Portable marine air conditioner and dehumidifier

Abstract

An air cooling and humidifying device using water from a body of water includes an air to water heat exchanger for transferring heat from air surrounding the exchanger to water contained in the exchanger. A water transmitting hose is communicably connected to the exchanger. The hose includes an intake portion submersible in the body of water for transmitting water from a location beneath the surface of the body of water wherein the water temperature is below the ambient air temperature and introducing the water through the exchanger. The hose also includes an exhaust portion for discharging water from the exchanger into the body of water. The pump is operably connected to the intake portion for moving water through the intake portion, the exchanger and the exhaust portion. An air circulating device directs ambient air through the exchanger such that the ambient air is cooled by water in the exchanger.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims:  
     
         1 . An air cooling and dehumidifying device using water from a body of water, said device comprising: 
 an air-to-water heat exchanger, said exchanger for transferring heat from air surrounding said exchanger to water contained in said exchanger;    a water transmitting hose communicably connected to said exchanger, said hose including an intake hose portion submersible in the body of water for transmitting water from a location wherein the water temperature is below the ambient air temperature and introducing the water through said exchanger, and an exhaust hose portion for discharging water from said exchanger into the body of water;    a pump operably connected to said intake hose portion for moving water through said intake portion, said exchanger and said exhaust portion; and    an air circulating device for directing ambient air through said exchanger such that the ambient air is cooled by water in the exchanger.    
     
     
         2 . The device in  claim 1  in which said air moving device comprises a fan.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  in which said intake portion transmits water from a location approximately 10 feet below the surface of the body of water.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  in which said pump is suspendable by said intake hose portion and submersible in the body of water.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  further including a drain connected to said exchanger for collecting condensed water from said exchanger.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further including a strainer connected to a distal part of said intake portion for filtering debris from entering said intake hose portion.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  in which said intake hose portion is submersible to a depth of not greater than 30 feet in the body of water.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  in which said exhaust hose portion is submersible in the body of water and positionable therein such that resistance to the movement of water through said hose and said exchanger from said intake hose portion to said exhaust hose portion is reduced and pumping of such water is facilitated.  
     
     
         9 . A marine vessel cabin air cooling device using water from a body of water below the vessel, said device comprising: 
 an air-to-water heat exchanger, said exchanger for transferring heat from air surrounding said exchanger to water contained in said exchanger;    a water transmitting conduit communicably connected to said exchanger, said conduit including an intake hose portion submersible in the body of water exteriorly of the vessel for transmitting water from a location wherein the water temperature is below the ambient air temperature and introducing the water through said exchanger, and an exhaust hose portion for discharging water from said exchanger into the body of water;    a pump operably connected to said intake hose portion for moving water through said intake hose portion, said exchanger and said exhaust hose portion; and    an air circulating device for directing ambient air through said exchanger such that the ambient air is cooled by water in the exchanger.    
     
     
         10 . The device in  claim 9  in which said air moving device comprises a fan.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9  in which said intake hose portion is submersible to a depth below the lowest part of the hull of the vessel.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  in which said pump is suspendable by said intake hose portion and submersible in the body of water exteriorly of the vessel.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9  further including a drain connected to said exchanger for collecting condensed water from said exchanger.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9  further including a strainer connected to a distal part of said intake hose portion for restricting debris from entering said intake portion.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9  in which said intake hose portion is submersible to a depth of not greater than 30 feet in the body of water.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9  in which said exhaust hose portion is submersible in the body of water and positioned therein such that resistance to the movement of water through said hose and said exchanger from said intake hose portion to said exhaust hose portion is reduced and pumping of such water is facilitated.  
     
     
         17 . A method for cooling air using water from a body of water, said method comprising: 
 operably connecting a pump to an intake hose;    submerging said intake hose in the body of water to a selected location below the surface of the body of water wherein the water temperature is below the ambient air temperature;    operating said pump to collect water;    directing the water through said intake hose to an air-to-water heat exchanger wherein heat from the air is transferred to the water;    directing ambient air through said heat exchanger to cool the ambient air; and    discharging the water from the heat exchanger through an exhaust hose after ambient air has been cooled by the water.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  in which said intake hose portion is submerged to a depth and the water is pumped from a location below the lowest part of the hull of the vessel.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  in which said pump is submerged to a depth not greater than 30 feet in the body of water.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  in which said exhaust portion is positioned in the body of water such that resistance to the movement of water through said hose and said exchanger from said intake hose portion to said exhaust hose portion is reduced and pumping of such water is facilitated.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1  in which said intake hose portion includes a pair of distinct hose segments interconnected by said pump.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 9  in which said intake hose portion includes a pair of distinct hose segments interconnected by said pump.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1  in which said intake hose portion includes a plurality of distinct hose segments that are releasably interconnectable to one another.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 9  in which said intake hose portion includes a plurality of distinct hose segments that are releasably interconnectable to one another.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 1  in which said intake hose portion is adjustably submersible to a selected one of a plurality of depths in the body of water.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 9  in which said intake hose portion is adjustably submersible to a selected one of a plurality of depths in the body of water.