Portable air conditioning system

• US 5,685,165 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Floyd E. Bigelow Jr
• Original Assignee: Floyd E. Bigelow Jr
• Inventors: Bigelow, Floyd E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sollecito, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/679,139
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 62/457.2, 62/457.7, 62/457.9, 62/404, 62/407, 62/386, 62/420, 62/422, 62/424, 62/426, 62/460, 62/434, 62/430, 165/77
• US Class Current: 62/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00264 Transportable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A portable air conditioning system has been invented which, in one aspect has a support frame with a fan mounted behind a radiator, and a power supply for selectively providing power to run the fan. The system is mountable in or on a container such as a typical ice chest. In one embodiment, water and ice are place in the ice chest for cooling a small room or a vehicle'"'"'s interior.

Claims

1. A portable air conditioning system comprising

a support frame,

a fan/radiator assembly on the support frame, the fan/radiator assembly comprising a fan and a radiator, the fan mounted adjacent the radiator for propelling air through the radiator,

the radiator having an inlet for receiving thermal fluid and an outlet from which the thermal fluid flows out from the radiator,

a container for containing the thermal fluid,

a removable supply of thermal fluid in the container for flowing through the radiator, the removable supply of thermal fluid removable from the container upon reaching a desired temperature,

pump apparatus for continuously pumping the thermal fluid to the radiator, the pump apparatus having an inlet for receiving the thermal fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the radiator, and

wherein the thermal fluid occupies at least one fourth of a total volume of the container.

2. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising

positioning apparatus for selectively and releasably holding the fan/radiator assembly in position with respect to the support frame.

3. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising

a power supply for selectively providing power to run the fan.

4. The portable air conditioning system of claim 2 further comprising

the power supply comprising a battery, and

switch apparatus for turning power from the battery on and off.

5. The portable air conditioning system of claim 4 further comprising

the battery removably mounted on the support frame within the container.

6. The portable air conditioning system of claim 4 further comprising

the battery positioned adjacent to and exteriorly of the container.

7. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising

the pump apparatus positioned within the container.

8. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the thermal fluid is water and the portable air conditioning system further comprising

the container for containing the support frame, the fan, and the radiator, and

an amount of ice within the container.

9. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising

lid apparatus hingedly connected to the container for selectively closing off the container.

10. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the thermal fluid is water.

11. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the water as pumped is at a temperature of at least 70°

F.

12. The portable air conditioning of system of claim 1 wherein the water is at a temperature of at least ninety degrees.

13. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising

the support frame comprising a plurality of frame parts, the frame parts releasably interconnected so that height of the support frame is adjustable,

a cabinet releasably secured to one of the frame parts, the cabinet for holding the fan/radiator assembly, and

the cabinet adjustable with respect to a frame part to which it is secured so that cooled air may be directed therefrom at a desired angle.

14. The portable air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising

a power supply for selectively providing power to run the pump apparatus.

15. A portable air conditioning system comprising

a support frame,

a fan/radiator assembly on the support frame, the fan/radiator assembly comprising a fan and a radiator, the fan mounted adjacent the radiator for propelling air through the radiator,

the radiator having an inlet for receiving thermal fluid and an outlet from which the thermal fluid flows out from the radiator,

a container for containing the thermal fluid,

a removable supply of thermal fluid in the container for flowing through the radiator, the removable supply of thermal fluid removable from the container upon reaching a desired temperature,

pump apparatus for continuously pumping the thermal fluid to the radiator, the pump apparatus having an inlet for receiving the thermal fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the radiator, and

a plurality of height-adjustable legs supporting the support frame within the container.

16. A portable air conditioning system comprising

a support frame,

a fan/radiator assembly on the support frame, the fan/radiator assembly comprising a fan and a radiator, the fan mounted adjacent the radiator for propelling air through the radiator,

the radiator having an inlet for receiving thermal fluid and an outlet from which the thermal fluid flows out from the radiator,

a container for containing the thermal fluid,

a removable supply of thermal fluid in the container for flowing through the radiator, the removable supply of thermal fluid removable from the container upon reaching a desired temperature,

pump apparatus for continuously pumping the thermal fluid to the radiator, the pump apparatus having an inlet for receiving the thermal fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the radiator, and

the fan/radiator assembly hingedly connected to the support frame so that the fan radiator assembly is positionable at a desired angle with respect to the support frame and so that the fan/radiator assembly is selectively positionable above a top of the container.