IP Library Granted Patent US 6,915,641
Granted Patent B2
US 6,915,641 · App. 10/754,429 · Granted Jul 12, 2005

Personal cooling and heating system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,915,641
App. No.
10/754,429
Granted
Jul 12, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention relates to a fully adjustable personal cooling and heating system specifically designed to provide several hours of high efficiency cooling or heating when worn and operated by a user. This combination personal cooling and heating system invention is capable of delivering several hours of high efficiency personal cooling or heating without the use of caustic or toxic chemicals with virtually no risk of injury associated with its use. This personal cooling and heating system invention is lightweight and durable in construction and specifically designed for use in harsh climatic conditions where access to refrigeration and heating are limited or unavailable.

Claims (37)

1. A personal cooling and heating system comprised of:

a vest;

at least one temperature sensor;

a temperature transfer medium contained by the vest;

a cooling unit;

a heating unit;

a temperature transfer medium transport means;

the temperature transfer medium transport means being capable of transporting the temperature transfer medium from the vest into the cooling unit where the temperature transfer medium may be cooled by one or more cooling means and then once cooled the temperature transfer medium is transported back to the vest by the temperature transfer medium transport means;

the temperature transfer medium transport means being capable of transporting the temperature transfer medium from the vest into the heating unit where the temperature transfer medium may be heated by one or more heating means and then once heated the temperature transfer medium is transported back to the vest by the temperature transfer medium transport means;

a user adjustable electronic controller electrically attached to the temperature transfer medium transport means, the cooling means and the beating means;

the user adjustable electronic controller is electronically connected to the temperature sensor wherein the user adjustable electronic controller automatically and electrically activates the temperature transfer medium transport means when the temperature sensor electronically communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the vest is a temperature that is different than that of a user selected temperature setting on the user adjustable electronic controller thus causing the temperature transfer medium to be transported from the vest;

the user adjustable electronic controller automatically and electrically activates only the cooling means when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is higher than the user selected temperature thus causing the temperature transfer medium that has been transported from the vest to be cooled by the cooling means before being transported back to the vest by the temperature transfer medium transport means;

the user adjustable electronic controller automatically and electrically activates only the heating means when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is lower than the user selected temperature thus causing the temperature transfer medium that has been transported from the vest to be heated by the heating means before being transported back to the vest by the temperature transfer medium transport means;

a power supply means electrically attached to the adjustable electronic controller to provide the electrical power necessarily for the adjustable electronic controller in communication with the temperature sensor to activate the temperature transfer medium transport means, and either the cooling means or the heating means;

at least one reversible thermoelectric cooler module electrically attached to and activated by a reversible direct current of electricity that is pulsed from the user adjustable electronic controller in one direction when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is higher than the user selected temperature and in the event that the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is lower than the user selected temperature the user adjustable electronic controller automatically reverses the direction of the reversible direct current of electricity that is pulsed from the user adjustable electronic controller;

the reversible thermoelectric cooler module having an electrically reversible hot side and an electrically reversible cold side which is reversed by the user adjustable electronic controller reversing the direction of the pulsed reversible direct current such that the electrically reversible hot side becomes the electrically reversible cold side and the electrically reversible cold side becomes the electrically reversible hot side;

at least one vest loop liquid heat exchanger attached to the temperature transfer medium transport means wherein when the temperature transfer medium transport means is activated the temperature transfer medium is pumped from the vest through the vest loop liquid heater exchanger and back to the vest;

the vest loop liquid heat exchanger having a front side and a back side either or both of which is formed by the electrically reversible cold side of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module such that the temperature transfer medium makes direct contact with the electrically reversible cold side of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module when pumped through the vest loop liquid heat exchanger when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is hire than the user selected temperature and in the event that the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller automatically reverses the direction of the reversible direct current of electricity that is pulsed from the user adjustable electronic controller such that the electrically reversible cold side of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module becomes the electrically reversible hot aide of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module which remains in direct contact with the temperature transfer medium;

at least one air heat exchanger;

the air heat exchanger having at least one cooling liquid channel therein;

a cooling liquid contained in the air heat exchanger cooling liquid channel;

the air heat exchanger having at least one air channel there through;

at least one air heat exchanger fan attached to the air heat exchanger;

at least one cooling loop liquid heat exchanger;

at least one cooling loop pump mean capable of pumping the cooling liquid from the cooling loop liquid heat exchanger to and through the air heat exchanger cooling liquid channel and then back to the cooling loop liquid heat exchanger;

the cooling loop pump means being electrically attached to and activated by the user adjustable electronic controller when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is higher than the user selected temperature;

the cooling loop liquid heat exchanger having a cooling front side and a cooling back side either or both of which are formed by the electrically reversible hot side of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module, the electrically reversible cold side of which is used to form either or both of the front side or the back side of the vest loop liquid heat exchanger, such that the cooling liquid makes direct contact with the electrically reversible hot side of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module when pumped through the cooling loop liquid heat exchanger when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is higher than the user selected temperature;

the air heat exchanger fan being electrically attached to and activated by the user adjustable electronic controller when the temperature sensor communicates to the user electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is higher than the user selected temperature by electrically activating the air heat exchanger fan which blows ambient air through the air channel of the air heat exchanger that has been heated by the circulating of the cooling liquid therein and then discharging the now heated by the circulating of the cooling liquid therein and then discharging the now heated blown ambient air into surrounding ambient air; and

the heating means being comprised of at least one electric heating strip attached to the electrically reversible cold side of the reversible thermoelectric cooler module which is the electrically reversible cold side when the temperature sensor communicates to the user adjustable electronic controller that the temperature of the vest is lower than the user selected temperature.

2. The personal cooling and heating system of claim 1 wherein the temperature transfer medium is water.

3. The personal cooling and heating system of claim 1 wherein the vest is further comprised of a flexible channel means capable of circulating therein the temperature transfer medium.

4. The personal cooling and heating system of claim 1 wherein the reversible thermoelectric cooler module is at least one Pelitier device.

5. The personal cooling and heating system of claim 1 wherein the reversible thermoelectric cooler module comprised of at least one Bismuth Telluride cube sandwiched between two ceramic plates.

6. The personal cooling and heating system of claim 1 wherein the cooling unit, the cooling means, the heating unit, the heating means, the temperature transfer medium transport means and the power supply are attached to a carrier capable of being worn by a user thereby making the personal cooling and heating system portable.

7. The personal cooling and heating system of claim 1 wherein the temperature transfer medium transport means is functionally connected to the vest with a self sealing quick disconnect coupling.

8. The personal cooling and healing system of claim 1 wherein the cooling unit, the cooling means, the heating unit, the heating means, the temperature transfer medium transport means, the power supply and the temperature sensor are all controlled by and in communication with the user adjustable electronic controller by wireless means.

9. A personal cooling and heating system according to claims 1 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , or 8 in which the cooling unit, the cooling means, the heating unit, the heating means, the temperature transfer medium transport means and the power supply are attached to a carrier capable of being worn by a user thereby making the personal cooling and heating system portable.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2011
From: HARVIE, MARK
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026171/0834 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6043997200 · Jan 14, 2003
Related Publication 20040159109A1 · Aug 19, 2004