Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
  • B65D81/3813—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D3/02—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
  • F25D3/06—Movable containers
  • F25D3/08—Movable containers portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
  • B65D79/02—Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
  • F25D2303/082—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
  • F25D2303/084—Position of the cold storage material in relationship to a product to be cooled
  • F25D2303/0843—Position of the cold storage material in relationship to a product to be cooled on the side of the product
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
  • F25D2331/803—Bottles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
  • F25D2331/805—Cans

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the storage container according to the preamble of claim 1.
• trolleys i.e. wheeled carts (hereafter Trolley), manufactured from aluminium, are used for storing and dispensing food and beverages in aircrafts.
• the Trolleys are dimensioned according to international standards and their size is generally known.
• Cooling the food and beverage portions inside the Trolley usually takes place with pellets or blocks of solid carbon dioxide. Solid carbon dioxide is very efficient as a cooling agent, but also unequal and an environmental burden.
• Solid carbon dioxide i.e. "dry ice” produces 530 L of carbon dioxide per kg.
• Carbon dioxide is one of the most considerable waste materials of mankind. The green house effect is largely accelerated by explicitly carbon dioxide.
• the invention relates to a container to be placed inside a Trolley for storing food and beverages in an aircraft.
• the container according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.
• Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of the container according to the invention and the components that are comprised in it.
• Figure 2 represents dimensions of the frame component of the container.
• Figure 3 represents the detailed drawings of the components of the container.
• Figure 4 represents the preferable positions for connecting the frame components, the lid component and the shelves of the container to each other.
• the container according to the embodiments of the invention preferably comprises the following structural pieces (as in the Figures): 1, 2 frame component 3 tongue-and-groove joint
• the container according to the invention is formed from at least two separate, well heat-insulating frame components 1, 2 that can be connected to each other, which comprise means for carrying out a tight connection, and a lid component 4, using which the container can be sealed.
• the frame components 1, 2 are provided with groove and shoulder arrangements for implementing the tongue-and-groove joint.
• the inner space of the container can be divided with hole disc shelves 8 into at least two compartments, of which at least one can be applied for the storage of food and beverage products and at least one can be applied for the storage of the cooling product.
• a temperature measurement system 10, 11, 12, 13 for monitoring the temperature has preferably been joined to the lid component 4 by embedding or attaching.
• the lid component 4 comprises means for monitoring the temperature 14 and for attaching the means for data transfer 15 to the lid component 4.
• a hinge component 6a has been attached to one of the components of the frame 2, preferably to the lower part of the component 2, and a counterpart 6b corresponding to the hinge component 6a has been attached to the lid component 4, respectively.
• a small cavity 5 has preferably been carved into the upper part of the lid component 4 to facilitate the opening.
• the hinge 6 is manufactured from plastic and is readily demounted both from the frame and the lid component for the time of cleaning.
• the lid component (the door) 4 is installed with the help of the hinges 6 to be opened either upwards or downwards depending on the application.
• the frame components 1, 2 have been joined together by a tongue-and-groove joint 3, they can also be readily attached to each other and also readily opened, for example for cleaning or maintenance. Similarly, they can be readily attached to each other.
• the container is machine washable.
• the mentioned cooling product preferably comprises at least one cryogel cooling bag 9, which most suitably contains refreezable gel.
• the halves of the frame 1, 2 of the container are manufactured from EPP expandable polypropylene by industrial compression.
• Grooves 7a, b, c are carved into the inner walls of the frame components 1, 2 of the container, preferably on three sites, for installing the spacers 8, such as shelves 8.
• the shelves are preferably manufactured from metal, more preferably from aluminium. Most preferably they are perforated to enhance equalization of the temperature.
• 1 or 2 cooling gel bags 9 are placed on top of each other in the container, preferably on the shelf 8 installed into either the groove 7a or 7b.
• the grooves 7a, b by help of which the shelf 8 for the gel bags can be installed on the desired site in the container, are dimensioned so that the gel bag(s) 9 fit tightly between the shelf 8 and the upper part of the frame. Therefore, the delivery of cold air only occurs downwards through the preferably perforated shelves and, thus, the cooling time is prolonged.
• the shelf 8 is installed into the groove 7a, and if a longer cooling time and/or greater cooling capacity is needed, two gel bags are placed on top of each other, whereby the shelf 8 is installed into the groove 7b to gain the free space required by the gel bag 9.
• the lowest groove 7c is reserved for the product shelf 8, onto which, for example, food or beverage products that need cooling are placed during the use of the container.
• products can be distributed equally both on the shelf 8 installed in the groove 7c and on the bottom of the container without them being smashed up against each other.
• a gel bag 9 having an efficient and long lasting cooling capacity is used for cooling the food and beverage products. More preferably, the gel bag 9 is custom-built and has a temperature of -3 0 C after a temperature adjustment, such as freezing.
• the gel bag 9 is formed of a food- approved casing containing three small gel bags.
• the temperature inside the container is measured and controlled. This takes place with a measurement device 10 that may be either permanently or temporarily attached or embedded into the lid component 4 of the container.
• the measurement device 10 is preferably located in the middle of the lid component 4, so that the component 4 contains a small hole 11 with a diameter of 5 - 7 mm for the measurement device 10 and, further, a mortise 12 on the inside of the component 4, where the temperature sensor 13 of the measurement device 10 is placed.
• the temperature sensor 13 measures the inner temperature of the container either at a desired time interval or continuously.
• the senor 13 is installed permanently in the lid component 4.
• the entire lid component 4 is preferably demounted from the frame for cleaning and, when necessary, maintenance.
• the means for monitoring the temperature 14, which are attached outside the lid component 4 for the time of the measurement indicate the sufficiency of the temperature inside the container by blinking lights of different colours, such as green or red light.
• the parameters of the measurement device 10 may be set at desired intervals and/or points of time. For example, it may be defined that the inner space must remain below +8 0 C during the entire storage, such as the flight and/or the return flight, whereby the products inside the container are still hygienic and servable.
• means for data transfer 15, preferably a USB cable 15, are attached in the hole 11 for the measurement device, through which means, by connecting to a computer, statistical data of the prevailing temperature inside the container and the temperature fluctuation is obtained.
• Both the coloured light measurement and the measurement carried out with the means for data transfer 15 may be carried out without opening the lid component 4, whereby the temperature inside the container remains unchanged.
• USB cable 15 instead of a USB cable 15, also other ways of transferring data, for example wireless technique, may naturally be used.
• the invention relates to a cold storage container, designated as Inflight Cooler, which comprises two component halves 1 and 2 manufactured from EPP expandable polypropylene, which are attached to each other by tongue-and-groove joints, as well as a hatch 4 that serves as a lid, and hole disc shelves 8 out of aluminium for placement of the cryogel bags 9 and for distributing the space.
• Inflight Cooler which comprises two component halves 1 and 2 manufactured from EPP expandable polypropylene, which are attached to each other by tongue-and-groove joints, as well as a hatch 4 that serves as a lid, and hole disc shelves 8 out of aluminium for placement of the cryogel bags 9 and for distributing the space.
• the invention relates specifically to a measurement system sensor, which is embedded or attached to the hatch 4 of the Inflight Cooler, for monitoring the temperature 10, 11, 12, 13, a measurement device 14 to be separately attached for the temperature measurement to the hatch 4 for the time of the measurement, and a USB cable 15 provided for data transfer, as well as custom-built and washable cryogel cooling bags of -3 0 C.
• the size of the container is suited for serving carts (Trolleys) dimensioned according to the KSSU measurement standards and used by most airlines as well as for KSSU storage boards, which are on the market.
• the dimensions of the container have been planned for, for example, serving carts of aircrafts so that 1 - 2 containers fit tightly into a serving cart (Trolley) depending on the application. No excess space is left between the inner wall of the cart and the outer wall of the container according to the invention, whereby the container endures well even heavy agitation and possible turbulence.
• One container according to the invention fits into this storage board. Tight storage prolongs the in-service life of the container, since it cannot move inside the cart or the board. Thus, also the maximization of the storage space is implemented.
• the amount of oxygen between the outer walls of the container and the inner walls of the cart is minimal. This enhances, among others, the fire safety. While the doors of the cart are closed, the aluminium/steel walls of the Trolley protect the storage container of the invention from being battered.
• the container is intended, among others, for prolonging the time frame of freight and serving of food and beverages to be served cold.
• the temperature for serving such foodstuff is required to be below +8 0 C at the time of serving.
• the cooling properties of the container are based on the tight structure and the insulating material.
• the lid component 4 it is possible for air to pass into the container when opening it, in contrast to Trolleys, which are not tight.
• Projections preferably present on the edge of the lid component 4 attach it tightly to the frame of the Trolley and to the door during the freight.
• the interaction of the " gel bags used for cooling and the perforated shelves causes the cooling and the distribution of cold air inside the container to be even, controlled and prolonged.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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Cited By (10)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2008
  • 2008-02-20 FI FI20085156A patent/FI121171B/fi active IP Right Grant
  • 2008-02-26 WO PCT/FI2008/050090 patent/WO2008104639A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-02-26 EP EP08718543.5A patent/EP2117929B1/en active Active

Patent Citations (6)

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