GB2350566A

GB2350566A - Liquid cooler and heater

Info

Publication number: GB2350566A
Application number: GB9912980A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Rawlinson Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-04
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Also published as: GB9912980D0

Abstract

A liquid cooler and heater, e.g. cold and hot compress, has a enclosure to contain all internal workings and power supply, a compress jacket to fit the injured part of the body and a liquid with thermal properties to circulate within the system. A Peltier effect heat pump 15, with heat sink 16 and cooling fan 17, provides both refrigeration and heating of the liquid within the system. The temperature is kept thermostatically controlled by a programmable temperature sensor. A circulation pump automatically controls the flow of liquid around the system.

Description

2350566 LIQUID COOLER AND BEATER This invention relates to hot and cold

compress products currently used within the medical profession, however the principles have many other applications.

Hot and cold compress procedures are often used to reduce swelling and eleivate pain, after a sports injury has accrued, for example. The current method of dealing with such injuries, is to fill a four litre container with ice, wait for the ice to melt so the iced water may flow down a tube connected to a water tight jacket which is raped around the injured part of the body. The container holding the ice and water is lifted 0.5m above the injure to increase the pressure inside the jacket, therefore compressing the injury. When the water inside the jacket has warmed up to body temperature, the container is lowered and the water is exchanged for cooler water, and so on. A range of water tight jackets are available, the most common are:- foot, shin, knee, thigh and shoulder.

The other method is to use a cold pack, straight firom the freezer cabinet, or a bag of frozen peas.

Both methods require a deep freeze.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable hot and cold compress pack comprising a Peltier effect heat pump, Heat exchanger to transfer the temperature to a liquid or gel, a heat sink and fan to dissipate any heat pump BI-products and a temperature controlled pump to circulate the liquid within the system. A verity ofjackets to fit the human body's major mussel groups win be available. The whole package is housed within a light weight plastic case and is powered by the domestic mains supply via a step down transformer or a 12 volt internal battery or vehicle electrical supply. There is provision for a injury jacket(s) and external mains adapter power supply, within the case.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows in perspective, the portable hot and cold compress enclosure and a thigh compress jacket.

Figure 2 illustrates a cross section view of the heat pump, heat exchanger, heat sink and fan, and reservoir tank.

Figure 3 shows the temperature control, pump, compress pad and heat exchanger with their relevant connection and liquid flow direction.

Referring to the drawing the portable hot and cold compress unit comprises of a light weight plastic enclosure with lid 1, a range of compress jackets to fit around different parts of the human body 2. The connecting tube 3 between the compress jacket and the heater and cooler unit is attached via two quick release connectors and forms a circuit in which the liquid can flow. A digital thermometer and programmable controller 4, energises the circulation pump and heat pump. Fig 1 Once the controller has been programmed, the circulation pump starts and stops automatically regulating the temperature within the system. A temperature range of 3.0 to 70 degrees centigrade can be achieved if the unit is left running on standby for the required length of time. An external indicator lamp fitted to the outer casing, and illuminates at the required temperature. Audible and visual warning is given if. a) Liquid levels become too low b) Internal and External battery power drops below the safe limit. i.e. safe limit being the required power the start a vehicle's engine (12 volt system) The compress water tight jackets 2 require bleeding when they are first used, this is achieved by the use of a bleeding adapter which is connected in-series with the tube between the main cooler and heater unit and the compress jacket. The circulation pump is then manually switched on to prime and bleed the system and expel any unwanted air. During this process approximately 0.5 litres of liquid with anti-bactieral and thermal additives is dispensed from a jug or drinking glass.

The feed and return tubes 3 from the compress jackets are terminated with valved quick release couplings, to minimise liquid loss during fitting and removal.

In order to cool or heat the liquid, a Peltier Heat Pump 15 is provided. This electric thermal semiconductor is sandwiched between a heat sink 16 and cooling fan 17, and a aluminium thermal exchanger 18 / reservoir 12 as shown in Fig 2 This assembly is encapsulated within an efficient thermal insulation material 10, to minimise heat loss and condensation. A temperature sensor 19, is provided so that when the liquid temperature rises and falls the circulation pump switches off and on respectively. The liquid is pasted through the thermal exchanger at the intake port 13, and expelled at port 14. The cooling fan 17 draws air past fins in the aluminium heat sink 16. The heat pump and exchanger / reservoir are housed in an outer casing 20, covered in thermal insulation material.

The schematic illustration in Fig 3, shows all the elements connected together to create a circuit in which the liquid can flow. When the heat pump and reservoir 25 is energised the programmer / thermometer 21 monitors the liquid temperature within the reservoir 25. Once the liquid has reached the pre-programmed temperature the circulation pump 22 starts to push the liquid in the direction of the arrows, through the compress jacket 23 and back to the reservoir via pipe 24. The circulation pump will automatically stop when warmer or cooler liquid that has returned from the compress jacket 23 to the heat pump and exchanger / reservoir 25.

This cycle is repeated until the unit is switched off.

& LI

Claims

I A liquid cooler and heater for the intended use of elevating pain of the human or animal body, by means of a peltier heat pump to cool or heat liquid and a circulation pump to rotate the liquid within the system, and a programmable thermometer controller to regulate the liquid temperature within the compress jacket.
2 A liquid cooler and heater as claimed in claim I wherein a lightweight portable enclosure contains all associated components required to cool and heat liquid to a pre-set temperature.
3 A liquid cooler and heater as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein compress pack by means of a watertight jacket tailored to fit various human and animal body muscle groups.
4 A liquid cooler and heater as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein control of the heat and circulation pumps are provided by a programmable temperature controller.
A liquid cooler and heater as claimed in Claim 4 wherein connection to the water tight compress jackets is made via two flexible hoses and quick release couplings, both valved to prevent liquid loss.
6 A liquid cooler and heater as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the Peltier heat pump cools or heals a quantity of liquid stored in the reservoir.
7 A liquid cooler and heater as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the electricity required to power the unit is provided by the mains supply, vehicle supply or internal batteries.
8 A liquid cooler and heater substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.