Thermoelectric assembly sealing member with vapor barrier
AssigneeTE Technology, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Nagy, Zakary S. McLennan, Paul G. Lau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric module having a hot side and a cold side, where a heat sink is coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric module and a cold sink is coupled with the cold side of the thermoelectric module. A gasket is disposed between the heat sink and the cold sink and extends around a portion of the thermoelectric module. A vapor barrier is attached to and covers an outer surface of the gasket to prevent water vapor from penetrating the outer surface of the gasket.
Claims19
A thermoelectric assembly comprising:
- a thermoelectric module having a hot side and a cold side;
- a heat sink coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric module;
- a cold sink coupled with the cold side of the thermoelectric module;
- a gasket disposed between the heat sink and the cold sink and extending around a portion of the thermoelectric module;
- and
- a vapor barrier substantially covering an outer surface of the gasket, wherein the vapor barrier comprises a glass vapor barrier and has zero permeability to water vapor to prevent water vapor from penetrating the outer surface of the gasket, wherein the vapor barrier is attached at the outer surface of the gasket and extends between the heat sink and the cold sink.
A thermoelectric assembly having a sealing member, and a thermoelectric module disposed between a heat sink and a cold sink, said sealing member comprising:
- a gasket configured to be disposed between the heat sink and the cold sink, wherein the gasket comprises a first interfacing surface configured to engage the heat sink and a second interfacing surface configured to engage the cold sink, and wherein the gasket comprises an opening that extends between the first and second interfacing surfaces and that provides an interior space that is configured to surround a periphery of the thermoelectric module;
- and
- a vapor barrier layer disposed at and covering an outer peripheral surface of the gasket that extends between the first and second interfacing surfaces around the gasket, wherein the vapor barrier layer is configured to prevent water vapor from penetrating into the interior space surrounded by the gasket, wherein the vapor barrier layer comprises a glass vapor barrier that is attached at the outer peripheral surface of the gasket and is configured to span between the heat sink and the cold sink of the thermoelectric assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.