Cooling unit

Abstract

A cooling unit for cooling an enclosed interior space of a vehicle. Also provided are methods of cooling the interior of the vehicle.

1 . A cooling unit for an armored vehicle, the unit including:
 a. a housing adapted to pass cool air from inside the housing to an interior of the armored vehicle;   b. a compressor or pump located within the housing; and   c. an energy transfer tube apparatus in which at least two rotating fluid flows can be established so as to transfer energy from one of the rotating fluid flows to another of the rotating fluid flows, the energy transfer tube apparatus being located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump.   
   
   
       2 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein the cooling unit has first and second operating modes, the armored vehicle has a vehicle power system, the cooling unit is powered by the vehicle power system, the cooling unit operates at a first electric current level when operating in the first operating mode, and the cooling unit operates at a second electric current level when operating in the second operating mode, said first electric current level being greater than said second electric current level. 
   
   
       3 . The cooling unit of  claim 2  wherein said first electric current level is at least 35% greater than said second electric current level. 
   
   
       4 . The cooling unit of  claim 2  wherein said first electric current level is at least 50% greater than said second electric current level. 
   
   
       5 . The cooling unit of  claim 2  wherein a limiting device limits operation of the cooling unit to said second electric current level when operating in the second operating mode. 
   
   
       6 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  comprising a battery pack or another device energy source configured to power the compressor or pump, the battery pack or other device energy source either being within the housing or on the housing. 
   
   
       7 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein the cooling unit is configured such that the compressor or pump is powered by different power sources at different times. 
   
   
       8 . The cooling unit of  claim 7  wherein one of the power sources is a battery pack and another of the power sources is a vehicle power system. 
   
   
       9 . The cooling unit of  claim 8  wherein the compressor or pump is powered by the battery pack when the armored vehicle is operating in a first mode, and the compressor or pump is powered by the vehicle power system when the armored vehicle is operating in a second mode. 
   
   
       10 . The cooling unit of  claim 9  wherein the battery pack is a rechargeable battery pack, and when the compressor or pump is being powered by the vehicle power system the battery pack is simultaneously recharged by the vehicle power system. 
   
   
       11 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a modular configuration and can be removably mounted at an interchangeable module position inside the armored vehicle. 
   
   
       12 . The cooling unit of  claim 11  wherein the cooling unit itself comprises one or more sub-assembly modules that can be removed individually from the cooling unit. 
   
   
       13 . The cooling unit of  claim 12  wherein the cooling unit includes a discharge blower module, the discharge blower module including a blower, such that if the blower needs replacement or repair the blower can be readily accessed by individually removing the discharge blower module from the cooling unit. 
   
   
       14 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus has a flow separator that mechanically separates two fluid flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, wherein the flow separator diverts one of said two fluid flows along an outer pathway while the other of said two flows is channeled along an inner pathway. 
   
   
       15 . The cooling unit of  claim 14  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       16 . The cooling unit of  claim 15  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates said two flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       17 . The cooling unit of  claim 16  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       18 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  comprising a shock reducer to provide the unit with resistance against being damaged when the armored vehicle experiences shock. 
   
   
       19 . The cooling unit of  claim 18  wherein the shock reducer comprises a shock absorbing gel or foam. 
   
   
       20 . The cooling unit of  claim 19  wherein the shock absorbing gel or foam at least partially encapsulates the compressor, the energy transfer tube apparatus, or both. 
   
   
       21 . The cooling unit of  claim 19  wherein the shock absorbing gel or foam is positioned in the housing so as to leave open at least a warm air pathway and a cool air pathway. 
   
   
       22 . The cooling unit of  claim 21  wherein a warm air blower is adapted to move air along the warm air pathway, and a cool air fan is adapted to move air along the cool air pathway. 
   
   
       23 . The cooling unit of  claim 18  wherein the shock reducer comprises at least one flexible shock absorbing mount. 
   
   
       24 . The cooling unit of  claim 23  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is mounted on at least one flexible shock absorbing mount. 
   
   
       25 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein the cooling unit includes a pressurized discharge system comprising an exhaust compartment from which warm air can be discharged through a discharge outlet such that the warm air discharged through the discharge outlet has a super-atmospheric pressure. 
   
   
       26 . The cooling unit of  claim 25  wherein the super-atmospheric pressure is greater than 1.5 atmospheres. 
   
   
       27 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein the housing has one or more outlet vents adapted to pass cool air from inside the housing to the interior of the armored vehicle. 
   
   
       28 . The cooling unit of  claim 27  wherein the cooling unit has a cool air circuit and a warm air circuit, a warm air blower is adapted to move air along the warm air circuit, and a cool air fan is adapted to move air along the cool air circuit. 
   
   
       29 . The cooling unit of  claim 28  wherein cool air from the cool air circuit passes through said one or more outlet vents when being delivered to the interior of the armored vehicle. 
   
   
       30 . The cooling unit of  claim 29  wherein the cooling unit has a discharge outlet through which warm air from the warm air circuit is adapted to pass when being discharged from the cooling unit to outside the armored vehicle. 
   
   
       31 . The cooling unit of  claim 1  wherein a refrigeration circuit is located within the housing, the refrigeration circuit comprising the following components:
 i. the compressor or pump;   ii. the energy transfer tube apparatus; and   iii. an evaporator.   
   
   
       32 . The cooling unit of  claim 31  wherein the cooling unit has a cool air circuit and a warm air circuit, the housing has a first compartment and a second compartment, the warm air circuit is in the first compartment, the cool air circuit is in the second compartment, and the energy transfer tube apparatus, a condenser, or both are located in the first compartment such that air moving along the warm air circuit passes over the energy transfer tube apparatus, the condenser, or both. 
   
   
       33 . The cooling unit of  claim 32  wherein the evaporator is in the second compartment. 
   
   
       34 . The cooling unit of  claim 32  comprising a warm air blower configured to cause air to pass over the energy transfer tube apparatus, the condenser, or both and to remove heated air from the first compartment, and a cool air fan configured to cause air to pass over the evaporator and to remove cooled air from the second compartment. 
   
   
       35 . The cooling unit of  claim 31  wherein the refrigeration circuit is provided with an accumulator. 
   
   
       36 . The cooling unit of  claim 35  wherein the accumulator is located on the refrigerator circuit between the pump or compressor and the evaporator. 
   
   
       37 . A cooling unit for an armored vehicle, the unit including:
 a. a housing adapted to pass cool air from inside the housing to an interior of the armored vehicle;   b. a compressor or pump located within the housing; and   c. an energy transfer tube apparatus in which inner and outer rotating fluid flows can be established so as to transfer energy from the inner flow to the outer flow, the energy transfer tube apparatus being located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump, the energy transfer tube apparatus having a flow separator that mechanically separates the inner and outer flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, the flow separator being configured to divert the outer flow along an outer pathway while the inner flow is channeled along an inner pathway.   
   
   
       38 . The cooling unit of  claim 37  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       39 . The cooling unit of  claim 38  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates the inner and outer flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       40 . The cooling unit of  claim 39  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       41 . A cooling unit for an armored vehicle, the cooling unit including a housing adapted to pass cool air from inside the housing to an interior of the armored vehicle, the cooling unit being equipped to provide both an output of greater than 12,000 BTU/hr and a coefficient of performance of greater than 2.25 while the vehicle is in an environment in which the ambient temperature is 125° F., the cooling unit having a compressor or pump located within the housing, and an energy transfer tube apparatus in which at least two rotating fluid flows can be established so as to transfer energy from one of the rotating fluid flows to another of the rotating fluid flows, the energy transfer tube apparatus being located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump. 
   
   
       42 . The cooling unit of  claim 41  wherein the coefficient of performance is greater than 2.4. 
   
   
       43 . The cooling unit of  claim 41  wherein the coefficient of performance is at least about 2.48. 
   
   
       44 . The cooling unit of  claim 41  wherein the cooling unit has a single discharge outlet through which warm air is adapted to pass when being discharged from inside the cooling unit to outside the armored vehicle, the discharge outlet having a cross-sectional area that is no greater than about eight square inches 
   
   
       45 . The cooling unit of  claim 41  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus has a flow separator that mechanically separates inner and outer flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, the flow separator being configured to divert the outer flow along an outer pathway while the inner flow is channeled along an inner pathway. 
   
   
       46 . The cooling unit of  claim 45  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       47 . The cooling unit of  claim 46  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates the inner and outer flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       48 . The cooling unit of  claim 47  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       49 . A cooling unit for an armored vehicle having a vehicle interior of between about 500 and about 800 cubic feet, the cooling unit being equipped to overcome a heat load of at least about 12,000 BTU/hr, the cooling unit including a housing adapted to pass cool air from inside the housing to the interior of the armored vehicle, a compressor or pump located within the housing, and an energy transfer tube apparatus in which at least two rotating fluid flows can be established so as to transfer energy from one of the rotating fluid flows to another of the rotating fluid flows, the energy transfer tube apparatus being located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump, the cooling unit having an output of at least 15,000 BTU/hr. 
   
   
       50 . The cooling unit of  claim 49  wherein the cooling unit can provide said output of at least 15,000 BTU/hr while the vehicle is in an environment in which the ambient temperature is 125° F. 
   
   
       51 . The cooling unit of  claim 49  wherein the output is at least 19,000 BTU/hr. 
   
   
       52 . The cooling unit of  claim 49  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus has a flow separator that mechanically separates inner and outer flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, the flow separator being configured to divert the outer flow along an outer pathway while the inner flow is channeled along an inner pathway. 
   
   
       53 . The cooling unit of  claim 52  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       54 . The cooling unit of  claim 53  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates the inner and outer flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       55 . The cooling unit of  claim 54  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       56 . The cooling unit of  claim 49  wherein the cooling unit has a single discharge outlet through which warm air is adapted to pass when being discharged from inside the cooling unit to outside the armored vehicle, the discharge outlet having a cross-sectional area that is no greater than about four square inches 
   
   
       57 . A method of cooling an interior of an armored vehicle equipped with a cooling unit, the cooling unit including a housing, a compressor or pump located within the housing, and an energy transfer tube apparatus located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump, the method comprising operating the cooling unit so as to pass cool air from inside the housing to the interior of the armored vehicle, wherein said operation of the cooling unit includes establishing at least two rotating fluid flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus so as to transfer energy from one of the rotating fluid flows to another of the rotating fluid flows. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the method includes operating the cooling unit in first and second operating modes, wherein the armored vehicle has a vehicle power system, the method comprises using the vehicle power system to power the cooling unit, and the method includes operating the cooling unit at a first electric current level when in the first operating mode, and operating the cooling unit at a second electric current level when in the second operating mode, said first electric current level being greater than said second electric current level. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the method includes using a limiting device to limit operation of the cooling unit to said second electric current level when in the second operating mode. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the cooling unit includes a pressurized discharge system comprising an exhaust compartment from which warm air is discharged through a discharge outlet such that the warm air discharged through the discharge outlet has a super-atmospheric pressure. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the super-atmospheric pressure is greater than 1.5 atmospheres. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus has a flow separator that mechanically separates inner and outer rotating fluid flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, the flow separator diverting the outer flow along an outer pathway while channeling the inner flow along an inner pathway. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates the inner and outer flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       66 . A method of cooling an interior of an armored vehicle equipped with a cooling unit, the cooling unit including a housing, a compressor or pump located within the housing, and an energy transfer tube apparatus located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump, the method comprising operating the cooling unit so as to pass cool air from inside the housing to the interior of the armored vehicle, the cooling unit providing an output of greater than 12,000 BTU/hr and having a coefficient of performance of greater than 2.25, wherein said operation of the cooling unit includes establishing at least two rotating fluid flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus so as to transfer energy from one of the rotating fluid flows to another of the rotating fluid flows. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the coefficient of performance is greater than 2.4. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the coefficient of performance is at least about 2.48. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the cooling unit is equipped to provide both said output of greater than 12,000 BTU/hr and said coefficient of performance of greater than 2.25 even when the armored vehicle is in an environment in which the ambient temperature is 125° F. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the vehicle interior being cooled is between about 500 and about 800 cubic feet. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the cooling unit has a single discharge outlet through which warm air passes from inside the cooling unit to outside the armored vehicle, the discharge outlet having a cross-sectional area that is no greater than about eight square inches. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus has a flow separator that mechanically separates inner and outer flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, the flow separator diverting the outer flow along an outer pathway while channeling the inner flow along an inner pathway. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates the inner and outer flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 74  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       76 . A method of cooling an interior of an armored vehicle equipped with a cooling unit, the vehicle interior having between about 500 and about 800 cubic feet, the cooling unit being equipped to overcome a heat load of at least about 12,000 BTU/hr, the cooling unit including a housing, a compressor or pump located within the housing, and an energy transfer tube apparatus located within the housing and being configured to receive fluid directly or indirectly from the compressor or pump, the method comprising operating the cooling unit so as to pass cool air from inside the housing to the interior of the armored vehicle, the cooling unit providing an output of at least 15,000 BTU/hr, wherein said operation of the cooling unit includes establishing at least two rotating fluid flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus so as to transfer energy from one of the rotating fluid flows to another of the rotating fluid flows. 
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 76  wherein the cooling unit is equipped to provide said output of at least 15,000 BTU/hr even when the armored vehicle is in an environment in which the ambient temperature is 125° F. 
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 76  wherein the output is at least 19,000 BTU/hr. 
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 76  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus has a flow separator that mechanically separates inner and outer rotating fluid flows in the energy transfer tube apparatus, the flow separator diverting the outer flow along an outer pathway while channeling the inner flow along an inner pathway. 
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the inner pathway extends along a central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus, and the outer pathway is spaced radially outward of the inner pathway. 
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 80  wherein the energy transfer tube apparatus is configured such that, after the flow separator mechanically separates the inner and outer flows, those flows are combined into a single stream before leaving the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81  wherein said single stream extends along the central axis of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 76  wherein the cooling unit has a single discharge outlet through which warm air passes from inside the cooling unit to outside the armored vehicle, the discharge outlet having a cross-sectional area that is no greater than about four square inches.