Retrofit Peltier device for cooler
OwnerBrandon Joseph Behringerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Peltier system can be retrofit to a standard cooler. A thermal conductive material passes between the cooler lip and the lid to provide a heat pipe communicating between opposed Peltier devices, a first device positioned within the cooler and pumping heat into the heat pipe and a second device positioned outside the cooler and removing heat from the heat pipe.
Claims18
A cooling device for a beverage cooler having sidewalls terminating upwardly at a rectangular lip comprising:
- a hanger having a horizontal heat conductor passable over the lip of the sidewalls of the beverage cooler, a first upwardly or downwardly extending vertical heat conductor passable upwardly or downwardly along an outer surface at least one of the sidewalls of the beverage cooler and a second downwardly extending vertical heat conductor passable downwardly along an inner surface of the at least one of the sidewalls of the beverage cooler;
- a first Peltier thermoelectric device providing a first semiconductor plate across which a voltage is applied supported by the first upwardly or downwardly extending vertical heat conductor;
- a second Peltier thermoelectric device providing a second semiconductor plate across which the voltage is applied supported by the second downwardly extending vertical heat conductor;
- a heat sink attached to at least one of the first and second Peltier thermoelectric devices;
- and
- a fan attached to the heat sink and forcing air through the heat sink.
A method of cooling a beverage cooler having sidewalls terminating upwardly at a rectangular lip and a lid hingeably attached to the rectangular lip to provide an enclosed insulated volume within the sidewalls comprising:
- providing a hanger having a horizontal heat conductor passable over the rectangular lip of the sidewalls of the beverage cooler, a first upwardly or downwardly extending vertical heat conductor and a second downwardly extending vertical heat conductor;
- a first Peltier thermoelectric device supported by the first upwardly or downwardly extending vertical heat conductor;
- a second Peltier thermoelectric device supported by the second downwardly extending vertical heat conductor;
- a heat sink attached to at least one of the first and second Peltier thermoelectric devices;
- and a fan attached to the heat sink and forcing air through the heat sink;
- and
- installing the hanger over the rectangular lip of at least one of the sidewalls of the beverage cooler such that the first upwardly or downwardly extending vertical heat conductor and the second downwardly extending vertical heat conductor flank the at least one of the sidewalls of the beverage cooler wherein the horizontal heat conductor has a thinness preventing interference with the lid when the lid is closed;
- and
- applying a voltage across the at least one of the first and second Peltier thermoelectric devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.