RU2290576C2 - Cooling chamber (versions) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: refrigerating and cryogenic engineering.

SUBSTANCE: proposed cooling chamber contains at least one container with outer surfaces including first and second side outer surfaces; carrying structure with compartment for container from which container can be taken out for opening with provision of access to its inner space and into which container can be returned for it closing and refrigerated storing of objects in container, and heating device for heating at least first and second side outer surface of container when the latter is placed in its compartment.

EFFECT: provision of sterility in storage, accurate control and stabilization of temperature, sterility of conditions of storage, possibility of storage under low vacuum and in protective gas medium.

23 cl, 24 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the creation of refrigeration storage means, such as refrigerators and freezers, for storing food products and other perishable goods. Among other uses of the present invention, storage of chemicals, as well as medical or biological samples, can be indicated. The invention may also find application in mobile (mobile) variants of execution, for example, during transportation or storage of perishable goods.

The invention develops and complements various features and details of international application No. PCT / GB00 / 03521 (publication WO 01/20237) of the inventor of this application. The invention also develops the ideas of the application for invention of Great Britain No. 0106164.7 (publication GB 2367353), on the basis of which the applicant of this application claims, including priority. As indicated in the descriptions of the above publications, the present invention can be used to store any products in a cooling medium, for example in a refrigerator. Therefore, the term "freezer" should be interpreted in a broad sense, which includes, in addition to fixed household refrigerators, refrigerators for industrial and scientific applications, as well as mobile refrigerators. However, in this description we will be talking specifically about household or commercially available electric refrigeration chambers for food storage.

The advantages of storing food and other perishable products under cooling and separation conditions have been known for a long time: cooling prevents the deterioration of such products, separation of products helps to avoid cross-contamination. Accordingly, modern refrigerators, such as refrigerators and freezers, are usually divided into compartments (compartments) so that the user can store different types of products in different compartments, although such division often turns out to be ineffective. All such refrigerators are additionally tasked with achieving maximum energy efficiency.

The invention under consideration was created against the background of conventional refrigerators, most of which contain one or more vertical cabinets, each of which is equipped with a hinged door with a vertical seal on its front side. Almost the entire internal volume of such a cabinet is a useful storage volume, which, as a rule, is divided by shelves or drawers for placing products. Door opening provides access to all shelves or drawers of the cabinet.

The refrigeration unit creates a closed convective flow in the refrigerator, in which the air cooled by the refrigeration unit is lowered to the base of the refrigerator and, absorbing heat during the downward movement, heats up and rises again to the refrigeration unit, where it is again cooled. Compulsory air circulation may also be provided by means of a fan located in or in communication with the refrigerator. Shelves or drawers are usually made of wire to provide little resistance to air circulation.

Vertical refrigerators and freezers are often combined and sold as a single unit, in which the refrigerator occupies the upper section of the cabinet, and the freezer occupies the lower section or vice versa. Since different temperatures are necessary in these two sections, they are separated by a continuous dividing wall, each section having its own door and a refrigeration unit, usually in the form of an evaporator.

A domestic refrigerator with a freezer usually has only one compressor, and the evaporator of the refrigeration section is connected in series with the evaporator of the freezer section. In this case, regulation and measurement of temperature is usually carried out only in the refrigerator section. In the event that temperature control is required in both sections, the evaporators are switched on in parallel and are equipped with the corresponding electromagnetic valves and temperature switches, which enable / disable cooling in each section. However, in any case, the temperature in the respective sections cannot be duplicated: one section serves for cooling, therefore it is isolated to a lesser extent than the other, and its temperature can be regulated in the temperature range above zero on the Celsius scale, and the other section serves for freezing, therefore it insulated to a greater extent than the first, and its temperature can be regulated (if such regulation is generally provided) in the temperature range below zero on the Celsius scale. None of the two sections can perform the function of the other.

Publication WO 01/20237 is devoted to a serious problem concerning vertical refrigerators and freezers, namely a vertical door, which, after opening it, allows cold air to freely exit the refrigerator, being replaced by warm ambient air entering at the top. Such a sharp influx of ambient air into the refrigerator leads to an increase in its internal temperature and, consequently, to an increase in energy consumption due to the need to compensate for such an increase in temperature by the operation of the refrigeration unit. The intake of ambient air carries with it the possibility of contaminating the contents of the refrigerator cabinet by air, and the moisture contained in this air leads to condensation and the deposition of frost (ice) in the cabinet. These problems are exacerbated the more, the more often the refrigerator opens, which is especially typical for commercial equipment.

In refrigerators and freezers with a vertical door, the disadvantages of the vertical seal discussed above mean that leakage of cold air and the influx of warm air can occur even when the door is closed. Being denser than warm air, the coldest air accumulates at the bottom of the refrigerator and presses the seal, so that if there is no perfect seal between the door and the cabinet, the air will come out.

The present invention and WO 01/20237 also address the problems inherent in well-known freezers, in which the cabinet open on top is usually closed by a lid opening upside down, hung horizontally on hinges. Such freezers are inconvenient and uneconomical in the occupied space, since they do not allow the use of the space directly above the freezer, which must be left free so that the lid can be opened. In addition, no objects can be left on the lid. Even if a sliding lid is used instead of a lid opening upwards, it is inconvenient to leave any objects on the lid. It is also well known that in large freezers with a lid on hinges, access to their contents is very difficult, since the user needs to bend down (bend down) and move many heavy and very cold objects in order to get to an object located at the bottom of the freezer compartment.

Finally, the present invention and WO 01/20237 address the problem of separating various types of food products or other perishable goods to prevent cross-contamination. In conventional cold storage chambers, the principle of convection and / or forced circulation used in these chambers is often hindered. Mostly open baskets or shelves, which are designed to provide convective air circulation between compartments, also contribute to the circulation of moisture, enzymes and harmful bacteria. In addition, any liquid flowing out of a food container, such as juice flowing from raw meat, is not held up by open baskets or shelves.

The prior art relating to this invention is represented not only by conventional refrigerators in the form of vertical refrigerators and freezers with a lid on the hinges. For example, the idea of dividing a refrigerator into compartments, each of which has its own door or cover, has long been known. Examples of the implementation of this idea are disclosed in British patents GB 602590, GB 581121 and GB 579071, which describes refrigerators in the form of a cabinet.

In these publications, the front of the cabinet has many rectangular openings for introducing drawers. Each drawer has a front panel that is larger than the corresponding hole, so that a vertical seal forms around the lap joint when the drawer is in the closed (retracted) position. Drawers and their contents are cooled using a refrigeration unit that circulates the cooled air in the cabinet due to convection, which is common with the previously described types of refrigerators. To facilitate air circulation through all drawers, they have an open top and openings on the bottom. In addition, the drawers are arranged in steps, so that those drawers that are closer to the top of the refrigerator go back less than the drawers below, so that the back of each drawer is open to the downward flow of chilled air from the refrigeration unit.

Despite the fact that only one drawer is required to be opened (extended), the holes in the bottom allow free air to flow out through the open drawer to cold air, which is replaced by warm and moist ambient air, which reduces the energy efficiency of the refrigerator and increases the likelihood of cross-contamination. In fact, when the drawer is open, the cold air in the cabinet above the level of this drawer will flow out, which leads to the absorption of ambient air into the cabinet. Moreover, the presence of drawers contributes to the influx of ambient air into the interior of the refrigerator, since when opened, they act as pistons that draw in ambient air into the interior of the refrigerator. After entering the refrigerator, warm air can circulate inside it as freely as cold air, which should be there.

Even when the refrigerator is closed, the accumulation of cold air in the lower part of the cabinet will create increased pressure on the vertical seals of the lowest drawer, which increases the likelihood of leakage in the event of a defective seal.

Another example of a refrigerator of the type indicated above is disclosed in GB Patent GB 602329. The refrigerator disclosed in this patent is also not free from the many problems mentioned above, however, it is of most interest that there is a single drawer with insulated side walls and a base in the refrigerated interior of the refrigerator. . Unlike the previously described options, the side walls and the base are solid, not perforated, so that air cannot flow through them. When the drawer is closed, the horizontal element inside the cabinet is combined with the drawer to create a compartment, the horizontal element being a lid for the drawer. The resulting compartment is equipped with its own cooling coils located directly below the horizontal element.

The patent discloses very few details regarding the seal that is formed between the drawer and the horizontal element, except that the horizontal element has a rear protruding rear end with an offset edge that provides a snug fit with the rear wall of the drawer. Nothing more is said about articulation with a horizontal element, except for the general statement that the box in the closed position is adapted to “fit snugly” against the horizontal element. From this we can only conclude that the drawer and the horizontal element are simply adjacent to each other. Despite the fact that this will prevent air from entering the drawer and air from it, an impermeable seal is not created. Since this seal is not vapor barrier, there is a possibility of ice deposits even in the closed position of the box.

The described construction of the drawer creates a compartment in which a temperature can be set that differs from mainly the general temperature in the rest of the refrigerator. In particular, it is provided that this drawer may serve as a freezer compartment. The disadvantage of this solution is, in particular, that the drawer - freezer in the closed position is in the cooled internal space (of the refrigerator), therefore, the outer surfaces of this box inside the cabinet will be cooled to the temperature of the refrigerator. Therefore, when opening the drawer, these chilled outer surfaces will be exposed to moisture containing air that will condense on the chilled surfaces, which will result in undesired moisture accumulation. Condensation causes the transfer of latent heat from water vapor to the drawer, which leads to the need for additional cooling of the drawer after it returns to the closed position inside the cabinet.

In addition, condensed moisture will be transferred to the inside of the refrigerator when the drawer is closed. As already mentioned here, the presence of water promotes microbial activity. Another disadvantage associated with the flow of water into the interior of the refrigerator is that it can freeze; this creates particular problems at the junction of the closed drawer with the insulating lid, as frost deposits at the seal can block the drawer and prevent it from opening. In fact, such ice formation is due to the penetration of moisture through the mating area of the drawer and the upper wall. This drawback was known to the author of this patent, since GB 602329 refers to a cam mechanism for breaking ice at the seal or on the guide channels or other supporting surfaces of the drawers. Note that the formation of ice at the seal site can also lead to a deterioration in the quality of the seal due to a violation of the proper mating of the contact surfaces of the seal. It goes without saying that the deposition (buildup) of ice on the moving parts of the drawer mechanism is also undesirable, since it can interfere with the movement of the drawer.

Another noteworthy document describing the level is US patent No. 1337696. This patent deals with the separation of refrigerated drawers located in the cabinet surrounding them, and the use of refrigeration devices installed "directly above and adjacent to each drawer ... so that the drawer can actually be considered closed by adjoining to the specified refrigeration device. " However, if the drawer is to open, a gap must be left between it and the refrigeration unit. As in the UK patents discussed above, the presence of this gap will contribute to the deposition of ice, as the humid air inside the cabinet enters the drawer and water vapor condenses and freezes. The smaller this gap, the faster the deposition of ice will block the movement of the drawer. If you use a larger gap, this will lead to greater air leakage, and, therefore, such a refrigerator will have lower energy efficiency and will be more prone to cross-contamination.

In addition to the foregoing, in US Pat. No. 1,337,696, cold air leakage reduces the temperature inside the cabinet around the drawers and thereby increases the likelihood of condensation on the drawers when they are open. It should be noted that cold air flowing in this way can freely fall behind the drawers inside the cabinet, as a result of which the outer surface of the drawers will be in contact with air, the temperature of which is significantly lower than the ambient temperature. Some details of the design described in US patent No. 1337696, exacerbate this effect. For example, the bottom wall of this known device is an effective insulator, which significantly reduces the temperature on the surface of the drawers. In addition, the internal partitions between the drawers make it impossible to transfer heat from the air to the drawers, providing only the possibility of heat transfer between the drawers and, thus, contributing to the gradual equalization of temperature between the different drawers. Large areas of the outer surface of each drawer that are left inside the cabinet for a long time or at least overnight will cool to a temperature well below the dew point of the surrounding air. Therefore, after opening these drawers, condensation or the formation of hoarfrost will immediately occur on these surfaces. Similarly, if the drawers are removed and left outside the refrigerator compartment, they will begin to fog up with condensation.

As in the UK patents discussed above, opening and closing drawers in the apparatus of US Pat. No. 1,337,696 acts like a piston alternately creating underpressure and pressure in adjacent areas. This facilitates the transfer of air when the drawer is opened in front of the cabinet, and this air can displace the cooled air in the drawer, as well as in the cabinet itself. An increase in the size of the cabinet compared to the size of the drawers can weaken the piston effect, but it will not be an economical solution in terms of using the volume of the refrigerator. And vice versa - a refrigerated cabinet with rational use of the internal volume and a tight layout can reduce the displacement of chilled air and thereby reduce the need for cooling the warm air that replaces it, but at the same time, the resistance to opening and closing the drawer will increase.

Along with the leakage of cold air, the gap, which in the known constructions inevitably remains between the drawer and its corresponding lid, is large enough for the passage of enzymes, spores and other airborne contaminants through it. In addition, US Pat. No. 1,337,696 discloses the presence of common drainage connecting the drawers to each other, and this also makes it possible to transfer contaminants between all the drawers, especially under the influence of the aforementioned piston effect.

Although US Pat. No. 1,337,696 teaches different temperatures in different drawers, the cooling covers are connected in series and have no means for individually controlling the temperature in each drawer. The temperature difference is structurally ensured by the fact that some drawers are equipped with a larger number of cooling elements than others. In addition, as with the sections of more common refrigerators, each drawer of US Pat. No. 1,337,696 has a strictly defined function, namely the function of a freezer or refrigerator.

Even if the drawers of US Pat. No. 1,337,696 are removed from the refrigerator, they remain attached to their front panels and support rails. This prevents the use of such drawers for temporary storage or transportation. Moreover, as in the UK patents, the drawers of US Pat. No. 1,337,696 cannot be opened completely: they open only less than half, relying on the supporting structure of the refrigerator. This is to the detriment of the ease of access to the contents of the drawers, as well as their visibility and lighting.

Against the background of this prior art, the present invention was created.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a refrigerating chamber comprising: at least one container with outer surfaces including first and second lateral outer surfaces;

a supporting structure with a container compartment therein, from which the container can be removed to open it with access to its interior and into which the container can be returned to close and refrigerate storage of objects in the container, and

heating means for heating at least the first and second lateral outer surfaces of the container while the latter is in its compartment.

The heating means may also be configured to heat the lower and upper outer surfaces of the container while the latter is in its compartment.

The heating means provides heating of the outer surface of the container to a temperature exceeding the ambient temperature.

It can be made using recuperated heat from the heat generating parts of the refrigeration chamber, which include a refrigeration machine, heat exchanger or engine.

To ensure heating, the container compartment may include a heating element or a heating panel facing the outer surface of the container or directed to the outer surface of the container.

The heating element or heating panel may be located on the outer surface of the container.

In another embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator is provided, comprising:

an insulating container open from above with outer surfaces including first and second lateral outer surfaces;

an insulating lid adapted to close the open top of the container;

cooling means adapted to cool the interior of the container; and

supporting structure supporting the container, lid and cooling means,

moreover, the container is mounted on the supporting structure with the possibility of moving relative to it and the lid to open the container with access to its inner space or to close the container, moreover, when the container is closed by a lid, at least the first and second lateral outer surfaces of the container are in contact with air temperature above ambient temperature.

The refrigerator may further comprise air circulation means for separating the container for flushing the outer surfaces of the container therein with circulating air.

The circulation means includes a fan and may include a heater creating a convective flow inside the compartment of the container.

The heater may be located under the container when the container is in its compartment.

The circulating medium receives warm air from the heat generating parts of the refrigerator.

It is advisable that the refrigerating chamber additionally contains a means of contour heating for local supply of heat to the contact surface of the container and the lid.

In the circuit heating means, electrical elements or a fluid path can be used, wherein the fluid path contains liquid refrigerant or hot gas.

The circuit heating can be switched on continuously or switched on only if it is necessary to open the container.

For a better understanding of the present invention, it is discussed below, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front view of the refrigerator, disclosed in international application No. PCT / GB00 / 03521 (publication WO 01/20237), filed in the name of the applicant for this application and being considered together with it, which presents a group of vertically distributed drawers , each of which contains a box.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. 1 with the lower portion of the side panel removed so that the sides of the drawers can be seen.

Figure 3 shows a section along the line III-III in figure 2, but with closed drawers.

Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in figure 1.

5 (a) and 5 (b), respectively, are shown a plan view and a side view in section of a lid, illustrating in detail its sealing, cooling, and drainage means.

Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the group of caps shown in figures 5 (a) and 5 (b), with an illustration of their individual drainage systems.

7 (a) and 7 (b), respectively, are shown a plan view from below and a side view in section of a cover adapted for use in a dry type cooling system.

On Fig (a), 8 (b) and 8 (c) shows front and side views, and also on an enlarged scale - local detailed sectional view of the horizontal refrigerator compartment and an alternative layout compared to the refrigerator compartment shown in FIG. .1-4.

FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b), and 9 (c) respectively show a front view and two sections of a refrigerator, which is functionally close to the known device of the aforementioned US Patent No. 1337696, but solves many of its inherent problems.

FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c) are local sectional side views illustrating various methods for preventing the occurrence of temperature gradients within each compartment of the refrigerator compartment shown in FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (s).

11 is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating a circuit for heating the contact surface of the box and its lid to prevent freezing of the contact surfaces of the box / lid.

12 is a schematic side view of two lidded ducts, each of which has heating elements for heating its outer surface in contact with air.

On Fig shows a schematic side view corresponding to Fig, but illustrating the construction of a cooling chamber with a fan for blowing air to the outer surface of the box, while the air can be heated if necessary.

Figs. 14 (a), 14 (b) and 14 (c) are sectional views illustrating the arrangement of the coil assembly with a fan, while Fig. 14 (a) is a section along the YY line in Fig. 14 (b) when viewed on the box at the back, in Fig. 14 (b) a local section is shown along the ZZ line in Fig. 14 (a) when looking at the coil assembly with the fan on the side, and Fig. 14 (c) is a local section along the line X-X in Fig. 14 (a) when looking at a coil assembly with a fan from above.

Figure 1-4 shows a refrigerator / freezer 2, made in accordance with WO 01/20237. The refrigerator 2 has a vertical cubic configuration (shape) and contains five rectangular drawers 4 facing the front side, located one above the other and installed in a cabinet (housing) 6, which has an upper 8, lower 10, side 12 and rear 14 panels. Any of these panels can be omitted (removed), if there is a desire to integrate the cooling chamber 2 in the gap between other supporting structures; in particular, the side panels 12 can be omitted if the walls of adjacent cabinets can function as side panels 12. The panels 8, 10, 12, 14 may or may not be power elements, and if they are not power elements, then a frame (not shown ) provides support for various parts of the refrigerator. If a frame is provided, then there is no need to have power (bearing) panels.

The drawers 4 can slide horizontally into the cabinet 6 and slide out of it using the rails on the sides of the drawers 4, which will be described in more detail below. If the rear panel 14 is absent, then, theoretically, the drawer 4 can be removed from the cabinet 6 in two directions, as shown in Fig.2.

Each drawer 4 comprises an insulated bucket container 16 open at the top, and at least one container 16 (in this case, the central drawer container 4) has a different depth compared to other containers 16, allowing a different internal volume. These containers 16 in the description of the present invention will be referred to as storage boxes or simply boxes 16. The lower box 16 is located only with a narrow gap relative to the bottom panel 10 of the cabinet 6, while the upper box 16 leaves a substantial space in the upper part of the refrigerator 2 under the upper panel 8, in which a compartment 18 for the engine of the refrigerator 20 can be created, containing, for example, a condenser and a compressor, which is well known per se.

The relatively deep box 16 of the central drawer 4 is for storing bottles and other relatively high items that should be stored vertically, while other relatively shallow boxes 16 are for storing relatively low items. Compared to shelves and other compartments, into which the main storage volume of a conventional vertical refrigerator is divided, all boxes 16 have a favorable shape ratio, namely, the main width of the access opening compared to the depth of the compartment into which access is provided. Therefore, it is very easy to get to any part of the inner space of the box 16 when the drawer 4 is open (extended).

The interior of the cabinet 6 is divided by five insulated covers 22, one for each drawer 4, which are usually flat and horizontal. When the drawer 4 is closed, the open upper part of its corresponding box 16 is closed using the corresponding one of the covers 22, as will be described later. Lids 22 contain cooling means 24, which are evaporative elements of a known type, mounted on the lower surface 26 of each lid 22 and designed to cool the contents of the duct 16 closed by this lid 22.

Each box 16 has a substantially flat front side 28 that is open when the drawer 4 is closed (retracted). The front side 28 may be provided with a decorative panel, which in itself is known. When the drawer 4 is closed, the front side 28 of the box 16 is bordered from above by a control and display panel 30 for this box 16, the panel 30 being in the same plane with the front side 28. The panel 30 is supported by the leading edge 32 of the corresponding cover 22, moreover the panel 30 is inserted into the recess of the leading edge 32 of the cover 22.

The control and display panel 30 has a number of indicators, switches, and audible alarm elements that form the user interface for each box 16. This interface in most cases can be used, for example, to select the temperature to which the box 16 is cooled. This interface has indicators temperatures, on / off and quick freeze switches, as well as an open indicator light for drawer 4 and an audible warning light that sounds when exceeded and a predetermined time open state of the drawer 4 or when reaching the upper or lower limit of the temperature inside the box 16.

A rounded handle 34, which extends mainly over the entire width of the upper portion of the front side 28, allows the drawer 4 to be pulled out when access to the interior of the box 16 is required.

The base of the front side 28 of each duct 16 is bordered by a slot 36, which, as will be described later, serves to access the ambient air into the cabinet 6. For this, each gap 36 communicates with an air gap 38 extending under the entire side of the base 40 of the corresponding duct 16 and exiting into the empty space 42 provided behind each box 16, and this space 42 is limited by the inner surfaces of the rear 14 and side 12 panels of the cabinet 6 and the rear parts 44 of the boxes 16. As partially shown in figure 4, the empty space 42 pass dit behind each bin 16 from the base panel 10 of the cabinet 6 and communicates with the refrigerator engine compartment 18 at the top of the cabinet 6.

The air gaps 38 under the ducts 16 and the empty space 42 behind the ducts 16 also communicate with the air gaps 38 on the sides 48 of the ducts 16. In the side panels 12 of the cabinet 6 adjacent to the ducts 16, ventilation ducts 46 can be provided, through which also can pass ambient air. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, air gaps 38 extend around all the rods to the upper side of each duct 16, so that ambient air that enters the cabinet 6 through slots 36 can circulate freely around the sides 48, bottom 40 and the back 44 of each box 16. It should also be borne in mind that ambient air can circulate freely above the top surface 50 of each cover 22. In order to allow this air flow to pass over the top cover 22, over which there is no box 16, a gap is provided 36 under faces side 52 of the engine compartment of the refrigerator 18.

It should be borne in mind that the piston effect when opening the drawer 4, sucking in ambient air into the interior of the refrigerating chamber 2, does not create problems in accordance with the present invention. In fact, this piston effect is positive and promotes the circulation of ambient air inside the cabinet 6.

Figure 4 shows that the engine compartment of the refrigerator 18 contains an impeller 54, which removes air through the holes 56 provided on the front side 52 of the engine compartment of the refrigerator 18. As best shown in figure 1, these openings 56 extend horizontally across the entire width front side 52. The impeller 54 communicates with the empty space 42 behind the ducts 16 and draws air from the empty space 42, thereby facilitating the introduction of ambient air through the slots 36 and possibly through the side ventilation ducts 46. After entering To the refrigerator engine compartment, this air is passed through a heat exchanger grill 58 of the condenser.

Thus, the ambient air that enters the cabinet 6 through the front slots 36 and, if any, through the side ventilation ducts 46, leaves the cabinet 6 through openings 56 provided on the front side 52 of the refrigerator engine compartment; thus, the ambient air circulates through the cabinet 6. More specifically, the ambient air at the entrance to the refrigerating chamber 2 immediately comes into contact with the outer surfaces 40, 44, 48 of the boxes 16 and heats them to ambient temperature (or close to it), before as it is sucked into the empty space 42 and then goes up through the empty space 42 due to air circulation. The arrows in Fig. 4 show this air circulation through the refrigeration chamber 2. Thus, the interior of the cabinet 6 is maintained at a temperature close to ambient, and only the interior of each cabinet 16 is cooled.

Due to the contact of the outer surfaces 28, 40, 44, 48 of the duct 16 with warmer air than that contained in the duct, the problem of condensation on the outer surfaces 28, 40, 44, 48 and, therefore, the problem of transferring latent heat to the duct 16 or problems of hoarfrost or cross-contamination (contamination) with condensed water entering the cabinet 6.

One way or another, the occurrence of cross-contamination is unlikely, since each box 16 is tightly closed when its drawer 4 is retracted. Thus, even if microbes penetrate into the cabinet 6, they cannot easily enter other boxes 16. It is also unlikely that they open simultaneously two boxes 16 at any given time. Means may be provided to prevent such a situation, for example, using a mechanism similar to that used to protect cabinets from tipping over, preventing more than one drawer 4 from being pulled out simultaneously.

When the duct 16 is open, there is no significant leakage of cold air through its open top, and when the duct 16 is closed, the horizontal seals 60 made in accordance with the present invention provide a better seal for cold air than the vertical seals that are commonly used in vertical refrigerators and freezers. Although the use of horizontal seals is known for chest freezers, the present invention eliminates the inconvenience and space problems inherent to hinged lid freezers, and is in these aspects similar to the much more popular vertical freezer. Seals 60 may have magnetic properties, for example, they may be pressed against mating surfaces using permanent magnets or electromagnets, or hydraulic or pneumatic means may be used to expand or compress them.

Since there must be a significant temperature gradient between the cooled inner surfaces 62 of each box 16 and its outer surfaces 28, 40, 44, 48, the boxes 16 are made of effective insulating material, which allows maintaining the ambient temperature on the outer surfaces 28, 40, 44, 48 environment or temperature close to it. Boxes 16 are predominantly made of materials such as foamed plastic or polyurethane foam (with a possible coating of fiberglass or polycarbonate in a composite structure).

If separation of the contents of a particular box 16 is required, then this box 16 may be provided with removable inserts 64. The inserts 64 have various shapes and sizes and can be used to distinguish between different types of compartments. For example, insert 64 may be a thin partition whose length corresponds to the length or width of the duct 16 into which it is inserted. The insert 64 may be a box with or without a lid, or it may have latches to hold bottles or cassettes to hold eggs, and the like. Box 64 may also be a basket or shelf.

As shown in figure 2, one or more boxes 16 can be taken out of the refrigerator 2 and closed with insulating transportation covers 66. Box 16 in this case can be used separately from the refrigerator 2, since its insulating structure ensures that the contents are stored in cold for a limited amount of time. For example, the box 16 can be used as a portable refrigerator, with the possibility of filling it with ice to increase the storage time of the contents in the cold. Alternatively, the box 16 with the transport lid 66 may be adjacent to the refrigerator 2 and serve as a temporary container for storing contents in the cold, while the refrigerator 2 may be provided with additional boxes 16.

You can also use the transport cover 66 with a built-in refrigeration engine, powered by internal batteries, or from a gas source, or from an external electrical network, or from the car’s power supply.

The aforementioned publication WO 01/20237 also discloses means for moving the box 16 with a significant horizontal component of such movement for access to the interior of the box 16, as well as with a minor vertical component of such movement made by the box when it is opened to divert the box from the lid 22 although such means are not shown in general views of FIGS. 1-4.

Figure 5 (a) and 5 (b) shows the preferred nuances of the lids 22, to which the boxes 16 are pressed firmly after they are installed in the refrigerator 2. In Fig. 5 (a), the lid 22 is elongated in plan view . In this drawing, the dashed lines also show the rectangular contours of the elements located under the cover 22. From the middle to the edges, these elements are the evaporator 194, located centrally on the lower surface of the cover 22, the drain pan 196, located under the evaporator 194 to collect water flowing in drops from the evaporator 194, as well as the recess 198 in the lower surface of the cover 22 to accommodate the drain pan 196 and the evaporator 194.

As shown in Fig. 5 (b), which is a section along the line A-A in Fig. 5 (a) and giving the most visual representation of the structure under consideration, the recess 198 is limited by a skirt 200 extending along the perimeter of the cover 22 and protruding downward from it . On the lower end surface 202 of the skirt 200 is a pair of elongate compressible seals 60, one of which is inside the other. These seals 60 are continuous, apart from the passage made therein for an elongated drainage channel 204 extending backward from the drainage tray 196. The drainage tray 196 has an inclined base 206 for draining water to this drainage channel 204 that discharges water from the cover 22, as explained below with reference to Fig.6. To measure the temperature in the cavity, hermetically insulated by the duct 16 and the cover 22, a temperature sensor (not shown) passing through the skirt 200 above the seals 60 may be provided.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred wiring diagram for individual drain channels 208 from each drain pan 196 of the refrigeration chamber 2 with several drawers. This arrangement minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. Each channel 208 includes a U-shaped bend 210, forming a hydraulic shutter, and separately passes to a common tray 212. As shown in the drawing, this tray 212 can be located above the compressor 214 of the refrigerator 2, so that the heat released by the compressor 214 gradually evaporates the water in the tray 212 - at least at the same speed with which water accumulates in the tray 212. In addition to this solution or as an alternative to it, the surface of the water in the tray 212 can be blown by the condenser fan of the refrigerating chamber 2 (not shown) to accelerate the evaporation of water.

Figures 7 (a) and 7 (b) show yet another embodiment of the cover design, suitable for use in a dry type cooling system in which air is supplied to and removed from the duct 16 through an external refrigeration unit — a coil unit with a fan. Such a system is also known as a forced-air cooling system, and in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the cover 22 is hollow and divided into compartments to control air flow, on which the principle of operation of such systems is based. Thus, cold air cooled by a heat exchanger (not shown) is supplied under pressure by a fan (not shown) through pipelines to the supply air distribution chamber 216 located in the lid 22 at its periphery. From this cavity, air enters the duct through the distribution slots 218 located around the base panel 220, which forms the lower surface of the cover 22. Warmer air is removed from the duct 16 through the central distribution chamber of return air 222, which communicates with the duct 16 through the central opening 224 to base panels 220 and with a fan through a conduit 226 passing through the surrounding distribution chamber of the supplied air 216. This warmer air is sucked into the distribution chamber atnogo air 222 under the action of vacuum generated by the fan and then sent to a heat exchanger for cooling and re-enter through the supply air distribution chamber 216.

In addition to the vertical layout of drawers 4 used in the above design options, it is possible to arrange drawers 4 side by side, as shown in Figs. 8 (a), 8 (b) and 8 (c). The front view in Fig. 8 (a) represents a horizontal refrigerator compartment 268 with four drawers, in which drawers 4 are arranged in the form of two adjacent racks, two drawers 4 in each. Thus, the refrigerating chamber 268 is low enough to organize above the drawers 4 a working surface covering both racks. Thus, this embodiment of the invention is suitable for use as a refrigeration unit with a desktop function for cooking and / or a serving table.

The depth of the drawers 4 is selected maximum taking into account the height limit due to the installation of the refrigerator engine 272 and the control panel 274 on the side on one side of the refrigerator compartment 268, as shown in the drawing. In addition, the side view shown in Fig. 8 (b), as well as an enlarged detailed view of Fig. 8 (c) in section along the line XX in Fig. 8 (a), shows that the leading edge of the working surface 270 has a raised edge 276, which helps to prevent the draining of liquid spilled on the working surface 270, to the underlying drawers 4 or leakage of this fluid into the drawers.

On Fig (a) and 8 (b) also shows how the proposed refrigeration chamber 268 can be mounted on wheels 278. These wheels 278 can be adjusted in height to install the refrigeration chamber 268 in level on an uneven floor 280.

Fig. 9 (a) shows a front view of the refrigerator compartment 332, which is functionally close to the known device of the aforementioned US patent No. 1337696, in that a significant part of its outer surface is in contact with air whose temperature is below ambient temperature, but solves many of inherent problems. In appearance, the refrigerator compartment shown in FIG. 9 (a) is similar to the horizontal refrigerator compartment shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) and its drawers 4, a control panel 274 and a refrigerator engine 272 are in similar positions under the working surface 270. Similarly, in Fig. 9 (b), a section along line AA in Fig. 9 (a), it is shown that each drawer 4 comprises a lid 22 located in the cabinet and a box 16, moving forward from the cabinet on telescopic rails 74. In Fig. 9 (c), a section along the line BB in Fig. 9 (a) - shows these guides 74 located on the sides of the box 16.

However, similarly to the solution according to US patent No. 1337696 and in contrast to the above variants of the invention, in this embodiment, the possibility of vertical movement of the box 16 relative to the lid 22 is not provided: instead, the box 16 simply slides horizontally next to the adjacent lid 22. Necessary in this regard, the gap between the box 16 and the lid 22 requires the creation of a complete external vapor barrier of the entire compartment in which the drawer is located in order to solve the problems of moisture transfer and ekrestnogo pollution. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the front panel 118 of each drawer protrudes from a corresponding hole for the drawer formed by adjacent covers 22 or the cover 22 and the bottom panel 334. A part of each front panel 118 overlapping the edges of the corresponding hole, has on its back surface vertical magnetic seals 336, which, when the drawer 4 is closed, are tightly pressed, due to their elasticity and magnetic attraction, to the opposite front surfaces of the covers 22 and / or bottom panel 334 - depending on the location of the drawer. Drawer compartments 4 are also isolated from each other; this applies primarily to openings and service connections between adjacent compartments. This also applies to the drainage devices of drawer compartments: drainage lines (not shown) must be drawn separately from each compartment, and a water lock must be included in each such line, as in the drainage system presented in the above figure 6.

Fig. 9 (c) also shows the corner supports 338 of the box protruding from the rails 74 down to accommodate the box 16 with the possibility of removing the latter. Each compartment of the drawer should have a minimum volume, providing access to the box 16 and the corresponding guides 74.

Ideally, the walls of each compartment of the drawer should be made of thin material with low insulating qualities and all of its outer surfaces should be in contact with the surrounding air. In practice, this ideal is unattainable, although one should strive to use thin material that brings heat into the compartment of the drawer from the outside and promotes convective heat transfer inside the compartment of the drawer. In fact, due to the insulating effect of the outer shell of the compartment and the presence of an air cavity around the duct 16 in combination with the cooling effect of the gap between the duct 16 and the lid 22, a certain temperature gradient is gradually established inside the sealed compartments. In addition, in places where the compartment borders its external surfaces with other compartments, the insulation of the internal cavity of the compartment is sharply enhanced. This further cools the air around the duct 16 and, thereby, increases the temperature gradient.

For this reason, FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c) propose three different approaches to minimize the effects of temperature gradients and cooling within each compartment of the drawer of the refrigerator compartment shown in FIGS. 9 (a), 9 ( b) and 9 (c). Figure 10 (a) shows a circulation fan 340 installed in the channel 342 behind the compartment of the drawer 344. The fan sucks air from the compartment 344 and pumps it back into the compartment. The air circulation thus provided in the compartment 344 maintains the temperature uniformity of the outer surfaces of the duct 16. FIG. 10 (b) shows an electric heater or hot gas heater 346 mounted under the duct 16 to create convective air flows inside the compartment 344 and to heat most the outer surfaces of the box 16 to a temperature close to the ambient temperature equal to or even exceeding it. FIG. 10 (c) shows air gaps 348 similar to those described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, except that these air gaps 348 are located around and between drawer compartments 344, and not around box 16. Although not shown in FIG. 10 (c), air gaps 348 may extend along the sides of the drawer compartment 344, as well as the bottom and rear of this compartment 344, as shown in the drawing. And in this case, the air in the air gaps 348, if necessary, can be heated.

11 of the drawings it is shown that by means of contour heating, heat can be locally supplied to the skirt protruding downward from the cover 22 to prevent frost from settling on the contact surface 376 of the container and the cover. Such heating can be carried out by electrical elements 378 or by means of hot gas and can be switched on continuously or only if necessary, opening the container.

Among the many variants of the invention discussed in this description, the means of contour heating shown in Fig. 11 can be used in any design described above, where the relative movement (preferably vertical) of the lid 22 and the duct 16 leads to the opening of the seal and the removal of the duct 16 from the lid 22 (or vice versa) so that the box 16 can be fully opened for access to it.

There is also the possibility of recovering heat from various heat-generating parts of refrigeration engines, such as heat exchangers or electric motors, etc., and supplying this heat to heat the contact surface of the container and the lid or the outer surfaces of the duct 16 in the drawer compartment. This saves energy through the use of waste heat, which otherwise would have to be emitted into the atmosphere.

The idea of heating the outer surfaces of the box 16 in the drawer compartment is developed in FIG. 12, which shows a serpentine heating element 380 located on or facing one side outer surface of the box 16. The corresponding heating element (not shown) should be located on the other lateral outer surface of the duct 16 or facing it, and may also be located on the lower and rear outer surfaces of the duct 16 under the duct 16 and behind it or may be facing these surfaces. Element 380 may be powered by a liquid refrigerant pipe with a temperature of about 40 ° C. or a hot gas pipe with a temperature of about 80 ° C. Such a circuit is shown in FIGS. 14 (a), 14 (b), and 14 (c). In another embodiment, the element 380 may be an electrical resistive element of low power or may be replaced by heating panels with conductive tracks.

On Fig shows how you can use cross-flow fan 382 or a centrifugal supercharger to blow the outer surfaces of the duct 16 with warm air. Warm air can be obtained, for example, from a heat exchanger lattice of a condenser located in a refrigerating chamber, or, alternatively, from heat generating parts of a refrigerating chamber, such as electric motors of a fan or a compressor. Another advantage of blowing air through a fan - regardless of whether air heating is used or not - is that it helps prevent condensation from settling, which would otherwise occur in the air gap between the bottom of the duct 16 and the lid 22 of another duct 16 located below.

Although the work performed by compressing the air should increase the temperature of the compressed air to some extent, this effect is usually so small that it can be neglected for the purpose of heating the outer surfaces of the duct to a temperature above the ambient temperature.

Figures 14 (a), 14 (b) and 14 (c) are sections showing in detail how a cross-flow fan 382 or a centrifugal blower can be used as part of a coil assembly with a fan 384 installed behind the duct 16. Elements of a coil assembly with a fan 384 14 (a) are most clearly represented and include an insulated casing 386 of an almost cubic configuration extending in the rear region of the drawer compartment behind the box 16. The casing 386 has forward channels communicating with the box 16 through the cover 22, and central supply duct 388, is surrounded on two sides of the two return air ducts 390.

The central supply duct 388 is installed in line with the cross-flow fan 382, which is almost cylindrical and rotates around a horizontal axis near the upper wall of the casing 386 driven by an engine 392. During operation, the fan 382 drives cold air from the casing 386 through the central supply duct 388 to box 16 through the channels in the lid 22 (not shown).

Directly below the fan 382, a cooling coil 394 is fixed in the casing 386 so that gaps remain on both sides of the ends of the coil 394 under the return ducts 390. The cooling coil 394 comprises a serpentine finned element through which relatively warm air is drawn in by the fan 382, and by means of which this warm air is cooled before entering the box 16. Said relatively warm air is the air which is drawn into the casing 386 from the box 16 through the return air ducts 390. On Fig (a) it is shown that this air first lowers to the base of the casing 386 through the gaps located on both sides of the ends of the cooling coil 394, in two streams, which inward and then rotated upward, moving the grate cooling coil 394 and thus to a certain degree merge with one another. Additional deflecting vanes 396 located inside the casing 386 on one or both sides can contribute to this change of direction (in the drawing, only on one side).

14 (a) also shows elements connected to a cooling coil 394, which include a liquid refrigerant supply pipe 398 to the upper end of the coil 394, a hot gas inlet pipe 400 also connected to the upper end of the coil 394, and a suction pipe 402 connected to the lower end of the coil 394 for suction of refrigerant from the coil 394.

In addition, FIG. 14 (a) shows how a drain pan 404 is installed on the base of the casing 386 to collect moisture dripping from the cooling coil 394. Moisture is discharged from the drain pan 404 through the drain line 406. As shown in the drawing, the inlet pipe 400 is hot gas rationally held along the drain pan 404 to defrost the latter, which contributes to the free flow of water through the drain pan 404 and the drainage of water through the drain line 406.

Although the solutions described above with reference to FIGS. 10-14 are mainly intended to solve the problems inherent in known refrigerators as exemplified by US Pat. No. 1,337,696, all or some of these solutions may find application in refrigerators, made in accordance with international application No.PCT / GB00 / 03521 (publication WO 01/20237) of the inventor of this application, which is under consideration with it.

The invention has a wide range of uses and has many advantages for the storage, handling, distribution, transportation and delivery of items in good condition, especially the following:

precise regulation and stabilization of temperature and humidity, which, along with cooling, can even include heating;

mechanical protection of stored items;

sterility of storage conditions with minimal risk of cross contamination;

the ability to store in low vacuum;

possibility of storage in a protective gas environment;

protection of stored items from vibration and shaking; and

protecting the environment from radiation or biohazard substances from the container or protecting the interior of the container from outside.

Claims (25)

1. A refrigerator containing at least one container with outer surfaces including first and second lateral outer surfaces; the supporting structure with the container being separated therefrom, from which the container can be removed to open it with access to its internal space and into which the container can be returned for its closure and cold storage of objects in the container, and heating means for heating at least the first and second lateral outer surfaces of the container when the latter is in its compartment. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the heating means is also configured to heat the lower and upper outer surfaces of the container when the latter is in its compartment. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the heating means is configured to heat the outer surface of the container to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature. 4. The refrigerator according to any one of claim 1, wherein the heating means is made using recuperated heat from the heat generating parts of the refrigerator. 5. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 4, wherein the fuel elements include a refrigerator, a heat exchanger or an engine. 6. The refrigerator according to any one of claim 1, wherein the compartment of the container comprises a heating element or a heating panel facing the outer surface of the container. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the container comprises a heating element or a heating panel. 8. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising air circulation means for separating the container for flushing the outer surfaces of the container therein with circulating air. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, in which the circulation means includes a fan. 10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, in which the circulation means includes a heater creating a convective flow inside the compartment of the container. 11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, in which the heater is located under the container when the container is in its compartment. 12. The refrigerator according to claim 8, in which the circulation means receives warm air from the heat generating parts of the refrigerator. 13. A refrigerator containing an open top insulating container with outer surfaces including first and second lateral outer surfaces; an insulating lid adapted to close the open top of the container, cooling means adapted to cool the interior of the container and a supporting structure supporting the container, lid and cooling means, the container being mounted on a supporting structure to move relative to it and the lid for opening the container with providing access to its internal space or to close the container, and when the container is closed with a lid, at least the first and second The shackle outer surfaces of the container are in contact with air, the temperature of which is higher than the ambient temperature. 14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, further comprising air circulation means for separating the container for washing the outer surfaces of the container therein with circulating air. 15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the circulation means includes a fan. 16. The refrigerator according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the circulation means includes a heater creating a convective flow inside the container compartment. 17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the heater is located below the container when the container is in its compartment. 18. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the circulation means receives warm air from the heat generating parts of the refrigerator. 19. The refrigerator according to claim 13, which further comprises a circuit heating means for locally supplying heat to the contact surface of the container and the lid. 20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein electrical means or a fluid flow channel are used in the contour heating means. 21. The refrigerator according to claim 20, in which the fluid path contains liquid refrigerant or hot gas. 22. The refrigerator according to claims 19-21, wherein the loop heating is switched on continuously. 23. The refrigerator according to claims 19-21, wherein the circuit heating is switched on only if it is necessary to open the container. 03/13/2001 - pp. 6, 7, 9, 15. 12/13/2001 - claims 1-5, 8, 10, 11-14, 16-23.

Images