REFRIGERATOR
A refrigerator can use a gas absorption refrigeration system. The refrigerator in some embodiments can store one or two gas cylinders within an outer housing. At least one cylinder can connect to a pressure regulator within the outer housing. In some embodiments, the refrigerator can include a table.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/310,683, filed Mar. 4, 2010, titled REFRIGERATOR, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Refrigerators are discussed herein, especially absorption refrigerators that can run from at least one or alternating current, direct current, and gas. The gas can include liquid propane, butane, natural gas and other types of gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator with a heat source that provides the energy needed to cool the system. When the refrigerant evaporates or boils, it takes some heat away with it as it, providing the cooling effect. The method needs only heat, and has no moving parts in contrast to other types of refrigerators. Absorption refrigerators may use a solution with ammonia as the refrigerant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn some embodiments, a portable refrigerator can comprise an outer body; a refrigeration cavity within the outer body; a door opening to the refrigeration cavity; an absorption refrigeration system within the outer body, the system configured to allow a user to power the system with gas; a pressure regulator; a first 1 lb. gas cylinder directly connected to the pressure regulator and within the outer body; and a second 1 lb. gas cylinder within the outer body.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator can further comprise a table. The table can be a collapsible table connected to a side of the outer body. The refrigerator can further comprise two wheels connected to the outer body and a handle configured to move the refrigerator. The handle can be removable. The refrigerator can include a table and at least one leg that is configured to connect to the outer body at the removable handle location and to the table.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator absorption system can be configured to allow a user to power the system with AC, DC or gas.
In some embodiments, a gas absorption refrigerator can comprise a pressure regulator comprising a housing; a coupling for connecting a cylinder to the housing defining an first flow channel through which gas can flow into the pressure regulator, wherein said coupling is configured to support a gas cylinder to said housing; a second flow channel connecting said pressure regulator with a burner; a cooling chamber; a door configured to open to the cooling chamber; and wheels.
In some embodiments a portable refrigerator can comprise an outer body; a refrigeration cavity within the outer body; a door opening to the refrigeration cavity at a top of the outer body; an table configured to be attachable and detachable to the outer body and above the door, wherein the door is configured for use while the table is attached. In some embodiments, the refrigerator can further comprise an absorption refrigeration system within the outer body, the system configured to allow a user to power the system with gas; a pressure regulator; a first 1 lb. gas cylinder directly connected to the pressure regulator and within the outer body; and a second 1 lb. gas cylinder within the outer body.
In some embodiments, a portable refrigerator can comprise an outer body; a refrigeration cavity within the outer body; a door opening to the refrigeration cavity; a handle configured to connect to the outer body at either of a back of the outer body or a bottom of the outer body; and wheels, wherein the refrigerator can be configured to be moved in balancing on one set of wheels or on two sets of wheels.
Various embodiments are depicted in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, and should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the inventions.
A portable refrigerator is shown in
As will be described in more detail below, the refrigerator can be an absorption system that uses alternating current (AC) direct current (DC) or a gas such as propane as a heat source. For example, the AC can be, for example, 100, 110, 220, 230 or 240 Volts. The refrigerator can be configured to plug into an electrical outlet, such as a standard household electrical outlet. The DC can be, for example, 12V and can be configured to run on a battery or to plug into the electrical outlet of an automobile, boat or other vehicle. The refrigerator can be configured to connect to a source of gas. For example, the refrigerator can connect to 16 oz bottles of propane gas. In some embodiments, the refrigerator can be configured to run on any of AC, DC and gas. This can facilitate the portability and versatility of the refrigerator. One advantage of an absorption system is that it very quiet as compared to a refrigerator with a compressor.
As shown in
Looking now to
A gas absorption refrigerator can function in the following way. Liquid ammonia is sent into a hydrogen gas at a certain pressure. The liquid ammonia evaporates in the presence of hydrogen gas because the increased pressure lowers the boiling point of the ammonia. When the ammonia evaporates is takes some of the heat with it to thereby provide the cooling effect. The now-gaseous ammonia is sent into a container holding water, which absorbs the ammonia. The water-ammonia solution is then directed past a heater, which boils ammonia gas out of the water-ammonia solution. The ammonia gas is then condensed into a liquid. The liquid ammonia is then sent back through the hydrogen gas, completing the cycle. In some embodiments the fluid within the system can include about 70% water, 30% ammonia and less than 1% hydrogen. Other configurations are also possible.
With reference to
As shown, the refrigerator can use one of many different energy sources to create the heat to boil the ammonia out of the water. In some embodiments the refrigerator can be configured to use one or more types of energy sources. An electric module 26 can control an electric heater 34 to heat the water/ammonia solution. An electric burner sleeve 25 can be placed between all or part of the electric heater 34 and the pipe receiving the solution from the liquid feed 28. In some embodiments the electric module 26 can be configured to work with either AC or DC. The AC may come from, for example, a household outlet and the DC may come from, for example, a vehicle connection, such as a cigarette lighter.
Alternatively, a gas can be burned to heat the water/ammonia solution. In some embodiments a 1 lb. tank of gas 20 can be used. In some embodiments the tank can be less than 16 or 18 oz, or 12-20 oz. The gas can be propane or some other type of gas, such as natural gas or butane. The tank 20 can be directly connected to a pressure regulator 19 for example through a threaded coupling. The coupling of some embodiments can include an internal seal. The tank 20 can be inside of the body or outer housing. The regulator 19 can be held by a two-part regulator bracket 18, 40, which in turn can be held by a tank hold bracket 17. This can be seen in more detail in
The flow of fuel from the tank and pressure regulator 19 can be controlled by the manual gas valve 8. Fuel can flow to the burner 23. The igniter button 10 can activate the igniter 24 to create a flame at the burner 23. A thermocouple 32 can be used as a safety feature so that if the flame goes out the flow of fuel is automatically stopped.
Heat from the flame can pass through the exhaust 22 which can run next to the pipe receiving the water/ammonia solution from the liquid feed 28. This heat can cause the ammonia to boil out the water.
The refrigerator can also be configured to operate with a dual fuel system. This can allow the refrigerator to use one of two different types of fuel. The dual fuel system could be similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,426, to Deng entitled Dual fuel heater, incorporated herein by reference. For example, the dual fuel system for a refrigerator could use the pressure regulator (
Once the ammonia has been converted to a gas and separated from the water, the gas travels to the condenser 35 where it is converted back into a liquid. The liquid can then enter the presence of hydrogen to be evaporated back into a gas and the process is started all over again. In some embodiments, a pressure release valve 43 can be used. The pressure release valve 43 can also be used to introduce the fluid into the system during production. Even though a particular combination of water, ammonia and hydrogen has been described, other combinations of two or more fluids and/or gases can also be used.
In some embodiments, a portable refrigerator can also include a table. The table can come in one of many different configurations. In some embodiments, the table can separate from the top of the refrigerator or part of the same. In some embodiments, the table can be at least one half of, the same size as or larger than the size of the top of the refrigerator. In some embodiments, the table is up to five times larger than the top of the refrigerator.
Though tables have been described, other features can be used with or instead of the tables. For example, a drawer, a burner, a griddle, a sink, a towel rack, etc.
Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In particular, it is contemplated that various aspects and features of the inventions described can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination and sub-combinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.
Claims
1. A portable refrigerator comprising:
- an outer body;
- a refrigeration cavity within the outer body;
- a door opening to the refrigeration cavity;
- an absorption refrigeration system within the outer body, the system configured to allow a user to power the system with gas;
- a pressure regulator;
- a first 1 lb. gas cylinder directly connected to the pressure regulator and within the outer body; and
- a second 1 lb. gas cylinder within the outer body.
2. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a table.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the table is a collapsible table connected to a side of the outer body.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising two wheels connected to the outer body and a handle configured to move the refrigerator.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the handle is removable and further comprising a table and at least one leg that is configured to connect to the outer body at the removable handle location and to the table.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first and second 1 lb. gas cylinders contain propane gas.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the absorption system is further configured to allow a user to power the system with AC, DC or gas.
8. A gas absorption refrigerator comprising:
- a pressure regulator comprising a housing;
- a coupling for connecting a cylinder to the housing defining an first flow channel through which gas can flow into the pressure regulator, wherein said coupling is configured to support a gas cylinder to said housing;
- a second flow channel connecting said pressure regulator with a burner;
- a cooling chamber;
- a door configured to open to the cooling chamber; and
- wheels.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the coupling holds the cylinder in position so as to maintain a fluid tight seal.
10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the coupling is integrally formed with the housing of the pressure regulator.
11. The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising the gas cylinder and wherein said gas cylinder is wholly within the refrigerator.
12. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein a second gas cylinder is wholly with the refrigerator.
13. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein said coupling is sufficient to provide sole support to the gas cylinder.
14. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein said coupling is configured to support for said cylinder in a vertical orientation.
15. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein said coupling is configured to support said cylinder in a horizontal orientation.
16. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein said coupling is configured to suspend said cylinder.
17. The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising a fluid controller to control a flow of through the flow channel from said pressure regulator to said burner.
18. The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising a table configured to extend over a top of the refrigerator.
19. A portable refrigerator comprising:
- an outer body;
- a refrigeration cavity within the outer body;
- a door opening to the refrigeration cavity at a top of the outer body;
- an table configured to be attachable and detachable to the outer body and above the door, wherein the door is configured for use while the table is attached.
20. The refrigerator of claim 19, further comprising an absorption refrigeration system within the outer body, the system configured to allow a user to power the system with gas;
- a pressure regulator;
- a first 1 lb. gas cylinder directly connected to the pressure regulator and within the outer body; and
- a second 1 lb. gas cylinder within the outer body.
21. A portable refrigerator comprising:
- an outer body;
- a refrigeration cavity within the outer body;
- a door opening to the refrigeration cavity;
- a handle configured to connect to the outer body at either of a back of the outer body or a bottom of the outer body; and
- wheels, wherein the refrigerator is configured to be moved in balancing on one set of wheels or on two sets of wheels.
22. The refrigerator of claim 21, further comprising a table configured to be attachable and detachable to the outer body and above the door, wherein the door is configured for use while the table is attached.
23. The refrigerator of claim 21, further comprising an absorption refrigeration system within the outer body, the system configured to allow a user to power the system with gas;
- a pressure regulator;
- a first 1 lb. gas cylinder directly connected to the pressure regulator and within the outer body; and
- a second 1 lb. gas cylinder within the outer body.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 23, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2011
Inventor: David Deng (Diamond Bar, CA)
Application Number: 12/842,827
International Classification: F25B 17/00 (20060101);