JP7438487B2 - Temperature control furniture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to temperature-controlled furniture that can change the temperature of a heat transfer surface of the furniture.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, instead of air-conditioning the entire space, only areas where people are present are locally air-conditioned (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-127366 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-081729

However, even with such local air conditioning, the temperature-adjusted air may flow into spaces where the temperature is not regulated, resulting in a loss of comfort in spaces where people are present. . Furthermore, in such a situation, in order to maintain a comfortable temperature environment in a space where people are present, it is necessary to perform more powerful air conditioning, which poses the problem of not saving energy.

The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device that can efficiently provide a comfortable temperature to humans.

In order to achieve the above object, temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention includes: furniture having a heat transfer surface; a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water supplied from the outside and a liquid heat medium; The heating medium has a flow pipe for the heating medium, at least a portion of which is disposed on the heat transfer surface so that heat exchange is performed with the heating medium.
With such a configuration, by using water supplied from the outside, it is possible to heat or cool, for example, the heat transfer surface of furniture such as a chair or bed, and the parts of the human body that are in contact with the heat transfer surface. can be heated or cooled. Furthermore, since no air is involved, the parts of the human body that are in contact with the heat transfer surface can be efficiently heated or cooled, and energy savings can be realized. In addition, for example, it will be possible to weaken the air conditioning in the space where the furniture is placed, and from this point of view as well, it will be possible to promote energy conservation.

Furthermore, in the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention, the water supplied from the outside may be unused water such as underground water, spring water, seawater, or river water.
With such a configuration, it becomes possible to provide a comfortable temperature to humans by using water that is not normally used for air conditioning. This eliminates the need for heat source equipment such as those used in air conditioning, making it possible to achieve further energy savings and contributing to the prevention of heat islands.

Further, in the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention, the temperature of the water supplied from the outside may be 20° C. or higher when cooling the heat transfer surface.
With such a configuration, the human body can be cooled using high-temperature cold water that cannot be used for air conditioning. This is because it cools the human body without passing through the air, so there is no problem with temperatures higher than the cold water used in air conditioning.

Further, in the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention, the temperature of the water supplied from the outside may be 45° C. or lower when heating the heat transfer surface.
With this configuration, the human body can be warmed using low-temperature hot water that cannot be used during heating. This is because it warms the human body without passing through the air, so there is no problem even at lower temperatures than hot water used in air conditioning.

Furthermore, the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention may further include an adjustment section for adjusting the flow rate of at least one of water and a heat medium supplied from the outside.
With such a configuration, the temperature of the heat transfer surface can be adjusted to a desired temperature by adjusting the flow rate of water or heat medium supplied from the outside.

Further, in the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention, a plurality of flow pipes are independently arranged on the heat transfer surface, and a plurality of adjustment units are further provided for adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium for each flow pipe. You may prepare.
With such a configuration, different temperatures can be adjusted for different parts of the furniture. For example, it will be possible to adjust the temperature at the head and foot of the bed to be different. Furthermore, for example, in a chaise longue, it becomes possible to adjust only the temperature of the part where a person is sitting to a desired temperature.

Moreover, the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention may further include a sheet-like member having heat storage properties and provided on the surface of the heat transfer surface.
With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the comfort of the part of the human body that is in contact with the heat transfer surface via the sheet-like member.

According to the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently provide a comfortable temperature to the part of the user that is in contact with the heat transfer surface, maintain the comfort of the user, and realize energy saving. I can do it.

A schematic diagram showing the configuration of temperature-controlled furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention A perspective view showing another example of temperature-controlled furniture according to the embodiment A perspective view showing an example of temperature-controlled furniture having a sheet-like member in the same embodiment. A schematic diagram showing the configuration of temperature-controlled furniture having a plurality of independent flow pipes for heat medium in the same embodiment. A perspective view showing an example of temperature-controlled furniture having a plurality of temperature-controllable locations according to the same embodiment. A perspective view showing another example of temperature-controlled furniture according to the embodiment A perspective view showing another example of temperature-controlled furniture according to the embodiment

Hereinafter, temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention will be described using embodiments. Note that in the following embodiments, constituent elements with the same reference numerals are the same or correspond to each other, and a repeated explanation may be omitted. The temperature-controlled furniture according to this embodiment can change the temperature of the heat transfer surface of the furniture using water supplied from the outside, and can cool or warm the parts of the human body that touch the heat transfer surface. It is.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of temperature-controlled furniture 1 according to the present embodiment. The temperature-controlled furniture 1 according to the present embodiment includes a furniture 11, a heat exchanger 13, a flow pipe 14 for a liquid heat medium, a pump 15, and a valve 16. The furniture 11 may be used indoors or outdoors, for example.

Furniture 11 has a heat transfer surface 11a. It is preferable that the heat transfer surface 11a is made of a material with high thermal conductivity. For example, the heat transfer surface 11a may be made of metal. Further, the heat transfer surface 11a may be made of, for example, copper, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, etc., which have particularly high thermal conductivity.

Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the furniture 11 is a chair and the heat transfer surface 11a is the backrest of the chair, this may not be the case. It is preferable that the furniture 11 has a part that comes into contact with the human body, and may be, for example, a chaise longue, a sofa, a bed, a desk, a table, or the like.

It is suitable that the heat transfer surface 11a is provided at a portion of the furniture 11 that comes into contact with a person. This is to provide a comfortable temperature to the part of the human body that is in direct or indirect contact with the heat transfer surface 11a via the heat transfer surface 11a. For example, when the furniture 11 is a chair, a chaise longue, or a sofa, the heat transfer surface may be provided on the seat or backrest, or the seat or backrest itself may be the heat transfer surface. Further, for example, when the furniture 11 is a bed, the heat transfer surface may be provided on the bed surface, or the bed surface itself may be the heat transfer surface. Further, for example, when the furniture 11 is a desk or a table, the heat transfer surface may be provided on the top plate, or the top plate itself may be the heat transfer surface. One piece of furniture 11 may have one heat transfer surface, or may have two or more heat transfer surfaces.

Water is supplied to the heat exchanger 13 from the outside via the flow pipe 12. The water supplied from the outside is not particularly limited, but may be unused water, industrial water, gray water such as rainwater, or tap water. It may be cold water or hot water that has been used for temperature adjustment in an air conditioner, or it may be water whose temperature has been adjusted for the temperature-controlled furniture 1. The unused water may be groundwater, spring water, seawater, river water, reservoir water, or the like. Since some buildings are equipped with spring water tanks that store spring water, the temperature-controlled furniture 1 may use the spring water stored in the spring water tanks. In addition, if unused water is used to cool or heat the heat transfer surface 11a, or cold water or hot water that has been used for temperature adjustment in an air conditioner is used, preparation of water to be supplied from the outside to the temperature-controlled furniture 1 is required. Since no excess energy is used in the process, energy savings can be achieved.

The heat exchanger 13 performs heat exchange between water supplied from the outside via the flow pipe 12 and a liquid heat medium flowing through the flow pipe 14 . The type of heat exchanger 13 does not matter. The heat exchanger 13 may be of a tube type, a plate type, or another type, for example. In addition, when the water supplied from the outside is seawater, the heat exchanger 13 may be made of resin, for example. The heat medium may be, for example, water, antifreeze water, oil, or the like. Note that the water supplied from the outside via the flow pipe 12 is returned to a spring water tank, the sea, a river, etc. via the flow pipe 12, for example, after exchanging heat with the heat medium in the heat exchanger 13. It can also be washed away into the sewer.

The flow pipe 14 is a pipe for circulating a heat medium between the heat exchanger 13 and the heat transfer surface 11a, and at least one pipe is used to circulate the heat medium between the heat transfer surface 11a and the heat transfer medium. A section is disposed on the heat transfer surface 11a. Note that, as described above, since the heat transfer surface 11a is a surface that comes into contact with the human body, the flow pipe 14 is disposed on the opposite side of the heat transfer surface 11a that directly or indirectly contacts the human body. It is preferable that Hereinafter, the side of the heat transfer surface 11a that directly or indirectly contacts the human body may be referred to as the front surface, and the side on which the flow pipe 14 is disposed may be referred to as the back surface.

At least a portion of the flow pipe 14 and the heat transfer surface 11a may be in direct contact with each other, or may be in contact with each other via another member (for example, a metal plate described below). Note that it is preferable that heat exchange be performed efficiently between the heat transfer surface 11a and the liquid heat medium flowing through the flow pipe 14. Therefore, for example, the flow pipe 14 may be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as metal, particularly copper, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, or the like. Note that, for example, the portion of the flow pipe 14 that contacts the heat transfer surface 11a is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, and the other portions are made of a material that has a higher thermal conductivity than the portion that contacts the heat transfer surface 11a. It may be made of a low-quality material (for example, resin). Alternatively, the flow pipe 14 may be fixed to a metal plate having high thermal conductivity such as a copper plate, and the metal plate may be fixed so as to be in surface contact with the heat transfer surface 11a. Further, for example, the portion of the flow pipe 14 that directly or indirectly contacts the heat transfer surface 11a may be a D-shaped pipe having a D-shaped cross section. By bringing the planar portion of the flow pipe 14 into direct or indirect surface contact with the heat transfer surface 11a, efficient heat exchange can be performed between the heat medium and the heat transfer surface 11a. good.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flow pipe 14 is provided with a pump 15 for feeding an internal heat medium and a valve 16 for adjusting the amount of heat medium delivered. For example, the flow rate of the heat medium may be adjusted by adjusting the delivery amount of the pump 15, the flow rate of the heat medium may be adjusted by adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the valve 16, or both. There may be. Therefore, at least one of the pump 15 and the valve 16 may function as an adjustment section for adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium. This adjustment may be performed manually or automatically, for example. In the case of manual operation, for example, the user may manually increase or decrease the flow rate of the heat medium. In the automatic case, a temperature control section (not shown) may automatically feedback control the flow rate of the heat medium so that the temperature of the heat transfer surface 11a becomes a set temperature. In this case, the temperature of the heat transfer surface 11a may be acquired by a temperature sensor and input to the temperature control section.

Furthermore, the flow pipe 12 may be provided with an adjustment section for adjusting the flow rate of water supplied from the outside. The regulating part may also be, for example, a pump, a valve, or both. Furthermore, if the flow pipe 12 is provided with an adjustment section, the temperature of the heat medium can also be adjusted by using the adjustment section to adjust the flow rate of water supplied from the outside. Therefore, when the flow tube 12 is provided with an adjustment section, the flow tube 14 may or may not be provided with an adjustment section. That is, at least one of the flow pipe 12 and the flow pipe 14 may be provided with an adjustment section.

Here, the temperature of water supplied from the outside will be explained. In the case of cooling the heat transfer surface 11a during summer or the like, the temperature of the water supplied from the outside may be 20° C. or higher. In air conditioning, cooling cannot be performed using cold water of 20°C or higher, but when cooling the human body by directly or indirectly contacting the human body, such as in temperature-controlled furniture 1, even cold water of 20°C or higher cannot be used. This is because sufficient effects can be obtained. Note that the temperature of the water supplied from the outside when cooling the heat transfer surface 11a may be 5° C. or more lower than the temperature around the furniture 11. For example, if the temperature around the furniture 11 is 32°C, the temperature of the water supplied from the outside may be 27°C or lower. As described above, although it may depend on the temperature around the furniture 11, the lower limit of the temperature of the water supplied from the outside when cooling the heat transfer surface 11a may be, for example, 20°C or higher, or 23°C or higher. The temperature may be 25°C or higher. Further, the upper limit of the temperature of the water supplied from the outside when cooling the heat transfer surface 11a may be, for example, 30°C or less, 28°C or less, or 25°C or less.

Further, when heating the heat transfer surface 11a during winter or the like, the temperature of water supplied from the outside may be 45° C. or lower. In air conditioning, heating cannot be performed using hot water of 45°C or lower, but when heating the human body by directly or indirectly contacting the human body, as in the case of temperature-controlled furniture 1, even hot water of 45°C or lower cannot be used. This is because sufficient effects can be obtained. Note that the temperature of the water supplied from the outside when heating the heat transfer surface 11a may be 5° C. or more higher than the temperature around the furniture 11. For example, if the temperature around the furniture 11 is 10°C, the temperature of the water supplied from the outside may be 15°C or higher. As described above, although it may depend on the temperature around the furniture 11, the upper limit of the temperature of the water supplied from the outside when heating the heat transfer surface 11a may be, for example, 45°C or lower, or 40°C or lower. The temperature may be 35°C or lower, 30°C or lower, or 25°C or lower. Further, the lower limit of the temperature of water supplied from the outside when heating the heat transfer surface 11a may be, for example, 15°C or higher, 20°C or higher, or 25°C or higher.

Next, how to use the temperature-controlled furniture 1 will be explained. First, by operating a pump (not shown), water from the outside is supplied to the heat exchanger 13 via the flow pipe 12. Further, by opening the valve 16 and operating the pump 15, the heat medium is caused to flow through the flow pipe 14, and the heat medium that has been heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 13 is supplied to the heat transfer surface 11a.

By doing so, for example, when cooling the heat transfer surface 11a, the heat medium can be cooled by water supplied from the outside, and heat exchange is performed between the heat medium and the heat transfer surface 11a. By doing so, the heat transfer surface 11a can be cooled. Therefore, the back of the user sitting on the furniture 11, which is a chair, can be cooled, and for example, even when the furniture 11 is placed outdoors in the summer, it is possible to maintain a comfortable temperature environment for the user. become able to.

Further, for example, when heating the heat transfer surface 11a, the heat medium can be heated by water supplied from the outside, and heat exchange is performed between the heat transfer medium and the heat transfer surface 11a, thereby increasing the heat transfer. The surface 11a can be heated. Therefore, it is possible to warm the back of the user who is sitting on the furniture 11, which is a chair, and for example, even when the furniture 11 is placed outdoors in winter, it is possible to maintain a comfortable temperature environment for the user. It becomes like this.

The heat exchanger 13 and the like may be placed at a different position from the furniture 11, or may be placed on the back side of the furniture 11. FIG. 2 is a transparent perspective view showing the temperature-controlled furniture 1 in which the heat exchanger 13 is arranged under the seat surface of the furniture 21, which is a bench. The heat transfer surface 21a of the furniture 21 shown in FIG. 2 is a combination of a seat surface and a backrest, and a heat medium flow pipe 14 is disposed on the back side thereof. In addition, in FIG. 2, the flow pipe 12 of water supplied from the outside and the adjustment part for adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium of the flow pipe 14 are omitted. By providing the heat exchanger 13 on the back surface of the furniture 21 in this manner, the temperature-controlled furniture 1 can be configured to be compact as a whole.

As described above, according to the temperature-controlled furniture 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a comfortable temperature to a person who touches the heat transfer surfaces 11a, 21a of the furniture 11, 21. As a result, even if the furniture 11, 21 is placed outdoors, the user's comfort can be improved. For example, when the furniture 21, which is a chaise longue, is placed in an open space such as a train station, it becomes possible to maintain the thermal comfort of the person sitting on the chaise lounge. Moreover, since the parts of the human body that are in direct or indirect contact with the heat transfer surfaces 11a and 21a can be heated or cooled without using air, efficiency can be improved. Therefore, even if water supplied from outside is generated using a heat source device such as a boiler or refrigerator, it can warm or cool the human body more efficiently than air conditioning.

Furthermore, since the human body is heated or cooled without passing through the air, water with a higher temperature than cold water used in air conditioning or water with a lower temperature than hot water used in air conditioning can be used. Therefore, unused water, cold water or hot water that has been used for temperature adjustment in an air conditioner can be used as water supplied from the outside. For example, if the temperature of the environment in which the furniture 21, which is a chaise longue, is placed exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, even if the water supplied from the outside is cold water at a high temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, it will not be possible to cool the human body. This makes it possible to use water at temperatures that would not normally be used for heating and cooling. By using unused water or cold or hot water that has been used for temperature adjustment in air conditioning as water supplied from outside, heat source devices such as boilers and refrigerators are no longer required, resulting in energy savings. be able to. As a result, it will also contribute to suppressing heat islands.

Furthermore, by being able to adjust the flow rate of water or heat medium supplied from the outside, it is possible to maintain the desired temperature of the heat transfer surfaces 11a, 21a. Therefore, for example, the user can adjust the flow rate of the heat medium to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Note that the temperature-controlled furniture 1 may be one that warms the heat transfer surface 11a, etc., may be one that cools the heat transfer surface 11a, etc., or may be able to heat or cool the heat transfer surface 11a, etc. It may be something that can be done.

Next, a modification of the temperature-controlled furniture 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
[Sheet-like member with heat storage properties]
As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature-controlled furniture 1 may further include a sheet-like member 22 provided on the surface of the heat transfer surface 21a. The sheet-like member 22 has heat storage properties. The heat storage property may be, for example, a heat retention property that can maintain a high temperature, or a cold retention property that can maintain a low temperature. When the temperature-controlled furniture 1 is used to warm the human body (for example, when the heat transfer surface 21a is heated), it is preferable that the sheet-like member 22 has heat retention properties, When the furniture 1 is used to cool the human body (for example, when the heat transfer surface 21a is cooled), it is preferable that the sheet-like member 22 has cold retention properties. Note that the sheet-like member 22 may be, for example, a heat storage sheet. In addition, the sheet-like member 22 has elastic force, and when the human body comes into contact with it, the contact area with the human body increases, compared to, for example, a sheet-like member that does not have elasticity. It's okay. In this way, heat retention or cold retention is performed by the sheet-like member 22 having heat storage properties, thereby making it possible to stably provide a comfortable temperature to a person who touches the sheet-like member 22. Note that it usually takes time for the sheet-like member 22 with heat storage properties to be warmed or cooled by a heat medium, but even before the human body comes into contact with the sheet-like member 22, the heat exchanger 13 and maintains the sheet-like member 22 at a desired temperature by heat exchange between the heat medium and the heat transfer surface 21a, when the human body comes into contact with the sheet-like member 22, the sheet-like member The member 22 can be kept at a desired temperature, and the human body can be efficiently heated or cooled. As the sheet-like member 22, for example, a commercially available sheet-like cold pack or heat pack may be used.

[Multiple flow pipes arranged independently on the heat transfer surface]
It is assumed that the furniture 11 shown in FIG. 4 has a heat transfer surface 11b that is a seat surface as well as a heat transfer surface 11a that is a backrest. A plurality of flow pipes 14a and 14b are independently arranged on the heat transfer surfaces 11a and 11b, respectively. The plurality of flow pipes 14a, 14b being arranged independently may mean that the heat medium flowing through each flow pipe 14a, 14b can be adjusted independently. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the flow pipe 14a may be provided with a pump 15a and a valve 16a, and the flow pipe 14b may be provided with a pump 15b and a valve 16b. In this way, when a plurality of flow pipes 14a, 14b are independently arranged on the heat transfer surfaces 11a, 11b, the temperature control furniture 1 adjusts the flow rate of the heat medium for each flow pipe 14a, 14b. Preferably, a plurality of adjustment parts are provided for each adjustment. In addition, in FIG. 4, at least one of the pump 15a and the valve 16a serves as a heat medium regulating section for the flow pipe 14a, and at least one of the pump 15b and valve 16b serves as a heat medium regulating section for the flow pipe 14b. Further, the plurality of flow pipes 14a, 14b are each connected to a heat exchanger 13, and the heat medium flowing through the plurality of flow pipes 14a, 14b is exchanged with water supplied from the outside by the heat exchanger 13, respectively. heat exchange will take place.

By doing so, the flow rates of the heat medium flowing through the flow pipes 14a and 14b can be adjusted independently, and the temperatures of the heat transfer surfaces 11a and 11b can be adjusted independently. For example, when cooling the heat transfer surfaces 11a and 11b, the degree of cooling of the heat transfer surface 11b, which is the seat surface, can be weakened, and the degree of cooling of the heat transfer surface 11a, which is the backrest, can be increased.

In addition, although FIG. 4 demonstrated the case where the flow pipes 14a and 14b were provided in two independent heat transfer surfaces 11a and 11b, respectively, that is not necessary. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of heat medium flow pipes may be independently provided on one heat transfer surface 21a. In FIG. 5, three heat medium flow pipes (not shown) are independently provided in three regions 21a-1, 21a-2, and 21a-3 of the heat transfer surface 21a. do. Further, the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the three flow pipes can be adjusted by an adjustment section (not shown) independently provided for each flow pipe. By doing this, for example, when a person sits only in the area 21a-1, the heat medium can be made to flow only through the flow pipes provided in the area 21a-1. Therefore, temperature can be adjusted only in areas where people are present, making it possible to save energy. Note that when a plurality of heat medium flow pipes are independently arranged on one heat transfer surface 21a, the plurality of flow pipes are arranged in different regions of the heat transfer surface 21a as described above. It is preferable that they are respectively provided. This is because it is preferable to be able to change the flow rate of the heat medium for each region.

In addition, as described above, in the case where a plurality of heat medium flow pipes are independently arranged on the heat transfer surface and each flow pipe is provided with an adjustment section, the heat medium of each flow pipe is The flow rate may be automatically controlled. In this case, for example, pressure may be applied to each location where an independent heat medium flow pipe is provided (for example, heat transfer surfaces 11a, 11b, regions 21a-1, 21a-2, 21a-3). A pressure sensor is provided for detection, and when the pressure sensor detects contact with a human body, the flow of the heat medium is controlled by adjusting the adjustment section of the flow pipe where the pressure sensor is installed. However, if this is not the case, the heat medium may be controlled not to flow by adjusting the adjustment section of the flow pipe at the location where the pressure sensor is provided. By doing this, for example, in the temperature-controlled furniture 1 shown in FIG. 5, when a person sits in the area 21a-2, the area 21a-2 is heated or cooled, and the areas 21a-1, 21a- When no one is sitting in area 3, heating and cooling of areas 21a-1 and 21a-3 can be prevented.

[Furniture other than chairs]
The furniture 11 included in the temperature-controlled furniture 1 may be other than a chair, as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the furniture 31 may be a bed, and as shown in FIG. 7, the furniture 41 may be a desk. Regarding the furniture 31 that is a bed, a heat medium flow pipe 14 may be provided on the back side of the heat transfer surface 31a that is the bed surface. Further, regarding the furniture 41 that is a desk, a heat medium flow pipe 14 may be provided on the back side of the heat transfer surface 41a that is a top plate. Moreover, the heat exchanger 13 may be similarly arranged on the back side of the heat transfer surfaces 31a and 41a. By doing this, for example, the whole body of a person sleeping on the furniture 31, which is a bed, can be warmed or cooled, and the furniture 41, which is a desk, can be placed on the top plate of a person who is using it. This will allow you to warm or cool your arm. Note that in FIGS. 6 and 7, the flow pipe 12 of water supplied from the outside and the adjustment section for adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium in the flow pipe 14 are omitted.

[Heat exchanger arrangement]
As mentioned above, the heat exchanger 13 may or may not be attached to a part of the furniture 11, 21, 31, 41, such as on the back side of the heat transfer surface. In the latter case, for example, the heat exchanger 13 may be arranged separately from the furniture, and the heat exchanger 13 and the furniture may be connected via the flow pipe 14. When the heat exchanger 13 and the furniture are far apart, the flow pipe 14 between the heat exchanger 13 and the furniture may be surrounded by a heat insulating material or the like as appropriate. Moreover, when the heat exchanger 13 is arranged separately from the furniture, one heat exchanger 13 may supply the heat medium to a plurality of pieces of furniture.

In addition, in this embodiment, the temperature-controlled furniture 1 has been described that is equipped with adjusting parts such as the pump 15 and the valve 16. However, if it is not necessary to adjust the heat transfer surface 11a etc. to a desired temperature, The furniture 1 does not need to be equipped with an adjustment section. Even in that case, by exchanging heat between the heat medium of the flow pipe 14 and the heat transfer surface 11a etc., the heat transfer surface 11a etc. can be cooled or warmed, and the heat transfer surface Since the temperature of the parts 11a and the like can be changed, the temperature in the temperature-controlled furniture 1 can be adjusted in a broad sense (e.g., increase in temperature or decrease in temperature). Further, even if the flow rate of the heat medium is not adjusted, it is preferable that the heat medium flow pipe 14 includes a pump 15 for feeding the heat medium. If the flow rate is not adjusted, the pump 15 may send the heat medium at a constant flow rate.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the flow rate of water supplied from the outside may be controlled based on the temperature of the water supplied from the outside and the temperature of the surroundings of the furniture 11 and the like. Specifically, the temperature-controlled furniture 1 has a reception part that receives the temperature of water supplied from the outside and the temperature of the surroundings of the furniture 11, etc., and the smaller the absolute value of the difference between the two temperatures, the more The device may further include a control unit that controls the flow rate of water supplied from the outside so that the amount of water supplied is increased. This is because if the absolute value of the difference between both temperatures is small, more water needs to be supplied from the outside to cool or heat the heat medium. Note that when the temperature of the surroundings of the furniture 11, etc. is on the target side in the temperature adjustment direction with respect to the temperature of the water supplied from the outside, the control unit controls the flow rate of the water and heat medium supplied from the outside. may be controlled so that it becomes 0. That is, the control unit may control the temperature control furniture 1 so that the temperature is not adjusted. This is because in that case, the temperature of the heat transfer surface 11a etc. cannot be changed toward the target side in the temperature adjustment direction. Note that the target side in the temperature adjustment direction is the lower temperature side when the purpose is to cool the human body, and the higher temperature side when the purpose is to warm the human body. Specifically, when the purpose is to cool the human body, when the temperature around the furniture 11 etc. is lower than the temperature of the water supplied from the outside, the temperature of the water supplied from the outside is lower than the temperature of the water supplied from the outside. The temperature around the furniture 11 and the like will be on the target side in the temperature adjustment direction. The temperature around the furniture 11 etc. may be, for example, the temperature of the heat transfer surface 11a etc., or the temperature near the heat transfer surface 11a etc.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, each process or each function may be realized by being centrally processed by a single device or a single system, or may be realized by being distributedly processed by multiple devices or multiple systems. This may be realized by

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that various modifications can be made, and these are also included within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, the temperature-controlled furniture according to the present invention has the effect of efficiently providing a comfortable temperature to the person touching the temperature-controlled furniture, and is useful as furniture such as chairs and beds.

1 Temperature control furniture 11, 21, 31, 41 Furniture 11a, 11b, 21a, 31a, 41a Heat transfer surface 14, 14a, 14b Distribution pipe 13 Heat exchanger 15, 15a, 15b Pump 16, 16a, 16b Valve 22 Sheet Element

Claims (7)

Furniture that has a heat transfer surface that is in direct or indirect contact with the human body ;
A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water supplied from the outside and a liquid heat medium;
a flow pipe for the heat medium, at least a portion of which is disposed on the heat transfer surface so that heat exchange is performed between the heat transfer surface and the heat medium;
The furniture is temperature-controlled furniture, which is a chair, a chaise longue, a sofa, a bed, a desk, or a table. The temperature-controlled furniture according to claim 1, wherein the water supplied from the outside is unused water such as groundwater, spring water, seawater, or river water. The temperature-controlled furniture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature of the water supplied from the outside is 20° C. or higher when the heat transfer surface is cooled. The temperature-controlled furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature of the water supplied from the outside is 45°C or less when the heat transfer surface is heated. The temperature-controlled furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an adjustment section for adjusting the flow rate of at least one of the water supplied from the outside and the heat medium. A plurality of flow pipes are independently arranged in a plurality of different regions of one heat transfer surface of the furniture or on a plurality of heat transfer surfaces of the furniture,
The temperature-controlled furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a plurality of adjustment units for adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium for each of the flow pipes. The temperature-controlled furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a sheet-like member having heat storage properties provided on the surface of the heat transfer surface.

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