ES2663552B1 - Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

RECHARGEABLE MODULAR DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS

The invention presented affects the Section of Mechanics, Lighting, Heating of the International Patent Classification, Paragraph of Technology in General, Refrigeration or Cooling section with regard to compact portable refrigeration equipment for various uses, from the point of view of industrial view, in the manufacture of refrigerators and refrigeration equipment and their corresponding commercial distribution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention described in this document refers to the introduction of certain modifications that perfect the other two presented by the same inventor.

The first one, with the title Refrigerator device for food without energy source or ice corresponds to publication number ES 2454871 Bl, application number P 201200879 and granting date 23.02.2015.

The second, with the title Portable fridge with dockable refrigerator, without energy source or ice, was registered in 2015 with the application number P 201500342 without it having been published to date.

There are other antecedents that are mentioned in the previous documents that we relate to, although it can be anticipated that none of them solves the basic problem of refrigeration in the way that the inventor of the current document does.

- ES200899814

- ES2106976T3

- ES2289552T3

- ES2113908T3

- ES2296668T3

- ES2188161T3

- US20146953A (Kellogg John L) of 07/07/1936

- US2104466A (Marzolf George B) of 04/01/1938

- US 1993730A (Carpenter Walter E) of 03/12/1935

The inventor, in the process of preparation and development of prototypes has considered the convenience of introducing some modifications that improve the previous models, this being the reason that leads him to present a new document that includes such modifications allowing to optimize these models.

DESCRIPTION PE THE INVENTION

The invention presented in this document describes certain modifications that improve the previous two submitted by the inventor cited in the previous section.

The object of the invention is a modular device, applicable to any type of refrigerator, although, for reasons of clarity, focus on this document in a portable refrigerator with sufficient autonomy to be effective for about 48 hours. In the previous models, the reservoir containing the refrigerant product is installed inside the refrigerator, which implies the inconvenience of having to transport the assembly to the place of recharging each time that recharging is needed.

To overcome said drawback, the new model is designed in such a way that the coolant tank is outside the main body of the cooler having means that allow a firm and secure coupling on said main body. Thus, when a refrigerant recharge is required, first proceed to separate the tank from the main body transporting it, in isolation, to the recharge point with the consequent advantages of comfort, weight savings and volume transported.

Once the refill has been made, the coolant tank is fitted on the main body of the cooler, which causes the necessary physical connections to be established so that the cold generated by the progressive evaporation of the coolant it is transmitted to the interior of the refrigerator with the consequent cooling of the products it contains.

The inventor conceives a firm coupling between the tank and the refrigerator by means of some male appendages that are introduced into the body of the refrigerator, adding, in addition, a series of permanent magnets that optimize said coupling.

The operation is the same as that of the previous inventions with the particularity that, according to the needs, the number of connections between the tank and the refrigerator can be modified, which results in an added saving and in the achievement of a more efficient apparatus.

As a cooling element, carbon dioxide (CO2) is used, which is usually called dry ice or dry ice. It receives this name because although it looks like normal ice or snow, because of its appearance and temperature, it leaves no trace of moisture because its natural state is gaseous even at low ambient temperatures with its sublimation temperature of -78.5 ° C under pressure. atmospheric

Dry ice should be handled with caution (use of protective gloves), as it can cause burns due to excess cold. This property is used to cool the products stored in the refrigerator until it is sublimated completely, at which time a dry ice is required. recharge

Alternatively, liquid nitrogen could be used, which, under the pressure of one atmosphere, reaches -195.8 ° C but is not recommended due to its greater danger.

In general, the modular refrigerator of the invention can work with any liquefied gas, and its characteristics must be known in terms of the temperatures reached when passing to the gas phase in order to regulate adequately the temperature that one wants to have inside the refrigerator. .

Although, as noted above, the figures included in this document, as an inseparable part thereof, refer to a refrigerator of small size, the invention is valid for many other applications among which we can mention the following:

- Beach fridge

- Beverage cooler

- Bottle cooler

- Ice cream cart

- Drinks cart

- Transport of organs and medicines

- Refrigerators for boats

- Transport of cold containers (industrial)

- Refrigerators for trucks

- Aircraft cooling

- Catering

- Industrial refrigerators

- Industrial freezers

- Other types of refrigerators

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Four schematic figures are included that are considered sufficient for a good understanding of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2

They are sectional views in elevation (Fig.l) and profile (Fig.2) of the coolant tank. The following elements have been indicated:

1. - Coolant tank

2. - External housing

2.1.- Internal wall

3. - Insulating material

4. - Recharge valve

5. - Gas outlet valve

6. - Resistance of recruitment

7. - Anchoring appendix

8. - Magnet

Figure 3

It represents a side view of the coolant tank once it is fitted on the body of a refrigerator. In addition to the previous elements, the following is indicated:

9. - Refrigerator

10. - Handle

1 1 Thermo-conductive connection

12. - Metal sheet

13. - Door

14. - Shooter

Figure 4

It shows a schematic view from above of the coolant tank and the cooler in the coupled state.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED FORM OF EMBODIMENT

Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) that refers to the introduction of modifications that perfect two other similar devices conceived by the same inventor. The first, with application number P 201200879, published as ES 2454871 Bl, with Concession Certificate dated 23.02.2015 and the second one, with application number P 201500342, has not been published to date.

In the preferred embodiment presented in this document, it comprises a coolant reservoir (1) constituted by an external casing (2) and an internal wall (2.1) between which there is a filling of insulating material (3) having the cited refrigerant tank (1) a straight prismatic shape in whose upper face has installed two special valves one of which is the recharge valve (4) and the other is the gas outlet valve (5).

In one of the side faces of the coolant tank (1) has at least four anchoring appendages (7) existing in the vicinity of each of they are both permanent magnets (8) of high power of attraction such as neodymium.

Inside the refrigerant tank (1), through the filling of insulating material, two, three or more pick-up resistors (6) are installed, projecting slightly outwards in a truncated cone shape.

Said refrigerant tank (1) is watertight, this airtightness can be altered or by opening of the refill valve (4) or by the opening of the gas outlet valve (5), and its functionality is that of being coupled to a refrigerator (9) (Fig.3) whose interior is protected with relatively thick walls of insulating material (3) similar to that of the coolant tank (1).

To carry out said coupling as shown in (Fig.3) the refrigerator (9) has as many holes as anchoring appendix (7) has the coolant tank (1) being its situation such that a perfect matching of anchoring appendages (7) and cooler holes (9).

Said coupling is secured in a very firm way by means of neodymium magnets (8), the coolant tank (1) and the cooler (9) being intimately connected, with the particularity that, in addition, the pick-up resistors (6) establish a Perfect contact with the thermoconductive connections (11) inserted in the corresponding wall of the refrigerator (9) which extend perimetrally in the form of metal sheets (12) on the inside walls of the refrigerator (9) as shown in the diagrams (Figs. .3 and 4).

The assembly formed by the coolant tank (1) and the cooler (9) operates in such a way that the cold that is generated in the coolant tank (1) is transmitted to the cooler room (9) by thermo-driving in a process that is initiated by the sublimation of the refrigerant introduced in the refrigerant tank (1) through the recharge valve (4). The gas generated in the sublimation comes out through the adjustable gas outlet valve (5), generating a very cold atmosphere inside the coolant tank (1) that cools the pick-up resistors (6) which they transmit the cold to the thermal conductive connections (11) that, in turn, cool the sheets metallic (12) producing the final cooling of the products contained in the refrigerator (9).

Since the temperature that carbonic snow gets is very low because, as indicated above, it reaches -78.5 ° C, it is necessary to regulate the transfer of frigories from the refrigerant tank (1) to the refrigerator ( 9) since it does not matter that the interior of the latter is too cold. The aforementioned regulation can be done at the thermo-conductive connection points (11) when it is a refrigerator in full use or it can be foreseen in the design of the refrigerator itself depending on the use that is going to be given to it. Thus, in a beach fridge or in coolers of drinks or bottles where the temperature should be close to about 4 ° C few metal sheets will be installed (12) but if you think of an ice cream cart where the interior temperature should be around - 4 ° C, then the transmission of frigories should be increased by installing a greater number of metal sheets (12).

In summary, the invention has many possibilities using the same principle of operation and sizing of the refrigerator in accordance with the use that is going to give.

The great advantage of the proposed invention is that it is a self-contained cooling device that does not require being connected to the network during the period of use, being, moreover, portable, so in the case of the refrigerator shown in the drawings of this document can be easily transported for what has a handle (10) being able to have its contents by opening the door (13) equipped with the handle (14) although, optionally, the front door (13) could be replaced by a top cover folding or by a screw cap always taking care to design a good closing system to avoid losses.

When the modular assembly has been used for one or two days, the cooling tank (1) is removed by carrying it in isolation to the recharging point without the need to move the refrigerator (9).

As an additional advantage we can mention even the water saving since, as has been stated, the modular device of the invention does not require ice.

It is not considered necessary to broaden the content of this description so that a person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and carry out the object of the invention.

However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, so that it may be susceptible to modifications, being able to affect such modifications to the shape, size and / or materials of manufacture without it having an impact or suppose any alteration of the foundation of said invention. That is, the terms in which this preferred description of the invention has been exposed, should always be taken in a broad and non-limiting manner.

Claims (6)

1. - Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators that refers to a portable refrigerator with sufficient autonomy to be effective for about 48 hours characterized by consisting of two independent bodies materialized in a refrigerant tank (l) and a refrigerator (9) being constituted the coolant reservoir (1), which has a prismatic shape of substantially rectangular base, by an external casing (2) and an internal wall (2.1) between which there is a filling of insulating material (3), equipped on its upper face, of a refill valve (4) and a gas outlet valve (5) and on one of its side faces of at least four anchoring appendages (7) and as many permanent magnets (8), preferably of neodymium, having in its inner part, passing through the layer of insulating material (3), two, three or more pick-up resistors (6) projecting slightly outwards in a truncated cone shape. As for the refrigerator (9) is a rectangular prismatic container with a rectangular base, although it can have any other shape, one of whose side faces is provided with holes that are perfectly opposite the anchoring appendages (7) coinciding also the pickup resistors (6) with as many thermoconductive connections (11) inserted in the insulating material (3) of the refrigerator (9) with continuity towards its inner walls in the form of metal sheets (12) that run along said walls in a perimetral manner. 2. - Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators, according to claim one, characterized in that the refrigerant tank (1) and the refrigerator (9) are independent but can be coupled together. 3. - Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators, according to previous claims, characterized in that the number of metal sheets (12) is variable depending on the type of refrigerator. 4. - Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators, according to previous claims, characterized in that the refrigerator (9) preferably has a front opening door that is optionally replaced by a folding top or by a screw cap in the front or top position. 5. Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators, according to previous claims, characterized in that the refrigerant tank (1) is rechargeable and the refrigerant tank (1) and refrigerator (9) set is portable and autonomous during periods of use. 6.- Rechargeable modular device for refrigerators, according to previous claims, characterized in that the recharge (4) and gas outlet (5) valves are grouped in a single double function. I I