Variable stiffness blanket with variable heating

• US 9,585,198 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Modrzejewski, Brian S., Fenny, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US14/283,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20150341989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/04 Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/00 Materials specially adapted for outerwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0234 for the upper part of the trunk, e.g. bodice
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles

Abstract

A heater system includes a bag forming a cavity, a fluid bladder carried within the cavity and forming a fluidly sealed chamber. The fluid bladder being configured to store electrorheological fluid within a fluidly sealed chamber. The heater system further including an electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid and a heater blanket carried within the cavity. The method includes altering the electrorheological fluid with a current and providing heat with a heater blanket.

Claims

1. A heater system, comprising:

a first bag forming a cavity;

a fluid bladder carried within the cavity and forming a fluidly sealed chamber, the fluid bladder being configured to store electrorheological fluid within a fluidly sealed chamber;

an electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid; and

a heater blanket carried within the cavity;

a second bag secure to and placed adjacent to the first bag;

wherein current passing through the electrical wire changes the fluid properties of the electrorheological fluid; and

wherein the heater system creates heat, which in turn warms an object that the heater system is placed thereon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the heater blanket is composed of thermal conductive material.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

an electrical wire passing through thermal conductive material.

4. The system of claim 2, the heater system comprising:

an electrical wire configured to create heat to warm the object that the heater system is placed thereon.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second fluid bladder carried within a second cavity of the second bag, the second fluid bladder being configured to form a fluidly sealed second chamber to store electrorheological fluid therein.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a second electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid of the second fluid bladder.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a second heater blanket carried within the second cavity.

8. A vest, comprising:

a first bag forming a cavity;

a fluid bladder carried within the cavity and forming a fluidly sealed chamber, the fluid bladder being configured to store electrorheological fluid within a fluidly sealed chamber; and

an electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid;

a second bag secure to and placed adjacent to the first bag

wherein current passing through the electrical wire changes the fluid properties of the electrorheological fluid.

9. The vest of claim 8, further comprising:

a heater blanket carried within the cavity of the bag;

wherein the heater blanket creates heat, which in turn warms a surface that the vest is secured to.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the heater blanket composed of thermal conductive material.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an electrical wire passing through thermal conductive material.

12. The system of claim 9, the heater system comprising:

an electrical wire configured to create heat to warm the object that the heater system is placed thereon.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second fluid bladder carried within a second cavity of the second bag, the second fluid bladder being configured to form a fluidly sealed second chamber to store electrorheological fluid therein.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a second electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid of the second fluid bladder.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a second heater blanket carried within the second cavity.

16. A method to heat a surface, comprising:

creating a fluidly sealed first chamber;

storing a electrorheological fluid within the fluidly sealed first chamber;

creating a fluidly sealed second chamber;

storing a electrorheological fluid within the fluidly sealed second chamber;

altering the electrorheological fluid with an electrical current in the second chamber and in the first chamber; and

heating the surface with a heater blanket secured to the fluidly sealed first chamber;

wherein a stiffness of the first chamber is selectively varied compared to a stiffness of the second chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the feature of heating the surface is achieved by an electrical wire.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the feature of altering the electrorheological fluid is achieved by passing an electrical wire through the fluidly sealed first chamber.