GB2278673A

GB2278673A - Air conditioning system

Info

Publication number: GB2278673A
Application number: GB9405672A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Arthur Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-23
Filing date: 1994-03-22
Publication date: 1994-12-07
Also published as: GB9306000D0; GB9405672D0

Abstract

A suit worn by personnel is heated or cooled by circulating a fluid around the suit. The fluid is preferably air which is circulated through special ports in the fin area of an engine of a vehicle (e.g. a motor cycle). The temperature of the fluid may be controlled by a temperature regulator. During heating the fluid is circulated through the ports of the engine, around the suit and then back to the engine for reheating. During cooling, cold air is circulated through the suit and may then be circulated trough the ports to cool the engine and on to atmosphere. The ports are preferably in the cylinder head of the engine and may include valves and a manifold for determining the flow through the ports.

Description

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM This Invention relates to an Air conditioning system for users of motorised transport vehicles and other personnel, using waste heat from internal combustion engines or other sources of heat, to both warm and cool special clothing when worn by such personnel.

It is well known that many users of different types of motorised transport vehicles such as motor cyclists, scooter riders, in fact all persons who use transport vehicles and who are exposed to the weather. Military personnel and many of their vehicles and also their tasks in severe and changing weather conditions being another instance. Police motorcyclists are at times obliged to have to contend with severe night-time and day conditions. It is well known to all such personnel that prevailing weather conditions of both cold and heat can cause great disconfort.

According to the present Invention, there is provided a means of both warming and cooling the clothing of personnel who use vehicles of the type herementioned. This system can also be used in conjunction with many other types of vehicles. The system may also be used at distances from vehicles, especially so for military purposes. The system can also be used in conjunction with self propelled vehicles, such as pedal cycles, especially so in the instance of cooling in hot weather, for racing cyclists. It can also be used in a number of instances, in light aircraft and, microlight aircraft where exposed conditions are at their extreme.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1, DRG No 5A, shows in plan and perspective, the special engine cylinder head.

Figure 2, DRG No 5B, illustrates the special hose, which connects the heating and cooling system to the special suit and clothing of the user, and which, has a quick connection and release action.

Figure 6, DRG No 6, illustrates the special suit (clothing) and its proposed hose connections.

Referring to the drawing the Air Conditioning System, comprises a special engine cylinder head, the heat generated by the runnng engine is conducted to the head. This dissipated heat is convicted into the heating ports of the air conditioning system.

PART A. In cold weather, air is either propelled or drawn through the special port system of the engine cylinder head by fan.

The air temperature after passing through the special ports, is regulated by a temperature regulator box.

The regulated air is then passed into the special suit (clothing), via special flexible hose which has a quick connection and release action.

The suit (clothing), contains a special inbuilt pipeline.

The warmed air circulates through the whole pipeline of the suit and is then returned via the outlet line of the suits (clothing), system, back to the heating ports of the engine cylinder head. The air being then again heated, regulated for temperature, and again recirculated via the fan through the suit (clothing).

The foregoing definition shall be construed to define the present invention in regard to its use in cold whether conditions over long periods, and, without which it is intended to convey that prolonged disconfort would ensue.

PART B In hot weather conditions air is drawn via a special port from the outside atmosphere by a fan. The cool or cold air is then passed into the special suit (clothing) via special flexible hose which has a quick connection and release action, previously mentioned in part of this specification.

The suit (clothing), contains a special inbuilt pipeline, previously mentioned in part of this specification. The cool or cold air circulates through the whole pipeline of the suit (clothing), and is then returned via the outlet line of the suits (clothing), system back to the engine port. The return cool air, upon reaching the entry port of the engine, may then be further circulated through the engine ports and shall assist in further cooling the engine.

Having undertaken that operation that air, is exhausted to the outer atmosphere.

The engine cooling operation has twofold system in that in stage (1) the cool airflow path is marked by twin directional arrowed lines. Stage (2) is marked with one directional arrowed line. The single arrowed line will be seen to have a broken circuit, this break, shall mean to convey that the continuous circuit of the ports has been broken, by turning that part of the ports marked (x), and that by so doing, both parts of the port are fully open to the outer airstream of the atmosphere.

The act of turning that part of the port marked (x), half a revolution, brings into action two special air intake manifolds, the said manifolds act to increase the air intake and air pressure, thus providing a higher rate of engine cooling.

During extreme cold or hot weather and, to increase the Air Conditioning System's efficiency, an external port extension can be fitted in duplicate, over the heat zone area of the engine cylinder.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for warming and cooling the bodies and clothing of personnel, who use motor vehicles which necessitate them being exposed to the elements.

2. An air conditioning system which, as well as motor cyclists and motor vehicles, can also be used by personnel who use light and other aircraft.

3. An air conditioning system which can be used by military personnel in arduious extenuated conditions.

4. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim (1) or claim (2) and (3) which can be used by pedal cyclists.

5. An air conditioning system of portable capability as claimed in claim (1) or claim (2),(3) and (4) which can be used remotely from the air conditioning source and preparation.

6. An air conditioning system as claimed in claims (1) to (5) wherein, means is provided of making use of waste heat generated by an engine to maintain a confortable body temperature for personnel in arduious extenuated conditions.

7. An air conditioning system as claimed in in any preceding claim wherein the body and clothing of personnel exposed to arduious weather conditions and over extenuated periods can be heated (warmed) and ventilated both by using waste heat from an engine or other source of energy developed by an engine.

8. An air conditioning system originated and developed from an engine both mobile and stationery and capable of being used apart and at a distance from the source of the air conditioning system.

9. An air conditioning system substantially as described herein and as referred to in the accompanying drawing and by taking reference to figures, signs and symbols marked thereon.

10. An air conditioning system as claimed herein and numbered (1) to (11) and as claimed in any preceding claim having for its use the heating and cooling of personal clothing worn by exposed personnel.

11. An extension to the port system as claimed herein, can be fitted to increase the "Air Conditioning Systems" efficiency.

12. An air conditioning system as claimed herein and mentioned in previous claims herein whereby the clothing of exposed personnel can be heated and ventilated both by using waste heat from an engine, or other source of energy developed by an engine, either by heated atmospheric air or, liquid heated by an engine.

13. An air conditioning system as claimed herein and as claimed in previous claims herein whereby, the clothing mentioned in previous claims herein is heated and ventilated by the mechanical process of an engine, by heating atmospheric air or, any kind of liquid and which, is developed or controlled by either mechanical, electrical or electronic means or generation.

14. An air conditioning system as previously mentioned herein, having one or more pipelines (circuits) inside the clothing for heating and ventilating, one of which, I.E. the ventilating line, is perforated throughout its length, inside the clothing with very small holes which allows the ventilating air to escape into all parts of the wearers clothing.

15. An air conditioning system as claimed in all previous claims mentioned herein making use of a suit or set of clothing incorporating all the aforementioned principles and claims and with the addition, (on account of special use by the miltary and Police) of a special pipeline supplying processed oxygen to the helmet of the suit or, a mask contained therein.

16. The aforementioned claims as mentioned herein, shall imply, to all engines, and generators of motion, both air and liquid cooled.