Abstract:
A device includes a portable chest, a radiator in the chest, a liquid pump in the chest that moves liquid through the radiator, and a fan for providing an airflow across the radiator. The portable chest stores a quantity of chilled water that is pumped through the radiator by the liquid pump to chill the airflow provided by the fan.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/603,688 entitled “ICE AIR CONDITIONER,” filed Feb. 27, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to cooling devices in general and, more specifically, to devices for cooling air by exposure to ice. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Outdoor activities are enjoyed by many already but hot weather can often reduce this enjoyment. Further, genuine dangers may exist to some who become too hot. Unfortunately, many outdoor activities are only available in the summer. Parents, grandparents, and other family members may wish to watch outdoor summer sports or attend the beach with family, for example, but are limited in their ability to do so because of the heat. However, having a way to stay cool outdoors in the heat would be advantageous for comfort and endurance, even if one is otherwise able to safely endure the heat. 
     What is needed is a system and method for dealing with the above, and related, problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof, comprises a device including a portable chest, a radiator in the chest, a liquid pump in the chest that moves liquid through the radiator, and a fan for providing an airflow across the radiator. The portable chest stores a quantity of liquid that is pumped through the radiator by the liquid pump to chill the airflow provided by the fan. 
     In some embodiments, the portable chest is a portable ice-based cooler. The device may include a remote control that activates the liquid pump and fan. In some embodiments, the device includes a power supply for powering the pump and fan. A user accessible control panel may be provided that has at least controls for turning the liquid pump and fan on and off. The control panel may provide a control for allowing a user to adjust between at least two operating fan speeds. 
     The portable chest of the device may include a lid and an ice reservoir. The lid may be hinged to the ice reservoir, and retains the radiator and fan, while the ice reservoir retains the liquid pump. The lid may define an airflow path for directing air through the radiator and outside the device. The airflow path may include a flexible portion that may be manipulated by a user to at least partially define the airflow path. 
     In some embodiments, the ice reservoir comprises an outer shell and a liner. At least the outer shell may be molded to accept an axle attached to a pair of wheels. The outer shell may provide a tow handle for operation in conjunction with the wheels. 
     The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a device having an insulated chest for containing a quantity of liquid, a lid for the chest defining an airway and having a radiator in the airway for chilling air and a fan that moves the air through the airway and out of the lid, and a pump in the insulated chest that moves water from the chest, through the radiator, and back to the chest. 
     In some embodiments, the device further comprises a power supply operatively coupled to the fan and the pump. The device may include a user accessible control panel that allows a user to control at least power to the pump and fan. 
     The lid may be made from an upper shell and a lower shell that connect together to define at least a portion of the airway. A portion of the airway may be flexible and manipulable by a user to change a location where chilled air exits the lid. The upper shell and lower shell may define two air shafts with a user manipulable flexible vent tube therebetween. 
     The invention of the present disclosure, in another embodiment thereof, comprise a method that includes providing an chest with a liquid reservoir and a lid, defining an air path in the lid, providing a liquid pump inside the ice reservoir, providing a radiator and fan in the lid as part of the air path, pumping chilled water from the insulated chest to the radiator, and moving air through the air path with the fan, through the radiator, and outside the lid. 
     The method may also include providing a battery inside the lid that selectively powers the pump and fan and/or providing a user control for activating the pump and fan. 
     The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a device with a portable chest defining an airway and a liquid reservoir. The device includes a first radiator in the airway, a second radiator in the liquid reservoir, a fan that move air through the airway, and a pump that moves liquid from the second radiator to the first radiator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable air conditioner according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the lid of the portable air conditioner of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the chest of the portable air conditioner of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the portable air conditioner of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of another portable air conditioner according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable air conditioner  100  according to aspects of the present disclosure as shown. In the present embodiment, the portable air conditioner  100  has a chest  101  which may comprise a reservoir  102  with a lid  104 . In other embodiments, the chest  101  may have a sliding opening, a clamshell opening, or another configuration. The reservoir  102  and lid  104  may comprise molded plastic or other materials. As the air conditioner  100  is designed to be portable, some embodiments will provide attached wheels  106  and/or a tow handle  108 . In the present embodiment, the handle  108  stows against the reservoir  102  when not in use. The handle  108  hinges outward for lifting a portion of the reservoir  102  and pulling the reservoir  102  on the wheels  106 . A drain  110  may be accessible from outside the reservoir  102 . 
     The portable air conditioner  100  provides a control panel  112  that is accessible from outside the lid  104 . As will be described in greater detail below, the control panel  112  operates the functions of the portable air conditioner  100 . The portable air conditioner  100  can produce a stream of chilled air via the internal vent  116  or via a flexible vent tube  114 . Air is drawn into the portable air conditioner for cooling through one or more vents  120 , which may be located at the conjunction of the lid  104  and the reservoir  102 . It will be appreciated that the lid  104  can be configured to provide other traditional functions of an ice chest or other outdoor equipment such as molded drink holders  118 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded perspective view of the lid  104  of the portable air conditioner  100  is shown. The lid  104  may comprise an upper shell  202  fitted with a lower shell  204 . The upper shell  202  and lower shell  204  may comprise a molded plastic material and may fit together via fasteners, interference fit, electronic welding, or other means known in the art. As explained herein, one of the major functions of the lid  104  is to retain a significant number of the components associated with the air cooling function of the portable air conditioner  100 . The lid  104  may provide insulation (not shown) between all or portions of the upper shell  202  and lower shell  204 . In other embodiments, the lower shell  204  additionally contains insulation. 
     The upper shell  202  may provide a recessed compartment  205  for containing a battery  206  or other power supply. In other embodiments, the battery  206  and its compartment  205  could be located elsewhere (e.g., in the reservoir  102 ). The battery  206  may be a rechargeable battery based on nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium or other battery technology. In some embodiments, the battery  206  is a 12 volt battery with a capacity of 10,000 mAh. Provisions may also be made for an A/C or D/C adapter (not shown) to recharge the battery  206  and/or power the air conditioner  100 . In some embodiments, the compartment  205  may be configured to accept a number of disposable-type batteries such as a lantern battery, D-cells or the like. The compartment  205  may be provided with a cover  208 . A gasket or o-ring  210  may be provided to seal the cover  208  over the battery  206  within the battery compartment  205  to keep water out of the battery compartment  205 . 
     The control panel  212  may be housed at least partially within the upper shell  202  and/or lower shell  204 . The control panel may be of a design that is at least somewhat weather resistant in order to allow the portable air conditioner  100  to safely be utilized outdoors. In furtherance of weatherproofing the control panel  212  may seal into the upper shell  202  via a gasket  214  or o-ring. 
     Housed within the lid  104  possibly between the upper shell  202  and lower shell  204  is an electronic fan  216 . In the present embodiment, the fan  216  is a direct current fan. In some embodiments, the fan  216  is a 12-volt fan with a capacity of 226 cubic feet per minute. It may be adapted from a 105 mm PC case fan, sourced from another fan, or it may be custom constructed for use with the air conditioner  100 . In other embodiments an alternating current fan could be utilized if it were properly compatible with the battery  206  and/or control panel  212 . Attached to the lower shell  204  and/or upper shell  202 , in close proximity to the fan  216 , is a radiator  218 . The radiator may be made from aluminum or another material with good thermal conductive properties. As will be explained more fully below, the radiator  218  will be filled with a chilled liquid (e.g., water). The fan  216  will draw air from within the reservoir  102  over the radiator  218  where the air will be chilled before being exhausted through the lid  104  for cooling purposes. Some embodiments will provide a cover or filter  220  covering or surrounding the radiator  218  to prevent the radiator  218  from becoming dirty or clogged as air travels through it. 
     From  FIG. 2 , it will be appreciated that between the upper shell  202  and lower shell  204  a continuous pathway for air that is drawn in through the cover  220  and radiator  218  by the fan  216  is routed through the lid  104  and the vent  116  or the flexible vent tube  114 . The upper shell  202  provides an air shaft  222  receiving chilled air under pressure from the fan  216  and communicating it to the flexible vent tube  114 . The upper shell  202  also cooperates with the lower shell  204  to define another air shaft  224 . The flexible vent tube  114  may be attached between the air shaft  222  and the air shaft  224  to direct chilled air to and through the vent  116 . However, the flexible vent tube  114  may also be detached by a user from the air shaft  224  while remaining connected to the air shaft  222  in order to direct the chilled air to a location other than the vent  116 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the fan  216  and radiator  218  are retained within the lid  104 . However it is understood that, in other embodiments, the fan  216  and radiator  218  could be configured to function in another part of the air conditioner  100  (for example, they could be located in the reservoir  102 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exploded perspective view of the reservoir  102  of the portable air conditioner  100  is shown. The reservoir  102  functions as an ice water reservoir and may comprise a shell  302  provided with a liner  304 . The shell  302  and liner  304  may be molded plastic or another suitable material. In some embodiments the reservoir  102  is insulated with insulation (not shown) between all or portions of the shell  302  and liner  304 . The air conditioner  100  is designed to be portable and may provide additional lift handles  306  molded into the shell  302 . 
     As previously discussed, the portable air conditioner  100  may provide wheels  106  and/or a lift handle  108 . The shell  302  and/or liner  304  may be molded to accept the wheels  106  as an integral part of the air conditioner  100 . In the present embodiment, the wheels  106  are attached to an axle  308  fitted to the shell  302  by bushings  310 . In some embodiments, the wheels  106  may be held in place by caps  312 . In other embodiments, the wheels  106  may be detachable from the reservoir  102  or shell  302  rather than integrated as shown. 
     The drain  110  can be seen here to comprise a number of individual pieces. A drain body  314  is provided and traverses from inside the liner  304  to outside the shell  302 . The drain body  314  may be retained in place by a gasket  315  and nut  317 . A drain plug  318  may be provided for opening and closing the drain  110 . 
     Situated within the liner  304  near a lower portion thereof is a liquid pump  320 . In some embodiments, the pump  320  is a 12-volt electrically powered impeller based pump. It may have a flow rate of around 3 liters per minute. The pump  320  may be utilized for moving liquid from within the reservoir  102  to the lid  104 , and particularly to the radiator  218 . In some embodiments the portable air conditioner  100  may also function as a beverage cooler or ice chest, which may call for additional structure or organization of components within the reservoir  102 . 
     The pump  320  may protected and/or held in place by a cover  322 . The cover  322  attaches to the interior of the liner  304 . The pump  320  is situated inside the cover  322  when it is installed. The cover provides a conduit for a chilled liquid line  412  that attaches to the pump  320  for moving liquid to the radiator  218 . A return line  414  is also provided and traverses all or a part of the length of the cover  322  before exiting. In some embodiments, a length of the return line  414  extends away from the cover  322  in order to exhaust the return liquid some distance away from the pump  320 , which may draw chilled liquid primarily through an opening  352  in the cover  322 . Both the pump  320  and the opening  352  may be near a lower portion of the cover  322  and be situated relatively low in the reservoir  102 . This allows the pump  320  continuous access to chilled liquid in the reservoir  102  even if the liquid level is not high. 
     As the pump  320  may be powered from a power supply within the lid  104 , it may also be necessary to route a power connection  408  down into the reservoir  102  and to the pump  320 . In the present embodiment, the cover  320  provides a path for the power connection  408 . A small opening  350  may be defined near an upper portion of the cover  320  for passing the power connection  408  down from the lid  102 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, particularly where the air conditioner  100  also serves as a beverage cooler or the like, the cover  322  safely stows and routes the pump  320 , liquid  412 ,  414  and/or other components lines. 
     With the major components of the portable air conditioner  100  having been described in various physical, a schematic diagram  400  of the cooling operation is provided in  FIG. 4 . Various components of the portable air conditioner  100  having already been discussed explicitly are laid out once again in the schematic diagram  400 . For example, the control panel  212  is seen attached to the battery  206 . The liner  304  of the reservoir  102  is shown in  FIG. 4  filled with ice water  402 . The functional location of the flexible vent tube  114  relative to the radiator  218  and the fan  216  can also be seen in the schematic diagram  400 . In coming air  440  is drawn in by the fan  216  and forced through the radiator  218  and out through the flexible vent tube  114  as chilled air  442 . 
     In the present embodiment, the control panel  212  provides at least two user selectable functions, including activating the unit and adjusting a speed of the fan  216 . A rotary switch  404  provides at least three positions including an off position and three on positions. In the present embodiment, the fan  216  and pump  320  will be activated at least at a minimum speed anytime the power switch  404  is activated, or moved from the off position. The fan speed may be turned up further by utilizing second and third positions of the switch  404 , which may control a medium and high setting, respectively, for the fan  216 . It is understood that other types of switches may provide similar functionality. For example, a rotary knob, sliding switch, or a series of rocker and/or toggle switches may be utilized. 
     The control panel  212  may act as a variable switch between the battery  206  and the fan  216  to provide varying amounts of power or current via power leads  410 . In other embodiments, the control panel  212  acts as part of a relay for activating the fan  216 . 
     In the present embodiment any time the portable air conditioner  100  is activated the control panel  112  will provide power via power leads  408  to the pump  320 . The control panel  212  may function in this regard as a switch between the battery  206  and the pump  320 . However, it may also function as part of a relay circuit. In the present embodiment, the control panel  212  and/or battery  206  will provide a level of power or current to the pump  320  to keep it efficiently operating to continuously provide the radiator  218  with chilled water via the chilled water path  412 . In some embodiments, the control panel  112  may also control pump speed selectively. 
     The chilled water path  412  may comprise various conduits, hoses and pathways as are known to one as skilled in the art for being suitable for transporting chilled water. A return water path  414  between the radiator  218  and the liner  304  is also provided. This too may comprise various conduits, hoses and pathways as are known in the art. 
     It will be appreciated that in operation, a user may fill the portable air conditioner  100  with ice and/or water, which will be maintained in a chilled state by the insulating properties of the reservoir  102 . It is contemplated that many users will also place beverages or other food items within the reservoir  102 . So long as a minimal volume of chilled water is allowed to remain in the reservoir  102 , the water may be pumped by the pump  320  to the radiator  218  where the fan  216  can utilize the same for lowering air temperature. The cooled air will then be directed via the lid  104  to a location desired by a user. 
     The portable air conditioner  100  may be wheeled or carried to a desired location and activated for providing cooling functions. As the portable air conditioner  100  utilizes the cooling capacity of internally stored ice and/or water, it is understood that the cooling function of the portable air conditioner  100  will fall to an unacceptable level over a period of time. However, it is easy for a user to simply add more ice and/or drain some of the existing water via the drain  110 . It is also true that for a typical outing utilizing an ice chest that additional cooling capacity may be had, as it is often the case that ice must be emptied or dumped from a typical ice chest at the end of its use. 
     To further increase the convenience of the portable air conditioner  100 , a wired remote  430  may be employed instead of, or in addition to, the control panel  112 . This allows a user to control the portable air conditioner  100  without having to be nearby, or without having to fully divert attention away from another task. For example, the portable air conditioner  100  may be controlled from the driver&#39;s seat of a vehicle or the pilot&#39;s seat of an aircraft. In some embodiments, a wireless remote control  432  may provide similar functionality as a wired remote, but possibly in a more convenient fashion. 
     Throughout the present disclosure, use of liquids is discussed for use in the air cooling function of the portable air conditioner  100 . In some cases, this liquid will be understood to be water, or ice water. Normally, after a short time in a cooler or ice chest, a certain amount of ice will melt to water, which may be used with the systems of the present disclosure. A small amount of salt may be added to the reservoir  102  to speed this process. It is understood that crushed or block ice could be used. In other cases the ice may be sequestered from the liquids that are allowed to flow. For example, cold packs, ice packs, or even dry ice may be used to chill the liquid used by the radiator  218  and other components for cooling air. In this respect, the cooling liquid does not even have to be water. In cases where food or beverages are not to be stored within the portable air conditioner  100  other efficient liquids could be used, such as ethylene glycol mixtures. However, the present disclosure also provides for a way for the liquid circulating through the radiator  218  to be something more efficient than water, while still allowing the portable air conditioner  100  to function as an ice chest or beverage cooler. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a schematic diagram of another portable air conditioner  500  according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The portable air conditioner  500  illustrated schematically in  FIG. 5  may have a similar physical appearance as that shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . However, rather than exhausting the return line  414  into the water  402  in the reservoir  102  or liner  304 , it is circulated back into a second radiator  502 . This second radiator  502  will be submerged in the reservoir  102  or chest  101  and exposed to the ice water  402 . Hence the liquid therein will be re-chilled before being pumped by the pump  320  back into the radiator  218  for chilling air once more. With the cooling liquids sequestered from the user accessible liquids (e.g., the ice water  402 ), other liquids that are more efficient than ice water at heat removal may be employed. 
     Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.