Thermoelectric temperature-controlled container holder and method
A Thermoelectric-based container holder has a receptacle with a recess for receiving a container to be heated or cooled, a variable interface surface disposed within the holder and configured to flexibly contact an outside surface of the container to be heated or cooled where the variable surface interface is in thermal contact with the surface of the receptacle, and a thermoelectric assembly thermally connected to at least the variable surface interface.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/954,220, filed Aug. 6, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to coolers and heaters for bottles, cups and other such devices. Particularly, the present invention relates to thermoelectric container coolers and heaters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Thermoelectric-based cup coolers and heaters as well as bottle coolers and other such devices are currently available for various applications including car consoles, furniture consoles, after market accessories, desk/table top units as well as those powered by a computer via a USB connection. Devices that use convection to transfer heat to or from a container sacrifice the heat transfer efficiency of conduction due to the difficulty in achieving large surface area contact. Devices that use conduction have a rigid interface which limits the amount of surface contact the thermal interface of the cooling/heating mechanism has with the container to be heated or cooled.
Some currently available container cooler/heater devices based on thermoelectric technology utilize a rigid cooling/heating interface with the container to be cooled. The interface can be tailored to a specific container design such as the standard soda can bottom or that of a provided container. However, a container with an alternate design will not have the same amount of surface in contact with the rigid cooling/heating interface, which will lessen the effectiveness of the cooler/heater. Even devices that have rigid cooling/heating interface that are designed to accept multiple sizes sacrifice surface contact due to varying container shapes. Purely convective type devices allow for multiple container shapes and sizes but sacrifice heat transfer efficiency.
Therefore, what is needed is a container cooler/heater that has improved surface contact with multiple container designs and sizes. What is also needed is a container cooler/heater that has a cooling/heating surface interface that enables good heat transfer to a variety of common containers such as cans, mugs, and bottles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a Thermoelectric-based container holder that has improved surface contact with multiple container designs and sizes. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a Thermoelectric-based container holder that has a cooling/heating surface interface that enables good heat transfer to a variety of common containers. It is another object of the present invention to provide a Thermoelectric-based container holder that has a variable surface interface for cooling or heating. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a Thermoelectric-based container holder that has a variable surface interface that can conform to the surface of various types of containers.
The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a Thermoelectric-based container holder for receiving a container to be heated or cooled that has a receptacle, a variable surface interface and a thermoelectric assembly. The receptacle has a recess for receiving the container to be heated or cooled. The variable surface interface is disposed within the receptacle and is configured to flexibly contact and form itself to an outside surface of the container. The thermoelectric assembly is thermally connected to at least the variable surface interface.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the Thermoelectric-based container holder includes a heat interface block connected to the thermoelectric assembly and a heat transfer device such as, for example, a heat pipe that extends to the outside surface of the receptacle. This allows the thermoelectric assembly to be located a predefined distance from the receptacle but still allow efficient thermal transfer to occur.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the Thermoelectric-based container holder incorporates two or more receptacles to be cooled/heated using a single thermoelectric assembly. In such an embodiment, a heat interface block is configured with two or more heat transfer devices where at least one of each of the heat transfer devices is attached to one of the receptacles.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the Thermoelectric-based container holder incorporates a thermoelectric assembly that is in direct thermal contact with either the receptacle, the variable surface interface or both.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the Thermoelectric-based container holder uses a variable surface interface that is sufficiently flexible to form to the outside surface of the container to be cooled/heated but rigid enough to be part of or the entire receptacle for receiving the container to be cooled/heated. In this embodiment, it is preferable, but non-mandatory, that the inner surface of the “receptacle” be metallized for better heat distribution and durability but remain sufficiently flexible and resilient to form to the outside surface of the container to be cooled/heated.
In any embodiment of the present invention, the opposite side of the thermoelectric assembly that is not in contact with either the heat interface block, the variable surface interface or the receptacle can be cooled by way of convection or forced convection from ambient air, or possibly from the HVAC system of a home, auto, or other environment. It is conceived that some applications could use conductive cooling or a combination of conductive and convective. It is further conceived that a liquid-cooled heat sinking assembly could be used.
The present invention can be a stand-alone unit or fit into existing console enclosures. It can also be made to fit into existing cup holders. The receptacle is preferably equipped with a mechanism that provides forced contact between the variable surface interface and the container to be cooled/heated. Examples of such a mechanism includes, but is not limited to, spring loaded tangs, a lever-fulcrum device, etc.
An important component of the present invention is the variable surface interface. It is important that the variable surface interface be capable of conforming to the outside surface of various containers whose size is within a specified or predefined design range. The variable surface interface may be a flexible envelope that contains a heat transfer material. The heat transfer material flows around the container being cooled/heated with the constraints of the envelope. This provides the large area of contact that enhances heat transfer. The heat flow path is between the variable surface interface and the thermoelectric assembly through an interface plate or block. It is also contemplated that the variable surface interface can be directly attached to the thermoelectric assembly or distanced from the variable surface interface through a heat transfer method such as, for example, one or more heat pipes. Other structures that are useful as a variable surface interface includes, but is not limited to, a pin grid structure, a resilient foam material, etc. It should be understood that the variable surface interface can also be used in the bottom of the receptacle where is would conform to the bottom of the container to be cooled/heated or both the bottom and sides of the container to be cooled/heated.
It should be noted that the present invention can be configured as a portable unit, a console unit, a single receptacle unit, or multiple receptacle unit. The present invention can also be configured with an electrical polarity switch to change the operating mode between either a cooling mode or a heating mode. It is further contemplated that power to thermoelectric assembly can be variable to control the amount of heating or cooling being transferred from the thermoelectric assembly to the container to be cooled/heated. Further, power to the thermoelectric assembly of the present invention can be provided by different methods. These methods include but are not limited to a USB port, a solar panel, vehicle battery, household service, and the like.
The preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention is illustrated in
In this embodiment, thermoelectric assembly 50 is thermally connected to an outside surface 24 of receptacle 20, which is in intimate thermal contact with variable surface interface 40; the outside surface 24 being either the bottom or the side, or both, depending on the preferred configuration. Thermoelectric assembly 50 includes a thermoelectric module 52 where one side is thermally connected to a heat source, which is receptacle 20 in this embodiment, and the other side is thermally connected to a heat sink 54. An air moving mechanism 56 is typically mounted to move convection air over heat sink 54 to remove waste heat from Thermoelectric-based container holder 10. Arrows 3a, 3b and 3c indicate the flow of air but it should be understood that any configuration of the air moving mechanism 56 that moves air across heat sink 54 can be used. Air moving mechanism 56 is preferably a low voltage fan with a high air moving efficiency. It is further contemplated that additional thermal efficiency could be obtained by incorporating a mechanism to move the air within the space between container 1 and receptacle 20 not occupied by variable surface interface 40.
It is noted that in this embodiment, thermoelectric module 52 is directly connected to receptacle 20. There is also illustrated one embodiment of a biasing mechanism 28 that provides the forced contact of container 1 to variable surface interface 40. More specifically, biasing mechanism 28 may be spring-loaded tangs that automatically force container 1 against variable surface interface 40.
Variable surface interface 40 is a material that has the ability to adapt to the shape of the outside surface of container 1 and further exhibits good heat transfer properties. One example of such a material is a variable surface interface 40 having an outer envelope or casing of a flexible, resilient and/or elastic material that is filled with a thermally conductive gel or other thermally conductive fluid or other matter. The thermally conductive material flows around container 1 within the constraints of the envelope as biasing mechanism 28 provides forced contact of container 1 against variable surface interface 40. This action provides a large area of contact of variable surface interface 40 with container 1, which enhances conductive heat transfer.
Turning now to
In this embodiment, thermoelectric assembly 50 is thermally connected to the outside surface 24, which is in intimate thermal contact with variable surface interface 40. Unlike
Thermoelectric assembly 50 includes a thermoelectric module 52 where one side is thermally connected to a heat source, which is thermal interface block 60 in this embodiment, and the other side is thermally connected to a heat sink 54. An air moving mechanism 56 is typically mounted to move convection air over heat sink 54 to remove waste heat from Thermoelectric-based container holder 10. As in
As illustrated, two containers 1 and 1′ having different diameters can be used with Thermoelectric-based container holder 100. It is anticipated that each receptacle 20 may have its own thermoelectric assembly 50 for cooling/heating a container 1 that is placed within recess 22, or that any multiple of receptacles and thermoelectric assemblies are within the scope of the present invention. It is further anticipated that a thermal switch could be incorporated to disconnect one or more of the receptacles 20.
Turning now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
Variable surface receptacle 220 is configured with a recess 230 for receiving a container 1 to be cooled/heated. Optionally, the surface 223 of recess 230 may be metallized to enhance lateral thermal spreading. A thermoelectric assembly 250 as previously described is thermally connected to variable surface receptacle 220 and a cup holder adapter may optionally be connected to the bottom of variable surface receptacle 220. Variable surface receptacle 220 may also be formed of a foam material having the required thermally conductive characteristics along with the structural resiliency and rigidity to perform the functions required (e.g., an expandable/stretchable receptacle capable of receiving various sizes of a container to be cooled/heated within a predefined size range).
The Thermoelectric-based container holder 10 of the present invention has a thermally conductive interface that can conform to the surface of various containers and can be configured as a stand-alone unit or as a device that fits into existing console enclosures. It is versatile in that it can be adapted for use is various applications including, but not limited to, car consoles, furniture consoles, after-market accessories, desk/table top units, etc. The Thermoelectric-based container holder 10 can also be configured as a portable unit, a console unit, a single receptacle unit, or a multiple receptacle unit. It is further contemplated that the variable surface interface 40 may optionally form a portion of the inner surface to the receptacle 20 with the other side of variable surface interface 40 being in direct or indirect thermal contact with the thermoelectric assembly 50. It is further contemplated that the Thermoelectric-based container holder 10 may optionally be configured to operate in either a cooling mode or a heating mode by using a switch to change the electrical polarity supplied to the thermoelectric module 52. It is also further contemplated that the Thermoelectric-based container holder 10 may optionally include a temperature control unit or a variable temperature control unit to control the amount of thermal heating or cooling being transferred.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A Thermoelectric-based container holder for receiving a container to be heated or cooled, the container holder comprising:
- a receptacle having a recess for receiving a container to be heated or cooled;
- a variable surface interface disposed within the receptacle and configured to flexibly contact and form to an outside surface of the container to be heated or cooled, the variable surface interface being in thermal contact with a surface of the receptacle; and
- a thermoelectric assembly thermally connected to at least the variable surface interface.
2. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the variable surface interface has good heat transfer properties and is configured to adapt to the shape of the container.
3. The container holder of claim 2 wherein the variable surface interface is a component having a structure selected from the group consisting of a flexible envelope and a formable heat transfer material contained with the flexible envelope, a pin grid component, a foam material, rubber compound, and any formable, thermally conductive material.
4. The container holder of claim 2 wherein the variable surface interface contacts a portion of the container selected from the group consisting of the sides of the container, the bottom of the container, and both.
5. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a wall, the wall having a thermally-conductive portion that is in contact with the variable surface interface.
6. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a bottom, the bottom having a thermally-conductive portion that is in contact with the variable surface interface.
7. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric assembly is thermally connected indirectly to the receptacle through a heat transfer block assembly.
8. The container holder of claim 7 wherein the heat transfer block assembly comprising one of a heat transfer block, a heat pipe, a heat transfer plate, and any combination thereof.
9. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric assembly is thermally connected directly to the receptacle.
10. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric assembly is thermally connected indirectly to the variable surface interface through a heat transfer block assembly.
11. The container holder of claim 1 further comprising an electrical polarity switch coupled to the thermoelectric assembly.
12. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacle further includes an adjustable container biasing mechanism.
13. The container holder of claim 11 wherein the container biasing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of an engageable tang and an engageable fulcrum assembly.
14. The container holder of claim 12 wherein the container biasing mechanism is automatically adjustable.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Applicant: FERROTEC (USA) CORPORATION (Bedford, NH)
Inventor: Robert W. Otey (Litchfield, NH)
Application Number: 12/186,830
International Classification: F25B 21/02 (20060101);