HEATING SYSTEM FOR USE BY INDIVIDUALS

Abstract: The heating system consists of a chair with a device for the regulation of thermal comfort at an ambient temperature which lies below the normal comfortable temperature for the performance of sedentary work. The chair is fitted with one or more surfaces (1) which are able by reflection to reduce the loss of radiant heat from the individual to the surroundings. These surfaces may be fitted with electric heating elements for the purpose of providing additional thermal radiation in the direction of the user of the chair. These heating elements may either be controlled manually by the user, or else may be fitted with an automatic control device which will maintain the surface of the heating element at a constant temperature. The system may be so arranged as to begin to function automatically whenever an individual sits in the chair. The heating system offers the possibility on the one hand of lowering the overall temperature of the room, thereby producing considerable energy savings, and on the other hand of enabling the separate control of the heat loss from seated individuals, for instance in large offices, where not everyone has the same requirements in respect of ambient temperature.

Description: Heating system for use by individuals. The present invention relates to a thermal device for the local heating of individuals in cool surroundings. The energy crisis has resulted ±n. an increasing need to lower the temperature in rooms in which people are present, since considerable amounts of energy may he saved in this way. The aim of the invention is to enable such a reduction in temperature to take place, but without the associated thermal discomfort. The customary method of compensating for cold surroundings involves greater insulation of the body (warmer clothing). However, clothing habits are usually determined by things other than the temperature, such as sex, habit and fashion, etc. Furthermore, persons will want the temperature to be higher when they are seated than when they are standing or walking. -For this reason alone, then, it is necessary as a general rule to provide additional heating for persons who are seated. This could counteract the familiar tendency to regulate the heating installation in such a way that no one feels too cold, with, the result that many people will feel hotter than they would really wish, and that a certain amount of energy will be wasted as well. A list of the advantages expected to result from the local heating of seating appears below. 1. It is possible to achieve considerable savings in the energy used for heating buildings whic are equipped with heated seating of this kind. 2. There will be greater conformity between the comfortable temperatures required by individuals with different levels of activity. This is attributable to the fact that individuals who are seated will normally have a lower level of activity than those who are standing or walking. 3. The individual will have the opportunity to " regulate his own "climate" himself, without the need to change his clothing, 4. This is a solution which may be used in both old and new buildings, 5. All things being equal, a reduction in temperature of, for instance 3° will mean that the relative humidity will increase by about 20 °ό, whereby the disadvantages of static electricity, inter alia, will be reduced. β. It is true in the case of both solar heating and heat pump installations that their efficiency v/ill be increased if the output required to heat the room may be transmitted at a lower level of temperature. This condition is favoured both by the lower energy requirement and by the lower temperature in the room. Already disclosed is a system whereby heating elements are built into the cushion and backrest of the actual seat. This system is used in the driver's seat of certain motor vehicles, for instance. The intention in this case is to make agreeable the period between sitting in the car and until the heating system of the car has brought the temperature of the driver's compartment up to the OMPI WIP desired level. However, the cushion and backrest are able simply by means of their insulating effect to reduce the heat loss from the parts of the body concerned. What is required is to reduce the heat loss from the rest of the body. Also previously disclosed is a system whereby high temperature radiant fittings are installed above individuals, for instance in terraces. This solution does not, however, provide the individual with the possibility of separately regulating the fitting. Furthermore, the radiant heat is poorly distributed around the individual. Finally, the efficiency with which the power is consumed is very low. Experiments conducted in a controlled environment have revealed that human beings are able to tolerate rather large variations in temperature without discomfort, provided that the thermal balance between the surroundings and the body as a whole is as it should be. The experiments also showed that the ability to tolerate variations in temperature was at its highest when the back of the body was warmest. It is upon these physiological data that the present invention is based. The intention outlined above is achieved in the following manner in accordance wit the present invention. A surface 1 which is capable of being heated, for instance by means of an integral heating foil, is positioned behind the individual. That part of the surface which faces away from the individual may be insulated 3 and/or reflective 4 , which, will have the effect of reducing the energy consumption. The surface may be provided with a means of regulating the output manually, or with a thermostat which may be set manually and which will keep the surface temperature at a desired level. In this way the user himself will be able to determine the amount of additional heating provided. This aspect of the present invention is important, since it is now possible for the first time to opt for an alternative other than clothing, which until now has been the only possible means of regulating his temperature open to the individual This will lead to a considerable fall in the number of persons who complain that the temperature indoors is too low. It will be found most suitable to shape the surface to fit the form of the body in such a way that the back of the neck and the shoulders, which have been shown by experiment to be sensitive to the effects of cooling, receive extra additional heat. A preferred embodiment may consist of two identical or different elements (Fig. 2) which may be positioned respectively above and below the back of the chair. One of these elements will heat the arms, the shoulders, the back of the neck and the back, whilst the other will heat the legs and the feet. The two elements 5 and 6 may be designed in such a - E OMPI WIPO way that they will concentrate the radiant heat on these parts of the body, possibly by means of a reflector 7 and 8 whic is shaped so that it will distribute the heat in the most suitable manner for the exposed parts of the body. The heating elements may be provided with a means of manual adjustment, such that the individual himself may determine the level of the additional radiant heat which he wishes to receive; where several heating elements are fitted, these shall be capable of being regulated individually in one preferred embodiment. This will ensure that persons who are wearing different amounts of clothing will be able to obtain thermal comfort in identical cool surroundings. In a second embodiment, the heating elements may be controlled automatically so that they will maintain the radiant surfaces at a constant temperature. This will ensure that the output is increased as the temperature of the room falls, and vice versa, just as the output will be reduced as the individual becomes warmer and transmits radiant heat back to the heating surfaces. This will increase the possibility of maintaining thermal comfort over lengthy periods. Finally, the chair in a preferred embodiment may be fitted with a pressure switch which will turn off the power to the heating element v/hen the individual sits in the chair. .Energy will thus be saved, and the supply of additional heat will increase simultaneously with the lowering of the level of activity of the seated individual.

Claims: Patent Claims. Claim 1. A chair with a device for the regulation of thermal comfort at an ambient temperature which lies below the normal comfortable temperature for sedentary work, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the chair is fitted with one or more relatively large and preferably concave surfaces (1 , 7, 8) which v/ill reflect any body heat which has radiated from the user of the chair back in the direction of the user, said surfaces possibly being fitted wit electric heating elements (5 , 6) for the purpose of providing additional thermal radiation in the direction of the user of the chair. Claim 2. A chair in accordance with Claim 1 with electric heating elements, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that provision is made for the output to be regulated manually. Claim 3. A chair in accordance with Claim 1 with electric heating elements, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that provision is made for the surface temperature of the heating surfaces to be maintained at a desired level. Claim 4-. A chair in accordance with Claim 1 with electric heating elements, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said elements v/ill begin to function automatically whenever an individual sits in the chair.

Inventors: MADSEN T
Applicants: MADSEN T, NIMATIC APS
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A47C7
IPC codes: A47C7