US3751634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring the degree of thermal discomfort and a system comprising such an apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-15
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-11-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring the degree of thermal discomfort by means of a measuring body for simulating the heat exchange of the human body with the environment. The temperature of the measuring body is maintained at a constant value near the temperature of the human body and the power supplied to the measuring body is measured. From this measured value a first comparison magnitude is derived, taking into consideration a fictitious total heat production and/or type of clothing set on the apparatus. A second comparison magnitude also depending on the fictitious heat production and/or type of clothing set on the apparatus, but not on the power supplied to the measuring body is also produced. The two comparison magnitudes are compared and the comparison result is the output magnitude of the apparatus which can be displayed or used in any other way.
Inventors
- 👤 T Madsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K17/00; G01K1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for measuring thermal discomfort, comprising a measuring body for simulating the heat exchange of the human body with the environment, means for heating the measuring body, and regulating means for maintaining the temperature of the measuring body at a perdetermined value in the vicinity of the skin temperature of the human body, wherein the improvement comprises first means included in the regulating means for providing a load error, second means for providing an indication voltage indicative of the heating power supplied to the measuring body, third means for providing a first comparison magnitude proportional to the indication voltage, said third means including first means for setting a desired activity level corresponding to a fictitious total heat production in a human body and first means for varying the proportionality factor between the indication voltage and the first comparison magnitude in dependence on the set activity level, means for producing a second comparison magnitude depending on the set activity level and of such a value that the first and second comparison magnitudes are equal when the measuring body is under such thermal conditions as would be felt comfortable by a human body being at the same activity level as the one set by said desired activity level setting means, and means for comparing the first and second comparison magnitudes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for measuring thermal discomfort, comprising a measuring body for simulating the heat exchange of the human body with the environment, means for heating the measuring body, and regulating means for maintaining the temperature of the measuring body at a perdetermined value in the vicinity of the skin temperature of the human body, wherein the improvement comprises first means included in the regulating means for providing a load error, second means for providing an indication voltage indicative of the heating power supplied to the measuring body, third means for providing a first comparison magnitude proportional to the indication voltage, said third means including first means for setting a desired activity level corresponding to a fictitious total heat production in a human body and first means for varying the proportionality factor between the indication voltage and the first comparison magnitude in dependence on the set activity level, means for producing a second comparison magnitude depending on the set activity level and of such a value that the first and second comparison magnitudes are equal when the measuring body is under such thermal conditions as would be felt comfortable by a human body being at the same activity level as the one set by said desired activity level setting means, and means for comparing the first and second comparison magnitudes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third means includes fourth means for providing a setting corresponding to a desired type of clothing, said first means for providing includes second means for varying the load error in the regulating means, dependent on the set type of clothing, said third means includes third means for varying the proportionality factor between the indication voltage and the first comparison magnitude in dependence on the set type of clothing, and said means for producing includes fourth means for varying the second comparison magnitude in dependence on the set type of clothing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the comparison means includes a pointer and a scale divided into units for indicating the degree of thermal discomfort, and wherein the third means for providing the first comparison magnitude includes a first stepwise adjustable resistor means adjusted by the setting of the activity level, the value of the first resistor means on each step being chosen in such a way that the reading on the scale is altered by one unit when the power supplied to the heating element changes by a value corresponding to the fact that the condition the measuring body happens to be in changes by one unit for the activity level the apparatus is set to.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the third means for providing the first comparison magnitude includes a second adjustable resistor means adjusted by the setting corresponding to a desired type of clothing, said second resistor means comprising said third means for varying, the value of the second resistor means being selected in such a way that the reading on the scale is changed by one unit when the power supplied to the heating element changes by a value corresponding to a change of clothing for which there is a change by one unit in the degree of comfort for the value of the activity level to which the apparatus has been set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for producing the second comparison magnitude includes a voltage source having a fixed voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for producing the second comparison magnitude includes a third adjustable resistor means comprising said fourth means for varying, and means for adjusting the second and third resistor means to the same value by the fourth means for providing a setting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for producing the second comparison magnitude includes a fourth, stepwise adjustable resistor means adjusted by the setting of the activity level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for producing the second comparison magnitude further comprises sixth means for providing a setting corresponding to a water vapor pressure, and fifth adjustable resistor means connected to said sixth means, said fifth resistor means being adjusted by the setting of the water vapor pressure by the means therefOre.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measuring body has such a shape that the ratio between the projection areas in six principal directions is approximately the same as for a normal person.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the measuring body is in the shape of a double ellipsoid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the measuring body is in the shape of two cones having a small apex angle and with the surfaces of their bases facing each other, the tops of the cones being truncated and having spherical segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measuring body has internally a body of plastic foam, a resistance wire wound around the plastic foam and externally a thin layer of heat-insulating material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system for regulating the climatic conditions in a number of rooms by the apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising means in the comparison means for deriving a control voltage from the first and second comparison magnitudes, a unit for regulating at least one climatic factor of the rooms, and means for supplying the control voltage to the regulating unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system for regulating the climatic conditions in a number of rooms by the apparatus claimed in claim 2, further comprising means in the comparison means for deriving a control voltage from the first and second comparison magnitudes, a unit for regulating at least one climatic factor of the rooms, and means for supplying the control voltage to the regulating unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |