Wearable Hydration System With Recirculating Cooling Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal hydration systems and cooling systems require additional clothing and suffer from temperature loss over time, as cooling substances warm up, necessitating either continued wear or disposal.
Innovation Solution
A wearable personal hydration system with integrated cooling and warming capability, where a thermally conductive pad is pumped with liquid from a reservoir, allowing temperature adjustment without additional clothing, and the liquid is recirculated for continuous cooling or warming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a garment is filled with ice or cooling substance to cool the wearer, then cooling capability is provided, but the cooling substance warms up over time and loses effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cooling by circulating liquid through a pump system that continuously moves coolant from a reservoir through a thermally conductive pad contacting the wearer's body. This continuous circulation ensures the cooling effect is maintained indefinitely as long as the pump operates and liquid is available, resolving the issue of cooling substances warming up and losing effectiveness over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and recirculates the liquid coolant through a closed-loop system where the liquid passes through the thermally conductive pad, absorbs heat from the wearer, and then returns to the reservoir to be cooled again. This continuous recovery and recirculation of the cooling medium maintains effective cooling without requiring replacement of the cooling substance.
2Temperature
If an additional cooling garment is added to cool the wearer, then cooling capability is provided, but the user must wear an additional layer of clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the hydration system by integrating the thermally conductive pad into the hydration reservoir assembly. The same liquid reservoir that provides hydration also contains the cooling liquid, and the pump system serves both cooling and hydration functions. This consolidation eliminates the need for a separate cooling garment while providing both cooling and hydration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydration reservoir and pump system are designed to serve multiple functions: providing hydration through the drinking tube and providing cooling through the thermally conductive pad. The liquid in the reservoir serves dual purposes as both hydration fluid and cooling medium, eliminating the need for separate cooling garments and reducing overall system complexity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a pump is used to circulate liquid through the cooling pad, then continuous cooling is achieved, but the user must suck water through the pump when drinking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the liquid flow paths into separate channels: one path for cooling circulation through the pump and thermally conductive pad, and another path for drinking through a check valve. The check valve creates a one-way flow path that allows the user to drink without suction effort by directing liquid flow independently of the pump operation, resolving the conflict between continuous cooling and ease of drinking.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If cooling liquid is recirculated back into the reservoir, then continuous cooling is maintained, but the system requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is designed to serve multiple functions: it pumps liquid through the thermally conductive pad for cooling, and also pumps liquid through the drinking tube for hydration. The same pump and liquid circulation system provide both cooling and hydration functions, reducing the need for separate components and minimizing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous cooling effectiveness.
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 efficient temperature regulation without additional clothing layers and maintains cooling or warming effectiveness by recirculating liquid, eliminating the need for separate cooling fluids and reducing weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid either thermally cools or heats the user, depending on the temperature of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable system with cooling and/or warming capability, and the components thereof are disclosed. The system may include a liquid transport system for transporting cooling or heating fluid between a reservoir and a pad, which pad is configured for wearing adjacent to a wearer's body. A pump is provided for pumping the liquid through the system, including for recirculating liquid from the pad into the reservoir.