Method and apparatus for cooling devices that in use generate unwanted heat

Abstract

A cooler comprising coils and passageways defined by and between the coils through which ambient air moves, from the inlet of the cooler to the outlet of the cooler, is positioned with its outlet in register with an ambient air inlet for an enclosed space. A device that in use generates heat is positioned within the enclosed space. The enclosed space includes an ambient air inlet and an outlet through which ambient air from the ambient air inlet to the outlet. The cooler is used to cool the ambient air that is immediately forwardly of the ambient air inlet for the enclosed space. An air mover in the enclosed space, or thermal flow, is used for moving the cooled ambient air into the ambient air inlet, through the enclosed space, and out from the outlet of the enclosed space.

1 . For use with an enclosed space that contains at least one device that in use generates heat, and which includes an ambient air inlet and, an outlet in which ambient air moves through the space from the ambient air inlet to the outlet, an ambient air cooler comprising: 
 an inlet for ambient air, an inner space, an outlet from the inner space, and a device in the inner space that is adapted for removing heat from the ambient air as the ambient air passes through the inner space from the inlet to the outlet;    wherein said cooler is adapted to be positioned with its outlet in register with the ambient air inlet for the enclosed space, so that the ambient air that is moved through the enclosed space is ambient air that has been cooled by the cooler; and    wherein the cooler is adapted to remove heat from the ambient air in an amount sufficient such that while in the enclosed space the cooled ambient air will remove a desired amount of the heat that is generated by the device in the enclosed space.    
   
   
       2 . The ambient air cooler of  claim 1  in which the cooler has flow through passage ways defined by and between cooling coils and leading from the ambient air inlet of the cooler to the outlet of the cooler.  
   
   
       3 . The ambient air cooler of  claim 1 , comprising a connector for connecting the cooler to the enclosed space substantially immediately in front of the device in the enclosed space that generates heat during its use.  
   
   
       4 . The ambient air cooler of  claim 3 , wherein the cooler includes wheeled base allowing it to be rolled towards and away from the inlet of the enclosed space.  
   
   
       5 . For use with an enclosed space that includes a plurality of compartments, each said compartment containing at least one device that in use generates heat, and which includes an ambient air inlet for each compartment, an outlet for each compartment, and in which ambient air moves through the compartment from the inlet of the compartment to the outlet of the compartment, an ambient air cooler comprising: 
 inlet for ambient air, an inner space, an outlet from the inner space, and the device in the inner space which is adapted for removing heat from the ambient air as the ambient air passes through the inner space from the inlet to the outlet;    wherein said cooler is adapted to be positioned with its outlet in register with ambient air inlet for at least one compartment of the enclosed space, so that the ambient air that is moved through at least one compartment of the enclosed space is ambient air that has been cooled by the cooler; and    wherein the cooler is adapted to remove heat from the ambient air in an amount sufficient such that while in the at least one compartment of the enclosed space the cooled ambient air will remove a desired amount of the heat that is generated by the device in the compartment.    
   
   
       6 . The ambient air cooler of  claim 5  in which the cooler has flow through passage ways defined by cooling coils and leading from the ambient air inlet of the cooler to the outlet of the cooler.  
   
   
       7 . The ambient air cooler of  claim 5 , comprising a connector for connecting the cooler to the enclosed space substantially immediately in front of the device in the enclosed space that generates heat during its use.  
   
   
       8 . The ambient air cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the cooler includes wheels allowing it to be rolled towards and away from the inlet of the enclosed space.  
   
   
       9 . A method of removing heat from a device that in use generates heat, comprising: 
 positioning the device that in use generates heat inside of an enclosed space that includes an ambient air inlet, an outlet and through which ambient air moves from the ambient air inlet to the outlet;    providing an ambient air cooler that comprises an inlet for ambient air, an inner space, an outlet from the inner space, and a device in the inner space that is adapted for removing heat from the ambient air as the ambient air passes through the inner space from the inlet to the outlet;    positioning the cooler with its outlet in register with the ambient air inlet for the enclosed space, so that the ambient air that is moved through the enclosed space is ambient air that has been cooled by the cooler; and    removing the heat from the ambient air in an amount sufficient so that while it is in the enclosed space the cooled ambient air will remove a desired amount of heat that is generated by the device in the enclosed space.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising providing a cooler that has flow through passageways that are defined by and between cooling coils.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising providing the cooler with a wheeled base and rolling the cooler towards the enclosed space into the position in which the outlet of the cooler is in register with the ambient air inlet of the enclosed space.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising connecting the cooler to the enclosed space after the outlet of the cooler has been put into register with the ambient air inlet of the enclosed space.