Portable electric cooler

Abstract

The technology described herein provides a portable electric cooler for meat storage, tenderizing, and aging in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. The portable electric cooler includes a first and second sets of low pressure coils coupled to a compressor and three-way solenoid valves in order to alternate in a timed pattern the refrigerant flow in order to allow one set of low pressure coils to defrost while the other set circulates the refrigerant. The cooler includes a temperature sensor. The cooler includes a humidity system having a sensor, a controller, a water reservoir, at least one air duct coupled to the water reservoir to channel humidified air drawn from the water reservoir through the refrigeration chamber, and a solenoid configured to direct the fresh outside air being pumped in, to only travel through a set of coils that currently is in the rest mode.

1 . A humidity system for a portable electric cooler having a refrigeration chamber, the humidity system comprising:
 a water reservoir;   at least one air duct coupled to the water reservoir to channel humidified air drawn from the water reservoir and through a cooling chamber of the cooler; and   wherein the humidity system provides a high level of humidity within the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The humidity system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air pump, the air pump configured to supply the water reservoir with a constant source of fresh air.   
     
     
         3 . The humidity system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first set of coils; and   a second set of coils;   wherein the first and second set of coils can alternate such that one set is in a work mode, to cool the cooling chamber, while the other is in a rest mode; and   wherein at least one of the first and second set of coils is configured to send air to the water reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . The humidity system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a solenoid, the solenoid configured to direct the fresh outside air being pumped in, to only travel through the set of coils that currently is in the rest mode.   
     
     
         5 . A portable electric cooler comprising:
 a refrigeration chamber;   a humidity sensor;   a water reservoir; and   at least one air duct coupled to the water reservoir to channel humidified air drawn from the water reservoir and through the refrigeration chamber;   wherein the humidity system provides a high level of humidity within the refrigeration chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an air pump, the air pump configured to supply the water reservoir with a constant source of fresh air.   
     
     
         7 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first set of coils; and   a second set of coils;   wherein the first and second set of coils can alternate such that one set is in a work mode, to cool the cooling chamber, while the other is in a rest mode; and   wherein at least one of the first and second set of coils is configured to send air to the water reservoir.   
     
     
         8 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a solenoid, the solenoid configured to direct the fresh outside air being pumped in, to only travel through the set of coils that currently is in the rest mode.   
     
     
         9 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a compressor, the compressor configured to compress and circulate a refrigerant to cool the refrigeration chamber;   an expansion device for expanding the refrigerant;   a condenser having high pressure coils;   a first set of low pressure coils disposed adjacent to the refrigeration chamber, fluidly coupled to the compressor, and configured to hold the refrigerant; and   a second set of low pressure coils disposed adjacent to the refrigeration chamber, fluidly coupled to the compressor, and configured to alternatively hold the refrigerant; and   wherein the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils are alternated with refrigerant flow in order to allow one set of low pressure coils to defrost while the other set circulates the refrigerant.   
     
     
         10 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first three-way solenoid valve, the first three-way solenoid valve fluidly disposed after the expansion device and at a beginning of each of the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils and configured to switch between the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils in order to allow one set of low pressure coils to defrost while the other set circulates the refrigerant; and   a second three-way solenoid valve, the second three-way solenoid valve disposed at an ending of each of the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils and configured to combine two flows back into a single return to the compressor.   
     
     
         11 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a timing device;   wherein the first three-way solenoid valve and the second three-way solenoid valve are configured to switch simultaneously on a predetermined time interval as controlled by the timing device.   
     
     
         12 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils are maintained at the same volume in order to maintain a stable load on the compressor and to maintain a same cooling capacity. 
     
     
         13 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor;   wherein the refrigeration chamber is configured to be closely maintained at a temperature range immediately above freezing;   wherein the temperature is monitored by the temperature sensor and maintained in the range of 33 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         14 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a tinted double-pane glass door disposed upon the refrigeration chamber to allow visibility and monitoring within the refrigeration chamber without opening the door and to disallow unwanted, unfiltered direct light contact with items stored within the refrigeration chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a UV-C light configured to provide germicidal sterilization within the refrigeration chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The portable electric cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an LED display, to display temperature and humidity levels;   an LED interior light to provide illumination within the refrigeration chamber; and   a plurality of selection buttons to provide for setting programmatic variables on the portable electric cooler.   
     
     
         17 . A combined storage, aging, and tenderizing device for meats and beverage cooler, the device comprising:
 a refrigeration chamber configured to store, age, and tenderize meats and to store and chill beverages;   a humidity sensor;   a water reservoir; and   at least one air duct coupled to the water reservoir to channel humidified air drawn from the water reservoir and through the refrigeration chamber;   wherein the humidity system provides a high level of humidity within the refrigeration chamber; and   a solenoid, the solenoid configured to direct the fresh outside air being pumped in, to only travel through a set of coils that currently is in the rest mode.   
     
     
         18 . The combined storage, aging, and tenderizing device for meats and beverage cooler of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a compressor, the compressor configured to compress and circulate a refrigerant to cool the refrigeration chamber;   an expansion device for expanding the refrigerant;   a condenser having high pressure coils;   a first set of low pressure coils disposed adjacent to the refrigeration chamber, fluidly coupled to the compressor, and configured to hold the refrigerant;   a second set of low pressure coils disposed adjacent to the refrigeration chamber, fluidly coupled to the compressor, and configured to alternatively hold the refrigerant;   wherein the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils are alternated with refrigerant flow in order to allow one set of low pressure coils to defrost while the other set circulates the refrigerant, in order to maintain a narrow temperature range for aging and tenderizing meats;   a first three-way solenoid valve, the first three-way solenoid valve fluidly disposed after the expansion device and at a beginning of each of the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils and configured to switch between the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils in order to allow one set of low pressure coils to defrost while the other set circulates the refrigerant; and   a second three-way solenoid valve, the second three-way solenoid valve disposed at an ending of each of the first set of low pressure coils and the second set of low pressure coils and configured to combine two flows back into a single return to the compressor.   
     
     
         19 . The combined storage, aging, and tenderizing device for meats and beverage cooler of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an air pump, the air pump configured to supply the water reservoir with a constant source of fresh air.   
     
     
         20 . The combined storage, aging, and tenderizing device for meats and beverage cooler of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature within the refrigeration chamber;   wherein the refrigeration chamber is configured to be closely maintained at a temperature range immediately above freezing for dry-aging meats;   wherein the temperature is monitored by the temperature sensor and maintained in the range of 33 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit to keep meats as cold as possible without freezing.