JPH10128132A - Thermostatic tank apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermostatic tank apparatus capable of being conserved in energy and space, capable of being reduced in cost, preventing dehumidification in each of chambers arranged in the tank of the thermostatic tank apparatus and the mutual contamination of an object to be tested, not exerting adverse effect on a test and capable of easily holding the chambers to the same temp. SOLUTION: A chamber 9 wherein the front surface 10 is constituted of a heat insulating material and other side surfaces are constituted of a member having high heat conductivity is formed into a hermetically closed state and the front surface is made freely openable and closable as well as attachable and detachable to be attached to one side surface of a tank 3. A plurality of chambers 9 are mounted in the tank and gaps are formed between the chambers and other side surfaces thereof to form air jackets 5 and air jacket temp. detection means 6 detecting the temp. of the air jackets 5 is set and a temp. control means 7 drives a cooler 8 and a heater 12 corresponding to the output of the air jacket temp. detection means 6 to control the air jackets to predetermined temp. to set the temp. in each of the chambers to predetermined temp.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermostatic oven having a temperature gradient.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of constant temperature bath apparatus 1 'having a temperature gradient has the following features. (1) As shown in FIG. A sealed tank 3 is formed by using the fan 4 and the temperature control means 7 at an appropriate place in the lower part of the tank 3, or in the upper part, the side or the like in the tank 3.
And a cooler 8 having a ventilation passage 31 on both sides inside the tank 3.
And a plurality of chambers 9 ′ which are thermally insulated using a heat insulating material are formed on the other side surface of the chamber 3.
Opening 33 and outlet opening communicating with ventilation passage 31 on both sides of
34, a heater as a heater 35 having a second temperature control means (not shown) at an inlet opening, and an air supply fan.
36, a cooler 8 whose temperature is controlled by a temperature control means 7 and a fan 4 attached thereto cool air cooled to a minimum set temperature or lower from a temperature set in each chamber 9 '. And the chamber 9 'is heated by a second temperature control means (not shown) so that a desired temperature is ensured by operating a heater 35, and each chamber 9' is ventilated by an air supply fan 36 while being ventilated. 9 'is independently set to each set temperature. In addition, instead of providing the air supply fan 36 at the inlet opening, there is an air outlet fan provided at the outlet opening, or an air supply fan 36 provided at the inlet opening and an exhaust fan provided at the outlet opening.

[0003] (2) As shown in FIG.
A plurality of such chambers 9 "are formed in the tank 3, and a plurality of such chambers 9" are mounted on the inside of the tank 3, and each of the chambers 9 "is thermally insulated. Alternatively, a cooler 8 is provided at an arbitrary location near the chamber 9 "and a heater 35 is provided below (or at an optional location near the chamber 9"), and the air cooled by the cooler 8 is provided. Is circulated into the chamber 9 "by a blower 36 'provided at the opening of the chamber 9" and circulated, and based on a detection output of a temperature detecting means 30' provided in each chamber 9 ", a temperature control means is provided. 7 "operates a heater 35 to heat the cooled air so that the temperature in each chamber 9" is independently controlled to a desired level. A refrigerator 8a is used.
Is a refrigerant conduit, and 21 is a door.

[0004]

In the thermostatic oven apparatus of the prior art (1), a heater is provided in each chamber to heat the supercooled air to a desired temperature. A strong circulating wind is exchanged in the chamber to dehumidify and damage plants, small animals, insects, microorganisms, and culture medium, which are test objects. In the case of (2), heat insulation is provided around each chamber, and a cooler, a heater, a blower, and a temperature detecting means are provided. Since it is provided in each chamber, it is not possible to save space and cost, and because the air once supercooled by the heater is heated to a desired temperature, energy saving and
It is not possible to reduce the running cost, and furthermore, there is a problem that the inside of each chamber is dehumidified, and the wind circulating in the chamber damages plants, animals, microorganisms, and culture solutions as test objects.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional thermostatic chamber apparatus, to save space, to save energy, and to reduce costs. The interior of each chamber is not dehumidified, and does not cause damage and cross-contamination of the DUT, does not adversely affect the test, and can easily maintain each chamber at the same temperature. To provide a bath apparatus.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned constant temperature bath apparatus, the front side surface is made of a heat insulating material. The other side is formed in a sealed state with a chamber made of a member having high thermal conductivity, and the front side is opened and closed or detachably attached to one side of the tank, and a plurality of the insides are mounted inside the tank. An air jacket is formed in the tank by forming a gap between the chambers and the other side of the tank, and the temperature detecting means detects the temperature of the air jacket. In response to the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means, the temperature control means drives a cooler or a heater to control the temperature of the air jacket to a predetermined temperature. Thus, a thermostat device, characterized in that the predetermined temperature through the other side surface of the chamber.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a chamber temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature in the chamber is provided, and an output of the chamber temperature detecting means, and an air jacket temperature detecting means are provided. Temperature control means, to which the output of (1) is input, calculates an average temperature value of the input, drives a cooler or a heater in accordance with the calculated average temperature value, and sets the air jacket to a predetermined temperature. And controlling the temperature in the plurality of chambers to the predetermined temperature by an air jacket through the other side surface of the chamber.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the constant temperature bath apparatus as described above, the front side is formed of a heat insulating material, and the other side is formed of a member having high thermal conductivity in a closed state. The front side is opened and closed or detachable, attached to one side of the tank, and a plurality of parts are mounted inside the tank, and a gap is formed between these chambers and the other side of the tank. Forming an air jacket in the tank, wherein the temperature detecting means comprises chamber temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the chamber, and the temperature control means to which the output of the chamber temperature detecting means has been input, In response to the output, drive a cooler or a heater,
The temperature of the air jacket is controlled to a predetermined temperature, and the temperature in the plurality of chambers is set to the predetermined temperature by the air jacket via the other side surface of the chamber.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the heat insulating material on the front surface is made of a member having transparency or a member having opacity. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first, second, and third aspects, the chamber has a communication pipe which can be opened and closed so as to exchange heat with the air jacket. Is what you do.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiments of the present invention, the same parts as those in the prior art are referred to by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Mainly different parts will be described. In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a thermostatic bath apparatus 1 forms a sealed bath 3 using a heat insulating material on a peripheral side surface 2 and stirs air in an upper portion of the inside of the bath 3. Fan 4
And a cooler 8, a heater 12 having a larger capacity than the conventional heater 35 having a small capacity is provided at the bottom, and the front surface 10 of the chamber 9 is made of a heat-insulating member. The other side surface 10 'is constructed in a closed state using a desirably thin member having high thermal conductivity, and a frame supporting the front side surface 10 is provided on one side of the tank 3. A plurality of chambers 9 are mounted and arranged in multiple stages or multiple stages in the tank 3, and a plurality of the chambers 9 are mounted. The temperature-controlled air flows between the chambers 9 and the peripheral side surface 2 of the tank 3. An air jacket 5 is formed in the tank 3 so as to have a possible gap, and an air jacket temperature detecting means 6 for detecting the temperature of the air jacket 5 is provided.
The position where the cooler 8 and the heater 12 are installed is not limited to the upper part in the tank 3 but may be an appropriate place in the tank 3.
Further, the fans 4 may be provided at a plurality of locations.

The operation section of the temperature control means 7 is provided on an operation panel 11 provided on the front surface, and a desired temperature control pattern can be inputted in advance from the outside by an operation knob or a program chart. The temperature control range can be set to approximately -20 ° C to + 50 ° C. Then, the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means 6 is input to the temperature controlling means 7.

Further, a light source (not shown) may be provided in each chamber 9 and the light source may be program-controlled to make it possible to freely adjust the light and dark environment, that is, the environment for a long day.

Some of the test objects generate heat in the chamber 9, and a small stirring fan 13 for generating a breeze may be provided in the chamber 9.

Alternatively, a bucket may be mounted in the chamber 9 and water may be added to the bucket to provide humidity.

In such a case, the temperature control means 7
Drives the cooler 8 or the heater 12 according to the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means 6 based on an input signal of a predetermined temperature of the air jacket 5 set in advance or set in advance by a program. Then, the air jacket 5 is controlled to a predetermined temperature, and the heat of the air jacket 5 is transmitted from the other side surface 10 ′ of the heat conductive material of each chamber 9 to the inside of each chamber 9 by the air jacket 5 controlled to the predetermined temperature. The temperature is maintained at the same temperature as the temperature of the air jacket 5, the inside of each chamber 9 has the above-mentioned predetermined constant temperature environment condition, and each chamber 9 is completely isolated from each other. The forced exchange of air in the air jacket 5 is not performed, and the inside of each chamber 9 is not dehumidified. Spraying organisms, culturing for a long time, small animals in a very natural state without drying and causing damage to the test object, etc. In addition, research results for comparative evaluation of breeding of insects and the like have high reliability, and such test research can be performed at the same time, the comparative test is easy, and the speed of the test research can be increased. Further, the air jacket temperature detecting means 6 is provided at a plurality of places of the air jacket 5 and the average temperature value of the output is determined by the temperature controlling means 7.
The average temperature value obtained as described above may be used as the temperature of the air jacket 5.

Each of the chambers 9 is sealed, and contaminants such as microorganisms, odors, and garbage from the chambers 9 diffuse into the air jacket 5 to propagate and accumulate, thereby preventing contamination of the tank. , Do not flow back into each chamber 9.

Further, the air jacket 5 and each chamber 9
Since the same temperature condition can be easily applied to the inside, the sample can be placed close to the wall of the chamber 9 as much as possible, and the entire volume can be used effectively. Since there is no thick heat insulating material surrounding them, the space in the chamber 9 can be taken up as much as it can be made compact, and the space can be saved, and only one cooler 8 and one heater 13 need to be installed. , There is no need to install a heater in each chamber 9,
The temperature of each chamber 9 can be controlled accurately at the same time, so that the cooler 8 does not overcool the air jacket 5 or the heater 12 does not overheat the air jacket 5 to save energy. And a low-cost thermostatic oven apparatus 1 can be obtained.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
Although not shown, the heat insulating material on the front side surface 10 is made of a transparent or opaque member.
In such a case, when the heat insulating material uses a member having transparency while keeping the heat retention in the chamber 9, the inside can be observed or a member having opacity is used. In the case of an object, a light and dark environment, that is, a daytime environment can be freely adjusted by using a light source by shielding external light.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
As shown in FIG. 4, a heat exchange means 14 is provided in the chamber 9.
A communication pipe 16 having an openable and closable on-off valve 15 is provided. And, the inlet 16 for the external gas of the communication pipe 16
In the middle between a and gas cylinder 19, pressure regulating valve 17 and pressure gauge
18 is provided, after which the communication pipe 16 is branched into the respective chambers 9, an on-off valve 15 is provided on each of the branched communication pipes 16, and a filter 27 is provided after the on-off valve 15, The supplied gas is filtered through a filter 27 and delivered to each chamber 9.
A heat exchanger 14 is provided in a portion arranged in the tank 3, and a discharge pipe 26 provided with an openable / closable valve 25 is connected to each chamber 9. The discharge pipe 26 is open so as to discharge exhaust gas to the atmosphere.

In such a device, the environment in each chamber 9, that is, humidity (moisture), air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, or the like is supplied from the outside through a communication pipe 16 as appropriate, thereby controlling environmental conditions. Since the water and gas can be set arbitrarily and supplied at the same temperature as the temperature of the air jacket 5 by the heat exchange means 14, there is no hindrance to the continuation of the test and research.

The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
As shown in FIG. 5, a chamber temperature detecting means 30 for detecting the temperature in the chamber 9 is provided in an arbitrary chamber 9,
The output of the chamber temperature detecting means 30 is output to the temperature controlling means 7.
Is what you entered. The temperature of each chamber 9 is made uniform by the air jacket 5, and the temperature of one chamber 9 can be detected and used as a representative value of the temperature of each chamber 9.

In such a case, the temperature detecting means 30
The temperature control means 7 to which the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means 6 and the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means 6 are inputted, calculates the average temperature value of the output of the temperature detecting means 30 and the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means 6 and calculates The cooler 8 or the heater 12 is driven in accordance with the average temperature value thus set, and the air jacket 5 is driven.
Is controlled to a predetermined temperature set in advance, and the temperature in each chamber 9 is set to the predetermined temperature by the air jacket 5 via the other side surface 10 ′ of the chamber 9. Although not shown, the temperature detecting means 30 is provided in each chamber 9 or a plurality of chambers 9, an average temperature value of these outputs is obtained by the temperature control means 7, and the obtained average temperature value is calculated as the temperature of the chamber 9. It may be. This embodiment may be used in the second and third embodiments.

The fifth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that
As shown in FIG. 6, the air jacket temperature detecting means is removed, and the output of the chamber temperature detecting means 30 is changed to the temperature controlling means 7.
Is what you entered. In such a device, the temperature control means 7 to which the output of the chamber temperature detecting means 30 is input drives the cooler 8 or the heater 12 in accordance with the input output, and the air jacket 5 Is controlled to a predetermined temperature set in advance, and the temperature in each chamber 9 is set to the predetermined temperature by the air jacket 5 through the other side surface 10 ′ of the chamber 9. This embodiment may be used in the second and third embodiments.

[0025]

The present invention is as described above. According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the constant temperature bath apparatus as described above, the front side is made of a heat insulating material, and the other side is made of a high heat conductive material. A chamber made of a material having a property is formed in a closed state, and the front side is opened and closed or detachable so that the tank 1
Attached to the side surface, a plurality of them are mounted inside the tank, an air jacket is formed in the tank by forming a gap between these chambers and the other side surface of the tank, and the temperature detecting means is
Air jacket temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air jacket. In response to the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means, the temperature control means drives a cooler or a heater to control the air jacket to a predetermined temperature. And, the temperature in the plurality of chambers by an air jacket,
Since the predetermined temperature is reached through the other side of the chamber,
Energy saving, compact equipment, space saving, cost reduction, proper temperature inside chamber, Isolated
The chamber is not dehumidified, does not cause biological cross-contamination and does not adversely affect the test, and the temperature of each chamber can be maintained exactly as desired under the same conditions, so that germination, culture, and rearing can be performed. It is said that it is possible to conduct research and research at the same time, speed up the research, and have high reliability of the research results, especially effective for culturing, preserving, and testing bacteria, viruses and pathological samples in the medical field. effective.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a chamber temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature in the chamber is provided, and an output of the chamber temperature detecting means, an air jacket temperature detecting means, Temperature control means, to which the output of (1) is input, calculates an average temperature value of the input, drives a cooler or a heater in accordance with the calculated average temperature value, and sets the air jacket to a predetermined temperature. Since the temperature in the plurality of chambers is controlled to be the predetermined temperature by the air jacket through the other side surface of the chamber, energy can be saved, the apparatus can be made compact, and space can be saved. In addition, the cost can be reduced, and the temperature in the chamber can be properly maintained. No dehumidification in the bar, no adverse effects on the test due to bio-contamination, and the temperature of each chamber can be maintained exactly as desired under the same conditions, so that germination, culture, and rearing It is said that it is possible to conduct research and research at the same time, to speed up the research, and to have high reliability of the research results, especially effective for culturing, preserving, and testing bacteria, viruses, and pathological samples in the medical field. effective.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned constant-temperature bath apparatus, a chamber whose front side is formed of a heat insulating material and whose other side is formed of a member having high thermal conductivity is sealed. The front side is opened and closed or detachable, attached to one side of the tank, and a plurality of parts are mounted inside the tank, and a gap is formed between these chambers and the other side of the tank. Forming an air jacket in the tank, wherein the temperature detecting means comprises chamber temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the chamber, and the temperature control means to which the output of the chamber temperature detecting means has been input, In response to the output, drive a cooler or a heater,
The air jacket is controlled to a predetermined temperature, and the temperature in the plurality of chambers is set to the predetermined temperature through the other side of the chamber by the air jacket, so that it is possible to save energy and make the apparatus compact, In addition to being able to save space, it is possible to reduce costs, and furthermore, it is possible to maintain the temperature inside the chamber properly, and it is isolated from the plurality of chambers, so that the inside of the chamber is not dehumidified, It does not adversely affect the test due to cross-contamination of organisms, and can maintain the temperature of each chamber exactly as desired under the same conditions, so that germination, culture, breeding, etc. can be performed simultaneously. ,
The speed of research can be increased, and the reliability of research results is high. Especially, bacteria, viruses,
It is effective in culturing, storing, and examining pathological samples.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first, second, and third aspects, the heat insulating material on the front surface is made of a member having transparency or a member having opacity. In addition, it is possible to maintain the heat retention in each chamber, and to observe the inside when using a transparent member, or to use a opaque member for a bright and dark environment. Can be easily created freely.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the first, second and third aspects, the chamber has a communication pipe which can exchange heat with an air jacket and can be opened and closed. Environmental conditions can be set as desired, without causing biological cross-contamination and adversely affecting the test, and the temperature conditions can always be kept the same as the temperature of the air jacket, germination, Test and research such as culture and breeding can be performed at the same time, there is no hindrance to the continuation of the test and research, and the speed of the research can be increased, and the effect of the research result is high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the chamber of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the third embodiment of the above.

FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the above.

FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the above.

FIG. 7 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a conventional thermostat apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the thermostat apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermostat apparatus 2 Peripheral side surface 3 Tank 4 Fan 5 Air jacket 6 Air jacket temperature detecting means 7 Temperature control means 8 Cooler 9 Chamber 10 Front side 12 Heater 14 Heat exchanger 30 Chamber temperature detecting means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cooler and a heater provided with a fan which stirs air in a tank, and a temperature control means having a temperature detecting means, wherein a tank sealed with a heat insulating material is formed on a peripheral side surface. In a constant temperature bath device provided with a vessel, a front side surface is formed of a heat insulating material, and the other side surface is formed of a chamber formed of a member having high thermal conductivity in a closed state, and the front side surface is opened / closed or detached. Freely attached to one side of the tank and mounted inside the tank, forming a gap between these chambers and the other side of the tank to form an air jacket in the tank, Temperature detecting means comprises air jacket temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air jacket, and in response to the output of the air jacket temperature detecting means, the temperature controlling means drives a cooler or a heater to form an air jacket. The predetermined temperature And controlling the temperature in the plurality of chambers to the predetermined temperature by an air jacket through the other side surface of the chamber. A temperature control means for receiving an output of the chamber temperature detection means and an output of the air jacket temperature detection means, the temperature control means receiving an output of the chamber temperature detection means and an output of the air jacket temperature detection means; Calculate the temperature value,
In response to the calculated average temperature value, a cooler or a heater is driven to control the air jacket to a predetermined temperature,
The temperature in multiple chambers is controlled by an air jacket.
The constant temperature bath device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature is set via another side surface of the chamber. 3. A cooler and a heater in which a sealed tank is formed on a peripheral side surface using a heat insulating material, and a fan for stirring air in the tank and temperature control means having temperature detecting means are provided. In a constant temperature bath device provided with, a front side is formed of a heat insulating material, and the other side is formed in a closed state with a chamber formed of a member having high thermal conductivity, and the front side is opened and closed or detachable. To the inside of the tank, forming a gap between the chambers and the other side of the tank, forming an air jacket in the tank, and detecting the temperature. The means comprises a chamber temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature in the chamber, and a temperature control means to which an output of the chamber temperature detecting means is inputted,
In response to the input output, a cooler or a heater is driven to control an air jacket to a predetermined temperature, and the temperature in the plurality of chambers is controlled by the air jacket through the other side surface of the chamber. A thermostat device characterized by temperature. 4. The constant temperature bath device according to claim 1, wherein the heat insulating material on the front side is made of a member having transparency or a member having opacity. 5. The constant temperature bath device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber has a communication pipe that can be opened and closed so as to exchange heat with an air jacket.