EP3002232B1 - Refrigerated container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cooling container with a body, which comprises a storage space, with a lid which is attachable to the body in at least two orientations and is designed to close the storage space at least as far as possible in the attached state. Such cooling containers are often used for the transport of articles to be cooled, in particular foods, pharmaceutical products, medicaments and similar products.

A problem with these refrigerated containers is that the temperature in the storage compartment of the refrigerated container often does not meet the desired requirements. Coolants in the form of rechargeable batteries are often used to cool the objects or foods to be transported. Depending on the desired temperature must in conventional refrigerated containers the temperature of the cooling medium to be adjusted, for example by paraffin batteries which is not fully possible, or it must be adapted to the type and quantity of the cooling medium. US 4,294,079 discloses an insulated container having a coolant receiving area for dry ice. WO 01/44731 A1 describes an insulated container with a coolant receiving area in the region of a lid. DE 201 08 553 U1 describes a mobile refrigerated container based on shrink-wrapped dry ice. FR 796 373 describes a cooling container with a coolant receiving area in a lid. GB 448 625 relates to an insulated cooling container with lateral coolant receiving areas. WO 2014/111788 A1 has an insulated container with a coolant receiving area in a lid for the subject.

Object of the present invention is to provide a cooling container, which offers the possibility of simple operation, to transport objects to be cooled at different temperatures with the same cooling tank and the same cooling medium or cool, as the preferred cooling medium dry ice, ie CO2 in a solid state of aggregation, to be used. Dry ice under normal conditions has a temperature of approximately minus 80 ° C (- 78.5 ° C) and goes from the solid state by sublimation directly into the gaseous state.

This object is achieved in a cooling container of the aforementioned type according to the invention that the cover and / or the body comprises a coolant receiving area for receiving a coolant, in particular for receiving dry ice, which is fluidly connected to the storage space, if the lid on the body in a first orientation is attached, and that the coolant receiving area of the storage space is fluidically substantially separated when the lid is attached to the body in a second orientation. In this sense, a fluidic connection can be understood to mean a macroscopic flow path, for example in the form of a specially shaped channel. It is also conceivable, however, a connection through a gas-tight wall, membrane, or the like. It is essential that the connection in one orientation of the lid is open and locked in the other orientation of the lid.

If a low temperature is desired in the storage space, then a cooling medium, preferably dry ice, is received in the coolant receiving area, and the lid is attached to the body in the first orientation. In this configuration, the coolant receiving area is fluidly connected to the storage space. Due to the fluidic connection, cold gas can pass from the coolant receiving area via the fluidic connection into the storage space and the storage space can be cooled convectively, ie by an inflow of cold gas, which may be cooled air and / or sublimated CO2. Particularly advantageous is the use of the cooling container according to the invention with sublimating cooling media, such as the already mentioned dry ice. Due to the direct transition from the solid to the gaseous state, the sublimated or gaseous cooling medium can flow directly into the storage space and provide the necessary cooling there.

However, if a less low temperature in the storage space is required, the lid can be attached to the body in the second orientation. In this orientation, the coolant receiving area is fluidically substantially separated from the storage space. This has the consequence that little or no gas can flow from the coolant receiving area into the storage space. The storage space is thus cooled only or mainly by heat conduction over a wall bounding the coolant receiving area. As a result, the temperature in the storage space is higher when the lid is mounted in the second orientation than when the lid is mounted in the first orientation on the body.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one channel, which is formed on the lid and / or on the body, extends from the coolant receiving area to the storage space, which channel fluidly connects the coolant receiving area to the storage space when the lid is attached to the body in the storage space first orientation is attached, and which channel is fluidly locked to a cover formed on the first locking portion and / or by a formed on the body second locking portion when the lid is attached to the body in the second orientation. The described embodiment is efficient and easy to manufacture. Moreover, the flow of the cooling gas into the storage space can be effectively channeled through the channel. A distribution of the gas entering the storage space can thus be influenced in a targeted manner by a corresponding design of the channel.

In the context of the invention is also when at least one channel which is formed on the lid and / or on the body extends from the coolant receiving area to the storage space and the channel at least one present in the lid first sub-channel and a second sub-channel present in the body and that a body side mouth of the first subchannel is arranged relative to a lid side mouth of the second subchannel such that the two mouths communicate with each other when the lid is in the first orientation and do not communicate with each other when the lid is in the second orientation. As a result, the fluidic connection between the coolant receiving area and the storage space is implemented in a reliable and easy to manufacture manner.

It is particularly advantageous if the cover-side mouth is arranged in a side surface of the lid and, when looking at the side surface in which the mouth is arranged over at least 50%, preferably 65%, in particular 80% of the length of the side surface extends , As a result, the cover-side opening simultaneously serves as a partial channel and as a feed opening for the coolant receiving area, so that the coolant can be supplied to the coolant receiving area via the cover-side opening. At the same time, a robust connection between the cover-side mouth and the body-side mouth is ensured by the described cover-side mouth, which acts as a sub-channel. The production of the body-side sub-channel is therefore possible with high fault tolerances and thus particularly inexpensive, and a fluidic connection via the channel is also present when the lid is not exactly mounted in its intended position on the body.

A development of the cooling container just described is characterized in that when looking at the side surface in which the mouth is arranged, a projection extends at least over the length of the mouth, which projection in a horizontal orientation of a longest extent of the mouth above or below the Mouth is arranged. The projection is a reliable means for interrupting the fluidic connection of storage space and coolant receiving area.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous if the cover is designed such that it cooperates with its two oppositely disposed side surfaces cooperating with a body-side guide web guide or has a guide web cooperating with a body-side guide groove, and that the cover-side mouth is located outside of the cover-side guide groove or outside of the cover-side guide web, or in a side cheek of the cover-side guide web or the cover-side guide groove. By way of interaction of the cover-side guide groove or the cover-side guide web with the body-side guide web or the body-side guide groove, a reproducible and stable connection between the cover and the body is possible.

It is also advantageous if a first visible side of the lid faces the storage space when the lid is mounted in the first orientation, and faces away from the storage space when the lid is mounted in the second orientation. Alternatively, it is advantageous if the first orientation of the lid differs from the second orientation of the lid in that the lid is rotated by 180 ° about an axis orthogonal to a lid plane.

A preferred embodiment of the cooling container according to the invention is characterized in that a body-side section of the channel or a body-side section of the sub-channel comprises a groove-like recess formed in a side surface of the body facing the storage space and open towards the storage space, which preferably extends from the cover when the cover is attached extends to a bottom of the storage space.

Through the channel section or sub-channel is an efficient distribution of the from the coolant receiving area ensuring gas to the bottom of the storage space, which ensures a uniform cooling of the storage space. It is also advantageous if the lid has a rectangular or substantially square outer contour in plan view.

It has also proved to be advantageous for the handling if the cover has an engagement recess at least on a first visible side and / or a second visible side. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cover on the first visible side and the second visible side each have an engagement recess, which allows easy opening and closing of the lid.

It is also advantageous if the body has substantially cuboidal or cube-shaped outer contours. A simple stacking of a plurality of correspondingly designed cooling container is thereby made possible. It is also advantageous if an integer multiple of the edge lengths of the base of the cooling tank corresponds to the edge lengths of a euro pallet.

It is advantageous if the body and / or the lid comprise a polymeric material, in particular a polystyrene-based foam, a polypropylene-based foam, a polyethylene-based foam or a polyurethane-based foam, in particular consisting of such. This allows a cost-effective production of the cooling container according to the invention. Moreover, the materials mentioned positive thermal properties, in particular a low thermal thermal conductivity, that is good insulation properties. Foamed polystyrene, which may contain additives, is understood here as a foam based on polystyrene. An example Such a foam based on polystyrene would be Neopor, ie foamed polystyrene with graphite. For the other foams mentioned (polypropylene-based, polyethylene-based or polyurethane-based) the same applies as just stated.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Kühlbehälters;
• Figur 2 eine Draufsicht auf den Kühlbehälter aus Figur 1;
• Figur 3 eine Schnittdarstellung des Kühlbehälters entlang der Linie III-III aus Figur 2;
• Figur 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Deckels des Kühlbehälters aus den Figuren 1 bis 3;
• Figur 5 eine Schnittdarstellung des Deckels aus Figur 4 entlang der Linie V-V;
• Figur 6 eine Draufsicht auf einen alternativ ausgeführten Kühlbehälters ohne Deckel;
• Figur 7 eine Schnittdarstellung des Kühlbehälters aus Figur 6 entlang der Linie VII-VII, jedoch mit Deckel in einer zweiten Orientierung;
• Figur 8 eine Darstellung entsprechend Figur 7, wobei der Deckel in einer ersten Orientierung gezeigt ist;
• Figur 9 eine Schnittdarstellung entsprechend den Figuren 7 und8 eines alternativ ausgeführten Kühlbehälters ohne Deckel;
• Figur 10 Der Kühlbehälter aus Figur 9 mit Deckel in einer zweiten Orientierung; und
• Figur 11 Der Kühlbehälter aus den Figuren 9 und 10 mit Deckel in einer ersten Orientierung.

The invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing show:

• FIG. 1 a perspective view of a cooling container;
• FIG. 2 a plan view of the cooling tank FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 a sectional view of the cooling tank along the line III-III FIG. 2 ;
• FIG. 4 a perspective view of a lid of the cooling tank from the FIGS. 1 to 3 ;
• FIG. 5 a sectional view of the lid FIG. 4 along the line VV;
• FIG. 6 a plan view of an alternative design cooling vessel without a lid;
• FIG. 7 a sectional view of the cooling tank FIG. 6 along the line VII-VII, but with the lid in a second orientation;
• FIG. 8 a representation accordingly FIG. 7 wherein the lid is shown in a first orientation;
• FIG. 9 a sectional view corresponding to the FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternative embodiment of a refrigerated container without a lid;
• FIG. 10 The cooling tank off FIG. 9 with lid in a second orientation; and
• FIG. 11 The cooling tank from the Figures 9 and 10 with lid in a first orientation.

A cooling tank carries in FIG. 1 Overall, the reference numeral 10. The cooling container 10 includes a body 12 and a lid 14. The lid 14 has a first engagement recess 18.

In the sectional view of FIG. 3 It can be seen that a second engagement recess 20 is arranged on an opposite side of the first engagement recess 18. In the lid 14, a coolant receiving portion 24 is arranged in the form of a tabular cavity. The coolant receiving area 24 extends approximately over 80% of a longest extent of the lid 14.

A storage space 26, in which the material to be cooled can be accommodated, is limited by the cover 14 and the body 12. A plurality of channels 28, of which only two bear a reference numeral in the present case for reasons of clarity, extend from the coolant receiving area 24 to a floor 29 of the storage space 26.

The channels 28 each have a first cover-side partial channel 30, which in the present case is formed by a part of the coolant receiving region 24. The channels 28 also each have a second body-side sub-channel 32 on. The second sub-channels 32 are arranged in a side face 34 of the body 12 facing the storage space 26. The respective second sub-channels 32 are formed by a groove-like recess 36 which is open towards the storage space.

The lid 14 has a first visible side 38 and a second visible side 42 and is in FIG. 3 attached to the body 12 in a first orientation. In this first orientation, the first visible side 38 faces the storage space 26, and the coolant receiving area 24 is fluidically connected to the storage space 26 through which the fluidically connecting channels 28. The fluidically connecting channels 28 are formed by the respective first sub-channels 30 and the respective second sub-channels 32.

The lid 14, which in FIG. 4 is shown in perspective, has a first cover-side guide web 46 and a second cover-side guide web 48. A partial region of the first cover-side guide web 46 forms a projection 52. The cover-side guide web 46 and the projection 52 are arranged on a first side surface 56 of the cover 14, in which an orifice 60 of the coolant receiving region 24 is arranged. The mouth 60 is arranged in a side wall 52 of the first cover-side guide web 46. A second side surface disposed opposite to the first side surface 56 bears the reference numeral 57. There is no fluid connection between the environment and the coolant receiving region 24 on the second side surface 57.

When looking at the side surface 56, with the first visible side 38 oriented downwards and the second visible side 42 oriented upward, the projection 52 is arranged above the mouth 60. The mouth 60 extends over a length of about 80% of the side surface 56, wherein the projection 52 extends over the entire length of the mouth 60 and protrudes on both sides in the direction of the longest extent of the mouth 60 via the mouth 60.

The in FIG. 6 illustrated body 12 of the cooling tank 10 differs from the body 12 of the cooling tank 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3 only by different outer contours.

According to FIG. 7 is the lid 14 on the body 12 of the cooling tank 10 - unlike in the following FIG. 8 - attached in a second orientation. An interrupted arrow indicates the reference numeral 68 and illustrates a directed toward an outside environment ("ambient") macroscopic flow path of a possible gas flow from the coolant receiving area 24. The projection 52 forms a locking portion 69 formed on the lid 14. A formed on the lid 14 on Barrier portion 69 adjacent part of the body 12 forms a formed on the body 12 locking portion 70. The formed on the lid 14 locking portion 69 cooperates with the body 12 formed on the locking portion 70 and locks the channels 28 fluidly. Due to the fluidic blocking of the channels 28, the coolant receiving area 24 is fluidically separated from the storage space 26 substantially, that is, there is no macroscopic flow path between the coolant receiving area 24 and the storage space 26 fluidic separation of the coolant receiving area 24 from the storage space 26 gas exchange between the coolant receiving area 24 and storage space 26 is largely prevented. Cold gas from the coolant receiving area 24 flows into the environment substantially along the ambient flow path 68 but not, or at most, only slightly into the storage space 26. A small residual flow of gas from the coolant receiving area 24, for example, flows through the material of the lid 14 from the coolant receiving area 24 into the storage space 26 when the cooling tank and in particular the lid 14 are made of a gas-tight material with a certain porosity, such as Styrofoam or other foamed polymers (generally a polystyrene-based foam, a polypropylene-based foam, a polyethylene-based foam or a polyurethane-based foam).

As already indicated above, shows FIG. 8 in contrast to FIG. 7 the cooling container 10 with the lid 14 in a first orientation. In this, the storage space 26 is fluidly connected to the coolant receiving area 24. This fluidic connection is illustrated by an arrow 72, which illustrates a macroscopic flow direction of a possible gas flow in the direction of the storage space ("bin-directed").

Based on FIGS. 7 and 8th the functional principle of the invention is illustrated most vividly. In the coolant receiving area 24, a cooling medium, not shown, is accommodated, preferably this cooling medium is dry ice. This is not shown in the drawings. The cooling medium cools its environment. This environment is for one the wall material of the lid 14, preferably a polystyrene-based foam, a polypropylene-based foam, a polyethylene-based foam or a polyurethane-based foam adjacent to the cooling medium, and the other the air surrounding the cooling medium. Is the lid 14, as in FIG. 8 shown attached to the body 12 in the first orientation, this cooled air or the sublimated gaseous cold CO2 (carbonic acid gas) can flow along the macroscopic bin-directed flow path 72 into the storage space 26. As a result, the storage space 26 is convectively cooled.

However, the lid 14 is as in FIG. 7 shown mounted in the second orientation on the body 12, the cooled air or the sublimated gaseous cold CO2 (carbon dioxide gas) can only flow along the ambient flow path 68 and does not enter the storage space 26. The storage space 26 is then predominantly by heat conduction and heat radiation cooled. It is then only a lesser degree of cooling of the storage space 26 is achieved than when the lid 14 is mounted in the first orientation on the body 12 and there is convective cooling.

In this way, two different temperatures in the storage space 26 can be achieved with the same cooling container 10 and the same cooling medium by the lid 14 either in the first orientation (freezing temperature in the storage space well below 0 ° C, eg. For frozen) or in the second orientation (Cooling temperature in the storage space slightly above 0 ° C, eg. For refrigerated goods) is attached to the body 12 and thus a relevant gas flow from the coolant receiving area 24 in the storage space 26 is either possible or prevented.

The principle according to the invention can be realized in a particularly advantageous manner by using a sublimating cooling medium, that is to say a cooling medium which, under normal conditions, passes directly from the solid to the gaseous state of matter. Here, dry ice has been found to be particularly suitable. In the sublimation of the cooling medium gaseous cooling medium is released in the coolant receiving area 24. The gaseous cooling medium then flows either into the storage space 26 or at least partially into the environment, depending on whether the lid 14 is attached to the body 12 in the first orientation or in the second orientation.

FIG. 9 shows one to the FIGS. 7 and 8th alternative body 12 having a first body side guide groove 74 and a second body side guide groove 76. In FIG. 10 is shown as the lid 14 on the body 12 made FIG. 9 attached in the second orientation. In this case, the first cover-side guide web 46 is inserted into the first body-side guide groove 74 and the second cover-side guide web 48 is inserted into the second body-side guide groove 76.

Due to the intermeshing of the first cover-side guide web 46 and the first body-side guide groove 74, the mouth 60 of the coolant receiving area 24 is largely closed. That is, there is neither a macroscopic fluidic connection to the storage space 26 nor to the surroundings of the cooling container 10.

Will be at the in FIG. 10 As shown embodiment uses a sublimating cooling medium, so gaseous cooling medium is released. Part of the liberated gaseous cooling medium emerges from the Coolant receiving area 24 via leaks at contact points between the lid 14 and body 12 from the cooling tank 10. Another part of the liberated gaseous cooling medium leaves the coolant receiving area 24 in the form of a gas outlet 80, which takes place through the wall material of the cooling tank 10. The gas outlet 80 through the wall material of the cooling container 10 is possible because the wall material is a gas-tight material, for example Styrofoam, which has a certain porosity. However, such a gas outlet 80 through the wall material of the cooling tank 10 is also possible with other materials, in particular with other foamed polymers. The exemplary embodiment of the cooling container 10 made of Styrofoam is not to be understood as limiting. The cooling of the storage space 26 takes place in the in FIG. 10 shown configuration mostly via heat conduction and heat radiation.

In FIG. 11 is the lid 14 - as opposed to FIG. 10 - attached in the first orientation. The first cover-side guide web 46 is inserted into the second body-side guide groove 76 and the second cover-side guide web 48 is inserted into the first body-side guide groove 74.

There is a macroscopic fluidic connection between the coolant receiving area 24 and the storage space 26. When a cooling medium, preferably dry ice, is received in the coolant receiving area 24, the operations are the same as those described above FIG. 8 described. The cooling medium cools its environment. This environment is on the one hand, the wall material of the lid 14, which is adjacent to the cooling medium, and on the other, the Cooling medium surrounding air. The lid 14 is mounted in the first orientation on the body 12 and the cooled air can flow along the bin-directed flow path 72 into the storage space 26.

Claims (13)

1. Refrigerated container (10) with a body (12) comprising a storage chamber (26), with a cover (14) which can be placed on the body (12) in at least two orientations and is configured, when fitted, to close the storage chamber (26) at least largely, characterised in that the cover (14) and/or the body (12) comprises a refrigerant-receiving region (24) which is fluidically connected to the storage chamber (26) when the cover (14) is placed on the body (12) in a first orientation, and that the refrigerant-receiving region (24) is fluidically substantially separated from the storage chamber (26) when the cover (14) is placed on the body (12) in a second orientation.
2. Refrigerated container according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one channel (28) formed on the cover (14) and/or on the body (12) extends from the refrigerant-receiving region (24) to the storage chamber (26), which channel (28) fluidically connects the refrigerant-receiving region (24) to the storage chamber (26) when the cover (14) is placed on the body (12) in the first orientation, and which channel (28) is fluidically blocked by a first blocking portion (69) formed on the cover (14) and/or by a second blocking portion (70) formed on the body (12), when the cover (14) is placed on the body (12) in the second orientation.
3. Refrigerated container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one channel (28) formed on the cover (14) and/or on the body (12) extends from the refrigerant-receiving region (24) to the storage chamber (26), and the channel (28) has at least a first part channel (30) present in the cover (14) and a second part channel (32) present in the body, and that a body-side opening of the first part channel (30) is arranged relative to a cover-side opening (60) of the second part channel (32) such that the two openings communicate with each other when the cover (14) is in the first orientation, and do not communicate with each other when the cover (14) is in the second orientation.
4. Refrigerated container according to claim 3, characterised in that the cover-side opening (60) is arranged in a side face (56) of the cover (14) and, viewed onto the side face (56) in which the opening (60) is arranged, extends over at least 50%, preferably at least 65%, in particular at least 80% of the length of the side face (56).
5. Refrigerated container according to claim 4, characterised in that, viewed onto the side face (56) in which the opening (60) is arranged, a protrusion (52) extends at least over the length of the opening (60), which protrusion (52) is arranged above or below the opening (60) when a longest extension of the opening (60) is oriented horizontally.
6. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that on both its opposing side faces (56, 57), the cover (14) has a guide groove cooperating with a body-side guide web, or a guide web (46, 48) cooperating with a body-side guide groove (74, 76), and that the cover-side opening (60) is situated outside the cover-side guide groove or outside the cover-side guide web (46, 48), or is arranged in a side cheek of the cover-side guide web (46, 48) or the cover-side guide groove.
7. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a first visible side (38) of the cover (14) faces the storage compartment (26) when the cover (14) is placed in the first orientation, and faces away from the storage compartment (26) when the cover (14) is placed in the second orientation.
8. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the first orientation of the cover (14) differs from the second orientation in that the cover (14) is rotated by 180º about an axis running orthogonally to a cover plane.
9. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a body-side portion of a channel (28) comprises a groove-like recess (36) which is formed in a side face (34) of the body (12) facing the storage compartment (26) and is open towards the storage compartment (26), which recess extends preferably from the cover (14) to a base (29) of the storage compartment (26) when the cover (14) is in position.
10. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover (14) in top view has a rectangular or substantially square outer contour.
11. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover (14) has a handle depression (18, 20) at least on a first visible side (38) and/or on a second visible side (42), preferably the cover has a handle depression (18, 20) both on the first visible side (38) and on the second visible side (42).
12. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (12) has a substantially cuboid or cubic outer contour.
13. Refrigerated container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (12) and/or the cover (14) comprises, in particular consists of, a polymer material, in particular a polystyrene-based foam, a polypropylene-based foam, a polyethylene-based foam or a polyurethane-based foam.

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