EP1848944A1

EP1848944A1 - Modular cooling assembly for chilled material stored in storage containers

Info

Publication number: EP1848944A1
Application number: EP06707055A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Theodor WÄHNING
Original assignee: Waeco International GmbH
Current assignee: Waeco International GmbH
Priority date: 2005-02-18
Filing date: 2006-02-17
Publication date: 2007-10-31
Also published as: DE502006001357D1; EP1706691A1; DE202005002736U1; WO2006087148A1; EP1706691B1; WO2006087215A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular cooling assembly for chilled material that is stored in storage containers, especially a beverage case. Said modular cooling assembly comprises at least one intrinsically rigid heat-insulating envelope module that is open at the bottom and is used for at least partly surrounding or fully accommodating at least one storage container, and at least one active or passive cooling element (20; 30) which is received in a wall breakthrough (15) of the heat-insulating envelope module (10A-10D). The lower edge of the envelope module (10A) that is open at the bottom stands directly on a base (9) which supports the storage container or on at least one additional, intrinsically rigid heat-insulating envelope module (10B) which is designed particularly as a bottom module or a receiving module. Several beverage cases (5, 6, 7) can be stacked and cooled on top of each other and are surrounded by a correspondingly large number of envelope modules that can be stacked on top of one another.

Description

Modular cooling arrangement for stored in storage containers refrigerated goods

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a modular cooling arrangement for stored in storage containers refrigerated goods, such as stored in boxes beverage containers or transport boxes for chunk refrigerated goods.

Technical background

For cooling larger quantities of drinks, especially in smaller events where professional large refrigerators are not available and the use of refrigerators for lack of mobility and lack of opportunity to accommodate larger containers exudes heat insulated boxes are known whose capacity is adapted to the inclusion of a whole beer box.

From DE 75 19163 U 1, such a cold box made of rigid foam is known, which consists of two identical half-boxes, the edges of which for pairwise cooperation are formed. Another Bierkastenkühlbox is known from DE 203 14 592 U1, according to which an open-top box of insulating material has the internal size for receiving a beer crate, with a corresponding lid closes the cooler and both the loading with a whole beer crate and the Ent- would take permitted by beer bottles. Finally, under the name "IsoTitan" a cool box according to DE 203 14 592 U1 is known in which the box base has a known for coolers so-called inliner and in which in the pivotable lid in addition a thermoelectric cooling element is arranged in a corresponding cover opening.

While the non-refrigerated boxes necessitate the use of cold packs or the like, as e.g. from DE 200 12 229 U1 are known, the actively coolable beer box coolers on the market are relatively expensive or underachieving and otherwise completely inflexible, since they are designed precisely for a single beer crate of a certain size.

invention description

Based on this, the present invention seeks to provide a particularly inexpensive cooling arrangement for crates or crates for lumpy chilled goods and the like. Preference is given to a cooling arrangement which is as versatile as possible. It is also desirable to improve the cooling efficiency as much as possible.

This object is achieved by a modular cooling arrangement of the type mentioned above, which consists of at least one below open, inherently rigid heat-insulating jacket module for at least partial coverage or complete reception of at least one storage container and further comprising at least one cooling element receiving opening of the heat-insulating jacket module wherein a lower edge of the bottom open jacket module directly on a support container supporting the base and / or on at least one further in

- 2 - rigid, as a floor module or as a receiving module designed heat-insulating jacket module can be placed.

Due to the modular design of the cooling arrangement an exceptionally inexpensive production is possible. The bottom open jacket module, which also accommodates the cooling element in itself, is simply slipped over the storage container to be cooled.

It is now possible in various ways to design modular cooling arrangements on the basis of the aforementioned basic idea:

In a first embodiment, a one-piece or multi-part, downwardly rigid, heat-insulating jacket module has the form of an upside down box in which at least one cooling element is located in the "box bottom" or at least one of the side walls The use or non-use of such a further jacket module depends on the one hand on the degree of cooling desired and on the other hand on the need for housing / Recording of further elements of the modular cooling arrangement.

In another embodiment, which can also be used in combination with the first-mentioned embodiment, the cooling arrangement consists of a plurality of inherently rigid heat-insulating jacket modules which are stackable such that a useful space of variable size is formed. As a result, by adding further jacket modules, the cooling space can accommodate a second or further storage conditions, e.g. Beverage boxes, size-adapted to be expanded.

In a further embodiment, an air jacket is left between the housing for the storage container and the storage container and with at least

- 3 - least a cooling element provided which is arranged for cooling the air jacket in an opening of the sheath. The sheath has at least one upper, preferably lower open, inherently rigid, heat-insulating sheath module for partially covering or sheathing the at least one storage container. In this way, the at least one - hereinafter referred to simply as a beverage crate - storage container with a double heat insulating layer covered, which consists of at least one outer rigid jacket module with heat insulating properties and an air layer, said air layer is cooled, that is, they are not only slows down the heat from the outside slows but also removes heat from the beverage box and its content and this emits heat to the surrounding atmosphere or a passive cold storage by means of the cooling element via the opening of the heat-insulating jacket receiving the cooling element. In this case, a simple structure and ease of handling is preferably achieved by a rigidly heat-insulating upper sheath module, which allows the not quite light beverage crate first to be placed on a suitable base or a suitable substructure and then a heat-insulating hood-like, as upper sheath module designated coat to put over the beverage box.

By providing an air jacket with an over the surface of the beverage crate, but at least over one of its side surfaces substantially equal distance to the inner surface of the at least one cladding module and thus a substantially uniformly thick air jacket is in connection with the arrangement of the cooling element in an opening the heat-insulating jacket already reaches a certain heat circulation via the air jacket and the beverage crate. This desired effect is further enhanced if the cooling element is inserted in the lid region or in the bottom region of the casing, in particular centrically. An installation in a side wall is especially for several stacked crates of advantage. A particularly effective cooling of the beverage crate arises from the fact that recirculating air circulation means for the air jacket or the free interior

- 4 - space of the sheath are provided. As such, preferably a fan is used on the cold side of the cooling element. In the absence of appreciable perforations of the heat-insulating jacket, the fan draws air from the air jacket, leads it over the cold side of the cooling element and returns it to the air jacket. In the air jacket thereby a circulation flow is built up. Such circulating air circulation means are particularly advantageous if, for reasons to be described below, the cooling element is arranged in contrast to the usual practice in the bottom or side wall area instead of in the cover area of the sheath. To reduce so-called short-circuit currents and intensify a circulation flow in the air jacket, flow guidance elements can be provided which circulate the cooled air around the beverage crate and over a cooling surface of the cooling element so that as many surface areas of the beverage crate as possible are coated by the cooled circulating air jacket.

As will be understood, the various circulating air circulating elements of the cooling air need not necessarily have a sealing effect, i. e.g. close to adjacent elements abut to fulfill their function - certain leaks and thus possibly connected short-circuit currents are harmless as long as the desired ventilation flow path in cross-section are greater than the path of a possible short-circuit flow.

In order to facilitate the interchangeability of an empty against a full or a cooled against an uncooled beverage crate, the upper sheath module or the lid may be free of cooling elements. Instead, the cooling elements are seated in side walls of the jacket modules or a lower jacket module (base module) is provided for receiving the cooling element. When the latter, as preferred, is an active cooling element, the floor module is designed to allow thermally-separated reception of the hot side and the cold side of an active cooling element. For this purpose, the floor module is preferably designed in two parts. The upper, cold side receiving part of the floor module can be heat insulated.

- 5 - Run in a particularly preferred embodiment, a provided below the beverage cooler part of the circulating air jacket. The hot side of the cooling element receiving part in the bottom group is usually not thermally insulated and can also serve for further inclusion of heat dissipating assemblies or accessories to the cooling element, such as an AC / DC converter, electrical switching elements and / or a socket for to record an external power supply.

Particularly effective as well as space-saving and compact is an active cooling element, which is made of a thermoelectric element, a heat exchanger on its hot and cold side and a fan for cooling on the cold side and a fan for heat dissipation on the hot side in a sandwich arrangement , In this case, the heat exchangers on both sides of the thermoelectric element and the fans are in each case at the opposite outer side with respect to the thermoelectric element at the top or bottom, if a vertical arrangement is desired. Such a cooling arrangement can also be used as a complete assembly (compact unit) detachably or permanently as a whole in a cross-section-adapted sheath passage. This type of use is particularly advantageous for insertion into a side wall and / or in the cover part of the at least one jacket module. The sheath modules can in any case be manufactured as extremely inexpensive thermal insulation parts and exchanged quickly, e.g. if they have become unsightly or if the use is desired for a slightly different beverage box shape or size. But even in individually shaped Wärmeisolierummantelungen that take one or more storage containers, such compact units are advantageously used. Likewise, a plurality of such compact units at any point of the heat-insulating Ummante- ment, ie also in side wall areas of each jacket module extremely useful.

- 6 - A further handling simplification for the sheath module results from a magnet arrangement for mutual holding in position of adjacent sheath modules. This eliminates mechanical locking elements. Such a magnet arrangement is also particularly advantageous from an aesthetic and hygienic point of view. Alternative retaining means are, for example, corresponding, in particular integrated, latching means of adjacent jacket modules. When cooling the beverage box accumulating condensate is discharged as usual to the outside. To increase the efficiency of the cooling air circulation, an intermediate floor may be provided for placing a beverage crate within the casing, which has cooling air outlets, which may in part take over the function of flow guide elements in the floor area.

To optimize the efficiency of a circulation flow in the air jacket of Kühlanorndung the cooling jacket is divided into offset to each other arranged cooling channels or it is formed a circumferential cooling channel. A crosswise cooling channel arrangement has proved particularly advantageous, in which two cooling channels provided for upward cooling air flow are arranged offset by 90 ° relative to two cooling channels provided for downward cooling air flows. While the air deflection in the head or bottom area is very effective even without special aids, the air deflection in the jacket area having the cooling element preferably takes place in such a way that the air flowing in to the cooling element is deflected to the cooling ribs of a heat exchanger. For this purpose, the air is diverted from the incoming air cooling ducts at their ends, so that e.g. she strokes under the container bottom of the drinks box along. This purpose is served with an upstanding spacer elements, such as ribs, provided on its upper side Zwischenbo-. The cooling channels for incoming air open into centrally arranged cooling air passages of a cold air blower. This fan, centrally located on one side of a finned heat exchanger, pushes this air through spaces between the fins. From at least one of their front ends it enters the cooling channels for outflowing cooling air. On an opposite side of the beverage cooler, the circulation path of the cooling air closes. A circulating cooling air

- 7 - management allows an unexpectedly economical use of thermoelectric cooling in its efficiency.

A housed active cooling module can be inserted into at least one arbitrary position in an opening of any heat protection jacket and is of independent inventive importance.

In order to operate the modular cooling arrangement without an external electrical voltage source, at least one accumulator can be accommodated in an opening of a jacket module. In addition, a device for recharging the accumulator can be arranged in the same or a further recess. As a result, a self-sufficient cooling arrangement is created, which, despite pleasing shape design, meets the thermal conditions of accumulators.

A removal of cooled product from the cooling arrangement can be achieved by a separate removal opening in a jacket module, e.g. in the form of a further opening of the heat-insulating jacket module, which is optionally formed lockable. Alternatively, a heat-insulated lid with or without hinges can be used for opening / closing. A particularly high application flexibility is achieved if the cooling element, an accumulator and / or removal closure can be detachably inserted into an opening of a heat-insulating jacket module. If, in this case, the openings can optionally accommodate at least two of the modules cooling element, accumulator or removal closure, the flexibility of use is further increased.

When the passive cooling module is an assembly of an evaporator vessel and a fluid reservoir connected thereto in fluid communication with a porous storage medium, such as zeolite, for liquid vaporized in the vessel, relatively high cooling efficiency can be achieved with comparatively long reservoir discharge, i. with a long service life, can be achieved. Both the

- 8th - Both the steamer container and the storage container can be formed plate-shaped relatively large, the evaporator container can cover a whole or even all wall surfaces of a jacket module - possibly with wall distance - areal, so that even without active circulation means rapid cooling or a longer cooling attitude of a relatively bulky beverage crates and the beverage container therein can be achieved. If the plate-shaped container integrated into the inner or outer walls of a cooling module, in particular in wall recesses - as preferred, but not mandatory, without spacing - are included or embedded, thereby the cooling efficiency and handling favors. In particular, it is possible to combine any jacket module in this way with a passive cooling module to form a structural unit and, independently of other jacket modules, to form a self-sufficient cooling and insulating module. Although it is possible to separate such a jacket module from its passive cooling element in principle, in principle, for example, in the event of wear or mechanical damage to the heat insulating material, the insulating part can be exchanged. However, it is advantageous for practical use to leave the integration of the two components to a functional unit permanently.

In the passive cooling also known as zeolite cooling technology, the effect is utilized that a large number of different highly porous minerals of natural or synthetic origin have a very high affinity for water vapor or another liquid and store it in eagerly appreciable quantities, so that above one Water reservoir existing water vapor, which is in flow communication with the zeolite, is taken so violent that due to the high evaporative cooling of the rest of the water reservoir strongly cools and freezes to ice. This process can be controlled by providing a valve that is in fluid communication between the fluid storage vessel and the water evaporator vessel. The cooling process is therefore interruptible and re-startable without loss of energy. While in this process phase the water or other suitable liquid e.g. cooled down to -20 °, heated

- 9 - the zeolite in its storage tank on eg + 50 ° to 13O ⁰ C. This heat is released through the outer surface of the storage container to the atmosphere. It may therefore be advantageous to thermally space the storage container with a lateral spacing to form an air cushion from the outer skin of the jacket module to which it is assigned.

When the adsorption capacity of the zeolite for the vapor is exhausted, the zeolite must be regenerated. This is done by supplying heat via the wall of the storage vessel or by internal heating, for example an elec- generic resistance heating, to a temperature in a range of, for example 100 to 300 ⁰ C. The completely or partially saturated with water first zeolite gives the stored water by evaporation again. This water vapor returns via the fluidic flow connection in the evaporator vessel, where it condenses to water. The resulting heat of condensation is released to the atmosphere via the jacket surfaces of the evaporator vessel. During the regeneration or recharge phase of this passive cooling module, care must be taken that the heat of condensation inside the jacket module is dissipated when it is completely empty. The zeolite cooling allows large numbers of cycles, since the reversibility of this process described above extremely high and even at several 1000 cycles no structural changes of the zeolite occur - at least as long as working conditions such as the effect of pressure and temperature does not exceed certain limits.

The above-mentioned as well as the claimed components to be used according to the invention described in the exemplary embodiments are not subject to special exceptions in their size, shape design, material selection and technical design, so that the selection criteria known in the field of application can be used without restriction.

- 10 - Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, as well as from the following description of the accompanying drawings and table, in which - by way of example - several embodiments are shown. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1A: a modular cooling arrangement (box cooler) in vertical section for two beverage crates;

1 B: the same box cooler in side view (narrow side as in Fig. 1A),

Fig. 2A: an alternative embodiment of the box cooler of Figure 1A for three beverage crates in vertical section.

Fig. 2B: the same box cooler in side view (broadside);

Fig. 3A: another box cooler in broad side view for a beverage crate;

Fig. 3B: the same box cooler in vertical section;

FIG. 3C shows the same box radiator in a top view (view G-G according to FIG. 3A); FIG.

4 shows an accumulator module for use in one of the box coolers according to FIGS. 3A to 8 in a top view;

5 shows an alternative embodiment to the box cooler according to FIG. 1A in FIG

Narrow side view;

- 11 - FIG. 6 shows a further alternative embodiment to the box cooler according to FIG.

2A in broadside view;

FIG. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment to the box cooler according to FIG. 3A for a beverage case as well. FIG

8 shows an alternative embodiment of a lowermost jacket module 4B for

Recording at least one cooling module.

9 shows an active cooling module in perspective;

FIG. 10A shows the active cooling module according to FIG. 9 in a jacketed form as a compact unit (as used in the following figures) in accordance with view G-G according to FIG. 9; FIG.

FIG. 10B of the same active cooling module, a view from the hot side (top view with respect to FIG. 10A); FIG.

10C of the same active cooling module, a view from the cold side (bottom view of FIG. 10A);

10D of the same active cooling module, a device part facing the cold side heat exchanger, as shown in FIG. 10C with the cold air blower removed and associated housing part;

FIG. 10E of the same active cooling module, a device part showing the warm side heat exchanger, as shown in FIG. 10B with the hot air blower removed and the associated housing part; FIG.

- 12 - 11A shows a further alternative embodiment of a box cooler in vertical section with active cooling module inserted in at least one side wall of each jacket module, preferably a cooling module according to FIGS. 10A-10E, FIG. 11A showing a jacket module for a beverage case;

Fig. 11 B of the same box cooler a three-part jacket module for three beverage boxes in stacked form in vertical section;

Fig. 11C of the same box cooler a top view without a lid as well

FIG. 11D shows, from the same box cooler, a vertical sectional view of a modular cooling arrangement for two beverage crates in a stacked form, corresponding to the sectional plane X1 D-XL D in FIG. 11C; FIG.

12A shows a further alternative embodiment of a box cooler for zeolite cooling in vertical section;

Fig. 12B of the box cooler of Figure 12A, a jacket module without cover with integrated passive cooler in view from above.

Fig. 12C of the same box cooler an embodiment with two stacked side wall modules in vertical section with a cutting position

XII C - XII C corresponding to Fig. 12B ₁ and

12D of the same box cooler a version for three stacked beverage crates in the same vertical sectional view as in Fig. 12A - section corresponding to the section line XII D - XII D of FIG. 12B.

The embodiments according to FIGS. 1A to 12 are box coolers for coolably receiving entire beverage crates 5, 6, 7.

- 13 - It can be seen from FIG. 1A that two stackable shell modules 10A and 10B enclose parallelepipedal interiors 19, each sufficient to accommodate a beverage crate 5 and 6, respectively, with sufficient clearance and preferably leaving an air jacket 19A. The first sheath module 10A is subdivided into a cover area 10A and a side wall area 10A ". The second sheath module 10B is subdivided into a floor area 10B 'and a side wall area 10B". These areas each represent independent components which can be joined together via edge fits. In the area of their contact surfaces - preferably concealed - in pairs arranged parts of a magnet arrangement can improve the keeping together of the relatively light insulating modules. At least one roughly rectangular in plan view opening 15 in the lid portion 10A 'each receives a shape adapted to active cooling module 20, which is suitably supported on the jacket module 10A to bring its cooling surface in a best possible position to the beverage box 5. It can be - as shown, a known per se thermoelectric cooling unit, which has a very flat design and is also used variably by a specially designed housing. The cooling fans 2OD and 2OE on the cold side and on the hot side of the thermoelectric element 2OB are disposed laterally adjacent to the heat exchangers 2OC and 20C.

Figures 2A and 2B differ from the embodiment of Figures 1A, 1B only in that a third sheath module 10C is interposed between the sheath modules 10A and 10B. Because of the embodiments of the lid portion 10A 'and bottom portion 10B' separate from the sidewall portions 10A "and 10B", the third sheath module 10C may be shaped as well as the sidewall portions 10A "and 10B". This is a multiple-stackability given the accommodation needs of one, two or three crates accordingly. The same elements can always be used for cover area 10A, floor area 10B or the side wall areas. A limit is set at best by the stability or the cooling capacity of the cooling elements.

- 14 - Figs. 3A and 3B show how the same inherently rigid heat insulating sheath modules as used in the embodiments of Figs. 1A to 1B can also be used for a single beverage box 5. This can be done without having to use a floor area, because in this case the beverage crate and the sheath module 10A stand up on the base (floor 9). An alternative, not shown, is to use a jacket module with integrated bottom and movable lid. It can also be seen from FIG. 3B that one of the preferably several perforations on the upper side of the jacket module 10A can be closed by a removal module 50. This can be a simple cover with a handle 5OA (FIG. 3C), which, like the active cooling module 20, can be detached from the opening 15 and can be removed or has a frame with a flap. As a result, the content of the beverage box is accessible from above and thus the removal of beverage containers such as bottles or cans in a simple manner possible. If the one side of the beverage box is already emptied, the sheath module 10A needs only to be rotated by 180 ° about a vertical axis on the beverage box as to be placed. Alternatively, the active cooling module 20 and the removal module 50 can be interchanged.

Fig. 4 also shows a passive cooling module 30 with the same rectangular plan as the two aforementioned modules 20 and 50. Thus, a further utilization variant is given by cooling technology.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 differs from that of Figs. 1A, 1B in that a third sheath module 10C is provided and the second (lower) sheath module 10B is in one piece, that is, an insulating bottom and an insulating sidewall are integrally formed. And further, the second sheath module 10B is for receiving a beverage crate, or for receiving at least one cooling module, e.g. as described in more detail to Fig. 7 or for receiving an active cooling module for generating a circulating air circulation cooling from the bottom area.

- 15 - In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, which has a fourth jacket module 1OD, three beverage crates can be accommodated on top of each other and additionally at least one module serving for the cooling can be accommodated. The first sheath module 10A is in two parts and the second sheath module 10B is provided in one piece with a bottom with uprights 21 and could also be correspondingly high for receiving a whole beverage crate. The third and fourth sheath modules 10C and 10D are identical in construction to the sidewall area 10A "of the first sheath module 10A.

Fig. 7 shows a one-piece sheath module 10A consisting of cover and side walls. It can be used for the cooling of a single beverage crate with and - as shown - without heat-insulated bottom, so as in Fig. 9A, 9B, and also in all embodiments with additional sheath modules use.

8 shows by way of example a second sheath module 10B for accommodating a cooling module, such as a passive cooling module 30 and / or an active cooling module (not shown) and / or a recharge module 60 and / or a mains rectifier in a floor recess 16. As recharging module, a charger for electric storage batteries can be used, while a mains rectifier directly supplies a direct current operated cooling unit via an electrical power supply; or the recharge module has a dual function of serving as a charger for charging the passive cooling module or as a mains-powered DC power supply for the active cooling module. An insertable intermediate floor 22 can accommodate, among other things, uprising forces of the beverage crates.

FIG. 9 shows the internal structure of a compact cooling module according to FIGS. 10A-E for a variant without a housing. It has a sandwich structure and deflects on each of the two sides the approximately axially sucked to the fan axis air by about 90 ° to the two rib ends of the respective associated heat exchanger 2OC or 2OC, the heat exchanger on the hot side is greater than the heat

- 16 - exchanger on the cold side. In the middle of the sandwich construction is a thermoelectric element 28B. On the hot side of a well-known ribbed heat exchanger 2OC lies flat on. Likewise, in a known manner, a ribbed, but in plan view smaller, heat exchanger 2OC lies flat on the cold side of the thermoelectric element 2OB. The thermoelectric element may consist of the actual thermoelectric element and a heat conducting metal block connected in a known manner. A cold air blower 2OD and a hot air blower 2OE are sandwiched on the thermoelectric element 2OB opposing open sides of the heat exchangers 2OC and 2OC, respectively. The flow guide elements 23D to 23G shown in FIG. 9 for channeling the air flow generated by the fans are realized in the case of an enclosure, as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 10A to 10D, by the enclosure itself.

Figures 10A-10E show a in its sandwich construction and flow design of the active cooling module according to Figure 9 corresponding cooling module in a compact design, namely housed. In this form, the active cooling module can be used in wall openings of various cooling box walls. Preferably, the housing is cylindrical, wherein lateral flattening of the housing of the larger heat exchanger reduce the space requirement. A flange of the rest of the housing überkragender housing part for the larger heat exchanger can be used to rest on a perforated housing wall, the rest of the housing part is pushed through the Gehäusewanddurchbrechung. For this purpose, the housing part enclosing the thermoelectric element is equal to or larger than the smaller of the two heat exchanger / blower combinations in order, inter alia, to improve the thermal insulation. Such a compact unit is particularly easy to insert into e.g. circular housing wall hole can be used. For easy attachment of the active cooling module to housing walls of different thicknesses, a clamping element 2OG is preferably provided which can be slid over the smaller heat exchanger / blower combination inserted through the housing wall, and with the non-pushed-through, larger

- 17 - Ren heat exchanger / blower combination is clamped. The illustrated embodiment shows such a clamping element 24G in ring shape with lateral, the ring shape outwardly superior tabs 2OG ', through the through holes clamping screws 2OH, which penetrate the housing material usually the side of the opening, in the flange overhanging larger housing part with sufficient length tolerance can be screwed ,

According to FIGS. 10D and 10E, the heat exchangers are adapted to the shape and air flow in the interior of the housing for the purpose of optimizing their effects while at the same time requiring little space by means of polygons or (not shown) partially circularly shaped front ends.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 11A to 11D, active cooling modules of the type corresponding to FIGS. 10A to 10D are used. In order to increase the cooling efficiency, a directed circulation flow can be generated inside the heat shield shell. For this purpose, on the one hand, the inlets and outlets of the cold air blower of the at least one active cooling module can be designed or aligned accordingly. On the other hand, inside the jacket modules, e.g. web-shaped flow guide (not shown) may be arranged so that a preferential flow direction is formed in the remaining free air jacket 19A in the interior 19 of the modular cooling arrangement. Such circulation possibilities also exist in the preceding embodiments. An optimized cooling air circulation results from the fact that even below the bottom of at least the lowermost beverage crate, an air jacket 19A is maintained by appropriate spacing from the heat insulation casing.

FIGS. 12A to 12D show an embodiment of a modular cooling arrangement with an alternative passive cooling module 30, in which the principle of the cooling method generally referred to as zeolite cooling is used. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, a plate-shaped evaporator container is 3OD

- 18 - bent into a rectangular in plan view coat and in an inner wall recess 10E of a coverless jacket module 10A ", 10C ₁ 10B" arranged. This is preferably done in such a way that a self-sufficient cooling and heat insulating element, as can be seen from Fig. 12B, arises. This element can be handled independently of the other modules as a whole and used independently. The evaporator container 3OD is at least partially filled with a liquid, eg water, and has at its top a flow connection in the form of a short pipe connection for water vapor outside the jacket module, this flow connection opens into a likewise plate-shaped storage container 3OF, which is provided with a storage means 3OE for liquid Liquid vapor is filled, as with a zeolite. The flow connection may be controllable with a valve, if an influence on the time and the duration and possibly the speed of the cooling phase should be influenced. The function of such a cooling arrangement is known per se and has already been described above.

The choice of material for all sheath modules is essentially free of restrictions except for the fact that the material should be heat-insulating, so it will have a certain material thickness and that it should be rigid in itself, so holds its shape. For example, styrofoam molded articles or polyurethane foam molded articles can be used - be it coated on the inside or outside or also uncoated.

Thus, the invention allows in the simplest way to build inexpensively manufactured cooling arrangements for large containers in modular form and easily adapt to the particular needs, the manufacturing cost can be kept relatively low.

If a plurality of storage containers are accommodated in a single modular cooling arrangement, the interior space 19 forming the jacket modules is preferably continuous, so that all interior areas can be cooled together.

- 19 - In principle, it is within the scope of the invention to use the cooling or cooling holding arrangements as heat or warming arrangements by using active heat modules or passive heat modules instead of the active or passive cooling modules in a manner known per se. In that regard, it is known to use cold storage as a heat storage or replace with such or turn over or umzupolen thermoelectric cooling elements, ie, to swap the hot and cold sides with each other.

- 20 - LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

5 beverage crate 2OG clamping element

6 drinks box 2OG ¹ lugs

7 beverage crates 2OH clamping screws

9 floor 35 21 riot control elements

8 slides 22 intermediate bottom

8A Handle 22A / B Cooling air outlets

10 sheathing 22C ribs

1OA Sheath Modules 23A-G Flow Guides

1OA 'cover area 40 24 flow channels

10A "sidewall region 25A / B magnet assembly

1OB sheath module 26 drip tray

1OB 'floor area 26A drain pipe

1OB "Sidewall area 27A / B Cooling channels

1OC sheath module 45 28A-C housing parts

1OD Sheath Module 29A / B Air vents

11 Edge strip 30 Passive cooling module

12 edge strips 3OA heat protection cover

15 opening 3OB memory module

16 bottom recess 50 3OC holder

19 interior 3OD evaporator tank

19A air jacket 3OE storage medium

20 Active cooling module 3OF storage tank

20 'cooler housing 3OG liquid

2OA handle 55 3OH flow connection

2OB thermoelectric element 40 dummy materials

2OC, 2OC heat exchanger 50 removal module

2OD blower (cold) 5OA handle

2OE blower (warm) 60 recharge module

2OF housing

- 21 -

Claims

Claims:

1. Modular cooling arrangement for stored in storage containers refrigerated goods, such as stored in boxes beverage containers or transport boxes for chunky refrigerated goods, consisting of

a) at least one bottom open, inherently rigid heat-insulating jacket module (1 OA-D) for at least partially wrapping or complete reception of at least one storage container and

b) at least one opening (15) of the heat-insulating jacket module (1 OA-D) receiving a cooling element (20; 30);

wherein a lower edge of the bottom open jacket module (10A) directly on a storage container supporting pad and / or on at least one other inherently rigid, in particular designed as a floor module or as a receiving module heat-insulating jacket module (10B) is placed.

2. Modular cooling arrangement, in particular according to claim 1, for cooling at least one beverage crate (5; 6; 7).

3. Modular cooling arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by stackable jacket modules (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D).

4. Modular cooling arrangement, in particular according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the jacket modules (1 OA-D) has an inserted into a side wall active or passive cooling element (20; 30).

- 22 -

5. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an independent cover (10A ') is part of a jacket module (10A).

6. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cooling element is an active cooling module (20) or a passive cooling module (30).

7. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a memory module for the provision of cooling energy in the form of a

Accumulator for electrical energy or cold storage (passive cooling module).

8. Modular cooling arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by a heat protection sleeve (30A) for the passive cooling module (30) for its availability.

9. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in an opening (15), a blind plug (40) can be inserted.

10. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in an opening (15), preferably a handle (50A) exhibiting, removal module (50) can be used.

Modular cooling arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized by an electrical supply module such as a recharging module (60), e.g. in

Shape of a charger for electric storage batteries or as a power rectifier for DC power supply or in dual function for one or alternatively the other use.

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12. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the modules (20; 30; 40; 50) receivable by the aperture (15) are detachably seated in the opening (15) and are thus exchangeable.

13. Modular cooling arrangement according to claim (12), characterized in that at least two of the openings (15) insertable modules (20; 30; 40; 50) are suitable for selectively receiving in the same opening.

14. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a bottom-side sheath module (10B) has a bottom or top open bottom recess (16) for receiving modules for cooling.

15. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the at least one passive cooling module (30) from an evaporator container (30 D) and a fluidically connected thereto, with a porous storage means (30 E), such as zeolite, for in The evaporator container vaporized liquid (30G) filled storage container (30F) consists.

16. Modular cooling arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the evaporator container (30D) covers at least one of the inner wall surfaces of a jacket module (10A-10D) completely or partially flat.

17. Modular cooling arrangement according to claims 15 or 16, characterized by a jacket module (10A - 10D), the inner wall surfaces are circumferentially covered by an evaporation vessel (30D).

18. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized by at least one recess (10E) in at least one of the inner walls.

- 24 - surfaces of at least one of the sheath modules (10A-10D) for receiving a plate-shaped evaporator tank (30B).

19. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that a plate-shaped storage container (30F) of each passive cooling module (30) at least one outer wall surface of a jacket module (10A-10D) wholly or partially, with or without clearance , covered flat.

20. Modular cooling arrangement according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized by guides (10F) of a jacket module (10A-10D) for receiving a plate-shaped storage container (30F).

21. A cooling arrangement for refrigerated goods stored in storage containers, such as in beverage crates, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 20, with a sheathing (10) for the storage container, which leaves an air jacket (18A) between it and the storage container, and with at least one cooling element (20; 30) arranged to cool the air jacket in an aperture of the jacket, and wherein the jacket comprises at least one inherently rigid, heat insulating upper jacket module (10A) for at least partially covering or enclosing the at least one storage container.

22. A cooling arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the air jacket (18A) over at least one of the side surfaces of the storage container is substantially constant in thickness.

23. Cooling arrangement, in particular according to claim 21 or 22, characterized by recirculating air circulation means for the air jacket (19A) or the free interior (19) of the shell.

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24. Cooling arrangement according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterized by at least one flow guide for intensifying an air flow or a circulating air flow of cooled air to the storage container and / or a cooling surface, such as a heat exchanger (20C) of the cooling element.

25. Cooling arrangement, in particular according to one of claims 21 to 24, characterized by an active cooling module (20) consisting of a thermoelectric element (20B), heat exchangers (2OC, 20C) on the hot and cold side of the thermoelectric element and a Blower (20D) for cold discharge on the cold side and a fan (20E) for heat removal on the hot side of the thermoelectric element (20B) for each single or multi-sided heat removal from the associated heat exchanger, in sandwich arrangement as a built-in element or as a compact unit.

26. A cooling arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the heat exchanger (20C) of the cold side is shorter than the heat exchanger (20C) of the hot side.

27. Cooling arrangement according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the active cooling module (20) is housed.

28. A cooling arrangement according to claim 27, characterized in that a thermoelectric element (20B) enclosing housing part has no smaller cross-section than a one of the two arranged at its sides heat exchanger / fan combinations enclosing housing part.

29. Cooling arrangement according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that a via a heat exchanger / fan combination slidable clamping element

- 26 - (20G) with the other heat exchanger / fan combination enclosing housing part is clamped.

30. A cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized by a magnet arrangement (25) for mutual holding in position adjacent sheath modules (10A, 10B).

31. Cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized by an intermediate bottom (22) for, possibly with vertical spacing, placing a Aufbe- currency container, such as a beverage crate, with or without cooling air passages (22A, 22B).

32. Cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 31, characterized by cooling channels between the upper jacket module (10A) and the storage container.

33. Use of an arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 32 as a cooling or heating arrangement.

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