TE liquid cooler
A system for cooling fluid to cool and condition a race cart driver's suit, helmet or seat. The system includes Peltier effect thermoelectric coolers sandwiched to form water and air passages to cool liquid in use in a suit, helmet or seat and to expel waste heat. A thermoelectric cooler for cooling a driver worn device including a thermoelectric cooler having a first heat exchanger, an inlet for supplying one side of the first heat exchanger, and an inlet for air supplying an opposing side of the first heat exchanger. A pump for moving liquid from a reservoir on the TE cooler with a first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger worn by a driver. A quick release device to detach the TE cooler from the second heat exchanger with a single motion depressing a single bar releases two quick connects.
Related applications: applicant claims benefit under 25 USC 119e to U.S. provisional application 61/137,954 filed Aug. 5, 2008
In the racing industry safety has become an increasingly important issue. Most drivers now wear helmets and flame proof suits. It is known to use a liquid such as water to provide cooling within a suit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe temperature inside a racecar can easily exceed 130 degrees F. and a race event can last several hours. The heat can be taxing upon a driver reducing performance. The present invention relates to a thermal electric cooler used to cool water that can be circulated to a driver's helmet, suit or seat. This might include circulating water to a vest or helmet for example. The thermal electric cooler works on the well known Peltier effect where heat is liberated and absorbed at the junction of two dissimilar metals when electricity is applied.
The present invention provides a portable, lightweight cooler that uses a minimum of auxiliary energy from the car engine to carry and power. Further advantages of the system will become apparent in the following detailed description of the invention.
The present invention further provides a thermal electric cooler for cooling a driver worn device including;
a thermal electric cooler having a first heat exchanger, an inlet for water or liquid supplying one side of the first heat exchanger; an inlet for air supplying an opposing side of the first heat exchanger. A pump moves water from a reservoir on the TE cooler from a first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger worn by a driver. A quick release device the second heat exchanger to be detached from the TE cooler by making a single motion.
As shown in
Though not shown it would be obvious to reverse the thermal electric units 32 physically or by switching the polarity of electricity supplied to the units so that the first portion of carbon monoxide filtered air was heated instead of being cooled. This would satisfy applications where heated water would be needed.
Though not shown it would be possible to reverse the thermoelectric unit 18 physically or by switching the polarity of electricity supplied to the units so that the water would be heated instead of being cooled. This would satisfy applications where heated water would be needed.
Though not shown it is also well known to use thermostatic controls to sense a temperature or humidity of ambient air, or of the driver or of the outlet air and to control the system based on any or all of these temperatures. Also, though not shown, it would be possible to cool a stream of air in addition to the water such that the water could cool the driver's body while the cooled air would be provided to the driver to breathe.
Claims
1. A thermoelectric cooler for cooling a driver worn device including;
- a thermoelectric cooler having a first heat exchanger,
- an inlet for liquid supplying one side of the first heat exchanger,
- an inlet for air supplying an opposing side of the first heat exchanger,
- a pump for moving liquid from a reservoir on the thermoelectric cooler to said first heat exchanger then to a second heat exchanger worn by a driver.
2. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 1 including a quick release device to detach the thermoelectric cooler from the second heat exchanger.
3. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 1 wherein said second heat exchanger is at least one of a suit, a helmet and a seat.
4. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 1 wherein said liquid is water and said water is cooled in said first heat exchanger and flows to said second heat exchanger where the water is warmed by heat from the driver and from the environment adjacent the driver.
5. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 2 wherein said quick release includes a bar that simultaneously releases a water supply line and a water return line to detach the thermoelectric cooler from the second heat exchanger such that the driver can leave the thermoelectric cooler while still wearing the second heat exchanger.
6. A thermoelectric cooler for cooling a driver including;
- a thermoelectric cooler having a first heat exchanger,
- an inlet for liquid supplying the first heat exchanger,
- an inlet for air supplying a path through the first heat exchanger,
- a pump for moving liquid from a reservoir on the thermoelectric cooler to said first heat exchanger then to a second heat exchanger to cool a driver.
7. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 6 wherein said second heat exchanger is worn by the driver.
8. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 6 wherein said liquid is water and said water is cooled in said first heat exchanger and flows to said second heat exchanger where the water is warmed by heat from the driver.
9. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 6 including at least one quick release device to detach the thermoelectric cooler from the second heat exchanger.
10. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 6 wherein said second heat exchanger is at least one of a suit, a helmet and a seat.
11. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 9 wherein said quick release includes a bar that simultaneously releases a water supply line and a water return line to detach the thermoelectric cooler from the second heat exchanger such that the driver can leave the thermoelectric cooler while still wearing the second heat exchanger.
12. A thermoelectric cooler for cooling including;
- a thermoelectric cooler having a first heat exchanger,
- a reservoir for liquid supplying the first heat exchanger,
- an inlet for air supplying a path through the first heat exchanger,
- a pump for moving liquid from the reservoir on the thermoelectric cooler to said first heat exchanger then to a second heat exchanger to cool.
13. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 12 wherein said second heat exchanger is worn by a user.
14. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 13 wherein said liquid is water and said water is cooled in said first heat exchanger and flows to said second heat exchanger where the water is warmed by heat from the user.
15. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 14 including at least one quick release device to detach the thermoelectric cooler from the second heat exchanger.
16. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 15 wherein said quick release simultaneously releases a water supply line and a water return line to detach the thermoelectric cooler from the second heat exchanger such that the user can leave the thermoelectric cooler while still wearing the second heat exchanger.
17. The thermoelectric cooler of claim 16 wherein said second heat exchanger is at least one of a suit, a helmet and a seat.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 16, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2010
Inventor: Charles Aldrich (North Kansas City, MO)
Application Number: 12/381,721
International Classification: F25B 21/02 (20060101);