Water dispenser abstract
A water dispenser having a cold water tank maintaining water below
room temperature. A thermoelectric chip module, preferably having
two thermoelectric chips, extracts heat from the cold water tank.
The cold side of the thermoelectric chip faces the cold water tank.
The hot side of the thermoelectric chip has a heat sink or fans
providing convection.
Water dispenser claims
1. A water dispenser comprising a housing, a cold water tank within
said housing, at least one thermoelectric chip contacting said cold
water tank.
2. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a printed
circuit board controlling electricity to said at least one thermoelectric
chip.
3. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein said at least one thermoelectric
chip comprises two thermoelectric chips.
4. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a fan adjacent
said at least one thermoelectric chip.
5. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink
adjacent said at least one thermoelectric chip.
6. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a hot water
tank with said housing.
7. The water dispenser of claim 6 wherein said at least one thermoelectric
chip contacts said hot water tank.
Water dispenser description
[0001] This application claims benefit of provisional application
60/622011 filed Oct. 27 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Peltier devices, also known as thermoelectric (TE) modules,
are small solid-state devices that function as heat pumps. A "typical"
unit is a few millimeters thick by a few millimeters to a few centimeters
square. It is a sandwich formed by two ceramic plates with an array
of small Bismuth Telluride cubes ("couples") in between.
When a DC current is applied heat is moved from one side of the
device to the other--where it must be removed with a heat sink.
The "cold" side is commonly used to cool an electronic
device such as a microprocessor or a photodetector. If the current
is reversed the device makes an excellent heater.
[0003] As with any device, TE modules work best when applied properly.
They are not meant to serve as room air conditioners. They are best
suited to smaller cooling applications. They can be stacked to achieve
lower temperatures, although reaching cryogenic temperatures would
require great care. They are not very "efficient" and
can draw amps of power. This disadvantage is more than offset by
the advantages of no moving parts, no Freon or other refrigerant,
no noise, no vibration, very small size, long life and capability
of precision temperature control.
[0004] The cooling property of these devices is due to the Peltier
Effect. Peltier Effect coolers are almost always constructed with
Bismuth Telluride (Bi.sub.2Te.sub.3) and used around room temperature
and below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A water dispenser having a cold water tank maintaining water
below room temperature. A thermoelectric chip module, preferably
having two thermoelectric chips, extracts heat from the cold water
tank. The cold side of the thermoelectric chip faces the cold water
tank. The hot side of the thermoelectric chip has a heat sink or
fans providing convection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the water dispenser; and
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cold water cooling system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the water dispenser having
a front panel 12 a rear panel 14 and a top panel 16 together forming
a housing for the water dispenser 10. The front panel 12 has dispensing
controls 22 and a drip tray 24 as is conventional. The top panel
has a bottle supporter 18. The hot and cold water tanks may be any
size but 0.4 gallons for the cold water tank and 0.17 gallons for
the hot water tank are standard.
[0009] Within the housing is a cold water tank 20 and hot water
tank 30. These tanks are connected to dispensing openings in the
housing by conventional means. The cold water tank maintains water
below room temperature by a cooling system formed by a printed circuit
board (PCB) 42 covered by a PCB cover 44. The PCB encased in the
PCB housing 46. The housing 46 sits atop a thermoelectric chip module
48 and the PCB controls electrical flow to the thermoelectric chips.
Preferably, the module contains two thermoelectric chips. The thermoelectric
chip module 48 is provided with fans 50.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the details of the cooling system for the cold
water tank. Seen in FIG. 2 is the cold water tank 20 with the thermoelectric
chip module 48 immediately adjacent the sidewall of the cold water
tank 20. The cold side of the thermoelectric chip bears against
and extracts heat from the cold water tank. Fans 50 are provided
next to the thermoelectric chip module on the side opposite the
cold water tank 20. The fans provide convection to remove excess
heat from the hot side of the thermoelectric chips. Instead of a
fan, any type of conventional heat sink may be used.
[0011] Alternative arrangements of the water dispenser are possible.
The thermoelectric chip module can be positioned between and contacting
both the hot water and cold water tanks. In this arrangement, the
thermoelectric chip module extracts heat from the cold water tank
and the hot water sink serves as a heat sink for the thermoelectric
chip module. The hot water tank and cold water tank may each be
provided with a secondary thermoelectric chip module to supplement
the heating and cooling of the respective tanks to the desired temperatures,
if necessary.
[0012] While the invention has been described with reference to
the preferred embodiments, variations and modifications would be
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The invention encompasses
such variations and modifications. |