JPH0515777Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] "Industrial Application Field" The present invention relates to a food service cart for use on an aircraft. That is, the present invention relates to a food service cart that stores a large number of food trays together with a coolant such as dry ice on a shelf and serves food and drink to passengers on board an aircraft.

``Prior Art'' Since such food service carts are intended to be mounted on aircraft, their external dimensions are limited, and their top plates generally have a flat horizontal surface. A coolant such as dry ice is stored for cooling storage.

There are two types of storage methods for this coolant: the first type, which has a dedicated storage space at the top of the chamber and stores the coolant all in one place, and the first type, which does not have such a dedicated storage space. There is a second type in which the coolant is distributed and stored on each food tray together with the food and drink. Regarding this second type, refer to FIG. 5, which will be described later (such a coolant A is particularly shown by an imaginary line in the figure).

``Problems that the invention attempts to solve'' By the way, the following problems have been pointed out with such conventional storage systems.

First, as mentioned above, the first type, which provides a dedicated storage space, is as follows.

In other words, in the first type, a dedicated storage space for the coolant is always permanently provided at the top of the refrigerator, but food and drinks stored in the refrigerator, such as bottles, are stored in the refrigerator. Some products, such as beverages in cans, do not need to be cooled to prevent the growth of bacteria. In the case of such beverages, of course, the coolant is not used and the space dedicated to it remains unused.

It was pointed out that there is a lot of waste in the situation where such dead space is created and the number of food trays stored is reduced accordingly. In particular, as mentioned above, food service carts for use in aircraft are limited in their external dimensions, so creating dead space, ie, reducing the number of food trays stored, has been a major problem.

In addition, in the case of the first type in which this dedicated storage space is provided at the top of the refrigerator, depending on the structure of the storage space or the distance between the storage space and the food tray stored on the top shelf, In the past, it has been pointed out that food and drinks on food trays stored directly below them freeze. In other words, food and drink on the topmost food tray directly below is likely to freeze because it is intensively cooled by the cooling material through the partition wall of the storage space, whereas food and drink on other food trays There were also problems such as insufficient cooling and the inside of the refrigerator was not cooled uniformly.

The first type had such a problem.

Next, as described above, in the case of the second type in which the coolant is placed and stored on each food tray together with the food and drink, the following will be explained.

In other words, in this second type, a large number of food trays can be stored without creating dead space, but in the case of food and drink that require cooling, (a) food and drink can be stored on each food tray; The coolant must also be set at the same time as the (b) Also, when serving food and drinks to passengers, the refrigerant must be removed from the food tray. (c) At that time, coolants such as dry ice are often grabbed with bare hands, which poses a risk of burns. (d) It is difficult to dispose of coolant such as dry ice that has been removed inside the aircraft.

Since this kind of work is required, 2
It was pointed out that it was time-consuming and troublesome.

The second type had such a problem.

This point was pointed out in the conventional example.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional method. By having a tray, the coolant tray can be removed when it is not needed and a food tray is stored in its place, and there is no need to freeze food or drinks, and the necessary work is simplified, and these can be easily accomplished. The purpose is to propose a food service cart for use on aircraft.

"Means for solving the problem" The technical means of the present invention to achieve this purpose are as follows.

This food service cart is designed to be mounted on an aircraft, and has a box-like shape including a top plate, a bottom plate, side plates, a door, and the like. It also has the following guide rails, a food tray, and a coolant tray.

A large number of guide rails are fixed to the left and right side plates in left and right pairs, upper and lower.

A large number of food trays are used, each of which is supported so as to be freely inserted and removed between the pair of guide rails, and foods and drinks are placed and stored therein.

The coolant tray is supported so as to be freely removable and removable between the pair of uppermost guide rails, and the coolant is placed and stored therein.

The coolant tray consists of a non-metallic honeycomb core as a core material, a heat insulating material filled in each cell of the honeycomb core, and a non-metallic surface plate that covers the outer surface of the honeycomb core. , is formed by honeycomb sand germanchi panels.

"Function" The food service cart to be mounted on an aircraft according to the present invention is constructed by such means, and therefore functions as follows.

Usually, a coolant tray is supported between the uppermost guide rails, and a coolant is placed and stored on the coolant tray. Food trays are supported between the other guide rails, and food and drinks are placed and stored on the food trays.

And due to natural convection of cold air from the coolant,
Food and drinks are kept cool.

First, when beverages in bottles or cans do not need to be kept cool and no cooling material is required, the cooling material tray is removed and instead a food tray is stored and supported between the topmost guide rails.

Second, the coolant tray is formed by a honeycomb sand german panel filled with insulation.

Therefore, it has excellent insulation properties, and the food and drinks on the food tray directly below are not intensively cooled, and the inside of the refrigerator is evenly cooled.

Thirdly, there is no time consuming work required regarding the coolant. That is, it is easy to place, store, and set the coolant, and there is no need to remove or process it during service.

Fourthly, such a coolant tray is used by directly utilizing the conventional guide rail and supporting it on the upper stage thereof.

"Embodiments" The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

First, the structure of the food service cart will be explained in order of its outline, coolant tray, etc.

The outline of food third-hikart is as follows.

3 and 4 are perspective views of the whole,
FIG. 3 shows the door in an open state, and FIG. 4 shows the door in a closed state. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the food tray. This food service cart has a box shape with a top plate 1, a bottom plate 2, left and right side plates 3, front and rear doors 4, etc., and a large number of food trays T are stored in a shelf shape.

That is, in the food service cart, frame frames 5 made of a lightweight metal, for example, an aluminum profile, are arranged as a framework at the top, bottom, right and left, and front and rear edges. A top plate 1, a bottom plate 2, and left and right side plates 3 made of sanderch panels are fixedly assembled to this frame frame 5. Sandwich panels have excellent heat insulation properties, and their core material is made of honeycomb core, foamed plastic, etc., and their surface plate is made of reinforced plastic board, etc.

The front and rear doors 4 are also made of sanderch panels with excellent heat insulation properties, and are attached to the frame frame 5 by hinges 6 so as to be openable and closable. Since the door 4 is used in a narrow cabin aisle, a double hinge, for example, is used as the hinge 6 so that the door 4 can be opened 270 degrees until it comes into contact with the outer surface of the side plate 3.

7 is a guide rail, and this guide rail 7
are fixed to the inner surfaces of the left and right side plates 3 by rivets, screws, etc. in pairs at the same height level on the left and right sides, and in large numbers on the top and bottom. The food trays T are placed between the left and right pairs of guide rails 7.
It is supported so that it can be taken in and taken out freely, and is stored in multiple shelves above and below.

Foods and beverages F, etc. are placed and stored on the food trays T, respectively. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, various foods 8, cups 9, knives and forks 10, etc. are placed on top, and various foods and drinks F are arranged on these.

The illustrated food service cart is of a type in which food trays T are stored in two shelves at the front and back, and are loaded and taken out from the front and back, and doors 4 are provided at the front and rear, respectively.
However, food service carts are not limited to the type shown;
However, there is also a type that is not lined up in the front and back, but is stored like a shelf only above and below, and in this type, a door 4 is provided only on the front side, a back plate is provided on the back side, and the depth is The length will be half that of the type shown.

In the figure, 11 is a caster, 12 is a brake pedal, 13 is a handle for opening/closing the door 4, and 14 is a handle. Further, reference numeral 15 denotes a holding plate arranged in parallel above each guide rail 7, and this holding plate 1
Reference numeral 5 is for holding the food tray T supported and housed on the guide rail 7 so that it does not wobble.

A food service cart generally looks like this.

Next, I will talk about the coolant tray, etc.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the main part.

The coolant tray B is supported between the pair of uppermost guide rails 7 so as to be able to be taken in and out, and the coolant A is placed and stored therein. And this coolant tray B is
A non-metallic honeycomb core 16 serving as a core material and a heat insulating material 17 filled in each cell of the honeycomb core 16
and a non-metallic surface plate 18 that covers the outer surface of the honeycomb core 16.

That is, the honeycomb core 16 as its core material
is a planar assembly of hollow columnar cells, has a large aperture ratio, and generally has a wide air layer, and is made of a non-metallic material such as aramid honeycomb. Further, as the heat insulating material 17 to be filled, for example, urethane foam is used, and as the surface plate 18 covering the outer surface, a non-metallic, for example, reinforced plastic plate is used. In addition, the overall shape of the coolant tray B is, for example, dish-shaped, and each of its peripheral edges is provided with rising portions.
B ₁ is provided.

In this way, a plurality of coolants A such as dry ice are placed and stored in parallel on the coolant tray B located at the top of the interior of the food service cart. The interior of the refrigerator is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the natural convection of cold air from the coolant A, and the food and drink F on the food tray T is kept cool, thereby preventing the proliferation of bacteria and the like.

The coolant tray B etc. are configured as shown above.

The above is the explanation of the configuration, etc.

The operation etc. will be explained below.

First, various tableware 8, cups 9, knives and forks 10, etc. are placed on the food tray T, and various foods and drinks F are placed on them, and each serving is set and ready for serving (see Figure 5). ).

Each food tray T in this state is stored on a shelf in a food service cart at the airport, and the coolant A such as dry ice is also stored in the coolant tray B as described later.
It is placed and stored on top.

The food service cart is then loaded onto the aircraft and used to serve passengers on board the aircraft after the flight. That is, the food tray T, that is, the food and drink F, which has been cooled and stored at a predetermined temperature by natural convection of cold air from the coolant A in the food service cart, is served to the passengers at the time of meal.

Now, in the aircraft-mounted food service cart used in this manner, the coolant tray B etc. are configured as follows.

First, normally, a coolant tray B is supported between the uppermost guide rails 7, and the coolant A is placed and stored on the coolant tray B at uniform intervals. Note that this placement and storage of the coolant A is performed by once pulling out the coolant tray B (indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 1). Furthermore, food trays T are accommodated and supported between the other guide rails 7, and food F and the like that require cooling preservation are placed and accommodated on the food trays T.

Then, the cold air from coolant A flows to the side plate 3 and door 4.
Natural convection occurs inside the refrigerator through the gap formed between the coolant tray B and the food tray T. Therefore, the food F is cooled and preserved by such cold air, and the breeding of bacteria and the like is prevented.

Now, here are the following first, second, third, and fourth.

First, when only drinks F, such as beverages in bottles and cans, are stored in the refrigerator, there is no need to worry about bacterial growth, that is, there is no need for cooling storage, and there is no need for refrigerant A.
Coolant tray B is pulled out and removed. Instead, two additional food trays T are accommodated and supported between the uppermost guide rails 7.

Second, the coolant tray B is made of a non-metallic honeycomb sanderch panel 19 filled with insulation material 17.
It is formed by Therefore, it has excellent insulation properties, so that only the food F on the food tray T directly below is not intensively cooled, the inside of the refrigerator is uniformly cooled, and each food and drink F is evenly cooled and stored. .

Thirdly, the necessary work related to the coolant A does not take much time.

That is, (a) there is no need to set the coolant A separately on each food tray T, and the coolant A can be set by simply placing and storing them all together on the coolant tray B. (b) Therefore, when serving food and drink F to passengers, it is not necessary to remove the coolant A, and the food tray T can be served as is. (c) Therefore, it is less likely that the coolant A will be grasped with bare hands. (d) Also, treatment of the coolant A becomes unnecessary.

Fourthly, such a coolant tray B is
It can be used by simply using the conventional guide rail 7 as it is and supporting it on the uppermost stage.

The above is the explanation of the operation, etc.

"Effect of the invention" As explained above, the food service cart for aircraft according to the invention has a coolant tray that is supported between the guide rails so as to be freely put in and taken out, and is formed of a predetermined honeycomb sandwich panel. By doing so, the following effects will be achieved.

First, the coolant tray is removed when not needed and a food tray is stored in its place. In other words, in such a case, the number of food trays that can be stored increases accordingly, and there is no wasteful dead space, which is efficient under conditions where the external dimensions are limited.

Second, food and drinks do not freeze, and the inside of the refrigerator is uniformly cooled. That is, the food and drink on the food tray stored directly below will not freeze, and will be properly cooled and preserved together with the food and drink on other food trays.

Thirdly, the required work is also simplified. That is, it is easy to place, store, and set the coolant, and there is no need to remove or process it during service, which simplifies the necessary work and eliminates the risk of frostbite, which is excellent in terms of safety.

Fourth, these can be easily realized. That is, the coolant tray can be easily used by using the conventional guide rail as is.

In this way, the problems that existed in this type of conventional example are completely eliminated, and the effects of the present invention are remarkable and significant.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the main parts of an embodiment of the food service cart for use in aircraft according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the main part. 3 and 4 are overall perspective views of the food service cart for aircraft loading, with FIG. 3 showing the door in an open state and FIG. 4 showing the door in a closed state, respectively. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the food tray. 1...Top plate, 2...Bottom plate, 3...Side plate, 4...
Door, 7...Guide rail, 16...Honeycomb core, 17...Insulation material, 18...Surface plate, 19...
Honeycomb sand germination panel, A...cooling material, B
... Coolant tray, F ... Food and drink, T ... Food tray.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] Box-shaped with top plate, bottom plate, side plates, door, etc.
In a food service cart to be carried on an aircraft, there are a number of guide rails fixedly installed on the left and right side plates above and below in pairs on the left and right, respectively, and food and beverages, etc. are supported between the pairs of guide rails so that they can be taken in and out. The food tray comprises a large number of food trays that are placed and stored, and a coolant tray that is supported so as to be freely put in and taken out between the pair of uppermost guide rails and on which a coolant is placed and housed, and the coolant tray is , a honeycomb sandwich panel consisting of a non-metallic honeycomb core as a core material, a heat insulating material filled in each cell of the honeycomb core, and a non-metallic surface plate covering the outer surface of the honeycomb core. An aircraft food service cart comprising: