1633 results about "Cold weather" patented technology

An apparatus and method for metabolic cooling and insulation of a user in a cold environment. In its preferred embodiment the apparatus is a highly flexible composite material having a flexible matrix containing a phase change thermal storage material. The apparatus can be made to heat or cool the body or to act as a thermal buffer to protect the wearer from changing environmental conditions. The apparatus may also include an external thermal insulation layer and/or an internal thermal control layer to regulate the rate of heat exchange between the composite and the skin of the wearer. Other embodiments of the apparatus also provide 1) a path for evaporation or direct absorption of perspiration from the skin of the wearer for improved comfort and thermal control, 2) heat conductive pathways within the material for thermal equalization, 3) surface treatments for improved absorption or rejection of heat by the material, and 4) means for quickly regenerating the thermal storage capacity for reuse of the material. Applications of the composite materials are also described which take advantage of the composite's thermal characteristics. The examples described include a diver's wet suit, ski boot liners, thermal socks, gloves and a face mask for cold weather activities, and a metabolic heating or cooling blanket useful for treating hypothermia or fever patients in a medical setting and therapeutic heating or cooling orthopedic joint supports.

The present invention relates to breathable, vented, and insulating cold weather garments. More particularly, the present invention relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Perforations along the seams between the insulating chambers may achieve optimal evaporative moisture transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment.

A thermoregulated recreational garment includes a front pouch with side entry openings for warming or resting the hands therein during periods of inactivity, a front pocket located behind the front pouch, and two side ventilation openings. The two side ventilation openings are adapted for quick venting and cooling of the body, typically after periods of strenuous activity when a lot of body heat is built up inside the garment. The torso section also can include long sleeves with extended cuffs and thumb holes to allow the user to slide their thumbs therethrough so that the cuffs cover the user's wrists during cold weather outdoor activities. The front pocket is adapted to hold an audio device, and typically an opening such as a grommet or eyelet is fitted through the back wall of the front pocket to provide access for headphone wires. The front pocket is sized adequately so excess wire length can be carried within it, thereby avoiding tangling, even during periods of heavy exercise and rapid arm movements, such as during skiing or snowboarding.

A system for managing a concrete delivery vehicle having a mixing drum 14 and hydraulic drive 16 for rotating the mixing drum, including a rotational sensor 20 configured to sense a rotational speed of the mixing drum, a hydraulic sensor 22 coupled to the hydraulic drive and configured to sense a hydraulic pressure required to turn the mixing drum, a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the drum, and a communications port 26 configured to communicate a slump calculation to a status system 28 commonly used in the concrete industry, wherein the sensing of the rotational speed of the mixing drum is used to qualify a calculation of current slump based on the hydraulic pressure required to turn the mixing drum. Temperature readings are further used to qualify or evaluate a load. Also, water purge connections facilitate cold weather operation.

A recuperated gas turbine engine system and associated method employing catalytic combustion, wherein the combustor inlet temperature can be controlled to remain above the minimum required catalyst operating temperature at a wide range of operating conditions from full-load to part-load and from hot-day to cold-day conditions. The fuel is passed through the compressor along with the air and a portion of the exhaust gases from the turbine. The recirculated exhaust gas flow rate is controlled to control combustor inlet temperature.

A split liquid desiccant air conditioning system is disclosed for treating an air stream flowing into a space in a building. The split liquid desiccant air-conditioning system is switchable between operating in a warm weather operation mode and a cold weather operation mode.

An infrared imaging device combines two sensors, each sensor sensitive to a different spectral range of infrared radiation. Both sensors are combined in a single camera sharing one of three common optical apertures, thus parallax is eliminated between the sensors. Further, a display device is aligned along an optical axis in common with the camera eliminating parallax between the display and camera. Images from the first sensor, the second sensor, or both sensors may be viewed optically and/or electronically. The device is handheld, or mountable on a headgear such as a helmet. When mounted on headgear, the display is viewable by directing the operator's gaze upward, thus the display does not interfere with an operator's straight and downward sight. The image can be sent to a remote display by a wireless transceiver, and waterproof, fireproof, vibration/impact resistance, and hot/cold weather resistance are achieved using a high strength plastic enclosure with foam insert.

The present invention is directed to a multifunctional waterproof/vapor barrier fabric for use in industrial, medical, outdoor apparel (hunting, fishing, skiing, mountaineering, etc.) and military applications. The invention combines functional elements that are especially suited for the above applications. The fabric comprises a lining with wicking and antimicrobial properties, a vapor barrier film or coating with low Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (M.V.T.R.), and a woven or knit face fabric enhanced with a hydrophobic face coating. The fabric performs admirably in various uses due in part to the use of hydrophobic adhesive, film and coatings, which renders the fabric subject to negligible moisture gain. The durability and water proof properties of the fabric are enhanced due to the impermeable low M.V.T.R design. The fabric of the present invention incorporates a unique combination of properties that addresses issues commonly associated with vapor barrier fabrics. The invention provides a waterproof/barrier fabric that is desirable to wear in direct contact with the skin to prevent evaporative heat loss in cool or cold conditions. The fabric is also effective when worn over one or more layers of other clothing. The fabric is particularly effective because it is capable of use as a base layer and waterproof shell, which helps to minimize the number of layers of clothing needed in cold weather.

A system for supplying electrical power for use when the vehicle engine is shut down and configurations of long-haul trucks employing the system are disclosed. The power system is a battery bank contained within an insulated enclosure. The batteries are heated when the truck is in operation with the insulated enclosure maintaining battery temperature sufficient to provide high battery power capacity for an extended period after the vehicle is shut down. A large capacitor, rather than the batteries, provides current for starting the vehicle engine. A dc-to-dc converter controls the fully charged capacitor voltage and provides capacitor charging current even when the batteries have been discharged to a low-voltage condition. The disclosed long-haul truck configurations include a storage cooler that employs a phase-change medium that is thermally charged to a low temperature while the truck is in operation and is used to provide sleeper unit cooling air. Additional provision is made for heating the sleeper unit and for powering a coolant heater that can warm the truck engine block and truck fuel when the engine is shut down during cold weather.

In cold weather, the higher torque required for normal spinning operation of a spindle motor assembly in a direct access storage device due to the increased viscosity of the grease, is overcome by localizing the heating to the spindle motor assembly to reduce the viscosity of the grease, and then let a disk driven self heat during and after spin-up of the spindle motor assembly.

A low velocity air burst munition and launcher system allows the user to program the munition to detonate in the air at a specified range from the muzzle. The system further allows the munition to detonate upon impact or self-destruct if the target is missed. The system allows the user to program and reset the munition multiple times, and allows the user to perform this operation at night in cold weather conditions. The system requires the user to manually input the range into a fuze programming device prior to projectile launch. The fuze programming device is capable of direct interface with electronic range determining devices. The system employs electrical contacts in the chamber of the munition launcher barrel and on the projectile body to complete the circuit used for programming. Furthermore, this system is capable of integrating a magnetic induction method of programming.

An inexpensive, lightweight, reusable and detachable or removable insulation device for residential and commercial dwellings and similar heated structures. The device has an inner-portion insulating pad adapted to fit inside of a typical entrance or window unit framing. The device further has an outer-portion insulating pad adapted to overlap the window or entrance framing. The outer-portion insulating pad is provided fasteners so as to be secured to the building wall structure outside of the framing and surrounding the window or entrance framing by. During cold weather months, the present invention will greatly restrict warm air from escaping between small crevices in inept window systems by fitting firmly into window framing using a insulating material, thus creating a thermal barrier and improving the efficiency of the furnace by reducing the demand for electricity or fuel consumption.

Low-cost, semi-permanent rigid-wall modular longhouse-type, peaked-roof structures, stadium-shaped (in plan view), made of light-weight, water-proof cellular extruded plastic sheet material die cut into blanks that are easily portable, quickly field erectable and dismountable by unskilled workers for a wide variety of uses. Two semi-circular end portions are spaced apart and joined by multiple segments of straight wall and roof modules, the length depending only on the number of intermediate segments. Blanks are easily folded on site into double-walled, bolt-together, modular wall and roof panels. Only four basic panel configurations are needed to form all structural elements. Multiple modular structures may be grouped to form larger compound structures with individual ones assigned to individual persons or dedicated work space usages: disaster shelters, sleeping, gathering, storage, hygiene, medical treatment, schooling, entertainment, goods manufacture, cooking, eating, herding, etc. Double-wall modules provide inter-stitial space for cold-weather insulation and passive ventilation in hot environments.

A tricycle is driven by an electric motor supplied by batteries recharged by solar panels. Electric braking is used. The batteries and a battery charger are enclosed in a thermally insulated compartment and the batteries are kept warm in cold weather by the heat produced by the battery charger and by electric braking. The solar panels are mounted on the roof of the passenger cabin and/or on the insulated compartment and are oriented towards the sun by a stepper motor.

Cold weather garments include one or more zones with increased thermally insulative and/or thermally resistive properties. Such garments reflect different gender needs. Such garments can allow wearers to maintain a necessary or desired degree of warmth with decreased garment weight and bulk. Methods of making such garments also are described.

The invention provides a high-intensity and high-toughness X70 thick-walled seamless pipeline steel. The steel comprises the following elements, in weight percentage: 0.04 to 0.12 percent of C, 0.17 to 0.35 percent of Si, 1.20 to 1.60 percent of Mn, 0.015 percent or less than 0.015 percent of P, 0.010 percent or less than 0.010 percent of S, 0.10 to 0.30 percent or less than 0.10 to 0.30 percent of Mo, 0.005 to 0.045 percent of Al, 0.02 to 0.06 percent of Nb, 0.02 to 0.10 percent of V, 0.10 to 0.25 percent of Cu, 0.10 to 0.30 percent of Ni, 0.010 to 0.030 percent of Ti, 0.20 percent or less than 0.20 percent of Cr, 0.43 percent or less than 0.43 percent of CE, 0.22 percent or less than 0.22 percent of Pcm, balance iron and trace impurity element. The invention also provides a seamless pipeline steel rolling and manufacturing method. The invention has the advantages that micro-alloy steel is adopted, the seamless pipeline steel is suitable for the production of the thick-walled pipeline with the wall thickness of less than 36 mm, the overall structure of the pipe adopts an even Bainite structure, the carbon equivalent is low, the welding performance is good, the impact performance at low temperature is good, the requirements of the thick-walled pipeline used in deep sea and under other cold weather are satisfied, the mechanical property of the pipeline is enhanced, the steel hardness penetration when in water quenching is improved, and the difficult problem of thick-walled pipe machining by a chamfering machine is solved.

A cold-weather apparel item configured to promote breathability, provide warmth, and minimize distractions is provided herein. The cold-weather apparel item is formed from a composite fabric that is breathable and repels water. The cold-weather apparel item further comprises at least a hood lock cord system that maintains the hood of the apparel item in a secure position while not being used, inflow air ducts and outflow air ducts to provide ventilation, and a layered thumbhole assembly with overlapping panels that fits snugly around a wearer's thumbs when used.

An integrated ensemble for personal protection and comfort. The integrated ensemble may generally include one or more multifunctional layers. Each layer may include functionality directed to provision of specific types of protection and/or personal comfort. A liner may be generally capable of providing immersion protection, cooling, and cold weather protection. A shell may be designed for wear in cooperation with the liner. The shell may be capable of providing protection against flame, acceleration, and other environmental factors, as well as providing cooling and gear carriage. The disclosed integrated ensembles are generally low-bulk to facilitate movement.

People can damage their medicines by taking them outside in hot or cold weather. On the other hand, some people need to carry their medicines with them wherever they go (even if the weather is extremely hot or cold). Specially constructed storage systems can protect medicines from damage due to hot and cold weather without requiring bulky structures or expensive components that consume electricity to regulate temperature.