Auxiliary cooling device

US8056347B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Flinner · Mössingen, DE
• Georg Hausmann · Blindheim, DE
• Stefan Holzer · Aalen, DE
• Fritz Hägele · Herbrechtingen, DE
• Jorg Stelzer · Giengen an der Brenz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 15, 2011
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/12
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An auxiliary cooling device is used in another main cooling device, such as a refrigerator. The auxiliary cooling device includes a thermoelectric element, such as a Peltier element, which includes a heat source and a heat sink. The heat sink is used to directly or indirectly cool an item, such as a bottle of liquid. The heat source, which is insulated from the heat sink, is in close thermal contact with a heat exchange fluid in a container. The heat exchange fluid is used as a thermal buffer for the waste heat generated by the cooling process. That waste heat may be transmitted into the main storage chamber of the main cooling device.