U.S. patent application number 10/115709 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for controlled temperature compartment apparatus.
Invention is credited to Adamski, Joseph R., Jin, Zhihui.
Application Number | 20020121095 10/115709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24645382 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020121095 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adamski, Joseph R. ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Controlled temperature compartment apparatus
Abstract
A temperature controlled compartment apparatus in the form of a
kitchen drawer mounted in an interior compartment that is cooled by
one or more thermoelectric heat pump modules in the rear portion of
a housing surrounding the drawer. A fan circulates air from the
drawer past each thermoelectric heat pump module for cooling the
air for the drawer and another fan or fans circulates external air
past each thermoelectric heat pump module for removing heat from
each module by that external air.
Inventors: |
Adamski, Joseph R.;
(Pasadena, CA) ; Jin, Zhihui; (Temple City,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LYON & LYON LLP
633 WEST FIFTH STREET
SUITE 4700
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071
US
|
Family ID: |
24645382 |
Appl. No.: |
10/115709 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10115709 |
Apr 3, 2002 |
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09659433 |
Sep 8, 2000 |
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6370882 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ;
62/444 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2317/0655 20130101;
F25B 2321/0251 20130101; F25D 2317/0683 20130101; F25D 2317/0665
20130101; F25D 25/025 20130101; F25D 19/00 20130101; F25B 21/04
20130101; F25D 23/12 20130101; F25B 2321/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.6 ;
62/444 |
International
Class: |
F25B 021/02; F25D
011/02 |
Claims
The claimed invention is:
1. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising, a
housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and
a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a
drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and
selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment
through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of
sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front;
a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and
having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat
through said back wall, said heat exchanger assembly including
first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of said
thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projecting
inwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat
exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said interior
compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first heat
exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior
compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange
fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan
positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to
draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet
and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and
then back out to externally of said housing through a housing
outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the
closed condition of said drawer and said drawer back having outlet
openings communicating with said first fan, a seal surrounding said
outlet openings and an inlet to said first fan for sealing said
drawer back to said first fan inlet and drawing air directly from
the interior of the drawer, and said drawer back also having inlet
openings spaced from said outlet openings for allowing air
circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said
drawer; and said drawer sides being spaced from said housing side
walls and having inlet openings adjacent said drawer front wall for
allowing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to
pass from the housing back wall along the space between said drawer
sides and said housing side walls and enter said drawer.
2. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said first fan is centrally located laterally from
side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectric module is
located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said first heat
exchange fins extend laterally.
3. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 2,
wherein a said second fan is positioned directly rearwardly of said
second heat exchange fins of each thermoelectric module.
4. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 3,
wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in a substantially
vertical direction.
5. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 4,
wherein said housing inlet for the external air is in the housing
top wall and said housing outlet for the external air is in the
housing bottom wall.
6. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 4,
wherein said housing inlet for the external air is in the housing
bottom wall and said housing outlet for the external air is in the
housing top wall.
7. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said housing back wall includes a panel which is adjacent
said drawer back in the closed condition of said drawer, said panel
having a circular opening forming said inlet to said first fan.
8. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 7,
wherein said housing back wall panel includes vertically extending
openings on each lateral side for causing the internal air that has
passed the first heat exchange fins to be discharged toward said
inlet openings and sides of said drawer.
9. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 8,
wherein a temperature probe is positioned in said housing back wall
adjacent one of said vertically extending openings in said
panel.
10. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 8,
wherein said housing back wall includes a molded insulation body
with a cavity for receiving said first fan and forming passageways
for the internal air from said first fan passed said first heat
exchange fins to said vertically extending openings in said
panel.
11. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 10,
wherein said molded insulation body includes a through hole that
surrounds said thermoelectric module.
12. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 10,
wherein said molded insulation body includes a drain below said
first heat exchange fins for receiving and draining condensate
formed on said first heat exchange fins.
13. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said first heat exchange fins extend laterally at a small
downward angle to horizontal away from said first fan for
condensation occurring on said first heat exchange fins to migrate
laterally away from said first fan, and a drain passage is provided
adjacent the lowest end of said first heat exchange fins for
receiving the condensation, said drain passage extending downwardly
and opening into said housing bottom wall for evaporating the
condensation.
14. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passage from
the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air to
said second fan, and said housing bottom wall includes an outlet
air passage from the back to the front of said housing for
exhausting the air circulated by said second fan passed said second
heat exchange fins.
15. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein vacuum insulating panels are positioned within and extend
throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side
wall, insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric
module and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall,
and a vacuum insulating panel is positioned within and extends
throughout said drawer front wall.
16. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passage from
the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air to
said second fan, said housing bottom wall includes an outlet air
passage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting
the air circulated by said second fan passed said second heat
exchange fins; vacuum insulating panels are positioned within and
extend throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least
one side wall, said vacuum insulating panel in said top wall being
below said inlet air passage, and said vacuum insulating panel in
said bottom wall being above said outlet air passage; and
insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric module
and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall.
17. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 16,
wherein a vacuum insulating panel is positioned within and extends
throughout said drawer front wall, and a seal surrounds said
housing open front and is positioned between said housing and said
drawer front wall.
18. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1,
wherein temperature controls are positioned on a front end of one
of said housing side walls and operatively connected to said first
and second fans and said thermoelectric module for selectively
setting a temperature for said interior compartment.
19. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 18,
wherein a seal surrounds said housing open front and is positioned
between said housing and said drawer front walls, said seal located
laterally inwardly of said temperature controls.
20. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 18,
wherein a temperature probe is mounted in said interior compartment
and is operatively connected to said temperature controls.
21. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising, a
housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and
a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a
drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and
selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment
through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of
sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front;
a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and
having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat
through said housing back wall, said heat exchanger assembly
including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of
said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins
projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said
second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said
interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first
heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior
compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange
fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan
positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to
draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet
and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and
then back out to externally of said housing through a housing
outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the
closed condition of said drawer and said drawer back having outlet
openings communicating with said first fan for drawing air directly
from the interior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back
and pair of sides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet
openings in said drawer back for causing air circulated passed said
first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer; said housing top
wall including an external air passage from the front to the back
of said housing for communicating with said second fan; said
housing bottom wall including an external air passage from the back
to the front of said housing for communicating with said second
fan; and said second fan circulating external air passed said
second heat exchange fins through said external air passages.
22. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 21,
wherein said external air passage in said housing top wall provides
an inlet passage from said housing inlet to said second fan.
23. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 21,
wherein said external air passage in said housing top wall provides
an outlet passage from said second fan to said housing outlet.
24. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 21,
wherein said first fan is centrally located laterally from
side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectric module is
located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said first heat
exchange fins extend laterally.
25. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 24,
wherein a said second fan is positioned directly rearwardly of said
second heat exchange fins of each thermoelectric module.
26. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 25,
wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in a substantially
vertical direction.
27. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising, a
housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and
a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a
drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and
selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment
through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of
sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front;
a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and
having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat
through said housing back wall, said heat exchanger assembly
including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of
said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins
projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said
second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said
interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first
heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior
compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange
fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan
positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to
draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet
and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and
then back out to externally of said housing through a housing
outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the
closed condition of said drawer and having outlet openings
communicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from the
interior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair
of sides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet openings in
said drawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat
exchange fins to enter said drawer; said housing top wall including
an external air passage from the front to the back of said housing;
said housing bottom wall including an external air passage from the
back to the front of said housing; said second fan circulation
external air passed said second heat exchange fins through said
external air passages; vacuum insulating panels positioned within
and extending throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at
least one side wall, said vacuum insulating panel in said top wall
being below said external air passage, and said vacuum insulating
panel in said bottom wall being above said external air passage;
insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric module
and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall; and a
vacuum insulating panel positioned within and extending throughout
said drawer front wall.
28. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 27,
wherein said first fan is centrally located laterally from
side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectric module is
located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said first heat
exchange fins extend laterally.
29. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 28,
wherein a said second fan is positioned directly rearwardly of said
second heat exchange fins of each thermoelectric module.
30. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 29,
wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in a substantially
vertical direction.
31. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising, a
housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and
a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a
drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and
selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment
through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of
sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front;
a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and
having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat
through said housing back wall, said heat exchanger assembly
including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of
said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins
projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said
second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said
interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first
heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior
compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange
fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan
positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to
draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet
and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and
then back out to externally of said housing through a housing
outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the
closed condition of said drawer and having outlet openings
communicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from the
interior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair
of sides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet opening in
said drawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat
exchange fins to enter said drawer; and said first heat exchange
fins extending laterally at a small downward angle to horizontal
away from said first fan for condensation occurring on said first
heat exchange fins to migrate laterally away from said first fan,
and a drain passage adjacent the lowest end of said first heat
exchange fins for receiving the condensation, said drain passage
extending downwardly through said bottom wall of said housing.
32. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 31,
wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passage from
the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air
from said housing inlet at the front of said housing to said second
fan, and said housing bottom wall includes an outlet air passage
from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting the air
circulated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange fins
to said housing outlet at the front of said housing, said drain
passage opening into said outlet air passage for the exhausting air
to evaporate the drained condensate.
33. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 31,
wherein said drain passage includes a trap shape for retaining
condensate and thereby inhibiting the flow of air through the drain
passage.
34. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising, a
housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and
a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a
drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and
selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment
through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of
sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front;
a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and
having a pair of laterally spaced thermoelectric modules operable
to transfer heat through said housing back wall, each said
thermoelectric module having first and second heat exchange fins on
opposite sides, said first heat exchange fins projecting inwardly
toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchange fins
projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a first
fan positioned between said pair of thermoelectric modules and
adjacent said first heat exchange fins, said first fan operable to
draw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air
laterally in both directions passed said first heat exchange fins
of both said thermoelectric modules and then back into said
interior compartment, and a pair of second fans with each said
second fan positioned adjacent one of said second heat exchange
fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housing
through a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second
heat exchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing
through a housing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said
first fan in the closed condition of said drawer and said drawer
back having outlet openings communicating with said first fan, a
seal surrounding said outlet openings and an inlet to said first
fan for sealing said drawer back to said first fan inlet and
drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer, and said
drawer back also having inlet openings spaced from said outlet
opening for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchange
fins to enter said drawer; said drawer sides being spaced from said
housing side walls and having inlet openings adjacent said drawer
front wall for causing air circulated passed said first heat
exchange fins to pass from the housing back wall through the space
between said drawer sides and said housing side walls and enter
said drawer; said housing top wall including an inlet air passage
from the front to the back of said housing for supplying external
air from said housing inlet at the front of said housing to said
second fans; said housing bottom wall including an outlet air
passage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting
the air circulated by said second fans passed said second heat
exchange fins to said housing outlet at the front of said housing;
vacuum insulating panels positioned within and extending throughout
said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, said
vacuum insulating panel in said top wall being below said inlet air
passage, and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wall being
above said outlet air passage; insulation in said back wall
surrounding said pair of thermoelectric modules and extending
throughout the remainder of said back wall; a vacuum insulating
panel positioned within and extending throughout said drawer front
wall; a seal surrounding said housing open front and positioned
between said housing and said drawer front wall; and each of said
first heat exchange fins extending laterally at a small downward
angle to horizontal away from said first fan for condensation
occurring on said first heat exchange fins to migrate laterally
away from said first fan, and a drain passage adjacent the lowest
end of each of said first heat exchange fins for receiving the
condensation, said drain passages extending downwardly and opening
into said housing outlet air passage for evaporating the
condensation.
35. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 34,
wherein temperature controls are positioned on a front end of one
of said housing side walls and operatively connected to said first
and second fans and said thermoelectric modules for selectively
setting a temperature for said interior compartment.
36. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 35,
wherein a temperature probe is mounted in said interior compartment
and is operatively connected to said temperature controls.
Description
[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application
Ser. No. 09/659,433, filed on Sep. 8, 2000, which is incorporated
herein by this reference.
[0002] This invention relates to an apparatus having a temperature
controlled compartment within the apparatus and, in particular, is
directed to a kitchen drawer apparatus that may be heated or cooled
for warming or cooling, respectively, plates, containers, food
products, and the like or holding the same at a desired
temperature.
[0003] Many residential kitchens are provided with warming ovens,
usually in the form of a drawer, that is heated to a moderate
temperature by a simple electric heating element controlled by a
thermostat but cooling drawers are far less common and more
complicated in requiring a normal refrigeration system with a
compressor, condenser and evaporator. While the present invention
is applicable to a heating drawer or a cooling drawer or selectable
as either, it's principal utility is as a cooling drawer and
therefore will be described in that manner.
[0004] Often it is desirable to chill plates, such as for serving
salad or a cold soup, or to maintain a food product cold, such as
desserts, leaf salads, beverages or the like. While a conventional
residential refrigerator may be used for such a chilling or cooling
function, there may be inadequate space or shelving in a
residential refrigerator to accommodate plates, bowls, and chilled
food products that may be prepared for subsequent service. Further,
while an extra small refrigerator may be provided in a residential
kitchen for these chilling and cooling functions, conventional
refrigerators employ a vapor compression/evaporation cycle
requiring a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator which are
slow in reducing the interior temperature and, therefore, are
normally left on at all times, which is wasteful of energy.
Moreover, an extra refrigerator that is maintained at a cold
temperature usually attracts the storage of items thereby making it
unavailable for special cooling uses. Further, heretofore
conventional residential refrigerators have not been capable of
selectively cooling or heating the interior of the
refrigerator.
[0005] Therefore, it is a principle object of the present invention
to provide a temperature-controlled compartment apparatus that may
be operated to heat or cool an interior compartment. Specifically,
it is a more detailed object of this invention to provide such a
cooling apparatus wherein a thermoelectric heat pump is provided
for operation to draw heat from the interior compartment for
creating a cooling compartment. Still another object of the present
invention is to provide such an apparatus in the form of a highly
insulated cooling compartment for receiving a kitchen drawer
through which cold air is circulated from a thermoelectric heat
pump and then back to the thermoelectric heat pump for cooling the
air.
[0006] Other and more detailed objects and advantages of the
present invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the
following description of a preferred embodiment in connection with
the drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the temperature controlled
compartment apparatus of the present invention in the form of a
kitchen drawer for mounting in a cabinet or wall;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the temperature
controlled compartment apparatus of FIG. 1 taken on the line 2-2 in
FIG. 3 and illustrating the air circulation paths of the kitchen
drawer apparatus;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevation view of the temperature
controlled compartment apparatus of FIG. 1 taken substantially on
the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front sectional elevation view taken
substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the temperature
controlled compartment apparatus;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a rear sectional elevation view taken
substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a rear sectional elevation view taken
substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3
[0014] FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the
thermoelectric heat pump modules used in the apparatus as shown in
the circle 8 in the FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the
condensate drains used in the apparatus as shown at the circle 9 in
the FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the cooling drawer
removed from the apparatus;
[0017] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the air intake
passage used in the apparatus as shown at the circle 11 in the FIG.
3;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a view of the temperature controls for the
temperature controlled compartment apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a rear isometric view of the rear of a modified
form of the temperature controlled compartment apparatus;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a side sectional elevation view taken
substantially on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;
[0021] FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a modified
form of the exhaust fans and air passages used in the apparatus as
shown at the circle in the FIG. 14;
[0022] FIG. 16 is a side sectional elevation view similar to FIG.
14 and illustrating another modified form of the exhaust fans and
air passages used in of the temperature controlled compartment
apparatus; and
[0023] FIG. 17 is a side sectional elevation view of still another
modified form of the temperature controlled compartment
apparatus.
[0024] The preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 1-12 is illustrated as a temperature controlled compartment
apparatus 10 having a drawer 12 so that the apparatus may be
conveniently mounted in an opening in a wall or in the front of a
kitchen cabinet, similar to mounting of conventional warming ovens,
but the apparatus may be constructed in other configurations, such
as merely having a front door, without departing from the present
invention. The apparatus 10 includes a double-walled housing 14
with insulation 16 between the walls on all sides, top and bottom,
where possible, for reducing undesirable heat transfer between the
exterior of the housing and interior compartment 18 formed within
the housing 14. The drawer 12 is supported in the housing 14 by
rollers 20 in a conventional manner for ease in sliding the drawer
12 in and out of the interior compartment 18, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 4. The drawer may have a slidable or hinged top (not shown) for
minimizing the loss of cold air from the drawer as the drawer is
rolled in and out of the housing. The front 12a of the drawer 12
also includes insulation 16. Preferably, the insulation 16 in the
housing and also in the front 12a of the drawer 12 is made of
vacuum panels, such as made by Dow Chemical Company under their
trademark "Instill", which greatly reduces the heat transfer
between the exterior of the housing and the interior compartment
18. Presently, such vacuum panels are normally available only in
flat regularly shaped panels which are well suited for the front,
top, bottom and side walls but not the rear wall which is of an
irregular shape, as discussed below. The vacuum panels provide
greater insulation while allowing for a much thinner wall for the
housing to thereby increase the volume of the interior compartment
18 and drawer 12 for the same exterior size of the apparatus
10.
[0025] A heat exchange assemblage, generally designated 22, is
provided as the rear portion of the apparatus 10 and housing 14 for
creating the heat exchange between the interior compartment 18 and
the atmosphere around the apparatus 10. In this preferred
embodiment, the heat exchange assemblage 22 is provided with two
thermoelectric heat pump modules 24a and 24b (hereinafter simply
"thermoelectric module") although a single thermoelectric module or
more than two thermoelectric modules may be used without departing
from the invention. The thermoelectric modules 24a and 24b are
located in the rear wall between the center of the housing 14 and
the left and right, respectively, side walls of the housing 14 and
approximately in the center in the top to bottom direction.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 8, each thermoelectric module 24 is
provided with a pair of heat sinks 26 and 28 in horizontally spaced
relationship with the rear heat sink 26 having a multiplicity of
vertically extending fins 26a and the front heat sink 28 having a
multiplicity of generally horizontally extending fins 28a. Fins 26a
all extend vertically from top to bottom, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and
7, and for the full height of the thermoelectric module 24.
Further, the fins 28a all extend in the lateral direction from
right to left, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 4, and 8, and for the full
width of the thermoelectric module 24. As installed in the heat
exchange assemblage 22, the outer (rearward) edges of the
vertically extending fins 26a are adjacent to a cluster of air
intake fans 30, four on each side being shown in FIG. 6, for quiet
but effective air circulation passed the heat sinks 26. The
horizontally extending fins 28a are adjacent to the rear panel 19
of the interior compartment 18. Each thermoelectric module 24
includes a conventional thermocouple heat pump device 34 sandwiched
between the heat sinks 26 and 28 with a heat transfer block 36 on
one or both sides. Insulation 38 also is sandwiched between the
heat sinks 26 and 28 at all locations other than the location of
the thermocouple heat pump device 34. The heat sinks 26 and 28 are
held together by screws 40 surrounded by thermal washers 42 for
minimizing the heat transfer between heat sinks 26 and 28, except
through the thermocouple heat pump device 34 and heat transfer
block 36.
[0027] Referring again more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
the apparatus 10 will be described in connection with its
operation. A motorized impeller fan 50 is provided in a cavity 51
adjacent a circular opening 52 in panel 19 in the heat exchange
assemblage 22 at approximately the center (left to right) for
drawing air from the interior compartment 18 and drawer 12 through
openings 61 in the back wall 12b of drawer 12. A pair of ducts 54
conduct the air from the fan 50 laterally in both directions, as
shown by the arrows 56, between and along the fins 28a of the
thermoelectric modules 24a and 24b where heat is absorbed from the
circulating air by the fins. The cooled air is discharged from
between the fins into laterally spaced plenums 58, through openings
59 in the rear panel 19, and then through a plurality of openings
or louvers 60 in the back wall 12b of drawer 12 back into the
interior compartment 18 and drawer 12. The cooled air is also
discharged from between the fins into air passages 70, which are
between the side walls 12c, 12d of drawer 12 and the side walls
forming the interior compartment 18, and then through a plurality
of openings or louvers 72, located at the front of the side walls
12c and 12d, as indicated by arrows 74. Thus, with the
thermoelectric modules 24a, 24b and fan 50 energized, the air
within interior compartment 18 is continually circulated and cooled
for cooling the contents throughout the drawer 12. The heat
exchange assemblage 22 preferably includes a thick, molded wall 75
of insulating material, such as polystyrene foam, with openings for
the thermoelectric modules 24a and 24b and forming the cavity 51
and ducts 54 and 58 whereby maximum insulation is provided at the
back wall of the interior compartment 18.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, generally the horizontally extending
fins 28a are preferably positioned at a slight angle to horizontal.
Preferably, the angle is approximately 5.degree.. By having the
fins 28a inclined at a slight angle gravity allows the
condensation, which accumulates during the cooling process to run
along the fins to a drain 110, as shown in FIG. 9. The condensate
drain 110 is positioned in the back wall 75 of the housing such
that the condensate that runs off of the fins 28a will collect in
the drain 110. The drain 110 has a p-trap 112, such that there will
always be water within the drain to prevent warmer air from passing
through the drain and into the cooler air above the drain.
Preferably, the drain consists of a plastic pipe 114 and the p-trap
112, however, any other type of material may be used and other
drainage systems may be used to remove the condensate from the fins
28a. The condensate drains from drain 110 into lower air passage 68
(described below) through which warm exhaust airflows that
evaporates and thereby removes that condensate.
[0029] In order to improve the efficiency of and capacity for
cooling by the heat exchange assemblage 22, means are provided for
circulating external air past the vertically extending fins 26a of
the thermoelectric modules 24a and 24b. Specifically, motorized
impeller fan sets 62a and 62b are provided in the heat exchange
assemblage 22 at laterally spaced locations directly adjacent to
the vertically extending fins 26a. Each motorized impeller fan set
62a and 62b preferably comprises four fans 30, as shown in FIG. 6,
to circulate the external air past the fins 26a. The fans 30 of
sets 62a and 62b are positioned adjacent the louvers 64, as shown
in FIG. 5, in the rear panel 31 for drawing in air from behind the
apparatus 10. The external air also is drawn in from the front of
the apparatus 10 and drawer 12 at the top of the drawer through
vent openings or louvers 87 and into an air passage 80, which is
between the top of the insulation 16 and the top panel 82 of the
apparatus 10, as shown by arrows 84. As the air from the front of
the apparatus 10 is drawn to the back, it combines with the air
drawn in from behind the apparatus and passes through the fans 30
of sets 62a and 62b and is then discharged by fans 62a and 62b to
and through the spaces between the vertically extending fins 26a on
the thermoelectric modules 24a and 24b, as shown by arrows 85,
where the circulating external air absorbs heat from the fins that
has been conducted or pumped through the thermoelectric modules by
the thermocouple heat pump device 34. An air passage 68 is formed
along the bottom of apparatus 10 between the insulation panel 16
and bottom wall 67 which then conducts the heated air toward and
through the bottom of the apparatus 10 to the front of the drawer
12, as shown by arrows 69. The heated air is then discharged to
atmosphere through vent 89, located at the bottom of the drawer
front 12a at a sufficient distance from the inlet 87 at the top of
drawer front 12a and the fan sets at 62a and 62b to avoid any
direct recirculation of the heated air. Thus, with the fans 62a,
62b and the thermoelectric heat pump modules 24a and 24b activated
for cooling the internal compartment 18, the fins 26a of the heat
sink 26 are continually cooled by the circulating air and the
efficiency of the heat exchange assemblage 22 is maximized. By
drawer passages 80 and 64 for drawing air into and exhaust air from
the apparatus 10 for cooling the fins 26a, the apparatus can be
mounted in an enclosed cabinet that has little or no air
circulation at the back of apparatus 10. The external air is
preferably circulated in this manner from above to below the
apparatus 10, even though heated air naturally rises, in order to
avoid discharging the heated air at the top where it would impinge
on a person opening the drawer 12 and tend to mix with the cold air
in the drawer when its open. While an arrangement with two fan sets
62a and 62b has been described for effectively at least doubling
the air circulated past the heat sink fins 26a over the quantity of
air circulated past the heat sink fins 28a to the interior
compartment 18 for improving the efficiency, it will be readily
understood by those skilled in the art that a single set of fans or
more than two sets of fans, or a single larger fan or two larger
fans may be used. Also, it even may be possible to omit the
external air fans 62a, 62b if convection air circulation of a
continuous and reliable supply of cool air at the rear of the
apparatus is adequate for the magnitude of heat transfer.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 11, the louver opening 87 at the top of the
front 12a of the drawer allows the external air to pass from
outside the drawer to air passage 80 and then to the fans. To
prevent the external air from passing downward between the front
12a of the drawer 12 and the housing 14, and into the interior
compartment 18, a seal 90 is located on the housing 14, just below
the bottom of the air passage 80. The seal 90 preferably encircles
the entire front opening of the interior compartment 18 to engage
the front 12a of the drawer to minimize any loss of cold air when
the drawer 12 is closed.
[0031] The rear wall 12b of drawer 12, which is juxtaposed to panel
19 of the interior compartment 18, is shown in FIG. 10. The rear
wall 12b contains a plurality of openings 60 located at each
lateral side. In the center of the wall 12b there are a plurality
of openings 61 which, when the drawer is closed, are adjacent to
the opening 52 for the fan 50. Surrounding the plurality of
openings 61 on the exterior (back) of rear wall 12b is a seal 100.
The seal 100 seals the air passage from the interior of drawer 12
through openings 60 and circular opening 52 around the fan 50, so
that the air the fan 50 draws in comes from within drawer 12 and
does not come from the air surrounding the drawer 12 in the
interior compartment 18.
[0032] A temperature probe 102 is provided in the apparatus, such
as in the back wall 75 at plenum 58 (see FIG. 4) or elsewhere in
the interior compartment 18, and is connected to a thermostat (not
shown) for selectively controlling the temperature within the
interior compartment 18 and drawer 12 by a selection switch 76, as
shown in FIG. 12. An additional insulation panel 17 is located on
the side of the housing 14 containing the selection switch 76. This
insulation panel 17 is adjacent to insulation 16 and allows for the
placement of the wires extending between the selection switch 76,
the thermostat, an electrical source and temperature probe 102. The
selection switch 76 preferably has an On/Off switch 77 and a
temperature control switch 78 for setting the drawer to the desired
temperature. The selection switch also has a number of available
temperatures 79 to which the drawer can be set. The temperature is
set by first turning the drawer on, using the on/off switch 77. The
user then presses the temperature control switch 78, to select the
desired temperature. By repeatedly pressing the temperature control
switch 78, the temperature selection is cycled through the
available temperatures 79, to which the drawer may be cooled. The
temperature at which the interior compartment 18 is currently set
to is indicated by the LED light being illuminated next to the
selected temperature. Other controls, such as a timer (not shown)
also may be provided. Preferably, the selection switch 76 is
located on the front and on the side of the housing 14, such that
the front 12a of the drawer 12 will cover the selection switch 76,
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0033] A modification of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS.
13-15. In this embodiment, a pair of "squirrel cage" blower units
120 replace the pair of external air fan sets 62a and 62b. As shown
in FIG. 14, each of the "squirrel cage" blower units contains a
pair of blowers 121a and 121b at the top and bottom, respectively.
The blower 121a draws the external air through the front vents 87
and into the air passage 80 at the top of the apparatus 10,
represented by arrows 122. As the air reaches the blower 121a, the
air passes through the blower and is then directed downward towards
the vertically extending fins 26a, represented by arrow 123. The
blower 121a then blows the external air over the vertically
extending fins 26a, to cool the fins and warm the air. The blower
121b draws the air from the vertically extending fins 26a and then
redirects the air and blows it down air passage 68 to discharge at
the front of the drawer 12 through vent 89. A modified blower
arrangement is shown in FIG. 15 where the blower 121a draws the air
from the top-rear portion of the ducting, rather than the front as
in FIG. 14, and discharges the air directly downward through the
fins 26a.
[0034] Another modification of the preferred embodiment is
represented in FIG. 16, wherein the external air passed through the
fins 26a of the thermoelectric modules 24a and 24b is drawn into
and through the unit using both fans and "squirrel cage" blowers.
As shown, the fan set 130, similar to fan sets 62a, 62b, is placed
adjacent to the vertically extending fins 26a and the "squirrel
cage" blower 140 is placed at the bottom of the apparatus 10. The
fan set 130 draws air from behind the apparatus through louvers 64
and from the front 12a of the drawer 12 through air passage 80. The
air from the air passage 80 and the rear of the apparatus is mixed
as it passes through the fan set 130. The fan set 130 blows the air
over and along the vertically extending fins 26a where the air is
warmed by the heat from the fins 26a. The blower 140 then blows the
external hot air that passed over the fins 26a through air passage
68 and out of the front of the drawer through vent 89.
[0035] In still another modification of the preferred embodiment,
the apparatus is shown as comprising a pair of apparatus 10' and
10" in a stacked installation in FIG. 17. In this embodiment, the
apparatus 10', 10" contain the "squirrel cage" blowers 121a and
121b as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14. In the apparatus
10 on the top, the "squirrel cage" blowers 121a and 121b operate in
the same manner as in the FIG. 14 embodiment. The external air
circulation is from the top-front of the drawer through vents 87,
through air passage 80, down through the fins 26a, through the
lower air passage 68 and out the bottom-front vent 89. In the
apparatus 10" on the bottom, the external air intake is reversed,
such that air intake is through the bottom-front vent 89 and the
warmer air is exhausted through top-front vent 87 of the drawer. In
this manner, the bottom apparatus 10" will intake cool room air
rather than the warmer air that is exhausted from the top apparatus
10' through vent 89, thereby enhancing the cooling of fins 26a with
the cooler air from below the bottom apparatus 10". Further, both
apparatus 10', 10" will exhaust the warmer air in the same
location.
[0036] While the present invention has been described in connection
with a specific preferred embodiment with various modifications of
a kitchen drawer that may be either cooled or heated and a specific
construction of the heat exchange assemblage for accomplishing
heating and cooling, it will really appear to those skilled in the
art that various other modifications and additions may be made for
providing an apparatus for a purpose other than a kitchen drawer or
with different components without departing from the invention as
claimed below.
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