Holder for cooling device

Abstract

A cooling device holder (1) comprising a channel (11) configured to receive a cooling device, a retaining member (35) configured to secure the cooling device within the channel (11), and a reservoir (17); wherein the channel (11) is at least partially defined by a vented wall (3) configured such that the cooling device can move cooled air through the vented wall (3); and the reservoir (17) is arranged at a first end of the channel (11) to collect liquid below the received cooling device.

Description

[0001] HOLDER FOR COOLING DEVICE

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns refrigeration units for use on aircraft. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a holder for a cooling device, such as a thermoelectric cooling device. The invention also concerns a refrigeration unit configured for use on aircraft, an aircraft passenger seat unit comprising a refrigeration unit, and an assembly comprising cooling device holder and a cooling device.

[0004] Commercial Aircraft fly all over the world and can therefore be subject to environments where the cabin is exposed to air having a relatively high humidity. When humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, condensation may occur, which causes water to collect on the surface. Aircraft refrigeration units by their nature have cold components which are particularly susceptible to condensation formation. For example, where an aircraft refrigeration unit comprises a thermoelectric cooling device having a hot side and a cooling side, condensation may form on the cooling side when it is in operation. Condensation can lead to an undesirable build-up of water collecting within the cabin which may negatively affect the crew or passengers, particularly if the water becomes stagnant. In some cases, a build-up of such water may damage equipment within the cabin.

[0005] The present invention seeks to mitigate one or more of the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved holder for a cooling device and apparatus relating thereto.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a cooling device holder configured to hold a cooling device. The cooling device holder comprises a retaining member configured to secure the cooling device to the cooling device holder, a vented wallconfigured such that the cooling device can move cooled air through the vented wall, and a reservoir arranged to collect liquid below the received cooling device.

[0008] The cooling device holder of the first aspect of the invention is provided with a reservoir configured to collect liquid, for example water which may be formed by condensation on the cooling side of the cooler, particularly in humid environments. The reservoir is arranged below the cooling device in use such that liquid passes into the reservoir under the action of gravity. This mitigates, for example, condensed water leaking away from the cooling device and collecting in another part of the aircraft where the condensed water may cause a problem from the crew, passengers, or operation of the aircraft. The vented wall is configured such that air can move through the vented wall. The vented wall may comprise one or more apertures configured to allow passage of air through the apertures.

[0009] The cooling device holder may comprise a channel configured to receive a cooling device. A channel may be advantageous for securely holding the cooling device on an aircraft, where vibrations or other movement of the aircraft might cause an unsecured cooling device to move in use. The retaining member may be configured to secure the cooling device within the channel. The channel may be at least partially defined by the vented wall. The reservoir may be arranged at a first end of the channel to collect liquid below the received cooling device.

[0010] Optionally, the reservoir comprises a tray. The tray may have a floor. The tray may be defined by one or more walls which extend from the floor. Optionally a wall forming part of the reservoir is adjacent the vented wall such that liquid running down the vented wall is directed onto the wall forming part of the reservoir and thereby into the reservoir in use. The wall forming part of the reservoir may be contiguous with the vented wall. The wall forming part of the reservoir may be integrally formed with the vented wall.

[0011] Optionally, the reservoir comprises an outlet for removing liquid from the reservoir. The reservoir may comprise an outlet for draining liquid from the reservoir. The reservoir may comprise an outlet so that liquid can be evaporated out of the reservoir via the outlet. The cooling device holder may be configured such that the liquid is evaporated out of the reservoir by a hot side of the cooling device. The reservoir may comprise a nozzle for connecting a conduit to the reservoir; it may be possible to drain liquid from the reservoirvia the conduit. Optionally, the reservoir comprises a sloping floor configured to direct liquid within the reservoir towards the outlet.

[0012] The cooling device holder may further comprise a first support member and a second support member. The first and second support members may be laterally spaced along the vented wall such that the first and second support members at least partially define respective opposing lateral side walls of the channel. The first and second support members may be configured to engage with and support the cooling device.

[0013] The support members may extend away from the vented wall. The first and second support members may form a first pair of support members. There may be a second pair and, optionally, a third pair of support members. The respective pairs of support members may be spaced apart along the channel in order to allow air flow around the cooling device. One or both of the support members may comprise an arm which is configured to engage the cooling device. The arm may be configured to engage the cooling device on a first side of the arm. The arm being free on the opposite second side of the arm. The arm may be free on the opposite second side to permit air flow around the arm (and thereby the cooling device).

[0014] The retaining member may be configured to clamp the cooling device between a support surface and the retaining member. Optionally, the support surface is at the first end of the channel and the retaining member is at an opposite second end of the channel such that a clamping force exerted by the retaining member is oriented along a longitudinal direction of the channel. In use, the first end may be the lower end of the channel and the second end may be the upper end of the channel.

[0015] The channel configured to receive the cooling device may be situated on a first side of the vented wall. Optionally, an opposite second side of the vented wall comprises a surface that is configured to form part of a refrigeration unit. The opposite second side of the vented wall may comprise a surface that is configured to form part of an internal wall of a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit may, for example, form part of a business class or a first class aircraft passenger seat unit. The refrigeration unit may form part of a galley unit of an aircraft.According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a refrigeration unit configured for installation on an aircraft. The refrigeration unit comprises a cooling device holder according to the first aspect of the invention. The refrigeration unit may be configured such that a vented wall of the cooling device holder forms part of an internal wall of the refrigeration unit.

[0016] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides an aircraft seat unit comprising cooling device holder according to the first aspect of the invention. The aircraft seat unit may comprise a refrigeration unit according to the second aspect of the invention. The cooling device holder may form part of the refrigeration unit.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides an assembly comprising a cooling device holder according the first aspect of the invention and a cooling device. The cooling device is secured to the cooling device holder by the retaining member. The cooling device is arranged with a cooling side of the cooling device facing the vented wall such that the cooling device can move cooled air through the vented wall. A hot side of the cooling device may face away from the vented wall. The cooling device holder may be configured such that the reservoir is positioned proximal to a hot side of the cooling device to thereby enable heat produced by the hot side of the cooling device to evaporate water collected in the reservoir. The cooling device may comprise a thermoelectric cooling device having a cooling side and a hot side.

[0018] It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into any of the other aspects of the present invention. For example, any of the features described in relation to the cooling device holder of the first aspect of the invention may be incorporated into any of the second, third, or fourth aspects of the invention.

[0019] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a cooling device holder according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cooling device holder;FIG. 3 shows the cooling device holder when forming part of an internal wall of a refrigeration unit; and

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the cooling device holder when holding a cooling device.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] A cooling device holder 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The cooling device holder 1 comprises a vented wall 3 which extends along a first direction, the first direction of the cooling device holder 1 corresponding to a vertical direction when the cooling device holder 1 is in use. The vented wall 3 is formed with a substantially circular aperture 5 and a plurality of elongate apertures 7.

[0026] The cooling device holder 1 further comprises a plurality of pairs of support members 9A-C which are spaced apart along the vented wall 3 in the first direction. Each pair of support members 9A-C comprises a first support member 91 and a second support member 93. The respective first and second support members 91, 93 extend from the vented wall 3 and are laterally spaced apart from one another along a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. Together, the vented wall 3 and the first and second support members 91 , 93 define a channel 11 for receiving a cooling device, as described in more detail below. The vented wall 3 forms a base of the channel 11 and the respective first and second support members form respective opposing lateral side walls of the channel 11. The channel 11 has a longitudinal direction oriented parallel with the first direction. With reference to FIG. 2, each of the respective first and second support members 91, 93 comprises an arm 13 that extends from a base 15 which supports the arm 13.

[0027] The cooling device holder 1 further comprises a reservoir 17 arranged at a first end of the channel 11 , the first end of the channel 11 being the lower end of the channel 11 when the cooling device holder 1 is in use. The reservoir 17 comprises a sloping floor 21 configured to direct liquid within the reservoir towards an outlet 27 which extends through a nozzle 29. The nozzle 29 is configured for connecting a conduit to the reservoir 17 so that liquid can be drained away from the reservoir 17 in use. The reservoir 17 comprises walls 23, 25 which extend from the sloping floor 21 to provide a tray in which fluid can be collected. Inthe present embodiment, the rear wall 25 of the reservoir is integrally formed with the vented wall 3.

[0028] The channel 11 configured to receive the cooling device 31 is situated on a first side of the vented wall 3 and an opposite second side of the vented wall 3 comprises a surface 41 that is configured to form part of an internal wall of a refrigeration unit 43, as shown in FIG. 3. The cooling device holder 1 is configured such that the cooling device 31 provides cooling to the refrigeration unit 41 via the vented wall 3. The refrigeration unit 41 is for use within an aircraft; for example, in a business class or a first class aircraft passenger seat unit 44 (schematically illustrated by the box shown in broken lines in FIG. 3), or in a galley unit of an aircraft.

[0029] The cooling device 31 is received within the channel 11 of the cooling device holder 1, as shown in FIG. 4. In the presently described embodiment, the cooling device 31 is a thermoelectric cooling device comprising a cooling side 32 and a hot side 34. A lower end of the cooling device 31 rests against support surfaces 33 provided by the cooling device holder at a lower end of the channel 11, as can be seen in FIG. 2. At an opposite upper end of the channel Il a retaining member 35 engages with the upper end of the cooling device 31 to clamp the cooling device 31 between the support surfaces 33 and the retaining member 35, the clamping of the cooling device 31 being such that such that the clamping force exerted by the retaining member 35 is oriented along a longitudinal direction of the channel 11. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the retaining member 35 may be a bar that fits around the top end of the cooling device 31 and which is fastened to the uppermost pair of support members 9A by fasteners 37. The fasteners 37 pass through the retaining member 35 and engage with holes 39 formed in the support members 9A which can be seen in FIG. 1. Clamping of the cooling device 31 may therefore be effected by tightening the fasteners 37.

[0030] When the cooling device 31 is in place within the channel 11 , the cooling device 31 is supported on its opposing lateral sides by the arms 13 of the respective first and second support members 91, 93. The arms 13 of the support members 91, 93 engage the cooling device on their respective first sides and are free on their respective opposite second sides to permit the flow of air around the cooling device 31.The cooling device 31 is oriented within the channel 11 such that the cooling side 32 of the cooling device faces the vented wall 3 (and the hot side 34 of the cooling device 31 thereby faces away from the vented wall 3). In the presently described embodiment, the cooling device 31 has a fan on its cooling side 32 which is aligned with the circular aperture 5 of the vented wall 3 such that the fan can move cooled air through the vented wall 3. Cooling air is also free to move through the elongate apertures 7 of the vented wall 3.

[0031] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the reservoir 17 is positioned below the cooling device 31 in use such that any water formed by condensation on the cooling side of the cooling device 31 will pass into the reservoir 17 under the action of gravity. Condensed water may drip into the tray 19 directly from the cooling device 31. Water may also condense onto the vented wall 3. The vented wall 3 is connected to the reservoir 17 such that liquid running down the vented wall 3 is directed into the reservoir 17. The reservoir 17 may therefore prevent condensed water leaking away from the cooling device and collecting in another part of the aircraft where the condensed water may cause a problem from the crew, passengers, or operation of the aircraft.

[0032] The water collected in the reservoir 17 can be drained away via the nozzle 29, for example, by a conduit connected to the nozzle 29. Alternatively or additionally, the water collected in the reservoir 17 may be evaporated out of the reservoir 17 by the heat produced by the hot side 34 of the cooling device 31. For example, the cooling device holder 1 may be configured such that the reservoir 17 is positioned proximal to the hot side 34 of the cooling device 31 to enable heat produced by the hot side 34 of the cooling device 31 to evaporate the water collected in the reservoir; in such embodiments the amount of water being removed from the reservoir 17 by evaporation via the outlet 27 may be sufficient enough to not require a conduit to be connected to the nozzle 29. Embodiments of the invention may not comprise an outlet; in such embodiments, the reservoir may have to be manually emptied or water may be evaporated directly from the reservoir, rather than via an outlet. Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any suchequivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cooling device holder comprising a channel configured to receive a cooling device, a retaining member configured to secure the cooling device within the channel, and a reservoir; whereinthe channel is at least partially defined by a vented wall configured such that the cooling device can move cooled air through the vented wall;the reservoir is arranged at a first end of the channel to collect liquid below the received cooling device; andwherein the cooling device holder further comprises a first support member and a second support member, the first and second support members being laterally spaced along the vented wall such that the first and second support members at least partially define respective opposing lateral side walls of the channel, the first and second support members being configured to engage with and support the cooling device.

2. A cooling device holder according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a tray.

3. A cooling device holder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a wall forming part of the reservoir is adjacent the vented wall such that liquid running down the vented wall is directed onto the wall forming part of the reservoir and thereby into the reservoir.

4. A cooling device holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir comprises an outlet for removing liquid from the reservoir.

5. A cooling device holder according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir comprises a sloping floor configured to direct liquid within the reservoir towards the outlet.

6. A cooling device holder according to any preceding claim, wherein one or both of the support members comprises an arm which is configured to engage the cooling device, the arm being configured to engage the cooling device on a first side of the arm and the arm being free on the opposite second side of the arm.

7. A cooling device holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining member is configured to clamp the cooling device between a support surface and the retaining member.

8. A cooling device holder according to claim 7, wherein the support surface is at the first end of the channel and the retaining member is at an opposite second end of the channel such that a clamping force exerted by the retaining member is oriented along a longitudinal direction of the channel.

9. A cooling device holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the channel configured to receive the cooling device is situated on a first side of the vented wall and an opposite second side of the vented wall comprises a surface that is configured to form part of an internal wall of a refrigeration unit.

10. A refrigeration unit configured for installation on an aircraft, wherein the refrigeration unit comprises a cooling device holder according to claim 9 arranged such that the second side of the vented wall forms part of an internal wall of the refrigeration unit.

11. An aircraft passenger seat unit comprising a refrigeration unit according to claim 10.

12. An assembly comprising cooling device holder according to any of claims 1 to 9 and a cooling device; wherein the cooling device is secured within the channel of the cooling device holder by the retaining member; and the cooling device is arranged with a coolingside of the cooling device facing the vented wall such that the cooling device can move cooled air through the vented wall.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cooling device holder is configured such that the reservoir is positioned proximal to a hot side of the cooling device to thereby enable heat produced by the hot side of the cooling device to evaporate water collected in the reservoir.

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