Ice cooled air conditioner and method

• US 5,197,301 A
• Filed: 10/15/1991
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Jack N. Holcomb
• Inventors: Holcomb, Jack N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US07/775,482
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 62/457.1, 62/459, 62/464, 62/529, 62/312
• US Class Current: 62/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

An air conditioning apparatus includes at least one vessel for containing frozen material, at least one duct in thermal communication with the at least one vessel, at least one fan for propelling air through the at least one duct, and at least one battery for powering the at least one fan. The at least one vessel and the at least one duct are preferably in thermal communication with each other through a common wall. Heat fins are preferably provided on the common wall for maximizing the thermal communication. Insulating material preferably covers the at least one vessel and the at least one duct. The at least one duct may have an air entrance port and an air exit port and the at least one fan may include a first electric fan at the air entrance port and a second electric fan at the air exit port. A method of cooling air includes the steps of placing frozen material inside at least one container having an exterior surface, and propelling air into thermal communication with the at least one container over the exterior surface of the at least one container so that heat is transferred from the air into the at least one container.

Claims

1. An air conditioning apparatus comprising:

at least one vessel for containing frozen material having a bottom face and a side face,

duct means in thermal communication with the at least one vessel through said bottom face and said side face, having a discharge port and extending along said bottom face where frozen material contact is assured and up said side face to permit further thermal communication while positioning said discharge port at a convenient elevation,

fan means for propelling air through said duct means,

at least one battery for powering said fan means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, additionally comprising heat fins on the common wall for maximizing thermal communication between the at least one vessel and the duct means.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the at least one battery is at least one D size battery.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the at least one battery is at least one automobile battery.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, additionally comprising insulating material covering the at least one vessel and the duct means.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the at least one vessel is essentially cubical.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, additionally comprising tube means in fluid communication with the at least one vessel for discharging melted frozen material from the at least one vessel.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, additionally comprising tube means in fluid communication with the duct means for discharging condensate from the duct means.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the duct means has an air entrance port and an air exit port and the fan means comprises a first electric fan at the air entrance port and a second electric fan at the air exit port.

10. A method of cooling air comprising the steps of:

placing frozen material inside container means having a bottom face and a side face, duct means in thermal communication with the container means through said bottom face and said side face, having a discharge port and extending along said bottom face where frozen material contact is assured and up said side face to permit further thermal communication while positioning the discharge port at a convenient elevation,

propelling air into thermal communication with the container means through said duct means so that heat is transferred from the air into the container means.