Patent Application
20080053116
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein the FIGURE is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a portable air conditioner.
A portable evaporative cooler 20 is generally shown in the FIGURE and includes a first reservoir 22 for holding a working fluid 24. The first reservoir 22 is shown as a generally rectangularly shaped first reservoir 22 having an air inlet 26 for ingress and flow of air over the working fluid 24 to exchange heat between the working fluid 24 and the air. The first reservoir 22 may include an air outlet 28 for egress and flow of air from the first reservoir 22. The working fluid 24 may be any fluid capable of heat exchange with air, such as water.
A sensor 30 is disposed within the first reservoir 22 for producing a signal in the first reservoir 22. In the preferred embodiment the sensor 30 produces a signal at a predetermined level of the working fluid 24 in the first reservoir 22. An example of such a sensor 30 is one that closes a switch or current path when the liquid reaches a level to be a conductor between contacts.
A cooling module 32 is disposed within the first reservoir 22 for cooling air flowing over the working fluid 24. The cooling module 32 receives air from the air inlet 26 of the first reservoir 22, and ejects cooled air through the air outlet 28 of the first reservoir 22. A cooling module 32 may be used which is similar to the one disclosed in FIG. 2 of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/333,904, filed Jan. 18, 2006. The cooling module 32 disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/333,904 receives air from the air inlet 26 and a fraction of the air is diverted to wet channels lined with a soaked wicking material to present the working fluid 24. This diverted air flowing through the wet channels causes evaporation of the working fluid 24 in the wet channels thereby lowering the temperature of the wet channel walls and thus cooling the air flowing through the contiguous dry channels to be ejected from the air outlet 28 of the first reservoir 22.
A second reservoir 34 stores a reserve fluid 36. The second reservoir 34 is shown as a generally rectangularly shaped second reservoir 34 with a partition 38 separating the first reservoir 22 from the second reservoir 34. The reserve fluid 36 may be any fluid capable of heat exchange with air, but is preferably the same fluid as the working fluid 24.
A cover plate 40 is disposed on the first reservoir 22 and the second reservoir 34 having an air opening 42 for receiving air from the air outlet 28 of the first reservoir 22. The cover plate 40 may include an exhaust opening 44 disposed over the first reservoir 22 for egress and flow of exhaust air from the cooling module 32 in the first reservoir 22. The exhaust opening 44 is shown as a plurality of exhaust openings 44 disposed over the first reservoir 22. Air received from the air inlet 26 passes through the cooling module 32 and a fraction of the air is diverted to the wet channels of the cooling module 32 as exhaust air to be received by the exhaust openings 44, and the remaining, cooled air is received by the air outlet 28. An exhaust hood 46 may be disposed on the cover plate 40 over the exhaust openings 44 for receiving the exhaust air steam from the exhaust openings 44. The cover plate 40 may also include a fill cap 48 disposed over the second reservoir 34 for replenishing the reserve fluid 36 in the second reservoir 34. The fill cap 48 preferably has an air passageway 50 allowing air to flow into the second reservoir 34.
A fan module 52 generally indicated is disposed adjacent the air inlet 26 of the first reservoir 22 for propelling air through the air inlet 26. The fan module 52 preferably has a plurality of fans 54 to propel air through the air inlet 26. A filter 56 is disposed adjacent the fan module 52 for filtering air flowing into the fan module 52, and an inlet cover 58 surrounds the filter 56. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the FIGURE, the inlet cover 58 has a plurality of air inlet openings 60 for allowing air to pass through the inlet cover 58.
The portable evaporative cooler 20 is distinguished by a valve 62 in the partition 38 which is responsive to the signal produced by the sensor 30 in the first reservoir 22 for replenishing the working fluid 24 from the reserve fluid 36 in the second reservoir 34 to the first reservoir 22. The valve 62 receives a signal from the sensor 30 and replenishes the working fluid 24 held in the first reservoir 22 from the reserve fluid 36 stored in the second reservoir 34 without the need for action by the operator. A solenoid valve may be suitable for such a valve 62, but other valves 62 may work in other embodiments.
The portable evaporative cooler 20 is further distinguished by a chute 64 being curved from the partition 38 through the second reservoir 34 for directing the flow of air from the air outlet 28 in the first reservoir 22 through a curved path. The chute 64 receives cooled air from the air outlet 28 in the first reservoir 22 and directs the cooled air through a curved path to the air opening 42 in the cover plate 40.
When operating, the portable evaporative cooler 20 continuously produces cooled air without the need for an external working fluid source. Air is received through the air openings 42 in the inlet cover 58 and passes through the filter 56. The fans 54 contained within the fan module 52 propel the air into the cooling module 32 disposed within the first reservoir 22. Heat is exchanged between the air and the working fluid 24 held within the first reservoir 22. The working fluid 24 is evaporated into the air, cooling the air, and the air is separated into wet, exhaust air and dry, cooled air by the cooling module 32. The wet air is expelled from the cooling module 32 through exhaust openings 44 located in the cover plate 40 disposed above the first reservoir 22. The exhaust hood 46 receives the wet air from the exhaust openings 44. The dry air is expelled from the cooling module 32 through an air outlet 28 in the first reservoir 22. The dry air is directed through a curved path by the chute 64 to the air opening 42 in the cover plate 40. As the portable evaporative cooler 20 conditions air, the level of the working fluid 24 in the first reservoir 22 diminishes. The sensor 30 disposed in the first reservoir 22 produces a signal when the level of the working fluid 24 in the first reservoir 22 reaches a predetermined level, and a valve 62 receives the signal produced by the sensor 30. The valve 62 located in the partition 38 separating the first reservoir 22 from the second reservoir 34 causes reserve fluid 36 stored within the second reservoir 34 to replenish the working fluid 24 held in the first reservoir 22.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
