Portable insulated container with refrigeration
First Claim
1. An insulated container, comprising:
- a first compartment;
a second compartment;
a Stirling cooler having a heat rejecter and a heat acceptor;
a thermal transfer device configured and arranged to draw heat via the heat acceptor from the first and second compartments; and
a power source connected to the Stirling cooler for providing power thereto, the power source being fully contained with the insulated container.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An insulated container utilizing Stirling cooler technology. The insulated container and the Stirling cooler include a portable power source, such as a battery, a fuel cell, or a solar panel. The Stirling cooler may provide cooling to the inside of the insulated container, for example by a heat sink and a fan, direct connection to a liner in the insulated container, or a thermosyphon or heat pipe connected to the heat acceptor for the Stirling cooler and routed through the insulated container. Controls may be provided that regulate the cycling of the Stirling cooler so that the internal temperature of the insulated container may be controlled. An embodiment includes both a freezer portion and a refrigeration portion.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An insulated container, comprising:
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a first compartment;
a second compartment;
a Stirling cooler having a heat rejecter and a heat acceptor;
a thermal transfer device configured and arranged to draw heat via the heat acceptor from the first and second compartments; and
a power source connected to the Stirling cooler for providing power thereto, the power source being fully contained with the insulated container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An insulated container, comprising:
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a first compartment;
a second compartment;
a Stirling cooler having a heat rejecter and a heat acceptor; and
a thermal transfer device attached to the heat acceptor configured and arranged to draw heat from the first compartment and the second compartment via the heat acceptor, the thermal transfer device being arranged at an end of the first compartment away from the second compartment. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An insulated container, comprising:
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a Stirling cooler having a heat rejecter and a heat acceptor;
a thermal transfer device configured and arranged to draw heat from the first compartment via the heat acceptor;
a first compartment cooled by the heat acceptor and the thermal transfer device a sufficient amount to function as a freezer; and
a second compartment cooled by the heat acceptor and the thermal transfer device a sufficient amount to function as a refrigerator. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An insulated container, comprising:
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a refrigeration unit for cooling at least one compartment in the insulated container, the refrigeration unit comprising a Stirling cooler having a heat rejecter and a heat acceptor, and a thermal transfer device configured and arranged to draw heat from the first compartment via the heat acceptor;
a lid; and
a solar panel mounted integrally on the lid and forming a portion of an outer surface the lid and configured to supply power for the refrigeration unit.
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48. An insulated container, comprising:
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a refrigeration unit for cooling at least one compartment in the insulated container;
a lid; and
a solar panel mounted integrally on the lid and forming a portion of an outer surface the lid and configured to supply power for the refrigeration unit, the solar panel comprising solar modules mounted on the lid so as to form the portion of the outer surface of the lid.
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49. An insulated container, comprising:
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a refrigeration unit for cooling at least one compartment in the insulated container;
a battery for powering the refrigeration unit;
a lid; and
a solar panel mounted integrally on the lid and forming a portion of an outer surface the lid and configured to supply power for the refrigeration unit, the solar panel being configured to recharge the battery. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. A method for forming an insulated container, comprising:
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aligning at least one of a thermosyphon and a heat pipe inside a shell;
aligning a metallic liner along the least one of a thermosyphon and a heat pipe and opposite the shell;
injecting foam between the metallic liner and the shell; and
allowing the foam to harden so as to capture the at least one of a thermosyphon and a heat pipe against the metallic liner. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification