Cold Therapy System Dual Circuit Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold therapy systems lack effective temperature control, leading to poor cold therapy results due to the inefficient heat exchange between the cold therapy liquid and the human body.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a dual water circuit design with a pumping orifice and a return orifice, along with a water pump, to create a loop for the cold therapy liquid, ensuring accurate temperature control and separation of low and high temperature liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cold therapy liquid is circulated through the pad and returned to the bucket body, then the cold therapy pad can provide cooling effect, but the warm liquid returns directly to the pad causing temperature rise and reduced therapy efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water circuit into distinct inlet and outlet paths with separate pumping orifices. The inlet water circuit draws cold liquid from the upper layer of the bucket while the outlet water circuit returns warm liquid to the lower layer, preventing direct re-circulation of warm liquid to the pad and maintaining temperature differential
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces separate pumping orifices as intermediary elements that control the flow paths. The first pumping orifice draws liquid from the upper layer while the second pumping orifice returns liquid to the lower layer, acting as mediators that prevent direct mixing and maintain thermal stratification in the circulation system
2Temperature
If cold therapy liquid is stored in the bucket body and used for therapy, then the system is simple in structure, but the liquid temperature rises after heat exchange reducing therapy effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bucket body into functional zones with dedicated inlet and outlet pumping orifices positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows continuous circulation where cold liquid is consistently drawn from the upper layer and warm liquid is discharged to the lower layer, extending the duration of effective cooling by maintaining temperature gradient throughout use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous circulation of cold therapy liquid through separate inlet and outlet water circuits. The water pump continuously draws cold liquid from the upper layer and returns warm liquid to the lower layer, ensuring uninterrupted cooling action and preventing temperature rise that would occur with static or single-circuit systems
3Device complexity
If a single water circuit is used for cold therapy liquid circulation, then the device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water circuit into inlet and outlet paths with separate pumping orifices, achieving precise temperature control through this structural division. The first pumping orifice is positioned to draw from the cold upper layer while the second pumping orifice returns to the warm lower layer, providing inherent temperature control precision without complex external regulation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-regulating temperature control system where the separate pumping orifices automatically maintain temperature differential through their positioning and flow characteristics. The system uses its own circulation mechanism to draw cold liquid and return warm liquid to appropriate zones, achieving temperature control precision without requiring external sensors or active regulation
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
This design enhances the cooling effect by maintaining the temperature of the cold therapy liquid, reducing waste heat, and minimizing direct re-circulation of warm liquid back into the pad, thereby improving the overall efficacy of cold therapy.
Implementation Method 1
a water pump configured to drive the cold therapy liquid to flow in a loop including the first water circuit, the second water circuit, and the bucket body
Implementation Method 2
after the cold therapy liquid enters the cold therapy pad, the heat exchange with the human body, the temperature of the cold therapy liquid will rise
Implementation Method 3
Cold therapy is often used in nursing because it causes vasoconstriction of the blood vessels at the site of skin contact, which reduces local swelling, reduces nerve sensitivity and provides pain relief
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a cold therapy system and device. The cold therapy system includes a bucket body and a bucket lid, the bucket lid includes: a first water circuit configured to input the cold therapy liquid from the bucket body to a cold therapy pad; a second water circuit configured to output the cold therapy liquid from the cold therapy pad to the bucket body; and a water pump configured to drive the cold therapy liquid to flow in a loop including the first water circuit, the second water circuit and the bucket body; wherein the first water circuit includes: a pumping orifice, a first guide tube, a second guide tube; and wherein the second water circuit includes: at least one return orifice, a third guide tube. The return orifice with an opening facing in the direction of the bucket body, provided at a predetermined distance from the pumping orifice.