Helmet cooling device and methods for use thereof

Abstract

A cooling apparatus for a helmet is provided for cooling air in an interior space of a helmet to cool a wearer's head. The cooling apparatus maximizes the volume of air moving across an evaporator and minimizes the speed at which the air passes through cooling fins of the evaporator, thereby achieving air temperatures substantially below the outside ambient temperature. A narrow opening is provided between a first chamber of intake air and a second chamber which houses the evaporator, such that air passing through the narrow opening increases in velocity and pressure. Upon entering the second chamber which is a large open space, the highly pressurized and high velocity air immediately slows down and expands into the large second chamber, where it then passes across a large surface area of the evaporator and outward through a collection chamber and a blower to the inside of the helmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cooling a helmet with air, comprising:
 a first air intake opening connected with a first chamber by an inlet air duct;   a second chamber connected with the first chamber via an opening, wherein the size of the opening increases the pressure and decreases the velocity of air passing from the first chamber to the second chamber;   an evaporator disposed within the second chamber which cools air as it passes through the second chamber to create cooled air;   a third chamber which collects the cooled air; and   a blower disposed within the third chamber which receives the cooled air from the second chamber and passes the cooled air to an interior portion of a helmet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the opening is smaller than the diameter of the first chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the first chamber decreases as it extends toward the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second chamber is larger than the diameter of the opening, such that the pressure and velocity of air entering the second chamber decreases. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an air filter disposed between the inlet air duct and the first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the air filter is disposed in an air filter housing. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the air filter housing is disposed outside of a main housing of the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured within a shell of a helmet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet air duct is connected with the first chamber via a helmet air duct which is partially formed from an external surface of the evaporator in order to partially cool the air. 
     
     
         10 . A method of cooling a helmet with air, comprising:
 receiving air at a first air intake opening connected with a first chamber by an inlet air duct;   directing the air in the first chamber to a second chamber connected with the first chamber via an opening, wherein the size of the opening increases the pressure and decreases the velocity of air passing from the first chamber to the second chamber;   cooling the air in the second chamber with an evaporator to create cooled air;   collecting the cooled air in a third chamber; and   directing the cooled air to an interior portion of the helmet with a blower disposed within the third chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising configuring the diameter of the opening to be smaller than the diameter of the first chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising configuring the diameter of the first chamber to decrease as it extends toward the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising configuring the diameter of the second chamber to be larger than the diameter of the opening, such that the pressure and velocity of air entering the second chamber decreases. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising disposing an air filter between the inlet air duct and the first chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising disposing the air filter within an air filter housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising disposing the air filter housing outside of a main housing of the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising disposing air intake opening, first chamber, second chamber, evaporator, third chamber and blower within the housing of the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising connecting the inlet air duct with the first chamber via a helmet air duct which is partially formed from an external surface of the evaporator in order to partially cool the air.