GB2132334A - Personal heating system - Google Patents

Abstract

A personal heating system comprises a panel (17) of foam plastics or other elastomeric material within which there are fluid flow passages provided by a flexible tube having a zig-zag run (22) and a return run (23). An electrical heater (24) heats fluid which is then distributed through the tube. The panel may be attached to a chair or may be of a suitable size for covering a bed. The panel may be heated, alternatively, by fluid derived from a central heating system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Local heating installations The invention relates to local heating installations.

It is becoming increasingly important in view of increased energy costs and diminishing energy resources to provide a means for keeping inactive people acceptably warm as efficiently as possible that is in return for a minimum energy usage. This problem is particularly acute with old people who tend to be inactive, tend to suffer more than other people from the effects of cold and in many cases have low incomes and live in older homes which are difficult to heat efficiently.

Conventional methods of providing for inactive people, other than those who are in bed, involve some form of room heating appliance such as central heating involving hot air distribution or hot water circulation or room heating devices powered by electricity or a locally combusted fuel.

In heating a whole room, a large amount of energy is dissipated and it would be advantageous to provide a local heating installation tailored to the needs of the person concerned. Such a local heating installation, heating less than the complete room, would enable different people in the room to be heated to different extents.

According to the present invention there is provided a local heating installation comprising a panel of flexible elastomeric material, fluid flow passages within the panel and means for supplying heated fluid to the passages and causing it to circulate through the passages.

The panel may be covered in a textile material which may for example be bonded to an outer surface of the panel.

The panel may be formed of foam plastics material having embedded therein at least one flexible tube providing said fluid flow passages.

The passages may comprise a single tube laid out in a zig-zag pattern.

Alternatively the panel may comprise an extruded elastomeric sheet with passages formed therein during extrusion. Such an extrusion may be in the form of a flat sheet with a series of regularly spaced fluid flow passages and a return passage, larger than the fluid flow passages along one edge of the sheet. The end of the panel may be provided with manifolds providing fluid flow connections to the passages.

The heated fluid may be generated externaily of the heating installation of the invention. For example, hot water derived directly or indirectly from a central heating system may be used.

However, it is preferable that the heated fluid should be generated by an electrical heater forming part of the installation.

The installation may be provided with a pump for circulation of the fluid or may reply on natural convention (gravity) for circulation.

The panel may be of such a shape and size as to fit conveniently over a chair back and the seat portion of the chair may be provided with securing means such as fixing tapes for holding it in position. When an integral heat source is provided, this may be adapted to be mounted to the lower part of a chair whereby heated fluid circulates through the panel by natural convention.

The panel may be of such a shape and size as to cover the upper surface of a bed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a chair on which has been installed a local heating installation in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows in greater detail an electric heater unit employed in the installation of figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a conventional armchair with a seat portion 11, an back rest 12, rear legs 13, front legs 14, arms 15 and arm supports 16. A relatively upright chair with open arms has been chosen for purposes of illustration because it enables the invention to be explained more readily but it should be understood that the invention may be applied to chairs with upholstered, closed-in arms and without seprate legs. The use of such chairs can help to confine locally generated heat and improve the effectiveness of the invention.

The chair shown is fitted with a flexible heater panel 17 which covers substantially the whole of the seat portion 11 and back rest 12. The panel also extends down as shown at 1 9 in front of the -seat portion. Various ties 21 hold the panel in position by securing it to the rear legs 13, arm supports 16 and other parts of the chair. The panel is comprised of a flexible elastomeric material and in this example it is constituted by a foam plastics material such as polyurethane foam. Embedded in the foam is a single tube of flexible plastics material. The tube incorporates a zig-zag run 22 running continuously from the lower front to the upper rear part of the panel, part of the zig-zag being omitted from the drawing in the interests of clarity.The remaining part of the tube within the panel 17 is a return run 23 which extends down and along one side edge of the panel and then traverses the lower front edge of the panel to emerge therefrom adjacent to the beginning of the zig-zag run 22.

An electrical heater 24 is secured by straps 25 to a front leg of the chair but may alternatively be connected to any convenient part of the chair structure below the seat portion 1 9. The upper part of the heater 24 is connected at 26 to the beginning of zig-zag tube run 22. The return tube run is connected to the lower end of the heater at 27.

The materials selected for the panel 1 7 should be such that they do not deteriorate when heated over long periods to temperatures of the order of 500 C. The whole of the panel, including the fluid therein will normally operate at lower temperatures than this but it is essential that the materials do not deteriorate, for example by becoming brittle, under the influence of temperatures normally encountered. The panel is covered with a surface of textile material corresponding to that normally employed as a upholstery fabric.

Further details of the electrical heater unit 24 are shown in figure 2. The heater unit comprises a main tubular body 31, formed for example from copper tubing. At its lower end, main body 31 is closed by a bush 32 which incorporates both a connection 27 to the panel (see figure 1) and a mounting aperture 33 within which an electrical heater element 34 is installed. The heater element 34 is kept separate from the interior of main body 31 by a further copper tube 35 having an upper end closed by end plate 36. Electrical leads 37 provide a power supply to the heater element.

At its upper end, the main tubular body 31 is closed by an end cap 38 to which is connected a pipe section 39 leading to an airlock 41 through which air can be bled from the system and a connection 26 to the zig-zag run as illustrated in Figure 1.

In use, the electrical heater unit and the tube 22, 23 are filled with a liquid which may be water with suitable additives or may be a stable organic fluid. When the installation is intalled on a chair as shown and the heater is connected to an electrical supply, the heated fluid becomes less dense than cooler fluid and rises up through the zig-zag tube 22 to supply heat to the panel 17. As the liquid cools and contracts, it returns down the tube run 23 to the heater. In this way, continuous circulation is established so that heat generated in the unit 24 is distributed throughout the panel 1 7.

It has been found that a power of approximately 1 50 watts is sufficient to apply enough heat to the panel 1 7 to significantly warm a person sitting on the chair. The heating effect for the person is of course improved if the chair is more closed in and this is particularly so if the chair or the heating panel incorporates some means for partially surrounding the head of the occupant of the chair because the head is a region from which a substantial proportion of body heat escapes. The foam plastics material and textile fabric of the panel result in gentle distribution and transfer of heat from the tubes and the textile fabric also provides a comfortable and attractive appearance.

In an alternative construction, the fluid may be gas or air. In this case, a pump or fan would amost certainly be necessary to provide sufficient fluid circulation and to prevent local overheating.

In a further modification, the panel may be intended for laying on the surface of a bed for heating an occupant of the bed. The fact that the electrical heater is away from the occupant of the bed, for example by being mounted under the bed, renders this installation much more safe than an electric blanket. This is particularly so when the whole of the panel including its fluid are constituted of materials which are electrical insulators. The risk of electrocution and of fire are both substantially reduced.

The system may be fitted with a temperature sensitive switch but with a heater of 1 50 watts this has been found to be necessary.

Normally the installation will be used for elderly or otherwise immobile persons who require to be kept warm at low cost. The system may also be used in situations where an elderly and immobile person is living in the same household as more fit persons and where the elderly person requires more warmth than other occupants of the same house. Particularly in this latter case, it might be desirable to provide the heating panel with heated fluid derived from a central heating system, possibly through a heat exchanger attached to a radiator.

Claims (13)

1. A local heating installation comprising a panel of flexible elastomeric material, fluid flow passages within the panel and means for supplying heated fluid to the passages and causing it to circulate through the passages.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panel is covered with a textile material.

3. An insallation as claimed in claim 2 wherein the textile material is bonded to an outer surface of the panel.

4. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel is formed of foam plastics material having embedded therein at least one flexible tube providing said fluid flow passages.

5. An installation as claimed in claim 4 wherein said passages comprise a single tube laid in a zigzag pattern.

6. An installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the panel comprises an elastomeric sheet with passages formed therein during extrusion.

7. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fluid is generated externally of the heating installation of the invention.

8. An installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the heated fluid is generated by an electrical heater forming part of the installation.

9. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a pump for circulation of fluid through the panel.

10. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel is of such shape and size to fit conveniently over a chair back and the seat portion of the chair, and is provided with securing means for holding it in position to a chair.

11. An installation as claimed in claim 10 including an electrical heating unit for the fluid adapted to be secured to a lower part of the chair whereby heated fluid circulates through the panel by natural convection.

12. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel is of such a shape and size as to fit conveniently over a bed.

13. A heating installation substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by any of the figures of the accompanying drawings.