The present invention relates to a refrigeration system for creating and maintaining an ice rink surface and, in particular, to a complete standalone module refrigeration system for installation and use by residential consumers.
To meet demand and allow for year-round use and use in unsuitable climates, refrigeration systems for creating and maintaining (“chilling”) ice rink surfaces have been developed. The development of these refrigeration systems has involved improvements in ice rink construction, as well as improvements in heat exchange fluid flow systems. An initial form of the refrigeration system, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,057 to Etter et al., circulates chilled liquid refrigerant through heat exchange pipes located directly in the area being refrigerated.
The prior art also includes portable systems for creating and maintaining ice surfaces. However, such prior art systems have been inherently complex such as that in U.S. Pat. No. Re 29,438 to MacCracken et al. which requires the use of multiple interconnected mats of small diameter flexible plastic tubes that must be placed close to one another, with this close arrangement required to provide quality ice surfaces and cooling results.
Alternative ice rink chillers found in the prior art include those suitable for placement immediately adjacent to the edge of an ice rink, as shown in Canadian Patent No. 1,051,209 to Williams. Although such systems locate the refrigeration unit and the chiller tank alongside one another, they are bulky and also require the services of a skilled professional for installation, necessarily involving inordinate time and cost.
As a result, all of these systems have been suitable only for large scale commercial installations, especially when adding in the additional requirements for indoor ice rink facilities such as cooling systems, thermal storage reservoirs and dehumidification systems.
These commercial grade ice rink systems of the types aforesaid utilize heavy duty compressors, fans and pumps, requiring three phase electrical power supply connections. This requirement creates a problem in that these systems are therefore not suitable for use in areas where three phase electrical power is not available, such as in private residences, where typically only single phase power supplies are available. Accordingly, end consumers desiring to install quality, commercial grade ice rink systems in their backyards have, therefore, first had to expend significant time and cost to convert their homes' single phase electrical power supply to a three phase electrical power supply. This conversion can create problems with existing electrical equipment and wiring in the home, as well as significantly increasing the time and costs associated with installing the ice rink by requiring the components of such prior art large scale commercial systems brought to their homes.
Another problem with prior art commercial grade systems is that, because the various components of the refrigeration system have been located outside of the heat-exchange/refrigeration module (possibly even with the heat exchange unit located in its own separate housing), home consumers have heretofore been required to retain, at their own cost, highly skilled professional specialists familiar with the relevant technology, such as electricians, plumbers or steamfitters, to install and connect the various components of these systems to one another, so as to ensure safe installation, operation and maintenance. Typically, end consumers have been further burdened by legal requirements of their respective jurisdictions to have safety inspections performed by the relevant government body before such prior art systems could be put into regular use.
Thus, various methods and systems exist for creating and maintaining frozen ice skating rink surfaces. It is evident, however, that many such systems are directed to heavy-duty, large scale commercial installations, such that they relate, generally, to improvements for cooling systems for indoor ice rink facilities, thermal storage reservoirs for ice rinks, and improved cooling and dehumidification systems for indoor ice rink facilities. Very few systems are directed to smaller scale, ice-making facilities suitable for installation and use by residential consumers in backyards rinks. Thus, there remains a need for a residential ice skating rink system that an average “handyman” consumer could install and maintain in his backyard without the need for professional installers.
There is a need for a self-contained refrigeration system for ice rinks that can be used by smaller scale, ice-making facilities, and that is suitable for installation and use by non-industrial consumers. There is a particular need for a system adapted for use in residential environments where only single phase electrical connections are available and that dispenses with the need to have a professional electrician, plumber or steamfitter install the system.
The present invention addresses these and other problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art by providing an ice rink refrigeration unit or “chiller”: (a) that is relatively simple to install, even for non-professionals; (b) that is quickly and easily connectable; (c) that encapsulates the expansion tank, coolant pump, heat exchanger, compressor, expansion valve, heat exchanging coils and cooling fans, in addition to any other components, all pre-wired and pre-plumbed within a single self-contained standalone module; (d) that is more compact and less unsightly in a residential environment than prior art equipment; (e) that is designed for use with standard single phase electrical connections and power supply, dispensing with the need to have an electrician to convert electrical capabilities in a residential home from a single phase to a three phase electrical power source; and (f) that dispenses with the need to have a plumber or steamfitter to complete, on-site, the interconnection of the system components to one another and to an ice rink
In accordance with the present invention there is disclosed an ice rink chilling unit for use with heat-conductive rink piping, a coolant fluid, and a single-phase AC electrical source. According to the invention, the ice rink chilling unit includes a heat extraction subassembly, a refrigeration subassembly, a stand-alone enclosure, and a single-phase AC electrical connector. According to the invention, the heat extraction subassembly includes quick-connect couplings to operatively and removably connect with the rink piping so as to form a secondary closed loop. The refrigeration subassembly includes a refrigerant fluid and a primary closed loop that operatively engages the extraction subassembly in heat exchanging relation. According to the invention, the stand-alone enclosure substantially encapsulates the refrigeration subassembly and the extraction subassembly. According to the invention, the quick-connect couplings extend outside of the enclosure. According to the invention, each of the extraction subassembly and the refrigeration subassembly is substantially pre-wired and pre-plumbed inside of the enclosure. According to the invention, the single-phase AC electrical connector is accessible from outside of the enclosure and adapted to operatively connect, in single-phase AC electrical relation, each of the extraction subassembly and the refrigeration subassembly to the electrical source. The coolant fluid is circulated through the secondary closed loop and the refrigerant fluid is operatively circulated through the primary closed loop. The coolant fluid within the extraction subassembly operatively transfers heat to the refrigerant fluid within the primary closed loop, so as to enable operative extraction of heat from substantially adjacent to the rink piping.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the enclosure may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more selectively openable panels. Preferably, but not necessarily, the panels permit ready access to the refrigeration subassembly and the extraction subassembly, pre-wired and pre-plumbed as aforesaid, within the enclosure.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the quick-connect couplings may preferably, but need not necessarily, include a supply quick-connect coupling and a return quick-connect coupling.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the extraction subassembly may preferably, but need not necessarily, additionally include a pump, coolant “T”-fitting, and/or coolant heat exchanging piping. The pump may preferably, but need not necessarily, be positioned downstream of the return quick-connect coupling—preferably, but not necessarily, to circulate the coolant fluid through the secondary closed loop. The coolant “T”-fitting may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially interposed between the pump and the return quick-connect coupling. As such, excess quantities of the coolant fluid may preferably, but need not necessarily, be operatively diverted through the coolant “T”-fitting to an expansion tank. The coolant heat exchanging piping may preferably, but need not necessarily, be positioned downstream of the pump and may preferably, but need not necessarily, operatively engage the primary closed loop in the aforesaid heat exchanging relation. Preferably, but not necessarily, the supply quick-connect coupling may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanging piping. The pump may preferably, but need not necessarily, be connected, in single-phase electrical relation, to the electrical connector.
According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the expansion tank may preferably, but need not necessarily, be positioned within the enclosure at a height that is substantially above the coolant “T”-fitting.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant system may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include a cooling condenser fan.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the primary closed loop may preferably, but need not necessarily, include a first section of refrigerant heat exchanging piping, a compressor, a suction line, a second section of refrigerant heat exchanging piping, and/or a refrigerant expansion valve. The first section of refrigerant heat exchanging piping may preferably, but need not necessarily, operatively engage the extraction subassembly in the aforesaid heat exchanging relation. The compressor may preferably, but need not necessarily, be positioned downstream of the first section. The suction line may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially interposed between the first section and the compressor. The second section of refrigerant heat exchanging piping may preferably, but need not necessarily, be positioned downstream of the compressor and may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially adjacent to the fan. As such, operative rotation of the fan may preferably, but need not necessarily, draw air across and extract heat from the refrigerant within the second section. The refrigerant expansion valve may preferably, but need not necessarily, reduce pressure on the refrigerant downstream of the second section. Each of the compressor and the fan may preferably, but need not necessarily, be connected, in single-phase electrical relation, to the electrical connector.
In accordance with the present invention there is additionally disclosed an ice rink chilling apparatus for use with a single-phase AC electrical source. According to the invention, the ice rink chilling apparatus includes a heat extraction assembly, a refrigeration subassembly, a stand-alone enclosure, and a single-phase AC electrical connector. The heat extraction assembly includes a coolant fluid, an encapsulated extraction subassembly, heat-conductive rink piping, and quick-connect couplings. According to the invention, the quick-connect couplings are connected to the extraction subassembly and removably connected to the rink piping so as to form a secondary closed loop. The refrigeration subassembly includes a refrigerant fluid and a primary closed loop that operatively engages the extraction subassembly in heat exchanging relation. According to the invention, the stand-alone enclosure substantially encapsulates the refrigeration subassembly and the extraction subassembly. According to the invention, the quick-connect couplings extend outside of the enclosure. According to the invention, each of the refrigeration subassembly and the extraction subassembly is substantially pre-wired and pre-plumbed inside of the enclosure. According to the invention, the single-phase AC electrical connector is accessible from outside of the enclosure and adapted to operatively connect, in single-phase AC electrical relation, each of the refrigeration subassembly and the extraction subassembly to the electrical source. The coolant fluid is circulated through the secondary closed loop, and the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the primary closed loop. The coolant fluid within the extraction subassembly operatively transfers heat to the refrigerant fluid within the primary closed loop, so as to enable operative extraction of heat from substantially adjacent to the rink piping.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the rink piping may preferably, but need not necessarily, include a plurality of elongate and closely spaced pipe sections. The pipe sections may preferably, but need not necessarily, be joined together at respective ends thereof by “U”-shaped bends. The joined together pipe sections may preferably, but need not necessarily, form a single substantially continuous length of piping. Each of the pipe sections may preferably, but need not necessarily, rest on chair supporting members. The plurality may preferably, but need not necessarily, be together selectively rollable from an operative configuration to a rolled and readily movable configuration.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the pipe sections may preferably, but need not necessarily, be pre-formed from a plastic material that is heat-conductive and/or UV stabilized.
In accordance with the present invention there is also disclosed a method of chilling an ice rink. The method includes a first step of providing heat-conductive rink piping, a coolant fluid, and a single-phase AC electrical source. According to the invention, the method also includes a second step of providing an ice rink chilling unit. According to the invention, the ice rink chilling unit includes a heat extraction subassembly, a refrigeration subassembly, a stand-alone enclosure, and a single-phase AC electrical connector. The heat extraction subassembly includes quick-connect couplings. The refrigeration subassembly includes a refrigerant fluid and a primary closed loop that operatively engages the extraction subassembly in heat exchanging relation. The stand-alone enclosure substantially encapsulates the refrigeration subassembly and the extraction subassembly. The quick-connect couplings extend outside of the enclosure. Each of the extraction subassembly and the refrigeration subassembly is substantially pre-wired and pre-plumbed inside of the enclosure. The single-phase AC electrical connector is accessible from outside of the enclosure. According to the invention, the method also includes a third step of operatively and removably connecting the quick-connect coupling to the rink piping so as to form a secondary closed loop. According to the invention, the method also includes a fourth step of operatively connecting, in single-phase AC electrical relation, each of the extraction subassembly and the refrigeration subassembly to the electrical source. The method also includes a fifth step of circulating the coolant fluid through the secondary closed loop and circulating the refrigerant fluid through the primary closed loop. As such, according to the method, the coolant fluid within the extraction subassembly operatively transfers heat to the refrigerant fluid within the primary closed loop, so as to extract heat from substantially adjacent to the rink piping.
According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the rink piping comprises chair supporting members and a plurality of elongate and closely spaced pipe sections. According to the invention, the method also includes an additional step, before the second step, of rolling the rink piping from a rolled and readily movable configuration to an operative configuration, whereat the pipe sections rest on the chair supporting members.
It is thus an object of this invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
Referring now to
In the
In the
To recapitulate, in
The prior art ice rink chilling apparatus 20′ shown in
The prior art ice rink chilling apparatus 20′ shown in
In the prior art, generally speaking, coolant fluid from the return rink header 28 flows in a downstream direction (as indicated generally by arrow “A”) towards the “T”-fitting 48. Later, coolant fluid is pumped further downstream (in a direction indicated generally by arrow “B”). Air passing over the ambient sections 70 is exhausted (in a direction indicated generally by arrow “E”) to remove heat from the refrigerant fluid. Thereafter, coolant fluid returns (in a direction indicated generally by arrow “G”) to the supply rink header 26.
Notably, notwithstanding the other problems with the prior art which are discussed in greater detail elsewhere herein, most of the components of the secondary closed loop 58 are substantially exposed to the ambient temperature, and all are located substantially remotely of one another. In addition, the aforesaid components of the secondary closed loop 58 have heretofore typically required the services of a pipe or steam fitter to properly assemble them together.
Now, with reference to
In
Now, therefore, the heat extraction assembly 22 according to the present invention includes a coolant fluid (not shown), heat-conductive rink piping 24, an encapsulated heat extraction subassembly 42, and quick-connect couplings 44a, 44b. In perhaps the simplest preferred embodiment, however, and as best seen in
The rink piping 24 preferably includes a plurality of elongate and closely spaced pipe sections 34. The pipe sections 34 are preferably pre-formed from a plastic material that is heat-conductive and/or UV stabilized. As best seen in
As best seen in
It should be additionally noted that the heat extraction subassembly 42 may include the quick-connect couplings 44a, 44b as a part thereof—a part which operatively and removably connects with the rink piping 24 through hose mains 30, so as to form a secondary closed loop 58. Alternately, and as mentioned hereinabove, the quick-connect couplings 44a, 44b may be provided discretely of the heat extraction subassembly 42, whilst being connected to the extraction subassembly 42 and removably connected to the rink piping 24 through the hose mains 30, so as to form the secondary closed loop 58.
In either event, the quick-connect couplings 44a, 44b preferably include a supply quick-connect coupling 44a and a return quick-connect coupling 44b. Alternately, however, it is contemplated that a single quick-connect coupling (as best seen in
As best seen in
The pump 46 is preferably positioned downstream of the return quick-connect coupling 44b to circulate the coolant fluid (not shown) through the primary closed loop 58.
The coolant “T”-fitting 48 is preferably substantially interposed between the pump 46 and the return quick-connect coupling 44b. The coolant “T”-fitting 48 operates to divert excess quantities of the coolant fluid (not shown) therethrough to an expansion tank 50. As best seen in
The coolant heat exchanging piping 56 is preferably positioned downstream of the pump 46. Preferably, the supply quick-connect coupling 44a is positioned downstream of the heat exchanging piping 56.
The refrigeration subassembly 60 includes a refrigerant fluid (not shown) and a primary closed loop 68 that operatively engages the extraction subassembly 42 in heat exchanging relation. The refrigeration subassembly 60 preferably also includes one or more cooling condenser fans 74.
As best seen in
The compressor 62 is preferably positioned downstream of the coolant section 66. The suction line 64 is preferably substantially interposed between the coolant section 66 and the compressor 62. The ambient sections 70 of refrigerant heat exchanging piping are preferably positioned—in series and/or in parallel (not shown) with respect to one another—downstream of the compressor 62, each preferably substantially adjacent to one of the fans 74. The refrigerant expansion valve 72 preferably reduces pressure on the refrigerant fluid (not shown) downstream of the ambient sections 70.
A heat exchanging subassembly 76 is preferably provided within the enclosure as the locus for the aforesaid operative engagement of the primary closed loop 68 with the extraction subassembly 42. Preferably, the coolant heat exchanging piping 56 operatively engages the coolant section 66 of refrigerant heat exchanging piping, in the aforesaid heat exchanging relation, within the heat exchanging subassembly 76.
The stand-alone enclosure 80 substantially encapsulates the refrigeration subassembly 60 and the extraction subassembly 42. The quick-connect couplings 44a, 44b extend outside of the enclosure 80. Each of the refrigeration subassembly 60 and the extraction subassembly 42 is substantially pre-wired and pre-plumbed inside of the enclosure 80.
As best seen in
The single-phase AC electrical connector 82 is accessible from outside of the enclosure 80 and is adapted to operatively connect, in single-phase AC electrical relation, each of the refrigeration subassembly 60 and the extraction subassembly 42 by wiring 14 to the electrical source 10. More specifically, the pump 46, the compressor 62, and the fans 74 are each connected, in the aforesaid single-phase AC electrical relation, to the electrical connector 82.
Preparatory to use, in a method of chilling an ice rink which is disclosed according to the invention, the heat-conductive rink piping 24, the coolant fluid (not shown), and the single-phase AC electrical source 10 are provided.
As best seen in
Next, the ice rink chilling unit 40 (which may be in the general form described hereinabove) is provided. The quick-connect couplings 44a, 44b of the ice rink chilling unit 40 are next operatively and removably connected to the rink piping 24 so as to form the secondary closed loop 58. The extraction subassembly 42 and the refrigeration subassembly 60 are each then operatively connected, in the aforesaid single-phase AC electrical relation, by wiring 14 to the electrical source 10.
In use, the coolant fluid (not shown) is circulated through the secondary closed loop 58, and the refrigerant fluid (not shown) is circulated through the primary closed loop 68. The refrigerant fluid flows from the compressor 62 (in a direction generally indicated by arrow “C”). The fans 74 rotate to draw air across, and extract heat from, the refrigerant fluid within the ambient sections 70—before exhausting the air through the vents 86 (in a direction generally indicated by arrow “E”). The refrigerant fluid may flow (in a direction generally indicated by arrow “D”) between the ambient sections 70. After passing through the refrigerant expansion valve 72, cooled refrigerant fluid may flow (in a direction generally indicated by arrow “F”) back towards the coolant section 66. The coolant fluid within the extraction subassembly 42 operatively transfers heat to the refrigerant fluid within the primary closed loop 68. In the aforesaid manner, the ice rink chilling unit 40 may enable operative extraction of heat from substantially adjacent to the rink piping 24.
To put it another way, the present invention involves a modified and improved refrigeration system for an ice rink. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stand-alone rink chilling unit 40 is connected with the rink piping 24 by “quick-connect” pipe couplings 44a, 44b to complete the plumbing of the Secondary Circuit. Such a plumbing connection is readily accomplished without the need of a plumber or steamfitter, thereby greatly simplifying installation.
The power supply 10 for the rink chilling unit 40 is also adapted for use within environments, such as for example residential environments, where only single-phase AC electrical power supplies are available. As such, there is no need for an end consumer (for example, a residential home owner) to hire an electrician or other similarly skilled professional to convert the electrical capabilities of the installation location between single-phase and three-phase electrical connections. Moreover, an experienced home handyman could readily adapt the power supply 10 for a 220V connection (comparable to other home improvements, such as a hot tub or pool heater), although some consumers may still wish to leave this connection to a licensed electrician.
Schematics of ice rinks using the ice rink chilling apparatus 20 according to the present invention are shown in
Other modifications and alterations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be used in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60726244 | Oct 2005 | US |