Self-contained air-conditioned enclosure

• US 6,945,064 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asir Iyadurai Jebaraj
• Original Assignee: Asir Iyadurai Jebaraj
• Inventors: Jebaraj, Asir Iyadurai
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US10/038,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 622/591, 623/71, 624/40, 624/28, 622/37
• US Class Current: 62/259.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/022 comprising a compressor cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/04 Arrangements for portability
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers

Abstract

A Self-Contained Air-Conditioned Enclosure; comprises of an Enclosure (1), connected through plurality of openings (13,14) to air ducts (20,21) of an Air-conditioning Unit (17). The Enclosure has a Roof (5), and sidewalls assembled with plurality of Wall Sheets (8) interspaced with Spacer Strips (9) to enhance thermal resistance of the sidewalls. The bottom of the sidewall is inserted under the structure that forms the floor to create an isolated enclosure. The Air-conditioning Unit (17) supplies the Enclosure through the Supply Air Duct (21) and withdraws air through Exit Air Duct (20). Part of the withdrawn air is reconditioned and supplied to the enclosure; the other part is replaced by fresh air. Energy is conserved from the replaced air in Heat Transfer Duct (37) and transferred to fresh air in Fresh Air Chamber (36). Unit efficiency is improved by mixing the exhausted withdrawn air in the Compressor Chamber (31) and exhausted by the Exhaust Air Duct (28). Flow of fresh air is controlled through the Air Damper (39) and Control Knob (38).

Claims

1. A self-contained air-conditioned enclosure assembly providing a comfortable personal environment for occupants comprising:

a. an enclosure assembly means having an interior, suitable to be fitted on a slab, whereby thermally confining the interior space above said slab, and said slab having an underside,

b. a frame means for structurally supporting said enclosure, comprising plurality of frame members and plurality of corner connector means for interconnecting said frame members,

c. a roof disposed in spaced relation above said slab having a plurality of support straps for suspending said roof from said frame means,

d. a plurality of upright sidewall means attached to said roof comprising a plurality of well sheets and a plurality of spacer strips, said sidewall means having an upper portion and a lower portion,

e. a plurality of first means for securing the upper portion of said sidewall means to said roof,

f. an exit air opening in said sidewall means,

g. a supply air opening in said sidewall means located vertically at a substantial distance below said exit air opening,

h. an air-conditioner means for conditioning the interior space of said enclosure, comprising;

i) a main housing having four vertical sides, a cornice, a floor and an interior space,

ii) an air plenum located in said main housing bounded on top by the cornice of said main housing and having a mid portion and a bottom end,

iii) an exit air duct means extending from the cornice of said main housing, communicating with said air plenum, having an extremity that is connected to said exit air opening for conveying air exiting the enclosure to said air-conditioner means,

iv) a first air moving devise such as a fan motor assembly located within said air plenum for inducing air movement from said enclosure to said air-conditioner,

v) a heat transfer means comprising an evaporator coil and a heater element assembly, fixed below said air moving devise at the bottom end of said air plenum, whereby air moved by said first air moving devise through said heat transfer means is thermally conditioned,

vi) a supply air duct means extending horizontally from one side of said main housing located below said heat transfer means having four walls, an extremity that is connected to said supply air opening, and the bottom wall of said supply air duct means extends inside said main housing thereby horizontally partitioning said main housing whereby conditioned air from said heat transfer means is conveyed to the enclosure,

vii) a second air moving devise such as a fan blower assembly fixed below the bottom wall of said supply air duct,

viii) an exhaust air duct connected to said second air moving devise and extends through one of the sides of said main housing on the opposite side of said supply air duct means,

ix) a condensing coil bank fixed below said second air moving devise whereby heat is rejected from said condensing coil bank to the air moved by said second air moving devise,

x) a compressor chamber located below said condensing coil bank having a compressor fixed on the floor of said main housing, isolated from said air plenum by the bottom wall of said supply air duct means,

xi) a control panel attached vertically at the extremity of and within said supply air duct.

2. A self-contained air-conditioned enclosure assembly providing a climate controlled environment therein the enclosure assembly comprising:

i) a collapsible self-supporting enclosure, wherein said enclosure includes a roof, four sidewalls extending downwardly from said roof, said sidewalls having an upper portion and a lower portion, an enclosed space, at least one first opening, and the enclosed space is cuboid shaped and is of sufficient size capable of receiving at least one occupant,

ii) a plurality of sidewalls, descending from said roof, said sidewalls having two walls sheets and a plurality of spacer strips positioned there between so that spaces are formed between said wall sheets and said spacer strips, and

iii) a climate control device connectable to said enclosure, having a climate controlling air to the enclosed space,

whereby said enclosure is capable of accepting a slab, said slab having an underside, and defines an enclosed space when erected, said enclosed space is bounded by said roof said slab, and said lower portion of said side walls surround said slab, said slab located within said enclosed space, said sidewalls incorporates said opening and said climate controlling outlet of said climate control device is directly connected to said first opening to supply climate controlled air to said occupant of said enclosed space.

3. The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the enclosure is capable of accepting a slab, said slab having an underside, said slab is of sufficient size capable of receiving at least one occupant and said enclosure further includes:

i) a roof and,

ii) four sidewalls extending downwardly from said roof, said sidewalls having an upper portion and a lower portion,

whereby the enclosed space is bounded by said roof, said slab when accepted, said lower portion of said side walls surround said slab, said slab located within said enclosed space, and said sidewalls; and

said sidewalls incorporates said opening, said opening being capable of receiving the climate controlling outlet of said climate control device.

4. The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the self-supporting enclosure includes a plurality of frame members forming a support structure that supports said roof and said sidewalls, said support structure comprising plurality of frame members.

5. The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the sidewalls are comprised of two transparent plastic sheets having a plurality of spacer strips positioned therebetween so that spaces are formed between said wall sheets and said spacer strips, and wherein the lower portion of said sidewalls are capable of wrapping around to the underside of the accepted slab.

6. The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the enclosure further includes a second opening to exit air from said enclosed space, positioned at a substantially distance from said first opening, and said sidewalls incorporates said second opening, whereby said climate control device is directly connected to said first opening to supply climate controlled air to said enclosed space and said second opening exit air from said enclosed space.

7. The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein said climate control device includes:

i) a main housing having four vertical sides, a floor and an interior space,

ii) an air plenum located in said main housing,

iii) a fresh air chamber having a first open end in communication with said air plenum and a second open end in communication with the surrounding environment and is capable of receiving fresh air from the surrounding environment, whereby said fresh air chamber is otherwise isolated from said interior space of said main housing and is capable of supplying fresh air to said air plenum,

iv) a first air moving device located within said air plenum for inducing air movement between said enclosure and said climate control device,

v) a first heat transfer means fixed adjacent to said air moving device, whereby air moved by said first air moving device through said first heat transfer means is thermally conditioned,

whereby said climate controlling outlet of said climate control device is located adjacent to said first heat transfer means, said climate controlling outlet having an extemity that is connectable to said opening of the enclosure, and a duction structure that directs the thermally conditioned air to said enclosure.

8. The enclosure assembly of claim 7, wherein said climate control device further includes:

i) a filtering device located in said interior space and adjacent to said first air moving device, said filtering device purifies the air moved by said first air moving device, and

ii) a control panel connected to at least the first air moving device to control conditioned air delivery to said enclosure.

9. The enclosure assembly of claim 7, wherein said climate control device further includes an exit air duct extending from said main housing, communicating with said air plenum, having an extremity that is connectable to said second opening of the enclosure, said capable of conveying air from said enclosure to said air plenum.

10. The enclosure assembly of claim 7, wherein said climate control device further includes:

i) a compressor chamber located adjacent to said floor of said main housing, having a compressor fixed on said floor, and isolated from said air plenum by the duct structure of said climate control outlet, and

ii) a second air moving device fixed adjacent to said compressor chamber.

11. The enclosure assembly of claim 10, wherein said climate control device further includes an exhaust air duct connected to said second air moving device and extends through one of the sides of said main housing preferably on the opposite side of said climate controlling outlet, wherein said exhaust air duct is preferably flexible, collapsible, and light weight round air duct, whereby air moved by said second air moving device is exhausted.

12. The enclosure assembly of claim 7, wherein said climate control device further includes a heat transfer duct, adjacent to said fresh air chamber, having one end communicating with said air plenum and an opposed end connected to said compressor chamber whereby air from said air plenum is exhausted to said compressor chamber.

13. The enclosure assembly of claim 7, wherein said climate control device further includes an air damper pivotally mounted adjacent to said heat transfer duct, mechanically linked to said control panel, and capable of adjusting air flow from said air plenum to said compressor chamber.

14. A method of controlling at least a temperature within a enclosed space capable of receiving at least one occupant, the method comprising the steps of:

i) Erecting a temporary structure, wherein when erected the structure defines the enclosed space, the structure having;

i. a roof,

ii. a plurality of sidewalls descending from said roof, said sidewalls having two wall sheets and a plurality of spacer strips positioned there between so that spaces are formed between said wall sheets and said spacer strips, and

iii. an inlet opening, and said sidewall incorporating said inlet opening;

ii) coupling an air-conditioning device to the inlet opening, and

iii) operating said air-conditioning device, wherein said air-conditioning device delivers conditioned supply air stream to said enclosed space.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a method of improving operational efficiency, the method comprises the step of recovering thermal energy at least in part from an exhaust air stream to the supply air stream of said temporary structure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of recovering thermal energy at least in part from an exhaust air stream includes at least in part transferring heat to said air-conditioning device having a condenser coil.