The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1997
Larry A Nickum, Sioux City, IA (US);
Gateway 2000, Inc., North Sioux City, SD (US);
Abstract
A cooling apparatus is provided in an electronic device, where the cooling apparatus operates on waste heat provided by a heat producing component, such as a computer processor. The cooling apparatus has at least one chamber which is thermally coupled with the processor such that heat from the processor expands the gas within the chamber. The expansion causes movement to a movable piston disposed within the chamber which rotates a crankshaft and fans coupled therewith. The expanded gas is cooled in another portion of the chamber or in another chamber. The cooled gas decreases in volume causing a piston to move, further rotating the crankshaft. The cycle begins again as the momentum of the crankshaft assists in reciprocating the piston or pistons and as additional heat from the processor is drawn into the chamber. The rotational movement of the crankshaft can be used to drive fans thereby cooling the electronic device. In addition, the rotational movement of the crankshaft can be used to power electromechanical devices, which are then used to provide a trickle charge for batteries.