The present invention relates generally to an air conditioning unit. More specifically, the present invention utilizes compressed gas for multiple pneumatic pistons to power an air conditioning unit designed for rescue shelters.
The following is a list of prior art related to the present invention with a brief description of the present invention's differences in comparison:
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,392 is a refrigerant pump which uses a swash plate as the mechanism for compressing the refrigerant. The method of driving the shaft is not mentioned. The present invention uses pneumatically driven pistons connected to a swash plate to deliver the rotation needed to drive an A/C unit.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,863 is a swash plate type axial piston pump. However, this patent is for a single axial piston pump, whereas the present invention utilizes a compressed gas powered swash plate axial piston motor to power an A/C unit.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,574 is a swash plate designed compressor. The utilization of the swash plate in this patent is different from the present invention. The present invention utilizes a swash plate to rotate and drive a shaft to power the A/C unit. The compressor of the present invention is driven by the rotating shaft.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,325 is a swash plate designed compressor. The utilization of the swash plate in this patent is different from the present invention. The present invention utilizes a swash plate to rotate and drive a shaft to power the A/C unit. The compressor of the present invention is driven by the rotating shaft.
In the European Patent EP 1384886 is a piston designed for used in a compressor. The piston is primarily used for a swash plate carbon dioxide compressor. The utilization of the swash plate in this patent is different from the present invention. The present invention utilizes a swash plate to rotate and drive a shaft to power the A/C unit. The compressor of the present invention is driven by the rotating shaft.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,727 is a compressor that is used for an A/C unit specifically. The compressor in this patent still compresses the refrigerant. However, the design of the present invention provides the rotation for a generic air conditioning unit.
In the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,999,893, 4,781,539, and the European patent EP0569958 is a similar invention to the U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,727 mentioned above. These patents introduce a swash plate as means of compressing the refrigerant. The present invention utilizes a swash plate to power a conventional compressor.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,784 is a similar system as the above mentioned systems in that it uses a swash plate to compress the refrigerants. However, it is different in that the refrigerant is carbon dioxide. The present invention does not use a swash plate for the compressor, nor is carbon dioxide used as the refrigerant. Oxygen is used as the gas to power the pneumatic pistons, which connected to the swash rotate a shaft that powers an A/C unit.
During a mine collapse, the working miners are required to evacuate to a mine shelter for safety. The mine shelters often provide the structural support to provide the miners a safe space to stay until rescue arrives. The mine shelters often provide the miners with the necessities for survival including carbon dioxide scrubber systems, oxygen supply, rations, and other items required for survival. However, an unaddressed and considerable problem with current mine shelters during rescue operations of mines is heat. In extreme conditions, the temperatures within a mine shelter can reach dangerous levels. The present invention is able to bring the high level temperatures in the mine rescue shelters to provide the miners with a more comfortable environment. The present invention utilizes a series of pneumatic pistons to power a swash plate and shoe. The piston's linear motions are converted into a rotational motion by the swash plate and shoe. A shaft receives the rotational energy to rotate fans and an air conditioning compressor. The fans are able to circulate air within the shelter through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is able to draw the heat from the shelter and transfer it to an exterior heat exchanger to be dispelled. The present invention is a safe and simple solution that provides high flow rates of conditioned air. The gas used to pressurize the pistons is the O2 gas supplied to sustain the miners until rescue. The usage of the compressed gas and multiple pistons provides the power needed to fully power an air conditioning unit.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is an air conditioning unit designed specifically for, but is not limited to, mine rescue operations. The present invention is designed to be powered by the use of a compressed gas. The present invention comprises a unit frame 1, a compressor 2, a valve system 3, a swash plate 4, a swash plate shoe 5, a plurality of pistons 6, a fan unit 7, an internal heat exchanger 8, an external heat exchanger 9, a plurality of gas tubes 10, a plurality of spring valves 20, and a belt 30. The present invention utilizes the plurality of pistons 6 to provide the required force for powering the air conditioning unit of the present invention. The linear motion of the plurality of pistons 6 is converted into rotational motion. The rotational motion is then used for the powering of the air conditioning unit.
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The swash plate shoe 5 is mounted onto the shoe mount 35 for to transfer rotational energy to the compressor axle 21. The swash plate shoe 5 comprises a plate mount 51 and a mount socket 52. The plate mount 51 is connecting component that allow the swash plate 4 to be connected to the swash plate shoe 5. The plate mount 51 is positioned on an angled end of the swash plate shoe 5. The mount socket 52 is positioned on the swash plate shoe 5 opposite of the angled end. The swash plate shoe 5 is mounted onto the shoe mount 35 by means of the mount socket 52. The swash plate 4 comprises a plurality of plates 41 and a plurality of piston bearing sockets 42. Each of the plates has a plurality of holes consistent with the number of pistons. The plurality of plate are aligned and secured to each other with the plurality of holes defining the piston bearing sockets. The combination of the plurality of holes creates a spherical socket for the connection to the plurality of pistons 6.
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The internal heat exchanger 8 is secured onto the internal heat exchanger rack 11 in a vertical position. Similarly, the external heat exchanger 9 is secured onto the external heat exchanger rack 13 in a vertical position. The internal heat exchanger 8 and the external heat exchanger 9 are flat heat exchangers that are positioned so that the larger surfaces areas are perpendicular to the face of the internal heat exchanger rack 11 and the external heat exchanger rack 13. This type of arrangement allows the grill fins of both heat exchangers to be directed towards the sides of the present invention. As a result, the internal heat exchanger 8 and the external heat exchanger 9 are able to efficient exchange heat with the environment. To increase the efficiency of heat exchange between the internal heat exchanger 8 and the external heat exchanger 9, the fan unit 7 is used. The fan unit 7 comprises an internal fan 71, an external fan 72, a fan axle 73, and a fan pulley 74. The internal fan 71 is positioned on a first end of the axle 73 and the external fan 72 is positioned on the axle 73 opposite of the internal fan 71. The fan unit 7 is able to receive rotational energy to power the fans by means of the fan pulley 74. The fan pulley 74 is concentrically connected to the axle 73. The belt 30 is looped about the fan pulley 74 and the compressor pulley 22 to allow the sharing of the rotational energy created by the valve system 3, the swash plate 4, the swash plate shoe 5, and the plurality of pistons 6. The axle 73 is secured to the internal fan support 12 and the external fan support 14. As a result, the internal fan 71 is positioned adjacent to the internal heat exchanger 8 and the external fan 72 is positioned adjacent to the external heat exchanger 9 to create air flow through each corresponding heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger 8 and the external heat exchanger 9 are both connected in line with the compressor 2, as well as to each other to complete the refrigerant cycling loop.
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As an example, the following is a description of one revolution of the swash plate 4 with four pistons. A first piston is at half through its throw and has ambient air filled inside its cylinder chamber 61. A second piston is at full extension with the compressed gas filled into its cylinder chamber 61. A third piston is at half through its throw similar to the first piston. A fourth piston is completely depressed. The cam 34 pushes open a spring valve which pressurizes the first piston. The piston pushes against the swash plate 4 which is attached to the swash plate shoe 5. The movement of the swash plate shoe 5 also changes the position of the second, third, and fourth piston. The second piston is now at the halfway position of its displacement, the third piston at its zero displacement, and the fourth piston also being at the half way position of its displacement. The spring valve associated with the first piston is aligned so that the exhaust channel 202 is aligned with the exhaust hole to release the pressurized gas. At the same time, the spring valve associated with the second piston is aligned so that the inlet channel 201 is aligned with the inlet hole for the pressurization of the second piston. This pressure will force the second piston to complete displacement and will turn the swash plate 4 another 90 degrees. This process is continued until the present invention is turned off or the supply of gas is exhausted.
The torque or rotational force produced from the rotation of the swash plate shoe 5 is transferred to the compressor axle 21. The compressor axle 21 may pass through a series of speed increasing gears and even a free wheel clutch. The compressor axle 21 will in turn run to the compressor 2 and the fan unit 7 using the belt 30 and the pulleys.
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Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/373,712 filed on Aug. 13, 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61373712 | Aug 2010 | US |