Cooling device and method for hazardous materials suits
US5111668A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 1991 |
| Grant date | May 12, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B17/08
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A relatively lightweight cooling device and method utilizing adsorption of perspirated water vapor to permit evaporative cooling of a person wearing a sealed suit for defined time periods. The device can be constructed in the form of a rectangular pad or the like having an open cell foam adjacent the person's skin to permit static transport of perspirated water vapor to an adsorbent layer. The open cell foam or a separate material acts as a thermal insulator to prevent heat flow back toward the skin resulting from the exothermic heat of adsorption produced by the adsorbent layer. In lieu of static movement of the water vapor, a small fan can be operatively associated with the fan for actively moving the water vapor to a single point to enhance the evaporative cooling, particularly where a smaller amount of adsorbent material is used. The vest itself can be the evaporator and filled with working fluid which is vaporized as the evaporator section of the vest absorbs heat from the body; the vapor is transported to a bed which can contain a desiccant, molecular sieve, adsorbent or absorbent material. Alternatively, the wear's vest can be the adsorbent bed of the system initially comple…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.