Heat transfer pad having localized treatment zones

摘要

A heat transfer pad includes a pad inlet port for feeding a heat transfer fluid to the pad, a pad outlet port for discharging the heat transfer fluid from the pad and a bladder having an internal flowpath for the heat transfer fluid which extends from the pad inlet port to the pad outlet port. The internal flowpath is divided into a first flow channel and a second flow channel through which first and second flow streams of the heat transfer fluid, respectively, flow between the pad inlet and outlet ports. A first flow restrictor is positioned downstream in the first flow channel and a second flow restrictor is correspondingly positioned downstream in the second flow channel and the flow restrictors are configured to create substantial back pressures in the first and second flow channels, respectively.

主权项

1. A heat transfer pad comprising:
a bladder having an internal flowpath for a flow stream of a heat transfer fluid, said bladder having a first side edge, a second side edge, a central longitudinal axis between said first side edge and said second side edge and an inlet chamber extending along said central longitudinal axis to an inlet chamber termination at a first flow opening and a second flow opening, both said first flow opening and said second flow opening in fluid communication with said inlet chamber,
wherein said inlet chamber has a first longitudinal sidewall and a second longitudinal sidewall enclosing opposing sides of said inlet chamber to enable flow of a heat transfer fluid therethrough in an inlet chamber direction,wherein each of said longitudinal sidewalls is continuous and fluid-impermeable to prevent said heat transfer fluid from exiting said inlet chamber except at said first flow opening and said second flow opening,wherein said inlet chamber bisects said bladder into a first half and a second half and divides said internal flowpath into a tortuous first flow channel at said first opening through which a first portion of said flow stream of said heat transfer fluid flows and a tortuous second flow channel at said second opening through which a second portion of said flow stream of said heat transfer fluid flows,wherein each of said flow channels is in fluid isolation from the other along essentially the entirety of its length,wherein said first flow channel occupies essentially the entirety of said first half of said bladder and said second flow channel occupies essentially the entirety of said second half of said bladder,wherein said first flow channel has a first series of successive side-by-side switchback sections,wherein said first series has a first side-by-side switchback section extending from said first flow opening and doubling back longitudinally alongside said inlet chamber in adjoining relationship thereto, thereby enabling flow of said heat transfer fluid through said first side-by-side switchback section of said first series in a first first series direction counter-current to said inlet chamber direction,wherein said second flow channel has a second series of successive side-by-side switchback sections, andwherein said second series has a first side-by-side switchback section extending from said second flow opening and doubling back longitudinally alongside said inlet chamber in adjoining relationship thereto on a side of said inlet chamber opposite said first side-by-side switchback section of said first series, thereby enabling flow of said heat transfer fluid through said first side-by-side switchback section of said second series in a first second series direction counter-current to said inlet chamber direction and co-current to said first first series direction; an inlet port into said bladder for feeding fresh heat transfer fluid to said inlet chamber; and an outlet port out of said bladder for discharging spent heat transfer fluid from said bladder.