JP2000097540A - Cooling storage shed - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the leakage of a refrigerant into a chamber to the utmost. SOLUTION: A cooling storage shed includes a metal inner box 31 forming a surface of a heat insulation box 1 located on the side of the inside of the shed, a metal outer box 32 joined with the inner box in a sealed state such that it forms a surface of the heat insulation box on the outside of the shed and further forms a sealed heat insulation space 36 between itself and the inner box, and a refrigerant piping 22 disposed in the heat insulation space. Continuous foamed resin 44 is filled in the heat insulation space, and the heat insulation space is substantially vacuum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling storage having a main body formed of a heat insulating box and a refrigerant pipe disposed in a heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional cooling storage will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional cooling storage. The heat-insulating box 01 of the cooling storage is provided in a space for heat insulation between the inner box 02 made of resin and the outer box 03 made of metal.
4 is filled and foamed. In addition, a refrigerant pipe 05 as a cooler is provided in the heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box 01.

[0003]

The joint between the inner box 02 and the outer box 03 is only in contact with each other, but is not joined by welding or the like. Therefore, the gas such as the refrigerant can be circulated from the space for heat insulation to the inside 06 and the outside of the refrigerator through the joint. Further, gas such as a refrigerant can pass through the resin inner box 02 and the foamed resin 04 and can pass therethrough. Therefore, a hole is formed in the refrigerant pipe 05 or the like, and when the refrigerant leaks from the hole, the leaked refrigerant flows out of the refrigerator 06 or outside the refrigerator. However, in recent years, it has been desired that the refrigerant does not flow out of the refrigerator 06 or outside the refrigerator.
In particular, the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant is flammable, and when the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant flows into the interior 06 of the cooling storage, which is an enclosed space, the concentration of hydrocarbons in the interior increases, and there is a risk of ignition.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling storage which can minimize leakage of refrigerant into the storage.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cooling storage of the present invention comprises:
The main body is constituted by a heat insulating box (1). The cooling storage box forms an inner box (31) that forms a surface on the inside (2) side of the heat insulating box, and forms an outer surface of the heat insulating box and has an airtight seal between the inner box. The outer box (3) joined to the inner box in an airtight state so as to form a heat insulating space (36).
2) and a refrigerant pipe (2
2).

[0006] In addition, the foamed resin (44) of the open cells is placed in the heat insulating space, and the pressure of the heat insulating space may be lower than the atmospheric pressure.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a cooling storage according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cooling storage according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heat-insulating box when the foamed resin is injected. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat insulating box when air is exhausted from the heat insulating space. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a welding state, in which FIG. 5A is a diagram of a welding portion between plates, and FIG. 5B is a diagram of a welding portion between a lid and a plate. 6A and 6B are explanatory views of the outer box near the refrigerant pipe penetration, in which FIG.
(B) is a bb cross-sectional view of (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view after injection of a foamed resin. 7A and 7B are explanatory views of an outer box in the vicinity of the refrigerant pipe penetration according to another embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view before injection of foamed resin, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view after injection of foamed resin.

First, the overall configuration of the cooling storage will be briefly described. The refrigerator-freezer serving as a cooling storage is of a direct cooling type, and its main body is constituted by a heat insulating box 1 having an open front surface. The internal space of the heat-insulating box 1, that is, the interior 2
A substantially horizontal heat-insulating partition wall 3 is partitioned into two spaces. The upper space is a freezing room 6, while the lower space is a refrigerator room 7. And the front opening of the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerator compartment 7
In a state in which the heat insulating door 9 is openably and closably closed and the heat insulating door 9 is closed, the interior 2 is a closed space.

The refrigeration cycle of this refrigerator is shown in FIG. 2, and connects a compressor 16, a condenser 17, a capillary tube 18, a cooler 19, an accumulator 20 as a gas-liquid separator and the like in order. Refrigerant pipe 21
It is configured by connecting with. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooler 19 is configured by a refrigerant pipe 22 that is arranged in a meandering manner in the heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box 1. Also, the compressor 1
6. The condenser 17, the accumulator 20, and the like are arranged in a machine room 23 outside the refrigerator below the heat insulating box 1. As a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle, for example, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant such as isobutane, pentane or propane, that is, an HC refrigerant is employed.

When the compressor 16 of the refrigeration cycle configured as described above operates, the compressor 16 pressurizes the gaseous refrigerant and discharges it to the condenser 17. The refrigerant is air-cooled and liquefied in the condenser 17, then flows into the capillary tube 18, and is decompressed, and then supplied to the cooler 19. In the cooler 19, the refrigerant takes the surrounding heat, and the temperature of the cooler 19 decreases. The low-temperature cooler 19 cools the inside 2 of the refrigerator. Then, the refrigerant in the cooler 19 flows into the accumulator 20, and the accumulator 20
, The liquid refrigerant is separated, and only the gas refrigerant returns to the compressor 16 again.

Next, a method of manufacturing the heat insulating box 1 will be described. The heat-insulating box 1 has an inner box 31 formed on the inner side of the box, and an outer box 32 formed on the outer side of the box. The inner box 31 and the outer box 32 are formed by sheet metal processing of a metal plate such as a steel plate (for example, a stainless steel plate).
Joint between the plates, joint between the plates of the outer box 32,
As shown in FIG. 5A, the joint between the inner box 31 and the outer box 32 is continuously joined by welding or the like, and an airtight joint 34 is continuously formed. An air-tight heat insulating space 36 is formed between the inner box 31 and the outer box 32, and the cooler 19 is provided in the heat insulating space 36 in advance.
Refrigerant pipe 22 is arranged in a meandering manner while being substantially in close contact with the inner box 31. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, two cylindrical metal collars 38 are provided on the outer box 32 at a portion facing the machine room 23. It is hermetically attached by welding or the like while penetrating. The hole of the collar 38 is provided with the refrigerant pipe 22 of the cooler 19.
Is inserted, and the tip of the refrigerant pipe 22 is guided into the machine room 23. Further, the outer box 32 is provided with an exhaust hole 41 at a portion facing the machine room 23 and a resin injection hole 42 at a rear portion.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inner box 31 and the outer box 32 configured as described above are placed with the front side down, and the injection pipe 43 is inserted into the resin injection hole 42. A foaming resin 44 such as liquid urethane is injected into the heat insulating space 36 from the injection pipe 43. This foamed resin 44
It is a communicating foam resin, which is liquid and hardly generates bubbles at the time of injection, generates bubbles over time, and after the completion of foaming, the bubbles are connected and solidified. The air in the heat insulating space 36 is supplied to the injection pipe 43 and the resin injection hole 42.
Between the refrigerant pipe 22 of the cooler 19 and the collar 3
8 and the air is exhausted from the exhaust hole 41. Then, when the injection and the foaming of the liquid foaming resin 44 are completed, as shown in FIG.
It is covered with a cover 46 made of a metal such as a steel plate (for example, a stainless steel plate) and joined by welding or the like. This joint 47
Are formed continuously along the periphery of the lid 46 and are airtight. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the gap between the refrigerant pipe 22 of the cooler 19 and the collar 38 is continuously and hermetically joined by welding 48 or the like. Further, an exhaust valve 49 is attached to the exhaust hole 41, and a suction pump such as a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the exhaust valve 49 via a hose 51. That is, the air in the foamed resin 44 is sucked out, the pressure is made lower than the atmospheric pressure, and a substantially vacuum is created. Thereafter, the exhaust valve 49 is closed, and the suction pump, the hose 51, and the like are removed.

Before the resin is injected, the distal end of the refrigerant pipe 22 of the cooler 19 is inserted without being projected from the collar 38 as shown in FIG. It is also possible. Then, after resin injection, FIG.
As shown in (b), another refrigerant pipe 53 such as the connection refrigerant pipe 21 is inserted into the collar 38 from the machine room 23 side, and is welded and air-tightly joined.

The heat-insulating box 1 thus constructed is raised and erected, and the refrigerant pipe 22 of the cooler 19 is connected to another device of the refrigeration cycle (for example, the compressor 16, the condenser 17,
The capillary tube 18, the accumulator 20, the refrigerant pipe 21, etc.) are sequentially connected. Further, a heat insulating door 9 is attached to the front side of the heat insulating box 1 so as to be freely opened and closed.

In the cooling storage thus constructed, a hole or the like is opened in the heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box 1, that is, in the cooler 19 in the heat insulating space 36, and the refrigerant in the cooler 19 flows into the heat insulating space 36. May leak. However, since the heat insulating space 36 is hermetically sealed by the metal inner box 31 and the outer box 32, the leaked refrigerant hardly flows out of the heat insulating wall, that is, the inside 2 or outside of the warehouse. Moreover, the pressure in the heat insulating space 36 is lower than the atmospheric pressure.
Even when the refrigerant leaks, the pressure in the heat insulating space 36 can be kept relatively low. As a result, when the refrigerant leaks, the pressure in the heat insulating space 36 becomes less high, and the refrigerant becomes
And leaking out of the refrigerator can be more effectively prevented. Further, the heat insulating space 36 is filled with the foamed resin 44, so that the rigidity of the heat insulating wall can be increased. As a result, deformation of the heat insulating box 1 can be prevented as much as possible.

Further, the inside of the heat insulating wall is in a state close to a vacuum, and the heat insulating effect is improved. Therefore, the intrusion of heat from the outside decreases, and the cooling efficiency improves. As a result, the energy cost required for cooling can be reduced.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the exhaust hole 41 and the exhaust valve 49 are formed in the portion of the outer box 32 facing the machine room 23, they are less noticeable. Thus, the appearance of the cooling storage is improved. In addition, the inner box and the outer box are made of metal, and an air-tight insulating space is formed between the inner box and the outer box, and a refrigerant pipe is arranged in the insulating space. And, unlike the resin, the metal forming the inner box and the outer box cannot penetrate the refrigerant, and the inner box and the outer box are air-tightly joined. The cooled refrigerant can be held in an air-tight heat-insulating space, and the refrigerant can be prevented from flowing out of the refrigerator or into the refrigerator as much as possible.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Within the gist of the present invention described in the claims,
Various changes can be made. Modification examples of the present invention are exemplified below. (1) The heat insulating material of the heat insulating box 1 is a foamed resin 44 having open cells.
However, if not specified in the claims, other heat insulating materials are also possible. For example, a granular heat insulating material can be used. Further, in the embodiment, the foamed resin 44 is urethane foam or the like, but other resin materials may be used.

(2) In the embodiment, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant is employed as the refrigerant, but the type of the refrigerant can be selected as appropriate, and it is also possible to use a CFC-based refrigerant. In addition,
The hydrocarbon-based refrigerant is flammable, and it is important to prevent leakage from the heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box 1 as much as possible. Therefore, the present invention is optimally applied to a cooling storage using a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant.

(3) In the embodiment, the cooling storage is a refrigerator-freezer, but other types of cooling storage are also possible. For example, a freezer or a refrigerator can be used. Further, it is also possible to adopt a form in which a cooler is arranged in a refrigerator. However, the present invention is most suitable for a direct cooling type cooling storage in which a cooler is arranged in a heat insulating wall, that is, in a heat insulating space. (4) In the embodiment, one resin injection hole 42 and one exhaust hole 41 are provided, but the number, shape, arrangement, and the like thereof can be changed as appropriate. Further, since the gas can be exhausted also from the resin injection hole 42, the exhaust hole 41 is not necessarily provided.

(5) It is preferable that the inside of the heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box 1, that is, the heat insulating space 36 is substantially vacuum.
When the pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure, a heat insulating effect and the like can be obtained as compared with the case of the atmospheric pressure. (6) The structure in which the refrigerant pipe 22 penetrates the outer box 32 can be appropriately changed. For example, two refrigerant pipes 22 can be inserted into one hole formed in the outer box 32.

[0022]

According to the cooling storage of the present invention, an air-tight insulating space is formed between the inner box and the outer box, and a refrigerant pipe is disposed in the insulating space. And, since the inner box and the outer box are air-tightly joined, even if the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant pipe, the leaked refrigerant can be held in the air-tight heat insulating space, and the refrigerant is discharged outside the refrigerator or inside the refrigerator. It can be prevented as much as possible from flowing out.

[0023] In addition, the foamed resin of the open cells is placed in the heat insulating space, and the pressure of the heat insulating space is
When the pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure, the bubbles of the foamed resin communicate with each other. Therefore, the air pressure in the entire heat insulating space can be easily reduced by discharging the air in the heat insulating space with a pump or the like. In this way, if the pressure in the heat insulating space is reduced, even if the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant pipe into the heat insulating space,
The pressure in the heat insulating space can be kept as low as possible, and the possibility that the refrigerant leaks into or out of the refrigerator can be reduced.
In addition, since the heat insulating space is closer to a vacuum state than the atmospheric pressure, the heat insulating efficiency is improved. As a result, the energy cost required for cooling the inside of the refrigerator can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cooling storage according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heat insulating box when a foamed resin is injected.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat insulating box when air is exhausted from the heat insulating space.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a welding state, and FIG.
Is a diagram of a welding portion between the plates, and (b) is a diagram of a welding portion between the lid and the plate.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an outer box near a refrigerant pipe penetration;
(A) is a cross-sectional view before injection of the foamed resin, and (b) is b in (a).
-b is a cross-sectional view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view after the injection of the foamed resin.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of an outer box in the vicinity of refrigerant pipe penetration according to another embodiment, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view before injection of foamed resin,
(B) is a sectional view after the injection of the foamed resin.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional cooling storage.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insulated box 2 Interior 22 Coolant piping 31 Inner box 32 Outer box 36 Insulation space 44 Resin foam

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cooling storage having a main body formed of a heat insulating box, wherein an inner box forming an inner surface of the heat insulating box and an outer surface of the heat insulating box are formed. Characterized by having an outer box joined to the inner box in an airtight state so as to form an airtight heat insulating space between the outer box and a refrigerant pipe arranged in the heat insulating space. And cooling storage. 2. The cooling storage according to claim 1, wherein the foamed resin of the open cells is placed in the space for heat insulation, and the pressure of the space for heat insulation is lower than the atmospheric pressure.