Patent Grant
7383592
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to compositions providing superior thermal insulation. More particularly, the invention relates to composition comprising liquids with low thermal conductivity, such as a halocarbon oil, emulsifying agents, and microcapsules. The invention also relates to the use of these compositions in various insulating garments.
II. Description of the Related Art
Thermal protection for divers and underwater cabins (e.g., chambers, submersible hulls, waterproof housings, etc.) is an area that has garnered considerable research effort. Much of this research has focused on passive methods for thermal insulation. Passive methods for thermally protecting a submerged cabin or diver from extreme cold water exposures share a common advantage over their active heating alternatives, namely there is no requirement for energy storage or energy distribution. This advantage tends to make passive thermal protection systems less complex, and usually less expensive. Unfortunately, in extremely cold waters, passive systems have customarily required the use of thick, layered insulating materials. For instance, such passive systems often require that divers wear either foam neoprene or fibrous batts beneath waterproof jackets to reduce the loss of heat to the surrounding cold water.
These conventional insulating materials suffer from several disadvantages. For instance, the materials tend to be excessively bulky, thereby inhibiting mobility when used by divers. Such materials are also normally inherently buoyant. This is undesirable because it necessitates the use of lead weights or other ballasting materials to make the insulating medium neutrally buoyant. Furthermore, conventional materials typically used in passive insulating systems usually are highly variable in insulating effect due to compression of the materials that is caused by the increased hydrostatic pressure as depth increases. Finally, it is often difficult to keep conventional materials waterproof. The failure of the materials to maintain an impermeability to water could fatally reduce the degree of thermal protection afforded by the materials.
Syntactic foams, rigid polymers loaded with hollow glass microballoons, have frequently been utilized as an insulating medium for deep underwater applications where mobility is not a concern due to their minimal compressibility. However, similar to foam neoprene and insulating batt materials, syntactic foams are buoyant and have only moderate insulating capability.
The shortcomings of the insulating materials of the prior art may be readily seen by examining, for example, traditional diver gloves. A diver's ability to perform meaningful work is greatly diminished in long-duration missions if his hands are cold when the mission objective has been reached. Unfortunately, in extremely cold water diving, conventional gloves use thick, foam neoprene or layered insulating materials worn beneath waterproof glove shells to reduce the loss of body heat to the surrounding cold water. These gloves tend to be a) excessively bulky—inhibiting finger sensitivity and manual dexterity; b) inherently buoyant; c) highly variable in insulating effect due to material squeeze as hydrostatic pressures increase; and d) difficult to keep waterproof—an uncertainty that could fatally reduce the diver's thermal protection during long-duration missions. This dilemma between thermal protection and manual dexterity has often forced the diver to make decisions about how to maximize his performance using inadequate equipment. Accordingly, a need still therefore exists for an insulating material that possesses minimal bulk, low thermal conductivity, and neutral buoyancy.
In one aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising a liquid with a thermal conductivity of less than about 0.04 Btu/ft-hr-° F., an emulsifying agent and a plurality of microcapsules. In certain embodiments of the invention, the liquid is a halocarbon oil. The halocarbon oil may comprise additives or other types of ingredients, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene or polymers thereof. Exemplary halocarbon oils for use with the invention have a viscosity of from about 0.8 centistokes to about 56 centistokes when measured at 100° F. Examples of halocarbons in this class include Halocarbon 0.8, Halocarbon 6.3 or Halocarbon 27S, or mixtures thereof
In particular embodiments of the invention, the microcapsules may comprise about 5% to about 60% by volume of the composition, or alternatively, may comprise about 40% to 50% by volume of the composition. The composition may have a thermal conductivity of less than about 0.06 Btu/ft-hour-° F., including less than about 0.04 Btu/ft-hour-° F., and may further have a thermal conductivity of between about 0.02 and about 0.06 Btu/ft-hour-° F. In the composition, the emulsifying agent may comprise about 3% to about 8% by weight of the composition, including about 5% to about 8% by weight of the composition. Potentially any suitable emulsifying agent could be used, including xanthan gum, ethyl cellulose, clay, collodial clay and microcapsules. The microcapsules may be comprised of glass, may be hollow and may comprise a heat-absorbing material.
The composition may further comprise water. In one embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises about equal parts of the water and the oil, wherein the emulsifying agent comprises a xanthan gum, and wherein the microcapsules comprise about 36% by volume of the composition. In another embodiment of the invention, the emulsifying agent comprises about 6%-8% by weight of a collodial clay, and wherein the microcapsules comprise about 28% by volume of the composition. The composition may be further defined as having a specific gravity of about 1.0.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing a composition suitable for use as an insulator, the method comprising mixing a liquid with a thermal conductivity of less than about 0.04 Btu/ft-hr-° F., a plurality of microcapsules, and an emulsifying agent, wherein the emulsifying agent is present in sufficient amount to suspend the microcapsules in the composition. The liquid may be a halocarbon oil and may further include additional ingredients, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene or polymers thereof. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the halocarbon oil has a viscosity of from about 0.8 centistokes to about 56 centistokes when measured at 100° F. Exemplary halocarbon oils include Halocarbon 0.8, Halocarbon 6.3, and Halocarbon 27S, or mixtures thereof. Exemplary emulsifying agents include xanthan gum, ethyl cellulose, a clay, or mixtures thereof. The clay may be a collodial clay.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides an insulating garment comprising: a first liquid impermeable layer, a second liquid impermeable sheet overlaying and bonded to the first layer, the first and second layers forming a reservoir, a liquid composition comprising a halocarbon oil, an emulsifying agent, and a plurality of microcapsules, wherein the liquid composition is disposed between the first liquid impermeable layer and the second liquid impermeable layer. The halocarbon oil may further include additional ingredients, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene or polymers thereof. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the halocarbon oil has a viscosity of from about 0.8 centistokes to about 56 centistokes when measured at 100°. Exemplary emulsifying agents include xanthan gum, ethyl cellulose, a clay, or mixtures thereof. The clay may be a collodial clay. The microcapsules may be comprised of glass, may be hollow and may comprise a heat-absorbing material. In the apparatus, the first liquid impermeable layer is configured to conform substantially to a body portion over which it is placed, such as a human hand. The apparatus may also further comprise a valve coupled to the first liquid impermeable layer or second liquid impermeable layer, whereby the liquid composition may be inserted or removed from the reservoir through the valve.
In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a glove for providing insulation to a wearer, the glove comprising an outer layer comprising a first and second surface; an inner layer comprising a third and fourth surface, the inner layer adapted to be oriented to the hand of the wearer, the inner layer being coupled in part to said outer layer; and a liquid composition disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer, the liquid composition comprising a halocarbon oil, an emulsifying agent, and a plurality of microcapsules. The glove may further comprise a valve coupled to the outer layer, whereby the liquid composition may be passed through the valve when the valve is in an open position. The outer layer and inner layer may be comprised of a water impermeable material. The halocarbon oil may further include additional ingredients, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene or polymers thereof. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the halocarbon oil has a viscosity of from about 0.8 centistokes to about 56 centistokes when measured at 100°. Exemplary emulsifying agents include xanthan gum, ethyl cellulose, a clay, or mixtures thereof. The clay may be a collodial clay. The microcapsules may be comprised of glass, may be hollow and may comprise a heat-absorbing material.
In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for making an insulating garment, the method comprising providing a first liquid impermeable layer, providing a second liquid impermeable layer, bonding the first layer and the second layer so as to form a reservoir, disposing a liquid composition in the reservoir, the liquid composition comprising a halocarbon oil, an emulsifying agent, and a plurality of microcapsules. The first liquid impermeable layer may be configured to conform substantially to a body portion over which it is placed. The method may further comprise coupling a valve to the first liquid impermeable layer or second liquid impermeable layer, whereby the liquid composition may be inserted or removed from the reservoir through the valve. The halocarbon oil may further include additional ingredients, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene or polymers thereof. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the halocarbon oil has a viscosity of from about 0.8 centistokes to about 56 centistokes when measured at 100°. Exemplary emulsifying agents include xanthan gum, ethyl cellulose, a clay, or mixtures thereof. The clay may be a collodial clay. The microcapsules may be comprised of glass, may be hollow and may comprise a heat-absorbing material.
The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.
I. The Present Invention
The present invention is directed generally to an insert, pourable, liquid composition that has insulation values approaching that of uncompressed foam neoprene and superior insulation compared to foam neoprene at elevated pressures, as shown in
The composition is suitable for use an insulator, such as for divers' suits and accessories or underwater cabins (e.g., chambers, submersible hulls, waterproof housings, etc.). It is comprised of a halocarbon oil, an emulsifying agent, and a plurality of microcapsules. Because the composition may be formulated such that it is neutrally buoyant in water (has specific gravity of about 1.0), the necessity for ballasting is thereby eliminated. Furthermore, unlike conventional closed-cell foam or fibrous batt insulations, the composition of the present invention is not thermally degraded by compression in elevated hydrostatic pressures.
II. Components of the Insulating Composition
The composition of the present invention is comprised of three primary components: a halocarbon oil, a plurality of microcapsules, and an emulsifying agent. The characteristics of the composition may be tuned by changing the proportions of these components.
A. Liquids with Low Thermal Conductivity
An initial search was conducted to identify subtle insulating liquid mediums. This search focused on common cooking oils, available at any grocery store, having specific gravities of approximately 0.87 at 70° F. Additionally, white mineral oils having specific gravities ranging between 0.86 and 0.88 were investigated. All of these liquids met FDA regulations covering direct use in foods. A final family of liquids resulting from this survey were halocarbon oils, which are perhalogenated alkyl polymers having a low to medium molecular weight. In particular, a class of halocarbon oils comprising low and medium molecular weight polymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE, chemical formula (CF2CFCl)n, with n varying from about 2 to about 10) was analyzed. These oils are manufactured by a controlled polymerization process and then stabilized to give them some very unique properties. They are safe, chemically inert and nonflammable and can be used in oxygen systems as lubricants. These oils were found to have low thermal conductivities, low viscosities and high specific gravities.
The apparent thermal conductivities of the candidate insulating liquids were measured experimentally using a Rapid-K Thermal Conductivity Instrument (manufactured by Holometrix, Inc. of Bedford, Mass.). Since the heat transfer through the test liquids in these investigations actually resulted from a combination of conduction and free convection, the term “apparent” thermal conductivity is used when discussing the measurements from this instrument.
Samples for testing were prepared by pouring approximately 16 ounces of the candidate liquids into 12″×12″ zip-lock freezer bags. All air pockets were carefully removed from the bags prior to sealing which resulted in approximately a 0.25-inch thick liquid layer trapped in the bag for testing. The liquid-filled baggies were then positioned in the Rapid-K test chamber in contact with the hot and cold plates. The samples were allowed to remain in the test chamber until thermal stability was assured (thermal stability was assured by taking successive readings every 15 minutes until variations of less than 1% were observed).
The halocarbon oil was found to be particularly advantageous as it had an apparent thermal conductivity equivalent to some of the syntactic foams used for insulation in deep water environments. Furthermore, compositions comprising halocarbon oils are advantageous for use as insulators because halocarbon oils are generally inert, nonflammable, and nontoxic. Those skilled in the art will realize that a variety of halocarbon oils are suitable for use in the present invention. Halocarbon oils, such as halocarbon 0.8 and halocarbon 27S, that are low and medium molecular weight polymers of PCTFE are most preferred for use in the present invention. Other preferable halocarbon oils include halocarbon 0.8, halocarbon 1.8, halocarbon 4.2, halocarbon 6.3, halocarbon 27, and halocarbon 56 (the numerical designation after the term “halocarbon” refers to the liquid viscosity in centistokes at 100° F.). Furthermore, blends of different halocarbon oils may also be used. It is most preferable that the halocarbon or halocarbon blend that is chosen have a thermal conductivity of less than 0.04 Btu/ft-hr-° F. For foam neoprene, it is desired that the thermal conductivity is about equal to or is less than this number.
Due to the contributions of free convection currents anticipated in these tests it was initially expected that liquid layer thickness could have a significant impact on the apparent thermal conductivities measured in the Rapid-K. To verify this effect, liquid layer thickness between approximately 0.2 and 0.7 inches were tested using three candidate liquids.
There are many advantages to using the halocarbon oil compositions of the present invention as insulators. For instance, the compositions are liquid which allows for easy underwater application (e.g. through either pouring or injecting) of the compositions into insulating garments or other apparatuses. Furthermore, because the compositions are liquid, it is possible to readily achieve a variable insulating effect by simply injecting or extracting the composition, such as from an insulating garment, as the situation may warrant. Likewise, this fluidity minimizes excessive bulk, maximizing mobility of the insulating medium when applied to, for example, a diver garment.
The compositions of the present invention are also advantageous because they may be formulated to possess neutral buoyancy. Unlike conventional foam or fibrous batt insulations requiring lead weights, or some other ballasting material to make the insulating medium neutrally buoyant, the present compositions may be formulated to be neutrally buoyant in water (specific gravity of about 1.0). Additionally, the specific gravity of the compositions may be easily changed to become neutrally buoyant when operating in other liquid environments by changing the microcapsule content, as discussed in more detail herein.
The halocarbon oil compositions are also relatively incompressible. The insulating effect obtained with the composition is unaffected by pressure due to the incompressible behavior of liquids. In contrast, conventional foam neoprenes and fibrous batt insulators are highly variable in insulating effect due to compression caused by the increased hydrostatic pressure as depth increases. The compositions are also particularly advantageous because the compositions are insoluble in water. In the event of accidental flooding with water of an insulating apparatus containing a composition of the present invention, the insulating effect of the composition will not be degraded, unlike foam or fibrous insulating batts.
B. Microcapsules
Results from the previously discussed laboratory testing demonstrate fairly low thermal conductivities, as compared to water. However, even further improvements are possible by mixing additives, such as microcapsules, with the halocarbon oil. Testing was conducted to determine the possibility of reducing thermal conductivities by adding particulate matter to the halocarbon.
Based on the results of the earlier screening tests Draekol™ (Penzoil Products Company, Karns City, Pa.) white mineral oil and two grades of halocarbon oils (purchased from Halocarbon Products Corp., River Edge, N.J.), having different densities and viscosities, were selected for testing. Two different microcapsules were investigated to potentially enhance the thermal properties of the candidate insulating liquids. Scotchlite™ (3M Corporation, St. Paul, Minn.) Hollow Glass Microspheres were selected to both improve the thermal conductivities of the candidate liquids, as well as reduce the density of the heavy halocarbon oils to approximately that of water. Additionally, Thermasorb™ (Frisby Technologies, Clemmons, N.C.) micro-encapsulated phase change materials (PCM) were selected as potential additives to provide a source of stored thermal energy. Thermasorb 83 consists of octadecane, a paraffin wax having a melting temperature of 83° F., encapsulated in a microscopic hollow plastic spheres. A summary of liquid and additive properties for this phase of testing is given in Table 1.
The Scotchlite spheres, in solution with the insulating liquids, were found to have a dramatic effect on the measured thermal conductiveness (conductivity) and densities for the three candidate liquids.
Similar thermal conductivity testing was conducted with liquid candidates when adding micro-encapsulated phase change materials. Unlike the steady decrease in thermal conductivities seen with the addition of hollow glass spheres, loadings of up to 35% PCMs showed minimal change in this thermal property. This was likely due to the fact that the wax material contained in the microscopic plastic spheres is as conductive as the liquid mediums. While this phase change additive may have some beneficial thermal effect for various applications, such as insulation in diver's gloves, provided that the wax is fully charged with latent heat (i.e., fully liquefied), prior to the start of the dive mission, the amount of stored energy is probably not a sufficient tradeoff to offset these higher thermal conductivity values.
A wide range of thermal conductivities and specific gravities can be achieved using the composition of the present invention by varying the content of the microcapsules. The microcapsules are preferably less dense than the halocarbon oil. Thus, adding additional microcapsules serves to reduce the density of the composition. As used herein, the term “microcapsules” is meant to refer to a class of micro filler materials, such as 3M Scotchlite™ Hollow Glass Microspheres, that are of low density and which possess low thermal conductivity. The 3M™ microspheres are engineered particles designed to be an alternative to conventional fillers and additives to provide higher filler loadings, lower viscocities, improved flow, and better cost effectiveness. The K1 spheres used as an additive were made of soda-lime-borosilicate glass with a particle size range of 30-120 microns. The capsules may be of any shape, and may be hollow or may contain a filler material to help reduce the thermal conductivity of the microcapsule. Furthermore, the microcapsules may be made for a variety of suitable materials, including various polymers and glass and the like. Those skilled in the art will realize that a variety of microcapsules may be used in connection with the present invention.
For applications in which thermal conductivity must be minimized, or when being used in a low density fluid medium, the microcapsule content can be maximized as seen in
C. Emulsifying Agents
Due to the wide variety in densities for the halocarbon oil and microcapsules that may be used, see table 2, it is preferable to use an emulsifying agents to keep the microcapsules from separating during prolonged periods after the microcapsules are mixed with the halocarbon oil.
Emulsifying agents are often used in food preparation applications where two different liquids, or liquids and powders, are mixed (e.g., salad dressings, sauces, pharmaceuticals, etc.). Various emulsifying agents were tested to determine the ability of the agent to maintain particle suspension in liquids.
ISOXAN (Ingredient Solutions, Inc., Searsport, Me.) is a food grade xanthan gum derived from Xanthomonas campestris by a pure culture fermentation process. It is a cream-colored powder and can be used as a thickening agent in hot or cold applications. The Claytone (Southern Clay Products, Gonzales, Tex.) products, Claytone AF, HY, and APA, are very light, finely ground powders which are classified as rheological additives. These additives are used to prevent settling and agglomeration of pigments and fillers mixed in oil based systems. Additionally, EC-N100 0100 and EC-N22 0100 (Hercules Inc., Wilmington, Del.) were tested. These two products are high viscosity ethyl cellulose and low viscosity ethyl cellulose products, respectively.
A series of test trials were conducted to determine if any of the above liquid additives could keep the glass microspheres in liquid suspension and find the best combination of liquid/additive to minimize the mixture thermal conductivity. Table 3 summarizes these test trials.
The tests revealed several findings. First, the glass microspheres separate quickly from either water or halocarbon oil without the use of additives. Second, the ethylcellulose additives showed minimal effect in maintaining glass suspension in either water or halocarbon oil. Third, the xanthan gum (ISOXAN) additive showed minimal effect in maintaining glass suspension in halocarbon oil alone. Fourth, the xanthan gum additive was very effective in maintaining glass suspension in water. This mixture resulted in a thick, creamy emulsion (similar in consistency to sinus mucous) with approximately 42.5 vol % glass microspheres. Fifth, the xanthan gum additive was very effective in maintaining a glass suspension in 50/50 mixtures of water and halocarbon oil. This mixture resulted in a similar thick emulsion as seen with water alone with approximately 36 vol % glass microspheres. One teaspoon of xanthan gum was found to be effective in maintaining glass suspension in 400 ml of water, or in solutions of 50% water, 50% halocarbon solutions. Sixth, the effectiveness of xanthan gum additive was seen to lessen as the percentages of halocarbon oil was increased above 50% in water/halocarbon oil mixtures. Seventh, 6 wt % colloidal clay (Claytone APA) mixed in halocarbon oil was very effective in maintaining glass suspension. This mixture resulted in a thick, creamy mixture with approximately 28 vol % glass microspheres. Finally, colloidal clay at about 6% to 8% by weight was found to be the best additive to maintain glass microsphere suspension in halocarbon oil of the three additives tested.
As demonstrated in the above mixing experiments, the most effective means of maintaining glass microspheres in liquid suspension was achieved by either adding xanthan gum to water or water/halocarbon oil mixtures, or by adding colloidal clay to the halocarbon oil. Additional laboratory testing was conducted using a Rapid-K Thermal Conductivity Instrument to determine what impact, if any, these additives had on the insulation potential of candidate insulating liquids. The thermal conductivities of halocarbon/glass, water/glass, and a 50% water/halocarbon/glass mixture were measured.
Xanthan gum was effective in maintaining glass suspension in water and 50% water/50% halocarbon solutions only.
These tests verify that the lowest thermal conductivities can be achieved by adding higher concentrations of microcapsules, and by using the highest percentage of halocarbon oil in the liquid mixtures. These high concentrations of halocarbon oil and microcapsules were found to be most readily achievable with the colloidal clay additive. Although this clay additive did increase the apparent thermal conductivity of the halocarbon/glass mixture slightly, as compared to the same mixture without any additive, it was successful in maintaining a homogeneous glass/liquid mixture without showing any signs of glass separation after several days' observation. The emulsifying agents discussed herein are merely examples of acceptable agents that may be used. Those skilled in the art will realize that emulsifying agents other than those listed herein may also be used in the present invention.
III. Use of the Compositions in Insulating Apparatuses
A variety of insulating garments and apparatuses that utilize various liquids for insulators are known, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,469 to Nuckols et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,053 to Parker et al. The compositions of the present invention may be used in these and other conventional devices that rely on liquid insulators. A typical insulating garment may comprise a first liquid impermeable layer and a second liquid impermeable layer. The two layers are typically bonded together in some fashion. For instance, the two layers may be bonded at the edge of the layers, such that the two bonded layers form a single bladder or reservoir. Alternatively, the layers may be bonded in a fashion such that a plurality of sealed bladders are formed.
Furthermore, the garment may also comprise a valve that may be used to insert or remove liquid from the bladder. A pump may also be connected to the insulating garment through use of a hose or other suitable means. The pump may be used to circulate liquid through the garment. The pump may also be attached to or integral with a heating unit that may be used to warm the liquid that is circulated through the insulating garment. Those skilled in the art will realize that the garment may be constructed of any fabric or material that is conventionally used in diving applications. For instance, the garment may be made from a material possessing elastic properties, thereby allowing the garment to form-fit to the body on which it is placed. Preferably the material is also water impermeable so that water does not leak into the bladder.
The use of the liquid insulating compositions of the present invention may be particularly advantageous in a variety of applications. One such application is diver's gloves, and one embodiment of a diver's glove is shown in
One of the primary advantages of using liquid insulation in divers' gloves is the expected enhancement in dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Unlike with fibrous or foam insulating materials, when the diver grasps an object while wearing liquid-insulation gloves, the liquid will move away from the region in which the fingers are contacting the object, resulting in a momentary reduction in insulation but improved dexterity. After releasing the object, the liquid will re-surround the diver's fingers, returning the insulating quality of the glove. Since the insulating liquid has been engineered to have a density approximately that of the surrounding seawater, this insulation comes without the additional cost of added buoyant forces on the diver glove, and also helps to minimize suit squeeze around the extremities. Additionally, various insulation values can be readily achieved by controlling the quantity of liquid injected into the glove liner.
The insulation levels that may be achieved with the liquid-filled glove liners are comparable to uncompressed foam neoprene. Due to their incompressible behavior, these liquids will maintain their inherent insulation values at elevated pressures, unlike foam neoprene, and they can be engineered to be neutrally buoyant.
Theoretical glove insulation values for one embodiment of the gloves of the present invention were also determined. For these tests, a gloved hand was modeled as a 7-zone appendage, each zone with its own localized level of insulation. The total glove insulation (Clo−one Clo is the insulation of a standard business suit in air, 1 Clo=1.136/Uo) was calculated using the relationship:
where (SA)i is the surface area of each of the seven zones and (SA/Clo)i is the ratio of the localized surface area to insulation value for each zone. Table 5 identifies the localized surface areas used in this analysis (based on the measured surface areas of the 75 percentile cast aluminum hard calorimeter used at the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility at Natick, Mass.).
The localized heat transfer from each zone of the hand to the surrounding water can be calculated as:
{dot over (Q)}i=Uo
where {dot over (Q)} is the localized heat flux from each of the hand zones, Uo
The localized heat transfer coefficients were calculated assuming that the thermal resistance in each zone could be modeled as if concentric cylinders consisting of the glove insulation and the glove shell are surrounding each zone, as shown in
The overall heat transfer coefficient of a single zone can then be calculated in cylindrical coordinates as:
where R1i is the mean radius of the individual zone, R2i is the radius of the insulation, R3i is the outside radius of the glove shell, K1 is the thermal conductivity of the glove insulation, K2 is the thermal conductivity of the glove shell, and hoi is the convective heat transfer coefficient on the outside of the glove shell. The mean radius of each cylindrical digit zone was calculated from the known surface areas and lengths given in table 5 as
The mean radius of the palm and dorsal areas of the hand were calculated assuming that they are half cylinders. Thus, for one palm and dorsal zones
This application is a divisional of and claims priority to application Ser. No. 09/949,287, filed Sep. 7, 2001, which is now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,276,467, and also claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/230,679, filed Sep. 7, 2000, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The government owns rights in the present invention pursuant to Government Contract No. N61331-99-C-0027 for Naval Experimental Diving Unit.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3744053 | Parker et al. | Jul 1973 | A |
| 4503565 | Lippitt et al. | Mar 1985 | A |
| 5960469 | Nuckols et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 6855410 | Buckley | Feb 2005 | B2 |
| 7276467 | Nuckols et al. | Oct 2007 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060216499 A1 | Sep 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60230679 | Sep 2000 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09949287 | Sep 2001 | US |
| Child | 11221340 | US |
