Climate-Controlled Bed Airflow Layout for Uniform Surface Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing climate control systems fail to provide individualized and efficient temperature modification for beds, leading to discomfort due to uneven heating or cooling, especially in poorly ventilated environments.
Innovation Solution
A climate-controlled bed design featuring a core with passageways, fluid distribution members, comfort layers, and fluid modules that include thermoelectric devices for selective heating or cooling, allowing for targeted temperature regulation and improved comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional ambient air conditioning is used to cool a bed in a hot environment, then the overall room temperature is reduced, but the bed occupant's back and pressure points remain sweaty due to uneven cooling distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The bed is divided into multiple independent cooling zones with separate air distribution channels, allowing different regions (head, torso, legs, pressure points) to be cooled independently. This segmentation enables targeted cooling at specific contact points while maintaining overall thermal comfort, resolving the uneven cooling distribution problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides differentiated thermal conditions at different locations on the bed surface by adjusting airflow parameters, temperature, and timing for each zone. High-contact areas receive enhanced cooling while low-contact areas receive appropriate ambient cooling, achieving uniform comfort across the entire bed surface.
2Temperature
If heating units are used to warm a bed in winter, then the indoor space heating is provided, but the bed takes too long to warm up quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones that can operate simultaneously, each with its own air supply channel. This allows the entire bed surface to be warmed in parallel rather than sequentially, significantly reducing the time required to achieve comfortable bed surface temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-heats air in dedicated channels before delivering it to the bed surface, and can pre-heat the bed structure itself before occupancy. This preliminary thermal preparation reduces the time needed to reach optimal sleeping temperature once the occupant is in the bed.
3Temperature
If fluid distribution members with spacers are added to improve fluid distribution, then thermal uniformity is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses flexible spacer fabrics and thin film distribution layers that are integrated into the bed mattress structure. These thin, flexible components distribute fluid uniformly across the bed surface without requiring rigid piping or complex mechanical structures, maintaining simplicity while achieving excellent thermal uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid distribution members incorporate porous materials such as spacer fabrics with controlled pore structures that allow uniform fluid distribution through capillary action and pressure gradients. This passive distribution mechanism eliminates the need for active pumping or complex valve systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining thermal uniformity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides uniform thermal coverage and enhanced comfort by efficiently distributing conditioned air or fluids to specific areas of the bed, addressing the issue of uneven heating or cooling and improving occupant comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid module includes a fluid transfer device and a thermoelectric device for selectively thermally conditioning fluids being transferred by the fluid transfer device
Implementation Method 2
The fluid distribution member includes one or more spacers and is configured to distribute fluid within the fluid distribution member
Implementation Method 3
The core includes at least one passageway extending from the top core surface to the bottom core surface
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain arrangements, a climate controlled bed includes an upper portion comprising a core with a top core surface and a bottom core surface. The core includes at least one passageway extending from the top core surface to the bottom core surface. The upper portion of the bed further includes at least one fluid distribution member positioned above the core, wherein the fluid distribution member is in fluid communication with at least one passageway of the core. The fluid distribution member is configured to at least partially distribute fluid within said fluid distribution member.