Portable refrigerator

Claim 2

Apparatus for cooling air following removal of the air from a portable food storage container or the like and prior to recirculation of the air through said container comprising: air outlet means for communicating air at a predetermined temperature from said container and air inlet means for communicating cooled air at a lesser temperature to said container; compressor means connected to said air outlet means for receiving air from said container and compressing the removed air to heat the removed air; heat exchanger means receiving a flow of compressed air from said compressor means and reducing the temperature of said compressed air; high flow, low suction, air amplifying means, responsive to a small primary flow of compressed air for driving a relatively large flow of ambient air over said heat exchanger means to cool said compressed air; means for mounting said compressor means, said heat exchanger means, and said amplifier means on said container; and conduit means connected to said inlet means and said air amplifying means for returning cooled air from said heat exchanger means to said inlet means to cool said container.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein expander means is connected in circuit with said heat exchanger means and said conduit means for receiving compressed cooled air from said heat exchanger means and permitting said air to expand and be returned to said container.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said compressor means and said expander means are unitary, said heat exchanger means having an inlet port connected to said compressor means and an outlet port connected to said expander means, said compressor means including an air intake port connected to said outlet means and said expander means including an exhaust port connected to said conduit means.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said compressor means and said air expander means collectively comprise a stator including a cavity having a noncircular cross section; a rotor rotatably mounted in said cavity; a plurality of circumferentially disposed, vanes movable between radially inner and outer positions so as to be in sliding contact with the wall of said cavity whereby a plurality of separate chambers are formed inside said stator cavity, said chambers being adapted to successively increase and decrease in capacity upon rotation of said rotor. said air outlet means communicating with one of said chambers; another of said chambers being sealed and adapted to compress air therewithin upon rotation of the rotor; another of said chambers communicating with said heat exchanger means to supply compressed air to said heat exchanger means; another of said chambers communicating with said heat exchanger means to receive compressed air from said heat exchanger means; and another of said chambers communicating with said air inlet means.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said compressor means and said expander means collectively comprise a stator having a substantially eliptical, axial cavity and an air supply port for receiving and communicating air at said predetermined temperature to said cavity and a first air discharge port for discharging compressed air from a circumferentially displaced portion of said cavity; a circumferentially disposed, second air intake port connected to said heat exchanger means for receiving compressed air after the temperature thereof is reduced by said heat exchanger means; said stator including a second discharge port, connected to said air inlet means for directing expanded, refrigerated air to said container; a cylindrical rotor mounted for rotation in said cavity such that an air receiving chamber is provided adjacent said inlet port and a reduced volume chamber is provided adjacent said discharge port; a plurality of circumferentially arranged vanes mounted on said rotor for movement between radially retracted and radially extended positions; and means for moving said vanes between said retracted and extended positions as said rotor rotates to maintain said vanes in wiping engagement with the stator.

Claim 7

Refrigerating apparatus for cooling air in a portable food storage container following removal of the air from the container and prior to recirculation of the air to said container comprising: fluid outlet means for extracting air at a predetermined temperature from said container and fluid inlet means for communicating refrigerated air at a lesser predetermined temperature to said container; compressor means connected to said fluid outlet means for receiving air from said container and compressing the removed air; heat exchanger means for receiving compressed air from said compressor means and reducing the temperature of said compressed air when ambient air is passed over said heat exchanger means; means for mounting said compressor means and said heat exchanger means on said portable container for movement therewith; means coupled to said compressor means for receiving a portion of said compressed air to provide a flow of compressed air; means responsive to said flow of compressed air for producing a relatively large flow of ambient air over said heat exchanger means; and conduit means connected to said heat exchanger means and said inlet means for communicating cooled air from said heat exchanger means to said inlet means to cool said container.

Claim 8

Refrigerating apparatus for cooling air in a portable food storage container following removal of the air from the container and prior to recirculation of the air to said container comprising: fluid outlet means for extracting air at a predetermined temperature from said container and fluid inlet means for communicating refrigerated air at a lesser predetermined temperature to said container; compressor means connected to said fluid outlet means for receiving air from said container and compressing the removed air; heat exchanger means for receiving compressed air from said compressor means and reducing the temperature of said compressed air when ambient air is passed over said heat exchanger means; means for mounting said compressor means and said heat exchanger means on said portable container for movement therewith; means coupled to said compressor means for receiving a portion of said compressed air to provide a flow of compressed air; means responsive to said flow of compressed air for producing a relatively large flow of ambient air over said heat exchanger means; and conduit means connected to said heat exchanger means and said inlet means for communicating cooled air from said heat exchanger means to said inlet means to cool said container.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for producing a flow of ambient air includes bleeding means for bleeding off said portion of the compressed air on the downstream side of the compressor to produce a relatively small flow of compressed air.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including expander means coupled to said heat exchanger means and said inlet means for permitting compressed, cooled air to expand and produce a refrigerating effect prior to passing to said inlet means; said air flow producing means comprising an air flow unit for inducing said relatively large flow of air in response to said relatively small flow of compressed air, and means is provided for bleeding off a portion of the compressed air on the downstream side of said compressor means to provide said small flow of compressed air to drive said air flow unit.

Claim 11

Refrigeration apparatus for a portable container for food and the like comprising unitary air compressor means for compressing air, at a predetermined temperature, received from said container and air expander means for permitting compressed air to expand and be returned to said container at a lesser temperature; a heat exchanger having an inlet port connected to one side of said unitary means and an outlet port connected to another side of said unitary means; air directing means, responsive to a small flow of compressed air, for directing a relatively large flow of air over said heat exchanger to cool the compressed air therein; and bleeder means connected to said compressor means and said air directing means for bleeding off a portion of the air compressed by said compressor means to provide said small flow of compressed air to operate said air directing means.

Claim 12

Refrigeration apparatus for a portable container for food and the like comprising unitary air compressor means for compressing air, at a predetermined temperature, received from said container and air expander means for permitting compressed air to expand and be returned to said container at a lesser temperature; a heat exchanger having an inlet port connected to one side of said unitary means and an outlet port connected to another side of said unitary means; air directing means, responsive to a small flow of compressed air, for directing a relatively large flow of air over said heat exchanger to cool the compressed air therein; and bleeder means connected to said compressor means and said air directing means for bleeding off a portion of the air compressed by said compressor means to provide said small flow of compressed air to operate said air directing means.