KR20090115986A - Mattress capable for receiving heat expansion - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A thermal expansion acceptable mattress is provided, which minimizes damage of the circulating pipe according to the volume change of the thermal medium. CONSTITUTION: A thermal expansion acceptable mattress comprises a mattress part(100) and an operating unit(200). The mattress part comprises a cover(110) which covers the upper side and lower side; and a cold and warmth layer(120) which has the constant thickness inside. A circulating pipe(130) and a temperature sensor(140) filled with thermal medium are installed in cold and warmth layer. A circulating pipe is extended to the outside of cold and warmth layer. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of cold and warmth layer.

Description

Mattress CAPABLE FOR RECEIVING HEAT EXPANSION

The present invention relates to a mattress device using a thermoelectric module, and more particularly, to a mattress device for thermal expansion water capable of accommodating a volume change caused by heating and cooling of a heating medium filled in a circulation pipe.

In general, mattresses are beddings used for blankets, duvets or beds when sleeping on the floor or on the floor. In addition, the mattress serves as a cushioning material for hard floors and also serves as an insulator that does not affect the temperature of the floor surface.

Insulating the temperature of the floor alone is not enough to create a comfortable sleeping environment, and many efforts have been made to add cooling or heating functions to the mattress.

As one of these efforts, Utility Model Registration No. 20-0378388 has a temperature sensing sensor and a forward / backward switching circuit in addition to a circulation pipe filled with a heat medium inside the mattress and a circulation pump connected between the circulation pipe and the thermoelectric module. The mattress is explained. When the mattress temperature is higher than the set temperature, the mattress sends electricity to the thermoelectric module in the cooling direction when the temperature of the mattress is higher than the set temperature, and when the temperature of the mattress is lower than the set temperature, the mattress is heated in the heating direction. By letting go, you will maintain a pleasant sleeping environment.

When a current is connected by connecting different materials, the thermoelectric module using the Peltier effect, in which the temperature drops on one side and the temperature increases on the other side, can heat / cool the heating medium according to the direction of the current. have. Such thermoelectric modules have recently used semiconductors such as bismuth (Bi) and tellurium (Te), and include a reaction surface opposite to the action surface for heating / cooling the heat medium.

However, since a mattress using a conventional thermoelectric module uses the same heat medium for heating and cooling, there is a problem that the volume difference of the heat medium due to expansion and contraction is severe. In particular, since the circulation tube filled with the heat medium has a small diameter, the volume difference of the heat medium is negligible. Failure to accommodate such expansion may damage the circulation tube.

In order to solve this problem, a valve may be installed as used in a general heating facility. However, it is not suitable to maintain a vacuum in the circulation pipe for circulation and heat transfer of the heat medium. In addition, the use of the mattress is not only concerned about the leakage of the heat medium, but also has a problem that does not respond properly to the shrinkage.

Alternatively, a material such as silicone oil, which has a small volume change with temperature, may be used as a heat medium, but it is more expensive than water, and in this case, a pump using an underwater motor cannot be used for circulation of the heat medium. .

The present invention has been invented to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thermally expandable mattress device that minimizes breakage of the circulation pipe due to a change in volume of the heat medium.

The above object is, the mattress portion having a heat-resistant filled circulation tube is disposed inside, and having a heat-resistant layer portion is provided with a temperature sensor at a predetermined position; The mating unit and the circulation tube coupled to the operating portion for heating or cooling the heating medium, a portion of the circulation pipe is a buffer means for accommodating the volume change of the circulation pipe by the heating and cooling of the heating medium A thermal expansion acceptable mattress device is included.

Preferably, the operation unit, the heat sink filled with the heat medium; A thermoelectric module having a working surface in thermal contact with the heat medium of the heating sink and a reaction surface in contact with the working surface to heat or cool the heat medium; Forward and reverse switching circuit for switching the heating or cooling operation of the thermoelectric module; A pump for circulation of the heat medium; And it may include a microprocessor for controlling the forward and reverse switching circuit in accordance with the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor.

For example, the buffer means may be installed to replace a portion of the circulation pipe extending outside the cold and hot portion.

As another example, a protrusion may be formed from a circulation tube installed inside the cold / hot layer part and installed in the protrusion.

Preferably, the buffer means may be a bellows.

In addition, preferably, the buffer means may be provided with a spring for recovery after expansion.

According to the thermal expansion accommodating mattress device of the present invention described above, by installing the thermal expansion buffer means in the circulation pipe, there is an effect of preventing problems caused by the volume change of the heat medium with a simple configuration.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a thermal expansion acceptable mattress device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mattress device according to an embodiment includes a mattress unit 100 and an operation unit 200.

The mattress unit 100 includes a cover 110 covering the upper and lower surfaces and a cold / hot layer unit 120 having a predetermined thickness therein, and the cold / hot layer unit 120 includes a circulation tube 130 and a temperature sensing sensor filled with a heat medium. 140 is installed.

The circulation tube 130 is a thin tube appropriately disposed to evenly pass the entire interior of the cold / hot layer unit 120, and both ends thereof extend to the outside of the cold / hot layer unit 120, and a portion of the circulation tube 130 extends to the outside. The bellows (wrinkle pipe) 131 is installed to replace. The heat medium filled in the circulation tube 130 is mainly water, and is filled in a vacuum state. The temperature sensor 140 is installed at a predetermined position of the mattress and detects the temperature of the cold / hot layer unit 120.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation unit applied to the present invention, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a control unit applied to the present invention.

2, the operation unit 200 is located outside the mattress unit 100, and includes a control unit 210, a heating / cooling sink 220, and a thermoelectric module 230.

The controller 210 includes an A / D converter 212 and a thermoelectric module 230 for converting a temperature value detected analog from the keypad 211 and a temperature sensor 140 equipped with a temperature setting switch, a power switch, and the like to digital. The microcomputer for storing the temperature value set in the forward and reverse switching circuit 213 and the keypad 211 for converting the direction of the current entering into the control unit and controlling the forward and reverse switching circuit 213 according to the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor 140. A processor 214.

The heating / cooling sink 220 is connected to both ends of the circulation pipe 130 and filled with a heat medium therein, and includes a pump 221. The pump 221 is operated by the submersible motor, and circulates the heat medium inside the circulation tube 130. The thermoelectric module 230 receives electricity from the controller 210 and includes a reaction surface 231 for heating / cooling the heat medium and a reaction surface 232 coupled to the opposite side of the operating surface 231. An internal heat radiation fin 236 attached to the surface of the working surface 231 is inserted into the heat sink 220 to change the temperature of the heat medium. The reaction surface 232 has an exothermic / endothermic reaction opposite to the action surface 231, and attaches an external heat dissipation fin 233 and a heat dissipation fan 234 that emit heat or cold air generated at the reaction surface 232. . In addition, a heating means 235 is installed between the reaction surface 232 and the external heat dissipation fin 233 to heat the reaction surface 232. The kind of heating means 235 is not specifically limited, For example, a PTC heater, a ceramic heater, a film heater, etc. can be used. The heating means 235 operates only when the temperature of the reaction surface 232 decreases, that is, when heating the heat medium.

The mattress device having a thermoelectric module according to the present embodiment having the above configuration works as follows.

The microprocessor 214 compares the set temperature input by the user through the keypad 211 and the temperature of the mattress measured by the temperature sensor 140, and controls the reverse switching circuit 213 according to the result. The module 230 causes the heating medium to heat or cool. As a result, the temperature of the cold / hot layer unit 130 approaches the set temperature.

When the thermoelectric module 230 cools the heat medium, the working surface 231 is lowered in temperature, and the reaction surface 232 is raised in temperature. At this time, the working surface 231 absorbs heat from the heat medium so that the change in temperature is small, but the reaction surface 232 continues to rise in temperature. When the temperature difference between the working surface 231 and the reaction surface 232 becomes large, the thermoelectric module Since the efficiency of the 230 is lowered, it is not preferable, and heat is released through the external heat dissipation fin 233 and the heat dissipation fan 234 attached to the reaction surface 232.

On the contrary, when the thermoelectric module 230 heats the heating medium, the working surface 231 increases in temperature, and the reaction surface 232 decreases in temperature. At this time, the working surface 231 releases heat to the heat medium so that the temperature change is small, but the reaction surface 232 continues to decrease in temperature. In order to increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric module 230, the heating means 235 attached to the reaction surface 232 is operated to increase the temperature of the reaction surface 232 to reduce the temperature difference with the working surface 231. Accordingly, the temperature difference between the working surface 231 and the reaction surface 232 is not large, thereby increasing the efficiency of the thermoelectric module 230.

On the other hand, when the thermoelectric module 230 heats the heating medium, the heating medium expands in volume, and when cooling the heating medium, the heating medium contracts in volume. When the heat medium expands, the bellows 131 unfolds, and when the heat medium shrinks, the bellows 131 unfolds, thereby minimizing damage by removing the impact applied to the circulation pipe 130 due to the volume change of the heat medium. can do.

In addition, since the circulation pipe 130 inside the cold layer 130 has many curved portions, the length change due to heating and cooling of the heating medium affects the whole. Therefore, when the bellows 131 portion is installed in the portion extending outward of the cold / hot layer 130 of the circulation pipe 130, the change in the length of the circulation pipe 130 inside the cold / hot layer 130 is not affected.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a mattress device that can accommodate thermal expansion according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a protrusion is formed on a portion of the circulation pipe 130 positioned inside the cold / hot layer 130, and a bellows 131 is installed on the protrusion. Also in this embodiment, the volume change caused by heating and cooling of the heating medium does not affect other parts of the circulation pipe 130, so that only the length of the bellows 131 is changed.

On the other hand, by installing a spring in the bellows 131, it is possible to automatically restore the expanded or contracted bellows 131.

The present invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may variously change the present invention without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments, but should be construed as defined by the appended claims.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a thermal expansion acceptable mattress device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating part applied to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing a control unit applied to the present invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a thermal expansion acceptable mattress device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (6)

A mattress unit having a heat pipe filled with a heat medium, and having an inner temperature layer unit having a temperature sensor installed at a predetermined position; It is coupled to the mattress portion by placing the circulation pipe and includes an operation unit for heating or cooling the heat medium, A portion of the circulation tube is a thermal expansion-acceptable mattress device, characterized in that the thermal expansion buffer means for receiving a volume change of the circulation tube by the heating and cooling of the heat medium. The method according to claim 1, The operating unit, The heat sink filled with the heat medium; A thermoelectric module having a working surface in thermal contact with the heat medium of the heating sink and a reaction surface in contact with the working surface to heat or cool the heat medium; Forward and reverse switching circuit for switching the heating or cooling operation of the thermoelectric module; A pump for circulation of the heat medium; And a microprocessor controlling the forward / backward switching circuit according to the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor. The method according to claim 1, The thermal expansion buffer means is a thermal expansion accommodating mattress device, characterized in that installed to replace a portion of the circulation pipe extending to the outside of the cold and hot layer. The method according to claim 1, The cushioning means is a thermal expansion-receivable mattress device, characterized in that forming a projection from the circulation pipe provided in the cold and hot layer portion, and provided in the projection. The method according to claim 3 or 4, The cushioning means is a thermal expansion accommodating mattress device, characterized in that the bellows. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The cushioning means is a thermal expansion acceptable mattress device, characterized in that the spring is installed for recovery after expansion.

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