Portable independent cooling device

Abstract

A portable free-standing cooling device includes a base, a reservoir fixedly secured to the base and arranged to store a liquid usable for cooling. The apparatus also includes a fan assembly fixedly secured to the reservoir at a location above the reservoir. The fan assembly includes a fan configured to generate an airflow, a motor configured to operate the fan, and a nozzle disposed to spray liquid into the airflow as a spray. The apparatus also includes a power source configured to supply power to the fan, the power source disposed at a height adjacent to or lower than the reservoir.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter described herein relates to a portable, self-contained device for cooling air. The self-contained electric evaporative cooler has particular, but not exclusive, utility for cooling outdoor areas. Background Art

[0002] An evaporative cooler (also known as a sprayer, swamp cooler, or evaporative air conditioner) is a device that evaporates water to provide localized air cooling. Conventional air conditioning systems that use a vapor compression refrigeration cycle may have high power requirements, while evaporative cooling removes a relatively large amount of heat from the air in order to evaporate the water (e.g., due to the large heat of evaporation of water). Dry air can be significantly cooled by water evaporation (e.g., the phase change between liquid water and water vapor), where the only energy consumption is typically the movement of water and air through the system. Evaporative cooling also increases the moisture content of the air, which can increase comfort in dry and mild climates. The cooling potential of evaporative cooling is proportional to the relative humidity of the air (e.g., the difference between the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature).

[0003] Conventional portable evaporative coolers often rely on an external water supply (such as a hose or bucket), an external power source (such as a wall outlet), and / or manpower to operate the pumping or fan mechanism. Portable evaporative coolers also suffer from poor performance and limited battery life compared to larger non-portable evaporative coolers. Therefore, it should be appreciated that such conventional evaporative coolers have many disadvantages, including engineering tradeoffs between size and performance, as well as other aspects. Therefore, there is a long-standing need for improved personal cooling systems to address the above-mentioned and other problems.

[0004] The information contained in the background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0005] An example of a self-contained electric evaporative cooler is disclosed.

[0006] The self-contained electric evaporative cooler disclosed herein can be used to provide cooling and circulation of air in any environment. Some examples include outdoor areas such as backyards, camping sites, picnic areas, workplaces, etc. Other examples may include indoor environments.

[0007] One general aspect includes a portable, self-contained cooling device comprising: a base; a reservoir fixedly secured to the base, the reservoir being arranged to store a liquid that can be used for cooling; and a fan assembly fixedly secured to the reservoir at a position above the reservoir. The fan assembly may include: a fan configured to generate an airflow, a motor configured to operate the fan, and a nozzle configured to spray the liquid as a spray into the airflow. The portable, self-contained cooling device also includes a power supply configured to power the fan, the power supply being disposed at a height adjacent to or below the reservoir.

[0008] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The cooling device may include a battery compartment in the base. The battery compartment may be disposed below the reservoir. The reservoir may include a fill port for introducing liquid into the reservoir, the fill port being accessible with the fan assembly secured to the reservoir.

[0009] One general aspect includes a portable, self-contained cooling device including a reservoir arranged to store a liquid that can be used for cooling, and a fan assembly fixedly secured to the reservoir at a location above the reservoir. The fan assembly may include: a fan configured to generate an airflow, a motor configured to operate the fan, and a nozzle configured to spray the liquid as a spray into the airflow. The portable, self-contained cooling device also includes a power supply configured to power the fan, the power supply being disposed adjacent to or below the height of the reservoir.

[0010] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The reservoir may include a fill port for introducing liquid into the reservoir, the fill port being accessible with the fan assembly secured to the reservoir. The cooling device may include a base having a width wider than the reservoir, the base being disposed below the reservoir and configured to provide stability to the cooling device. The cooling device may include a battery compartment in the base that is fixedly attached to the reservoir, wherein the battery compartment may be disposed below the reservoir.

[0011] One general aspect includes a portable, self-contained cooling device comprising: a base; a reservoir fixedly secured at a position above the base, the reservoir arranged to store a liquid that can be used for cooling; and a top assembly fixedly secured at a position above the reservoir. The top assembly may include: a fan configured to generate an airflow, a motor configured to operate the fan, and a nozzle configured to spray the liquid as a spray into the airflow. The portable, self-contained cooling device may also include a handle extending from the base adjacent the reservoir to the top assembly, the handle being shaped to be grasped by a user for single-handed carrying.

[0012] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The cooling device may include a battery compartment in the base. The battery compartment may be disposed below the reservoir. The reservoir may include a fill port for introducing liquid into the reservoir, the fill port being accessible with the fan assembly secured to the reservoir. The cooling device may include a top assembly including the fan assembly and a pivot joint defining a horizontal axis about which the fan assembly may rotate.

[0013] One general aspect includes a portable, self-contained cooling device, the device comprising: a sealed container for storing a liquid; a base, the base being different from the reservoir and configured to support the reservoir; a pump, the pump being configured to pump the liquid; a fan assembly, the fan assembly may include a fan configured to draw in air and exhaust air and a motor configured to operate the fan; and a nozzle, the nozzle being configured to spray the liquid into the exhausted air as a spray. The portable, self-contained cooling device also includes: a power source, the power source being configured to supply power to the pump and the fan; a handle, the handle extending from at least one of the reservoir, the base, and the fan assembly, and being configured to enable the portable, self-contained cooling device to be carried in one hand. The self-contained cooling device has a height and a width, the height being significantly greater than the width. The fan assembly is configured to rotate between 0 and 360 degrees about a horizontal axis defined by a left pivot arm and a right pivot arm.

[0014] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The reservoir may be at least partially transparent. The nozzle may be positioned along the central axis of the fan. Power supply to the pump may be controlled by a first switch. Power supply to the motor may be controlled by a second switch. The reservoir may include a fill port. The fill port may be closed by a removable fill port plug. The fill port may be disposed behind a pivotable fill port cover. The nozzle may receive liquid from the pump via a nozzle hose passing through the left pivot arm wiring. The motor may be powered by the power supply via a cable passing through the right pivot arm wiring. The power supply may include a power port configured to receive a power cable. The power supply may include a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery may be configured to be removable. The stand-alone device may include a status light emitting diode (LED) that lights up to indicate a charge state of the rechargeable battery. The stand-alone device may include a status liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays an image indicating a charge state of the rechargeable battery. Implementations of the described technology may include hardware, methods or processes, or computer software on a computer accessible medium.

[0015] A general aspect includes a self-contained evaporative cooler, the cooler comprising: a reservoir for storing a liquid; a pump configured to pump the liquid; and a fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising a nozzle configured to spray the liquid as a spray, a fan configured to inhale air that does not contain the spray and discharge air that contains the spray, and a motor configured to operate the fan. The cooler also includes a power supply configured to supply power to the pump and the fan. The cooler also includes a handle configured to allow the self-contained evaporative cooler to be carried in one hand. The height of the cooler can be significantly greater than its width. The reservoir can be sealed so that the liquid will not overflow from the reservoir when the self-contained evaporative cooler is tilted or inverted. The fan assembly can be configured to rotate between 0 and 360 degrees relative to the reservoir.

[0016] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The rotation may be performed about a horizontal axis. The horizontal axis may be defined by a left pivot arm and a right pivot arm. The nozzle may be positioned along a central axis of the fan.

[0017] One general aspect includes a self-contained portable air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising: a reservoir for storing a liquid; a pump configured to pump the liquid; a fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising a nozzle configured to spray the liquid as a spray, a fan configured to inhale air and discharge the air containing the spray, and a motor configured to operate the fan, wherein the nozzle is positioned along a central axis of the fan. The self-contained portable air conditioner also includes a power supply configured to supply power to the pump and the fan. The self-contained portable air conditioner also includes a handle. The reservoir is sealed so that the liquid will not overflow from the reservoir if the self-contained portable air conditioner is tilted or inverted. The fan assembly is configured to rotate between 0 and 360 degrees around a horizontal axis defined by a left pivot arm and a right pivot arm.

[0018] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of some concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of a self-contained electric evaporative cooler as defined in the claims is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the disclosure and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a front view of an example self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 2is a right front perspective view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 3 is a left rear perspective view of an exemplary stand-alone electric evaporative cooler according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 4 is a left side exploded view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 5 is a front view of a top assembly of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 6 is a left side view of a reservoir, base, and handle of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 7 is a bottom-to-back perspective view of a base and handle of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 8 is a bottom-to-back perspective view of a base and handle of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Fig. 9 is a right front perspective view of a reservoir and top assembly of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig.10 is a right front perspective view of a reservoir and top assembly of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Fig.11 is a right front perspective view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram in block diagram form of the piping and wiring of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Fig.13 is a schematic diagram of airflow through an exemplary stand-alone electric evaporative cooler according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a self-contained, hand-portable, electric evaporative cooler is described herein.

[0034] A stand-alone electric evaporative cooler is a portable unit that can be easily carried with one hand. It includes a reservoir (e.g., a 2-liter reservoir, a 1-gallon reservoir, etc.) configured to hold a certain amount of liquid water. The cooler also includes a top assembly fixedly attached and sealed to the reservoir, and a base that supports the cooler in an upright position. In some examples, the base includes a detachable rechargeable battery. A handle can be placed between the base and the top assembly. The handle is configured to carry the cooler with one hand, and in some examples, the handle includes a direct current (DC) power port and a charging status indicator, such as an LED. Some examples may include a top assembly that includes a fill port, a fill port plug and a fill port cover door, a pump, a pump power switch, a fan motor power switch, and a pivotable fan assembly that can pivot 360 degrees around a horizontal axis and can therefore face forward, backward, upward, or downward.

[0035] The fan assembly can include a nozzle assembly, a fan, a fan motor, a front diffuser, and a rear diffuser. In some examples, the fan motor can rotate the fan at 5220-6380 revolutions per minute (RPM) and can move 5.9-7.2 cubic meters per minute of air volume, but higher and lower volumes can also be envisioned. The nozzle assembly is configured to spray a water mist pumped from a reservoir by a pump. In some examples, the pump is configured to pump liquid to the nozzle assembly at a rate of 0.005 to 0.06 liters per minute. In some examples, the pump can pump approximately 0.02 liters per minute to the nozzle assembly, but other volumes can also be envisioned. It is worth noting that small droplets have a larger surface area to volume ratio than large droplets and therefore evaporate faster. Thus, to promote evaporation (and thus evaporative cooling), the nozzle assembly may have an orifice diameter of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm and preferably 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and be configured to produce droplets ranging in size from 20 microns to 2000 microns and preferably between 20 microns and 300 microns, although droplets of larger and smaller sizes may also be produced. Furthermore, to promote uniform evaporation of the droplets, the nozzle is located in the center of the front diffuser and therefore in the middle of the airflow produced by the fan. In some examples, the operating temperature range of the stand-alone electric evaporative cooler is -10°C to +70°C and produces a nominal acoustic noise level of 65.02 dBA at a background noise level of 16.8 dBA, but it may also be different.

[0036] Some cooler examples use batteries. Example batteries can include a 12 volt removable battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery). In some examples, such a battery has a capacity of 6 amp hours and can run the pump and fan for approximately 9 hours when fully charged. Of course, other battery capacities are also contemplated. In some examples described herein, the battery can be charged by a DC power port, or can be removed from the cooler, charged by an external charger, and then returned to the cooler. If necessary, the user can therefore obtain a backup battery pack that can be switched.

[0037] In some examples herein, by opening the fill port door and removing the fill port plug, the reservoir can be filled and / or emptied via the fill port. In some examples, the reservoir can also be emptied by a pump, but sealed in other ways. In the examples herein, the reservoir is not removable from the stand-alone electric evaporative cooler (for example, it is glued and screwed into place). Therefore, the reservoir is largely overflow-proof. In some embodiments, the reservoir is electrically waterproof or sealed and can be filled by immersing the entire cooler. In other embodiments, it is not recommended that the entire cooler be immersed. In some examples, the capacity of the cooler reservoir can be in the range of 1 liter to 4 liters, but other volumes can also be conceived. In some examples, the cooler has a reservoir capacity within about 1.5 liters to 2.5 liters, and in other examples it can have a nominal capacity of 2.0 liters. In some examples where the capacity is about 2.0 liters, the reservoir can be emptied by a pump within 1.0 hours to 1.25 hours, but other time lengths can certainly be conceived. Therefore, the capacity of the reservoir and the fluid flow rate are the limiting factors for how long a self-contained electric evaporative cooler can operate without human attention.

[0038] In the example herein, the nozzle assembly is fed by a hose extending from a pivot arm of the top assembly and connected to a pump within the top assembly. The fan motor may be powered by a cable extending from the left pivot arm of the top assembly. This separation of wiring and plumbing minimizes both the potential for electrical shorts and the amount of material required for both functions by providing the shortest possible route for the cable and hose.

[0039] In the examples described herein, the freestanding electric evaporative cooler is significantly taller than it is wide, thereby providing a slim profile that is easy to pack, store, transport, and carry, and can be stood up, for example, in a corner to provide cooling for a room, tent, vehicle interior, etc.

[0040] In some examples, the cooler can provide about 2260-2430 kilojoules (kJ) or 2142-2303 British thermal units (BTU) of cooling per liter of water evaporated from the cooler within about 15 feet (4.5 meters) from the cooler. Although it may vary depending on the conditions, in some examples the stand-alone electric evaporative cooler can reduce the air temperature by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius, e.g., the difference between the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature of the surrounding air). It is noted that greater air cooling can be achieved by utilizing a cold fluid or a cooled fluid in the reservoir, thereby creating a large difference or Δ between the fluid temperature and the atmospheric temperature. This can be achieved by, for example, filling the reservoir with cold water and / or placing ice (e.g., crushed ice or ice cubes) into the reservoir through the filling orifice.

[0041] In some examples, the systems described herein can assist in cooling outdoor and indoor spaces by providing a sealed, spill-proof, portable electric evaporative cooler capable of cooling an area by 25°F for 1.25 hours without requiring the reservoir to be refilled and by 25°F for 9 hours without requiring the battery to be recharged.

[0042] It should be noted that all numerical values ​​given herein are exemplary and not limiting, and that the cooler may be adjusted to be larger, smaller, faster, slower, etc. than described herein, and may produce larger or smaller droplets while still falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] The examples described herein, including those utilizing electric fans and electric pumps operated by rechargeable batteries, can provide practical improvements to portable cooling technology. This improved cooling capability can replace both non-portable coolers and non-sealed coolers with external power and water sources without the everyday conventional need to house complex equipment. This unconventional approach improves the functionality of a cooling system by maximizing the usefulness of its individual features.

[0044] A self-contained electric evaporative cooler may be operated by a pump and fan switch. In this regard, the cooler may perform certain specific operations in response to different inputs or selections made at different times. Certain structures, functions, and operations of pumps, fans, and reservoirs are known in the art, and other structures, functions, and operations are described herein to enable particularly novel features or aspects of the present disclosure.

[0045] These descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes only and should not be considered to limit the scope of the self-contained electric evaporative cooler. Certain features may be added, removed, or modified without departing from the spirit of the claimed subject matter.

[0046] In order to promote the understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and specific language will be used to describe these embodiments. However, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Any changes and further modifications to the described devices, systems and methods and any further applications of the principles of the present disclosure are fully contemplated and included in the present disclosure, as would normally occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates. In particular, it is fully conceivable that the features, components and / or steps described with respect to one embodiment can be combined with the features, components and / or steps described with respect to other embodiments of the present disclosure. However, for the sake of brevity, multiple iterations of these combinations will not be described separately.

[0047] Figure 1 is a front view of an example self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cooler holds a liquid 110 (e.g., water) in a tank or reservoir 120. In one example, the capacity of the reservoir is between 1.5 liters and 2.5 liters, but other values, larger and smaller, may also be used instead or in addition. In some embodiments, the reservoir 120 is transparent so that a user can easily see when the liquid 110 in the reservoir 120 is low and needs to be refilled. The reservoir 120 rests on a base or stand 130 that is wider than the reservoir 120 and thus supports the reservoir 120 in an upright position so that the height H of the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 is significantly greater than its width W. A siphon 115 connects the bottom of the reservoir 120 to the pump.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In the example of the top assembly 125, which is fixedly attached to the tank 120 on the top of the tank 120, the top assembly includes a pivotable fan assembly 105. The top assembly 125 includes a pump switch 140 for activating the pump so that water is sucked from the reservoir 120 and discharged in the form of a droplet spray through the nozzle 185. The top assembly 125 also includes a fan switch 150 for activating the fan motor so that air is sucked through the rear of the fan 180 and discharged in a forward direction. The top assembly 125 also includes a right pivot arm 160, a right pivot pin or pivot joint 165, a left pivot arm 170 and a left pivot pin or pivot joint 175, so that the fan assembly 105 can pivot 360 degrees around the horizontal pivot axis 166, and can therefore face forward, upward, backward or downward. The fan assembly 105 includes a fan 180, a nozzle 185, a front diffuser 190 and a rear diffuser, a motor, a motor cable and a nozzle hose, which are shown and described below.

[0049] The reservoir 120 is fixedly attached to the base 130 and the top assembly 125 so that the reservoir 120 is sealed. In particular, the reservoir 120 can be filled or emptied through the fill port as described below, and can be emptied through the siphon 115 by a pump as described below. However, when the fill plug is in place (see Fig. 9 ), even if the stand-alone electric evaporative cooler 100 is overturned, inverted, etc., the liquid 110 in the reservoir 120 will not overflow from the reservoir 120.

[0050] In one example, the components described above may be made primarily of injection molded plastic unless their function (such as wiring, motor windings, or fasteners) requires other materials.

[0051] The example cooler 100 described herein is independent, which means that they are single components during normal use configuration. In addition, some of the parts are described as being fixed together, fixedly attached or fixedly fixed. This is intended to convey that the parts are combined together during conventional use configurations (such as filling and cooling configurations). In other words, they are intended to be fixed during the conventional use of the cooler 100. It does not include intentional disassembly during non-use configurations. Because the cooler 100 is independent, it will facilitate all parts of normal operation to be included in a single unit. Because it is independent, it also enables a power supply to be arranged on the side of the cooler opposite to the motor assembly (for example, the battery is in the base, and the fan is in the head unit), wherein the water reservoir is located between the two. In addition to the filling plug that can be used to block or stop the filling port on the independent cooler described herein, in conventional use, the main assembly is not disassembled or separated.

[0052] Figure 2 1 is a right front perspective view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible are front diffuser 190, nozzle 185, right pivot pin 165, right pivot arm 160, left pivot arm 170, pump switch 140, fan switch 150, reservoir 120, and base 130. Also visible is fill port cover 210, which is configured to pivot in a forward / downward direction to expose the fill port and fill port plug, such as shown below. Fig. 9 and Fig.10 shown.

[0053] Figure 31 is a left rear perspective view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible are the front diffuser 190, the fan 180, the right pivot pin 165, the right pivot arm 160, the reservoir 120, and the base 130. Also visible is the rear diffuser 290. When the fan 180 is running, hot / dry air is drawn inward through the rear diffuser 290 and exhausted through the front diffuser 190, while moisture is added to the air through the nozzle. Also visible is the fan motor 285, which drives the fan when the fan switch is in the on position.

[0054] A handle 220 straddles the base 130 and the top assembly 125. The handle is configured to be carried in one hand by a person of average strength. The handle includes a DC power port 230 that can be used to power the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 and / or charge a removable rechargeable battery 240 that snaps into the base 130. In some embodiments, the weight of the battery 240 helps lower the center of gravity of the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100, making it less prone to tipping.

[0055] Figure 4 is a left side exploded view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible are the front diffuser 190, the rear diffuser 290, the fan 180, the fan motor 285, the nozzle 185, the left pivot pin 175, the left pivot arm 170, the handle 220, the siphon 115, the reservoir 120, the base 130, the DC power port 230, and the battery 240. Also visible is the pump 410, which pumps water from the reservoir 120 via the siphon 115 to the nozzle 185 when the pump switch is in the on position. Also visible are various seals and pressure fittings 420 that are familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0056] Figure 5 is a front view of a top assembly 125 of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 In the example shown, the front diffuser and fill port cap have been removed for clarity. Visible are the fan motor 205, the fan 180, the nozzle 185, the pump switch 140, and the fan switch 150. The nozzle hose 520 connects the nozzle 185 to the pump (e.g., as shown below). Fig.12 ) for delivering fluid to the nozzle 185. The fan motor cable 510 connects the fan motor 285 to the fan motor switch 150 (e.g., as shown below) Fig.12). A fill plug 530 is positioned within the fill port to seal the reservoir 120. In one example, the fill plug is made of a soft, flexible, compressible material such as silicone and includes retention features such as fins or ridges so that when the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 is flipped or inverted, the fill plug remains in place even if the reservoir is full. Similarly, the fill port can be filled or emptied when the top assembly (with its pivotable fan assembly) is fixedly attached to the tank.

[0057] Figure 6 1 is a left side view of the reservoir 120, base 130, and handle 220 of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Between the handle 220 and the reservoir 120 is a hand space 610 that is sized to accommodate the fingers of a large adult or child and thus facilitate one-handed carrying of the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100, whether full or empty. In some embodiments, the handle can be connected to any or all of the base 130, the tank or reservoir 120, the top assembly 125, or the fan assembly, depending on the implementation. In some embodiments, the top assembly can be a fan assembly.

[0058] Figure 7 is a bottom-up rear perspective view of the base 130 and handle 220 of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible are the DC power port 230 and the battery 240. In some embodiments, above the DC power port 230 is a status LED 710 that shows the charge status of the battery 240. In one example, if the battery 240 is fully charged, the LED 710 is illuminated, otherwise it is not illuminated. In some embodiments, the battery 240 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) battery charge indicator 720. In one example, the battery charge indicator, when pressed, displays a graphical representation of the remaining charge in the battery.

[0059] Figure 8 is a bottom-to-back perspective view of the base 130 and handle 220 of an exemplary stand-alone electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 In the example shown, the battery has been removed from the battery bay 805 , exposing the charge / discharge prongs 820 , the slide rails 810 , and the latch retention feature 830 .

[0060] Fig. 9 1 is a right front perspective view of reservoir 120 and top assembly 125 of exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible are pump switch 140 and fan switch 150. Fig. 9In the example shown, fill port cover 210 has been opened by pivoting it forward and downward about hinge point 910 to expose fill port plug 530 .

[0061] Fig.10 1 is a right front perspective view of reservoir 120 and top assembly 125 of exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible are pump switch 140 and fan switch 150. Fig. 9 In the example shown, fill port cap 210 has been opened and fill port plug 530 has been removed to expose fill port 1010. Reservoir 120 is filled by pouring water into the fill port, for example, from a faucet, hose, bucket, funnel, etc. Fill port plug 530 is then pressed back into fill port 1010 and fill port cap 210 is closed by pivoting it in an upward and rearward direction.

[0062] Fig.11 is a right front perspective view of an exemplary self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig.11 In the example shown, the fan assembly 105 has been pivoted upwardly by an angle θ. Since the nozzle hose 520 and the fan motor cable 510 pass through opposite sides of the pivot axis 166 (see FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 5 ), so the fan assembly can pivot a full 360 degrees about the pivot axis to face forward, upward, backward, or downward without tangling, curling, pinching, or disconnecting the nozzle hose 520 or the fan motor cable 510. Since the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 as a whole can also be placed in any orientation about the vertical axis (e.g., with its front facing north, south, east, or west), this 360-degree rotation capability means that the cool air flow emitted by the self-contained electric evaporative cooler 100 can be oriented in any desired direction in 3D space while remaining upright on the ground or another surface.

[0063] Fig.12 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram 1200 in block diagram form of the piping and wiring of an exemplary stand-alone electric evaporative cooler 100 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1In the example shown, grid power (e.g., 27-33 watts of input power at a voltage of 8-14 volts and a current of 2.25-2.75 amps) from a wall outlet 1210 flows into an AC / DC conversion power cable or charging cable 1220, which can be connected to a DC charging port 230. The DC charging port 230 passes the current along a charging circuit 1230, which performs several functions. First, the charging circuit 1230 monitors the charging state of the battery 240 and passes charging current to the battery 240 as needed. Second, the charging circuit 1230 controls the illumination of the status LED 710 (e.g., if the battery is fully charged, the status LED is illuminated). Third, under the control of the fan switch 150, the charging circuit 1230 passes current to the fan motor 285 to rotate the fan 180. Fourth, under control of the pump switch 140 , the charging circuit 1230 delivers current to the pump and thereby enables it to pump fluid from the reservoir 120 , through the siphon 115 and optional filter 1240 , through the nozzle hose 520 , to the nozzle 185 .

[0064] In one example, the switch is sealed and guided against the housing of the top assembly and can be a single contact switch (e.g., on / off), a multi-contact switch (e.g., low / medium / high), or a variable switch, such as a rotatable knob that moves between a low or zero setting and a high setting. Thus, the motor and / or pump can also be configured to operate at a variable speed.

[0065] It is noted that the block diagrams provided herein are for exemplary purposes; those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous variations that still fall within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a block diagram may illustrate a specific arrangement of components, modules, services, steps, processes, or layers, resulting in a specific flow of data, power, fluid, etc. It should be understood that some embodiments of the systems disclosed herein may include additional components, some of the components shown may not be present in some embodiments, and the arrangement of components may be different than shown, resulting in different flows while still performing the methods described herein.

[0066] Fig.131300 is a schematic diagram of air flow through an exemplary stand-alone electric evaporative cooler 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. When the fan motor 285 is turned on and the fan 180 rotates, hot dry air 1310 is sucked in through the rear diffuser 290, passes through the fan 180, and then discharged through the front diffuser 190. This air movement itself can provide a cooling effect even without additional moisture. However, when the pump is also turned on, the nozzle 185 sprays moisture 1320 in the form of fine droplets into the airflow, so that the humid air 1330 is discharged forward from the front diffuser 190. When the moisture 1320 evaporates (e.g., when the spray of fine droplet phase changes to individual water vapor molecules), the temperature of the air decreases as described above. Because the nozzle 185 is positioned along the central axis 1340 of the fan 180, the mixing of the moisture 1320 with the discharged air 1330 is maximized, resulting in a more uniform evaporation of the droplets.

[0067] In one example, the stand-alone electric evaporative cooler uses tap water as its working fluid. In some embodiments, the stand-alone electric evaporative cooler may also be able to use seawater, lake or river water, chlorinated water (e.g., from a swimming pool), distilled water, deionized water, etc. Depending on the implementation, other liquids besides water may be used. However, water is the preferred liquid to use because it is abundant, environmentally friendly, and has a very high heat of evaporation (2260-2430 J / g) compared to other liquids.

[0068] It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art upon becoming familiar with the teachings herein that the self-contained electric evaporative cooler provides a slim, hands-free, small footprint, one-hand portable, spill-proof, cordless evaporative cooler whose fan assembly can rotate 360 ​​degrees about a horizontal axis, while the cooler itself can be placed in any orientation about a vertical axis on almost any desired surface, including inclined surfaces. Thus, it can be seen that the self-contained electric evaporative cooler satisfies a long-standing need in the art by allowing a stream of cooled, humidified air to be positioned and directed almost anywhere, whether indoors or outdoors. In some examples, the self-contained electric evaporative cooler can operate for an hour or more without refilling, and can operate for up to 9 hours without charging the battery, thereby providing a viable cooling solution for events such as parties, barbecues, presentations, and the like. Furthermore, in examples where the water reservoir is transparent, a user can easily see when the self-contained electric evaporative cooler needs to be refilled, thereby ensuring continuous operation.

[0069] There can be many variations on the above examples and embodiments. For example, the self-contained electric evaporative cooler can be larger or smaller than shown herein, can have a larger or smaller reservoir or battery capacity, or can have a faster or slower fan or pump. Except for wiring, motor windings, and fasteners, the self-contained electric evaporative cooler can be made primarily of plastic (e.g., injection molded or 3D printed plastic) or other materials including glass, ceramic, metal, composite materials, or combinations thereof, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0070] Therefore, the logical operations constituting the technical embodiments described herein are variously referred to as operations, steps, objects, elements, components or modules. In addition, it should be understood that these can occur, be executed or arranged in any order unless otherwise explicitly required or a specific order is inherently required by the claim language.

[0071] Other embodiments are also contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative of particular embodiments only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the essential elements of the subject matter as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable, independent cooling device, comprising: Pedestal; a reservoir fixedly secured to the base, the reservoir being arranged to store a liquid that can be used for cooling; A fan assembly, the fan assembly being fixedly secured to the reservoir, comprising: a fan configured to generate an airflow; a motor configured to operate the fan; and a nozzle configured to inject a liquid into the gas stream; and A power source is configured to supply power to the fan, the power source being disposed at a height adjacent to or below the reservoir.

2. The cooling device of claim 1, comprising a battery compartment located in the base.

3. The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein: The battery compartment is disposed below the storage.

4. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein: The reservoir includes a fill port for introducing liquid into the reservoir, the fill port being accessible with the fan assembly secured to the reservoir.

5. A portable, independent cooling device comprising: a reservoir arranged to store a liquid that can be used for cooling; A fan assembly fixedly secured to the reservoir at a position above the reservoir, comprising: a fan configured to generate an airflow; a motor configured to operate the fan; and a nozzle configured to spray a liquid into the gas stream; a pump configured to pressurize liquid for ejection from the nozzle; and A power source is configured to power the fan and the pump, the power source being disposed at a height adjacent to or below the reservoir.

6. The cooling device according to claim 5, wherein: The reservoir includes a fill port for introducing liquid into the reservoir, the fill port being accessible with the fan assembly secured to the reservoir.

7. The cooling device of claim 5, comprising a base having a width wider than the reservoir, the base being disposed below the reservoir and configured to provide stability to the cooling device.

8. The cooling device of claim 5, comprising a battery compartment in a base fixedly attached to the reservoir, the battery compartment being disposed below the reservoir.

9. A portable, independent cooling device comprising: Pedestal; a reservoir fixedly secured at a position above the base, the reservoir being arranged to store a liquid that can be used for cooling; A top assembly, the top assembly being fixedly fixed at a position above the reservoir, the top assembly comprising: a fan configured to generate an airflow; a motor configured to operate the fan; and a nozzle configured to inject a liquid into the gas stream; and A handle extends from the base to the top assembly adjacent the reservoir, the handle being shaped to be grasped by a user for one-handed carrying.

10. The cooling device of claim 9, comprising a battery compartment located in the base.

11. The cooling device according to claim 10, wherein: The battery compartment is disposed below the storage.

12. The cooling device according to claim 9, wherein: The reservoir includes a fill port for introducing liquid into the reservoir, the fill port being accessible with the fan assembly secured to the reservoir.

13. The cooling device of claim 9, comprising a top assembly including the fan assembly and a pivot joint defining a horizontal axis about which the fan assembly is rotatable.

14. A portable, self-contained cooling device for cooling air, the cooling device comprising: a sealed reservoir arranged to contain a liquid; a base configured to support the reservoir; a pump configured to pump a liquid; Fan assembly, including: a fan configured to draw in air and exhaust air; a motor configured to operate the fan; and a nozzle configured to spray liquid into the exhausted air; a power source configured to supply power to the pump and the fan; and a handle extending from at least one of the reservoir, the base, and the fan assembly and configured to enable the self-contained cooling device to be carried in one hand, the self-contained cooling device having a height and a width, the height being significantly greater than the width, The fan assembly is configured to rotate about a horizontal axis defined by the left pivot arm and the right pivot arm.

15. The independent cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The reservoir is at least partially transparent.

16. The independent cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The nozzle is positioned along a central axis of the fan.

17. The independent cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: Power to the pump via the power source is controlled by a first switch.

18. The independent cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The power supply from the power source to the motor is controlled by a second switch.

19. The independent cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The reservoir includes a fill port.

20. The stand-alone cooling device according to claim 19, wherein: The fill port is closable by a removable fill port plug.

21. The stand-alone cooling device according to claim 19, wherein: The fill port is disposed behind a pivotable fill port cover.

22. The stand-alone cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The nozzle receives liquid from the pump via a nozzle hose that is piped through the left pivot arm.

23. The self-contained cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The motor is powered by the power source via a cable routed through the right pivot arm.

24. The self-contained cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The power supply includes a power port configured to receive a power cable.

25. The self-contained cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The power source includes a rechargeable battery.

26. The self-contained cooling device according to claim 25, wherein: The rechargeable battery is configured to be detachable.

27. The self-contained cooling device of claim 25, further comprising a status light emitting diode (LED), illumination of the status LED indicating a charging status of the rechargeable battery.

28. The self-contained cooling device of claim 25, further comprising a status liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays an image indicating a charging status of the rechargeable battery.

29. The self-contained cooling device according to claim 28, wherein: The status liquid crystal display is positioned on the rechargeable battery.

30. The self-contained cooling device according to claim 14, wherein: The fan assembly is fixedly secured to the reservoir at a position above the reservoir.

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