US 10,502,463 B2Granted

Thermoelectric cooler controller and angled mounting thereof

AssigneeHoffman Enclosures, Inc.

InventorsShawn Thao, Jason Dickmann, Victor Divine, Michael Rasmussen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A thermal management system for an enclosure containing electrical components includes a thermoelectric cooling unit for controlling temperature inside the enclosure and a controller for the cooling unit, the controller being configured so that it can be installed within and protected by the enclosure, rather than requiring its own separate secure enclosure. The controller can further be installed within a housing of the thermoelectric cooling unit, which housing does not increase the footprint of the cooling unit. The housing can include a cover that separates the space within the housing into two compartments, with the controller mounted at an angle that allows the controller to fit within one of the compartments and under the cover.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A thermal management system for an enclosure containing electrical components, the thermal management system comprising:

a cooling unit comprising:
a frame that mounts the cooling unit to the enclosure such that the cooling unit cools a first interior space of the enclosure;
a housing mounted on the frame and extending into the first interior space of the enclosure when the cooling unit is mounted on the enclosure;
and
one or more fans supported at least partially by the frame and cooperating to circulate air that cools the first interior space;
and
a controller in electrical communication with the cooling unit and configured to operate one or more components of the cooling unit, the controller comprising:
a circuit board mounted at an acute angle, with respect to vertical when the cooling unit is mounted on the enclosure, within the housing, the acute angle selected to allow the controller to be disposed entirely within the housing;
an input quick connector disposed on the circuit board and configured to receive a first cable connector for providing power to the circuit board;
and
at least a first output quick connector disposed on the circuit board in electrical communication with the input quick connector, and configured to receive a second cable connector for supplying one or more signals from at least the input quick connector to the one or more components of the cooling unit.

8 more elements

A thermal management system for an enclosure containing electrical components, the thermal management system comprising:

a thermoelectric cooling unit mounted on the enclosure such that the cooling unit cools an interior space of the enclosure, the cooling unit comprising a frame and a first fan mounted on the frame for circulating air within the interior space;
a housing mounted on the cooling unit, the housing being disposed within the enclosure when the cooling unit is mounted on the enclosure;
and
a controller in electrical communication with the cooling unit and configured to operate one or more components of the cooling unit, the controller being located within the housing and including:
a circuit board;
an input quick connector disposed on the circuit board and configured to receive a first cable connector for providing power to the circuit board;
and
a first output quick connector disposed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the cooling unit to control the first fan.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/128,375Filed 11 Sep 2018 · continuation in part
Priority: 26 Nov 2014
Published: US 2019/0024953 A124 Jan 2019
Granted: 10 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F25B 21/04
Using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect: reversible
F25B 21/02
Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
H05K 7/20009
Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating: using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures
F25B 2321/021
Using Peltier effects; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effects: control thereof

Family

Application14/555,173Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Nov 2014
Application62/235,987Us provisional application · filed 1 Oct 2015
Application15/284,252Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Oct 2016
US 9,516,783 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Dec 2016
US 2019/0024953 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Jan 2019
US 10,072,881 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2016/0150677 A1Published application
US 2017/0191710 A1Published application
US 10,502,463 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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