Thermal regulation system

Abstract

A sorption heat pump having an evaporator containing a working fluid to evaporate the fluid to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a vapor pathway connecting the evaporator and sorber, and a thermal control unit controlling the rate of vapor flow between the evaporator and sorber through the pathway, and being selectively operable to permit, stop and restart the flow of gas through the pathway. The pump may be used with a compartment storing temperature sensitive material. The evaporator may be positioned inside and the sorber outside the compartment, or the sorber may be positioned inside and the evaporator outside the compartment. The pump may be used in an apparatus including both cool and warm compartments, with an insulation layer in each. A method is disclosed for reusing the pump after the sorption material has been sorbed.

1 .- 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A method for reusing a sorption heat pump having an evaporator containing a working fluid, the working fluid evaporating to a working fluid gas in the evaporator, sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the working fluid gas during a sorption phase, a vapor pathway connecting the evaporator and the sorber, and a thermal control unit positioned to control the rate of vapor flow between the evaporator and the sorber through the vapor pathway comprising:
 providing the sorption heat pump to a user;   after the user has operated the sorption heat pump to at least partially sorb the sorption material in the sorber, receiving back the sorption heat pump;   reconditioning the sorption heat pump; and   providing the reconditioned sorption heat pump to the user or another user.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  where the sorption material is removable from the sorber, wherein the step of reconditioning the sorption heat pump is accomplished by removal of the at least partially sorbed sorption material from the sorber, and then placing at least substantially desorbed sorption material in the sorber. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62  where the sorption material is contained inside a removable cartridge and the sorber has a cartridge receiver within which the cartridge is removably positionable, the cartridge retaining the sorption material therein as the sorber sorbs the working fluid gas during the sorption phase, wherein the step of reconditioning the sorption material is accomplished by removal of the cartridge with the at least partially sorbed sorption material from the cartridge receiver, and then positioning a cartridge with at least substantially desorbed sorption material in the cartridge receiver. 
     
     
         65 . A method for reusing a temperature controlled container having a sorption heat pump and a compartment for storing a temperature sensitive material, the sorption heat pump having an evaporator containing a working fluid, the working fluid evaporating to a working fluid gas in the evaporator, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the working fluid gas during a sorption phase, a vapor pathway connecting the evaporator and the sorber, and a thermal control unit positioned to control the rate of vapor flow between the evaporator and the sorber through the vapor pathway, comprising:
 providing the temperature controlled container to a user ready for use by the user;   after the user has operated the sorption heat pump to at least partially sorb the sorption material in the sorber, receiving back the temperature controlled container with the at least partially sorbed sorption material;   reconditioning the sorption heat pump; and   providing the temperature controlled container with the reconditioned sorption heat pump to the user or another user.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  where the sorption material is removable from the sorber, wherein the step of reconditioning the sorption heat pump is accomplished by removal of the at least partially sorbed sorption material from the sorber, and then placing at least substantially desorbed sorption material in the sorber. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65  where the sorption material is contained inside a removable cartridge and the sorber has a cartridge receiver within which the cartridge is removably positionable, the cartridge retaining the sorption material therein as the sorber sorbs the working fluid gas during the sorption phase, wherein the step of recharging the sorption material is accomplished by removal of the cartridge with the at least partially sorbed sorption material from the cartridge receiver, and then positioning a cartridge with at least substantially desorbed sorption material in the cartridge receiver.