Disclosed is a system for thermally conditioning and pumping a fluid. The system includes a thermoelectric heat exchanger having a thermoelectric device configured to pump heat. Heat exchangers are provided for transferring heat to and from the thermoelectric device and for generating a fluid flow a
Disclosed is a system for thermally conditioning and pumping a fluid. The system includes a thermoelectric heat exchanger having a thermoelectric device configured to pump heat. Heat exchangers are provided for transferring heat to and from the thermoelectric device and for generating a fluid flow across the thermoelectric device. The conditioned fluid may be placed in thermal communication with a variety of objects, such as a vehicle seat, or anywhere localized heating and cooling are desired. Thermal isolation may also be provided in the direction of flow to enhance efficiency.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for providing a conditioned fluid, comprising: a motor including a stator and a rotor that extends about an axis and that rotates relative to the stator; anda thermoelectric element defining an opening therethrough about the axis, the thermoelectric element coupled to the rotor,wherein t
1. A system for providing a conditioned fluid, comprising: a motor including a stator and a rotor that extends about an axis and that rotates relative to the stator; anda thermoelectric element defining an opening therethrough about the axis, the thermoelectric element coupled to the rotor,wherein the motor extends through the opening in the thermoelectric element. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising first and second heat exchangers, the first heat exchanger disposed on one side of the thermoelectric element and the second heat exchanger disposed on another side of the thermoelectric element. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the heat exchangers and the thermoelectric device rotate about an axis of the rotor, the heat exchangers configured to induce a fluid flow along the heat exchangers. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element has a generally planar first side adjacent the first heat exchanger and has a generally planar second side adjacent the second heat exchanger. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stator is disposed within the rotor. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element is a Peltier element. 7. A method for conditioning a fluid flow, comprising: providing a current to a rotor to cause the rotor to rotate relative to a stator about an axis of rotation; andsupplying a current to a thermoelectric element coupled to the rotor to provide a temperature differential across the thermoelectric element, the thermoelectric element defining an opening therein about said axis of rotation,wherein the rotor is disposed along the axis of rotation and extends through the opening in the thermoelectric element. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein rotating the rotor includes rotating first and second heat exchangers about an axis of the rotor, the first and second heat exchangers coupled to the thermoelectric element. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein rotation of the first and second heat exchangers induces a fluid flow along the first and second heat exchangers. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the rotor rotates about the stator. 11. A system for providing conditioned fluid to a seat, comprising: a thermoelectric unit configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy to generate a temperature change in response to an electrical current applied to the unit, the thermoelectric unit mounted so as to rotate about a rotational axis, the thermoelectric unit defining an opening therein about the rotational axis;a heat transfer unit having an outlet in fluid communication with a seat, the heat transfer unit comprising: a flow generator rotatable about the axis, the flow generator configured to induce a fluid flow when rotated, the flow generator in conductive thermal communication with the thermoelectric unit so that the flow generator conducts the temperature change generated by the heat transfer unit to transfer the temperature change to the fluid flowing across the heat transfer unit; anda housing having an inlet and an outlet on an exterior of the flow generator, the housing and flow generator cooperating to intake fluid along the rotational axis and to expel temperature conditioned fluid from the housing in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis, the flow generator defining a recess into which at least a portion of a motor is positioned, the motor disposed along the axis of rotation and extending through the opening in the thermoelectric element, the motor configured to rotate the flow generator. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the inlet and outlet of the housing is on a periphery of the flow generator. 13. An apparatus for thermally conditioning a fluid, comprising: a thermoelectric unit configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy to produce a temperature change in response to an electrical current being applied to the unit, the thermoelectric unit comprising a circular disk having first and second opposing surfaces, the unit mounted so as to rotate about a rotational axis extending through the center of the disk; andan annular heat transfer unit having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and placed in conductive thermal communication with the thermoelectric device, the heat transfer unit mounted on one of the first and second opposing surfaces and configured to rotate about the axis, the heat transfer device having thermally radiating surfaces arranged to induce a fluid flow across the first and second surfaces outward from the rotational axis when rotated about the axis, the heat transfer device having a height measured along the rotational axis and the diameters being measured along an axis orthogonal to the rotational axis,wherein the distance between the inner and outer diameters is greater than the height. 14. An apparatus for thermally conditioning a fluid, comprising: a thermoelectric device configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy to produce a temperature change in response to an electrical current being applied to the device, the thermoelectric device comprising a circular disk having first and second opposing surfaces, the thermoelectric device mounted so as to rotate about a rotational axis extending through the center of the disk; andan annular heat transfer unit comprising: a first series of heat transfer surfaces in conductive thermal communication with the first surface of the thermoelectric device, the first series of heat transfer surfaces aligned with a plurality of axes orthogonal to the rotational axis; anda second series of heat transfer surfaces in conductive thermal communication with the second surface of the thermoelectric unit, the second series of heat transfer surfaces aligned with a plurality of axes orthogonal to the rotational axis,wherein at least a portion of the first and second series of heat transfer surfaces comprise folds of a thermally conductive material, the first and second series of heat transfer surfaces further configured to induce a fluid flow across the surfaces outward from the rotational axis when rotated about the axis. 15. A thermal conditioning device comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet, an interior cavity and at least one fluid outlet;a fan positioned within the interior cavity, said fan configured to selectively transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the at least one fluid outlet;wherein the fan is configured to selectively rotate about an axis;at least one thermoelectric device positioned within the cavity of the housing and generally radially away from the axis of the fan, said at least one thermoelectric device having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface opposite of said first surface,wherein the at least one thermoelectric device is completely positioned within the cavity of the housing through which fluid is configured to pass;wherein the at least one thermoelectric device is adapted to generate a temperature gradient between the first surface and the second surface in response to an electrical current flowing through said at least one thermoelectric device;a first heat exchanger positioned along the first surface of the at least one thermoelectric device, said first heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the first surface of the at least one thermoelectric device; anda second heat exchanger positioned along the second surface of the at least one thermoelectric device, said second heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the second surface of the at least one thermoelectric device;wherein the first and second heat exchangers are generally positioned between the fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet to selectively temperature condition a fluid passing through the cavity of the housing; andwherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are stationary within the thermal conditioning device; anda divider positioned within the interior cavity and extending across at least a portion of the housing associated with the at least one fluid outlet;wherein the divider generally abuts the at least one thermoelectric device so as to maintain fluid passing through or near the first heat exchanger separate from fluid passing through or near the second heat exchanger;wherein the divider comprises a continuous physical barrier that divides at least a portion of the cavity of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; andwherein the divider prevents fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, both when the thermal conditioning device is in use and when the thermal conditioning device is not in use. 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are oriented radially around the fan. 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device comprises a Peltier element. 18. The device of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a main fluid outlet and a waste fluid outlet, the said main fluid outlet being configured to receive a thermally-conditioned fluid passing through the first heat exchanger, and said waste fluid outlet being configured to receive a thermally-conditioned fluid passing through the second heat exchanger. 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the main fluid outlet is configured to be in fluid communication with at least one fluid channel formed within a climate controlled seating assembly, the fan being adapted to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet of the device through the at least one fluid channel of the seating assembly. 20. The device of claim 18, wherein the main fluid outlet and the waste fluid outlet are separated by thermal insulation. 21. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are oriented around an outer periphery of the fan. 22. The device of claim 15, wherein the device comprises at least two separate thermoelectric devices positioned around a periphery of the fan. 23. The device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is oriented so that a fluid being transferred by the fan enters at least one of the first and second heat exchangers in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the axis of the fan. 24. The device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is oriented so that a fluid being transferred by the fan enters at least one of the first and second heat exchangers in a direction that is at an angle relative to the axis. 25. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the first and second heat exchangers comprises segments in order to provide thermal isolation in a direction of fluid flow. 26. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is configured for use with a climate controlled seating assembly. 27. A thermoelectric heat exchanger system comprising: at least one thermoelectric device positioned about an axis, said at least one thermoelectric device being configured to generate a temperature gradient between one surface and an opposing surface in response to electrical current flowing through said at least one thermoelectric device;first and second heat exchangers positioned about the axis and configured such that fluid flows along the first heat exchanger and along the second heat exchanger generally away from the axis, the first heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the one surface of the at least one thermoelectric device, and the second heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the opposing surface of the at least one thermoelectric device; andan auxiliary fan that is configured to rotate about the axis to selectively generate fluid flow along at least one of the first and second heat exchangers;wherein the at least one thermoelectric device is positioned within an interior cavity of a housing of the thermoelectric heat exchanger system, wherein the fluid flow generated by the auxiliary fan is configured to pass through said interior cavity;wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet;wherein the first and second heat exchangers are stationary relative to the auxiliary fan; andwherein a direction of fluid flow through at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is generally titled relative to the axis; anda divider positioned within the interior cavity immediately adjacent the at least one thermoelectric device, said divider defining a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage within the at least one fluid outlet;wherein the divider is configured to keep fluid passing through or near the first heat exchanger from intermingling with fluid passing through or near the second heat exchanger;wherein the divider comprises a continuous physical barrier so that the first outlet passage is not in fluid communication with the second outlet passage, both when the system is activated and when the systems is inactivated. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the direction of fluid flow through at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is generally radially away from the axis. 29. The system of claim 27, wherein the direction of fluid flow through at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is generally perpendicular to the axis. 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the direction of fluid flow through at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is at an angle relative to the axis and a direction perpendicular to the axis. 31. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are oriented around an outer periphery of the auxiliary fan. 32. A thermoelectric heat exchanger system comprising: at least one thermoelectric device positioned about an axis, said at least one thermoelectric device being configured to generate a temperature gradient between one surface and an opposing surface in response to electrical current flowing through said at least one thermoelectric device;first and second heat exchangers positioned about the axis and configured such that fluid flows along the first heat exchanger and along the second heat exchanger generally away from the axis, the first heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the one surface of the at least one thermoelectric device, and the second heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the opposing surface of the at least one thermoelectric device; andan auxiliary fan that is configured to rotate about the axis to selectively generate fluid flow along at least one of the first and second heat exchangers;wherein the at least one thermoelectric device is positioned within an interior cavity of a housing of the thermoelectric heat exchanger system, wherein the fluid flow generated by the auxiliary fan is configured to pass through said interior cavity;wherein fluid flow through at least one of the first and second heat exchangers is in a generally radial direction away from the axis; anda divider positioned within the interior cavity and extending across at least a portion of the housing associated with the at least one fluid outlet;wherein the divider generally abuts the at least one thermoelectric device so as to maintain fluid passing through or near the first heat exchanger separate from fluid passing through or near the second heat exchanger;wherein the divider comprises a continuous physical barrier that prevents all fluid flow across it regardless of whether the system is activated or deactivated. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the first and second heat exchangers are stationary relative to the auxiliary fan. 34. The system of claim 32, wherein fluid passing through the first heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a first outlet, and fluid passing through the second heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a second outlet, said first outlet being generally thermally isolated from said second outlet. 35. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are positioned around an outer periphery of the auxiliary fan. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are positioned generally continuously around the outer periphery of the auxiliary fan. 37. The system of claim 35, wherein the system comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices positioned around the outer periphery of the auxiliary fan. 38. A heat exchanger system comprising: a housing having an inlet, an interior cavity and at least one outlet;an auxiliary fan configured to rotate about a rotational axis to selectively generate fluid flow through the housing from the inlet to the at least one outlet;at least one thermoelectric device positioned entirely within the cavity of the housing and generally radially away from an outer periphery of the auxiliary fan; andat least one first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a first side of the at least one thermoelectric device;at least one second heat exchanger in thermal communication with a second side of the at least one thermoelectric device, said first and second heat exchangers being configured to selectively heat or cool a fluid passing therethrough;wherein the first side of the at least one thermoelectric device is opposite of the second side of the at least one thermoelectric device;wherein the at least one thermoelectric device and the first and second heat exchangers are stationary relative to the auxiliary fan; andwherein the first and second heat exchangers are oriented so that a fluid being transferred by the auxiliary fan passes through said first and second heat exchangers at an angle relative to the rotational axis of the auxiliary fan; anda divider positioned within the interior cavity of the housing, said divider extending from the at least one thermoelectric device to and through the at least one outlet;wherein the divider is configured to keep fluid passing through the at least one first heat exchanger from intermingling with fluid passing through the at least one second heat exchanger;wherein the divider comprises a continuous physical barrier that divides at least a portion of the cavity of the housing into a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage; andwherein the divider prevents the passage of fluids from the first outlet passage to the second outlet passage, and vice versa, both when the system is operating and when the system is not operating. 39. A climate controlled seat assembly comprising: a seat back portion;a seat bottom portion;at least one channel formed within at least one of the seat back portion and the seat bottom portion, said at least one channel configured to receive a thermally conditioned fluid and deliver said thermally conditioned fluid toward a seated occupant;at least one heat exchanger device configured to selectively deliver a fluid through the at least one channel, said at least one heat exchanger device comprising:a housing having an inlet, an interior cavity and an outlet;a fan configured to rotate about an axis to selectively generate fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet;at least one thermoelectric device positioned entirely within the cavity of the housing and generally radially away from an outer periphery of the fan; andat least one first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a first side of the at least one thermoelectric device, and at least one second heat exchanger in thermal communication with a second side of the at least one thermoelectric device, said at least one first heat exchanger and said at least one second heat exchanger being configured to selectively heat or cool a fluid passing therethrough;wherein the at least one thermoelectric device, the at least one first heat exchanger and the at least one second heat exchanger are stationary within the housing; andwherein fluid flow through the at least one first heat exchanger and the at least one second heat exchanger is in a generally radial direction away from the axis of the fan; anda divider positioned within the interior cavity of the housing and abutting the at least one thermoelectric device, the divider extending from the at least one thermoelectric device to the outlet;wherein the divider is configured to maintain fluid passing through or near the at least one first heat exchanger separate from fluid passing through or near the at least one second heat exchanger;wherein the outlet of the at least one heat exchanger device is in fluid communication with the at least one channel formed within the seat back portion or the seat bottom portion; andwherein the divider is a continuous physical barrier that prevents fluid flow across it both when the fan is activated and when the fan is deactivated.
Single ; II Arthur W. (Plymouth MI) Steiner Thomas J. (Washington MI) Cristiano James J. (Novi MI) Macek Matthew J. (Dearborn MI) Yeager Debra (Canton MI) Farah Riad A. (Northville MI), Combination seat frame and ventilation apparatus.
Argos Harry J. (2928 E. Virginia Ave. W. Covina CA 91791) Spector George (233 Broadway RM 3815 New York NY 10007), Electrically heated air blower unit for defogging bathroom mirrors.
Quisenberry Tony M. (67 Remington Dr. Highland Village TX 75067) DeVilbiss Roger S. (4401 Caruth Blvd. Dallas TX 75225), Heat exchanger for thermoelectric cooling device.
Frusti Thomas M. (Canton MI) Bach ; Jr. Daniel C. (Belleville MI) Kukla Robert F. (Dearborn Heights MI), Passenger seat with adjustable lumbar support.
Feher Steve (1909 Aleo Pl. Honolulu HI 96822), Selectively cooled or heated seat construction and apparatus for providing temperature conditioned fluid and method ther.
Gregory Christian T. (Alhambra CA) Noles David R. (Glendale CA) Gallup David F. (Garden Grove CA) Heller David H. (La Palma CA), Variable temperature seat.
Karunasiri Tissa R. (Van Nuys CA) Gallup David F. (Pasadena CA) Noles David R. (Glendale CA) Gregory Christian T. (Alhambra CA), Variable temperature seat climate control system.
Trachtenberg Leonard (512 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange NJ 07052) Trachtenberg Peter W. (R.D. 6 ; Box 505 Branchville NJ 07826), Vehicle thermoelectric cooling and heating food and drink appliance.
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