Body cooling device and body cooling garment

Abstract

To provide a body cooling device and a body cooling garment that effectively reduce the adverse effects on the body in high-temperature environments and allow the wearer to maintain a feeling of coolness for an extended period of time.SOLUTION: A body cooling device 1 includes: a cooling module 10 that cools the wearer's body; a control module 20 that controls the operation of the cooling module 10 based on a cooling pattern C; and a body temperature acquisition module 30 that acquires the wearer's body temperature information E. The cooling pattern C consists of a periodic cycle of a strong cooling time Ts at a strong cooling output Ps and a weak cooling time Tw at a weak cooling output Pw. The control module 20 is configured such that, based on feedback from the body temperature information E, at least one of the strong cooling output Ps, weak cooling output Pw, strong cooling time Ts, or weak cooling time Tw can be corrected in real time. A body cooling garment A is formed by attaching the body cooling device 1 to a garment A1 and the cooling module 10 is positioned corresponding to the back of the wearer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a body cooling device and body cooling clothing, and more particularly to a body cooling device and body cooling clothing that can effectively reduce adverse effects on the body in high temperature environments and keep the wearer feeling cool for a long period of time. [Background technology]

[0002] At construction sites where workers must work outdoors in scorching heat or indoors in hot and humid environments, and at manufacturing sites that handle high-heat equipment such as steel mills and steel manufacturers, cooling clothing is used to cool the workers' bodies and reduce physical discomfort caused by high temperatures. Patent Document 1 discloses a fan-type body cooling garment that has a clothing fan attachment hole provided at the bottom of the back of the garment and an airway that can transport air blown from the clothing fan to the area near the neck.Patent Document 2 discloses a Peltier element-type body cooling garment that has a Peltier element unit, a mobile battery, and an insertion hole for attaching the Peltier element unit so that it is in close contact with the wearer's body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-151940 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-92711 [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 December 14, 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 fan-type body cooling suit of Patent Document 1 has the following problems. <1> In extremely hot environments, the cooling effect is low because hot air is circulated inside the clothing, and recent research has confirmed that air circulation alone does not provide a cooling effect that is effective enough to affect core body temperature (Non-Patent Document 1). <2> Allowing air to circulate inside the clothing causes it to inflate like a balloon, making it difficult to work with. <3> When wearing a full-body safety harness, which is mandatory for working at heights, the clothing is tightened by the harness, restricting air circulation inside the clothing. <4> It cannot be used in locations where there is a lot of dust or dirt, as there is a risk that the dirt or particles may be absorbed into clothing.

[0006] The Peltier element type body cooling suit of Patent Document 2 has the following problems. <1> While it is important to understand the wearer's body temperature information in order to prevent heatstroke, the device does not take into account changes in the wearer's body temperature, and therefore cannot effectively reduce illness caused by high temperatures. <2> Because the cooling intensity is constant for each mode, even if the body is actually cooled, the brain becomes accustomed to the sensory information (coldness), and the sensation of coolness disappears in a short period of time. <3> Because they consume more power than fan-type coolers, in order to use them continuously for the entire working time, it is necessary to either make the device smaller and sacrifice cooling capacity, or to increase the size of the battery, making them less practical.

[0007] 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]

[0008] The body cooling device of the present invention comprises a cooling module that cools the wearer's body, a control module that controls the operation of the cooling module based on a cooling pattern, and a body temperature acquisition module that acquires the wearer's body temperature information, wherein the cooling pattern consists of a periodic cycle of strong cooling time with strong cooling output and weak cooling time with weak cooling output, and the control module is configured to be able to correct at least one of the strong cooling output, weak cooling output, strong cooling time, and weak cooling time in real time based on feedback of the body temperature information.

[0009] The body cooling device of the present invention may have a cooling pattern in which, in comparing the cooling of the epidermis of the human body with the change pattern of internal body temperature, the maximum temperature difference of the internal body temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and the time during which the internal body temperature exceeds the average body temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined time.

[0010] In the body cooling device of the present invention, the cooling pattern may be selected from a plurality of patterns generated in a simulation.

[0011] In the body cooling device of the present invention, the control module may use machine learning to correct at least one of the strong cooling output, the weak cooling output, the strong cooling time, and the weak cooling time.

[0012] The body cooling device of the present invention may be a deep learning device in which the machine learning associates cooling patterns with body temperature information to construct a trained model.

[0013] The body cooling device of the present invention may be configured with a combination of multiple outputs in which the strong cooling output and / or weak cooling output increases or decreases in stages.

[0014] The body cooling suit of the present invention is characterized in that a body cooling device is attached to the suit, and the cooling module is disposed at a position corresponding to the back of the wearer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The body cooling device and body cooling suit of the present invention have at least one of the following effects due to the above-mentioned configuration. <1> The wearer's body is cooled in a periodic cycle of strong and weak cooling periods, preventing the wearer from becoming acclimatized to the cold, and allowing the cool sensation to be maintained for a long period of time. <2> By obtaining the wearer's body temperature information in real time and feeding it back to the cooling pattern, it is possible to effectively suppress the rise in the wearer's core body temperature and reduce the adverse effects on the body in high temperature environments. <3> By repeating periods of strong cooling and periods of weak cooling with less power consumption, the battery power consumption can be significantly reduced, allowing the unit to operate continuously for long periods of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] Body cooling device illustration [Figure 2] Body cooling suit illustration [Figure 3] Illustration of Peltier element, cooling plate, and heat dissipation unit [Figure 4] Illustrative diagram of optimized cooling patterns [Figure 5] Cooling pattern simulation diagram [Figure 6] Explanatory diagram of Example 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] 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 face," "vertical," and other directional terms refer to the direction in front of the wearer when wearing the body cooling suit, the direction behind the wearer being "front" and the direction behind the wearer being "back" and the direction vertical to the wearer being "vertical." [Example]

[0018] <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 includes at least a cooling module 10, a control module 20, and a body temperature acquisition module 30, and is connected to a battery B when used. The control module 20 is electrically connected to the cooling module 10, the body temperature acquisition module 30, and the battery B. One feature of the body cooling device 1 of the present invention is that the control module 20 can correct the cooling by the cooling module 10 in real time based on feedback of body temperature information E of the wearer.

[0019] <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 plate 12 of the cooling module 10 arranged inside the suit A1 at a position that comes into contact with the back of the wearer. Here, "coming into contact with the back of the wearer" does not necessarily mean that the cooling plate 12 comes into direct contact with the back of the wearer, but also includes indirect contact via the lining of the suit A1 or the like. In this example, a mesh vest is used as the garment A1, with a cooling module 10 and a body temperature acquisition module 30 installed inside the upper back, and a control module 20 and a battery B installed on each side of the torso, which are connected by wiring inside the garment A1. The cooling module 10 and the like can be attached to the clothing A1 by using snap buttons, by adhesion, by sewing into the fabric, or the like. 1 and 2, the body temperature acquisition module 30 is shown separated from the cooling module 10, but in this example, the body temperature acquisition module 30 is incorporated into the cooling module 10 as an integral part. However, the clothing A1 is not limited to a vest, and may be a jumper-type work suit, a jacket, 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 plate 12 to be attached to the back of the wearer.

[0020] <2> Cooling Module The cooling module 10 is a device that cools the body of a person wearing the garment A1. In this example, the cooling module 10 comprises a Peltier element 11, a cooling plate 12 attached to the cooling surface 11a of the Peltier element 11, a heat exhaust unit 13 provided on the heating surface 11b side of the Peltier element 11, and a housing 14. In detail, the Peltier element 11, the cooling plate 12, and the heat dissipation unit 13 are housed in the housing 14 (front housing 14a and rear housing 14b), and the power cords of the Peltier element 11 and the heat dissipation unit 13 are extended outside the housing 14 and electrically connected to the control module 20 and the battery B.

[0021] <2.1> Peltier element (Figure 3) The Peltier element 11 is a member that generates a temperature difference between both sides of the element by the Peltier effect. The Peltier element 11 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 11 has a cooling surface 11a that absorbs heat (cools) when a direct current is applied, and a heating surface 11b that generates heat (heats). Here, the terms "cooling surface" and "heating surface" refer to surfaces that cool and heat, respectively, when a current is applied in one direction, but it goes without saying that reversing the current reverses their functions. The structure of the Peltier element 11 and the Peltier effect are well known and will not be described in detail here.

[0022] <2.2> Cooling plate (Fig. 3) The cooling plate 12 is a member that absorbs the body heat of the wearer. In this example, the cooling plate 12 is a combination of a heat transfer plate 12a that comes into contact with the cooling surface 11a of the Peltier element 11 and a cooling pad 12b that is disposed in front of the heat transfer plate 12a. In this example, an aluminum alloy is used as the material for the heat transfer plate 12a, which has high thermal conductivity and is lightweight, making it suitable for the heat transfer plate 12a. The cooling pad 12b is made of a gel-like paraffin-based latent heat storage material, which is a phase-change material (PCM) that absorbs body heat by utilizing latent heat generated when the phase changes. However, the materials of the heat transfer plate 12a and the cooling pad 12b are not limited to these, and for example, the heat transfer plate 12a may be made of other heat-conductive materials such as aluminum, copper, brass, etc. The cooling pad 12b may be made of an organic phase-change material such as a fatty acid or sugar alcohol, or an inorganic phase-change material such as a salt hydrate.

[0023] <2.3> Heat exhaust unit (Fig. 3) The heat exhaust unit 13 is a unit that exhausts heat generated from the heating surface 11b of the Peltier element 11 to the outside of the cooling module . The heat exhaust unit 13 is provided in the housing 14 on the rear side of the Peltier element 11 . The heat exhaust unit 13 includes a heat sink 13a in contact with the heating surface 11b, and a fan 13b disposed on the rear surface of the heat sink 13a. The fan 13b is electrically connected to the battery B and the control module 20. When the Peltier element 11 is operated, heat cooled (absorbed) by the cooling surface 11a and heat equivalent to the power consumption are generated on the heating surface 11b side. By providing a heat exhaust module on the heating surface 11b side of the Peltier element 11, the heat on the heating surface 11b can be dissipated from the heat sink 13a to the fan 13b side and discharged to the outside of the garment A1 via the fan 13b.

[0024] <3> Control Module The control module 20 is a module that controls the cooling by the Peltier element 11 . In this example, the control module 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the cooling module 10 based on the cooling pattern C, a memory unit 22 that stores the cooling pattern C, and a calculation unit 23 that calculates a correction value for the cooling pattern C. The control module 20 is electrically connected to the Peltier element 11, the heat dissipation unit 13, and the battery B. Here, "electrically connected" means that each component is connected so as to be electrically controllable by the control module 20, and includes a configuration in which the control module 20 is directly connected only to the battery B and indirectly connected to the Peltier element 11 and the heat dissipation unit 13 via the battery B. In this example, the control module 20 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.

[0025] <3.1> Cooling pattern Cooling pattern C is a pattern in which the cooling strength of cooling module 10 is switched at regular intervals. The cooling pattern C is composed of a repetition of a strong cooling time Ts during which the cooling surface 11a is cooled with a strong cooling output Ps and a weak cooling time Tw during which the cooling surface 11a is cooled with a weak cooling output Pw. The strong cooling output Ps and the weak cooling output Pw can be set between 100% and 0% of the maximum output [A] of the Peltier element 11. Cooling pattern C is realized, for example, by PWM (pulse width modulation) of control module 20. In detail, power transmission from battery B to cooling module 10 is controlled based on a preset duty ratio, and output to Peltier element 11 is switched between strong cooling output Ps and weak cooling output Pw at predetermined time intervals, repeating strong cooling time Ts and weak cooling time Tw. Here, the "output" in weak cooling output Pw is a convenient notation and includes 0% output (i.e., no output). In conventional body cooling devices, the cooling intensity of the cooling module is constant, so even if the skin temperature and internal temperature of the body actually drop, the brain becomes acclimatized to the sensory information (coldness), and the feeling of coolness cannot be sustained. In contrast, in the body cooling device 1 of the present invention, the control module 20 switches the output of the cooling module 10 at regular intervals based on the cooling pattern C, thereby preventing acclimatization of the brain and allowing the cooling sensation to last for a long period of time.

[0026] <3.2> Optimization of cooling pattern In this example, in order to reduce discomfort caused by high temperatures while providing the wearer with a greater and longer-lasting sense of coolness, cooling pattern C is optimized using the maximum temperature difference between the internal body temperature and the time the body temperature exceeds the temperature. Here, "internal body temperature" is preferably the core body temperature of the human body, but may also be subcutaneous body temperature. Furthermore, "over-body temperature time" refers to the total time during which the internal body temperature exceeds the average body temperature within a given period of time, and a long over-body temperature time can cause a loss of cooling sensation. Here, "average body temperature" refers to a constant temperature set at approximately 36.5°C. (1) It is not the surface skin temperature but the internal body temperature that is directly related to the occurrence of physical discomfort and feeling cool due to high temperatures. Therefore, in order to effectively reduce the adverse effects of high temperatures on the body, it is necessary to sufficiently lower the internal body temperature, and in order to maintain the feeling of coolness, it is necessary to increase the temperature difference between the internal body temperatures. Furthermore, in a demonstration experiment in which body cooling suit A was worn, the temperature of the cooling surface 11a of the Peltier element 11 (≒skin temperature) and the internal body temperature of the wearer directly below the cooling surface 11 were linked in cooling pattern C, and a correlation was found between the two (Figure 4). Therefore, it is desirable that the temperature difference D between strong and weak (strong cooling output Ps-weak cooling output Pw) in the cooling pattern C is a temperature difference D that can ensure that the maximum temperature difference in the internal body temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. (2) On the other hand, if the weak cooling output Pw is reduced and / or the weak cooling time Tw is extended in order to increase the temperature difference D, the time during which the body temperature exceeds the body temperature becomes longer, and the wearer loses the feeling of coolness. Therefore, it is desirable that the weak cooling output Pw and weak cooling time Tw in the cooling pattern C are an output and time that do not impair the cool feeling of the wearer. (3) From (1) and (2) above, it is desirable that the cooling pattern C has a temperature difference D between the strong cooling output Ps and the weak cooling output Pw such that the average temperature difference of the corresponding internal body temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and that the weak cooling output Pw and the weak cooling time Tw are within a range that does not impair the wearer's sense of coolness.

[0027] <3.3> Simulation In this example, a simulation program is used to select an effective cooling pattern C through simulation from a plurality of cooling patterns C generated using a human body model. In detail, the maximum internal body temperature difference [deg] and body temperature exceedance time [min] are calculated from multiple cooling patterns C (combinations of strong cooling output [%], weak cooling output [%], strong cooling time [min], and weak cooling time [min]) randomly allocated within a predetermined threshold, by setting factors such as the heat capacity of the human body, the heat capacity of clothing, the cooling module drive system, control system, and battery capacity. In addition, the battery life [h], etc. may also be calculated. The calculated cooling patterns C are plotted on two axes: maximum internal body temperature difference and time over body temperature (Figure 5), and the cooling patterns C that fall within a certain range, with the lower limit of the maximum internal body temperature difference and the upper limit of time over body temperature set as thresholds, are identified as effective cooling patterns C. From among these multiple cooling patterns C, an appropriate cooling pattern C that is suited to the environment in which the body cooling device 1 is used, etc., is selected and stored in the memory unit 22 of the control module 20. For example, battery life can be given priority, and the cooling pattern C with the longest battery life can be selected from among the multiple cooling patterns C.

[0028] <3.4> Fan control In this example, the control module 20 controls the operation of the fan 13b of the heat exhaust unit 13 in accordance with the cooling pattern C. Specifically, the rotation speed of the fan 13b is increased during the strong cooling time Ts in the cooling pattern C, and the rotation speed of the fan 13b is reduced or stopped during the weak cooling time Tw. In this way, by linking the fan 13b with the cooling pattern C of the Peltier element 11, the amount of power consumed by the battery B can be reduced.

[0029] <4> Body Temperature Acquisition Module The body temperature acquisition module 30 is a device that acquires the body temperature of the person wearing the garment A1. In this example, the body temperature acquisition module 30 is a digital temperature sensor that integrates a sensor unit 31 that measures body temperature, a logger unit 32 that digitally converts the body temperature measured by the sensor unit 31 to generate body temperature information E, and a wired or wireless transmission unit 33 that transmits the body temperature information E to the control module 20. The sensor unit 31 is installed in the cooling module 10 and acquires body temperature information E of the person wearing the clothing A1. The body temperature information E is preferably the internal body temperature of the wearer, but may also be skin temperature. The sensor unit 31 is not limited to being integrated into the cooling module 10, but may be separated from the cooling module 10 and installed inside the clothing A1 or on the wearer's wrist, for example.

[0030] <5> Cooling pattern control One feature of the body cooling device 1 of the present invention is that the control module 20 corrects the parameters of the cooling pattern C in real time based on feedback of body temperature information E of the wearer. The correction parameters of the cooling pattern C include at least one of strong cooling output Ps, weak cooling output Pw, strong cooling time Ts, and weak cooling time Tw, and preferably a combination of two or more of them. There are several methods for correcting the cooling pattern C based on feedback of the body temperature information E, and specific examples include the following methods. Matrix data of strong cooling time Ts x weak cooling time Tw is provided for each combination of strong cooling output Ps [%] and weak cooling output Pw [%]. The cells of the matrix data record actual or simulated body temperature data for the combination of strong cooling time Ts and weak cooling time Tw. The body temperature data consists of body temperature, average body temperature, maximum body temperature, minimum body temperature, maximum temperature difference, or a combination of these. The body temperature is preferably internal body temperature, but may also be skin temperature. The plurality of matrix data thus configured are stored in the storage unit 22. When the cooling module 10 of the body cooling device 1 is operated, for example, if the body temperature information E of the wearer during the strong cooling time Ts is higher than the body temperature in the matrix data by a predetermined value or more, the calculation unit 23 of the control module 20 determines that the current strong cooling output Ps is insufficient and corrects the cooling pattern C to increase the strong cooling output Ps. Alternatively, the strong cooling time Ts may be corrected to be longer rather than the strong cooling output Ps. Conversely, if the wearer's body temperature information E during the weak cooling time Tw is lower than the body temperature in the matrix data by a predetermined value or more, the calculation unit 23 of the control module 20 determines that the current weak cooling output Pw is too high and corrects the cooling pattern C to reduce the weak cooling output Pw. Alternatively, the weak cooling time Tw may be corrected to be longer rather than the weak cooling output Pw. However, the method of correcting the cooling pattern C is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, a method in which, when the wearer's body temperature in the body temperature information E exceeds a threshold, the strong cooling output Ps is simply corrected to a larger value, or the strong cooling time Ts is corrected to a longer value, in order to lower the body temperature.

[0031] <5.1> Use of machine learning In this example, the calculation unit 23 of the control module 20 corrects at least one of the strong cooling output Ps, weak cooling output Pw, strong cooling time Ts, and weak cooling time Tw in real time based on machine learning using the correspondence data between the cooling pattern C and the body temperature information E as learning data. Specifically, for example, body temperature information E and a number of cooling patterns C with different parameters are prepared, and the body temperature information E after applying each cooling pattern C is added as correct data to generate training data, which are then accumulated to form a training dataset. Next, the training dataset is trained on a training server based on a known machine learning algorithm to obtain trained parameters and a trained model. In this example, the calculation unit 23 applies the learned model to the body temperature information E acquired from the body temperature acquisition module 30, thereby correcting the cooling pattern C to parameters that are optimal for the wearer's current body temperature information E. For the machine learning in the present invention, various known techniques such as deep learning, support vector machine (SVM), decision tree, and clustering can be used.

[0032] [Example of stepwise cooling] In the first embodiment, the cooling pattern C has two stages, a strong cooling output Ps and a weak cooling output Pw, but in this embodiment, this is set in stages. In detail, for example, the strong cooling output Ps is gradually decreased in 10% increments from 100% to four levels: 100%, 90%, 80%, and 70%. In this example, the amount of power consumption can be reduced and the battery life can be extended compared to when only the strong cooling output Ps is 100% for the same strong cooling time Ts (Fig. 6). The stepwise cooling is not limited to gradually decreasing the strong cooling output Ps, but may be performed by gradually increasing the strong cooling output Ps, gradually decreasing the weak cooling output Pw, and / or gradually increasing the weak cooling output Pw. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Body cooling device 10 Cooling Module 11 Peltier element 11a Cooling surface 11b Heating surface 12 Cooling plate 12a Heat transfer plate 12b Cooling pad 13 Heat dissipation unit 13a heat sink 13b Fan 14 Housing 14a Front housing 14b Rear housing 20 Control Module 21 Control Unit 22 Memory section 23 Arithmetic section 30 Body Temperature Acquisition Module 31 Sensor section 32 Logger Section 33 Transmitter A Body cooling suit A1 Clothes B Battery C Cooling Pattern D temperature difference E. Body temperature information M trained models Ps Strong cooling output Pw Weak cooling output Ts Strong cooling time Tw Weak cooling time

Claims

1. A body cooling device that can be attached to clothing, a cooling module that cools the wearer's body; a control module that controls operation of the cooling module based on a cooling pattern; a body temperature acquisition module that acquires body temperature information of the wearer, The cooling pattern comprises a periodic cycle of strong cooling time by strong cooling output and weak cooling time by weak cooling output, The control module is configured to be able to correct at least one of the strong cooling output, the weak cooling output, the strong cooling time, and the weak cooling time in real time based on feedback of the body temperature information. Body cooling device.

2. The cooling pattern is characterized in that, in comparing the cooling of the human body's epidermis with the change pattern of the internal body temperature, the maximum temperature difference of the internal body temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and the time during which the internal body temperature exceeds the average body temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined time. The body cooling device of claim 1 .

3. The cooling pattern is selected from a plurality of patterns generated through simulation.

3. The body cooling device of claim 2.

4. The control module uses machine learning to correct at least one of the strong cooling output, the weak cooling output, the strong cooling time, and the weak cooling time. The body cooling device of claim 1 .

5. The machine learning is deep learning that associates the cooling pattern with the body temperature information to construct a trained model.

5. The body cooling device of claim 4.

6. The strong cooling output and / or the weak cooling output are a combination of a plurality of outputs that are gradually increased or decreased. The body cooling device of claim 1 .

7. The body cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is attached to clothing, The cooling module is disposed at a position corresponding to the back of the wearer. Body cooling suit.

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