Heated Air Conveying Device Duct Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for conveying heated air to a person suffer from poor air distribution, leading to significant temperature differences across the body due to suboptimal design of welds and air flow pathways, resulting in uneven heating.

Innovation Solution

A device with an air-permeable inner sheet and an air-impermeable outer sheet connected by a peripheral weld and additional welds forming a main duct and ancillary ducts, where the welds are strategically placed to ensure even air distribution, with a dividing weld that splits the air flow into parting flows, maintaining dimensional stability and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If multiple welds are used to connect inner and outer sheets to achieve a flat blanket-shaped body, then the device maintains desired shape, but air distribution becomes poor leading to temperature differences of 5-8°C

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflat blanket-shaped bodyVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The air chamber is segmented into multiple air channels through strategically positioned welds that divide the space between inner and outer sheets. This segmentation creates controlled pathways for air flow, ensuring even distribution across the heating surface while maintaining the flat blanket shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Welds are positioned at specific locations to create localized air channels with optimized dimensions. The welds connecting inner and outer sheets form air channels of controlled cross-section, allowing air to flow evenly through different regions of the device, thereby achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire heating surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If welds are positioned to create air channels for even air distribution, then temperature uniformity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distribution uniformityVSAvoidweld configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The welding pattern is segmented into discrete welds positioned at specific locations to create air channels. This segmentation allows for systematic design of air flow pathways without requiring complex continuous welding patterns, thereby achieving even air distribution with a manageable weld configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Air channels formed by the welds act as intermediaries between the air source and the heating surface. These channels mediate the air flow distribution, ensuring even heating while the welds themselves remain relatively simple connection elements between inner and outer sheets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ensures even temperature distribution across the body by maintaining the shape of the main duct and ancillary ducts during inflation, reducing temperature differences and ensuring efficient air flow to all areas, thus providing consistent heating.

Implementation Method 1

heated air is blown in between the sheets via the (used) connection and subsequently flows out via the inner sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

heated air is blown in between the sheets via the (used) connection and subsequently flows out via the inner sheet in order to maintain the body temperature of the person

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the temperature of the air emerging from the inner layer may differ widely between the various discharge locations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2370032B1Device for conveying air to a person
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 THE SURGICAL INT
  • EP2370032B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2370032B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2370032B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for conveying heated air to a person and comprises an air-permeable inner sheet and an air-impermeable outer sheet which are connected to one another by welds in order to form a panel-like shape in the inflated state. The welds produce a main duct having, viewed at the inlet end and in the non-inflated state, a main duct width. The main duct is delimited by at least one first series of elongate first welded strips, the first intermediate spaces which are in line with one another. The length of each of these first intermediate spaces, viewed in the non-inflated state, is in each case smaller than the main duct width. The length of each first welded strip is at least 15% of the main duct width and at most 80% of the main duct width.