The present application relates generally to a portable heating and cooling apparatus. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus that is capable of providing a localized heating or cooling effect without the need to vent the exhaust created by the heating and cooling apparatus to the exterior of a structure in which the heating and cooling apparatus is operating.
Individual rooms of a house or other structure may be kept at different temperatures based on the occupants' preferences, needs, physical conditions, etc. In order to alter the temperature of a room users typically adjust the thermostat, which might affect multiple rooms of the house or other structure. Separate heating units (i.e., space heaters), air conditioners, or fans could be used to increase or decrease the temperature in a room or to circulate the air in the room. However, the use of separate devices can take up considerable space and create unwanted noise.
Another problem commonly associated with heating devices and portable air conditioning units is the need to vent the exhaust created by such devices to the exterior of the structure in which the device is being used. For example, without such a vent, the heat generated by a portable air conditioning unit is discharged back into the space to cool, thereby forcing the air conditioning unit to work harder to lower the temperature of the space, while at the same time continuing to discharge heat back into the space.
It is an objective of the present disclosure to alleviate or overcome one or more difficulties related to the prior art. It has been found that a portable heating and cooling apparatus that is capable of providing heat and passive air conditioning, as well as operating as a fan to circulate air within a confined space, does not require exterior venting. The apparatus provides a single-source localized zone heating or cooling solution that can be used year-round. Specifically, the heating and cooling apparatus combines a heater with an area fan, and the application of the Peltier effect to provide a year-round zone climate portable control unit. The apparatus could further include a condensation trap with an evaporation pan or other removable collection container and an ozone generator to purify the condensation water for consumption.
In accordance with one aspect, a heating and cooling apparatus is composed of a heater and an area fan. The heating and cooling apparatus includes a case with a first air intake and an air outlet. An air chamber is disposed within the case and is in fluid communication with the first air intake and the air outlet, defining a primary air pathway. The apparatus further includes a fan configured to draw air through the air chamber and a PTC heating element within the air chamber and interposed between the first air intake and air outlet. A baffle is configured to direct air flow towards the PTC heating element.
In accordance with a second aspect, a heating and cooling apparatus includes a case with a first air intake and an air outlet. An air chamber is disposed within the case and is in fluid communication with the first air intake and air outlet, and defining a primary air pathway. The apparatus further includes a fan configured to draw air through the air chamber and a PTC heating element within the air chamber and interposed between the first air intake and air outlet. A baffle is configured to direct air flow towards the PTC heating element. The apparatus further includes an air purification system.
The heater includes a heat source (such as a positive temperature control (PTC) device, infrared bulbs and/or coils), a heat exchanger (such as a metal conductor like copper or any other suitable material that conducts heat), and a fan that blows air onto the heat exchanger. The thermoelectric cooling device utilizes the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junctions of two different types of material (typically metals). A Peltier cooler, heater, or thermoelectric heat pump is a solid-state active heat pump which transfers heat from one side of a device to the other, with consumption of electrical energy, depending on the direction of the current.
Example embodiments are described and illustrated in the drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be limiting. For example, one or more aspects or features from each embodiment can be combined with or utilized in other embodiments.
Herein, when a range such as 5-25 (or 5 to 25) is given, this means preferably at least 5 and, separately and independently, preferably not more than 25. In an example, such a range defines independently at least 5, and separately and independently, not more than 25.
A year-round climate control heating and cooling apparatus used to provide both heating and passive air conditioning is disclosed. In one embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus includes heating utilizing a PTC heat source aided by a fan. In another embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus includes heating with copper heat shielding, aided by thermoelectric cooling (TEC), and thermoelectric generation (TEG). The copper shielding enables the heating and cooling apparatus to operate without reducing the humidity and oxygen in the air. Thermoelectric cooling uses the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junctions of two different types of materials. A Peltier cooler, heater, or thermoelectric heat pump is a solid-state active heat pump which transfers heat from one side of the device to the other, with consumption of electrical energy, depending on the direction of the current. Such an instrument is also called a Peltier device, a Peltier heat pump, a solid state refrigerator, or thermoelectric cooler. These types of devices can be used for heating, cooling, or the circulation of air in an enclosed space. The thermoelectric generator is a Peltier device that uses heat energy to generate electricity. When electric current is passed through the Peltier device, it creates a temperature difference between a Peltier first surface and a Peltier second surface. If the direction of the electric current through the Peltier device is reversed, the temperature between the Peltier first surface and Peltier second surface is reversed. Thus, in one mode of operation, the Peltier second surface becomes cooler than the Peltier first surface. In a second mode of operation, where the direction of the electric current is reversed, the Peltier first surface becomes cooler than the Peltier second surface. By attaching a radiator or other suitable device to a fan and then to a first plate which is affixed to the Peltier first surface, the Peltier first surface can be maintained at or near ambient temperature. The Peltier second surface can then be either cooled or heated with respect to the Peltier first surface, depending on the direction of current flow to the Peltier device. The TEG manages heat generated by the TEC to create electricity in order to charge a battery circuit to provide additional power to the heating and cooling apparatus. The heating and cooling apparatus is thus able to convert heat generated by the TEC into chemical energy, instead of losing thermal energy into the enclosed space. The heating and cooling apparatus may be produced in a myriad of different embodiments including, without limitation, a fan only, a heater only, a cooler only, a fan with a TEC only, a fan with a TEC and heater, or a fan with TEC, TEG, and heater functions.
Another embodiment of the heating and cooling apparatus includes a condensation trap with an evaporation pan or other removable collection container and an ozone generator to purify the condensate for consumption. This condensation collector provides access to purified and potable water via the condensation process.
In another embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus includes 360-degree directed airflow or 120-degree directed airflow while in a fan mode, a cool mode, or a heat mode.
In another embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus includes Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi enabled connectivity allowing the heating and cooling apparatus to connect to various electronic devices. The heating and cooling apparatus may include USB ports, Direct Contact Charging stations, AC power plugs, and/or any other suitable charging, connecting, and/or powering methods, which could all be of various configurations, speeds, and technologies.
Embodiments of the heating and cooling apparatus provide illumination, such as color lighting, ambient lighting, visual reinforcement of the mode of operation, and/or any other suitable illumination. The heating and cooling apparatus houses the illumination component in any suitable location within the heating and cooling apparatus, including the top, bottom, base, and/or body. The illumination is provided by LED lights, fiber optics, and/or any other suitable lighting device.
In one embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus utilizes infrared (IR) heating and a cooling device aided by a thermoelectric cooling device. IR heaters typically contain three parts that create heat: an IR heat source (e.g. IR bulb), a heat exchanger (e.g. a metal conductor like copper or any other suitable material that conducts heat), and a fan that blows air onto or across the heat exchanger. The IR heater may comprise a protective covering over the heating element and/or exchanger, which can be made from copper, iron, steel, brass, or any other suitable material known in the art. The IR heater can be made of any suitable material that conducts heat, such as ceramic. The IR heater can also utilize propane, natural gas, electricity, or any other suitable fuel source.
In the various examples described herein, the heating and cooling apparatus can include a wide variety of systems configured to condition (i.e., heat, cool, purify, etc.) air in various manners. In various non-limiting examples, as will be described herein, the heating and cooling apparatus might include any or all of a heater, cooler, filter, source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ion generator, various interconnecting ducting, and dampers/valves.
Where possible, the various structural elements are coupled together by a minimal number of fasteners and joints, such as by a minimal number of screws or the like, projections received in slots, or other removable or non-removable locking structure, for improved serviceability. Further, the heating and cooling apparatus can include various other elements, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,327,427 and 7,046,918, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Turning to
The power cord 18 (shown in
The top portion 14 is located in an upper portion of the heating and cooling apparatus 10. The top portion 14 may be made of a metal (treated or untreated) or molded plastic. When the top 14 is made of a metal, the metal can be, for example, steel or aluminum. When a treated metal is used, the metal can be electrogalvanized or galvannealed. The metal material used for the top portion 14 can have a variety of finishes, including a black high gloss finish. The thickness of the top 14 is between 0.010 and 0.240 inches, more preferably between 0.014 and 0.100 inches, and most preferably between 0.018 and 0.034 inches.
In one embodiment, the top portion 14 includes a speaker system 100 (shown in
In
The PTC heating element 34 is a positive temperature coefficient heater. As shown in
Accordingly, the heating and cooling apparatus 10 provides year-round climate control using PTC heating technology, and a combination of a cooling device aided by a thermo-electric cooling device. The heating and cooling apparatus 10 provides, heating, passive air conditioning, and air circulation capabilities in a single unit.
In yet another embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus 10 includes a humidifier (not shown) that can utilize a water supply to modify the relative humidity of the air passing through the heating and cooling apparatus. For example, the humidifier can relatively increase the humidity in the air stream. Various types of humidification can be utilized, including hot and cold methods of increasing humidity in the air stream. The humidifier can utilize a re-fillable water supply or could even be connected to a constant water supply line. Additionally, the humidifier could be provided with a water drain and/or a catch basin that can have a fixed volume or discharge hose. In another embodiment, the humidifier can relatively decrease the humidity in the air stream. A conventional compressor-driven cooler dehumidification system, or other similar types, can be used.
In one embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus 10 purifies air via conventional methods. For example, the apparatus 10 may include an ozone air purifier (not shown), a plasma air ionization device (not shown), and/or a photocatalytic air purifier 56. Ozone air purification may be accomplished by the use of ultraviolet (UV) light and/or an electrical discharge to intentionally produce ozone. Plasma air ionization can be accomplished by needle-point brush-type ionizers that produce an equal amount of positive and negative ions neutralizing harmful pollutants and odors. Photocatalytic air oxidation (PCO) may be accomplished by the use of a UV lamp along with a catalytic substance that reacts with light, such as titanium dioxide.
One embodiment of the air purification system includes a secondary fan(s); a titanium dioxide PCO device; and a HEPA filter. Embodiments of the heating and cooling apparatus 10 as disclosed herein may also have pre-filters to ensure high quality air purification and equipment reliability. In another embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus 10 includes a filter replacement indicator located in the user interface 16.
In one embodiment, the heating and cooling apparatus 10 includes additional sterilizing, anti-bacterial, and/or deodorizing conditioning of the air flow. In one example, various portions of the heating and cooling apparatus 10 are coated with sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coating(s) to provide such additional conditioning of the air flow. Sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coating(s) can be applied about the air intake 50 or the air outlet 30, such as to portions of the adjacent exterior case 12. In another embodiment, the sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coatings are applied to one or more faces of the screen 32. In another embodiment, the sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coatings are applied to interior surfaces of the apparatus 10 that contact the air flow, such as within the fan assembly and/or the heat chamber 38.
Various sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coatings can be utilized. For example, the coatings can contain silver, titanium oxide and/or copper, though other materials can also be used. In one example, nano-silver can be used that is a resin composition containing silver nanometer-sized particles. The sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coatings can be applied via various methods, including chemical deposition or wet coating.
Coatings may wear off over time and reduce the sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing effectiveness. For this reason, it is beneficial to provide the coatings in such a manner that they are long-lasting and resistant to being removed via physical contact and/or periodic cleaning, as well as being efficient and cost-effective for manufacturing (e.g., using relatively less nano-silver material). In one embodiment, nano-silver particles are incorporated into a sprayable media, such as a UV-curable ink. The ink may be relatively clear so as not to alter the outward appearance of the coated items. Alternatively, the ink may have various colors, surface features, etc. This modified UV-curable ink is then sprayed or otherwise deposited onto the desired portions of the heating and cooling apparatus 10. In particular, the ink is sprayed onto and throughout the screen 32. Next, the coated item is exposed to UV radiation to thereby be permanently cured on the desired portion of the apparatus 10. Using this method, nano-silver particles will be dispersed throughout the cured ink, which permits the silver particles to perform the sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing function, while also protecting the silver particles from being removed over time.
It is understood that any portion of the heating and cooling apparatus 10 can be provided with the sterilizing, antibacterial, and/or deodorizing coating. While the coating can be used to condition the air flow, similar coatings can also be applied to the various exterior surfaces of the heating and cooling apparatus 10 that an end user may touch. For example, the exterior case 12, the user interface 16, and the surfaces adjacent the air inlet and/or the air outlet.
Moreover, at least a portion of the air purification system 56 of
The air purification system 56 can be operated independently of either the heating or the cooling modes of the apparatus 10. This allows the air purification system 56 to be operated as an air purifier and air freshener.
The mounting brackets 94 are preferably arranged relative to the PTC heating element 68 at an angle of 85 to 45 degrees, preferably from 80 to 50 degrees, more preferably from 75 to 55 degrees, and still more preferably 70 to 60 degrees. Although the embodiments shown in
As shown in
The heat-exchanger fins 92 are attached to or formed integrally with the PTC heating element 68. The element 68 can have a cross-section that is a circular disk, or a square, a rectangle, a triangle, or any other shape. The fins 92 can have a shape that is circular, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, or any other shape. The fins 92 can be arranged at an angle relative to the element 68 in order to maximize contact with a fluid that passes over the hybrid heating element 89. The hybrid heating element 89 is arranged such that an air flow passes over and through the hybrid heating element 89 before the air flow exits the apparatus 10. When the hybrid heating element 89 is used in an apparatus 10 with a fan that provides air flow, the angle that the fins 92 are arranged relative to the element 68 can be optimized to complement the fan blade pitch, resulting in maximized air flow over and through the hybrid heating element 89. The fins 92 are preferably arranged relative to the element 68 at an angle of 180, 175, 170, 165, 160, 155, 150, 145, 140, 135, 130, 125, 120, 115, 110, 105, 100, 95, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or 0 degrees. For example, as shown in
Further, when the hybrid heating element 89 is used as a heat source in an appliance, such as the apparatus 10, the PTC heating element 68 is positioned in the outermost area of the air flow generated by the fan. This results in an efficient transfer of the infrared energy directly to the surrounding surfaces and/or the user. In one embodiment, the air flows in a helical direction to a plane of the element 68. In another embodiment, the air flows in a perpendicular direction to a plane of the element 68.
In one embodiment, the PTC heating element 68 is made of a metal clad ceramic material, such as barium titanate (BaTiO3) or a lead titanate composite wherein the BaO component of BaTiO3 is partly replaced by the component PbO. In other embodiments, the PTC heating element 68 is made of any PTC ceramic material known in the art, such as molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2). In additional embodiments, the PTC heating element 68 is made of any polymer PTC material known in the art. The Curie point of the ceramic material is in the range of from 140° C. to 210° C., from 150° C. to 185° C., and from 170° C. to 180° C. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger fins 92 are made of a different material than the PTC heating element 68, including a conductive metal material, such as copper or aluminum. In alternative embodiments, the heat exchanger fins 92 are made of the same material as the PTC heating element 68.
In one embodiment, the infrared heating element 64 is a single torus-shaped bulb, as shown in
In one embodiment, the infrared heating element 64 is made with quartz tubes. In other embodiments, the infrared heating element 64 is made of quartz lamps, ceramic emitters, or metal tubulars.
The heating and cooling apparatus 10 depicted in
The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Examples of embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 62/654,726 filed on Apr. 9, 2018, which is in its entirety incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190309961 A1 | Oct 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62654726 | Apr 2018 | US |