Solar-powered refrigerated container

• US 8,353,167 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGnITE Innovation, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ignite Innovations LLC
• Inventors: McGann, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUKE, EMMANUEL E
• Application Number:
  US12/148,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20090277187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 62 31- 36, 62/36.1, 62/36.2, 622/351, 622/40, 622/59, 624/571, 62/3, 621/26, 621/56, 621/71, 62179-180, 622/29, 624/08, 624/40, 624/29, 624/577, 624/579, 62/37, 623/62, 165/454, 286/365, 286/366, 286/367, 286/407, 286/410, 286/411, 286/424
• US Class Current: 62/3.62
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0251 by a gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/002 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/12 Portable refrigerators

Abstract

A portable, solar assisted, temperature controlled container comprises: a body with a cavity; a lid sealable thereon; a detachable solar panel producing electric power; a thermoelectric cooling unit; an interior heat sink secured in the cavity proximate to an interior side of the thermoelectric cooling unit with an interior fan to direct cavity air thereon; an exterior heat sink secured proximate to an exterior-facing side of the thermoelectric cooling unit with an exterior fan to direct exterior air thereon. The thermoelectric cooling unit transports heat to maintain a thermostat-controlled temperature in the cavity. The interior and exterior fans and the interior and exterior heat sinks increase efficiency of the heat transport. One or more wheels rotatably attached to the body are coupled to a faraday generator to generate electrical power to replace/supplement the solar power. A rechargeable battery may also replace/supplement solar power during periods of inadequate solar power generation.

Claims

1. A portable refrigeration unit comprising:

a housing having an outer surface formed by a top, a bottom, first and second sides, and a first end and a second end, said top having a first opening therein to form a cavity defined by an interior surface;

a thermally insulating interior body, said body being received within said housing cavity and comprising at least one wall, said at least one wall having a top, a bottom, first and second sides, and a first end and a second end, said body top having an opening therein to form a cavity defined by an interior surface;

said body second end being in proximity to said housing second end, and said body first end being displaced from said housing first end to form a compartment therebetween;

a lid, said lid having an outer surface and an inner surface, said lid being pivotally attached to said housing to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position that encloses said body cavity;

a rechargeable battery;

a solar collector received within at least a portion of said lid, said solar collector being configured to be detachable from said lid to permit repositioning of said solar collector, said solar collector being electrically coupled to continuously recharge said battery;

one or more wheels rotatably attached to a lower portion of said housing;

a handle attached to a portion of said housing;

a generator, said generator being coupled to said one or more wheels and being configured to recharge said battery;

one or more thermoelectric cooling units being electrically coupled to said solar collector and to said battery, said one or more thermoelectric cooling units being disposed within a second opening in said body at said first end to be in proximity to said body top surface, said one or more thermoelectric cooling units having a first side facing toward said body cavity and a second side facing away from said body cavity, said one or more thermoelectric cooling units being secured within said second opening to enclose air within said cavity when said lid is in said closed position;

an interior heat sink and an exterior heat sink, said interior heat sink being secured within said body cavity proximate to said first side of said one or more thermoelectric cooling units, and said exterior heat sink being secured to said body to be proximate to said second side of said one or more thermoelectric cooling units;

an interior fan and an exterior fan, said interior fan being secured to said body and positioned to direct air within said body cavity upon said interior heat sink, and said exterior fan being secured to said body and positioned to direct air in proximity to said housing upon said exterior heat sink;

an interior vent, said interior vent comprising one or more walls in said body cavity, said one or more walls comprising one or more intake openings being in proximity to said interior fan, said one or more walls being configured to receive air from said interior heat sink and thereafter be downwardly directed toward a bottom of said interior surface of said body cavity, said one or more walls terminating in one or more outlet openings;

an exterior vent, said exterior vent comprising one or more walls positioned in said compartment between said housing and said body, said one or more walls comprising one or more intake openings being centrally located and in proximity to said exterior fan, said one or more walls of said exterior vent being configured to receive air from said exterior heat sink, with said one or more exterior vent walls thereafter being outwardly directed to terminate in a one or more outlet openings being peripherally located with respect to said one or more inlet openings;

a thermostat configured to measure a current temperature of said body cavity and a temperature at said housing outer surface, said thermostat being configured to slow down or shut off said fans and said one or more thermoelectric cooling units in an energy savings mode when said outer surface temperature reaches a threshold temperature difference with said body cavity temperature;

a control panel comprising a control for setting said threshold temperature difference; and

a warning light and/or chime configured to provide notification when said lid is not in said closed position;

a battery power meter configured to indicate remaining battery power and being configured to provide notification when said portable refrigeration unit utilizes battery power due to inadequate sunlight;

wherein said one or more thermoelectric cooling units are configured to transport heat to maintain a desired temperature in said body cavity;

said interior and exterior fans, and said interior and exterior heat sinks being configured to increase efficiency of said heat transport relative to said body cavity.

2. The portable refrigeration unit according to claim 1 wherein said solar panel is configured to be placed on a part of said housing, when said solar panel is detached from said lid.

3. The portable refrigeration unit according to claim 1 further comprising one or more of:

a retractable A.C. power cord configured to supply power to said portable refrigeration unit; and

a retractable D.C. power cord configured to be plugged into a cigarette lighter outlet to thereby supply power to said portable refrigeration unit.

4. The portable refrigeration unit according to claim 1 wherein said one or more thermoelectric cooling units are configured to transport heat being proximate to said housing outer surface into said body cavity to heat said body cavity.

5. The portable refrigeration unit according to claim 1 wherein said one or more thermoelectric cooling units are configured to transport heat from said body cavity to said housing outer surface to refrigerate said body cavity.

6. The portable refrigeration unit according to claim 1 wherein said one or more thermoelectric cooling units is separated from said interior heat sink by a spacer block.