Water cooler abstract
A circulating cold water cooler-chiller comprised of a water holding
tank, refrigerant cooling/thermal electric unit and a circulating
pump system. The water in the water tank is cooled by coolant coils
in bottom of tank and the water is circulated by an electric pump.
The temperature is controlled by a thermostatic control that has
a sensor in the water so as to control the refrigerant compressor/thermal
electric unit operation letting the water circulation be separate
and continuous at all times. Constant temperature is maintained
by this type of configuration.
Water cooler claims
What is claimed is as follows:
1. An apparatus for cooling, storing and temperature controlling
temperature sensitive medical, chemical, food, or beverage items
such as freshly drawn whole blood at blood banks and labs, said
apparatus comprising:
a receiving chamber,
a plurality of horizontally positioned refrigerant cooling lines
in the bottom of said chamber,
a body of liquid in said chamber having an equal volume or less
than the volume of said chamber, said liquid being cooled by said
refrigerant cooling lines,
a refrigerant compressor/thermal electric unit, connected to said
refrigerant cooling lines,
an electric liquid pump located in a corner of said chamber for
constantly circulating said body of liquid throughout said chamber
over said refrigerant cooling lines,
a tubing dispensing system connected to said pump that directs
said cooled liquid onto and in between blood containers and/or other
objects disposed within said receiving chamber, further comprising
a transfer hose that transfers said cooled liquid from the vicinity
of said pump to the opposite end of said chamber and a dispensing
tube at the bottom of said chamber with circulation holes pointed
toward the pump end of said chamber,
a device for sensing water temperature in said chamber,
a compressor temperature thermostat control which controls said
refrigerant compressor/thermal electric unit to constantly maintain
the temperature of said liquid to be 2 degrees Centigrade to 6 degrees
Centigrade, and
a filtering means in the path of the cooled liquid to kill and
remove bacteria, organic, and organic chemical material from said
cooled liquid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid is a sterile liquid.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber is constructed
of stainless steel.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising two pairs of U-shaped
legs which slip into U-shaped receptacles on both ends of said chamber
to support said chamber, and a common shelf connected to said U-shaped
legs to support and hold a refrigerant compressor for said refrigeration
system.
Water cooler description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to cooling or chilling whole blood placed
in the water holding tank. The cooling effect is much quicker than
cold air coolers or ice coolers and maintains a consistency in temperature
that other coolers can not. Some medical or chemical items are temperature
sensitive and this invention will assist in handling of such materials.
Such cooling devices in the past have been complex, but this present
invention is a simple structure for holding water, cooling water,
circulating water and controlling/recording the temperature of the
water in order to closely control the temperature of items placed
in said water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of this invention is to provide a readily
practical and usable cooling-chilling device for food, beverages,
medical and chemical handling.
The many objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description
of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals
refer to like parts and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of the circulating cold water cooler-chiller;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the circulating cold water cooler-chiller
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the circulating cold water cooler-chiller
of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of the circulating cold
water cooler-chiller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and more particularly, to FIG. 2 there
is illustrated a top view of a circulation cold water cooler-chiller
receiving chamber or holding tank (10) provided with two pairs of
legs (12). Both pairs of legs support the holding tank and are joined
together by a common shelf (21) which also supports and holds the
refrigerant compressor FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. 4. The legs are U-shaped
and slip into U-shaped receptacles (14) on both ends of holding
tank (10). There are four coils of refrigerant tubing (15) in the
bottom of the holding tank over which the cold water flows and is
cooled. The flow of the water is accomplished by the use of an electrically
operated water pump (17) located in the corner of the holding tank.
The water is picked up from the bottom of the holding tank at the
coldest point of cooling tube that first enters the holding tank.
The water is then transferred to the opposite end of the holding
tank by a transfer hose (18). The transferred water is then dispensed
by a tube (19) with circulation holes pointed toward pump end of
holding tank from the bottom of the holding tank (10).
As illustrated in detail at FIG. 2 the circulating cold water
cooler-chiller holding tank may be made of any metal material, preferably
galvanized steel or stainless steel in the form of a substantially
rectangular holding tank (10). This holding tank (10) has U-shaped
receptacles (14) at the end of the holding tank (10) tied together
at their bottom by a common shelf (21), which also supports and
holds the refrigerant compressor/thermal electric unit (13) on which
the compressor temperature thermostat (20) control is mounted which
has a catheter (22) for sensing water temperature in holding tank
(10). The compressor temperature thermostat (20) controls the refrigerant
compressor/thermal electric unit (13) to maintain the temperature
of the water to be 2 degrees Centigrade to 6 degrees Centigrade.
The apparatus also includes a filtering means (25) in the path
of the cooled liquid to kill and remove bacteria, organic, and organic
chemical material from the coolant liquid, making the liquid sterile.
The filtering means (25) further comprises an ultra-violet light
unit and membrane filter for killing and removing bacteria, and
activated carbon filter for removing organic chemical material.
Such filters are available from the Ultra Dynamics Corporation,
1631 10th Street, Santa Monica, Calif. 90404 and from water systems
dealers such as Continental Water Systems of San Antonio, Tex. and
PJD International of Santa Barbara, Calif.
What is shown by FIG. 3 is the end view of all components from
that angle showing their prospective locations when the circulating
cold water cooler-chiller tank (10) is viewed from the compressor/thermal
electric unit (13) end. Where as the FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic
view of the circulating cold water cooler-chiller viewed from the
compressor (13) end. The water pump (17) and the compressor/thermal
electric unit (13) are connected to a source of electrical power,
not shown, through an appropriate line, not shown.
The electric water pump (17) and the refrigerant compressor (13)
may be any convenient low power electric pump (17) and refrigerant
compressor readily available in the market. The temperature control
thermostat (20) with temperature sensing catheter (22) is also readily
available in the market. The shelf (21) which joins the legs (12)
and supports the compressor/thermal electric unit (13) can be provided
with the appropriate caster, one at each corner, so the circulation
cold water cooler-chiller may be made easily transportable.
Having thus described the present invention by way of a typical
example of structural embodiment thereof, modifications whereof
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While the form of
embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes
a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might
be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claim which follows.
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