A heat control system, an inflator pump applying the system and a heat control method thereof

Abstract

This invention provides a thermal control system, an air pump using the system, and a thermal control method thereof, relating to the field of air pump technology. The thermal control system includes a housing, a first heat source and a second heat source disposed within the housing, and the housing having a first air hole and a second air hole near the first and second heat sources, respectively, forming an airflow channel for gas flow between the first and second air holes. An airflow control component is also disposed within the housing, comprising: a fan located between the first and second air holes for controlling the airflow within the airflow channel; and a drive unit connected to the fan for driving the fan to rotate forward or backward. Based on the technical solution of this invention, the problems of overheating of lithium batteries during room temperature use and performance degradation during low temperature use can be simultaneously solved, effectively delaying the lifespan degradation of components such as cylinders and batteries, and fully ensuring the power supply efficiency of lithium batteries.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air pump technology, and in particular to a thermal control system, an air pump using the system, and a thermal control method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Air pumps are common household devices used in various situations, including inflating car tires, inflating bicycle tires, and for use with basketballs, swimming rings, and air mattresses. Most electronic air pumps on the market are currently powered by lithium batteries. The components that generate the most heat in an electric air pump are the cylinder assembly, the motor, and the battery. During operation, the cylinder temperature is higher than the motor temperature, which in turn is higher than the battery temperature; the cylinder temperature can even exceed 100°C.

[0003] When using an air pump, if there is no cooling, the overall internal temperature of the pump will be too high, and the battery will also operate at a high temperature. Prolonged operation in a high-temperature environment will cause significant damage to the internal components of the air pump, greatly shortening its lifespan. It may also cause the battery to overheat, leading to potential hazards such as chemical leaks or explosions.

[0004] Meanwhile, if only the heat dissipation of the air pump is considered, the battery temperature will be affected by external factors when the air pump is working in a low-temperature environment, due to the different application scenarios the air pump may be used in. The operating temperature of lithium batteries is generally -20℃ to 65℃. When lithium batteries are working at low temperatures, their discharge capacity will be weakened and their capacity will be reduced. Their capacity may even be only 50% of the capacity at room temperature (25℃), which will seriously affect the charging performance and battery life of the entire device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a thermal control system, an air pump using the system, and a thermal control method thereof, which solves the problems of heat generation of lithium batteries in the air pump at room temperature and performance degradation at low temperature, effectively delays the lifespan degradation of components such as cylinders and batteries, and fully ensures the power supply efficiency of lithium batteries.

[0006] This invention provides a thermal control system, including a housing, a first heat source and a second heat source disposed within the housing, wherein the housing has a first vent and a second vent near the first and second heat sources respectively, and an airflow channel for gas flow is formed between the first vent and the second vent; the housing also includes an airflow control component, the airflow control component comprising:

[0007] A fan, located between the first and second air vents, is used to control the flow of air within the airflow channel; and

[0008] A drive unit, connected to the fan, is used to drive the fan to rotate forward or in reverse.

[0009] In one embodiment, a temperature detection device disposed within the housing is further included, the temperature detection device comprising:

[0010] A first temperature sensor is disposed at the first heat source and is used to detect the temperature at the first heat source;

[0011] A second temperature sensor, disposed at the second heat source, is used to detect the temperature at the second heat source; and

[0012] The controller is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the drive unit, and is used to control the direction and speed of the fan.

[0013] In this embodiment, the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor can detect the temperature at the first heat source and the second heat source respectively, and then cooperate with the controller to control the fan direction and speed.

[0014] In one embodiment, both the first and second temperature sensors are disposed within the housing at a location away from the airflow channel. This embodiment avoids placing the first and second temperature sensors in locations with high airflow rates, as the airflow channel may cause localized temperature unevenness between the first and second heat sources. This prevents the detection results from being affected by uneven temperature distribution and helps improve the accuracy of the detection results.

[0015] In one embodiment, the drive member is positioned within the housing close to the airflow channel, and the airflow passes through the drive member as it flows along the airflow channel. This embodiment allows the airflow to pass through the drive member along the airflow channel, thus dissipating heat and preventing the drive member from operating at high temperatures for extended periods, thereby helping to extend its service life.

[0016] The present invention also provides an air pump, including the above-described thermal control system.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first heat source and the second heat source are a cylinder and a power supply element, respectively. The housing is provided with an air inlet at the position of the cylinder or the power supply element, and the air inlet is connected to the air inlet and outlet of the cylinder.

[0018] In one embodiment, the power supply element is a lithium titanate battery. This embodiment leverages the advantages of lithium titanate batteries—high thermal decomposition temperature, good safety, and outstanding low-temperature performance—combined with airflow control, enabling the air pump to operate in more demanding environments.

[0019] The present invention also provides a thermal control method applied to the above-mentioned air pump, which includes the following steps:

[0020] S1, Detect the temperature T of the power supply component 电池 and cylinder temperature T 气缸 ;

[0021] S2, based on the temperature T of the power supply component 电池 The allowable operating temperature of the power supply components and the temperature T of the cylinder 气缸 The relationship between these parameters controls the direction and speed of the fan, thereby achieving temperature control inside the casing.

[0022] In one embodiment, in step S2, the temperature T of the power supply element is compared. 电池 Based on the allowable operating temperature and the comparison results, the following operations are performed respectively:

[0023] When the temperature T of the power supply component 电池 When the temperature exceeds its allowable operating temperature, the controller controls the fan to rotate in the forward direction via the drive mechanism.

[0024] When the temperature T of the power supply component 电池 When the temperature is below its allowable operating temperature, the controller controls the fan to reverse through the drive unit.

[0025] In this embodiment, when the fan rotates forward, gas enters through the second vent and flows along the airflow channel. During this process, the airflow passes sequentially through the power supply component, the drive component, and the cylinder. The gas carries the heat from the power supply component, the drive component, and the cylinder and is discharged through the first vent, achieving heat dissipation. When the fan rotates in reverse, gas enters the housing through the first vent and flows sequentially through the cylinder, the drive component, and the power supply component. At this time, the gas carries the heat from the cylinder and the drive component, replenishing the heat of the power supply component as it passes through it, preventing the power supply component from operating at too low a temperature and reducing its performance.

[0026] In one implementation, in step S2, by collecting experimental data, a relationship is established between the fan speed and the temperature T of the power supply component. 电池 and cylinder temperature T 气缸 Relational model: N 风扇转速 =F(T) 电池 T 气缸 The controller calculates the fan's drive value in real time based on this relationship model, and then controls the fan speed through the drive components.

[0027] In summary, compared with the prior art, the beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows: by using a driving component to drive the fan to rotate forward or reverse, the flow direction of gas in the airflow channel is controlled, thereby controlling the heat flow inside the housing. This can simultaneously solve the problems of heat generation of lithium batteries in the air pump at room temperature and performance degradation at low temperature, effectively delay the life decay of components such as cylinders and batteries, and fully ensure the power supply efficiency of lithium batteries. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air pump according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control logic of a thermal control method in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Reference numerals: 1. Housing; 101. Inflation nozzle; 102. First air hole; 103. Second air hole; 2. Cylinder; 3. Power supply component; 4. Drive component; 5. Airflow channel; 6. Fan; 7. Storage box; 8. First temperature sensor; 9. Second temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will now be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] See appendix Figure 1 An air pump includes a housing 1, with an air inlet 101 on one side of the housing 1. The housing 1 also contains a cylinder 2, a power supply element 3, and a drive element 4. The cylinder 2 is located inside the housing 1 near the air inlet 101, and its inlet and outlet are connected to the air inlet 101. The power supply element 3 is located inside the housing 1 on the side opposite to the air inlet 101. The drive element 4 is located between the cylinder 2 and the power supply element 3, and is connected to the power supply element 3 via a wire and is drively connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 2.

[0034] In this embodiment, to ensure the service life of the air pump, the power supply component 3 can be a lithium titanate battery, or other batteries can be selected as needed, without specific restrictions.

[0035] During operation, the power supply element 3 supplies power to the drive element 4, which in turn drives the piston in the cylinder 2 to move. When pumping air, the piston moves outward, and the gas enters the housing 1. When pumping air into an item to be inflated, the piston moves inward, compresses the gas, and pushes the gas into the item.

[0036] See appendix Figure 1 To ensure effective heat dissipation of the components inside the air pump, a first air hole 102 and a second air hole 103 are respectively provided on opposite sides of the housing 1. The first air hole 102 can be located on the side where the air nozzle 101 is located, so that the first air hole 102 is close to the cylinder 2 inside the housing 1; the second air hole 103 can be located on the side of the housing 1 opposite to the air nozzle 101. In this way, an airflow channel 5 for gas flow will be formed inside the housing 1 between the first air hole 102 and the second air hole 103.

[0037] In this embodiment, the aforementioned drive component 4 can be a dual-axis motor; one output shaft of the dual-axis motor can be connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 2 via a transmission component such as a reducer; the other output shaft of the dual-axis motor is connected to a fan 6, and the dual-axis motor can drive the fan 6 to rotate forward or in reverse. Through the dual-axis motor and the fan 6, the gas flow direction inside the housing 1 can be controlled, so the drive component 4 and the fan 6 can together constitute an airflow control component for controlling gas flow.

[0038] In specific settings, the drive unit 4 can be positioned close to the airflow channel 5. Since the fan 6 is positioned between the first air hole 102 and the second air hole 103 along with the drive unit 4, the fan 6 can control the flow direction of the gas in the airflow channel 5. That is, the gas can enter from the first air hole 102 and exit from the second air hole 103, or it can enter from the second air hole 103 and exit from the first air hole 102. When the gas flows, it can carry away the heat from the cylinder 2, the drive unit 4 and the power supply element 3, thereby playing a heat dissipation role for the three.

[0039] It should be noted that the specific positions of the first vent 102 and the second vent 103 on the housing 1 can be optimized according to design requirements. It is only necessary to ensure that the gas can flow through the cylinder 2, the drive component 4 and the power supply component 3 after entering the housing 1, and there is no restriction on their specific positions.

[0040] Furthermore, when the power supply component 3 uses a lithium battery, due to the different application scenarios that lithium batteries may have, the lithium battery may not only have heat dissipation requirements, but also heat replenishment requirements. For example, when the air pump is used in a low-temperature environment, the actual operating temperature of the lithium battery may be lower than its normal operating temperature; at this time, the drive component 4 drives the fan 6 to rotate, controlling the gas to enter the housing 1 from the first air hole 102, and then the gas flows through the airflow channel 5 in sequence through the cylinder 2 and the drive component 4, and brings the heat dissipated by the cylinder 2 and the drive component 4 to the power supply component 3, and finally the gas is discharged from the second air hole 103; in this way, the air pump can also realize the function of replenishing heat to the power supply component 3 when necessary.

[0041] As attached Figure 1 As shown in this embodiment, to improve the ease of use of the air pump, a storage box 7 for storing accessories such as air nozzles and inflation pipes can also be provided inside the housing 1. The storage box 7 and the drive component 4 can be located on opposite sides of the aforementioned airflow channel 5. Of course, since the storage box 7 is only for storage, its specific location is not specifically limited and can be optimized and adjusted according to actual design requirements, as long as it ensures that a smooth airflow channel 5 is formed inside the housing 1.

[0042] See appendix Figure 1 The present invention also provides a thermal control system for the above-mentioned air pump, which is used to optimize the temperature control of each component inside the housing 1.

[0043] Specifically, when the air pump is working normally, cylinder 2, drive component 4, and power supply component 3 constitute the three major heat-generating components; under normal circumstances, the temperature of cylinder 2 > the temperature of drive component 4 > the temperature of power supply component 3. Among them, the temperature of cylinder 2 can even exceed 100℃.

[0044] In this embodiment, the cylinder 2 and the power supply element 3 constitute the first heat source and the second heat source, respectively. The cylinder 2 has the highest temperature, while the performance of the power supply element 3 is most affected by temperature. Therefore, the cylinder 2 and the power supply element 3 are the components that require the most attention.

[0045] To achieve precise temperature control of cylinder 2 and power supply element 3, the thermal control system includes a temperature detection device and the aforementioned airflow control component. The airflow control component has been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0046] As attached Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the temperature detection device includes a first temperature sensor 8, a second temperature sensor 9, and a matching controller (not shown in the figure). The first temperature sensor 8 is located at the cylinder 2 and is used to detect the temperature of the cylinder 2; the second temperature sensor 9 is located at the power supply component 3 and is used to detect the temperature of the power supply component 3; the controller can be a PLC controller, which is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor 8, the second temperature sensor 9, and the aforementioned drive component 4, and can control the direction and speed of the fan 6 by controlling the drive component 4. The scheme of realizing temperature detection through a PLC controller and temperature sensors is common knowledge in the art, and will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0047] To ensure the accuracy of temperature detection, the first temperature sensor 8 and the second temperature sensor 9 are preferably located inside the housing 1, offset from the airflow channel 5, avoiding placement in areas with high airflow within the airflow channel 5. This prevents uneven temperature distribution in the cylinder 2 and power supply component 3 due to heat dissipation, which could lead to excessive deviations in the detection results. Of course, this embodiment does not specifically limit the exact locations of the first temperature sensor 8 and the second temperature sensor 9, as long as the above conditions are met to ensure that they can respectively detect the temperatures of the cylinder 2 and the power supply component 3.

[0048] In practical applications, with the help of the aforementioned first temperature sensor 8, this embodiment can also implement a cylinder 2 protection function. That is, when the air pump is working, if the temperature of cylinder 2 exceeds the preset upper limit temperature T, the controller controls the drive component 4 to stop working. After waiting for cylinder 2 to cool down to temperature T0, the controller controls the drive component 4 to restart, and the air pump starts inflating again. The specific values ​​of T and T0 can be set according to the relationship between temperature and lifespan for each cylinder 2. Although the parameters of specific models of cylinder 2 are known, they are not detailed here because the specific parameters of each cylinder 2 are different.

[0049] Meanwhile, the present invention provides a thermal control method for controlling the internal temperature of an air pump using the above-mentioned thermal control system, which includes the following steps:

[0050] S1, Detect the temperature T of power supply component 3 电池 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 ;

[0051] S2, based on the temperature T of power supply component 3 电池 The allowable operating temperature of power supply component 3 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 The relationship between the two controls the direction and speed of fan 6 to achieve temperature control inside housing 1.

[0052] Specifically, in step S1, the temperature of the power supply component 3 and the cylinder 2 can be detected using the temperature detection device described above. The specific principle will not be elaborated here.

[0053] See appendix Figure 2 In step S2, the specific logic for controlling the direction of fan 6 is as follows:

[0054] When the temperature T of power supply component 3 电池 When the operating temperature exceeds the allowable operating temperature, the controller controls the fan 6 to rotate forward via the drive component 4. The allowable operating temperature of the power supply component 3 equals the battery's rated temperature plus the tolerance threshold. At this time, because the fan 6 rotates forward, gas enters the housing 1 through the second vent 103, flows sequentially through the power supply component 3, the drive component 4, and the cylinder 2, and finally exits with the heated gas through the first vent 102. During this process, the power supply component 3, the drive component 4, and the cylinder 2 all achieve heat dissipation; therefore, this mode is more suitable for use when the air pump operates in mild or high-temperature environments.

[0055] When the temperature T of power supply component 3 电池 When the operating temperature is below its allowable operating temperature, the controller controls the fan 6 to reverse direction via the drive unit 4. At this time, due to the fan 6 reversing, gas enters the housing 1 through the first vent 102, flows sequentially through the cylinder 2, the drive unit 4, and the power supply element 3, and finally exits with heated gas through the second vent 103. During this process, both the cylinder 2 and the drive unit 4 dissipate heat, and as the gas flows through the power supply element 3, it transfers the heat from the cylinder 2 and the drive unit 4 to the power supply element 3, preventing performance degradation due to excessively low operating temperature. Therefore, this mode is more suitable for use when the air pump operates in low-temperature environments.

[0056] Simultaneously, the aforementioned thermal control system can also control the speed of fan 6: by collecting experimental data, the relationship between the speed of fan 6 and the temperature T of power supply component 3 is established. 电池 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 Relational model: N 风扇转速 =F(T) 电池 T气缸 The controller calculates the driving value of fan 6 in real time based on the relationship model, and then controls the speed of fan 6 through the driving component 4.

[0057] Specifically, with fan 6 rotating in a fixed direction, the speed of fan 6 will directly affect the temperature of various components inside the air pump, that is, the speed of fan 6 is related to the temperature T of power supply component 3. 电池 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 There exists a roughly defined relationship model. Thus, by conducting multiple experiments and collecting experimental data for a specific model of cylinder 2, drive component 4, fan 6, and power supply component 3, the relationship between the fan 6's rotational speed and the power supply component 3's temperature T can be established. 电池 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 Relational model: N 风扇转速 =F(T) 电池 T 气缸 In actual use of the air pump, this relationship model is used to detect the temperature T of the power supply component 3. 电池 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 Then, the controller can calculate the drive value of fan 6, and then control the rotation speed of fan 6 through drive component 4 to control the gas flow speed inside the air pump. This will efficiently cool the air pump and heat up the battery during low-temperature operation, further improving the working efficiency of the air pump and extending its service life.

[0058] It should be noted that the speed of fan 6 is related to the temperature T of power supply component 3. 电池 and the temperature T of cylinder 2 气缸 Given a roughly defined relational model, how can we establish this relational model N using mathematical or experimental modeling methods? 风扇转速 =F(T) 电池 T 气缸 This is common knowledge in the field, and we will only explain its modeling ideas here without going into details.

[0059] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "bottom", "top", "front", "rear", "inner", "outer", "left", "right", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0060] Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner as long as there is no structural conflict. The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An inflator pump comprising a housing (1), a first heat source and a second heat source disposed within the housing (1), characterized in that, The first heat source and the second heat source are a cylinder (2) and a power supply element (3) respectively, the housing (1) is provided with a first air hole (102) and a second air hole (103) near the first heat source and the second heat source respectively, and an air flow channel (5) for air flow is formed between the first air hole (102) and the second air hole (103); the housing (1) is further provided with an air flow control assembly, which comprises: a fan (6) located between the first air hole (102) and the second air hole (103) and used for controlling the flow of air in the air flow channel (5); and a driving member (4) connected with the fan (6) and used for driving the fan (6) to rotate forward or reversely; a temperature detection device provided in the housing (1), which comprises: a first temperature sensor (8) provided at the first heat source and used for detecting the temperature at the first heat source; a second temperature sensor (9) provided at the second heat source and used for detecting the temperature at the second heat source; and a controller electrically connected with the first temperature sensor (8), the second temperature sensor (9) and the driving member (4) and used for controlling the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the fan (6); the first temperature sensor (8) and the second temperature sensor (9) are both provided at positions away from the air flow channel (5) in the housing (1); when the first temperature sensor (8) detects that the temperature of the first heat source exceeds a preset upper limit temperature T, the controller controls the driving member to stop working, and when the temperature of the first heat source cools down to a temperature T0, the controller controls the driving member to restart.

2. An inflator pump according to claim 1, wherein The position of the driving member (4) in the housing (1) is close to the air flow channel (5), and the air flow passes through the driving member (4) when flowing along the air flow channel (5).

3. An inflator pump according to claim 1, wherein The housing (1) is provided with an inflation air nozzle (101) at the position of the cylinder (2) or the power supply element (3), and the inflation air nozzle (101) is communicated with the air inlet and outlet of the cylinder (2).

4. An inflator pump according to claim 3, wherein The power supply element (3) is a lithium titanate battery.

5. A method of thermal control, characterized by, The application of the inflation pump as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 comprises the following steps: S1, detecting the temperature T of the power supply element (3) 电池 and the temperature T of the cylinder (2) 气缸 ; S2, based on the temperature T of the power supply component (3) 电池 The allowable operating temperature of the power supply component (3) and the temperature T of the cylinder (2) 气缸 The relationship between the two controls the direction and speed of the fan (6) to achieve internal temperature control of the housing (1).

6. A thermal control method according to claim 5, wherein, In step S2, the temperature T of the power supply element (3) is compared with a predetermined threshold value 电池 and the size of the operating temperature is allowed, and the following operations are performed respectively according to the comparison result: When the temperature T of the power supply component (3) 电池 When the temperature exceeds its allowable operating temperature, the controller controls the fan (6) to rotate in the forward direction via the drive (4); When the temperature T of the power supply component (3) 电池 When the temperature is below its allowable operating temperature, the controller controls the fan (6) to reverse through the drive (4).

7. The thermal control method of claim 5, wherein, In step S2, a relationship model of the rotation speed of the fan (6) and the temperature T 电池 of the power supply element (3) and the temperature T 气缸 of the cylinder (2) is established by collecting experimental data: N 风扇转速 =F(T 电池 , T 气缸 ), and the controller calculates the driving value of the fan (6) in real time according to the relationship model, and then controls the rotation speed of the fan (6) through the driving member (4).

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