IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,823,464
Granted Patent B2
US 10,823,464 · App. 15/839,178 · Granted Nov 3, 2020

Elasto-caloric heat pump system

Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder (Louisville, KY); Michael Alexander Benedict (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
F25B23/00F25D11/00F25D17/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,823,464
App. No.
15/839,178
Granted
Nov 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A caloric heat pump includes a plurality of elasto-caloric stages. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is distributed between along an axial direction within a chamber of a housing. Each elasto-caloric stage includes a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes. The plurality of elasto-caloric spokes extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction.

Claims (41)

1. A heat pump system, comprising

a hot side heat exchanger;

a cold side heat exchanger;

a pump operable to flow a working fluid between the hot and cold side heat exchangers;

a caloric heat pump comprising

a housing extending along an axial direction between a first end portion of the housing and a second end portion of the housing, the housing defining a chamber that extends longitudinally along the axial direction between the first and second end portions of the housing; and

a plurality of elasto-caloric stages distributed between the first and second end portions of the housing along the axial direction within the chamber of the housing, each elasto-caloric stage of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprising a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes that extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction,

wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction, and

wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes is pre-strained to about one and a half percent between the hub and the rim.

2. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the caloric heat pump further comprises a pair of rollers contacting the rim.

3. The heat pump system of claim 2 , wherein the pair of rollers is configured for deforming a portion of the rim along the radial direction such that one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes proximate the pair of rollers relax and one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes opposite the pair of rollers stretch as the plurality of elasto-caloric stages rotate about the axial direction.

4. The heat pump system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes are strained between the hub and the rim such that the one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes proximate the pair of rollers has minimum strain and the one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes opposite the pair of rollers has a maximum strain.

5. The heat pump system of claim 4 , wherein the minimum strain is about zero percent.

6. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is flowable through the plurality of elasto-caloric stages within the chamber of the housing.

7. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the hub of each elasto-caloric stage is mounted to a common axle.

8. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes of each of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprise a different elasto-caloric material.

9. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes of each of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprise a different concentration of elasto-caloric material.

10. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes comprises a nickel titanium alloy.

11. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;

a cold side heat exchanger positioned within the chilled chamber;

a hot side heat exchanger positioned within the cabinet and outside the chilled chamber;

a pump operable to flow a working fluid between the hot and cold side heat exchangers;

a caloric heat pump comprising

a housing extending along an axial direction between a first end portion of the housing and a second end portion of the housing, the housing defining a chamber that extends longitudinally along the axial direction between the first and second end portions of the housing; and

a plurality of elasto-caloric stages distributed between the first and second end portions of the housing along the axial direction within the chamber of the housing, each elasto-caloric stage of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprising a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes that extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction,

wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction, and

wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes is pre-strained to about one and a half percent between the hub and the rim.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the caloric heat pump further comprises a pair of rollers contacting the rim.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein the pair of rollers is configured for deforming a portion of the rim along the radial direction such that one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes proximate the pair of rollers relax and one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes opposite the pair of rollers stretch as the plurality of elasto-caloric stages rotate about the axial direction.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes are strained between the hub and the rim such that the one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes proximate the pair of rollers has minimum strain and the one or more of the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes opposite the pair of rollers has a maximum strain.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14 , wherein the minimum strain is about zero percent.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , the working fluid is flowable through the plurality of elasto-caloric stages within the chamber of the housing.

17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the hub of each elasto-caloric stage is mounted to a common axle.

18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes of each of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprise a different elasto-caloric material.

19. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes of each of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprise a different concentration of elasto-caloric material.

20. A caloric heat pump, comprising:

a housing extending along an axial direction between a first end portion of the housing and a second end portion of the housing, the housing defining a chamber that extends longitudinally along the axial direction between the first and second end portions of the housing; and

a plurality of elasto-caloric stages distributed between the first and second end portions of the housing along the axial direction within the chamber of the housing, each elasto-caloric stage of the plurality of elasto-caloric stages comprising a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes that extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction,

wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction, and

wherein the plurality of elasto-caloric spokes is pre-strained to about one and a half percent between the hub and the rim.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2017
From: SCHROEDER, MICHAEL GOODMAN; BENEDICT, MICHAEL ALEXANDER
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044370/0750 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190178536A1 · Jun 13, 2019