Automatic fluid circulating system and method

A system for the circulation of fluid through a fluid conduit connected between a fluid container and a hollow body compress, the system comprising:

• a fluid container;
• a hollow body compress;
• a fluid conduit connected between said fluid container and said hollow body compress;
• a first fluid flow control means positioned at a first location in the compress and coupled to said fluid conduit for allowing fluid flow only into the compress from the container;
• at least one extension tube extending from said fluid conduit to a second location in the compress remote from the first fluid flow control means for allowing fluid to flow out of the compress;
• and
• pressurizing means coupled to the interior of the fluid container for cyclically pressurizing the container such that fluid is forced from the container through the connecting fluid conduit into the compress at said first location and fluid is forced from the compress back to the container only from the second location in the compress during the cyclical pressurization.

A method for providing oscillating pressure and a chilled fluid of substantially constant non-ambient temperature to a hollow body compress, comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow body compress;
• providing a single container having therein a quantity of chilled fluid at a non-ambient temperature;
• providing a fluid conduit for two-way fluid communication directly between said container and said compress;
• coupling a motor-driven air pump to said container;
• providing a pressure relief means between said air pump and said container that is continuously open to atmosphere;
• coupling a timing circuit to said air pump to cause said air pump to cycle "on" and "off" for predetermined periods of time, said pressure relief means being of a capacity small enough such that during the "on" cycle said air pump is able to pressurize the container and force chilled fluid from the container through the fluid conduit into the compress to provide pressure and a chilled fluid of non-ambient temperature directly from said container to said compress, said pressure relief means being of a capacity large enough such that during the "off" cycle the container is at least partially depressurized through said pressure relief means to allow fluid to flow directly back to the container from the compress through the fluid conduit and thereby reduce the pressure of the compress and to allow the fluid which flows back to the container to be rechilled, whereby the fluid is recycled directly between the compress and the container to maintain a substantially constant non-ambient temperature of the fluid in the compress while the pressure in said compress oscillates.