US2963881A - Confined space cooling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK 2,963,881

CONF'INED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl 6. l

INVENTOR. Vmeu. STARK BY) (MM (Mu-2Q M flTTOENEYS,

Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK 2,963,881

CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. V1 R s: L S T A R K qTTO R/VETS.

Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1956 INVENTOR. vlRGdL. STARK Dec. 13, 1960 Filed March 26, 1956 FMLB.

V. STARK CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I/ III INVENTOR.

Vmcsu. STARK Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK I 2,963,831

CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIQ'O.

Fm. H.

INVENTOR. Vmeu. STARK United States Patent O CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Virgil Stark, 936 5th Ave., New York, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 26, 1956, Ser- No. 573,893

5 Claims. (Cl. 62-459) This invention relates to portable apparatus for cooling small enclosures designed to protect human beings from discomfort in a hot humid atmosphere, and is an adaptation of the refrigerating system described in my Patent No. 2,731,808 which utilizes a finned metal container filled with a replaceable charge of some readily available refrigerant, such as Dry Ice.

My patented refrigerating system is incorporated in a garment or head cover intended to be worn upon the human body, thus providing an intermediate environment closely surrounding the body through which a continuous flow of cold air may be circulated for carrying oif heat and moisture produced in the body and thereby dissipating them in the outer atmosphere.

The present invention seeks to broaden the usefulness of my patented refrigerating system by making it independent of the human body and applicable to cooling a confined space adequate for one or more persons.

This invention in essence consists of a refrigerating element suitable for mounting either on an article of apparel or on a fixed or movable support including a cover, or on a utilitarian article such as an umbrella, parasol, small canopy, tent, beach cabana, overhead cover for a bed or chair, or other space enclosing means substantially impermeable to atmospheric air.

The refrigerating element consists of a container, preferably made of a light weight metal of good thermal conductivity and having a suitable shape (either cylindrical or rectangular or conical or spherical, etc.) for the use contemplated, adapted to receive a replaceable charge of refrigerant and provided with outside fins so arranged as to form channels for the passage of ambient air in a generally downward direction.

When charged with suitable refrigerant, such as Dry Ice which in solid form has a temperature of 109 F. below zero, the container will be maintained at a much lower temperature than the surrounding air and will cool the latter and condense some of its'moisture content, causing it to increase in weight and sink to the lower part of the enclosed space, which is open at the bottom to permit this cooled air to escape into the external atmosphere. In its descent the cool air produces the effect of a refreshing breeze upon persons in the enclosed space.

The degree of cooling of the metallic container and the temperature of its exterior and the surrounding fins may be controlled by the use of more or less insulating materialin the interior and exterior construction and in the design of the fins and air passages and control means therefor, as well as by the amount of refrigerant in the charge, as hereinafter more fully disclosed.

My invention is different from air conditioners since those rather cool an entire space, such as e.g., a room, an apartment, a car or plane, where large masses of air have to be cooled and all heat losses must be taken into consideration, whereas the present invention provides for cooling of alimited space surrounding generally one person. An important advantage of this invention is that itneed not be incorporated and attached to a garment or headcover worn on the person, although it could be made part of such, if desired.

The unit may be portable and attachable, for instance, to a parasol which, at the same time, will also protect the wearer from the sun rays. When detaching it from the arasol, this very same unit may be used connected to a beach tent, then again in conjunction with an overhead cover for a bed, or within a transparent enclosure covering a person in a car, or pilot or an individual passenger in a plane.

When greater airflow is required, a special unit may readily be designed for such purpose, consisting of a cooling unit, formed of two containers; one completely in wire mesh containing the refrigerant, and the second one outside of and spaced from the first one. The second outside container is provided with an opening on a special cover allowing the entrance of the ambient air. The cover could also be provided with a connection allowing, if so desired, the installation of an air hose which would be connected to a suitable air pressure system.

In case the unit is intended for use in motion it may also be provided with a detachable air inlet and directed against the direction of the movement allowing an increased air flow obtained from the motion. The air entering the container will be cooled by passing through the refrigerant such as Dry Ice. It will then pass around the inside wire mesh container and through the bottom of the outside container, into the space to be cooled which is limited by the apparel or enclosure, as described above.

In case that pressurized air is used, an ejector may be added at the bottom of the container which will add to the principal flow a portion of cooled air circulated between the fins. This secondary air flow will be in addition to the principal flow.

This special device would be added to the standard unit as an additional feature of increased cooling capacity, thus the basic unit could be used with or without addition of pressurized air. Needless to say, the use of pressurized air is restricted to applications where compressed air is readily available.

In the accompanying drawings showing illustrative erramples of different kinds of apparatus embodying myinvention: I

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side elevations, partly in section, of a canopy for a bed, a tent, and a chair cover,

respectively;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a plan view and a central cross-section in a vertical plane of a preferred form of the invention;

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5 of a modified form of the invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5 of another form of the invention, Figure 9 showing thedrawings there is provided a cover or canopy of insulating material, preferably transparent or translucentand preferably heat reflecting material, shaped to conform to the confined air space for which the cooling and condi tioning system is designed, the top part of the side wall or roof of this cover being sloped upwardly from the lower part of the side wall which may be either sloping or vertical to suit the design.

At the apex of the top wall of there is an opening for the refrigerating element, which is advantageously supported by an adjustable bracket of;

the cover or canopy} e 3 articulated or telescoping column from the floor or other convenient fixed support and which in turn may be adjusted to support the cover or canopy so that its lower edge is flush with or just clear of the floor.

Figure 1, for example, shows a cover for a bed 16 or couch or similar article having a shapeconforming in plan to that of the article covered and of a height adequate to permit one or more persons to lie within it and have suflicient freedom for movement to read, smoke or engage in other activities. The top wall 17 slopes upwards from all sides to a suitable position for the refrigerating element 18 which is preferably near one end if the article is a bed. The cover may be supported at the desired height above the floor by means of a post 19 removably secured to the side or end of the bed by clamps 29 and provided with a hinged arm 21 which may be adjusted vertically and horizontally by means of a universal joint 22 and which at its free end is hinged to a vertical stem 23 to which the refriegrating element 18 is attached, the latter being removably connected to the edges of an aperture at the apex of the cover.

Figure 2 shows a tent-like cover or canopy 25 having its side walls sloping upwards and inwards from its circular bottom edge 26 of its circular apex 27 at which point it is secured to the outer perimeter of the refrigerating element 18, the latter preferably being supported from a pedestal 28 by means of an articulated post 29 and bracket 3%) similar to that shown in Figure 1. If desired, the bottom edge 26 of the cover 25 may be provided with a stifiening ring 31 and mounted on short legs or blocks 32 to hold it at a uniform distance above the floor.

Figure 3 shows a cover 35 for a chair or bench 36 wherein the entire front wall slants inwardly towards the refrigerating element 18 at its top and the side and rear walls are vertical at the bottom and slant inwardly at their upper parts towards the refrigerating element, which is securely mounted in an aperture at the top of'the cover and is adjustably supported on an articulated post 37 attached to the back of the chair or bench and provided with a bracket arm 21 and stem 23 as in the form of apparatus shown in Figure 1.

The refrigerating element 18 may be either removably or permanently secured to the cover or canopy by any suitable means. As shown in Figures 4' and 5, at the upper edge 41 or apex of the sheet 40 forming the body of the cover or canopy there is an aperture surrounded by a flat ring 42 to which the edge of the sheet is cemented or otherwise firmly attached. The refrigerating element is surrounded by vertical radial fins 43 between which are passages for permitting entrance of air into the space below, and the outer tips of these fins are provided with lateral flanges 44 which are bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the ring 42 and either riveted or welded to a similar ring which can be removably attached to it by thumb screws or other convenient means.

The refrigerating element shown in Figures 4 and comprises a cylindrical container 50 to the exterior of which the radial fins 43 are welded or otherwise secured, and the bottom of which is provided with a socket 51 to receive the upper end of the stem 23 which supports the entire assembly of refrigerating elements and at least the upper part of the cover or canopy 40. The stem 23 is hinged to the arm 21 by a connection that can be rigidly clamped by a thumb screw 52 or other means in any desired position of angular adjustment, and the arm 21 in turn is connected to the post 19 by means of a universal joint 22 likewise provided with a clamping means 53 to hold it securely in adjusted position. The particular kinds of joints and clamps employed depends on the conditions of use and form no part of the present invention, and there being many such devices well known for such purposes, no full description of them is necessary.

The open top of the container 50 is closed by a hinged lid '54 which may be secured by a spring catch, lock bolt aeeassror other readily operated device well known for this purpose. A sheet 55 of fibre board, synthetic plastic or other insulating material is cemented or riveted to the under side of the lid 54 to reduce the amount of heat that passes through the top of the container when charged with refrigerant. The heat transfer and thus the temperature of the fins and consequently the degree of cooling depends on the contact between solid Dry Ice and the metal surface. A woven wire mesh 56, placed for instance /s" or from the metallic walls of the container, will facilitate more uniform cooling around the container evenif the latters position is not horizontal. In this way, only the CO vapor will be in direct contact with all the side walls which are separated by the wire mesh from the solid Dry Ice. 7 V

The above described arrangement will make it possible to maintain a more uniform heat transfer (when the par tially filled container is tilted for instance) by eliminating the difference in heat transfer between those parts which are in direct contact with the solid Dry Ice and those which are not.

Within the container may also be placed a woven basket '56 or other removable receptacle for the refrigant charge having perforations or orifices in its Walls for the passage of vapor. The degree of cooling may be varied by regulating the heat transfer. An insulating sheet or sheets, made of insulating material such as plastic or fiberboard, the thickness of which would depend on the extent of insulation required, could be in-v serted for this purpose between Dry Ice and the bottom and/or side walls of the container.

The fins 43 are advantageously provided with little troughs 60 along their lower edges on each side to catch moisture condensed from the atmospheric air passing between them when the apparatus is in operation and conduct it outwardly to their ends and discharge it over the cover or canopy beneath, the lower edges of the fins sloping downwardly from their inner ends sufficiently for, this purpose. Alternatively the troughs 60 may be packed with absorbent material 61 to absorb the condensed moisture, as shown in Figure 12. Flexible partitions or deflectors 62, whose positions can bechanged, may be placed under the cover 40 so as to be able to direct the flow of cooled air towards the person or the.

location where the breeze is more desired.

The bottom end of the canopy or cover 40 is to be spaced from the ground so as to allow free passage of the air coming out of the enclosed space.

This same cooling unit. could be attached to and detached from various canopies and/or utilitarian items, covers or enclosures.

Further means for regulating the temperature and fiow of air is shown in the modified form of the invention illustrated by Figures 6 and 7.

The Dry Ice is enclosed in a special wire mesh or perforated metal container 63 provided with a wire .mesh cover. The wire mesh container 63 is placed in a second metal container 66 preferably surrounded with outside fins 69. To allow free flow of the air around the wire mesh container, it may be spaced from the other one by adequate supports and spacers 71. The bottom of the metallic container is provided with air openings 72. A separate cover 65 with a center opening 67 is to be placed over the metallic container. Condensation channels 74 and drip pan 75 with petcock 76 may be provided to drain off condensed moisture.

The warm ambient air will flow through the opening 67 which is provided with a sliding cover 64 which serves to regulate the amount of this air flow, a matter of importance as thereby the regulation of the cooling device is effected. Upon contact with the very cold solid Dry Ice (109 F. below zero) the incoming warm air will be cooled and will flow downwardly between the two containers and through the openings 72 into the space isolated by the cover 40, commingling with the air flowing through the fins. This special cooling unit could, however also be used without fins. The moisture in the air may freeze. To face this problem, adequate spacing and special arrangements, such as, openings 68 at side of metallic container allowing lateral heating, may be provided.

Another refrigerant, and even ice mixed with salt, for example, could be used in a specially designed container, for particular applications.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 is intended to be supplied with a stream of atmospheric air from any suitable source through the inlet pipe 80 which is connected to a threaded opening in the center of the lid 81 and is removable therewith. In this form of the invention the bottom wall 82 of the container is provided with openings 83 to permit free flow of air through the container and into a funnel 84 depending therefrom which discharges into the throat of a venturi tube 85 depending from the ring 86 surrounding the large aperture at the apex of the cover 87, so that air is drawn through the spaces between the fins 88 and commingles with that entering through the pipe 80 when the apparatus is charged and functioning normally. A drip pan 89 is provided to catch the moisture condensed from the atmospheric air in this form of the apparatus, this pan having a spout 90 to permit it to be emptied periodically by tilting the entire apparatus.

The refrigerant container 91 may be left open at the top to expose the wire basket 92 for the refrigerant as illustrated in Fig. 8, or this container may be covered with a removable perforated lid 93 as shown in Fig. 9, to provide for charging with a suitable refrigerant, as described with reference to the refrigerating element illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Both forms of refrigerant container illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 have provision for circulation of air and escape of refrigerant vapor through orifices in the top, sides and bottom to promote the refrigerating effect.

The structure described above, shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is supported by means of the support 82a.

The tent-like shelter 95 shown in Figure equipped with a refrigerating element 18 supported on a post 96 is intended for use in chemical plants and other buildings wherein vitiated or very hot air is present and constitutes a hazard for employees. My refrigerating and air conditioning apparatus is shown in this figure with its apex projected into a large ventilator 97 or other opening to the atmosphere in the roof 98 of a portion of the plant where such apparatus is advantageous and readily available to employees as a shelter during rest periods.

Figure 11 illustrates diagrammatically the manner of installing my novel refrigerating apparatus in a location subject to a fluctuating or constant flow of air, as on a moving vehicle such as an automobile, or in an exposed position in the wind. The container 100 and cover 101 are supported in any convenient manner above the heads of the persons seeking to be cooled, or properly supported at a window opening of an automobile with proper connections and air conduits so as to cool the inside of the car. The lid 102 is provided with an opening in its top to which the outlet pipe 103 of the air scoop 104 is attached by means of a swivel joint 105. The pipe 103 may also be connected to the ventilator conduits of an automobile so as to provide cool pressurized air in the car.

Preferably the container has spaced openings 106 around its bottom to permit the air entering it through the scoop to flow directly into the space within the cover 101 where it commingles with atmospheric air drawn in through the fins 107 and descends therewith to escape at the lower edge of the cover.

A vane 108 may be attached to the air scoop to hold it with its intake facing into the wind, the stem of the vane being adjustably secured to the ring 109 or other part of the air scoope 104 by means of a universal joint,

110 which may be clamped in any desired position by means of a thumb screw 111 or other manual securing means well known in the art.

By manipulating the vane 108 to hold the scoop 104 at the appropriate angle crosswise with respect to the direction of the wind or moving vehicle, the amount of air entering the scoop may be controlled to suit the degree of cooling desired by the persons under the cover 101 within the capacity of the apparatus.

The design of the apparatus, its location and mode of operation for different purposes, contribute to the cooling eifect and constitute parts of my present invention which, together with the extended and diversified usage secure-d, distinguish it from my Patent No. 2,731,808.

I contemplate that the cover and refrigerating element may be supported on the person like an article of apparel or supported by hand like an umbrella instead of being supported from the floor or ground or article of furniture; and the surface of the entire assembly may be made heat reflecting to assist in maintaining the low temperature desired within the insulating cover without excessive consumption of refrigerant.

From the foregoing examples it will be seen that an important feature of my invent-ion is the supply of cooled and dc-humidified air within the space enclosed by the cover which must be breathed by the persons occupying this confined space. This is due to the effect of the cold fins in promoting circulation of fresh through the open passages between them, which passages cannot be closed either by accident or intent because of their location over the aperture in the cover at its apex.

Another important advantage of my invention for use in a portable type of apparatus is the uniform temperature maintained all around the container due to the refrigerant being spaced therefrom by the cage or receptable which prevents cold spots due to contact of the refrigerant with one side or the other of the walls of the container as would occur otherwise when the apparatus is tilted in carrying or in setting it up in a new location.

Other advantages of my invention are its interchangeable adaptability to different circumstances and conditions of use and the ease with which it can be taken down, transported and set up in various locations as desired, as either the refrigerating element by itself or the entire assembly of refrigerating element and flexible heat-proof cover may be packed in a portable case and carried about by one person.

The invention is not restricted to the constructional details of the illustrative examples, but what I claim is as follows:

1. A portable apparatus including a cooling element consisting of a metallic container and cover of selected shape and size fillable with a replaceable charge of refrigerant, such as Dry Ice, provided with external metallic fins so spaced and arranged that when cooled by the refrigerant such metallic walls and fins will cool the ambient air and create a downward cooled flow between the fins and into a confined space beneath the cooling element, said cover being provided with an aperture, means in said aperture for conducting pressurized air into said container and means carried by said fins for attachment to an insulating protective cover for confining the fiow of cooled air and affording increased comfort to any person located under the cover, said attachment means having provision for disengagement whereby such cooling element is attachable to and detachable from and independent of the cover.

2. A system including a cooling element attachable to and detachable from a cover as described in claim 1 provided with means for trapping moisture condensed when cooling the air and before entering the space within the cover and thereby reducing the relative humidity of such entering air by removal of at least part of the said system particularly 'in humid or tropic atmosphere.

3. A coolingrapparatus for conditioning a confined space comprising an outer container discharging adjacent cooled air into said space,-an inner receptacle maderof reticulated metal adapted to contain a replaceable charge of refrigerant, such outer container being provided with outside fins between which ambient air may enter said space and said container being spaced on all sides from the inside receptacle to permit free flow of air into and out of said receptacle and into said space, a cover on the outside container provided with an aperture, means in said aperture for conducting the flow of pressurized air into said container and inner receptacle to be directly cooled by the refrigerant, and means for commingling the flow of air cooled by contact with the refrigerant with the air cooled by the 'fins and entering through the spaces between the container and fins and removing condensed moisture therefrom before such cornmingled air flows into said space, for increased comfort for the person located in such space by maintaining a lower temperature and lower relative humidity therein than the ambient air.

4. A comfort promoting apparatus for cooling and de humidifying a limited space and separating said space from a debilitating ambience of the type comprising an insulating cover surrounding said space laterally and leaving an opening thereto at its top and an opening therefrom at its bottom, said top opening being covered by a refrigerating element adapted to close said top opening and having a chamber for receivinga refrigerant material and at least one open passage through said element permitting free flow of outside air downwards into said space in cooling heat transfer relationship to said chamber, said passage discharging into said space through the constricted throat of a venturi tube, an opening into said chamber and means for supplying air thereto, means permitting escape-of vapor from said refrigerant material and commingling it with said air whereby said air is further cooled and de-humidified, said open passage discharging into' said space through said venturitube, thereby maintaining a difference in pressure between the treated air near the bottom of said space and the outside ambience which prevents entrance into said space of vitiated air from said ambience through said bottom opening.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 with provision for variation of temperature of the air flow by including variations of heat transfer by placing a wire mesh between the walls and the refrigerant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,916 Metzger May ;10, 1898 1,913,347 Taylor June 9, 1933 2,134,003 Morrison Oct. 25, 1938 2,731,808 Stark Ian. 24, 1956

Images