EP1280440B1 - Planar thermal-insulating device, in particular for the human body - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a planar heat insulating device, in particular, an item of clothing or a cover for the human body, comprising a shell (2; 12), which is filled with a heat-insulating material (3, 13). The shell (2, 12) has at least one outlet (32) provided, by means of which a reduction of the gas volume in the thermal-insulating device is possible. The insulating power of the thermal-insulating device can thus be varied, in particular reduced, by, for example, a factor of 10, by means of a considerable volume reduction. An item of clothing can thus be produced which may have thermal-insulation properties, optimised to suit the wearers activities with differing levels of physical exertion.

Description

The invention relates to a surface heat insulating device, in particular a garment or a blanket for the human body, with a shell consisting of an inner surface and an outer surface, which are connected to each other at their edges airtight, and which is filled with a heat-insulating material which is a bulky material, wherein in the sheath at least one outlet is provided, through which a reduction of the gas volume in the sheath is possible. Further examples of such thermal insulation devices are sleeping bags, helmets, medical dressings, clothing for motorcyclists or athletes.

From the DE 94 18 527 U a body cover of the type mentioned is known in which the shell is to be subjected to a negative pressure. This leads to a reduction of the gas in the shell and to a reduction of the heat insulation.

Such devices are for example also from the US 5,655,237 known. It is general state of the art, both in garments as well as in blankets, these with an outer skin forming shell, which may be waterproof, for example, form. Here is also the use of breathable casings known. Filled is a blanket or garment with insulating material, which may be down or synthetic fabrics, for example.

When using provide appropriate breathable cases Such garments a good thermal insulation with comfortable lying or wearing comfort. The disadvantage of such clothing and blankets, however, is that at different temperatures in the sleeping area in particular in contrast to summer and winter each corresponding different insulating blankets must be used. Often then the casings and the inner material are separated, so that the inner material itself again consists of a shell and a heat-insulating material. This so-called inner Wärmeisoliereinrichtung is then removable and can be used to improve the insulation in duplicate. In the clothing sector, for example, jackets with different insulation levels are offered here, or the user pulls different clothing over one another, as required.

The thermal insulation of blankets and even clothing is changed by the users depending on the temperature, relative humidity and activity of the respective person. Normally, people put their clothes on in such a way that they do not freeze without physical activity. On the other hand, physical activity produces about 5 to 7 times more heat than at rest. In other words, in order not to get too much of the rectal temperature, the person has to get rid of the heat by sweating.

From the WO 91/08682 is a protective helmet especially for motorcyclists known whose outer shell is solid and unyielding. In this shell is a resilient shell, which is filled with a material incorporated. The crash helmet is provided with a pump to fill the sheath with air and pressurized so that the head of the user is surrounded by this shell form-fitting protective. The overpressure can be released via valves to ambient pressure.

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide an insulating element of the type mentioned, which has a more easily adjustable, variable heat insulation.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1.

By sucking the envelope filling gas volume, usually ambient air, the thickness of the shell is reduced. In the simplest case, the shell, inside and outside, for example, from air and water impermeable film, such as PVC exist. Advantageously, the shells are breathable inside and outside and consist of polyester, PTFE, hydrophilic or microporous PU and the filler is a bulky, advantageously non-hygroscopic material which is reducible in volume under the action of compressive forces. This filler may be a non-woven, consist of hollow fibers, and / or be realized with down.

As a result, the heat insulation is now reduced so much that most of the heat can be delivered via convection and radiation, so that the person must sweat accordingly less and he also feels comfortable. The heat insulation can be changed in a relatively wide range. With the help of the technique of ventilating a cushion, the heat insulation can be changed in a wide range (1: 4). Thanks to the breathable, airtight membrane, the moisture still passes through the clothing layers. For special operations, such as for clothing for the fire department, the two sides of the shell can be configured differently inside and out, in particular, the outwardly facing shell can be less breathable, so that when exposed to the suit with hot water vapors from the outside this not by the garment pass. Normally, however, the higher partial pressure of the water vapor present in the filler will provide for delivery thereof outwardly through the less breathable layer.

Advantageously, the passage is a valve. The shell may be divided into individual chambers, for example by stitching.

Fig. 1

einen Ausschnitt aus einem entsprechenden eine vor- einstellbare Wärmeisolation aufweisendes flächiges Element im luftgefüllten Zustand,

Fig. 2

das Element nach Fig. 1 im vakuumierten Zustand,

Fig. 3

ein Element ähnlich zu dem von Fig. 1 mit einer Kunstfasermaterialfüllung,

Fig. 4

das Element nach Fig. 3 im vakuumierten Zustand, und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht einer Decke mit einer elek- tronischen Steuereinheit zur automatischen Anpassung der Wärmeisolation.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a section of a corresponding surface element having a pre-settable heat insulation in the air-filled state,

Fig. 2

the element after Fig. 1 in the vacuumed state,

Fig. 3

an element similar to that of Fig. 1 with a synthetic fiber material filling,

Fig. 4

the element after Fig. 3 in the vacuumed state, and

Fig. 5

a schematic view of a ceiling with an electronic control unit for automatic adjustment of the heat insulation.

The Fig. 1 shows an element with an outer shell 2 and an inner shell 12, between which downs 3 are inserted. Between the loosely inserted downs 3 are air chambers 4, since the heat-insulating element is in an air-filled state. This state is indicated by the reference numeral 1. The air-filled state and in conjunction with the down 3 results in a high heat insulation of the element. This is in particular built up by the heat-insulating effect of the downs 3 in connection with the air areas 4 embedded between them.

The casings 2 and 12 may in particular be breathable casings, for example of polyester, PTFE or hydrophilic or microporous PU. These casings 2 and 12 are connected to each other at their edges airtight. This can be one Bonding, a weld or other type of connection. For cleaning the contents, it may be provided that this connection is a detachable connection at least one point over a predetermined length, for example via a labyrinth seal.

The Fig. 2 now shows the same element as in Fig. 1 After a significant part of the air 4 has been withdrawn from the area between the shells 2 and 12 by a device not shown in this drawing. In all figures, like reference numerals designate like features. It should be noted that the amount of down filling of the casing between states 1 and 11 in the Fig. 1 and 2 did not change. In the considerably thinner element 11, recognizable by the difference in the thicknesses 5 and 15, the number of air spaces 4 and thus the total volume of the air contained between the surfaces 2 and 12 has been greatly reduced. Along with this, the insulating capacity of the insulating element is likewise reduced. This can be reduced by up to a factor of 8, for example, according to experiments by the Applicant, with a considerable reduction in volume. Depending on the setting of the filling levels and the evacuation, other, higher reductions in the insulating capacity are possible.

The volume reduction can be made by discharging air 4 via a valve 32. This is done by a pump. Instead of the air 4, it is also possible to fill another predetermined gas or gas mixture between the surfaces 2, 12, which is then not discharged into the ambient air but in a separate reservoir, for example, a fillable by said pump pressure vessel is collected. The reservoir can be so sized, in particular larger, so that it diffusion and others Losses can absorb over long periods and allows the insulation a long life.

The 3 and 4 show a further envelope in the air-filled state 1 and in the vacuumed state 11, in which case elongated and flat nonwoven material 13 forms the filling of the insulating element. Again, by removing the air located between the surfaces 2 and 12, the insulating material in its thickness 15 can be greatly reduced.

It is a hallmark of the down 3 and the fleece 13 that it is fluffy and compressible to external pressure. By reducing the volume occupied by the elements 3 and 13, in particular the air chambers lying between individual elements 3 and 13 are removed from the space between the surfaces 2 and 12 and this leads to a reduction of the insulation capacity.

A corresponding pressure outlet 32 may be a valve.

Useful for ceilings, especially comforters, is the provision of an additional outlet valve to achieve cross-ventilation of the ceiling; the daily ventilation of the ceiling can then omitted.

In addition to the fillings mentioned and shown in the drawings, fillings of any self-relaxing material and / or a spacer knit fabric or spacer fabric are also possible by way of example.

The Fig. 5 Finally, an embodiment of the invention with a ceiling 28 to which a pump 31 is connected. The blanket 28 has in the manner already described an enveloping upper layer 2 and a bottom layer 12 not visible in the figure. The layers 2 and 12 are welded or otherwise sealed at the edges 22. In the ceiling 28, three passages 32 are arranged, which lead with hoses 33 to a valve block 34. There is a connection 35 to the said pump 31 via the valve block which, depending on the valve position, pumps or extracts air from the ceiling 28 via the tubes 33. For this purpose, a control line 36 is used. The ceiling 28 consists of three chambers 41, 42, 43. It is also any other number of chambers conceivable. These need not be the same size, as will emerge from the following description. The advantage of separate chambers 41, 42, 43, between which separating seams 44 are provided, is that the user can set a different degree of insulation for respective body regions. Therefore, it can be seen that this may for example be separated for foot area, leg area, lower body and upper body. With a correspondingly wide ceiling for two people can then be set by appropriate cross-separation of the chambers and a different insulating behavior for the two people. When pumping down an air volume is at the outlets Filter 32 ensures that no fillers (down 3 or nonwoven material 13) escape from the chambers.

In a particularly comfortable and automatically working embodiment, a temperature and humidity sensor 37 is provided, which is connected via a control line 38 or wirelessly connected to the pump 31 and its control unit. Then, depending on the preset calibration curve, a corresponding volume of air can automatically be extracted from the chambers in order to set the degree of insulation of the ceiling according to the outside or room temperature and the air humidity.

It should be noted that as a starting condition with good heat insulation, the casings 2 and 12 rest on the filling material 3 or 13, so that although between the individual filling elements 3 and 13 air pockets are formed, but not by too loose distribution of the filling material convection between the Cases 2 and 12 may occur, which should be avoided. Then the insulating effect in the heavily air-filled state would drop very much.

With this Wärmeisoliereinrichtung especially for allergy sufferers, especially mite feces dense coating is created. When using the Wärmeisoliereinrichtung as clothing for motorcyclists results in additional fall damping in accidents.

It is also possible to incorporate actively active substances in a blanket or clothing. These can be herbal supplements, vitamins, medicines or even perfumes. In this case, an admixture can take place via the valve 32 and / or the said reservoir can be used.

In a ceiling is advantageously an electronic control unit be provided, with which the amount of air to be removed via a flow meter and / or a timer is detected. The amount of gas to be removed is predetermined by a temperature sensor and, for example, a hygrometer.

Preferably, corresponding calibration curves are stored in the electronic control unit 31, so that the device is self-regulating. Such a blanket can be modified in its heat insulation within relatively wide limits by removing or introducing air from the space between the casings 2 and 12. The control variable is the room temperature and in particular the room humidity of the bedroom in which the ceiling is used.

One cycle is based on complete evacuation of the air from the ceiling. The ceiling has a thickness between, for example, 5 and 7 millimeters and is suitable for a summer room temperature of, for example, 28 degrees Celsius. Depending on the outside climate, the controller sets the amount of air blown into the ceiling, depending on the parameters mentioned above, in particular including calibration curves. In particular, the filling material, for example down, then swells up and occupies a larger volume. With a capacity of approx. 0.3 cubic meters of air with a ceiling of 1.6 x 2.4 meters, a maximum thickness is achieved, for example. This maximum thickness of about 8 centimeters gives a thermal insulation of 1 m ² K / W and is suitable for a room temperature of 13 to 15 degrees Celsius. Depending on the heat demand of the sleeper, who can adjust this manually, becomes a progressive or degressive or linear Curve of the air volume can be selected to the parameter.

Since a reliable thickness measurement of such a ceiling can not be performed, the filling volume is determined over the life of the pump. A self-running calibration function allows the blanket to be evacuated at regular intervals, for example twice a week or only once a week, during the (adjustable) unused time (for example, during the day), from where the blanket has a minimum capacity, For example, 0.015 cubic meters of air is brought to the required air volume indicated by the sensors.

As a pump in particular diaphragm pumps are considered, the pumps and suction can. A useful cycle (suction or filling) is feasible for the said 0.3 cubic meters in 10 to 15 minutes. Advantageously, electrical valves between the ceiling and pump are provided to lock the suction and pressure side of the pump to the ceiling airtight when the pump is not in operation.

In addition to the calibration function, evacuation also has the function of removing moisture from the ceiling. This venting can also be done through a multiple cycle of inflation and aspiration.

In addition to a use in ceilings, this control can also be integrated into garments. Here, in the simplest case, the same parameters of the above room climate (ambient temperature and humidity) are used, both of which are parameters related to an air volume that is on the side of the "ceiling" opposite the user. An additional factor is the workload of people. Its physical activity, which determines the feeling of warmth, can be considered Switch in some stages from low to medium to strong manually adjustable. Preferably, measurement parameters are used that relate to the area between the user and the garment and absorb the local temperature and humidity. It can also be the parameters of both areas (inside and outside the garment) are coupled.

Claims (8)

1. A sheetlike heat-transfer control article, especially a garment or a blanket for the human body, having a sheath (2; 12) consisting of an inner sheet (12) and an outer sheet (2) which are airtightly joined to each other at the edges, and filled with a thermally insulating material (3, 13) being a bulkable material, wherein the sheath (2, 12) is provided with at least one outlet (32) through which the volume of gas in the sheath can be reduced, characterized in that a temperature sensor, a pump connected with the outlet (32) and a electronic controller (31) adapted to control the pump and connected with the temperature sensor are provided, whereby, via the pump, a predetermined gas which is storable in a reservoir and/or ambient air is removable from or blowable into the sheath, wherein the gas quantity to be removed is predetermined by means of said temperature sensor.
2. A heat-transfer control article according to claim 1, characterized in that, beside the temperature sensor, a hygrometer is provided and/or a calibrating curve is stored in the electronic controller (31) and is self-regulatingly active, to predetermine the quantity of gas to be removed.
3. A heat-transfer control article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sheath (2, 12) is provided or laminated with an outer as a protective layer to protect against mechanical damage.
4. A heat-transfer control article according to claim 3, characterized in that the airtight connection provided at their edges is a connection, which is detachable over a predetermined length at one or more locations.
5. A heat-transfer control article according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the surfaces (2, 12) consist of air- and water-impervious film or in that the surfaces (2, 12) are breathable internally and externally and consist of a breathable water-impervious and air-impervious material and/or of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, PTFE and hydrophilic or microporous PU.
6. A heat-transfer control article according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling of the thermally insulating material is a nonwoven (13) and/or in that the filling consists of hollow fibers and/or of down feathers (3) and/or that the filling is realized using self-relaxing material and/or loop-formingly knitted or woven spacer fabric.
7. A heat-transfer control article according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outlet (32) is a valve.
8. A heat-transfer control article according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sheath (2, 12) is subdivided into individual chambers (41, 42, 43).

Images