Thermoelectric heating and cooling apparatus

Patent · Tue Oct 19 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7322035

Richard, D A

This invention pertains to an improved thermal slab assembly. A metal slab defines an exterior surface of the assembly and is supported on a hollow chassis. A plurality of thermoelectric devices are conductively engaged with the underside of the slab and are disposed in a regular array relative to each other, whereby each device is assigned a respective one of a corresponding plurality of equal area portions of the slab. Control means are coupled between the slab and the thermoelectric devices for sensing the temperature of the slab and for regulating operation of the devices to establish and maintain a predetermined temperature of the slab. A vertically and parallelly finned heat sink is conductively coupled to each thermoelectric device. Baffle means are located in the housing and are engaged between the chassis floor and the slab, and also with the heat sinks at the outer surfaces of the outer fins thereof and at the lower ends of the fins thereof, for dividing the housing interior into an inner chamber and an outer chamber. The baffle means cooperate with the heat sinks for defining ports between the inner and outer chambers only via the spaces between the fins of the heat sinks. An air flow opening is provided through the chassis to the inner chamber and an air flow opening is provided through the chassis to the outer chamber. A fan is associated with one of the openings for circulating air between the chambers through the ports. The control means includes means for adjusting the predetermined temperature to be established and maintained in the slab by the thermoelectric devices. The control means also includes means for reversing the direction of current flow through the thermoelectric devices so that the assembly may be operated either for heating or for cooling the slab.

• Assignee: Signet Optical Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3986337
• OSTI ID: 7322035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300301* -- Thermoelectric Generators-- Design & Development
APPLIANCES
CONTROL
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
GAS APPLIANCES
HEATERS
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY
REFRIGERATORS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOELECTRIC HEATERS
THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATORS