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Line-tuned compressed gas cooling systemsRelated Patent Categories: Refrigeration, Structural Installation, With Body ApplicatorLine-tuned compressed gas cooling systems description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060191277, Line-tuned compressed gas cooling systems. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This filing claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/506,850 with a filing date of Sep. 30, 2003 which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to the cooling of people or such things as race or stock animals, etc. More particularly, certain aspects of the invention are directed to user-retained or portable cooling systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Devices to actively effect cooling fall into several basic categories. Heat pump type air-conditioning devices provide a closed loop system that compress and expand gas without releasing it in order to provide a low-temperature interface. These systems are heavy, but can be built to offer tremendous cooling loads. [0004] Evaporative coolers (a.k.a. "swamp coolers") use an open loop system typically relying on the evaporation of water to effect cooling. As evaporation occurs, the phase change energy of the liquid draws heat from the air. These systems work well in dry environments, but their efficiencies approach 0% as the relative humidity approaches 100%. Further, they do not work well in confined spaces, since when airflow approaches zero, so too does the evaporative cooling achieved. Still, certain cooling element inserts for garments (and, indeed, garments--vests--themselves) have been developed for soaking in water to cool by the evaporative process. [0005] In a similar vein, other types of cooling garments have been developed that include pockets for various chillable inserts. Water, gel and more sophisticated phase change materials have been used as the thermal capacitance medium for such inserts. Endothermicly reactive packages (as in portable or on-demand ice packs) have been used in garments, helmets, etc. as well. [0006] Still other wearable articles have been designed to include heat-exchange coils or conduits in communication with a circulating or flushing fluid source in order to cool or maintain workers or others exposed to extreme environmental conditions. The conduits and fluid in such articles may simply be provided for heat transfer purposes or, alternatively, to feed an evaporative cooling process. [0007] As for other means of generating reduced temperatures, solid-state electronic Peltier devices are available. However, powering the same presents a mobility problem in terms of a direct electrical connection or carrying a power supply that can reduce portability. Another type of device known as a vortex tube runs on a compressed air input and outputs separate hot and cold air jets. Votrec Corporation has applied such technology to a system in which compressed air provided by a remote compressed gas source powers a vortex tube cooling apparatus which, in turn, pumps cooled air into a vest that is delivered to a user by way of a perforated lining. However, again system portability is limited by the requisite power source. [0008] In contrast to all the above-referenced approaches, the present invention works by use of an expanding gas, preferably air. Highly pressurized gas is directed through a conduit network toward the skin of a user. In this manner, cooling is achieved both through an evaporative process as well as the low temperatures generated through gas expansion from high pressure to (low) ambient pressure. [0009] In point of fact, both U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,438,707 and 6,009,713 to Horn also operate by directing expanding gas at a user. However, the implementation of the present invention differs dramatically. In regard to the '707 patent, it relies on relatively smaller holes or orifices in its feeder tubing to effect rapid expansion of gasses to effect cooling. As for the '713 patent, it discloses a glove including a plurality of conduits fed with pressurized from a gas source by way of a common manifold. No mention is made (or sign of effort shown) regarding controlling air flow delivery from the individual conduits. The glove is simply flooded with cooling air that spills out of the slits in the glove. [0010] While the latter design may be adequate in the context of a practically unlimited compressed air supply (such as a "shop air" source), it is not suited for use on a portable basis. Where compressed gas resources are limited, a more refined approach would be desirable. Regarding the former approach, it would be desirable to provide a system that is suited for portable use, but does not require the additional expense or complexity required by the addition of terminal nozzles. As such, there exists a need for the present invention which offers comparatively elegant system, that is additionally conservative in relation to system resources. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention meets this need with a pressurized gas cooling system in which conduits or lines exhaust air directly (i.e., without a terminal nozzle) in which the lines are tuned together (i.e., in concert) to deliver desirable--be it even, or specifically targeted--cooling flow to effect maximum cooling efficiency given pressure source supplies. Thus, the present invention serves the dual purposes of providing a gas supply-efficient and structurally-efficient cooling system. In addition, those with skill in the art may observe still further advantages or benefits. [0012] As for specifics of the system, it comprises a wearable or user-retained/retainable article or appliance such as a cap, glove(s), sock(s), pants, helmet or jersey, etc. with air-handling features to provide cooling my means of release of highly compressed gas directly onto the body to be cooled. Each embodiment of the subject compressed gas cooling system may further comprise a portable (e.g., user retained) reservoir to store the compressed gas. [0013] A plenum or manifold incorporated in the wearable article is tuned to deliver fluid (gas) flow as desired. This is accomplished not with nozzles, but rather through the parameters of the conduits themselves. Namely, by way of those factors known to effect pipe flow (i.e., diameter, length, straightness vs. turns, surface finish, flowchannel or conduit shape, etc.) [0014] A control system may be provided in the system. At minimum, a user articulable valve will be provided to appropriately regulate or step-down the tank pressures from between about 600 and about 3000 psi in a preferred range to about 50 and about 500 psi. In a simple system, the valve may simply be trigger actuated by a user in order to provide a blast or pulse of cooling when desired. [0015] A slightly more complex manner of control could involve a timer regulating any of a number of parameters from pulse frequency, length and/or pressure. Still further, by introduction of temperature sensing (e.g., sensing user skin temperature), sensing vasodialation such as by measuring local impedance, local humidity or another parameter, the system can be setup to provide automated cooling control prompted by actual user conditions or needs. The construction of such a control unit is within the abilities of those with skill in the art. [0016] It may be desired to provide a fill system for outside source of compressed gas to fill the reservoir. Such provision will be especially beneficial in connection with a pressure vessel integrated into a unit such a helmet (be it a motorcycle helmet or of another type). [0017] As stated previously, the subject invention is for use in connection a source of highly compressed gas source. Examples include two-stage air compressors (as popularized by paint-ball enthusiasts) a gas canister and dispenser (as popularized as bicycle tire inflation devices) or a custom reservoir charged to high pressure. [0018] Accordingly, disposable-canister reservoirs may be used. Yet, it will sometimes be preferred that the reservoir is refillable--as in a miniature SCUBA tank (i.e., a "Spare Air" container) or a custom made container. Naturally, size will matter in relation to duration of use or ultimate cooling capacity considering the length of the use interval between fillings. [0019] In one variation of the invention, the wearable article incorporating the fluid/gas conduits will be a vest or jersey in the style an athlete might wear. The vest would be worn close to the body and could feature small gage tubing running in a grid pattern throughout the fabric of the vest (the tubing, featuring a high degree of flexibility in order not to interfere with user activity). In such a case, the reservoir container could be roughly the size of a bar of soap and carried in a side or back pocket of the vest. Where more volume is required or a lower pressure reservoir is desired, a larger unit may be employed. [0020] To minimize weight and system bulk or complexity, the reservoir canister could feature a dial switch with "Off-Low-High" settings (the Control System) as well as a valve stem much like that of a bicycle tube (the Fill System). The user would fill the reservoir from a source of high-pressure gas, set the control system to "Low" and experience cooling in the vest through a continuous stream or short bursts of compressed gas being emitted at various points close to the skin. Increasing the control mechanism to the "High" setting will increase the duration and/or frequency of the bursts or the flow rate of the continuous delivery of compressed gas to the wearer's body. Of course, other system and control configurations are possible as well, including those elaborated upon below. Continue reading about Line-tuned compressed gas cooling systems... Full patent description for Line-tuned compressed gas cooling systems Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Line-tuned compressed gas cooling systems patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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