JP2778924B2 - Beverage cooler - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bottle-type beverage cooler provided with a refrigerating compressor, and more particularly to an improvement in operation control of the refrigerating compressor and temperature control of a beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a beverage cooler using a refrigerating compressor has a well-known structure as shown in FIG. 3 and is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 62-38571.
In FIG. 3, an evaporating tube c is closely wound around the outer periphery of a body of a cooling tank b provided with a discharge valve a at the bottom, and the evaporating tube c, the refrigeration compressor d, and the condenser e are connected to each other. Refrigeration apparatus f is formed by being cycle-coupled.

The refrigerating device f is configured to supply a refrigerant from a lower end of the cooling tank b of the evaporating pipe c, and to a portion near an upper end of the evaporating pipe c by means such as welding. The heat-sensitive pipe g is fixed.

[0004] Further, one end of a heat conductor h such as an aluminum tape is adhered to the heat sensitive pipe g, and the other end is adhered to the upper outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank b and the heat sensitive pipe g is inserted into the heat sensitive pipe g. A temperature-sensitive thin tube j of a temperature switch i for controlling the operation of the refrigerating device f is inserted.

Here, k is the cooling tank b, the evaporating pipe c,
It is a heat insulating material provided to cover the heat-sensitive pipe g, the temperature-sensitive thin tube j, and the like. Next, a case where drinking water is cooled by the beverage cooling machine having such a configuration will be described.

First, when the water level in the cooling tank b is almost full (A water level), the water in the cooling tank b is supplied to the refrigeration system f.
The heat-sensitive pipe g is affected by the temperature of the outlet of the evaporating pipe c and the water temperature in the cooling tank b via the heat conductor h and the wall of the cooling tank b. The temperature of the water in the cooling tank b can be appropriately controlled in an appropriate operation cycle by controlling the operation of the refrigerating device f by sensing with the temperature thin tube j and controlling the operation of the refrigerating device f with the temperature switch i. Regarding this point, see the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No.
This is also described in detail in the official gazette.

Next, when the cold water in the cooling tank b is discharged from the discharge valve a to lower the water level to reach the water level B, the heat conductor h directly supplies the cold water in the cooling tank b. As a result, the heat-sensitive pipe g is strongly affected by the temperature of the outlet of the evaporating pipe c.

In particular, aluminum is disliked for the material of the cooling tank b for storing beverages from the viewpoint of corrosion resistance, and almost all stainless steel is used, and the thermal conductivity of stainless steel is very low, 1/12 of that of aluminum. The temperature effect of the cold water accumulated on the bottom through the wall of the cooling tank b can hardly be exerted on the heat conductor h.

When the operation of the refrigerating device f is stopped under such a condition, the supply of the refrigerant to the evaporating tube c is stopped, and the temperature of the evaporating tube c, that is, the heat The temperature of the pipe g rapidly rises, and this is detected by the thermosensitive thin tube j, and the temperature switch i is turned on.
The operation of the refrigerator f is restarted.

[0010] The water in the cooling tank b has already been cooled and the amount of water is small, so the heat load is small. When the refrigerating device f resumes operation, the refrigerant supplied to the evaporating pipe c is hardly consumed and evaporates. Since the temperature reaches the outlet of the evaporator tube c at a low temperature, the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe g rapidly decreases,
The refrigeration system f is stopped again only after a short operation.

As described above, the refrigerating device f is provided with the cooling tank b
The operation is stopped irrespective of the temperature of the chilled water in the inside, and a very short-cycle ON-OFF state is obtained. As a result, the temperature of the water in the cooling tank b cannot be controlled, and there is a possibility that the temperature of the cooling tank b becomes too cold and freezes.
However, there were problems such as failure or shortened life.

[0012]

As described above, in the conventional beverage chiller, when the cooling tank is not full, the operation of the refrigeration system is stopped regardless of the temperature of the chilled water in the cooling tank. A very short cycle of ON-OFF state occurs, and as a result, the water temperature in the cooling tank cannot be controlled, and there is a possibility that the temperature of the cooling tank becomes too cold and freezes.
As a result, there have been problems such as failure of the refrigeration system and shortening of the service life.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional machine, and appropriately controls the temperature of the beverage even if the beverage in the cooling tank is reduced to a low water level. It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage cooler excellent in temperature controllability and durability capable of appropriately controlling the operation cycle of a refrigeration system.

[0014]

According to the present invention, as a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a cooling tank for storing a beverage to be cooled, and a cooling tank which covers the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank and is mounted in close contact therewith. A heat transfer member made of a high heat conductive material, an evaporator tube of a refrigerating device wound around the outer periphery of the heat transfer member so as to allow a refrigerant to flow from a lower end of the cooling tank, and a refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporator tube And a heat-sensitive pipe fixed to both the outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank and a temperature switch for controlling the operation of the refrigeration apparatus based on the temperature detected by a temperature sensor inserted in the heat-sensitive pipe. Things.

Further, as a second means, a cooling tank for storing a beverage to be cooled, a heat transfer member made of a high heat conductive material which is attached in close contact with the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank, and An evaporating pipe of the refrigerating device wound around the outer periphery of the heating member so that the refrigerant flows from a lower end of the cooling tank; and a heat-sensitive element fixed to both the refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporating pipe and the outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank. A pipe, a temperature switch for controlling the operation of the refrigerating apparatus based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor inserted in the heat-sensitive pipe, and a rubber inserted in the heat-sensitive pipe and interposed between the heat-sensitive pipe and the temperature sensor And a tube.

As a third means, a vertical stainless steel cooling tank for storing a beverage to be cooled, and a transmission made of a high heat conductive material which is attached in close contact with the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank. A heating member, an evaporating tube of a refrigerating device wound around the outer periphery of the heat transfer member so that the refrigerant flows from a lower end of the cooling tank, and a refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporating tube and an outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank. A heat-sensitive pipe welded and fixed to both the heat-sensitive pipe, a temperature switch for controlling the operation of the refrigerating apparatus based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor inserted into the heat-sensitive pipe, And a rubber tube interposed between the sensor and the sensor.

[0017]

According to the beverage cooler of the first means, a heat transfer member made of a high heat conductive material is attached so as to cover the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank for storing the beverage. The refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator tube from the lower end side, and the heat-sensitive pipe is integrated with the evaporator tube so as to contact both the refrigerant outlet side of the evaporator tube and the outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank. Since it is fixed, the influence of the beverage temperature is exerted on the heat sensitive pipe through the heat transfer member regardless of the level of the water level of the beverage in the cooling tank, and the operation of the refrigeration apparatus can be controlled by the temperature of the heat sensitive pipe. As a result, conventionally, when the drinking water level in the cooling tank is lowered, the temperature of the beverage cannot be affected on the temperature sensor, and appropriate beverage temperature control cannot be performed. The beverage temperature can be transmitted to the temperature sensor even if the
Appropriate beverage temperature control is possible.

In addition, even if the water level of the beverage in the cooling tank is low, the beverage temperature can be transmitted to the temperature sensor near the outlet of the evaporating pipe. As a result of eliminating the problem of short-term operation of the refrigeration system, the danger of breakdown of the refrigeration system is reduced and durability is improved. It can be used with confidence in cooling beverages such as iced coffee or other beverages whose quality is impaired by freezing.

According to the beverage cooler of the second means,
In addition to the operation of the first means, a rubber tube inserted into the heat-sensitive pipe and interposed between the heat-sensitive pipe and the temperature sensor is provided. Acting as a body, when the evaporation zone of the refrigerant in the evaporating tube tries to reach the fixed part of the heat sensitive pipe, there is an unstable period before it becomes a stable evaporation zone, and the temperature of the heat sensitive pipe is reduced. Jittering of the refrigeration apparatus due to detection with high sensitivity can be prevented.

According to the beverage cooler of the third means,
In addition to the function of the second means, the heat-sensitive pipe is integrated and fixed to the outer periphery of the cooling tank and the evaporating pipe by welding, so that heat transfer resistance due to contact of this portion and the like can be eliminated, and smooth heat conduction by the metal. Heat transfer can be ensured, and a more stable operation state can be obtained.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view schematically showing the entire structure of the beverage cooler of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line XX of FIG.

A vertical stainless steel cooling tank 2 is provided in the housing 1, and a 1 mm-thick aluminum heat transfer member 4 is provided on the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank 2 so as to cover the same.
Are mounted in close contact with each other, and a refrigeration compressor 6 and a condenser 8 provided on the bottom of the housing 1 are provided on the outer periphery of the heat transfer member 4.
The evaporating tube 12 constituting the refrigeration apparatus 10 is wound tightly and connected to the upper surface of the evaporating tube 12 in the vicinity of the winding end portion, one end of which is open, and the other end of which is on the outer periphery of the cooling tank 2. A heat sensitive pipe 14 which is curved and closed so as to be provided is provided, and a curved portion of the heat sensitive pipe 14 is fixedly welded to the evaporating pipe 12 and the outer surface of the cooling tank 2. Symbols C and D indicate the weld-fixed portion.

A rubber tube 16 is inserted into the heat-sensitive pipe 14, and a temperature sensor as a temperature sensor of a temperature switch 18 for controlling the operation and stop of the refrigeration apparatus 10 is inserted into the rubber tube 16. A thin tube 20 is inserted.

Further, a gap between the cooling tank 2 and the housing 1 is filled with a heat insulating material 22, a lid 24 is placed on an upper opening of the cooling tank 2, and the housing is A beverage conduit 28 extending from the outside dispensing valve 26 extends.

Next, the operation and action of the beverage cooler configured as described above will be described by taking as an example the case of cooling water as a beverage. First, the cooling tank 2 is filled with A
When the operation of the refrigeration system 10 is started after the water 30 has been filled to the level, the refrigerant liquid is sent from the lower end of the evaporating tube 12, and the refrigerant flows to the upper end while evaporating. The cooling tank 2 is cooled via the heat transfer member 4 by heat conduction. As a result, the water 30 in the cooling tank 2 is cooled, and convection occurs to cool the entire tank sequentially.

Since the heat load is large while the water temperature is high, the refrigerant sent to the evaporating pipe 12 ends evaporation up to the middle height of the cooling tank 2, and thereafter flows as gas and flows to the refrigerating compressor 6. Returning, the refrigerant evaporation zone extends upward as the water temperature decreases, and finally reaches the uppermost stage of the evaporation pipe 12.

As a result, the temperature of the uppermost stage of the evaporating pipe 12 drops rapidly, and the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe 14 welded thereto also drops.
The temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe 14 is also determined by the influence of the temperature of the upper water in the cooling tank 2 through the wall.

If the temperature switch 18 is set to open at the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe 14 when the water temperature reaches a desired temperature, the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe 14 is set to the rubber tube 16.
, The temperature-sensitive thin tube 20 detects the temperature, operates the temperature switch 18 to stop the refrigerating apparatus 10, and controls the water (cold water) 30 to a desired temperature. That is, the operation when the water is full is almost the same as the conventional example.

Next, when the cold water 30 is discharged from the discharge valve 26 and consumed, so that the water level becomes less than half the B level, the level of the heat sensitive pipe 14 does not contain the cold water. The following cold water temperature is transmitted to the heat conductor 4 through the wall of the thin stainless steel cooling tank 2, and the heat conductor 4 is made of aluminum and has a very high heat conductivity. Because it is covered with and shielded from heat,
The cold water temperature is transmitted to the entire upper portion of the heat conductor 4.

The temperature of the wall surface of the cooling tank 2 above the water surface in contact with the heat conductor 4 also becomes close to this, so that the heat-sensitive pipe 14 transmits the wall temperature of the cooling tank 2 through the weld D. Even if the water level is low, the temperature of the cold water can be reliably reflected on the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe 14. Therefore, as long as the cold water temperature is at the desired temperature, the refrigeration apparatus 10 is not operated with the temperature switch 18 kept open.

When the temperature of the chilled water in the cooling tank 2 rises, the temperature rise is controlled by the heat conductor 4 to the heat sensitive pipe 1.
4 is detected by the temperature-sensitive thin tube 20 via the rubber tube 16,
And cooling is restarted to return the cold water 30 to the desired temperature.

In this way, even if the water level in the cooling tank 2 is low, the temperature of the chilled water can be appropriately controlled, and the refrigeration system 1
Since the temperature of the chilled water 30 is transmitted to the heat-sensitive pipe 14 even during the stop of 0, the short-period operation of the refrigeration apparatus 10 due to the sudden temperature rise of the heat-sensitive pipe 14 due to the stop of the refrigeration apparatus 10 does not occur. .

The rubber tube 16 inserted into the heat-sensitive pipe 14 functions as a heat buffer.
When the evaporating zone of the refrigerant in the evaporating tube 12 is about to reach the welded portion of the heat sensitive pipe 14, there is an unstable period before the stable evaporating zone is formed, and the temperature of the heat sensitive pipe 14 is detected with high sensitivity. This prevents the refrigeration system 10 from jogging.

The heat-sensitive pipe 14 is fixedly welded to the outer periphery of the cooling tank 2 and the evaporating pipe 12. The heat-sensitive pipe 14 is integrated by welding in order to eliminate heat transfer resistance due to contact or the like, and is formed by heat conduction in the metal. This is to ensure smooth heat transfer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the heat transfer member 4
Has been described as being made of aluminum with a thickness of about 1 mm, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other materials may be used as long as they have high thermal conductivity, and the thickness should be appropriately selected according to the required heat transfer amount. . In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0036]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. According to the beverage cooler of the first aspect, a heat transfer member made of a high heat conductive material is attached in close contact so as to cover the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank storing the beverage, and the heat transfer member is provided on the outer periphery of the heat transfer member. Since the refrigerant is supplied from the lower end side to the evaporating tube and the heat sensitive pipe is integrally fixed so as to be in contact with both the refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporating tube and the outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank. The effect of the beverage temperature on the heat-sensitive pipe through the heat transfer member regardless of the level of the water level of the beverage in the cooling tank, and as a result, the operation of the refrigeration apparatus can be controlled by the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe,
Even if the water level of the beverage becomes low, the beverage temperature can be transmitted to the temperature sensor, and appropriate beverage temperature control can be performed.

Further, even if the water level of the beverage in the cooling tank is low, the beverage temperature can be transmitted to the temperature sensor located near the outlet of the evaporating tube. As a result of eliminating the problem of short-term operation of the refrigeration system, the danger of breakdown of the refrigeration system is reduced and durability is improved. It can also be used safely for cooling beverages such as iced coffee or other beverages whose quality is impaired by icing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, a rubber tube inserted into the heat-sensitive pipe and interposed between the heat-sensitive pipe and the temperature sensor is provided. Therefore, when the rubber tube inserted into this heat-sensitive pipe acts as a heat buffer, and the refrigerant evaporation zone in the evaporator pipe tries to reach the fixed part of the heat-sensitive pipe, the temperature of the heat-sensitive pipe Of the refrigerating apparatus due to high sensitivity detection of refrigeration equipment can be prevented.

According to the beverage cooler of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the heat sensitive pipe is integrated and fixed to the outer periphery of the cooling tank and the evaporating pipe by welding. Heat transfer resistance due to contact or the like can be eliminated, smooth heat transfer can be ensured by heat conduction in the metal, and a more stable operating state can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional side view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Housing, 2 ... Cooling tank, 4 ... Heat transfer member, 6 ... Refrigeration compressor, 8 ... Condenser, 10 ... Refrigeration equipment, 12 ... Evaporation pipe, 14 ... Heat sensitive pipe, C, D ... Welding fixed part, 16 …
Rubber tube, 18: temperature switch, 20: thermosensitive thin tube (temperature sensor), 22: heat insulating material, 24: lid, 26: discharge valve, 28: beverage conduit, 30: water (drink).

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cooling tank for storing a beverage to be cooled, a heat transfer member made of a high thermal conductive material which covers the outer periphery of a body of the cooling tank and is mounted in close contact with the cooling tank. An evaporating pipe of a refrigerating device wound so as to allow a refrigerant to flow from a lower end of the cooling tank; a heat-sensitive pipe fixed to both a refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporating pipe and an outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank; A temperature switch for controlling the operation of the refrigerating apparatus based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor inserted therein. 2. A cooling tank for storing a beverage to be cooled, a heat transfer member made of a high heat conductive material which covers the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank and is mounted in close contact with the cooling tank. An evaporating pipe of a refrigerating device wound so as to allow a refrigerant to flow from a lower end of the cooling tank; a heat-sensitive pipe fixed to both a refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporating pipe and an outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank; A temperature switch for controlling the operation of the refrigerating apparatus based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor inserted therein; and a rubber tube inserted into the heat sensitive pipe and interposed between the heat sensitive pipe and the temperature sensor. A beverage cooler, comprising: 3. A vertical stainless steel cooling tank for storing a beverage to be cooled, a heat transfer member made of a high heat conductive material which is fitted in close contact with the outer periphery of the body of the cooling tank, An evaporating pipe of a refrigerating device wound around the outer periphery of the heat member so that the refrigerant flows from a lower end of the cooling tank; and a welded and fixed to both the refrigerant outlet side portion of the evaporating pipe and the outer peripheral surface of the cooling tank. A heat-sensitive pipe, a temperature switch for controlling the operation of the refrigerating apparatus based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor inserted in the heat-sensitive pipe, and a temperature switch inserted in the heat-sensitive pipe and interposed between the heat-sensitive pipe and the temperature sensor. And a rubber tube.