GB2390586A

GB2390586A - A cup holder for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2390586A
Application number: GB0311035A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Leeder
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2002-07-11
Filing date: 2003-05-14
Publication date: 2004-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-14
Also published as: GB2390586B; GB0216004D0; GB0311035D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle has a cup holder assembly 20 which includes a thermo-electric cooling device 25 to provide cooling to a beverage container 30 supported by the cup holder assembly 20. A heat sink 26 is attached to the thermo-electric cooling device 25 to dissipate heat, the heat sink 26 extending into an air supply duct 15 forming part of a passenger ventilation system of the vehicle so that air flowing through the duct 15 can carry away heat from the heat sink 26.

Description

- 1 A Cup Holder for a Motor Vehicle This invention relates to motor

vehicles and in particular to a cup holder for such vehicles. It is well known to provide a motor vehicle with devices for holding beverage containers in an upright position so that such containers are stably supported in the vehicle, 5 such devices being commonly referred to as cup holders. It is a problem when the beverage is a cold beverage that the temperature of the beverage rises rapidly when placed in the relatively warm environment of a motor vehicle. It is known to overcome this problem by using a thermo-electric cooling device to cool the beverage container when in is in situ in the cup holder. Such devices normally use a Peltier effect cooling device but a 10 problem with such devices that to extract heat from the beverage container the Peltier effect device has to dissipate heat. One known solution is to use a separate fan to blow air over a heat exchange element of the Peltier device but such an arrangement adds complexity and places a further load on the electrical system of the vehicle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle with an improved cup holder 15 including means to cool a beverage container supported by the cup holder.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cup holder assembly for a motor vehicle having an air supply system with at least one air supply duct, the cup holder assembly comprising a receptacle for a beverage container, a thermo-electric cooling device for cooling a beverage container supported by the receptacle and a heat 20 sink to dissipate heat generated by the thermo-electric cooling device, wherein the heat sink includes a surface which in use is exposed to air in the air supply duct.

Preferably, the heat sink includes at least one fin extending into the air supply duct.

Preferably, the heat sink is made from a material having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminium or an alloy thereof or copper or an alloy thereof.

Advantageously, at least part of the receptacle is lined with a heat conducting material which is thermally connected to the thermo-electric cooling device.

5 The cup holder assembly may include a biasing means to urge the beverage container against the heat conducting material.

The thermo-electric cooling device may be arranged to be activated only when a beverage container is required to be cooled.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle 10 comprising an air supply system having an air supply duct to supply air to the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle a cup holder assembly having a thermoelectric device and a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the thermo-electric cooling device in use, wherein the heat sink includes a surface which in use is exposed to air in the air supply duct. 15 The air supply system may include a fan to urge air to flow along the air supply duct.

The cup holder assembly may include a receptacle for supporting a beverage container. The thermo-electric cooling device may be activated only when a beverage container containing a beverage that requires cooling is placed in the receptacle.

20 The air supply system may include an air conditioning unit and the air flowing through the air supply duct is cool air from the air conditioner unit.

The air supply duct may be an air supply duct transferring air to a rear footwell of the motor vehicle.

The air supply duct may be covered by a centre console and a receptacle forming part of the cup holder assembly may be formed as an integral part of the centre console.

5 The air supply system may include several air supply ducts at least two of which may have a cup holder having a heat sink extending into the respective duct with which it is associated. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 10 Fig. 1 is a cutaway side view of a front portion of a motor vehicle in accordance with one aspect of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the cup holder assembly shown in Fig.1.

With particular reference to Fig. 1 there is shown a motor vehicle 10 having an engine compartment 2 and a passenger compartment 3 in which is mounted front and rear seats 4 15 and 5. The motor vehicle 10 is fitted with an air supply system 8 having an air conditioning unit 13 arranged to be supplied with air from outside of the motor vehicle 10 via an air inlet duct 12 and to supply cooled air to a rear footwell 16 of the motor vehicle 10 through an air supply duct 15. 2 The air conditioning unit 13 includes a fan (not shown) to urge air to flow through the 20 air supply duct 15 and is mounted behind a fascia panel 6 of the motor vehicle 10. It will be appreciated that the air conditioner unit could be a conventional air supply unit having a fan but no means to cool the incoming air and that there could be several air supply ducts

-4 connected to the air conditioner unit or conventional air supply unit to supply air to various locations in the passenger compartment 3.

A centre console 7 is provided to cover the air supply duct 16 so as to obscure it from view. A cup holder assembly 20 is included in the centre console 7 to provide a support for 5 a beverage container 30 (Fig.2).

As is best understood with reference to Fig.2, the cup holder assembly 20 comprises a receptacle 21 used to support the beverage container 30, a thermo-electric cooling device in the form of a Peltier effect cooling device 25 and a heat sink 26 to dissipate heat generated by the Peltier effect cooling device 25.

10The receptacle 21 as shown is formed as an integral part of the central console 7 by being moulded as a depression in the surface of the central console 7. However, the i receptacle 21 could be a separate component that is fastened to the central console 7. In either case, the receptacle 21 is preferably of a material with good heat insulation properties or provided with additional heat insulation.

15The Peltier cooling device 25 is attached to the lower end of the receptacle 21 and is connected to a source of electric power such as the vehicle electrical supply. This electrical supply may be switched automatically by the presence of the beverage container 30, e.g. by a microswitch or a proximity sensor and an associated switching circuit. (not shown). To improve the conduction of heat away from the beverage container 30, part of 20 the receptacle 21 is lined with a heat conducting material in the form of a liner 24 having a base portion 23 in intimate contact with the Peltier effect cooling device 25 so as to provide a thermal connection therebetween. The Pettier effect cooling device 25 is preferably connected directly to the liner base portion 23 to ensure good thermal conduction. Biasing means in the form of a spring loaded plunger 22 is provided to urge the beverage container 25 30 against the liner 24 so as to improve contact therbetween and thus maximise heat

- 5 transfer. The plunger 22 also serves to loosely grip the beverage container 30 so that it does not rattle in the receptacle 21.

The heat sink 26 is connected to the air supply duct 15 and has a surface which is exposed to air in the air supply duct 15. To further improve the transfer of heat away from 5 the heat sink 26, it includes a number of fins 27 which extend into the air stream passing through the air supply duct 15. It will be appreciated that the fins 27 increase the surface area exposed to the air stream and therefore improve the transfer of heat from the heat sink 26 to the passing air. The heat sink 26 is made from a material having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminium or copper or alloys of these materials and as shown is 10 made from a cast aluminium alloy. This improves the conduction of heat away from the Peltier effect cooling device 25.

In use air is drawn into the air conditioner unit 13 through the air inlet duct 12, is cooled and then urged to flow out through the air supply duct 15. When it is required to cool the beverage container 30 the electrical supply to the Peltier effect cooling device 25 is 15 switched on. This can be done by a driver operable switch or automatically via a micro-

switch or sensor located in the receptacle 21.

The application of electrical power to the Peltier cooling device 25 causes it to cool the liner 24 via the base portion 23 and reject heat into the heat sink 26. Because the beverage container is sitting on the base portion 23 of the liner and is also partly 20 surrounded by the liner 24, heat is transferred from the beverage contained within the beverage container 30 into the liner 24 and the base portion 23 of the liner 24 to the Peltier effect device 25. This transfer of heat is due to the fact that a thermal gradient is created between the relatively warm beverage and the cooler Peltier effect device 25.

In order to maintain this thermal gradient the Peltier effect cooling device rejects or 25 dissipates heat into the heat sink 26 which is cooled by the air flowing over the fins 27. In

-6 this manner the Peltier cooling device 25 is able to remove heat from the beverage and transfer it to the air flowing through the air supply duct 15. Although the heat rejected by the heat sink will marginally increase the temperature of the air exiting the air supply duct into the rear footwell 16, this is insignificant because the quantity of heat that must be 5 removed from the beverage is relatively small.

By incorporating the cup holder assembly into an existing or required air supply duct in this way, no additional electrical power is required to cool the heat sink and the thermo-

electric cooling device will operate more efficiently than if it were to be located in ambient air with no fan assistance.

10 It will be appreciated that the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments and that alternative arrangements or modification could be made without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, there could be a number of air supply ducts to transfer air to various parts of the motor vehicle and that one or more of these could be fitted with a cup holder to utilise the air flowing therethrough 15 to cool a heat sink.

Claims

1. A cup holder assembly for a motor vehicle having an air supply system with at least one air supply duct, the cup holder assembly comprising a receptacle for a beverage container, a thermo-electric cooling device for cooling a beverage container supported by the receptacle and a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the thermo-electric cooling device, wherein the heat sink includes a surface which in use is exposed to air in the air supply duct.

2. A cup holder assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the heat sink includes at least one fin extending into the air supply duct.

3. A cup holder assembly as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the heat sink is made from a material having a high thermal conductivity.

4. A cup holder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which at least part of the receptacle is lined with a heat conducting material which is thermally connected to the thermo-

electric cooling device.

5. A cup holder as claimed in claim 4 in which the cup holder assembly includes a biasing means to urge the beverage container against the heat conducting material.

6. A cup holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the thermoelectric cooling device is arranged to be activated only when a beverage container is required to be cooled.

7. A motor vehicle comprising an air supply system having an air supply duct to supply air to the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle a cup holder assembly having a thermoelectric device and a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the thermo-

electric cooling device in use, wherein the heat sink includes a surface which in use is exposed to air in the air supply duct.

-

8 8. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7 in which the cup holder assembly includes a receptacle for supporting a beverage container.

9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 in which the thermo-electric cooling device is activated only when a beverage container containing a beverage that requires cooling I is placed in the receptacle.

10. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 in which the air supply system includes an air conditioning unit and the air flowing through the air supp y duct is cool air from the air conditioner unit. I

11. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 in which the air supply duct is an air supply duct transferring air to a rear footwell of the motor vehicle. i

12. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11 in which the air supply duct is covered by a centre console and a receptacle forming part of the cup holder assembly is formed as an integral part of the centre console.

13. A cup holder assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.