Water cooler with improved thermoelectric chiller system
US6119462A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D31/003
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A water cooler is provided with an improved chiller system of the type having a thermoelectric chiller module for maintaining a supply of water at a reduced and refreshing temperature level. The chiller system comprises the thermoelectric chiller module having a cold side thereof in thermal communication with a supply of water to be chilled, and a hot side thereof exposed within a manifold defining a heat transfer chamber filled with a heat exchange medium such as water. An impeller located centrally within the heat transfer chamber circulates the water directly against the hot side of the thermoelectric module, from which the water then flows radially outwardly through a plurality of hollow fin elements and is recirculated back to the impeller. In the preferred form, the impeller is coupled by a hermetically sealed magnetic coupling to an air flow fan disposed outside the manifold for providing a cooling air flow over exterior surfaces of the hollow fin elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.