JP2004068230A

JP2004068230A - Artificial sweating device

Info

Publication number: JP2004068230A
Application number: JP2002232867A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Katsuyoshi Shimizu; 清水　勝嘉; Akinari Yamada; 山田　晃也; Kiyotsugu Kano; 加納　喜代継; Takeshi Matsuoka; 松岡　武志
Original assignee: Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing Co Ltd; Japan Steel Works Ltd; Technical Research and Development Institute of Japan Defence Agency
Current assignee: Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing Co Ltd; Japan Steel Works Ltd; Technical Research and Development Institute of Japan Defence Agency
Priority date: 2002-08-09
Filing date: 2002-08-09
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-09
Also published as: JP3780513B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an artificial sweating device having a simple structure, easily controlling the sweating amount of a pseudo human body. <P>SOLUTION: This artificial sweating device is constituted by a heating layer installed at an inner layer of the surface of the pseudo human body, a water-holding material arranged at the surface of the pseudo human body, a moisture permeating membrane arranged at further surface over the water-holding material and a water supply-controlling means measuring an evaporating amount from the moisture-permeating membrane based on the amount of water supply to the water-holding material in a state that the water-holding rate and evaporating rate of the water-holding member held in a prescribed temperature is kept in an equilibrium, and controlling the amount of water supply to the water-holding material based on the evaporating amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は人工発汗装置に関し、特に、簡単に発汗量を計量制御することができる人工発汗装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
発汗機能を持つ擬似人体が、衣料分野あるいは空調分野で注目されている。当該擬似人体は、例えば衣料分野では、衣料の断熱性・発汗作用の評価用に使用されており、空調分野では、自動車の室内空調制御の評価用に使用されている。さらに、火災時に着用する防護服の快適性の評価用にも発汗機能を持つ擬似人体は使用されている。
【０００３】
従来の擬似人体には、擬似人体の外部の温度や湿度等を計測する温度センサや湿度センサが備えられている。そして、これらのセンサが計測した温度や湿度から推定される人体の発汗量と同量の汗を擬似人体から発生させるように擬似人体の発汗量が制御されている。
【０００４】
発汗量の制御は、例えば擬似人体内部の温度と湿度を調節して、擬似人体内部の水蒸気の分圧を制御し、擬似人体内部と外部の水蒸気の分圧に差異を持たせることで行われている。例えば擬似人体内部の水蒸気の分圧を外部よりも高くすればするほど、擬似人体内部から水蒸気が汗として擬似人体の表面に放散する量が多くなる。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、擬似人体の内部と外部の水蒸気の分圧に差異を持たせようとすると、擬似人体内部と外部の水蒸気の分圧を得る必要があり、そのため擬似人体の内部と外部に温度センサや湿度センサ等を備えなければならない。
【０００６】
よって、擬似人体全面から発汗する蒸気を計測するためには、擬似人体の外部表面に多くのセンサを取り付ける必要が生じるので、センサの配線等、擬似人体の構造が複雑となると共に、擬似人体の製造工数が多くなって製造コストが高くなるという問題がある。
【０００７】
そこで、本発明は上記問題点に鑑み、簡単な構造であって容易に擬似人体の発汗量を制御することができる人工発汗装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決しようとする手段】
本発明の人工発汗装置は、図１に示すように、擬似人体表面内層に加熱層が備えられ、上記擬似人体の表面側に保水材が配置され、当該保水材のさらに表面に透湿膜が配設されており、さらに、上記保水材への給水量を制御する給水制御手段が備えられている。この構成において、保水材の保水率と蒸発量（発汗量）とが平衡に保たれている状態下では、上記保水材への給水量は、擬似人体の発汗量と等しくなり、上記保水材への給水量を制御することで、擬似人体の発汗量も制御することができる。
【０００９】
また、綿織物、絹織物、羊毛織物、紙、不織布その他蒸気を透過する透湿性部材で擬似人体の表面外部を囲み、擬似人体と上記透湿性部材で囲まれた空間層の湿度を計測する湿度センサを人工発汗装置に備え、当該湿度センサが示す湿度に基づいて、上記給水制御手段が上記保水材への給水量を制御するようにしてもよい。この構成によれば、上記空間層の湿度と擬似人体の発汗量の関係が明らかとなり、擬似人体の発汗量を制御することにより、上記空間層の湿度を任意に設定することができる。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
（実施の形態１）
図１は、本発明の構成を示す概念図である。擬似人体１の表面の下層全体に均一に、例えばニッケルワイヤヒータを用いた加熱層１０が設けられている。一方、上記擬似人体１の表面には、保水材１１が配置されており、また、上記保水材１１の外側に透湿膜３が配設されている。上記保水材１１は、頭、胸、背中、腕、足等の複数のパーツに分かれており、それぞれのパーツの例えば中央部付近には、給水チューブ１２の一端が取り付けられている。各給水チューブ１２の他端は、図２に示すようにそれぞれのパーツ用の給水ポンプ３０に接続されている。
【００１１】
さらに、上記保水材１１の透湿膜３寄りには、上記加熱層１０とは別の加熱層２０が設けられている。なお、加熱層１０は、擬似人体１の発汗を促進するために配設され、加熱層２０は、主に擬似人体１からの発熱を担うために配設されている。
【００１２】
上記保水材１１には、ポリビニルアルコールの多孔質体を使用することができる。さらに、上記加熱層１０としては、シリコンラバーヒータも使用することができる。
【００１３】
上記給水チューブ１２には上記給水ポンプ３０より水が供給されており、上記給水ポンプ３０は図３に示す給水制御手段２１によって制御されている。上記給水チューブ１２に供給された水は、上記保水材１１に供給される。
【００１４】
上記加熱層１０または上記加熱層２０が加熱されると、擬似人体１の保水材１１と透湿膜３とが均等に加熱され、この状態において加熱層１０、２０の温度と、擬似人体１の外部の温度、湿度が一定であれば、上記保水材１１への給水量に応じた発汗が擬似人体１から生じることになる。
【００１５】
ところで、上記保水材１１への給水量を制御することにより、擬似人体１の発汗量も制御することができる。これは、図４に示すように、ある一定時間ある一定量の給水を保水材１１に行うことにより、保水材１１の保水率と蒸発率とが平衡状態となり、給水ポンプ３０の給水量が擬似人体１の発汗量となるためである。
【００１６】
なお、上記加熱層１０、２０の加熱用の電力の供給量は、任意に設定できるようになっている。
【００１７】
また、上記給水制御手段２１や給水ポンプ３０が設けられる位置は、擬似人体１内部であっても外部であってもよい。
【００１８】
（実施の形態２）
上記保水材１１への給水量の制御は、実施の形態１のように単に保水材１１への給水量を一定に制御するほかに、例えば擬似人体１の表面の外側近傍に透湿膜３から放散される蒸気を透過する透過性部材１５にて囲まれた空間層１４の湿度を用いて行うことも可能である。
【００１９】
実施の形態１に記載のように、擬似人体１から放散される発汗量は、上記給水ポンプ３０の給水量に依存する。なお、上記擬似人体１の表面近傍に位置する上記空間層１４の湿度は、上記給水ポンプ３０の給水量、即ち、発汗量に依存することになる。
【００２０】
そこで、本実施の形態では上記空間層１４の湿度を上記給水制御手段２１に入力し、上記給水制御手段２１は、入力された湿度を用いて給水ポンプ３０の給水量を制御して、上記空間層１４の湿度を調整している。
【００２１】
上記空間層１４とは、例えば図５に示すように、擬似人体１の表面外側に、上記擬似人体１の表面と上記透湿性部材１５にて囲まれた空間である。上記透湿性部材１５には、綿織物、絹織物、羊毛織物、紙、不織布などの蒸気を透過する材質を用いることができる。また当該空間層１４は、例えば擬似人体１に衣服を着せた状態で、当該衣服と擬似人体１との間に生じる空間として形成される。
【００２２】
上記空間層１４内には、湿度センサ１３が設けられ、当該湿度センサ１３の出力は、上記給水制御手段２１に入力されるようになっている。
【００２３】
湿度センサ１３の出力によって空間層１４の湿度を調整する場合、上記給水制御手段２１は、湿度センサ１３が測定した空間層１４の湿度が高いと判断した場合は、給水ポンプ３０に供給される電圧を小さくして給水量を少なくし、また、湿度センサ１３が測定した空間層１４の湿度が低いと判断した場合は、給水ポンプ３０に供給される電圧を大きくして給水量を多くする。
【００２４】
以上のように上記空間層１４の湿度から給水ポンプ３０へ供給される電圧を制御することで、擬似人体１は、上記空間層１４の湿度を所定の値にすることができる。
【００２５】
【発明の効果】
以上のように保水材への給水量、或いは、上記空間層の湿度に基づいて給水ポンプの給水量を制御することで、擬似人体の発汗量も制御することができる。
【００２６】
従って、発汗量を制御するために、擬似人体内部の温度や湿度を計測する必要がない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の断面を示す概念図である。
【図２】本発明の平面を示す概念図である。
【図３】本発明の概念図である。
【図４】保水材への給水量と、擬似人体の発汗量との関係を示すグラフである。
【図５】本発明の概念図である。
【符号の説明】
１　擬似人体
３　透湿膜
１０　２０　加熱層
１１　保水材
１２　給水チューブ
１３　湿度センサ
１４　空間層
１５　透湿性部材
２１　給水制御手段[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an artificial perspiration apparatus, and more particularly to an artificial perspiration apparatus capable of easily measuring and controlling the amount of perspiration.
[0002]
[Prior art]
BACKGROUND ART A simulated human body having a sweating function has attracted attention in the field of clothing or the field of air conditioning. The simulated human body is used, for example, in the field of clothing to evaluate the heat insulating property and sweating action of clothing, and in the field of air conditioning, is used to evaluate indoor air conditioning control of automobiles. Furthermore, a simulated human body having a sweating function is also used for evaluating the comfort of protective clothing worn in a fire.
[0003]
A conventional simulated human body is provided with a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor for measuring the temperature and humidity outside the simulated human body. The amount of sweating of the simulated human body is controlled such that the same amount of sweat as the amount of sweating of the human body estimated from the temperature and humidity measured by these sensors is generated from the simulated human body.
[0004]
The control of the amount of sweating is performed by, for example, adjusting the temperature and humidity inside the simulated human body, controlling the partial pressure of water vapor inside the simulated human body, and giving a difference between the partial pressures of the water vapor inside and outside the simulated human body. ing. For example, the higher the partial pressure of the water vapor inside the simulated human body is higher than the outside pressure, the greater the amount of water vapor radiated from the inside of the simulated human body as sweat to the surface of the simulated human body.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order to make the partial pressure of water vapor inside and outside the simulated human body different, it is necessary to obtain the partial pressure of water vapor inside and outside the simulated human body. Must be equipped with sensors and the like.
[0006]
Therefore, in order to measure the amount of steam sweating from the entire surface of the simulated human body, it is necessary to attach many sensors to the external surface of the simulated human body. There is a problem that the number of manufacturing steps increases and the manufacturing cost increases.
[0007]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an artificial perspiration apparatus having a simple structure and capable of easily controlling the amount of perspiration of a simulated human body.
[0008]
[Means to solve the problem]
As shown in FIG. 1, the artificial sweating device of the present invention includes a heating layer on the inner surface of the simulated human body, a water retention material disposed on the surface side of the simulated human body, and a moisture permeable film on the surface of the water retention material. And a water supply control means for controlling the amount of water supplied to the water retention material. In this configuration, when the water retention rate of the water retention material and the amount of evaporation (the amount of perspiration) are kept in equilibrium, the amount of water supplied to the water retention material is equal to the amount of perspiration of the simulated human body, and By controlling the amount of water supplied, the amount of perspiration of the simulated human body can also be controlled.
[0009]
In addition, a humidity sensor that surrounds the outer surface of the simulated human body with a vapor-permeable member that transmits vapor, such as cotton fabric, silk fabric, wool fabric, paper, nonwoven fabric, and the like, and measures the humidity of a space layer surrounded by the simulated human body and the moisture-permeable member. May be provided in the artificial perspiration apparatus, and the water supply control means may control the amount of water supplied to the water retention material based on the humidity indicated by the humidity sensor. According to this configuration, the relationship between the humidity of the space layer and the amount of sweat of the simulated human body becomes clear, and the humidity of the space layer can be arbitrarily set by controlling the amount of sweat of the simulated human body.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. A heating layer 10 using, for example, a nickel wire heater is provided uniformly on the entire lower layer of the surface of the simulated human body 1. On the other hand, a water retention material 11 is disposed on the surface of the simulated human body 1, and a moisture permeable membrane 3 is disposed outside the water retention material 11. The water retention material 11 is divided into a plurality of parts such as a head, a chest, a back, an arm, and a leg, and one end of a water supply tube 12 is attached to, for example, a central portion of each of the parts. The other end of each water supply tube 12 is connected to a water supply pump 30 for each part as shown in FIG.
[0011]
Further, a heating layer 20 different from the heating layer 10 is provided near the moisture permeable film 3 of the water retention material 11. The heating layer 10 is provided to promote perspiration of the simulated human body 1, and the heating layer 20 is provided mainly for generating heat from the simulated human body 1.
[0012]
As the water retention material 11, a porous body of polyvinyl alcohol can be used. Further, as the heating layer 10, a silicon rubber heater can be used.
[0013]
Water is supplied to the water supply tube 12 from the water supply pump 30, and the water supply pump 30 is controlled by water supply control means 21 shown in FIG. The water supplied to the water supply tube 12 is supplied to the water retention material 11.
[0014]
When the heating layer 10 or the heating layer 20 is heated, the water retention material 11 and the moisture permeable membrane 3 of the simulated human body 1 are evenly heated, and in this state, the temperature of the heating layers 10 and 20 and the simulated human body 1 If the temperature and humidity of the outside are constant, sweating from the simulated human body 1 will occur according to the amount of water supplied to the water retaining material 11.
[0015]
By controlling the amount of water supplied to the water retaining material 11, the amount of perspiration of the simulated human body 1 can also be controlled. This is because, as shown in FIG. 4, by supplying a certain amount of water to the water retaining material 11 for a certain period of time, the water retention rate and the evaporation rate of the water retention material 11 are in an equilibrium state, and the water supply amount of the water supply pump 30 is simulated. This is because the amount of sweating of the human body 1 is obtained.
[0016]
The amount of power for heating the heating layers 10 and 20 can be arbitrarily set.
[0017]
Further, the position where the water supply control means 21 and the water supply pump 30 are provided may be inside or outside the simulated human body 1.
[0018]
(Embodiment 2)
The control of the amount of water supplied to the water retaining material 11 is not limited to simply controlling the amount of water supplied to the water retaining material 11 as in the first embodiment. It is also possible to use the humidity of the space layer 14 surrounded by the permeable member 15 that transmits the vapor to be dissipated.
[0019]
As described in the first embodiment, the amount of perspiration released from the simulated human body 1 depends on the amount of water supplied by the water supply pump 30. Note that the humidity of the space layer 14 located near the surface of the simulated human body 1 depends on the amount of water supplied by the water supply pump 30, that is, the amount of perspiration.
[0020]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the humidity of the space layer 14 is input to the water supply control means 21, and the water supply control means 21 controls the water supply amount of the water supply pump 30 using the input humidity, and The humidity of the layer 14 is adjusted.
[0021]
The space layer 14 is, for example, a space surrounded by the surface of the simulated human body 1 and the moisture-permeable member 15 outside the surface of the simulated human body 1 as shown in FIG. The vapor-permeable member 15 can be made of a vapor-permeable material such as cotton fabric, silk fabric, wool fabric, paper, and nonwoven fabric. The space layer 14 is formed as a space generated between the garment and the simulated human body 1 in a state where the simulated human body 1 is dressed, for example.
[0022]
A humidity sensor 13 is provided in the space layer 14, and an output of the humidity sensor 13 is input to the water supply control unit 21.
[0023]
When adjusting the humidity of the space layer 14 based on the output of the humidity sensor 13, when the water supply control means 21 determines that the humidity of the space layer 14 measured by the humidity sensor 13 is high, the voltage supplied to the water supply pump 30. Is reduced to reduce the amount of water supply, and when it is determined that the humidity of the space layer 14 measured by the humidity sensor 13 is low, the voltage supplied to the water supply pump 30 is increased to increase the amount of water supply.
[0024]
By controlling the voltage supplied to the water supply pump 30 from the humidity of the space layer 14 as described above, the simulated human body 1 can make the humidity of the space layer 14 a predetermined value.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, by controlling the amount of water supplied to the water retention material or the amount of water supplied by the water supply pump based on the humidity of the space layer, the amount of sweating of the simulated human body can also be controlled.
[0026]
Therefore, it is not necessary to measure the temperature and humidity inside the simulated human body in order to control the amount of perspiration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a cross section of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a plane according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of water supplied to a water retention material and the amount of perspiration of a simulated human body.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Simulated human body 3 Moisture permeable film 10 20 Heating layer 11 Water retention material 12 Water supply tube 13 Humidity sensor 14 Space layer 15 Moisture permeable member 21 Water supply control means

Claims

A heating layer provided on the inner layer of the simulated human body surface,
A water retention material arranged on the surface of the simulated human body,
In an artificial perspiration apparatus comprising a moisture permeable membrane further disposed on the surface of the water retention material,
In a state where the water retention rate and the evaporation rate of the water retention material held at the predetermined temperature are kept in equilibrium, the evaporation amount from the moisture permeable membrane is measured based on the water supply amount to the water retention material, and the evaporation amount is determined. An artificial perspiration apparatus comprising water supply control means for controlling a water supply amount to the water retention material based on the water supply control means.

A heating layer provided on the inner layer of the simulated human body surface,
A water retention material arranged on the surface of the simulated human body,
In an artificial perspiration apparatus comprising a moisture permeable membrane further disposed on the surface of the water retention material,
A space layer surrounded by a moisture-permeable member that transmits vapor dissipated from the moisture-permeable membrane to the outside of the simulated human body,
Arrange a humidity sensor to measure humidity in the space layer,
An artificial perspiration apparatus comprising: a water supply control unit configured to control a water supply amount to the water retention material based on the humidity measured by the humidity sensor.