Method for heating and cooling in flexible elastic material and alternative device for implementing method

Abstract

Methods relating to flexible heat pumps actuated by regenerative ambient energy and associated apparatuses. The method of forming the subject matter of the invention is a method of heating and cooling in a flexible material, including a gas-filled and fluid-tight unit, by applying a pressure to the flexible material, such as when the foot of a person or animal steps on the ground or when the tires are in contact with the road. The gas occupied in these units is compressed and expanded. The flexible material is preferably silicone or some other elastic or superelastic elastomer and consists of three layers: a layer provided with so-called cold units, the geometry or hardness of which allows the cold units to be compressed prior to the so-called hot units; a layer provided with so-called thermal units, the geometry or hardness of which allows the thermal units not to be compressed when the so-called cold unit is compressed; an intermediate layer between the first two layers and comprising nozzles having a geometry suitable for proper expansion of the gas. The three layers are stacked and assembled in a fluid-tight manner such that each so-called cold unit communicates with a so-called hot unit via a nozzle. The method can be used in soles to maintain a cool temperature when a person runs on a hot ground or a warm temperature on a frozen ground, since these soles are thus dual-purpose. Each step is stepped on, the feet can compress the cold unit, and all gas can be compressed into the hot unit through the nozzles. As the gas is compressed, the gas is naturally heated according to the law of thermodynamics. When the foot leaves the floor, thus no longer any compression, the flexible material will recover its volume by the elasticity of the material and the so-called cold unit will absorb the gas from the so-called hot unit and thus expand it by the nozzle, which will naturally cool the gas according to the same law. As long as the person walks or runs, the cycle proceeds continuously.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for heating and cooling in a flexible material containing a gas-filled sealed unit by compressing and expanding the gas occupied in the unit and its associated equipment.

[0002] A preferred application is a sole that keeps the foot at a cool temperature even when walking on very hot roads or a warm temperature on frozen ground. Background Art

[0003] If there are devices for warming the feet, such as soles or socks with resistors powered by batteries or exothermic chemicals, these systems cannot maintain heat long enough for a large number of activities, such as workers in cold storage, extreme trail runners, military personnel, etc. who need heat supply for 8 hours or more.

[0004] On the other hand, there are few devices available for refreshing the soles of shoes. There do exist devices for soles filled with gel. These devices are pre-placed in a refrigerator to store cold energy, but such devices are not practical because, on the one hand, the cold energy is very strong at first, which may cause burns, and then quickly becomes less effective. On the other hand, the cold energy lasts for a very short time (a few minutes to tens of minutes). Therefore, it is not suitable for workdays or jogging for an hour or more.

[0005] In the patent applications KR20160066190, US2012018418 or WO2005087031, there are indeed devices that require the use of Peltier effect components. However, since the efficiency of Peltier effect components is not very good, these devices require a lot of power. Therefore, it is not possible to provide cooling for more than one hour due to the rapid exhaustion of the battery. In addition, these Peltier effect components are usually made of ceramic and are therefore very fragile. Finally, the weight of the components and the battery quickly makes the sports shoes too heavy, and sports shoes are usually light.

[0006] There are also some devices that use breathable materials to expel moisture (as described in patent US2018220739) or use breathable materials for better ventilation (as described in patent CN107788617), but these systems cannot achieve true thermal regulation and significant temperature reduction or increase.

[0007] As described in application FR2958505A1, there is also a process of ventilating a material (in this case a shoe) from the outside air, but this is definitely not a cooling or heating process: it is simply a process of ventilating a material from the outside air. Therefore, if the outside air is hot, for example in the Indian summer (51°C), then 51°C air will enter the shoe! We are far from temperature regulation. In fact, application FR2958505A1 describes and claims a shoe that, admittedly, has a bag (large unit), but which is connected to the outside and the inside of the shoe, so that the shoe is definitely not waterproof (in addition, the shoe needs to be connected to the outside). This is also confirmed by the fact that in this application, pressurizing the air to achieve thermodynamic principles, and in particular heating the air under pressure, is never described or claimed.

[0008] In application FR1501793A, it is also not possible to compress and decompress the air in the cells. Instead, it describes and requires a sole with ventilation, the alveoli being open, as mentioned several times, and the air pressure cannot be maintained due to the weight of the person. Moreover, it is provided that these cells contain a powder to be dispersed on the foot, so the non-sealed nature is essential.

[0009] Thus, in applications FR2958505A1 and FR1501793A, heating or cooling independently of the outside air is not possible, since they describe a process of ventilating the material from the outside air. Thus, if the outside air is very hot, such as currently in India (51°C), then air at 51°C will enter the shoe! It is impossible to cool your feet with such hot air. Similarly, if the outside air is cold, such as in winter (-30°C, in the Canadian mountains...), then air at -30°C will enter the shoe! It is impossible to heat your feet with such cold air.

[0010] Only a process using the principles of thermodynamics, as we resell in this application, can truly heat and cool and provide real comfort (freshness) for long periods of time (as long as you walk or run) in hot or cold weather.

[0011] Application FR 1871095 does mention a thermodynamic method, but its practical application is difficult because the cells are hollow in the material, making compression difficult, and many other innovations must be made to make it more efficient, as will be described. This application therefore relates to: a patent for an improvement according to application FR 1871095. Summary of the invention

[0012] The method which is the subject of the invention relates to a method for generating heat and cooling in a flexible material, wherein the flexible material comprises sealed cells filled with a gas and wherein the gas contained in its cells compresses and expands when mechanical pressure is applied to the flexible material, for example when the foot of a person or an animal presses on the ground.

[0013] The flexible material is preferably made of silicone or other elastic or superelastic elastomers (such as natural rubber, butyl rubber, ...), and it consists of three layers:

[0014] * layers with so-called cold honeycombs, whose geometry or hardness allows greater mechanical compression than so-called hot honeycombs,

[0015] * a layer with a so-called hot honeycomb, the geometry or hardness of which is such that it is not compressed or only slightly compressed during the mechanical compression of a so-called cold honeycomb,

[0016] An intermediate layer between the above two layers comprises a nozzle having a geometry suitable for good gas expansion.

[0017] The three layers are assembled in a sealed manner so that each so-called cold honeycomb is connected to a so-called hot honeycomb via a nozzle and all honeycombs are filled with ambient gas during the assembly process.

[0018] Thus, the mechanical compression of the flexible material causes the gas to be compressed and thus heated from the honeycombs of the cold layer to the honeycombs of the hot layer through the nozzles.

[0019] During mechanical decompression, the same gas expands due to the elasticity of the material and cools down through the nozzle towards the honeycomb of the cold layer.

[0020] In order to optimize the gas expansion phase during mechanical decompression, the nozzle may have a converging or diverging shape, circular, elliptical or such as a Laval nozzle.

[0021] Figure 1 The honeycomb is shown before assembling the hot layer (1), the compressed air receiving area, the cold layer (2), the compressed air expansion area, and the middle layer (3) containing the nozzles (4).

[0022] like Figure 2 As shown, the three layers overlap, thereby allowing each so-called cold honeycomb to be connected to a so-called hot honeycomb via a nozzle.

[0023] The three layers can be assembled into a gas-tight structure at atmospheric pressure or under pressure, allowing the honeycomb to be filled with gas under pressure or without pressure.

[0024] Sealing is a very important feature. In fact, if we use materials with a permeability to gases (such as air) of more than 20 bars, the compression / expansion cycles will lead to slow but progressive air leaks, causing permanent cellular ruptures and, therefore, limiting the thermodynamic operation. Heating and cooling are only effective for 1 to 2 hours. For example, to ensure thermodynamic production for 8 hours (a working day), a permeability of less than 4 bars is sufficient, and for operations greater than 40 hours (for example, for extreme weather), a permeability of less than 1 bar is required.

[0025] In order to prevent the so-called hot honeycomb from being compressed or slightly compressed during the mechanical compression of the so-called cold honeycomb, this can be achieved by specific geometries, such as preferably adding reinforcement elements inside the honeycomb or increasing the thickness of the honeycomb walls, or achieving a higher hardness than the so-called cold honeycomb.

[0026] If the hardness of the so-called hot honeycomb allows the hot honeycomb to remain uncompressed or only slightly compressed during the mechanical compression of the so-called cold honeycomb, this hardness will be at least 10 Shore A greater than the hardness of the latter.

[0027] Thus, for example, when a person is running on hot ground, the flexible material can be used as a sole to maintain a cool temperature. With each step, the foot compresses the so-called cold bubbles, and the gas from these bubbles will be pushed through nozzles towards the so-called hot bubbles. The hot bubbles will thus act as an insulating shell, and their gas will be heated during compression.

[0028] When the foot leaves the ground and there is no longer any mechanical compression, the flexible material will recover its volume by the elasticity of the material and draw the gas through the nozzles, thereby relaxing the gas and cooling it.

[0029] The so-called cold honeycomb has a hardness value of 10 Shore A to 30 Shore A, and the so-called hot honeycomb has a hardness value of 20 Shore A to 50 Shore A. Note that if the two layers had the same hardness, the gas compressed by the foot pressure would be evenly distributed between the two layers of incompletely compressed bubbles, and the heating would be evenly distributed. Therefore, during expansion, thermodynamics tells us that the temperature will return to its initial value, so we cannot have a hot surface and a cold surface.

[0030] Therefore, due to the difference in compressibility between the two types of cells, either due to the different hardness or the different shapes of the two layers, the so-called cold cells are deformed by the pressure of the foot, so that all the compressed gas enters the so-called hot cells, which are practically not deformed. The compressed gas is therefore naturally heated according to the laws of thermodynamics and is entirely present in the so-called hot cells, which are therefore at a higher temperature than the so-called cold cells.

[0031] Elastomers, such as silicone, do not have significant conductivity. Therefore, the bubbles may not be able to transfer enough heat or cold to the foot, they will act as an insulating shell without exchanging with the outside world. Therefore, it is preferred to increase the thermal conductivity in the hot and cold layers by adding powdered metal (such as copper) or diamond powder to the elastomer rather than in the middle part containing the nozzle to ensure sufficient separation of thermal insulation and heat flow.

[0032] Figures 2 to 5 A cross section of a device is shown which is intended to be arranged, for example, as a shoe sole with so-called cold holes in contact with the foot. Example of air operation:

[0033] Figure 2 , the flexible honeycomb material is at rest, and the gas is evenly distributed in the honeycomb at temperature Ta and pressure Pa. Two types of honeycombs and nozzles are distinguished.

[0034] Figure 3 , pressure (such as the foot pressure shown by arrows (5) on the floor 6) is applied to the flexible material and due to the fact that the so-called cold honeycomb is more compressible than the so-called hot honeycomb, all the air (7) enters the hot honeycomb.

[0035] Figure 4 , the gas is then compressed to a pressure Pi (depending on the applied pressure, i.e. about 2 bar for an isovolumetric cell) and is therefore heated to a temperature Ti according to the laws of thermodynamics. The temperature Ti of the gas will therefore be equal to:

[0036] [Mathematical formula 1]

[0037] Ta×(Pi / Pa) (γ-1) / γ

[0038] Where γ is the adiabatic constant of the gas (1.4 for air at 293°K), and if Ta is 293°K, it is 376°K. The heat of the gas will then be dissipated from the material to the foot or floor (or shoe).

[0039] Figure 5 The material is shown during pressure release (when the foot leaves the ground). The elasticity of the material restores the shape of the bubble and the force is represented by the arrow (8). The pressurized gas at temperature Tf will leave the so-called hot cell in order to expand through the nozzle in the so-called cold cell, thereby cooling to temperature Tc:

[0040] [Mathematical formula 2]

[0041] Tf×(Pa / Pi)(γ-1) / γ

[0042] That is, 285°K, which is 8°K lower than the initial temperature Ta.

[0043] This is actually a thermodynamic process of cooling and heating in the sole, which is claimed to be similar to the process that occurs in air conditioning using the Carnot cycle (compression / expansion) in a so-called hot chamber (compression zone), a so-called cold chamber (expansion zone) and a compressor (foot). The innovative feature is that the cycle is formed by a flexible material that can be compressed and returns to its initial shape due to its elasticity.

[0044] According to another arrangement, the flexible material can be used as a heating device. To do this, the sole is simply turned over so that the so-called hot bubble comes into contact with the foot. Thus, the heat generated during the compression will come into contact with the foot, while the cold layer will come into contact with the bottom of the shoe.

[0045] The flexibility, elasticity or superelasticity (and therefore high deformability) of the material is crucial so that the weight of the human body causes the flexible material to deform and the material quickly recovers its original shape after the pressure is released.

[0046] The size of the air bubble can therefore be determined based on the person's weight and shoe size so that the pressure is sufficient to appropriately compress the so-called cold air bubble.

[0047] Preferably, the air bubbles must emboss to minimize surrounding material (hollow air bubbles in a material are more difficult to compress with the foot).

[0048] The volume ratio of the cold and hot cells is also important. In fact, if they had the same volume, during a complete mechanical compression in the cold cell, all the gas in the hot cell would be under a pressure of 2 bars, which corresponds to an increase in air temperature of about 83°C.

[0049] On the other hand, if the so-called cold chamber had twice the volume of the hot chamber, the pressure obtained during compression would be 3 bar and the air temperature would rise by about 120°C, which would result in a better heating of the foot.

[0050] The gas contained in the cell could be just air, but it is advantageous to use a gas with a higher adiabatic constant γ (such as a monatomic gas (e.g., argon) or a polyatomic gas (e.g., CO2)) and possibly a humidity greater than 20% (to exploit the latent heat of water vaporization) to achieve higher efficiency.

[0051] According to another preferred arrangement, the material and shape of the unit can be adapted to the morphology of domestic animals (such as cats and dogs) that often burn their paw pads when walking on sunny roads, especially rescue dogs.

[0052] According to another arrangement, this porous flexible material can be used as carpet in public places or businesses with high foot traffic, so that large amounts of foot pressure can achieve temperature regulation.

[0053] According to another arrangement, this porous flexible material can be used in tires to achieve continuous cooling. This is even more significant because electric vehicles that are to replace internal combustion engine vehicles are heavier and have more torque, so their tires are more likely to heat up.

[0054] In this case, it is advantageous to group the cells of the "hot" layer together to form the actual tire cavity, and the cells of the "cold" layer will be arranged on the periphery of the tire, where they will undergo compression and expansion cycles when the vehicle is moving. However, in this case, it is preferred that the cells are hollow, since the pressure exerted by the vehicle is much greater than that exerted by the foot.

[0055] According to another arrangement, this porous flexible material can be used in a peristaltic pump. The unit is simply arranged around the elastic material tube responsible for the delivery, and the pumped fluid can be cooled or heated.

Claims

1. A method for heating and cooling in a flexible elastic material, characterized in that: The material has three layers:

1. A layer provided with so-called cold compressible units (2), 2. A layer provided with so-called thermal units which are less compressible than the aforementioned units (1), 3. an intermediate layer arranged between the first two layers and comprising a plurality of nozzles (1), And the cells are convex to allow easier mechanical compression and recovery to the original shape. and the three said layers are assembled in a sealed manner so that each so-called cold cell (2) communicates with a so-called hot cell (1) through one of said nozzles and during the assembly process all cells are filled with ambient gas, and the mechanical compression of the flexible material causes the gas to be compressed and thus heated through the nozzle from the compressible cells of the cold layer (2) towards the uncompressed or slightly compressed cells of the hot layer (1), And during mechanical decompression, the same gas that was almost entirely present in the hot cells (1) after compression expands and thus cools through the nozzle towards the cells of the cold layer (2), which recover their shape due to the elasticity of the material.

2. A method for producing heating and cooling in a flexible elastic material according to claim 1, characterized in that the material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing a gas, wherein the cells of the hot layer (1) for storing the gas during mechanical compression of the material are made more rigid by appropriate geometry and reinforcements of the cells so as to be less compressible than the cells of the cold layer (2) for collecting the same gas during decompression of the material.

3. The method for heating and cooling in a flexible elastic material according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing a gas, wherein the cells of the hot layer (1) for storing the gas during mechanical compression of the material are made harder by having a greater material hardness than the cells of the cold layer (2) so as to be less compressible than the cells of the cold layer (2) for collecting the same gas during decompression of the material.

4. The method for heating and cooling in a flexible elastic material according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The material comprises a hot layer (1) and a cold layer (2), the hot layer (1) and the cold layer (2) having increased thermal conductivity by adding powder having high thermal conductivity to the material, and an intermediate layer (3) provided with a nozzle having low thermal conductivity.

5. The method for heating and cooling in a flexible elastic material according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing air, CO2 or argon.

6. The method for heating and cooling in a flexible elastic material according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing humid air, CO2 or argon.

7. A device for implementing the method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The flexible elastic material has the shape of a sole placed inside a shoe, and is provided with sealing units (1) and (2) containing gas, wherein the cold layer (2) is in contact with the foot and the hot layer (1) is on the sole side to keep the foot cool on a hot ground, or the hot layer (1) is in contact with the foot and the cold layer (2) is on the sole side to keep the foot warm on a cold ground.

8. A device for implementing the method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The flexible elastic material has the shape of a carpet, the flexible elastic material is provided with sealing units (1) and (2) containing gas, and the carpet is placed on a ground with a large number of pedestrians, such as a public institution or a business, so that a large amount of foot pressure provides temperature regulation.

9. A device for implementing the method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The flexible elastic material is arranged around a flexible tube, the flexible elastic material being provided with sealing units (1) and (2) containing a gas, the flexible tube allowing thermal regulation of the fluid during its transfer by a peristaltic pump.

10. A device for implementing the method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The flexible elastic material is placed in a vehicle tire, the flexible elastic material being provided with sealing units (1) and (2) containing gas, the hot layer inside the tire storing the gas during mechanical compression of the material when the vehicle moves, and the cold layer on the outer circumference of the tire expanding the same gas during decompression of the material and thereby cooling the tire.

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