Patent Application
20110061838
The present invention relates to a human remains cooling pad and cooling system to supply chilled fluid to the cooling pad.
One embodiment of the present invention is a cooling pad that may be used for chilling human remains that has a first end and a second end, and an internal cavity that is segmented at the first end into a feed section and a return section. The pad further contains an inlet feed at the first end feed section for supplying chilled fluid into the feed section of the cooling pad and an outlet return at the first end return section for returning fluid to be chilled, located in the return section of the cooling pad. The cooling pad is configured to circulate chilled fluid from the feed section to the return section in a one-way flow arrangement.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a scalable and portable human remains cooling system with a chiller unit having a chilled fluid supply, at least one primary fluid line divided into a primary fluid supply line and a primary fluid return line for providing a chilled fluid for cooling human remains and circulating warmed fluid back to the chiller for re-chilling. The system further has a flow divider manifold including a chilled fluid input having a series of chilled fluid output ports in fluid communication with the primary fluid supply line from the chiller for receiving and dispersing the chilled fluid supply and the manifold includes a warm fluid output including a series of warm fluid input ports in fluid communication with the primary fluid return line to the chiller unit for re-chilling. The system further contains a secondary fluid line that is divided into a secondary fluid supply line in fluid communication with one of the chilled fluid output ports and a secondary fluid return line in fluid communication with one of the warm fluid input ports. Further, the system contains at least one cooling pad with a first end and a second end, an internal cavity that is segmented at the first end into a feed section and a return section, an inlet feed in fluid communication with the secondary fluid supply line located in the feed section and an outlet return in fluid communication with the secondary fluid return line located in the return section, where the cooling pad is configured to circulate chilled fluid from the feed section to the return section in a one-way flow arrangement. The chilled fluid in the system is circulated through the cooling pad and warmed fluid is returned to the chiller unit for re-chilling, such that the fluid moves in a continuous cycle.
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended drawings, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation, not limitation, of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
Flow divider manifold 114 also includes a warm fluid output 124 connecting manifold 114 in fluid communication with primary fluid return line 112. Warm fluid output 124 is also in fluid communication with warm fluid input ports 125 which are in further fluid communication with secondary return line 126 of secondary fluid line 122, for returning warmed fluid from cooling pads 100 for re-chilling. In some embodiments, warm fluid output 124 may also be in fluid communication with warmed fluid manifold port 127 when more than one manifold is utilized as shown in
At least one cooling pad 100 is provided in direct fluid communication with secondary supply line 120 for receiving the chilled fluid from chiller unit 104. The cooling pad 100 is also connected in direct fluid communication with secondary return line 126 for returning warmed fluid to the chiller unit. Accordingly, cooling pad 100 may be adapted to a cooling system 102, such that chilled fluid may be circulated through cooling pad 100 and warmed fluid may be returned to chilling unit 104 for re-chilling. The recirculation of chilled fluids helps to maintain the temperature of cooling pad 100 and the human remains to which cooling pad 100 makes direct contact.
In order to maintain the temperatures of the fluids within the lines and to avoid any substantial damage to the lines, primary fluid line 108 may be constructed as shown in
Primary fluid line 108 is also constructed such that primary supply line 110 and primary return line 112 are releaseably adhered and may be separated, so that the lines may properly enter different components of manifold 114 and chilling unit 104, while still maintaining the insulation layer 128 and the wear resistant layer 130. Although
In an embodiment, chiller unit 104 includes a refrigeration circuit for cooling the fluid to a temperature of between about 30°-45° F. In some embodiments, the temperature of the cooling pad is maintained between about 32°-42° F. A chiller unit of the type manufactured by Advantage Engineering, Inc. 525 East Stop 18 Road, Greenwood, Ind. 46142, can serve to provide and circulate a chilled fluid supply through a plurality of cooling pads 100. In some embodiments, the chilled fluid may be a glycol and water solution or other similar fluid to prevent freezing to maintain circulation of the fluid through the various supply lines and manifolds. In a particular embodiment, the chilled fluid includes approximately 30% by volume of glycol to prevent freezing.
Referring to
In a further embodiment, chiller unit 104 may be adapted to include an outlet pressure reducing valve 136 in fluid communication with primary fluid supply line 110 for creating a low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through the system 102. In some embodiments, the low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through primary fluid supply line 110 may be approximately 10 psi. In a further embodiment, primary fluid supply line 110 and primary fluid return line 112 may be approximately 1 inch in diameter for maintaining flow volume and pressure to flow divider manifold 114 under the low flow pressure condition of the system. Further, in some embodiments, secondary supply and return lines 120 and 126 may be approximately ⅜ inch in diameter for maintaining pressure and flow volume to circulate the fluid through cooling pad 100.
Chiller unit 104 may be constructed to allow for connection and disconnection of cooling pad 100 without having to shutdown the system 102. In some embodiments, secondary fluid supply line 120 and secondary fluid return line 126 are connected to flow divider manifold 114 using a quick connect coupling so that the supply and return lines may be connected and disconnected without turning off chiller unit 104 or having to use tools to complete the connections.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In a further embodiment, interior fluid cavity 152 of cooling pad 100 may include a plurality of fluid dispersion cells 164 for directing chilled fluid throughout feed section 154 and return section 156. Fluid dispersion cells 164 may be formed by heat welding, as indicated by reference number 166, top side 160 and bottom side 162 of cooling pad 100 in a staggered arrangement.
Cooling pad 100 may be utilized alone to maintain a desired temperature of human remains. As shown in the figures, cooling pad 100 may be placed on top of human remains to provide proper cooling, but cooling pad 100 may also be utilized underneath human remains. For example, human remains may be placed on top of cooling pad 100 to allow the user to examine the remains but to still have the remains maintain a targeted temperature.
In other embodiments, cooling pad 100 may be utilized in connection with at least one additional item. For example, in some embodiments, cooling pad 100 may be used with cotton, linen or plastic sheeting, a body bag, a cardboard box, or a table shroud. These items may be used adjacent cooling pad 100, outside the fluid cavity 152. Each item may help to further ensure that human remains maintain the desired temperature.
Although cooling pad 100 may be used with the items listed above, it need not be specifically integrated with these items in order to use both together. For example, a body bag would not have to first be integrated with a cooling pad 100 before it could be used in connection with cooling pad 100. Instead, cooling pad 100 may be placed in any body bag, regardless of manufacturer or size, to provide the bag with the desired cooling properties as described above.
These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole and in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.
