Solar Powered Refrigerated Container

Abstract

A portable, solar assisted, temperature controlled container comprises: a body with a cavity; a lid sealable thereon; a detachable solar panel producing electric power; a thermoelectric cooling unit; an interior heat sink secured in the cavity proximate to an interior side of the thermoelectric cooling unit with an interior fan to direct cavity air thereon; an exterior heat sink secured proximate to an exterior-facing side of the thermoelectric cooling unit with an exterior fan to direct exterior air thereon. The thermoelectric cooling unit transports heat to maintain a thermostat-controlled temperature in the cavity. The interior and exterior fans and the interior and exterior heat sinks increase efficiency of the heat transport. One or more wheels rotatably attached to the body are coupled to a faraday generator to generate electrical power to replace / supplement the solar power. A rechargeable battery may also replace / supplement solar power during periods of inadequate solar power generation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present invention is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 148,126, filed on Apr. 16, 2008, which claims priority on U.S. application Ser. No. 60 / 923,293, filed Apr. 16, 2007, with the disclosures of each being incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an environmentally friendly refrigeration unit and more particularly solar-powered refrigeration container that allows stored foods, beverages and other objects to be properly refrigerated when outdoors and more specifically to a refrigeration container that employs for example, a system of heat sinks, fans and vents powered by a rechargeable internal battery that gathers fuel from a solar collector on the container's outer surface and maintains an insulated environment within the container that is up to about 40° below the ambient temperature.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The portable cooler was invented in Aust...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a solar-powered refrigeration container that has a housing and an insulated interior container for holding items. The container is designed to conserve battery power when the outside temperature is below a certain level. The technical effects of this invention include providing a safe and secure environment for refrigerated items, conserving battery power, and easy transport of the cooler from one place to another.

Problems solved by technology

When ice begins to melt, which will typically happen on a hot day within minutes, food and beverages are often saturated in the resultant water, making removal of the contained objects an unpleasant task.

One of the main problems of the prior art thermoelectric containers is that they do draw a significant amount of power however, and can drain a car's battery enough so that it cannot start.

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