GB2210961A - Cooling devices - Google Patents

Cooling devices Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2210961A
GB2210961A GB8724207A GB8724207A GB2210961A GB 2210961 A GB2210961 A GB 2210961A GB 8724207 A GB8724207 A GB 8724207A GB 8724207 A GB8724207 A GB 8724207A GB 2210961 A GB2210961 A GB 2210961A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
hollow body
flexible member
under pressure
sleeve
cause
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB8724207A
Other versions
GB8724207D0 (en
Inventor
Richard Gatley
Ian Frederick Fox
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TEMEWORK Ltd
Original Assignee
TEMEWORK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TEMEWORK Ltd filed Critical TEMEWORK Ltd
Priority to GB8724207A priority Critical patent/GB2210961A/en
Publication of GB8724207D0 publication Critical patent/GB8724207D0/en
Publication of GB2210961A publication Critical patent/GB2210961A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/005Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies combined with heat exchangers
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/06Removing frost

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

A cooling device comprises a hollow body (6) moulded of plastics material by a rotational moulding operation, a refrigeration device comprising a generally U-shaped tube extending into the hollow body (6), through which tube in the use of the device a refrigeration fluid is fed, to lower the temperature of a eutectic liquid within the hollow body. The hollow body is caused to flex by an increase in the internal pressure thereof, such as by the application of additional eutectic liquid to the hollow body, to cause ice built up on the hollow body to break. Alternatively the hollow body may be enclosed by a flexible sleeve, which may in part at least be deflected away from the walls of the hollow body by the application of air under pressure, to cause ice which has built up on the flexible sleeve to break. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Cooling Devices" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to cooling devices, particularly of the kind comprising a body, and means to either deliver cooling fluid to the body, or to cool fluid contained within the body, heat being removed from the place being served by the cooling device at the surface of the body. Such cooling devices are hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified.
For example, cooling devices of the kind specified are used in vehicles to retain the transportation compartment of the vehicle, and the goods transported, at low temperature. Conventionally a cooling device comprising an elongate hollow body is utilised, which may be mounted in the transportation compartment and which is filled with a eutectic liquid (conventionally comprising brine) and through which a pipe extends. During charging of the cooling device a cooling liquid is fed through the cooling pipe from a refrigeration unit to freeze the eutectic liquid, which then absorbs heat from the transportation compartment over a period of time to retain the transportation compartment at a desired temperature.
Another cooling device of the kind specified comprises a metal body through pipes connected to which cooling liquid is fed directly from a refrigeration device, heat being withdrawn from the space served by such a cooling device at the interface between the exterior surface of the metal body and the surrounding air. Such cooling devices are commonly utilised in domestic appliances.
One of the problems of cooling devices of the kind specified is that ice tends to build up on the surface of the body, and must be periodicolly removed.
A number of ways of removing ice from the surface of the body upon which it has built up includes chipping, heating by the application of exterior heat, or by reverse-operating the refrigeration unit so that the temperature of the cooling liquid is higher.
According to this invention there is provided a cooling device of the kind specified, comprising a body adapted to be cooled by a cooling fluid, a flexible member, and means selectively operable to cause the flexible member to flex.
Particularly where it is arranged that the flexible member affords in part at least the primary heat exchange surface by which the temperoture of the place being served by the unit is retained at a low temperature, and hence affords the surface upon which there is a tendency for ice to build up, in this manner by causing the flexible member to flex, ice built up thereon may be caused to crack and either fall from the cooling device, or to enable the ice to be removed relatively easily from the cooling device.
Thus the flexible member may be provided on the outer surface of the body, said means comprising a delivery device to deliver fluid under pressure, such as between the body and the flexible member, to cause the flexible member to flex away from the body.
Thus the flexible member may be afforded by a sleeve which extends over the body, the delivery device being operable to deliver fluid under pressure between the body and the sleeve.
Alternatively the flexible member may be afforded by a double-sided sleeve which is mounted over the body, the delivery device being operable to deliver fluid under pressure between the sides of the sleeve to cause the outside of the sleeve to flex away from the body.
Conveniently the delivery device comprises a pump which is operative to pump fluid under pressure to cause the required deflection of the flexible member.
Preferably the fluid delivered by the delivery device is a convenient gas such as air, but may in certain circumstances be liquid, and if desired the temperature of such liquid may be raised.
Alternatively however the body is hollow and comprises plastics material, the flexible member defining one or more walls of the hollow body, conveniently walls at which heat exchange takes place with the air of the place being served, said means comprising a delivery device to deliver fluid under pressure into the hollow body to cause the flexible member to flex.
Thus conveniently the hollow body may be moulded, such as by a rotational moulding operation, of a plastics material which has the capability of deforming under pressure.
The invention is conveniently applicable where the hollow body contains a eutectic liquid, and means extending into the hollow body to cool the eutectic liquid.
Conveniently the delivery means may be operative to increase the pressure of the eutectic liquid within the hollow body, and particularly where the hollow body is non-circulor in cross-section, said means may be operative to increase the pressure by the delivery of further eutectic liquid into the hollow body under pressure.
According to this invention there is also provided a method of removing ice from the surface of a cooling device of the kind specified, involving the use of a flexible member to define a heat exchange surface of the cooling device, and means selectively operable to cause the flexible member to flex to an extent sufficient to cause ice thereon to be loosened.
There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of three cooling devices which are preferred embodiments of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.
In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE I is a schematic sectional view of the cooling device which is the first embodiment of this invention; FIGURE 2 is c schematic sectional view of the cooling device which is the second embodiment of this invention; and FIGURE 3 is a schematic sectional view of the cooling device which is the third embodiment of this invention.
The cooling device which is the first embodiment is in a form of a "eutectic beam", comprising a hollow body 6 of generally rectangular or cross-section which is moulded of plastics material by a rotational moulding operation, and a refigeration device comprising a generally U-shaped tube 8 extending into the hollow body 6, through which tube a refrigeration fluid may be fed. Within the hollow body 6 and surrounding the cooling tube 8 is contained a eutectic liquid, conventionally brine. Such a cooling device is described in detail in the specification at our copending Application No.
2180191.
In the use of the cooling device which is first embodiment of this invention, prior to use the device will be "charged" by connection of the refrigeration device to a refrigeration unit, which causes refrigeration fluid to flow through the pipes 8, to freeze the brine within the hollow body 6. The cooling device 6 is then disconnected from the refrigeration unit, and over an extended period of time the cooling device retains the surrounding atmosphere at a low temperature, as the eutectic liquid melts.
In general as this happens, ice tends to build up on the peripheral walls of the hollow body 6, which tends to insulate the cooling device from the surrounding air, and which should be removed at least from the majority of the surface area of the hollow body 6 prior to recharging.
For this purpose extending into the hollow body 6 is a delivery means comprising an inlet pipe 10, pump means 12, and a supply tube 14 extending from the pump to a storage tank (not shown) containing eutectic liquid.
In general ice will have build up on the walls of the hollow body 6 to an extent to which it needs removal ofter a period of time over which some at least of the eutectic liquid within the hollow body will have melted. Thus, the pump 12 may be operated to draw eutectic liquid from the reservoir, and to feed it through the delivery tube 10 under pressure into the interior of the hollow body 6, causing some at least of the walls of the hollow body to be deformed outwardly, causing the ice thereon to crack, and either to fall off, or to be loosened to such an extent as makes it easy for the ice to be removed.
In general the pump 12 needs to be operated only for one or a few short periods, subsequently allowing excess eutectic liquid to return from the hollow body 6 to the reservoir, at which point the pump 12 will be operative to prevent further liquid flowing from the hollow body 6.
The cooling device which is the second embodiment of this invention is similar to the first embodiment, other than the pump 12 to deliver eutectic liquid from the reservoir to the interior of the hollow body 6 is omitted.
Instead, a flexible sheath 16 which is in the form of an open-ended sleeve of a rubber or similar elastomeric material which at the working temperature of the cooling device retoins its flexibility. The sheath 16 is clamped at one end over the hollow body 6 by a clip 18, and at the other end is connected to an inlet pipe 20 extending from a delivery means afforded by an air pump 22. In operation, the air pump 22 operates to pump air between the walls of the hollow body 6 and the sheath 16, causing the sheath 16 to flex outwardly (shown schematically and in part in dotted lines in Figure 2) to an extent sufficient to at least crack the ice which has built up thereon, allowing the ice either to drop off or to be removed relatively easily.On operation of the pump 22 one or more times, the pump can be switched off, allowing the sheath 16 to return to its rest position, shown in full lines in Figure 2.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 3, in which similar numerals with the suffix a have been used to denote like parts, a sheath 16a is used which is longer than the sheath 16, and which is closed at one end. The sheath 16a is mounted over the hollow body 6, and is doubled back on itself to form two layers, similarly being clamped at one end of the cooling device by a clip 18a. The open end of the sheath 16a is clamped to the inlet pipe 20a of an air pump 22a, which is thus operative to deliver air to the spoce between the two layers of the sheoth, causing the outer layer to flex outwardly in an ice-removal operation.
It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been herein described in relation to use in the removal of ice from a cooling device of the kind known as a "eutectic beam", the principles of the invention may be utilised in relation to other cooling devices comprising a body which in use is maintained at a low temperature by the use of a refrigeration fluid, and on the surface of which in use ice builds up.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMS:
    I. A cooling device of the kind specified, comprising a body adapted to be cooled by a cooling fluid, a flexible member, and means selectively operable to cause the flexible member to flex.
  2. 2. A device according to Claim I wherein the flexible member is provided on the outer surface of the body, said means comprising a delivery device to deliver fluid under pressure to cause the flexible member to flex away from the body.
  3. 3. A device according to one of Claims I and 2 wherein the flexible member is afforded by a sleeve which extends over the body, the delivery device being operable to deliver fluid under pressure between the body and the sleeve.
  4. 4. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the flexible member is afforded by a double-sided sleeve which is mounted over the body, the delivery device being operable to deliver fluid under pressure between the sides of the sleeve to cause the outside of the Sleeve to flex away from the body.
  5. 5. A device according to any one of Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the delivery device is operative to pump fluid under pressure.
  6. 6. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the fluid delivered by the delivery device is air.
  7. 7. A device according to Claim I wherein the body is a hollow body which comprises plastics material, the flexible member defining one or more walls of the hollow body, said means comprising a delivery device to delivery fluid under pressure into the hollow body to cause the flexible member to flex.
  8. 8. A device according to one of Claims I and 7 wherein the hollow body contains a eutectic liquid, and means extending into the hollow body to cool the eutectic liquid.
  9. 9. A device according to Claim 8 wherein the delivery means is operative to increase the pressure of the eutectic liquid within the hollow body.
  10. 10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the hollow body is non-circular in cross-section, said means being operative to increase the pressure of the eutectic liquid within the body, and hence to cause the walls thereof to flex, by the delivery of eutectic liquid into the hollow body under pressure.
  11. II. A device device according to Claim I wherein the body is a hollow body of plastics material which contains a eutectic liquid, means extending into the hollow body to cool the eutectic liquid, wherein the flexible member is afforded by a sleeve which extends over the hollow body, the delivery device being operative to deliver air under pressure to cause the sleeve to flex away from the hollow body.
  12. 12. A method of removing ice from the surface of cooling device of the kind specified, involving the use of a flexible member to define a heat exchange surface of the cooling device, and means selectively operable to cause the flexible member to flex.
  13. 13. A cooling device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference (A) to Figure I, (B) to Figure 2, or (C) to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
  14. 14. Any novel feature of novel combinotion of features as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB8724207A 1987-10-15 1987-10-15 Cooling devices Withdrawn GB2210961A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8724207A GB2210961A (en) 1987-10-15 1987-10-15 Cooling devices

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8724207A GB2210961A (en) 1987-10-15 1987-10-15 Cooling devices

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8724207D0 GB8724207D0 (en) 1987-11-18
GB2210961A true GB2210961A (en) 1989-06-21

Family

ID=10625364

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8724207A Withdrawn GB2210961A (en) 1987-10-15 1987-10-15 Cooling devices

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2210961A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5445213A (en) * 1993-06-07 1995-08-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Heat accumulator for heat energy and cold energy accumulating system
GB2327751A (en) * 1997-07-23 1999-02-03 Zafer Muhittin Ure Thermal storage

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5445213A (en) * 1993-06-07 1995-08-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Heat accumulator for heat energy and cold energy accumulating system
GB2327751A (en) * 1997-07-23 1999-02-03 Zafer Muhittin Ure Thermal storage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8724207D0 (en) 1987-11-18

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