Cooling device

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device that is easy to attach and that ensures intimate contact at a contact surface between a heat absorbing surface of a Peltier element and an object to be cooled and a contact surface between a heat radiating surface of the Peltier element and a cooling part. A cooling device according to the present invention includes a Peltier element having a heat absorbing surface and a heat radiating surface that are opposite each other; a heat absorbing plate having a first Peltier element attaching surface and located with the first Peltier element attaching surface facing the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element; a heat radiating plate having a second Peltier element attaching surface and located with the second Peltier element attaching surface facing the heat radiating surface of the Peltier element; heat conducting members having viscosity or elasticity and provided between the heat absorbing surface and the first Peltier element attaching surface and between the heat radiating surface and the second Peltier element attaching surface; and a spacer provided between the heat absorbing plate and the heat radiating plate in parallel with the Peltier element and defining an opposing distance between the first and second Peltier element attaching surfaces.

1 . A cooling device comprising:
 a Peltier element having a heat absorbing surface and a heat radiating surface that are opposite each other;   a heat absorbing plate having a first Peltier element attaching surface and located with said first Peltier element attaching surface facing said heat absorbing surface of said Peltier element;   a heat radiating plate having a second Peltier element attaching surface and located with said second Peltier element attaching surface facing said heat radiating surface of said Peltier element;   heat conducting members having viscosity or elasticity and provided between said heat absorbing surface and said first Peltier element attaching surface and between said heat radiating surface and said second Peltier element attaching surface; and   a spacer provided between said heat absorbing plate and said heat radiating plate in parallel with said Peltier element and defining an opposing distance between said first and second Peltier element attaching surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said spacer defines said opposing distance to a sum of a thickness of said Peltier element and a thickness of said heat conducting member determined when a given pressure not more than a permissible pressure of said Peltier element is applied. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat conducting members are heat conducting grease. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling device according to  claim 3 , wherein a heat conducting rubber sheet is used in place of said heat conducting grease in at least one of gaps between said heat absorbing surface and said first Peltier element attaching surface and between said heat radiating surface and said second Peltier element attaching surface. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said spacer is made of a material having lower thermal conductivity than said heat absorbing plate and said heat radiating plate. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat absorbing plate and said heat radiating plate are fixed to said spacer with different screws. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said Peltier element includes a plurality of Peltier elements, and   said plurality of Peltier elements are arranged on one said heat absorbing plate at given intervals that permit extensions of said Peltier elements or said heat conducting member.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring that presses said heat radiating plate toward said heat absorbing plate.