MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR REGULATING MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE OF CONTENT IN A CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular assembly for regulating moisture and temperature of content of a container, and the method associated thereof. The system comprises a moisture and temperature regulating device, said device comprises a condenser and an evaporator separated by a heat insulation layer; a container with moist content, the container and the moisture and temperature regulating device joinable by coupling means, wherein when the moisture and temperature regulating device and the container are coupled together, moisture and temperature associated with the container are regulated by the moisture and temperature regulating device.

Claims

1. A modular assembly for regulating moisture and temperature of content of a container comprising: a moisture and temperature regulating device comprising: a housing equipped with an outside environment temperature sensor and wherein a cover plate of the housing has an air inlet and an air outlet; a condenser section equipped with a condenser, a condenser fan, and a compressor; an evaporator section equipped with a ventilation fan an evaporator, an inside environment temperature sensor, an inside humidity sensor, a heater, and water drainage pipe; wherein the condenser section and the evaporator section is separated by a heat insulation layer; a container separate and joinable to the moisture and temperature regulating device, the container having an upper ventilation outlet and a lower ventilation outlet, the air inlet of moisture and temperature regulating device is joinable with the upper ventilation of the container by coupling means; the air outlet of the moisture and temperature regulating device is joinable with the lower ventilation of the container by coupling means; when the moisture and temperature regulating device and the container are joined, moisture and temperature associated with the content of the container are regulated by the moisture and temperature regulating device.

2. The modular assembly according to claim 1, where the container is a household garbage container.

3. The modular assembly according to claim 2, where the container is equipped with wheels.

4. The modular assembly according to claim 2, where the container is equipped with a cover.

5. The modular assembly according to claim 2, where the container is constructed with thermal insulating material.

6. The modular assembly according to claim 1, where the assembly operates when outside environment temperature sensor detects that external environment temperature is above 6° C.

7. A moisture and temperature regulating device comprising: a housing equipped with an outside environment temperature sensor and wherein a cover plate of the housing has an air inlet and an air outlet; a condenser section equipped with a condenser, a condenser fan, and a compressor; an evaporator section equipped with a ventilation fan an evaporator, an inside environment temperature sensor, an inside humidity sensor, a heater, and water drainage pipe; wherein the condenser section and the evaporator section is separated by a heat insulation layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention will now be described by way of reference to the drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a wall mountable moisture and temperature regulating device and a container of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a wall mountable moisture and temperature regulating device with air inlet and outlet of the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a section view of the inside components of an embodiment of a wall mountable moisture and temperature regulating device with air inlet and outlet of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 4a is a schematic perspective view of a rolling portable container of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 4b is a schematic perspective view a rolling portable container with upper ventilation outlet and lower ventilation inlet of the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a rolling portable container of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the modular assembly joined by moisture and temperature regulating device and a rolling portable container where the assembly is in operation;

[0045] FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the assembly in operation;

[0046] FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the assembly in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, an example embodiment of a modular assembly 10 described herein comprises a moisture and temperature regulating unit 12, and a separate portable rolling container 13.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, container 13 is a garbage container for household use, although a person skilled in the art would understand that container 13 is not limited as a garbage container, rather, it may be a container with content contained therein which requires moisture and temperature regulation.

[0049] Moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 may be wall mountable to a vertical surface, for example, a wall 11 (as shown) or 14 (not shown), by mounting means known in the prior art. The phrase “wall mountable” means that it is able to be mounted or attached to any vertical surface.

[0050] Container 13 is portable and rollable on floor 15. Moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and container 13 are modular components of system 10; they are separate and can be coupled together or assembled quickly by coupling means as described hereinafter.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, an example embodiment of the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 described herein comprises, or is mountable or associated to, a mounting base 21. Mounting base 21 is further mountable to a vertical surface or a wall, by nails, screws or the like by mounting means through mounting apertures 22.

[0052] Moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 has a housing body or an outer case 23, the unit further comprises a cover plate 24 parallel to and facing away from mounting base 21. Cover plate 24 has an upper air inlet 25 and a lower air outlet 27, wherein the upper air inlet 25 is positioned above the lower air outlet 27.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, sealing cushion 26 is provided around the mount protrusion of the air inlet 25 and/or the outlet 27. Sealing cushion 26 may be in the shape of a circle, oval, elliptical, or a polygonal. Sealing cushion 26 may be composed of soft materials, selected to match the conditions under which the seal is to be used, for example, plastic, polytetrafluoroethylene, and/or other suitable materials.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, air inlet 25 and/or outlet 27 are further protected with a screen structure 27 to prevent sizable solid particles, and/or insects, from passing through the screen structure.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an example embodiment of the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 comprises, within its housing body, a condenser fan 32, a condenser 33, a compressor 313, a heat insulation layer 34, an evaporator 35, a ventilation fan 36, an inside environment temperature sensor 38, an inside humidity sensor 39, a heater 311, a water drainage pipe 312.

[0056] On the outside of cover plate 24, first position sensor 37 and second position sensor 310 are positioned in the vicinity of the air inlet 25 and/or the air outlet 27, respectively. In the condenser side there is an outside environment temperature sensor 31, it since air flows between the outside environment and the condenser side, sensor 31 can measure the temperature of the outside environment

[0057] Dehumidifiers are known. In a standard dehumidifier, a fan draws in humid air and carries it through a refrigerated evaporator. The air is cooled below its dew point. The moisture from the humid air condenses on the cold surface of the evaporator and drips into a water container or is led directly to a drain. Then the cold dry air continues through a hot condenser which heats it up and returns it to the room to pick up new humidity. This procedure is continued until the desired condition is achieved. In this type of dehumidifiers, evaporator and condenser are in the same space where cooling of moist air condensation, heat exchange between moist air and condenser occurs.

[0058] In contrast to the standard dehumidifier, in accordance with the present invention, in moisture and temperature regulating unit 12, the cooling are separated by a heat insulation layer 34 so that there is no heat exchange between moist air and the condenser, as described below.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, portable container 13 is equipped at its bottom with wheels 41, enabling the container to roll on a floor.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, portable container 13 is further equipped with a cover 42. Cover 42 is rotatable along the cover pivot axis 47. Shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the cover 42 is held in a closed position.

[0061] One side of the housing body of the garbage container, preferably vertically up along the cover pivot axis, is coupling plate 43. The coupling plate 43 has an upper ventilation outlet 44 and a lower ventilation inlet 45, wherein the ventilation outlet 44 is positioned above the ventilation inlet 45. Air inlet 25 of moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and upper ventilation outlet 44 of the container are at the same height and of the same or similar size; they are joinable by coupling means. Air outlet 27 of moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and lower ventilation inlet 45 of container 13 are at the same height and of the same or similar size; they are joinable by coupling means.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 5, garbage container 13 has two openings, namely, lower ventilation outlet aperture 52 and upper ventilation outlet aperture 53. These apertures correspond in height and size to air outlet 27 and air inlet 25 of the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12, respectively.

[0063] Cover plate 24 and coupling plate 43 are either both flat or of complimentary shapes such that when the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and the container 13 are joined together by coupling means, a sealed assembly 10 is formed, and said assembly is separate from the external or outside environment whereas evaporator 35 of the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and content of the container 13 are within the same inside air circulation space.

[0064] Use of sealing cushion 26 further ensures air tightness of assembly 10 from the external environment, while ensuring best circulation within inside air circulation space.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, garbage container 13 is constructed of a two-layer structure filled with heat insulated material or air gap 54, thus the content of the garbage container is heat-insulated from open air. Alternatively, heat insulation can be achieved by using heat insulated material to construct the housing body of the container.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, cover 42 of container 13 is constructed of a two-layer structure filled with heat insulated material or air gap, thus the content of the container is heat-insulated from open air. Alternatively, heat insulation can be achieved by using heat insulated material to construct cover 42 of container 13.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, container 13 has an outer case 57 and an inner space 56. Container inner space 56 may have a smaller bottom surface and larger top surface with a recess angle of about one to three degrees to facilitate pouring of the content of garbage container.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, container 13 is equipped with a handle for easy handling.

[0069] On the outside of cover plate 24 of the moisture and temperature regulating device 12, first position sensor 37 and second position sensor 310 are positioned for detecting that container 13 is in the normal operating position.

[0070] When separated from the moisture and temperature regulating device 12, container 13 functions as a regular container.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, container 13 is a garbage container for household use.

[0072] When joined with the moisture and temperature regulating device 12, container 13 and the moisture and temperature regulating device 12 form a closed air circulation system. Air within this closed system flows through air inlet 25 of the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 which is now coupled with upper ventilation outlet 44 of the container, and air outlet 27 of moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 which is now coupled with lower ventilation inlet 45 of container 13, thus regulating the moisture and temperature of the content of garbage container 13.

[0073] Condenser 33 and evaporator 35 in the moisture and temperature regulating device 12 are thermally isolated in two different spaces by heat insulation layer 34; and there is no direct heat exchange in between the two spaces. When assembly 10 operates as described below, the air in the evaporator-side section and the air in the condenser-side section are separated from each other and no convection occurs.

[0074] When external or outside environment temperature is higher than 6 ° C., assembly 10 operates as described below, where moisture and temperature regulating device 12 regulates the moisture and temperature of the content of container 13.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, container 13 is a garbage container for household use, moisture and temperature regulating device 12 regulates the moisture and temperature of the content of container 13 preventing garbage decay and garbage odor.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, when power of the moisture and temperature regulating device 12 is turned on, first position sensor 37 and second position sensor 310 detect whether the container 13 is in normal operating position, i.e., (1) moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and (2) container 13 with content contained therein which requires moisture and temperature regulation, are joined together by coupling means.

[0077] When moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and container 13 are joined together by coupling means, sensors 37 and 310 are activated. Sealed assembly 10, which is separate from the external environment, is formed. Evaporator 35 of moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 and content of container 13 are within the same inside air circulation space. A processor installed on the moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 then updates the unit parameters. Unit parameters may be pre-programmable, include but are not limited to, time and date, frequency at which the unit will be turned on (for example, once in every N or M hours depending on whether it is electricity peak or off-peak hours, referred hereinafter as the N or M pattern), maximum running time T1 for compressor 313, maximum running time T2 for heater 311, scheduled city garbage pickup date, etc.

[0078] When external or outside environment temperature sensor 31 detects that external environment temperature is at or above 6° C., heater 311 and ventilation fan 36 are turned off. Depending on whether the time is between the hours (for example, 6 am to 8 pm) preset under N pattern or M pattern (for example, 8 pm to 6 am), the assembly is run under N or M pattern, where compressor 313, condenser fan 32, and ventilation fan 36 are turned on.

[0079] Airflow path 110 within the evaporator-side section and the space of container 13 is shown in FIG. 6. Ventilation fan 36 draws in moist air from container 13 which contains content requiring moisture and temperature regulation, and carries the moist air through evaporator 35. The moist air is cooled below its dew point. The moisture from the moist air condenses on the cold surface of the evaporator and drips into water drain pipe 312. Then the cold dry air continues and returns it to the inner space 56 of container 13 to pick up new humidity. Airflow path 116 within the condenser-side section is also shown in FIG. 6. Air flow path 116 shows that there is convection of the air in the condenser-side with external or outside open air.

[0080] When humidity sensor 39 detects that the humidity of inside air circulation space is 20% or less, or inside environment temperature sensor 38 detects that the temperature of inside air circulation space is 2° C. or less, or when running time is exceeding preset T1, compressor 313, condenser fan 32, and ventilation fan 36 are turned off.

[0081] When outside environment temperature sensor 31 detects that external environment temperature is below 6° C., compressor 313, condenser fan 32, and ventilation fan 36 are turned off. When outside environment temperature sensor 31 detects that external environment temperature is below −2° C. and when the processor installed on moisture and temperature regulating unit 12 determines that it is preset garbage pickup date, heater 311 and ventilation fan 36 are turned on at preset time (for example, 6 am) to thaw the content of the container.

[0082] When inside environment temperature sensor 38 detects that the temperature of inside air circulation space is 4° C. or more, or when running time is exceeding preset T2, heater 311 and ventilation fan 36 are turned off.