Patents by Inventor S. Spence Davis

S. Spence Davis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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