Patent Publication Number: US-2004052650-A1

Title: Door-operated pump assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] I. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for removing a substance from an enclosure, and more particularly, to a door-operated pump assembly for removing air or water from an enclosed space in a temperature-controlled system.  
       [0003] II. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Over the years, developments in the field of heating and air conditioning have had a profound effect on the efficiency of cooling and heating processes. Designers have continually sought to utilize the thermodynamic energy generated by various components, such as evaporators, compressors, insulation panels, and the like, to improve the cooling and/or heating process itself. By way of example, the waste heat generated by a refrigeration system can be used to evaporate the condensate generated within a refrigerated enclosure.  
       [0005] In the case of top-mounted refrigeration enclosures, utilizing waste heat becomes a challenge because condensate tends to collect at the lowest point of the enclosure, while waste heat tends to be located at the highest point of the enclosure. If the condensate can be moved from the lowest point to the highest point of the enclosure, then the waste heat can be used to help evaporate the condensate. One possible solution is to use an electro-mechanically driven condensate pump actuated by a water level sensing switch located where the condensate collects at the bottom of the enclosure. When the water level switch senses that condensate has collected above a certain level, then it actuates the condensate pump to transfer condensate to the highest point of the enclosure.  
       [0006] The use of electrical switches and pumps, however, is disadvantageous for a number of reasons. For instance, because such devices require a number of complex and fragile working parts, they are relatively expensive and unreliable. Since these devices also require an additional power source, they tend to reduce the efficiency of the refrigeration process itself.  
       [0007] By way of further example, insulation panels are often employed in temperature-controlled enclosures to reduce heat transfer between the cooled or heated space inside the enclosure and the environment. Generally speaking, the efficiency of the temperature control process depends on how much heat is dissipated to the atmosphere. It is well recognized that insulation panel units, for example, reduce heat transfer between the outside and inside of temperature-controlled enclosures, such as vending machines, steam rooms, buildings, or other similar structures. One measure of insulating value generally used is the “U-value.” The U-value is the measure of heat in British Thermal Units (“BTUs”) passing through a unit per hour (“Hr”)—square foot (“Sq.Ft.”)—degree Fahrenheit (“° F.”). The lower the U-value, the better the thermal insulating value of the panel unit, i.e., a higher resistance to heat flow results in less heat conducted through the unit. Another measure of insulating value is the “R-value,” which is the inverse of the U-value. A higher R-value represents a higher heat transfer resistance of an insulating panel unit, and a relatively efficient system.  
       [0008] Typically, a vacuum insulation unit having a one-inch thick panel of foam-in-place insulation has an initial R-value of approximately seven, and an average R-value valve of approximately 25-35. Over time, however, outside air infiltrates into a space or cavity formed in the vacuum insulation panel. As a result, the R-value of the insulation panels degrades and the efficiency of the refrigeration system decreases. By using exterior film materials with higher barrier properties and added getters, the negative affects of air infiltration can be temporarily diminished. These solutions, however, also suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, the addition of such new materials and components increases the cost of manufacturing vacuum insulation panels, while only providing an effective solution for a limited period of time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] In one exemplary aspect of the invention, a door-operated pump assembly may comprise a housing defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a displacement member arranged to move within the chamber between first and second positions, an actuator coupled to the displacement member, and a door coupled to the actuator. The actuator may be operable to move the displacement member between the first and second positions. The door may be configured to move the displacement member between the first and second positions when the door is moved between a first door position and at least one second door position. The displacement member may be operable to inhale a substance into the chamber through the inlet and to exhale a substance from the chamber through the outlet.  
       [0010] In another exemplary aspect of the invention, a system for transferring a substance may comprise an enclosure defining a collecting portion configured to receive a substance, and an inlet connected to the collecting portion. The system may include a transfer device connected to the inlet, and the transfer device having a stationary component and a movable component, the stationary component defining a holding portion and the moveable component being configured to move toward a first direction when a portion of the substance is drawn into the holding portion. The system may include an outlet connected to the holding portion of the transfer device and a discharge portion outside of the enclosure. The outlet may be configured to guide the substance toward the discharge portion when the moveable component of the transfer device moves toward a second direction. The system may also include a door coupled to the enclosure and the transfer device so as to move the moveable component of the transfer device between the first and second directions.  
       [0011] In yet another exemplary aspect of the invention, a temperature control apparatus for a cabinet may comprise a door providing access to the cabinet. The door may be movable between open and closed positions. The apparatus may include a collection portion that collects a substance at a first location within the cabinet and a transfer device arranged to transfer the substance from the first location to a second location outside of the cabinet in response to movement of the door between the open and closed positions.  
       [0012] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of a temperature-controlled enclosure of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 1 when the door of the enclosure of the present invention is in the closed position;  
     [0016]FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines AA of FIG. 1 when the door of the enclosure of the present invention is in an open position;  
     [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a lower right corner of an enclosure according to a second aspect of the present invention;  
     [0018]FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of the embodiment of FIG. 3 when the door of the enclosure of the present invention is in the closed position;  
     [0019]FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of the embodiment of FIG. 3 when the door of the enclosure of the present invention is in an open position;  
     [0020]FIG. 5 is a lower right corner of an enclosure according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of the embodiment of FIG. 5 when the door of the enclosure of the present invention is in the closed position; and  
     [0022]FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of the embodiment of FIG. 5 when the door of the enclosure of the present invention is in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
     [0024]FIGS. 1, 2A, and  2 B depict an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention. The embodiment may include a portable temperature-controlled storage enclosure  10 . As used herein, the term “temperature-controlled enclosure” generally refers to any type of structure, such as a cabinet, a housing, a vending machine, a steam room, a building, or the like, so long as it is capable of housing or surrounding at least one cooled and/or heated interior space. It should be appreciated that the temperature of the temperature-controlled enclosure may or may not be automatically controlled and/or monitored. Is should further be appreciated that “temperature-controlled” does not imply any degree of accuracy or precision with respect to the controlled temperature.  
     [0025] The enclosure  10  may be either modular or monolithic, and may include any number of parts or subassemblies. For example, the invention is not limited to the portable enclosure  10  illustrated in the drawings. Instead, the temperature-controlled enclosure  10  can be a permanent building structure. An enclosure  10  falling within the scope of the invention can also be provided by employing virtually any type of manufacturing process. The invention is not limited to any particular step or sequence for providing the features of the claimed invention. The term “provided” is used in its broad sense, and refers to, but is not limited to, making available for use, enabling usage, giving, supplying, obtaining, getting a hold of, acquiring, purchasing, selling, distributing, possessing, making ready for use and/or placing in a position ready for use.  
     [0026] As illustrated, the temperature-controlled enclosure  10  may surround an interior space  11 , and may have three vertically upstanding sidewalls  12 , a floor  14 , a roof  16 , and a door  18 . The enclosure  10  may also include castors  20  connected to the floor  14  to facilitate the portability of the enclosure  10 . The door  18  may include an insulating panel unit  24  supported by a frame  26 . The door  18  may be pivotally connected to one of the sidewalls  12  by a bracket  28  so that it can rotate about a hinge point  30  between a first, closed position (e.g., FIGS. 1, 2A,  4 A, and  6 A), and at least one second, open position (e.g., FIGS. 2B, 4B, and  6 B), relative to the enclosure  10 . The invention, however, is not limited to the illustrated pivotal connection between the door  18  and the enclosure  19 . For example, the door  18  could be coupled to the sidewalls by a track and follower system so as to be capable of sliding between open and closed positions.  
     [0027] The door panel unit  24 , alternatively referred to as an insulating unit (“IU”), may also have a pair of panels separated by a cavity  25 . Although the panels are preferably made of glass, any other material can be used so long as the door  18  is capable of enclosing the interior space  11  of the enclosure  11 . The invention is not limited to the illustrated insulating panel unit  24 . For example, each of the sidewalls  12 , floor  14 , and roof  16  may have similar pairs of panels separated by a cavity for providing an insulating structure around the interior space  11 .  
     [0028] The door  18  may also include a door seal  32  for sealing the interior space  20  of the enclosure  10  when the door  18  is in the closed position. The door seal  32  is preferably made of a plastic gasket substance, which can provide an airtight seal with the sidewalls of the enclosure when the door  18  is closed. As used herein, the term “door” is used in its broad sense, and generally refers to a gate, wall or other movable structure that is capable of enclosing an interior space  11 . Although the door  18  is illustrated as being separate from the sidewalls  12  of the enclosure  10 , one or more of the sidewalls  12  could function as the door  18 , so long as it is capable of moving between a closed position, and one or more open positions relative to the interior space  11 .  
     [0029] The interior space  11  of the enclosure  10  may be cooled by a conventional refrigeration system, heated by a conventional heating apparatus, and/or insulated by conventional insulation units  24 . For example, a conventional refrigeration system may include a compressor  40 , a condenser  44 , and a fan  46  for drawing outside air through the system. The term “condenser” generally refers to any type of device that can cause gas or vapor in the air to change into a liquid. The term “compressor” generally refers to any type of machine that can compress air, vapor, or the like. Insulating units  24  typically surround the interior space  11 , and are embedded within the sidewalls  12 , a floor  14 , a roof  16 , and door  18  of the enclosure  10 . The invention, however, is not limited to any particular number of insulation panel units  24 .  
     [0030] The system depicted in the drawings may be referred to as a “top-mounted” refrigeration system because the compressor  40  and the condenser  44  are mounted to the top of the roof  16  of the enclosure  10 . The invention, however, is not limited to any particular type of temperature-controlled system, so long as it is capable of generating waste heat. By way of example, a temperature-controlled system referred to as a “Stirling” refrigeration system could be used. The temperature control components thus can be mounted at any suitable location, such as upon the sidewalls  12 , door  18 , or floor  14  of the enclosure  10 , so long as they are capable of cooling and/or heating the interior space  11 .  
     [0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the compressor  40  and condenser  44  may also be connected by piping (not shown) to an evaporator coil  48  suspended from the underside of the roof  16  of the enclosure  10 . The evaporator coil  48  may be positioned above the floor  14  of the enclosure  10 . The evaporator coil  48  can be located at any suitable location, such as the sidewalls  12 , floor  14 , or door  18  of the enclosure  10 . As moisture from the air in the interior space  11  of the enclosure  10  collects on the evaporator coil  48 , it may drop and be collected as condensate on the floor  14  of the enclosure  10 . The term “condensate” is used in its broad sense, and generally refers to any fluid or gaseous substance. For example, condensation in the form of water droplets or slush is typically produced from a given volume of moisturized air within a temperature-controlled enclosure during a refrigeration process.  
     [0032] In an embodiment, the temperature control process may occur when the door  18  is closed, and the interior space  11  is insulated from the atmosphere. Each time the door  18  is opened, a fresh volume of moisturized air may enter the enclosure  10 . When the door  18  is closed, the temperature control process may begin, and condensate may be formed from the moisturized air contained in the enclosure  10 . Generally, the amount of condensate generated within the enclosure  10  may be proportional to the number of times the door  18  is opened and the amount of moisturized air introduced into the enclosure  10 .  
     [0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the floor  14  has a collecting surface, alternatively referred to as a “collecting” or “collection” portion, which may be inclined toward a low point  15  for collection of the condensate, or any other substance, generated within the interior space  11  of the enclosure  10 . When a substance, such as condensate, reaches the floor  14 , it may be guided toward the low point  15  by the collecting surface. The term “substance” is used in its broad sense, and generally refers any type of liquid or gas. The collecting surface can be of any shape, so long as it is capable of collecting, accumulating, or guiding a substance within the interior space  11  of the enclosure  10 . For example, the collecting surface could be formed into a “bowl” shape having a low point  15  near the center of the floor  14 . Moreover, the invention is not limited to a particular number of collecting surfaces or low points  15 , so long as a substance within the enclosure  10  can be collected, accumulated, or guided toward at least one low point  15  of the floor  14 .  
     [0034] As best illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS.  2 - 4 , an inlet tube  50  may be arranged to form a passageway  54  through a sidewall  12  of the enclosure  10 . The inlet tube  50  has a first opening  52 , which may be connected to or in communication with the low point  15  of the floor  14 , so that substances within the enclosure  10  can be guided toward the passageway  54 . As used herein, the phrases “connected to” and “in communication with” broadly refer to any kind of structure that is capable of permitting a substance, such as air or gas, to flow directly or indirectly between two elements. Although the first opening  52  is illustrated as being directly connected to the low point  15  of the floor  14 , other elements, such as one or more flow nozzles or guides may be included as part of the connection between the first opening  52  and the floor  14 .  
     [0035] The inlet tube  50  may have a one-way check valve  56  located within the passageway  54  to prevent substances from flowing back into the enclosure  10 . The term “one-way check valve” is used in its broad sense, and refers to any type of device that can allow a substance to flow through a passageway in only one direction. For example, the one-way check valve  56  can be a flapper-type valve head (not shown) that is moveable between open and closed positions. In the absence of a suction or vacuum force in the passageway, the flapper valve is biased toward the closed position to prevent substances from flowing back toward the low point  15 . On the other hand, when a suction or vacuum force is created in the passageway, the flapper valve head moves toward the open position, allowing the substance to flow toward the source of the suction or vacuum.  
     [0036] The passageway  54  of the inlet tube  50  may be connected to a pump  60 . As used herein, the term “pump” generally refers to any type of machine or device for raising, compressing, inhaling, exhaling, or otherwise transferring a substance from one location to another. The pump  60  may have a housing  62 , alternatively referred to as a “stationary” member or component, associated with the enclosure  10 . The phrase “associated with” is used in its broad sense, and generally refers to any type of connection, coupling, or mounting between the pump housing  62  and the enclosure  10 . In the embodiment of FIGS.  2 A-B, the pump housing  62  may be mounted close to the low point  15  of the floor  14  on an exterior surface of the enclosure  10 . The invention, however, is not limited to any particular location of the pump housing  62 , so long as the passageway  54  of the inlet tube  50  is capable of guiding a substance between the floor  14  and the pump  60 . For example, the pump  60  can be located at a remote location and one or more extension tubes (not shown) can be used to transfer a substance from the enclosure  10  to the pump  60 . The pump housing  62  also may be embedded within a sidewall  12  of the enclosure  10  as a unitary structure, or located underneath the floor  14  of the enclosure  10 , as illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS.  4 A-B and  6 A-B.  
     [0037] The passageway  54  of the inlet tube  50  also may have a second opening  58  fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with a pump chamber  64  formed within the pump housing  62 . The term “pump chamber” generally refers to an enclosed space or compartment within the pump housing  62  that is capable of substantially containing, holding, or collecting a substance drawn through the passageway  54  by the pump  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, the passageway  54  extends through the pump housing  62  so that the second opening  58  may be formed at an end  65  of the pump chamber  64 . The pump housing  62  may be made of any suitable material, so long as the pump  60  is capable of drawing a substance through the passageway  54  of the inlet tube  50 .  
     [0038] As depicted, an outlet tube  80  may be connected to the pump  60 . The outlet tube  80  may have a passageway  84 , a first opening  82 , which may allow a substance to flow from the pump chamber  64  to the passageway  84 , and a second opening  88 . In the illustrated embodiments, the passageway  84  extends through the pump housing  62  such that the first opening  82  of the outlet tube  80  may be fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the pump chamber  64  at the same end  65  as the second opening  58  of the inlet tube  50 . The invention, however, is not limited to any particular kind of structure for connecting the first opening  82  of the outlet tube  80  and the second opening  58  of the inlet tube  50  to the pump chamber  64 . For example, either the first opening  82  of the outlet tube  80 , or the second opening  58  of the inlet tube  50  could be formed in a sidewall  67  of the pump chamber  64 .  
     [0039] The outlet tube  80  may have a one-way check valve  86 , which operates in a similar manner to the check valve  46  of the inlet tube  40 . The check valve  86  of the outlet tube  80 , however, may prevent a substance from entering the pump chamber  64  through the passageway  84  of the outlet tube  80 . When the pump  60  is in a pressurized state, for example, a substance may be forced toward the first opening  82  of the outlet tube  80 , and the check valve  86  may move to an open position, allowing the substance to flow away from the pump chamber  64 . The term “pressurized state” is used in its broad sense, and generally refers to where the pump  60  exerts a positive force to draw or exhale a substance toward the first opening  82  and the passageway  84  of the outlet tube  60 . On the other hand, when the pump  60  is in a non-pressurized state, the check value  86  may move to a closed position, thereby preventing a substance, such as atmospheric air, from entering the pump chamber  64 . The term “non-pressurized state” generally refers to where the pump  60  does not exert a positive force toward the first opening  82  of the outlet tube  60 , but instead generates a negative suction force to draw or inhale a substance through the second opening  58  of the inlet tube  50  and toward the pump chamber  64 .  
     [0040] In the illustrated embodiments, the pump  60  may include a single acting piston  66 , alternatively referred to as a “displacement member,” a return spring  68 , and an actuator  70 ,  90  connected to the door  18 . The present invention, however, is not limited to the illustrated single acting piston pump  60 . For example, several other types of pumps, such as diaphragm pump, could be used. In an embodiment, the pump chamber  64  is cylindrically shaped and the piston  66  is annularly shaped to slide within the pump chamber  64 . A seal (not shown), for example, and O-ring, may also be included on the periphery of the piston  66  to create an air-tight seal between the piston  66  and the inner surface of the pump chamber  64 .  
     [0041] The return spring  68 , alternatively referred to as a “biasing member” may be arranged within the pump chamber  64  to bias the piston  66  within the pump  60 . The actuator  70 ,  90  may be connected to the piston  66  to move it between a retracted position and one or more extended positions relative to the pump housing  62 . The term “retracted position” refers to the location of the piston  66  when it is relatively close to the end  65  of the pump chamber  64 . The term “extended positions” refers to the positions of the piston  66  when it is moved away from the end  65  of the pump chamber  64 . In operation, when the piston  66  moves between the retracted position and the extended positions, the pump  60  may either inhale a substance from the inlet tube  50  and toward the pump chamber  64  during an intake stroke, or exhale a substance from the pump chamber  64  and toward the outlet tube  80  during a discharge stroke.  
     [0042] The actuator  70 ,  90  also may be connected to the door  18  of the enclosure  10 . In the illustrated embodiments, the actuator  70 ,  90  is arranged to allow the door  18  to manually operate the pump  60 . The term “manual” is used in its broad sense, and generally refers to the use of a substantially non-electrical device to move the door  18  between the closed position and the open positions, actuate the actuator  70 ,  90 , and move the piston  66  between the retracted position and the extended positions. In the an embodiment, the pump  60  may be referred to as being “motor-less” because it is actuated solely by the mechanical action of the door  18 . As the door  18  is manually moved between the closed position and the open positions, the actuator  70 ,  90 , in turn, operates the pump  60  by moving the piston  66  between the retracted and the extended positions. As a result, the manual operation of the door  18  may cause the pump  60  to remove a substance from the enclosure  10 , and the amount of substance expelled from the enclosure  10  may be proportional to the number of times the door  18  is manually operated.  
     [0043] The invention, however, is not necessarily limited to purely manual operation of the door  18 , actuator  70 ,  90 , and pump  60 . For example, any type of electrical or electromechanical device could assist in moving the door  18  between the closed position and the open positions, as well as in operating the actuator  70 ,  90  and pump  60 . The invention is also not limited to any particular type of connection between the door  18 , actuator  70 ,  90 , and pump  60 . Any number or combination of electro-mechanical linkages may be used, so long as the pump  60  operates in response to the movement of the door  18 .  
     [0044] Moreover, the present invention is not limited to a particular type of actuator  70 ,  90 . For example, in the embodiment of FIGS.  2 A-B, the pump  60  may be actuated by pushing the actuator  70  toward the piston  66 . The return spring  68  of the pump  60  may be arranged between the end  65  of pump chamber  64  and the piston  66  so as to bias the piston  66  toward the extended position. The actuator  70  may extend an actuation rod  72  connected to the piston  66 . An end of the actuation rod  72  may extend outside the pump housing  62 . The actuation rod  72  may be positioned so that it is in the path of an actuation plate  74  mounted on the door frame  26 . When the door  18  opens (i.e., FIG. 2B), a fresh volume of moisturized air may be introduced into the interior space  11  of the enclosure  10 , while the actuation plate  76  pushes on the end of the actuation rod  72 . The actuation rod  72 , in turn, may push the piston  66  toward the retracted position, so as to exhale a substance within the pump chamber  64  toward the outlet tube  80 , and compress the return spring  68  during the discharge stroke. When the door  18  is closed (i.e., FIG. 2A), the return spring  68  returns the piston  66  toward the extended position, and the pump  60  draws or inhales a new volume of substance from the inlet tube  50  into the pump chamber  64  during the intake stroke.  
     [0045] Alternatively, in the embodiment of FIGS.  3 ,  4 A-B,  5 , and  6 A-B, the pump  60  may be operated by pulling the actuator  90  away from the piston  66 . The return spring  68  of the pump  60  may be arranged between the end  59  of pump chamber  64  and the piston  66  so as to bias the piston  66  toward the retracted position. The actuator  90  may have an actuation cable  92  connected to the piston  66 . One end of the actuation cable  92  may extend outside the pump housing  62  and be attached to an attachment pin  94  connected to the door frame  26 . A slotted cable guide wheel  96  may be mounted to the bottom of the bracket  28  of the door  18 . The guide wheel  96  may have a curved portion that allows the cable  92  to be wrapped and unwrapped from around the guide wheel  96  when the door  18  is moved between the closed position and the open positions.  
     [0046] In operation, when the door  18  is opened, the pump  60 , guide wheel  96 , and attachment pin  94 , may be positioned so that the cable  92  extends from the pin  94 , tangentially approaches the guide wheel  96 , wraps around the guide wheel  96  for a variable angular distance, and extends tangentially from the guide wheel  96  to the piston  66 . The angle of wrap around the guide wheel  96  is approximately equal to the angle at which the door  18  is opened. For example, when the door  18  is closed, the cable  92  may wrap around the guide wheel  96  for an angular distance of approximately 0 degrees. On the other hand, when the door  18  is opened to form a 90 degree angle relative to the closed position, the cable  92  may wrap around the guide wheel  96  for an angular distance of approximately 90 degrees. As the cable  92  wraps around the guide wheel  96 , the piston  66  may be pulled toward the extended position, drawing or inhaling in a new volume of substance from the inlet tube  50  into the pump chamber  64 , and compressing the return spring  68  during the intake stroke. When the door  18  is moved back toward the closed position, the cable  92  may unwrap from the guide wheel  96 , and the return spring  68  may return the piston  66  toward the retracted position, to exhale the substance from the pump chamber  64  and toward the outlet tube  80  during the discharge stroke.  
     [0047] In the illustrated embodiments of FIGS.  1 - 4 , the second opening  88  of outlet tube  80  may be arranged to dispense a substance exhaled by the pump  60  toward a pan  42 , alternatively referred to as a “condensate” pan, mounted on top of the enclosure  10 . Although the pan  42  is illustrated as being located upon the compressor  40 , it can be placed at any suitable location, so long as the waste heat generated by the temperature-controlled system is directed toward the pan  42 . Preferably, waste heat is used to help evaporate condensate exhaled from the enclosure  10  by the pump  60  based on the manual operation of the door  18 .  
     [0048] Alternatively, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6A-B, the second opening  88  of outlet tube  80  may be used to dispense air to the outside of the enclosure  10 . As illustrated, the cavity  25  of the insulating unit  24  may be filled with vacuum insulation material. The inlet tube  50  may be arranged to form a passageway  54  through the enclosure  10 . The first opening  52  of the inlet tube  50  may be fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the cavity  25  so that air or liquid within the cavity  25  can be guided through the passageway  54 . Although the first opening  52  is illustrated as being directly connected to the cavity  25 , other elements, such a flow nozzle or a guide can be included as part of the connection between the first opening  52  and the cavity  25 . The second opening  58  of inlet tube  50  may be connected, in turn, to the pump chamber  64 . The first opening  82  of outlet tube  80  also may be connected to the pump chamber  64 , so that a substance, such as air, within the cavity  25  can be expelled through the second opening  88 . The one-way check value  86  of outlet tube  80  may be arranged to prevent air from flowing back into the pump chamber  64  when the pump  60  operates to inhale air through the inlet tube  50 . Similarly, the one-way check valve  56  of inlet tube  50  may be arranged to prevent air from flowing back into the cavity  25  when the pump  60  operates to expel air through the outlet tube  80 . In operation, when the door  18  is opened, the door  18  may allow substances, such as air or water, to enter into the enclosure  10 , while simultaneously operating the pump  60  to continuously remove the substances themselves, when it is moved between the closed position and the open positions.  
     [0049] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrative examples in this specification.