METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC HEATING AND COOLING
A thermoelectric device comprising an elongated panel, formed of a thermally insulating material, and having a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors inside the insulating material and expanded conductors outside the insulating material is combined with other layers for leakage current interception, bodily fluid absorption, and pillars that preserve pressure re-distribution. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into a variety of surfaces or enclosures needing heating or cooling and manufactured using pre-existing automated equipment.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/680,405, files Aug. 7, 2012, and No. 61/716,671, filed Oct. 22, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated hereby reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn our earlier U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 13/101,015 filed May 4, 2011 and Ser. No. 13/394,288 filed Mar. 5,2012 and PCT Application Serial Nos. PCT/US1 1/51227 filed Sep. 12, 2011 and PCT/US12/45443 filed Jul. 3, 2012, we describe a thermoelectric heating and cooling system comprising a connected string of thermoelectric elements woven or stuffed or layered into an insulating panel, which may be comprised of a soft material like foam, memory foam, bailing, or natural fabrics. A conductor material is expanded on either side of the panel to distribute heat on one side and cooling on the other. Such a material or surface upgraded with thermoelectric heating and cooling in this manner is called a distributed thermoelectric panel. In our earlier applications, integration of that insulating panel within mattresses, chairs, and blankets was also described. The end result was a relatively low cost, uniformly distributed addition of heating and cooling to bedding, seats, blankets, and other products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides various enhancements and improvements to heated and cooled products over the prior art, and also integration of thermoelectric heating and cooling panels into seat cushions, wheelchairs, hospital beds and bed tops, and pet beds. In addition, the present invention provides enhancements and improvements to the manufacturing of components of distributed thermoelectric panels for use in a variety of these and other products. Finally, the present invention provides improvements in the power delivery of distributed thermoelectric systems for increased mobility.
More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, we provide a distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling panel for use in hospital beds and wheelchairs that achieves low leakage current, compatibility with incontinence pads, and preservation of pressure distribution of underlying support surfaces. We provide a process for automated manufacturing of the components needed for distributed thermoelectric products utilizing both expandable stranded wires and flexible circuit configurations. We provide a heated and cooled seat topper that maintains the original and arbitrary shape of a seat cushion. Finally, we provide an elevated pet bed with heating and cooling for use by animals.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts, and wherein
Many hospital beds have pressure redistribution characteristics to prevent or reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. Some of these beds alternate pressure between two or more sets of supporting areas to prevent any one portion of the body from being subjected to high pressure for too long. Other beds have an array of mushroom shapes of foam in order to distribute pressure as much as possible. Still other beds have an array of air bladders in which air may flow from one bladder to the others to balance the pressure distribution. Cooling of the skin has been shown to further prevent or decrease the incidence of pressure ulcers, beyond the benefits of pressure-redistribution alone. Hence, a need exists to provide a cooling layer that retains the pressure distribution characteristics of the underlying surface.
With the cooling power provided by each thermoelectric chip available today, typically hundreds of such chips are needed in a heated and cooled product. The thermoelectric string also needs to consist of hundreds of segments of expandable conductors such as stranded wire and hundreds of strain reliefs. Inserting each thermoelectric junction individually requires hundreds of insertions into the insulating and airflow layers. Hence, the need exists to automate the process for fabricating the thermoelectric string and for inserting the string into the insulator to make a thermoelectric panel.
The second machine 502 in
The third machine in
Distributed thermoelectric panels using this invention and others by the same inventors enable the addition of heating and cooling to any seating or sleeping surface. However, many such surfaces require mobility, such as office chairs on wheels. These products require delivery of power to the panel using wireless or other means that does not inhibit or restrict the mobility.
One application for heated and cooled seating is a seat or back cushion that is sized comparably to such cushions readily available and powered using a cord or a battery. Such a cushion is illustrated in
Various changes may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1-27. (canceled)
28. A thermoelectric device for heating or cooling, comprising:
- a panel comprising a substrate material that is electrically insulating, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors located at least in part inside the substrate material and expanded conductors located at least in part outside the substrate material as part of a flexible circuit, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric elements subjects a space adjacent to the panel to heating or cooling at low leakage current upon application of power to the plurality of thermoelectric elements; and
- a frame adjacent to the panel, wherein the frame supports the panel during operation of the thermoelectric device to subject the space adjacent to the panel to heating or cooling.
29. The device of claim 28, further comprising a waterproof cover disposed between the expanded conductors and a surface of the thermoelectric device.
30. The device of claim 28, further comprising a top pad with reservoirs disposed between the expanded conductors.
31. The device of claim 28, further comprising an airflow layer adjacent to the panel.
32. The device of claim 31, wherein the airflow layer comprises a porous cover combined with a blower fan, and wherein air from the blower fan is sourced from one or more sides or edges of the porous cover and exits in multiple directions.
33. The device of claim 28, further comprising a wireless power transmitter and receiver for powering the thermoelectric device.
34. The device of claim 28, wherein the substrate material is thermally insulating.
35. The device of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels is arranged to be selectively turned on and off to regulate cooling or heating in response to local pressure, local temperature, local body sensitivity, or combination thereof.
36. A thermoelectric device for heating or cooling, comprising:
- a panel comprising a substrate material that is electrically insulating, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors located at least in part inside the substrate material and expanded conductors located at least in part outside the substrate material as part of a flexible circuit;
- a matrix of support pillars adjacent to the panel, wherein the support pillars are independently moveable, and wherein the support pillars redistribute a pressure applied to a surface of the panel; and
- a frame adjacent to the panel, wherein the frame supports the panel during operation of the thermoelectric device to subject the space adjacent to the panel to heating or cooling.
37. The device of claim 36, wherein the support pillars comprise a spacer mesh, foam, fluid bladder, gel, or any combination thereof.
38. The device of claim 36, wherein the matrix of support pillars is included in an air flow layer.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the airflow layer comprises a porous cover combined with a blower fan, and wherein air from the blower fan is sourced from one or more sides or edges of the porous cover and exits in multiple directions.
40. The device of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels is arranged to be selectively turned on and off to regulate cooling or heating in response to local pressure, local temperature, local body sensitivity, or combination thereof.
41. A thermoelectric device for heating or cooling, comprising:
- a panel comprising a substrate material that is electrically insulating, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors located at least in part inside the substrate material and expanded conductors located at least in part outside the substrate material as part of a flexible circuit;
- a frame adjacent to the panel, wherein the frame supports the panel during operation of the thermoelectric device to subject the space adjacent to the panel to heating or cooling; and
- a movable conductor in contact with an array of stationary electrodes in electrical communication with a power source, wherein the movable conductor and array of stationary electrodes provide power to the plurality of thermoelectric elements upon contact between the movable conductor and the array of stationary electrodes.
42. The device of claim 41, wherein a given electrode of the array of stationary electrodes is connected to the power source or ground voltage and adapted to come in contact with the movable conductor.
43. The device of claim 42, further comprising diodes or rectifiers for selecting which electrode of the array of stationary electrodes provides power.
44. The device of claim 41, wherein the movable conductor is mounted on or adjacent to wheels of a rolling chair or rolling bed.
45. The device of claim 41, wherein the power source is a battery.
46. The device of claim 41, further comprising a plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels is arranged to be selectively turned on and off to regulate cooling or heating in response to local pressure, local temperature, local body sensitivity, or combination thereof.
47. The device of claim 41, wherein the movable conductor is included in a movable conducting brush.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 24, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2017
Inventors: Tarek Makansi (Tucson, AZ), Steven Wood (Tucson, AZ), Michael J. Berman (Tucson, AZ), Mark Nelsen Evers (Tucson, AZ), John L. Franklin (Tucson, AZ), Steve Thomson (Tucson, AZ)
Application Number: 15/468,407