Patent US4658599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4658599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cooler for automotive use
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1985-12-17
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Granted: 1987-04-21
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Expires: 2005-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A cooler for automotive use which uses neither the power of the engine nor that of the battery, but instead operates from power supplied by solar cells mounted on the roof of the vehicle. The cooler includes a liquid coolant filled evaporator, a radiator, a heat pipe connecting the evaporator and the radiator, a valve provided in series with the heat pipe for regulating the flow of coolant vapor through the heat pipe, the solar cells, a return pipe through which coolant liquefied in the heat sink is returned to the evaporator, a coolant circulating pump provided in the return pipe and operated by power generated by the solar cells, and fans provided near the evaporator and the radiator which are also operated by power generated by the solar cells. Preferably, the liquid coolant is one having a high saturated vapor pressure, boils at a temperature of about 40° to 70° C. at atmospheric pressure, and provides a large latent heat of evaporation.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuya Kajiwara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/32; B60H1/3202; B60H1/00421; B60H1/00428; F; F25; F25B; F25B23/00; F25B23/006; F25B27/00; F25B27/002; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0266; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/88; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A compressorless cooler for cooling a parked automotive vehicle comprising: a liquid coolant filled evaporator provided on a ceiling of a passenger compartment of said vehicle, a radiator provided in a location in said vehicle which is not exposed to direct rays of the sun and which is ventilated, a heat pipe connecting said evaporator and said radiator, a valve provided in series with said heat pipe for regulating the flow of coolant vapor through said heat pipe, solar cells, a return pipe through which coolant liquefied in said heat sink is returned to said evaporator, a noncompressing pump for circulating said liquid coolant, said pump being provided in said return pipe and being operated by power generated by said solar cells, and fans provided in the vicinity of said evaporator and said radiator and which are also operated on power generated by said solar cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A compressorless cooler for cooling a parked automotive vehicle comprising: a liquid coolant filled evaporator provided on a ceiling of a passenger compartment of said vehicle, a radiator provided in a location in said vehicle which is not exposed to direct rays of the sun and which is ventilated, a heat pipe connecting said evaporator and said radiator, a valve provided in series with said heat pipe for regulating the flow of coolant vapor through said heat pipe, solar cells, a return pipe through which coolant liquefied in said heat sink is returned to said evaporator, a noncompressing pump for circulating said liquid coolant, said pump being provided in said return pipe and being operated by power generated by said solar cells, and fans provided in the vicinity of said evaporator and said radiator and which are also operated on power generated by said solar cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 1, wherein said liquid coolant has a high saturated vapor pressure, boils in a temperature range of about 40° to 70° C. at atmospheric pressure, and has a large latent heat of evaporation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 2, wherein said coolant is an organic solvent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 3, wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of alcohols and ketones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 1, wherein said valve, said pump, and one of said fans is provided in a trunk of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 5, wherein said radiator is provided on a ceiling of a passenger compartment of said vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 1, further comprising a drip collecting tray positioned under said evaporator, a water collecting tank, a pipe communicating said tray with said tank, and a second pump for pumping water from said tank onto said radiator for cooling said radiator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cooler for automotive use of claim 7, wherein said second pump is powered by said solar cells.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-20 | 1990-10-20 | 1991-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-20 | 1994-10-20 | 1995-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-20 | 1998-10-20 | 1999-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |