SYSTEM USING OUTDOOR AMBIENT AIR TO COOL WALK IN COOLERS AND OTHER AREAS

Abstract

A system cools a desired region, such as a walk-in cooler, by taking cool ambient outdoor air and delivering that air into the desired region. The system uses an outdoor temperature sensor so that any time the outdoor temperature falls below a desired degree, the thermostat can turn on fans and open backdraft dampers to bring in cold air. This process by-passes existing coolers, compressors and the like of an existing system, saving the user the high cost associated with conventional walk-in coolers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/524,009, filed Aug. 16, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for cooling and, more particularly, to a system to use cold air from outdoors to cool walk-in coolers and other areas.

Consumers and businesses pay large utility bills to cool walk-in coolers, freezers and other environments that need to be cooled. Conventional systems are costly and inefficient.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved system for cooling walk-in coolers, freezers and other environments that need to be cooled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for regulating temperature in an interior region comprises an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading; a thermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor; an air intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air; an exhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and at least one fan moving outdoor air into the interior region, wherein the thermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predetermined temperature.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system for regulating temperature in an interior region comprises an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading; a thermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor; an air intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air; an exhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and an air intake fan moving outdoor air into the interior region; an exhaust fan moving air in the interior region to outdoor air; a first damper disposed in the air intake and a second damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing air from escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the second damper preventing outside air from entering the interior region; a screen disposed on the air intake and on the exhaust; and a sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one of the air intake and the exhaust, wherein the thermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predetermined temperature.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for cooling an interior region comprises measuring an outdoor air temperature; sending the outdoor air temperature to a thermostat control; flowing air into and out of the interior region when the outdoor air temperature is cold enough to cool to or maintain a desired temperature in the interior region.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an alternate placement for a roof-top mounted temperature probe in the cooling system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a sliding vent cover of the cooling system of FIG. 1 in an open configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the sliding vent cover of the cooling system of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system for cooling a desired region, such as a walk-in cooler, by taking cool ambient outdoor air and delivering that air into the desired region. The system uses an outdoor temperature sensor so that any time the outdoor temperature falls below a desired degree, the thermostat can turn on fans and open backdraft dampers to bring in cold air. This process by-passes existing coolers, compressors and the like of an existing system, saving the user the high cost associated with conventional walk-in coolers.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a building 10 can include a cooler 12 disposed inside. The cooler 12 can include conventional cooling mechanisms (not shown), such as a compressor, cooling coils and the like. The conventional cooling mechanisms may be used to cool the inside 38 of the cooler 12 when the system of the present invention is not in use (such as during warm weather, where the outside ambient temperature is greater than a desired temperature inside the cooler 12).

A temperature probe 24 can be mounted outside the building 10 to detect the outside ambient temperature. A low end switch 46 can interconnect the temperature probe 24 to wiring 14 to a thermostat control 18. The thermostat control 18 can, via wires 14, control fans 26, as described in greater detail below. While the Figures shows the wires 14 interconnecting various components, such components may operate through a wireless signal, where the thermostat control 18 can receive a wireless signal from the temperature probe 24 and the thermostat control 18 can deliver power commands to the fans 26 through a wireless signal as well.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the temperature probe 24 may be disposed in various different configurations. For example, a hood 40 can be disposed about at least a portion of the temperature probe 24 to prevent direct sunlight from giving a false outdoor ambient temperature reading.

The temperature probe 24 can deliver outdoor ambient air temperature measurements to the thermostat control 18. When the outdoor ambient air temperature is below a certain temperature, as described below, then the system can be activated. This system activation temperature can vary depending on the design desired by the user. For example, the system can activate when the outdoor temperature is less than the temperature inside the cooler 12. In some embodiments, the system can activate when the outdoor temperature is a certain number of degrees less than the temperature inside the cooler 12. In some embodiments, the system can activate when the outdoor temperature is less than an actual temperature inside the cooler, regardless of the cooler setting. This embodiment may be useful in coolers that are often warmed significantly, where the outdoor temperature may not be less than the set point of the cooler, but the outdoor temperature is less than the temperature inside the cooler itself. In summary, the system can be activated when the flow of ambient outdoor air would have a positive impact (lowering effect) on the temperature of the air inside the cooler.

The thermostat 18 may be used to prevent the temperature inside the cooler 12 from getting too cold as well. The thermostat 18 can be used to turn off the fans 26 if the temperature inside the cooler falls below a desired minimum set point and the temperature outside is at or below that desired minimum set point.

The system can include an inlet duct 20 allowing air from outside to pass into the cooler 12. A screen 22 can be disposed on the duct 20 to prevent insects, birds or other animals from entering the duct 20. A damper 48, such as a butterfly style damper, can be disposed in the duct 20 to prevent the outflow of air through the duct 20 when the system is not in use. A first fan 26 can be disposed in the duct 20 to drive air from outside into the cooler 12. An air vent 36 can be disposed at the end of the duct 20 inside the cooler 12 to direct air flow 32 into the inside region 38 of the cooler 12.

A exhaust duct 34 can connect the airflow 32 out of the cooler 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The exhaust duct 34 can include a damper 48, such as a butterfly style damper, to prevent air from entering the cooler 12 when the system is inactive. A fan 26 can be disposed in the exhaust duct 34 to direct air flow out of the cooler 12. This outflow fan 26 can be optional, as the inflow fan could drive flow through the cooler and out of the exhaust duct 34. Alternately, the fan 26 in the exhaust duct 34 could be used alone and pull air through the intake duct 20 without the use of a fan in the intake duct 20.

A louver 28 can be disposed on the end of the exhaust duct 34 to direct the exhausted air from inside the cooler 38 to outside the building 10. Similar to the intake duct 20, a screen 22 can be used to prevent insects, birds and other animals from entering the cooler 12 through the exhaust duct 34.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a sliding vent cover 42 can be disposed to slide between an open position (FIG. 3) and a closed position (FIG. 4) to seal off the exhaust duct 34. While these Figures show the sliding vent cover 42 on the exhaust duct 34, the sliding vent cover 42 can also be disposed on the intake duct 20.

Opening 44 can be provided as an optional installation method. While FIG. 1 shows an intake through the roof and exhaust through the side of the building 10, the intake and exhaust can both be through the roof, or both through the side of the building, for example. Opening 44 provides an option for another roof intake/exhaust. A pre-fabricated box 30 can be disposed in the opening 44 (or any of the openings through the building 10) to contain the fan, louvers, dampers and the like.

While the drawings show ducts 20 and 34 interconnecting the inside 38 of the cooler 12 with the outside of the building 10, if the cooler is disposed in contact with the roof or side wall of the building, the ducts 20, 34 may be optional or not used. When the ducts 20, 34 are used, they are typically insulated to prevent the loss of cool intake air, prevent condensation from forming when passing through more humid air inside the building 10, and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for regulating temperature in an interior region, the system comprising:

an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading;

a thermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor;

an air intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air;

an exhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and

at least one fan moving outdoor air into the interior region, wherein

the thermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predetermined temperature.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first fan in the air intake and a second fan in the exhaust, the first fan pushing outside air into the interior region and the second fan pulling air from the interior region to the outside air.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first damper disposed in the air intake and a second damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing air from escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the second damper preventing outside air from entering the interior region.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a screen disposed on the air intake and on the exhaust.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one of the air intake and the exhaust.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the air intake includes an intake duct and the exhaust includes an exhaust duct.

7. A system for regulating temperature in an interior region, the system comprising:

an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading;

a thermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor;

an air intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air;

an exhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and

an air intake fan moving outdoor air into the interior region;

an exhaust fan moving air in the interior region to outdoor air;

a first damper disposed in the air intake and a second damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing air from escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the second damper preventing outside air from entering the interior region;

a screen disposed on the air intake and on the exhaust; and

a sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one of the air intake and the exhaust, wherein

the thermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predetermined temperature.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the air intake includes an intake duct and the exhaust includes an exhaust duct.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the interior region is a walk-in cooler.

10. A method for cooling an interior region, comprising:

measuring an outdoor air temperature;

sending the outdoor air temperature to a thermostat control;

flowing air into and out of the interior region when the outdoor air temperature is cold enough to cool to or maintain a desired temperature in the interior region.