Personal air conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A personal air conditioning apparatus includes a centrifugal fan received within a scroll casing. A container mounted to the inlet of the scroll housing is provided for receiving and holding a coolant member. The scroll casing is supported upon a base enclosing two liquid reservoirs and a battery compartment. A liquid atomizing device fed from one of the reservoirs dispenses liquid droplets into air flow from a discharge passage. A channel extends between the container and the other of the reservoirs for draining away condensation formed on the coolant member. The scroll casing defines the discharge passage, which has a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an end of the scroll casing. Axially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the cross section of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in the axial direction. The inner end of the container lies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding the lower side of the discharge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet toward the outlet. The coolant member may be a chilled beverage can and, when the fan is not operating, cooled air drops into the fan where it is retained.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly concerns methods and apparatus for generating, purifying, cooling or heating and directing a flow of air for the comfort of the user.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In hot climates and during summer in more temperate climates, personal cooling is a concern for many people undertaking activities where they are exposed to high ambient temperatures. For personal cooling applications one class of prior art devices incorporate a fan that blows air either through ice supported so as to be air-permeable, or through channels in a plastic container of a type for holding a freezable liquid. The thermal efficiency of many of these prior art devices is reduced by features which allow air cooled by contact with the cold surface to be lost to the user, for instance after placement of the cooling element and before the fan is operated. These devices use axial fans and typically have no structur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]This invention provides a device for personal cooling which is effective and efficient in operational use, and which by accumulating cooled air which is lost in typical prior art designs, provides for improved cooling performance. The device may be economically constructed and has an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs.

Problems solved by technology

The thermal efficiency of many of these prior art devices is reduced by features which allow air cooled by contact with the cold surface to be lost to the user, for instance after placement of the cooling element and before the fan is operated.

These devices use axial fans and typically have no structure to retain this cool air from the cooling element, and so allow this cooled air to escape.

A further drawback of these personal cooling devices is that ice, or a replacement container of freezable liquid, may not be readily available to recharge the device.

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