JP2535236Y2 - Constant temperature bath - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) This invention tests the temperature characteristics, heat resistance and low temperature resistance of various samples in environmental tests, and tests the quality of the characteristics.
It relates to a thermostat used for confirmation.

(Prior Art) There are regions on the earth with various natural environments and climates ranging from tropical to extreme cold. Under these circumstances, in order to produce a product that can be used for a long period of time, a temperature test on the product or on parts and materials using the product is indispensable.

In addition, there are some chemical substances whose physical properties change drastically due to a change in the ambient temperature, and it is common practice in the field of chemistry to search for the most suitable temperature for refining various chemical substances.

A thermostat is generally widely used as an equipment for such a temperature test. The temperature chamber used in the temperature characteristic test is provided with a viewing window on the front side to observe and observe the sample, and a cabinet type with a door for taking in and out of the sample and shutting off air from the outside is widely used. I was

During the low-temperature test of the thermostat, when the door was opened for exchanging the sample or taking a picture of the state, dew condensation occurred on the observation window on the front and on the surface of the sample. This condensation phenomenon hinders observation and observation of the test at the viewing window.Condensation on the surface of the sample causes electric leakage between elements due to water droplets when the sample is a printed circuit board, etc. Rust was generated, causing external damage. These obstacles hindered the performance of pure temperature tests or the analysis of test results.

Conventionally, in order to solve these problems caused by dew condensation, before opening the door, the inside of the chamber was once kept at a high temperature using a temperature increasing means or a separate heater to remove dew condensation, and then tested again. It was necessary to take the means to do.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) The above-described conventional technology has the following problems.

It can cause obstacles that must be handled by opening the door during continuous low temperature testing. In that case, the test of the sample at that time must be once made high in the tank to prevent dew condensation, so that the low temperature test cannot be continued. In that case, it is necessary to take into account the effect on the test results of once raising the temperature.

In addition, since the operation of the cooling means and heating means of the temperature raising / lowering part, which is a component of the constant temperature bath, requires a large amount of power consumption, it is sufficient for the temporarily interrupted test to return to a low temperature inside the bath again. Even so, the operation of the temperature raising / lowering unit was required, which was not economical.

The purpose of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned problems of the thermostatic bath. (Means for solving the problem) In the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, it is attached to the main body (1) so as to be openable and closable. Door (2), constant temperature room (4) partitioned by the main body (1) and the door (2)
An operation unit (3) for operating and setting the temperature of the cooling unit (24) and a heating unit (25) for setting the inside of the constant temperature chamber (4) to a temperature operated and set by the operating unit (3). A temperature raising / lowering unit (21) provided with a stirring means (26) for stirring air in the constant temperature chamber to make the temperature distribution in the constant temperature chamber (4) uniform; Opening the door (2) in a constant temperature bath having a control unit (20) for controlling the temperature in the constant temperature chamber (4) by operating the temperature raising / lowering unit (21) by the signal of A circulation path (8) formed along a wall surface of a constant temperature chamber having both ends of an outlet (10) and a suction port (11) provided facing both ends of the section;
A door opening / closing detecting section (23) for detecting the opening of the door (2) and outputting a door opening signal to the control section (20), wherein the temperature raising / lowering section (21) is provided in the circulation path (8). The agitating means (26) is configured to generate an airflow for agitating the inside of the constant temperature chamber when the door (2) is closed, and when the control unit (20) receives the door opening signal. The outlet (10)
An air curtain for generating an air flow from the air to the suction port (11) to shield outside air from the thermostatic chamber is provided.

(Operation) The constant temperature chamber according to the present invention controls the constant temperature chamber (4) to the temperature set by the operation unit (3), and the temperature characteristics of the sample are tested at the set temperature. At this time, the air in the constant temperature chamber (4) is stirred by the stirring means (26), and
The temperature inside is kept uniform. Here, when the door (2) is opened for exchanging the sample or photographing the state of the sample, the door open / close detection unit (23) detects the opening of the door (3), and the door open signal is sent to the control unit (20). Is output to The direction of the air generated from the stirring means (26) is switched via the control section (20) to which the door opening signal has been input. The switched air loops the front of the constant temperature chamber (4) via the circulation path (8) by the stirring means (26). The air that loops through the constant temperature chamber (4) is formed as an air curtain (12) that shields the constant temperature chamber (4) from outside air. An air curtain (12) formed on the front surface of the constant temperature chamber (8) enables exchange of samples and photography without suddenly changing the temperature in the constant temperature chamber (4).

(Example) The example of this invention is described based on drawing.

The configuration of the thermostat will be described with reference to FIG. The thermostat is provided with a main body 1 covered with a heat insulating material 15 for blocking the influence of the external environment, and a door 2 attached to the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable.
Thus, a constant temperature chamber 4 for storing a sample is formed. An observation window 14 for observing and observing a sample is provided on the front surface of the door 2. Further, the main body 1 is provided with an operation unit 3 for operating and setting the test environment of the constant temperature chamber 4.

An outlet 10 and an inlet 11 are formed in the opening of the main body so as to face each other, and the outlet 10 and the inlet 11 are connected by a circulation path 8 formed along the inner wall surface of the main body. The circulation path 8 is provided with a fan 9 for circulating air in the circulation path, an evaporator 5 for lowering the temperature inside the constant temperature chamber, and a heater 7 for raising the temperature inside the constant temperature chamber. A fan 6 for uniformly stirring the test environment is provided on the inner wall of the constant temperature chamber 4 in relation to the circulation path 8.

A block diagram of the thermostat will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation unit 3 receives a temperature setting unit 27 for manually setting the test environment in the constant temperature room 4 and temperature setting data from an external operation device (not shown), and can automatically operate the temperature of the constant temperature room 4. A communication control unit 28 is provided. Here, the external operation device is, for example, a computer.

The temperature setting unit 27 and the communication control unit 28 are connected to the control unit 20 and transmit the set test environment information to the control unit 20. Further, the control unit 20 has a constant temperature room 4 according to the test environment information.
A temperature raising / lowering unit 21 for controlling the temperature environment is connected.
The temperature raising / lowering unit includes a cooling unit 24, a heating unit 25, and a stirring unit 26. Specifically, the cooling means 24 is the evaporator 5 for lowering the temperature of the constant temperature chamber 4, the heating means 25 is the heater 7 for raising the temperature of the constant temperature chamber 4, and the stirring means 26
Is a fan 6 for making the temperature environment of the constant temperature chamber 4 uniform. The temperature raising / lowering unit 21 includes a compressor / condenser (not shown) that operates when the temperature falls, a device for adjusting humidity (not shown), and the like. Each description is omitted.

Further, the controller 20 is connected to a door open / close detector 23 for detecting the opening of the door 2, and outputs a door open signal to the controller 20 when the door 2 is opened. In addition, an air curtain forming means 22 for forming an air curtain by inputting a door opening signal is connected to the control unit 20. Specifically, the air curtain forming means 22 is the fan 9 for circulating the air in the circulation path.

The schematic operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 which illustrates the schematic operation of the present invention.

First, when the power is turned on, the above-described units are in a ready state, and the test of the sample can be started. In this state, the test environment is set directly on the temperature setting unit 27 of the operation unit 3 or the test environment is set via a communication control unit 28 by a control device (not shown). When the test starts, the temperature rise / fall section 2
1, that is, the cooling means 24 or the heating means 25 and the stirring means 26 are operated, and the inside of the constant temperature chamber 4 becomes a desired test environment. Door 2 during test
When the door is opened, an opening signal is sent from the door opening / closing detection section 23 to the control section.
Output to 20. When an open signal is input to the control unit 20,
The control unit 20 stops the stirring means 26 and sets the air curtain forming means.
Activate 22 to form air curtain 12. That is, when the door 2 is opened, the fan 6 stops, an air curtain is formed on the front surface of the constant temperature chamber opening, and the outside air and the constant temperature chamber are shielded.

When the door 2 is closed, a closing signal is output from the door opening / closing detecting section 23, the control section 20 stops the air curtain forming means 22, and the test is continued. That is, by closing the door 2, the fan 6
Operates, the air curtain in front of the constant temperature chamber 4 disappears, and the test environment inside the constant temperature chamber becomes uniform.

Here, specific examples of the door opening / closing detecting means of the door opening / closing detecting section 23 include the following.

(1) A device that detects opening / closing of the door 2 by turning on / off a mechanical or electrical switch that is engaged with the door 2 and the main body 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a “switch type”).

(2) An automatic environmental test is performed by interposing a control means separate from the control unit 20 of the present invention, and an open / close signal in the programming provided in the separate control means is detected to control the thermostatic chamber of the present invention. Output to the unit 20 (hereinafter referred to as “communication method”).

While the above-mentioned switch method has a function of reliably sending a signal to the next means even when the door is opened and closed by mistake, in the case of the communication method, the programming of either the control unit 20 or the communication control unit 28 is performed. By providing an example (shown in FIG. 4), an air curtain can be formed inside the constant temperature chamber 4 at a desired timing in advance. Therefore, for example, when it is known that the door needs to be opened every hour for taking a photograph during the test, the air curtain can be formed in advance by the separate control means, and the condensation of the sample or the like can be formed. Can be suppressed. still,
Needless to say, these detecting means can be provided alone or in combination.

The air curtain forming means includes the following in addition to those described above.

(1) In place of the fan 6 in FIG. 1, an air curtain forming means is provided which is a fan whose rotation direction can be rotated forward / reversely and which is attached to the circulation path by tilting the fan.

That is, when the door is closed, the fan is rotated forward to stir the air in the constant temperature chamber, and when the door is opened, the air is generated by rotating the fan in the reverse direction to guide the air flow to the circulation path. As a result, an air curtain is formed in front of the constant temperature chamber. Here, the fan that enables normal rotation and reverse rotation is driven by, for example, a reversible motor. Further, it is preferable to provide a switch signal generation circuit in the control unit 20 as means for switching the rotation of the fan.

(2) As shown in FIG. 5 (a), a stirring hole 44 is formed by cutting out the circulation path 8, and a fan 40a for stirring the test environment of the constant temperature chamber is tilted with respect to the circulation path 8. An air curtain forming means provided with a plate 41 for closing the circulation path 8 when the door 2 is closed, and a plate 41 for closing the stirring hole 44 when the door 2 is open, the rotation being provided in the circulation path 8.

That is, when the door 2 is closed, the circulation path 8 is closed by the plate 41, and the air flow 43a generated by the fan 41 is closed.
When the door 2 is opened, the stirring hole 44 is closed by the plate 41 (the position indicated by a broken line in the drawing), and the air flow 42a generated by the fan 40a is guided to the circulation path 8 to open the door 2. An air curtain 12 is formed in the front of the room.

(3) Air curtain forming means in which a stirring hole 44 is formed by notching the circulation path 8 as shown in FIG. 5 (b), and the fan 40b is rotatably provided in the circulation path.

That is, when the door 2 is closed, the air flow 43b generated by the fan 40b is used to stir the air in the constant temperature chamber, and when the door 2 is opened, the air flow 42b generated by the fan 40b is 8 to form an air curtain 12 in front of the constant temperature chamber.

The plate 41 in the air curtain forming means of the above (2) is used.
And the fan 40 in the air curtain forming means of (3) above.
As a means for rotating b, a well-known ordinary one such as a solenoid is used, and a description thereof will be omitted.

(Effect of the invention) Due to the configuration and operation of the invention, the constant temperature chamber of the present invention does not need to be interrupted to prevent dew condensation due to opening of the door at the time of the low-temperature test, and thus consumes energy due to heating and cooling in the constant temperature chamber. Can be suppressed. Further, since the fan can serve both as a stirring means for making the temperature in the constant temperature chamber uniform and an air curtain forming means for forming the air curtain, it is possible to carry out an economical and efficient test. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an example of the thermostatic chamber of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each part, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the schematic operation of the present invention, and FIG. Is a flowchart for explaining programming for detecting an open / close signal from another control means in FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of a configuration for forming an air curtain. 1 ... body, 2 ... door, 3 ... operation unit, 4 ... constant temperature room,
8 circulation circuit, 6 fan, 10 outlet, 11 inlet, 20 control unit, 21 temperature rise / fall unit, 23 door open / close detection unit 24 cooling means 25 ... heating means 26 ... stirring means

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An operation for setting and operating a temperature of a door (2) attached to a main body (1) so as to be openable and closable, and a constant temperature chamber (4) partitioned by the main body (1) and the door (2). Part (3), a cooling means (24) and a heating means (25) for setting the inside of the constant temperature chamber (4) to a temperature operated and set by the operation part (3).
A temperature raising / lowering unit (21) provided with stirring means (26) for stirring air in the constant temperature chamber to make the temperature distribution in the constant temperature chamber (4) uniform; and the operating unit (3) Signal from the temperature raising / lowering section (2
In a constant temperature bath having a control unit (20) for operating 1) to control the temperature in the constant temperature chamber (4), the control unit (20) is provided facing both ends of an opening formed by opening the door (2). A circulation path (8) formed along the wall surface of the thermostatic chamber having both ends of the outlet (10) and the suction port (11)
And a door opening / closing detecting section (23) for detecting opening of the door (2) and outputting a door opening signal to the control section (20), wherein the temperature raising / lowering section (21) is provided with the circulation path (8). The stirring means (26) generates an air flow for stirring the inside of the constant temperature chamber when the door (2) is closed, and the control unit (20) receives the door opening signal. An air curtain configured to generate an air flow from the air outlet (10) to the suction port (11) to shield outside air from the thermostatic chamber.