Live well temperature management apparatus

• US 6,044,901 A
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald C. Basala
• Original Assignee: Donald C. Basala
• Inventors: Basala, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANIGAN, ALLEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/126,797
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 165/41, 165/121, 165/122, 165/132
• US Class Current: 165/122
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/05 Containers for live bait kept in water, e.g. for minnows or shrimps
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/26 for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/00 Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements specially adapted for movement F28F5/00

Abstract

A temperature management apparatus is provided for cooling a fluid located in an interior region of a live well, the fluid being circulated by a pump. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, an inlet configured to receive fluid from the live well, and an outlet configured to return fluid to the live well. The apparatus also includes a shroud having a front wall formed to include an aperture and first and second side walls configured to be coupled to first and second sides of the heat exchanger, respectively. The apparatus further includes a fan coupled to the front wall of the shroud in communication with the aperture to increase air flow over the heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A temperature management apparatus for cooling a fluid located in an interior region of a live well, the fluid being circulated by a pump, the apparatus comprising:

a heat exchanger including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, an inlet configured to receive fluid from the live well, and an outlet configured to return fluid to the live well;

a shroud having a front wall formed to include an aperture and first and second side walls configured to be coupled to first and second sides of the heat exchanger, respectively; and

a fan coupled to the front wall of the shroud in communication with the aperture to increase air flow over the heat exchanger.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is external to the interior region of the live well and provides a liquid to air heat transfer as fluid from the live well passes through the heat exchanger.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot coupled to a bottom surface of the heat exchanger.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shroud is made from a carbon fiber material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the shroud is spaced apart from the front surface of the heat exchanger to provide an air gap between the front surface of the heat exchanger and the fan.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the shroud is connected to the first and second side walls of the shroud by first and second angled surfaces, respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shroud includes a top edge and a bottom edge extending between the first and second side walls, and further comprising top and bottom seals extending along the top and bottom edges of the shroud located between the shroud and the heat exchanger.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an aerator coupled to the outlet of the heat exchanger.

9. A temperature management apparatus for cooling a fluid located in an interior region of a live well, the fluid being circulated by a pump, the apparatus comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet configured to receive fluid from the live well and an outlet configured to return fluid to the live well, the heat exchanger being external to the interior region of the live well to provide a heat transfer to cool the fluid as fluid from the live well passes through the heat exchanger and further comprising a fan coupled to the heat exchanger to increase air flow over the heat exchanger.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a shroud configured to couple the fan to the heat exchanger, the shroud being configured to extend to a perimeter edge of the heat exchanger on a front side of the heat exchanger.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shroud is made from a carbon fiber material.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shroud includes a front wall formed to include an aperture for receiving the fan and first and second side walls configured to be coupled to first and second sides of the heat exchanger, the fan being coupled to the front wall of the shroud.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the front wall of the shroud is spaced apart from a front surface of the heat exchanger to provide an air gap between the front surface of the heat exchanger and the fan.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fan is coupled to a switch for selectively turning the fan on and off.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pump is also coupled to the switch.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the switch, the sensor being configured to turn on the switch when the temperature of the fluid in the live well exceeds a predetermined temperature.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the heat exchanger is made from a metal material.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an aerator coupled to the outlet of the heat exchanger.