THERMOELECTRICALLY AIR CONDITIONED TRANSIT CASE

• US 20090139245A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EIC Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EIC Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Blackway, Bruce W., Gillen, Adelbert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,490,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.620
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/023 Mounting details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0251 by a gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0655 through the top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0665 from the top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/12 Portable refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature

Abstract

Systems and methods for cooling the contents within a portable case, such as a transit case, using a thermoelectric air conditioner. Thermoelectric air conditioners are used with, and mounted on or in, a transit case for maintaining a desired air temperature within the transit case. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric air conditioner can be incorporated, concealed within the housing and/or cover of the transit case. In this embodiment, the thermoelectric air conditioner is protected by the design of the case, the mounting arrangement, the shock-mounted frame, etc. Alternatively, the thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted partially internal and partially external to the transit case. In another embodiment, the thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted external to the transit case.

Claims

1. A thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case comprising:

a portable housing having a hot side and a cold side;

an internal cavity in said housing for storing temperature sensitive equipment;

at least one opening in said housing providing access to said internal cavity;

a thermoelectric air conditioner mounted in or on one of said at least one opening between said hot side and said cold side, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is in thermal communication with said internal cavity for controlling a temperature within said internal cavity; and

a cover for selectively covering and uncovering said thermoelectric air conditioner, wherein said cover covers said thermoelectric air conditioner when said cover is in a closed position during transit.

2. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises an existing case cover of said housing, and said thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted within said housing and said case cover when said case cover is closed.

3. Thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a secondary transit cover that is separate from said housing and said thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted on said housing, and wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is covered by said secondary transit cover when said secondary transit cover is closed.

4. Thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a secondary transit cover that is separate from said housing, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted on an existing case cover, and wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is covered by said secondary transit cover when said secondary transit cover is closed.

5. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is through-mounted in one of said at least one openings in said housing and at least a portion of said thermoelectric air conditioner extends internal to said internal cavity of said housing and at least a portion of said thermoelectric air conditioner extends external to said housing.

6. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising an extender piece disposed between said housing and said thermoelectric air conditioner, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is flush-mounted above said at least one opening in said housing and no portion of said thermoelectric air conditioner extends into said interior cavity of said housing.

7. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is removably-mounted to said housing, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is removed from said housing during transit.

8. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 7, wherein said removably-mounted thermoelectric air conditioner is stowed in said housing during transit.

9. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 7, further comprising a separate, secondary case, wherein said removably-mounted thermoelectric air conditioner is stowed in said secondary case during transit.

10. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case further comprises a primary transit case and a secondary transit case, wherein said primary case and said secondary case are separate from one another during transit and are connected to one another during operation, said primary transit case comprising:

said portable housing comprising a primary housing;

said internal cavity defined by said primary housing for housing temperature sensitive equipment;

said at least one primary opening in said primary housing;

at least one primary cover for covering said at least one primary opening in said primary housing during transit of said primary case;

wherein said secondary case comprises;

a secondary housing separate from said primary housing;

said thermoelectric air conditioner housed within said secondary housing;

at least one secondary opening in said secondary housing;

said at least one cover comprising a secondary cover for covering said at least one secondary opening in said secondary housing during transit of said secondary case;

corresponding mating surfaces on said primary case and said secondary case proximate said at least one primary opening and said at least one secondary opening for connecting said secondary case to said primary case, wherein said at least one primary opening and said at least one secondary opening are aligned when said secondary case is connected to said primary case such that said thermoelectric air conditioner of said secondary case is in thermal communication with said internal cavity of said primary case.

11. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 10, further comprising an operating configuration and a transit configuration, wherein said secondary case is connected to said primary case in said operation configuration, and wherein said secondary case is disconnected from said primary case during said transit configuration.

12. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 10, wherein said corresponding mating surfaces are located on one of:

corresponding ends such that said primary case and said secondary case are aligned end-to-end; and

/or

corresponding sides such that said primary case and said secondary case are aligned side-to-side.

13. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 10, wherein said corresponding mating surfaces are located on one of:

a top of said primary case and a bottom of said secondary case; and

/or

a bottom of said primary case and a top of said secondary case.

14. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner further comprises:

a solid state thermoelectric device having a cold side and a hot side;

a cold side heat exchanger in thermal communication with said cold side of said thermoelectric device;

a cold side blower for moving air over said cold side heat exchanger;

a hot side heat exchanger in thermal communication with said hot side of said thermoelectric device; and

a hot side blower for moving air over said hot side heat exchanger.

15. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 14, wherein said cold side heat exchanger is in thermal communication with said internal cavity for drawing thermal energy from said internal cavity and transferring said thermal energy to an exterior of said housing for cooling said internal cavity, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is capable of driving a temperature within said internal cavity to a temperature below ambient temperature outside said housing.

16. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 14, wherein said hot side heat exchanger is in thermal communication with said internal cavity for drawing thermal energy from an exterior of said housing and transferring said thermal energy to said internal cavity for heating said internal cavity.

17. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 14, further comprising a temperature selection means and a temperature sensing means for setting and monitoring a temperature in said internal cavity.

18. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 14, further comprising a power supply comprising heat producing components in thermal communication with said hot side of said thermoelectric device, wherein a current flow through said thermoelectric device is reversible to selectively cool or heat said internal cavity.

19. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said internal cavity is environmentally controlled to maintain a desired temperature and to be contaminant-tight, said thermoelectric air conditioner further comprising means for setting and maintaining a desired temperature within said internal cavity, and said transit case and said thermoelectric air conditioner further comprising a sealing system to substantially prevent introduction of contaminants into said internal cavity.

20. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising a sealing system between said hot side and said cold side of said housing, wherein said sealing system is substantially contaminant-tight.

21. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising a rack-mounted frame connected to said housing in said internal cavity for mounting said temperature sensitive equipment and said thermoelectric air conditioner.

22. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising a case handling system comprising one or more handles.

23. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 22, wherein said one or more handles of said case handling system are one of:

disposed within a recess formed in said housing; and

/or

molded in said housing,

such that said one or more handles are not extending beyond a surface of said housing when said one or more handles is not in use.

24. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 22, wherein said thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case is light-weight and portable, wherein said light-weight and portable thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case meets the lift limitations of MIL-STD-1472.

25. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising a cushioning system disposed within said internal cavity of said housing between said housing and said equipment, wherein said equipment is supported by said cushioning system to absorb and dampen a shock or vibration.

26. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 25, wherein said dampening system comprises foam.

27. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve that equalizes a pressure inside and outside said case.

28. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, further comprising a shock mitigating system between said case and one or more or said equipment and/or said thermoelectric air conditioner.

29. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 1, wherein said shock mitigating system comprises elastomer shock mounts.

49. The portable case of claim 15, further comprising a thermal insulation system disposed over an interior surface of said case around said internal cavity.

30. A portable case incorporating a solid state thermoelectric air conditioner for controlling a temperature within said case comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity for storing equipment;

an opening in said housing, said opening providing access to said internal cavity;

a thermoelectric air conditioner connected to said housing proximate said opening;

a cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner in thermal communication with said internal cavity;

a hot side of said thermoelectric air conditioner in thermal communication with an outside environment around said housing;

a substantially contaminant-tight sealing system between said outside environment around said housing and said internal cavity; and

a cover for covering and protecting said thermoelectric air conditioner during transit, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is internal to said housing and said cover when said cover is connected to said housing in a closed position;

wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is capable of cooling a temperature within said internal cavity to a temperature below an ambient temperature of air in said outside environment around said housing.

31. The portable case of claim 30, wherein said sealing system further comprises a sealing system between said thermoelectric air conditioner and said opening in said housing.

32. The portable case of claim 31, wherein said sealing system between said thermoelectric air conditioner and said opening in said housing comprises a sealing gasket.

33. The portable case of claim 31, wherein said sealing system between said thermoelectric air conditioner and said opening in said housing comprises an adapter plate that fills any space between said thermoelectric air conditioner and said opening in said housing.

34. The portable case of claim 33, wherein said adapter plate comprises one or more sealed fittings for allowing one or more of:

controls, cables, and/or power lines, to penetrate said adapter plate while maintaining said contaminant-tight seal between said thermoelectric air conditioner and said housing.

35. The portable case of claim 30, wherein said sealing system between said outside environment around said housing and said internal cavity further comprises a sealing system between said hot side and said cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner.

36. The portable case of claim 30, further comprising a sealing system between said opening in said housing and said cover for forming a contaminant-tight seal between said housing opening and said cover.

37. The portable case of claim 36, wherein said sealing system between said cover and said opening in said housing comprises a tongue and corresponding groove between said cover and said housing opening in said housing.

38. The portable case of claim 36, wherein said sealing system between said cover and said opening in said housing further comprises a gasket between said cover and said at least one opening in said housing.

39. The portable case of claim 30, wherein said cover further comprises a hinged cover, wherein said hinged cover is connected to said housing along one edge of said cover and pivots open and close, wherein said cover is open during operation of said equipment stored in said internal cavity, and wherein said cover is closed when said portable case is in transit.

40. The portable case of claim 30, wherein said cover further comprises a removable cover, wherein said removable cover is removed from said housing during operation of said equipment stored in said internal cavity, and wherein said cover is installed when said portable case is in transit.

41. The portable case of claim 30, wherein said opening comprises one of:

an end opening in an end of said housing and/or a side opening in a side of said housing; and

wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is vertically mounted to one of;

said end of said housing over said end opening and/or said side of said housing over said side opening.

42. The portable case of claim 41, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner further comprises a cold-side heat sink having a plurality of fins, wherein said plurality of fins comprise slotted-fins.

43. The portable case of claim 41, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner further comprises a condensate drip pan for collecting condensate mounted below a lower end of said air inlet to said cold-side of said thermoelectric air conditioner.

44. The transit case of claim 30, wherein said opening comprises a top opening in said housing, and wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is horizontally mounted to said housing proximate said top opening.

45. The portable case of claim 30, further comprising a closure system for securing said cover to said housing during transit.

46. The portable case of claim 45, wherein said closure system comprises one or more latches.

47. The portable case of claim 30, further comprising a rack-mounted frame connected to said housing in said internal cavity, wherein said equipment and said thermoelectric air conditioner are mounted to said rack-mounted frame.

48. The portable case of claim 47, further comprising an adapter plate disposed between said thermoelectric air conditioner and an interior surface of said housing to seal any opening space between said thermoelectric air conditioner and an interior surface of said housing.

50. A thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case comprising:

a portable transit case for housing temperature sensitive equipment;

at least one case opening in said transit case;

a rack-mounted frame mounted within said transit case;

at least one rack opening defined by said rack-mounted frame, wherein said at least one rack opening is aligned with and faces said at least one case opening;

a thermoelectric air conditioner mounted to said rack-mounted frame, wherein at least a portion of said thermoelectric air conditioner extends into said rack opening, wherein one side of said thermoelectric air conditioner is in thermal communication with said temperature sensitive equipment for controlling a temperature of said equipment.

51. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 50, wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner further comprises a mounting flange between a hot side and a cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner, wherein fasteners are used to connect said mounting flange of said thermoelectric air conditioner to said rack-mounted frame.

52. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 50, wherein said rack-mounted frame opening is oriented horizontally, and wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is horizontally mounted to said rack-mounted frame.

53. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 50, wherein said rack-mounted frame opening is oriented vertically, and wherein said thermoelectric air conditioner is vertically mounted to said rack-mounted frame.

54. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 50, further comprising a shock isolation system between said rack-mounted frame and said transit case for dampening shock and vibration.

55. The thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 50, further comprising an adapter plate disposed in and filling a space between an outer periphery of said thermoelectric air conditioner and an interior surface of said transit case.

56. The portable case of claim 50, further comprising:

a second case opening in said transit case;

a second rack opening defined by said rack-mounted frame, wherein said second rack opening is aligned with and faces said second case opening;

wherein said temperature sensitive equipment is mounted to said rack-mounted frame, wherein at least a portion of said temperature sensitive equipment extends into said second rack opening.

57. The portable case of claim 56, further comprising a second cover for covering said second case opening and protecting said temperature sensitive equipment during transit.

58. A thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case comprising:

a housing comprising at least four walls;

an internal cavity defined by said at least four walls;

a housing opening formed by ends of said at least four walls;

a mounting plate connected to said housing proximate said housing opening, wherein said mounting plate further comprises;

a mounting plate opening in said mounting plate;

a mounting plate flange around a perimeter of said mounting opening;

a plurality of holes in said mounting plate flange;

a contaminant-tight seal between said housing and said mounting plate;

a thermoelectric air conditioner mounted to said mounting plate, said thermoelectric air conditioner comprising;

a mounting flange sized to match said mounting plate flange, said mounting flange separating a hot side and a cold side of side thermoelectric air conditioner;

a plurality of holes in said mounting flange corresponding to said plurality of holes in said mounting plate flange;

wherein one of said hot side and said cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner extends through said mounting plate opening into said internal cavity and the other of said hot side and said cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner is external to said internal cavity;

a sealing gasket disposed between said mounting plate flange and said mounting plate;

fasteners for connecting said mounting flange of said thermoelectric air conditioner to said mounting plate flange;

a cover connected over said housing opening when said cover is in a closed position, wherein said cover protected said thermoelectric air conditioner during transit.

59. A thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 58, wherein

said at least four walls further comprises:

a bottom;

two side walls extending up from said bottom; and

two end walls extending up from said bottom between said two side walls;

said internal cavity defined by said bottom, said two side walls, and said two end walls;

said housing opening comprising a horizontal top housing opening formed by upper ends of said two side walls and said two end walls;

said mounting plate is horizontally mounted over said horizontal top housing opening and said mounting plate opening is oriented horizontally;

said cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted through said mounting plate opening and said mounting flange of said thermoelectric air conditioner is oriented horizontally and connected to said mounting plate flange;

wherein said cover is one of;

removably mounted over said horizontal top housing opening in a closed position to protect said thermoelectric air conditioner during transit and removed during operation to expose said hot side of said thermoelectric air conditioner; and

/or

pivotally mounted to said housing over said horizontal top housing opening and pivoted closed to protect said thermoelectric air conditioner during transit and pivoted open during operation to expose said hot side of said thermoelectric air conditioner.

60. A thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 58, wherein

said at least four walls further comprises:

a bottom;

a top;

two side walls extending up from said bottom to said top;

said internal cavity defined by said bottom, said top, and said two side walls;

said housing opening comprising a first vertical end housing opening formed by ends of said bottom, said top, and said two side walls;

said mounting plate is vertically mounted over said at least one vertical end housing opening and said mounting plate opening is oriented vertically;

said cold side of said thermoelectric air conditioner is mounted through said mounting plate opening and said mounting flange of said thermoelectric air conditioner is oriented vertically and connected to said mounting plate flange;

wherein said cover is one of;

removably mounted over said first vertical end housing opening in a closed position to protect said thermoelectric air conditioner during transit and removed during operation to expose said hot side of said thermoelectric air conditioner; and

/or

pivotally mounted to said housing over said first vertical end housing opening to pivot closed to protect said thermoelectric air conditioner during transit and pivoted open during operation to expose said hot side of said thermoelectric air conditioner.

61. A thermoelectrically air conditioned transit case of claim 60, further comprising:

said housing opening comprising a second vertical end housing opening formed by ends of said bottom, said top, and said two side walls opposite said first vertical end housing opening;

said mounting plate is vertically mounted over said second vertical end housing opening and said mounting plate opening is oriented vertically;

said equipment is mounted to said mounting plate;

wherein said second cover is one of;

removably mounted over said second vertical end housing opening in a closed position to protect said equipment during transit and removed during operation to expose said equipment; and

/or

pivotally mounted to said housing over said second vertical end housing opening to pivot closed to protect said equipment during transit and pivoted open during operation to expose said equipment.