Temperature-stabilized storage systems with regulated cooling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A regulated cooling device comprising:
- a cooling region includingan outer wall with an inner surface and an outer surface,at least one temperature sensor positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the outer wall, anda first region of thermal heat pipe positioned within the outer wall substantially parallel to the inner surface, the first region of the thermal heat pipe including a first end with a heat-absorbing interface;
an adiabatic region includingan insulation unit, the insulation unit including an outer surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with a surface of an access conduit within a substantially thermally sealed storage container, the insulation unit including an inner surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with an outer surface of the thermal heat pipe, anda second region of the thermal heat pipe positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the insulation unit;
a lid region includinga third region of the thermal heat pipe, the third region including a second end with a heat-releasing interface,a thermoelectric unit in contact with the second end of the thermal heat pipe, anda thermal dissipator unit in contact with the thermoelectric unit; and
an electronics unit attached to the lid region, includinga microcontroller connected to the at least one temperature sensor, to the thermoelectric unit and to the thermal dissipator unit, andan power source attached to the microcontroller.
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Abstract
Regulated cooling devices are described herein that are sized, shaped and calibrated for use with a substantially thermally sealed storage container. In some embodiments, the regulated cooling devices include a cooling region, an adiabatic region, a lid region, and an electronics unit attached to the lid region.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A regulated cooling device comprising:
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a cooling region including an outer wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one temperature sensor positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the outer wall, and a first region of thermal heat pipe positioned within the outer wall substantially parallel to the inner surface, the first region of the thermal heat pipe including a first end with a heat-absorbing interface; an adiabatic region including an insulation unit, the insulation unit including an outer surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with a surface of an access conduit within a substantially thermally sealed storage container, the insulation unit including an inner surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with an outer surface of the thermal heat pipe, and a second region of the thermal heat pipe positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the insulation unit; a lid region including a third region of the thermal heat pipe, the third region including a second end with a heat-releasing interface, a thermoelectric unit in contact with the second end of the thermal heat pipe, and a thermal dissipator unit in contact with the thermoelectric unit; and an electronics unit attached to the lid region, including a microcontroller connected to the at least one temperature sensor, to the thermoelectric unit and to the thermal dissipator unit, and an power source attached to the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A regulated cooling device comprising:
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a thermal heat pipe including a first end with a heat-absorbing interface, and a second end with a heat-releasing interface; an outer wall surrounding the first end of the heat pipe, the outer wall including an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer wall forming a phase change material-impermeable gap around the first end of the heat pipe; an end cap, the end cap sealed to an edge of the outer wall distal to the first end of the heat pipe; a phase change material within the phase change material-impermeable gap around the first end of the heat pipe; at least one temperature sensor positioned adjacent to the outer wall; an insulation unit surrounding the heat pipe at a region between the first end and the second end, the insulation unit including an outer surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with a surface of an access conduit within a substantially thermally sealed storage container, the insulation unit including an inner surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with an outer surface of the thermal heat pipe at the region between the first end and the second end; a thermoelectric unit in contact with the second end of the thermal heat pipe; a thermal dissipator unit in contact with the thermoelectric unit; a microcontroller connected to the at least one temperature sensor, to the thermoelectric unit and to the thermal dissipator unit; and an power source attached to the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A regulated cooling device comprising:
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a substantially tubular thermal heat pipe including a first end with a heat-absorbing interface, and a second end with a heat-releasing interface; a phase change material-retaining unit surrounding the first end of the thermal heat pipe, the phase change material-retaining unit including an outer wall surrounding the first end of the heat pipe, the outer wall including an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer wall forming a phase change material-impermeable gap around the first end of the heat pipe, the inner surface positioned substantially parallel to an outer surface of the thermal heat pipe, an end cap sealed to a first edge of the outer wall distal to the first end of the heat pipe, and a phase change material within the phase change material-impermeable gap; a sensor conduit attached to the outer surface of the outer wall of the phase change material-retaining unit, the sensor conduit including a first temperature sensor positioned to detect temperature in a location adjacent to the end cap, and a second temperature sensor positioned to detect temperature in a location adjacent to the outer wall distal to the end cap; at least one capacitance sensor attached to the outer surface of the phase change material-retaining unit and positioned to detect capacitance across the phase change material within the phase change material-impermeable gap; an insulation unit surrounding the heat pipe at a region between the first end and the second end, the insulation unit including a lower surface sealed to a second edge of the outer wall of the phase change material-retaining unit, the insulation unit including an outer surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with a surface of an access conduit within a substantially thermally sealed storage container, the insulation unit including an inner surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with an outer surface of the thermal heat pipe at the region between the first end and the second end; an electronics conduit within the insulation unit, the electronics conduit including one or more wires attached to the first and second temperature sensors within the sensor conduit; a thermoelectric unit in thermal contact with the second end of the thermal heat pipe; a thermal dissipator unit in thermal contact with the thermoelectric unit; a microcontroller connected to the one or more connectors attached to the first and second temperature sensors, to the at least one capacitance sensor, to the thermoelectric unit and to the thermal dissipator unit; and an power source attached to the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification