US3633381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Open-cycle portable refrigerator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-01-26
•
Granted: 1972-01-11
•
Expires: 1990-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A portable refrigerator employing an open-cycle system. A stored compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide, is passed from its storage container through an evaporator which comprises a serpentine passageway for the gas and a surrounding medium, such as water, an aqueous solution, which is maintained frozen due to the passage of the expanding compressed gas through the coiled passageway. The temperature of the evaporator medium is lower than the ambient temperature of the interior of the container comprising the storage portion of the refrigerator, which is cooled thereby. The gas passing through the evaporator may be exhausted into the interior of the container whereby the cooler air which is next to the evaporator medium is circulated throughout the interior of the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A Haaf
- 👤 Horst D Jungblut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:59
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25D3/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A portable open-cycle refrigeration system comprising: a storage container defining a storage space therewithin; a container of compressed gas, said compressed gas container having an outlet; an evaporator inside of said storage space and comprising a housing having a tube therewithin, said tube having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid medium in said housing in substantially surrounding relation with said tube; and duct means for connecting the outlet of said compressed gas container to the inlet of said tube, said tube outlet being in communication either with said storage space for effectuating circulation within said storage space interior of the storage space interior ambient atmosphere adjacent said evaporator housing, or with the ambient atmosphere surrounding said storage container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A portable open-cycle refrigeration system comprising: a storage container defining a storage space therewithin; a container of compressed gas, said compressed gas container having an outlet; an evaporator inside of said storage space and comprising a housing having a tube therewithin, said tube having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid medium in said housing in substantially surrounding relation with said tube; and duct means for connecting the outlet of said compressed gas container to the inlet of said tube, said tube outlet being in communication either with said storage space for effectuating circulation within said storage space interior of the storage space interior ambient atmosphere adjacent said evaporator housing, or with the ambient atmosphere surrounding said storage container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 further including a means for removably inserting said gas container adjacent said evaporator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 further including a means for removably inserting said evaporator inside of said storage space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said compressed gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liquid medium is water, an aqueous salt solution, or a permanent antifreeze solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a means for regulating the passage of compressed gas from said gas container outlet, said regulating means being interposed in said duct means for regulating the passage of said gas to said evaporator
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 6 wherein said regulating means comprises an adjustable valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said storage container includes a removable cover, a resiliently mounted shutoff control means is biased against said cover, said control means closing said adjustable valve and preventing the passage of said gas from said gas container outlet when said cover is removed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a serpentine passageway for said compressed gas, said passageway providing a large area for heat exchange so as to effect expansion of said compressed gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 9 wherein said medium is water, an aqueous salt solution, or a permanent antifreeze solution and said compressed gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 10 wherein said regulating means comprises an adjustable valve and a thermostatic control means for controlling the operation of said valve so as to maintain a desired refrigeration temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said evaporator includes a compressible member disposed with said liquid medium, said member being compressed upon expansion of said liquid medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 12 wherein said evaporator further comprises a thermally conductive plate in confronting relation with an inwardly facing portion of said tube, and a resilient member, said plate having apertures therein to permit the passage of said liquid medium therethrough, said housing having a thermally conductive end wall, said tube is adjacent said end wall, and said resilient member biasing said plate against said tube so as to form a thermally conductive sandwich with said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 13, wherein said evaporator includes another thermally conductive plate in confronting relation with another inwardly facing portion of said tube, said tube being adjacent another thermally conductive end wall, said resilient member being interposed between said plates and biasing said other plate against said tube so as to form another thermally conductive sandwich with said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 wherein a deflection plate is adjacent the end wall having said storage space communicating tube outlet therein, and is spaced therefrom; said deflection plate partially surrounding said housing so as to form a deflection channel for the gas exhausting from said tube outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An open-cycle portable refrigerator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage container includes a gas container storage portion insulated from said evaporator and the remainder of said storage portion, said gas container being disposed therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
A portable open-cycle refrigeration system comprising: a storage container defining a storage space therewithin; means on said storage container for mounting a container of compressed gas having an outlet; an evaporator inside of said storage space and comprising a housing having a tube therewithin, said tube having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid medium in said housing in substantially surrounding relation with said tube; and duct means for connecting the outlet of said compressed gas container to the inlet of said tube, said tube outlet being in communication either with said storage space for effectuating circulation within said storage space interior of the storage space interior ambient atmosphere adjacent said evaporating housing, or with the ambient atmosphere surrounding said storage container.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
A portable open-cycle refrigeration system comprising: a storage container defining a storage space therewithin; means on said storage container for mounting a container of compressed gas having an outlet; an evaporator inside of said storage space and comprising a housing having a tube therewithin, said tube having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid medium in said housing in substantially surrounding relation with said tube; and duct means for connecting the outlet of said compressed gas container to the inlet of said tube, said tube outlet being in communication either with said storage space for effectuating circulation within said storage space interior of the storage space interior ambient atmosphere adjacent said evaporating housing, or with the ambient atmosphere surrounding said storage container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1380987A
Cited
US1556734A
Cited
US3148515A
Cited
US3257820A
Cited
US3410109A
Cited
US3423953A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |