Refrigeration – Time or program actuator
Patent
1996-12-09
1999-03-16
Sollecito, John M.
Refrigeration
Time or program actuator
62 502, 62504, 62519, 62524, 62440, 165147, F25B 1900
Patent
active
058815651
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigeration system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a conventional closed refrigeration system, refrigerant is circulated through an evaporator and condenser by a compressor. Such refrigeration systems are inherently bulky due to the presence of the compressor and condenser and also have limited portability due to the need to power the compressor by connection with an electrical power source. Also, this type of refrigeration system has limited efficiency due to the need to provide the normal refrigeration cycle of expanding and compressing refrigerant and as the load becomes greater so does the size and power requirements to enable the cooling of the increased load.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a refrigeration system which does not require connection to an external electrical power source for its operation and utilises a minimum of energy to maintain its operation and does not require a condenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a refrigeration system comprising: cooled; with a supply of compressed refrigerant, said expansion unit comprising an expansion chamber, and said last secondary chamber being in communication with a bleed hole for bleeding refrigerant from said system; and, in thermal communication between said expansion unit and said space via said housing, so that when compressed refrigerant is fed into said expansion chamber, said refrigerant expands and absorbs heat from said heat transfer medium to cool said heat transfer medium and subsequently cool said space.
Preferably said expansion unit further comprises at least one series connected secondary chamber, said chambers having a progressively reduced volumetric capacity from said expansion chamber to a last of said at least one secondary chamber, and said last secondary chamber.
Preferably the volumetric capacity of said secondary chambers is arranged so as to limit the bleeding of said refrigerant to a rate which maintains said heat transfer medium at or below a predetermined temperature.
Preferably said heat transfer medium comprises a material which changes state from a liquid to a solid at said predetermined temperature. Advantageously, said heat transfer medium is a gel.
Preferably said bleed hole is in communication with said surrounding space whereby, in use, refrigerant bled into said surrounding space can expand to absorb heat from said surrounding space.
Preferably said expansion chamber and secondary chambers are in the form of contiguous conduits. Advantageously, said conduits are of equal length.
Preferably, said expansion unit is one of a plurality of expansion units connectable in parallel to a supply of compressed refrigerant.
In one form of the invention, each expansion unit comprises three secondary chambers.
Preferably said refrigeration system comprises a housing for supporting said expansion unit and containing said heat transfer medium.
Preferably said system further comprises valve means for coupling said expansion unit to a supply of compressed refrigerant, said valve means operable for admitting compressed refrigerant from said supply to said expansion unit at selected times.
Preferably said valve means comprises a valve and a controller for opening said valve at predetermined times for predetermined periods.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a refrigeration system for cooling a surrounding space, said refrigeration system comprising: cooled; with a supply of compressed refrigerant, said expansion unit comprising an expansion chamber and said last secondary chamber being in communication with a bleed hole for bleeding refrigerant from said expansion unit into said space; and, being in thermal communication between said expansion unit and said space via said housing; unit, said space is cooled by the absorption of heat from said heat transfer medium by expansion of said refrigerant in said expansion chamber and the expansion of refrigerant in said spac
REFERENCES:
patent: 1700429 (1929-01-01), Bright
patent: 2610472 (1952-09-01), Maxwell
patent: 3308630 (1967-03-01), Fritch, Jr. et al.
patent: 3385073 (1968-05-01), Snelling
patent: 4597271 (1986-07-01), Nof
Emerald Enterprises Pty Ltd.
Sollecito John M.
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