Heat Pump, Selective Heating And Cooling Patents (Class 62/3.3)
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Patent number: 8937807Abstract: A circuit board assembly including a heating device operated during cold boot startup includes a circuit board having a computer component. A thermal transfer device connected to the circuit board assembly acts when the computer component is operating to remove heat generated by the computer component. A heating device operates to heat the thermal transfer device. A field programmable gate array acts to energize the heating device when a temperature defining a cold startup condition at the computer component or the thermal transfer device is sensed. The thermal transfer device when heated by the heating device heats the computer component to greater than the temperature of the cold startup condition. A control device connected to the heating device provides an operational mode of the heating device.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Emerson Network Power—Embedded Computing, Inc.Inventors: Carmelo Engracia Baquiano, Carmelo Delovino Cayaban, Paul Francis Brosas Montalbo, Joseph Estorgio Celocia
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Publication number: 20150013347Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid temperature controlling system and, more particularly, to a modular liquid temperature controlling system that is structured and/or configured to cool a volume of liquid stored in a container through direct contact with a portion of the system which utilizes at least one thermoelectric device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: BREWJACKET, INC.Inventors: Aaron Walls, Matthew Goff, Evgeniy Tkachenko
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Publication number: 20150013346Abstract: According to certain embodiments disclosed in the present application, a climate controlled seating assembly includes a thermal module. The thermal module comprises at least one inlet channel, at least one outlet channel and a thermoelectric device (e.g., Peltier circuit) positioned upstream of the outlet channel. In one embodiment, the seating assembly includes a sensor positioned within an interior of the thermal module and configured to detect the presence of a liquid, such as water, condensation or other fluids, on or near said sensor. In certain arrangements, the sensor is configured to detect the presence of a liquid by measuring an electrical resistance or capacitance across a portion of the sensor. A climate control system can include a separator gasket located within a housing of a fluid module and at least partially between the cold passage and the hot passage. In some embodiments, the separator gasket comprises one or more wicking materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventor: John D. Lofy
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Publication number: 20150007973Abstract: A wide range of temperature control equipment for controlling a tested object to a predetermined temperature is provided. The wide range of temperature control equipment includes a thermal conducting plate, a temperature regulating module, a carrier plate, and a thermoelectric cooling module. The temperature regulating module is thermally connected to the thermal conducting plate for regulating the thermal conducting plate to a reference temperature. The carrier plate is used to accommodate the tested object. The thermoelectric cooling module is thermally connected between the thermal conducting plate and the carrier plate for controlling the tested object to the predetermined temperature via the carrier plate based on the reference temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Ben-Mou YU, Ming-Chieh LIN, Ching-Wen CHANG, Xin-Yi WU
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Publication number: 20140373557Abstract: A temperature control device for temperature control of a component is provided, whereby the component is in an electrical and/or an electronic component, having a tube and a housing element, whereby a first fluid can flow through the tube and a second fluid can flow around the temperature control device. The housing element is formed by a cup-like cover, which is connected to the tube and forms a receiving area for the component in which the component is taken up.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventor: Thomas HIMMER
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Patent number: 8915091Abstract: Disclosed is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a vehicle that operates in a heating mode, a cooling mode or a demisting mode. In some embodiments, the system includes a first circuit having first pump for circulating a first medium therein, a second circuit having a second pump for circulating a second medium therein and a thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal contact with the first medium and a second surface in thermal contact with the second medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Gentherm IncorporatedInventor: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
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Publication number: 20140371946Abstract: A battery pack air cooling structure and method having a thermoelectric element are provided. The structure includes a housing having a cooling passageway through which a refrigerant passes and a plurality of cell module assemblies that are disposed inside the housing and each include a pair of unit cells stacked parallel to each other. A heat transfer plate is interposed between the pair of unit cells. A heat pipe has a first portion disposed in the heat transfer plate and protrudes second portion that protrudes out of the heat transfer plate. A heat-exchanging member formed at the second portion of the heat pipe and is configured to perform heat-exchange with air that passes through the cooling passageway; and a thermoelectric element is formed at an upstream side into which air of the cooling passageway is injected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Jin Woo Kwak, Kyung Hwa Song, Jeong Hun Seo
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Publication number: 20140366559Abstract: Aspects of the invention support simultaneous operation of a cooling side and a heating side of an apparatus to change the temperatures of a cooling serving surface and a heating serving surface, respectively. A cooling semiconductor device (which may comprise one or more Peltier devices) transfers heat from its top to its bottom while a heating semiconductor device (which may similarly comprise one or more Peltier devices) transfers heat from its bottom to its top. A heat pipe transfers waste heat from the cooling semiconductor device's bottom to the heating semiconductor device's bottom and waste cold from the heating semiconductor device's bottom to the cooling semiconductor device's bottom.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Francis Thomas Brija, Ping Wu
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Publication number: 20140360208Abstract: A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can be fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventor: Avner SADOT
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Publication number: 20140360207Abstract: A thermal management system of a battery for an electric vehicle is provided. The thermal management system controls a temperature of an electric vehicle battery by utilizing a heat pipe connected to a battery module and an insulating pack case and a thermoelectric module connected to the heat pipe and the pack case. The heat pipe performs bidirectional heat exchange and the thermoelectric module heats and cools the heat pipe through current direction change.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Yong Hwan Choi, Dal Kim
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Publication number: 20140352326Abstract: A cooling and heating cup holder includes: a pair of holder bodies; a pair of thermoelectric elements having first and second surfaces for heat absorption and heat generation, the first surfaces being installed on the holder bodies; a pair of heat exchange pins provided so as to exchange heat with the second surfaces of the respective thermoelectric elements; a blower disposed at one side of the heat exchange pins and heat-radiating the heat exchange pins; and an extension heat pipe thermally connecting the second surfaces of the respective thermoelectric elements to each other or thermally connecting the respective heat exchange pins to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicants: Kbautotech Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Man Ju OH, Jae Woong Kim, Jae Woo Park, Jae Hoon Kim
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Publication number: 20140352327Abstract: A storage assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having an outlet formed at a rear end thereof, a cooling and heating cup holder installed in the housing and having a thermoelectric element attached to a side end surface thereof, a convenience device disposed to be adjacent to a side of the thermoelectric element in the housing and including a storage tray or an electrical control switch, a heat exchange pin and a blower disposed at the outlet side of the rear end of the housing, and a heat pipe having one end connected to the thermoelectric element and the other end extended to turn aside or traverse the convenience device and connected to the heat exchange pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Man Ju OH, Jae Woong Kim, Jae Woo Park, Jae Hoon Kim
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Publication number: 20140352328Abstract: Vehicle air comfort systems and methods. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Thermo Tek, Inc.Inventors: Tony Quisenberry, Sam K. McSpadden, Christopher Alan Polser, Niran Balachandran
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Patent number: 8899052Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component of varying heat load. The apparatus includes a refrigerant evaporator coupled in thermal communication with the electronic component, a refrigerant loop coupled in fluid communication with the refrigerant evaporator for facilitating flow of refrigerant through the evaporator, and a thermoelectric array disposed in thermal communication with the evaporator. The thermoelectric array includes one or more thermoelectric elements, and is powered by a voltage and by a current of switchable polarity, which are controlled to maintain heat load on refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant evaporator within a steady state range, notwithstanding varying of the heat load applied to the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant by the at least one electronic component.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
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Publication number: 20140331688Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include thermoelectric-based thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include at least one electrical conductor in electrical and thermal communication with a temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device and at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one electrical conductor. Electric power can be directed to the thermoelectric device by the same electrical conductor or an external power supply, causing the thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling to the electrical device via the at least one electrical conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Gentherm IncorporatedInventors: Dmitri Kossakovski, Todd Robert Bamhart, Alfred Piggott
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Publication number: 20140318153Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an energy efficient thermal protection assembly. The thermal protection assembly can comprise three or more thermoelectric unit layers capable of active use of the Peltier effect; and at least one capacitance spacer block suitable for storing heat and providing a delayed thermal reaction time of the assembly. The capacitance spacer block is thermally connected between the thermoelectric unit layers. The present disclosure further relates to a thermoelectric transport and storage devices for transporting or storing temperature sensitive goods, for example, vaccines, chemicals, biologicals, and other temperature sensitive goods. The transport or storage device can be configured and provide on-board energy storage for sustaining, for multiple days, at a constant-temperature, with an acceptable temperature variation band.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: MICRO Q TECHNOLOGIESInventor: Alp Ilercil
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Patent number: 8869542Abstract: Cooling devices (i.e., refrigerators or heat pumps) based on polymers which exhibit a temperature change upon application or removal of an electrical field or voltage, (e.g., fluoropolymers or crosslinked fluoropolymers that exhibit electrocaloric effect).Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Qiming Zhang, Sheng-Guo Lu, Xinyu Li, Lee Gorny, Jiping Cheng, Bret P. Neese, Baojin Chu
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Patent number: 8874254Abstract: An object of the present invention is to perform temperature setting of a heating plate so that a wafer is uniformly heated in an actual heat processing time. The temperature of a wafer is measured during a heat processing period from immediately after a temperature measuring wafer is mounted on the heating plate to the time when the actual heat processing time elapses. Whether the uniformity in temperature within the wafer is allowable or not is determined from the temperature of the wafer in the heat processing period, and if the determination result is negative, a correction value for a temperature setting parameter of the heating plate is calculated using a correction value calculation model from the measurement result, and the temperature setting parameter is changed.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Shuji Iwanaga, Nobuyuki Sata
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Patent number: 8869541Abstract: A heat generator (1) having at least one thermal module (10) that has N adjacent magnetocaloric elements (2) arranged in a circle around a central axis (A) and is subjected to a varying magnetic field caused by magnetic devices (3). The magnetocaloric elements (2) are associated with N pistons (40) subjected to a reciprocating translation movement by an actuating cam (70) to circulate the heat transfer fluid, contained in the thermal module (10), in two opposite directions, at the same time, so that a first fraction of the heat transfer fluid circulates towards a hot exchange chamber (5), through the magnetocaloric elements (2) and is subjected to a heating cycle, and a second fraction of the heat transfer fluid circulates towards a cold exchange chamber (6), through the magnetocaloric elements (2), and is subjected to a cooling cycle, and inversely. The exchange chambers (5, 6) are coupled with external circuits that use calories and frigories for heating, air-conditioning, tempering systems, etc.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2008Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Cooltech Applications Societe par actions simplifieeInventors: Jean-Claude Heitzler, Christian Muller
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Publication number: 20140305625Abstract: A climate control device includes a first and a second thermal module. The first module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a first portion of a seat. The second module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a second portion of the seat. A control system is provided for controlling the climate control device. The control system includes an input device for providing a set point for the system. A first control unit of the control system is provided for the first thermal module and a second control unit is provided for the second thermal module.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventor: Dusko Petrovski
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Patent number: 8861196Abstract: A heat dissipation structure includes a circuit board that is disposed inside an outer casing having a chassis formed with air inlet holes, and in which a first electronic component generating heat when driven and a second electronic component not generating heat when driven are mounted on one surface of a base plate, and a heat sink that releases the heat generated in the first electronic component. Here, in the heat sink, a heat dissipation unit positioned facing the base plate, an eaves portion protruding from the heat dissipation unit, and a pair of enclosing portions protruding from ends of the eaves portion in a direction perpendicular to a protruding direction from the heat dissipation unit, and at least one of the air inlet holes is formed in a position facing the eaves portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shun Kayama, Yukiko Shimizu
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Publication number: 20140298825Abstract: A circuit board is provided that includes at least one Peltier heat pump device with at least one pair of semiconductor members arranged thermally in parallel and electrically in series. The at least one pair of semiconductor members is at least partially embedded in the circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbHInventor: Valod NOSHADI
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Publication number: 20140298824Abstract: An aircraft cooling system including a cooler having a cold transfer circuit, in which a cold transfer medium circulates. The cooler supplies cooling energy to an aircraft device to be cooled. The aircraft cooling system further includes a heat transfer arrangement having a heat transfer circuit, in which a heat transfer medium circulates and which is thermally coupled to the cold transfer circuit of the cooler via a heat exchanger, in order to absorb waste heat generated by the cooler and transfer it to a cabin air extraction system. The heat transfer arrangement further includes at least one heat pump which brings about an increase of the heat energy transfer from the cold transfer medium circulating in the cold transfer circuit of the cooler to the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit, at least in certain operating phases of the aircraft cooling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbHInventors: Torsten Truemper, Matthias Reiss
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Patent number: 8850829Abstract: Aspects of the invention support simultaneous operation of a cooling side and a heating side of an apparatus to change the temperatures of a cooling serving surface and a heating serving surface, respectively. A cooling semiconductor device (which may comprise one or more Peltier devices) transfers heat from its top to its bottom while a heating semiconductor device (which may similarly comprise one or more Peltier devices) transfers heat from its bottom to its top. A heat pipe transfers waste heat from the cooling semiconductor device's bottom to the heating semiconductor device's bottom and waste cold from the heating semiconductor device's bottom to the cooling semiconductor device's bottom.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Spring (U.S.A.) CorporationInventor: Francis Thomas Brija
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Publication number: 20140260331Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermal conditioning system for selectively cooling skin of a subject comprises at least one thermal conditioning device comprising a first side and second side, the second side being generally opposite of the first side. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a heat sink positioned along the second side of the at least one thermal conditioning device, wherein the first side of the at least one thermal conditioning device is configured to be placed in contact with or in close proximity to a skin surface of the subject to selectively cool or heat the skin surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Gentherm IncorporatedInventors: John Lofy, David Marquette
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Publication number: 20140260330Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly is disclosed, the assembly having a cold side and a hot side, where each of the hot side and cold side comprises a fan sink. Thermoelectric modules may be between the hot side and cold side and arranged in one circuit or multiple parallel circuits, and in direct thermal contact with both the hot side and the cold side. Each of the hot side and cold side has an air intake direction and an exhaust direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: LAIRD TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Dan Martin Gustav Karlstedt
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Publication number: 20140250918Abstract: A cooling system comprises a container that is conductively coupled or convectively coupled to a thermoelectric device to selectively cool and/or heat the container. A climate controlled container system for a vehicle includes a container or cavity and a conduction element configured to cool the cavity. In some embodiments, the cooling system comprises a housing, a housing inlet, a fluid passage and one or more thermoelectric devices and fluid transfer devices positioned within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventor: John Lofy
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Publication number: 20140230455Abstract: There is disclosed herein a layer assembly for a heat exchanger, the layer assembly comprising: at least one heat pump module, the module comprising a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) attached to an island formed from a flow-permissive material; a flow-permissive layer provided with an island-reciprocating recess for substantially corresponding to and accommodating the island; a thermal storage layer comprising a heat transfer matrix material charged with a phase-change material, and provided with a TEC-reciprocating recess for substantially corresponding to and accommodating the TEC, wherein the TEC is attached to the thermal storage layer at a surface of the TEC-reciprocating recess, and the flow-permissive layer and the thermal storage layer are arranged such that the island of flow-permissive material extends into the island-reciprocating recess and a separation exists between the island and the flow-permissive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS PLCInventors: Nicholas Chandler, Richard John Harper
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Publication number: 20140230454Abstract: The invention relates to a portable apparatus for regulating the temperature of medicaments in solid or liquid form. A temperature-regulating apparatus according to the invention comprises a housing with at least one accommodating chamber, with at least one temperature-regulating device for regulating the temperature of the accommodating chamber, in particular a thermoelectric temperature-regulating device, with at least one inputting means capable of registering an insertion of a medicament container into the accommodating chamber or an immediately imminent insertion, and of controlling the temperature-regulation of the accommodating chamber depending thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventor: Peter Lüpges
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Publication number: 20140208773Abstract: An improved circular multi-element semiconductor thermoelectric hybrid utilizes a make-before-break high frequency switching output component to provide nominal alternating current voltage outputs. Overall efficiency of heat conversion is improved by coupling a chiller to the thermoelectric generator where exhaust heat produces chilled liquid or air that is conveyed to the cold side of the thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric generator is used in a variety of transportation vehicles including manufactured vehicles, retrofitted vehicles and vehicle power combinations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Jon Murray Schroeder, Gerald Philip Hirsch
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Publication number: 20140208772Abstract: A device is provided for cooling or heating vessels and containers for carrying out chemical or physical reactions. The device includes the following components in a vertical direction from top to bottom: a heat-conductive cooling or heating plate; at least one Peltier element equipped with electrical connections; optionally at least one heat-conductive separator plate between two Peltier elements respectively; a heat-conductive thermoblock, through which one or more fluid channels pass, for dissipation and supply of heat from and to the at least one Peltier element; and an external control unit for the at least one Peltier element. The components rest on top of one another and are therefore in direct planar contact with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2012Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT WIENInventors: Michael Schön, Marko Mihovilovic, Michael Schnürch
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Publication number: 20140190185Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly and a method of operating a thermoelectric assembly are provided. The thermoelectric assembly includes at least one thermoelectric subassembly configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source and configured to be in thermal communication with a heat sink. The at least one thermoelectric subassembly includes at least one thermoelectric element including a hot side at a first temperature and a cold side at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The thermoelectric assembly further includes a controller in operative communication with the at least one thermoelectric subassembly. The controller is configured to adjust the first temperature by adjusting an electrical current of the at least one thermoelectric subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Gentherm IncorporatedInventors: Lon E. Bell, Douglas T. Crane, Vladimir Jovovic, Eric Poliquin, Joseph Dean, Zhiwu Fang, Dmitri Kossakovski
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Patent number: 8769967Abstract: A heat pump, including first and second chambers enclosing phase change material, each chamber having an evaporator end with hydrophilic material and a condenser end with a hybrid hydrophobic/hydrophilic material. Each chamber is also operably connected to a respective electrocaloric element.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLCInventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
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Patent number: 8769978Abstract: In a dehumidification/humidification device, a blower and an adsorbent module are contained in a casing. In other embodiment, the blower, the adsorbent module, and a flow passage-changing device are contained in the casing. The adsorbent module includes an adsorbing element formed by carrying an adsorbent on a permeable element and a heater directly disposed on the adsorbing element. The state of the electrification of the heater is changed and an air-blowing direction or a flow passage is changed, whereby a dehumidified air is discharged from a first suction/discharge port (or discharge port), and a humidified air is discharged from a second suction/discharge port (or discharge port).Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2008Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanobu Nakaguro, Toshihiro Tsuemoto, Hiroyuki Kakiuchi, Hideto Hidaka
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Publication number: 20140182310Abstract: This invention relates to providing energy efficient thermo-electric heat pump systems for iso-thermal transport and storage, of perishable goods, such as vaccines, chemicals, biologicals, and other temperature sensitive goods. Also this invention relates to providing energy efficient iso-thermal transport and storage systems, of perishable goods, which are compact, light weight. This invention further relates to providing on-board energy storage for sustaining, for multiple days, the ability of such iso-thermal transport and storage systems to maintain temperature sensitive goods at a constant-temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: MICRO Q TECHNOLOGIESInventor: Alp ILERCIL
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Patent number: 8763407Abstract: A heat exchanger bed is formed from a cascade of at least three different magnetocaloric materials with different Curie temperatures, which are arranged in succession by ascending or descending Curie temperature and are preferably isolated from one another by intermediate thermal and/or electrical insulators, the difference in the Curie temperatures of adjacent magnetocaloric materials being 0.5 to 6° C.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Colman Carroll, Olaf Rogge, Bennie Reesink
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Patent number: 8759721Abstract: An actively heated mug or travel mug is provided. The mug or travel mug can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating system can include one or more heating elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug or travel mug can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating elements. The mug or travel mug also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Piatto Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Clayton Alexander
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Publication number: 20140165606Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, which includes an evaporator core and a heater core disposed on a ventilation channel overlapping each other, and thermoelectric device having a heat generating surface and a heat absorbing surface. A cooling line including a first cooling channel through which cooling water circulates around the heat absorbing surface and the evaporator core and a second cooling channel through which the cooling water circulates around the heat absorbing surface and an engine, and a heating line including a first heating channel through which the cooling water circulates around the heat generating surface and the heater core and a second heating channel through which the cooling water circulates around the engine and the heater core are also included. A controller controls concurrent circulation through the second cooling channel and the first heating channel or circulation through the second heating channel in a heating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicants: KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD., HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Man Ju Oh, Jae Woong Kim, Jae Woo Park, Jae Hoon Kim
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Publication number: 20140165601Abstract: An ice making tray has an array of individual ice cube compartments. A mechanical oscillating mechanism is coupled to the tray and rotates the tray from a horizontal plane in opposite directions along an axis through an angle ? of about 20° to 40°, such that water in the tray moves between ice cube compartments. The frequency of oscillation (?) is harmonically related to the frequency of movement of water in the tray and is about equal to or about twice the frequency of movement of water in the tray. In a preferred embodiment, the floor of the tray is a thermally conductive material in contact with a thermoelectric plate used to freeze the water as well as being subsequently heated to release the formed ice cubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, MARK E. THOMAS
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Publication number: 20140165605Abstract: A clear ice maker assembly for an appliance includes an ice tray rotatably coupled with a housing and horizontally suspended within an interior volume of the housing. The ice tray includes a metallic ice forming plate with a bottom surface, a substantially planar top surface and an edge portion. A containment wall extends upward from the top surface along the edge portion. A grid having at least one dividing wall extends across the top surface between the containment walls. A fluid line extends into the housing and supplies water to the top surface of the ice tray to be retained by the containment wall and the grid. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the ice forming plate. The containment wall and the grid have a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the ice forming plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY
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Publication number: 20140165600Abstract: A clear ice maker having an ice tray with a thermally conductive cold plate, where the cold plate has a top surface and a bottom surface, with a thermoelectric cooling device thermally coupled to the bottom surface. Water is dispensed onto the top surface, and the bottom surface is cooled such that a portion of the water adjacent the top surface is frozen, to form a layer of ice. Then the ice tray is oscillated about a transverse axis of the ice tray, such that the water freezes in successive layers from the top surface of the cold plate upwards.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
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Publication number: 20140165603Abstract: An ice maker having an ice tray horizontally suspended within a housing and a drive body rotatably coupled to a transverse axis of the ice tray and configured to oscillate the ice tray about the transverse axis. The cold side of a thermoelectric device is thermally coupled with a bottom surface of the ice tray, and a hot side opposes the cold side. A barrier extends around the periphery of the ice tray within the housing, and separates the housing into a first chamber and a second air chamber. A heat sink is thermally coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric device and extends into the second air chamber. An intake duct member is coupled with the housing proximate the second air chamber, and is configured to dispense a cold air flow over the heat sink. The barrier restricts the cold air flow from entering the first chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, MARK E. THOMAS
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Publication number: 20140165598Abstract: An ice maker adapted to make clear ice spheres includes a mold apparatus having a first mold portion and a second mold portion. The first and second mold portions further include mold cavity segments which define mold cavities when the mold apparatus is assembled in an ice forming position. A cooling source is in thermal communication with the first mold portion of the mold apparatus, such that water injected into the mold cavities is solidified in a directional manner from the first mold portion to the second mold portion to create a clear ice structure. Water is circulated, typically continuously, within the mold cavities to ensure clear ice is formed by injecting and simultaneously ejecting water from the mold cavities during ice formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY
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Publication number: 20140165607Abstract: An actively heated mug or travel mug is provided. The mug or travel mug can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating system can include one or more heating elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug or travel mug can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating elements. The mug or travel mug also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: PIATTO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Clayton Alexander
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Publication number: 20140165602Abstract: An ice maker, including sensors to measure usage parameters and transmit the same to a controller. The controller is operably connected to a plurality of ice forming systems, and directs the systems to operate in a high energy mode or a low energy mode, based on the usage parameter. The usage parameters may include an ice level, a change in the ice level over time, the amount of time that a dispenser is actuated, the time of day, or historical usage patterns. The ice forming systems may include one or more of a thermoelectric device coupled to a bottom surface of an ice forming plate, a forced air system to circulate cold air, a forced air system to circulate warm air, and a temperature control system to maintain a temperature gradient between a first chamber above the ice forming plate and a second chamber below the ice forming plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
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Publication number: 20140165604Abstract: An ice maker assembly includes an ice forming plate and a cooling source thermally engaged to a bottom surface of the ice forming plate. The cooling source is configured to freeze water coming into contact with a top surface of the ice forming plate. A containment wall surrounds the top surface of the ice forming plate to define an ice tray that is configured to retain water. An electrical drive body is rotatably coupled to the ice tray and is configured to oscillate the ice-forming plate in a rocking cycle about a transverse axis of the ice tray. A median wall divides the ice tray along the transverse axis into a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The rocking cycle causes water to repeatedly move over the median wall to form layers of an ice piece within each reservoir of the ice tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY, ANDREW D. LTICH, MARK E. THOMAS
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Publication number: 20140165599Abstract: An ice maker has a mold with a first piece and a second piece. A cavity within the mold includes a first reservoir in the first piece and a second reservoir in the second piece that align to substantially enclose the cavity. A fluid intake aperture in the first piece extends to the cavity for injecting water therein. A thermoelectric device has a cold side thermally coupled to the exterior surface of the second piece. The thermoelectric device transfers heat from the cold side to a hot side to provide a first temperature to the mold. A removable cooling source is thermally coupled to the hot side of the thermoelectric device. The cooling source is configured to reduce the temperature of the hot side to allow the cold side to provide a second temperature that is cooler than the first temperature to freeze the water in the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY
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Patent number: 8745992Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body provided with a storage chamber, a door to open and close the storage chamber, and an ice maker to make ice cubes, wherein the door includes a receiving chamber provided at a front surface of the door to receive the ice maker and an auxiliary door to open and close the receiving chamber. Accordingly, since the receiving chamber may be opened through the auxiliary door without opening of the door, the ice maker may be conveniently cleaned or repaired.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Min Cheong, Seok Uk Kim
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Publication number: 20140150459Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket and a drain positioned to capture water from the ice as it is melted. Ice may melt due to air from the refrigeration compartment or elsewhere, the ambient temperature within the ice storage bucket, or a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Gregory G. Hortin
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Publication number: 20140150456Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY, GREGORY G. HORTIN, MARK E. THOMAS