JPH01190355A - Heating element and glove using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a flexible heating element and to impart heat to a required place, by providing a heat source to a heat conductive structure excellent in flexibility, light in its wt. and capable of being freely changed in its shape to a certain degree. CONSTITUTION:In a heat conductive structure 1, a proper amount of an operation fluid is packed in a hermetically closed container and heat is applied to an evaporation part at the time of operation to evaporate the liquid operation fluid packed in the container and the generated vapor of the operation fluid moves to a condensing part to be cooled from the outside and becomes the liquid operation fluid by condensation. At this time, the latent heat due to phase change of the operation fluid is discharged to the outside. By mounting a heat insulating material 3 to the heat conductive structure 1, the heat of a heat generator 2 is discharged to the outside only at the part not covered with the heat insulating material 3 and, therefore, said part is heated. By changing the size and shape of the heat insulating material, arbitrary heat transport becomes possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a heating element in which a heat source is installed in a heat transfer structure, and a glove using the heating element.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a conventional heating element such as a kotatsu, the feet in contact with the heat source are warm, but the back and hips are cold. In addition, warmers have the disadvantage that only the part that comes in contact with the body is warm, so if you want to warm the whole body, you need a large one, and it is also heavy.

It is also possible to consider incorporating a heat transfer element called a heat pipe into such a heating element, but conventional heat pipes are made of metal and have rigid properties, so there are no freedom of use. It has the following disadvantages.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat source to a heat transfer structure that is flexible, lightweight, and whose shape can be changed freely to a certain extent. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating element that is flexible and can provide heat to a place where heat is required by attaching the heating element.

(Means for solving problems) The present invention has the following configuration.

(1) A heat transfer structure consisting of a working fluid and a container enclosing the working fluid, and during operation, the volume of the container increases as the working fluid evaporates to form a gas space, and the heat transfer structure A heating element characterized in that a heat source is attached to a part of a transmission structure.

(2) The heating element according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid is a medium that causes a gas-liquid phase change.

(3) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the container is made of a sheet-like material selected from a polymeric material or a composite material of a polymeric material and an inorganic material.

(4) A claim in which the heat transfer structure has a container sealed with a material that has the property of adsorbing or capturing a working fluid.
1) The heating element described.

(5) The WA cell element according to claim (1), wherein the heat transfer structure is partially provided with a heat insulating material.

(6) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the heat transfer structure has a spacer enclosed within the container.

(7) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the heat transfer structure has a wick material enclosed in a container.

(8) The heating element according to claim (4), wherein the material having the property of adsorbing or capturing the working fluid is at least one selected from foam, microporous material, and fibrous material.

(9) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the heat source has a calorific value of 1 W/100 cm2 or more.

(10) A glove comprising the heating element according to claim (1).

The present invention will be explained in detail below.

The heating element of the present invention is an element that can heat a place to be warmed by transporting heat from a certain heat source to a place where it is needed. For example, if there is a part to be heated away from a certain heat source, that part When it is impossible to bring the heat source to the
It is characterized by the ability to heat the area.

The heat transfer structure in the present invention is a closed container that contains an appropriate amount of working fluid, and during operation, heat is applied from the heat source to the part where the heat source applies heat (hereinafter referred to as the evaporation part) to the contained liquid. The working fluid is evaporated to become working fluid vapor, and this vapor moves to a part that requires heat (hereinafter referred to as a condensing section), where it is cooled from the outside and condenses to form a liquid working fluid. It becomes a fluid. At this time, heat transfer is performed based on the principle that latent heat due to phase change of the working fluid is released to the outside.

In the present invention, attaching a heat source means that the heat source and the heat transfer structure may be in contact with each other or may be separated from each other, as long as the heat source can apply heat to a part of the heat transfer structure that transfers heat.
For example, any method of attaching a heat source that can transfer heat to a part of the heat transfer structure by contact heat conduction or non-contact radiant heat transfer may be used.

The configuration of the heating element of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, partial heat from a heating element 2, which is a heat source, can be diffused throughout the heat transfer structure 1. This heat can heat the surrounding area of the heat transfer structure 1.

In addition, in FIG. 2, the heat transfer structure 1 is partially fitted with the heat insulating material 3, so that the heat of the heating element 2 is released to the outside only in the part that is not covered with the heat insulating material 3. Therefore, that area is heated. By changing the size and shape of the heat insulating material, arbitrary heat transport becomes possible.

The heating element using a heat insulating material becomes more effective as the distance between the heat source and the area to be heated increases.

The sealed container used in the present invention is for containing a working fluid or a material that has the property of adsorbing or capturing the working fluid, and can take any form as long as it can be sealed. If it is made into a sheet (flat), it has the advantage of being extremely thin and highly flexible.

If the main constituent material of the heat transfer structure is a polymer material,
The heat transfer structure has the properties of polymer materials, such as flexibility, corrosion resistance, and light weight, making it possible to provide a lightweight and flexible heating element.

Here, the polymer material that is the constituent material of the sealed container refers to polymer materials such as polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin, and has gas barrier properties and compatibility with the working fluid, that is, non-solubility in the working fluid described below. It is applicable if it has the following. Examples include polyvinyl alcohol-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based resins, and the like. Preferably, a gas barrier polymer material such as polynylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, nylon, or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is used.

Although each of these polymeric materials can be applied alone, a composite sheet using two or more of these materials can easily obtain the desired sheet properties, that is, gas barrier properties, thermal adhesive sealing properties, or guaranteed strength during use. preferable. for example,
Composite sheets such as laminates or coatings of resins such as high-strength polyester and polyolefin with good gas barrier properties, as well as combinations thereof, can be applied as they have excellent gas barrier properties, adhesive properties, and durability. Furthermore, a composite sheet of polymer films having the above-mentioned preferable gas barrier properties, specifically, a film having good gas barrier properties such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyacrylonitrile, and a composite sheet having excellent gas barrier properties and adhesive properties may be used. A composite sheet with a polymer film such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or the like is preferably applied. Furthermore, for example, a sheet of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having good gas barrier properties may be laminated with easily adhesive polyethylene or the like.

On the other hand, a composite material made of a polymeric material and an inorganic substance includes AI, AlO3, ZnO2, TiO2,
It is coated, vapor-deposited, or sputtered with metal such as SnO2, ceramic, or the like to provide a rough gas barrier function. In the case of such a vapor-deposited composite material, the above-mentioned materials with good gas barrier properties can of course be used, but polymeric materials with somewhat poor gas barrier properties can also be used. Examples of such polymeric materials include nylon 6, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.

Further, the composite sheet includes not only a composite such as a laminate of the above-mentioned polymeric materials, but also a composite such as a laminate of a sheet made of the above-mentioned polymeric material and the above-mentioned metal or ceramic coating, or the above-described vapor-deposited material.

The shape of the polymeric material or the composite material of a polymeric material and an inorganic substance as used in the present invention includes any of a cylinder, a plate, and a film, but sheet-like materials such as a plate and a film are usually preferably used. In addition, even pipes, tubes, and hollow fibers can be used as composite materials.

The working fluid referred to in the present invention is a medium that conveys heat, and is selected from a medium that operates within the usable temperature range of the polymeric material constituting the closed container. Furthermore, the phase change of the working fluid is 2
A working fluid that is heated at temperatures of 0 to 45 degrees Celsius is effective as a heating element around the human body.

Here, the temperature range of 20 to 45 degrees Celsius is the temperature range that humans can experience in their living environment, and structures that operate in this temperature range and perform heat transfer will radiate appropriate heat from the human body and reduce body temperature. It is an important factor for maintaining the temperature.

Such working fluids are media that induce gas-liquid phase changes, such as acetaldehyde, isopentane,
Ethanethiol, isopropyl chloride, pentane, methyl formate, diethyl ether, dichloromethane, dibromodifluoromethane, ethyl bromide, tetramethylsilane, trichlorofluoromethane, trifluoroacetic anhydride, methyl trifluoroacetate, t-butylamine, methyl iodide,
Examples include media such as dimethyl sulfide. These can be operated in temperature environments surrounding the human body where flexibility is particularly required. If the substance has a gas-liquid phase change at 20 to 100°C, such as methanol, acetone, ethanol, ethyl formate, trichlorotrifluoroethane, and water, it can be heated to 2
It can also be operated at temperatures as low as 0-45°C.

On the other hand, the relationship between the container and the working fluid is such that the working fluid does not corrode the material of the container, and unless water is used as the working fluid, a polyvinyl alcohol container is preferable.

In order for the heat transfer structure in the heating element of the present invention to operate well, the working fluid contained therein must be well dispersed. It is necessary to smoothly evaporate, condense, and reflux the lJ fluid.

Therefore, materials that have the property of adsorbing or capturing working fluids, such as foams, microporous materials, fiber materials, etc., and processing agents that further increase adsorption properties are added to the interior of the container. Loading a material or the like makes it easier for the working fluid to diffuse during non-operation, and also helps in evaporation and reflux of the working fluid during operation. The materials that have the property of adsorbing or capturing the working fluid also include structures called spacers and wick materials, which will be described later.

The fibrous materials to be loaded into the container include fibrous structures such as knitted fabrics and non-woven fabrics, special lIi navy blue such as ultrafine fibers and porous fibers, and general fibers for clothing. For example, it may be an aggregate of threads made by twisting the multifilamen 1 to 1, but it is particularly preferable to use a nonwoven fabric with good liquid retention ability. The fiber material may be, for example, a synthetic fiber such as polyester, polyamide, or polyolefin.

In order for the working fluid to have an effective heating effect around the human body, it is necessary to reduce the pressure inside the container and cause evaporation and condensation in the range of 20 to 45°C.

The above-mentioned spacer is a structure for forming a vapor space of 1 atm or less of working fluid inside the closed container, and although it is flexible, it does not collapse under the external pressure of the container and is designed to prevent A material that can form a vapor space (a space under reduced pressure) even when the atmospheric pressure (1 atm) is high is selected. If such a space with an appropriate internal pressure (depressurized state) exists, evaporation and movement of the liquid will occur smoothly even at temperatures below the boiling point of 1 atm, and the heat of vaporization will be absorbed.

An appropriate internal pressure is, for example, in the case of n-pentane, it boils at 36°C at 1 atm, but to boil at 30'C it takes 0.
．． All you have to do is reduce the pressure to 77 atmospheres, and even if it boils at the surface temperature of the human body, the outside pressure (1 atmosphere) is stronger, so the container will not swell and explode.

The spacer may be, for example, a fluorine-based, silicon-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, polyolefin-based tube or pipe, or a material that has the property of adsorbing or capturing the working fluid inside the container. You can also do that.

For example, chemically resistant porous materials such as PVDF can be applied to nonwoven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nets, and woven fabrics made of synthetic fibers.

Furthermore, the inner surface of the container of the present invention having an uneven shape can also be used as a spacer.

In the nine heat transfer structures of the heating element of the present invention, it is necessary to continuously transport heat, and therefore the condensed working fluid must be transported from the heat source to the part receiving heat,
Therefore, wick material is needed.

The above-mentioned wick material refers to a material that exhibits the effect of returning the liquid working fluid to the evaporation section, and may have the same effect as the material or spacer that has the property of adsorbing or capturing the above-mentioned working fluid.

The heat source in the present invention may be of any structure and shape as long as it provides heat to the evaporation part of the heat transfer structure, and may have a power of 1W/100cm depending on how the heating element is used.
If it has a calorific value of 2 or more, it can act as a heating element for the human body.

This means that even when the human body is at rest, it emits 50 Kcal/m2h of heat m, and if no more heat is added, it will naturally cool down and feel cold. However, this is because if more heat is applied, the temperature on the surface of the human body can rise.

Here, heat sources include electric heating elements, chemical heating elements, heat storage elements, etc. Electric heating elements are heaters such as filament heating elements and planar heating elements, and chemical heating elements are heaters such as filament heating elements and planar heating elements. , quicklime, calcium chloride, etc., which release heat through chemical reactions, and heat storage bodies are those that store heat either explicitly or latently, such as water, rocks, soil, paraffins, and salt hydrates. , clathrate hydrates, and polymers. Specifically, there are electric heaters for kotatsu and stoves, disposable body warmers (M-type iron), and latent heat storage materials such as sodium acetate and polyethylene glycol.

As described in the examples, the heating element of the present invention is mainly used near the human body.
For this reason, it is best to use it in combination with flexible heat pipes, but it can also be used in other applications such as automobiles, housing equipment, and greenhouses.

Items that are used near the human body include gloves, socks, and kotatsu chairs. For example, with gloves, by using a heat transfer structure in combination with a warmer in the sleeve, the fingertips, which are difficult to warm with a warmer, can be It can be maintained at about ~35°C.

(Example) Container material 11 A laminate film of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyethylene, a polyester nonwoven fabric as a spacer and wick material, and trichlorotrifluoroethane (boiling point at 1 atm: 47 As shown in FIG. 3, a glove was fabricated using a heat transfer structure in which the inside of the container was depressurized and a heating element was incorporated inside the glove. The heat transfer structure 1 of the created glove is continuous in the form of a thin sheet from the back of the hand to the fingertips 4, and the heat transfer structure itself is flexible.
The gloves are also flexible. Since the heat transfer structure roughly reaches the fingertips 4, heat is transmitted to the fingertips 4 that are desired to be warmed.

A commercially available disposable warmer (5 lbs.
When a glove with a size of 3cm2 x 3cm2 is worn in contact with the heat transfer structure, the temperature of the fingertip is approximately 32℃, compared to a glove that does not incorporate a heat transfer structure, and the temperature of the fingertip is 5 to io'c. rose.

(Effect of the invention) The heating element of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) Heat transfer HA structure heat source (JF is used, so
Through the heat transfer WI structure, it is possible to heat areas where it is not possible to attach a heat source.

(2> If a polymer material is used for the heat transfer structure, it will be flexible and
It is lightweight and can be used in areas where flexibility around the human body is required.

(3) By choosing the heat source, there are no restrictions on where it can be used.

(4) By installing insulation materials, etc., there is no need to heat areas that you do not want to heat. In other words, it is possible to heat only the necessary areas.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of one example of a heating element according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of another example of a heating element according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of an example of a heating element according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a glove in an embodiment in which a heating element according to the embodiment is attached. 1: Heat transfer structure 2: Heating element 3: Heat insulating material 4: Fingertip

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A heat transfer structure consisting of a working fluid and a container enclosing the working fluid, and during operation, the volume of the container increases as the working fluid evaporates to form a gas space. A heating element characterized in that a heat source is attached to a part of the heat transfer structure. (2) The heating element according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid is a medium that causes a gas-liquid phase change. (3) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the container is made of a sheet-like material selected from a polymeric material or a composite material of a polymeric material and an inorganic material. (4) Claim (1) in which the heat transfer structure has a container sealed with a material that has the property of adsorbing or capturing a working fluid.
) mentioned heating elements. (5) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the heat transfer structure is partially provided with a heat insulating material. (6) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the heat transfer structure has a spacer enclosed within the container. (7) The heating element according to claim (1), wherein the heat transfer structure has a wick material enclosed within the container. (8) The heating element according to claim (4), wherein the material having the property of adsorbing or capturing the working fluid is at least one selected from foam, microporous material, and fibrous material. (9)
The heating element according to claim 1, wherein the heat source has a calorific value of 1 W/100 cm^2 or more. (10) A glove comprising the heating element according to claim (1).