WO2006103084A1

WO2006103084A1 - A heat transfer container

Info

Publication number: WO2006103084A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/002938
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek James Crabbe; Joseph Gabriel Maginness; Sean Thomas Milligan
Original assignee: Derek James Crabbe; Joseph Gabriel Maginness; Sean Thomas Milligan
Priority date: 2005-03-31
Filing date: 2006-03-24
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Also published as: GB0506512D0

Abstract

A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) having an integrally formed refrigeration system comprising an evaporator (15, 16, 305, 306), a condenser (15, 16, 305, 306), a compressor (4, 219, 248, 304) and a refrigerant control means (5, 18, 307). The heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) further has manually operable drive means being operably coupled to the refrigeration system and being accessible by a person using the heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251 ) for activating the refrigeration system.

Description

A HEAT TRANSFER CONTAINER

This invention relates to a heat transfer container and in particular to a portable heat transfer container for heating and cooling things held in the container.

Anyone who has bought a chilled drink on a summer's day and left it down for a few minutes or longer before taking another sip or mouthful is aware of the problem of how quickly a chilled drink turns into a warm drink which some regard as unpleasant to drink. The same problem occurs with hot drinks which are allowed to stand for any considerable period of time resulting in the natural transfer of heat into the environment. Additionally, it is often the case that drinks for sale in retail outlets are not stored in refrigeration units which results in the drinks being maintained at ambient temperatures. This is a major problem in the summer time because people generally prefer to have the refreshing effect of a chilled drink. Similar problems are also encountered with solid and semi-solid food products as well as liquids.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible solution to the problem of undesirable heat transfer from things, in particular food products as outlined above.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a heat transfer container, the container having an integrally formed refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor and a refrigerant control means, the heat transfer container further comprising manually operable drive means being operably coupled to the refrigeration system and being accessible by a person using the heat transfer container for activating the refrigeration system.

Advantageously, the refrigeration system of the container can transfer heat into or away from the material contained therein simply by the operator activating the manually operable drive means.

Preferably, the manually operable drive means are operably coupled to the compressor. Ideally, the refrigeration system has a refrigerant fluid pumpable there through by the compressor.

Preferably, the refrigerant fluid is selected from any one of the group consisting of hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) and hydrocarbons. Ideally, the refrigerant fluid is HFC134a.

Preferably, the heat transfer container is a double skinned vessel. Ideally, the double skinned vessel comprises an outer skin forming the outer surface of the container and an inner skin offset inwardly from the outer skin, the inner skin defining a sealable chamber for storing the liquids/solids. Ideally, a lid is provided to seal the container.

Preferably, a cavity is defined intermediate the inner skin and the outer skin. Ideally, phase change material is incorporated into the container, as additional insulation.

Ideally, the outer skin and the inner skin are mechanically coupled together. Preferably, the outer skin, the inner skin and mechanical couplings therebetween provide a hermetic seal. This prevents refrigerant gas escaping into the atmosphere in the event of a leak from the gas circuit.

Ideally, the refrigeration system comprises an outer coil disposed close to the outer skin and an inner coil in fluid communication with the outer coil via the refrigerant control means, the inner coil being disposed close to the inner skin. The outer coil and the inner coil can operate as the evaporator and the condenser respectively or as the condenser and the evaporator respectively depending on the direction of flow of the refrigerant gas. This allows the present invention to operate as a refrigerator or an oven.

Preferably, the refrigerant control means governs the flow of liquid refrigerant before it enters the evaporator.

Ideally, the refrigerant control means comprises a capillary tube. Ideally, the refrigerant control means is an expansion valve between the outer coil and the inner coil. When the heat transfer container is in use as a refrigerator, this expansion valve allows the high pressure liquid refrigerant to expand into a low pressure region evaporating into a gas and absorbing heat from material held within the container.

Preferably, the refrigerant control means comprises a pair of expansion valves. One of the expansion valves is operable when the heat transfer container operates as a refrigerator and the other expansion valve is operable when the heat transfer container operates as an oven.

Ideally, switching means are provided on the container to open one of the expansion valves while simultaneously closing the other expansion valve. This allows the operator to switch between using the container as a refrigerator or an oven, Ideally, a compressor element of the compressor is reversible.

Preferably, a two-way or a four-way valve comprising a pilot valve, a valve body and a solenoid coil is provided on the refrigeration system allowing the refrigerant to flow in the opposite direction through the refrigeration system.

Preferably, reversing the direction of winding of the manually operable drive means reverses the direction of flow of the refrigerant gas. This switches the operation of the heat transfer container between oven and refrigerator.

Ideally, a changeover valve is provided on the refrigeration system for reversing the flow of refrigerant.

Preferably, the changeover valve is mounted on an inlet refrigerant line and an outlet refrigerant line of the compressor and is coupled to the remaining components of the refrigeration system.

Ideally, the changeover valve has a valve body with an actuation member movably mounted within the valve body.

Preferably, the valve body has six ports. Ideally, the actuation member has a first position where two ports are closed off allowing the refrigerant to flow in one direction through the system causing the container to act as a heating container and the actuation member has a second position where two different ports are closed off allowing the refrigerant to flow in a second direction through the system causing the container to act as a cooling container.

Preferably, the actuation member is coupled to a bimetallic strip. Advantageously, the operation of the changeover valve is controlled thermostatically. Ideally, the manually operable drive means is a clockwork mechanism for driving the refrigeration system.

Preferably, the clockwork mechanism is coupled to an alternator for driving the compressor via a motor.

Preferably, the manually operable drive means is a gear wheel arrangement. Ideally, the manually operable drive means is a flywheel directly coupled to the compressing element of the compressor. This is generally defined as the rotor.

Ideally, the manually operable drive means is a magnetic drive wheel arrangement.

Ideally, the magnetic drive wheel arrangement comprises a flywheel, a magnetic driver wheel and a magnetic driven wheel. Preferably, the flywheel, the magnetic driver wheel and the magnetic driven wheel are co-axially aligned.

Preferably, the manually operable drive means has a pull string mechanism coupled thereto for operating the drive means.

Ideally, the pull string mechanism has biasing means for retracting the string after each use. Ideally, the biasing means is a coil spring.

Preferably, the manually operable drive means has an alternator coupled to a means for moving the alternator and the alternator is coupled to the compressor via a motor.

Ideally, gear means are mounted intermediate the energy store arrangement and the compressor. Preferably, a clutch is provided to disengage the gear means and the energy store arrangement. In this embodiment the clutch will directly connect a primary mover such as a flywheel to the compressor when the gear means has been disengaged. A button or toggle is unlatched and moved to a different position which will move a winder cog off a spring end which is held in place by a hinged spoke. The winder cog is fixed in to a cog which feeds on to a two way gearing mechanism of the compressor. An alternative arrangement operates by the toggle moving the spring off the winder cog and connecting another gearing mechanism.

Ideally, a strain gauge is provided to display the potential energy stored in the clockwork mechanism.

Ideally, the heat transfer container comprises a first part having a double skinned vessel incorporating the refrigeration system and a second separable part for housing the first part.

Ideally, seal means are located between an opening of a compressor housing and a drive shaft of the drive means passing through the opening entering the compressor housing. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a heat transfer container for liquids/solids, the container having an integrally formed refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor and a refrigerant control means, the heat transfer container further comprising battery means being operably coupled to the refrigeration system for activating the refrigeration system. Preferably, the battery means are operably coupled to the compressor via a motor.

Ideally, the battery means are selected from a group consisting of thermal, chemical and solar batteries.

Preferably, rechargeable batteries are connectable to the thermal, chemical or solar batteries. Accordingly, in a further aspect of the present invention, the heat transfer container is a heat transfer sleeping bag.

Advantageously, the refrigeration system of the heat transfer sleeping bag can transfer heat into or away from the person lying in the sleeping bag simply by a person activating the manually operable drive means. Preferably, the heat transfer sleeping bag comprises a sleeping bag for receiving the body of a person and a sleeping bag container for housing the sleeping bag.

Ideally, the sleeping bag is releasably coupled to the sleeping bag container. Preferably, the sleeping bag has a sleeping bag flexible tube extending along a portion of the sleeping bag.

Ideally, the sleeping bag flexible tube is wound helically along the sleeping bag.

Preferably, the sleeping bag flexible tube is contained within a lining of the sleeping bag. Ideally, the sleeping bag flexible tube carries refrigerant and operates as an evaporator/condenser to cool or heat respectively the internal space defined by the sleeping bag.

Preferably, the sleeping bag container has a container tube extending along a portion of the container. Ideally, the container tube carries refrigerant and operates as an evaporator/condenser to absorb or diffuse heat respectively to heat or cool respectively the internal space defined by the sleeping bag.

The container tube and the sleeping bag flexible tube are coupled by the refrigerant control means. Ideally, the container tube is flexible.

Preferably, the sleeping bag container is formed for receiving a person's head.

Ideally, the container has ventilation means.

Preferably, the ventilation means has insect filters.

Ideally, phase change material is incorporated into the insulation material of the sleeping bag.

Preferably, the sleeping bag is waterproof. Advantageously, the sleeping bag is suitable for outdoor use.

Ideally, the sleeping bag has a sheet covering the area of the sleeping bag which comes into contact with a person sleeping therein. Preferably, the sheet is a plastic sheet disposed between the flexible tube and the person to prevent refrigerant leaking into the area inhabited by the person.

Ideally, the sleeping bag container has retraction means for moving the sleeping bag from a fully useable position external of the container to a storage position within the container. Preferably, the sleeping bag container has a spindle rotatably mounted transverse the interior of the sleeping bag container and a crank handle coupled to the spindle and being accessible outside the sleeping bag container.

Ideally, the sleeping bag container has an elongate aperture through which the bag passes as it is wound onto or pulled from the spindle.

Preferably, a pair of mutually opposing spring loaded rollers are mounted one on each opposing longitudinal edge of the elongate aperture of the sleeping bag container. Advantageously, the spring loaded rollers expel air from the sleeping bag by compressing the sleeping bag to a manageable size capable of being wound onto the spindle and fully housed within the sleeping bag container.

Preferably, the sleeping bag container has an internal liner to act as a barrier between the refrigerant and a person's head.

Ideally, the sleeping bag container has heat transfer means on an external surface thereof. Preferably, the heat transfer means are cooling fins.

Ideally, the sleeping bag container has a handle. Preferably, the sleeping bag has a mattress. Ideally, the mattress is inflatable.

Preferably, the mattress is integrally formed with the sleeping bag. Ideally, alarm means are provided on a heat transfer container. Advantageously, the alarm means indicate temperature conditions outside acceptable values.

Preferably, the alarm means are controlled electrically, mechanically or electronically. Ideally, a thermostat expansion valve is provided to maintain the flow and pressure of the refrigerant. This valve is thermostatically controlled to improve the energy consumption of the heat transfer container and to regulate the temperature inside the container.

Additional uses of the heat transfer container can be an environmental jacket, a helmet, a foot warmer, gloves, a boiler suit and emergency incubators for humans/animals. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only, six embodiments of a heat transfer container in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a first embodiment of heat transfer container in an assembled condition;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of the heat transfer container of Figure 1 in a disassembled condition;

Figure 3 is a second sectional elevational view of the first embodiment of heat transfer container in an assembled condition; Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of heat transfer container in an assembled condition;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational view of a third embodiment of heat transfer container;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view of a fourth embodiment of heat transfer container; Figure 7 is a sectional front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of heat transfer container;

Figure 8 is a sectional side elevational view of the fifth embodiment of heat transfer container;

Figure 9 is a top plan sectional view of a first embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag; Figure 10 is a detail view of a sleeping bag container;

Figure 11 is a partial side elevational view of the heat transfer sleeping bag of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag;

Figure 13 is a top plan sectional view of the second embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a second plan view of the second embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag of Figure 12 and Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a side elevational detail view of a compressor handle; Figure 16 is a side elevational detail view of a retraction device for the sleeping bag;

Figure 17 is a rear elevational view of the sleeping bag container;

Figure 18 is a top plan sectional view of the sleeping bag container;

Figure 19 is sectional detail view of the retraction device of Figure 16; Figure 20 is a front elevational view of the sleeping bag container;

Figure 21 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag;

Figure 22 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag;

Figure 23 is a sectional top plan view of the third embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag of Figure 22; Figure 24 is a second top plan view of the third embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag of Figures 22 and 23;

Figure 25 is a schematic drawing of a refrigeration system incorporating a changeover valve; and

Figure 26 is a detail view of the changeover valve of Figure 25. Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a heat transfer container for liquids/solids indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The container 1 has an integrally formed refrigeration system comprising an evaporator (15, 16), a condenser (15, 16), a compressor 4 and a refrigerant control mechanism 5. The heat transfer container 1 also comprises a manually operable drive mechanism 6 accessible by a person using the heat transfer container 1 for activating the refrigeration system. The refrigeration system of the container 1 can transfer heat into or away from the material contained therein simply by the operator activating the manually operable drive mechanism 6.

The refrigeration system has a refrigerant fluid pumped through the refrigeration system by the compressor 4. The refrigerant fluid is one of the hydrocarbons or one of the hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) and most preferably the refrigerant fluid is HFC134a.

The heat transfer container 1 is a double skinned vessel 3 having an outer skin 8 forming the outer surface of the container 1 and being manufactured from a material which is a good conductor of heat. The heat transfer container 1 has an inner skin 9 offset inwardly from the outer skin 8, the inner skin 9 being manufactured from a material which is a good conductor of heat and which defines a sealable chamber 10 for storing the liquids/solids. A cavity 12 is defined intermediate the inner skin 9 and the outer skin 8. The outer skin 8 and the inner skin 9 are mechanically coupled together by a flange or similar coupling mechanism which is located between the inner skin 9 and outer skin 8 at one or both of the upper end 14 and the lower end 2 of the container 1 in use. Phase change material (not shown) in the form of pre-packed pads are inserted into the cavity 12.

The refrigeration system comprises an outer coil 15 disposed close to the outer skin 8 and an inner coil 16 in fluid communication with the outer coil 15 via the refrigerant control mechanism 5, the inner coil 16 being disposed close to the inner skin 9. The refrigerant control mechanism 5 throttles the flow of liquid refrigerant before it enters the evaporator 2. The refrigerant control mechanism 5 is an expansion valve 18 between the outer coil 15 and the inner coil 16. This expansion valve 18 allows high pressure liquid refrigerant to expand into the inner coil 16 or the outer coil 15 depending on the direction of flow of the refrigerant. The high pressure liquid refrigerant expands evaporating into a gas and absorbing heat from either the material held within the container 1 or from the atmosphere adjacent the outer skin 8. A lid 21 is provided to seal the chamber 10 of the container 1 and a handle 22 is located on the container 1 allowing a person to lift the container 1 and drink from the upper end 14 of the chamber 10 when the lid 21 is removed. The capacity of the container 1 is typically although not exclusively a half to one litre.

Referring especially to Figure 2, the first embodiment of heat transfer container 1 of Figures 1 to 4 is a two part container. The first part of (he container 1 comprises the double skin vessel incorporating the refrigeration system. The second part of the container 1 is a housing 24 for the double skinned vessel 3 having a recess 25 on the base 26 of the housing 24 for receiving the bottom 28 of the double skinned vessel. The housing 24 also carries the handle 22 and a latching mechanism 31 for operable engagement with a catch 32 correspondingly located on the double skinned vessel 3. The manually operable drive mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 is a magnetic drive wheel arrangement having a thumb flywheel 41 rotatably mounted on the base 26 of the housing 24 and having a portion of the flywheel 41 always protruding through the lateral surface of the base 26. The flywheel 41 has a magnetic driver wheel 43 coaxially fixedly mounted thereon and being housed within the base 26 of the housing. A magnetic driven wheel 45 is rotatably mounted on the bottom 28 of the double skinned vessel 3 and acts on a rotor (not shown) of the compressor 4. The magnetic driven wheel 45 is rotatably mounted so that when the bottom 28 of the double skinned vessel 3 is located into the recess 25 of the base 26 of the housing 24 the magnetic driver wheel 43 and the magnetic driven wheel 45 are coaxially aligned with the main planes of the flywheel 41 , the magnetic driver wheel 43 and the magnetic driven wheel 45 being substantially parallel. Activation of the flywheel 41 by a user rotates the magnetic driver wheel 43, the magnetic driven wheel 45 and the rotor of the compressor. Reversing the direction of winding of the flywheel 41 reverses the direction of flow of the refrigerant fluid and therefore switches the operation of the heat transfer container 1 between a refrigerator and an oven. This principle applies to every embodiment of the invention provided the appropriate valves are in place. The flywheel 41 can be rotated until the desired temperature of the product in the chamber 10 is attained.

The manually operable drive mechanism show in Figure 4 is identical to the manually operable drive mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 3 except that a pull string 51 and recoil spring 52 arrangement are used to rotate the magnetic driver wheel 43 instead of the flywheel 41. Advantageously, the two part heat transfer container 1 means that the double skinned vessel 3 can be separated from the housing 24 and set into a dishwasher and as a result there is no part of the manually operable drive mechanism exposed during the cleaning process.

Figure 3 shows an insulation material 61 adjacent the outer coil 15 and a heat conducting material 62 intermediate the insulation material 61 and the inner coil 16.

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of heat transfer container indicated generally by the reference numeral 71 which is a unitary component. The same reference numerals have been used to describe the same component parts of the container 71 corresponding to earlier referenced component parts of the container 1. The manually operable drive mechanism of the container 71 comprises a driven gear wheel 73 rotatably mounted in the bottom of the container 71 and being operably coupled to the rotor of the compressor 4. A driver gearwheel 75 is operably engaged with the driven gearwheel 73 and a portion of the driver gearwheel 75 always protrudes through the lateral surface of the outer skin 8 of the container 71 so that rotation of the driver gearwheel 75 is transmitted via the driven gearwheel 73 to the rotor of the compressor 4 to drive the refrigeration system.

Referring now to Figure 6 there is shown a fourth embodiment of heat transfer container indicated generally by the reference numeral 81. In this embodiment, the outer coil 15 is integrally formed with the outer skin 8 of the double skinned vessel 3 and the inner coil 16 is integrally formed with the inner skin 9. The manually operable drive mechanism of this embodiment is located on the under surface of the container 81 and is operable from below the container 81. The drive mechanism comprises a driver wheel 85 directly coupled to the rotor of the compressor 4 and the driver wheel 85 is rotatable by a groove 86 on the driver wheel 85 for receiving a thumb or by an extendable handle 87 coupled directly to the driver wheel 85. A plunger 88 is provided with an externally accessible handle 89 to remove any ice which is formed.

Referring now to Figure 7 and 8, there is shown a fifth embodiment of heat transfer container indicated generally by the reference numeral 91. Like the container of Figure 6, the container 91 of Figure 7 and 8 has an outer coil 15 integrally formed with the outer skin 8 of the double skinned vessel 3 and an inner coil 16 which is integrally formed with the inner skin 9. The manually operable drive mechanism of this embodiment is located on the lateral surface 93 of the container 91. The drive mechanism comprises a driver wheel 95 directly coupled to the rotor of the compressor 4 via shaft 96 and is rotatable by a handle 97 coupled directly to the driver wheel 95. This embodiment comprises a tough plastics base 105 and an insulation material 98 such as phase change material between the outer skin 8 and the inner skin 9. The container 91 is moulded from a load and shock resistant plastic and has an air tight lock 99. A handle 100 is hinged onto the container 91 and a lid 101 is also provided thereon. This container 91 is suitable for transporting medicines such as vaccines and has typical internal dimensions of 120 mm breadth by 240 mm length by 350 mm height and the insulation thickness is approximately 60 mm to 110 mm. The approximate weight of the heat transfer medical container 91 is approximately 15 kg. Referring to the drawings and now to Figures 9 to 11 there is shown a heat transfer container which is a heat transfer sleeping bag indicated generally by the reference numeral 201. The heat transfer sleeping bag 201 has a refrigeration system for transferring heat into or away from the person 202 lying in the sleeping bag 201 simply by the person 202 activating the manually operable handle. The heat transfer sleeping bag 201 comprises a sleeping bag 204 for receiving the body of a person 202 and a sleeping bag container 207 for housing the sleeping bag 204 when the sleeping bag 204 is not required. The sleeping bag 204 is coupled to the sleeping bag container 207 by a collar portion 209 connected to the sleeping bag by a zipper 210.

The sleeping bag 204 has a sleeping bag flexible tube 212 extending along a portion of the sleeping bag 204 and the sleeping bag flexible tube 212 is wound helically along the sleeping bag 204. The sleeping bag flexible tube 212 is contained within a lining of the sleeping bag 204 and the sleeping bag flexible tube 212 carries refrigerant and operates as an evaporator/condenser to cool or heat respectively the internal space defined by the sleeping bag 204. The sleeping bag container 207 has a container tube (not shown) extending along a portion of the container 207 carrying refrigerant and operates as an evaporator/condenser to absorb or diffuse heat respectively to heat or cool respectively the internal space defined by the sleeping bag 204. The container tube and the sleeping bag flexible tube 212 are coupled by a refrigerant control member such as an expansion valve (not shown). The container tube can be flexible or rigid. The sleeping bag container 207 is formed for receiving a person's head and has ventilation members 214 with insect filters 215. Phase change material is incorporated into the insulation material of the sleeping bag 204. The sleeping bag 204 is manufactured from waterproof material. Advantageously, the sleeping bag is suitable for outdoor use. The container 207 houses a clockwork mechanism 216, an alternator 217, a motor 218 and a compressor 219 and a handle 220 is connected to the clockwork mechanism 216. Gear arrangements can be coupled between the clockwork mechanism and the compressor where no electrics are used and between the motor and the compressor when electrics are used. The gear mechanism can be thermostatically controlled. Cooling fins 222 are mounted on container 207.

Referring now to Figures 12 to 21 there is shown a second embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag indicated generally by the reference numeral 231. The heat transfer sleeping bag 231 has a sleeping bag container 232 and a sleeping bag 234. The sleeping bag container 232 has a retraction arrangement for moving the sleeping bag 234 from a fully useable position external of the sleeping bag container 232 to a storage position within the sleeping bag container 232.

The sleeping bag container 232 has a spindle 244 rotatably mounted transverse the interior of the sleeping bag container 232 and a crank handle 235 coupled to the spindle 244 and being accessible outside the sleeping bag container 232. The sleeping bag container 232 has an elongate aperture 237 through which the sleeping bag 234 passes as it is wound onto or pulled from the spindle 234. A pair of mutually opposing spring loaded rollers 238 are mounted one on each opposing longitudinal edge of the elongate aperture 237 of the sleeping bag container 232. Advantageously, the spring loaded rollers 238 expel air from the sleeping bag 234 by compressing the sleeping bag 234 to a manageable size capable of being wound onto the spindle 244 and fully housed within the sleeping bag container 232.

The sleeping bag container 232 has a heat transfer arrangement on an external surface thereof in the form of cooling fins 241 and the sleeping bag container 232 has a handle 242. In this embodiment, the manually operable drive arrangement comprises a clockwork mechanism such as a constant force pre-stressed coil strip spring 247 coupled to a compressor 248. A thermostatic gearbox (not shown) can be mounted intermediate the spring 247 and the compressor 248. The spring 247 can apply the required energy to power the refrigeration system for up to 24 hours. It will of course be appreciated that any of the manually operable drive mechanisms described for specific embodiments are interchangeable.

Referring to the drawings and now to Figures 22 to 24 there is shown a third embodiment of heat transfer sleeping bag 251 having a mattress 252 integrally formed with a sleeping bag 253. This embodiment has an identical sleeping bag container 254 to the second embodiment of sleeping bag container 232 and also has a retraction arrangement. The mattress 252 is inflatable.

Referring to the drawings and now to Figures 25 and 26, there is shown a changeover valve indicated generally by the reference numeral 301 provided on a refrigeration system of a heat transfer container for allowing reverse flow of refrigerant. The changeover valve 301 is mounted on an inlet refrigerant line 302 and an outlet refrigerant line 303 of a compressor 304 and coupled to the remaining components of the refrigeration system, namely the evaporator/condenser 305, the expansion valve 307 and the evaporator/condenser 306. The changeover valve 301 has a valve body 309 with an actuation member 310 movably mounted within the valve body 309, the valve body 309 having six ports 311.

The actuation member 310 has a first position where two ports 311 on the right hand side of the valve body 309 are closed off allowing the refrigerant to flow in one direction through the system causing the container to act as a cooling container and the actuation member 310 has a second position where two different ports 311 on the left hand side of the valve body 309 are closed off allowing the refrigerant to flow in a second direction through the system causing the container to act as a heating container. The actuation member 310 is coupled to a bimetallic strip 314 or coil providing thermostatic control depending on the temperature of the container. The bimetallic strip 314 or coil can achieve internal container control of temperature with a varying external ambient temperature from approximately -32°C to 50⁰C. Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81, 91 , 201 , 231 , 251 ) having an integrally formed refrigeration system comprising an evaporator (15, 16, 305, 306), a condenser (15, 16, 305, 306), a compressor (4, 219, 248, 304) and a refrigerant control means (5, 18, 307), the heat transfer container (1, 71, 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) further comprising manually operable drive means being operably coupled to the refrigeration system and being accessible by a person using the heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) for activating the refrigeration system.

2. A heat transfer container (1, 71, 81, 91, 201, 231, 251) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manually operable drive means are operably coupled to the compressor (4, 219, 248, 304).

3. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251 ) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the manually operable drive means is a clockwork mechanism (216, 247) for driving the refrigeration system.

4. A heat transfer container (1, 71 , 81, 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 3, wherein an alternator (217) is operably coupled to the clockwork mechanism (216, 247) and the compressor (4, 219, 248, 304) is operably coupled to a motor (218) powered by the alternator (217).

5. A heat transfer container (1, 71, 81, 91, 201, 231 , 251) as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the manually operable drive means has a gear arrangement (73, 75).

6. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81, 91 , 201 , 231 , 251 ) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the manually operable drive means has a flywheel (41) directly coupled to a compressing element of the compressor (4, 219, 248, 304).

7. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81, 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the manually operable drive means has a magnetic drive wheel arrangement (43, 45).

8. A heat transfer container (1, 71, 81, 91 , 201, 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the magnetic drive wheel arrangement (43, 45) comprises a flywheel (41), a magnetic driver wheel (43) and a magnetic driven wheel (45).

9. A heat transfer container (1 , 71, 81, 91, 201, 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flywheel (41), the magnetic driver wheel (43) and the magnetic driven wheel (45) are co-axial!y aligned.

10. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the manually operable drive means has a pull string mechanism (51) coupled thereto for operating the drive means.

11. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251 ) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pull string mechanism (51) has biasing means (52) for retracting the pull string mechanism (51) after each use.

12. A heat transfer container (1, 71 , 81, 91, 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a changeover valve (301) is provided on the refrigeration system for accommodating the reversal of the flow of refrigerant.

13. A heat transfer container (1, 71, 81, 91, 201, 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the changeover valve (301) is coupled to an inlet refrigerant line (302) and an outlet refrigerant line (303) of a compressor (4, 219, 248, 304) and is coupled to the remaining components of the refrigeration system.

14. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231, 251) as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the changeover valve (301) has a valve body (309) with an actuation member (310) movably mounted within the valve body (309).

15. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the valve body (309) has a plurality of ports (311).

16. A heat transfer container (1, 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the actuation member (310) has a first position where two ports (31 1) are closed off allowing the refrigerant to flow in one direction through the system causing the container to act as a cooling container and the actuation member (310) has a second position where two different ports (31 1) are closed off allowing the refrigerant to flow in a second direction through the system causing the container to act as a heating container.

17. A heat transfer container (1, 71 , 81 , 91 , 201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the actuation member (310) is coupled to one of a bimetallic strip (314) and a bimetallic coil.

18. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91) is a double skinned vessel (3).

19. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the double skinned vessel (3) comprises an outer skin (8) forming the outer surface of the heat transfer container and an inner skin (9) offset inwardly from the outer skin (8), the inner skin (9) defining a sealable chamber (10).

20. A heat transfer container (1, 71 , 81 , 91) as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein a cavity (12) is defined intermediate the inner skin (9) and the outer skin (8).

21. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81 , 91 ) as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the outer skin (8) and the inner skin (9) are mechanically coupled together.

22. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81, 91) as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the outer skin (8), the inner skin (9) and mechanical couplings therebetween provide a hermetic seal.

23. A heat transfer container (1, 71, 81, 91) as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the refrigeration system comprises an outer coil (15) disposed close to the outer skin (8) and an inner coil (16) in fluid communication with the outer coil (15) via the refrigerant control means (5, 18), the inner coil (16) being disposed close to the inner skin (9).

24. A heat transfer container (1, 71 , 81, 91) as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein a first part having a double skinned vessel incorporating the refrigeration system and a second separable part for housing the first part are provided.

25. A heat transfer container (1 , 71 , 81, 91) as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein seal means are located between an opening of a compressor housing and a drive shaft of the drive means passing through the opening entering the compressor housing.

26. A heat transfer container (201, 231, 251) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the heat transfer container (201 , 231 , 251) is a heat transfer sleeping bag.

27. A heat transfer container (201 , 231, 251) as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat transfer sleeping bag comprises a sleeping bag (204, 234, 253) for receiving the body of a person and a sleeping bag container (207, 232, 254) for housing the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

28. A heat transfer container (201, 231, 251) as claimed in claim 27, wherein the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253) is releasably coupled to the sleeping bag container (207, 232, 254).

29. A heat transfer container (201, 231, 251) as claimed in claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253) has a sleeping bag flexible tube (212) extending along a portion of the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

30. A heat transfer container (201 , 231, 251) as claimed in claim 29, wherein the sleeping bag flexible tube (212) is wound helically along the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

31. A heat transfer container (201, 231, 251) as claimed in claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the sleeping bag flexible tube (212) is contained within a lining of the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

32. A heat transfer container (201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 31 , wherein the sleeping bag flexible tube (212) carries refrigerant and operates as an evaporator/condenser to cool or heat respectively the internal space defined by the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

33. A heat transfer container (201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein the sleeping bag container (207, 232, 254) has a container tube extending along a portion of the container (207, 232, 254).

34. A heat transfer container (201, 231, 251) as claimed in claim 33, wherein the container tube carries refrigerant and operates as an evaporator/condenser to absorb or diffuse heat respectively to heat or cool respectively the internal space defined by the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

35. A heat transfer container (201, 231, 251) as claimed in claim 33 or claim 34, wherein the container tube and the sleeping bag flexible tube are coupled by the refrigerant control means.

36. A heat transfer container (201, 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the container tube is flexible.

37. A heat transfer container (201) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 36, wherein the sleeping bag container (207) is formed for receiving a person's head.

38. A heat transfer container (201) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 37, wherein the sleeping bag container (207) has ventilation means 214.

39. A heat transfer container (201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 38, wherein phase change material is incorporated into the insulation material of the sleeping bag (204, 234, 253).

40. A heat transfer container (231 , 251) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 39, wherein the sleeping bag container has retraction means for moving the sleeping bag (204, 234,

253) from a fully useable position external of the container to a storage position within the sleeping bag container.

41. A heat transfer container (231 , 251) as claimed in claim 40, wherein the retractions means has a spindle (244) rotatably mounted transverse the interior of the container (232) and a crank handle (235) coupled to the spindle (244) and being accessible outside the sleeping bag container (232).

42. A heat transfer container (231, 251) as claimed in claim 41, wherein the sleeping bag container (232) has an elongate aperture (237) through which the sleeping bag passes as it is wound onto or pulled from the spindle (244).

43. A heat transfer container (231 , 251) as claimed in claim 42, wherein a pair of mutually opposing spring loaded rollers (238) are mounted one on each opposing longitudinal edge of the elongate aperture (237) of the sleeping bag container.

44. A heat transfer container (201 , 231 , 251) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 43, wherein the sleeping bag container has heat transfer means (241) on an external surface thereof.

45. A heat transfer container (251) as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 44, wherein the sleeping bag (253) has a mattress (252).

46. A heat transfer container (251) as claimed in claim 45, wherein the mattress (252) is inflatable.

47. A heat transfer container (91) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the heat transfer container is a heat transfer medical container.

48. A heat transfer container (91 ) as claimed in claim 47, wherein the container stores vaccines.

49. A heat transfer container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.