Thermoelectric converter

Details Thermoelectric converter Thermoelectric converter

2000-02-08

2001-02-13

Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)

Refrigeration

Using electrical or magnetic effect

Thermoelectric; e.g., peltier effect

C062S003200, C062S434000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06185941

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a thermoelectric converter useful in a refrigerator including a cold storage box or a frozen storage box, a warm storage box including a heat-insulated storage box, or the like, and especially to a thermoelectric converter of a construction that the thermoelectric converter is provided with a first thermal conductor, a second thermal conductor connected to a predetermined position of the first thermal conductor, a frame made of a synthetic resin and surrounding the second thermal conductor, a thermally-conductive substrate with the frame fixed at a basal end portion thereof on the substrate and also with a group of thermoelectric elements supported inside the substrate, and a heat-insulating layer interposed between the first thermal conductor and the thermally-conductive substrate to surround the frame at an outer periphery thereof by the heat-insulating layer and that the second thermal conductor and the thermally-conductive substrate are opposing each other and are maintained in close contact with each other via the group of thermoelectric elements.
BACKGROUND ART
FIG. 18
is a cross-sectional view of a thermoelectric converter useful in a refrigerator or the like. A group of thermoelectric elements
103
is arranged on an outer surface of a metallic container made of aluminum with an aluminum-made, blocked heat-absorbing-side thermal conductor
102
interposed therebetween, and a heat-dissipating-side thermal conductor
105
provided with heat-dissipating fins
104
is disposed on an outer side of the group of thermoelectric elements
103
.
A heat-insulating layer
106
is interposed between the metallic container
101
and the heat-dissipating-side thermal conductor
105
such that the blocked heat-absorbing-side thermal conductor
102
and the thermoelectric element group
103
are surrounded by the heat-insulating layer. Although not illustrated in the drawing, the heat-insulating layer
106
is composed of a frame member, which is formed of a molded body of a synthetic resin, and a heat-insulating material filled inside the frame member and made of a foamed resin such as polyurethane.
In the above-described construction, accurate dimensions can hardly be achieved due to molding strains or the like because the frame member defining the contour of the heat-insulating layer
106
is formed of the molded body of the synthetic resin. Further, the thickness of the heat-insulating layer
106
tends to become greater than a predetermined dimension due to an expansion which in turn takes place as a result of foaming of the heat-insulating material.
In general, the metallic container
101
and the heat-absorbing-side thermal conductor
102
are connected together by bolts or the like, and the thermoelectric element group
103
is attached to the heat-dissipating-side thermal conductor
105
. Due to the interposition of the heat-insulating layer
106
between the metallic container
101
and the heat-dissipating-side thermal conductor
105
, the close contact between the heat-absorbing-side thermal conductor
102
and the thermoelectric element group
103
tends to deteriorate due to the above-mentioned dimensional scatters and expansions. This results in a higher thermal resistance, thereby developing a problem that the thermoelectric conversion characteristics are lowered.
An object of the present invention is to solve such drawbacks of the conventional art and to provide a thermoelectric converter excellent in performance.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above-described object, the present invention is directed to a thermoelectric converter provided with a first thermal conductor, for example, in the form of a container, a second thermal conductor connected to a predetermined position of the first thermal conductor, a frame made of a synthetic resin and surrounding the second thermal conductor, thermally-conductive substrate with the frame fixed at a basal end portion thereof on the substrate and also with a group of thermoelectric elements supported inside the substrate, and a heat-insulating layer interposed between the first thermal conductor and the thermally-conductive substrate such that the frame is surrounded at an outer periphery thereof by the heat-insulating layer, wherein the second thermal conductor and the thermally-conductive substrate are opposing each other and are maintained in close contact with each other via the group of thermoelectric elements.
The present invention is characterized in that the second thermal conductor and the frame are provided with an engaging projection, which prevents the second thermal conductor from undergoing a displacement toward the first thermal conductor, and an engaged portion which is in engagement with the engaging projection.


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