Portable cooling mechanism

An evaporative cooling system that can be easily transported and set up quickly in indoor or outdoor environments to provide effective cooling to a sizable area in a short time period. The system can be operated from standard AC household electrical power, or from a 12-volt DC power source, such as a car or marine battery. The system water tank can be filled with water, or connected to a water source for continual refilling. The system can also be used with a light-weight water source, holding approximately 2 liters of water for temporary cooling, or without water to move large volumes of air.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to air circulating and cooling mechanisms, in particular evaporative air cooling mechanisms, and, more particularly, to cooling mechanisms that can be transported to different places, as needed.

BACKGROUND

Cooling of air by circulation has been utilized for many years, as has cooling air by means of evaporative cooling, where dry, warm air is blown across or through a water source so that the air is rehumidified, and then recirculated. This cooling method is especially popular in the American Southwest, where air temperatures often exceed 100 degrees, and the air is dry.

Frequently, evaporative coolers are used for cooling in situations where the activities in which persons engage cause them to become warm, creating the threat of heat stress or heat exhaustion. These include situations such as fire fighting, high temperature work environments, and summer work or athletic activities. The use of an evaporative cooler in these situations can reduce the ambient air temperature 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and when the cooler, moist air is blown across a person's skin, it can help reduce body temperature, as well. Since many of these activities occur outside, and away from buildings and power and water supplies, standard prior art fans, air conditioners, or evaporative coolers that operate off standard household AC electrical current or must be connected to a running water source cannot be used.

Therefore, what is needed is an evaporative cooling system which can be easily transported to the location where it is needed, and quickly set up and powered to operate to provide cooling.

SUMMARY

The present invention, accordingly, provides an evaporative cooling system of a size and weight such that it can be easily transported and set up quickly, when and where it is needed, but is of a sufficient capacity, ruggedness and power to provide effective cooling to a sizable area in a short time period. The present invention can operate in indoor or outdoor environments, as needed. It operates from a DC power source, such as a 12-volt car or marine battery, for use in remote locations. In one configuration, the system can operate from standard AC household electrical power, or it can be hooked up to a DC power source, as described above.

The present invention has a water tank, which can be filled with water, or connected to a water source for continual refilling. In another configuration of the system, a small, light-weight water source, holding approximately 2 liters of water, can be connected to the unit. In yet another configuration of the system, both the water tank and the small, light-weight alternative water source are incorporated into the system, and either source can be connected. Since water weighs approximately 8.3 pounds/gallon, disconnecting the water tank and using the alternative water source will reduce the weight of the unit, so it can be easily moved to locations, such as in a construction site below ground, as needed for temporary cooling.

The invention comprises a portable evaporative air cooling apparatus having a blower unit comprising a fan, a spray bar capable of receiving water pumped from a water source that has one or more holes for spraying the water, and a cooling media for receiving water, all contained in a housing. The invention also comprises means for securing the spray bar and cooling media in the blower unit housing, and a stand for securing the blower unit to a water tank. The water tank comprises a tank, a lid, a means for filling the tank, a means for draining the tank, a receiver for securing the stand on the blower unit to the water tank, and a receiver tube in the underside for insertion of a mounting mechanism, such as a tripod. The system is attached to an electrical power supply, which provides power to the fan in the blower unit and a pump in the water tank that pumps water to the spray bar. There is also a receptacle in the blower unit housing for attaching a small, alternative water supply that can drip water onto the cooling media for use in situations where the water tank cannot be used.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily modified to design other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details.

Referring now to the FIGURES, wherein depicted elements are, for the sake of clarity, not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views.FIG. 1shows the evaporative cooling system1of the present invention. The primary components of the evaporative cooling system1are the stand2, the alternative water source4, the water tank10, and the blower unit50.

InFIG. 2, an embodiment of the water tank10of the present invention is shown. The water tank10comprises a holding tank12which is preferably approximately 16 inches wide by 14 inches long by 6 inches deep, although other shapes and sizes may be used according to the arrangement of the invention. A drain14is located near the bottom portion of the holding tank12on the rear of the tank. The drain14is sealed with a drain plug16when the evaporative cooling system1is in use. The drain plug16can be removed from the drain14, and the water in the holding tank12will exit by means of gravity.

In one arrangement of the present invention, a hollow receiver tube22extends into the holding tank12from the bottom, and is sealed around the point of ingress into the bottom of the holding tank12, and at the open upper portion of the receiver tube22. The opening of the receiver tube22at the bottom of the holding tank12will allow the insertion of a mounting mechanism, such as a tripod, into the evaporative cooling system1so it can be placed at variable heights and positioned in the desired location.

Inside the holding tank12, braces24are secured to the outside diameter of the receiver tube22and to the holding tank12. The braces24provide structural support to the water tank10, and also act as baffles for water contained within the water tank10.

A pump26is inserted in the holding tank12. The pump26is connected to a filter28, which is also inserted in the holding tank12, by means of tubing30. In one arrangement of the present invention, the pump26is secured to one of the braces24in the holding tank12to provide stability during operation. Another portion of tubing32connects the filter28to the hose barb44in the holding tank lid40. The water pump26pumps water from the holding tank12through the tubing30, the filter28, and out the end of the tubing32, as further described below.

A lid40is secured to the top of the holding tank12. The lid40has an opening46which can be used to put water into the holding tank12, if desired. The wiring75that connects a pump switch74, shown inFIG. 3, to the water pump26to provide power to the pump is also inserted through an opening in the lid. In one arrangement of the present invention, a splash plate47can be inserted into the opening46that prevents water in the holding tank12from exiting through the opening46when the evaporative cooling system1is being moved.

The opening46is preferably rectangular and has a flange around the edge which corresponds with a similar opening in the bottom of the blower unit50, although other shapes may be used according to the invention. The hose barb44also protrudes through the holding tank lid40. The filler hole48is used to fill the water tank10by means of a water hose or other method. A cover49is placed over the filler hole48when it is not in use to prevent water from spilling out of the filler hole48.

There is also a receiver42in the holding tank lid40. The stand2which is attached to the blower unit50can be inserted into the receiver42to attach the blower unit50to the water tank10. There is at least one through-material hole in the receiver42that corresponds with a hole in the stand2to provide means for securing the stand2to the water tank10. This provides stability for the blower unit50, and can be used to provide a method of locking the blower unit50to the water tank10to prevent theft.

InFIG. 3, an embodiment of the blower unit50of the present invention is shown. In a preferred arrangement of the present invention, blower unit50is preferably approximately 18 inches long by 24 inches high by 18 inches wide at the rear portion of the blower unit, with the unit tapering to approximately 15 inches high by 15 inches wide at the front of the unit. The preferred size of the blower unit50allows the unit to be portable; however, other sizes of blower unit50may be used according to the invention.

A handle64is attached to the top of the blower unit50, for carrying the blower unit50, or the entire evaporative cooling system1, if the blower unit50is secured to the water tank10. The handle can be oriented as shown inFIG. 3, or rotated to a different angle as appropriate for the particular arrangement of the invention. Also on the top of the blower unit50is a receptacle80into which the alternative water supply4can be inserted, if it is included with the system.

A control panel70is secured to one side of the blower unit50. The control panel70preferably contains a fan motor switch72to turn the blower fan54on and off. The control panel70also contains a pump switch74to turn the pump26on and off. Alternatively, a single switch (not shown) may be used to turn on and off both the blower fan54and pump26. The control panel70also preferably contains electrical connections and a female 20 amp AC electrical receptacle76. While the control panel is shown as having the switches on the side of the unit for ease of viewing, depending on the application for which the evaporative cooling system1will be used, the unit may be configured so that the switches, and possibly the electrical receptacle are located on the bottom of the control panel, rather than the side to protect the switches from being damaged in transit or use.

As shown inFIG. 4, protective screening52is attached to the front of the unit to prevent accidental access of materials or persons into the blower fan54contained within the blower unit50.

FIG. 5provides a detailed view of the elements of the cooling mechanism at the rear of the blower unit50. Cooling media58is inserted in the rear of the blower unit50. A lip51that encircles the inside of the blower unit50serves as a stop for the front of the cooling media58. The lip is continuous, except for an opening at the top that allows the arm63of the spray bar62to protrude into the blower unit50.

A spray bar62is positioned behind the cooling media58. In one arrangement of the present invention, the spray bar62is circular in shape and sized to fit inside the rear of the blower unit50, with holes for spraying of water in only the upper portion of the circular shape. The spray bar62had an arm63that extends into the blower unit50. The arm63can have holes for spraying of water on the bottom of the arm. Typically, the arm63has a removable end piece63athat can also have a hole in it which can be removed from the arm63to clean out any debris that may have accumulated in the spray bar62. The spray bar62also has an elbow at the bottom to which to connect the tubing68that connects at the other end to the portion of the hose barb44that extends above the top of the holding tank lid40. A raised flange53encircles the outside of the blower unit at rear edge. The cooling media58and spray bar62are retained in the rear of the blower unit50by means of a sealing gasket60that fastens around the raised flange53.

In operation, the evaporative cooling unit1is connected to an electrical power source through the control panel70. The blower fan54is turned on at the control panel70by means of the fan motor switch72. The pump26in the water tank10is turned on at the control panel70by means of the pump switch74. The pump26pumps water from the holding tank12through the tubing30to the filter28, then into the tubing32, through the hose barb44, into the tubing68and into the spray bar62. The spray bar62sprays water onto the cooling media58so that the cooling media58is kept evenly and continuously moistened.

The blower fan54draws air in through the rear of the blower unit50. As the air is drawn through the cooling media58, it absorbs water from the cooling media58, and the moist, cooler air is blown out the front end of the blower unit50. A damper66may be located on the top of the blower unit50. It can be adjusted to a closed or an open position to direct the flow of the water stream from the hole in the end of the removable end piece63ainto the blower unit50, or back down into the water tank10, respectively. This water is pulled into the fan blades, and atomized into a fine mist, which is blown out with the air for additional evaporative cooling.

Any surplus moisture in the cooling media58which is not retained in the cooling media58or blown out into the air drips from the bottom of the cooling media58through a drain hole55in the bottom of the blower that aligns with the opening46in the holding tank lid40and thus back into the water tank10. A flange around the opening in the bottom of the blower fits inside the flange on the opening46so that all the water drips back into the water tank10.

If the unit is only provided with an alternative water supply4, or if it is desired to use the blower unit50with the alternative water supply4, rather than with the water tank10, the stand2can be disconnected from the receiver42in the holding tank lid40, along with the tubing68being disconnected from the spray bar62and electrical connection to the pump26being disconnected. The blower unit can then be used alone as a fan, or the alternative water supply4can be placed in the receptacle80in the top of the blower unit50. The alternative water supply4drips water down between the cooling media58, and the fan blades. The water is pulled into the fan blades, and atomized into a fine mist, which is blown out with the air. The blower unit50can be mounted to a tripod or other mounting mechanism, if desired, inserted into the stand2, and can be easily moved to needed locations, given the lighter weight of the unit without a water tank10and the water it contains having to be moved as well. When using the system in this manner, the alternative water supply4can last over an hour before needing to be refilled.

It is understood that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.