GB630550A - Improvements in or relating to storage rooms, such as silos or cellars, particularly for vegetables, fruit or cheese - Google Patents

Abstract

630,550. Storage systems; ventilating buildings. KALBERMATTEN, C. DE. June 19, 1945, No. 15640. [Classes 20(i) and 137] [Also in Groups VI and XIII] In a process of treatment of perishable goods air passes over or through living vegetable matter acting as a humidity stabilizing material and over the goods being stored and the temperature and' humidity of the air in the storage chamber are maintained substantially constant. A food storage room or cellar is connected by air-ducts 2 to humidifier trenches 3 filled with living vegetable matter 4 e.g. moss. The roof structure, shown extending partly into the ground, comprises a sheathing 12, hygroscopic plates 11 supported by wire-mesh 10, and a bin 14 containing living vegetable matter. The roof sheathing 12 is lined with living vegetable matter 13, through which pass uptakes 8 from the ducts 2. Flues 15 connect the room to the outside by way of the vents 18. The flaps 7 act in the manner of a three-way valve to direct the incoming air from the trenches 3 either horizontally into the room or vertically into the uptakes 8. The flaps 5 and 6 control the top and bottom openings of the trenches 3, and the flaps 16 and 17 control the bottom and top openings of the flues 15, the walls of which are of wire mesh. The boxes 20 containing the goods in storage rest on sleepers 19, between which are porous-tile evaporators 21 which may also contain living vegetable matter such as moss. In cool weather the flaps 5 and 6 are arranged so that air is admitted through the trenches 3 and the ducts 2 into the room, and the flaps 16 and 17 may be open to assist air circulation induced by the warmer air rising from the goods being cooled. When the atmospheric temperature rises and the humidity of the outside air decreases the flaps are arranged so that the incoming air descends through the trenches 3, absorbs heat from its surroundings and rises through the ducts 2 and the uptakes 8 into the top of the roof jacket 13. A considerable evaporating and humidifying action is induced in the bin 14, and since in such case all openings of the storage chamber 1 are closed this action keeps its temperature low. The hygroscopic plates 11 induce some adjustment of temperature and humidity. A double door in an end wall gives access to the storage room by means of a ladder. If desired, the humidity stabilizing material 3, 14 and 21 may be connected to a water supply. Liquid cooling sprays and mechanical refrigeration may be operated in conjunction with the storage room.