Mobile climate control assembly and method of use
11585350 · 2023-02-21
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F04D27/005
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F2221/125
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D17/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D29/462
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F7/007
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D25/166
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F5/0035
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D29/705
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D29/4213
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F04D25/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F5/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D29/46
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04D29/42
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A mobile climate control assembly that includes a portable housing with a first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second fan blower assembly each respectively having a wheel blade member, partially surrounded by an air deflector wall, disposed within a housing cavity and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation parallel and non-co-planar with respect to one another. The assembly also includes a fan motor operably coupled to the wheel blade members and an electronic controller electronically and communicatively coupled to the fan motor and operably configured to independently and selectively control rotation of the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path from the front face and without rotation of the portable housing.
Claims
1. A mobile climate control assembly comprising: at least one portable housing with a base, a front face, and a rear face opposing the front face; a first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second fan blower assembly each respectively having: a wheel member with a plurality of wheel blades disposed circumferentially around the wheel member and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation parallel and non-co-planar with respect to one another; and an air deflector wall coupled to the at least one portable housing and-surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member and having a front end portion disposed proximal to the front face of the at least one portable housing and configured to direct air generated from the wheel member outwardly away from the front face of the at least one portable housing; a first motor operably coupled to a bottom end of the wheel member of the first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second motor operably coupled to a bottom end of the wheel member of the second fan blower-wheel assembly; and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the at least one fan motor and operably configured: to independently and selectively control rotation of the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path from the front face and without rotation of the front end portion of the air deflector wall and the at least one portable housing; and programable to selectively communicate a signal: solely to the first motor, cause rotation of the wheel member of the second fan blower-wheel assembly, and generate a first operational air emission position with an ambient air velocity gradient and a first air vector away from the front face; solely to the second motor, cause rotation of the wheel member of the second fan blower-wheel assembly, and generate a second operational air emission position with an ambient air velocity gradient and a second air vector away from the front face, the first air vector oriented at least approximately 90° with respect to the second air vector; and to both the first and second motors, cause rotation of the wheel member of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies, and generate a third operational air emission position with an ambient air velocity gradient and a third air vector away from the front face, the third air vector a convergence of the first and second air vectors and oriented in a direction lying at an approximate mid-point between the first and second air vectors.
2. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: the at least one portable housing having a base coupled thereto, an upper end, a lower end opposing the upper end of the at least one portable housing, a housing length separating the upper and lower ends, defining a housing cavity; and a plurality of serially aligned wheel members on each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies, respectively, and with the axis of rotation for each that is oriented in a longitudinal direction spanning along the housing length, the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each respectively having the wheel member disposed within the housing cavity and having a front end portion disposed proximal to the front face of the at least one portable housing.
3. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of serially aligned wheel members of the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each further comprise: a top end, a bottom end opposing the top end, and a wheel length separating the top and bottom ends, the air deflector wall spanning the wheel length.
4. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wheel member of the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each further comprise: a top end, a bottom end opposing the top end, and a wheel length separating the top and bottom ends, the air deflector wall spanning the wheel length.
5. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the third air vector is of a greater magnitude than a magnitude of the first and second air vectors.
6. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each further comprise: a secondary air deflector wall coupled to the at least one portable housing and surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member and having a front end portion disposed proximal to the front face of the at least one portable housing and configured, with the front end portion of the air deflector wall, to direct air generated from the wheel member outwardly away from the front face of the at least one portable housing, the front end portions of the air deflector wall and the secondary air deflector wall, respectively, defining an air exit port.
7. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each further comprise: a rear end portion on the air deflector wall and a rear end portion on the secondary air deflector wall, the rear end portions of the air deflector wall and the secondary air deflector wall, respectively, defining an air intake port disposed proximal to the front face of the at least one portable housing and configured to direct ambient air through the wheel member and the air exit port.
8. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least one portable housing further comprises: a first louver slat assembly defining a portion of the front face and adjacently aligned with the air intake port of the first fan blower-wheel assembly, a second louver slat assembly defining a portion of the front face and adjacently aligned with the air intake port of the second fan blower-wheel assembly, a third louver slat assembly defining a portion of the front face and adjacently aligned with the air exit port of the first fan blower-wheel assembly, and a fourth louver slat assembly defining a portion of the front face and adjacently aligned with the air exit port of the second fan blower-wheel assembly, the first and second louver slat assemblies interposed by the third and fourth louver slat assemblies.
9. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 8, wherein the at least one portable housing further comprises: a liquid reservoir defined by, and operably configured to house a liquid, therein; a liquid emission bracket defining at least one liquid port thereon and fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir; and a pump fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir and operably configured to induce a pressurized flow of the fluid housed in the liquid reservoir through the at least one liquid port.
10. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 9, wherein: the liquid emission bracket is interposed between the first and second louver slat assemblies.
11. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 9, wherein the at least one portable housing further comprises: a selectively removable liquid basin formed in the base of the housing; at least one wheel disposed at the lower end and the rear face of the housing; and a handle member disposed at the rear face of the at least one portable housing.
12. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 9, wherein the at least one portable housing further comprises: a liquid reservoir defined within the base of the at least one portable housing and with a gas container disposed therein, the gas container having an electronic valve operably coupled thereto and communicatively coupled to the electronic controller.
13. A mobile climate control assembly comprising: a portable housing with a base coupled thereto, an upper end, a lower end opposing the upper end of the housing, a housing length separating the upper and lower ends, defining a housing cavity, a front face, and a rear face opposing the front face; a first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second fan blower assembly each respectively having: a wheel member disposed within the housing cavity and with a bottom end and a plurality of wheel blades disposed circumferentially around the wheel member and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation; and an air deflector wall coupled to the housing and surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member and having a front end portion disposed proximal to the front face of the housing and configured to direct air generated from the wheel member outwardly away from the front face of the housing; a first motor operably coupled to the bottom end of the wheel member of the first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second motor operably coupled to the bottom end of the wheel member of the second fan blower-wheel assembly; and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the first and second fan motors and operably configured and programable to selectively communicate a signal: solely to the first motor, cause rotation of the wheel member of the second fan blower-wheel assembly, and generate a first operational air emission position with an ambient air velocity gradient and a first air vector away from the front face; solely to the second motor, cause rotation of the wheel member of the second fan blower-wheel assembly, and generate a second operational air emission position with an ambient air velocity gradient and a second air vector away from the front face, the first air vector oriented at least approximately 90° with respect to the second air vector; to both the first and second motors, cause rotation of the wheel member of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies, and generate a third operational air emission position with an ambient air velocity gradient and a third air vector away from the front face, the third air vector a convergence of the first and second air vectors and oriented in a direction lying at an approximate mid-point between the first and second air vectors; and to each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path from the front face and without rotation of the front end portion of the air deflector wall and the portable housing.
14. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 13, wherein: the wheel member of both the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies is operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation parallel and non-co-planar with respect to one another.
15. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 14, wherein: the electronic controller is operably configured to independently and selectively control rotation of the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate the ambient air velocity gradient along the at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path.
16. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each further comprise: a secondary air deflector wall coupled to the housing and surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member and having a front end portion disposed proximal to the front face of the housing and configured, with the front end portion of the air deflector wall, to direct air generated from the wheel member outwardly away from the front face of the housing, the front end portions of the air deflector wall and the secondary air deflector wall, respectively, defining an air exit port.
17. The mobile climate control assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first fan blower-wheel assembly and the second fan blower assembly each further comprise: a rear end portion on the air deflector wall and a rear end portion on the secondary air deflector wall, the rear end portions of the air deflector wall and the secondary air deflector wall, respectively, defining an air intake port disposed proximal to the front face of the housing and configured to direct ambient air through the wheel member and the air exit port.
18. A mobile climate control assembly comprising: a portable housing with: a base coupled thereto, an upper end, a lower end opposing the upper end of the housing, a housing length separating the upper and lower ends, defining a housing cavity, a front face, and a rear face opposing the front face; a liquid reservoir defined by, and operably configured to house a liquid, therein; a liquid emission bracket defining at least one liquid port thereon and fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir; and a pump fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir and operably configured to induce a pressurized flow of the fluid housed in the liquid reservoir through the at least one liquid port; a first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second fan blower assembly each respectively having: a wheel member disposed within the housing cavity and with a plurality of wheel blades disposed circumferentially around the wheel member and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation parallel and non-co-planar with respect to one another; and an air deflector wall coupled to the housing and surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member and having a front end portion disposed proximal to the front face of the housing and configured to direct air generated from the wheel member outwardly away from the front face of the housing; at least one fan motor operably coupled to the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies; and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the at least one fan motor and operably configured to independently and selectively control rotation of the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path from the front face and without rotation of the front end portion of the air deflector wall and the portable housing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(21) While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
(22) The present invention provides a novel and efficient mobile climate control assembly and method of use that utilizes computer-controlled wheel blower assemblies to selectively generate air flow across a wide angular range and at various velocities with little to no other moving parts. Embodiments of the invention provide an assembly and method to effectively and efficiently increase or decrease the ambient surrounding air for the comfort of users. As such, embodiments of the present invention generate oscillation of airflow using air convergence and vectoring employ the use of at least two crossflow or tangential fans disposed at angles with respect to each other. To effectuate the same, an electronic controller is operably coupled to motors on each of the fans, thereby offering users unlimited patterns of oscillated air flow up to approximately 160°.
(23) Referring now to
(24) More specifically, the mobile climate control assembly 100 includes a portable housing 102 with a base 104 coupled thereto. The housing 102 includes an upper end 108, a lower end 1000 opposing the upper end 106 of the housing 102, a housing length 502 separating the upper and lower ends 108, 1000, a front face 500, and a rear face 600 opposing the front face 500. The housing 102 is preferably constructed of a waterproof, durable, substantially rigid, and lightweight material, e.g., ABS plastic or aluminum. The housing length or height 502 may be approximately 65-96 inches, wherein the width (i.e., side-to-side) and depth (rear face 600 to front face 500) may be approximately 20-25 inches and 16-25 inches, respectively. Other dimensions outside of those ranges are contemplated, however. The shape, size, and configuration of the housing 102, along with the configuration of air inlets and exists, generates a very small footprint operably configured to beneficially fit in rooms, corners, and areas of various sizes and dimensions. To that end, the depth of the housing 102 may be tapered in some embodiments to fit within room corners.
(25) With reference to
(26) The housing 102 also defines a housing cavity 1604 that may be of a single opening or partitioned into various sub-cavities. In one embodiment, the housing cavity 1604 includes a selectively removable liquid basin 1104 formed in the base 104 of the housing 102. With reference to
(27) With reference to
(28) As best seen in
(29) The wheel length 1312 may be at least approximately 50% of the housing length 502, but may be another length in other embodiments. The base 104 of the housing 102, can be seen off-setting the wheel members 1600,1602 approximately 1-2 feet from the ground surface, but may be of a different length in other embodiments.
(30) To effectively and efficiently direct pressurized air generated from the wheel members 1600, 1602 to the ambient environment, an air deflector wall 1400 is employed. The air deflector wall 1400 is coupled to the housing 102 using one or more bracket(s) and surrounds a partial circumference of the wheel member 1300. In one embodiment, the air deflector wall 1400 spans the wheel length 1312 and substantially free of any holes and is of a smooth inner surface to reduce losses in air velocity. The air deflector wall 1400 includes a front-end portion 1500 disposed proximal to the front face 500 of the housing 102 and is configured to direct air generated from the wheel member 1300 outwardly away from the front face 500 of the housing 102 (as best depicted in
(31) The assembly 100 also includes utilizing at least one fan motor 1900 operably coupled to the wheel member 1300 of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies 1600, 1602. In one embodiment, a single motor operably configured to provide independent rotation is employed (see, for example, Morgante, U.S. Pat. No. 7,030,528, and Qu et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0142284. Other power transfer components and parts, e.g., linkages, gears, etc., may be utilized to effectively transfer mechanical work generated from motor to the wheel members 1600, 1602. In other embodiments, however, a first motor 1900 is operably coupled to a bottom end 1310 of the wheel member 1300 of the first fan blower-wheel assembly 1600 and a second motor 1904 is operably coupled to a bottom end 1310 of the wheel member 1300 of the second fan blower-wheel assembly 1602 for quick and efficient power transfer to each wheel member. The top end 1308 of the wheel members 1600,1602 may be rotationally coupled to housing 102, including the cover 106, using, for example, a bearing enabling the reduction of frictional losses. In other embodiments, the top end 1308 of the wheel members 1600,1602 may be structurally unattached and uncoupled to the housing 102. One exemplary operably coupled relationship between the fan motor and wheel member includes a shaft sized and shape to be inserted into a shaft channel defined on the bottom end 1310 of the wheel member. The coupling configuration between the fan motor and wheel member may be a tongue-and-groove configuration or other configuration enabling rotation of the wheel member.
(32) As best seen in
(33) With reference to
(34) To cause emission of the liquid housed in the liquid reservoir 1100 (which may be located in and/or defined by the base 104), the assembly 100 may include a pump 1106 fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir 1100 with, for example, one or more ducts or pipes. The pump 1106 is beneficially operably configured to induce a pressurized flow of the fluid housed in the liquid reservoir 1100 through the at least one liquid port 1102. In other embodiments, the liquid may be fed via gravity to the pump 1106. The liquid emission bracket 110 is preferably interposed between a first louver slat assembly 504, a second louver slat assembly 506, a third louver slat assembly 508, and a fourth louver slat assembly 510 that are each coupled to the housing 102 and form a part of the front face 500 thereon. The assembly 100 may also include a gas container 1200 disposed within the liquid reservoir 1100. The gas container 1200 may include a gas, e.g., propane, and is operably configured to emit a gas therefrom for ignition and creation of a pilot flame or other flame configured to warm air that utilized in the airflow generated by the wheel members 1300 (
(35) As seen in
(36) As seen in
(37) With reference to
(38) The first fan blower-wheel assembly 1600 and the second fan blower assembly 1602 may each also include a rear end portion 1504 on the air deflector wall 1400 and a rear end portion 1506 on the secondary air deflector wall 1402, wherein the rear end portions 1504, 1506 of the air deflector wall 1400 and the secondary air deflector wall 1402, respectively, define an air intake port 1510. The air intake port may also be disposed proximal to the front face 500 of the housing 102 and configured to direct ambient air through the wheel member 1300 and the air exit port 1508. The configuration and orientation of the air deflector wall 1400 and secondary air deflector wall 1402, which may span the length of the wheel member 1300, beneficially facilitate in generating an airflow with minimizing airflow velocity losses.
(39) The housing 102 also beneficially includes the first louver slat assembly 504 defining a portion of the front face 500 and being adjacently aligned with the air intake port 1510 of the first fan blower-wheel assembly 1600. The second louver slat assembly 506 may define a portion of the front face 500 and is adjacently aligned with the air intake port 1510 of the second fan blower-wheel assembly 1602. The third louver slat assembly 508 may define a portion of the front face 500 and is adjacently aligned with the air exit port 1508 of the first fan blower-wheel assembly 1600. The fourth louver slat assembly 510 may define a portion of the front face 500 and is adjacently aligned with the air exit port 1508 of the second fan blower-wheel assembly 1602. The first and second louver slat assemblies 504, 506 are interposed by the third and fourth louver slat assemblies 508, 510. The louver slat assemblies 504, 506, 508, 510 are also preferably made of a substantially rigid and durable material, e.g., ABS plastic.
(40) Referring back to
(41) The one or more fan motors 1900 may be selectively couplable to a power source, e.g., 120 A/C, and may also include a driver for converting A/C power to D/C power. In other embodiments, the power source may be locally resident on the housing 102. In one embodiment, the assembly 100 employs the use of a retractable/extendable power line cord. In preferred embodiments, the electrical components of the assembly 100 utilize less than 1500 watts.
(42) With reference to
(43) The network interface(s) 1908 may include one or more network interface cards (NIC) and/or a network controller. In some embodiments, the network interface 1908 may include a personal area network (PAN) interface. The PAN interface may provide the capability for the electronic controller 1902 to join network using a short-range communication protocol, for example, a Bluetooth communication protocol. The PAN interface may permit electronic devices on the assembly 100 to connect wirelessly to another electronic mobile device or component via a peer-to-peer connection. The network interface(s) 1908 may also include a local area network (LAN) interface. The LAN interface may be, for example, an interface to a wireless LAN, such as a Wi-Fi network. In one embodiment, there is a wireless LAN that provides electronic components with access to the Internet for receiving and sending inputs, over the Internet. The range of the LAN interface may generally exceed the range available via the PAN interface. Typically, a connection between two electronic devices via the LAN interface may involve communication through a network router or other intermediary device.
(44) Additionally, the network interface(s) 1908 may include the capability to connect to a wide area network (WAN) via a WAN interface. The WAN interface may permit a connection to a cellular mobile communications network. The WAN interface may include communications circuitry, such as an antenna coupled to a radio circuit having a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals via the antenna. The radio circuit may be configured to operate in a mobile communications network, including but not limited to global systems for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), and the like.
(45) The memory associated with the assembly 100 may be, for example, one or more buffer, a flash memory, or non-volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM). The assembly 100 may also include non-volatile storage. The non-volatile storage may represent any suitable storage medium, such as a hard disk drive or non-volatile memory, such as flash memory.
(46) A processing device resident in the assembly can be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, or a microprocessing device, including a “general purpose” microprocessing device or a special purpose microprocessing device. The processing device executes code stored on the memory in order to carry out operation/instructions of the assembly 100. The processing device may provide the processing capability to execute an operating system, run various applications, and provide processing for one or more of the techniques and process steps described herein.
(47) The electronic display displays information to the user such as an operating state and parameters, time, application icons, pull-down menus, and the like. The electronic display may be used to present various images, text, graphics, or videos to the user. The electronic display may be any type of suitable display, such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or the like. The electronic display may display the mobile application for controlling the assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
(48) The assembly may include audio input and output structures, such as a microphone for receiving audio signals from a user and/or a speaker for outputting audio data. An ambient temperature sensor may also be utilized in addition to the location detection device, wherein the location detection device may be associated with a global positioning system (GPS) or other location sensing technologies. The assembly 100 may have a GPS receiver or the like, to determine the location of the assembly 100. Such temperature sensor(s) and GPS location information of the assembly 100 may be useful for certain features of embodiments of the present invention, such as, for example, autonomously increasing or decreasing liquid output or airflow velocity (speed and/or direction) based on environmental conditions (e.g., drop/increase in environmental ambient temperature).
(49) Various modifications and additions, however, can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features. Moreover, although a specific order of executing the operational process steps has been discussed, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more steps described or shown occurring in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps can be combined into a single process.