CA1290580C - Low-temperature showcase - Google Patents
Low-temperature showcaseInfo
- Publication number
- CA1290580C CA1290580C CA000615523A CA615523A CA1290580C CA 1290580 C CA1290580 C CA 1290580C CA 000615523 A CA000615523 A CA 000615523A CA 615523 A CA615523 A CA 615523A CA 1290580 C CA1290580 C CA 1290580C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- temperature
- air
- evaporator
- air passage
- circuit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2347/00—Details for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion
- F25B2347/02—Details of defrosting cycles
- F25B2347/021—Alternate defrosting
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A low-temperature showcase comprises a heat insulated wall, on the top of which an opening for putting-into or taking-out commodities is formed. The inside of the heat insulated wall is divided into an air passage and a storage chamber thereover by a dividing plate which is installed inside this heat insulated wall in a nearly horizontal fashion. The air passage is formed in a manner that the cross-section thereof is of a U-shape, and the storage chamber is formed surrounded by this air passage. At both ends of the air passage, vent ports are formed at the positions facing each other through the opening of the heat insulated wall inbetween. The air passage is divided into two parts by a fan case corresponding to the respective vent ports and a blast fan which can rotate reversibly is supported by this fan case. In each halved air passage, an evaporator is installed in the vicinity of the vent port, and when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator is subjected to defrosting. An electric heater is installed between each vent port and each evaporator, and these electric heaters are energized when the corresponding evaporator is to be defrosted. By means of a thermo-switch, energizing of the electric heater is stopped when the air temperature in the air passage rises above a predetermined value during energizing the electric heater.
A low-temperature showcase comprises a heat insulated wall, on the top of which an opening for putting-into or taking-out commodities is formed. The inside of the heat insulated wall is divided into an air passage and a storage chamber thereover by a dividing plate which is installed inside this heat insulated wall in a nearly horizontal fashion. The air passage is formed in a manner that the cross-section thereof is of a U-shape, and the storage chamber is formed surrounded by this air passage. At both ends of the air passage, vent ports are formed at the positions facing each other through the opening of the heat insulated wall inbetween. The air passage is divided into two parts by a fan case corresponding to the respective vent ports and a blast fan which can rotate reversibly is supported by this fan case. In each halved air passage, an evaporator is installed in the vicinity of the vent port, and when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator is subjected to defrosting. An electric heater is installed between each vent port and each evaporator, and these electric heaters are energized when the corresponding evaporator is to be defrosted. By means of a thermo-switch, energizing of the electric heater is stopped when the air temperature in the air passage rises above a predetermined value during energizing the electric heater.
Description
~9058~) The present invention relates to a low-temperature showcase. More specifically, the present invention relates to a low-temperature showcase wherein evaporators are installed in the vent ports located at both 5 sides of a storage chamber, respectively associated therewith, and a blast fan which can rotate reversibly is installed in the air passage, and thereby the two evaporators are put in cooling operation alternatively.
Low-temperature showcases of this kind are 10 disclosed, for example, in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 47176/1982 laid open on March 17, 1982, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 178176 laid open on October 19, 1983 or the like. In these prior art disclosures, an air passage around a storage chamber is 15 divided into two parts by a fan case, and a blast fan capable of blowing air in both directions of the air passage is installed on this fan case. Then, evaporators are installed respectively in the air passages of both sides of the blast fan and the operation thereof is 20 switched over alternately in a manner such that, when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator is put in defrosting operation. When the evaporator is put in defrosting operation, a refrigerant of high temperature which has passed through a condenser is 25 carried through this evaporator.
In the above-described prior art, each evaporator comprises an evaporating pipe for evaporating a reduced-pressure liquid refrigerant and a defrosting pipe for ,~
~90580 passing through the high-temperature refrigerant. When one of the evaporators is put in defrosting operation, this evaporator is heated wholly by the defrosting pipe, and therefore the temperature of the air which has passed 5 through the evaporator during defrosting is high and thereby the air of high temperature becomes a refrigeration load for the other evaporator in the cooling operation.
Consequently, a large evaporator cooling capacity is required, and thereby not only energy consumption becomes 10 larger, but also the cost becomes higher.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel low-temperature showcase.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature showcase which can solve problems 15 in defrosting the evaporator.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature showcase which can employ evaporators of smaller cooling capacity.
A further object of the present invention is to 20 provide a low-temperature showcase in which operation thereof can be controlled in response to the open-air temperature.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a low-temperature showcase comprising: a heat insulated wall 25 whereon an opening is formed, a dividing plate which is installed inside said heat insulated wall, for dividing this inside into an air passage and a storage chamber, vent ports which are disposed at both ends of said air passage 8C) so as to face each other across said opening, for forming an air curtain thereover, a fan case which divides the air passage into two parts associated respectively with said vent ports, a blast fan which is supported by said fan case 5 for driving the air which forms the air curtain, an evaporator which is installed in said air passage in association with said vent ports, said evaporator being put in cooling operation for cooling the driven air, a first temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the 10 cooling air which has been cooled by contact with an evaporator, a second temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the open air, first and second amplifying circuits which amplify signals from the first and second temperature sensors, respectively, a comparing circuit 15 which compares outputs of the first and second amplifying circuits, and an operation-controlling circuit which controls the operation of a compressor connected to the evaporators in accordance with an output of the comparing circuit, wherein signals outputted from the second 20 amplifying circuit and the comparing circuit are changed in accordance with the change of the temperature of the open air, and the temperature of the cooling air is controlled in inverse proportion to the temperature of the open air in response to change of the output signals.
25 This application is a divisional of our copending application serial No. 494,161, which describes and claims a low-temperature showcase comprising: a heat insulated A
~905~C~
wall forming a receptacle with an opening; a dividing plate which is installed inside said receptacle and divides the inside into an air passage and a storage chamber, vent ports which are disposed at both ends of said air passage 5 so as to face each other across said opening, a fan case which divides said air passage into two parts, a blast fan which is supported by said fan case and rotates reversibly, evaporators which are installed in said air passage in association with said vent ports and are adapted to operate 10 alternately, and electric heaters which are installed between each said vent port and the associated evaporator and are energized when the corresponding evaporator is not in cooling operation, whereby when one of said evaporators is in cooling operation, the other evaporator is defrosted 15 by the air heated by the corresponding electric heater.
~ s described in further detail below, when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator is stopped from operating and is heated by the corresponding electric heater. The cool air which is 20 brought in contact with the open air at the opening and is raised the temperature thereof and then passes through the corresponding vent port is heated by the electric heater, defrosting the other evaporator. The electric heater is installed at the upstream side of the other evaporator and 25 also at the downstream side of the corresponding vent port (intake port) when viewed in the direction of circulation of the cool air. Consequently, heat of the electric heater is scarcely affecting the cool air being heat-exchanged by ~OS8~
one of the evaporators and forming a cool air curtain at the opening of the heat insulated wall. Then, in defrosting the other evaporator, the air heated by the corresponding electric heater melts the frost during flow 5 from an intake side of the air of the evaporator to a blow-out side thereof, and therefore the latent heat of this heated air is taken away gradually. Then, when defrosting of the other evaporator is completed, energizing of the corresponding electric heater is cut off.
Accordingly, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, the air heated by the electric heater is fed to the evaporator to be defrosted, and therefore defrosting can be performed more quickly in comparison with the unit defrosting by a refrigerant such 15 as cited from the prior art. Also, the heat by the electric heater has no thermal effect at all on the cool air forming a cool air curtain. Furthermore, the air heated by the electric heater is deprived of the latent heat thereof during passing through the evaporator in 20 defrosting, and therefore the temperature of the air returning to the evaporator in cooling operation can be suppressed at a low value, and resultingly, the inside of the storage chamber can be maintained at a sufficiently low temperature even if the refrigerating or cooling capacity 25 of the evaporator to be employed is small.
In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the air temperature in the air passage is detected by a thermo-detector. Then, when the air 1~9~0 temperature in the air passage rises above a predetermined value when the electric heater is energized, energizing of the electric heater is stopped in response to this thermo-detector. Thus, by stopping the heating by the electric 5 heater in response to the air temperature in the air passage, an unnecessary increase in the load of cooling for the evaporator in cooling operation can be prevented.
In another preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, an electromagnetic valve of the other evaporator is closed. Accordingly, in accordance with this embodiment, the remaining liquid refrigerant of the other evaporator 5a ~9OS80 which is defrosted can be recovered to be used as a refrig-erant of the evaporator in cooling operation, and therefore a lack of the refrigerant in the evaporator does not take place, and not only a stable cooling operation can be 5 performed but also the speed of rise in temperature in the evaporator in defrosting is increased, and resultingly the defrosting time can be shortened.
In another preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, both the temperature of the cool air fed 10 from the vent port and the open-air temperature are detected by two thermo-sensors. Based on these two detected tempera-tures, the temperatuxe of the cool air to be fed is control-led in an inversely proportional fashion in response to a change in the open-air temperature. In accordance with tAe 15 embodiment, the temperature of the fed cool air is varied automatically in response to a change in the open-air temperature, and therefore the temperature of the inside of the storage chamber can be maintained within a predetermined temperature range independent of the change in the open-air 20 temperature.
These objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with accom-25 panying drawings.
~9C~S~I~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional illustrative view showing one-embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the Fig. 1 5 embodiment.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are sequence diagrams showing control circuits of Fig. 1 embodiment, Fig. 3 shows a circuit whose pawer source is three-phase 200V, and Fig. 4 shows a circuit whose power source is single-phase 100V.
Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of another embodiment in a accordance with the present inven-tion.
Fig. 6 is a graph for explaining a state of controlling the temperature in accordance with Fig. 5 embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional illustrative view showing one embodiment in accordance with the present invention. A
low-temperature showcase 10 comprises a heat insulated wall 14 whose cross-section is nearly U-shaped and on the top of 20 which an opening 12 is formed. The opening 12 is utilized to put-into goods or take-out goods therethrough, and accordingly, in this embodiment, the low-temperature showcase 10 is constituted as an open type.
Inside the heat insulated wall 14, a metal dividing ~o~
plate 16 whose cross section is nearly U-shaped is installed in a nearly horizontal fashion. A front plate 16a and a rear plate 16b of the dividing plate 16 are formed vertically with a predetermined space kept from the inner wall of the corres-5 ponding side wall of the heat insulated wall 14. The insideof the heat insulated wall 14 is divided into an air passage 18 and a storage cham~er 20 thereover ~y the dividing plate 16. The air passage is formed in a manner that the cross-section thereof is nearly U-shaped, and at both ends thereof, 10 namely, two top ends, vent ports 22 and 24 are formed so as to face each other through the opening 12 inbetween. The air passage 18 is also divided into two parts in association with the respective vent ports 22 and 24 at both sides of the storage chamber 20 by a fan case 28 whereon a through hole 26 15 is formed.
A blast fan 30 which can be rotated reversibly is supported in the through hole 26 of the fan case 28, and accordingly, in the air passage 18, air is circulated forcedly in the direction shown by a full line or in the 20 direction shown by a dotted line in Fig. 1 In the vicinities of the vent ports 22 and 24 of the air passage 18, plate-fin-shaped evaporators 32 and 34 are mounted on the side wall of the heat insulated wall 14, respectively. The rear surface of the evaporator 32 and the 25 front surface of the evaporator 34 face the front plate 16a SBC~
.
and the rear plate 16b of the dividing plate 16, respectively. When one of these two evaporators 32 and 34 is put in cooling operation, the other is defrosted, and accordingly the vent ports 22 and 24 associated with these 5 evaporators function as a blow~off port when the corres-ponding evaporator is put in cooling operation, and function as an intake port when defrosted, respectively. Honeycomb-shaped flow arranging devices 35 and 36 are installed at these vent ports 22 and 24, respectively.
A partition plate 38 is installed on the rear surface of the evaporator 32, and a space 40 is formed between this partition plate 38 and the front plate 16a of the dividing plate 16. Similarly, a partition plate 42 is installed on the front surface of the evaporator 34, and a space 4~ is 15 formed between this partition plate 42 and the rear plate 16b of the dividing plate 16. These spaces 40 and 44 can prevent a local temperature rise in the storage chamber 20 caused by direct heat transmission from the evaporators 32 and 34 to the dividing plate 16~
Above the dividing plate 16, a rack 46 for putting goods thereon is disposed while slanting a little in the direction of the depth of this low-temperature showcase 10. This rac~
46 is supported by the front plate 16a and the rear plate 16b of the di~iding plate 16 respectively at the both ends 25 thereof. Furthermore, above the opening 12, a mirror 48 for _ g _ 1~0580 mirroring the goods stored in the storage chamber 20 is installed.
At the above-described vent ports 22 and 24, electric heaters 50 and 52 are installed inside from the flow arrang-5 ing devices 35 and 36, respectively. These electric heaters 50 and 52 are energized respectively when the corresponding evaporator 32 or 34 is to be defrosted. Accordinglyj defrosting of the evaporator 32 or 34 is achieved by the air heated by the electric heaters S0 and 52.
Furthermore, a thermo-detector 54 is installed in the vicinity of the blast fan 30 in the air passage 18. This thermo-detector 54 is for detecting whether the air tempera ture in the air passage 18 is above or below a predetermined temperature, for example, 5C, and a thermo-switch 100 as 15 described later (Fig. 4~ is "opened" or "closed" in response to an output of this thermo-detector 54.
A machine room 56 is ormed under the heat insulated wall 14, and in this machine room 56 a compressor 58 and a condenser 60 which constitute a refrigerant circuit together 20 with the two evaporators 32 and 34 are accommodated and a blast fan 62 is installed in association with the condenser 60.
The above-described refrigerant circuit is constituted as shown in Fig. 2. To be further detailed, the evaporators 25 32 and 34 comprise series connections of electromagnetic 90~B~D
valves 64 a~d 66 and expansion valves 68 and 70 respectively, and these evaporators 32 and 34 are connected in parallel.
The electromagnetic valves 64 and 66 are connected to the above-described condenser 60, and a liquid receiver 72 is 5 installed on the way thereto. Also, the evaporators 32 and 34 are connected to the compressor 58, and a gas-liquid separator 74 is installed on the way thereto. Then, the compressor 58 and the condenser 60 are connected in series.
The refrigerant flows from the compressor 58, passes through 10 the condenser 60 and reaches the evaporator 32 and 34.
Accordingly, in this embodiment, the evaporators 32 and 34 perform only cooling operation, being defrosted in the state wherein the operation is stopped.
Meanwhile, the above-described electromagnetic valves 64 15 and 66 are opened and closed alternately every given period of time by a time switch 102 (Fig. 4) as describe later.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are circuit diagrams showing control circuits of the above-described embodiment, Fig. 3 is a circuit of a power source of three-phase 200V, and Fig. 4 is 20 a circuit of a power source of single-phase lOOV. In reference to Fig. 3, a compressor motor 58a for the com-pressor 58 is connected to respective phases R, S and ~
through a contact 76a of an electromagnetic switch 76. A fan motor 62a for the blast fan 62 (Fig. 1) is connected across 25 the two phases R and S through a normally opened contact 78al ~o~o .
of a first auxiliary relay 78 (Fig. 4). The above-described electromagnetic switch 76 is connected in series together with a thermostat 80 for responding to the temperature of the storage chamber 20, a pressure switch 82 and a second 5 normally opened contact 78a2 of the fist auxiliary relay 78, being connected across the two phases R and T through two over-load relays 84 and 86.
In reference to Fig. 4, to a power source of single-phase lOOV, the first auxiliary relay 78 is connected through 10 an operating switch 88, and also a second auxiliary relay 90 and a third auxiliary relay 92 are connected through a con-troller 94. The controller 94 comprises an internal power source 96, a delay switch 98, the thermo-switch 100, and the time switch 102. A fan motor 30a for the blast fan 30 (Fig.
15 1) is connected through the delay switch 98, a contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay g2 and an operating capaci-tor 104. To be detailed, the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay 92 can be connected to a forward rotation contact 92f or a reverse operation contact 92r, and thereby 20 the fan motor 30a is rotated reversibly. The above-described electromagnetic valves 64 and 66 are connected through a contact piece 90al of the second auxiliary relay 90. To be detailed, the contact piece 90al of the second auxiliary relay 90 can be connected to a normally opened contact a or a 25 normally closed contact b, and thereby either of the elect-o romagnetic valves 64 and 66 can be energized. Furthermore,the two electric heaters 50 and 52 (Fig. 1) are connected through the thermo-switch 100 and a contact piece 90a2 of the second auxiliary relay 90. To be detailed, the contact piece 5 9Oa2 can be connected to a normally opened contact c or a normally closed contact d, and thereby either of the electric heaters 50 and 52 can be energized when the thermo-switch 100 is closed.
The above-described time switch 102 is closed or opened, 10 for example, every two hours by a signal from an associated timer 102a, and accordingly the second and the third auxili-ary relays 90 and 92 are energized, for example, every two hours. ~lso, the thermo-switch 100 is opened or closed by a signal from the above-described thermo-detector 54, and is 15 "opened" when the air temperature in the air passage 18 (Fig.
1) is 5C or more, being "closed" when it is a predetermined temperature below 5C. Furthermore, khe delay switch 98 is opened or closed by a signal from an associated delay timer 98a, and this delay timer 98 is driven, for example, from the 20 point when the time switch 102 is opened or closed, being closed, for example, after two minutes has elapsed~ This is for completely stopping the fan motor 30a of the blast fan 30 when it is changed over from forward rotation to reverse rotation or vice versa. This fan motor 30a is forward-25 rotated when the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary ~905~30 relay 92 is connected to the forward rotation contact 92f, being reverse-rotated when the contact piece 92a is connected to the reverse rotation contact 92r.
Next, description is made on operation of the low-5 temperature showcase 10 of this embodiment in reference toFig. 1 through Fig. 4. First, the operating switch 88 (Fig.
4) is closed. Responsively, the first auxiliary relay 78 is energized, and the two contacts 78al and 78a2 thereof are closed. Consequently, the electromagnetic switch 76 is 10 energized, and the contact 76a thereof is closed and the compressor motor 58a is energized. Accordingly, the com-pressor 58 (Fig. 1) is driven. At this time, when the time switch 102 is "closed", both of the second and the third auxiliary relays 90 and 92 are kept de-energized intact, and 15 therefore the contact piece 90a of the second auxiliary relay 90 is connected to the normally closed contact b and the contact piece 92a2 is connected to the normally closed con-tact d respectively, and the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay 92 is connected to the reverse rotation 20 contact 92r. Thereby, the electromagnetic valve 64 is ener-gized to be "opened", and the li~uid refrigerant is fed to the corresponding evaporator 32, and cooling operation is started.
In the initial stage of operation, the air temperature 25 in the air passage 18 is high, for example, 5C or more, and ~2~05~0 .
therefore the thermo-switch 100 is kept "opened" intact in response to an OFF signal from the thermo-detector 54.
Accordingly, the electric heater 52 is not energized.
When two minutes elapse after the operating switch 88 is 5 closed, the delay switch 98 is closed, and there~y the fan motor 30a is energized through t.he contact piece 92a and the reverse rotation contact 92r, and the blast fan 30 is reverse-rotated. When the blast fan 30 is reverse-rotated, as shown by a full-line arrow in Fig. 1, the cool air heat-10 exchanged by the evaporator 32 is circulated to form a coolair curtain at the opening 12. The storage chamber 20 is cooled by this air curtain.
In the middle of such a cooling operation of the evap-orator 32, when the thermo-detector 54 detects that the air 15 temperature in the air passage 18 has become a predetermined temperature, for example, 5C or less, responsively the thermo-switch 100 is closed. Consequently, energizing of the electric heater 52 is started, the cool air returning to the evaporator 32 i5 heated, and the evaporator 34 is defrosted.
When two hours elapse after the operating switch 88 is turned on, the timer 102a expires, and in response to the output thereof the time switch 102 is closed, and also the delay timer 98a is reset, and the delay switch 98 is opened.
Consequently, the second and the third auxiliary relays 90 25 and 92 are energized, and the contact pieces 90al and 90a2 of BO
the second auxiliary relay 90 are connected to the normally opened contacts a and c respectively, and also the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay 92 is switched over to the forward rotation contact 92f. Attending on such a 5 switching operation, the electromagnetic valve 66 is "opened", and the reduced-pressure liquid refrigerant is fed to the evaporator 34, and thereby cooling operation by thiq evaporator 34 is started, and also the electric heater 50 is energized.
Then, when two minutes elapse after the above-described switching over, the delay switch 98 is closed in response to an output from the delay timer 98a. Responsively, the fan motor 30a is energizad, and the blast fan 30 (Fig. l) is forward-rotated. Attending on this forward rotation of the 15 blast fan 30, the cool air heat-exchanged by the evaporator 34 is circulated forcedly as shown by a dotted-line arrow in Fig. l to form a cool air curtain at the opening 12. On the other hand, the evaporator 32 is defrosted by the electric heater 50.
20~ Thereafter, such a cooling operation by the evaporator 32 or 34 is performed alternately every time by the timer 102a, that is, every two hours. Then, for example, when one evaporator 34 or 32 is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator 32 or 34 is defrosted by the corresponding 25 electric heater 52 or 50.
~2~05l~0 During cooling operation of one evaporator 34, the electric heater 50 heating the other evaporator 32 is positioned at the upstream side from the evaporator 32 and at the downstream side from the vent port 22 as an intake port 5 when viewed in the direction of circulation of air flow, and therefore the electric heater 50 has scarcely thermal effect on the cool air forming the cool air curtain at the opening 12 among the cool air heat-exchanged by the evaporator 34.
Also, the cool air is brought in contact with the open air at 10 the opening 12, thereby the temperature thereof rises, then the air passes through the vent port 22, thereafter this air is heated by the electric heater 50, and thereby defrosting of the evaporator 32 can be performed. In defrosting this evaporator 32, the air heated by the electric heater 50 melts 15 the frost depositing on the evaporator 32 during flowing from the top end to the bottom end of the evaporator 32, and therefore the latent heat thereof is taken away gradually.
Consequently, the temperature of the circulating cool air after passing through the evaporator 32 does not rise until 20 defrosting of the evaporator 32 is completed, and accordingly the temperature of the cool air returning to the evaporator 34 in cooling operation can be maintained intact at a low value. Resultingly, the cooling capacity of the evaporator 34 performing cooling operation can be small and also the 25 defrosting efficiency of the evaporator 32 in defrosting is .
improved.
Energizing of the electric heater 50 can be cut off forcedly by the thermo-switch 100 after defrosting of the evaporator 32 is completed, or in response to a temperature 5 rise in the air passage 18 attending on a rise in temperature of the open air, or in response to an OFF signal from the thermo-detector 54 irrespective of switching-over by the time switch 102. Accordingly, an increase in the load of refrig-eration for the evaporator 34 performing cooling operation 10 can be suppressed.
Furthermore, when cooling operation is performed by one evaporator 34, the electromagnetic valve 64 associated with the other evaporator 32 is closed by connecting the contact piece 9Oa of the second auxiliary relay 90 to the normally 15 opened contact a. Accordingly, the remaining liquid refrigerant of the evaporator 32 in derosting can be recovered gradually. Consequently, a lack of the refrigerant for the evaporator 34 in cooling operation does not take place and thereby a stable cooling operation can be 20 performed. Then, since the remaining liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 32 to be defrosted is removed, the speed of rise in temperature of the evaporator 32 is fast, and thereby the time required for defrosting the evaporator 32 can be shortened.
In addition, the above-described description is made on ~9~3~80 the case where one evaporator 34 is put in cooling operation and the other evaporator 32 is defrosted. However, the operation is the same also in the case where, in reverse, the evaporator 32 is put in cooling operation and the evaporator 5 34 is defrosted, and therefore duplicate description is omitted here.
Since the space 40 and 44 are formed between the two evaporators 32 and 34 and the dividing plate 16 by the parti-tion plates 38 and 42, no heat is transferred directly to the 10 dividing plate 16 from the respective evaporator 32 and 34 even in cooling operation or in defrosting. Consequently, the storage chamber 20 can be maintained at a predetermined temperature nearly uniformly over the whole are thereof.
Fig. 5 is an electric circuit diagram showing another 15 embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a first thermo-sensor 104 and a second thermo-sensor 106 as shown in Fig. 1 are employed. The first thermo-sensor 104 is installed at the portion of the opening 12 in the vicinity of the vent ports 22 and 24. This first 20 thermo-sensor 104 detects the temperature of the cool air which is heat-exchanged by the evaporators 32 or 34 and i5 blown out from the vent ports 22 and 24. The second thermo-sensor 106 is installed outside the machine room 56, for example, in the vicinity of the open-air intake port of the 25 condenser 60, and detects the open-air temperature. These first and second thermo-sensors 104 and 106 are, for example, thermistors of negative characteristic, respectively.
One end of the fist thermo-sensor 104 is connected to a power source line Ll through a resistor 108 and the connect-5 ion point of this resistor 108 and the first thermo-sensor 104 is connected to an input of a first amplifier 110. The other end of the first thermo-sensor 104 is connected to another power source line L2. On the other hand, one end of the second thermo-sensor 106 is connected to the second power 10 source line L2 through a resistor 112, and the connection point of the second thermo-sensor 106 and the resistor 112 is connected to an input of a second amplifier 114. The other end of the second thermo-sensor 106 is connected to the power source line Ll.
Output of the second amplifier 114 is further amplified by a third ampliier 116. The output of this third amplifier 116 is connected to the series connection point of a variable resistor 120 and a resistor 122 through a diode 118 of for-ward direction. To the other end of the variable resistor 20 120, a semi-fixed resistor 124 is further connected, and the other end of this semi-fixed resistor 124 is connected to the above-described output of the third amplifier 116. The variable resistor 120 is for setting the temperature in the storage chamber 20 (Fig. 1), and the diode 118 is employed as 25 a constant current device for keeping the potential 1~90580 difference between the both ends o~ the variable resistor 120 at a constant value. The semi-fixed resistor 124 is employed to make fine adiustment of the potential of the variable resistor 120, and the resistor 122 acts as a bias resistance 5 of the dlode 118.
The above-described output of the first amplifier 110 is given to a (+) terminal of a comparator 126, and the output of the third amplifier 116 is given to a (-) terminal of the comparator 126 through the variable resistor 120, that is, 10 the semi-fixed resistor 124. Resistors 128 and 130 connected to the comparator 126 is for giving a hysteresis characteri-stic to this comparator 126. An output of the comparator 126 is given to an operation control circuit 132.
The operation control circuit 132 comprises a relay coil 15 134 for controlling operation of the compressor 58 (Fig. 1), and this relay coil 134 is connected between the power source lines Ll and L2 through a switching transistor 136. This relay coil 134 is considered to be same one as the first auxiliary relay 78 as shown in Fig. 4. A fly-wheel diode is 20 connected in parallel with the relay coil 134. Also, a switch-over contact piece 138 which is switched by the relay coil 134 is installed. This switching-over contact piece 138 is switched-over to a normally opened contact 138a or a norm~ally closed contact 38b in response to energizing or 25 de-energizing of the relay coil 134. Then, the compressor 58 ~9o~o (Fig. 1) is operated when the relay coil 134 is de-energized and the switch-over contact piece 138 is in contact with the normally closed contact 138b.
In a circuit as shown in Fig. 5, assume that when the 5 open-air temperature is normal temperature, for example 20C, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is set to 0C. In the state wherein no open-air temperature is varied, the resistance value of the second thermo-sensor 106 and accord-ingly the output of the second amplifier 114 are scarcely 10 varied. Accordingly, the voltage given to the comparator 126 from the variable resistor 120 is also nearly constant.
Then, when a high-level signal is outputted from the compara-tor 126, responsively the switching transistor 136 is turned on, and the relay coil 134 is energized. Accordingly, the 15 switch-over contact piece 138 associated with this relay coil 134 is connected to the normally closed contact 138a, and the compressor 58 is stopped to operate.
When the temperature of the storage chamber 20 (Fig. 1) rises and thereby the temperature of the cool air blown out 20 from the vent port 22 or 24 rises in the state wherein the compressor 58 (Fig. 1) is stopped, the resistance value of the first thermo-sensor 104 is reduced. Then, the output of the first amplifier 110 is also reduced, and the voltage given to the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 is also 25 reduced. Then, when the temperature of the cool air to be S~O
fed further rises, the voltage of the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 becomes lower than the voltage of the (-) terminal thereof. Then, the output of the comparator 126 is switched over to the low level, and the switching transistor 5 136 is turned off. Accordingly, the relay coil 134 is de-energized, and the switch-over contact 138b, and operation of the compressor 58 is started.
When the temperature of the cool air to be fed falls by operation of the compressor 58, the resistance value of the 10 first thermo-sensor 104 is increased. Responsively, the output of the first amplifier 110 is also increase, and the input voltage to the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 also rises. Then, when the temperature of the cool air to be fed further falls, the voltage of the (+) terminal of the com-15 parator 126 becomes higher again than the voltage of the (-) terminal thereof. Then, a high-level signal is outputted from the comparator 126, the switching transistor 136 is turned on, and operation of the compressor 58 is stopped.
Thereafter, the above described operation is repeated, 20 and the compressor 58 repeats operation and stop. Accord-ingly, the temperature in the storage chamber 20 (Fig. 1), that is, the temperature of the cool air fed from the vent port 22 or 24, for example, as shown by a line A in Fig. 6, varies, for example, between -0.5C and +0.5C so as to 25 maintain the temperature set by the variable resistor 120, 1~9(~80 for example, 0C.
When the open-air temperature varies, the output voltage of the second amplifier 114 also varies. When the open-air temperature rises, for example, to 25C from 20C, the 5 resistance value of the second thermo-sensor 106 decreases, and the output of the second amplifier 114 decreases. The third amplifier 116 inversely amplifies the output of the second amplifier 114, and accordingly, the output of the third amplifier 116 increases at that time. Consequently, 10 the potential of the variable resistor 120 also rises, and the voltage of the (-) terminal of the comparator 126 also rlses .
Suppose that the temperature of the cool air to be fed rises gradually and the output voltage of the first amplifier 15 110 is reduced gradually in the state wherein the compressor 58 is stopped. Then, a low-level signal is outputted from this comparator 126 at a temperature of the fed cool air, for example, -0.5C which is further lower than the temperature OL the fed cool air (+0.5C) when the comparator 126 outputs 20 a low-level signal at an open-air temperature of 20C. Then, when a low-level signal is outputted from the comparator 126, as is described above, the switching transistor 136 is turned off, and operation of the compressor 58 is resumed.
When the operation of the compressor 58 is continued and 25 the temperature of the cool air to be fed is reduced ~Z905~0 gradually, the output of the comparator 126 turns to the high level again. That is, the comparator 126 outputs a high-level signal when the open-air temperature becomes a tempera-ture, for example, -1.5C, which is lower than the tempera-5 ture of the fed cool air (-0.5C) when the comparator 126 outputs a high-level signal at an open-air temperature of 20C. Then, in response to an output of high-level signal, the switching transistor 136 is turned on, and operation of the compressor 58 is stopped.
Thus, when the open-air temperature rises, for example, to 25C by repeating operation and stop of the compressor 58, the temperature of the cool air fed from the vent port 22 or 24, as shown by a line B in Fig. 6, is controlled lower in comparison with that in the state wherein the open-air tem-15 perature is, for example, 20C, that is, the state as shown by the line A, and also the thermo-cycle thereof becomes shorter. Thus, when the open-air temperature rises, for example, to 25C, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled, for example, within a range of -1.5C
20 0.5C, and the inside of the storage chamber 20 can be main-tained at the same temperature as that before the open air temperature rises.
Meanwhile, in the embodiment, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled in inverse proportion to the 25 open-air temperature so as to be lowered by about 0.2C when ~o~o the open-air temperature rises by 1C.
When the open-air temperature falls, for example, from 20C to 15C, the voltage of the second thermo-sensor 106 rises, and the output voltage of the second amplifier 114 5 rises. Consequently, the output voltage of the third ampli-fier 116, that is, the voltage outputted from the variable resistor 12Q falls.
Here, suppose that the temperature of the cool air fed from the vent port 22 or 24 rises in the state wherein opera-10 tion of the compressor 58 is stopped. In this state, thevoltage of the first thermo-sensor 104 falls gradually, and accordingly the output voltage of the first amplifier 110 also falls gradually. Then, when the temperature of the fed cool air becomes higher, for example, becomes +1.5C, than lS the temperature of the fed cool air (+0.5) when the compara-tor 126 outputs the low-level signal at an open-air tempera-ture of 20C, the voltage of the (+) terminal of the com-parator 126 becomes lower than that of the (-) terminal thereof, and the output of the comparator 126 is switched 20 over to the low level. Responsively, operation of the com-pressor 58 is resumed.
When the operation of the compressor 58 is continued and the temperature of the cool air to be fed falls gradually, the voltage of the fist thermo-sensor 104, that is, the 25 voltage of the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 rises. The 0~8~
valtage of the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 becomes higher than that of the (-) terminal thereof at a higher temperature (for example, at +0.5C) than the temperature of the fed cool air (-0.5C) when the comparator 126 outputs the 5 high-level signal at an open-air temperature of 20C. Res-ponsively, the comparator 126 outputs the low-level signal, and operation of the compressor 58 is stopped.
Thus, when the open-air temperature falls, for example, from 20C to 15C, by repeating operation and stop of the 10 compressor 5~, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled within a range of +0.5C - +1.5C as shown by a line C in Fig. 6. Accordingly, when the open-air temperature is 15C, the temperature is maintained higher than that in the state wherein the open-air temperature is 20C, that is, 15 the state as shown by the line A, and the thermo-cycle thereof also becomes longer.
Meanwhile, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled in reverse proportion to the open-air temperature so as to rise, for example, by 0.2C when the open-air 20 temperature falls by 1C.
Thus, in response to a change in the open-air tempera-ture, the output voltage of the second amplifier 114 also changes, and the voltage of the (-) terminal of the compara-tor 126 changes. Then, when the open-air temperature becomes 25 higher than normal temperature (for example, 20C), both of ~9o~o the temperature of the fed cool air at which the compressor 58 starts to operate, that is, the upper limit of the tem-perature of the cool air to be fed and the temperature of the fed cool air at which the compressor 58 stops to operate, 5 that is, the lower limit of the temperature of the cool air to be fed are reduced automatically, and therefore, the temperature in the storage chamber 20 is controlled within a range nearly equal to that before the open-air temperature rises, and also the thermo-cycle thereof is also shortened.
lO Resultingly, in accordance with this embodiment, the tem-perature in the storage chamber 20 is scarcely changed and is maintained at a nearly constant value even when the open-air temperature rises and the radiant heat reaching the inside of the storage chamber 20 from the opening 12 through the air 15 curtain is increased. Also, when the open-air temperature falls, both the upper limit and the lower limit of the temperature of the cool air to be fed rise automatically, and therefore the temperature of the storage chamber 20 is controlled within a range nearly equal to that before the 20 open-air temperature falls, and also the thermo-cycle becomes longer. Resultingly, even when the open-air temperature falls and the radiant heat into the storage chamber 20 from the opening 12 is decreased, the temperature in the storage chamber 20 is scarcely changed, and accordingly the 25 temperature is maintained at nearly the same value as that in 1~905~30 the state at normal temperature.
Thus, in accordance with Fig. 5 embodiment, the tempera-ture in the storage chamber 20 can be kept at nearly a constant value independent of the open-air temperature, and 5 the quality of the food whose optimum temperature range is relatively small can be maintained in good state over a long period.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same 10 is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
Low-temperature showcases of this kind are 10 disclosed, for example, in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 47176/1982 laid open on March 17, 1982, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 178176 laid open on October 19, 1983 or the like. In these prior art disclosures, an air passage around a storage chamber is 15 divided into two parts by a fan case, and a blast fan capable of blowing air in both directions of the air passage is installed on this fan case. Then, evaporators are installed respectively in the air passages of both sides of the blast fan and the operation thereof is 20 switched over alternately in a manner such that, when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator is put in defrosting operation. When the evaporator is put in defrosting operation, a refrigerant of high temperature which has passed through a condenser is 25 carried through this evaporator.
In the above-described prior art, each evaporator comprises an evaporating pipe for evaporating a reduced-pressure liquid refrigerant and a defrosting pipe for ,~
~90580 passing through the high-temperature refrigerant. When one of the evaporators is put in defrosting operation, this evaporator is heated wholly by the defrosting pipe, and therefore the temperature of the air which has passed 5 through the evaporator during defrosting is high and thereby the air of high temperature becomes a refrigeration load for the other evaporator in the cooling operation.
Consequently, a large evaporator cooling capacity is required, and thereby not only energy consumption becomes 10 larger, but also the cost becomes higher.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel low-temperature showcase.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature showcase which can solve problems 15 in defrosting the evaporator.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature showcase which can employ evaporators of smaller cooling capacity.
A further object of the present invention is to 20 provide a low-temperature showcase in which operation thereof can be controlled in response to the open-air temperature.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a low-temperature showcase comprising: a heat insulated wall 25 whereon an opening is formed, a dividing plate which is installed inside said heat insulated wall, for dividing this inside into an air passage and a storage chamber, vent ports which are disposed at both ends of said air passage 8C) so as to face each other across said opening, for forming an air curtain thereover, a fan case which divides the air passage into two parts associated respectively with said vent ports, a blast fan which is supported by said fan case 5 for driving the air which forms the air curtain, an evaporator which is installed in said air passage in association with said vent ports, said evaporator being put in cooling operation for cooling the driven air, a first temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the 10 cooling air which has been cooled by contact with an evaporator, a second temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the open air, first and second amplifying circuits which amplify signals from the first and second temperature sensors, respectively, a comparing circuit 15 which compares outputs of the first and second amplifying circuits, and an operation-controlling circuit which controls the operation of a compressor connected to the evaporators in accordance with an output of the comparing circuit, wherein signals outputted from the second 20 amplifying circuit and the comparing circuit are changed in accordance with the change of the temperature of the open air, and the temperature of the cooling air is controlled in inverse proportion to the temperature of the open air in response to change of the output signals.
25 This application is a divisional of our copending application serial No. 494,161, which describes and claims a low-temperature showcase comprising: a heat insulated A
~905~C~
wall forming a receptacle with an opening; a dividing plate which is installed inside said receptacle and divides the inside into an air passage and a storage chamber, vent ports which are disposed at both ends of said air passage 5 so as to face each other across said opening, a fan case which divides said air passage into two parts, a blast fan which is supported by said fan case and rotates reversibly, evaporators which are installed in said air passage in association with said vent ports and are adapted to operate 10 alternately, and electric heaters which are installed between each said vent port and the associated evaporator and are energized when the corresponding evaporator is not in cooling operation, whereby when one of said evaporators is in cooling operation, the other evaporator is defrosted 15 by the air heated by the corresponding electric heater.
~ s described in further detail below, when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator is stopped from operating and is heated by the corresponding electric heater. The cool air which is 20 brought in contact with the open air at the opening and is raised the temperature thereof and then passes through the corresponding vent port is heated by the electric heater, defrosting the other evaporator. The electric heater is installed at the upstream side of the other evaporator and 25 also at the downstream side of the corresponding vent port (intake port) when viewed in the direction of circulation of the cool air. Consequently, heat of the electric heater is scarcely affecting the cool air being heat-exchanged by ~OS8~
one of the evaporators and forming a cool air curtain at the opening of the heat insulated wall. Then, in defrosting the other evaporator, the air heated by the corresponding electric heater melts the frost during flow 5 from an intake side of the air of the evaporator to a blow-out side thereof, and therefore the latent heat of this heated air is taken away gradually. Then, when defrosting of the other evaporator is completed, energizing of the corresponding electric heater is cut off.
Accordingly, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, the air heated by the electric heater is fed to the evaporator to be defrosted, and therefore defrosting can be performed more quickly in comparison with the unit defrosting by a refrigerant such 15 as cited from the prior art. Also, the heat by the electric heater has no thermal effect at all on the cool air forming a cool air curtain. Furthermore, the air heated by the electric heater is deprived of the latent heat thereof during passing through the evaporator in 20 defrosting, and therefore the temperature of the air returning to the evaporator in cooling operation can be suppressed at a low value, and resultingly, the inside of the storage chamber can be maintained at a sufficiently low temperature even if the refrigerating or cooling capacity 25 of the evaporator to be employed is small.
In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the air temperature in the air passage is detected by a thermo-detector. Then, when the air 1~9~0 temperature in the air passage rises above a predetermined value when the electric heater is energized, energizing of the electric heater is stopped in response to this thermo-detector. Thus, by stopping the heating by the electric 5 heater in response to the air temperature in the air passage, an unnecessary increase in the load of cooling for the evaporator in cooling operation can be prevented.
In another preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when one of the evaporators is put in cooling operation, an electromagnetic valve of the other evaporator is closed. Accordingly, in accordance with this embodiment, the remaining liquid refrigerant of the other evaporator 5a ~9OS80 which is defrosted can be recovered to be used as a refrig-erant of the evaporator in cooling operation, and therefore a lack of the refrigerant in the evaporator does not take place, and not only a stable cooling operation can be 5 performed but also the speed of rise in temperature in the evaporator in defrosting is increased, and resultingly the defrosting time can be shortened.
In another preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, both the temperature of the cool air fed 10 from the vent port and the open-air temperature are detected by two thermo-sensors. Based on these two detected tempera-tures, the temperatuxe of the cool air to be fed is control-led in an inversely proportional fashion in response to a change in the open-air temperature. In accordance with tAe 15 embodiment, the temperature of the fed cool air is varied automatically in response to a change in the open-air temperature, and therefore the temperature of the inside of the storage chamber can be maintained within a predetermined temperature range independent of the change in the open-air 20 temperature.
These objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with accom-25 panying drawings.
~9C~S~I~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional illustrative view showing one-embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the Fig. 1 5 embodiment.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are sequence diagrams showing control circuits of Fig. 1 embodiment, Fig. 3 shows a circuit whose pawer source is three-phase 200V, and Fig. 4 shows a circuit whose power source is single-phase 100V.
Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of another embodiment in a accordance with the present inven-tion.
Fig. 6 is a graph for explaining a state of controlling the temperature in accordance with Fig. 5 embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional illustrative view showing one embodiment in accordance with the present invention. A
low-temperature showcase 10 comprises a heat insulated wall 14 whose cross-section is nearly U-shaped and on the top of 20 which an opening 12 is formed. The opening 12 is utilized to put-into goods or take-out goods therethrough, and accordingly, in this embodiment, the low-temperature showcase 10 is constituted as an open type.
Inside the heat insulated wall 14, a metal dividing ~o~
plate 16 whose cross section is nearly U-shaped is installed in a nearly horizontal fashion. A front plate 16a and a rear plate 16b of the dividing plate 16 are formed vertically with a predetermined space kept from the inner wall of the corres-5 ponding side wall of the heat insulated wall 14. The insideof the heat insulated wall 14 is divided into an air passage 18 and a storage cham~er 20 thereover ~y the dividing plate 16. The air passage is formed in a manner that the cross-section thereof is nearly U-shaped, and at both ends thereof, 10 namely, two top ends, vent ports 22 and 24 are formed so as to face each other through the opening 12 inbetween. The air passage 18 is also divided into two parts in association with the respective vent ports 22 and 24 at both sides of the storage chamber 20 by a fan case 28 whereon a through hole 26 15 is formed.
A blast fan 30 which can be rotated reversibly is supported in the through hole 26 of the fan case 28, and accordingly, in the air passage 18, air is circulated forcedly in the direction shown by a full line or in the 20 direction shown by a dotted line in Fig. 1 In the vicinities of the vent ports 22 and 24 of the air passage 18, plate-fin-shaped evaporators 32 and 34 are mounted on the side wall of the heat insulated wall 14, respectively. The rear surface of the evaporator 32 and the 25 front surface of the evaporator 34 face the front plate 16a SBC~
.
and the rear plate 16b of the dividing plate 16, respectively. When one of these two evaporators 32 and 34 is put in cooling operation, the other is defrosted, and accordingly the vent ports 22 and 24 associated with these 5 evaporators function as a blow~off port when the corres-ponding evaporator is put in cooling operation, and function as an intake port when defrosted, respectively. Honeycomb-shaped flow arranging devices 35 and 36 are installed at these vent ports 22 and 24, respectively.
A partition plate 38 is installed on the rear surface of the evaporator 32, and a space 40 is formed between this partition plate 38 and the front plate 16a of the dividing plate 16. Similarly, a partition plate 42 is installed on the front surface of the evaporator 34, and a space 4~ is 15 formed between this partition plate 42 and the rear plate 16b of the dividing plate 16. These spaces 40 and 44 can prevent a local temperature rise in the storage chamber 20 caused by direct heat transmission from the evaporators 32 and 34 to the dividing plate 16~
Above the dividing plate 16, a rack 46 for putting goods thereon is disposed while slanting a little in the direction of the depth of this low-temperature showcase 10. This rac~
46 is supported by the front plate 16a and the rear plate 16b of the di~iding plate 16 respectively at the both ends 25 thereof. Furthermore, above the opening 12, a mirror 48 for _ g _ 1~0580 mirroring the goods stored in the storage chamber 20 is installed.
At the above-described vent ports 22 and 24, electric heaters 50 and 52 are installed inside from the flow arrang-5 ing devices 35 and 36, respectively. These electric heaters 50 and 52 are energized respectively when the corresponding evaporator 32 or 34 is to be defrosted. Accordinglyj defrosting of the evaporator 32 or 34 is achieved by the air heated by the electric heaters S0 and 52.
Furthermore, a thermo-detector 54 is installed in the vicinity of the blast fan 30 in the air passage 18. This thermo-detector 54 is for detecting whether the air tempera ture in the air passage 18 is above or below a predetermined temperature, for example, 5C, and a thermo-switch 100 as 15 described later (Fig. 4~ is "opened" or "closed" in response to an output of this thermo-detector 54.
A machine room 56 is ormed under the heat insulated wall 14, and in this machine room 56 a compressor 58 and a condenser 60 which constitute a refrigerant circuit together 20 with the two evaporators 32 and 34 are accommodated and a blast fan 62 is installed in association with the condenser 60.
The above-described refrigerant circuit is constituted as shown in Fig. 2. To be further detailed, the evaporators 25 32 and 34 comprise series connections of electromagnetic 90~B~D
valves 64 a~d 66 and expansion valves 68 and 70 respectively, and these evaporators 32 and 34 are connected in parallel.
The electromagnetic valves 64 and 66 are connected to the above-described condenser 60, and a liquid receiver 72 is 5 installed on the way thereto. Also, the evaporators 32 and 34 are connected to the compressor 58, and a gas-liquid separator 74 is installed on the way thereto. Then, the compressor 58 and the condenser 60 are connected in series.
The refrigerant flows from the compressor 58, passes through 10 the condenser 60 and reaches the evaporator 32 and 34.
Accordingly, in this embodiment, the evaporators 32 and 34 perform only cooling operation, being defrosted in the state wherein the operation is stopped.
Meanwhile, the above-described electromagnetic valves 64 15 and 66 are opened and closed alternately every given period of time by a time switch 102 (Fig. 4) as describe later.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are circuit diagrams showing control circuits of the above-described embodiment, Fig. 3 is a circuit of a power source of three-phase 200V, and Fig. 4 is 20 a circuit of a power source of single-phase lOOV. In reference to Fig. 3, a compressor motor 58a for the com-pressor 58 is connected to respective phases R, S and ~
through a contact 76a of an electromagnetic switch 76. A fan motor 62a for the blast fan 62 (Fig. 1) is connected across 25 the two phases R and S through a normally opened contact 78al ~o~o .
of a first auxiliary relay 78 (Fig. 4). The above-described electromagnetic switch 76 is connected in series together with a thermostat 80 for responding to the temperature of the storage chamber 20, a pressure switch 82 and a second 5 normally opened contact 78a2 of the fist auxiliary relay 78, being connected across the two phases R and T through two over-load relays 84 and 86.
In reference to Fig. 4, to a power source of single-phase lOOV, the first auxiliary relay 78 is connected through 10 an operating switch 88, and also a second auxiliary relay 90 and a third auxiliary relay 92 are connected through a con-troller 94. The controller 94 comprises an internal power source 96, a delay switch 98, the thermo-switch 100, and the time switch 102. A fan motor 30a for the blast fan 30 (Fig.
15 1) is connected through the delay switch 98, a contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay g2 and an operating capaci-tor 104. To be detailed, the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay 92 can be connected to a forward rotation contact 92f or a reverse operation contact 92r, and thereby 20 the fan motor 30a is rotated reversibly. The above-described electromagnetic valves 64 and 66 are connected through a contact piece 90al of the second auxiliary relay 90. To be detailed, the contact piece 90al of the second auxiliary relay 90 can be connected to a normally opened contact a or a 25 normally closed contact b, and thereby either of the elect-o romagnetic valves 64 and 66 can be energized. Furthermore,the two electric heaters 50 and 52 (Fig. 1) are connected through the thermo-switch 100 and a contact piece 90a2 of the second auxiliary relay 90. To be detailed, the contact piece 5 9Oa2 can be connected to a normally opened contact c or a normally closed contact d, and thereby either of the electric heaters 50 and 52 can be energized when the thermo-switch 100 is closed.
The above-described time switch 102 is closed or opened, 10 for example, every two hours by a signal from an associated timer 102a, and accordingly the second and the third auxili-ary relays 90 and 92 are energized, for example, every two hours. ~lso, the thermo-switch 100 is opened or closed by a signal from the above-described thermo-detector 54, and is 15 "opened" when the air temperature in the air passage 18 (Fig.
1) is 5C or more, being "closed" when it is a predetermined temperature below 5C. Furthermore, khe delay switch 98 is opened or closed by a signal from an associated delay timer 98a, and this delay timer 98 is driven, for example, from the 20 point when the time switch 102 is opened or closed, being closed, for example, after two minutes has elapsed~ This is for completely stopping the fan motor 30a of the blast fan 30 when it is changed over from forward rotation to reverse rotation or vice versa. This fan motor 30a is forward-25 rotated when the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary ~905~30 relay 92 is connected to the forward rotation contact 92f, being reverse-rotated when the contact piece 92a is connected to the reverse rotation contact 92r.
Next, description is made on operation of the low-5 temperature showcase 10 of this embodiment in reference toFig. 1 through Fig. 4. First, the operating switch 88 (Fig.
4) is closed. Responsively, the first auxiliary relay 78 is energized, and the two contacts 78al and 78a2 thereof are closed. Consequently, the electromagnetic switch 76 is 10 energized, and the contact 76a thereof is closed and the compressor motor 58a is energized. Accordingly, the com-pressor 58 (Fig. 1) is driven. At this time, when the time switch 102 is "closed", both of the second and the third auxiliary relays 90 and 92 are kept de-energized intact, and 15 therefore the contact piece 90a of the second auxiliary relay 90 is connected to the normally closed contact b and the contact piece 92a2 is connected to the normally closed con-tact d respectively, and the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay 92 is connected to the reverse rotation 20 contact 92r. Thereby, the electromagnetic valve 64 is ener-gized to be "opened", and the li~uid refrigerant is fed to the corresponding evaporator 32, and cooling operation is started.
In the initial stage of operation, the air temperature 25 in the air passage 18 is high, for example, 5C or more, and ~2~05~0 .
therefore the thermo-switch 100 is kept "opened" intact in response to an OFF signal from the thermo-detector 54.
Accordingly, the electric heater 52 is not energized.
When two minutes elapse after the operating switch 88 is 5 closed, the delay switch 98 is closed, and there~y the fan motor 30a is energized through t.he contact piece 92a and the reverse rotation contact 92r, and the blast fan 30 is reverse-rotated. When the blast fan 30 is reverse-rotated, as shown by a full-line arrow in Fig. 1, the cool air heat-10 exchanged by the evaporator 32 is circulated to form a coolair curtain at the opening 12. The storage chamber 20 is cooled by this air curtain.
In the middle of such a cooling operation of the evap-orator 32, when the thermo-detector 54 detects that the air 15 temperature in the air passage 18 has become a predetermined temperature, for example, 5C or less, responsively the thermo-switch 100 is closed. Consequently, energizing of the electric heater 52 is started, the cool air returning to the evaporator 32 i5 heated, and the evaporator 34 is defrosted.
When two hours elapse after the operating switch 88 is turned on, the timer 102a expires, and in response to the output thereof the time switch 102 is closed, and also the delay timer 98a is reset, and the delay switch 98 is opened.
Consequently, the second and the third auxiliary relays 90 25 and 92 are energized, and the contact pieces 90al and 90a2 of BO
the second auxiliary relay 90 are connected to the normally opened contacts a and c respectively, and also the contact piece 92a of the third auxiliary relay 92 is switched over to the forward rotation contact 92f. Attending on such a 5 switching operation, the electromagnetic valve 66 is "opened", and the reduced-pressure liquid refrigerant is fed to the evaporator 34, and thereby cooling operation by thiq evaporator 34 is started, and also the electric heater 50 is energized.
Then, when two minutes elapse after the above-described switching over, the delay switch 98 is closed in response to an output from the delay timer 98a. Responsively, the fan motor 30a is energizad, and the blast fan 30 (Fig. l) is forward-rotated. Attending on this forward rotation of the 15 blast fan 30, the cool air heat-exchanged by the evaporator 34 is circulated forcedly as shown by a dotted-line arrow in Fig. l to form a cool air curtain at the opening 12. On the other hand, the evaporator 32 is defrosted by the electric heater 50.
20~ Thereafter, such a cooling operation by the evaporator 32 or 34 is performed alternately every time by the timer 102a, that is, every two hours. Then, for example, when one evaporator 34 or 32 is put in cooling operation, the other evaporator 32 or 34 is defrosted by the corresponding 25 electric heater 52 or 50.
~2~05l~0 During cooling operation of one evaporator 34, the electric heater 50 heating the other evaporator 32 is positioned at the upstream side from the evaporator 32 and at the downstream side from the vent port 22 as an intake port 5 when viewed in the direction of circulation of air flow, and therefore the electric heater 50 has scarcely thermal effect on the cool air forming the cool air curtain at the opening 12 among the cool air heat-exchanged by the evaporator 34.
Also, the cool air is brought in contact with the open air at 10 the opening 12, thereby the temperature thereof rises, then the air passes through the vent port 22, thereafter this air is heated by the electric heater 50, and thereby defrosting of the evaporator 32 can be performed. In defrosting this evaporator 32, the air heated by the electric heater 50 melts 15 the frost depositing on the evaporator 32 during flowing from the top end to the bottom end of the evaporator 32, and therefore the latent heat thereof is taken away gradually.
Consequently, the temperature of the circulating cool air after passing through the evaporator 32 does not rise until 20 defrosting of the evaporator 32 is completed, and accordingly the temperature of the cool air returning to the evaporator 34 in cooling operation can be maintained intact at a low value. Resultingly, the cooling capacity of the evaporator 34 performing cooling operation can be small and also the 25 defrosting efficiency of the evaporator 32 in defrosting is .
improved.
Energizing of the electric heater 50 can be cut off forcedly by the thermo-switch 100 after defrosting of the evaporator 32 is completed, or in response to a temperature 5 rise in the air passage 18 attending on a rise in temperature of the open air, or in response to an OFF signal from the thermo-detector 54 irrespective of switching-over by the time switch 102. Accordingly, an increase in the load of refrig-eration for the evaporator 34 performing cooling operation 10 can be suppressed.
Furthermore, when cooling operation is performed by one evaporator 34, the electromagnetic valve 64 associated with the other evaporator 32 is closed by connecting the contact piece 9Oa of the second auxiliary relay 90 to the normally 15 opened contact a. Accordingly, the remaining liquid refrigerant of the evaporator 32 in derosting can be recovered gradually. Consequently, a lack of the refrigerant for the evaporator 34 in cooling operation does not take place and thereby a stable cooling operation can be 20 performed. Then, since the remaining liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 32 to be defrosted is removed, the speed of rise in temperature of the evaporator 32 is fast, and thereby the time required for defrosting the evaporator 32 can be shortened.
In addition, the above-described description is made on ~9~3~80 the case where one evaporator 34 is put in cooling operation and the other evaporator 32 is defrosted. However, the operation is the same also in the case where, in reverse, the evaporator 32 is put in cooling operation and the evaporator 5 34 is defrosted, and therefore duplicate description is omitted here.
Since the space 40 and 44 are formed between the two evaporators 32 and 34 and the dividing plate 16 by the parti-tion plates 38 and 42, no heat is transferred directly to the 10 dividing plate 16 from the respective evaporator 32 and 34 even in cooling operation or in defrosting. Consequently, the storage chamber 20 can be maintained at a predetermined temperature nearly uniformly over the whole are thereof.
Fig. 5 is an electric circuit diagram showing another 15 embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a first thermo-sensor 104 and a second thermo-sensor 106 as shown in Fig. 1 are employed. The first thermo-sensor 104 is installed at the portion of the opening 12 in the vicinity of the vent ports 22 and 24. This first 20 thermo-sensor 104 detects the temperature of the cool air which is heat-exchanged by the evaporators 32 or 34 and i5 blown out from the vent ports 22 and 24. The second thermo-sensor 106 is installed outside the machine room 56, for example, in the vicinity of the open-air intake port of the 25 condenser 60, and detects the open-air temperature. These first and second thermo-sensors 104 and 106 are, for example, thermistors of negative characteristic, respectively.
One end of the fist thermo-sensor 104 is connected to a power source line Ll through a resistor 108 and the connect-5 ion point of this resistor 108 and the first thermo-sensor 104 is connected to an input of a first amplifier 110. The other end of the first thermo-sensor 104 is connected to another power source line L2. On the other hand, one end of the second thermo-sensor 106 is connected to the second power 10 source line L2 through a resistor 112, and the connection point of the second thermo-sensor 106 and the resistor 112 is connected to an input of a second amplifier 114. The other end of the second thermo-sensor 106 is connected to the power source line Ll.
Output of the second amplifier 114 is further amplified by a third ampliier 116. The output of this third amplifier 116 is connected to the series connection point of a variable resistor 120 and a resistor 122 through a diode 118 of for-ward direction. To the other end of the variable resistor 20 120, a semi-fixed resistor 124 is further connected, and the other end of this semi-fixed resistor 124 is connected to the above-described output of the third amplifier 116. The variable resistor 120 is for setting the temperature in the storage chamber 20 (Fig. 1), and the diode 118 is employed as 25 a constant current device for keeping the potential 1~90580 difference between the both ends o~ the variable resistor 120 at a constant value. The semi-fixed resistor 124 is employed to make fine adiustment of the potential of the variable resistor 120, and the resistor 122 acts as a bias resistance 5 of the dlode 118.
The above-described output of the first amplifier 110 is given to a (+) terminal of a comparator 126, and the output of the third amplifier 116 is given to a (-) terminal of the comparator 126 through the variable resistor 120, that is, 10 the semi-fixed resistor 124. Resistors 128 and 130 connected to the comparator 126 is for giving a hysteresis characteri-stic to this comparator 126. An output of the comparator 126 is given to an operation control circuit 132.
The operation control circuit 132 comprises a relay coil 15 134 for controlling operation of the compressor 58 (Fig. 1), and this relay coil 134 is connected between the power source lines Ll and L2 through a switching transistor 136. This relay coil 134 is considered to be same one as the first auxiliary relay 78 as shown in Fig. 4. A fly-wheel diode is 20 connected in parallel with the relay coil 134. Also, a switch-over contact piece 138 which is switched by the relay coil 134 is installed. This switching-over contact piece 138 is switched-over to a normally opened contact 138a or a norm~ally closed contact 38b in response to energizing or 25 de-energizing of the relay coil 134. Then, the compressor 58 ~9o~o (Fig. 1) is operated when the relay coil 134 is de-energized and the switch-over contact piece 138 is in contact with the normally closed contact 138b.
In a circuit as shown in Fig. 5, assume that when the 5 open-air temperature is normal temperature, for example 20C, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is set to 0C. In the state wherein no open-air temperature is varied, the resistance value of the second thermo-sensor 106 and accord-ingly the output of the second amplifier 114 are scarcely 10 varied. Accordingly, the voltage given to the comparator 126 from the variable resistor 120 is also nearly constant.
Then, when a high-level signal is outputted from the compara-tor 126, responsively the switching transistor 136 is turned on, and the relay coil 134 is energized. Accordingly, the 15 switch-over contact piece 138 associated with this relay coil 134 is connected to the normally closed contact 138a, and the compressor 58 is stopped to operate.
When the temperature of the storage chamber 20 (Fig. 1) rises and thereby the temperature of the cool air blown out 20 from the vent port 22 or 24 rises in the state wherein the compressor 58 (Fig. 1) is stopped, the resistance value of the first thermo-sensor 104 is reduced. Then, the output of the first amplifier 110 is also reduced, and the voltage given to the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 is also 25 reduced. Then, when the temperature of the cool air to be S~O
fed further rises, the voltage of the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 becomes lower than the voltage of the (-) terminal thereof. Then, the output of the comparator 126 is switched over to the low level, and the switching transistor 5 136 is turned off. Accordingly, the relay coil 134 is de-energized, and the switch-over contact 138b, and operation of the compressor 58 is started.
When the temperature of the cool air to be fed falls by operation of the compressor 58, the resistance value of the 10 first thermo-sensor 104 is increased. Responsively, the output of the first amplifier 110 is also increase, and the input voltage to the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 also rises. Then, when the temperature of the cool air to be fed further falls, the voltage of the (+) terminal of the com-15 parator 126 becomes higher again than the voltage of the (-) terminal thereof. Then, a high-level signal is outputted from the comparator 126, the switching transistor 136 is turned on, and operation of the compressor 58 is stopped.
Thereafter, the above described operation is repeated, 20 and the compressor 58 repeats operation and stop. Accord-ingly, the temperature in the storage chamber 20 (Fig. 1), that is, the temperature of the cool air fed from the vent port 22 or 24, for example, as shown by a line A in Fig. 6, varies, for example, between -0.5C and +0.5C so as to 25 maintain the temperature set by the variable resistor 120, 1~9(~80 for example, 0C.
When the open-air temperature varies, the output voltage of the second amplifier 114 also varies. When the open-air temperature rises, for example, to 25C from 20C, the 5 resistance value of the second thermo-sensor 106 decreases, and the output of the second amplifier 114 decreases. The third amplifier 116 inversely amplifies the output of the second amplifier 114, and accordingly, the output of the third amplifier 116 increases at that time. Consequently, 10 the potential of the variable resistor 120 also rises, and the voltage of the (-) terminal of the comparator 126 also rlses .
Suppose that the temperature of the cool air to be fed rises gradually and the output voltage of the first amplifier 15 110 is reduced gradually in the state wherein the compressor 58 is stopped. Then, a low-level signal is outputted from this comparator 126 at a temperature of the fed cool air, for example, -0.5C which is further lower than the temperature OL the fed cool air (+0.5C) when the comparator 126 outputs 20 a low-level signal at an open-air temperature of 20C. Then, when a low-level signal is outputted from the comparator 126, as is described above, the switching transistor 136 is turned off, and operation of the compressor 58 is resumed.
When the operation of the compressor 58 is continued and 25 the temperature of the cool air to be fed is reduced ~Z905~0 gradually, the output of the comparator 126 turns to the high level again. That is, the comparator 126 outputs a high-level signal when the open-air temperature becomes a tempera-ture, for example, -1.5C, which is lower than the tempera-5 ture of the fed cool air (-0.5C) when the comparator 126 outputs a high-level signal at an open-air temperature of 20C. Then, in response to an output of high-level signal, the switching transistor 136 is turned on, and operation of the compressor 58 is stopped.
Thus, when the open-air temperature rises, for example, to 25C by repeating operation and stop of the compressor 58, the temperature of the cool air fed from the vent port 22 or 24, as shown by a line B in Fig. 6, is controlled lower in comparison with that in the state wherein the open-air tem-15 perature is, for example, 20C, that is, the state as shown by the line A, and also the thermo-cycle thereof becomes shorter. Thus, when the open-air temperature rises, for example, to 25C, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled, for example, within a range of -1.5C
20 0.5C, and the inside of the storage chamber 20 can be main-tained at the same temperature as that before the open air temperature rises.
Meanwhile, in the embodiment, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled in inverse proportion to the 25 open-air temperature so as to be lowered by about 0.2C when ~o~o the open-air temperature rises by 1C.
When the open-air temperature falls, for example, from 20C to 15C, the voltage of the second thermo-sensor 106 rises, and the output voltage of the second amplifier 114 5 rises. Consequently, the output voltage of the third ampli-fier 116, that is, the voltage outputted from the variable resistor 12Q falls.
Here, suppose that the temperature of the cool air fed from the vent port 22 or 24 rises in the state wherein opera-10 tion of the compressor 58 is stopped. In this state, thevoltage of the first thermo-sensor 104 falls gradually, and accordingly the output voltage of the first amplifier 110 also falls gradually. Then, when the temperature of the fed cool air becomes higher, for example, becomes +1.5C, than lS the temperature of the fed cool air (+0.5) when the compara-tor 126 outputs the low-level signal at an open-air tempera-ture of 20C, the voltage of the (+) terminal of the com-parator 126 becomes lower than that of the (-) terminal thereof, and the output of the comparator 126 is switched 20 over to the low level. Responsively, operation of the com-pressor 58 is resumed.
When the operation of the compressor 58 is continued and the temperature of the cool air to be fed falls gradually, the voltage of the fist thermo-sensor 104, that is, the 25 voltage of the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 rises. The 0~8~
valtage of the (+) terminal of the comparator 126 becomes higher than that of the (-) terminal thereof at a higher temperature (for example, at +0.5C) than the temperature of the fed cool air (-0.5C) when the comparator 126 outputs the 5 high-level signal at an open-air temperature of 20C. Res-ponsively, the comparator 126 outputs the low-level signal, and operation of the compressor 58 is stopped.
Thus, when the open-air temperature falls, for example, from 20C to 15C, by repeating operation and stop of the 10 compressor 5~, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled within a range of +0.5C - +1.5C as shown by a line C in Fig. 6. Accordingly, when the open-air temperature is 15C, the temperature is maintained higher than that in the state wherein the open-air temperature is 20C, that is, 15 the state as shown by the line A, and the thermo-cycle thereof also becomes longer.
Meanwhile, the temperature of the cool air to be fed is controlled in reverse proportion to the open-air temperature so as to rise, for example, by 0.2C when the open-air 20 temperature falls by 1C.
Thus, in response to a change in the open-air tempera-ture, the output voltage of the second amplifier 114 also changes, and the voltage of the (-) terminal of the compara-tor 126 changes. Then, when the open-air temperature becomes 25 higher than normal temperature (for example, 20C), both of ~9o~o the temperature of the fed cool air at which the compressor 58 starts to operate, that is, the upper limit of the tem-perature of the cool air to be fed and the temperature of the fed cool air at which the compressor 58 stops to operate, 5 that is, the lower limit of the temperature of the cool air to be fed are reduced automatically, and therefore, the temperature in the storage chamber 20 is controlled within a range nearly equal to that before the open-air temperature rises, and also the thermo-cycle thereof is also shortened.
lO Resultingly, in accordance with this embodiment, the tem-perature in the storage chamber 20 is scarcely changed and is maintained at a nearly constant value even when the open-air temperature rises and the radiant heat reaching the inside of the storage chamber 20 from the opening 12 through the air 15 curtain is increased. Also, when the open-air temperature falls, both the upper limit and the lower limit of the temperature of the cool air to be fed rise automatically, and therefore the temperature of the storage chamber 20 is controlled within a range nearly equal to that before the 20 open-air temperature falls, and also the thermo-cycle becomes longer. Resultingly, even when the open-air temperature falls and the radiant heat into the storage chamber 20 from the opening 12 is decreased, the temperature in the storage chamber 20 is scarcely changed, and accordingly the 25 temperature is maintained at nearly the same value as that in 1~905~30 the state at normal temperature.
Thus, in accordance with Fig. 5 embodiment, the tempera-ture in the storage chamber 20 can be kept at nearly a constant value independent of the open-air temperature, and 5 the quality of the food whose optimum temperature range is relatively small can be maintained in good state over a long period.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same 10 is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
Claims
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A low-temperature showcase comprising:
a heat insulated wall having an opening;
a dividing plate which is installed inside said heat insulated wall, for dividing this inside into an air passage and a storage chamber;
vent ports which are disposed at both ends of said air passage so as to face each other across said opening, for forming an air curtain thereover;
a fan case which divides the air passage into two parts associated respectively with said vent ports;
a blast fan which is supported by said fan case for driving the air which forms the air curtain;
an evaporator which is installed in said air passage in association with at least one of said vent ports, said evaporator being put in cooling operation for cooling the driven air;
a first temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the cooling air which has been cooled by contact with said evaporator;
a second temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the open air;
first and second amplifying circuits which amplify signals from the first and second temperature sensors, respectively;
a comparing circuit which compares outputs of the first and second amplifying circuits; and an operation-controlling circuit which controls the operation of a compressor connected to the evaporator in accordance with an output of the comparing circuit, wherein signals outputted from the second amplifying circuit and the comparing circuit are changed in accordance with the change of the temperature of the open air, and the temperature of the cooling air is controlled in inverse proportion to the temperature of the open air in response to change of the output signals.
2. A low-temperature showcase according to claim 1, wherein an output terminal of the first amplifying circuit to which an output of the first temperature sensor is inputted is connected to a (+) input terminal of the comparing circuit, and an output terminal of the second amplifying circuit to which an output of the second temperature sensor is inputted is connected to a (-) input terminal of the comparing circuit through a variable resistor which is used for setting the temperature of the storage chamber.
3. A low-temperature showcase according to claim 2, wherein, fine adjustment of the resistance value of the variable resistor is disposed between the output terminal of the second amplifying circuit and the (-) input terminal of the comparing circuit, and a constant current device is therein included which maintains a constant potential difference at both ends of the variable resistor.
4. A low-temperature showcase according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second amplifying circuit includes a correcting circuit for correcting a set value of the variable resistor so as to change it in inverse proportion to a value smaller than the value of the temperature being detected by the second temperature sensor.
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A low-temperature showcase comprising:
a heat insulated wall having an opening;
a dividing plate which is installed inside said heat insulated wall, for dividing this inside into an air passage and a storage chamber;
vent ports which are disposed at both ends of said air passage so as to face each other across said opening, for forming an air curtain thereover;
a fan case which divides the air passage into two parts associated respectively with said vent ports;
a blast fan which is supported by said fan case for driving the air which forms the air curtain;
an evaporator which is installed in said air passage in association with at least one of said vent ports, said evaporator being put in cooling operation for cooling the driven air;
a first temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the cooling air which has been cooled by contact with said evaporator;
a second temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the open air;
first and second amplifying circuits which amplify signals from the first and second temperature sensors, respectively;
a comparing circuit which compares outputs of the first and second amplifying circuits; and an operation-controlling circuit which controls the operation of a compressor connected to the evaporator in accordance with an output of the comparing circuit, wherein signals outputted from the second amplifying circuit and the comparing circuit are changed in accordance with the change of the temperature of the open air, and the temperature of the cooling air is controlled in inverse proportion to the temperature of the open air in response to change of the output signals.
2. A low-temperature showcase according to claim 1, wherein an output terminal of the first amplifying circuit to which an output of the first temperature sensor is inputted is connected to a (+) input terminal of the comparing circuit, and an output terminal of the second amplifying circuit to which an output of the second temperature sensor is inputted is connected to a (-) input terminal of the comparing circuit through a variable resistor which is used for setting the temperature of the storage chamber.
3. A low-temperature showcase according to claim 2, wherein, fine adjustment of the resistance value of the variable resistor is disposed between the output terminal of the second amplifying circuit and the (-) input terminal of the comparing circuit, and a constant current device is therein included which maintains a constant potential difference at both ends of the variable resistor.
4. A low-temperature showcase according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second amplifying circuit includes a correcting circuit for correcting a set value of the variable resistor so as to change it in inverse proportion to a value smaller than the value of the temperature being detected by the second temperature sensor.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP165017/1984 | 1984-10-31 | ||
| JP16501784U JPS6179171U (en) | 1984-10-31 | 1984-10-31 | |
| JP15912185A JPS6219670A (en) | 1985-07-18 | 1985-07-18 | Low-temperature showcase |
| JP159121/1985 | 1985-07-18 | ||
| CA000494161A CA1269856A (en) | 1984-10-31 | 1985-10-29 | Low-temperature showcase |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000494161A Division CA1269856A (en) | 1984-10-31 | 1985-10-29 | Low-temperature showcase |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1290580C true CA1290580C (en) | 1991-10-15 |
Family
ID=27167566
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000615523A Expired - Fee Related CA1290580C (en) | 1984-10-31 | 1989-10-12 | Low-temperature showcase |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1290580C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108826732A (en) * | 2018-07-27 | 2018-11-16 | 宁波奥克斯电气股份有限公司 | Air-conditioning system and its control method |
-
1989
- 1989-10-12 CA CA000615523A patent/CA1290580C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108826732A (en) * | 2018-07-27 | 2018-11-16 | 宁波奥克斯电气股份有限公司 | Air-conditioning system and its control method |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |