Patents Assigned to Springwell Dispensers, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5884487
    Abstract: A thermoelectric water chiller system for cooling fluids, and including a cold sink which defines quiescent areas where convection currents are minimized to facilitate ice formation around the cold sink is provided. The cold sink cooperates with water held in a sealed tank. A cover member which covers the cold sink can be employed which would cooperate with the tank to form a fluid-tight seal therewith. Components needing periodic cleaning are preferably removable from the system, but the tank could be permanently installed. A fan-cooled thermoelectric module assembly is used to form the ice block adjacent the bottom of the tank which chills the water. A variable-speed fan and current to the thermoelectric module are controlled by a control circuit with inputs from various temperature sensors positioned on and within various portions of the chiller system, including sensors to monitor ambient air temperature about the chiller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Springwell Dispensers, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Spence Davis, Dale C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5862669
    Abstract: A thermoelectric water chiller system for cooling fluids, and including a cold sink which defines quiescent areas where convection currents are minimized to facilitate ice formation around the cold sink is provided. The cold sink cooperates with water held in a sealed tank. A cover member which covers the cold sink can be employed which would cooperate with the tank to form a fluid-tight seal therewith. Components needing periodic cleaning are preferably removable from the system, but the tank could be permanently installed. A fan-cooled thermoelectric module assembly is used to form the ice block adjacent the bottom of the tank which chills the water. A variable-speed fan and current to the thermoelectric module are controlled by a control circuit with inputs from various temperature sensors positioned on and within various portions of the chiller system, including sensors to monitor ambient air temperature about the chiller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Springwell Dispensers, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Spence Davis, Dale C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5501077
    Abstract: A thermoelectric water-chiller system for cooling bottled water, and including a mixing valve which enables dispensing of chilled water, room-temperature water, or a mixture of chilled and room-temperature water. Components needing periodic cleaning are readily removable from the system. A fan-cooled thermoelectric-chip assembly is used to form an ice block which chills the water, and a variable-speed fan is controlled by a temperature sensor to slow the fan speed when chilling to a desired temperature is achieved, and to maintain the ice block at an optimum size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Springwell Dispensers, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Spence Davis, R. Clark Lucas, Michael J. Nagy, Anthony E. Yeargin, Gerald M. Zinnbauer
  • Patent number: D336813
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Springwell Dispensers, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve S. Davis, Timothy Sutherland, Bernard J. Meineke
  • Patent number: D343982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Springwell Dispensers, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve S. Davis, Timothy Sutherland, Bernard J. Meineke