Branched tube network and temperature regulating garment with branched tube network
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer is provided. The garment includes a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer. The fabric includes channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric. The garment includes a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid. The branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric. The branched tube network includes a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to two daughter tubes, or more, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive. The tube network has at least two levels of branches.
1. A garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer, comprising:
a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer, the fabric having channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric; and
a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid, wherein the branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric, the branched tube network comprising:
a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to at least two daughter tubes, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive;
wherein the tube network has at least two levels of branches; and
wherein:
each tube is branched and connected to two daughter tubes, the branch angle being between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, inclusive; or
a diameter of the branched tube is greater than a diameter of the daughter tubes.
2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the each tube is branched and connected to two daughter tubes.
3. The garment of claim 2 , wherein the branch angle is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, inclusive.
4. The garment of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the branched tube is greater than a diameter of the daughter tubes.
5. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of each daughter tube is between 60% and 80% of the branched tube.
6. The garment of claim 1 , further comprising:
an energy conversion device for heating and/or cooling the working fluid; and
a blower in fluidic communication with the energy conversion device and the branched tube network for moving the working fluid.
7. The garment of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the garment includes a mesh configured to cooperate with an intake of the blower.
8. The garment of claim 7 , wherein the garment includes a pocket and the blower is disposed within the pocket.
9. The garment of claim 6 , further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the blower, wherein the blower is controllable by the controller.
10. The garment of claim 9 , further comprising one or more sensors in electronic communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to regulate the blower according to a signal received from the one or more sensors.
11. The garment of claim 10 , wherein a sensor of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor.
12. The garment of claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to be positioned near the skin of the wearer.
13. The garment of claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a passive circuit wirelessly energized using radio frequency (RF) energy.
14. The garment of claim 13 , wherein the passive circuit includes an RF antenna affixed to the fabric.
15. The garment of claim 14 , wherein the RF antenna is embroidered onto the fabric.
16. The garment of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with an environmental system.
17. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the branched tube network is formed by 3D printing.
18. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the tubes are perforated.
19. A branched tube network for a temperature regulating garment, comprising:
a parent tube having a branched end;
at least two daughter tubes, each daughter tube having a first end and a branched end, wherein the first end of each daughter tube is connected to the branched end of the parent tube;
at least two sets of at least two granddaughter tubes, each granddaughter tube having a first end connected to the branched end of a respective daughter tube such that the branched end of each daughter tube is connected to a set of at least two granddaughter tubes; and
wherein a diameter of the parent tube is greater than a diameter of the daughter tubes.
20. The branched tube network of claim 19 , wherein the parent tube is connected to two daughter tubes, and each daughter tube is connected to two granddaughter tubes.
21. The branched tube network of claim 20 , wherein the first end of each daughter tube is connected to the parent tube to form a branch angle between the daughter tubes, and the branch angle is between 1 and 359 degrees.
22. The branched tube network of claim 19 , wherein a diameter of the daughter tubes is greater than a diameter of the granddaughter tubes.
23. The branched tube network of claim 19 , wherein the granddaughter tubes are perforated.
24. A garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer, comprising:
a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer, the fabric having channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric; and
a branched tube network according to claim 19 for circulating a working fluid, wherein the branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric.
25. A garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer, comprising:
a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer, the fabric having channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric;
a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid, wherein the branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric, the branched tube network comprising:
a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to at least two daughter tubes, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive; and
wherein the tube network has at least two levels of branches;
an energy conversion device for heating and/or cooling the working fluid; and
a blower in fluidic communication with the energy conversion device and the branched tube network for moving the working fluid.