Abstract: An apparatus for consistently applying a predetermined centrally located compressive force to an element positioned between a first compressive member and a second compressive member is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bracket which holds compressive members in a clamping relationship about the element. The bracket includes a force generating web, a first leg and a second leg. The bracket is arranged to provide a centrally located compressive force when in the clamped relationship.

Abstract: A thermoelectric cooler (10) having a storage compartment (36) with insulated inside walls forming an access opening on one side opposite a back wall (42a) of substantially the same size includes an insulated door (40) movable between a closed position sealing said access opening and an open position displaced from one edge of the access opening for providing direct access to the interior of said storage compartment over the entire area of the access opening. The insulated door (40) comprises a pair of door segments pivotally interconnected about a median axis in parallel with one edge of the access opening of the storage compartment. An overcenter spring (68) is interconnected between the door segments to exert a resilient biasing force tending to pivot the door segments in one direction about the hinge (58) axis when the spring is on one side thereof and an opposite direction when the spring is moved to the opposite side of the median axis.

Abstract: A thermoelectric cooler of rugged construction for use in cabs of a railway locomotive includes a housing with a storage compartment mounted therein surrounded by insulation. The compartment is fabricated of thermoconductive material and includes flat sides without protuberances. A plurality of thermoconductive coupling blocks are secured to the sides of the compartment. A thermoelectric module of substantially the same size as the coupling pad is secured to each pad with the cold face of the module against the pad. An extruded aluminum heat exchanger with a plurality of parallel fins is secured to the hot side of each thermoelectric module to draw off heat and dissipate it to the surrounding environment. The fins are spaced apart a predetermined, optimum distance to obtain maximum heat transfer. A support and spot shim are employed to secure each heat exchanger to a coupling pad. Each coupling pad, thermoelectric module and heat exchanger are secured to the storage compartment by fasteners.

Abstract: In heating and cooling assemblages, that use a thermoelectric module of the Peltier type held tightly between heating and cooling members, an improvement, for avoiding fracture of the frangible components of the Peltier type thermoelectric module, is provided by using a clamping means, that acts against the members clamped against the thermoelectric module, that employs spring means that exert the assembly pressure against the thermoelectric module's substrates. The spring means desirably apply force in line with the central portion of the module's substrates, where the hottest portion of the module's substrate is located. The spring means employ one or more elongated leaf springs whose center is offset from the ends of the springs that are engaged by selectively actuatable clamping means. In one specific form a cooling box for use in the field is equipped with assemblages, as disclosed, provided at the corners of the box.

Abstract: There is disclosed a refrigeration unit having a box-like compartment surrounded by insulation material. The ends of the box-like compartment and the top and bottom thereof are composed of massive plates having a plurality of protuberances extending through the insulation and terminating in flat faces. Thermoelectric elements are in heat exchange with the flat faces and with external thermal sinks or radiating devices. The unit has upstanding frame members which form shallow compartments which house the radiating devices and are covered by grill work. One of the shallow compartments houses the door or closure to the refrigerating compartment. The frame members extend downwardly forming legs. The insulation has a skin of dense material having contact points extending from electrical wires in the insulation to the surface thereof and from which contact points are connected to the thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermoelectric device powered by a direct current power supply in which the circuitry comprises an integrated timer circuit and a two-stage, feed-back amplifier which, when switched in, produces a digital direct current pulse for delivery to the thermoelectric device. An LED circuit is included to show when the integrated timer circuit is operating to deliver the desired current to the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a watercraft having a refrigerator powered by a thermo-electric element in which the hot face of the thermo-electric element is in direct contact with the water or air or in direct contact with the external wall of the watercraft or is in heat-transfer contact therewith through an external thermal sink having a face exposed to the ambient medium or in heat transfer therewith through the exterior wall. The external thermal sink can be a channel-shaped member, a solid block of heat-conducting metal, a heat pipe, or any energy-transfer device.

Abstract: There is described a device and process for effecting refrigeration by means of a thermoelectric element having a hot face and a cold face, which is powered by impressing a direct current across the faces, and in which the heat transferred to the hot face is dissipatead into an external thermal sink which is cooled by applying water to a surface thereof concomitantly with the exposure of that surface to ambient atmosphere. The thermal sink comprises a capillary metal sponge into which the water is absorbed on the capillary surfaces and evaporated while the sponge is exposed to the ambient atmosphere, whereby cooling is effected, both by direct heat transfer into said gaseous medium and by vaporization of said liquid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable refrigerator which is formed by casting an insulating wall of foamed-in-place insulating foam in a manner which provides inner and outer shell portions on the insulating wall and a depression therein which exposes a surface of the internal thermal sink and, except for a pigtail and positive and negative contact points which points project through the outer shell portion in position to be connected with the positive and negative poles, respectively, of the thermoelectric element, completely imbeds the electrical connections. A thermoelectric element is disposed in the depression in heat-exchange with the surface of the internal thermal sink exposed by the depression and the positive and negative poles of the thermoelectric element are connected with the respective positive and negative contact points.

Abstract: A portable refrigerator unit is cooled by a thermoelectric element of the Peltier type, having hot and cold faces adapted to be energized by an external DC source, which can be disconnected from the unit to make the unit entirely portable. The thermoelectric unit has a cold face in contact with an internal thermal sink, which in turn is in contact with a heat conducting lining, and its hot face in contact with an external thermal sink, having heat dissipating means associated therewith. The internal thermal sink has a large portion imbedded in an insulated wall of the unit, and a relatively small portion having a face free of the insulating material, which free face is in heat-transfer contact with the cold face of the thermoelectric unit. The external thermal sink with its heat dissipating means is spaced from said unit so that its surfaces are exposed to the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A portable refrigerator unit is cooled by a thermoelectric element of the Peltier type, having hot and cold faces adapted to be energized by an external DC source, which can be disconnected from the unit to make the unit entirely portable. The thermoelectric unit has a cold face in contact with an internal thermal sink, which in turn is in contact with a heat conducting lining, and its hot face in contact with an external thermal sink, having heat dissipating means associated therewith. The internal thermal sink has a large portion imbedded in an insulated wall of the unit, and a relatively small portion having a face free of the insulating material, which free face is in heat-transfer contact with the cold face of the thermoelectric unit. The external thermal sink with its heat dissipating means is spaced from said unit so that its surfaces are exposed to the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dental desk unit, having a cold plate for keeping amalgam and like material cold and to delay set-up thereof, and a hot section, having a hot plate to keep instruments or other materials at or near body temperature, and a plurality of wells to keep novocaine (procaine or procaine hydrochloride) and the like at or near body temperature.

Abstract: A hand case is provided with a cooling compartment cooled by a self-contained thermoelectric element of the Peltier type. All of the elements required to operate the thermoelectric element are within the confines of the hand case.