The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1994
Anthony R Bartilucci, Wantagh, NY (US);
Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A self-contained cooler/freezer apparatus for carrying items in a frozen or refrigerated environment. The apparatus comprises a first insulated container which is divided into two portions: a first storage portion where items that are incompatible with a carbon dioxide environment are stored; and, a second portion for storing a solid coolant, namely, solid carbon dioxide or dry ice. The items are placed within a second nitrogen enriched container and this second container is placed within the first storage portion of the first insulated container. Within a short period of time, the dry ice starts to sublimate, thereby forming cold gaseous carbon dioxide which fills the volume of the apparatus. A fan is used to circulate the gaseous carbon dioxide throughout the insulated container thereby removing heat from the first portion and the heat conducted out of the nitrogen enriched container and rejecting it to the dry ice in the coolant compartment, thereby cooling the first portion of the insulated container and the nitrogen enriched container stowed therein. The cold gaseous carbon dioxide is circulated throughout the insulated container via gas ducts located within the walls of the insulated container. A thermostatic controller actuates the fan based upon temperature readings from thermocouples located within the nitrogen enriched container.