Portable heat storage unit

Claim 1

A heat storage unit capable of storing heat over extended time periods and of delivering a sustained heat output to a heat transfer fluid circulated through said unit, and comprising: a. a heat storage material having a latent heat of fusion of at least 35 cal./gm. and a melting point of at least 50* C.; b. a container enclosing said heat storage material; c. an insulating outer envelope encompassing said container and forming at least one conduit with said container for flow of heat transfer fluid in heat transfer relationship with the material, said envelope including an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with the conduit; d. heating means for initially supplying heat to the heat storage material, said heating means being connectable to an external source of energy; and e. a control means for varying the area of said container in contact with heat transfer fluid being passed through said unit to permit adjustment of the rate of heat transfer from said container and efficient removal of the sensible heat of said heat storage material after the latent heat of fusion has been extracted, said control means comprising at least one tubular member that extends across said container, with the walls of said tubular member in direct contact with the heat storage material along a major portion of the length of said tubular member, each end portion of said tubular member extending from said container and terminating within said conduit so that the interior of said tubular member is in flow fluid communication with said conduit, said control means also including a pair of valves, with one valve positioned at each end portion of said tubular member for opening and closing the interior of said tubular member to the flow of heat transfer fluid.

Claim 7

An apparatus for supplying heat transfer liquid to passageways in a diver''s suit comprising: A. a heat storage unit comprising; a. a heat storage material having a laTent heat fusion of at least 35 cal./gm. and a melting point of at least 50* C., b. a container enclosing said heat storage material, c. an insulating outer envelope encompassing said container and forming at least one conduit with said container for flow of heat transfer liquid in heat-transfer relationship with the material, said envelope including an inlet port and an outlet port that permit the flow of heat transfer liquid into and out of said conduit, d. heating means for initially supplying heat to the heat storage material, said heating means being connectable to an external source of heat, and e. a control means for increasing the effective heat transfer area of said container to permit efficient removal of the sensible heat of said heat storage material after the latent heat of fusion has been extracted, said control means comprising a heat transfer fluid flow passage formed by a tubular member with the walls of said tubular member in direct heat exchange contact with said heat storage material, and the interior of said tubular member in fluid flow communication with said conduit; said control means also including a valve located at each end portion of said tubular member for opening and closing said fluid flow passage; B. piping means for transmitting liquid from the interior of the passageways in the suit to said heat storage unit and back to the passageways; C. pumping means for moving liquid through said piping means, said heat storage unit, and the passageways in the diver''s suit; and D. flow control means for regulating the temperature of the heat transfer liquid supplied to the suit, said flow control means including a valved bypass line around said heat storage unit.

Claim 8

An apparatus for supplying heat transfer liquid to passageways in a diver''s suit comprising: A. a heat storage unit comprising; a. a heat storage material having a laTent heat fusion of at least 35 cal./gm. and a melting point of at least 50* C., b. a container enclosing said heat storage material, c. an insulating outer envelope encompassing said container and forming at least one conduit with said container for flow of heat transfer liquid in heat-transfer relationship with the material, said envelope including an inlet port and an outlet port that permit the flow of heat transfer liquid into and out of said conduit, d. heating means for initially supplying heat to the heat storage material, said heating means being connectable to an external source of heat, and e. a control means for increasing the effective heat transfer area of said container to permit efficient removal of the sensible heat of said heat storage material after the latent heat of fusion has been extracted, said control means comprising a heat transfer fluid flow passage formed by a tubular member with the walls of said tubular member in direct heat exchange contact with said heat storage material, and the interior of said tubular member in fluid flow communication with said conduit; said control means also including a valve located at each end portion of said tubular member for opening and closing said fluid flow passage; B. piping means for transmitting liquid from the interior of the passageways in the suit to said heat storage unit and back to the passageways; C. pumping means for moving liquid through said piping means, said heat storage unit, and the passageways in the diver''s suit; and D. flow control means for regulating the temperature of the heat transfer liquid supplied to the suit, said flow control means including a valved bypass line around said heat storage unit.