100 by fastening means such as buttons or hook-and-loop fasteners, but it may also be sewn to the brace 100. The brace 100 may be configured as a cooling brace that includes the heat exchange pad 10 (or the entire heat exchange device 1).

A pair of strap portions 104 extend from the upper left and right ends of the backrest portion 102. A pair of strap portions 106 also extend from the lower left and right ends of the backrest portion 102. A hook-and-loop surface 108 is provided on the inner surface of the strap portion 104, and a hook-and-loop surface 110 is provided on the outer surface of the strap portion 106. In addition, a slit 112 is provided in the upper center of the backrest portion 102, allowing the liquid injection mechanism 16 (described below) of the heat exchange pad 10 to be exposed on the outer surface 114 of the backrest portion 102.

The heat exchange device 1 also includes a heat exchange unit 12 for keeping the temperature of the cooling water low, a pump 14 for promoting the circulation of the cooling water, and a battery 13 for supplying power to the heat exchange unit 12 and the pump 14.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of application of the prosthesis 100 to a subject.
When putting the brace 100 on the subject M, the back support part 102 is placed against the back, and the left and right strap parts 104, 106 are pulled forward and connected vertically by hook-and-loop fasteners. At this time, the heat exchange pad 10 is positioned inside the back support part 102 (i.e., on the surface facing the back).

The heat exchange unit 12 and battery 13 have attachment parts for attaching to a belt or the like worn by the subject M, but the details are not explained here.

(Configuration of heat exchange device)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the heat exchange device 1.
The heat exchange device 1 comprises a heat exchange pad 10, a heat exchange unit 12, a pump 14, and a liquid injection mechanism 16. The heat exchange pad 10 functions as a body temperature regulator that exchanges heat with the human body via the orthosis 100. A water passage 20 is provided over the entire inner surface of the heat exchange pad 10. The water passage 20 is formed by connecting a plurality of tubes (described in detail later).

The heat exchange unit 12 functions as a heat exchanger for keeping the temperature of the cooling water low, and is connected to the heat exchange pad 10 via the connection tubes 22, 24. The tubes constituting the water passage 20 and the connection tubes 22, 24 form a "liquid circulation passage" (described below) for circulating the cooling water.

The heat exchange unit 12 is provided with an outlet port 26 for discharging cooled water and an inlet port 28 for introducing water returning from the heat exchange pad 10. One end of the connection tube 22 is connected to the outlet port 26, and the other end is connected to one end of the water passage 20. One end of the connection tube 24 is connected to the inlet port 28, and the other end is connected to the other end of the water passage 20. The configuration of the functional parts that perform the heat exchange function in the heat exchange unit 12 will be described in detail later.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing the heat exchange pad 10 and its periphery, as viewed from the inner surface 105 side of the heat exchange pad 10. As shown in FIG.
The heat exchange pad 10 is a sheet-like member having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a shape symmetrical with respect to a center line L in the width direction. A first tube 30, a second tube 32, and a third tube 34 are arranged in parallel from one end side in the width direction on an inner surface 105 of the heat exchange pad 10, and these tubes form a water passage 20. Each tube is made of flexible resin and is attached to the inner surface 105 of the heat exchange pad 10.

A number of connection ports for connecting tubes are provided along the outer periphery of the heat exchange pad 10. That is, ports 36 to 42 are arranged along the lower edge of the heat exchange pad 10. Ports 36 and 42 are located at both ends of the heat exchange pad 10 in the width direction, and ports 38 and 40 are located toward the center in the width direction. Ports 44 and 46 are arranged along the upper edge of the heat exchange pad 10. Ports 44 and 46 are located toward the center in the width direction of the heat exchange pad 10.

The first tube 30 has a serpentine shape extending in the width direction with multiple folds above and below, one end connected to port 36, and the other end connected to port 38. The connection tube 22 is connected to the first tube 30 via port 36. The second tube 32 has one end connected to port 40, and the other end connected to port 44. The third tube 34 has a serpentine shape extending in the width direction with multiple folds above and below, one end connected to port 42, and the other end connected to port 46. The connection tube 24 is connected to port 42.

An inlet pipe 50 and an outlet pipe 52 extend from the pump 14, with the inlet pipe 50 connected to the port 38 and the outlet pipe 52 connected to the port 40. That is, the first tube 30 is connected to the inlet of the pump 14 via the inlet pipe 50, and the outlet of the pump 14 is connected to the second tube 32 via the outlet pipe 52. In this embodiment, the inlet pipe 50 and the outlet pipe 52 are made of flexible resin tubes, but they may also be made of metal piping.

The liquid injection mechanism 16 includes an H-shaped water supply pipe 54 and a number of check valves provided in the water supply pipe 54. In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 54 is made of a flexible resin tube, but may be made of metal piping. The water supply pipe 54 includes a water supply pipe 56 and a drain pipe 58 that extend parallel to each other, and a connecting pipe 60 that connects the water supply pipe 56 and the drain pipe 58. The connecting pipe 60 is connected perpendicularly to the middle parts of the water supply pipe 56 and the drain pipe 58.

One end of the water injection pipe 56 is an inlet 62, and the other end is connected to the port 46. Meanwhile, one end of the drain pipe 58 is an outlet 64, and the other end is connected to the port 44. The second tube 32 is connected to the third tube 34 via the water passage pipe 54.

A check valve 70 (functioning as a "first check valve") is provided near the inlet 62 of the water inlet pipe 56. A check valve 72 (functioning as a "second check valve") is provided near the outlet 64 of the drain pipe 58. A check valve 74 (functioning as a "third check valve") is provided in the middle of the connecting pipe 60. The operation of each check valve will be described in detail later.

The heat exchange pad 10 has large and small slits 76 between adjacent passages in the width direction due to the meandering shape of the water passage 20, ensuring a certain degree of breathability. The multiple tubes that make up the water passage 20 protrude from the inner surface 105 of the back support portion 102, and these tubes come into contact with the surface of the brace 100.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the liquid circulation passages in the heat exchange device 1. As shown in FIG.
A liquid circulation passage 120 for circulating the cooling water is formed in the heat exchange device 1. This liquid circulation passage 120 is a passage that communicates an internal passage 122 of the heat exchange unit 12, the connecting tube 22, the first tube 30, the inlet pipe 50, an internal passage 124 of the pump 14, the outlet pipe 52, the second tube 32, the water pipe 54 of the liquid injection mechanism 16, the third tube 34, and the connecting tube 24. The circulation of the cooling water is promoted by driving the pump 14, and the temperature of the cooling water is maintained low by heat exchange in the heat exchange unit 12.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the heat exchange unit 12. As shown in FIG.
The heat exchange unit 12 includes a heat exchanger 80, a Peltier element 82, heat dissipation fins 84, a fan 86, and a control unit 88. The heat exchanger 80 includes piping 90 that forms the internal passage 122 described above.

The Peltier element 82 is a plate-shaped semiconductor thermoelectric element that generates a heat absorption effect on one surface (heat absorption surface 81) and a heat generation effect on the other surface (heat generation surface 83) when electricity is applied. In this embodiment, in order to make the heat exchange unit 12 function as a cooling unit, the heat absorption surface 81 abuts against the heat exchanger 80 and the heat generation surface 83 abuts against the heat dissipation fins 84. The heat dissipation fins 84 function as a heat sink.

The control unit 88 controls the power supply to the Peltier element 82, which causes the Peltier element 82 to remove heat from the cooling water flowing through the heat exchanger 80 and maintain the temperature of the cooling water at a set temperature. At this time, the heat generated by the Peltier element 82 is released to the outside air via the heat dissipation fins 84. The control unit 88 drives the fan 86 to promote heat dissipation from the heat dissipation fins 84. In this embodiment, an aluminum alloy, which has excellent thermal conductivity and is lightweight, is used as the material for the piping 90 and the heat dissipation fins 84, but copper or other materials can also be used.

7A and 7B are schematic diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the pump 14. Fig. 7A shows the pump 14 in a suction state, and Fig. 7B shows the pump 14 in a discharge state.
The pump 14 is a so-called diaphragm pump, and includes a body 91 in which the above-mentioned internal passage 124 is formed, a diaphragm 92 attached to seal the open end of the body 91, and a drive unit 94 that drives the diaphragm 92.

The body 91 has a main body portion 130 to which the diaphragm 92 is connected, an intake pipe portion 132 to which the inlet pipe 50 is connected, and a discharge pipe portion 134 to which the outlet pipe 52 is connected. An operating chamber 136 is formed inside the main body portion 130.

A valve chamber 138 is formed inside the suction pipe section 132, and a check valve 140 is disposed therein. The valve chamber 138 communicates with the operating chamber 136 via a contracting section 139. The check valve 140 includes a valve body 142 disposed in the valve chamber 138 and a valve seat 144 provided at the open end of the inlet pipe 50. A locking section 146 is provided slightly upstream of the contracting section 139 in the valve chamber 138 to restrict the displacement of the valve body 142 in the valve opening direction.

On the other hand, a valve chamber 148 is formed inside the discharge pipe section 134, and a check valve 150 is disposed therein. The valve chamber 148 communicates with the operating chamber 136 via a contracting section 149. The check valve 150 includes a valve body 152 disposed in the valve chamber 148 and a valve seat 154 provided at the open end of the contracting section 149. A locking section 156 is provided slightly upstream of the open end of the outlet pipe 52 in the valve chamber 148 to restrict the displacement of the valve body 152 in the valve opening direction.

The driving unit 94 includes an actuating rod 160 to which the center of the diaphragm 92 is fixed, and an actuator (not shown) that drives the actuating rod 160 in the axial direction of the diaphragm 92. The actuator may be, for example, a solenoid or a motor.

As shown in FIG. 7(A), when the pump 14 is in suction operation, the diaphragm 92 is driven to expand the working chamber 136. The negative pressure generated at this time closes the check valve 150, while the check valve 140 is fully open, drawing cooling water into the working chamber 136. At this time, the valve body 142 is engaged with the engagement portion 146 as shown in the figure, allowing the inflow of cooling water from the inlet pipe 50 (see the thick arrow in the figure).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the pump 14 is in the discharge operation, the diaphragm 92 is driven to reduce the working chamber 136. The pressure generated at this time closes the check valve 140, while the check valve 150 is fully open, and the cooling water in the working chamber 136 is discharged to the outlet pipe 52. At this time, the valve body 152 is engaged with the engagement portion 156 as shown in the figure, allowing the cooling water to flow out to the outlet pipe 52 (see the thick arrow in the figure).

The repeated suction and discharge operations of the pump 14 promote the circulation of cooling water in the liquid circulation passage 120. In addition, by using a diaphragm pump as the pump 14, a certain amount of volume can be secured for the working chamber 136 regardless of the operating state. Therefore, the pump 14 is less likely to resist the injection of cooling water when it is injected, as described below.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the liquid injection mechanism 16. As shown in FIG.
As described above, the liquid injection mechanism 16 is provided with the check valve 70 (first check valve), the check valve 72 (second check valve), and the check valve 74 (third check valve). The check valve 70 and the check valve 72 are temporarily opened when the liquid circulation passage 120 is filled with cooling water prior to use of the heat exchange device 1.

That is, in order to reduce the weight of the heat exchange device 1, the liquid circulation passage 120 is not provided with a tank for storing cooling water. Therefore, when using the heat exchange device 1, the liquid circulation passage 120 must be filled with cooling water in advance. In this embodiment, the injection port 62 has a shape that allows the cylinder of an injector (not shown) to be attached and detached. The injector is used to inject a fluid (water in this embodiment) from the outside into the liquid circulation passage 120. This injection may be performed by a manual pump or an electric pump.

The check valve 70 opens when the fluid injection pressure is equal to or greater than the first set pressure, and closes when the fluid injection pressure is less than the first set pressure. The check valve 70 has a first valve seat formed near the injection port 62, a first valve body that is attached to and detached from the downstream side of the first valve seat to open and close the valve section, and a first spring that biases the first valve body in the valve closing direction. The first set pressure is adjusted by the load of the first spring. Opening the check valve 70 allows the injection of fluid into the liquid circulation passage 120. Closing the check valve 70 prevents air from entering the liquid circulation passage 120 from the outside.

The check valve 72 opens when the fluid pressure is equal to or greater than the second set pressure, and closes when the fluid pressure is less than the second set pressure. The check valve 72 has a second valve seat formed near the discharge port 64, a second valve body that is attached to and detached from the second valve seat from the downstream side to open and close the valve section, and a second spring that biases the second valve body in the valve closing direction. The second set pressure is adjusted by the load of the second spring. When the check valve 70 opens when the fluid is injected, the air in the liquid circulation passage 120 can be pushed out and discharged. This allows the liquid circulation passage 120 to be filled with fluid. The check valves 70 and 72 close to confine the fluid in the liquid circulation passage 120.

The check valve 74 has a third valve seat formed in the middle of the connecting pipe 60, and a third valve body that is attached to and detached from the downstream side of the third valve seat to open and close the valve section. The check valve 74 does not have a spring that biases the third valve body in the valve closing direction, and remains open as long as the fluid flows forward through the liquid circulation passage 120. By providing the check valve 74, it is possible to provide directionality to the circulation of the fluid and fill the liquid circulation passage 120 with the fluid.

Here, the opening pressure of the check valve 70 (i.e., the first set pressure) is set to be greater than the suction pressure (absolute value) of the pump 14. This prevents the check valve 70 from opening and sucking in air every time the pump 14 is operated.

The opening pressure of the check valve 72 (i.e., the second set pressure) is set to be greater than the combined value of the discharge pressure of the pump 14 and the external fluctuating pressure. The "external fluctuating pressure" referred to here includes the pressing force applied to the heat exchange pad 10 when the subject wears the orthosis 100, and an appropriate value is set in advance through experiments, etc. The magnitudes (absolute values) of the discharge pressure and suction pressure of the pump 14 are approximately equal. The second set pressure is greater than the first set pressure.

In this embodiment, the opening pressure of the check valve 74 is set to substantially zero, suppressing the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the pump 14 and mitigating the effect on the head. In a modified example, a spring with a very small load may be provided in the check valve 74 to set a very small opening pressure (i.e., the third set pressure). However, the third set pressure is set to be smaller than the second set pressure.

By setting the opening pressure of each check valve as described above, it is possible to prevent liquid leakage and air inflow when filling the liquid circulation passage 120 with fluid or during use. The components that make up each check valve are made of materials that are resistant to rust and weather.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the heat exchange device 1 can be configured as a so-called tankless device by providing the liquid injection mechanism 16 and allowing the liquid circulation passage 120 to be filled with cooling water in advance. This allows the heat exchange device 1 to be simplified and lightweight, making it easier to attach to an appliance, etc. The burden on the subject wearing the appliance, etc. can also be reduced.

The above describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to that specific embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[Modification]
FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view showing the configuration of an appliance 200 according to a modified example.
The appliance 200 has a tube routing structure for adjusting the lengths of the connection tubes 22, 24, and a heat insulating structure for suppressing temperature changes in the heat exchange pad 10 due to outside air.

As shown in FIG. 9(A), the back support part 202 (corresponding to the "wearing part") of the brace 200 has a heat exchange area 210 where the heat exchange pad 10 is placed, which is made of a thick fabric, and an outer area 212 of which is made of a thin fabric. A thermal insulation structure is formed in the heat exchange area 210 (described in detail later). The outer area 212 has a mesh structure.

The outer surface 214 of the heat exchange area 210 is provided with multiple fixing parts 220 onto which the connection tubes 22, 24 can be hooked and fixed. The fixing parts 220 are made of hook-and-loop fasteners 220a-220c arranged in three rows in the vertical direction, with one pair on each side. The connection tubes 22, 24 connected to the lower end of the heat exchange pad 10 are routed around the outer surface 214 of the back support 202, and the length of their extension in the vertical direction can be adjusted by fixing them to one of the hook-and-loop fasteners 220a-220c.

Figure 9 (A) shows the connection tubes 22, 24 fixed to the middle hook-and-loop fastener 220b. Figure 9 (B) shows the connection tubes 22, 24 fixed to the lower hook-and-loop fastener 220c. Each connection tube becomes shorter as it is fixed to an upper hook-and-loop fastener, and longer as it is fixed to a lower hook-and-loop fastener. Note that each tube does not have to be fixed to a hook-and-loop fastener, in which case it will be at its longest.

A storage section 230 that stores the liquid injection mechanism 16 is provided in the center of the upper part of the backrest 202. The storage section 230 is in the form of a pocket, and also functions as a cover that covers the liquid injection mechanism 16 so that it is not exposed to the outside. A slit 232 is provided in the center of the storage section 230 in the vertical direction, and the upper part of the liquid injection mechanism 16 (inlet 62, outlet 64) can be exposed to the outside as necessary (see FIG. 9 (B)).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of application of the prosthesis 200 to a subject M.
When the brace 200 is fitted to the subject M, the lengths of the connection tubes 22, 24 are appropriately adjusted using the above-mentioned tube routing structure, and then the back support portion 202 is placed against the back, while the left and right strap portions 104, 106 are connected. In this modified example, by providing such a tube routing structure, the brace 200 can be used regardless of the subject's height. In other words, the brace 200 can be provided as a free size.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the insulating structure in the heat exchange area 210 of the appliance 200.
In the heat exchange region 210, the fabric of the appliance 200 has a heat insulating layer 240 and is thicker. This heat insulating layer 240 is formed by bonding a thick mesh fabric 242 and a bonding fabric 244 together with an air layer S formed between them.

The mesh fabric 242 may have, for example, a double raschel structure. The laminated fabric 244 may have, for example, a urethane foam core and be raised. The outer surface of the laminated fabric 244 is exposed to the outside air. The heat exchange pad 10 is located inside the mesh fabric 242, and the tubes that make up the water passage 20 abut against the skin surface Mb of the subject M directly or via innerwear. The mesh fabric 242 itself has an air layer, and therefore exerts an insulating effect together with the air layer S. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the temperature rise of the cooling water due to the outside air temperature.

In this modification, the fixing portion 220 is configured with a hook-and-loop fastener, but buttons or other fixing means may be used. An adhesive fabric may be attached to the connection tube. Also, taking into consideration the appearance of the brace 200, a separate cover may be provided to cover the hook-and-loop fastener from the outside.

It goes without saying that the heat insulating structure of this modified example can also be applied to the above embodiment. Furthermore, the heat insulating structure is not limited to the above, and any structure that suppresses heat transfer from the outside air to the heat exchange pad 10 can be used.

12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a garment 300 according to another modified example, in which Fig. 12A is a front view and Fig. 12B is a rear view.
In this modification, the wear 300 is integrally provided with a heat exchange device 301. The heat exchange device 301 includes a heat exchange pad 310 and a heat exchange unit 312, and is detachably attached to the wear 300. In this modification, the wear 300 has the form of a vest, but may have the form of a shirt, work clothes, a jacket, a coat, or the like.

The garment 300 is made of a thin fabric overall and has a symmetrical structure. A breathable mesh fabric is used for the armpits 302 of the garment 300. A zip fastener 314 is provided on the front body 304 of the garment 300, but buttons or other opening and closing structures may also be used. A heat exchange pad 310 is attached to the back of the garment 300, from the upper half of the back body 306 to the upper half of the front body 304. A pocket 316 is attached to the lower half of the back body 306 of the garment 300, and contains a heat exchange unit 312. The upper half of the back body 306 and the upper half of the front body 304 correspond to the "wearing part".

A water passage 320 is provided over the entire inner surface of the heat exchange pad 310. The water passage 320 is formed by connecting multiple tubes. The heat exchange unit 312 has a configuration similar to that of the heat exchange unit 12 of the above embodiment, but further includes a pump 318 and a built-in battery. The heat exchange pad 310 and the heat exchange unit 312 are connected via connection tubes 322 and 324.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the mounting structure of the pocket 316.
The pocket 316 has a bag-shaped main body 317 and functions as a housing for the heat exchange unit 312. An insertion hole 326 is provided in the center of the front surface of the main body 317, allowing the fan 86 of the heat exchange unit 312 to be exposed. A hook surface of a hook-and-loop fastener is provided on the back surface of the pocket 316 (not shown).

The rear body 306 of the garment 300 has an opening 328 cut out at a predetermined width in the center of the lower half. A hook-and-loop fastener surface is provided around the opening 328 in the rear body 306. This allows the pocket 316 containing the heat exchange unit 312 to be easily attached to and detached from the rear body 306. When the pocket 316 is attached to the rear body 306, the opening 328 is covered by the pocket 316 (see FIG. 12B).

14A and 14B are diagrams showing the configuration of the heat exchange pad 310. Fig. 14A shows the configuration of the heat exchange pad 310, and Fig. 14B shows the configuration of the water passage 320.
As shown in Fig. 14(A), the heat exchange pad 310 has a left pad 330F and a right pad 330R arranged symmetrically. When there is no particular distinction between them, they are collectively referred to as "pads 330". Each pad 330 has a back contact area 332 that is placed against the back of the subject, a shoulder contact area 334 that corresponds to the shoulders, and a chest contact area 336 that corresponds to the chest. Of these areas, the back contact area 332 has the largest area.

The left tube 340F is stretched on the back surface of the left pad 330F, and the right tube 340R is stretched on the back surface of the right pad 330R. When there is no particular distinction between them, they are collectively referred to as "tubes 340". Each tube 340 has a base end on the inner side of the lower end of the pad 330, and extends to the chest contact area 336 by meandering through the back contact area 332 via the shoulder contact area 334. Then, it turns back at the tip of the chest contact area 336, and extends to the upper end of the back contact area 332 via the shoulder contact area 334. Each tube 340 has a tip on the inner side of the upper end of the pad 330. The tip of the left tube 340F and the tip of the right tube 340R are connected via a connecting tube 342.

As shown in FIG. 14B, the left tube 340F has a connection part 344 at its base end that connects to the connection tube 322, and a connection part 346 at its tip that connects to the connection tube 342. The right tube 340R has a connection part 344 at its base end that connects to the connection tube 324, and a connection part 346 at its tip that connects to the connection tube 342. Each tube 340 has multiple folds 348 in the meandering section.

Each turn-back section 348 has a relatively large area in plan view, and has multiple supports 350 for stably forming the passage cross section of the water passage 320 in that region. In the shoulder-corresponding region of the tube 340, multiple bypass passages 352 are provided that bypass the outward and return paths to the chest-corresponding region, so that clogging of the flow path in the tube 340 can be dealt with.

At the end of the connection tube 322 opposite the connection part 344, a coupling 356 is provided for connecting to the heat exchange unit 312. The coupling 356 also functions as an inlet 62. At the end of the connection tube 324 opposite the connection part 344, a coupling 358 is provided for connecting to the heat exchange unit 312. A branch path 360 is provided midway through the connection tube 324, and a check valve 72 and an outlet 64 are provided in the branch path 360. The connection tube 322 functions as the "first piping", and the connection tube 324 functions as the "second piping". The coupling 356 functions as the "first coupling", and the coupling 358 functions as the "second coupling".

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a method of filling the liquid circulation passage 120 with cooling water.
The above-mentioned left tube 340F, right tube 340R and connection tube 342 form the water passage 320. The arrows in the figure indicate the flow of water when the liquid circulation passage 120 is filled with cooling water.

When filling the cooling water, a water supply source 370 and a drainage receiver 372 are prepared. These may be containers such as beakers or buckets that can store water. A sufficient amount of cooling water is stored in the water supply source 370. The drainage receiver 372 may be an empty container. Then, a coupling 376, which is one end of the water supply tube 374, is connected to a coupling 380 that constitutes the inlet of the heat exchange unit 312, and a coupling 356 of the connection tube 322 is connected to a coupling 382 that constitutes the outlet of the heat exchange unit 312. The water supply tube 374 is prepared separately for the water supply process, and the other end is placed in the cooling water of the water supply source 370. The drainage receiver 372 is placed below the outlet 64 of the connection tube 324.

In this state, the pump 318 of the heat exchange unit 312 is driven. This causes cooling water to be pumped up from the water supply source 370 and introduced into the left tube 340F via the connecting tube 322. After filling the left tube 340F, this cooling water is introduced into the right tube 340R via the connecting tube 342. At this time, the air in the water passage 320 is pushed out from the exhaust port 64. After filling the right tube 340R, the cooling water leaks out from the exhaust port 64 into the drain receiver 372. However, since the check valve 72 is functioning, the amount of cooling water leakage is kept to a minimum. After the water passage 320 is filled with cooling water in this way, the operation of the pump 318 is stopped.

Then, the water supply tube 374 is removed from the coupling 380, and the coupling 358 is connected to the coupling 380. This fills the liquid circulation passage 120 with cooling water. Each coupling functions as a check valve that closes the flow path when the coupling is disconnected from the other coupling, preventing leakage of cooling water during such installation and removal, and maintaining the filled state. As described above, the check valve 72 also prevents leakage of cooling water from the outlet 64.

16A and 16B are diagrams showing the functions of the various parts when the cooling water is filled and circulated, with Fig. 16A showing the filling state and Fig. 16B showing the circulation state.
16A, when the cooling water is being filled, the drive unit 94 of the pump 318 is driven, so that the check valves 140 and 150 of the diaphragm pump are alternately opened to pump up the cooling water. This cooling water is supplied to the water passage 320. At this time, because the coupling 358 is in a disconnected state, the check valve 72 is opened by the discharge pressure of the pump 318, and air is discharged from the discharge port 64. When the cooling water starts to be discharged from the discharge port 64, it is determined that the water passage 320 is in a filled state, and the pump 318 is stopped. This causes the discharge pressure of the pump 318 to disappear, and the check valve 72 closes.

As shown in FIG. 16B, by connecting the coupling 358 to the coupling 380 in this state, the liquid circulation passage 120 is formed. Because both the heat exchange unit 312 and the water passage 320 are filled with cooling water, the entire liquid circulation passage 120 is filled with cooling water. Then, by driving the pump 318, the cooling water can be circulated in the liquid circulation passage 120. At this time, the discharge pressure of the pump 318 is consumed for circulating the cooling water, so no pressure exceeding the valve opening pressure acts on the check valve 72, and the check valve 72 remains closed.

According to this modified example, the pump 318 functions even when the cooling water is being filled, improving workability. In addition, the functions of the check valves 70, 74 in the above embodiment can be substituted by the functions of the pump 318. Furthermore, since the heat exchange unit 312 is housed in a pocket 316 that can be detached from the wearer's clothing 300, it is not necessary to attach the heat exchange unit 312 taking into account the subject's height and waist position. Therefore, the tube routing structure shown in FIG. 10 is also not necessary.

In this modified example, as shown in FIG. 15 etc., a branch path 360 is provided in the connection tube 324, and an outlet 64 is provided at the tip of the branch path 360. In other modified examples, the branch path 360 may be eliminated, and the coupling 358 may function as the outlet 64. For example, when filling with cooling water, a separate outlet tube having a structure similar to that of the water supply tube 374 may be prepared and connected to the coupling 358 so that the cooling water can be discharged. A check valve 72 may be provided in the outlet tube. In other words, the coupling 358 may be provided in the connection tube 324 that communicates with the outlet 64.

In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the heat exchange device 1 is configured as a cooling device that functions in a high-temperature environment. That is, an example was shown in which the heat exchange pad 10 functions as a "heat absorbing pad" and the heat exchange unit 12 functions as a "cooling unit."

In a modified example, the heat exchange device may be configured as a heat retention device that functions in a low-temperature environment. Warm water circulates as a fluid through the liquid circulation passage 120. Specifically, by arranging the Peltier element 82 shown in FIG. 6 upside down, the heat exchanger 80 side can be made into a heat generating surface 83, and the heat dissipation fin 84 side can be made into a heat absorbing surface 81. This makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the warm water flowing through the piping 90 at an appropriate level. By attaching the heat exchange device to the subject's equipment, etc., it is possible to improve workability in a low-temperature environment.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the heat exchange device 1 is applied to the brace 100 that is attached to the back of the subject, but it goes without saying that the form of the brace is not limited to the above. The part to which the heat exchange pad is attached is not limited to the back, and can be appropriately set to, for example, the shoulders or neck. The heat exchange pad may be made detachable to a desired part of a shirt, etc.

In the above embodiment, the fluid circulating through the liquid circulation passage 120 is water, but it may be a coolant or other liquid.

In the above embodiment and modified example, a Peltier element is used as the heat exchange element, but elements that exhibit the Thomson effect or other elements can also be used. When a cooling effect is to be achieved as a heat exchange unit, a refrigeration cycle that circulates a refrigerant can also be used. When a heat retention effect is to be achieved, a heater can be used. However, in order to simultaneously simplify and reduce the weight of the heat exchange device, it is preferable to use a heat exchange element such as that in the above embodiment.

The wear or equipment to which the heat exchange device 1 of the above embodiment is applied can be expressed as follows.
A garment (or equipment) capable of regulating a subject's body temperature,
A mounting part to be mounted on a specific part of a subject;
A heat exchange device that performs heat exchange in the mounting portion;
Equipped with
The heat exchange device includes:
A liquid circulation passage for circulating the liquid;
a heat exchange pad attached to the mounting portion and in which a part of the liquid circulation passage is disposed;
a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat with the liquid flowing through the liquid circulation passage;
a pump disposed in the liquid circulation passage;
a liquid injection mechanism connected to the liquid circulation passage;
Including,
The liquid injection mechanism includes:
an inlet for introducing liquid from the outside when injecting liquid into the liquid circulation passage;
an exhaust port for exhausting air to the outside when liquid is injected into the liquid circulation passage;
Including,
The wear (or equipment) is characterized in that it does not have a tank for storing fluid in the liquid circulation passage.

It can also be expressed as follows:
A garment (or equipment) capable of regulating a subject's body temperature,
A mounting part to be mounted on a specific part of a subject;
A heat exchange device that performs heat exchange in the mounting portion;
Equipped with
The heat exchange device includes:
A liquid circulation passage for circulating the liquid;
a heat absorbing pad attached to the mounting portion and in which a part of the liquid circulation passage is disposed;
a cooling unit for cooling the liquid flowing through the liquid circulation passage;
a pump disposed in the liquid circulation passage;
Including,
The liquid circulation passage does not include a tank for storing a fluid,
The cooling unit is characterized in that it includes a Peltier element as a cooling element.

The wear or equipment to which the above-mentioned modified examples are applied can be expressed as follows.
The heat exchange pad is disposed on an inner surface of the mounting portion,
A fixing portion is provided on an outer surface of the mounting portion,
The garment (or appliance) is characterized in that it has a tube routing structure in which a tube connected to the liquid circulation passage in the heat exchange pad is routed around the outer surface of the attachment part and a portion of the tube is fixed to the fixing part, thereby allowing the length of the tube extending from the attachment part to be adjusted.

It can also be expressed as follows:
The wear (or equipment) is characterized in that the attachment portion has a heat insulating structure that suppresses heat transfer from the outside air to the heat exchange pad in the heat exchange area that abuts against the heat exchange pad.
The heat insulating structure may include a heat insulating structure including a mesh fabric and an air layer.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and modified examples, and the components can be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various inventions can be created by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment and modified examples. In addition, some components can be deleted from all the components shown in the above-mentioned embodiment and modified examples.

1 heat exchange device, 10 heat exchange pad, 12 heat exchange unit, 13 battery, 14 pump, 16 liquid injection mechanism, 20 water passage, 22 connection tube, 24 connection tube, 26 outlet port, 28 inlet port, 30 first tube, 32 second tube, 34 third tube, 36 port, 38 port, 40 port, 42 port, 44 port, 46 port, 50 inlet pipe, 52 outlet pipe, 54 water passage pipe, 56 water injection pipe, 58 drain pipe, 60 connection pipe, 62 inlet, 64 outlet, 70 check valve, 72 check valve, 74 check valve, 76 slit, 80 heat exchanger, 81 heat absorption surface, 82 Peltier element, 83 heat generation surface, 84 heat dissipation fin, 86 fan, 88 control unit, 90 piping, 92 diaphragm, 94 Drive section, 100, equipment, 102, back support section, 103, inner surface, 104, strap section, 105, inner surface, 106, strap section, 120, liquid circulation passage, 122, internal passage, 124, internal passage, 132, suction pipe section, 134, discharge pipe section, 136, working chamber, 138, valve chamber, 140, check valve, 142, valve body, 144, valve seat, 146, locking section, 148, valve chamber, 150, check valve, 152, valve body, 154, valve seat, 156, locking section, 160, working rod. 200: Equipment, 202: Back support, 210: Heat exchange area, 212: Outer area, 214: Outer surface, 220: Fixation part, 220b: Hook-and-loop fastener, 220c: Hook-and-loop fastener, 230: Storage part, 232: Slit, 240: Insulation layer, 242: Mesh fabric, 244: Bonded fabric, L: Center line, M: Subject, Mb: Skin surface, S: Air layer

Claims (7)

A liquid circulation passage for circulating the liquid;
a heat exchange pad that can be attached to clothing or equipment, and in which a part of the liquid circulation passage is arranged as a flexible tube ;
a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat with the liquid flowing through the liquid circulation passage;
a pump disposed in the liquid circulation passage;
a liquid injection mechanism connected to the liquid circulation passage;
Equipped with
The liquid injection mechanism includes:
an inlet for introducing liquid from the outside when injecting liquid into the liquid circulation passage;
an exhaust port for exhausting air to the outside when liquid is injected into the liquid circulation passage;
a check valve for preventing the liquid from being discharged from a discharge port after the liquid is injected into the liquid circulation passage;
Including,
The valve opening pressure of the check valve is set to be greater than the combined value of the discharge pressure of the pump and the external pressure fluctuations,
A heat exchange device, comprising: a liquid circulation passage that does not include a tank for storing a fluid; The liquid injection mechanism includes:
a first check valve for preventing backflow of liquid to an inlet after liquid is injected into the liquid circulation passage;
A second check valve as the check valve ;
The heat exchange device of claim 1 , further comprising: 3. The heat exchange device according to claim 2 , wherein the opening pressure of the second check valve is set to be higher than the opening pressure of the first check valve. a third check valve provided between the first check valve and the second check valve to prevent a backflow of fluid in the liquid circulation passage;
4. The heat exchange device according to claim 3 , wherein an opening pressure of the third check valve is set to be lower than an opening pressure of the second check valve. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchange unit includes a Peltier element as a heat exchange element. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump, as a driving unit of the liquid injection mechanism, draws up liquid from the outside and injects it into the liquid circulation passage when injecting the liquid, and generates a liquid flow in the liquid circulation passage when circulating the liquid. A mounting part to be mounted on a specific part of a subject;
A heat exchange device that performs heat exchange in the mounting portion;
Equipped with
The heat exchange device includes:
A liquid circulation passage for circulating the liquid;
a heat exchange pad attached to the mounting portion, and a part of the liquid circulation passage being disposed as a flexible tube;
a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat with the liquid flowing through the liquid circulation passage;
a pump disposed in the liquid circulation passage;
a liquid injection mechanism connected to the liquid circulation passage;
Including,
The liquid injection mechanism includes:
an inlet for introducing liquid from the outside when injecting liquid into the liquid circulation passage;
an exhaust port for exhausting air to the outside when liquid is injected into the liquid circulation passage;
a check valve for preventing the liquid from being discharged from a discharge port after the liquid is injected into the liquid circulation passage;
Including,
The valve opening pressure of the check valve is set to be greater than the combined value of the discharge pressure of the pump and the external pressure fluctuations,
The wear is characterized in that it does not have a tank for storing fluid in the liquid circulation passage.

Images