Thermal control device for cooling or heating parked vehicles

• US 5,687,573 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ping-Ho Shih
• Original Assignee: Ping-Ho Shih
• Inventors: Shih, Ping-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Sollecito, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/656,767
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 62/3.2, 62/3.3, 62/3.6, 62/3.7, 62/244, 62/237, 62/262, 62/263, 62/404, 62/407, 62/410
• US Class Current: 62/3.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible

Abstract

A thermal control device (10) for cooling or heating the passenger compartment of parked vehicles or a vehicle seat cushion (140). The device consists of a door frame/window interfacing fixture (12) that is attached between a vehicle door frame (200) and the vehicle'"'"'s side window (202). The fixture includes an air exhaust sleeve (20) into which is inserted an air exhaust port (44) located on a device housing (30). The housing (30) also includes an air outlet port (58) that vents into the passenger compartment and incorporates a d-c motor (68), a centrifugal fan (70), a voltage polarity switch (71) and a temperature control module (72) which consists of a first and second heat exchanger (74,82) and a Peltier-effect thermoelectric element (90). Electrical power is supplied by a device control unit (108) that is programmed to apply electrical power from the vehicle battery (206) at a pro-selected time. When power is applied, the motor (68) rotates the fan (70) which allows either cool air or warm air as selected by the switch (71), to pass through the heat exchangers (74,82). In the summer or when cool air is preferred, the warm air is directed to the outside of the vehicle through the air exhaust port (44) and the cool air is directed through the air outlet port (58) into the vehicle passenger compartment or the seat cushion (140). In the winter cold air is directed outside the vehicle and the warm air is directed into the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A thermal control device for cooling or heating parked vehicles, said device comprising:

a) a door frame/window interfacing fixture having means for being attached between a vehicle door frame and a corresponding vehicle window, with said fixture further having an air exhaust sleeve that projects into the passenger compartment and vents to the vehicle exterior,

b) a device housing having;

(1) an air exhaust port that frictionally fits into the air exhaust sleeve on said fixture,

(2) an air outlet port,

(3) a d-c motor that operates a fan,

(4) a temperature control module that uses a Peltier-effect thermoelectric element that produces a hot or cold temperature,

(5) a power/voltage-polarity selecting switch that controls the voltage applied to said d-c motor and the polarity of the voltage applied to said temperature control module, wherein the hot or cold temperature produced by said temperature controlled module is dependent upon the applied voltage polarity, wherein the selected temperature output from said temperature control module is forced out the outlet port of said device housing into the passenger compartment by said fan, and

c) a device control unit attached to said device housing, via a power cable, wherein said unit having means for controlling the time that the voltage, derived from a voltage source, is to be applied to said device housing.

2. A thermal control device for cooling or heating parked vehicles, said device comprising:

a) a door frame/window interfacing fixture having;

(1) an upper closed edge dimensioned to fit into a vehicle door frame,

(2) a lower bifurcated edge dimensioned to fit over the edge of a corresponding vehicle window,

(3) an inward side having an air exhaust sleeve, and

(4) an outward side having an air deflector in alignment with the air exhaust sleeve,

b) a device housing having ,a first side, a second side, an outward side, an inward side, an upper side and a lower side, said housing further having;

(1) an air exhaust port that extends along the upper side and projects outward from the outward side, wherein said exhaust port is dimensioned to be frictionally inserted into the air exhaust sleeve on said fixture, wherein when inserted, said housing is secured in its functional position within the passenger compartment of the vehicle,

(2) an air outlet port that projects outward from the first side,

(3) a motor cavity located near lower side and projecting outward from the second side,

(4) a fan vent located on the first side opposite the motor cavity,

(5) a power cable input port located on the lower side,

(6) a d-c motor attached within the motor cavity,

(7) a centrifugal fan attached to and operated by said motor,

(8) a temperature control module located within said device housing,

(9) a power/voltage-polarity selecting switch located on the inward side, and

c) a device control unit having means for supplying said device housing with an adjustable d-c voltage level that is applied to said housing through a power cable connected to the power cable input port, wherein said d-c voltage operates said motor and said temperature control module, wherein said module has means for producing a selected temperature output that either beats or cools depending on the polarity of the applied voltage as selected by said power/voltage-polarity selecting switch, wherein when said d-c motor operates, it rotates said centrifugal fan which produces an air flow containing the selected output of said temperature control module which is vented through the air outlet port into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and wherein the non-selected output of said temperature control module is vented out the passenger compartment through the air exhaust port.

3. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 further comprising a window adapter having a lower bifurcated edge dimensioned to fit over the edge of a vehicle window, and an upper edge dimensioned to fit into the bifurcated edge of said door frame/window interfacing fixture.

4. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 wherein said temperature control module comprises:

a) a first heat exchanger having a substantially flat inward area and an outward area comprising a lower longitudinally finned area and an internal upper baffle that slopes outward, wherein when said first heat exchanger is placed into said device housing the baffle substantially surrounds the air outlet port allowing the air flow to be directed into and out the air outlet port,

b) a second heat exchanger having a substantially flat inward area and an outward, longitudinally finned area having an upper edge that terminates adjacent the air exhaust port, and

c) a Peltier-effect thermoelectric element sandwiched between the substantially flat inward areas of said first and second heat exchangers, wherein said element has a first side and a second side wherein either side can be made to produce a cool or hot temperature dependent upon the polarity of the applied voltage as controlled by said power/voltage-polarity switch, wherein the side of said element that interfaces with the first heat exchanger is selected to produce either a cool or hot temperature by selecting the polarity of the applied voltage as controlled by said voltage polarity selecting switch.

5. The thermal control device as specified in claim 4 wherein said temperature control module further comprises:

a) an insulation gasket located between the interfacing flat inward areas of said first and second heat exchangers, and

b) a surface contact paste applied between the flat inward areas of said first and second heat exchangers that interface with the first and second sides of said thermoelectric element.

6. The thermal control device as specified in claim 4 further comprises at least one clamping band attached laterally around said first and second heat exchangers, wherein said band secures said temperature control module.

7. The thermal control device as specified in claim 4 wherein the finned area of said first and second heat exchangers are laterally contoured to accommodate the internal contoured surface of said device housing.

8. The thermal control device as specified in claim 4 wherein said thermoelectric element is comprised of a series or parallel arrangement of P-N type Peltier-effect thermoelectric bi or plurimetallic alloy plates.

9. The thermal control device as specified in claim 8 wherein said alloy plates comprise a Bi-Te-Se-Sb alloy.

10. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 wherein said device control unit further comprises a microprocessor having program means for enabling and operating through a keypad, a liquid crystal diode (LCD) display and a timing circuit, whereupon at a preselected time, as set into the keypad, the timing circuit energizes a relay, which then allows the vehicle battery voltage to be applied, via said power cable, into said device housing.

11. The thermal control device as specified in claim 10 wherein said keypad consists of at least eight function keys that when selectively depressed select the week (WK), hours (HR) and minute (MN) that said thermal control device is to be enabled, wherein said keypad also includes keys for selecting a reset/recall (RST/RCL), a clock (CLK), a time (TM), an ON/AUTO/OFF and a sleep/count (SLP/ONT), wherein the function selected is displayed on said LCD display.

12. The thermal control device as specified in claim 10 wherein said device control unit further comprises:

a) a variable resistor located in series with said power cable, wherein said resistor can be adjusted to produce an output ranging from 4 volts d-c to 12 volts d-c that allows the temperature of said cooling and heating module and the speed of said centrifugal fan to be regulated, and

b) a power on indicator that illuminates when power is being applied to said device housing.

13. The thermal control device as specified in claim 10 wherein said device control unit further comprise a power plug designed to fit into a vehicle cigarette-lighter receptacle from where the vehicle battery voltage is applied.

14. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 wherein the outward side of said device housing further comprises a window attachment means consisting of a vertically articulated suction cup.

15. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 further comprising a seat cushion having:

a) a resilient closed side band that includes a lower edge, an upper edge and an air inlet port that projects outward from one side of the band,

b) a lower section attached to the lower edge of said band,

c) an upper section attached to the upper edge of said band, with said upper section having a multiplicity of distributed air vent bores, and

d) a flexible hose having a first end that is dimensioned to frictionally fit into the air outlet port on said device housing and a second end dimensioned to frictionally fit into the air inlet port on said cushion, wherein the cool or hot air is applied to a person sitting on said cushion through the multiplicity of the distributed air vent bores.

16. The thermal control device as specified in claim 15 wherein the upper section of said cushion further comprises a multiplicity of outward projections dispersed between the air vent bores, wherein said projections massage the cushion user and provide void spaces for ventilating the air flow.

17. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 wherein the d-c voltage applied to said device control unit is provided by an ac/dc adapter having an input connected to a 120-volt a-c power source.

18. The thermal control device as specified in claim 2 wherein the d-c voltage applied to said device control unit is provided by a plurality of series-parallel connected photovoltaic cells.

19. A thermal control device for use on parked vehicles, said device comprising:

a) a door frame/window interfacing fixture having;

(1) an upper closed edge dimensioned to fit into a vehicle door frame,

(2) a lower bifurcated edge dimensioned to fit over the edge of a corresponding vehicle window,

(3) an inward side having an air exhaust sleeve, and

(4) an outward side having an air deflector in alignment with the air exhaust sleeve,

b) a device housing having a first side, a second side, an outward side, an inward side, an upper side and a lower side, said housing further having;

(1) an air exhaust port that extends along the upper side and projects outward from the outward side, wherein said exhaust port is dimensioned to be frictionally inserted into the air exhaust sleeve on said fixture, wherein when inserted, said housing is secured in its functional position within the passenger compartment of the vehicle,

(2) an air outlet port that projects outward from the first side,

(3) a motor cavity located near the lower side and projecting outward from the second side,

(4) a fan vent located on the first side opposite the motor cavity,

(5) a power cable input port located on the lower side,

c) a d-c motor attached, within the motor cavity,

d) a centrifugal fan attached to and operated by said motor,

e) a temperature control module located within said device housing,

f) a power/voltage-polarity selecting switch located on the inward side,

g) a device control unit having means for supplying said device housing with a adjustable d-c voltage level that is applied to said housing through a power cable connected to the power cable input port, wherein said d-c voltage operates said motor and said temperature control module, wherein said module has means for producing a selected temperature output that either heats or cools depending on the polarity of the applied voltage as selected by said voltage polarity selecting switch, wherein when said d-c motor operates, it rotates said centrifugal fan which produces an air flow containing the selected output of said temperature control module which is vented through the air outlet port into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and wherein the non-selected output of said temperature control module is vented out the passenger compartment through the air exhaust port, and

h) wherein the cool or hot air being vented through the air outlet port is applied to the interior of a vehicle or to a set cushion, wherein said seat cushion comprises;

(1) a resilient side band that includes a lower edge, an upper edge add an air inlet port that projects outward from one side of the band,

(2) a lower section attached to the lower edge of said band,

(3) an upper section attached to the upper edge of said band, with said upper section having a multiplicity of distributed air vent bores, and

(4) a flexible hose having a first end that is dimensioned to frictionally fit into the air outlet port on said device housing and a second end dimensioned to frictionally fit into the air inlet port on said cushion, wherein the cool or hot air is applied to a person sitting on said cushion through the multiplicity of the distributed air vent bores.

20. The thermal control device as specified in claim 19 wherein the upper section of said cushion further comprises a multiplicity of outward projections dispersed between the air vent bores, wherein said projections massage the cushion user and provide void spaces for ventilating the air flow.