# US 11,079,175 B2 · Retrofit Peltier device for cooler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,175 B2 - Document ID: US11079175B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/432,348 - Filed: 2019-06-05 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-06 - Applicants: WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Brandon Joseph Behringer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079175B2 ## CPC - F25D 31/007: {Bottles or cans} - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25D 19/003: {with respect to movable containers} - F25D 23/006: {for mounting refrigerating machinery components} - F25D 25/028: {Cooled supporting means} - F25B 2321/0251: by a gas - F25D 2331/805: Cans - F25D 2400/12: Portable refrigerators - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical shroud arranged to thermally communicate with the second Peltier thermoelectric device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical shroud is sized to support a standard drink can. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 further comprising a second fan arranged to pull air downwardly through the cylindrical shroud to create a vortex for turbulent air flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the second fan is arranged to thermally communicate with the second Peltier thermoelectric device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising the beverage cooler providing an insulated container wherein the sidewalls of the beverage cooler comprise four upstanding sidewalls positioned about a rectangular bottom and terminating upwardly at the rectangular lip surrounding an opening and a lid hingeably attached to the rectangular lip to cover the opening to provide an enclosed insulated volume within the four upstanding sidewalls. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6 wherein the horizontal heat conductor has a thinness preventing interference with the lid when the lid is closed over the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the horizontal heat conductor has a thickness of less than 3 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the horizontal heat conductor has a cross sectional area of greater than 50 mm2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the horizontal heat conductor extends along the rectangular lip of the beverage cooler a length of at least 50 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the hanger is a material having a minimum thermal conductivity of 1000 W/m*K. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the hanger is a copper sheet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the hanger is a pyrolytic graphite sheet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the hanger is covered by thermal insulation where the first and second Peltier thermoelectric devices are not attached. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the heat sink has multiple fins adapted to exchange heat with ambient air. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising electrical wiring communicating with at least one of the first and second Peltier thermoelectric devices and the fan and terminating at a standard automotive 12-volt connector. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: reversing a direction of current across the at least one of the first and second Peltier thermoelectric devices.