FR2661319A1 - HEAT EXCHANGE GARMENT. - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat exchange garment for modulating the flow of heat to or from the user's body, comprises a fabric assembly (10) structured to substantially conform to the shapes of a part of the body on which it is to be. used, a plurality of lengths of flexible tubing (14) secured to a surface of the fabric so as to extend the length of the fabric, the lengths of tubing being substantially uniformly spaced apart across the fabric and each length being substantially sinusoidal in shape along a major portion of its length, and the adjacent lengths being substantially in phase with each other, means (26) for supplying the coolant to one end of each tube, and means (30) receiving the coolant discharged from the opposite end of the tubes.

Description

The present invention relates to a heat exchange garment, useful for

  heat or refrigerate the human body

  under circumstances in which the natural mechanisms

  Actual body temperature regulation is prevented or insufficient Heat exchange clothing can be used to heat all parts of the body in environments where clothing provides

  passive insulation only provide insufficient protection

  health, for example for diving in cold water or for exercising outdoor activities in winter These clothes can also be used to cool people

  wearing clothing that prevents evaporative cooling

  perspiration ration, for example people who wear vapor-impermeable suits, intended for

  protect them from toxic chemicals.

  Different garments have been made in the past to provide cooling. They included systems in which air circulation passed over the body,

  clothing containing dry ice or dry snow

  solid in pockets, and clothing ensuring

  cooling by the circulation of a liquid cooled through

  to passages made in the garment The US-A patent

  3,430,688 describes a liquid circulation garment intended to cool the user Liquid circulation garments have also been used to warm the body

  human The patent US-A-3,744,053 describes a garment with circu-

  lation of liquid intended to warm the user.

  Jennings patent US-A-3,289,748 provides for a garment

  thermal m ent comprising distributed heat transfer tubes

  following a winding or serpentine path, so

  re that the distribution of the piping on the body is ap-

  approximately proportional to the local mass of the body, in order to ensure, by this means, a heat dissipation capacity proportional to the quantity of heat produced by the metabolism The spacing between the tubes and their shape in the direction of their length vary for ensuring the desired heat dissipation capacity A drawback of this arrangement is that the tubes are almost straight in certain places, such as the belt where a maximum curvature would be desirable to allow the user to bend without discomfort In addition, this arrangement does not lend itself easily to mass production given the different shapes of the different tubes required The tubes must

  therefore be positioned and shaped by hand and it is necessary

  be sure to fix them in place on a net-like garment

  by means of staples applied individually by hand.

  Burton's US-A-3,425,486 illustrates a heat exchange garment comprising heat transfer tubes which are also distributed along a sinuous or serpentine path, similar to that of the Jennings patent. However, Burton attributes only a few importance to the spacing and shape of the tubes, but states that the tubes should avoid certain areas, such as elbows and behind the

  knees, where they may experience significant bending.

  The essence of the Burton patent is to provide means of positioning

  operation of the tubes in the form of tunnels, so that the body of the garment lengthens following the movements of the person wearing it, the tubes being capable of slipping and / or twisting inside the tunnels , so as to reduce possible discomfort in the movements As in the case of Jennings, the spacing between the tubes and the shape of the tubes in the direction of their length vary to ensure the heat dissipation capacity

  required Burton's layout therefore suffers from the same

  that of Jennings, but involves a

  additional flexibility in terms of cost and fixing

  tunnels for positioning the tubes on the garment.

  Although the achievements of the prior art of clothing

  liquid exchange heat exchange elements were capable of ensuring a significant heat exchange, it turned out that they were not very comfortable to wear, either because these garments of the prior art covered only too much small part of the body surface to ensure heat exchange, either because of their excessive volume and the discomfort brought to the movements of the user

  circulation in heat exchange clothing to circu-

  lation of liquid of the prior art also risked being interrupted due to the pinching of the passages of

  liquid, which affected the reliability of the job.

  sions of such prior art clothing were

  also expensive to manufacture.

  The present invention seeks to make a garment

  heat exchange ensuring heating or cooling

  effective smoothing over a sufficient surface of the body to prevent thermal discomfort to the user, not excessively interfering with the movements of the user and which therefore proves to be more comfortable than the embodiments of the prior art in n not subject to obstruction of flow and leakage during flexion of the body and which therefore functions reliably, while being able to be made at a reasonable cost, so that it can be used in

more applications.

  This can be achieved by providing a plurality of long

  flexible tube heat exchangers extending in the longitudinal direction of the garment or a part thereof, the lengths of tube being spaced apart from each other substantially equally and being fixed to the garment so as to form a generally sinusoidal configuration along the main part of the length of the tubes, the adjacent tube sections being substantially in phase with each other

compared to others.

  The present invention is therefore generally defined as a heat exchange garment making it possible to modulate the flow of heat towards or from the body of the user, the garment comprising an assembly in

  fabric made substantially in accordance with the outline of the

  body tie on which it is to be used, a plurality

  lengths of flexible tubing attached to a surface of the fabric

  su, so as to extend in the lengthwise direction of the fabric, the lengths of tube being spaced apart from one another substantially uniformly in the transverse direction of the fabric and each length being of substantially longitudinal shape

  along a main part of its length, and the long

  adjacent feeders being substantially in phase with respect to each other, means for supplying a heat transfer liquid at one end of each tube, and means for receiving the heat transfer liquid discharged from the

opposite ends of the tubes.

  The heat is thus distributed in a substantially

  uniform on the part of the body covered by the garment.

  The sinusoidal shape lends itself easily to folding, without discomfort for the user, which makes it unnecessary to avoid the

  placement of tubes at points or in folding axes

  while also avoiding the bending of the tubes at an angle

  acute, likely to cause obstruction of the circulation

  In addition, as the tubes are distributed in a pattern

  uniform on the garment, the garments lend themselves to relative-

  easily to mass production.

  These and other features

  of the invention will appear more clearly from the description

  following, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of a thermal exchange garment in the form of a jersey according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig 2 is a rear view of heat exchange clothing in the form of a pair of pants, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, detailed view of part of the garment; Fig 4 is a detailed view showing a part of the garment in which two tubes are joined in a single tube; Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing a method of fixing the tube to the support fabric; and Fig 6 is a diagram illustrating the heat exchange performance of a medium-sized jersey, constructed

according to the present invention.

  Figs 1 and 2 illustrate two items of a heat exchange garment comprising a long sleeve jersey and pants 12 Although these two items were

  thus represented, it is understood that it is possible to con-

  make any type of heat exchange clothing

  according to the invention, such as tracksuits, gloves, mitai-

  donkeys, socks, shoes or boots, jackets, hoods or hats. Each part of the two articles comprises a plurality of lengths of heat exchange tubes 14 which extend

  in the longitudinal direction of the section of the garment.

  In the case of the jersey 10, "section" means the part of the torso and the sleeves In the case of the pants 12, "section"

  means the parts of the legs that are extended, optional

  tively down to the lower part of the torso

  lines are spaced apart in a substantially equal manner in the transverse or circumferential direction and each length is fixed to the garment so as to achieve

  a substantially sinusoidal shape whose lengths adjja-

  centes are "in phase" with respect to each other The axes of the sinusoidal shapes may diverge or converge slightly in the sleeves and legs of the garment, without departing from the spirit of the invention The term "in phase" means that the centers of curvature of the bent parts of the lengths of tube are aligned circumferentially, as best shown in Fig 3 We will see that this arrangement

  ensures uniform stresses in both directions

  longitudinal and transverse and that the weight of the garment

  ment remains substantially uniform in all areas This will have the effect of improving user comfort In addition, when the garment bends under the effect of the body which bends, all the tubes bend substantially at the same point along their lengths

  which also improves user comfort.

  In addition, the heat exchange to or from the body is uniform and more comfortable when compared to the lengths of tubes concentrated in areas

  predetermined, as suggested by the prior art.

  In the illustrated embodiment, a single tube gives several lengths, so that part of the tube can extend in a longitudinal direction, make a

  back on itself then extend in the opposite direction

  sée, etc. It is understood that the heat exchange tubes can be connected in parallel to a source of suitable heat transfer fluid, so as to ensure distribution

  more uniform heat exchange with the skin of the user

  The present invention provides all of these ways

obvious to arrange the tubes.

  In service, the heat transfer liquid is injected by the

  through an inlet connection tube 16 to the liquid inlet tubes 20 and 22 of the jersey 10 and of the pants 12, respectively In the jersey, the heat transfer liquid comes from the inlet tube 20, passes through the T-fittings 24, illustrated in FIG. 4, and enters a tube in the form of an inlet manifold 26 which feeds a plurality of individual tubes 28 The heat transfer liquid which passes through the tubes 28 provides heat exchange with the skin of the user, so as to cool or warm the trunk and the user's arms The tubes 28 discharge to a tube forming an outlet manifold 30, by means of the T-fittings 24, which in turn discharges into the outlet tube 12, and finally to an outlet connection tube 32 It will be noted that the

  collectors 26 and 30 are made in the form of a necklace

  twisting the jersey As shown in FIG. 1, each individual tube 28 forms four lengths of tube extending in the direction of the length of the garment Similarly, the pants have inlet and outlet tubes, connected respectively to the tubes inlet and outlet manifolds, interconnected by exchange tubes

individual, parallel thermal.

  An outlet connection tube 32 is connected to a heat exchanger 40 and to a pump 42, as shown in FIG. 1, before returning to the heat exchange garment by

  the inlet connection tube 16 When the heat exchanger

  is used for cooling, it can be

  titrated by an ice bath, a device cooled with

  dry ice or a mechanical or thermo-fridge

  electric When the heat exchanger is used for heating, it can be an electric heating element or

  a fuel burning heater.

  A preferred method of fixing the heat exchange tubes

  mique the support fabric 50 is shown in Figure 5.

  The process employs a zigzag seam using a pre-

  mier thread 52 on the tube side of the fabric, which is crisscrossed with a second thread 54 on the opposite side of the fabric, so as to hold the tube in place lengthwise. This sewing process can be done by machine, which eliminates

  thus the manual sewing used in the preceding clothes

  teeth and which reduces the cost of the garment An advantage of fixing the tube to the fabric in the direction of its length is that the tube is less likely to kink when it is supported continuously by the fabric We can also use

  other methods of attaching the tube to the support fabric

  wearing These alternative processes include the use of adhesives as well as solvent welding or heat sealing in the case of fabrics made of certain synthetic materials, such as

polypropylene.

  The garments made according to the present invention

  can be worn so that the tubes are direct-

  in contact with the skin or, to ensure better con-

  strong, with the tubes arranged outwards, in order to

  adorn the skin tubes with the support fabric Alternatively, light underwear can also be worn under the heat exchange clothing A second layer of fabric can also be incorporated into the heat exchange clothing, so as to cover the heat exchange tubes on both sides It was found that the amount of heat transferred was greater when the tubes were placed directly on the skin than when the tubes

  tubes were separated from the skin by a layer of tissue.

  Heat exchange is also facilitated if the tubes are

  slightly stressed elastically against the skin.

  As shown in Fig 3, the sinusoidal paths

  in phase followed by the heat exchange tubes, are im-

  load-bearing to ensure continuous close contact between the skin and the heat exchange tubes over the entire length of the tubes The support fabric is preferably an elastic mesh material, cut and sewn so as to closely fit to the user, and arranged in such a way that the direction of maximum elongation of the fabric is around the circumference of the body The materials to be

  elastic mesh like this will contract in the di-

  axial rection, as indicated by arrow A, when extended in the circumferential direction, as indicated by arrow B.

  The heat exchange tube does not lengthen or combine

  does not easily prime along its own axis Consequently, an important advantage of sinusoidal heat exchange tubes is to allow the assembly formed by the tubes

  and the fabric to stretch circumferentially while holding

  holding close contact with the body during movements.

  The sinusoidal pattern allows all of the tubes and tissue to shrink in the axial direction as it elongates circumferentially, without causing deformation of the tube

  away from the body during a series of shocks.

  Another advantage of the sinusoidal arrangement in phase of the tubes is that the spacing between the paths of adjacent tubes does not vary considerably in the direction of the length of the tube. This factor makes it possible to maximize the efficiency of the tube used for the heat exchange It has been found that for cooling, the temperature of the skin is the coldest directly below the heat exchange tube and that it is the warmest at the points furthest from the tubes Conversely, for heating, the

  skin temperature is highest directly above

  under the tube and lowest at points furthest from the tubes The body's ability to heat exchange to or from the tube is limited by the thermal conductivity of the skin and flesh and by the blood circulation in the zone concerned As a result, it appears that a better heat exchange can be obtained with a given length of piping if the piping is located in an area which is only slightly affected by the adjacent tubes The sinusoidal pattern of the tubes in phase used

  in heat exchange clothing according to the present in-

  vention therefore provides maximum heat exchange per unit length of tube, while providing a garment that closely follows the body, in a comfortable manner.

  also found that one could vary the spacing ap-

  approximate between paths of adjacent sinusoidal tubes on the whole garment, so as to adjust the efficiency

  of the heat exchange of the garment depending on the circumstances

  tances or the covered part of the body.

  Fig 6 gives the performances of the measured heat exchange of one of these garments, a sleeveless jersey, of medium size. In this garment, flexible heat exchange tubes made of polyvinyl chloride were used, each tube having an outer diameter of 3.175 mm, an inner diameter of 1.588 mm and a length of about 4.87 m In Fig 6, we can see that the heat exchange is negative, which indicates a cooling of the body to average temperatures coolant below 340 C, and posi-

  tif, which indicates a warming of the body, at temperatures

  liquid erasures greater than 34 'C.

  Although the shapes of the devices described above constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these precise shapes of the devices and that modifications can be made without departing from them. of the spirit of the invention, such

  as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

  1 A heat exchange garment (10, 12) for modulating the flow of heat towards or from the body of the user, said garment comprising: a fabric assembly, structured to adapt appreciably to the shapes of a part of the body on which it is to be used; a plurality of lengths of flexible tubes (14), fixed to a surface of said fabric, so as to extend into the   length of said fabric, said lengths of tube being   paced together substantially uniformly across the   lement said fabric, and each length being substantially of   sinusoidal shape along a main part of its length   length, and the adjacent lengths being substantially in phase with each other; means (26) for supplying the heat transfer liquid to one end of each of said tubes; and means (30) for receiving the heat transfer liquid   discharged through the opposite end of said tubes.   2 A heat exchange garment according to the claim   tion 1, said means for supplying heat transfer liquid to one end of each of said tubes comprising a tube forming an inlet manifold (26), connected to one end of   each of said flexible tubes by a T-connector (24).   3 A heat exchange garment, (10, 12) according to the   claim 1, said means for supplying liquid   the carrier at the end of each of said tubes, comprising an inlet collector tube (26) connected to the end   of each of said flexible tubes by a T-connector (24).   4 A heat exchange garment according to the claim   tion 1, said means for supplying heat transfer liquid to the opposite end of each of said tubes comprising an outlet collector tube (30) connected to the opposite end of each of said flexible tubes by a T-connector (24).   A heat exchange garment (10, 12) according to claim 1, wherein said fabric is a material to be stretch mesh.   6 A heat exchange garment (10, 12) according to claim 1, said flexible tubes are fixed to said fabric   of support by a zigzag seam using a pre-   first thread on the tube side of the fabric, crisscrossed with a se-   cond thread on the opposite side of the fabric, so as to maintain   the tube in place along its length.   7 A heat exchange garment (10, 12) according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between two of said   adjacent lengths (14) vary gradually along the length   from adjacent sections (14) and from one section   adjacent (14) to the adjacent section (14).   8 A heat exchange garment (10, 12) according to claim 1, wherein a second layer of fabric covers the side of the heat exchange piping which   is not in contact with the support fabric.   9 A heat exchange garment (10, 12) for modulating the flow of heat going to or from the body of the user, said garment comprising: a fabric assembly made of stretch mesh material, structured substantially in the form of a part of the body on which it is to be used, said material being arranged in   way that the direction of the greatest extension of the ma-   material is around the circumference of said part of the body; at least one flexible tube (14) fixed to a surface of said material by a zigzag seam using a first thread on the tube side of the fabric crisscrossed with a second thread on the opposite side of the fabric, so as to maintain the tube (14) in place along its length, each of said tubes (14) comprising a plurality of lengths of tube (14) extending   in the length of said material, substantially perpendicular to   rement to the circumference of said body part, said   lengths of tube (14) being spaced substantially uniformly   lie about each other around the circumference of said   material, each length being substantially if   nusioid along a main part of its length and the adjacent ends being substantially in phase with each other; a tube (26) forming a liquid inlet manifold   coolant extending around the circumference of an ex-   end of said garment (10, 12) and connected to one end of each of said flexible tubes (14) for supplying the latter with heat transfer liquid; and a liquid outlet manifold tube (30)   coolant extending around the circumference of an ex-   end of said garment (10, 12) connected to the opposite end of each of said flexible tubes (14), for discharging the liquid coolant of these.