Patent Publication Number: US-6701719-B1

Title: Heat exchanging device having high efficiency

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a heat exchanging device having high efficiency, and more particularly to a heat exchanging device composed of plastic material having high efficiency, wherein the fluid completely flows through each of the heat exchanging fins in a circulating manner, so as to increase the heat exchanging period of the fluid with each of the heat exchanging fins, thereby enhancing the heat exchanging efficiency of the heat exchanging device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional heat exchanging device comprises a cushion mounted on a seat, a bed or the like, and a heat exchanger connected to the cushion, so as to carry away the heat produced by the user seated on the cushion, thereby achieving the heat exchanging effect. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of heatsink fins arranged in parallel for passage of a fluid to achieve the heat exchanging effect. However, the heat exchanging effect of the parallel arranged heatsink fins is limited. In addition, the cushion has a fixed configuration, thereby decreasing the aesthetic quality of the conventional heat exchanging device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanging device having high efficiency, wherein the fluid completely flows through each of the heat exchanging fins in a circulating manner, so as to increase the heat exchanging period of the fluid with each of the heat exchanging fins, thereby enhancing the heat exchanging efficiency of the heat exchanging device. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanging device having high efficiency, wherein the soft cushion is modularized with a flexible feature, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the heat exchanging device. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanging device having high efficiency, wherein the circulation heat exchanger, the water tank and the water pump are integrally received in a housing, so that the heat exchanging device is modularized with integrity, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the heat exchanging device. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a heat exchanging device having high efficiency, comprising: 
     a circulation heat exchanger; 
     a water tank connected to the circulation heat exchanger and containing a fluid; 
     a water pump mounted on the water tank for driving the fluid in the water tank into the circulation heat exchanger; 
     a soft cushion connected to the circulation heat exchanger and the water tank; and 
     a plurality of bypass pipes connected between the circulation heat exchanger, the water tank and the soft cushion, thereby forming a complete circulation circuit, wherein: 
     the circulation heat exchanger has an inside formed with a receiving space provided with a plurality of heat exchanging fins, the heat exchanging fins are arranged in a staggered manner, so that the fluid flows through each of the heat exchanging fins in a circulating manner, the circulation heat exchanger is formed with a water inlet and a water outlet each communicating with the receiving space. 
    
    
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan cross-sectional view of a circulation heat exchanger of the heat exchanging device having high efficiency as shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side plan cross-sectional view of a water tank of the heat exchanging device having high efficiency as shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan cross-sectional view of a soft cushion of the heat exchanging device having high efficiency as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing use of the heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a heat exchanging device having high efficiency in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a circulation heat exchanger  1 , a water tank  2 , a water pump  3 , a soft cushion  4 , a plurality of bypass pipes  5 , and a fluid  6 . 
     If necessary, the heat exchanging device further comprises a housing  7  for mounting the circulation heat exchanger  1 , the water tank  2  and the water pump  3 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the circulation heat exchanger  1  is a closed box made of aluminum for receiving the fluid  6 . The circulation heat exchanger  1  has an inside formed with a receiving space  16  provided with a plurality of heat exchanging fins  10  made of aluminum. The heat exchanging fins  10  are mounted on two opposite side walls  11  of the receiving space  16  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , and are arranged in a staggered manner, so that the fluid  6  completely flows through each of the heat exchanging fins  10  in a circulating manner, so as to increase the heat exchanging period of the fluid  6  with each of the heat exchanging fins  10 . The circulation heat exchanger  1  is formed with a water inlet  12  and a water outlet  13  each communicating with the receiving space  16 . The water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  is connected to the soft cushion  4  by the bypass pipe  5 . 
     The heat exchanging device further comprises a ceramic thermoelectric chill chip  14  mounted on the circulation heat exchanger  1  for supplying the heat exchanging energy to the circulation heat exchanger  1 . In addition, the circulation heat exchanger  1  can transfer the temperature of the flowing circulation fluid  6  of a large amount, thereby enhancing the operation efficiency of the heat transfer of the whole heat exchanging device. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the water tank  2  has an inside formed with a larger chamber  21 , a smaller chamber  22 , and a connecting channel  23  connected between the larger chamber  21  and the smaller chamber  22 . The water tank  2  is formed with a water filling port  20  communicating with the larger chamber  21  for filling the fluid  6  into the larger chamber  21 . Thus, the flowing circulation fluid  6  is operated in the smaller chamber  22  of the water tank  2 . In addition, the smaller chamber  22  of the water tank  2  is formed with a water outlet  24  and a water inlet  25 . The water outlet  24  of the smaller chamber  22  is connected to the water inlet  12  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  by the bypass pipe  5 . The water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22  is connected to the soft cushion  4  by the bypass pipe  5 . Preferably, the water outlet  24  and the water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22  are located at different sides of the smaller chamber  22 . Alternatively, the water outlet  24  and the water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22  are located at the same side of the smaller chamber  22 . 
     When the soft cushion  4  is pressed by a foreign object, the flowing circulation fluid  6  can flow from the smaller chamber  22  through the connecting channel  23  into the larger chamber  21 . 
     The water pump  3  is mounted in the smaller chamber  22  of the water tank  2 . Alternatively, the water pump  3  is mounted outside of the water tank  2 . 
     In operation, when the water pump  3  is operated by pressing a switch  70  mounted on the housing  7 , the flowing circulation fluid  6  contained in the smaller chamber  22  of the water tank  2  is driven by the water pump  3  to flow through the water outlet  24  of the smaller chamber  22 , the bypass pipe  5  and the water inlet  12  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  into the receiving space  16  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , so that the fluid  6  contained in the receiving space  16  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  is circulated and accelerated, thereby producing a heat exchanging function. After the heat exchanging action, the fluid  6  contained in the receiving space  16  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  flows through the water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  and the bypass pipe  5  into the soft cushion  4 . 
     The bypass pipes  5  are connected between the circulation heat exchanger  1 , the water tank  2  and the soft cushion  4 , thereby forming a complete circulation circuit. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the soft cushion  4  is made of soft material, such as PVC or the like. Preferably, the soft cushion  4  includes an upper cushion material  40 , and a lower cushion material  41  laminated with the upper cushion material  40 . In addition, the soft cushion  4  has an inner space  46  formed with a plurality of closure lines  42  arranged in a staggered manner, thereby forming a flow channel in the inner space  46  of the soft cushion  4  for circulation of the fluid  6 . Each of the closure lines  42  is formed with two holes  420 , thereby facilitating passage of the fluid  6 . Most of the fluid  6  flows through the flow channel in the inner space  46  of the soft cushion  4  formed by the closure lines  42 . When the soft cushion  4  is pressed locally, the fluid  6  can ass through the holes  420  of each of the closure lines  42 , thereby preventing the fluid  6  from being choked in a specific region of the inner space  46  of the soft cushion  4 . After the lower cushion material  41  is laminated with the upper cushion material  40 , the lower cushion material  41  and the upper cushion material  40  are closely connected by high-frequency spotted closures  43 , thereby forming the soft cushion  4 . Thus, the fluid  6  flows through the flow channel in the inner space  46  of the soft cushion  4  smoothly and evenly. 
     In addition, the soft cushion  4  is formed with a water inlet  44  connected to the water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  by the bypass pipe  5  and a water outlet  45  connected to the water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22  by the bypass pipe  5 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the water inlet  12  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  is connected to the water outlet  24  of the smaller chamber  22  by the bypass pipe  5 , the water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  is connected to the water inlet  44  of the soft cushion  4  by the bypass pipe  5 , and the water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22  is connected to the water outlet  45  of the soft cushion  4  by the bypass pipe  5 . 
     Thus, the fluid  5  flows through the water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , the water inlet  44  of the soft cushion  4 , the inner space  46  of the soft cushion  4 , the water outlet  45  of the soft cushion  4 , the water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22 , the water tank  2 , the water outlet  24  of the smaller chamber  22 , the water inlet  12  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , the receiving space  16  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , and finally flows through the water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  again, thereby forming a complete heat exchanging circulation circuit. In such a manner, the fluid  6  passes through the soft cushion  4  so as to carry away the user&#39;s heat seated on the soft cushion  4 , thereby achieving the heat exchanging effect. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the housing  7  is arranged in an upright manner. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, the housing  7  is arranged in a horizontal manner. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the housing  7  is undefined. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, the soft cushion  4  is mounted on a seat  8 . 
     In operation, when the water pump  3  is operated, the fluid  6  contained in the smaller chamber  22  of the water tank  2  is driven by the water pump  3  to flow through the water outlet  24  of the smaller chamber  22 , the water inlet  12  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , the receiving space  16  of the circulation heat exchanger  1  (to proceed the circulation action), the water outlet  13  of the circulation heat exchanger  1 , the water inlet  44  of the soft cushion  4 , the inner space  46  of the soft cushion  4  (to proceed the heat exchanging action), the water outlet  45  of the soft cushion  4 , the water inlet  25  of the smaller chamber  22 , and finally flows into the water tank  2 , thereby accomplishing the complete heat exchanging circulation effect. In such a manner, the fluid  6  passes through the soft cushion  4  so as to carry away the heat produced by the user seated on the soft cushion  4 , thereby achieving the heat exchanging effect. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.