Vacuum insulated container

Abstract

The present invention provides a vacuum insulated container that allows for easy inspection. The vacuum insulated container (1) includes a container body (100) having an opening (40a) and a storage space (40b) and a cover (101). The container body (100) has an insulated container body (40) including a first outer skin material (41), which is a molded body of a non-metallic material and has a double-walled structure with gas barrier properties; a first core material (42); and a pressure sensor (43). The cover (101) has an insulated cover (50) including a second outer skin material (51) and a second core material (52) formed into a bag shape by a flexible film containing a metal layer and having gas barrier properties; and a window (61) that allows visual observation of the surface of the second outer skin material (51).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vacuum insulated container for maintaining internal temperature for extended periods. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, as a container for keeping contents cold, the insulated container disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The insulated container of Patent Document 1 has a container with a rectangular shape and an opening; and a top cover for opening and closing the opening of the container. In addition, the container and the top cover form a double-wall structure, and a flat vacuum insulation material is stored between the walls of the container and the top cover, a total of 6 places.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-126188 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0007] Gases can enter the interior of vacuum insulation materials through the outer sheath or the adhesive interfaces between the outer sheaths. Therefore, the insulation performance of vacuum insulation materials will age over time. Furthermore, the outer sheath material can be damaged by external forces during use, further reducing its insulation performance. Therefore, in applications requiring strict temperature control, such as the transportation of pharmaceuticals, it is particularly important to regularly check the insulation performance of vacuum insulation materials.

[0008] However, in the case of the insulated container in Patent Document 1, as described above, there are six independent vacuum insulation materials in a total of six locations, including the container and the top cover. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect each of these six vacuum insulation materials separately, and the inspection work requires time and effort.

[0009] The present invention aims to solve such technical problems and provides a vacuum insulated container that allows for easy inspection operations.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] A vacuum insulated container according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a container body having an opening and a receiving space communicating with the opening; and a cover covering the opening of the container body, the container body having an insulated container body comprising: a first outer skin material, which is a molded body of a non-metallic material and has a gas-barrier double-wall structure; a first core material housed between the walls of the first outer skin material; and a pressure sensor housed between the walls of the first outer skin material capable of communicating with the outside, and the pressure between the walls of the first outer skin material is depressurized; the cover having: an insulated cover comprising a second outer skin material formed into a bag shape by a flexible film containing a metal layer and having gas barrier properties, and a second core material housed inside the second outer skin material, and the pressure inside the second outer skin material is depressurized; and a viewing portion capable of visually observing the surface of the second outer skin material of the insulated cover.

[0012] According to this structure, since the insulated container body of the main body has a double-wall structure composed of molded bodies, even a rectangular insulated container body can be shaped to allow the spaces between the walls to be connected. Furthermore, since the first outer skin material constituting the insulated container body is non-metallic, electromagnetic waves transmitted by the pressure sensor housed within it can be transmitted to the outside. Therefore, the insulated container body can, for example, have its insulation performance measured by a pressure sensor. On the other hand, the insulated cover body has a second outer skin material composed of a flexible film containing a metal layer. Therefore, when gas enters the insulated cover body and the insulation performance decreases, the second outer skin material expands, causing its surface to deform. This deformation of the second outer skin material can be visually observed through a visible part. As described above, the vacuum insulated container of the present invention facilitates inspection because its insulated container body can be inspected once by a pressure sensor, and the insulated cover body can be inspected visually in a timely manner.

[0013] The vacuum insulated container of the second aspect of the present invention may also be, in the first aspect, wherein the cover has a housing for receiving the insulated cover, and a window constituting the visible portion is formed on the housing.

[0014] According to this structure, the heat insulation cover is protected by the cover shell, and at the same time, the second outer skin material of the heat insulation cover can be visually observed through the window to see if there is any deformation.

[0015] The third aspect of the vacuum insulation container of the present invention is that, in the first or second aspect, it may also have a first gas adsorption material disposed between the walls of the first outer skin material of the insulation container body and a second gas adsorption material disposed inside the second outer skin material of the insulation cover body, wherein the lifespan of the gas adsorption capacity of the second gas adsorption material is longer than the lifespan of the gas adsorption capacity of the first gas adsorption material.

[0016] Based on this structure, the insulation performance of the heat-insulating cover has a longer lifespan than that of the heat-insulating container. Therefore, if it can be confirmed through inspection that the insulation performance of the heat-insulating container is maintained, it can be determined that the insulation performance of the heat-insulating cover can also be maintained substantially. As a result, the frequency of visual inspection of the heat-insulating cover can be reduced, making inspection work easier.

[0017] The fourth aspect of the vacuum insulated container of the present invention is that, in any of the first to third aspects, the container body may also include a protective member covering the outer surface of the insulated container body, wherein the protective member has a recessed portion that is recessed compared to other portions in the portion corresponding to the pressure sensor disposed in the insulated container body.

[0018] According to this structure, the protective component can protect the insulation container body from external forces applied during use, and when checking the insulation performance, the receiving device for inspection can be pushed into the recess of the protective component from the outside to receive the radio waves from the pressure sensor. Thus, even under specifications that only allow communication at very short distances, the radio waves from the pressure sensor can be reliably received, and accurate inspections can be performed.

[0019] Invention Effects

[0020] According to the present invention, a vacuum-insulated container is provided that allows for easy implementation of inspection operations. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is an assembly diagram viewed from an oblique angle, showing the external structure of the vacuum insulated container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum insulated container.

[0023] Figure 3 (A) is a three-dimensional view of the cover shell. Figure 3 (B) is a perspective view of the window cover installed on the cover housing.

[0024] Figure 4 (A) is a schematic diagram of an inspection system for checking the insulation performance of an insulated container. Figure 4 (B) is a schematic diagram showing the visual observation of the heat insulation cover.

[0025] Figure 5 This is an assembly diagram showing the external structure of the heat storage unit housed in a vacuum insulated container, viewed from an oblique angle.

[0026] Figure 6 It is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum insulated container housing a heat storage unit.

[0027] Figure 7 (A) is a graph representing the time-varying vacuum level within the insulated space of the insulated container and the insulated cover. Figure 7 (B) is a graph representing the lifespan distribution of the insulated container body and the insulated cover. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in all the drawings, the same or corresponding constituent elements will be labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.

[0029] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The vacuum insulated container 1 shown is an insulated container used for transporting or storing pharmaceuticals, samples, food, and other items. The vacuum insulated container 1 includes: an outer packaging 10 (including an outer bag 11 and an outer cover 12), a protective base plate 20, a protective box 30, an insulated container body 40, and an insulated cover 50. The outer bag 11, the protective base plate 20, the protective box 30, and the insulated container body 40 constitute the container body 100 of this invention, while the outer cover 12 and the insulated cover 50 constitute the cover 101 of this invention. The components will be described in detail below.

[0030] <Outer Packaging>

[0031] The outer packaging 10 includes an outer bag 11 and an outer cover 12. The outer bag 11 is made of a flexible fabric such as nylon or polyester, and is formed into a rectangular bag shape with an opening 11a on one side (top surface), and has an internal space 11b. In addition, handles 14 that can be held by hand are installed on the left and right sides of the outer bag 11, and a strap 15 is provided between the left and right sides.

[0032] The outer cover 12 is formed into a rectangular plate shape with a profile substantially the same as the opening 13 of the outer bag 11. One side of the outer cover 12 is connected to the upper rear side of the outer bag 11. By tilting the outer cover 12 forward, the opening 11a of the outer bag 11 can be closed. Furthermore, the outer cover 12 is formed into a bag shape using fabric made of the same chemical fibers as the outer bag 11, and has an openable and closable zipper on one side or adjacent sides. An insulating cover 50 (which will be described later) is housed within the outer cover 12 via this zipper.

[0033] Furthermore, in the following description, as described above, the side where the outer cover 12 is connected to the outer bag 11 is designated as "rear", and the opposite side is designated as "front". In addition, based on the view from the front, the "left-right direction" is determined, and the side where the opening 13 is located in the outer bag 11 is designated as "upper", and the bottom side is designated as "lower".

[0034] <Protective base plate and protective box>

[0035] The protective bottom plate 20 is a protective component made of foamed materials such as polyethylene foam, forming a rectangular flat plate, and its top view shape is approximately the same as the inner bottom surface of the outer packaging bag 11. At a predetermined position on the protective bottom plate 20, in this embodiment, at the center position in the left-right direction and at the front position in the front direction, a rectangular through opening 21 is formed.

[0036] The protective case 30 is a protective component made of the same foam material as the protective base plate 20, and has a cuboid shape with an opening 30a on its upper surface leading to the internal space 30b. In addition, the top view of the protective case 30 is approximately the same as the inner bottom surface of the outer bag 11.

[0037] These protective base plates 20 and protective boxes 30 together form the protective components. When assembling the vacuum insulated container 1, first open the opening 13 of the outer bag 11. Then, position the protective base plates 20 so that they face the bottom of the outer bag 11. Next, place the protective boxes 30 inside the outer bag 11, resting them on the protective base plates 20. The combined height of the overlapping protective base plates 20 and protective boxes 30 is approximately the same as the height of the outer bag 11.

[0038] <Insulated container body>

[0039] The insulated container body 40 includes: a first outer skin material 41, which is a molded body of non-metallic material and has a double-walled structure with gas barrier properties; a first core material 42 housed between the walls of the first outer skin material 41; and a pressure sensor 43 housed between the walls of the first outer skin material 41 and capable of communicating with the outside. The walls of the first outer skin material 41 are depressurized to a predetermined pressure, and the interior is sealed.

[0040] More specifically, the first outer skin material 41 is a component that maintains the vacuum level of the heat insulation container body 40, and can maintain a certain shape by molding non-metallic materials such as synthetic resin. As a result, such as Figure 1 As shown, the heat-insulating container body 40 is generally formed into a rectangular container shape and has an opening 40a communicating with the internal space 40b. Furthermore, the first outer skin material 41 forms a double-wall structure that joins the large-volume outer mold 41A and the small-volume inner mold 41B together. This first outer skin material 41 can, for example, be a laminated structure composed of a heat-meltable thermoplastic resin layer, an air barrier layer such as an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyvinyl alcohol polymer, and a water vapor barrier layer such as polypropylene.

[0041] The first core material 42 is formed of a material with low thermal conductivity and becomes the skeleton of the insulation container body 40, forming an insulation space that serves as the inter-wall space of the first outer skin material 41. The first core material 42 is, for example, composed of a porous body, specifically, it can be composed of any one or more of the following: continuous bubble bodies such as continuous bubble polyurethane foam, aggregates of glass fibers, and aggregates of inorganic particles.

[0042] The pressure sensor 43 includes: a pressure sensing unit 44 for detecting the pressure (air pressure) of the internal space of the first outer casing material 41; a transmitting unit 45 for wirelessly transmitting the information detected by the pressure sensing element to the outside; and a power supply unit 46 for supplying power to the pressure sensing unit 44 and the transmitting unit 45. Furthermore, the pressure sensor 43 has a sensor housing 47 that connects the inside and outside through multiple through holes, and the pressure sensing unit 44, the transmitting unit 45, and the power supply unit 46 are housed within the sensor housing 47.

[0043] Known pressure sensing units 44, for example, include a heater and a thermocouple, and measure the air pressure (vacuum) by measuring the surrounding thermal conductivity based on the temperature detected by the thermocouple when the heater is heated. However, the structure of the pressure sensing unit 44 is not limited to this, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) such as piezoelectric, electrostatic capacitive, or vibratory types can also be used.

[0044] The transmitting unit 45 is electrically connected to the pressure detection unit 44 and wirelessly transmits information related to the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 44 to the outside. For this purpose, the transmitting unit 45 includes a communication control IC, a memory, and an antenna. For example, the transmitting unit 45 is a short-range wireless communication device using a frequency in the 13.56MHz band, transmitting information via NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0045] The power supply unit 46 is electrically connected to and supplies power to the voltage detector unit 44 and the transmitter unit 45. For example, the power supply unit 46 has a power supply control IC and a power receiving unit for wireless power supply via magnetic resonance. This power receiving unit includes a secondary coil (power receiving coil) that receives power without contact from a primary coil (power transmitting coil) outside the first outer sheath material 41. The power receiving coil receives power transmitted from the power transmitting coil, and the power supply control IC provides this power to the voltage detector unit 44 and the transmitter unit 45.

[0046] The sensor housing 47, which houses the pressure sensing unit 44, the transmitting unit 45, and the power supply unit 46, is made of a non-metallic material such as resin, and for example, is formed into a flat, vertically oriented plate shape. The pressure sensor 43 is disposed at the lower part of the heat-insulating container body 40. More specifically, at a designated portion of the bottom of the heat-insulating container body 40, the lower surface of the first core material 42 between the walls is recessed upwards, forming a sensor housing space 48 between the outer mold 41A of the first outer skin material 41 and the lower surface of the first core material 42. The pressure sensor 43 is disposed within the sensor housing space 48.

[0047] The aforementioned heat-insulating container 40 is housed within the internal space 32 of the protective box 30. In this embodiment, the sensor housing space 48 is located at the center of the bottom of the heat-insulating container 40 in the left-right direction and at the front-back direction. Therefore, when the heat-insulating container 40 is housed within the protective box 30, the opening 21 of the protective base plate 20 and the position of the pressure sensor 43 are substantially aligned when viewed from above; for example, the entire pressure sensor 43 is located within the opening 21 when viewed from above.

[0048] Furthermore, as described above, the protective component covering the outer surface of the heat insulation container body 40 is composed of a protective base plate 20 and a protective housing 30, and an opening 21 is formed on the protective base plate 20. Therefore, in the protective component (in the protective base plate 20 and the protective housing 30), a recess is formed in the portion corresponding to the pressure sensor 43 disposed in the heat insulation container body 40, which is recessed from other portions. More specifically, this recess is formed by the opening 21 of the protective base plate 20.

[0049] Furthermore, the heat-insulating container body 40 of this embodiment has a first gas adsorption material 49. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the first gas adsorption material 49 is flat and is disposed between the first core material 42 and the outer mold 41A in the heat insulation space within the first outer skin material 41. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first gas adsorption material 49 is disposed on both the left and right sides, separated by the pressure sensor 43.

[0050] <Insulated Cover>

[0051] The heat-insulating cover 50 constituting the cover 101 has a rectangular flat plate shape when viewed from above. The heat-insulating cover 50 has a second outer skin material 51 formed into a bag shape from a flexible film containing a metal layer and having gas barrier properties, and a second core material 52 housed inside the second outer skin material 51. The interior of the second outer skin material 51 is depressurized and sealed to a predetermined pressure. Additionally, the cover 101 has a cover shell 60 for housing the heat-insulating cover 50. Figure 1 The term "heat insulation cover" refers to the internal heat insulation cover 50 after a portion of the cover housing 60 has been cut away. A window 61 is formed on the cover housing 60, constituting a viewing portion that allows the surface of the second outer skin material 51 to be viewed. The heat insulation cover 50 is further housed within the outer cover 12 while being housed within the cover housing 60.

[0052] More specifically, the second outer skin material 51 is a component that maintains the vacuum level of the heat insulation cover 50, forming a multi-layer structure. For example, the second outer skin material 51 has a low-density polyethylene film as a heat-fusion layer in its innermost layer and a nylon film as a surface protective layer in its outermost layer. In addition, a PET film, for example formed by aluminum vapor deposition, is provided between the heat-fusion layer and the surface protective layer as a gas barrier layer to inhibit moisture penetration. Furthermore, the structure of the second outer skin material 51 is not limited to this, and other structures capable of maintaining the vacuum level of the heat insulation cover 50 can also be adopted.

[0053] The second core material 52 is formed of a material with low thermal conductivity. When depressurization is applied inside the second outer skin material 51, it becomes the skeleton of the heat-insulating cover 50, forming a heat-insulating space inside the second outer skin material 51. The second core material 52 can be composed of one or more of the following: continuous bubble bodies such as continuous bubble polyurethane foam, aggregates of glass fibers, and aggregates of inorganic particles. The heat-insulating cover 50 houses this second core material 52 within the bag-shaped second outer skin material 51, and seals it after depressurization to create a specified vacuum within the second outer skin material 51.

[0054] Furthermore, the heat-insulating cover 50 of this embodiment has a second gas-adsorbing material 53. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the second gas adsorption material 53 is formed into a flat shape and is sandwiched between the second core material 52 and the second outer skin material 51 in the heat insulation space within the second outer skin material 51.

[0055] This heat-insulating cover 50 is housed within a cover housing 60 having a window 61. The heat-insulating cover 50 is housed within the cover housing 60 having the window 61. Figure 3 As shown in (A), the cover shell 60 is a rectangular flat plate in top view, and has an internal space 60b for accommodating the heat-insulating cover 50. More specifically, the cover shell 60 has a rectangular lower plate 62 and an upper plate 63, which are connected by a strip-shaped side panel 64 on one of their corresponding long sides. In addition, strip-shaped side panels 62a to 62c extend from the other three sides of the lower plate 62, and strip-shaped side panels 63a to 63c also extend from the other three sides of the upper plate 63.

[0056] The cover shell 60 opens and closes by separating the lower plate 62 and the upper plate 63 with the side panel 64 as the base point. Furthermore, when the lower plate 62 and the upper plate 63 are closed, the side panels 62a-62c and 63a-63c overlap to form a double-layered sidewall. This cover shell 60 constitutes a protective component for the heat-insulating cover 50 housed within the internal space 60b. Therefore, the cover shell 60 is constructed from a cushioning component, and for example, it can be formed by cutting and bending a sheet of foamed polypropylene. Additionally, the height dimension of the internal space 60b is set to be slightly larger (by a few millimeters) than the height dimension (thickness dimension) of the heat-insulating cover 50.

[0057] A window 61 is formed in the center of the upper plate 63 of the cover housing 60. The window 61 is a circular shape with a diameter of a specified size and is formed through the upper plate 63. The diameter of the window 61 can be selected, for example, from 30 mm to 80 mm.

[0058] A window cover 65 is provided on window 61. For example... Figure 3 As shown in (B), the window cover 65 has a cushioning material 66 and a support plate 67. The cushioning material 66 is a circular plate that is substantially the same shape and size as the window 61, and has the same thickness as the upper plate 63, and is made of, for example, polyethylene resin. One side of the support plate 67 is a rectangular sheet with a diameter larger than that of the cushioning material 66, and the cushioning material 66 is attached to its center by double-sided tape or the like.

[0059] With the cushioning material 66 embedded in the window 61, one side of the support plate 67 is connected to a predetermined part of the upper surface of the upper plate 63 of the cover housing 60 via adhesive tape 65a. Therefore, the window cover 65 can be opened and closed with the aforementioned side as a base point, and if the window cover is opened, the interior of the cover housing 60 can be visually observed through the window 61.

[0060] The heat-insulating cover 50 is housed within the cover housing 60. At this time, cushioning material 68 is provided at the four corners of the rectangular heat-insulating cover 50. The cushioning material 68, viewed from above, is L-shaped, and its height dimension is larger than the height dimension (thickness dimension) of the heat-insulating cover 50, approximately the same as the height dimension of the internal space 60b of the cover housing 60. With the cushioning material 68 installed at the four corners of the heat-insulating cover 50, the heat-insulating cover 50 is housed within the internal space 60b of the cover housing 60. Therefore, a small gap 69 is formed between the inner surface of the cover housing 60 and the outer surface of the heat-insulating cover 50 (in this embodiment, above the heat-insulating cover 50, i.e., between the inner surface of the upper plate 63 of the cover housing 60 and the upper surface of the heat-insulating cover 50).

[0061] Furthermore, when the heat insulation cover 50 is stored in the internal space 60b, if the window cover 65 at the top of the cover shell 60 is opened, the second outer skin material 52 at the top of the heat insulation cover 50 can be observed through the window 61, and can also be touched directly by hand.

[0062] <Functions and Effects>

[0063] Regarding the vacuum insulated container 1 described above, since the insulated container body 40 of the container body 100 has a double-walled structure made of molded material, even a cuboid-shaped insulated container body can be formed to connect the spaces between the walls. Furthermore, since the first outer skin material 41 constituting the insulated container body 40 is non-metallic, the electromagnetic waves emitted by the housed pressure sensor 43 can be transmitted to the outside. Therefore, the insulated container body 40 can, for example, have its insulation performance measured by a pressure sensor.

[0064] Figure 4 (A) illustrates an example of an inspection system for checking the thermal insulation performance of a thermal insulation container 40. As shown here, the system 80 includes an inspection table 81 and a computer 82. An inspection unit 83 is provided at a predetermined position on the inspection table 81. This inspection unit 83 has a receiving unit 85 and a power supply unit 86. The receiving unit 85 includes, for example, a communication control IC, a memory, and an antenna, and is capable of communication, for example, via NFC, with a transmitting unit 45 of the pressure sensor 43 of the thermal insulation container 40. Furthermore, the power supply unit 86 includes a power supply coil that forms a primary coil in this system 80, generating a magnetic field through power supplied from a power source (not shown).

[0065] When inspecting the thermal insulation performance of the thermal insulation container 40 using this inspection system, the vacuum thermal insulation container 1 is first placed at a predetermined position on the inspection table 81. This placement position is such that power can be supplied and communication can be established between the pressure sensor 43 and the inspection unit 83, for example, a position where they are directly opposite each other. Guide markings indicating the placement position of the vacuum thermal insulation container 1 may also be made on the upper surface of the inspection table 81. With the vacuum thermal insulation container 1 placed on the inspection table 81, if power is supplied to the power supply section 86 of the inspection table 81 to generate a magnetic field, electromagnetic induction is generated in the secondary coil (receiving coil) of the power supply section 46 of the thermal insulation container 40, supplying power to the pressure sensor 43. With this supplied power, the pressure sensor 43 detects the pressure by the pressure detection section 44 and transmits information about the detected pressure via the transmission section 45. The transmitted information is received by the receiving section 85 of the inspection table 81 and sent to the computer 82. Based on the input information, the computer 82 determines whether the thermal insulation performance of the thermal insulation container 40 is within the acceptable range and outputs (e.g., displays) the result.

[0066] Furthermore, the heat-insulating cover 50 of the cover 101 has a second outer skin material 51 made of a flexible film containing a metal layer. Therefore, when gas enters the heat-insulating cover 50 and the heat insulation performance decreases, the surface of the second outer skin material 51 deforms due to expansion. This deformation of the second outer skin material 51 can be visually observed through the viewing part, i.e., the window 61.

[0067] Figure 4(B) indicates the specific situation when visually inspecting the heat insulation cover 50. First, when inspecting the heat insulation cover 50, the heat insulation cover 50 is removed from the cover housing 60 while it is still inside the cover housing 60 from the outer cover 12 of the cover 101. If the window cover 65 provided on the upper part of the removed cover housing 60 is opened, the heat insulation cover 50 (more precisely, the second outer skin material 51) inside can be visually observed through the window 61. Therefore, if air enters the interior due to the second outer skin material 51 cracking, the heat insulation cover 50 will expand and deform, and its condition can be visually observed through the window 61. In particular, for the cover 101 of this embodiment, since there is a gap 69 above the heat insulation cover 50 inside the cover housing 60, if the deformation of the second outer skin material 51 occurs without hindrance, it can be easily visually confirmed.

[0068] Thus, the vacuum insulated container 1 of the present invention can have its insulated container body 40 inspected once by pressure sensor 43, and the insulated cover 50 can be inspected visually in a timely manner, so the inspection operation becomes easy.

[0069] Furthermore, the insulated container body 40 of the vacuum insulated container 1 is covered by a protective member, and an opening 21 is formed on the protective base plate 20 of this protective member. Through this opening 21, a recess is formed in the protective member at the portion corresponding to the pressure sensor 43 installed in the insulated container body 40, which is recessed compared to other portions. In addition, the outer bag 11 covering the opening 21 is formed using a flexible fabric made of chemical fibers.

[0070] Therefore, the insulation container 40 can be protected from external forces, and when checking the insulation performance, the receiving device for inspection can be pressed into the recess of the protective component from the outside through the fabric of the outer bag 11, thereby receiving the radio waves from the pressure sensor. Therefore, even in the case where communication with the pressure sensor 43 is only possible at very close range, the radio waves from the pressure sensor 43 can be reliably received, and the correct inspection can be performed.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the vacuum insulated container 1, the first outer skin material 41 of the insulated container body 40 of the container body 100 is a molded body made of a non-metallic material that can transmit radio waves. Therefore, communication is possible between the storage space 40b of the insulated container body 40 and the outside of the vacuum insulated container 1. Thus, for example, by placing a temperature sensor with wireless communication function in the storage space 40b, and receiving radio waves from the temperature sensor from the outside of the vacuum insulated container 1, the temperature of the storage space 40b can be checked with the cover 101 closed.

[0072] <Other Structures>

[0073] As described above, a first gas adsorption material 49 is provided in the wall of the first outer skin material 41 of the heat insulation container body 40, and a second gas adsorption material 53 is provided inside the second outer skin material 51 of the heat insulation cover 50. In this case, the lifetime of the gas adsorption capacity of the second gas adsorption material 53 can also be set to be longer than the lifetime of the gas adsorption capacity of the first gas adsorption material 49.

[0074] Based on this structure, the insulation performance of the heat insulation cover 50 has a longer lifespan than that of the heat insulation container 40. Therefore, if the insulation performance of the heat insulation container 40 can be confirmed through inspection, it can be determined that the insulation performance of the heat insulation cover 50 can also be maintained substantially. Therefore, since the frequency of visual inspection of the heat insulation cover 50 can be reduced, the inspection work can be made easier.

[0075] Furthermore, the lifetime [days] of each adsorption capacity of the first gas adsorbent material 49 and the second gas adsorbent material 53 can be set as follows. That is, assuming the amount of gas that can be adsorbed by 1 gram of the adsorbent used is the adsorption capacity (cc / g), the amount of adsorbent used is the amount of adsorbent material (g), the initial amount of gas remaining in the heat-insulating space containing the adsorbent is the initial residual gas amount (cc), and the gas barrier performance of the outer material is the gas barrier performance (cc / day). At this time, the adsorption lifetime (days) of the first gas adsorbent material 49 and the second gas adsorbent material 53 is expressed by the following formula (1).

[0076] Lifetime of adsorbent material (days) = (Adsorption capacity (cc / g) × Amount of adsorbent material (g) - Initial residual gas amount (cc)) ÷ Gas barrier performance (cc / day) ... (1)

[0077] Therefore, according to the above formula (1), the adsorption material life of the second gas adsorbent 53 can be set to be longer than that of the first gas adsorbent 49.

[0078] For example, according to the above formula (1), as an aging process for the vacuum degree within the insulation space, it is possible to design, such as Figure 7 The adsorbent material is shown in the curve (A). Here, Vt is the threshold of vacuum degree at which the heat-insulating container body 40 and the heat-insulating cover 50 can guarantee the required cold-keeping performance. In addition, curves 200 and 201 represent the aging of vacuum degree of the heat-insulating container body 40 with the first gas adsorbent material 49 designed according to formula (1). Considering the possible deviations contained in the parameters in formula (1), curve 200 represents the fastest aging and curve 201 represents the slowest aging. Similarly, curves 300 and 301 represent the aging of vacuum degree of the heat-insulating cover 50 with the second gas adsorbent material 53 designed according to formula (1). Considering the possible deviations contained in the parameters in formula (1), curve 300 represents the fastest aging and curve 301 represents the slowest aging.

[0079] In addition, Figure 7 In (B), the lifetime distribution of multiple samples of an insulating container body 40 having the first gas adsorption material 49 as described above and an insulating cover 50 having the second gas adsorption material 53 is shown. Figure 7 As shown in (A), both the heat-insulating container body 40 and the heat-insulating cover 50 undergo slow aging of the vacuum level from the initial stage to a certain point. On the other hand, the aging accelerates after a certain point, tending to exceed the aforementioned threshold Vt. Therefore, the transition point of the aging rate, i.e., the time points P1 to P4 in the figure, can be defined as the lifespan of the heat-insulating container body 40 and the heat-insulating cover 60.

[0080] like Figure 7 (A) and Figure 7 As shown in (B), when designed according to the above formula (1), considering deviations, the lifespan of the insulation container 40 can be included in the range of P1 to P2, and the lifespan of the insulation cover 50 can be included in the range of P3 to P4. In this way, the insulation container 40 and the insulation cover 50 can be designed in a way that their lifespans will not overlap even when considering deviations, and the insulation cover 50 can be designed to have a longer lifespan than the insulation container 40.

[0081] The heat storage unit 70 can be housed within the internal space 40b of the heat-insulating container body 40 of the aforementioned vacuum heat-insulating container 1. For example, the heat storage unit 70 can be placed inside the vacuum heat-insulating container 1, and items such as medicines or samples can be stored within the heat storage unit 70. As a result, the vacuum heat-insulating container 1 maintains the temperature environment around the items formed by the heat storage unit 70 for a long period of time.

[0082] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The heat storage unit 70 is described in general. The heat storage unit 70 includes a basket 71, cushioning material 72, multiple heat storage materials 73, and an inner box 74. The basket 71 is formed in the shape of a shallow box with an opening at the top, and a strap 71b is provided between two upwardly extending portions 71a located on the left and right sides. Viewed from above, the basket 71 has approximately the same shape and size as the internal space 40b of the insulated container body 40.

[0083] Cushioning material 72 is disposed at the four corners of the inner bottom of basket 71 and is pre-attached to the inner surface of basket 71 by adhesive or the like. Multiple heat-storing materials 73 are formed into flat plates, with six plates corresponding to the lower surface, four sides, and upper surface of the inner box 74. A heat-storing material 73 for the lower surface is disposed on the inner bottom surface of basket 71, relative to the basket 71 on which the cushioning material 72 is installed. Next, a box-shaped inner box 74 with an open top is placed on the heat-storing material 73 for the lower surface. Furthermore, four heat-storing materials 73 are inserted into the gap between the circumference of the inner box 74 and the circumference of basket 71, with one heat-storing material 73 placed to close the opening of the inner box 74.

[0084] Therefore, the heat storage unit 70 is housed without gaps relative to the heat insulation container body 40. Thus, during use of the vacuum heat insulation container 1, damage to the inner surface of the heat insulation container body 40 due to internal vibrations of the heat storage unit 70 can be prevented, resulting in the long-term maintenance of the heat insulation performance of the vacuum heat insulation container 1. Alternatively, instead of the flat heat storage material 73, granular heat storage material (e.g., dry ice) can be filled into the gap between the circumferential surface of the inner box 74 and the circumferential surface of the basket 71.

[0085] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a circular window 61 penetrating the upper plate 63 of the cover housing 60 is shown as an example of a visible part, but the structure of the visible part is not limited to this. For example, it can be a window composed of a polygonal outline and a penetrating opening, or it can be other outline shapes, and its position is not limited to the upper plate 63. In addition, the visible part can also be formed by covering the penetrating opening with a light-transmitting (transparent) sheet or film. In addition, part or all of the plate surface of the cover housing 60 can also be made of a light-transmitting (transparent) material. Furthermore, a mark that moves in conjunction with the deformation of the heat insulation cover 50 inside the cover housing 60 can also be provided, and this mark can serve as a visible part. That is, the visible part is not limited to a structure that allows direct visual observation of the deformation of the heat insulation cover 50.

[0086] Industrial availability

[0087] The vacuum insulated container of the present invention can be used in vacuum insulated containers used to maintain the internal temperature for a long time.

[0088] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0089] 1 Vacuum Insulated Container

[0090] 40 Insulated Container Body

[0091] 41. First outer skin material

[0092] 42 1st core material

[0093] 49. Gas Adsorption Material

[0094] 50 heat-insulating cover

[0095] 51. Second outer skin material

[0096] 52 2nd core material

[0097] 53. Gas Adsorption Material No. 2

[0098] 60 cover shell

[0099] 61 windows

[0100] 100 container body

[0101] 101. Cover body.

Claims

1. A vacuum insulated container, characterized in that, include: The container body has an opening and a storage space communicating with the opening; and A lid that covers the opening of the container body. The container body has an insulated container body, which includes: a first outer skin material, which is a molded body of non-metallic material and is formed into a container shape with a double-walled structure that provides gas barrier properties; a first core material housed between the walls of the first outer skin material; and a pressure sensor housed between the walls of the first outer skin material and capable of communicating with the outside, wherein the walls of the first outer skin material are connected and depressurized, and the pressure sensor is disposed at the lower part of the insulated container body. The cover has: A heat-insulating cover comprising a second outer skin material formed into a bag shape from a flexible film containing a metal layer and having gas barrier properties, and a second core material housed inside the second outer skin material, wherein the interior of the second outer skin material is depressurized; and The visible part allows for visual observation of the surface of the second outer skin material of the heat insulation cover. The device comprises a first gas adsorption material disposed between the walls of the first outer skin material of the heat insulation container body and a second gas adsorption material disposed inside the second outer skin material of the heat insulation cover body. The adsorption lifespan of the second gas adsorbent material is longer than that of the first gas adsorbent material.

2. The vacuum insulated container as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The cover has a housing that houses the heat-insulating cover, and a window constituting the visible portion is formed on the housing.

3. The vacuum insulated container as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The container body also includes a protective component that covers the outer surface of the insulated container body. In the protective component, a recess is formed in the portion corresponding to the pressure sensor disposed in the heat insulation container body, which is recessed compared to other portions.

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