Coffin Cold-Air Diffuser Layout for Uniform Body Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration apparatuses for coffins suffer from low thermal efficiency, uneven cooling, and aesthetic compromise, as they either use complex and expensive evaporator coils or provide cold air that disperses rapidly and fails to reach all parts of the body, while also being visible externally.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration apparatus with a diffusor element that emits cold air from below to uniformly cool the body, including its back, using a rigid support structure and air-permeable lining to conceal the element and reduce air dispersion, and is made from biodegradable materials for disposal after use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cold air is pumped into the coffin through distribution pipes along the sides, then the refrigeration apparatus is constructionally simpler and less expensive, but the cold air disperses rapidly and cannot cool the body uniformly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstructional simplicityVSAvoidcooling uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a diffusor element positioned at the bottom of the coffin that distributes cold air in the vertical dimension (from below upwards) rather than only horizontally through side pipes. This dimensional change allows cold air to reach all portions of the body including the back, achieving uniform cooling while maintaining constructional simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of energy

If the diffusor element is arranged inside the coffin, then cold air dispersion is reduced and thermal efficiency is enhanced, but the element may be visible from the outside

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecold air dispersionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The diffusor element is covered by a fabric layer that is substantially impermeable to cold air from the outside but allows the element to function from below. This thin film conceals the diffusor element, preventing visual impact while maintaining its refrigeration efficiency by reducing cold air dispersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Shape

If a flat coil evaporator is arranged beneath the body, then the refrigeration function is practically invisible from the outside, but the component is complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual impactVSAvoidevaporator complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a diffusor element made from inexpensive, disposable materials such as cardboard or plastic that can be discarded after use. This replaces the complex and expensive flat coil evaporator while achieving the same visual concealment and refrigeration function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential refrigeration function from the complex evaporator system and implements it through a simpler diffusor element that distributes cold air directly, eliminating the need for complex coil structures while maintaining visual inconspicuousness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution enhances thermal efficiency by reducing cold air dispersion and ensuring uniform cooling, maintains aesthetic appeal by hiding the diffuser, and allows for easy detachment and disposal, reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

in a closed circuit a refrigerant fluid such as freon flows through an evaporator, where the fluid changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state, thus subtracting heat from the surrounding environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

where the fluid changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state, thus subtracting heat from the surrounding environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat subtraction: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

A second type of refrigeration apparatus uses the refrigeration unit to cool an air mass, which a forced ventilation system then causes to flow inside one or more distribution pipes, which are arranged inside the coffin along the sides of the body, in such a way as to emit cold air, thus lowering the internal temperature by convection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2044918B1An apparatus for refrigerating a body inside a coffin
Publication Date: 2010.09.22 VEZZANI SPA
  • EP2044918B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2044918B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2044918B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for refrigerating a body (A) inside a coffin (100), comprising a refrigeration unit which generates cold air and means for diffusing the cold air inside the coffin (100); the means for diffusing cold air comprising at least one generally shallow and wide diffusor element (4, 4A), which is placed inside the coffin (100) in an operating position interposed between the bottom of the coffin (100) and the body (A) resting upon the diffusor element (4, 4A), the diffusor element (4, 4A) being provided with an emanation surface (40) which faces towards the body, and through which the cold air generated by the refrigeration unit is emitted, in such a way as to flow around and over the overlying body (A).