Disclosure of Invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
In the storage container described in patent document 1, since the electrodes are disposed in an exposed state in the internal space of the storage container, there is a possibility that an undesired current, so-called leakage current, flows from the electrodes to the inner wall surface of the storage container via foreign matter adhering to the outer surfaces of the electrodes, for example. The foreign matter attached to the outer surface of the electrode means water components present in the internal space of the storage, frost formed inside the storage, dust attached to the outer surface of the electrode with the passage of time, and the like. When a leakage current occurs, the current value of the voltage application device increases, and thus there is a possibility that a problem such as an increase in power consumption occurs.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a storage box capable of forming a more uniform electric field while suppressing a leakage current.
Means for solving the problems
The storage library that solves the above-mentioned problem includes: a storage body having a storage chamber therein; an electrode member disposed in the housing chamber; and an intermediate member configured separately from the electrode member and disposed between the electrode member and an inner surface of the storage body. The electrode member has: an electrode main body that forms an electric field inside the housing chamber upon application of a voltage; and an insulating member surrounding the electrode body, and the electrode member is fixed to the intermediate member. The intermediate member is formed of an insulating material.
If the periphery of the electrode main body is surrounded by the insulating member as in this configuration, foreign matter is less likely to directly contact the outer surface of the electrode main body. Therefore, the occurrence of a leakage current in the electrode main body via the foreign matter can be suppressed. Further, since the intermediate member is disposed between the inner surface of the container body and the electrode member, the electrode member can be separated from the inner surface of the container body. This makes it difficult to form an electric field directed to the inner surface of the container body without going from the electrode member to the inside of the container body. Further, since the intermediate member is formed of an insulating material, it is also difficult to form an electric field directly from the electrode member toward the inner surface of the storage main body with this configuration. Therefore, a more uniform electric field can be formed inside the storage main body.
In the above storage case, it is preferable that the electrode main body and the insulating member are integrally formed.
According to this configuration, since the electrode main body can be reinforced by the insulating member, the electrode main body can be made as thin as possible. Therefore, the electrode member can be reduced in weight.
In the above storage box, the insulating member is preferably formed of resin.
With this configuration, the electrode body and the insulating member can be easily integrated.
Other storage bins that address the above problems include: a storage body having a storage chamber therein; an electrode member disposed in the housing chamber; and an intermediate member configured separately from the electrode member and disposed between the electrode member and an inner surface of the storage body. The electrode member has: an electrode main body that forms an electric field inside the housing chamber upon application of a voltage; and a first insulating member and a second insulating member sandwiching the electrode body in the thickness direction, and the electrode member is fixed to the intermediate member. The intermediate member is formed of an insulating material.
In this configuration, when the electrode body is sandwiched between the first insulating member and the second insulating member, most of the outer surface of the electrode body can be covered with the first insulating member and the second insulating member. Therefore, the foreign matter is less likely to come into direct contact with the outer surface of the electrode main body, and therefore, the occurrence of a leakage current in the electrode main body via the foreign matter can be suppressed. Further, since the intermediate member is disposed between the inner surface of the container body and the electrode member, the electrode member can be separated from the inner surface of the container body. This makes it difficult to form an electric field directed to the inner surface of the container body without going from the electrode member to the inside of the container body. Further, since the intermediate member is formed of an insulating material, it is also difficult to form an electric field directly from the electrode member toward the inner surface of the storage main body with this configuration. Therefore, a more uniform electric field can be formed inside the storage main body.
In the above storage box, preferably, the intermediate member is formed in a rectangular shape, and the electrode member is fixed to a bottom surface of the intermediate member.
In the above storage box, preferably, the intermediate member is formed in a hat shape in cross section having a flat bottom portion and a pair of leg portions formed continuously from the bottom portion, and the electrode member is fixed to the bottom portion of the intermediate member.
In the above storage, it is preferable that a transformer for applying a voltage to the electrodes and a control board for controlling the transformer are included, and the total weight of the transformer is less than 36[ kg ].
The storage is preferably a new product or a second-hand product.
Effects of the invention
According to the storage box of the present invention, a more uniform electric field can be formed while suppressing a leakage current.
Detailed Description
< first embodiment >
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the storage box will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description thereof is omitted for ease of understanding.
The storage box 10 shown in fig. 1 is used as a refrigerator for refrigerating and preserving articles stored therein. The articles stored in the storage container 10 are fresh foods, dairy products, noodles, and the like. The fresh food is seafood such as fish and shellfish; fruits such as strawberry and apple; vegetables such as cabbage and tomato; edible meat such as beef and pork; eggs and processed foods thereof. The dairy product is milk or cheese, etc. The flour is prepared from powder of wheat flour or buckwheat flour. The articles stored in the storage container 10 are not limited to foods, and may be flowers, medicines, organs, and the like.
The storage 10 can be used as a stationary type refrigerator, a mobile type refrigerator, or the like. A fixed refrigerator is a refrigerator installed in a room such as a food processing factory or a storage. A mobile refrigerator is a refrigerator mounted on a mobile body such as a ship or an airplane. The storage 10 may be a container other than for transportation, or a non-movable warehouse such as a prefabricated warehouse. The storage 10 may be any of a new product and a used product.
As shown in fig. 1, the storage container 10 includes a storage container body 20 capable of storing articles therein and a cooling device 30 built in the storage container body 20. In fig. 1, the vertical direction upper direction is indicated by an arrow Z1, and the vertical direction lower direction is indicated by an arrow Z2.
The storage body 20 includes a box 40 and a pair of doors 50. The case 40 and the door portion 50 are formed of a metal material such as aluminum, stainless steel, or the like, and are electrically grounded.
The case 40 is formed in a rectangular box shape having an opening on the front surface. The front opening of the case 40 is closed by a pair of doors 50. A storage chamber S10, which is an internal space of the storage main body 20 shown in fig. 2, is formed in a space surrounded by the inner surface of the box 40 and the inner surface of the door 50. Hereinafter, of the plurality of walls constituting the outer wall of the box 40 shown in fig. 2, the wall 41 disposed at the upper Z1 in the vertical direction is referred to as an "upper wall 41", the wall 42 disposed at the right side as viewed from the door 50 is referred to as a "right side wall 42", the wall 43 disposed at the left side as viewed from the door 50 is referred to as a "left side wall 43", and the wall 44 disposed at the lower Z2 in the vertical direction is referred to as a "bottom wall 44". The storage chamber S10 is a space for storing articles. In order to improve the refrigerating performance of the storage container 10, a heat insulating material for suppressing heat transfer from the storage chamber S10 to the outside of the storage container 10 is embedded in each of the box 40 and the door 50.
As shown in fig. 1, the pair of door portions 50 is openably and closably connected to the case 40. In the storage container 10, by opening the door 50, an arbitrary article can be put into the storage chamber S10 or an article stored in the storage chamber S10 can be taken out to the outside. By closing the door 50, the storage chamber S10 becomes a closed space, and the articles in the storage chamber S10 are stored in a cooled environment.
The cooling device 30 is driven by the supply of electric power to supply cool air to the storage chamber S10, thereby cooling the inside of the storage chamber S10.
As shown in fig. 2, the storage container 10 further includes an intermediate member 60 and an electrode member 70 disposed in the vicinity of the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage container body 20.
The intermediate member 60 is formed in a rectangular shape from an insulating material such as resin. The intermediate member 60 is separate from the electrode member 70. On the upper portion of the right side wall portion 42 and the upper portion of the left side wall portion 43 of the storage body 20, the placement members 80 and 81 are respectively fixed. The mounting members 80 and 81 are formed in a substantially L-shape from an insulating material such as resin. The mounting members 80 and 81 may be made of a material having no insulating property, for example, a metal. The intermediate member 60 is disposed above the storage chamber S10 by placing both end portions of the intermediate member 60 on the placement members 80 and 81, respectively. An electrode member 70 is fixedly provided on the bottom surface of the intermediate member 60. The intermediate member 60 is disposed between the electrode member 70 and the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage case body 20.
As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the electrode member 70 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. In fig. 3, 4, and the like, the longitudinal direction of the electrode member 70 is indicated by an arrow X, and the lateral direction thereof is indicated by an arrow Y. The electrode member 70 has an electrode main body 71, an insulating member 72, and a wiring 75.
The electrode body 71 is formed in a thin plate shape from a metal material such as a steel material. The electrode main body 71 is surrounded by an insulating member 72. The entire outer surface of the electrode body 71 is covered with the insulating member 72 except for a portion to which the wiring 75 is connected.
The insulating member 72 is formed in a plate shape from an insulating material such as resin. As shown in fig. 3, the insulating member 72 has a plurality of insertion holes 720 formed along the outer edge and the central portion and penetrating therethrough in the thickness direction. The electrode member 70 is fixedly assembled to the intermediate member 60 shown in fig. 2 by a screw or the like inserted into the insertion hole 720.
As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the wiring 75 is formed to penetrate the insulating member 72 from one end portion of the electrode main body 71 and to be exposed to the outside. The wiring 75 is used to apply a voltage to the electrode main body 71.
In the manufacture of the electrode member 70, the electrode body 71 and the insulating member 72 are integrally formed. For example, in the case of using a mold having a cavity corresponding to the electrode member 70, after the electrode main body 71 to which the wiring 75 is connected is disposed inside the mold, a molten resin is poured into the inside of the mold. Next, after cooling the mold, if the mold is removed from the resin molded product, the electrode member 70 in which the insulating member 72 made of resin is integrally molded so as to surround the electrode main body 71 can be manufactured.
As shown in fig. 3, the wiring 75 is connected to a voltage applying device 90 provided inside or outside the storage case main body 20. The voltage applying device 90 includes a transformer 91, a control panel 92, and the like, and applies a predetermined high voltage to the electrode main body 71 through the wiring 75. The transformer 91 boosts and applies a voltage supplied from a power source to the electrode main body 71. The control board 92 has various circuits and the like for controlling the transformer 91. The high voltage applied from the voltage applying device 90 to the electrode main body 71 may be, for example, an alternating voltage whose magnitude and direction periodically change with the passage of time, or a constant voltage whose magnitude and direction do not change with the passage of time. The electrode main body 71 forms an electric field in the housing chamber S10 based on the high voltage applied by the voltage application device 90.
Next, the operation and effect of the storage box 10 of the present embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the articles stored in the storage chamber S10 will also be referred to as storage items.
By forming the electric field in the storage chamber S10, the stored material in the storage chamber S10 can be sterilized and the ripening of the stored material can be promoted. Therefore, the stored articles can be stored for a long period of time with freshness maintained, and the taste of the stored articles can be enlarged. Further, since the freezing point of the storage can be lowered by the storage existing in the environment of the predetermined electric field, the storage can be stored without freezing even in a lower temperature environment, for example, a negative temperature environment. Therefore, the freshness of the stored items can be maintained for a longer period of time.
In the container 10 of the present embodiment, since the electrode main body 71 is surrounded by the insulating member 72, foreign matter is less likely to directly contact the outer surface of the electrode main body 71. Therefore, the occurrence of a leakage current in the electrode main body 71 via the foreign matter can be suppressed.
Fig. 5 (a) is a graph obtained by experimentally measuring a leakage current when the electrode member of the comparative example is used and a leakage current when the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment is used. The electrode member of the comparative example had a structure in which the electrode main body was exposed, in other words, had a structure in which the electrode main body was not surrounded by the insulating member. The surface area of the electrode member of the comparative example was set to "16.32 [ m ]2]". In contrast, the surface area of the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment is set to "14.48 [ m ]2]". In this experiment, "18 [ mA" was measured using the electrode member of the comparative example]"leakage Current" was measured to be "8 [ mA" in the case of using the electrode member 70 of the embodiment]"leakage current. Therefore, the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment can be reduced by about 41 [% ] as compared with the electrode member of the comparative example]The leakage current of (2). Incidentally, the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment is also smaller in current value per unit surface area than the electrode member of the comparative example.
Fig. 5 (B) is a graph obtained by experimentally measuring a leakage current when the surface areas of the electrode member of the comparative example and the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment are set to the same value. The surface areas of the electrode member of the comparative example and the electrode member 70 of the comparative example were set to "500 [ mm ] x 400[ mm ]. In this experiment, a leakage current of "0.15 [ mA ]" was detected when the electrode member of the comparative example was used, and a leakage current of "0.09 [ mA ]" was detected when the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment was used. In this experiment, it was confirmed that the leakage current of about 40 [% ] can be reduced in the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment, as compared with the electrode member of the comparative example. In this way, since the current value to be supplied to the electrode member 70 can be reduced by reducing the leakage current, the transformer 91 can be made smaller as a result. Therefore, the entire storage 10 can be made lighter in weight than conventional storage.
Further, as shown in fig. 2, since the intermediate member 60 is disposed between the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage body 20 and the electrode member 70, the electrode member 70 can be separated from the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage body 20. This makes it difficult to form an electric field directly from the electrode member 70 to the inner surface of the upper wall 41 of the container body 20 without going into the container body 20. Further, since the intermediate member 60 is formed of an insulating material, it is also difficult to form an electric field directly from the electrode member 70 toward the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage case main body 20 with this configuration. Therefore, a more uniform electric field can be formed inside the storage case body 20. Further, if the intermediate member 60 is disposed between the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage container body 20 and the electrode member 70 as in the present embodiment, the structural strength can be improved as compared with a structure in which only a space is formed between the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage container body 20 and the electrode member 70.
On the other hand, in the container 10 of the present embodiment, the electrode main body 71 and the insulating member 72 are integrally formed. According to this configuration, since the electrode main body 71 can be reinforced by the insulating member 72, the electrode main body 71 can be made as thin as possible. Therefore, the weight of the electrode member 70 can be reduced.
Fig. 6 is a graph obtained by experimentally measuring the weight of the electrode member of the storage container of the comparative example and the weight of the electrode member 70 of the storage container 10 of the present embodiment. The storage container of the comparative example has a structure in which the electrode body is not surrounded by the insulating member, and therefore the electrode body needs to have necessary rigidity. Therefore, the weight of the electrode main body is likely to increase. In this regard, since the electrode main body 71 can be reinforced by the insulating member 72 in the storage container 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the weight of the electrode member can be reduced by about "400 kg" in the storage container 10 of the present embodiment as compared with the storage container of the comparative example. By reducing the weight of the electrode member, the storage container 10 of the present embodiment can increase the weight of the electrode member relative to the storage container of the comparative example.
As described above, in the electrode member 70 of the present embodiment, since the leakage current can be reduced, the voltage application device 90 can be reduced in weight. Specifically, as shown in fig. 6, the storage container 10 of the present embodiment can reduce the weight of the voltage application device by about "80 [ kg ], as compared with the storage container of the comparative example. As a result, the storage container 10 of the present embodiment can be reduced in size by about "480 [ kg ]" as compared with the storage container of the comparative example when viewed as the whole storage container.
On the other hand, in the conventional storage container, in order to obtain a higher effect by ensuring freshness of fresh food, etc., it is necessary to form an electric field having a higher intensity. That is, a higher voltage needs to be applied to the electrodes. In order to meet such a demand, a voltage pattern applied from the voltage application device to the electrode is provided with not only a voltage pattern corresponding to a low voltage but also a plurality of patterns such as a voltage pattern corresponding to a high voltage. To achieve multiple voltage modes, the capacity of the transformer corresponding to them is required. As a result, a plurality of transformers must be mounted in the conventional storage. This causes an increase in the weight of the voltage application device and thus an increase in the weight of the entire storage.
In contrast, in the storage container 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, since a more uniform electric field can be formed in the storage container 10, even if the number of voltage patterns is reduced, there is a high possibility that a sufficient electric field strength can be obtained. If the number of voltage modes can be reduced, the capacity of the transformer can be reduced. That is, the number of transformers 91 can be reduced. Therefore, in the housing 10 of the present embodiment, the total weight and the total volume of the transformer 91 can be reduced compared to the conventional housing.
Specifically, in the conventional storage box, as the voltage pattern to be applied from the voltage applying device to the electrode, for example, a voltage pattern set for every 1[ kV ] in the range of 2[ kV ] to 7[ kV ] is used, and a total of 6 voltage patterns are used. To realize the 6 voltage modes, 6 transformers are required in the voltage applying device. Therefore, if the weight of each transformer is "6 [ kg ]", the total weight of the transformer is "36 [ kg ] (═ 6[ kg ] × 6)". In contrast, in the storage case 10 of the present embodiment, the number of transformers 91 can be made smaller than 6, and therefore the total weight of the transformers can be made smaller than "36 [ kg ].
Similarly, if the volume of each transformer is "0.00594 [ m ]3]", in the conventional storage box, the total volume of the transformer is" 0.03564[ m ]3]=(0.00594[m3]X 6) ". In contrast, in the storage container 10 of the present embodiment, since the number of the transformers 91 can be made smaller than 6, the total volume of the transformers 91 can be made smaller than "0.03564 [ m [ ]3]”。
In the storage case 10 of the present embodiment, the insulating member 72 of the electrode member 70 is formed of resin. According to this configuration, the electrode body 71 and the insulating member 72 can be easily integrated by using the above-described manufacturing method.
(modification example)
Next, a modification of the storage case 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in fig. 7, the electrode member 70 of the present modification includes an electrode main body 71, a first insulating member 73, and a second insulating member 74. The first insulating member 73 and the second insulating member 74 are formed in a flat plate shape from an insulating material such as resin. The electrode main body 71 is sandwiched by a first insulating member 73 and a second insulating member 74. One outer surface 710 of the electrode main body 71 in the plate thickness direction is covered with the first insulating member 73 over the entire surface. The other outer surface 711 of the electrode main body 71 in the plate thickness direction is covered over the entire surface with the second insulating member 74. The insulating members 73, 74 are fixed to the electrode main body 71 by bonding or the like.
In this configuration, if the electrode main body 71 is sandwiched in the thickness direction by the first insulating member 73 and the second insulating member 74, most of the outer surface of the electrode main body 71 can be covered by the first insulating member 73 and the second insulating member 74. Therefore, the foreign matter is less likely to directly contact the outer surface of the electrode main body 71, and therefore, the occurrence of a leakage current in the electrode main body 71 via the foreign matter can be suppressed.
< second embodiment >
Next, the storage 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the storage box 10 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.
In the storage container 10 of the present embodiment, a plurality of intermediate members 60 shown in fig. 8 are used. As shown in fig. 8, the intermediate member 60 is formed so as to extend in the Y direction. The intermediate member 60 has a hat-shaped cross section orthogonal to the Y direction, and has a flat bottom portion 61 and a pair of leg portions 62 and 63 formed continuously from the bottom portion 61.
As shown in fig. 9, a plurality of through holes 610 are formed in the bottom portion 61 of each intermediate member 60. The positions of the through holes 610 formed in the intermediate member 60 correspond to the positions of the insertion holes 720 arranged in the Y direction in the electrode member 70 shown in fig. 3. By screwing screws or the like into the through holes 610 of the intermediate members 60 and the insertion holes 720 of the electrode members 70, which are aligned with each other in position, a plurality of intermediate members 60 are fixedly fastened to one electrode member 70.
A plurality of through holes 620, 630 are formed in the front end portions of the pair of leg portions 62, 63 of each intermediate member 60. By inserting rivets into the through holes 620 and 630, as shown in fig. 10, the intermediate members 60 are fixed to the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage container body 20. Therefore, the electrode member 70 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper wall portion 41 of the storage case body 20 via the plurality of intermediate members 60.
Even when the intermediate member 60 of the present embodiment is used, the same or similar operation and effect as those of the storage container 10 of the first embodiment can be obtained.
Further, by extending the intermediate members 60 in the Y direction, as shown in fig. 11, the plurality of electrode members 70 can be fixed to the intermediate members 60. Thus, for example, even when the storage case main body 20 is formed long in the Y direction, the electrode member 70 can be easily disposed on the entire inner surface of the upper wall portion 41.
< other embodiments >
The above embodiment can be implemented by the following embodiments.
The electrode member 70 shown in fig. 3 and 4 may be configured such that the electrode body 71 is surrounded by the insulating member 72, and the electrode body 71 may be fixed inside the insulating member 72 formed in a box shape by, for example, adhesion or the like.
In the electrode member 70 shown in fig. 7, the electrode main body 71 and the insulating members 73 and 74 may be integrally formed.
The structure of the storage body 20 can be changed as appropriate. For example, a plurality of storage chambers may be formed inside the storage body 20. The storage container body 20 is not limited to the structure having the door 50 on the front surface, and may have the door 50 on the upper surface. The storage container body 20 is not limited to the structure having the pair of door portions 50, and may have a structure having only one door portion or a structure having 3 or more door portions.
The storage 10 is not limited to a refrigerator, and may be a room temperature storage, a heating storage, a freezer, or the like. Further, a container other than the transport container may be used.
The present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples described above. As long as the characteristics of the present disclosure are provided, a technique in which a person skilled in the art appropriately modifies the above-described specific example is included in the scope of the present disclosure. The elements, their arrangement, conditions, shapes, and the like included in the above-described specific examples are not limited to those illustrated in the examples, and can be appropriately modified. The combination of the elements included in the specific examples can be changed as appropriate without causing any technical contradiction.
[ description of symbols ]
An S10 … accommodating chamber, a 10 … accommodating chamber, a 20 … accommodating chamber main body, a 61 … bottom, 62 and 63 … legs, a 70 … electrode component, a 71 … electrode main body, a 72 … insulating component, a 73 … first insulating component, a 74 … second insulating component, a 91 … transformer and a 92 … control panel.