Patent Publication Number: US-8534090-B2

Title: Cooling system for an auxiliary device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cooling system and more particularly a cooling device that utilizes removable dry ice canisters for cooling an auxiliary device. 
     Dry ice, or carbon dioxide as a solid, has been used as a cooling agent for a variety of auxiliary devices. Typically a unit containing dry ice is connected to an auxiliary device and as the ice melts/evaporates, pressure builds forcing cool air or fluid through conduits from the unit to the auxiliary device. 
     These cooling systems have a number of deficiencies. For one, the units have limited dry ice capacity and are difficult to service when the dry ice melts. Also, in order to adequately cool a device for a desired period of time, large units that have greater capacity are needed which take up a considerable amount of space. Finally, with existing units cooling must be interrupted in order to service the unit. Accordingly, a need exists for a system that addresses these deficiencies. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system that is easier to service. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling system that takes up less space. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a cooling system that can be serviced without interrupting the cooling process. 
     These and other objects will become apparent to one skilled in the art based on the following written description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system for cooling an auxiliary device having a main housing with at least one canister port, at least one fluid manifold mounted within the housing and in communication with the port, and a removable dry ice canister inserted in to the fluid manifold. 
     Connected to the fluid manifold is a fluid line and connected to the canister is an air pressure line. Both the air pressure and fluid lines are connected to the pump. As the dry ice melts, it cools the fluid and creates pressure that activates the pump to pump fluid to the auxiliary device and back to the manifold for subsequent cooling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cooling system; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a cooling system; 
         FIG. 3  is sectional view of a canister; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a cooler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the Figures, the cooling system  10  has a main housing  12  having a top  14 , a bottom  16 , side  18  and end  20  walls. One end wall  20 A has at least one container port  22  and the opposite end  20 B has a pressure relief valve  23  that is connected to the system  10  and extends through the end wall  20 B. Formed in either the side walls  18  or the end walls are additional ports including a fluid inlet port  24 , a fluid outlet port  26 , an inlet by-pass port  28 , an outlet by-pass port  30 , and an exhaust port  32 . Optionally, a plurality of gauges  34  are mounted to the housing  12  for measuring air pressure and the temperature of the fluid flowing out to an auxiliary device. 
     Mounted within the housing  12  and in communication with the container port  22 , is at least one fluid manifold  36 . The manifold  36  has an inner wall  38  in spaced relation from an outer wall  40  to form a fluid chamber  42 . The fluid chamber  42  has tubing  44  that is frictionally maintained between the inner and outer walls  38 ,  40  or alternatively, is hollow and connected to tubing  44  at one or more ends of the manifold  36 . Any non-freezing cooling fluid is used in the system  10  such as methoglycol, glycol, or the like. The manifold  36  also has a fitting  46  at the end opposite the container port  22 . The fitting  46  is of any shape such as a male prong  48  or a female receptacle that is connected to and in communication with an air pressure tube or conduit  50 . The air pressure tube  50  is connected to the pressure check valve  23  and a pump  52 . Preferably the pump  52  is an air/CO2 fluid pump having a 10-80 PSI capacity. 
     The cooling system  10  which is connected to pump  52  through inlet port  24  receives fluid to be cooled from auxiliary device  58 . Fluid in line  56 A is connected to outlet of pump  52  and transfers fluid to manifold  36 . Fluid in line  44  is circulated, cooled, and travels to fluid outlet port  26  through fluid out line  56 B. Cooled fluid is then circulated in auxiliary device  58  and returned to fluid inlet port  24 . This sequence is then duplicated to continue the cooling process. In an alternative embodiment, by-pass manifold  60  is installed between fluid in line  56 A, and fluid out line  56 B. Restrictor valve  62  controls fluid by-passed back to pump  52 , and fluid flow to auxiliary device  58  enabling temperature control of auxiliary device  58 . 
     Connected between the auxiliary device  58  and the fluid manifold  36  is fluid line  64  that carries fluid from the auxiliary device  58  to the manifold  36  for cooling. 
     Formed to be received within fluid manifold  36  is a removable canister  68 . The canister  68  has an open top  70 , a closed bottom  72  and a side wall  74  that form a hollow chamber  76 . On the outer surface of the side wall  74  adjacent the bottom  72  are threads  78  that are matingly received within threads  80  on the inner surface of the fluid manifold  36 . Alternatively, the canister  68  is connected to the manifold  36  in any conventional manner. The bottom  72  has a tube  84  with a port  82  that extends from the chamber  76 . Preferably the tube  84  has perforations  86 . Connected to the tube  84  through port  82  is the pressure check valve  23 . Releasably fitted to the open top  70  of canister  68  is a cap  88 . The cap  88  is connected to the canister in any conventional way such as by threads, a frictional snap on fitting, or the like. Preferably, the cap  88  has an O-ring  90  that seals against the top edge  90  of sidewall  74 . Also, for safety reasons, the cap is fitted with a poppet valve or pressure relief ports  92 . A master pressure relief valve  66  is located in air pressure tube  50  manifold. 
     In operation, dry ice is placed within chamber  76  and the canister  68  is sealed by closing the open top  70  with cap  88 . The canister  68  is then inserted into fluid manifold  36  such that threads  78  are matingly received by threads  80  and port  82  is in communication with air pressure tube  50 . As the dry ice melts/evaporates the fluid in tubes  44  or chamber  42  is cooled and pressure is released into tube  50 . If for some reason there is back pressure, pressure is released through cap  88  or master pressure relief valve  66 . 
     Pressure from the canister  68  flows to pump  52 . From the pressure the pump  52  is activated driving cooled fluid to manifold  36  through fluid in line  56 A to fluid out line  56 B to the auxiliary device  58 . To increase the temperature in the auxiliary device the restrictor valve  62  is opened to allow cooled fluid to travel through by-pass line  60  back to pump  52 . To reduce the temperature, the restrictor valve  62  is closed to restrict flow through line  60 . Once fluid has reached the auxiliary device  58  for cooling, fluid returns to manifold  36  through line  64 , and  56 A for subsequent cooling. 
     Multiple manifolds  36  for receiving multiple canisters  68  may be connected to the system  10 . In this way, while one canister  68  is being replaced, the other canisters  68  continue to provide pressure and cooling. 
     The system is connected to a number of different types of auxiliary devices such as a cooler, an automobile seat, a helmet, a shirt, or a suit. 
     Thus, a cooling system has been disclosed that, at the very least, meets all the stated objectives.