JP3128698B1 - Food thermostat - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost by using a heat storage element which does not require a heat storage tank of a predetermined size and can be cut and installed to a required length according to a cooling capacity. To provide a food thermostat capable of clearing restrictions on the installation location. SOLUTION: The food thermostat includes a heat exchange unit 1 for keeping stored articles warm, and a refrigerator 2, and stores heat using nighttime electric power, wherein a heat storage body A includes an inner cylindrical body 11 through which a refrigerant fluid flows. An outer cylinder 12 formed around the inner cylinder 11 with a space 13 filled with a heat storage agent, and a spacer 14 for connecting and holding the inner and outer cylinders 11, 12.
Is formed of a flexible synthetic resin pipe body 15 consisting of: The pipe body 15 is cut into a predetermined length, the space 13 is filled with the heat storage agent B, and both ends of the space 13 are opened. Structure sealed with lid 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a commercial food temperature incubator for keeping food displayed at supermarkets and grocery stores or keeping fresh food at sushi restaurants, home refrigerators, or cold and hot beverages. And a food thermostat such as a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the above-mentioned food thermostat, a refrigerant from a refrigerator incorporated therein is sent to a heat exchanging unit, where the heat exchanged heat cools the foodstuffs stored in the cool room. It is formed so that.

[0003]

However, such a food thermostat is configured such that the refrigerator always operates during use, day and night, to cool the beverage during use. There is a problem that electric power is increased and heat cost is high, which is uneconomical. In addition, at the time of peak power consumption in the daytime in summer, there is a problem that power consumption due to air conditioning causes a power shortage. Therefore, various attempts have been made to reduce the heat cost and level the power by storing heat using cheap nighttime electric power at night when the outside air temperature is low and using it for cooling or heating during the daytime. However, a large heat storage tank containing a large number of capsules filled with a heat storage agent for storing heat energy is required, which greatly restricts the installation location and prepares heat storage tanks of various sizes according to the cooling capacity There was a problem that the cost had to be increased and the cost was high.

Therefore, the present invention does not require a heat storage tank of a predetermined size, and cuts a required length according to the cooling capacity, or combines a required number of cuts into a predetermined length. A main object of the present invention is to provide a food thermostat capable of reducing costs and reducing restrictions on an installation place by using a heat storage body that can be installed by being installed.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical measures. That is, in the food thermostat according to the present invention, there is provided a food thermostat having a food storage space in a case, a heat exchange unit 1 for keeping the stored articles warm, and a refrigerator 2. A heat storage body A in which the heat storage body A and the refrigerator 2 are connected by a heat storage circulation circuit 5, and the heat storage body A
And the heat exchange unit 1 are connected by a heat circulating circuit 6,
The refrigerator 2 is operated at the time of setting at night to freeze or heat the sealed heat storage agent in the heat storage material A, so that heat energy is stored in the heat storage material A, and the heat energy is stored outside the night setting time. A food thermostat configured to radiate heat stored in the heat storage unit A in the heat exchange unit 1, wherein the heat storage unit A is filled with an inner cylinder 11 through which a refrigerant fluid flows and a heat storage agent. And a plurality of radial spacers 14 that connect and hold the inner and outer cylinders 11 and 12 with the outer cylinder 12 formed around the inner cylinder 11 with a space 13 therebetween. Is formed of a synthetic resin pipe body 15 having flexibility and the pipe body 15 is cut into a predetermined length to form the space 1.
3 is filled with the heat storage agent B, and the opening at both ends of the space 13 is sealed with the lid 16.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the above-mentioned heat storage element A, at least the inner cylindrical body 11 can be formed of a metal tube having excellent heat conductivity. In this case, the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 are connected by a spacer 14 made of synthetic resin with a space 13 filled with a heat storage agent. The spacer 14 and the outer cylindrical body 12 may be formed integrally or may be separate bodies. In the case of a separate body, the outer cylinder 12 may be formed of a metal tube.

The heat storage body A is a flexible synthetic resin pipe comprising a cylindrical body 20 and a partition 21 for dividing the inside of the cylindrical body 20 into a plurality of spaces 13 along the axial direction of the cylindrical body. It is also possible to form with the body 18. In this case, any one of the spaces 13 is filled with the heat storage agent B, and both ends of the space 13 are sealed by the lid 16, and both ends of the space 13 not filled with the heat storage agent B are opened and connected to this. The joint tube 19 is provided.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking an example of a commercial food cooler having a horizontally long form used mainly in a sushi restaurant or the like. This cooler has a transparent case 7
And a heat exchange unit 1 for cooling the foodstuffs stored in the case 7 and a refrigerator 2 and a heat storage unit A for storing heat energy using nighttime electric power.
The structure of the heat storage body A will be described later.

As shown in the piping circuit of FIG. 2, the heat storage unit A and the refrigerator 2 are connected by a heat storage circulation circuit 5, and the heat storage unit A and the heat exchange unit 1 are connected to each other by a heat circulating circuit. The pumps P1 and P2 are connected by circuits 6, and each of the circuits is provided with pumps P1 and P2 for circulating the refrigerant fluid. Switching to the following circulation circuit is performed by automatic switching valves V1 and V2.

When the night time is set, that is, when the cheap midnight electricity rate is applied, the refrigerator 2 is operated to cool the sealed thermal storage agent B in the thermal storage body A to about -5 to -2 degrees Celsius and store the heat. The heat stored in the heat storage body A at the time of use is radiated by the heat exchange unit 1 to cool the foodstuffs stored in the case 7.

In the above embodiment, when the temperature of the heat storage body A rises due to the continuous use of the heat circulating circuit 6 during the daytime in summer, the cooling of the beverage becomes insufficient, that is, the heat circulating circuit 6. A bypass circuit 6a to the refrigerator 2 is provided so that when the return temperature of the coolant 6 exceeds about 10 degrees Celsius, the refrigerant in the heat circulating circuit 6 can be supplementarily cooled. The switching to the bypass circuit 6a is performed by detecting the return temperature by the temperature sensor and detecting the valve V
3 is automatically switched. With such a circuit configuration, even when the heat storage capacity of the heat storage body A is exceeded, the heat storage body A can be operated with low power consumption.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional refrigerant circulation circuit 8 extending from the refrigerator 2 to the heat exchange unit 1 is separately provided, and when the heat storage capacity of the heat storage body A is exceeded,
The switching to the refrigerant circuit 8 may be automatically performed instead of the bypass circuit 6a in FIG.

The heat pump in the refrigerator 2 is cycled in reverse to store heat in the heat storage unit A by the same device as described above, and the heat exchange unit 1 releases the warm heat in the daytime to store the stored articles. Can be warmed. In this case, if the amount of heat is insufficient, an auxiliary heater such as a heating wire may be installed near the heat exchange unit 1.

Next, the regenerator A will be described in detail. FIGS. 4 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which an inner cylinder 11 through which a refrigerant fluid flows and a space 13 for filling a heat storage agent B are provided around the inner cylinder 11. The pipe body 15 composed of the outer cylindrical body 12 formed in the above and a plurality of radial spacers 14 connecting the inner and outer cylindrical bodies 11 and 12 is provided in a state where flexibility is given by a synthetic resin material. It is formed integrally. And as shown in FIG.
The pipe body 15 is cut into a predetermined length, the space 13 is filled with the latent heat storage agent B, and the openings at both ends of the space 13 are sealed with lids 16.

At both ends of the pipe body 15, the outer cylindrical body 12 is cut off together with the spacer 14, and the inner cylindrical body 11 is exposed to form joint portions 11a.
The outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 15 is covered with a cover 17 made of a heat insulating material to such an extent that flexibility is not impaired.

The inner cylinder 11 is preferably formed as thin as possible within a range that does not impair the strength, in order to enhance the heat transfer with the external heat storage material.

The latent heat storage agent sealed in the space 13 of the heat storage body A is sealed with a slight air layer left as shown in FIG. The latent heat storage agent is selected according to the use of the heat storage system. For example, sodium acetate,
There are sodium acetate compound, calcium chloride hexahydrate and the like, and in a low temperature range, there are sodium chloride aqueous solution, ammonium chloride aqueous solution, potassium chloride aqueous solution, potassium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, sodium carbonate aqueous solution, water and the like.

The heat storage body A formed as described above is bent at a desired length in a zigzag shape as shown in FIG. 2, or spirally wound as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a plurality of pieces cut to a predetermined length are connected in series to form a heat storage assembly and installed at a predetermined location.
The heat exchange is performed between the latent heat storage agent filled in the container. In this case, it is preferable that the entire heat storage assembly be packed in a heat-insulating outer case or a net so as to maintain the aggregate form. Also, the length and number of the heat storage units may be increased or decreased according to the conditions such as the location of the heat storage unit, the storage space, and the desired heat storage capacity.

In the above embodiment, the inner cylinder 11 is exposed at both ends of the pipe
a, 11a are formed, but the joints 11a, 1a
Without forming 1a, it is also possible to connect by inserting a connecting pipe directly into the internal cylinder 11 opened at the cut end face shown in FIG.

It is preferable that the inner cylindrical body 11 is formed of a cross section having a different diameter so as to increase a contact area with an external heat storage agent. For example, as shown in FIG.
It is possible to form a star shape with a slightly rounded corner as shown in FIG. Further, the outer cylindrical body 12 is not limited to a circular shape including the embodiment described above,
For example, it may be formed in a square as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the inner cylindrical body 11 or both the inner cylindrical body 11 and the outer cylindrical body 12 are made of a metal tube made of copper or aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity and plasticity. It may be formed. In this case, the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 are connected by a spacer 14 made of synthetic resin with a space 13 for filling the heat storage agent. External cylinder 1
When 2 is a synthetic resin, the spacer 14 and the outer cylindrical body 12 can be formed integrally.

Further, in the present invention, the structure of the pipe body of the heat storage body A can be formed as shown in FIGS. That is, in this embodiment, a cylindrical tubular body 20 and
A plurality of spaces 13 extending along the axial direction of the cylindrical body
Are integrally formed with a synthetic resin material so as to be flexible enough to be bent. And the pipe body 1
8 is cut into a predetermined length, and any one of the spaces 13 is filled with the heat storage agent B, and the opening at both ends thereof is sealed with a lid 16. The space 13 not filled with the heat storage agent B is used as a passage for a refrigerant fluid, and both ends thereof are opened freely, and connected to the joint pipe 19.
Is attached.

In this embodiment, the spaces 13 are cylindrical bodies 20.
Partition walls 21 radially diffused in the cross section in the diametric direction of ...
The space 13
Are alternately filled with the heat storage agent B. That is, the heat storage agent B
And the space 13 for refrigerant fluid circulation not filled with the heat storage agent B are arranged adjacent to each other. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 18 is coated with a cover 17 made of a heat insulating material to such an extent that flexibility is not impaired.

A plurality of spaces 1 formed in the cylindrical body 20
Can be formed in various cross-sectional shapes (in the diameter direction of the cylinder) depending on the shape of the partition wall 21. For example, instead of the eight divisions in FIG. 15, four divisions as shown in FIG.
A plurality of partition walls 21 are arranged in parallel at intervals as shown in FIG. 17, a partition wall 21 is combined in a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG. 18, and the partition walls 21 are arranged in a grid as shown in FIG. The combination, as shown in FIG.
Can be formed in various forms such as those having a honeycomb structure. The cylindrical body 20 is not limited to a circular shape, and may be formed in a polygonal shape such as a quadrangle.

It is not necessary to use a tank of a size determined by the structure of the heat storage body A as described above, and cut a required length or a predetermined length according to the conditions of the air-conditioning capacity and the installation storage space. A required number of combinations can be combined to form a collective composition in a free form.

Although the representative embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to a commercial food thermostat. For example, large refrigerators used to display and sell foods such as fresh fish, meat, or vegetables at supermarkets and grocery stores, and various refrigerators such as box-shaped cooling boxes that store juices, or Of course, it can be applied to a warming and warming machine such as a lunch box, a refrigerator for business use and home use, a vending machine for drinking water, and the like. In addition, the present invention can be implemented by appropriately changing the configuration within the range having the constituent requirements and the effects.

[0027]

As described above, the food thermostat of the present invention comprises:
Heat is stored using low-cost nighttime electric power at night when the outside air temperature is low, and this heat is used for cooling or heating in the daytime, so it is possible to reduce heat costs and to equalize power use. Can be contributed, and since both the heat storage circulation circuit and the heat radiation circulation circuit are operated in a closed circuit, there is no external influence and heat loss can be prevented. It becomes possible. In addition, since the heat storage element used has the above-mentioned structure, it does not require a tank of a fixed size as in the past, and has a required length according to the conditions of the air conditioning capacity and installation storage space. ,
Alternatively, a required number of cut pieces having a predetermined length can be combined to form a collective composition in a free form, thereby greatly reducing restrictions on the installation location and reducing costs by omitting expensive tanks. Can be planned. In addition, by dividing the heat storage body into a portable size,
There are various remarkable effects such as easy transportation, loading and unloading under the floor, and easy installation and maintenance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a thermostat according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a cooling system in the constant temperature machine.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the cooling system in the constant temperature machine.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing one embodiment of a heat storage body according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view when a joint portion of the heat storage body is formed.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the axial direction of the heat storage body.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the heat storage body.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view showing still another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view showing another embodiment of the heat storage body of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the heat storage body.

FIG. 14 is a partially exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the heat storage body according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the heat storage body.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view showing still another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of the heat storage body.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing an example of use of a heat storage body in the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing another example of use of the heat storage body in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchange part 2 Refrigerator 5 Heat storage circulation circuit 6 Heat dissipation circulation circuit 7 Case 11 Inner cylinder 12 External cylinder 13 Space 14 Spacer 15 Pipe 16 Cover 18 Pipe 19 Joint pipe 20 Tube 21 Partition A Thermal storage B Thermal storage agent

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 11/00-31/00 F28F 1/00-1/44 F28D 1/00-20/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case having a food storage space in a case,
A food thermostat provided with a heat exchange unit (1) for keeping the stored articles warm and a refrigerator (2), comprising a heat storage unit (A) sealingly containing a heat storage agent therein, and the heat storage unit (A) and the heat storage unit (A). The refrigerator (2) is connected by a heat storage circulation circuit (5), and the heat storage body (A) and the heat exchange unit (1)
Are connected by a heat radiating circuit (6), and the refrigerator (2) operates at the time of setting at night to freeze or heat the sealed heat storage agent in the heat storage body (A), thereby storing the heat storage body (A). The food thermostat is formed such that heat energy is stored therein, and the heat stored in the heat storage unit (A) is radiated by the heat exchange unit (1) outside the above-mentioned nighttime set time. The heat storage body (A)
However, an inner cylinder (11) through which a refrigerant fluid flows, and an outer cylinder (12) formed around the inner cylinder (11) with a space (13) for filling a heat storage agent, These inner and outer cylinders (1
1) and (12) are formed of a flexible synthetic resin pipe body (15) composed of a plurality of radial spacers (14) for connecting and holding the pipe body (15) to a predetermined length. The space (1
3) A food thermostat having a structure in which a heat storage agent (B) is filled therein, and both ends of the space (13) are sealed with a lid (16). 2. A food storage space in the case,
A food thermostat provided with a heat exchange unit (1) for keeping the stored articles warm and a refrigerator (2), comprising a heat storage unit (A) sealingly containing a heat storage agent therein, and the heat storage unit (A) and the heat storage unit (A). The refrigerator (2) is connected by a heat storage circulation circuit (5), and the heat storage body (A) and the heat exchange unit (1)
Are connected by a heat radiating circuit (6), and the refrigerator (2) operates at the time of setting at night to freeze or heat the sealed heat storage agent in the heat storage body (A), thereby storing the heat storage body (A). The food thermostat is formed such that heat energy is stored therein, and the heat stored in the heat storage unit (A) is radiated by the heat exchange unit (1) outside the above-mentioned nighttime set time. The heat storage body (A)
However, an inner cylinder (11) through which a refrigerant fluid flows, an outer cylinder (12) formed around the inner cylinder (11) with a space (13) for filling a heat storage agent, and Inner and outer cylinders (11), (12)
Pipe body (15) comprising a spacer (14) for connecting and holding, wherein at least the inner cylindrical body (11) is formed of a metal tube having excellent heat conductivity, and the pipe body (15) A heat storage element which is cut into a length and filled in the space (13) with a heat storage agent, and the openings at both ends of the space (13) are sealed with lids (16). 3. A foodstuff storage space in the case,
A food thermostat provided with a heat exchange unit (1) for keeping the stored articles warm and a refrigerator (2), comprising a heat storage unit (A) sealingly containing a heat storage agent therein, and the heat storage unit (A) and the heat storage unit (A). The refrigerator (2) is connected by a heat storage circulation circuit (5), and the heat storage body (A) and the heat exchange unit (1)
Are connected by a heat radiating circuit (6), and the refrigerator (2) operates at the time of setting at night to freeze or heat the sealed heat storage agent in the heat storage body (A), thereby storing the heat storage body (A). The food thermostat is formed such that heat energy is stored therein, and the heat stored in the heat storage unit (A) is radiated by the heat exchange unit (1) outside the above-mentioned nighttime set time. The heat storage body (A)
Is made of a flexible synthetic resin comprising a cylindrical body (20) and a partition (21) that divides the inside of the cylindrical body (20) into a plurality of spaces (13) along the cylindrical body axial direction. A pipe (18) is formed, the pipe (18) is cut to a predetermined length, and any one of the spaces (13) is filled with the heat storage agent (B), and both ends of the opening are covered with a lid ( 16)
The space (13) not filled with the heat storage agent (B) is open at both ends, and the space (13) filled with the heat storage agent (B) and the space (13) are filled with the heat storage agent (B). Empty space (13) is arranged next to each other, furthermore said pipe body (18)
At both ends of the space (1) not filled with the heat storage agent (B)
A food thermostat provided with a joint pipe (19) connected to 3).