Container with Dual Cooling refrigeration system

The current invention is a current invention is a self-cooling cooler that combines a miniaturized version of absorption refrigeration with a container such as a traditional ice chest/cooler. The cooling system created by the combination of an absorption refrigeration system with the ice chest/cooler. The boiler in the present invention's absorption refrigeration is fired by a vaporizer, powered by a rechargeable battery. The refrigeration system is connected to the body of the cooler using connection means such as screws. The refrigeration system keep the inside of the cooler cool.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY)

This is the non-provisional and claims of the provisional application numbered 62/472,050 filed Mar. 16, 2017 which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for an absorption refrigeration system. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus for an absorption refrigeration system that uses a vaporizer to heat a boiler.

2. Description of Prior Art

Absorption refrigeration has been used as a backup system in RV's, in case of loss of power for years. It requires propane and an open flame. The actual boiling point of the present invention's ammonia solution, which is what is heated, is very low, just over 100 degrees. That is why the present inventor has chosen a vaporizer, which requires very little power to produce that kind of heat and is very easily powered by a rechargeable battery. The present invention looks to introduce an apparatus for an absorption refrigeration system that uses a vaporizer to heat a boiler.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,710A by Bearint discloses a refrigerator system of the absorption type in which certain definite advantages are obtained by arranging the components thereof to provide a thermodynamic cascade cycle. The components of the system are combined in such a manner that certain upper-cycle and lower-cycle components are in a heat exchange relationship.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,347A by John R. Howell and S. Patrick Peng discloses a hybrid double absorption air cooling system employing a liquid desiccant solution and capable of operating at low heat source temperature between 55° C. and 80° C. In one embodiment the system which utilizes low-grade thermal energy, includes an open absorber employing a liquid desiccant solution for absorbing moisture from air passing therethrough, a cooling coil adapted for cooling air passing through the open absorber, and a vapor-absorption refrigeration system which employs the liquid desiccant solution as an evaporable refrigerant and is adapted for cooling and circulating a working fluid, such as water, through the cooling coil and for circulating the desiccant solution through the open absorber.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,574,800 by Jeon is for an absorption refrigeration system. It discloses a absorption refrigeration system can include: an evaporator configured to evaporate a first refrigerant; an absorber configured to contain an absorbent solution and absorb the evaporated first refrigerant; a regenerator configured to regenerate the absorbent solution by heating the absorbent solution supplied from the absorber; a condenser configured to condense the first refrigerant evaporated in the regenerator; a cooler configured to circulate a second refrigerant inside the evaporator, where the second refrigerant is cooled in the evaporator by evaporation of the first refrigerant; a hot water storage tank configured to store hot water that is heated by absorbing heat from the absorber and the condenser; one or more hot water consumption units configured to receive the hot water from the hot water storage tank; and one or more cold air consumption units configured to receive cooled second refrigerant from the evaporator via the cooler.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,205,969 by Deane, et al. is for a temperature-stabilized storage systems. It discloses a substantially thermally sealed storage container includes an outer assembly, including one or more sections of ultra efficient insulation material substantially defining at least one thermally sealed storage region, and an inner assembly, including at least one heat sink unit within the at least one thermally sealed storage region, and at least one stored material dispenser unit, wherein the at least one stored material dispenser unit includes one or more interlocks

U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,058 by Sur, et al. is for a chair or sofa with refrigerated compartment. It discloses a chair or sofa including a seat, an enclosed armrest adjacent to the seat, and a thermoelectric refrigeration compartment, mounted within the armrest is provided. The armrest includes an upper portion connected to a main portion of the armrest by a hinge along an outer surface thereof, movable away from a home position against the main portion of the armrest, the compartment preferably being mounted in the main portion such that moving the upper portion away from the home position exposes the upper surface of the compartment. The compartment may have an upwardly opening lid which opens to a thermoelectrically cooled or heated cavity which may be sized to accept several beverage containers or in an alternate embodiment it may be sized to accept one upright beverage container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,869 by Kagawa, et al. is for a an absorption refrigerator. It discloses pipings for joining pumps for delivering absorbent solution and refrigerant with an absorber and an evaporator are eliminated for minimizing the dimensions of the absorber or the evaporator, preventing leakage under pressure, and reducing heat loss and cavitation.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,696 by Cline is for an absorption refrigeration system. It discloses an improved absorption refrigeration system is shown which includes an evaporator which evaporates a refrigerant to form a refrigerant vapor by depriving a chill carrier fluid of its heat. An absorber section cycles between an absorption state in which the refrigerant vapor received from the evaporator is absorbed into a liquid absorbent, a heating state in which diluted absorbent is concentrated by heating to evaporate the refrigerant content thereof as refrigerant vapor, and an intermediate cooling state. A condenser condenses the refrigerant vapor received from the absorber section, thereby transforming condensed vapor into a high pressure liquid which is returned to the evaporator unit in a closed loop absorption refrigeration cycle.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,174,791 by Hyde, et al. is for a temperature-stabilized storage systems. Systems include at least one substantially thermally sealed storage container, including an outer assembly including one or more sections of ultra efficient insulation material substantially defining at least one thermally sealed storage region, and an inner assembly including one or more interlocks configured to provide controllable egress of a quantity of a material from one or more of the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is a self-cooling cooler that combines a miniaturized version of absorption refrigeration with container such as a traditional ice chest/cooler. The cooling system created by the combination of an absorption refrigeration system with the ice chest/cooler. The refrigeration system is connected to the body of the cooler using connection means. The refrigeration system keeps the inside of the cooler cool. The cooling system can use the vaporizer to heat the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the front of the cooler;

FIG. 2 shows the absorption refrigeration unit attached to the cooler;

FIG. 3 shows a side front view of the cooler;

FIG. 4 shows a side back view of the cooler; and

FIG. 5 shows an elevated back view of the cooler.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The current invention is a self-cooling cooler device 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. The present invention combines a miniaturized version of absorption refrigeration with a traditional container such as an ice chest/cooler 100.

The ice chest/cooler 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, has a body with a lid 120 and handles 110 at the sides. The lid 120 is attached to the body by hinges 130 in the back. The lid 120 will open up to the storage cavity in the cooler 100.

The current invention, in the preferred embodiment, has a cooling system created by the combination of an absorption refrigeration system 10 with the ice chest/cooler 100 as shown in in FIG. 2. The refrigeration system 10 is connected to the body of the cooler 100 using connection means 30 such as screws or an adhesive means. The refrigeration system 10 keeps the inside of the cooler 100 cool.

In the preferred embodiment, the absorption refrigeration system 10 uses an ammonia solution, due to its low boiling point.

The boiler in the present invention's preferred embodiment absorption refrigeration is fired by a vaporizer, powered by a rechargeable battery. There are absolutely no moving parts, and the unit is totally self-contained. With the use of a thermostat, the cool time can be as long as the life of the vaporizer.

The charging of the rechargeable battery, such as an Ni-Cad battery, can be as simple as the use of a mini USB plug or a solar panel. The vaporizer does not require much power for the low boiling rate of the ammonia solution. The ammonia solution lasts forever and can be reheated indefinitely. The applications are vast and varied.

The Coolers/ice chest 100 can be for recreational use or for use in vehicles to cool cup holders to keep things cool. With the use of the solar panels for recharging, the user could use this in impoverished countries for cooling and several applications in between. The present invention can use low voltage heat strips to fire the adsorption refrigeration system 10. The actual boiling point of the ammonia solution, which is what is heated, is very low, just over 100 degrees.

This is found in every RV that has a refrigerator. The only difference in the absorption system that the present inventor described, is in a traditional system, propane is used to heat the boiler. In the present invention, the vaporizer is used to heat the boiler, replacing the open flame that the propane requires. The absorption refrigeration system 10 is totally self-contained.

An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fueled flame, waste heat from factories, or district heating systems) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling process. The vapor absorption refrigeration system 10 comprises of all the processes in the vapor compression refrigeration system like compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. In these systems the refrigerant used is ammonia, water or lithium bromide. The refrigerant is condensed in the condenser and evaporated in the evaporator 20. After this the refrigerant produces a cooling effect in the evaporator and releases the heat to the atmosphere via the condenser. In vapor absorption systems, the energy input is given in the form of heat.

The invention can further be coupled with a solar panel for recharging the battery so as to power the vaporizer and be used in impoverished countries for cooling and refrigeration purposes as well as for several other applications.

There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention.

ADVANTAGES

The current invention is portable, completely self-contained, and convenient. The container does not need ice, is always cold and uses an absorption refrigeration system.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cooling device comprising:

a container cooled by an adsorption cooling system attached to said container.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

where the adsorption cooling system uses a vaporizer.

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

where the adsorption cooling system uses an ammonia solution.

4. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

where the container is a cooler.

5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

where the container has a body with a lid, sides with the sides where the lid is attached to the body by hinges and the lid will open up to a storage cavity.

6. The device according to claim 5 further comprising:

where the cooling system keeps the inside of the container cool.

7. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

where the absorption refrigeration system is self-contained.

8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

having a battery.

9. The device according to claim 8 further comprising:

where the battery is a rechargeable battery.

10. The device according to claim 9 further comprising:

where the battery is charged using solar energy.

11. A cooling device comprising:

a container cooled by an adsorption cooling system attached to said container
where the adsorption cooling system uses a vaporizer using an ammonia solution and where the container has a body with a lid, sides with the sides where the lid is attached to the body by hinges and the lid will open up to a storage cavity.

12. The device according to claim 11 further comprising:

where the container is a cooler.

13. The device according to claim 11 further comprising:

where the cooling system keeps the inside of the container cool.

14. The device according to claim 11 further comprising:

where the absorption refrigeration system is self-contained.

15. The device according to claim 11 further comprising:

having a battery.

16. The device according to claim 15 further comprising:

where the battery is a rechargeable battery.

17. The device according to claim 16 further comprising:

where the battery is charged using solar energy.

18. A process to keep things cool using the device of claim 1.

Patent History
Publication number: 20180266749
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 16, 2018
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2018
Inventor: Rick Morgan (Conway, AR)
Application Number: 15/924,125
Classifications
International Classification: F25D 11/00 (20060101);