US 8,025,097 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for setting and controlling temperature

AssigneeCentipede Systems, Inc.

InventorsPeter T. Di Stefano, Thomas H. Di Stefano

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Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for setting and controlling temperature of a device that includes: (a) thermally contacting the device to a heat transfer apparatus, the heat transfer apparatus having an apparatus intake to receive thermal transfer fluid, an apparatus exhaust to output thermal transfer fluid, and a conduit to conduct thermal transfer fluid from the apparatus intake to the apparatus exhaust through the heat transfer apparatus; (b) flowing a first thermal transfer fluid in a first thermal control circuit at a first temperature, and flowing a second thermal transfer fluid in a second thermal control circuit at a second temperature; (c) at a first predetermined time, directing the first thermal transfer fluid to flow to the apparatus intake, and from the apparatus exhaust back to the first thermal control circuit and the second thermal transfer fluid to flow in the second thermal control circuit without flowing to the apparatus intake; and (d) at a second predetermined time, directing the second thermal transfer fluid to flow to the apparatus intake, and from the apparatus exhaust back to the second thermal control circuit and the first thermal transfer fluid to flow in the first thermal control circuit without flowing to the apparatus intake.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A temperature set and control apparatus for a device that comprises:

a heat transfer apparatus configured to thermally contact the device, the heat transfer apparatus having an apparatus intake to receive thermal transfer fluid, an apparatus exhaust to output thermal transfer fluid, and a conduit to conduct thermal transfer fluid from the apparatus intake to the apparatus exhaust through the heat transfer apparatus;
a first thermal control circuit configured to flow a first thermal transfer fluid therein continuously at a first temperature, and a second thermal control circuit configured to flow a second thermal transfer fluid therein continuously at a second temperature;
and
a fluid switch block fluidically connected to the first and second thermal control circuits and fluidically connectable to the heat transfer apparatus, the fluid switch block being activatable to a plurality of states wherein:
in a first state wherein only the first thermal transfer fluid flows through the heat transfer apparatus, the fluid switch block simultaneously causes:
(a) the first thermal transfer fluid continuously flowing in the first thermal control circuit to flow continuously from the first thermal control circuit into the apparatus intake, and from the apparatus exhaust continuously back into the first thermal control circuit, and (b) the second thermal transfer fluid continuously flowing in the second thermal transfer fluid to flow in the second thermal control circuit without flowing into the apparatus intake;
and
in a second state wherein only the second thermal transfer fluid flows through the heat transfer apparatus, the fluid switch block simultaneously causes:
(a) the first transfer fluid continuously flowing in the first thermal control circuit to flow in the first thermal control circuit without flowing into the apparatus intake, and (b) the second transfer fluid continuously flowing in the second thermal transfer fluid to flow continuously from the second thermal control circuit into the apparatus intake, and from the apparatus exhaust continuously back into the second thermal control circuit.

6 more elements

A method for setting and controlling temperature of a device that comprises:

thermally contacting the device to a heat transfer apparatus, the heat transfer apparatus having an apparatus intake to receive thermal transfer fluid, an apparatus exhaust to output thermal transfer fluid, and a conduit to conduct thermal transfer fluid from the apparatus intake to the apparatus exhaust through the heat transfer apparatus;
continuously flowing a first thermal transfer fluid in a first thermal control circuit at a first temperature, and continuously flowing a second thermal transfer fluid in a second thermal control circuit at a second temperature, the first and second thermal control circuits being fluidically connected to a fluid switch block which is fluidically connectable to the heat transfer apparatus, the fluid switch block being activatable to a plurality of states;
and
activating the fluid switch block in a first state, and then in a second state wherein:
in the first state, wherein only the first thermal transfer fluid flows through the heat transfer apparatus, the fluid switch block simultaneously causes:
(a) the first thermal transfer fluid continuously flowing in the first thermal control circuit to flow continuously from the first thermal control circuit into the apparatus intake, and from the apparatus exhaust continuously back into the first thermal control circuit, and (b) the second thermal transfer fluid continuously flowing in the second thermal transfer fluid to flow in the second thermal control circuit without flowing into the apparatus intake;
and
in the second state, wherein only the second thermal transfer fluid flows through the heat transfer apparatus, the fluid switch block simultaneously causes:
(a) the first transfer fluid continuously flowing in the first thermal control circuit to flow in the first thermal control circuit without flowing into the apparatus intake, and (b) the second transfer fluid continuously flowing in the second thermal transfer fluid to flow continuously from the second thermal control circuit into the apparatus intake, and from the apparatus exhaust continuously back into the second thermal control circuit.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.