CN103517465A

CN103517465A - Improved thermal apparatus and method of use

Info

Publication number: CN103517465A
Application number: CN201310235190.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 摩根迪·阿图罗; 卡西亚·乔治奥
Original assignee: Tenacta Group SpA
Current assignee: Tenacta Group SpA
Priority date: 2012-06-18
Filing date: 2013-06-14
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-14
Also published as: HUE034499T2; EP2676578A1; EP2676578B1; ITMI20121058A1; AU2013205994A1; CN103517465B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermal apparatus, which comprises a power supply control unit and an operating unit, wherein the power supply control unit is electrically connectable on one side to an electrical supply network and on the other side to the operating unit which includes an enclosure and a heating element distributed within the enclosure, the thermal apparatus being characterized in that the control unit comprises at least one sensor able to detect vibrations or movements of said units control or, alternatively, able to detect the presence of a person in the surroundings of said control unit, and in that said control unit is connected to the thermal apparatus by means of a interconnection cable having such a physical structure and length such to create at least slight vibration to said control unit when the user uses the thermal apparatus. The present invention further relates to a method to set up an appropriate temperature level for a continuous use of such a thermal apparatus or to set up the automatic switching off thereof. In this way the thermal apparatus of the invention is able to ensure in an economic and efficient way the safety for any user of the thermal apparatus.

Description

Improved heating instrument and using method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of heating instrument, as heating blanket, heating plate and heating carpet; The invention particularly relates to a kind of heating instrument of the electricity consumption part with simplification, and a kind ofly regulate working temperature so that instrument continues the method for using.

Background technology

Heating blanket, heating plate, the heating resistance pad product similar with some have been disclosed, and generally comprise a power control unit and an operating unit being electrically connected to it; Zhe Liangge unit can be joined together by permanent mode, or to divide the mode being arranged, by an interconnecting cable with link, is formed and be electrically connected to.Operating unit generally comprises a tablet, such as consisting of textile material, and one be distributed in the linear heating element forming in tablet and by one or more conductors, the shape that it is normally crooked, there is Yi Ge path, be beneficial to or exceed and interfere with the folding of plate object.

Usually, heating element comprises the first and second coaxial conductors, the first conductor be arranged in twist electric insulation core, be generally fabric around, simultaneously the second conductor, by spirally around around the first conductor, and has been introduced a kind of insulating material; A kind of external skin of preparing in further electrical insulating material is coated integral body.In conductor, by Joule effect electricity, produce heat, and be assigned in whole tablet by such mode heat.

In the industry cycle known with extremely intelligible, such instrument conventionally use to as if vulnerable user, for example children and old man, therefore, use insecurely that must those users of prediction or use undeservedly.

Known to supervision level, technical committee processes the safety standard that promotes household electrical appliance, as the CENELEC TC 61 of European technical committee, be required to introduce the variation of the safety standard in household electrical appliance, it starts to pay attention to following true: child becomes quick-witted clever at home and lives more for a long time compared with being in of senior class at present, therefore, be necessary to provide and use simpler and safer product.

Heating blanket and similarly product introduction more instrument classification, this just needs lasting development, causes the use of simplifying them in safer.

A subject matter of the instrument of these kinds is, when instrument is configured to maximum power or maximum temperature gear, to avoid vulnerable user (problem may with conscious manager application) to lie on a bed.

Heating blanket or similar product, as heating plate, heating resistance pad or to adding hott bed, the useful similar instrument in health ,Huo floor, provide one to have the control unit that a plurality of power and temperature are used gear; These use the one or more warm-up phases that are provided in gear, and remaining being provided for continues to use, and wherein the latter is designed to lower-wattage/temperature gear.Apparent, in some cases, preferred, device can be closed.

The use of even more complicated system requirements transducer is applicable to surveying the user's who lies on a bed existence, for example in US Patent No. 5948303 and US6513164, record, or in Japan Patent JP2011-119791-A, recording, is known technology.But these systems have described to be arranged in the transducer of tablet, but this fact causes the structure of these products all very complicated and expensive.The embedding of the transducer of any known kind in fabric tablet, has caused having some conductors, and these conductors are used for connecting described transducer to control unit, and this has created a plurality of constructional difficulties, causes apparatus very complicated and expensive.

First object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of heating instrument, the structure of a heating blanket or a similar instrument for example, and by minimizing the quantity of some conductors in inline cable, described cable connects provides energy control unit to operating unit.

Summary of the invention

One aspect of the present invention relates to a kind of heating instrument as described in claim 1.

In fact, the application's applicant is a kind of heating instrument of beat all discovery, comprise power control unit and operating unit, wherein said power control unit can be connected with power supply network on one side, and be connected with described operating unit at another side, this operating unit comprises a shell and a heating element being distributed in shell, it is characterized in that, described control unit comprises that at least one is for surveying described control unit vibration or mobile transducer, or optional, for surveying the existence control unit people around, between wherein said control unit and heating instrument, by an inline cable, be connected, this inline cable has physical structure like this and length, with when user uses described heating instrument, create MIN microvibration to described control unit, can guarantee by economy and mode efficiency any heating instrument user's safety.

Really, the use that has thanked at least one transducer just makes it possible to survey vibration and the movement of conventionally touching the control unit that described control unit is relevant to practicality, or can survey the existence in control unit people around, this just can directly be installed to transducer on a circuit board being contained in control unit, has therefore reduced significantly cost and structural key issue.

In addition, thanked to the use of inline cable---be generally only used to tablet power supply, for described control unit is connected with heating instrument, described transducer is embedded in control unit, an economy and safe device are obtained, its can as user, crouch on bed or touching control unit or mobile as described in inline cable connect element time, survey.

In this way, illustrate following situation, when described heating instrument is a heating blanket, when user crouches on bed, due to this action produce bed movement, determined the vibration of the described inline cable being connected with heating blanket, this described transducer that is just attached to the control unit of heating blanket detects.Significantly, when user only touches control unit in order to manage adjusting, cause vibration and the movement of control unit, suitable impact is obtained.

Herein and in additional claim, term " heating instrument " represents a kind of instrument, mainly but be not used to uniquely to add the people on hott bed or bed, as the flat heating instrument of heating blanket, heating plate, heating carpet or similar any size, it is suitable for completely or partially covering bed or a part for human body only, or is the part on floor.

Better, heating instrument is heating blanket, heating plate or a heating carpet; Better, heating instrument is a heating blanket.

Better, described heating instrument is provided AC power, has as the frequency of 50Hz or 60Hz, and preferably, the electrical network of described alternating current type is controlled by a mains switch.

Better, described inline cable is to be 2x0.50 mm according to the fixed specification of international safety standard IEC ²the coding model of H03VVF, and length is 60cm.

Better, described transducer is an accelerometer, that is, a kind of transducer, its conversion is applied to the power in acceleration along three dimensions of cartesian coordinate axes.In resting position, it is by weight application only, the acceleration combination that this produces on three direction in spaces.

Optionally, described transducer is preferably a motion sensor, comprises two or more conducting spheres, to open or to close electrical contact.

More typical, according to the use pattern of the heating instrument of imagination, can use different types of transducer.

Better, described control unit comprises a programmable circuit being connected with described sensor electrical.

Better, in the outside of a plastic housing, comprising described control unit, at least one selectors is positioned at and the co-operating position of described programmable circuit; Better, in the outside of plastic housing, comprising described control unit, an extra element is also arranged at this, as a mechanical button or switch, to work together with described selected cell.

Better, by the control logic of a selectors and/or add ons, can a temperature use gear be set or close heating instrument of the present invention for continuing to use, as described in more detail below.

Better, a software program being arranged in described circuit cooperates described sensor element and described selectors.

By such method, when detecting the existing of mobile or people in corresponding control unit, the response providing according to described transducer, described software program can: a) by selecting armed state to close the heating instrument in the present invention, or be b) that follow-up lasting use selects a suitable temperature to work as, for example use night, wherein can show above-mentioned action a) and action b) functional characteristic be defined as the security feature of an ASF(automation here) function.

Better, a light signal of the plastic housing outside of described control unit can be used for showing respectively opening and closing state according to the opening and closing of described function ASF.

Better, described optical signals LED sends.

Optionally, or extraly, the activation of described function ASF can be passed through an audible signal reflector, and buzzer type, indicates.

Better, the circuit of described sequencing is also controlled a shearing device, and such as a TRIAC or a relay, it provides electric power to described operating unit.

Better, described enclosure comprises heating element, by textile material, is made; Better, described shell is a tablet of being made by textile material.

The design that second aspect of the present invention relates to a kind of suitable safe temperature is to continue the method for using or to close the method for heating instrument, as claimed in claim 8.

The application's applicant in fact have been found that a kind of suitable safe temperature grade is set, to continue to use method or its method for closing of heating instrument, comprise the following steps:

(a) by mains switch, open described heating instrument;

(b) await orders shelves or the preheat temperature of heating instrument are set;

(c) by least one transducer, survey the time that user wants to use heating instrument;

(d) according to the detection of described at least one transducer, determine the security feature of ASF(automation) function, by the activation shelves of awaiting orders, automatically close heating instrument, or optional, Automatic-heating instrument is reduced to suitable temperature shelves of being preset by user

Wherein, described at least one transducer is fixed on a control unit of described heating instrument, this heating instrument comprises the described control unit being connected with an operating unit, this operating unit comprises a shell and a heating element that is positioned at shell, and wherein said at least one transducer can be surveyed described control unit vibration or mobile, or alternatively, can survey described control unit people around's existence, and wherein said control unit is connected with heating instrument by an inline cable, this inline cable has a physical structure and length, when user uses described heating instrument, to give described control unit, create MIN vibration, can effectively guarantee any use heating instrument personnel's safety.

By this method, by activation, await orders that gear is closed heating instrument or by reducing temperature to suitable gear, to use when continuing after warm-up phase, the inventive method can avoid described firing equipment temperature to remain on the risk of its applied very high temperature grade, with can follow-up lasting use.

Better, the inventive method also comprises the step of the described ASF function of programming, with the step being stored in the circuit of the sequencing relevant with described transducer.

By this method, the selection of the automatic allowable temperature shelves of activation meeting of the ASF function contacting with described transducer, or according to programme, when described transducer one detects the necessary condition of this activation action, heating instrument is just closed each follow-up use.

By this method, the heating instrument that the inventive method also allows vulnerable user that described method is applied to is used described heating instrument.In fact, after described ASF function is programmed (as coming from a non-vulnerable people), described ASF function is just stored in programmed circuit, then each is follow-up use and when transducer detect described control unit vibration or mobile after, or alternatively, detect described control unit and have people around, ASF function can be activated automatically and instrument waits for that by activation gear is closed, or automatically reach one and use applicable temperature to continuing, without any need for extra user's manual intervention.

This has just guaranteed those vulnerable users' of heating instrument larger safety.

Better, to continuing, with the described selection of applicable temperature gear, by a suitable selector that is positioned at the plastic housing outside of described control unit, realize.

Especially, described ASF function program, in order to be programmed when heating instrument is used by a vulnerable user, by one by means of being positioned at can operation sequence obtaining of selectors described in one or more of plastic housing outside of described control unit.

On the other hand, the inventive method can be used by non-vulnerable user, and this non-vulnerable user can operate heating instrument in Consciousness ground, does not need the intervention of ASF function; In fact, described non-vulnerable user can carry out can operation sequence, can be by using described selectors to select temperature gear under a suitable mode.

In a preferred embodiment, the inventive method comprises the activation of an add ons, as the button of a mechanization or switch, comes to operate together with the selection with described proper temperature gear, relies on described selectors, the described ASF function of programming.

Like this, described add ons, if be not activated at reasonable time, stops the selection of the described temperature gear in order to continue use or to carry out in order to close described heating instrument.

Better, effective programming of " ASF " function of described transducer is checked by light or less sighting device, as LED; Better, described sighting device is positioned at the plastic housing outside of described control unit.

So just can simply check described ASF function whether to be programmed.

Optionally, or extra, better, and effective programming of described " ASF " function of described transducer is to verify by the transmitting of a sound signal, as " buzzer " types of acoustic waves signal.

Better, after being programmed, ASF function is activated after predetermined time section; For example, described ASF function is preferably activated ten minutes after the mains switch of heating instrument is opened.This just allows user for other needs, to remain in the environment of heating instrument, rather than starts immediately ASF function and cancel preheat function.

Better, ASF function can or be closed by user's reconditioning, by the programming of the described programmable control circuit in described control unit, relies on the described selectors in the plastic housing outside that is positioned at described control unit.

Better, programmable control circuit has stored the activation of described ASF function and inactive, and therefore, control unit can be programmed for needed use in each follow-up use of heating instrument.

Like this, heating instrument of the present invention is enough to simply to be used by normal population or non-vulnerable crowd, but on the other hand, for those motions and/or the cognitive use that has a vulnerable crowd of limitation, just seem and be not so simple and quick, as child and old man.

Better, if heating instrument is a heating blanket, after being provided with the preheat temperature of heating blanket, described method allows, for the lasting use of heating blanket, a suitable temperature gear is set, or optionally in order to close described heating blanket, when vulnerable user wants to lie in bed.Described vulnerable user is involuntary allow while having strengthened too high temperature gear or bed heating blanket be arranged at preheat temperature for user safely too high risk be reduced.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Further feature and advantage of the present invention will become more apparent from following detailed description of preferred embodiment, but not uniquely support with reference to the accompanying drawings with nonrestrictive example, illustrate, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the control unit of embodiment of the present invention heating blanket and the power budget schematic diagram of operating unit, and is the circuit diagram connecting each other between described unit;

Fig. 2 A is the control device forward sight structure chart in embodiment, has illustrated for the selectors of the different temperatures gear of heating blanket is set;

Fig. 2 B is the backsight structure chart of the control device in Fig. 2 A, has illustrated the mechanical selectors in mains switch and ASF function;

Fig. 3 is the forward sight structure chart of control device in embodiment, has illustrated for the selectors of heating blanket different temperatures gear being set and for the selectors of ASF function is set;

Fig. 4 is the structure chart of heating blanket in the present invention, wherein obviously illustrated heating element path, power connection cable and be positioned at heating blanket and control instrument between inline cable.

Embodiment

Following detailed description is with reference to a specific embodiment of heating instrument of the present invention.Especially the temperature setting method in continuing to use with reference to heating blanket related to the present invention and heating blanket, but not as the restriction of content.

The circuit power supply of heating blanket in the present invention or temperature control unit 300 being connected with operating unit 400 with reference to 1, one, figure is powered by an alternating voltage, if frequency is 50Hz or 60Hz.

Operating unit 400 is positioned at inner heating element 100 by elastomeric material sheet thing and one and forms.

In Fig. 1, also illustrated a current insurance silk 204 that is arranged in power control unit 300, this power control unit can be controlled any abnormality, as current overload.

As shown in Figure 4, the international cable number H03VV-F of inline cable 207He 2x0.50 mm ²consistent, and there is for example length of 60cm, plastic housing 209(is comprised to control unit 300) be connected with the tablet of heating blanket, and when user's accumbency and bed are upper, this inline cable can produce at least small vibration or movement.The sensor 208 that vibration passed, was directly fixed on control unit 300 by acceleration formula is detected (as Fig. 1), therefore can survey movement or the slight vibration having lived through when control unit 300.

When transducer 208 has directly been arranged on the control unit 300 in the plastic housing 209 that is contained in heating blanket of the present invention, the complexity of structure has been lowered with the cost of the heating blanket therefore bringing; About disclosed content in prior art file, wherein transducer is placed in tablet inside, for consistent with sensing station, need to use baroque and expensive conductor.

Acceleration formula transducer 208 is electrically connected to programmable circuit 206, and be connected with selectors 211 conversely, this makes it possible to from 1-6 temperature gear or waits for and 0 gear, select a gear (as institute's shows in detail in Fig. 2 A and Fig. 3), and connects the additional selectors of mechanical Switching 205bis or push-button selection element 205(as shows in detail respectively in Fig. 2 B and Fig. 3).Selectors 211 and additional selectors 205 or 205bis are placed in the outside (as Fig. 3 illustrates) of the plastic housing 209 that includes control unit 300, and allow user to select the ASF function of being controlled by acceleration formula transducer 208, by the software of programmable circuit 206, therefore activate automatically closing of heating blanket, or optional, come the gear that is reduced to an appointment of automatic activation operating temperature to use constantly, typical, use relevant to night.

Be contained in also control switch element 203 of programmable circuit 206 in control unit 300, such as a TRIAC or a relay, it offers operating unit 400 electric energy to heat.

Operationally, in an embodiment of the inventive method, ASF function for active control unit 300, first, mains switch 301 is by circuitry cuts, and it is switched on the power supply of described control unit 300, then selectors 211, be positioned on the plastic housing 209 that comprises control unit 300, be actuated to arrange to continue to use from 1 to 5 temperature gear, or close by selection 0 gear of awaiting orders.ASF function is activated by push button selector 205, thereby heating blanket is closed automatically or automatically reduce temperature gear, to continue use.In an optional embodiment, ASF function is by the additional selectors of mechanization switch 205bis be activated (rather than by push button selector 205).

This program is stored in programmable circuit 206, and as long as no matter when when vulnerable user will start electric blanket, this program will be employed, without any need for other additional program.Significantly, this ASF function can be excluded or be modified, by selectors 211 and 205(or 205bis) combination control to repeat above-mentioned step.

In an optional embodiment, ASF function only just can be activated by the assistance of selectors 211, it is pressed for the first time in short time, for example 0.5 second, with the selection of from 0 to 5 temperature gear in active control unit 300 or close gear, then be pressed and continue for some time, 3 seconds for example, to confirm the activation of ASF function.The example of above-mentioned instruction as shown in Figure 2 A.

The activation meeting of ASF function is identified by a visual signal, and for example a LED 210, is arranged on the plastic housing 209 of control unit 300, and/or by a voice signal.

Therefore, it is very simple that ASF function is grasped for conscious people, and can determine: by closing of LED210, they have suitably grasped program.But on the other hand, some people with action obstacle or cognitive disorder to use not be simply with fast, as child and old man.So just avoided vulnerable user unconsciously must be forced at too high temperature gear or he/her be lying in when bed is upper is arranged on preheat temperature gear by heating blanket, brought for the too high risk of safety.

Certainly, many changes and the variation of above-mentioned preferred embodiment, be apparent for those skilled in the art, and it is still in scope of the present invention.

For example, ASF function can at any time be activated or close, or by

relevant selectors

211 and 205 or the method for 205bis, after initial warm-up phase, the set temperature gear 1-5 of the lasting use of heating blanket can change.

For another example, ASF function after by sequencing, can be activated after predetermined time section; For example, ASF function is activated for 10 minutes after heating instrument is activated, so that user is for other need to be held in heating blanket environment, does not activate now ASF function, in this method, preheats function and is not cancelled.

Therefore, the present invention is not limited to described preferred embodiment, only by example, makes an explanation, and is not construed as limiting, but limits by following claim.

Claims

1. a heating instrument, comprise a power control unit (300) and an operating unit (400), wherein said power control unit (300) can be electrically connected to a power supply network in a side, and be electrically connected to described operating unit (400) at another side, this operating unit (400) comprises a shell and a heating element (100) that is positioned at this shell, it is characterized in that, described control unit (300) comprises at least one transducer, this transducer can be surveyed described control unit vibration or mobile, or optional, the personnel that can survey in the environment of described control unit (300) exist, and wherein, described control unit (300) is connected with described heating instrument by an inline cable (207), this inline cable has a physical structure and length with when user uses described heating instrument, provide at least one slight vibration to described control unit (300).

2. heating instrument according to claim 2, wherein said heating instrument is a heating blanket, a heating plate, or a heating carpet.

3. heating instrument according to claim 1 and 2, wherein said inline cable (207) has according to international safety standard IEC2 * 0.50 mm ²the coding size model of H03VVF, and there is the length of 60cm.

4. according to the heating instrument described in any one in claim 1-3, wherein said at least one transducer (208) is an accelerometer or an action sensor, comprises that two or more opens and closes the conducting sphere of electric contact.

5. according to the heating instrument described in any one in claim 1-4, wherein said control unit (300) comprises a programmable circuit (206) being electrically connected to described at least one transducer (208).

6. according to the heating instrument described in any one in claim 1-5, wherein, in the outside that includes described control unit (300), a selectors (211) and an add ons (205) that may contain or plastic housing (205bis) (209), be equipped with described programmable circuit (206).

7. according to the heating instrument described in any one in claim 1-6, wherein in described programmable circuit (206), can arrange one for continuing to use or close the operating temperature gear of heating instrument, by a described selectors (211), described add ons (205) or management logic circuit (205bis), control.

8. the safe gear of proper temperature arranging for the lasting use of heating instrument or a method of closing heating instrument, comprise the following steps:

(a) by a mains switch, start described heating instrument;

(b) await orders gear or the preheat temperature of heating instrument are set;

(c) by least one transducer (208), survey the time that need to use heating instrument as user;

(d) according to by the detection of at least one transducer (208), determine ASF(automatic-safety-characteristic) function, that is: by the activation of the gear of awaiting orders, automatically close heating instrument, or optional, Automatic-heating instrument temperature is reduced to the suitable temperature gear that a user selects in advance, wherein, described at least one transducer (208) is fixed on a control unit (300) of described heating instrument, described heating instrument comprises the described control unit (300) being electrically connected to an operating unit (400), described operating unit comprises a shell and a heating element (100) that is positioned at enclosure, wherein, described at least one transducer (208) can be surveyed vibration or the movement of described control unit (300), or optional, can survey the existence that has people in the surrounding environment of described control unit (300), and wherein said control unit (300) is connected with heating instrument by an inline cable (207), described inline cable has a physical structure and length, with when user uses described heating instrument, produce at least one slight vibration to described control unit (300).

9. method according to claim 8, wherein said method further comprises programmes described ASF function and is stored in a step in the programmable circuit (206) relevant at least one transducer (208).

10. method according to claim 8 or claim 9, the selection in advance of wherein said temperature gear is to realize by an outside suitable selectors (211) of the plastic housing in described control unit (300) (209).

Method in 11. according to Claim 8-10 described in any one, wherein said method further comprises the activation to an add ons, as a button (205) or a mechanization switch (205bis), with described selectors (211) co-operate.

Method in 12. according to Claim 8-11 described in any one, effective setting of wherein said ASF function is that the light sending by a sighting device (210) is confirmed, as LED.

Method in 13. according to Claim 8-12 described in any one, effective programming of wherein said ASF function be by a voice signal disperse confirm, as the voice signal of a Buzzing type.

Method in 14. according to Claim 8-13 described in any one wherein, after described ASF function is programmed, is activated after one period of predetermined time.

Method in 15. according to Claim 8-14 described in any one, wherein said described ASF function at least one transducer (208) can be activated or be closed by described selectors (211).