U.S. patent application number 13/370666 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Derek Yang. Invention is credited to Derek Yang.
Application Number | 20130206372 13/370666 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48944644 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130206372 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Derek |
August 15, 2013 |
MOISTURELESS REFRIGERATION DEVICE FOR MOBILE COOLING CONTAINER
Abstract
A moistureless cooling device used in a mobile refrigerator is
disclosed to include a thermal-insulation container having a
storage chamber defined therein for storing low temperature
substances and an opening in communication with the storage chamber
and covered by a container cover, an air heat exchanger unit having
a flow-guide conduit extending through and isolated from the
storage chamber, and an air supply unit installed in one of the air
inlet and air outlet of the flow-guide conduit for delivering
outside air through the flow-guide conduit to transfer low
temperature from the low temperature substances in the storage
chamber of the thermal-insulation container to an enclosed space in
the mobile refrigerator.
Inventors: |
Yang; Derek; (Hacienda Hts,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yang; Derek |
Hacienda Hts |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48944644 |
Appl. No.: |
13/370666 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 3/06 20130101; F24F
5/0017 20130101; F25D 2317/0411 20130101; Y02E 60/147 20130101;
F24F 7/007 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.34 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00 |
Claims
1. A moistureless cooling device for a mobile refrigerator,
comprising: a thermal-insulation container comprising a storage
chamber adapted for storing low temperature substances, a
heat-insulation container wall surrounding said storage chamber, an
opening in communication with said storage chamber, and a container
cover covering said opening; an air heat exchanger unit comprising
a flow-guide conduit extending through and isolated from said
storage chamber, said flow-guide conduit having an air inlet and an
air outlet respectively disposed outside said storage chamber of
said thermal-insulation container; and an air supply unit installed
in one of the air inlet and air outlet of said flow-guide conduit
of said heat exchanger unit for delivering outside air through said
flow-guide conduit to transfer low temperature from the low
temperature substances stored in said storage chamber of said
thermal-insulation container to an enclosed space in said mobile
refrigerator.
2. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said flow-guide conduit is a coil conduit defining therein a detour
flow passage.
3. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said heat exchanger unit comprises a first thermal conduction
structure in contact with the metal flow-guide conduit and disposed
in said storage chamber of said thermal-insulation container.
4. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein
said first thermal conduction structure comprises a plurality of
radiation fins extending from the periphery of said flow-guide
conduit and suspending in said storage chamber of said
thermal-insulation container.
5. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said heat exchanger unit comprises a second thermal conduction
structure disposed on the inner periphery of said flow-guide
conduit.
6. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 5, wherein
said second thermal conduction structure comprises a plurality of
radiation fins extending from the inner peripheral wall of said
flow-guide conduit and suspending inside said flow-guide
conduit.
7. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 5, wherein
said second thermal conduction structure further comprises at least
one thermal conduction tube arranged in said flow-guide conduit,
each said thermal conduction tube having at least one of two
opposite ends thereof kept in communication with said storage
chamber for receiving the supplied low temperature substances.
8. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 7, wherein
said second thermal conduction structure further comprises a
plurality of radiation fins extending from the periphery of each
said thermal conduction tube and suspending in said flow-guide
conduit.
9. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said heat-insulation container wall of said thermal-insulation
container comprises a thermal insulation foam layer stuffed
therein.
10. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said heat-insulation container wall of said thermal-insulation
container has an internal vacuum insulation space defined therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to refrigeration technology
and more particularly to a moistureless refrigeration device for
mobile cooling container that utilizes ice cubes to generate
cooling air.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Regular mobile cooling containers or refrigerators commonly
use a forced air flow through ice cubes or cooling bags, thereby
reducing the temperature of the forced air flow to achieve a
cooling effect without an electric compressor. FIG. 1 illustrates a
refrigeration device for mobile refrigerator according to the prior
art. According to this design, the refrigeration device comprises a
container 10 holding a plurality of ice cubes 30, an electric fan
20 installed in an air inlet 101 of the container 10 and operable
to induce an air flow to flow from the air inlet 101 through the
ice cubes 30 to the outside of the container 10 via an air outlet
102. As the induced air flow flows over the ice cubes 30 directly,
it carries moisture from the ice cubes 30 and the ice cubes 30 will
melt quickly, lowering the refrigeration efficiency. Thus, the user
needs to add a new supply of ice cubes 30 regularly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a moistureless cooling device, which enables a
low temperature to be transferred from low temperature substances
(e.g. ice cubes) in a thermally insulated storage chamber to an
intake flow of air passing through a flow-guide conduit so that the
temperature of the intake flow of air can be greatly reduced for
cooling application in a mobile refrigerator or cooling container
without carrying moisture.
[0006] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a moistureless cooling device for use in a mobile refrigerator
comprises a thermal-insulation container having a storage chamber
defined therein for storing low temperature substances and an
opening in communication with the storage chamber and covered by a
container cover, an air heat exchanger unit having a flow-guide
conduit extending through and isolated from the storage chamber,
and an air supply unit installed in one of the air inlet and air
outlet of the flow-guide conduit for delivering outside air through
the flow-guide conduit to transfer low temperature from the low
temperature substances in the storage chamber of the
thermal-insulation container to an enclosed space in the mobile
refrigerator.
[0007] Based on the structural design of the storage chamber of the
thermal-insulation container and the air heat exchanger unit, the
intake flow of air does not absorb moisture when passing through
the flow-guide conduit. Thus, the cooling air that flows out of the
outlet of the flow-guide conduit does not absorb moisture from the
low temperature substances (e.g. ice cubes) and can achieve the
desired moistureless refrigeration. Further, the storage chamber of
the thermal-insulation container is thermally insulated by a
heat-insulation container wall. As the intake flow of air does not
pass through or flow toward the ice cubes directly and the storage
chamber of the thermal-insulation container is thermally insulated
by the heat-insulation container wall, the ice cubes will not melt
rapidly, i.e., the period of effective refrigeration is greatly
prolonged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the structure and
operation principle of a refrigeration device according to the
prior art.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of a moistureless
refrigeration device for mobile cooling container in accordance
with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the moistureless
refrigeration device for mobile cooling container in accordance
with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation
status of the moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling
container in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention,
illustrating an alternate form of the air heat exchanger unit.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention,
illustrating another alternate form of the air heat exchanger
unit.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention,
illustrating still another alternate form of the air heat exchanger
unit.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG.
8.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the present invention,
illustrating still another alternate form of the air heat exchanger
unit.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG.
10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a moistureless refrigeration
device for mobile cooling container in accordance with the present
invention is shown. The moistureless cooling device comprises a
thermal-insulation container 1, an air heat exchanger unit 2, and
an air supply unit 3. The thermal-insulation container 1 can be
made in a rectangular shape or in any of a variety of other shapes,
comprising a storage chamber 11 adapted for storing low temperature
substances, a heat-insulation container wall 12 surrounding the
storage chamber 11, an opening 13 in communication with the storage
chamber 11, and a container cover 14 covering the opening 13. The
air heat exchanger unit 2 is a temperature conduction structure
adapted for transferring low temperature for heat exchange with hot
air, comprising a metal flow-guide conduit 21 isolated from the
storage chamber 11, an air inlet 22 located on the outside of the
thermal-insulation container 1 and kept in communication with one
end of the metal flow-guide conduit 21, and an air outlet 23
located on the outside of the thermal-insulation container 1 and
kept in communication with the other end of the metal flow-guide
conduit 21. Further, the metal flow-guide conduit 21 can be made
having a circular, rectangular or any other cross-section. The air
supply unit 3 can be an electric fan or any other equivalent means
installed in the air inlet 22 or air outlet 23 of the heat
exchanger unit 2 for delivering outside air through the metal
flow-guide conduit 21 of the heat exchanger unit 2 (by suction or
blowing) to transfer low temperature from low-temperature materials
stored in the storage chamber 11 of the thermal-insulation
container 1 to an external enclosed space outside the moistureless
refrigeration device. The thermal-insulation container 1, the air
heat exchanger unit 2 and the air supply unit 3 are assembled to
form the desired moistureless refrigeration device that works as
the core cooling device of a mobile cooling container or
refrigerator.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, when using the present invention, ice
cubes 30, cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials can
be stored in the storage chamber 11 of the thermal-insulation
container 1 and kept in contact with the air heat exchanger unit 2.
Thus, low temperature can be transferred from the ice cubes
(cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 to the
metal flow-guide conduit 21 of the air heat exchanger unit 2. At
the same time, the air supply unit 3 keeps delivering outside air
through the air inlet 22 of the air heat exchanger unit 2 into the
metal flow-guide conduit 21 toward the air outlet 23. When the
external hot air touches the conduit wall of the metal flow-guide
conduit 21, the hot air is converted into cold air by means of heat
exchange and then guided out of the air outlet 23. For the
advantage of generating cooling air without an electric compressor,
the invention is practical for use in a mobile cooling container or
refrigerator. Further, the structural design of the storage chamber
11 of the thermal-insulation container 1 and the air heat exchanger
unit 2 prevents the intake flow of hot air from passing through or
flowing toward the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other
low-temperature materials) 30 directly, and therefore the cooling
air thus produced does not absorb moisture from the ice cubes
(cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 and can
achieve the desired moistureless refrigeration. As the intake flow
of hot air does not pass through or flow toward the ice cubes
(cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 directly,
the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials)
30 will not melt rapidly, i.e., the period of effective
refrigeration is prolonged without the need to add or replace ice
cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30
frequently.
[0021] In order to enhance the low-temperature transfer and/or heat
exchange efficiency for lowering the temperature level of the
produced cooling air, as shown in FIG. 5, the metal flow-guide
conduit 21 of the air heat exchanger unit 2 can be made in the form
of a coil conduit, providing a detour air passage between the air
inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 to extend the time in which the
intake flow of air passes through the metal flow-guide conduit 21.
Thus, a relatively lower temperature of cooling air can be
produced.
[0022] Further, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a first thermal
conduction structure 24 may be mounted in the storage chamber 11 of
the thermal-insulation container 1. The first thermal conduction
structure 24 comprises a plurality of radiation fins 241 extending
from the periphery of the metal flow-guide conduit 21 and
suspending in the storage chamber 11 to increase the contact
surface area between the metal flow-guide conduit 21 and the ice
cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30,
enhancing the low-temperature transfer efficiency. Further, as
shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a second thermal conduction structure
25 may be installed inside the metal flow-guide conduit 21. The
second thermal conduction structure 25 comprises a plurality of
radiation fins 251 extending from the inside wall of the metal
flow-guide conduit 21 in a parallel manner relative to the
extending direction of the metal flow-guide conduit 21 to avoid
interference with the flow of air passing through the metal
flow-guide conduit 21. Thus, the radiation fins 251 greatly
increase the contact surface area between the metal flow-guide
conduit 21 and the intake flow of hot air. When the intake flow of
hot air flows through the air inlet 22 into the metal flow-guide
conduit 21 toward the air outlet 23, the radiation fins 251 in the
metal flow-guide conduit 21 enhance the heat exchange efficiency,
causing the temperature of the air passing therethrough to be
rapidly reduced.
[0023] Further, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the second thermal
conduction structure 25 can be configured to comprise a plurality
of thermal conduction tubes 252 arranged in the metal flow-guide
conduit 21, each having one or both of two opposing ends thereof
kept in communication with the storage chamber 11 for receiving the
supplied ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature
materials) 30, enhancing low-temperature transfer and/or heat
exchange efficiency.
[0024] Further, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the second thermal
conduction structure 25 further comprises a plurality of radiation
fins 253 extending from the periphery of the thermal conduction
tubes 252 and suspending in the metal flow-guide conduit 21 to
increase the contact surface area between the metal flow-guide
conduit 21 and the intake flow of hot air, thereby enhancing the
heat exchange efficiency.
[0025] Further, the heat-insulation container wall 12 of the
thermal-insulation container 1 that surrounds the storage chamber
11 is a thermal insulation structure having a thermal insulation
foam layer 121 stuffed therein, as shown in FIG. 3. The thermal
insulation foam layer 121 is made from a polymeric plastic
material, for example, polystyrene foam. By means of the thermal
insulation foam layer 121, the heat-insulation container wall 12
prevents dissipation of the low temperature of the stored ice cubes
(cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30,
prolonging the refrigerating performance. Further, as shown in FIG.
5, the heat-insulation container wall 12 can be configured having
an internal vacuum insulation space 122. By means of the internal
vacuum insulation space 122, the heat-insulation container wall 12
prevents dissipation of the low temperature of the stored ice cubes
(cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30,
prolonging the refrigerating performance.
[0026] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *