Claims
- 1. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising,
a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat through said back wall, said heat exchanger assembly including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of said drawer and said drawer back having outlet openings communicating with said first fan, a seal surrounding said outlet openings and an inlet to said first fan for sealing said drawer back to said first fan inlet and drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer, and said drawer back also having inlet openings spaced from said outlet openings for allowing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer; and said drawer sides being spaced from said housing side walls and having inlet openings adjacent said drawer front wall for allowing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to pass from the housing back wall along the space between said drawer sides and said housing side walls and enter said drawer.
- 2. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first fan is centrally located laterally from side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectric module is located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said first heat exchange fins extend laterally.
- 3. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 2, wherein a said second fan is positioned directly rearwardly of said second heat exchange fins of each thermoelectric module.
- 4. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in a substantially vertical direction.
- 5. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said housing inlet for the external air is in the housing top wall and said housing outlet for the external air is in the housing bottom wall.
- 6. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said housing inlet for the external air is in the housing bottom wall and said housing outlet for the external air is in the housing top wall.
- 7. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing back wall includes a panel which is adjacent said drawer back in the closed condition of said drawer, said panel having a circular opening forming said inlet to said first fan.
- 8. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing back wall panel includes vertically extending openings on each lateral side for causing the internal air that has passed the first heat exchange fins to be discharged toward said inlet openings and sides of said drawer.
- 9. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 8, wherein a temperature probe is positioned in said housing back wall adjacent one of said vertically extending openings in said panel.
- 10. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 8, wherein said housing back wall includes a molded insulation body with a cavity for receiving said first fan and forming passageways for the internal air from said first fan passed said first heat exchange fins to said vertically extending openings in said panel.
- 11. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 10, wherein said molded insulation body includes a through hole that surrounds said thermoelectric module.
- 12. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 10, wherein said molded insulation body includes a drain below said first heat exchange fins for receiving and draining condensate formed on said first heat exchange fins.
- 13. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first heat exchange fins extend laterally at a small downward angle to horizontal away from said first fan for condensation occurring on said first heat exchange fins to migrate laterally away from said first fan, and a drain passage is provided adjacent the lowest end of said first heat exchange fins for receiving the condensation, said drain passage extending downwardly and opening into said housing bottom wall for evaporating the condensation.
- 14. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passage from the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air to said second fan, and said housing bottom wall includes an outlet air passage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting the air circulated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange fins.
- 15. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein vacuum insulating panels are positioned within and extend throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric module and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall, and a vacuum insulating panel is positioned within and extends throughout said drawer front wall.
- 16. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passage from the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air to said second fan, said housing bottom wall includes an outlet air passage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting the air circulated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange fins; vacuum insulating panels are positioned within and extend throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, said vacuum insulating panel in said top wall being below said inlet air passage, and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wall being above said outlet air passage; and insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric module and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall.
- 17. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 16, wherein a vacuum insulating panel is positioned within and extends throughout said drawer front wall, and a seal surrounds said housing open front and is positioned between said housing and said drawer front wall.
- 18. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein temperature controls are positioned on a front end of one of said housing side walls and operatively connected to said first and second fans and said thermoelectric module for selectively setting a temperature for said interior compartment.
- 19. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 18, wherein a seal surrounds said housing open front and is positioned between said housing and said drawer front walls, said seal located laterally inwardly of said temperature controls.
- 20. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 18, wherein a temperature probe is mounted in said interior compartment and is operatively connected to said temperature controls.
- 21. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising,
a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat through said housing back wall, said heat exchanger assembly including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of said drawer and said drawer back having outlet openings communicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair of sides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet openings in said drawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer; said housing top wall including an external air passage from the front to the back of said housing for communicating with said second fan; said housing bottom wall including an external air passage from the back to the front of said housing for communicating with said second fan; and said second fan circulating external air passed said second heat exchange fins through said external air passages.
- 22. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 21, wherein said external air passage in said housing top wall provides an inlet passage from said housing inlet to said second fan.
- 23. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 21, wherein said external air passage in said housing top wall provides an outlet passage from said second fan to said housing outlet.
- 24. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first fan is centrally located laterally from side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectric module is located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said first heat exchange fins extend laterally.
- 25. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 24, wherein a said second fan is positioned directly rearwardly of said second heat exchange fins of each thermoelectric module.
- 26. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in a substantially vertical direction.
- 27. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising,
a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat through said housing back wall, said heat exchanger assembly including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of said drawer and having outlet openings communicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair of sides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet openings in said drawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer; said housing top wall including an external air passage from the front to the back of said housing; said housing bottom wall including an external air passage from the back to the front of said housing; said second fan circulation external air passed said second heat exchange fins through said external air passages; vacuum insulating panels positioned within and extending throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, said vacuum insulating panel in said top wall being below said external air passage, and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wall being above said external air passage; insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric module and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall; and a vacuum insulating panel positioned within and extending throughout said drawer front wall.
- 28. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first fan is centrally located laterally from side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectric module is located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said first heat exchange fins extend laterally.
- 29. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 28, wherein a said second fan is positioned directly rearwardly of said second heat exchange fins of each thermoelectric module.
- 30. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 29, wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in a substantially vertical direction.
- 31. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising,
a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and having at least one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat through said housing back wall, said heat exchanger assembly including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides of said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacent said first heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air passed said first heat exchange fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a second fan positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of said drawer and having outlet openings communicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair of sides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet opening in said drawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer; and said first heat exchange fins extending laterally at a small downward angle to horizontal away from said first fan for condensation occurring on said first heat exchange fins to migrate laterally away from said first fan, and a drain passage adjacent the lowest end of said first heat exchange fins for receiving the condensation, said drain passage extending downwardly through said bottom wall of said housing.
- 32. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 31, wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passage from the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air from said housing inlet at the front of said housing to said second fan, and said housing bottom wall includes an outlet air passage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting the air circulated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange fins to said housing outlet at the front of said housing, said drain passage opening into said outlet air passage for the exhausting air to evaporate the drained condensate.
- 33. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 31, wherein said drain passage includes a trap shape for retaining condensate and thereby inhibiting the flow of air through the drain passage.
- 34. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus, comprising,
a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of said interior compartment through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and having a pair of laterally spaced thermoelectric modules operable to transfer heat through said housing back wall, each said thermoelectric module having first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides, said first heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned between said pair of thermoelectric modules and adjacent said first heat exchange fins, said first fan operable to draw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air laterally in both directions passed said first heat exchange fins of both said thermoelectric modules and then back into said interior compartment, and a pair of second fans with each said second fan positioned adjacent one of said second heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of said drawer and said drawer back having outlet openings communicating with said first fan, a seal surrounding said outlet openings and an inlet to said first fan for sealing said drawer back to said first fan inlet and drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer, and said drawer back also having inlet openings spaced from said outlet opening for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer; said drawer sides being spaced from said housing side walls and having inlet openings adjacent said drawer front wall for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to pass from the housing back wall through the space between said drawer sides and said housing side walls and enter said drawer; said housing top wall including an inlet air passage from the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air from said housing inlet at the front of said housing to said second fans; said housing bottom wall including an outlet air passage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting the air circulated by said second fans passed said second heat exchange fins to said housing outlet at the front of said housing; vacuum insulating panels positioned within and extending throughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, said vacuum insulating panel in said top wall being below said inlet air passage, and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wall being above said outlet air passage; insulation in said back wall surrounding said pair of thermoelectric modules and extending throughout the remainder of said back wall; a vacuum insulating panel positioned within and extending throughout said drawer front wall; a seal surrounding said housing open front and positioned between said housing and said drawer front wall; and each of said first heat exchange fins extending laterally at a small downward angle to horizontal away from said first fan for condensation occurring on said first heat exchange fins to migrate laterally away from said first fan, and a drain passage adjacent the lowest end of each of said first heat exchange fins for receiving the condensation, said drain passages extending downwardly and opening into said housing outlet air passage for evaporating the condensation.
- 35. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 34, wherein temperature controls are positioned on a front end of one of said housing side walls and operatively connected to said first and second fans and said thermoelectric modules for selectively setting a temperature for said interior compartment.
- 36. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 35, wherein a temperature probe is mounted in said interior compartment and is operatively connected to said temperature controls.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/659,433, filed on Sep. 8, 2000, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09659433 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10115709 |
Apr 2002 |
US |