Device for the local cooling or heating of an object

Abstract

A device for the local cooling or heating of an object by means of a fluid is disclosed. The device comprises a circulation pump for the fluid. A thermal contact element for making thermal contact with the object is integrated in the circulation pump.

1 . A device for the local cooling or heating of an object by means of a fluid, comprising: 
 a circulation pump for the fluid; and    a thermal contact element for making thermal contact with the object, said thermal contact element being integrated in said circulation pump.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element is part of a housing of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element provides a housing cover of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element defines a boundary of a swirl chamber of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein an impeller is rotatably arranged in the swirl chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the circulation pump has a cover plate for the paddle wheel.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein a through-flow which is generated by means of the impeller is guided past the thermal contact element.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the impeller is arranged  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element is made from a metallic material.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element is configured substantially as a plate.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump is a centrifugal pump.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a substantially spherical bearing is provided for a rotor of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the circulation pump comprises an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, between which a substantially spherical air gap is formed.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein there is coaxial flow through the circulation pump.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a feed line for liquid medium is connected to a housing of the circulation pump transversely with respect to an axis of rotation of a rotor of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a discharge line for liquid medium is connected to a housing of the circulation pump transversely with respect to an axis of rotation of a rotor of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a discharge line for discharging liquid medium from the circulation pump and a feed line for feeding liquid medium to the circulation pump are connected to the same side of a housing of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element is arranged on the pressure side of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element has fins on its inner side.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the fins are adapted to promote turbulence.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein blades are arranged on a rotor in an air gap between a stator and the rotor.  
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a swirl chamber of the circulation pump has a variable volume.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump has a housing part which is flexible and/or is movable in such a manner that a positive pressure can be exerted on the system.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump has a housing part which is flexible and/or is movable to provide an expansion volume for the liquid.  
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the flexible and/or movable housing part is arranged on an opposite side of the housing from the thermal contact element.  
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contact element is flexible and/or is mounted movably on a housing of the circulation pump.  
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein a pressure bias is exertable on the system by a fixing device for fixing the circulation pump to the object.  
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump is held with respect to the object by means of one or more holding clips.  
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermal contact includes physical contact with the object.  
     
     
         30 . A system for the local cooling or heating of an object, comprising: 
 a first thermal transfer portion adapted to form a thermal contact with the object;    a second thermal transfer portion for re-conditioning a thermal transfer fluid; and    a circulation pump for circulating the thermal transfer fluid, through a loop including the first and second thermal transfer portions, said circulation pump being integrally formed with at least one of the first and second thermal transfer portions.    
     
     
         31 . A method of locally cooling or heating an object, comprising: 
 drawing a thermal transfer fluid into a circulation pump;    allowing thermal transfer between the object and the thermal transfer fluid through a thermal contact element, said thermal contact element being in thermal contact with the object and being integrally formed with the circulation pump; and    expelling said thermal transfer fluid out of said circulation pump.