Patent Publication Number: US-2004045308-A1

Title: Portable air cooling system

Description:
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/400,165, filed Jul. 31, 2002. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to an environmental control system, and more particularly, to a portable environmental control system for use with portable personal shelters.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Portable personal shelters used for outdoor activities include tents, tent trailers (pop-up trailers), boat cabins, and other portable personal shelters. Portable personal shelters are typically capable of providing ventilation to allow outside air inside the enclosure. Even so, the air in such portable personal shelters during the summer can be hot, humid and contain air pollutants, such as pollen and dust. As a result, it can become very uncomfortable within the portable personal shelter.  
       [0004] There exists a need for a system that provides environmental control of a portable personal shelter including an ability to modify the temperature and humidity of the air, and the ability to remove air pollutants.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention is directed to a portable cooling system for use with a portable personal shelter to provide control of the environment within the shelter relative to the outside. The portable cooling system includes an air cooling unit, a housing enclosing the air cooling unit, an output port, and flexible tubing. The air cooling unit includes an air intake, an air cooler, an air output, and a blower. The blower is configured to drive air from the outside through the air cooling unit. The air cooler is configured to cool air received through the air intake. The cooled air is then discharged through the air output by the blower. The output port is connected to the air output for receiving the cooled air. The flexible tubing includes a first end that is coupled to the output port and can be used to deliver the cooled air to a portable personal shelter.  
       [0006] Other features and benefits that characterize embodiments of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description and review of the associated drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable personal shelter system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is an example of a portable personal shelter system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is an interior view of the portable personal shelter of FIG. 2.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a portable cooling system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a side plan view in partial cross-section of a portable cooling system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the system of FIG. 5 contained within circle  6 .  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a portable cooling system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portable cooling system in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable personal shelter system  100  in accordance with embodiments of the invention. System  100  generally includes a portable cooling system  102  and a portable personal shelter  104 . Shelter  104  generally includes exterior walls  106  that define an interior chamber  108 . Examples of portable personal shelters  104  include tents, tent trailers or pop-up tents, boat cabins, and other portable personal shelters.  
     [0016] Portable cooling system  102  is located outside of shelter  104  and is configured to deliver cooled air into interior chamber  108 , as indicated by arrows  110  and  112 . In general, portable cooling system  102  receives air that is exterior to portable shelter  104 , cools the air, and delivers the cooled air into chamber  108  of shelter  104 . In this manner, the environment within shelter  104  can be maintained at a cooler temperature than the environment outside shelter  104 . Additionally, the cooled air delivered to chamber  108  by portable cooling system  102  will also generally have a lower humidity than the air outside of shelter  104  as a result of the cooling of the air.  
     [0017] Portable cooling system  102  can be powered by a power supply  114 . Power supply  114  can be a portable generator or a fuel cell. An example of a suitable portable generator is the Honda EU1000 generator. Alternatively, when available, portable cooling system  102  can receive power from a standard line level power receptacle, such as those that are commonly available at campsites. Power supply  114  can also be formed as a component of portable cooling system  102 .  
     [0018]FIG. 2 is an example of a portable personal shelter system  100  in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. Shelter  104  is in the form of a tent that includes a front wall  116 , side walls  118  and  120 , a rear wall  122 , and a bottom  124  which define an interior chamber  108 , as shown in the interior view of shelter  104  of FIG. 3. Shelter  104  includes an input port  126  that is coupled to exterior wall  116 . Input port  126  includes an opening  128  (FIG. 3), through which interior chamber  108  is accessible from the outside. Portable cooling system  102  includes an air output  130  through which cool air is discharged. Flexible tubing or an air duct  132  joins air output  130  to input port  126  and delivers cooled air discharged through output  130  into interior chamber  108  of shelter  104 .  
     [0019] A more detailed discussion of portable cooling system  102  will be provided with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 4. In general, portable cooling system  102  includes an air cooling unit  140 , a housing  142  that includes an interior chamber or compartment  144  that encloses the air cooling unit  140 , the output port  130  and the flexible tubing  132 .  
     [0020] Air cooling unit  140  includes an air intake  146 , an air cooler  148 , a blower  150 , and an air output  152 . Blower  150  is configured to drive air into air intake  146  as represented by arrows  154  and  156 , drive the air through air cooler  148  as represented by arrow  158 , and drive the air through air output  152 , as represented by arrows  160  and  162 . Air intake  146  receives air  154  and  156  from the outside, which is then fed to air cooler  148 . Air cooler  148  is configured to cool the air and output cooled air  158 . The cooled air is then discharged through air output  152  by blower  150  and through output port  130 . Flexible tubing  132  receives the cooled air  162  from output port  130  for delivery to a portable personal shelter  104 , such as the tent depicted in FIG. 3. One suitable air cooling unit  140  is the Daewoo Model No. 267566, which has a capacity of 5200 BTU/(h) (hp). Other types of air cooling units, such as compressor-less air cooling units, can also be used.  
     [0021] Air cooling unit  140  can also include a controller  164  that is configured to control the operation of air cooling unit  140  in response to one or more inputs. The inputs can come from a control panel  166 , which generally includes input buttons (not shown) for activating the power and controlling various settings of air cooling unit  140 . Alternatively, air cooling unit  140  can include an infrared receiver  168  that is configured to receive input signals from a remote control  170  which can be processed by controller  164 . Controller  164  then controls the operation of air cooling unit  140  in accordance with the input signals from remote  170 .  
     [0022] Air cooling unit  140  can also include a display  171  for providing information to a user, such as blower speed (e.g. high or low), temperature settings, and other information. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, display  171  is formed as a component of control panel  166 , as shown in FIG. 4.  
     [0023] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, portable air cooling system  102  includes a temperature sensor  172  that generates an output signal  174  that is indicative of a temperature of interior chamber  108  of portable personal shelter  104 . Output signal  174  is provided to controller  164 , which can regulate the operation of air cooling unit  140  as required to maintain a temperature of interior chamber  108  at a desired level. Temperature sensor  172  can be a thermocouple, a resistance temperature device (RTD), or other suitable temperature sensor. Temperature sensor  172  is preferably supported within interior chamber  108  at a location that is suitable for effectively measuring the air temperature of interior chamber  108 , as shown in FIG. 3. Temperature sensor  172  can be directly connected to air cooling unit by a suitable cable  176 , or configured to wirelessly provide output signal  174  to controller  164 .  
     [0024] Housing  142  generally encloses air cooling unit  140  and other components within a first chamber  144 , as mentioned above. First chamber  144  is preferably waterproof. Housing  142  also includes multiple vents, such as vent  180 , shown in FIG. 4, to allow heat to escape from within first chamber  144 . The vents are preferably configured to prevent water from entering chamber  144 . Additional vents can be provided adjacent air intake  146  and air output  152  of air cooling unit  140 , such as vents  182  and  184 , respectively. Housing  142  can also provide support for the output port  130  adjacent air output  152 . Housing  142  can also include additional compartments, such as compartments  186  and  188 , for storage of tubing  132  and other components of portable cooling system  102 . Housing  142  can also be configured to contain power supply  114 .  
     [0025] The walls defining first chamber  144  and compartments  186  and  188  can be formed using rigid or semi-rigid materials, such as plastic and other durable materials suitable for luggage products. Alternatively, the walls of housing  142  can be formed of fabric, as illustrated in the side plan view of portable cooling system  102  of FIG. 5. The fabric is preferably durable and substantially water-resistant, such as Gortex. First compartment  144  in which air cooling unit  140  is contained preferably is accessible through a removable cover  190 . Likewise, compartments  186  and  188  are preferably sealable in accordance with conventional methods.  
     [0026] One embodiment of housing  142  includes a rigid base member  192  for support of air cooling unit  140 , as shown in FIG. 5. Housing  142  also preferably includes handles, such as handle  194  and  196 . In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, handle  196  is extendible as indicated by the phantom depiction of handle  196  at  196 ′.  
     [0027] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, portable cooling system  102  includes wheels  200 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Wheels  200  preferably mount to rigid base member  192  on a side that is opposite handle  196  (FIG. 5). Wheels  200  can be small wheels that rest substantially underneath housing  142 . Alternatively, wheels  200  can be large wheels having a diameter of approximately greater than 3 inches, such as those depicted in FIG. 5. The large wheels  200  allow for easier transport of portable air cooling system  102  over rough terrain. Additional wheels can be added to rigid base member  192  to further assist in the transport of portable cooling system  102 .  
     [0028] As mentioned above, output port  130  receives discharged cool air from air output  152  of air cooling unit  140 . Output port  130  is also configured to receive an end  202  of flexible tubing  132  as illustrated in FIG. 4. One embodiment of output port  130  includes a sleeve member  204  that includes a first end  206  that is positioned adjacent air output  152  of air cooling unit  140  and a second end  208  having a connector portion  210  that is configured to receive the end  202  of flexible tubing  132 , as shown in FIG. 6, which is a magnified view of the portion of portable cooling system  102  contained within circle  6  of FIG. 5. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the connector portion  210  includes a drawstring that is attached to sleeve  204  adjacent to end  208 . A portion of drawstring  212  is preferably supported within sleeve  204  at end  208  such that end  208  becomes constricted as the ends of drawstring  212  are pulled. Drawstring  212  can then be secured in a conventional manner with an appropriate clip  214 , as illustrated in FIG. 7. Connector portion  210  of output port  130  can also be a fitting or other suitable component for interfacing end  202  of flexible tubing  132 .  
     [0029] Sleeve  204  can be secured to housing  142  adjacent air output  152  of air cooling unit  140  by various methods. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, output port  130  includes a front plate  216  and a rear plate  218 , which receive a portion of a side wall  220  of housing  142  and a portion of sleeve  204  therebetween. Suitable fasteners  222 , such as nuts and bolts, screws, rivets, etc., squeeze front plate  216  and rear plate  218  together thereby pinching side wall  220  of housing  142  and sleeve  204  therebetween to complete the mounting of sleeve  204  to output port  130 . Sleeve  204  can also be attached to output port  130  using other methods, such as by using glue, or by sewing sleeve  204  to side wall  220  of housing  142 , for example.  
     [0030] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, housing  142  includes a flap  224  adjacent output port  130 , as shown in FIG. 7. Flap  224  is configured to close output port  130  when output port  130  is disconnected from tubing  132 , as illustrated in FIG. 8. Additionally, flap  224  can be configured to enclose sleeve  204  of output port  130  when it is not in use. Flap  224  is preferably secured in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 8, using Velcro® or other suitable fastener.  
     [0031] The input port  126  of portable personal shelter  104  can be formed similarly to output port  130  described above. Accordingly, input port  126  can include a sleeve member  230  that is attached to one of the exterior walls  106  of portable shelter  104 , such as front wall  116 , as shown in FIG. 2. Sleeve  230  also preferably includes a connector  232  that is configured to receive a second end  234  of flexible tubing  132 . Connector  232  can be a drawstring type connector, such as that described above, or other suitable connector.  
     [0032] Portable cooling system  102  can also include a filter  250  that is configured to filter the air that is delivered to portable personal shelter  104 , as shown in FIG. 4. Air filter  250  operates to remove pollutants from the air that is provided to portable personal shelter  104 , such as pollen and dust. Filter  250  can be positioned either adjacent air intake  146  (FIG. 5) or adjacent to air output  152 , such that the air flow passes through air filter  250  prior to its delivery to portable personal shelter  104 . One embodiment of air filter  250  is an electrostatic air filter. Other types of air filters can also be used.  
     [0033] Flexible tubing  132  is preferably formed of collapsible air duct, which allows tubing  132  to be contained within a compartment of housing  142 , such as compartment  186  or  188 . Flexible tubing  132  is also preferably insulated by an insulating sleeve  252  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The insulating of flexible tubing  132  prevents the heating of the cooled air traveling therein and can also prevent condensation on tubing  132 .  
     [0034] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.