Portable insulated container incorporating stirling cooler refrigeration

Abstract

An insulated container is provided that utilizes Stirling cooler technology. The insulated container and the Stirling cooler may include a self-contained, portable power source. Controls are provided for operating the Stirling cooler. The controls may include a temperature sensor for a compartment of the insulated container, and a speed control for the Stirling cooler. The controls may additionally include an overheat sensor for the Stirling cooler. As part of the controls for the Stirling cooler, a control panel may be provided as a graphical user interface for a user to control operation of the Stirling cooler. A low voltage indicator may be provided. In addition, a voltage sensor and a voltage reducer may be provided for determining whether voltage provided to the Stirling cooler is too high and for reducing the voltage to the Stirling cooler

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention generally relates to insulated containers, and more specifically relates to insulated containers having refrigeration units. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Insulated containers are prevalent in contemporary life. The insulated containers are often used for picnics or for outdoor activities such as camping or sporting events. In addition, insulated containers are commonly used in the medical industry, for example to move transplant organs and other articles that need to remain cold during transport. Insulated containers are also used to transport commercial goods such as perishable food, drink, and medicine, and other items that need to stay cool or cold, such as environmental samples. [0003] One downside to current insulated containers is the limited length of time that an insulated container can keep something cold. For example, if ice is used in an insulated container, the ice will often melt after a relatively shor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The controls may include a temperature sensor for a compartment of the insulated container, and a speed control for the Stirling cooler. The speed control reduces or increases the speed of operation of the Stirling cooler responsive to temperature readings by the temperature sensor. For example, if the temperature inside the compartment is sensed to be higher than the desired range, then the speed control can increase the speed of the Stirling cooler so that increased cooling is provided. Likewise, if the temperature is below a desired range then the speed of the Stirling cooler can be decreased.

Problems solved by technology

One downside to current insulated containers is the limited length of time that an insulated container can keep something cold.

For example, if ice is used in an insulated container, the ice will often melt after a relatively short period of time, because an insulated container typically cannot maintain the colder interior temperatures needed to prevent melting of the ice.

Another downside to most contemporary insulated containers is that the inside cannot be maintained at freezing temperatures for very long.

However, even dry ice has time limitations, and use and handling of dry ice can be difficult.

However, this solution has not always been convenient.

For example, traditional vapor cycle systems, while efficient, are quite large and heavy.

While such a cooling unit works well for cooling items in the insulated container, an AC outlet or similar power supply is not always readily available.

A few 12 volt or 24 volt systems are available today; however, these systems are also large and heavy.

The vapor cycle 12 and 24-volt systems also may have problems with vibrations during transportation.

In addition, there exists absorption and adsorption refrigerators, but these fail if enough vibrations exist and improper orientation may also cause the units to fail.

Like the vapor cycle refrigerators, these cooler systems are heavy and hard to handle.

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