Heating and cooling system for hazardous environments

Abstract

A heating and cooling apparatus for hazardous environments is disclosed. The apparatus has a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. The apparatus further comprises a motor having a shaft and an electrical component and a metallic impeller having an impeller inlet and blades. The impeller inlet faces the air inlet of the housing and the impeller is coupled to the shaft of the motor. The apparatus also has an air filter removably positioned at the air inlet of the housing. A coil is removably positioned inside the housing between the air outlet and the impeller blades. A valve is also coupled to the coil, the valve being operable to regulate the temperature of the coil by controlling the flow of fluid into the coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating and cooling apparatus for hazardous environments comprising:
 a housing having an air filter insert, the housing further comprising:
 a first wall having an air inlet; and 
 a second wall having an air outlet; 
   a motor having a shaft and an electrical component, the motor being coupled to the housing so that at least a portion of the shaft of the motor is positioned inside the housing and at least a portion of the electrical component of the motor is positioned outside the housing, wherein the motor runs continuously when it is connected to a power source to reduce electrical sparking;   an impeller having an impeller inlet and blades, the impeller inlet facing the air inlet of the first wall and the impeller being coupled to the shaft of the motor, the impeller being electrically grounded to reduce static buildup;   an air filter removably positioned inside an air filter support through the air filter insert of the housing, the air filter being positioned at the air inlet;   a coil removably positioned inside a coil support between the air outlet of the second wall and the impeller blades, the coil being separated from the electrical component of the motor by a housing wall to reduce overheating by the motor; and   a valve coupled to the coil via a valve support on the housing, the valve being operable to regulate the temperature of the coil by controlling the flow of fluid into the coil.   
     
     
         2 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a containment chamber with water-tight sides and a drain positioned below the coil. 
     
     
         3 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller is electrically grounded via the motor shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein there is a gap between the coil and the air outlet for greater airflow across the coil. 
     
     
         5 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller is positioned within an impeller support having a first opening for allowing airflow into the impeller inlet and a second opening for directing propelled air from the impeller toward the coil. 
     
     
         6 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a mesh is removably coupled to the second opening of the impeller support for dispersing propelled air across the coil. 
     
     
         7 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is positioned substantially near the center of the coil. 
     
     
         8 . A method for heating and cooling a hazardous environment comprising:
 driving a motor coupled to a housing, the housing comprising:
 a first wall having an air inlet; and 
 a second wall having an air outlet; 
 wherein the motor has a shaft and an electrical component, the motor being coupled to the housing so that at least a portion of the shaft of the motor is positioned inside the housing and at least a portion of the electrical component of the motor is positioned outside the housing; 
   using the motor to drive an electrically grounded impeller coupled to the motor shaft to draw air into the housing through the air inlet and propel air out of the housing through the air outlet, the impeller having an impeller inlet and impeller blades, the impeller drawing air into the housing through the impeller inlet and the impeller propelling air out of the housing through the air outlet;   filtering the drawn air through an air filter removably positioned inside an air filter support that is positioned at the air inlet to remove volatile particles in the drawn air;   heating or cooling a coil removably positioned inside a coil support between the air outlet of the second wall and the impeller blades by passing heated or cooled fluid through the coil;   heating or cooling the propelled air by propelling the air onto the heated or cooled coil; and   regulating the temperature of the propelled air by controlling the flow of fluid into the coil by operating a valve coupled to the coil.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises a containment chamber with water-tight sides and a drain positioned below the coil. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the impeller is electrically grounded via the motor shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein there is a gap between the coil and the air outlet for greater airflow across the coil. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the impeller is positioned within an impeller support having a first opening for allowing airflow into the impeller inlet and a second opening for directing propelled air from the impeller toward the coil. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a mesh is removably coupled to the second opening of the impeller support for dispersing propelled air across the coil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the air outlet is positioned substantially near the center of the coil. 
     
     
         15 . A system for heating and cooling a hazardous environment comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, the housing further comprising;
 a motor having a shaft and an electrical component, the motor being coupled to the housing so that at least a portion of the driving component of the motor is positioned inside the housing and at least a portion of the electrical component of the motor is positioned outside the housing; 
 an impeller having an impeller inlet and blades, the impeller inlet facing the air inlet of the housing, the impeller being electrically grounded and being coupled to the shaft of the motor; 
 an air filter removably positioned at the air inlet of the housing; 
 a coil removably positioned inside the housing between the air outlet and the impeller blades; and 
 a valve coupled to the coil, the valve being operable to regulate the temperature of the coil by controlling the flow of fluid into the coil; 
   a cart comprising a base for supporting the housing and a plurality of wheels for moving the housing; and   a fluid temperature conditioner located remote from the housing, the conditioner being coupled to the coil and providing heated or cooled fluid to the coil.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cart wheels are semi-pneumatic to minimize the likelihood of bursting if the wheels encounter a sharp object. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the air outlet is placed substantially near the center of the coil and there is a gap between the coil and the air outlet for greater airflow across the coil. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the impeller is positioned within an impeller support having a first opening for allowing airflow into the impeller inlet and a second opening for directing propelled air from the impeller toward the coil. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a mesh is removably coupled to the second opening of the impeller support for dispersing propelled air across the coil. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a containment chamber positioned below the coil.