Can heating and cooling device

Abstract

An exemplary can heating and cooling device includes a container made of thermally conductive material, a heat spreader with a heat spreading portion and a heat exchanging portion, and a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric cooling chip and a heat sink. The container includes an outer side wall with a planar thermal contacting section of the container. The heat spreading portion of the heat spreader contacts the outer side wall of the container. The heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader contacts the planar thermal contacting section of the container. The thermoelectric cooling chip includes a first surface thermally connected with the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader, and a second surface thermally connected with the heat sink.

1 . A can heating and cooling device comprising:
 a container made of thermally conductive material, the container comprising an outer sidewall with a planar thermal contacting section;   a heat spreader with a heat spreading portion contacting the outer sidewall of the container and a heat exchanging portion contacting the planar thermal contacting section of the container; and   a heat exchanger comprising a thermoelectric cooling chip and a heat sink, the thermoelectric cooling chip comprising a first surface thermally connected with the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader and a second surface thermally connected with the heat sink.   
     
     
         2 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal contacting section has an elongated recess for receiving the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader. 
     
     
         3 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first surface of the thermoelectric cooling chip contacts both of the planar thermal contacting section of the container and the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader. 
     
     
         4 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a fan fixed beside the heat sink, the fan being configured for cooling the heat sink by forced airflow. 
     
     
         5 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a printed circuit board with a controlling circuit for controlling the thermoelectric cooling chip. 
     
     
         6 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shell with a barrel portion having an opening and a heat dissipating portion adjacent to the barrel portion, the barrel portion receiving the container and the heat spreader therein, the heat dissipating portion receiving the heat exchanger therein. 
     
     
         7 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 6 , wherein the heat dissipating portion of the shell has a plurality of ventilation holes defined therein. 
     
     
         8 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 6 , wherein the shell further comprises a ring-shaped cap located at the opening of the barrel portion and exposing an opening of the container to the outer environment. 
     
     
         9 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a heat insulation barrel sandwiched between the shell and the container. 
     
     
         10 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 9 , wherein a window is defined in one side of the heat insulation barrel, and the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader extends through the window to thermally connect with the first surface of the thermoelectric cooling chip. 
     
     
         11 . A can heating and cooling device comprising:
 a thermally conductive container for receiving a can, the container comprising an outer sidewall with a planar thermal contacting section;   a heat spreader with a heat spreading portion contacting the outer sidewall of the container and a heat exchanging portion contacting the planar thermal contacting section of the container; and   a heat exchanger comprising a thermoelectric cooling chip and a heat sink, with two surfaces of the thermoelectric cooling chip respectively thermally connected with the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader and the heat sink, the heat exchanger configured for transferring heat from one of the two surfaces to the other surface or transferring heat from the other surface to said one of the two surfaces according to selection by a user, to either heat the heat exchanging portion or cool the heat exchanging portion.   
     
     
         12 . The can heating and cooling device according to  claim 11 , wherein when the heat exchanger heats the heat exchanging portion, the heat exchanger is electrified by an external power source. 
     
     
         13 . A can heating and cooling device comprising:
 a thermally conductive container for receiving a can, the container comprising an outer sidewall with a planar thermal contacting section;   a heat spreader comprising a heat spreading portion contacting the outer sidewall of the container and a heat exchanging portion contacting the planar thermal contacting section of the container; and   a heat exchanger thermally connected with the heat exchanging portion of the heat spreader, the heat exchanger being configured for transferring heat from the heat exchanging portion to the external environment when the heat exchanger operates in a first mode, and receiving electrical energy from an external power source and transferring heat to the heat exchanging portion when the heat exchanger operates in a second mode.