Self contained heat exchange apparatus

A self-contained heat exchange system, comprising:

• a housing having outer and inner walls defining a fluid reservoir therebetween, said inner wall further defining an internal passage in said housing extending from a front end opening in said housing to a rear end opening therein, said passage providing an air flow path between said openings;
• a heat exchanger disposed proximate said air flow path for changing the temperature of a heat exchange fluid circulating through said heat exchanger;
• a fan secured to said housing proximate said air flow path configured to generate an air stream along the length of said air flow path such that said air stream flows past said heat exchanger;
• a pump secured to said housing;
• and
• conduit means connecting said reservoir, pump, and heat exchanger, including an outlet for providing heat exchange fluid to an external device requiring heating or cooling and an inlet for return of the heat exchange fluid from said device, with means for opening and closing said inlet and outlet, thereby permitting circulation of the heat exchange fluid between the external device and said heat exchanger when the device is connected to said outlet and inlet, said reservoir, pump, device, heat exchanger, and conduit means constituting a closed fluid transfer system through which the heat exchange fluid is circulated by said pump;
• wherein said conduit means includes a first conduit connecting a discharge port on said housing to an inlet port of said pump, a second conduit connecting a discharge port of said pump to said outlet, a third conduit connecting said inlet to said heat exchanger, and a fourth conduit connecting said heat exchanger to an inlet port of said housing, whereby said pump can circulate heat exchange fluid sequentially from said reservoir, through said pump, then through the device connected to said inlet and outlet, then through said heat exchanger, and thereafter back to said reservoir.

A self-contained heat exchange system, comprising:

• a housing having outer and inner walls defining a fluid reservoir therebetween, said inner wall further defining an internal passage in said housing extending from a front end opening in said housing to a rear end opening therein, said passage providing an air flow path between said openings;
• a heat exchanger disposed proximate said air flow path for changing the temperature of a heat exchange fluid circulating through said heat exchanger;
• a fan secured to said housing proximate said air flow path configured to generate an air stream along the length of said air flow path such that said air stream flows past said heat exchanger;
• a pump secured to said housing;
• and
• conduit means connecting said reservoir, pump, and heat exchanger, including an outlet for providing heat exchange fluid to an external device requiring heating or cooling and an inlet for return of the heat exchange fluid from said device, with means for opening and closing said inlet and outlet, thereby permitting circulation of the heat exchange fluid between the external device and said heat exchanger when the device is connected to said outlet and inlet, said reservoir, pump, device, heat exchanger, and conduit means constituting a closed fluid transfer system through which the heat exchange fluid is circulated by said pump;
• wherein said air flow path is generally cylindrical, said fan is configured to draw air into said air flow path through said rear opening and out past said heat exchanger through said front opening, and said heat exchanger comprises a radiator coil wound about the inner periphery of said inner wall so that said heat exchanger has a generally cylindrical shape.

A self-contained heat exchange system, comprising:

• a housing having a front end and a rear end and including respective inner and outer walls defining a fluid reservoir therebetween, said inner wall further defining an air flow path extending through said housing from said front end to said rear end of said housing;
• a radiator for changing the temperature of a heat exchange fluid, said radiator including a hollow tube configured to form a plurality of coils;
• a fan configured to generate an air stream along the length of said air flow path such that the air stream impinges upon said radiator;
• a pump disposed within said air flow path;
• inlet and discharge taps for directing the heat exchange fluid to and from a device, respectively;
• conduits for circulating the heat exchange fluid from said pump to said inlet tap, from said discharge tap to said radiator, from said radiator to said reservoir, and from said reservoir to said pump;
• wherein said discharge tap is disposed at a higher elevation then substantially all of the conduit that circulates the heat exchange fluid from said discharge tap to said radiator.