JP2012131548A - Beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a flammable refrigerant of a refrigeration device from accumulating in a lower part of a housing to a dangerous concentration to ignite, even when the flammable refrigerant leaks, in a beverage dispenser.SOLUTION: In this beverage dispenser 10, a cooling water tank 20 and a refrigeration device 30 are stored in a housing 11; the refrigeration device 30 is controlled to intermittently operate to form ice having a predetermined thickness around an evaporator 35 in the cooling water tank 20; refrigerant leakage detection means 37 to detect leakage of the flammable refrigerant of the refrigeration device 30, and diffusion means 32b to diffuse the flammable refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration device 30 to the outside of the housing 11 are arranged in the housing 11; and the operation of the diffusion means 32b is controlled based on the detection of the refrigerant leakage detection means 37.

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser provided with a refrigeration apparatus using a combustible refrigerant as a refrigerant.

  In Patent Document 1, a cooling water tank that stores cooling water accommodated in a housing, a refrigeration apparatus that is accommodated in the housing and cools the cooling water in the cooling water tank, and a beverage provided in the cooling water tank. There is disclosed a beverage dispenser comprising a beverage cooling pipe for cooling and a dispensing cock provided at the outflow end of the beverage cooling pipe for dispensing the beverage. In this beverage dispenser, the refrigeration apparatus is spirally formed along a compressor that pumps the refrigerant, a condenser that includes a cooling fan that condenses and liquefies the refrigerant pumped from the compressor, and an inner peripheral wall of the cooling water tank. An evaporator that cools cooling water by vaporizing the liquefied refrigerant that is disposed and sent out from the condenser is sequentially connected to form ice having a predetermined thickness around the evaporator in the cooling water tank. Its operation is controlled.

  In such a beverage dispenser refrigeration apparatus, R134a, which is an HFC-based refrigerant with little risk of destruction of the ozone layer, has been widely used. However, this HFC-based refrigerant is a substance that promotes global warming when released into the atmosphere. In other devices such as refrigerators, in recent years, instead of such HFC-based refrigerant, the effects of global warming have been affected. Isobutane (R600a), which is a small hydrocarbon-based refrigerant, is used.

JP 2007-0455503 A

  In the beverage dispenser described in Patent Document 1 as described above, when the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant as described above is used as the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus, the influence of global warming can be reduced. However, since hydrocarbon-based refrigerants are flammable refrigerants and have a higher specific gravity than air, if the flammable refrigerant leaks out of the refrigerant passage, it will become a dangerous concentration that will accumulate in the lower part of the housing or around the housing and ignite. there were. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cooling water tank that is accommodated in a housing and stores cooling water, a refrigeration apparatus that is accommodated in the housing and cools the cooling water in the cooling water tank, and is provided in the cooling water tank. A beverage cooling pipe that cools the beverage and a dispensing mechanism that is connected to the outflow end of the beverage cooling pipe to pour the beverage, and the refrigeration apparatus includes a compressor that pumps the combustible refrigerant, A condenser that condenses and liquefies the combustible refrigerant pumped from the compressor, and an evaporator that is disposed in the cooling water tank and cools the cooling water by vaporizing the liquefied combustible refrigerant sent from the condenser; Are sequentially connected to each other, and the beverage dispenser is controlled so as to intermittently operate so as to form ice having a predetermined thickness around an evaporator in the cooling water tank. Refrigerant leakage to detect leakage Provided is a beverage dispenser comprising: a detecting means; and a diffusing means for diffusing combustible refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus to the outside of the housing, and the operation of the diffusing means is controlled based on the detection of the refrigerant leakage detecting means. To do.

  In the beverage dispenser configured as described above, in the housing, refrigerant leakage detection means for detecting leakage of the flammable refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus, and diffusion means for diffusing the flammable refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus to the outside of the housing. Since the operation of the diffusion means is controlled based on the detection of the refrigerant leakage detection means, even if the flammable refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus, the diffusion means operates by the detection of the refrigerant leakage detection means. Does not reach a dangerous concentration where it stays in or around the housing and ignites.

  In the beverage dispenser configured as described above, it is preferable that the diffusion means is a cooling fan that constitutes a condenser. In this case, the cost of newly adding parts for the diffusion means can be suppressed. it can. In addition, since the cooling fan of the condenser operates when the refrigeration apparatus operates and when the refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus is diffused, the life of the cooling fan is longer than that when the cooling fan is operated continuously regardless of whether the refrigerant leaks or not. Can be long.

  In the beverage dispenser configured as described above, the diffusing means may be a blower fan further provided in the housing. In this case, the cooling fan is used like a water cooling type or a natural cooling type. Even if it is not, the flammable refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus can be diffused by the blower fan. Further, as compared with the case where the cooling fan of the condenser is used, the blower fan can be freely arranged in the vicinity of a place where the refrigerant is likely to leak or where the refrigerant is likely to stay.

  In the beverage dispenser configured as described above, as one embodiment, the refrigerant leakage detection means uses a gas sensor that detects the combustible refrigerant provided in the housing, and the diffusion means based on the detection of the combustible refrigerant by the gas sensor. May be controlled. In another embodiment, a pressure sensor provided in the refrigerant passage of the refrigeration apparatus and detecting the pressure of the refrigerant passage is used as the refrigerant leakage detection means, and the pressure sensor detects a decrease in the pressure in the refrigerant passage. A temperature sensor that is provided outside the refrigerant passage of the refrigeration apparatus and detects the temperature outside the refrigerant passage, and is provided outside the refrigerant passage by the temperature sensor. Based on the detection of the current drop by this current detector, the operation of the diffusion means is controlled based on the detection of the temperature drop, or the current detector that detects the current supplied to the compressor is used for the refrigerant leak detection means. Then, the operation of the diffusing means may be controlled.

  The beverage dispenser configured as described above further includes a notification device for notifying the leakage of the flammable refrigerant in the refrigeration apparatus, and when the leakage of the flammable refrigerant is detected by the refrigerant leakage detection means, the flammable refrigerant is detected by the notification device. It is preferable to notify the spillage of the refrigeration, and when this is done, it is possible to quickly know that the flammable refrigerant has leaked from the refrigeration system, and pay attention to the ventilation of the room where the beverage dispenser is installed and the use of fire. In addition, it is possible to shorten the period during which the flammable refrigerant is insufficient and the cooling capacity is reduced.

It is (a) sectional side view which shows the beer dispenser which is one Embodiment of the beverage dispenser by this invention, (b) It is a bottom view. It is the schematic of the freezing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the action | operation of the beer dispenser of 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic of the freezing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the action | operation of the beer dispenser of 2nd Embodiment.

  Below, the beer dispenser for pouring out beer as one embodiment of the beverage dispenser by the present invention is explained with reference to drawings. The beer dispenser 10 according to the present invention includes a cooling water tank 20 that is accommodated in the housing 11 and stores cooling water, a refrigeration apparatus 30 that is accommodated in the housing 11 and cools the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20, and the cooling water tank 20. The refrigeration apparatus 30 includes a beverage cooling pipe 21 that is provided inside and cools the beer, and a pouring mechanism 22 that is connected to the outflow end 21a of the beverage cooling pipe 21 to pour out beer. , A compressor 32 that condenses and liquefies the combustible refrigerant pumped from the compressor 31, and a liquefied combustible refrigerant that is disposed in the cooling water tank 20 and sent from the condenser 32. The evaporator 35 for cooling the cooling water is sequentially connected by vaporizing the water and is controlled to operate intermittently so as to form ice having a predetermined thickness around the evaporator 35 in the cooling water tank 20. Tama It is. Thus, the beer dispenser 10 diffuses the flammable refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30 out of the housing 11 and the refrigerant leak detection means 37 for detecting the leakage of the flammable refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 in the housing 11. The diffusing unit 32b (38) is provided, and the operation of the diffusing unit 32b (38) is controlled based on the detection of the refrigerant leakage detecting unit 37. Below, each embodiment of beer dispenser 10 is explained in full detail.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the beer dispenser 10 includes a cooling water tank 20 at the front part of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 11 whose upper surface opening is covered with a lid 12, and a machine room 11 a on the rear side of the cooling water tank 20. The refrigeration apparatus 30 is provided. A ventilation port 11b for ventilating (mainly exhausting) the inside of the machine room 11a containing the refrigeration apparatus 30 is formed in the rear upper part of the left and right side walls of the housing 11 and the upper part of the rear wall (left side wall as viewed from the front in FIG. Only the upper upper vent 11b is shown). A ventilation opening 11c for venting (mainly intake air) in the machine chamber 11a is formed on the bottom wall of the housing 11, and a filter 11d is attached to the ventilation opening 11c. On the front surface of the housing 11, a notification device 13 is provided to notify leakage of refrigerant from the refrigeration apparatus 30 described later. This notification device 13 notifies the leakage of the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 by turning on the lamp. In addition, the alarm device 13 may notify the leakage of the refrigerant by a buzzer instead of lighting the lamp or by the buzzer together with the lighting of the lamp.

  In the cooling water tank 20, a coiled beverage cooling pipe 21 is provided for cooling beer fed from a via barrel (not shown) by the pressure of carbon dioxide delivered from a gas cylinder (not shown) outside the housing 11. In addition, a pouring cock (pouring mechanism) 22 for pouring beer is connected to the outflow end 21a of the beverage cooling pipe 21. When the operation lever 22a of the pouring cock 22 is tilted, the beer in the beer barrel is sent by the pressure of carbon dioxide gas, and when it passes through the beverage cooling pipe 21, heat is exchanged by the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 to be cooled. Then, the liquid is poured out from a dispensing nozzle 22b of the dispensing cock 22 into a container such as a mug. A stirring motor 23 for stirring the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 is provided on the upper side of the cooling water tank 20, and the stirring blade 24 provided at the tip of the output shaft 23a of the stirring motor 23 rotates. The cooling water is stirred at.

  The refrigeration apparatus 30 is for cooling the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20, and the refrigeration apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment uses isobutane (R600a) (hereinafter simply referred to as isobutane) in order to reduce the influence of global warming. A flammable refrigerant (hereinafter also simply referred to as a refrigerant). In addition, this isobutane is a substance whose specific gravity when vaporized is heavier than air.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigeration apparatus 30 has a compressor 31, a condenser 32, a dryer 33, a capillary tube 34, and an evaporator 35 sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe (refrigerant passage) 30a. . The compressor 31 is provided in the lower part of the machine room 11a, compresses the refrigerant, and sends it to the condenser 32. The condenser 32 is provided on the upper side of the compressor 31 and condenses and liquefies the refrigerant. The condenser 32 includes a heat exchanger 32a formed by bending a metal pipe member so as to meander, and a cooling fan 32b that is provided on the upper side of the heat exchanger 32a and cools the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger 32a. It is configured. The cooling fan 32b cools the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger 32a by passing the air sucked from the lower part of the machine room 11a through the heat exchanger 32a. When the cooling fan 32b is operated, the lower air of the housing 11 flows into the lower part of the machine chamber 11a from the vent opening 11c, and the inflowed air rises up the machine chamber 11a from the vent hole 11b at the upper part of the housing 11. It is discharged out of the housing 11. Thus, the cooling fan 32b diffuses the air below the machine room 11a of the housing 11 widely outside the housing 11, and functions as the diffusing means described in the claims.

  The dryer 33 removes moisture in the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser 32. The capillary tube 34 is for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure liquefied refrigerant and sending it to the evaporator 35. The evaporator 35 is spirally disposed along the inner peripheral wall of the cooling water tank 20, and cools the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 by vaporizing the liquefied refrigerant decompressed by the capillary tube 34. . When the liquefied refrigerant is vaporized in the evaporator 35, the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 is cooled around the evaporator 35 and gradually freezes. An ice thickness sensor 36 for detecting a predetermined thickness of ice formed around the evaporator 35 is provided at a position slightly away from the inner periphery of the evaporator 35 wound in a spiral shape. The thickness sensor 36 is attached to the cooling water tank 20 via a support member (not shown). The ice thickness sensor 36 detects that ice having a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporator 35 when the electrical resistance value between two electrodes provided apart from each other increases due to the formation of ice. It is. A gas sensor (refrigerant leakage detection means) 37 for detecting isobutane used as a refrigerant is provided at the lower part of the machine room 11a. When isobutane used for the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus 30, it flows to the lower part of the housing 11. Therefore, the gas sensor 37 is provided at the lower part of the machine room 11 a of the housing 11 in order to enable early detection of the leakage of the refrigerant from the refrigeration apparatus 30. It has been.

  The beer dispenser 10 includes a control device 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 40 includes an alarm 13, a stirring motor 23, a compressor 31, a cooling fan 32b, an ice thickness sensor 36, and a gas sensor 37. It is connected. The control device 40 includes a microcomputer (not shown), and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a timer (all not shown) connected via a bus. Based on each detection of the ice thickness sensor 36 and the gas sensor 37, the CPU executes a program for controlling the operation of the alarm 13, the compressor 31, and the cooling fan 32b.

  Next, operation | movement of the beer dispenser 10 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, in step 101, the control device 40 operates the agitation motor 23 to agitate the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 to make the water temperature uniform, and beer that passes through the beverage cooling pipe 21. Makes it easier to exchange heat with cooling water. In step 102, the control device 40 determines whether or not a predetermined thickness of ice has been formed around the evaporator 35 by the detection of the ice thickness sensor 36. If the predetermined thickness of ice is not formed, "NO" is determined. And proceed to step 103. In step 103, the control device 40 operates the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32 b of the condenser 32. Thereby, the refrigerant pumped from the compressor 31 passes through the condenser 32, the dryer 33, the capillary tube 34, and the evaporator 35, and repeats the refrigeration cycle that returns to the compressor 31 again, whereby the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 is returned. Is cooled around the evaporator 35 and gradually freezes. Next, in step 104, the control device 40 determines whether or not the refrigerant has leaked from the refrigeration device 30 based on the detection of the gas sensor 37. If the refrigerant has not leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the control apparatus 40 determines “NO” in step 104 and returns to step 102.

  The control device 40 repeatedly executes the processing of steps 102 to 104 until the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 becomes ice having a predetermined thickness around the evaporator 35, and the control device 40 has a predetermined thickness around the evaporator 35. When the ice is formed, “YES” is determined based on the detection of the ice thickness sensor 36 in step 102, and the process proceeds to step 105. In step 105, the control device 40 stops the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32 b of the condenser 32 to stop the cooling water tank 20 from being cooled by the refrigeration device 30. Next, in step 106, the control device 40 determines whether or not the refrigerant has leaked from the refrigeration device 30 based on the detection of the gas sensor 37. If refrigerant has not leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the control apparatus 40 determines “NO” in step 106 and returns to step 102.

  As described above, the control device 40 determines whether or not ice of a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporator 35 while determining whether or not the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration device 30 in Step 104 or 106. When the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 are operated in step 103 while the processes of ~ 106 are repeatedly executed, if the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 leaks, the control apparatus 40 In step 104, “YES” is determined based on the detection of the gas sensor 37, and the process proceeds to step 107. In step 107, the control device 40 stops the compressor 31, but continues operating for 30 minutes as a predetermined time without stopping the cooling fan 32b. In addition, the control device 40 notifies the leakage of the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 by turning on the lamp of the notification device 13.

  Further, the control device 40 performs the refrigeration when the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 are stopped by the step 105 while the processes of the steps 102 to 106 are repeatedly executed as described above. When the refrigerant of the device 30 leaks, the control device 40 determines “YES” based on the detection of the gas sensor 37 in step 106 and proceeds to step 108. In step 108, the control device 40 operates the cooling fan 32b for 30 minutes as a predetermined time. In addition, the control device 40 notifies the leakage of the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 by turning on the lamp of the notification device 13.

  In this way, when the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 are intermittently operated so that ice of a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporator 35, the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 is contained in the housing. Even if it leaks into 11, the leaked refrigerant is sucked up by the cooling fan 32b to the upper part of the machine room 11a, and is spread | diffused widely out of the housing 11 from each vent hole 11b. This prevents the leaked refrigerant from staying in the lower part of the housing 11 or from the lower part of the housing 11 through the ventilation opening 11c and staying between the lower side of the housing 11 and the grounding surface to ignite. Further, since the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 is controlled to operate for a predetermined time when the refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30 is detected, when the cooling fan 32b is operated continuously regardless of whether the refrigerant leaks or not. The life can be extended compared to. Moreover, since the alerting | reporting device 13 alert | reports the leakage of the refrigerant | coolant of the freezing apparatus 30, it can call attention about the ventilation of the room in which the beer dispenser 10 was installed, or use of fire. Moreover, since the leakage of the refrigerant is notified by the alarm device 13, it is possible to know early on the decrease in the cooling efficiency of the refrigeration apparatus 30 due to the decrease in the refrigerant, and the repair response is accelerated.

(Second Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 5, the beer dispenser 10 </ b> A according to the second embodiment further includes a blower fan 38 at the lower part of the machine room 11 a of the housing 11 of the beer dispenser 10 according to the first embodiment. The blower fan 38 is for widely diffusing the leaked refrigerant out of the housing 11 when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus 30. Other configurations of the beer dispenser 10A are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

  This beer dispenser 10A includes a control device 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 40 includes an alarm 13, a stirring motor 23, a compressor 31, a cooling fan 32b, an ice thickness sensor 36, a gas sensor 37, and the like. A blower fan 38 is connected. The control device 40 includes a microcomputer (not shown), and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a timer (all not shown) connected via a bus. The CPU executes a program that controls the operation of the alarm 13, the compressor 31, the cooling fan 32 b, and the blower fan 38 based on the detection of the ice thickness sensor 36 and the gas sensor 37.

  Next, operation | movement of 10 A of beer dispensers comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, in step 201, the control device 40 activates the agitation motor 23 to agitate the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 to make the water temperature uniform, and beer that passes through the beverage cooling pipe 21. Facilitates heat exchange with cooling water. In step 202, the control device 40 determines whether or not a predetermined thickness of ice has been formed by the detection of the ice thickness sensor 36. If the predetermined thickness of ice has not been formed, the control device 40 determines "NO" Proceed to 203. In step 203, the control device 40 operates the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32 b of the condenser 32. Thereby, the refrigerant pumped from the compressor 31 passes through the condenser 32, the dryer 33, the capillary tube 34, and the evaporator 35, and repeats the refrigeration cycle that returns to the compressor 31 again, whereby the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 is returned. Is cooled around the evaporator 35 and gradually freezes. Next, in Step 204, the control device 40 determines whether or not the refrigerant has leaked from the refrigeration device 30 based on the detection of the gas sensor 37. If the refrigerant has not leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the control apparatus 40 determines “NO” in step 204 and returns to step 202.

  The control device 40 repeatedly executes the processing of steps 202 to 204 until the cooling water in the cooling water tank 20 becomes ice having a predetermined thickness around the evaporator 35, and the control device 40 has a predetermined thickness around the evaporator 35. When the ice is formed, “YES” is determined in step 202 based on the detection of the ice thickness sensor 36, and the process proceeds to step 205. In step 205, the control device 40 stops the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32 b of the condenser 32 to stop the cooling water tank 20 from being cooled by the refrigeration device 30. Next, in Step 206, the control device 40 determines whether or not the refrigerant has leaked from the refrigeration device 30 based on the detection of the gas sensor 37. If the refrigerant has not leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the control apparatus 40 determines “NO” in step 206 and returns to step 202.

  As described above, the control device 40 determines whether or not ice of a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporator 35 while determining whether or not the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration device 30 in step 204 or 206. When the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 are operated in step 203 while the processes of ~ 206 are repeatedly executed, if the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 leaks, the control apparatus 40 In step 204, “YES” is determined based on the detection of the gas sensor 37, and the process proceeds to step 207. In step 207, the control device 40 stops the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b, and operates the blower fan 38 for 30 minutes as a predetermined time. In addition, the control device 40 notifies the leakage of the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 by turning on the lamp of the notification device 13.

  In addition, the control device 40 performs the refrigeration when the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 are stopped in step 205 while repeatedly executing the processing of steps 202 to 206 as described above. When the refrigerant of the device 30 leaks, the control device 40 determines “YES” based on the detection of the gas sensor 37 in step 206 and proceeds to step 208. In step 208, the control device 40 operates the blower fan 38 for a predetermined time of 30 minutes. In addition, the control device 40 notifies the leakage of the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 by turning on the lamp of the notification device 13.

  In this way, when the compressor 31 and the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 are intermittently operated so that ice of a predetermined thickness is formed around the evaporator 35, the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 is contained in the housing. Even if it leaks into 11, the leaked refrigerant is diffused widely out of the housing 11 from each vent 11b or vent opening 11c by the blower fan 38. Thereby, the leaked refrigerant does not stay in the lower part of the housing 11 or does not reach a dangerous concentration where the refrigerant stays between the lower side of the housing 11 and the grounding surface and ignites. Moreover, since the alerting | reporting device 13 alert | reports that the refrigerant | coolant of the freezing apparatus 30 leaked, it can call attention about ventilation of the room in which the beer dispenser 10 was installed, or use of fire. Moreover, since the leakage of the refrigerant is notified by the alarm device 13, it is possible to know early on the decrease in the cooling efficiency of the refrigeration apparatus 30 due to the decrease in the refrigerant, and the repair response is accelerated. In this embodiment, when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the blower fan 38 is operated to diffuse the refrigerant. However, if the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 is simultaneously operated, the refrigerant is further diffused. Can increase the efficiency. Further, in this embodiment, the condenser 32 is of the air cooling type by the cooling fan 32b. However, since the cooling fan 32b is provided with the blower fan 38 when the refrigerant leaks, the condenser is of a water cooling type or a natural cooling type. However, the refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus 30 can be diffused. In addition, since the fan 38 has fewer restrictions on the installation location than when the cooling fan 32b of the condenser 32 is used, the blower fan 38 has a high possibility of leakage of the refrigerant. It can be freely placed in the vicinity of easy-to-use locations.

  In each of the above embodiments, the gas sensor 37 is used as the refrigerant leakage detection means described in the claims, but the present invention is not limited to detection by the gas sensor 37. For example, when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the pressure in the refrigerant pipe 30a, which is the refrigerant passage, decreases. Therefore, a pressure sensor is provided in the refrigerant pipe 30a, and the control apparatus 40 performs refrigerant leakage based on the decrease in the detected pressure of the pressure sensor. It is also possible to detect and control the operation of the diffusion means (cooling fan 32b, blower fan 38). As another example, when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the temperature in the vicinity of the leakage point is lowered by the refrigerant that is vaporized at the time of the leakage, so for example, a temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of the outlet portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 a condenser 32, The control device 40 may detect refrigerant leakage based on a decrease in the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and control the operation of the diffusing means (cooling fan 32b, blower fan 38). As another example, when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration apparatus 30, the load on the compressor 31 is reduced. Therefore, a current detector that detects the current of the compressor 31 is provided, and the control device 40 includes the current detector. A refrigerant leakage may be detected based on a decrease in the detected current, and the operation of the diffusing means (cooling fan 32b, blower fan 38) may be controlled.

  Although the present embodiment has been described using isobutane as the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained even if other flammable refrigerants such as butane are used. it can. In the present embodiment, isobutane used as the refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus 30 has a higher specific gravity than air, so that the leaked refrigerant stays in the lower portion of the housing 11. For this purpose, the gas sensor 37 is installed in the lower part of the housing 11 and the refrigerant staying in the lower part of the housing 11 is diffused by the cooling fan 32b and the blower fan 38. For example, when a refrigerant having a specific gravity lower than that of air is used. When the gas sensor 37 is installed on the upper portion of the housing 11, the leaked refrigerant can be detected at an early stage. At this time, if the air in the upper part of the housing 11 is exhausted outside the housing 11 by changing the installation location of the blower fan 38, the refrigerant does not stay in the upper part of the housing 11.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Beer dispenser (beverage dispenser), 11 ... Housing, 13 ... Alarm, 20 ... Cooling water tank, 21 ... Beverage cooling pipe, 22 ... Dispensing cock, 30 ... Refrigerating device, 31 ... Compressor, 32 ... Condenser, 32a ... Diffusion means (cooling fan), 35 ... Evaporator, 37 ... Refrigerant leak detection means (gas sensor), 38 ... Diffusion means (blower fan).

Claims (8)

A cooling water tank accommodated in the housing for storing cooling water, a refrigeration apparatus accommodated in the housing for cooling the cooling water in the cooling water tank, and a beverage cooling pipe provided in the cooling water tank for cooling the beverage And a dispensing mechanism connected to the outflow end of the beverage cooling pipe for dispensing the beverage,
The refrigeration apparatus includes a compressor that pumps combustible refrigerant, a condenser that condenses and liquefies the combustible refrigerant pumped from the compressor, and a liquefaction that is disposed in the cooling water tank and sent from the condenser. The evaporator which cools the cooling water by vaporizing the combustible refrigerant is sequentially connected, and operates intermittently so as to form ice of a predetermined thickness around the evaporator in the cooling water tank. In a controlled beverage dispenser,
The housing includes refrigerant leakage detection means for detecting leakage of the flammable refrigerant of the refrigeration apparatus, and diffusion means for diffusing the flammable refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration apparatus outside the housing, the refrigerant leakage detection means. A beverage dispenser characterized in that the operation of the diffusing means is controlled based on the detection of. The beverage dispenser of claim 1,
The beverage dispenser characterized in that the diffusing means is a cooling fan constituting the condenser. The beverage dispenser of claim 1,
The beverage dispenser is characterized in that the diffusion means is a blower fan further provided in the housing. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The refrigerant leakage detection means is a gas sensor for detecting a flammable refrigerant provided in the housing, and the operation of the diffusing means is controlled based on the detection of the flammable refrigerant by the gas sensor. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The refrigerant leakage detection means is a pressure sensor that is provided in the refrigerant passage of the refrigeration apparatus and detects the pressure of the refrigerant passage. Based on detection of a decrease in pressure in the refrigerant passage by the pressure sensor, the refrigerant leakage detection means A beverage dispenser characterized in that operation is controlled. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The refrigerant leakage detection means is a temperature sensor that is provided outside the refrigerant passage of the refrigeration apparatus and detects a temperature outside the refrigerant passage, and is based on detection of a decrease in temperature outside the refrigerant passage by the temperature sensor. The beverage dispenser is characterized in that the operation of the diffusing means is controlled. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The refrigerant leakage detection means is a current detector for detecting a current supplied to the compressor, and the operation of the diffusion means is controlled based on detection of a decrease in current by the current detector. Dispenser. In the beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An alarm device for notifying leakage of the flammable refrigerant in the refrigeration apparatus;
A beverage dispenser characterized in that when the leakage of the flammable refrigerant is detected by the refrigerant leakage detection means, the alarm notifies the leakage of the flammable refrigerant.

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