Portable multi-function air conditioner with a lid-based fluid pump
A portable multi-function air conditioner comprises a fluid pump disposed in a lid associated with an insulated reservoir configured to hold a liquid and ice, a heat exchanger configured to cool air flowing through the heat exchanger. A fan may be configured to move air across the heat exchanger and discharge the air through an outlet port associated with one of the reservoir or the lid. A power connection may be carried on the lid and may provide power to the at least one pump.
1. A portable insulated air-conditioning ice chest comprising:
an insulated main body configured to hold cold fluid to provide air-conditioning;
a lid body configured to provide selective access to the insulated main body, the lid body comprising:
a control panel;
a fluid pump, the fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid from the insulated main body and controllable by the control panel;
a heat exchanger configured to condition air passed therethrough by circulating cold fluid from the insulated main body; and
a power connection configured to provide power to the fluid pump in the lid body from a power source.
2. The portable ice chest of claim 1 , wherein the fluid pump is configured to move cold fluid from the insulated main body into the lid body via a conduit.
3. The portable ice chest of claim 2 , wherein the fluid pump is controllable via the control panel to pump at least some of the cold fluid into the lid body.
4. The portable ice chest of claim 2 , wherein the lid body further comprises a filter positioned along the conduit to filter the cold fluid before the cold fluid reaches the fluid pump.
5. The portable ice chest of claim 2 , wherein the conduit includes an opening positioned in a lower portion of the insulated main body.
6. The portable ice chest of claim 1 , wherein the lid body houses the control panel, the fluid pump, and the heat exchanger.
7. The portable ice chest of claim 1 , wherein the fluid pump is recessed in a compartment of the lid body.
8. The portable ice chest of claim 7 , wherein the lid body further comprises a compartment cover removably fixed to the compartment.
9. The portable ice chest of claim 8 , wherein the compartment cover is sealed to the compartment via a cover seal to prevent ingress of moisture.
10. The portable ice chest of claim 8 , wherein the compartment is accessible from above the lid body when the compartment cover is removed.
11. The portable ice chest of claim 7 , further comprising a power supply recessed in the compartment of the lid body.
12. A method for conditioning air via a portable insulated air-conditioning ice chest, the method comprising:
holding cold fluid in an insulated main body;
moving, with a fluid pump disposed in a lid body, cold fluid from the insulated main body to the lid body via a conduit associated with the fluid pump; and
circulating cold fluid from the insulated main body through a heat exchanger to condition air passed therethrough.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling the fluid pump via a control panel on the lid body.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising filtering the cold fluid moved from the insulated main body with a filter positioned along the conduit.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising recessing the fluid pump in a compartment of the lid body.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising removably fixing a compartment cover to the compartment of the lid body.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising recessing a power supply in the compartment of the lid body.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the conduit includes an opening positioned in a lower portion of the insulated main body.
19. A portable insulated air-conditioning ice chest comprising:
an insulated main body configured to hold cold fluid to provide air-conditioning;
a lid body configured to provide selective access to the insulated main body;
a control panel carried by the lid body and accessible from outside the ice chest;
a fluid pump carried by the lid body, the fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid from the insulated main body and controllable by the control panel;
a heat exchanger carried by the lid body and configured to condition air passed therethrough by circulating cold fluid from the insulated main body; and
a power connection carried by the lid body and configured to provide power to the fluid pump and a fan in the lid body from a power source.
20. The portable ice chest of claim 19 , comprising the fan carried by the lid body, the fan configured to flow air through the heat exchanger and controllable by the control panel carried by the lid body.