PERSONAL AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS

• US 20090143004A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C Enterprise (HK) Limited
• Original Assignee: C Enterprise (HK) Limited
• Inventors: Tam, Cheuk Hung, Elsworthy, Christopher Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/946,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/284
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0007 Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units self-contained units F24F1/02
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0059 characterised by heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/38 Personalised air distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0035 using evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/54 Free-cooling systems

Abstract

A personal air conditioning apparatus includes a centrifugal fan received within a scroll casing. A container mounted to the inlet of the scroll housing is provided for receiving and holding a coolant member. The scroll casing is supported upon a base enclosing two liquid reservoirs and a battery compartment. A liquid atomizing device fed from one of the reservoirs dispenses liquid droplets into air flow from a discharge passage. A channel extends between the container and the other of the reservoirs for draining away condensation formed on the coolant member. The scroll casing defines the discharge passage, which has a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an end of the scroll casing. Axially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the cross section of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in the axial direction. The inner end of the container lies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding the lower side of the discharge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet toward the outlet. The coolant member may be a chilled beverage can and, when the fan is not operating, cooled air drops into the fan where it is retained.

Claims

1. A personal air conditioning apparatus comprising:

a container for holding a coolant member and admitting incoming air for cooling, the container having a central axis with axially opposing outer and inner ends, the outer end being open for passage of the coolant member and the inner end being open for the passage of air;

a centrifugal fan having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades for generating an air flow;

a scroll casing, the fan being positioned within the scroll casing, the scroll casing defining a discharge passage with a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an end of the scroll casing, wherein axially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in an axial direction; and

an inlet in the scroll casing in communication with the inner end of the container, wherein, with the apparatus in an upright position, the inner end of the container lies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding a lower side of the discharge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet toward the outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the discharge passage has a centriodal axis defined along a locus of centroid positions for a plurality of transverse discharge passage sections along a length of the discharge passage and the centroidal axis is inclined upwardly toward the outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motor drivingly connected to the fan and received in the scroll casing, wherein a common axis of rotation of the motor and the fan is substantially coaxial with the central axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including vanes located in the inlet for supporting an end of the coolant member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the vanes are substantially radially aligned and project into an axial recess in the fan.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a base defining first and second liquid reservoirs;

a liquid atomizing device disposed in the discharge passage for dispensing liquid droplets into air flow from the discharge passage;

a liquid conduit extending from the liquid atomizing device to the first reservoir; and

a channel extending between the container and the second reservoir for directing condensation forned on the coolant member to the second reservoir.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the motor is received in a recess

in the scroll casing.

8. A method of personal cooling employing a personal cooling apparatus including a substantially tubular container having inner and outer ends, the container being made of thermally insulating material or being thermally insulated, a scroll casing with an axial inlet in communication with the inner end of the container;

a centrifugal fan positioned within the scroll casing, the scroll casing defining a discharge passage with a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an end thereof wherein axially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the cross section of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in the axial direction, the method comprising;

placing a metallic can within the container, wherein the can is sealed and holds a beverage chilled below ambient temperature or frozen;

allowing air cooled by contact with the can to fall into the scroll casing;

actuating the fan to extract cold air from within the container and impel an outflow of cold air from the scroll casing, and

directing the air outflow from a outlet at an end of the scroll casing for personal cooling.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the air flow from the can is drawn through a substantially annular channel between the metallic can and the tubular container.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the can protrudes from the upper end and the air flow into the container is funneled through the upper end which tapers inwardly from its rim.

11. A personal air conditioning apparatus comprising:

a container holding a coolant member and admitting incoming air for cooling, the container having a central axis with axially opposing outer and inner ends, the outer end being open for passage of the coolant member and the inner end being open for the passage of air;

a centrifugal fan having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades for generating an air flow;

a motor drivingly connected to the fan, a common axis of rotation of the motor and the fan being substantially coaxial with the central axis;

a scroll casing, the fan being positioned within the scroll casing, the scroll casing defining a discharge passage with a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an end the scroll casing, wherein axially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in an axial direction;

an inlet in the scroll casing in communication with the inner end of an container;

substantially radially aligned vanes located in the inlet for supporting an end of the coolant member and projecting into an axial recess in the fan, wherein,

the inner end of the container lies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding a lower side of the discharge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet toward the outlet,

the discharge passage has a centriodal axis defined along a locus of centroid positions for a plurality of transverse discharge passage sections along a length of the discharge passage and

the centroidal axis is inclined upwardly toward the outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a base defining a liquid reservoir;

a liquid atomizing device disposed in the discharge passage for dispensing liquid droplets into air flow from the discharge passage;

a liquid conduit extending from the liquid atomizing device to the reservoir; and

a channel extending between the container and the reservoir for directing condensation formed on the coolant member to the reservoir.