HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM FOR A FOOD STORAGE CABINET

• US 20150201749A1
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bi-Polar Holding Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bi-Polar Holding Company, LLC
• Inventors: Turner, Jeffrey, Lyon, Tyler, Winegar, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,405,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 31/02 with heating, cooling or ventilating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2483 with electrical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/006 for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible

Abstract

Systems for heating or cooling a food service container to an appropriate temperature for service or transport, and cabinets including such systems. A first manifold allows a seal to be made against a first surface of one or more Peltier chips and defines a flow path for a heat transfer fluid which directly contacts the first surfaces of the Peltier chips. The fluid circulates through tubing from the first manifold to a first radiator. A second opposite manifold defines a flow path for a heat transfer fluid which directly contacts the second surfaces of the Peltier chips. The fluid then circulates through tubing from the second manifold to a second radiator. The first radiator may be disposed inside, and the second radiator outside, the cabinet. Application of current in a first direction to the Peltier chips can heat the cabinet and reversal of the current may cool the cabinet.

Claims

1. A system for bringing a cabinet to a desired temperature and maintaining that desired temperature by heating or cooling the cabinet, comprising:

a first manifold for heat transfer fluid flow;

at least one Peltier element in contact with the first manifold, such that a first heat transfer fluid can directly contact a first surface of the at least one Peltier element by flowing through the first manifold;

at least a first fluid-to-air radiator in fluid communication with the first manifold and placed inside a cabinet;

a second manifold for heat transfer fluid flow, the second manifold in contact with the at least one Peltier element, such that a second heat transfer fluid can directly contact a second surface of the at least one Peltier element by flowing through the second manifold; and

at least a second fluid-to-air radiator in fluid communication with the second manifold and placed outside the cabinet;

wherein application of current in a first direction to the at least one Peltier element generates heat that is transmitted to the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator to thereby heat an interior of the cabinet, and application of current in a second direction to the at least one Peltier element causes a reduction in temperature that is transmitted to the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator to thereby cool the interior of the cabinet as generated heat is transmitted to the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator for dispersal outside the cabinet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first manifold and second manifold are attached to one another to form a manifold block with the at least one Peltier element disposed therein.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first manifold and second manifold are connected to one another by connection structures that retain them together by an interference fit.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein an O-ring is disposed between the at least a first manifold and the at least one Peltier element, the O-ring at least partially residing in a groove formed in the at least a first manifold and having a thickness greater than the groove.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one Peltier element comprises a plurality of Peltier elements.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator comprises a fluid tubing attached to a number of cooling fins.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator is disposed in a middle portion of the cabinet interior.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator comprises a fluid tubing attached to a number of cooling fins.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator is disposed in a housing on the rear of the cabinet.

12. A portable food storage or delivery cabinet for maintaining food at a desired temperature, comprising:

a cabinet body having an interior and an exterior and at least one opening;

at least a first door for closing at least one opening;

at least a first fluid-to-air radiator disposed in the cabinet body interior;

a first manifold for heat transfer fluid flow in fluid communication with the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator, the first manifold disposed outside the cabinet interior;

at least one Peltier element in contact with the first manifold, such that a first heat transfer fluid can directly contact a first surface of the at least one Peltier element by flowing through the first manifold;

a second manifold for heat transfer fluid flow, the second manifold in contact with the at least one Peltier element, such that a second heat transfer fluid can directly contact a second surface of the at least one Peltier element by flowing through the second manifold; and

at least a second fluid-to-air radiator in fluid communication with the second manifold and placed outside the cabinet;

13. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein the first manifold and second manifold are attached to one another to form a manifold block with the at least one Peltier element disposed therein.

14. The cabinet of claim 13, wherein the at least one Peltier element comprises a plurality of Peltier elements.

15. The cabinet of claim 13, wherein the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator comprises a fluid tubing attached to a number of cooling fins.

16. The cabinet of claim 15, further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator.

17. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator is disposed in a middle portion of the cabinet interior.

18. The cabinet of claim 12, further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator.

19. The cabinet of claim 18, wherein the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator is disposed in a housing on the rear of the cabinet.

20. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein application of current in a first direction to the at least one Peltier element generates heat that is transmitted to the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator to thereby heat the interior of the cabinet body, and application of current in a second direction to the at least one Peltier element causes a reduction in temperature that is transmitted to the at least a first fluid-to-air radiator to thereby cool the interior of the cabinet body as generated heat is transmitted to the at least a second fluid-to-air radiator for dispersal outside the cabinet.