Modular Hot Water Mat Assembly for Expandable Heated Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot water mats have spatial limitations and are difficult to extend, as they are typically designed as bed mattresses or blankets, restricting their use to narrow spaces and preventing easy expansion of the heated area.
Innovation Solution
Self-assembly hot water mats with four sides, featuring hot water passages, inlet/outlet ports, on-off valves, and bypass valves that allow for connection and extension with other mats, enabling flexible expansion of the heated area by forming various configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hot water mats are designed as fixed bed mattresses or blankets, then they provide simple and easy-to-use heating, but they have spatial limitations and cannot be extended to cover larger areas
Solution Approach 1:
The hot water mat system is divided into multiple independent modular units, each with complete heating functionality including hot water passages, inlet/outlet ports, and control valves. These modules can be separately manufactured and then assembled together through extension connectors to cover various spatial requirements, transforming a fixed-size product into an adaptable modular system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each hot water mat module is designed with universal inlet/outlet ports and extension connectors that enable it to function both as a standalone heating unit and as part of an extended multi-module system. The standardized connection interfaces allow the same module design to serve multiple purposes and be configured in different arrangements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hot water mats are designed as single independent units, then they are simple to manufacture and use, but they cannot be easily extended to expand the heated area
Solution Approach 1:
The extension connectors and inlet/outlet ports are pre-designed and pre-positioned on each hot water mat module during manufacturing, with valve mechanisms already integrated into the connection points. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex field installations or modifications when extending the system, as users simply need to connect pre-configured modules together.
Solution Approach 2:
Extension connectors serve as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between adjacent hot water mat modules. These connectors include integrated valve mechanisms that mediate the hot water flow between modules, allowing easy coupling and decoupling of modules while maintaining proper flow control without requiring complex manual valve operations.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple hot water mats are connected to form larger heated areas, then spatial coverage is improved, but the system complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hot water mat modules are merged into a unified heating system through standardized extension connectors that combine multiple functions: mechanical connection, fluid sealing, and valve control. This merging approach allows the system to achieve larger heated area coverage while keeping the overall configuration manageable, as the connectors integrate several control functions into single connection points rather than requiring separate controls for each module.
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
Enables convenient and cost-effective expansion of the heated area by allowing multiple mats to be connected, providing greater flexibility and coverage without the need for extensive initial construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of hot water passages formed in the self-assembly hot water mat to provide a plurality of hot water flow paths
Implementation Method 2
A on-off valve for opening/closing a flow path may be installed at the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of bypass valves are installed at the plurality of hot water passages and are opened/closed to form one or more different hot water flow paths
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a self-assembly hot water mat capable of extending through assembly. A self-assembly hot water mat capable of being assembled with other self-assembly hot water mats, having four sides, and including a path for circulating hot water includes: a plurality of hot water passages formed in the self-assembly hot water mat to provide a plurality of hot water flow paths; an inlet formed at each of the four sides, through which hot water flows in; and an outlet formed at each of the four sides and paired with the inlet, through which hot water flows out. A plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets are connected to the plurality of hot water passages, and the hot water flowing in through the inlet at any one place selected among the four sides flows out through the outlet at any one place selected among the four sides via the hot water passage.