Portable air conditioner

• US 7,188,489 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Z Cool, LLC
• Original Assignee: E-Z Cool, LLC
• Inventors: Martello, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad M.
• Application Number:
  US10/907,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20060225453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 624/20, 624/571, 624/59, 624/572, 624/64, 624/577, 624/579
• US Class Current: 62/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00264 Transportable devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/005 Regenerative cooling means, e.g. cold accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00592 Add-on devices, e.g. heat/cooling boxes, compartment dividers, upgrade sets
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3235 using sublimation, e.g. dry ice cooling or melting ice
• 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 conditioner utilizing low-power draw components, simple and efficient construction, and implementing simple ice water as the medium for heat exchange.

Claims

1. A portable air conditioner comprising:

an insulated housing forming a reservoir, and having at least one open side;

said housing having an insulated lid configured to sealingly engage said insulated housing, said lid forming a compartment within said lid;

said reservoir having at least two-thirds of the volume of said portable air conditioner;

said compartment containing an evaporator coil;

said compartment containing a fan operatively configured to be in fluid communication with the exterior of said evaporator coil;

a recirculating pump in fluid communication with the interior of said evaporator coil and with said reservoir;

at least one switch operatively attached to said recirculating pump and said fan to control the operation of said recirculating pump and said fan;

a power cord operatively attached to a thermostat and to said switch;

a discharge outlet operatively configured in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil;

a return inlet operatively located in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil.

2. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said switch is a thermostat.

3. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising a drain plug operatively configured in said housing to permit the expulsion of fluid.

4. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising at least one handle configured on said housing to facilitate transport of said portable air conditioner.

5. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising a cooling fluid in said insulated housing.

6. The portable air conditioner of claim 5 wherein said cooling fluid is a mixture of water and salt.

7. A portable air conditioner comprising:

an ice chest forming a reservoir, and having at least one open side;

said ice chest having an insulated lid configured to sealingly engage said ice chest, said lid forming a compartment within said lid;

said reservoir having at least two-thirds of the volume of said portable air conditioner;

said compartment containing an evaporator coil;

said compartment containing a fan operatively configured to be in fluid communication with the exterior of said evaporator coil;

a recirculating pump in fluid communication with the interior of said evaporator coil and with said reservoir;

at least one switch operatively attached to said recirculating pump and said fan to control the operation of said recirculating pump and said fan;

a power cord operatively attached to a thermostat and to said switch;

a discharge outlet operatively configured in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil;

a return inlet operatively located in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil.

8. The portable air conditioner of claim 7 wherein said switch is a thermostat.

9. The portable air conditioner of claim 7 further comprising a drain plug operatively configured in said ice chest to permit the expulsion of fluid.

10. The portable air conditioner of claim 7 further comprising at least one handle configured on said housing to facilitate transport of said portable air conditioner.

11. The portable air conditioner of claim 7 further comprising a cooling fluid in said ice chest.

12. The portable air conditioner of claim 11 wherein said cooling fluid is a mixture of water and salt.

13. A portable air conditioner comprising:

an insulated lid configured to sealingly engage an insulated housing, said lid forming a compartment within said lid;

said compartment containing an evaporator coil;

said compartment containing a fan operatively configured to be in fluid communication with the exterior of said evaporator coil;

a recirculating pump in fluid communication with said evaporator coil and with said insulated housing;

at least one switch operatively attached to said recirculating pump and said fan to control the operation of said recirculating pump and said fan;

a power cord operatively attached to a thermostat and to said switch;

a discharge outlet operatively configured in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil;

a return inlet operatively located in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil.

14. The portable air conditioner of claim 13 wherein said switch is a thermostat.

15. A portable air conditioner comprising:

an insulated housing forming a reservoir, and having at least one open side;

said housing having an insulated lid configured to sealingly engage said insulated housing, said lid forming a compartment within said lid;

said compartment containing an evaporator coil;

said compartment containing a fan operatively configured to be in fluid communication with the exterior of said evaporator coil;

a recirculating pump in fluid communication with the interior of said evaporator coil and with said reservoir;

at least one switch operatively attached to said recirculating pump and said fan to control the operation of said recirculating pump and said fan;

a power cord operatively attached to a thermostat and to said switch;

a discharge outlet operatively configured in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil;

a return inlet operatively located in said lid and being in fluid communication with said evaporator coil.