Patent Application
20180015807
This invention relates generally to cooling devices and, more particularly, to a self contained, discrete cooling assembly which employs an integrated thermoelectric cooler and fan.
The use of common electrically driven cooling systems techniques, such as vapor-compression based systems, to cool a vehicle while in use is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is that such systems generally require too much electrical power to be used when a vehicle is not actually in use. A common problem for vehicle users is that when they leave their vehicle for a period of time in a warm and sunny environment, the temperature inside the vehicle typically will increase very quickly to an uncomfortable or possible unsafe temperature. Thus, there remains a need for a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly which would operate without external power to keep a vehicle's internal temperature from increasing to an excessively high temperature. It would be helpful if such a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly employed a thermoelectric cooler to provide a cooling effect and a fan to distribute cooled air into the vehicle. It would be additionally desirable for such a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly to include both an electricity generator and a stored power supply to ensure the availability of electricity across varying circumstances.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly adapted to generate and distributed cooled air in a vehicle interior when the vehicle is not running. The primary components in Applicant's vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly are a housing, cooler, fan and heat sink. When in operation, the vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly enables the maintenance of a vehicle interior's temperature even when the vehicle is not running. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.
A vehicle window mounted cooling assembly for generating and distributing cooled air in a vehicle which is not running. The vehicle window mounted cooling assembly comprises an assembly housing having a cooling and distributing electrical system, a mounting system, and a powering system. The cooling and distributing system includes a Peltier cooler, a heat sink, and a fan system, collectively arranged to disperse cooled air in a vehicle and outlet heated air out of a vehicle. The mounting system includes two securing notches which operate to allow the assembly housing to be removably secured in an open vehicle window. The powering system, which includes exterior solar panels, an internal battery, and a controller, allows for selective provision of electricity to the cooling and distributing system components. As such, the vehicle window mounted cooling assembly provides a self-contained, selectively attachable cooling device for a vehicle.
It is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly which would operate without external power to keep a vehicle's internal temperature from increasing to an excessively high temperature.
It is another object of this invention to provide a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly which employs a thermoelectric cooler to provide a cooling effect and a fan to distribute cooled air into the vehicle.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a vehicle window mounted discrete cooling assembly which includes both an electricity generator and a stored power supply to ensure the availability of electricity across varying circumstances.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular
When desired to be used, vehicle window mounted cooling assembly 100 may be positioned on the top edge of a conventional vehicle window, with the window positioned in the one of the securing notches 112 and the frame of the vehicle positioned between the other securing notch 112, thereby wedging the vehicle window mounted cooling assembly 100 between the window and door frame of the vehicle.
It is contemplated that when the window mounted cooling assembly 100 is in place on a window, the window would not be able to be completely closed.
In operation, when the Peltier cooler 120, heat sinks 130, 131, and fan system 140, 141 are supplied electricity, the Peltier cooler 120 operates to absorb heat from the cool side heat sink 130 and cool air which may pass therethrough. When the assembly housing 110 is positioned with the cool side of the Peltier cooler 120 on the inside of a vehicle, cooled air is then pulled from the heat sink 130 by the cool side fan system 140, which operates to blow the air into the interior of the vehicle. At the same time, the hot side heat sink 130 absorbs heat from the heated side of the Peltier cooler 120, thereby heating air which may pass therethrough. This heated air is pulled away from the heat hot side heat sink 130 by the cool side fan system 140 and directed away from the vehicle on which the window mounted cooling assembly 100 is mounted.
In one embodiment, an actuator button 114 when operates to reverse the polarity of the flow of electrical power to the Peltier cooler 120, thereby flipping the hot and cold sides.
In one embodiment, a timer is integrated with the controller to allow the provision of electrical power to the Peltier cooler 120, heat sinks 130, 131, and fan systems 140, 141 to be automatically initiated or automatically terminated after a preset amount of time.
In one embodiment, the controller is programmed to use solar power from the solar panels 111 when available and only use battery power when solar power is not available or sufficient.
In one embodiment, a remote control is included to control the operation of the vehicle window mounted cooling assembly 100.
In one embodiment, the vehicle window mounted cooling assembly 100 is included in a vehicle when the vehicle is manufactured.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
