Abstract:
A cooling apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a base ( 3 ) for supporting the apparatus on the ground, a column ( 5 ) extending upwardly from the base to a height greater than the average height of a sitting person, cooling means ( 27 ) located at the top of the column ( 5 ) and supported thereby for cooling the adjacent air and fan means ( 29 ) for directing the cooled air laterally and preferably downwards into the area surrounding the column. The apparatus is both freestanding and self contained. Preferably, the compressor of a standard refrigeration system is located in the base, and the evaporator and condenser units are located in an upper section of the apparatus, with the plumbing and electrical wiring connections located in the column.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to a cooling apparatus.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     There are many occasions in which it is desirable to provide a cooled area either in outdoor or indoor situations so that people within a specific area can remain cool despite a somewhat higher than desirable ambient temperature.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     An object of the invention is to provide a cooling apparatus which can provide a cooled area suitable for the purposes indicated above.  
         [0004]     According to one aspect of the invention, a cooling apparatus comprises support means extending upwardly to a height for cooling a surrounding area, means supported by the support means for cooling the adjacent air, and air-moving means such as a fan including means for directing the cooled air laterally and preferably downwards into the area surrounding the support means.  
         [0005]     According to a further aspect of the invention, the cooled air is distributed in all lateral directions, preferably over substantially 360°.  
         [0006]     According to another aspect of the invention, a cooling apparatus comprises a base for supporting the apparatus on the ground, a support preferably in the form of a column extending upwardly from the base to an upper region at a height greater than the average height of a seated person, cooling means located at the aforesaid region and supported by the support for cooling the adjacent air, and air-moving means such as a fan including means for directing the cooled air downwards into the area surrounding the support, the apparatus being freestanding and self contained except for requiring a source of electricity such as an electrical wire connection to a direct or preferably an alternating source of current. By “free-standing” is meant that the apparatus does not require duct connections to an adjacent structure such as a building or building wall. However, while it can be fixed to the ground, preferably it is not, and more preferably is mobile.  
         [0007]     Preferably the support column extends to a height greater than the average height of a standing person.  
         [0008]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cooling apparatus is an air-conditioner including a compressor, a condenser heat-exchanger and an evaporator heat-exchanger with the usual associated fans connected by suitable piping and plumbing to function as a conventional closed cycle compression refrigerator. The compressor is located in the base, and the condenser and the evaporator are located in the upper region of the support, the connecting piping being located in the support. Preferably, a housing is provided at the top of the column for receiving the cooling means, and preferably the housing forms a canopy.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the housing at the top comprises an upper conical section and a lower coaxial frustoconical section in which the maximum diameter of the upper section is larger than the minimum diameter of the lower section and the maximum diameter of the lower section is greater than the maximum diameter of the upper section. Preferably, the evaporator and its associated fan may be located in the lower section of the housing and the refrigeration condenser and associated fan may be located in the upper section of the housing.  
         [0010]     The lower section of the housing preferably comprises a first set of grilles or louvers arranged in its periphery for the passage of air into or out of the housing and may have a second set of grilles or louvers in its lower surface for the passage of air into or out of the housing. The first set of grilles or louvers may comprise an air inlet for ambient air while the second set of grilles or louvers may comprise an air outlet for cooled air or vice versa. The upper section of the housing may also have a third set of grilles or louvers arranged in its periphery for the passage of air into the housing and may have a fourth set of grilles or louvers in its upper surface for the passage of heated air out of the housing.  
         [0011]     The column preferably is hollow and contains the piping and electrical feed to the cooling means and the fan(s) at the top.  
         [0012]     The base may further comprise storage for a cooling fluid for supply to the cooling means and may be provided with connection means for connection to an electricity supply.  
         [0013]     In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the apparatus may be constructed alternatively to provide heated air instead of cold air and may include switching means for selectively reversing the operation of the condenser and evaporator so as to provide heated air instead of cooled air.  
         [0014]     Any switching means for the apparatus may be controlled by a thermostat so that its operation depends on the ambient temperature and the thermostat may be settable manually by the operator. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, like reference numerals designating the same or similar elements, in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a simplified front view of one form of cooling apparatus in accordance with the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic but more detailed cross-sectional view of a variation of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a view from below of the upper part the apparatus of  FIG. 2  with a lower cover removed;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are partial views, similar to the upper portion of  FIG. 2 , but showing a second embodiment of the cooling apparatus in accordance with the invention in which provision is made for switching between a cooling operation and a heating operation,  FIG. 4  showing the set up for cooling and  FIG. 5  showing the set up when switched over to heating;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is schematic view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an embodiment that incorporates a heating unit. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cooling apparatus  1  comprising a base  3  for supporting the apparatus on the ground or floor of a structure such as a patio, a column  5  extending upwardly from the base  3  and an upper housing  7  generally carrying some refrigeration and air distribution equipment, to be described later in connection with  FIG. 2 . The column  5  is of a height at least greater than the average height of a sitting person but preferably of a height greater than the average height of a standing person. This means that the column  5  is of a height such that the lower surface of the upper housing  7  is positioned above the ground a distance greater than the average height of a sitting person but preferably of a height greater than the average height of a standing person. Typically, this means that the height above ground of the lower surface of the upper housing  7  is greater than about 40 inches, and preferably greater than about 69 inches. In this way the apparatus can be readily used, with the smaller height column, to cool air in an area where people are sitting and with the larger height column, the cooling area will be extended to cool also standing people in this area.  
         [0023]     The upper housing  7  is, as shown, of generally circular construction having a pagoda like shaped canopy and is composed of an upper section  9  of conical shape and a lower section  11  of frusto-conical shape which latter is of a larger external diameter than that of the upper section  9 . As can be seen, the upper section  9  extends slightly beyond the inner edge of the lower section  11  to provide a recessed joining section  13  which contains louvers or grille  15  which enable air to enter the upper arrangement  7 .  
         [0024]     The upper section  9  contains adjustable louvers or grilles  17  which allow the exhaust of heated air produced by the refrigeration equipment. The base  3 , in addition to its supporting function, preferably contains the compressor and condensate tanks and may provide a location or connection point for a remote packaged chilled water supply. These items in the base, having the greatest weight, afford more stability to the free-standing structure. In view of the weight of the base  3 , to make the apparatus more mobile, it may be mounted on castors (not shown).  
         [0025]     Connection between the base  3  and upper arrangement  7  is carried out within the column  5  to which end, the column  5  may contain pipes, electrical feeds, etc.  
         [0026]     A remote controller may be provided to control the various operations of the apparatus so as to enable sophisticated environmental control. The remote sensor is conveniently located in the column.  
         [0027]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a more detailed version of the cooling apparatus of the invention will be described. The construction is basically similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . The upper housing  7  houses the refrigeration condenser(s)  21  and its associated fan(s)  23  and the evaporator(s)  25  and its associated fan(s)  27 . More than one condenser and its associated fan and evaporator and its associated fan can be included. As can be seen, the condenser  21  and fan  23  are housed in the upper section  9  of the upper arrangement  7  while the evaporator  25  and its fan  27  are located in the lower section  11  . As shown, these units and their fans are each integral components of coaxial construction with the units being on the outside and surrounding the fans. Alternatively, these components can be arranged such that the fan for the condenser coils sits on top of the latter, and the fan for the evaporator coils sits below the latter.  
         [0028]     For a fuller understanding of the construction of the housing/canopy  7 , it comprises an upper conical section  9  and a lower coaxial frusto-conical section  11  in which the maximum diameter of the upper section  9  is larger than the minimum diameter of the lower section  11  and the maximum diameter of the lower section  11  is greater than the maximum diameter of the upper section  9 .  
         [0029]     In use, air is drawn in through the perimeter louvers or grills  15  (indicated by the ingoing arrows at the perimeter of unit  9 ) by the condenser fan  23  which is speed controlled and over the coil of the condenser  21  in one embodiment. Thereafter, the air is expelled through the louvers or grilles  17  (indicated by the outgoing arrows above unit  9 ). Air is also expelled by means of louvers or grilles  29  situated around the lower part  31  by means of the fan  27  (indicated by the outgoing arrows at the perimeter of unit  11 ), which is also speed-controlled, across the coil of the evaporator  25 . Thereafter, the cooled air is distributed outwardly around the perimeter of the lower section  11  by way of louvers or grilles  29  (indicated by the outgoing). Incoming air enters from the bottom of unit  31  (as indicated by the ingoing arrows below unit  31 ). Alternative arrangements of the ingoing and outgoing air are also possible within the invention.  
         [0030]     The upper housing  7  can be suitably insulated to avoid the formation of condensation in some environmental conditions.  
         [0031]     The base  3  provides a stable base for the apparatus and also houses the refrigeration compressor together with its attendant conventional ancillaries, such as suitable valves and strainers, and a condensate drain reservoir. For this reason, the base may be provided with some sound insulation. Condensate tanks  33  are also located in the base and these will either be emptied manually or by means of automatic condensate pumps discharging through a suitably sized drain  35 . Suitably sized connection points  37  may be fitted to the base  3  for use with either a remotely sited water chiller or condensing unit. Connection means for a supply of electricity are also provided. Preferably an appropriately shaped cover or removable housing (not shown) may be provided to cover the base and its components.  FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the bottom of the pagoda-like structure  7 , with the small circles in the item labeled  5  representing piping and electrical cabling connections between the upper structure  7  and the base  3 .  
         [0032]     It will be appreciated that while the above described embodiment shows one form of cooling apparatus in accordance with the invention, the apparatus is suited to a large number of variations within the basic concept of the invention.  
         [0033]     For example, the grilles or louvers  29  and  31  or other forms of openings for allowing the passage of air may be reversed so as to provide cooling air from the bottom of the upper structure as well as from the periphery of the lower section  11  of the housing  7 .  
         [0034]     Where an external source of chilled water is used, only the evaporator  25  with its fan  27  is needed. While the remainder of the refrigeration apparatus has been indicated as preferably being situated in the base  3 , it will be understood that, with a suitable construction, some or all of this apparatus could be carried in the housing/canopy  7 . Any or all of the grilles or louvers may be variably controlled in respect of direction of airflow and/or size of aperture. A remote control arrangement may be used for controlling any of the functions of the apparatus. Although a circular construction of the housing/canopy  7  has been shown, other shapes, such as square or polygonal, could be used. Furthermore, while a preferred pagoda shape of the housing has been shown, any suitable shape of housing could be used. If the apparatus is used internally or beneath an existing canopy, the canopy shape of the apparatus may not be needed.  
         [0035]     There are occasions when, while the original state of the ambient air is sufficiently hot to require the provision of cold air, the temperature of the ambient air can drop to the point where heated air rather than cold air is needed. Such a situation can occur on a hot summer day which cools substantially in the evening. The second embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is designed to cope with such a situation. Thus, the arrangement of  FIG. 4  is set up to provide cooling air. To this end, and similarly to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper housing  7  houses a refrigeration condenser  121  and its associated fan  123  and an evaporator  125  and its associated fan  127 . As can be seen, the condenser  121  and fan  123  are housed in an upper section  109  of the upper arrangement  7  while the evaporator  125  and its fan  127  are located in a lower section  111 . As shown, these units and their fans are of coaxial construction with the units being on the outside and surrounding the fans. Preferably the  FIG. 4  embodiment comprises a top conical section  107  forming a “roof” structure, the upper section  109  in the form of a coaxial frusto-conical section and a lower coaxial frusto-conical section  111  in which the maximum diameter of top section  107  is larger than the minimum diameter of the middle section  109 , the maximum diameter of the middle section  109  is larger than the minimum diameter of the lower section  111  and the maximum diameter of the lower section  111  is greater than the maximum diameter of the middle section  109 . In this way, the housing  7  expands conically downward in three tiers.  
         [0036]     In a cooling operation, air is drawn in through the perimeter louvers or grills  115  by the fan  123  which is speed controlled and over the coil of the condenser  121 ; thereafter, the warm air, warmed by the operation of the condenser  121 , is expelled upward through louvers or grilles  117 . Air to be cooled is drawn in through louvers or grilles  129  situated beneath the lower part  111  by means of the fan  127 , which is also speed controlled, and passes the air across the coil of the evaporator  125 . Thereafter, the air, cooled by the evaporator  125 , is distributed downwardly from the lower section  111  by way of louvers or grilles  131 .  
         [0037]     When the ambient air ceases to be hot, the operation of the condenser  121  and evaporator  125  are reversed so that the condenser  121  becomes an evaporator and the evaporator  125  becomes a condenser as shown in  FIG. 5 . This is carried out by means of a well known switching mechanism (not shown) which causes the flow of refrigerant gas to be reversed. Thus, in the arrangement shown in  FIG. 5 , ambient air is still drawn in through the louvers or grilles  115  and  129 , but the air emerging from the louvers or grilles  131  will now be heated by the now condenser  125 . The air emerging from the louvers or grilles  117  will, with this arrangement, also be warm. The switching arrangement may be operated manually by the user when he or she feels that the ambient temperature warrants it or it may be automatically controlled by means of an ambient air-sensing thermostat. This thermostat can suitably be manually controlled to set the changeover temperature while a particular temperature for changeover can be set so that there can be an overlap. Thus the changeover from cool to warm may take place at one temperature, changeover from warm to cool may take place at another, different temperature. It will of course be understood that modifications may be made to this latterly described embodiment, in particular, where applicable, these modifications may be as described for the first embodiment.  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side view with some interior parts visible of still another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment, similarly to the  FIG. 2  embodiment, places the condenser/fan  21 ,  23  in the upper section  209  of the housing  207 , the evaporator/fan  25 ,  27  in the lower housing section  211 , ambient air intakes at the grills  215 , the warmed air outtakes at the grills  217 , the ambient air intake  229  for the evaporator and the cooled air outlet at  231 . The upper section  209  differs from that of  FIG. 2  in that the maximum diameter of the upper section  209  is not larger than the minimum diameter of the lower section  211  whereas the maximum diameter of the lower section  211  is still greater than the maximum diameter of the upper section  209 . Thus, the large area canopy is formed by the maximum diameter of the lower section. While not visible in  FIG. 6 , the overall configuration viewed from the top is octagonal rather than circular. In the closed base  203 , an outline of the compressor  200  is visible. In this case, the condensate tanks are  233  are built into the wall of the base  203 . Numeral  240  is an access door for the base components, and the structure  242  depicted in the column  5  can be a manual switch for the system or a sensor for a remote control (not shown). The internal piping and wiring has been omitted for clarity. The height indicated by reference numeral  244  is at least greater than the average height of a seated person to ensure that the distributed air, which is distributed over a full 360°, will cover persons seated around the cooler.  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment in which an electric heater has been added to the assembly to provide heating instead of cooling where circumstances require.  
         [0040]     The basic cooling apparatus can be fitted with an electric infra-red heating system. The configuration of this system will be such so as to allow it to be fitted either at time of manufacture or later by the end user.  
         [0041]     In the embodiment schematically illustrated in  FIG. 7 , which shows only a lower part  250  of the pagoda-shaped assembly  207  with the grills  231 , several infra-red elements or emitters or lamps  252  are mounted at the lower part  250  so that the emitters  256 , inside a reflector  258 , in turn housed in an enclosure  260 , face downward and outward. They can be supported on the lower part  250  by means of a suitable adjustable bracket  262 . Preferably, these heater assemblies  252  will be fitted to the assembly around its perimeter at a point below the first or lower tier where the evaporator, air inlet filter shrouds may be located. The control for the heating can be by the remote controller or by its own dedicated controller/switch; the power supply being fitted into the assembly base.  
         [0042]     The operation of the heating can be automatic in that when the ambient temperature falls below the controller set point, the cooling function will cease and the heating function will start. As the ambient temperature rises the opposite cycle will prevail.  
         [0043]     It is also possible that the end user will be able to choose, via an inbuilt, load partialization device; the percentage of heating elements in use at any one time.  
         [0044]     It is also possible to mount a condensate tray inside the tapered side wall for capturing condensate in the lower part of the housing, and mount the heaters on the underside of the condensate tray.  
         [0045]     When the assembly is octagonal with straight side edges, the heaters can be rectangular fitted to the straight sides. When the assembly is circular, curved heaters can be used.  
         [0046]     Alternatively or additionally, if desired, a misting unit can also be added to the assembly to supply misting in addition to or instead of cooled or heated air.  
         [0047]     It will be seen that the above described embodiments will provide an arrangement which will cool areas where people are sitting or standing and will additionally provide shade by virtue of the formation of the upper part of the apparatus in the form of a solid canopy. Another embodiment provides additionally the possibility of heating the same area as was cooled when the ambient temperature cools to a degree where such is required.  
         [0048]     While the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that modifications thereof within the principles outlined above will be evident to those skilled in the art and thus the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments but is intended to encompass such modifications.