US20110146943A1

US20110146943A1 - Portable stand-alone outdoor air conditioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20110146943A1
Application number: US12/641,294
Authority: US
Inventors: William C. Branning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2009-12-17
Publication date: 2011-06-23

Abstract

An outdoor air conditioning tower for providing thermally conditioned air to users located proximate to the tower includes a tower housing defining at least one ambient air inlet, a first conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the torso of a standing human, and a second conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the head of a standing human. A fan within the tower housing has a fan inlet communicative with the ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into the tower for thermal conditioning and also has a fan outlet communicative with the first and said second conditioned air outlets for supplying conditioned air to users. A heat exchanger is interposed between the ambient air inlet and the air outlet, and a working fluid supply is fluidly communicative with the heat exchanger for thermally conditioning the ambient air.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to apparatuses and methods for conditioning the temperature of air for the comfort of individuals proximate to the apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system for use in an open air or outdoor setting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Leisure time for many individuals includes enjoyment of open air and outdoors environments. For some, this may include hikes through a forest or landscaping the back yard. For others, a round of golf or a sightseeing trip is the preferred activity. However, for many individuals relaxation is composed of entertaining family or friends on the back yard patio. Other open air and outdoor activities are also popular such as informal business gatherings, receptions, and social hours and are typically conducted at poolside, on a large patio, or other similar gathering area. While experiencing the outdoors is a preference of many in their pursuit of leisure, relaxing, and socializing, these activities must usually be accomplished at the mercy of the current whims of the weather. The overwhelming preference for these activities is to conduct them on bright sunshine days. However, in many climes, conducting these activities in direct sunlight also means that the participants are exposed to heat, sunshine, and humidity that, if not within a small comfort band, can become uncomfortable within a short time period.
Umbrellas, tents and gazebos have been utilized in the past to provide shade for gatherings of various sizes. While, such structures provide areas of shade under which people can gather and can accommodate a larger or smaller numbers of people, these structures do not address the underlying ambient temperature and humidity factors, which are also important elements of comfort. Further, attempting to enclose a tent or gazebo and provide the structure with conditioned air for the comfort of everyone housed therein can be logistically difficult at best and prohibitively costly at worst. Enclosing these structures also counteracts the aesthetic aspects of the open air or outdoor environment, which was originally desired to enhance the gathering in the first place. Such enclosures merely function to force a gathering's population into a single designated space in total without regard to individual preferences or accommodation of sub-groupings of participants.
In particular, while a particular gathering may involve a significant number of people overall, within the total population of the gathering, a number of smaller intimate groups are occurring simultaneously. These smaller groups may typically involve ten or fewer participants engaged in topical discussions. Individuals typically float from one small group to another during the course of the total event. Thus, while the overall population of the even remains relatively constant, the smaller groups are dynamic and typically vary slightly in size within the size range of ten or fewer over the course of the event.
The comfort demands of these smaller groups can also vary. Some groups may desire to stand in the sunshine, while other groups may desire the comfort of conditioned air and shade. Therefore, there is a need for providing to smaller groups within a larger event population in an outdoor or open air environment, an apparatus capable of delivering conditioned air for the comfort of the individuals within the smaller group without concurrently detracting from the outdoor or open air experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is generally directed to an outdoor, weather resistant, air conditioning tower for providing thermally conditioned air to users located proximate to the tower includes a tower housing defining at least one ambient air inlet, a first conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the torso of a standing human, and a second conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the head of a standing human. A fan within the tower housing has a fan inlet communicative with the ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into the tower for thermal conditioning and also has a fan outlet communicative with the first and said second conditioned air outlets for supplying conditioned air to users. A heat exchanger is interposed between the ambient air inlet and the conditioned air outlet, and a working fluid supply is fluidly communicative with the heat exchanger for thermally conditioning the ambient air.
In another aspect, the outdoor air conditioning tower includes a tower housing defining at least one ambient air inlet, a first conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the torso of a standing human, and a second conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the head of a standing human. A fan within the tower housing has a fan inlet communicative with the ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into the tower for thermal conditioning and also has a fan outlet communicative with the first and said second conditioned air outlets for supplying conditioned air to users. A heat exchanger is interposed between the ambient air inlet and the conditioned air outlet, and an underground working fluid supply conduit is fluidly communicative with the heat exchanger for thermally conditioning the ambient air.
In another aspect, the tower comprises an exhaust conduit for expelling waste air as a by-product of the conditioning cycle. The exhaust conduit is routed to discharge the waste air at a location and direction away from the users standing around the tower.
In still another aspect, the tower housing defines a second ambient air inlet, and the tower further includes a mast extending upwardly from the tower housing, and defines an exhaust conduit for expelling waste air as a by-product of the conditioning cycle. A second fan is located within the tower housing and has a fan inlet communicative with the second ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into the tower and a fan outlet communicative with the exhaust conduit. Also included within the tower housing is a condenser or second heat exchanger interposed between the second ambient air inlet and the second fan inlet. The condenser and heat exchanger are fluidly communicative for cycling the working fluid therebetween during the thermal conditioning cycle.
In yet another aspect, the mast can include a selectively extendable canopy at an upper end of the mast.
In a still further aspect, the mast includes at least one selectively illuminable light at an upper end of the mast.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 presents an elevation functional schematic view of an exemplary, self-contained, outdoor air conditioning tower according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 presents an elevation functional schematic view of an alternate embodiment of an outdoor air conditioning tower wherein a thermal working fluid is remotely supplied;

FIG. 3 presents an elevation functional schematic view of a self-contained outdoor air conditioning tower including an umbrella;

FIG. 4 presents an elevation functional schematic view of an alternate embodiment of an outdoor air conditioning tower wherein the thermal working fluid is compressed air;

FIG. 5 presents an elevation functional schematic view of an alternate embodiment of an outdoor air conditioning tower wherein the thermal working fluid is conditioned air; and

FIG. 6 presents a perspective view of another exemplary tower for disbursement of air conditioning.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an outdoor air conditioning tower 100, which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. An upright and erect tower housing 120 stands typically greater than the height of a human user. At a base 121 thereof, housing 120 defines a first ambient air inlet 122 and a second ambient air inlet 124. Further, at an intermediate height approximately coincident with the height of a human torso 12, one or more first conditioned air outlets 126 are defined about a perimeter of tower housing 120, and at a height approximately coincident with the height of a human head 14 one or more second conditioned air outlets 128 are defined about the perimeter of tower housing 120. The outdoor air conditioning tower 100 is designed specifically to direct the conditioned air to impinge upon the humans 10 standing about the outdoor air conditioning tower 100. It is recognized that the humans 10 may be seated or be in other positions while residing proximate the outdoor air conditioning tower 100. The conditioned air outlets 126, 128 can include a user controllable air register for aiding in flow control and direction of the discharged conditioned air. Those practiced in the art will recognize that the outer form factor of tower housing 120 can assume many shapes such as cylindrical, multiple stacked cylinders, square, or polygonal as non-limiting examples.
A mast 160 extends upwardly from an upper portion of tower housing 120. Mast 160 can be decorative, functional, or both. In the present embodiment of tower 100, the mast 160 is functional and defines an exhaust conduit 162 for expelling waste air that is a by-product of the air conditioning cycle, being directed away from people standing proximate the outdoor air conditioning tower 100. As illustrated in FIG. 3, mast 160 in either a decorative or functional configuration as a waste air exhaust can include a selectively extendable canopy 170 at an upper end 164 thereof. Further, mast 160 can also support one or more illuminable lights 176 at upper end 164 to enable use of tower 100 during periods of darkness.
Positioned within a base 121 of housing 120 is a first fan 130 having an inlet 132 fluidly communicative with first ambient air inlet 122 and an outlet 134 fluidly communicative with first and second conditioned air outlets 126, 128 via conditioned air conduits 138. Also positioned within base 121 of housing 120 is a second fan 140 having an inlet 142 fluidly communicative with second ambient air inlet 124 and an outlet 144 fluidly communicative with exhaust conduit 162.
A heat exchanger 136 is preferably interposed between first ambient air inlet 122 and first fan inlet 132, and a second heat exchanger 146 is interposed between second ambient air inlet 124 and second fan inlet 142. Heat exchanger 136 and second heat exchanger 146 are fluidly interconnected with a working fluid supply cyclically communicative between the exchanger 136 and second heat exchanger 146 via one or more working fluid conduits supply conduits 150.
In use, a group of individual humans 10 may congregate around or in the immediate vicinity of outdoor air conditioning tower 100. Assuming the individuals desire to have the air in the immediate area thermally conditioned, tower 100 can be activated using control panel 156. Controls 156 may be operated manually or set to automatically cycle depending on the desires of the users. Upon activation, fans 130 and 140 begin to draw external ambient air through ambient air inlets 122, 124 respectively. Ambient air “A” drawn through first ambient air inlet 122 is passed through heat exchanger 136 whereupon it is thermally conditioned by the flow of working fluid circulating between heat exchanger 136 and second heat exchanger 146 in an evaporation-condensation cycle well known in the art. As the conditioned air “A” exits heat exchanger 136 and enters first fan 130, the conditioned air is directed through outlet 134 of first fan 130 through conditioned air conduits 138 and subsequently expelled back to the ambient environment through first and second conditioned air outlets 126, 128 as thermally conditioned air “B” for the comfort of the humans 10 gathered therearound. Conditioned air “B” exits from first conditioned air outlets 126 vertically positioned to direct the conditioned air at the torsos 12 of the users 10, and conditioned air “B” exits from second conditioned air outlets 128 vertically positioned to direct the air in the vicinity of the heads 14 of the users 10.
Concurrent with the thermal conditioning of air as it passes through heat exchanger 136, second fan 140 draws ambient air “A” through second heat exchanger 146 to restore the working fluid to its original state prior to the energy transfer process of heat exchanger 136. This airflow becomes waste air “C” and is expelled from outlet 144 of second fan 140 through exhaust conduit 162 of mast 160.
Turning now to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment outdoor air conditioning tower 200 is illustrated. Like features of tower 200 and tower 100 are numbered the same except preceded by the numeral ‘2’. Outdoor air conditioning tower 200 includes a tower housing 220 from which extending upward is a decorative mast 260. Decorative mast 260 may also include an extendable canopy or illuminable lights (not shown) as described above at an upper end 264. Housing 220 defines a single ambient air inlet 222 at a base 221 thereof, and conditioned air outlets 226, 228 positioned similarly as with respect to tower 100. A fan 230 having an inlet 232 fluidly communicative with ambient air inlet 222 and an outlet 234 fluidly communicative with first and second conditioned air outlets 226, 228 via conditioned air conduits 238. A working fluid supply conduit 250 delivers working fluid to heat exchanger 236 from a central or remote reservoir (not shown) and working fluid return conduit 252 returns working fluid to the remote reservoir after exiting from heat exchanger 236. Conduits 250, 252 are typically routed underground to prevent clutter to the gathering area or damage from users 10.
In use, the users desiring to have conditioned air delivered from tower 200 utilize controls 256 to initiate operation of tower 200. Upon activation, fan 230 begins to draw external ambient air through ambient air inlet 222. Ambient air “A” drawn through ambient air inlet 222 is passed through heat exchanger 236 whereupon it is thermally conditioned by the flow of working fluid circulating from supply conduit 250 (Arrow “C”), through heat exchanger 236 and returned to a remote reservoir through return conduit 252 (Arrow “D”) in an evaporation-condensation cycle known in the art. As the conditioned air “A” exits heat exchanger 236 and enters fan 230, the conditioned air is directed through outlet 234 of fan 230 through conditioned air conduits 238 and subsequently expelled back to the ambient environment through first and second conditioned air outlets 226, 228 as thermally conditioned air “B” for the comfort of the humans 10 gathered therearound. Conditioned air “B” exits from first conditioned air outlets 226 vertically positioned to direct the conditioned air at the torsos 12 of the users 10, and conditioned air “B” exits from second conditioned air outlets 228 vertically positioned to direct the air directly towards the heads 14 of the users 10 for their comfort.
Illustrated in FIG. 4 is yet another embodiment outdoor air conditioning tower 300 is shown. Like features of tower 300 and tower 200 are numbered the same except preceded by the numeral ‘3’. Outdoor air conditioning tower 300 is generally similar the same as tower 200, however there is only a working compressed air conduit 350, typically buried underground, but no return conduit. Tower 300 utilises compressed air as the working fluid to be delivered to an expansion valve 330 through supply conduit 350 (Arrow “C”). At expansion valve 330, the compressed air expands reducing the pressure and temperature to obtain the desired thermally conditioned air. The thermally conditioned air is then directed through conduits 338 for delivery through outlets 326, 328 as thermally conditioned air “B” for the comfort of the humans 10 gathered therearound.
Illustrated in FIG. 5 is yet another embodiment outdoor air conditioning tower 400 is shown. Like features of tower 400 and towers 200, 300 are numbered the same except preceded by the numeral ‘4’. Outdoor air conditioning tower 400 is generally similar the same as towers 200, 300, however there is only a working conditioned air conduit 450, typically buried underground, but no return conduit. Tower 400 utilizes conditioned air as the working fluid to be delivered through supply conduit 450 (Arrow “C”) via a fan 430. Tower 400 utilizes the supplied cold air distributed and propelled via a fan 430 drawing the cold air from supply conduit 450 (Arrow “C”). Cold air delivered through conduit 450 is preconditioned remote from tower 400. The cold air is driven via the fan 430 through conduits 438 for delivery through outlets 426, 428 as thermally conditioned air “B” for the comfort of the humans 10 positioned therearound.
An alternate exemplary form factor, referred to as a tower 500, is presented in FIG. 6. The tower 500 comprises the functional elements previously presented including a base 521 and an upright and erect tower housing 520. A series of central vents 526 and upper vents 528, 529 are disposed about a central and an upper portion of the base 521, respectively, directing cold air towards the users (in a manner similar to that which was previously presented). The upper vents present two optional form factors, the upper vent 528 being horizontally configured, and the upper vent 529 being vertically configured. The vents 526, 528, 529 can include user controllable air registers to direct the airflow targeting the user as well as controlling the rate of flow from each vent 526, 528. The configuration directs airflow at each of the users standing about the tower 500. An exhaust discharge conduit 562 can be disposed through a central portion of the upright and erect tower housing 520, directing the warmer air away from the users.
The outlet vents can comprise a vent control assembly, wherein said vent control assembly controls the direction and flow rate of the discharged conditioned air passing outlet vents. An exemplary vent control assembly would be similar to those used in an automobile or airplane.
Each of the towers 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 is preferably fabricated with considerations for the environment. The various electrical components are provided with weather sensitive considerations, to avoid any intrusion of water, dust, and the like. Additionally, the tower can include insulation for reducing thermal deviations. The materials would be selected considering an outdoor application, being UV resistant, incorporating expansion joints, and the like. The tower would additionally include water or moisture control features, such as moisture collection and discharge channels. The components are preferably fabricated of corrosion resistant materials, treated for corrosion resistance, protected to avoid exposure for corrosion, and the like.
It is understood that the above disclosure is provided for directing conditioned air toward a plurality of users standing or proximate about a tower. It is understood that the heat exchanger can be adapted to disperse hot air as well as cool air, while maintaining within the spirit and intent of the present invention.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence

Claims

1. An outdoor air conditioning tower for providing thermally conditioned air to users located proximate to said tower, said tower comprising:

a tower housing defining at least one ambient air inlet, a first conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the torso of a standing human, and a second conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the head of a standing human;

a fan within said tower housing, said fan having a fan inlet communicative with said ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into said tower for conditioning and a fan outlet communicative with said first and said second conditioned air outlets for supplying conditioned air to users;

a heat exchanger within said tower housing and interposed between said ambient air inlet and at least one of said first conditioned air outlet and said second conditioned air outlet; and

a working fluid supply fluidly communicative with said heat exchanger for thermally conditioning said ambient air.

2. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 1 further including a mast extending upwardly from said tower housing.

3. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 2 wherein said mast includes a selectively extendable canopy at an upper end thereof.

4. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 2 wherein said mast includes at least one selectively illuminable light at an upper end thereof.

5. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 2 wherein said mast defines an exhaust conduit for expelling waste air as a by-product of the air conditioning cycle.

6. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 1 further including a fluid supply conduit for delivering said working fluid to said heat exchanger from a remote working fluid supply reservoir.

7. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 6 further including a fluid return conduit for returning said working fluid from said heat exchanger to the remote working fluid supply reservoir.

8. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 1 wherein said tower housing defines a second ambient air inlet, and further including:

a mast extending upwardly from said tower housing, said mast defining an exhaust conduit for expelling waste air as a by-product of the conditioning cycle;

a second fan within said tower housing, said second fan having a fan inlet communicative with said second ambient air inlet for drawing ambient air into said tower and a fan outlet communicative with said exhaust conduit; and

a second heat exchanger interposed between said second ambient air inlet and said second conditioned air outlet, said second heat exchanger and said heat exchanger fluidly communicative for cycling said working fluid therebetween.

9. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 8 wherein said mast includes a selectively extendable canopy at an upper end thereof.

10. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 8 wherein said mast includes selectively illuminable lights at an upper end thereof.

11. An outdoor air conditioning tower for providing thermally conditioned air to users located proximate to said tower, said tower comprising:

an underground working fluid supply conduit fluidly communicative with said heat exchanger.

12. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 11 further including a mast extending upwardly from said tower housing.

13. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 12 wherein said mast includes a selectively extendable canopy at an upper end thereof.

14. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 12 wherein said mast includes selectively illuminable lights at an upper end thereof.

15. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 11 further including an underground fluid return conduit for returning said working fluid from said heat exchanger to a remote working fluid supply reservoir.

16. An outdoor air conditioning tower for providing thermally conditioned air to users located proximate to said tower, said tower comprising:

a tower housing defined having a base and a hollow elongated generally vertically disposed structure comprising a first conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the torso of a standing human, and a second conditioned air outlet vertically positioned at a height to coincide with the head of a standing human; and

an air conditioning system in fluid communication with said first conditioned air outlet and said second conditioned air outlet.

17. The outdoor air conditioning tower according to claim 16, said first conditioned air outlet further comprising a vent register, wherein said vent register controls the direction and flow rate of the discharged conditioned air passing through the first conditioned air outlet.

18. The outdoor air conditioning tower with integrated air conditioning according to claim 16, wherein the air conditioning system is remote from the outdoor air conditioning tower and the conditioned air is provided to the first conditioned air outlet via a fluid supply conduit providing fluid communication between said remote air conditioning system and said first conditioned air outlet.

19. The outdoor air conditioning tower with integrated air conditioning according to claim 16, further including a fan interposed between said air conditioning fluid supply conduit and said first conditioned air outlet.

20. The outdoor air conditioning tower with integrated air conditioning according to claim 16, further including:

a fluid supply conduit for delivering compressed air to the tower base from a remote working fluid supply reservoir;

an expansion valve in fluid communication with the compressed air fluid supply conduit to condition the supplied compressed air, wherein the expansion valve is in fluid communication and discharges said conditioned air via said first conditioned air outlet.