# US 5,970,729 A · Cooling apparatus

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- Number: US 5,970,729 A
- Document ID: US5970729A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/943,351
- Filed: 1997-10-01
- Granted: 1999-10-26
- Earliest claimed: 1995-03-01
- Assignees: STS Corporation
- Inventors: Masayuki Yamamoto; Takahiro Katoh; Kiyoo Amako
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5970729A

## CPC

- F25D 16/00: Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
- F28D 7/08: the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag (F28D7/10 takes precedence){(F28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence)}
- F28D 7/085: {in the form of parallel conduits coupled by bent portions}
- F25D 2700/14: Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)

## Abstract

A cooling apparatus used, for instance, for a laser which is low in the consumption of energy and can be made small in size. The cooling apparatus includes: an outside air - water heat exchanger (or outside air cooler 15) as a first cooler; a refrigerant - water heat exchanger (or refrigerating cooler 27) as a second cooler; an outside air temperature sensor (22) for detecting an outside air temperature; and a control section (5) which, according to an outside air temperature, selects a refrigerator-cooler joint use mode for operating both the outside air cooler (15) and the refrigerating cooler (27), or an outside air cooler single use mode for operating only the outside air cooler (15) with the refrigerating cooler (27) stopped.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cooling apparatus having a cooling capacity comprising:
an air cooler serving as a primary cooler for cooling a fluid;
a refrigerating cooler serving as a secondary cooler fluidly connected with said air cooler for auxiliary cooling of the fluid;
a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature condition; and
a control section for selecting one of a joint use mode wherein both said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are operated, and a single use mode wherein only said air cooler is operated with said refrigerating cooler stopped, according to said ambient temperature condition detected by said temperature sensor, the primary air cooler continually providing 60% to 100% of the cooling capacity of the apparatus for ambient temperatures up to 40.degree. C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a cooling water circulating pump for pressurizing and circulating cooling water; and
a cooling water tank downstream of said refrigerating cooler; and wherein:
said air cooler includes
an air-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between an ambient air and said cooling water, a fan for applying said ambient air to said heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor for driving said fan; and
said refrigerating cooler includes a refrigerator forming a cycle of refrigeration, and a refrigerant-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between a refrigerant cooled by said refrigerator and said cooling water, said refrigerant-water heat exchanger being located between said air-water heat exchanger and said water tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the temperature of said cooling water is 45 to 65.degree. C. at an inlet of said cooling apparatus, and 20 to 40.degree. C. at an outlet of said cooling apparatus, and a threshold temperature at which said refrigerating cooler is operated or stopped is 20 to 27.degree. C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein when an outside air temperature is 40.degree. C., a power consumption ratio of a compressor provided in said refrigerating cooler relative to said fan of said air cooler is set 2 to 3.5.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said temperature sensor detects an ambient temperature of air presented around said air-water heat exchanger.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the ambient air temperature is 40.degree. C., said air cooler shares 60 to 74% of the entire cooling effect of said cooling apparatus, while said refrigerating cooler shares 40 to 26% of the entire cooling effect of said cooling apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refrigerating cooler is fluidly connected in series with said air cooler.

### Claim 8

A cooling apparatus having a cooling capacity adapted to cool circulating cooling water for cooling a laser medium gas, said apparatus comprising:
a cooling water circulating pump;
an air cooler including an air-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between an ambient air and said cooling water, a fan for applying the ambient air to said heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor, the air cooler acting as a primary cooler;
a refrigerating cooler provided downstream of said air cooler, said refrigerating cooler including a refrigerator forming a cycle or refrigeration, and a refrigerant-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between a refrigerant cooled by said refrigerator and said cooling water, the refrigerant-water heat exchanger being fluidly connected in series with the air-water heat exchanger, the refrigerating cooler acting as a secondary cooler;
a cooling water tank provided downstream of said refrigerating cooler;
a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient air temperature;
a control section for selecting one of a joint use mode wherein both said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are operated, and a single use mode wherein only said air cooler is operated with said refrigerating cooler stopped, according to said air temperature detected by said temperature sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the ambient air temperature is 40.degree. C., said air cooler shares 60 to 74% of the entire cooling effect of said cooling apparatus, while said refrigerating cooler shares 40 to 26% of the entire cooling effect of said cooling apparatus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when an outside air temperature is 40.degree. C., a power consumption ratio of a compressor provided in said refrigerating cooler relative to said fan of said air cooler is set 2 to 3.5.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the temperature of said cooling water is 45 to 65.degree. C. at the inlet of said cooling apparatus, and 20 to 40.degree. C. at the outlet of said cooling apparatus, and a threshold temperature at which said refrigerating cooler is operated or stopped is 20 to 27.degree. C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the air cooler continually provides 60% to 100% of the cooling capacity of the apparatus for ambient temperatures up to 40.degree. C.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said laser is used in an optical molding system.

### Claim 14

A cooling apparatus comprising:
an air cooler serving as a first cooler, said air cooler including an air-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between ambient air and cooling water, a fan for applying said ambient air to said heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor for driving said fan;
a refrigerating cooler serving as a second cooler;
a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature condition;
a control section for selecting one of a joint use mode wherein both said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are operated, and a single use mode wherein only said air cooler is operated with said refrigerating cooler stopped, according to said ambient temperature condition detected by said temperature sensor;
a cooling water circulating pump for pressurizing and circulating the cooling water;
a cooling water tank downstream of said refrigerating cooler;
speed changing means for changing speed of said fan driving motor provided in said air cooler;
a cooling water temperature sensor for detecting temperature of said cooling water contained in said cooling water tank; and
a second control section for controlling said speed changing means in response to the temperature detected by said cooling water temperature sensor to adjust the speed of rotation of said fan to thereby maintain temperature of said cooling water at a predetermined value.

### Claim 15

A cooling apparatus comprising:
an air cooler serving as a first cooler, said air cooler including an air-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between an ambient air and said cooling water, a fan for applying said ambient air to said heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor for driving said fan;
a refrigerating cooler serving as a second cooler;
a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature condition;
a control section for selecting one of a joint use mode wherein both said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are operated, and a single use mode wherein only said air cooler is operated with said refrigerating cooler stopped, according to said ambient temperature condition detected by said temperature sensor;
a cooling water circulating pump for pressurizing and circulating cooling water; and
a cooling water tank downstream of said refrigerating cooler; and
a cooling water processing element having at least one of a purifying filter, a strainer, and an ion exchange filter, wherein said cooling water circulating pump, said cooling water tank, said control section, and said cooling water processing element are set inside a room, while said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are set outside said room.

### Claim 16

A cooling apparatus adapted to cool circulating cooling water for cooling a laser medium gas, said apparatus comprising:
a cooling water circulating pump;
an air cooler including an air-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between ambient air and said cooling water, a fan for applying the ambient to said heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor;
a refrigerating cooler provided downstream of said air cooler, said refrigerating cooler including a refrigerator forming a cycle or refrigeration, and a refrigerant-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between a refrigerant cooled by said refrigerator and said cooling water;
a cooling water tank provided downstream of said refrigerating cooler;
a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient air temperature;
a control section for selecting one of a joint use mode wherein both said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are operated, and a single use mode wherein only said air cooler is operated with said refrigerating cooler stopped, according to said air temperature detected by said temperature sensor;
speed changing means for changing speed of said fan driving motor in said air cooler;
a cooling water temperature sensor for detecting temperature of said cooling water contained in said cooling water tank; and
a second control section for controlling said speed changing means in response to the temperature detected by said cooling water temperature sensor to adjust the speed of rotation of said fan to thereby maintain temperature of said cooling water at a predetermined value.

### Claim 17

A cooling apparatus adapted to cool circulating cooling water for cooling a laser medium gas, said apparatus comprising:
a cooling water circulating pump;
an air cooler including an air-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between ambient air and said cooling water, a fan for applying the ambient to said heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor;
a refrigerating cooler provided downstream of said air cooler, said refrigerating cooler including a refrigerator forming a cycle or refrigeration, and a refrigerant-water heat exchanger in which heat exchange is effected between a refrigerant cooled by said refrigerator and said cooling water;
a cooling water tank provided downstream of said refrigerating cooler;
a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient air temperature;
a control section for selecting one of a joint use mode wherein both said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are operated, and a single use mode wherein only said air cooler is operated with said refrigerating cooler stopped, according to said air temperature detected by said temperature sensor; and
a cooling water processing element having at least one of a purifying filter, a strainer, and an ion exchange filter, wherein said cooling water circulating pump, said cooling water tank, said control section, and said cooling water processing element are set inside a room, while said air cooler and said refrigerating cooler are set outside said room.

### Claim 18

A cooling apparatus for cooling circulated cooling water comprising:
a circulating pump for circulating the cooling water;
an outside air cooler serving as a first cooler, the outside air cooler including:
an outside air-water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between air and the cooling water;
a fan for passing the outside air onto the outside air-water heat exchanger; and
a motor drivingly connected to the fan;
a refrigerating cooler serving as a second cooler, the refrigerating cooler including:
a refrigerating device having a refrigerant cycle; and
a refrigerant-water heat exchanger for heat exchange between the cooling water and refrigerant cooled by the refrigerating device;
a cooling water tank provided on a downstream side of the second cooler;
an outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature;
speed changing means for changing a speed of the motor of the outside air cooler;
a cooling water temperature sensor for detecting a cooling water temperature within the cooling water tank; and
a control section for controlling the apparatus;
wherein the control section receives a signal from the outside air temperature sensor, and selects, according to the outside air temperature, one of a refrigerating-cooler joint use mode in which both the outside air cooler and the refrigerating cooler are driven, and an outside air cooler single use mode in which the refrigerating cooler is stopped; and
wherein, during the outside air cooler single use mode, the control section receives a signal from the cooling water temperature sensor, and controls the speed changing means for the fan motor such that a rotation speed of the fan is controlled to keep the cooling water temperature at a predetermined value.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the temperature of said cooling water is 45 to 65.degree. C. at an inlet to the cooling apparatus, and 20 to 40.degree. C. at an outlet from the cooling apparatus, and a threshold temperature at which the refrigerating cooler is operated or stopped is 20 to 27.degree. C.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:
a filter including at least one of a cooling water purifying filter, strainer, and an ion exchange filter,
wherein the cooling water circulating pump, the cooling water tank, the control section, and the filter are located inside a room, and the outside air cooler and the refrigerating cooler are located outside of the room.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the cooling water is used to cool a laser medium gas.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:
a second fan for blowing the outside air onto a condenser included in the refrigerating device.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The cooling apparatus according to claim 18, wherein in the outside air cooler, the cooling water flows through a number of curved pipes arranged like needles of a needle point holder, and the cooling water is cooled by outside air removing heat from a surface outside of the pipes.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the pipes in the outside air cooler are made of copper.

### Claim 25

A cooling apparatus for cooling circulated cooling water comprising:
a circulating pump for circulating the cooling water;
an outside air cooler serving as a first cooler, the outside air cooler including:
an outside air-water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between outside air and the cooling water;
a fan for passing the outside air onto the outside air-water heat exchanger; and
a motor drivingly connected to the fan;
a refrigerating cooler serving as a second cooler, the refrigerating cooler including:
a refrigerating device having a refrigerant cycle; and
a refrigerant-water heat exchanger for heat exchange between the cooling water and refrigerant cooled by the refrigerating device;
a cooling water tank provided on a downstream side of the second cooler;
an outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature; and
a control section which receives a signal from the outside air temperature sensor, and that selects, according to the outside air temperature, one of a refrigerator-cooler joint use mode in which both the outside air cooler and the refrigerating cooler are driven, and an outside air cooler single use mode in which only the outside air cooler is operated and the refrigerating cooler is stopped,
wherein when the outside air temperature is 40.degree. C., the outside air cooler is responsible for 60 to 74% of an entire cooling effect of said cooling apparatus, while the refrigerating cooler is responsible for 40 to 26% of the entire cooling effect of said cooling apparatus.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the temperature of said cooling water is 45 to 65.degree. C. at an inlet to the cooling apparatus, and 20 to 40.degree. C. at an outlet from the cooling apparatus, and a threshold temperature at which the refrigerating cooler is operated or stopped is 20 to 27.degree. C.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:
a filter including at least one of a cooling water purifying filter, strainer, and an ion exchange filter,
wherein the cooling water circulating pump, the cooling water tank, the control section, and the filter are located inside a room, and the outside air cooler and the refrigerating cooler are located outside of the room.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the cooling water is used to cool a laser medium gas.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:
a second fan for blowing the outside air onto a condenser included in the refrigerating device.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The cooling apparatus according to claim 25, wherein in the outside air cooler, the cooling water flows through a number of curved pipes arranged like needles of a needle point holder, and the cooling water is cooled by outside air removing heat from an outside surface of the pipes.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the pipes in the outside air cooler are made of copper.

### Claim 32

A cooling apparatus for cooling circulated cooling water comprising:
a circulating pump for circulating the cooling water;
an outside air cooler serving as a first cooler, the outside air cooler including:
an outside air-water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between outside air and the cooling water;
a fan for passing the outside air onto the outside air-water heat exchanger; and
a motor drivingly connected to the fan;
a refrigerating cooler serving as a second cooler, the refrigerating cooler including:
a refrigerating device having a refrigerant cycle and being driven by a compressor; and
a refrigerant-water heat exchanger for heat exchange between the cooling water and refrigerant cooled by the refrigerating device;
a cooling water tank provided on a downstream side of the second cooler;
an outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature; and
a control section which receives a signal from the outside air temperature sensor, and that selects, according to the outside air temperature, one of a refrigerator-cooler joint use mode in which both the outside air cooler and the refrigerating cooler are driven, and an outside air cooler single use mode in which only the outside air cooler is operated and the refrigerating cooler is stopped,
wherein when the outside air temperature is 40.degree. C., a ratio in power consumption of the compressor in the refrigerating device relative to the fan of the outside air cooler is 2.5 to 3.5.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the temperature of said cooling water is 45 to 65.degree. C. at an inlet to the cooling apparatus, and 20 to 40.degree. C. at an outlet from the cooling apparatus, and a threshold temperature at which the refrigerating cooler is operated or stopped is 20 to 27.degree. C.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:
a filter including at least one of a cooling water purifying filter, strainer, and an ion exchange filter,
wherein the cooling water circulating pump, the cooling water tank, the control section, and the filter are located inside a room, and the outside air cooler and the refrigerating cooler are located outside of the room.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the cooling water is used to cool a laser medium gas.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:
a second fan for blowing the outside air onto a condenser included in the refrigerating device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 32)

The cooling apparatus according to claim 32, wherein in the outside air cooler, the cooling water flows through a number of curved pipes arranged like needles of a needle point holder, and the cooling water is cooled by outside air removing heat from an outside surface of the pipes.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

A cooling apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the pipes in the outside air cooler are made of copper.