Heat exchanger useable in wearable fluid heater
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heat exchanger useable in a fluid heater, the heat exchanger comprising:
- two flexible walls, at least one of the walls for contacting a respective heating element of the heater when the heat exchanger is used in the heater, wherein one of the flexible walls is relatively thin polycarbonate sheet and the other flexible wall is a relatively thick microporous hydrophobic membrane; and
a flow path through the heater, defined at least in part by the at least one of the flexible walls, when the heat exchanger is used in the heater;
wherein the heat exchanger, when used in the heater, is physically unattached to the heater and is removable from the heater.
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Abstract
A heat exchanger that is useable in a wearable fluid heater is disclosed. Mechanisms may be used with or comprised in embodiments of the heat exchanger for purging gas from the heat exchanger.
175 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A heat exchanger useable in a fluid heater, the heat exchanger comprising:
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two flexible walls, at least one of the walls for contacting a respective heating element of the heater when the heat exchanger is used in the heater, wherein one of the flexible walls is relatively thin polycarbonate sheet and the other flexible wall is a relatively thick microporous hydrophobic membrane; and
a flow path through the heater, defined at least in part by the at least one of the flexible walls, when the heat exchanger is used in the heater;
wherein the heat exchanger, when used in the heater, is physically unattached to the heater and is removable from the heater. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A heat exchanger useable in a fluid heater, the heat exchanger comprising:
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two flexible walls, at least one of the walls for contacting a respective heating element of the heater when the heat exchanger is used in the heater;
a flow path through the heater, defined at least in part by at least one of the flexible walls when the heat exchanger is used in the heater, wherein the flow path includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a serpentine channel between the inlet and outlet; and
another fluid outlet, and being constructed such that when the heat exchanger is impinged upon by a pressurizing mechanism, the inlet and one of the outlets become occluded, and fluid and gas in the flow path may be forced by pressure forces applied to the heat exchanger by the pressurizing mechanism through the another outlet and out of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger, when used in the heater, is physically unattached to the heater and is removable from the heater. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A heat exchanger useable in a fluid heater, the heat exchanger comprising:
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two flexible walls, at least one of the walls for contacting a respective heating element of the heater when the heat exchanger is used in the heater;
a flow path through the heater, defined at least in part by the at least one of the flexible walls, when the heat exchanger is used in the heater; and
further comprising two fluid outlets and a fluid inlet, and a check valve that prevents a fluid flow into the heat exchanger via one of the outlets. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A heat exchanger useable in a fluid heater, the heat exchanger comprising:
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two flexible walls, at least one of the walls for contacting a respective heating element of the heater when the heat exchanger is used in the heater;
wherein one of the flexible walls is porous, anda flow path through the heater, defined at least in part by the at least one of the flexible walls, when the heat exchanger is used in the heater;
a pressure regulating valve for use in preventing ambient air from flowing into the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger, when used in the heater, is physically unattached to the heater and is removable from the heater. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification