Body cooling apparatus

• US 20040079517A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Med-Eng Systems Inc. (Contego AV Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Med-Eng Systems Inc. (Contego AV Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Voisine, Pierre, Bueley, Doug, Watters, Robert David, Tutton, John Charles
• Application Number:
  US10/282,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079517A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/46
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0053 Cooled garments
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/46 Storage or supply of water for drinking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/166 Hydration systems attached to the body by straps, e.g. incorporated in a backpack
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/20 of flexible material; Collapsible or stackable cups
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0213 for heating or cooling a liquid in a tank
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0477 the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag

Abstract

The present invention is a system for managing heat stress by both controlling the core body temperature of an individual and facilitating hydration. The system provides cooling to an individual through means of a liquid coolant such as water which is circulated by a pump through a heat exchanger to a heat exchange garment. The liquid coolant passes through the heat exchange garment where it extracts heat, increasing in temperature as a result of heat removed from the individual wearing the garment. The liquid coolant is then returned to the heat exchanger where it is again cooled. The cycle is then repeated. A drinking outlet provides a means for hydrating the wearer.

Claims

1. A portable personal cooling and hydration system comprising:

a heat exchange garment incorporating a garment inlet, a garment outlet and a garment fluid path extending from the garment inlet to the garment outlet;

a heat exchanger having an exchanger inlet, an exchanger outlet and a heat sink wherein the heat exchanger is adapted to receive a supply of fluid through the exchanger inlet and to emit cooled fluid from the exchanger outlet;

a pump;

a plurality of conduits interconnecting the garment fluid path, the heat exchanger and the pump in a circuit, the circuit being adapted to conduct a fluid in operation; and

a reservoir containing a drinkable fluid, associated with the heat exchanger, and incorporating a drinking outlet;

wherein the heat exchanger, the pump, the plurality of conduits and the reservoir are adapted to be carried by a user of the heat exchange garment.

2. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an exchanger fluid path from the exchanger inlet to the exchanger outlet and wherein the heat sink is external to the exchanger fluid path.

3. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 wherein the heat sink is the drinkable fluid.

4. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger, the pump, the plurality of conduits and the reservoir are adapted to be carried on the body of the user.

5. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 4 wherein the heat exchanger, the pump, the plurality of conduits and the reservoir are incorporated into a backpack.

6. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid replenishing reservoir within the circuit.

7. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 further comprising a quick disconnect between the garment fluid path and the circuit.

8. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 further comprising a bite valve at a free end of the drinking outlet.

9. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 7 further comprising a relief valve in the circuit which bypasses the heat exchange garment.

10. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 2 wherein the exchanger fluid path comprises copper tubing which defines a circuitous route through the heat sink.

11. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 3 wherein the reservoir further comprises a drain valve at a lower end.

12. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 3 wherein the reservoir further comprises an inlet hole at an upper end and a cap adapted to seal the inlet hole.

13. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 5 wherein the backpack is insulated.

14. A personal cooling and hydration system according to claim 1 wherein the drinkable fluid is in both a liquid and frozen state.