JPS61130766A - Continuous cooling method in refrigerating and cold storage case - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a method for substantially continuously cooling airflow circulating through a storage chamber and a cold air path in a main body of a freezing/refrigerating case in a freezing/refrigerating case. Regarding.

The frozen/refrigerated cases referred to in this specification include, for example, refrigerated open sissy cases for displaying and selling fresh foods, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, frozen foods, etc., reach-in refrigerated A-cases, refrigerators, freezers, etc. It will be done.

Conventional technology and its problems> Conventional freezing and refrigerating cases, such as refrigerated open showcases, have a cold air outlet and a cold air intake in a storage chamber formed within the case body, and also have a cold air outlet and a cold air intake port inside the case body. A cold air path is formed with one end connected to the cold air suction port and a viewing end connected to the cold air outlet, and a cooler and a blower fan for circulating the cold air throughout the storage room and the cold air path are provided in the cold air path. It is arranged. In conventional freezing and refrigeration cases like this, frost builds up on the cooler during operation, reducing cooling efficiency to 1.
There is the issue of delegating him.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, the cooling operation of the cooler is stopped at any time or at regular intervals, and the cooler is heated and defrosted using a method such as a heater or a heating medium supplied to the cooler. is normal.

However, this defrosting operation usually takes a considerable amount of time, for example, 30 minutes or more if the cooling operation continues for 4 hours. As a result, food stored in the storage room may be heated to a temperature that is unfavorable from a food hygiene perspective, or thawed, resulting in poor quality. Another problem is that the heat applied to the cooler to speed up defrosting is transmitted to the storage room via the cold air path, which exacerbates this quality deterioration.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The present invention was devised under the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problems to be solved by the present invention are as follows: temperature to prevent deterioration of the quality of stored products as much as possible.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention takes the following technical measures to solve the above-mentioned problems.

That is, a part of the partition wall that partitions the cold air path of the main body of the freezing/refrigerating case and the external space of the main body is formed by a rotating plate, and at least one cooler is fixed to each of the front and back surfaces of the rotating plate, A pair of cooler circuits having each cooler and each on-off valve connected in series thereto are connected to an external refrigerant circuit, and the on-off valve connected to one of the coolers located in the cold air path is opened. While this cooler is in cooling operation, the on-off valve connected to the other cooler located in the upper space is closed to perform natural defrosting of this cooler using outside air heat, and then the air in the cold air path is When the frost on the cooler reaches a predetermined amount, the on-off valve connected to the cooler outside the cold air path is opened to supply refrigerant to the cooler, and the cooler is heated to the temperature inside the cold air path. A technical measure is taken in which, after pre-cooling, the rotary plate is rotated and the on-off valve connected to the cooler moved outside the cold air path is closed.

<Operation of the Invention> On the other hand, it is preferable to store the opening/closing valve connected to the cooler located in the cold air path while cooling the cold air path by opening the one connected to the cooler located in the cold air path. The temperature of the storage room is adjusted by opening and closing according to the temperature of the room, and on the other hand, by closing the other on-off valve, the air is supplied to the other cooler located outside the cold air path. Defrosting is performed by cutting off the flow of refrigerant and exposing the cooler to the outside air to allow it to naturally heat up. In other words, the defrosting operation of both coolers is repeated alternately outside the cold air path, and during the defrosting operation, the storage room can be cooled using the cooler located inside the cold air path. This virtually eliminates interruptions in cooling due to work. Here, cooling is interrupted while the rotary plate is reversed, and the time is, for example, about 10
It is an extremely short period of time, less than a second, and can be virtually ignored.

In addition, when the frost on the cooler responsible for cooling reaches a predetermined amount, the cooler outside the cold air path is precooled while the frosting is progressing further, and this cooler reaches the same temperature as the temperature inside the cold air path. The rotary plate is then rotated and the cooler is moved into the cold air path, so the cooler does not bring excess outside temperature into the cold air path. Therefore, when the cooler is replaced, the temperature in the cold air passage is hardly raised by the outside temperature.
The temperature of cold air can be maintained constant.

<Description of Embodiments> Hereinafter, an example in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a refrigerated open showcase will be described based on the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a refrigerated open showcase used for carrying out the method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. A storage room 2 is provided. A cold air outlet 4 is formed along the entire length of the upper edge of the front open portion 3 of the storage chamber 2, and a distribution grill 6 is disposed below this with an air distribution chamber 5 interposed therebetween. A cold air suction lower is formed at the lower edge of the front opening 3 and covered with a punching plate over its entire length. Inside the showcase body 1, there is further provided a cold air passage 8 formed in a U-shape extending above, below, and at the rear of the storage chamber 2. One end of this cold air passage 8 is connected to the cold air suction lower, and the other end is connected to the cold air outlet 4, and the storage chamber 2, the ventilation chamber 5, and the cold air passage 8 constitute one cold air circulation passage. .

A part of the earthen wall 9 of this cold air passage 8 is formed of a rotary plate 10 over its entire width in the left and right direction, and coolers 11 are fixed to both sides of this rotary plate 10. A control device 12 is provided for switching the operating states of both coolers 11 so that only the cooler 11 located at the lower end is operated for cooling.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary plate 10 has a rotation axis located at the center of each of its left and right edges so that the rotary plate 10 can rotate about a center line that passes through its vertical and longitudinal centers. It is supported by the left and right side walls 14 via hollow support shafts 13.13 fixed coaxially. Hollow support shaft 13.1
3 is extended to the outside of the corresponding side wall 14, and by driving this extended portion with a drive device 15, the rotary plate 10 is rotated in one direction or alternately in forward and reverse directions with a 180° pitch. Let's go.

The left and right edges of the rotary plate 10 are provided with T-rear arms 1, respectively.
6.16 is provided. Each T-shaped joint 16.16 has a common connection port 1 opened outward from the rotation axis of the rotary plate 10.
7.17 and a branch or collective connection port 18.18 or 19.19 opened toward the front and back directions of the rotary plate 10. However, since the upper side of the T-shape of the T-handle 16 on the branch side is bent in the shape of a cran, the positions of both branch connection ports 17 and 17 when viewed from the front and back of the rotary plate are symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis. The branch connection port 18 on the front side of the rotating plate 10 and the collective connection port 1 on the back side
9 (not shown), an electromagnetic on-off valve 20 placed on the front side of the rotating plate 10, an expansion valve 21 placed on the back side of the rotating plate 10, and a cooler 11 (not shown) are connected in series. One cooler circuit 22 is connected. Similarly, between the branch connection port 18 (not shown) on the back side of the rotary plate 10 and the collective connection port 19 on the front side, an electromagnetic on-off valve 20 (not shown) arranged on the back side of the rotary plate 10, The other cooler circuit 22 that connects the expansion valve 21 arranged on the front side of the rotary plate 10 and the cooler 11 in series is connected. Double T-shaped joint 16.16
Each common connection port 17.17 has each hollow support shaft 13.
．． Each connecting pipe 23.23 provided along the axis of 13 and a swivel joint 24.24 connected to each outer end thereof.
An external refrigerant circuit 25 (only both ends thereof are shown) is connected thereto.

The control device 12 controls the cold air path 8 based on the detection results of the electromagnetic valves 20, 20, a rotary plate position detecting device 26 that detects the rotational phase of the rotary plate 10, and a rotary plate position detecting device 26.
The position detection device 26 consists of a control circuit 27 that opens a solenoid valve 20 connected to the full cooler 11 and closes the other solenoid valve 20. It consists of a proximity switch 28 and a pair of switch drive bodies 29 and 29 fixed to one of the hollow support shafts 13.

The control circuit 27 controls the opening and closing of the one electromagnetic valve 20 according to the temperature of the storage compartment 2, as necessary.
When frost buildup on the cooler 11 in the cold air path 8 exceeds a predetermined amount (this means, for example, Detecting the passage of a predetermined time after the rotation of the cooler 11 or calculating the amount of frost based on the refrigerant temperature difference before and after the cooler 11, the temperature and humidity of the cold air) Pre-cooling control performed by opening the other electromagnetic valve 20 It is constructed integrally with a control circuit (not shown).

The control circuit 27 and each electromagnetic valve 20.20 are connected to the rotating plate 1 through a flexible shield 30 having a casing supported on the side wall 14 of the main body 1, and a rotor having electric wires therein.
0 through a sling ring device 31 operatively connected to the sling ring device 31 . Reference numeral 32 is a washer that connects one end of the flexible shield 30 to the center of one side edge of the rotary plate 10.

The drive device 15 described in E is, for example, configured with a pinion fitted onto the extending portion of the hollow support shaft 13, a rack meshed with the pinion, and a cylinder that drives the rank back and forth in the tooth row direction. Various configurations are possible, but here, in order to obtain a high degree of quietness during operation and to utilize an easily available drive source, the configuration is configured with an electric motor 33 and a belt type reduction gear 34 having a ribbed belt. be done.

Reference numeral 35 is a blower fan device for forming an airflow in the cold air circulation path.

FIG. 3 shows the temperature change in the cold air passage when the cooler 11 is not precooled outside the cold air passage 8 using this refrigerated open showcase (B) and when the precooling is performed according to the method of the present invention (A). FIG. 2 is a temperature/time relationship diagram showing a comparison of

Next, an embodiment of the present invention using this refrigerated showcase will be described together with the operation of the refrigerated Syrah case.

Assuming that in 2017, the cooling work by the cooler 11 in the cooling path 8 is progressing, and the frost on the cooler 11 has reached a predetermined amount,
A solenoid valve 20 connected to the cooler 11 outside the cold air path 8 is additionally opened by the control device 12, so that the refrigerant is allowed to flow through both cooler circuits 22, 22 simultaneously. As a result, the cooler 11 outside the cold air path 8 is cooled. When the cooler 11 is cooled to approximately the temperature in the cold air passage 8 (this means that the temperature of the cooler 11 is detected or the solenoid valve 2 (detected by detecting the elapse of a predetermined set time after the valve is opened), the drive device 15 is operated by the control circuit 27. When the rotary plate position detection device 26 detects that the rotary plate 10 has been rotated by 180 degrees and is positioned substantially flush with the other portion of the upper wall 9, the drive device 15
(The operation is stopped, and at the same time, the solenoid valve 2-0 connected to the cooler 11 moved from inside the cold air path 8 to the outside thereof is closed. The cooling operation is carried out by two coolers11.1.
1 is carried out alternately, and the time required for the alternation is several seconds. Therefore, the cooling operation is carried out substantially continuously.

The cooler 11 is supplied with refrigerant for a predetermined period of time immediately before entering the cold air path 8, and is sufficiently cooled before being moved into the cold air path 8. Therefore, after defrosting, the cooler 11 is moved into the cold air path 8. When performing cooling work in the cold air passage 8, almost no excess heat is brought into the cold air passage 8 from the outside, as shown in Figure 3 (A).
) As shown by the line, the steady state can be maintained as it is. On the other hand, when the cooler 11 is moved into the cold air path 8 without pre-cooling, the outside air temperature is brought in by the cooler 11 from outside for about 5 minutes, as shown by the line in FIG. An increase in temperature within the cold air passage 8 due to the above is observed.

When cooling by another cooler 11 is started within the cold air passage 8, at the same time, the defrosting operation of the cooler 11 which has been performing the cooling operation outside the cold air passage 8 is performed. The time it takes from the start of cooling work in the cold air path 8 until the frost on the cooler 11 reaches a predetermined amount varies depending on various environmental conditions such as the temperature of the cold air, humidity, and the condition of the stored items, but it depends on experience. Above, it takes about 2 to 4 hours. Such a period of time is long enough to defrost the cooler 11 outside the cold air path 8 by naturally heating it with the surrounding atmosphere. Therefore, a heating device such as an electric heater for promoting defrosting and energy for operating the heating device are not required.

What should be noted here is that the cooler 11 is connected to the upper wall 9 of the main body 1.
The top should be exposed to the outside air. That is, in such places, the influence of the cold escaping from the front opening 3 of the storage room 2 is small, and therefore the cooler 11 is naturally heated by the relatively high temperature outside air, and highly efficient defrosting is achieved. It is done.

In addition, since the cooler 11 in the cold air path 8 is arranged at the upper part of the cold air path 8, the path from this cooler 11 to the cold air outlet 4 is short, and the cooling loss from the cold air in between is extremely small. Become. Therefore, the food and the like in the storage chamber 2 are virtually not adversely affected at all. In addition, cold air path 8
The coolers 1, 1 inside are arranged at the upper part of the cold air path 8,
Since the cold air can be sent to the cooler outlet 4 without going against the tendency of the cold air whose density has been increased by cooling to settle, the burden on the blower fan device 35 can be reduced. Furthermore, the air distribution chamber 5 and the air distribution grille 6 allow the cooling air to be distributed and sent from the upper surface of the storage chamber 2, so that the inside of the storage chamber 2 can be cooled evenly, and the stored items can be cooled evenly. The advantage is that quality control becomes easier.

Of course, the refrigerated showcase used to carry out the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example. A part of the rotating plate 10 may be used. Further, the cylinder and motor 33 of the drive device 15 may be electrically driven, air driven,
Various drive sources such as hydraulic drive are possible. However, this drive device may be a human power drive device. Furthermore,
Other parts of the main body 1 along with the air distribution grill 6, such as the upper wall 9, the rotary plate 10, the cooler 11, the control device 12, the drive device 15, the air distribution chamber 5, etc., are arranged above the air distribution grill 6. It is also possible to assemble it as a separate unit into - unit parts. In this case, the existing freezer/refrigerator case can be modified by removing the top wall of the existing freezer/refrigerator case and assembling this unit part.

<Effects of the present invention> As described above, in the continuous cooling method for a freezing/refrigerating case according to the present invention, two coolers are alternately positioned in the cold air path and the cooling work is performed in turn, so Cooling work can be performed continuously. In addition, before moving the cooler outside the cold air path to the cold air path, the cooler is cooled to the temperature inside the cold air path, so excess outside heat is not brought into the cold air path, and the temperature inside the cold air path is substantially reduced. It can be maintained constant and ideal temperature control can be performed. As a result, it is possible to completely prevent the temperature increase in the storage room due to interruptions in cooling operations and heating during defrosting, and the resulting deterioration in the quality of stored products.
I

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an example of a refrigerated open showcase for implementing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a continuous cooling method without precooling the cooler 11 outside the cold air path 8. It is a temperature/time relationship diagram comparing and showing an example of the temperature change of the cold air path 8 in the case (B) according to the case (B) and the case (A>) according to the continuous cooling method of the present invention that performs precooling. Applicant: Japan Maintenance Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 9! Closed λ

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Part of the partition wall that partitions the cold air path of the main body of the freezing/refrigerating case and the external space of the main body is formed by a rotating plate, and at least one cooler is fixed to each of the front and back surfaces of the rotating plate. , a pair of cooler circuits having each cooler and each on-off valve connected in series thereto are connected to an external refrigerant circuit, and the on-off valve connected to one of the coolers located in the cold air path is opened. While the lever cooler is operating for cooling, the on-off valve connected to the other cooler located in the upper space is closed to perform natural defrosting of this cooler using outside air heat, and then the air inside the cold air path is When the frost on the cooler reaches a predetermined amount, the on-off valve connected to the cooler outside the cold air path is opened to supply refrigerant to that cooler, and the cooler is heated to a temperature within the cold air path. A continuous cooling method for freezing and refrigerating cases, which consists of pre-cooling to a maximum temperature, then rotating a rotary plate and closing an on-off valve connected to a cooler that has been moved outside the cold air path.