Air Cooling Device for Protective Clothing and System Thereof

Abstract

A device for cooling air between a garment and wearer of the garment, and a protective apparel cooling system, wherein the device comprises a cooling unit comprising a plurality of heat transfer modules for cooling the air, and one or more fan(s) for advancing the air through the heat transfer modules, wherein each heat transfer module comprises a sealable volume for the placement of phase change material for cooling the air, and a channel through the sealable volume that forms an air passageway that is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more fan(s); wherein the channel further comprises a plurality of interior fins extending from an inner channel wall into the air passageway, and a plurality of exterior fins extending from an outer channel wall into the sealable volume; wherein heat can transfer from air in the air passageway to any phase change material in the sealable volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for cooling air between a garment and wearer of the garment,
 wherein the device comprises a cooling unit comprising a plurality of heat transfer modules for cooling the air, and one or more fan(s) for advancing the air through the heat transfer modules,   wherein each heat transfer module comprises:
 a) a sealable volume for the placement of phase change material for cooling the air, and 
 b) a channel through the sealable volume that forms an air passageway that is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more fan(s), 
   wherein the channel further comprises:
 i) a plurality of interior fins extending from an inner channel wall into the air passageway, and 
 ii) a plurality of exterior fins extending from an outer channel wall into the sealable volume; 
   wherein heat can transfer from air in the air passageway to any phase change material in the sealable volume.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein one or more heat transfer module is interchangeable with any other heat transfer module. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of heat transfer modules is arranged in parallel in the cooling unit with the channels of the heat transfer modules forming separate air passageways, with each air passageway in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more fan(s). 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of heat transfer modules is arranged in a series in the cooling unit with the channels of the heat transfer modules forming an air passageway that is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more fan(s). 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the cooling unit has two or more series of heat transfer modules, with the series arranged parallel to each other, with the channels of each of the two or more series of heat transfer modules forming separate air passageways, with each air passageway in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more fan(s). 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising equipment for wearing the device by the wearer of the garment. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the equipment for wearing the device is designed to be worn between the garment and the wearer of the garment. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the equipment for wearing the device positions the device on the back of the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a condensate reservoir for collecting moisture that condenses in the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising conduits for conveying air either to or from the device. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a phase change material in the sealable volume. 
     
     
         12 . A cooling system for the wearer of the protective garment comprising a device for cooling the air between the protective garment and wearer, the device further having conduits for conveying cooled air to one or more desired areas of the wearer,
 wherein the device comprises a cooling unit comprising a plurality of heat transfer modules for cooling the air and one or more fan(s) for advancing the air through the heat transfer modules and further advancing and distributing that cooled air to the wearer via the conduits, and   wherein the device further comprises an encasement for supporting and holding the plurality of heat transfer modules in a desired position, the encasement including an opening for accessing the plurality of heat transfer modules,   the encasement further having one or more openings for the conduits.   
     
     
         13 . The cooling system of  claim 12  further comprising equipment that positions the encasement of the device on the back of the wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling system of  claim 12  wherein the device further comprises a condensate reservoir for collecting moisture generated by the cooling unit. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 12  wherein the encasement supports and holds two heat transfer modules, and the conduits are configured to convey cooled air to the armpits and neck of the wearer. 
     
     
         16 . A protective apparel system for cooling a wearer of a protective garment, the system comprising the protective garment and a cooling system,
 the cooling system comprising a device for cooling the air between the protective garment and wearer, the device further having conduits for conveying cooled air to one or more desired areas of the wearer,   wherein the device comprises a cooling unit comprising a plurality of heat transfer modules for cooling the air and one or more fan(s) for advancing the air through the heat transfer modules and further advancing and distributing that cooled air to the wearer via the conduits, and   wherein the device also comprises an encasement for supporting and holding the plurality of heat transfer modules in a desired position, the encasement including an opening for accessing the plurality of heat transfer modules, the encasement further having one or more openings for the conduits; and   wherein the device further comprises equipment for wearing the device by the wearer, the equipment supporting the encasement between the garment and the wearer of the garment; and   the protective garment having a sealable opening for accessing the opening of the device encasement for the insertion and removal of heat transfer modules while the device is being worn.   
     
     
         17 . The protective apparel system of  claim 16  wherein the equipment for wearing the device positions the encasement on the back of the wearer, and the sealable opening of the protective garment is on the back or side of the garment. 
     
     
         18 . The protective apparel system of  claim 16  wherein the device further comprises a condensate reservoir for collecting moisture generated by the cooling unit. 
     
     
         19 . The protective apparel system of  claim 16  wherein the encasement supports and holds two heat transfer modules, and the conduits are configured to convey cooled air to the armpits and neck of the wearer.