Abstract:
A heat dissipater and a method of dissipating heat. The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipating device which dissipates heat out of an enclosure. The device comprises a housing positioned within the enclosure, wherein the housing has an intake and an exhaust. The device further comprises an air medium disposed within the enclosure. At least one air handler in communication with the housing transfers the air medium through the housing and out of the enclosure. The present disclosure relates to a method of dissipating heat generated by a component comprising disposing a housing within an enclosure, the enclosure having the component which generates heat. Next, a convection is maintained through the housing and across the component. Cooling is then performed by channeling the air out of the enclosure.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 10/581,047 filed Jun. 18, 2004 to the extent permitted by law. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipating device and a method of dissipating heat away from a heat emitting component. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a heat dissipater which dissipates heat from an appliance positioned within a vehicle. 
         [0003]    In the recreational vehicle and the boating industry, manufacturers or retailers install appliances such as refrigerators into the vehicle or a boat to provide the user more comfort in using the vehicle/boat. In locating a refrigerator within an enclosure of the vehicle, however, access to the back of the refrigerator must be considered since the back of the refrigerator houses components such as compressors and heat fins. As such, the position of the refrigerator must present accessibility from the outside through the side wall of the vehicle for maintenance purposes. Additionally, the location of the refrigerator must be considered for heat transfer purposes since components such as the compressor and heat fins emit heat during use. This emitted heat must be dissipated out of the vehicle enclosure in order for the appliance unit to work properly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipater and a method of dissipating heat away from a heat generating device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a heat dissipater which removes heat from an appliance positioned within a vehicle. In an embodiment, the heat dissipating device comprises a housing positioned within the enclosure. The housing has an intake, an exhaust and a body positioned between the intake and the exhaust, wherein the body is positioned to surround at least one component which is positioned within the enclosure and which is adapted to emit heat within the enclosure. The intake is adapted to direct an amount of air medium, which is positioned within the enclosure, into the body. The body is adapted to direct the amount of air medium from the intake and over the at least one component which emits heat within the body, wherein the emitted heat from the at least one component causes a temperature differential within the body such that the amount of air medium flows through the body. The exhaust is adapted to direct the amount of air medium, which is flowing through the body as a result of the temperature differential, to a position beyond the enclosure. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of dissipating heat emitted by a component. The method comprises removably positioning a housing within the vehicle enclosure such that the housing surrounds the at least one component. Next, a temperature differential is created within the body by emitting heat from the at least one component in order to heat an amount of air medium which is positioned within the housing wherein the heated air medium flows through the housing as a result of the temperature differential. Then, the vehicle enclosure is cooled by directing the amount of air medium out of the vehicle enclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates in a perspective view a heat emitting appliance such as a refrigerator positioned within a vehicle enclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates in a perspective view a heat dissipating device which covers portions of the heat emitting appliance of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates in a perspective view at least one air handler coupled to the heat dissipating device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates in a perspective view at least one channel coupled to the heat dissipating device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates in a perspective view another embodiment of the at least one channel coupled to the heat dissipating device; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate in perspective views other embodiments of the at least one channel coupled to an exhaust of the heat dissipating device and coupled to the enclosure; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate in perspective views other embodiments of the at least one channel coupled to an intake of the heat dissipating device and coupled to the enclosure; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates in a side elevational view the heat dissipating device and heat emitting appliance positioned within the vehicle enclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates in a perspective view a heat emitting appliance  10  such as a refrigerator positioned within an enclosure  12  such as a vehicle enclosure, wherein the enclosure  12  contains an amount of air medium  14 . The appliance  10  may include at least one component  16  such as a cooling unit  18 , an evaporator  20 , coils  22 , and heat fins  24  which may emit heat during use. Typically, the appliance  10  is positioned within the enclosure  12  defined by a roof  26 , a floor  28  and side walls  30  wherein the roof  26  may include a vent  32 . Since the appliance  10  is positioned within the enclosure  12  and away from the vent  32 , the heat  34  emitted by the components  16  cannot easily escape away from the appliance  10 . As such, the enclosure  12  experiences an increase in temperature leading to failure of the heat emitting appliance  10  among other undesirable consequences. 
         [0016]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a heat dissipating device  36  is shown removably connected to the appliance  10 . In an embodiment, the heat dissipating device  36  may include a housing  38  having a body  40  which includes a front  42 , sides  44 , a top  46  and a bottom  48 . The sides  44  and bottom  48  form an intake  50  while the sides  44  and top  46  form an exhaust  52 . As such, the body  40  is positioned between the intake  50  and the exhaust  52 . The top  46  may taper outward from the sides  44  to form the exhaust  52  wider than the intake  50 . In an embodiment, the intake  50  and exhaust  52  may remain free from contacting the floor  28  and the roof  26  respectively. In this embodiment, the intake  50  may be positioned above the floor  28  such that the intake  50  is exposed to the enclosure  12  to direct movement of the air medium  14  as will be discussed. Additionally, the exhaust  52  may be exposed to the enclosure  12  to direct the air medium  14  toward the vent  32  as will be discussed. As illustrated, the body  40  partially surrounds the at least one component  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the appliance  10 . 
         [0017]    The heat dissipating device  36  may also comprise a divider  54  such as a panel, wherein the divider  54  is positioned between the housing  38  and the side wall  30  of the enclosure  12 . As such, the divider  54  extends outward from the front  42  of the housing  38  to the side walls  30  of the enclosure  12 . The divider  54  may extend perpendicularly from the housing  38  to the side walls  30 . The divider  54  may also extend at an angle from the housing  38  to the side walls  30 . In an embodiment, the divider  54  may be positioned between the intake  50  and the exhaust  52  to separate the enclosure  12  ( FIG. 8 ) as will be discussed. 
         [0018]    The heat dissipating device  36  further comprises at least one air handler  56 , wherein the at least one air handler  56  may be positioned adjacent to the intake  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In other embodiments, however, the at least one air handler  56  may be positioned on the sides  44  of the body  40 . In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may comprise a fan. The at least one handler  56  is adapted to force the amount of air medium  14  through the intake  50 , the body  40  and out of the exhaust  52 . 
         [0019]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , the at least one air handler  56  may be coupled to the housing  38 , wherein the at least one air handler  56  draws the amount of air medium  14  through the body  40  and out of the exhaust  52  in this embodiment. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may be positioned between the intake  50  and the exhaust  52 . In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may be horizontally coupled near the top  46  and in alignment with the exhaust  52 . In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may be vertically coupled near the top  46  on either the front  42  or walls  44  (not shown). 
         [0020]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , the heat dissipating device  36  may further comprise at least one channel  57  coupled to the exhaust  52  such that the at least one channel  57  is in communication with the body  40  of the heat dissipating device  36 . In this embodiment, a cover  58  may be positioned over the exhaust  52  in order to direct the air medium  14  from the body  40 , through the exhaust  52  and into the at least one channel  57 . The at least one channel  57  may extend beyond the enclosure  12 , wherein the at least one channel may extend into the vent  32 . In an embodiment, the at least one channel  57  may include an opening  60 . The opening  60  is adapted to direct the air medium  14 , which may be at ambient temperature, into the channel  57  to assist in cooling the channel  57  and the housing  38 . 
         [0021]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , the heat dissipating device  36  may further comprise the at least one channel  57  coupled to the at least one air handler  56 . In this embodiment, the cover  58  may be positioned over the exhaust  52  in order to direct the air medium  14  from the body  40 , through the at least one air handler  56  and into the at least one channel  57 . The at least one channel  57  may extend beyond the enclosure  12 , wherein the at least one channel may extend into the vent  32 . In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may be positioned within the at least one channel  57 . 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIGS. 6A-6C , the heat dissipating device  36  of the present disclosure may comprise coupling the exhaust  52  to the enclosure  12  by the at least one channel  57  such that the exhaust  52  is in communication with an environment beyond the enclosure  12 . In an embodiment, the exhaust  52  may be coupled to the top  46  of the enclosure as shown in  FIG. 6A . In an embodiment, the exhaust  52  may be coupled to the side walls  30  of the enclosure  12  as shown in  FIG. 6B . In an embodiment, the exhaust  52  may be coupled to the floor  28  of the enclosure  12  as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
         [0023]    Turning to  FIGS. 7A-7C , the heat dissipating device  36  of the present disclosure may comprise coupling the intake  50  to the enclosure  12  by the at least one channel  57  such that the intake  50  is in communication with an environment beyond the enclosure  12 . In an embodiment, the intake  50  may be coupled to the top  46  of the enclosure as shown in  FIG. 7A . In an embodiment, the intake  50  may be coupled to the side walls  30  of the enclosure  12  as shown in  FIG. 7B . In an embodiment, the intake  50  may be coupled to the floor  28  of the enclosure  12  as shown in  FIG. 7C . 
         [0024]    Turning to  FIG. 8  and referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , during use, the heat emitting appliance  10  is positioned within the vehicle  62 . When positioned, the front, such as a door, of the heat emitting appliance  10  faces the vehicle interior  64  while the at least one component  16  faces the vehicle enclosure  12 . The heat dissipating device  36  is removably positioned within the vehicle enclosure  12  such that the housing  38  is attached to the heat emitting appliance  10  to surround the at least one component  16 . The heat dissipating device  36  may be removably attached to the appliance  10  to provide convenient access to the components  16 . 
         [0025]    When activated, the components  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the appliance  10  emit heat. The emitted heat creates a temperature differential within the body  40  to heat the amount of air medium  14  positioned within the housing  38 , wherein the heated air  14  flows through the housing  38  as a result of the temperature differential. The heat dissipating device  36  is adapted to channel the heat upward and away from the appliance  10  via convection since heat will travel from a hotter medium to a cooler medium. As the heated air  14  expands and rises upward through the housing  38 , convection of the heated air  14  draws in cooler fresh air  14  from the intake  50  while emitting the heated air  14  out of the exhaust  52 . Since the intake  50  is positioned above the floor  28 , the air  14  within the enclosure  12  easily transfers into the housing  38 . As such, the heat dissipating device directs the air  14  within the enclosure  12  across the components  16 . The heat dissipating device  36  then channels the heated air  14  away from the components  16  toward the vent  32  while drawing in cool air across the components  16 , thereby cooling the vehicle enclosure  12  by directing the heated air  14  out of the vehicle enclosure  12 . The divider  54  of the heat dissipating device  36  prevents the heated air  14  which has exited the exhaust  52  of the housing  38  from re-entering the intake  50  of the housing  38 . 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56 , which may be positioned adjacent to the intake  50 , may activate in order to provide forced flow to assist in dissipating heat away from the components  16  while drawing in cooler air  14  through the intake  50 . The at least one air handler  56 , which may be coupled to the housing  38 , may activate to draw the heated air  14  through the housing  38 . The at least one air handler  56  may be coupled to the housing  38  near the exhaust  52  to draw the air  14  across the components  16 . As such, the at least one air handler  56  transfers the air  14  through the housing  38  and across the components  16  to transfer the heat emitted by the components  16  toward the vent  32 . Additionally, during use, the divider  54  separates the enclosure  12  to prohibit heated air  14  emitted from the exhaust  52  to be re-circulated into the intake  50  via either convection or forced flow from the at least one air handler  56 . 
         [0027]    In other embodiments, the at least one channel  57  may connect to the exhaust  52  to connect the exhaust  52  to the enclosure  12  such that the exhaust  52  communicates with an environment beyond the enclosure  12 . The at least one channel  57  may connect to the intake  50  to connect the intake  50  to the enclosure  12  such that the intake  50  communicates with an environment beyond the enclosure  12 . In an embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may be positioned within the at least one channel  57  to assist in the forced flow to dissipate the heated air  14  out of the dissipater  32 . In another embodiment, the at least one air handler  56  may also be positioned within the vent  32  and in communication with the at least one channel  57  in order to dissipate the heated air  14  out of the enclosure  12 . 
         [0028]    While the present disclosure describes refrigerators, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the appliance described in the disclosure. Additionally, while the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected by the following claims.