Scalable Flexible Heater

Abstract

This text discloses a scalable flexible heater, which includes a telescopic layer and a plurality of heating units; the plurality of heating units are arranged at intervals on the telescopic layer. Through the combined arrangement of the plurality of heating units and the telescopic layer, the present invention can greatly improve the elongation rate of the heater and avoid damage to the heating units during the telescopic process, having extremely high application value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to, but is not limited to, heating devices, and particularly relates to a retractable flexible heater. Background Art

[0002] A heating film is a device that realizes heating through a planar structure, and has the advantages of high thermal efficiency, energy saving, fast heating rate, wide voltage application range, long service life, and strong shape selectivity. With the development of heating film materials and the decline in cost, heating films have also been widely used in industrial and civilian products, and heating films with high flexibility have been developed. A flexible heating film is a film-like device that can be bent and folded to a certain extent and can generate heat after being energized, and is composed of an electrothermal functional film, electrodes, a heat conduction layer, an insulating matrix, and other parts. Among them, the electrothermal functional film is the core component, which determines the main performance of the product, such as the heating rate, working temperature, stability, etc.

[0003] Among them, heating materials can be roughly divided into metals, inorganic materials, organic materials, etc. according to different materials. Most of these materials have extremely low elasticity and elongation at break, and their conductivity will change significantly during the stretching process. In order to maintain the stability of the structure of the heating functional material, a non-elastic substrate needs to be selected to maintain the stability of the heating layer structure, but this design method results in a heating film with high hardness, no elasticity, extremely low flexibility, and extremely poor comfort. With the increasing application requirements of flexible heating films in the fields of clothes, knee pads, neck guards, lumbar supports, etc., the requirements for their performance such as flexibility and elongation at break are getting higher and higher.

[0004] At present, for retractable heating films, mainly elastic conductive fibers are selected, or woven with stretchable fibers into highly elastic heating devices. For example, the patent with the patent number CN105792394A discloses a fibrous retractable heater, and the conductive fabric is wound around the elastic polymer fiber in a spiral shape. For example, the patent with the patent number CN105657877A uses graphene fibers with a spiral structure to weave into a heating film with extremely high elongation at break. For example, the patent with the patent number CN106658779A discloses an intelligent wearable resistive heating fabric and its preparation method. First, the synthesized carbon nanotubes are transferred to a pre-stretched elastic substrate material, and then the elastic substrate is restored to make the carbon nanotubes form a wrinkled structure. The above patents mainly avoid the damage to the heating structure during the stretching process by improving the elongation at break of the heating material. This method has a high preparation cost, low strength, and poor device performance stability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem solved by this application is to provide a scalable flexible heater. Through the preferably arranged telescopic layer and heating unit, it can effectively overcome many defects existing in existing heaters, can greatly improve the elongation rate of the heater, avoid damage to the heating unit during the telescopic process, and has extremely high application value.

[0006] To solve the above technical problem, this application provides a scalable flexible heater, which includes a telescopic layer and a plurality of heating units;

[0007] The plurality of heating units are arranged at intervals on the telescopic layer.

[0008] The above-mentioned scalable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0009] The telescopic layer includes a first area where the heating unit is arranged and a second area where the heating unit is not arranged, and the telescopic rate of the second area is greater than that of the first area.

[0010] The above-mentioned scalable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0011] It includes two telescopic layers, and the heating unit is arranged between the two telescopic layers;

[0012] One end of the heating unit is connected to one telescopic layer, and the other end of the heating unit is connected to the other telescopic layer.

[0013] The above-mentioned scalable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0014] The heating unit includes a protective layer, a heating layer, and a substrate layer that are sequentially stacked, and the heating layer is connected with an electrode;

[0015] The heating layer electrode of the heating unit is connected to the heating layer electrode of the adjacent heating unit through a wire.

[0016] The above-mentioned scalable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0017] The heating layer includes a metal material, a conductive polymer material, a conductive ceramic material, or a carbon material.

[0018] The above-mentioned scalable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0019] The wire includes a metal wire, a carbon material wire, or a conductive polymer wire.

[0020] The above-mentioned scalable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0021] The base material layer includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, animal skin, and synthetic leather.

[0022] The above-mentioned stretchable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0023] The protective layer includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, animal skin, and synthetic leather.

[0024] The above-mentioned stretchable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0025] The stretch layer includes an elastic polymer material.

[0026] The above-mentioned stretchable flexible heater may also have the following characteristics:

[0027] It further includes a temperature sensor and a temperature controller;

[0028] The temperature sensor is arranged between the heating units, and the temperature controller is used to control the heat generation amount of the heating units.

[0029] The above technical solution of the present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0030] Compared with the prior art, through the preferably arranged stretch layer and heating units, the present application can greatly improve the elongation rate of the heater, avoid damage to the heating units during the stretching process, and has extremely high application value. The heater in the present application has extremely strong stretching and flexible properties, can adapt to relatively high stretching deformation during use, and is particularly suitable for applications of wearable heaters, including stretchable electric knee pads, stretchable electric lumbar supports, stretchable electric neck guards, stretchable electric clothes, stretchable electric gloves, stretchable electric hats, stretchable electric socks, stretchable electric masks, stretchable electric eye masks, and stretchable electric wrist guards, etc.

[0031] Other features and advantages of the present application will be described in the subsequent specification, and part of them will become obvious from the specification, or be understood by implementing the embodiments of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present application can be achieved and obtained through the structures specifically pointed out in the specification, claims, and drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0032] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the technical solution of the present application, and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present application, they are used to explain the technical solution of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution of the present application.

[0033] Figure 1 Structural schematic of Embodiment 1 of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0034] Figure 2 Structural schematic of Embodiment 1 of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0035] Figure 3 Structural schematic of Embodiment 1 of the present invention Figure 3 ;

[0036] Figure 4 Structural schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0037] Illustration description:

[0038] 1 - telescopic layer, 2 - heating unit, 3 - wire;

[0039] 11 - first region, 12 - second region, 21 - base material layer, 22 - heating layer, 23 - protective layer. Detailed implementation manners

[0040] In the following, the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other arbitrarily.

[0041] Embodiment 1:

[0042] As Figure 1 shown, Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a telescopic flexible heater, including a telescopic layer 1 and a plurality of heating units 2; the plurality of heating units 2 are arranged at intervals on the telescopic layer 1, and the heating units 2 and the telescopic layer 1 can be adhesively connected.

[0043] In specific operations, the plurality of heating units 2 are arranged at intervals on the telescopic layer 1, which can ensure that the heater not only has a high elongation rate, but also can effectively avoid damage to the heating units 2 during the telescopic process; the number of the heating units 2 is greater than or equal to 2, preferably 2 to 16, and the heating units 2 can be in series form, or parallel form, or other connection forms; those skilled in the art can select the corresponding number of heating units according to the actual application scenario to meet the heating function required in practice.

[0044] The scalable flexible heater in this embodiment can be applied to wearable heaters, such as scalable electric knee pads, scalable electric lumbar supports, scalable electric neck guards, scalable electric clothing, scalable electric gloves, scalable electric caps, scalable electric socks, scalable electric masks, scalable electric eye masks, and scalable electric wristbands, etc.

[0045] As Figure 1 shown, the heater in this embodiment includes two telescopic layers, and the heating unit 2 is arranged between the two telescopic layers; one end of the heating unit 2 is connected to one telescopic layer, and the other end of the heating unit 2 is connected to the other telescopic layer.

[0046] In specific operations, the setting of the above two telescopic layers can provide an independent installation cavity for the heating unit 2, effectively ensuring the structural stability of the heating unit 2; at the same time, it can also effectively avoid potential safety hazards caused by the direct contact between the heating unit 2 and the human body; the above multiple heating units 2 can be evenly arranged between the two telescopic layers to provide a relatively balanced heating operation.

[0047] As Figure 2 shown, the heating unit 2 in this embodiment includes a protective layer 23, a heating layer 22, and a substrate layer 21 that are sequentially stacked, and the heating layer 22 is connected with electrodes; the electrodes of the heating layer 22 of the heating unit 2 are connected to the electrodes of the heating layer 22 of the adjacent heating unit 2 through a wire 3.

[0048] In specific operations, an external power supply device, such as a power source or a power bank, can be connected through the wire 3 to realize the heating operation of the heating layer 22; in order to achieve convenient connection operations, the heater in this embodiment can also be provided with a power adapter to realize convenient connection operations between it and the power source or the power bank.

[0049] The heating layer 22 in this embodiment includes a metal material, a conductive polymer material, a conductive ceramic material, or a carbon material, and the wire 3 includes a metal wire, a carbon material wire, or a conductive polymer wire.

[0050] In this embodiment, the connection between the electrode and the heating layer 22 can be realized through coating, pasting, printing, hot pressing, or deposition methods to achieve the corresponding connection operations; those skilled in the art can select the corresponding connection method according to the actual situation to ensure the stable connection between the electrode and the heating layer 22.

[0051] In this embodiment, the length of the connection wire 3 between adjacent heating units 2 is a, and the maximum stretching length of the telescopic layer 1 between adjacent heating units 2 is b, and a≥b; the setting of the above preferred dimensional relationship is aimed at effectively ensuring that the telescopic operation of the telescopic layer 1 will not affect the structural stability of the connection wire 3 and effectively improving the internal connection stability of the heater.

[0052] The substrate layer 21 in this embodiment includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, neoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, animal skin, and synthetic leather.

[0053] The protective layer 23 in this embodiment includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, neoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, animal skin, and synthetic leather.

[0054] In specific operations, through the settings of the substrate layer 21 and the protective layer 23, the structural stability of the heating unit 2 can be effectively improved.

[0055] The telescopic layer 1 in this embodiment includes an elastic polymer material.

[0056] In specific operations, the above-mentioned elastic polymer material can be selected from any one of the following materials: styrene-based, polyolefin-based, polyurethane-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, ethylene copolymer-based, polybutadiene-based, trans-polyisoprene-based, rubber-based, polyvinyl chloride-based, chlorinated polyethylene-based, polysiloxane-based, and fluorine-containing elastic materials; the telescopic layer 1 preferably includes a rubber band, an elastic band, or a silicone band.

[0057] The heater in this embodiment further includes a temperature sensor and a temperature controller; the temperature sensor is arranged between the heating units 2, and the temperature controller is used to control the heat generation amount of the heating unit 2.

[0058] In specific operations, through the setting of the above-mentioned temperature sensor, the actual temperature inside the heater can be detected in real time; through the setting of the above-mentioned temperature controller, the heat generation control operation of the heating unit 2 can be realized, that is, the heating unit 2 can be controlled to perform corresponding heat generation operations according to the preset temperature; in order to realize convenient control operations, the above-mentioned heater can also be provided with a control box, and the control box is internally provided with a corresponding controller and a display device to realize convenient temperature display and control operations.

[0059] As Figure 3 shown, the telescopic flexible heater in this embodiment includes 8 heating units 2, and the 8 heating units 2 are evenly arranged in two rows, and can be specifically arranged in a 4×2 array; the 8 heating units 2 are connected by wires 3, and the wires 3 are connected to an external power supply device to realize the heating operation of the heater.

[0060] Example 2:

[0061] Example 2 of the present invention provides a retractable flexible heater. The main structure is similar to that of Example 1 and also includes a retractable layer and a plurality of heating units. For the specific settings of the main structure, please refer to the detailed description in Example 1. This time, it aims to elaborate on the differences between the two.

[0062] As Figure 4 shown, the retractable layer in this embodiment includes a first region 11 provided with heating units and a second region 12 not provided with heating units. The retraction rate of the second region 12 is greater than that of the first region 11.

[0063] In specific operations, the above retractable layer is preferably set to be segmentally retractable, that is, it includes a high-retraction section (the second region 12) and a low-retraction section (the first region 11). The low-retraction section is used to install the heating units. During the retraction process of the retractable layer, the size of the low-retraction section changes little, which can further ensure the structural stability of the heating units. The size of the high-retraction section changes greatly, which can effectively ensure the actual retraction requirements.

[0064] It should be noted that the retractable layer in this embodiment can also be integrally retractable, that is, the retraction rate of the retractable layer in the first region 11 is equal to the retraction rate of the retractable layer in the second region 12, which can also effectively meet the retraction requirements for actual applications.

[0065] Example 3:

[0066] Example 3 of the present invention provides a retractable flexible heater.

[0067] In this embodiment, carbon materials are selected as the heating material. Short-cut carbon fiber powder and a small amount of acrylic resin are dissolved in water, stirred evenly, and then sprayed on the surface of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. After drying, a copper foil with adhesive is pasted parallel to the surface of the heating layer and thermally compounded with another PET film to form an integral body, and further cut into squares with an area of 5 cm × 5 cm to form heating units.

[0068] The heating units are pasted on the surface of a rubber band at an interval of 3 cm, and can be arranged in a 4×2 array. Wires with a length of 6 cm are used to connect the electrodes of different heating units and are connected to the main wire. The temperature controller can be connected to the main wire, and the main wire is further connected to a power adapter. The temperature sensor can be connected to the temperature controller and pasted between the heating units. The rubber band with the heating units pasted on it is sewn together with another rubber band to form a retractable flexible heater.

[0069] Sew a stretchable flexible heater on the inner side of the knee pad to form a heated knee pad, and connect it to an external power supply. It is heated by a 5V power bank, and the working temperature can be controlled between 35 and 55 degrees.

[0070] Example 4:

[0071] Example 4 of the present invention provides a stretchable flexible heater.

[0072] In this example, the heating material is selected as graphene powder. A small amount of graphene powder and polyvinylidene fluoride are dissolved in N-methylpyrrolidone, stirred evenly and then printed on the surface of the non-woven fabric. After drying, silver paste is further printed on the surface of the heating layer, pasted with another piece of non-woven fabric to form an integral body, and further cut into squares with an area of 6 cm × 4 cm to form heating units.

[0073] The heating units are pasted on the surface of the elastic cloth at an interval of 2 cm, arranged in a 4×2 array, and the electrodes of different heating units are connected by wires with a length of 4 cm and connected to the main wire. The elastic band with the heating units pasted on it is sewn together with another piece of elastic band to form a stretchable flexible heater.

[0074] Paste the stretchable heater on the inner side of the lumbar support belt to form a heated lumbar support belt, and connect it to an external power supply. It is heated by a 5V power bank, and the working temperature can be controlled between 40 and 60 degrees.

[0075] Example 5:

[0076] Example 5 of the present invention provides a stretchable flexible heater.

[0077] In this example, the heating material is selected as metal aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy foil is pasted on the surface of the PET film, and bent lines with a line width of 2 mm are made by etching in a 5 mm × 5 mm area. The PET is thermally compounded with another piece of PET to form an integral body to form a heating unit.

[0078] The heating units are pasted on the surface of the silicone tape at an interval of 2 cm, arranged in a 3×2 array, and the electrodes of different heating units are connected by wires with a length of 4 cm and connected to the main wire. The silicone tape with the heating units pasted on it is pasted together with another piece of silicone tape to form a stretchable flexible heater.

[0079] The stretchable heater is hot-pressed on the inner side of the neck support belt to form a heated neck support device, and the positive and negative wires are connected to an external power supply. It is heated by a 3.7V power supply, and the working temperature can be controlled between 40 and 60 degrees.

[0080] Example 6:

[0081] Example 6 of the present invention provides a stretchable flexible heater.

[0082] In this embodiment, silver nanowires are selected as the heating material. The silver nanowires are dispersed in ethanol and then sprayed on a polyimide (PI) film. After drying, the foil is bonded to both ends of the heating layer with silver paste, pasted to another PI film to form an integral body, and further cut into squares with an area of 3 cm × 3 cm to form the heating unit.

[0083] Two heating units are pasted on the surface of the silicone film at an interval of 1 cm. Wires with a length of 2 cm are used to connect the electrodes of different heating units and connected to the main wire. The silicone film with the heating units pasted is sewn together with another silicone film to form a stretchable flexible heater.

[0084] The stretchable flexible heater is sewn inside the wrist guard, and the positive and negative wires are connected to a 3.7 V power supply to heat, and the working temperature can be controlled between 40 and 70 degrees.

[0085] In the description of this application, terms such as "set", "connected", "connected to", "fixed", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0086] In the description of this specification, the descriptions of terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "specific embodiments", etc. mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0087] Those skilled in the art should understand that although the disclosed embodiments of the present invention are as above, the content described is only the embodiment adopted for the convenience of understanding the embodiments of the present invention and is not used to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Any person skilled in the art within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention can make any modifications and changes in the form and details of the implementation without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention. However, the scope of patent protection of the embodiments of the present invention shall still be subject to the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A retractable flexible heater, characterized in that, It includes a telescopic layer and multiple heating units; The multiple heating units are arranged at intervals on the telescopic layer; There are two telescopic layers, and the heating units are arranged between the two telescopic layers; one end of the heating unit is connected to one telescopic layer, and the other end of the heating unit is connected to the other telescopic layer; The telescopic layer includes a first area where heating units are arranged and a second area where no heating units are arranged, and the telescopic rate of the second area is greater than that of the first area; Wherein, the heating unit is adhesively connected to the telescopic layer.

2. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 1, characterized in that The heating unit includes a protective layer, a heating layer and a substrate layer which are sequentially stacked, and the heating layer is connected with an electrode; The heating layer electrodes of the heating unit are connected by a wire with the heating layer electrodes of adjacent heating units.

3. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 2, characterized in that The heating layer includes a metal material, a conductive polymer material, a conductive ceramic material or a carbon material.

4. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 2, characterized in that The wire includes a metal wire, a carbon material wire or a conductive polymer wire.

5. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 2, characterized in that The substrate layer includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, cis-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, animal skin, synthetic leather.

6. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 2, characterized in that The protective layer includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, cis-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, animal skin, synthetic leather.

7. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 1, characterized in that The telescopic layer includes an elastic polymer material.

8. The retractable flexible heater according to claim 1, wherein It further includes a temperature sensor and a temperature controller; The temperature sensor is arranged between the heating units, and the temperature controller is used to control the heat generation amount of the heating unit.

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