Body cooling device and body cooling garment

Abstract

To provide a body cooling device and a body cooling garment that can effectively cool the body with a wide contact area using gel-based latent heat storage materials.SOLUTION: A body cooling device 1 includes: a Peltier element 10 having a cooling surface 11 and a heating surface 12; a heat transfer plate 20 additionally provided on the cooling surface 11; a cooling pad 30 installed on the heat transfer plate 20 so as to exchange heat with the cooling surface 11; and a battery 60 connected to the Peltier element 10 so as to be able to supply power. The cooling pad 30 is characterized by being made of a flexible container 32 filled with a gel-like phase change material (PCM) 31. A body cooling garment A is formed by attaching the body cooling device 1 to a garment A1, and the cooling pad 30 is arranged at a position contacting with the user's back.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a body cooling device and a body cooling suit, and more particularly to a body cooling device and a body cooling suit that can effectively cool the body over a wide contact area using a gel-like latent heat storage material. [Background technology]

[0002] At construction sites where outdoor work is required even in extreme heat, and at manufacturing sites that handle high-heat equipment, such as steel mills and steel manufacturers, cooling clothing is used to cool the bodies of workers to prevent heatstroke. Patent Document 1 discloses a cooling device that can be attached to clothing. The cooling device has a housing containing a Peltier element, cooling fins, heat dissipation fins, and a blower fan. The blower fan has an air intake opening in the housing for taking in outside air or air from inside the clothing, and the cool air outlet and heat dissipation outlet open on opposite sides of the housing. According to this cooling device, by locating the cool air outlet inside the clothing, the cool air generated by the cooling fins can be blown directly to the neck and other areas prone to heavy sweating without being affected by the temperature of the outside air. Patent Document 2 discloses a temperature regulation unit that can be attached to clothing. The temperature regulation unit includes a Peltier element with two ends that generate heat and cool when an electric current flows through it, a heat insulating substrate with a body surface and a non-body surface, a cover that covers the non-body surface of the heat insulating substrate, a fan for generating airflow created by an electric fan, and a heat conduction unit. This temperature regulation unit is said to be able to achieve a more efficient heating and cooling effect than conventional methods by separating the temperature changes at the two ends of the Peltier element using the heat insulating substrate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7290237 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4918302 [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Yuichi Asano, "Nikkei Crosstech / Nikkei Construction: 'Fan-equipped workwear doesn't lower body temperature, risk of heatstroke verified'", [online], August 6, 2020, Nikkei BP, Inc., [Retrieved November 13, 2023], Internet<URL:https: / / xtech.nikkei.com / atcl / nxt / column / 18 / 01380 / 00005 / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The cooling device in Patent Document 1 is designed to indirectly cool the wearer's body by circulating cooled air mainly inside the clothing, but recent research has confirmed that clothing with a fan alone does not provide an effective cooling effect that affects core body temperature (Non-Patent Document 1). The temperature control unit in Patent Document 2 is designed to directly cool the wearer's body via multiple spot-shaped heat transfer members provided on the cooling side of the Peltier element, but the cooling effect is insufficient because the contact area between the heat transfer members and the body is small. To effectively prevent heatstroke, it is necessary to cool the wearer's body uniformly over a wide contact area. However, if the cooling element is made large and flat, it will not be able to fit snugly against the curvature of the spine or the protrusions of the shoulder blades, creating large gaps between the cooling element and the body, making effective cooling difficult (Figure 5). Furthermore, when a Peltier element is used, the heat transfer member must be constantly cooled, which consumes power quickly and requires frequent charging or replacement of the battery. Furthermore, since the heat transfer member is made of a hard metal material, the wearer may feel uncomfortable or uneasy.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a body cooling device and a body cooling suit that solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The body cooling device of the present invention comprises a Peltier element having a cooling surface and a heating surface, a heat transfer plate attached to the cooling surface, a cooling pad placed on the heat transfer plate so as to be able to exchange heat with the cooling surface, and a battery connected so as to be able to supply power to the Peltier element, wherein the cooling pad is made of a flexible container filled with a gel-like phase change material (PCM).

[0008] The body cooling device of the present invention may be configured such that a cold storage region covered with a cooling pad and a cold release region not covered with a cooling pad are formed on the heat transfer plate.

[0009] The body cooling device of the present invention may include a control module electrically connected to the Peltier element and the battery, and configured to be able to switch the cooling strength of the cooling surface by the Peltier element.

[0010] The body cooling device of the present invention may be configured so that the cooling cycle of the cooling surface by the Peltier element can be controlled by the control module.

[0011] In the body cooling device of the present invention, the cooling cycle may include a repetition of a cooling period and a cooling stop period, and the cooling stop period may correspond to a cooling storage period of the latent heat storage material.

[0012] In the body cooling device of the present invention, the cooling cycle may include repetition of a strong cooling period and a weak cooling period, and the weak cooling period may correspond to the cold storage period of the latent heat storage material.

[0013] The body cooling device of the present invention may include a fan installed on the heating surface side, the fan being electrically connected to a battery and a control module, and the fan may be configured to be operable by the control module in accordance with a cooling cycle.

[0014] The body cooling suit of the present invention is characterized in that a body cooling device is attached to the suit and a cooling pad is disposed in a position that contacts the back of the user.

[0015] In the body cooling garment of the present invention, the cooling pad may be elongated and arranged vertically so as to pass through the center of the heat transfer plate, and the cooling pad may correspond to the position of the user's spine.

[0016] In the body cooling device of the present invention, the cooling pad may be replaceably mounted on the heat transfer plate, and the cooling pad may be selectable from a plurality of sizes corresponding to the shape of the user's spine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The body cooling device and body cooling suit of the present invention have a gel cooling pad that conforms to the contours of the spine and adheres closely to the wearer's back, so there is no discomfort or strangeness when wearing them. In addition, by adhering the cooling pad to the wearer's back, the cooling area including the heat transfer plate is maximized, allowing the body to be cooled effectively. Furthermore, since the cooling pad is made of latent heat storage material, the Peltier element can be operated intermittently while the cooling pad stores heat, thereby significantly reducing the amount of power consumed by the battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] Body cooling device illustration [Figure 2] Body cooling suit illustration [Figure 3] Cooling time explanation diagram [Figure 4] Cooling pad illustration [Figure 5] Explanatory diagram of the prior art DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The body cooling device and body cooling suit of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In this invention, the terms "front," "rear," "front face," "back," "vertical," and other directional terms refer to the directions in front of the wearer when the body cooling suit A is worn, with the "front" and "front face" referring to the direction in front of the wearer, the "rear" and "back face" referring to the direction behind the wearer, and the "vertical" referring to the height direction of the wearer. [Example]

[0020] <1> Body cooling device (Figure 1) The body cooling device 1 is a device that is attached to clothing A1 and cools the body of the wearer. The body cooling device 1 comprises at least a Peltier element 10, a heat transfer plate 20 attached to the cooling surface 11 of the Peltier element 10, a cooling pad 30 installed on the heat transfer plate 20, and a battery 60 connected to the Peltier element 10 so as to be able to supply power. In this example, the body cooling device 1 further comprises a heat exhaust module 40 provided on the heating surface 12 side of the Peltier element 10, and a control module 70 electrically connected to the Peltier element 10, the heat exhaust module 40, and the battery 60. In this example, the Peltier element 10, the heat transfer plate 20, the cooling pad 30, and the heat dissipation module 40 are housed within a housing 50 (front housing 51 and rear housing 52) to form a cooling module 1a, and the power cords of the Peltier element 10 and the heat dissipation module 40 are extended outside the housing 50 and electrically connected to the battery 60 and the control module 70.

[0021] <1.1> Body cooling suit (Figure 2) The body cooling suit A is a suit equipped with a body cooling device 1. The body cooling suit A has the cooling pad 30 of the cooling module 1a arranged inside the suit A1 at a position that comes into contact with the back of the user. Here, "coming into contact with the back of the user" does not necessarily mean that the cooling pad 30 comes into direct contact with the back of the user, but also includes indirect contact via the lining of the suit A1 or the like. In this example, a jumper-type work uniform is used as the garment A1, with the cooling module 1a installed in the upper back area, and the battery 60 and control module 70 installed on both sides of the torso, all connected by wiring within the garment A1. The cooling module 1a and other components can be attached to the garment A1 using snap buttons, adhesive, or by sewing them into the garment. However, the clothing A1 is not limited to a jumper, but may be a jacket, a vest, a full harness (a harness-type fall arrest device), a sweatshirt, a shirt, etc. The key is that the clothing A1 should have a structure that allows the cooling pad 30 to be placed on the back of the wearer.

[0022] <2> Peltier element The Peltier element 10 is a member that generates a temperature difference between both sides of the element by the Peltier effect. The Peltier element 10 is configured in a plate shape by connecting in series blocks in which an N-type semiconductor and a P-type semiconductor are joined to metal electrodes, and sandwiching both sides of a plurality of rows of these blocks between substrates. The Peltier element 10 has a cooling surface 11 that absorbs heat (cools) when a direct current is applied, and a heating surface 12 that generates heat (heats). Here, the terms "cooling surface" and "heating surface" refer to surfaces that cool and heat, respectively, when a current is passed in one predetermined direction, but it goes without saying that reversing the current reverses their respective functions. The structure of the Peltier element and the Peltier effect are well known and will not be described in detail here.

[0023] <3> Heat transfer plate The heat transfer plate 20 is a member that supports the cooling pad 30 so that heat can be exchanged between the cooling surface 11 and the cooling pad 30 . The back surface of the heat transfer plate 20 contacts the cooling surface 11 , and the front surface of the heat transfer plate 20 contacts the cooling pad 30 . In this example, an aluminum alloy is used as the material for the heat transfer plate 20. Aluminum alloys have high thermal conductivity and are lightweight, making them suitable for the heat transfer plate 20. However, the material for the heat transfer plate 20 is not limited to an aluminum alloy, and other heat-conductive materials such as aluminum, copper, brass, etc. may also be used.

[0024] <4> Cooling pad (Figure 3) The cooling pad 30 is a member that has both a heat absorbing function for absorbing the body heat of the wearer and a conforming function for conforming to the shape of the back of the wearer. The cooling pad 30 is made of a flexible container 32 filled with a gel-like latent heat storage material 31 . The latent heat storage material 31 is a phase-change material (PCM) that absorbs body heat by utilizing latent heat generated when the phase changes. In this example, a paraffin-based phase change material is used as the latent heat storage material 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and organic phase change materials such as fatty acids and sugar alcohols, or inorganic phase change materials such as salt hydrates may also be used. The latent heat storage material 31 has a specific phase change temperature, which is the temperature at which it changes from a liquid phase to a solid phase, depending on the type of material. When used as a body cooling device 1, the phase change temperature of the latent heat storage material 31 is preferably within the range of 10 to 30°C. In this example, cooling pads 30 of multiple sizes are prepared, and the cooling pad 30 of the most suitable size is selected to fit the shape of the wearer's spine and placed on the heat transfer plate 20. Although the shape of the spine varies from wearer to wearer, in this example, the cooling pad 30 can be replaced with an appropriate size, ensuring close contact of the cooling pad 30 regardless of the wearer's body shape.

[0025] <4.1> Cooling time (Fig. 3) The cooling pad 30 has a specific cooling time T1 based on factors such as the type of material of the latent heat storage material 31, the volume of the latent heat storage material 31, the outside temperature, and the body temperature of the wearer. The cold storage time T1 is the duration of the temperature change suppression function during the phase change of the latent heat storage material 31, i.e., the time from when the latent heat storage material 31 begins to absorb body heat to when the phase change of the latent heat storage material 31 is completed and the temperature of the latent heat storage material 31 begins to rise. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the surface temperature and the cold storage time T1 for each thickness of the cooling pad 30. By knowing the cold storage time T1 of the cooling pad 30 in advance, it can be used to set the cooling cycle C by the control module 70, which will be described later.

[0026] <4.2> Cooling pad placement (Figure 4) In this example, cooling pads 30 are partially arranged on the heat transfer plate 20, and a cold storage area E1 covered with the cooling pads 30 and a cold release area E2 not covered with the cooling pads 30 are formed on the heat transfer plate 20. With this configuration, when the body cooling suit A is worn, the cooling pad 30 in the cold storage area E1 comes into contact with the wearer's back and directly cools the body, while the cold release area E2 maintains a gap between itself and the wearer's back, and the cold release area E2 cools the air inside the garment A1, thereby indirectly cooling the wearer's body. This eliminates discomfort caused by localized cooling and makes it possible to efficiently cool the wearer's body from the back and the outer periphery of the upper body. 3(a), the cooling pad 30 is elongated and arranged vertically through the center of the heat transfer plate 20, so that the cold release region E2 sandwiches the cold storage region E1. In this case, the cooling pad 30 corresponds to the extension direction of the wearer's spine, so the gel-like cooling pad 30 can be brought into close contact with the curvature of the spine and can follow changes in the wearer's posture. In FIG. 3(b), the cooling pad 30 is square-shaped, and is arranged on the outer periphery of the heat transfer plate 20, so that the cold dissipation region E2 is surrounded by the cold storage region E1. 3(c), the cooling pad 30 is elongated, and two cooling pads 30 are arranged vertically across the center of the heat transfer plate 20, thereby dividing the cold release region E2 into three by the cold storage region E1. In this case, the cooling pads 30 correspond to the extension direction of the wearer's spine, so the gel-like cooling pads 30 can be sandwiched between the spine from both sides and made to adhere closely to the spine. 3(d), the entire surface of the heat transfer plate 20 is covered with the cooling pad 30. In this case, the cold radiation area E2 is not provided.

[0027] <5> Heat Dissipation Module The heat exhaust module 40 is a module that exhausts heat generated from the heating surface 12 of the Peltier element 10 to the outside of the cooling module 1a. The heat dissipation module 40 is provided in the housing 50 on the rear side of the Peltier element 10 . The heat dissipation module 40 includes a heat sink 41 in contact with the heating surface 12 and a fan 42 disposed on the rear surface of the heat sink 41. The fan 42 is in electrical communication with the battery 60 and the control module 70 . When the Peltier element 10 is operated, the heat cooled (absorbed) by the cooling surface 11 and the heat equivalent to the power consumption are generated on the heating surface 12 side. In this example, by providing a heat exhaust module on the heating surface 12 side of the Peltier element 10, the heat on the heating surface 12 can be dissipated from the heat sink 41 to the fan 42 side and discharged to the outside of the garment A1 via the fan 42.

[0028] <6> Control Module The control module 70 is a module that controls the cooling by the Peltier element 10 . The control module 70 is electrically connected to the Peltier element 10, the heat dissipation module 40, and the battery 60. Here, "electrically connected" means that each component is connected so as to be electrically controllable by the control module 70, and includes a configuration in which the control module 70 is directly connected only to the battery 60 and indirectly connected to the Peltier element 10 and the heat dissipation module 40 via the battery 60. In this example, the control module 70 has a box structure including a circuit board, a power switch and a setting switch provided on the circuit board, and a power transmission cable electrically connected to the circuit board and extending to the outside. The control module 70 has at least a function of switching the cooling strength of the cooling surface 11 by the Peltier element 10. In detail, for example, by operating a setting switch of the control module 70, the amount of power transmitted from the battery 60 to the Peltier element 10 is controlled to switch the cooling strength of the cooling surface 11 between multiple stages. In this example, the control module 70 has a PWM control function based on the duty ratio, and controls the cooling cycle C of the cooling surface 11 and the drive of the fan 42 by operating a setting switch.

[0029] <6.1> Cooling cycle 1 The cooling cycle C is the time cycle required for cooling the cooling surface 11 of the Peltier element 10 . In this example, the cooling cycle C includes a repetition of a cooling time T2 and a cooling stop time T3. Specifically, the control module 70 controls the power transmission from the battery 60 based on a preset duty ratio, switches the power transmission to the Peltier element 10 at predetermined time intervals, and repeats the cooling time T2 and the cooling stop time T3. The cooling stop time T3 corresponds to the cold storage time T1 of the latent heat storage material 31. Here, "corresponding to the cold storage time" means that the cooling stop time T3 is set to be the same as the cold storage time T1 or within a close range within the cold storage time T1. The cooling pad 30 cooled by the Peltier element 10 maintains a constant low temperature for the cold storage time T1 after contact with the back of the wearer, and therefore does not need to be additionally cooled by the Peltier element 10. Therefore, the power supply to the Peltier element 10 is stopped during the cold storage time T1 to stop cooling of the cooling surface 11 (cooling stop time T3), and after the cold storage time T1 has ended, power is again supplied to the Peltier element 10 to cool the cooling surface 11 (cooling time T2), thereby reducing the power consumption of the battery 60.

[0030] <6.2> Cooling cycle 2 In this example, the cooling cycle C further includes a repetition of a strong cooling period T4 and a weak cooling period T5. Specifically, the control module 70 controls the power transmission from the battery 60 based on a preset duty ratio, switches the amount of power transmitted to the Peltier element 10 at predetermined time intervals, and repeats the strong cooling period T4 and the weak cooling period T5. The weak cooling time T5 corresponds to the cold storage time T1 of the latent heat storage material 31. During the cold storage time T1, the amount of power supplied to the Peltier element 10 is reduced to weaken the cooling of the cooling surface 11 (weak cooling time T5), and after the cold storage time T1 ends, the amount of power supplied to the Peltier element 10 is increased again to strengthen the cooling of the cooling surface 11 (strong cooling time T4), thereby reducing the power consumption of the battery 60.

[0031] <6.3> Fan control In this example, the control module 70 controls the operation of the fan 42 of the heat exhaust module 40 in accordance with the cooling cycle C. That is, the rotation speed of the fan 42 is increased during the cooling time T2 or the strong cooling time T4 in the cooling cycle C, and the rotation speed of the fan 42 is reduced or stopped during the cooling stop time T3 or the weak cooling time T5. In this way, by linking the fan 42 to the cooling cycle C of the Peltier element 10, the amount of power consumed by the battery 60 can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Body cooling device 1a Cooling module 10 Peltier element 11 Cooling surface 12 Heating surface 20 Heat transfer plate 30 Cooling Pads 31 Latent heat storage material 32 Flexible container 40 Heat dissipation module 41 Heat sink 42 Fans 50 Housing 51 Front housing 52 Rear housing 60 Battery 70 Control Module A Body cooling suit A1 Clothes C Cooling cycle E1 cold storage area E2 Cooling area T1 Cooling time T2 Cooling time T3 Cooling stop time T4 Strong cooling time T5 Weak cooling time

Claims

1. A body cooling device that can be attached to clothing, a Peltier element having a cooling surface and a heating surface; a heat transfer plate attached to the cooling surface; a cooling pad disposed on the heat transfer plate so as to be capable of exchanging heat with the cooling surface; a battery connected to the Peltier element so as to be able to supply power thereto; The cooling pad is made of a flexible container filled with a gel-like latent heat storage material (PCM). Body cooling device.

2. The heat transfer plate is provided with a cold storage area covered with the cooling pad and a cold release area not covered with the cooling pad. The body cooling device of claim 1 .

3. a control module; the control module is electrically connected to the Peltier element and the battery; The control module is configured to switch the cooling strength of the cooling surface by the Peltier element. The body cooling device of claim 1 .

4. The control module is configured to be able to control the cooling cycle of the cooling surface by the Peltier element.

4. The body cooling device of claim 3.

5. the cooling cycle comprises a repetition of a cooling period and a cooling stop period, The cooling stop time corresponds to the cooling time of the latent heat storage material, 5. The body cooling device of claim 4.

6. the cooling cycle comprises a repetition of a strong cooling period and a weak cooling period, The weak cooling time corresponds to the cooling time of the latent heat storage material, 5. The body cooling device of claim 4.

7. A fan is provided on the heating surface side, the fan is electrically connected to the battery and the control module; The fan is configured to be operable by the control module in accordance with the cooling cycle.

5. The body cooling device of claim 4.

8. The body cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is attached to clothing, The cooling pad is disposed in a position that contacts the back of the user. Body cooling clothing.

9. The cooling pad has an elongated shape, The cooling pad is arranged in a vertical direction passing through the center of the heat transfer plate, The cooling pad corresponds to the position of the user's spine.

9. The body cooling garment according to claim 8.

10. The cooling pad is replaceably installed on the heat transfer plate; The cooling pad is selectable from a plurality of sizes corresponding to the shape of the user's spine.

9. The body cooling garment according to claim 8.

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