# US 6,530,231 B1 · Thermoelectric assembly sealing member and thermoelectric assembly incorporating same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,530,231 B1 - Document ID: US6530231B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/955,501 - Filed: 2001-09-18 - Granted: 2003-03-11 - Earliest claimed: 2000-09-22 - Assignees: TE Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Michael J. Nagy; Todd M. Ritzer; Paul G. Lau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6530231B1 ## CPC - H10N 10/13: characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction - B60N 3/104: {with refrigerating or warming systems} - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25B 2321/0251: by a gas - F25D 2400/40: Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - 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) ## Abstract A sealing member for a thermoelectric assembly includes an elastomeric body having one or more apertures formed therethrough for sealingly receiving an electrical wire projecting from the thermoelectric module. Sealing engagement between each electrical wire and each aperture may be enhanced by the use of a sealing agent, or by molding the wire, its sheath or a wire connector to each aperture. Preferably, a pair of wire guides project from the sealing member, each having a central channel in substantial registry with one of the apertures and providing additional surface area for wire support which reduces any tendency to create spaces between the wires and apertures. The sealing member may include one or more peripheral channels to capture water vapor, one or more indexing guides which receive fasteners from the assembly to locate the sealing member therein, as well as insulative filler material, and/or a central insulative channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoelectric assembly comprising: a thermoelectric module having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a periphery, and at least one electrical wire projecting therefrom; a first heat exchanger having an inner surface in contact with said first surface of said thermoelectric module; a second heat exchanger having an inner surface in contact with said second surface of said thermoelectric module; a sealing member positioned beyond the periphery of said thermoelectric module, said sealing member having a first sealing surface which sealingly engages said inner surface of said first heat exchanger, a second surface which sealingly engages said inner surface of said second heat exchanger, and an outer surface defining an outer periphery of said sealing member; a space between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger created by said sealing engagement of said inner surface of said first heat exchanger and said inner surface of said second heat exchanger with said sealing member; and at least one fastener fastening said first heat exchanger to said second heat exchanger, said at least one fastener positioned beyond said outer periphery of said sealing member such that there is no fastener fastening said first heat exchanger to said second heat exchanger which is positioned inside said outer periphery of said sealing member; said at least one electrical wire extending along said space between said first and second heat exchangers and sealingly engaging and passing through and beyond said outer periphery of said sealing member whereby corrosion and/or degradation of said thermoelectric module due to intrusion of water vapor within said space is reduced. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical wire engaging and passing through said sealing member comprises said sealing member being formed with at least one aperture therethough, said at least one aperture dimensioned to receive said at least one electrical wire therethrough, said aperture sealingly engaging said electrical wire. ### Claim 3 (depends on 3) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 3, wherein said sealing member further comprises at least one wire guide projecting from said sealing member in a direction away from said thermoelectric module, said wire guide having a central channel dimensioned for receipt of said at least one wire, said wire guide being in substantial registry with said at least one aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 3, wherein said wire guide has an end and said central channel has an enlarged diameter section extending from said end a preselected distance along said central channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 3, further comprising a sealing agent between said central channel formed in said at least one wire guide and said at least one wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 2, further comprising a sealing agent positioned between said at least one aperture and said at least one electrical wire. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealing member is made of an elastomeric material having a low water vapor permeability. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 7, wherein said elastomeric material is butyl rubber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 7, wherein said elastomeric material is a fluoroelastomer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 9, wherein said fluoroelastomer is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 1, wherein said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface of said sealing member are each formed with at least two sealing surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least two sealing surfaces define a channel therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 1 wherein said sealing member includes at least one indexing guide positioned on said outer periphery, said indexing guide receiving said at least one fastener and facilitating the positioning and location of said sealing member with respect to said thermoelectric module in said assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 13 wherein said indexing guide is formed in one piece with said sealing member and includes an aperture extending therethrough for receiving said fastener. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thermoelectric assembly of claim 13 wherein said sealing member includes a second indexing guide positioned on said outer periphery at a position spaced from said one indexing guide. ### Claim 16 A thermoelectric assembly comprising: a thermoelectric module having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a periphery, and at least one electrical wire projecting therefrom; a first heat exchanger having an inner surface in contact with said first surface of said thermoelectric module; a second heat exchanger having an inner surface in contact with said second surface of said thermoelectric module; and a sealing member positioned about the periphery of said thermoelectric module, said sealing member having a first sealing surface which sealingly engages said inner surface of said first heat exchanger, and a second surface which sealingly engages said inner surface of said second heat exchanger, said sealing member formed with at least one aperture dimensioned to receive an electrical connector member in electrical connection with said at least one wire, said aperture defining a wall therearound, and wherein said electrical connector member is molded to said wall. ### Claim 17 A sealing member for a thermoelectric assembly having a thermoelectric module with a periphery and at least one wire projecting therefrom, wherein the thermoelectric module is positioned between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, said sealing member comprising an elastomeric member having a low water vapor permeability and a thermally insulative filler material homogeneously dispersed therethrough, said elastomeric member adapted to be positioned beyond the periphery of the thermoelectric module, said elastomeric member having a first surface adapted to sealingly engage a surface of the first heat exchanger, and an opposing second surface adapted to sealingly engage a surface of the second heat exchanger, and at least one aperture extending through said elastomeric member, said at least one aperture dimensioned to receive the at least one wire, said aperture sealingly engaging said one wire. ### Claim 18 A sealing member for a thermoelectric assembly having a thermoelectric module with a periphery and at least one wire projecting therefrom, wherein the thermoelectric module is positioned between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, said sealing member comprising an elastomeric member having a low water vapor permeability and a thermally insulative filler material homogeneously dispersed therethrough, said elastomeric member adapted to be positioned beyond the periphery of the thermoelectric module, said elastomeric member having a first surface adapted to sealingly engage a surface of the first heat exchanger, and an opposing second surface adapted to sealingly engage a surface of the second heat exchanger, and at least one aperture extending through said elastomeric member, said at least one aperture dimensioned to receive the at least one wire, said aperture sealingly engaging said one wire; said thermally insulative filler material comprising a plurality of microspheres formed from a thermally insulative material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sealing member of claim 18 wherein said microspheres are each hollow and contain a gas. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The sealing member of claim 19 wherein said microspheres are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic and ceramic.