Inflatable mannequin and system for thermal property measurement and associated methods
AssigneeUniversity of South Florida
InventorsFrancis N. Dukes-Dobos, Uwe Reischl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for measuring a thermal property of a garment includes a mannequin having a form similar to at least a portion of a mammalian body and adapted to wear the garment. Fluid is circulatable through at least a portion of the mannequin. An outer surface temperature sensor is affixed to the mannequin, and a fluid pressure regulator and temperature controller are located exterior of the mannequin. A meter monitors the energy usage of the controller, which is indicative of the thermal property of the garment. Environmental conditions are controllable, including variable wind speeds and induced mannequin motion.
Claims43
A system for measuring thermal property of a garment comprising:
- a garment;
- a mannequin having a hollow interior space and having a substantially mammalian form, the mannequin wearing the garment means for circulating a fluid through at least a portion of the mannequin covered by the garment;
- means for sensing the mannequin outer surface temperature at at least one location beneath the garment;
- means for controlling the temperature of the fluid being circulated for maintaining a substantially constant mannequin outer surface temperature;
- means for controlling the pressure of the fluid being circulated;
- and
- means for monitoring the energy usage of the temperature controlling means for determining the thermal property of the garment.
A device for measuring a thermal property of a garment comprising
- a garment;
- a mannequin having a substantially human shape, the mannequin wearing the garment;
- means for circulating a fluid through at least a portion of the mannequin covered by the garment;
- means for sensing the mannequin outer surface temperature;
- means for supporting the mannequin in a desired orientation;
- and
- a substantially rigid waistband for retaining the shape of the mannequin at a waist region of the mannequin.
A method for measuring a thermal property of a garment comprising the steps of:
- providing a garment;
- placing a hollow mannequin having an interior space in a desired environment, the mannequin having a substantially mammalian shape;
- introducing fluid into the interior space of the mannequin and circulating the fluid trough at least a portion of the mannequin coverable by the garment;
- regulating the pressure of the fluid;
- sensing the mannequin outer surface temperature at at least one location;
- controlling the temperature of the fluid being circulated to maintain a substantially constant mannequin outer surface temperature;
- monitoring the energy usage of the temperature controlling step;
- placing the garment onto the mannequin;
- sensing the mannequin outer surface temperature at at least one location beneath the garment;
- continuing to control the temperature of the fluid being circulated to maintain a substantially constant mannequin outer surface temperature;
- and
- monitoring the energy source of the temperature controlling step for calculating thermal property from a difference between the energy usage with and without the garment being on the mannequin.
A method for measuring a thermal property of a garment comprising it the steps of:
- providing a garment;
- placing a mannequin in a desired environment, the mannequin having a substantially mammalian shape;
- placing the garment onto the mannequin;
- circulating fluid through at least a portion of the mannequin covered by the garment;
- sensing the mannequin outer surface temperature at a plurality of locations beneath the garment;
- integrating the sensed outer surface temperatures and generating a control signal;
- controlling the temperature of the fluid being circulated to maintain a substantially constant mannequin outer surface temperature by heating or cooling the fluid in response to information contained in the control signal;
- monitoring the energy usage of the heating or cooling step to calculate the thermal property fronts difference between the energy usage and a predetermined control energy usage value obtained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.