U.S. patent application number 11/990972 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-25 for thermoelectric container cooler.
Invention is credited to Abbas A. Alahyari, Xiaomei Yu.
Application Number | 20090158751 11/990972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37771888 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090158751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Xiaomei ; et
al. |
June 25, 2009 |
Thermoelectric container cooler
Abstract
A thermoelectric display case (10) is provided with at least one
cooling tube (30) having at least one thermoelectric module (40)
that cools containers (20) stored in the cooling tube (30).
Inventors: |
Yu; Xiaomei; (Glastonbury,
CT) ; Alahyari; Abbas A.; (Manchester, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OHLANDT, GREELEY, RUGGIERO & PERLE, LLP
ONE LANDMARK SQUARE, 10TH FLOOR
STAMFORD
CT
06901
US
|
Family ID: |
37771888 |
Appl. No.: |
11/990972 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
August 25, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2005/030388 |
371 Date: |
February 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ;
62/255 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/00 20130101;
G07F 17/0071 20130101; F25D 2700/06 20130101; F25D 2331/809
20130101; F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25D 31/007 20130101; F25B 21/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.6 ;
62/255 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02; A47F 3/04 20060101 A47F003/04 |
Claims
1. A refrigeration system for a display case that dispenses
containers, the system comprising: at least one cooling tube having
an inner volume sized for storing and dispensing the containers;
and one or more thermoelectric modules connected to said at least
one cooling tube, wherein each of said one or more thermoelectric
modules has a cold side in thermal communication with said inner
volume for cooling the containers, wherein said one or more
thermoelectric modules is a plurality of thermoelectric modules
along a length of said at least one cooling tube, and wherein each
of said plurality of thermoelectric modules has a cooling capacity
that is not uniform along said length.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more
thermoelectric modules has a warm side in thermal isolation from
said inner volume of said at least one cooling tube.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan that provides
air-flow in thermal communication with said warm side of said one
or more thermoelectric modules.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more
thermoelectric modules is spaced along a length of said at least
one cooling tube to correspond to one of the containers stored
therein.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one cooling tube is
thermally insulated.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said at least
one cooling tube is thermally conductive.
7. (canceled)
8. A refrigeration system for a display case that dispenses
containers, the system comprising: at least one cooling tube having
an inner volume sized for storing and dispensing the containers;
and one or more thermoelectric modules connected to said at least
one cooling tube, wherein each of said one or more thermoelectric
modules has a cold side in thermal communication with said inner
volume for cooling the containers, wherein said one or more
thermoelectric modules is a plurality of thermoelectric modules
along a length of said at least one cooling tube, wherein each of
said plurality of thermoelectric modules has a cooling capacity
that is not uniform along said length, wherein said one or more
thermoelectric modules is a plurality of thermoelectric modules
along a length of said at least one cooling tube, and wherein each
of said plurality of thermoelectric modules has a sensor for
detecting one of the containers in proximity thereto and shutting
off energy thereto.
9. A refrigeration system for a display case that dispenses
containers, the system comprising: at least one cooling tube having
an inner volume sized for storing and dispensing the containers;
and one or more thermoelectric modules connected to said at least
one cooling tube, wherein each of said one or more thermoelectric
modules has a cold side in thermal communication with said inner
volume for cooling the containers, wherein said one or more
thermoelectric modules is a plurality of thermoelectric modules
along a length of said at least one cooling tube, wherein each of
said plurality of thermoelectric modules has a cooling capacity
that is not uniform along said length, wherein said at least one
cooling tube is a plurality of cooling tubes, and wherein at least
a portion of said plurality of cooling tubes is transparent.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one cooling tube
has a non-circular cross-section.
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support
structure.
12. (canceled)
13. The display case of claim 11, further comprising a fan that
provides air flow in thermal communication with said warm side of
said one or more thermoelectric modules.
14. The display case of claim 11, wherein each of said one or more
thermoelectric modules is spaced along a length of said at least
one cooling tube to correspond to one of the containers stored
therein.
15. The display case of claim 11, wherein said at least one cooling
tube is thermally insulated, and wherein an inner surface of said
at least one cooling tube is thermally conductive.
16-20. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to refrigerated display
cases or coolers and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus
for cooling in a refrigerated display case or cooler.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In contemporary container display cases, chilled air is
circulated about bottles or cans in the enclosed volume of the
display case to cool the beverages to a desired temperature. The
air is cooled by a vapor-compression system having an
evaporator.
[0005] Such systems are inefficient as they require a large cooling
capacity due to the volume inside of the enclosed display case.
Additionally, vapor-compression systems utilizing chilled
circulated air are much less efficient than conduction cooling
methods.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a refrigeration display
case that improves the efficiency of the cooling operation of the
display case. The method and apparatus of the present invention
provides for efficient cooling of beverage containers or the like
at a desired temperature through the use of one or more
thermoelectric heat pumps or modules.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
thermoelectric container cooler with improved refrigerating
efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect, a refrigeration system for a display case
that dispenses containers is provided. The system comprises at
least one cooling tube and one or more thermoelectric modules. The
cooling tube has an inner volume sized for storing and dispensing
the containers. The thermoelectric modules are connected to the
cooling tube. Each of the thermoelectric modules has a cold side in
thermal communication with the inner volume for cooling the
containers.
[0009] In another aspect, a refrigerated display case for
dispensing containers is provided which comprises a support
structure, at least one cooling tube and one or more thermoelectric
modules. The cooling tube is connected to the support structure and
has an inner volume sized for storing and dispensing the
containers. The thermoelectric modules are connected to the cooling
tube. Each of the thermoelectric modules has a cold side in thermal
communication with the inner volume for cooling the containers.
[0010] In yet another aspect, a method of cooling containers in a
display case is provided, which comprises positioning the
containers in a cooling tube having an inner volume sized for
dispensing the containers from the display case, and cooling the
containers through conduction by one or more thermoelectric modules
that each have a cold side in thermal communication with the inner
volume of the cooling tube and a warm side in thermal isolation
from the inner volume.
[0011] The thermoelectric modules can have a warm side in thermal
isolation from the inner volume of the cooling tubes. The system
can further comprise a fan that provides air-flow in thermal
communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric modules.
There may be more than one fan, such as, for example, one fan per
tube or one fan per thermoelectric module. Each of the
thermoelectric modules may be spaced along a length of the cooling
tube to correspond to one of the containers stored therein. The
cooling tube can be thermally insulated. The inner surface of the
cooling tube may be thermally conductive.
[0012] The thermoelectric modules can be a plurality of
thermoelectric modules along a length of the cooling tube, and a
cooling capacity of each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules
may not be uniform along the length of the cooling tube. Each of
the plurality of thermoelectric modules may have a sensor for
detecting one of the containers in proximity thereto and shutting
off energy to the module. At least a portion of the plurality of
cooling tubes can be transparent. The method can further comprise
thermally insulating the cooling tube and providing circulating air
in thermal communication with the warm side of each of the
modules.
[0013] The above-described and other features and advantages of the
present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description,
drawings, and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a prior art enclosed display case utilizing
circulated chilled air for cooling;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an
exemplary embodiment of a container cooler of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the
cooler of FIG. 2; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of a
cooling tube of the cooler of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, an exemplary embodiment of a
refrigerated display case or cooler generally referred to by
reference numeral 10 is illustrated. Case 10 stores a plurality of
refrigerated products, such as beverage containers, bottles or
cans. In the exemplary embodiment, case 10 stores and refrigerates
bottles 20. However, the present disclosure contemplates the
storage and refrigeration of other such items in various types of
containers, such as, for example, cans, which are capable of being
dispensed or otherwise accessed. The particular support structure
that defines display case 10 can be varied depending upon the
particular needs of the display case, such as, for example,
capacity, mobility, and/or aesthetics.
[0019] The bottles 20 are stored in an array of cooling tubes 30
that act as chutes, and the bottles can be dispensed from the
cooling tubes. The size, shape and number of cooling tubes 30, as
well as their configuration in display case 10, can vary with the
particular needs of the display case. Such factors as sizing,
mobility, aesthetics, refrigeration needs, and container capacity,
as well as other factors, can be used by one of ordinary skill in
the art to determine the particular size, shape and number of
cooling tubes 30, and/or their configuration in display case 10. In
the exemplary embodiment, the cooling tubes 30 have a circular
cross-section or cylindrical-like shape that corresponds to the
circular cross-section or cylindrical-like shape of the bottles 20
in order to facilitate dispensing of the bottles. The inner
diameter of the cooling tubes 30 allows for movement, i.e.,
dispensing, of the bottles 20, while minimizing the volume therein
to increase the cooling efficiency. However, the inner diameter can
also be varied depending upon the particular needs of the display
case 10, as well as the particular method of dispensing of the
bottles 20 therein. The shape of the cross-section of the cooling
tubes 30 can also be non-circular, such as, for example, for use
with containers having a non-circular shape.
[0020] The loading of the cooling tubes 30 with the bottles 20 can
be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as, for example, through
the top, back or front of the display case 10. The cooling tubes 30
can also be stacked or otherwise connected in a modular
configuration to make larger or smaller coolers or display cases,
or to change the dimensions or the aspect ratio of the display case
10.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, each of the cooling tubes 30
has a number of thermoelectric modules 40. The thermoelectric
modules 40 are embedded in, or otherwise connected to, the cooling
tubes 30 so that a cold side or face 50 is facing inwardly into the
inner volume of the cooling tube and a warm side or face 60 is
facing away from the inner volume of the cooling tube. The cold
side 50 of each of the thermoelectric modules 40 is in thermal
communication with the inner volume of the cooling tube 30, while
the warm side 60 is in thermal isolation from the inner volume of
the cooling tube.
[0022] Through conduction, the cold side 50 of each of the
thermoelectric modules 40 cools the bottles 20, which are being
stored and dispensed by the cooling tubes 30. The cooling tubes 30
and thermoelectric modules 40 take advantage of the localized
nature of thermoelectric refrigeration to provide for an efficient
cooling system for the bottles 20. Thermoelectric coolers have an
inherently small refrigeration capacity as compared to
vapor-compression refrigeration systems. However, the use of the
enclosed cooling tubes 30 allows the thermoelectric coolers or
modules 40 to adequately cool the bottles 20 positioned
therein.
[0023] The number of thermoelectric modules 40 that are used in
each cooling tube 30 can be varied based upon the particular
cooling needs and other factors related to the display case 10. The
thermoelectric modules 40 are preferably spaced apart so that one
or more of the modules line up with each bottle 20. In such a
configuration, the thermoelectric modules 30 provide direct thermal
contact with the bottles 20. Alternatively, the inner surface or
some other inner portion of the cooling tubes 30 can be thermally
conductive so as to increase cooling and allow for less than one
thermoelectric module 40 per bottle 20. The particular number of
thermoelectric modules 40, as well as the structure or method of
making the inner surface or inner portion of the cooling tubes 30
thermally conductive, can be varied based upon the particular
cooling needs and other factors related to the display case 10.
[0024] The particular type, including materials, dimensions and/or
shape, of the thermoelectric modules 40 that are utilized can vary
according to the particular needs of the display case 10.
Preferably, the dimensions and shape of the cold side 50 and the
warm side 60 of the thermoelectric modules 40 maximize thermal
communication or contact, e.g., surface area, between the bottles
20 and the cold side of the modules, as well as between the air
outside of the cooling tube 30 and the warm side of the modules.
Additionally, the structure, configuration and/or method for
providing energy to the thermoelectric modules 40 so as to provide
thermoelectric cooling to the bottles 20 via the cold side 50 of
the thermoelectric module can be varied according to the particular
needs of the display case 10.
[0025] Other than the thermally conductive portions described above
for the cooling tubes 30, the tubes are preferably thermally
insulated to reduce the thermal load. The method and structure used
to thermally insulate the remainder of the cooling tubes 30 can be
varied based upon the particular cooling needs and other factors
related to the display case 10. The cooling tubes 30 can also be
all or partially transparent for aesthetics, maintenance and/or
other reasons.
[0026] To further improve the cooling efficiency, one or more fans
70 (only one of which is shown) circulate air about the exterior or
outer surface of the cooling tubes 30 so as to provide air-flow in
fluid communication with the warm side 60 of the thermoelectric
modules 40. The air can then be directed outside of the display
case 10, such as through the top or back of the display case, so as
to remove the heat from the thermoelectric module 40. The number
and positioning of the fans 70, as well as the aerodynamics or
method of circulating the air about the exterior or outer surface
of the cooling tubes 30, can be varied based upon the particular
cooling needs and other factors related to the thermoelectric
modules 40 of the display case 10, such as, for example, having one
fan per cooling tube or one fan per thermoelectric module.
[0027] The cooling capacity of the thermoelectric modules 40 along
the cooling tubes 30 does not need to be uniform, and can be
adjusted to improve the efficiency in dispensing bottles 20 at the
desired temperature, such as, for example, providing more cooling
to bottles that are closer to being dispensed, i.e., further
downstream along the cooling tube. The particular cooling capacity
for each of the thermoelectric modules 40 is based upon the
particular cooling and dispensing needs of the display case 10. A
sensor or other device or method can be used to detect the presence
of a bottle 20 with respect to one or more corresponding
thermoelectric modules 40, and can be used to shut-off the
particular thermoelectric modules in order to save energy. The
sensing can be done in a variety of ways, such as, for example, by
weight, proximity or mechanical switch.
[0028] Lighting for the display case 10 can be provided and is
preferably limited to the front merchandise (e.g., bottles 20 that
will soon be dispensed) in order to reduce heat. Additionally, air
circulation may be provided to the front merchandise to limit
condensation on the bottles 20. It has been found that one to two
watts of cooling per bottle 20 provides sufficient pull-down
cooling capacity due to the efficiency of conduction cooling. This
is a dramatic increase in efficiency as compared to contemporary
vapor-compression chilled air coolers.
[0029] While the instant disclosure has been described with
reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be
made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many
modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or
material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from
the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure
not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the
best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that
the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *