KR102156987B1 - Portable air cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, energy efficiency can be increased by generating cold air using a thermoelectric device module and blowing cold air to a user through an efficient cold air transmission structure, and coolness and comfort can be provided to the user for a long time. To this end, in particular, an embodiment of the present invention includes a thermoelectric device module having a heat absorbing surface formed on one surface and a heating surface formed on the other surface based on electronic cooling; A thermoelectric element receiving part accommodating a thermoelectric element module therein; A first fan for blowing cold air generated by heat absorption of the heat absorbing surface; A blower head having a blower hole for discharging the blown cold air; And a portable cooling fan including a cold air transfer unit that connects the thermoelectric element accommodating portion and the blowing head, and transfers cool air from the heat absorbing surface to the blowing head or performs heat exchange for generating cool air.

Description

Portable air cooler {PORTABLE AIR COOLER}

The present invention relates to a portable cooler, and more particularly, to a portable cooler equipped with a thermoelectric element.

The hand fan is an item that can be easily found in people who do outdoor activities in summer as the heat wave has been rising all over the world. The demand for these hand fans is increasing due to their strong blowing ability and light weight despite their small size.

In general, an electric fan is a principle of generating wind by forming a wind pressure difference through a fan, and a user can feel cool by dropping body heat through such wind. However, since the wind itself does not contain cold air, there is a limit to the coolness. It's not a refreshing thing, especially in hot weather.

To compensate for the shortcomings of such a fan, a cold fan appeared, but using an ice pack or using the evaporation heat of water is inconvenient. Therefore, in order to overcome such a burden, a cooling fan using a thermoelectric element appeared. Among them, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2018-0086941 discloses a cooler using a thermoelectric element. However, if you look closely at the conventional patent, although a thermoelectric element is used, a thermoelectric element is placed between a storage cooling material and a metal plate to supply power by temperature difference, and this power supply realizes battery-free operation of the cooler and at the same time You can see what you want to deliver air to the user. Although the fan can simply operate without a battery and deliver low temperature air at the same time, it will not be easy to implement.

It can be seen that in order to deliver low-temperature air in a hot summer environment so that the user feels cool, a lot of energy is required and a large-capacity battery is required even with a simple thermodynamic calculation. Therefore, research on an efficient cooler that can increase cooling performance even in a real hot environment while reducing weight for portability is still needed.

The present invention was derived from the above necessity, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a portable cooler capable of generating cool air using a thermoelectric element and blowing cool air to a user through an efficient cool air transmission structure. have.

The second object of the present invention is to increase energy efficiency by compressing the cold air generated through a thermoelectric element into the cold air compression space, discharging the cold air through a narrow air outlet, and mixing the cold air with the air drawn from the rear due to a change in air pressure. It is to provide a portable cooler.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a portable cooling fan that can increase energy efficiency by connecting a heat pipe to a heat absorbing surface of a thermoelectric element and extending it to a blowing head to form an efficient cooling air transmission structure.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a portable cooling fan capable of further accelerating heat absorption on the heat absorbing surface by attaching a heat pipe or a heat sink to the heating surface of the thermoelectric element to quickly process heat formed on the heating surface of the thermoelectric element. .

An object of the present invention as described above, based on electronic cooling, a thermoelectric device module in which a heat absorbing surface is formed on one surface and a heating surface is formed on the other surface; A thermoelectric element receiving part accommodating a thermoelectric element module therein; A first fan for blowing cold air generated by heat absorption of the heat absorbing surface; A blower head having a blower hole for discharging the blown cold air; And a cold air transfer unit that connects the thermoelectric element receiving unit and the blowing head and transfers cool air from the heat absorbing surface to the blowing head or performs heat exchange for generating cool air.

Here, the thermoelectric element receiving portion may be formed with a plurality of through holes.

And it may further include a heat absorbing heat sink attached to the heat absorbing surface and a heat generating heat sink attached to the heating surface.

The cold air transmission unit may be an insulating duct that forms a cold air movement path through which cold air moves due to a difference in wind pressure between the heat absorbing heat sink and the blowing head.

In addition, the first fan is disposed on the insulating duct, and the blowing head includes a hollow inner cylinder and an outer cylinder surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and connected to one end of the insulating duct, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder between A cold air compression space in which cold air moved through the cold air movement path is compressed is formed, and a discharge port through which the compressed cold air is discharged between the outer cylinder may be formed at one end of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the inner cylinder.

Meanwhile, the portable cooler may further include a second fan disposed under the heat generating heat sink to emit heat.

In addition, the portable cooling fan may further include a first heat pipe having one end attached to the heat absorbing surface and extending to the blowing head through the interior of the cool air transmission unit, and a first radiating fin mounted at the other end of the first heat pipe. have. In this case, the blowing head is coupled to the end of the cold air transmission unit and includes the other end of the first heat pipe, the first heat dissipation fin, and a hollow rim surrounding the first fan, and the ventilation opening is formed in both directions along the hollow shaft of the hollow rim. I can.

It may further include a heating heat sink attached to the heating surface and a second fan disposed under the heating heat sink to emit heat.

In addition, the portable cooler may further include a second heat pipe having one end attached to the heating surface and a second radiating fin mounted at the other end of the second heat pipe.

In addition, the portable cooler may further include a second fan disposed under the second radiating fin to emit heat.

Meanwhile, the portable cooler may be configured to include a thermoelectric element accommodating unit and a cool air transfer unit integrally formed therein, and a battery that is separated from the first heat pipe and accommodated in the cool air transfer unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention as described above, energy efficiency can be increased by generating cold air using a thermoelectric device module and blowing cold air to a user through an efficient cold air transmission structure, and coolness and comfort can be provided to the user for a long time.

In addition, by compressing the cold air generated through the thermoelectric element module into the cold air compression space, and discharging the cold air through a narrow air outlet, the air is mixed with the air drawn from the rear due to a change in air pressure, thereby maximizing energy efficiency without the fan exposed to the outside. I can.

In addition, energy efficiency can be maximized by connecting a heat pipe to the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric device module and extending it to the blowing head to form an efficient cold air transmission structure.

Furthermore, by attaching a heat pipe or a heat sink to the heating surface of the thermoelectric device module, heat formed on the heating surface of the thermoelectric device module can be quickly processed, thereby further accelerating heat absorption on the heat absorbing surface.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler viewed obliquely;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a cover forming a thermoelectric element accommodating part and a cold air transmitting part are separated among the configurations of the first embodiment according to the portable cooler of the present invention;
3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a thermoelectric device module, first and second heat sinks, and first and second fans are separated from among the configurations of the first embodiment according to the present invention,
4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the blowing head is separated from among the configurations of the first embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler;
5 is an exploded perspective view obliquely viewed in a state in which the cover forming the middle thermoelectric element accommodating part and the cold air transmitting part of the second embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler is separated;
6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler viewed obliquely;
7 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a cover forming a blowing head, a thermoelectric element accommodating part, and a cold air transmitting part in a third embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler is separated;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the portable cooler shown in FIG. 7 as viewed obliquely from the other side;
9 is a perspective view showing first and second heat pipes, first and second heat dissipation fins, and a thermoelectric device module in a third embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler;
10 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the upper and lower heat shields of the thermoelectric device module shown in FIG. 9 are separated;
11 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a cover forming a blowing head, a thermoelectric element accommodating part, and a cold air transmitting part are separated as a modification of the third embodiment according to the portable cooler according to the present invention.

In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms used in the present specification are terms used to properly express preferred embodiments of the present invention, which may vary according to the intention of users or operators, or customs in the field to which the present invention belongs. Accordingly, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the present specification.

<Portable cooler>

The portable cooler of the present invention includes a thermoelectric device module (110, 210, 310, 410) and a thermoelectric device receiving unit (120, 220, 320, 420) accommodating the thermoelectric device module (110, 210, 310, 410) therein. And, it is configured to include a blowing head (140, 240, 340), and a cold air transmission unit (150, 250, 350, 450). The portable cooler of the present invention efficiently transfers the cold air generated by the thermoelectric device module 110, 210, 310, 410 to the blowing heads 140, 240, 340 through the cold air transfer unit 150, 250, 350, 450 And, the blower heads 140, 240, and 340 function to increase energy efficiency by blowing the transmitted cold air to the outside, and to provide cool wind to the user.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a portable cooler according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Example

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler, and FIG. 2 is a separate cover for forming a thermoelectric element accommodating part and a cold air transmission part among the configurations of the first embodiment according to the present invention. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a thermoelectric device module, first and second heat sinks, and first and second fans are separated from among the configurations of the first embodiment according to the portable cooler of the present invention, and 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the blowing head is separated from among the configurations of the first embodiment according to the portable cooler of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the thermoelectric element module 110 is accommodated in the thermoelectric element accommodating unit 120 and the cold air transfer unit 150 is formed between the blowing head 140 and , The heat absorbing heat sink 160 and the first fan 130 are disposed on the upper surface of the thermoelectric element receiving unit 120 on which the heat absorbing surface is located, and heat is generated on the lower surface of the thermoelectric element receiving unit 120 on which the heating surface is located. The heat sink 170 and the second fan 180 are disposed.

When cold air is generated on the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element module 110 by receiving power from a battery (not shown) accommodated in the battery receiving unit 190, the cold air generated by the wind pressure of the first fan 130 is the cold air delivery unit It is delivered to the cold air compression space 146 of the blowing head 140 along the 150. At this time, the air flowing by the first fan 130 is sucked through a plurality of through holes 122 formed in the thermoelectric element accommodating part 120, and in all embodiments below, the plurality of through holes 122 are external air. It is formed to inhale or discharge air (heat) to the outside, and functions as a flow path of air are the same, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Afterwards, the compressed cold air is discharged at a high speed through the air vent 144 formed in a narrow annular belt shape, and the surrounding air blow head 140 falls to a low pressure to induce a more flow of air, thereby reducing a large amount of wind including cold air. Can be made.

On the contrary, heat generated on the heating surface of the thermoelectric device module 110 is discharged to the outside of the body cover by the wind pressure of the second fan 180. Here, the body cover refers to a synthetic resin case that forms the cold air transmission unit 150, the thermoelectric element receiving unit 120, and the battery receiving unit 190 from the top, and the definition of such a body cover is defined differently for each embodiment. Can be. However, it is the same that a part of the body cover may be a user's grip part.

Meanwhile, in the first embodiment, the body cover separated vertically is combined to form the cold air transmission unit 150, the thermoelectric element receiving unit 120, and the battery receiving unit 190. In addition to the battery, the battery accommodating unit 190 may include a controller board (not shown).

Looking at the configurations related to the formation of cold air and heat in detail, as shown in FIG. 3, a thermoelement having a heat absorbing surface 112 and a heating surface 114 and a heat shielding part 116 coupled to the thermoelectric element are provided. Including the thermoelectric device module 110 is configured. Here, the thermoelectric element is also referred to as a Peltier element. When a current flows through an object, a temperature difference is created, and one (heating surface) is heated and the other (heat absorbing surface) is cooled. to be. In addition, the heat shielding part 116 serves to block and maintain the upper and lower cold air and heat, and at the same time serve to fix the thermoelectric element.

The heat absorbing heat sink 160 and the first fan 130 are attached to the upper part of the heat absorbing surface 112 and configured to transmit cool air to the upper part, and the heating heat sink 170 and the second fan 180 are provided under the heating surface 114. ) Is attached so that heat can be sufficiently discharged to the bottom or side.

The blowing head 140 may be composed of an inner cylinder 142a and an outer cylinder 142b, as shown in FIG. 4. A cold air compression space 146 may be formed between the inner cylinder 142a and the outer cylinder 142b coupled by different diameters, and the difference in diameter at the corners of the inner cylinder 142a and the outer cylinder 142b It can be reduced to form a narrow annular air outlet 144.

Second Example

5 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment with the body cover removed. The body cover of the second embodiment may be separated into a vertical shape, and is coupled to each other to form a cold air transmission unit 250 and a thermoelectric element accommodating unit 220 connected to the blowing head 240. In particular, the cold air delivery unit 250 has a battery receiving unit 290 having a small diameter in the center thereof, so that the outer periphery of the battery receiving unit 290 serves as a cold air delivery path.

In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the first fan 230 is not directly attached to the upper surface of the heat absorbing heat sink 260. The heat absorbing heat sink 260 is disposed at the lower end of the cool air transfer unit 250 and spaced apart from the heat absorbing heat sink 260 so that the first fan 230 is disposed at the upper end of the cool air transfer unit 250. In addition, the cold air delivery unit 230 accommodates a battery accommodating unit 290 having a relatively small diameter at the center.

In addition, the configurations of the second embodiment, that is, the blower head 240, the blower 244, the heat absorbing heat sink 260, the thermoelectric element module 210, the heat generating heat sink 270, and the second fan 280 It is the same as the first embodiment, and will be replaced by the description of the first embodiment.

Third Example

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment according to the present inventors portable cooler, and FIG. 7 is a separate cover for forming a blowing head, a thermoelectric element receiving unit, and a cold air transmission unit in the third embodiment according to the present invention. An exploded perspective view showing the state, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of the portable cooler shown in FIG. 7 viewed obliquely from the opposite side, and FIG. 9 is the first and second heat pipes of the third embodiment according to the portable cooler of the present invention , A perspective view showing the first and second radiating fins and the thermoelectric device module, and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the upper and lower heat shields of the thermoelectric device module shown in FIG. 9 are separated.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a thermoelectric element receiving unit 320 and a cold air transmitting unit 350 and a battery receiving unit 390 thereon, and a cold air transmitting unit 350 and a battery receiving unit 390 ) The blower head 340 with the blower 344 formed thereon is disposed.

In addition, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the front body cover and the rear body cover divided into verticals are combined to provide a blowing head 340, a cold air delivery unit 350, a battery accommodating unit 390, and The thermoelectric element accommodating part 320 is configured, but unlike the front and rear body covers, it may be configured as a horizontally divided upper and lower body covers.

The thermoelectric element module 310 is provided inside the thermoelectric element receiving unit 320, and one end of the first heat pipe 360 is in contact with the heat absorbing surface 312 of the thermoelectric element module 310 and extends, so that the cold air transfer unit ( After passing 350, it extends to the blowing head 340. The other end of the first heat pipe 360 is provided in a round shape from the blowing head 340 side, and a plurality of first radiating fins 362 are coupled to the round shape to emit cool air at a high speed.

The heat pipe is a configuration capable of rapidly exchanging energy with the outside according to the phase change of the gas or liquid contained therein. Accordingly, the first heat pipe 360 extending from the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric device module 310 to the blowing head 340 may perform a heat exchange action quickly and efficiently through repeated condensation and evaporation.

In the third embodiment, a first fan 330 having a motor may be formed in the center of the round shape of the first heat pipe 360. The first fan 330 disposed in the center of the blowing head 340 acts to blow the cold air transferred by heat exchange of the first heat pipe 360 by rotational wind pressure. In this case, it is preferable that the blades of the first fan 330 are formed to have a size corresponding to the diameter of the first heat dissipation fins 362 so as to sufficiently blow cold air.

The second heat pipe 370 has one end in contact with the heating surface 314 of the thermoelectric element module 310 and extends downward. The extended other end of the second heat pipe 370 is provided in a round shape, and a plurality of second heat dissipation fins 372 are combined to act to perform heat exchange quickly and efficiently. A second fan 380 equipped with a motor may be provided in the center of the round shape of the second heat pipe 370, and the second fan 380 discharges thermal energy diffused to the second heat dissipation fin 372 by wind pressure. . In order to dissipate heat from the second fan 380, the thermoelectric element accommodating part 320 may be provided with a plurality of through-holes on the side surface thereof.

9 and 10 separately show the configuration involved in the heat exchange action of the third embodiment. 9 and 10, in the third embodiment, the heat exchange action of the first heat pipe 360 and the heat exchange action of the second heat pipe 370 are performed independently of each other, and the first fan 330 Since the flow of air that contributes to the wind pressure of the and the second fan 380 is also performed at an independent and spaced position, it acts to prevent a situation in which thermal efficiency is reduced due to mutual interference.

In particular, the thermoelectric device module 310 is configured to cover the heat absorbing surface 312 and the heating surface 314 between the first and second heat pipes 360 and 370, respectively, so that the heat shielding portions 316a and 316b respectively cover energy. It was configured to be concentrated in the heat pipe of the.

11 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the third embodiment. In a modified example of the third embodiment, the shape of the first heat pipe 460 was changed by changing the positional relationship between the first heat pipe 460 and the battery 491, and a second heat pipe under the thermoelectric element module 410 In addition to the replacement of the heat generating heat sink 470 instead of the 370 and the second radiating fin 372, other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

The first to third embodiments and modifications of the above-described portable cooler may be utilized in a fixed place by adding an adapter configuration to a power supply including a battery and connecting an external power source. That is, despite the name of the present invention, it is not excluded that the cooling fan according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixedly provided at an office or home and connected to a power source without carrying.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical configuration of the present invention described above is another specific form without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention by those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that it can be implemented with. Therefore, the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and should be understood as non-limiting. In addition, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described later rather than the detailed description above. In addition, all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

110, 210, 310, 410: thermoelectric device module
112, 312: endothermic surface
114, 314: heating side
116, 316a, 316b: thermal cutoff
120, 220, 320, 420: thermoelectric element receiving part
122: multiple through holes
130, 230, 330: first fan
140, 240, 340: blowing head
142a: inner cylinder
142b: outer cylinder
144, 244, 344: air outlet
146: cold compressed space
150, 250, 350, 450: cold air transmission unit
160, 260: endothermic heat sink
170, 270, 470: thermal heat sink
180, 280, 380, 480: second fan
190, 290, 390: battery receptacle
360, 460: first heat pipe
362, 462: first heat dissipation fin
370: second heat pipe
372: second heat dissipation fin
491: battery

Claims (12)

A thermoelectric device module having a heat absorbing surface formed on one surface and a heating surface formed on the other surface based on electronic cooling;
A thermoelectric element receiving part accommodating the thermoelectric element module therein;
A first fan for blowing cold air generated by heat absorption of the heat absorbing surface;
A blower head having a blower for discharging the blown cool air; And
A cold air transfer unit connecting the thermoelectric element receiving unit and the blowing head, and performing heat exchange for transferring the cold air or generating the cold air from the heat absorbing surface to the blowing head,
Further comprising a heat absorbing heat sink attached to the heat absorbing surface and a heat generating heat sink attached to the heating surface,
The cold air transmission unit is an insulating duct that forms a cold air movement path through which the cold air moves due to a difference in wind pressure between the heat absorbing heat sink and the blowing head,
The first fan is disposed on the insulating duct,
The blowing head includes a hollow inner cylinder and an outer cylinder surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder and connected to one end of the insulating duct, wherein the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are interposed between the cold air movement path. A cold air compression space in which the moved cold air is compressed is formed, and a discharge port through which the compressed cold air is discharged is formed at one of both ends of the inner cylinder in the longitudinal direction of the inner cylinder. The method of claim 1,
The portable cooler in which a plurality of through holes are formed in the thermoelectric element receiving part. delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The portable cooler further comprises a second fan disposed under the heat generating heat sink and emitting heat. The method of claim 1,
A portable cooler, further comprising: a first heat pipe having one end attached to the heat absorbing surface and extending to the blowing head through the inside of the cold air delivery unit, and a first radiating fin mounted on the other end of the first heat pipe. The method of claim 7,
The blowing head is coupled to the end of the cold air delivery unit and includes a hollow rim that surrounds the other end of the first heat pipe, the first radiating fin, and the first fan, wherein the blowing port is along a hollow shaft of the hollow rim. Portable cooler that is formed in both directions. The method of claim 7,
A portable cooling fan further comprising a heating heat sink attached to the heating surface and a second fan disposed under the heating heat sink to emit heat. The method of claim 7,
A portable cooling fan further comprising a second heat pipe having one end attached to the heating surface and a second heat dissipating fin mounted at the other end of the second heat pipe. The method of claim 10,
The portable cooler further comprising a second fan disposed under the second radiating fin to emit heat. The method of claim 7,
And a battery that is integrally formed with the thermoelectric element accommodating part and the cool air transfer part, and is accommodated in the cold air transfer part while being isolated from the first heat pipe.

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