Mobile thermal container with vacuum layer in the housing wall

Abstract

Mobile thermal container (1) for the transport of temperature-sensitive products with a housing (3) having a tightly closing door (2), wherein the wall (4) of the housing (3) has an inner wall (5) made of plastic and an outer wall (6) made of plastic and an intermediate insulation layer (7) made of a plastic foam, characterized in that (d) either between the inner wall (5) and the insulation layer (7), or (e) the outer wall (6) and the insulation layer (7), or (f) a vacuum layer (8) is arranged embedded in the insulation layer (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile thermal container for the transport of temperature-sensitive products, having the features of the preamble of the sovereign protection claim 1.

[0002] Insulated containers are typically used for the transport of temperature-sensitive products in food logistics, the pharmaceutical sector, or in HoReCa (hotel / restaurant / catering) deliveries to ensure a secure cold chain. These temperature-sensitive products are stored in large quantities in stationary cold rooms or cold stores. For transport, the frozen food is placed in mobile insulated containers with a tightly closing door and insulated walls, ensuring that a maximum temperature within the container, for example, a temperature of -18°C, is not exceeded throughout the entire required transport period.

[0003] For this purpose, insulated containers are known which either only have a correspondingly insulating housing wall, for example a plastic shell filled with insulating plastic foam, or which additionally contain passive cooling devices, for example eutectic storage plates, dry ice or liquid nitrogen.

[0004] Depending on the container size, product temperature, fill level, contents, and quantity or number of passive cooling devices used, different transport times can be achieved. The so-called K value determines a specific transport time.

[0005] Such a passive cooling system could, for example, consist of placing dry ice or liquid nitrogen in special containers inside the thermal containers in addition to the goods being transported. However, handling such thermal containers is cumbersome. Furthermore, containers for the dry ice must be provided within the thermal container. Consistent cooling performance is difficult to achieve.

[0006] Another known method of passive cooling is a so-called cryogenic accumulator. This system uses liquid nitrogen as a coolant. It is placed in a plate-shaped, vacuum-insulated container in the headspace of the thermal container. There, the nitrogen evaporates by absorbing the heat energy generated within the thermal container. The nitrogen escapes through an opening at the top of the cryogenic accumulator, cooling the frozen goods underneath. During the transition from the liquid to the gaseous state, the volume of the nitrogen increases by approximately 800 times, ensuring a certain degree of mixing of the container air. However, uniform mixing and thus uniform cooling cannot be guaranteed, particularly if the thermal container contains internal components such as intermediate floors or similar that impede air circulation.

[0007] Furthermore, it is known to use a so-called eutectic plate in conjunction with such a cryogenic battery. This is a flat plastic container filled with cooling brine, which is placed beneath the cryogenic battery. This buffers the low temperature of the nitrogen. This prevents sensitive products from falling below the freezing point. Once the liquid nitrogen is used up, the now frozen eutectic plate cools down, thus extending the cooling time. The eutectic medium within the eutectic plate absorbs a relatively large amount of heat during the transition from the separated solid (frozen) state to the mixed liquid state.

[0008] It is also known in the art to use such eutectic plates individually, i.e., without a cryogenic battery. In this case, the eutectic plates are inserted into the thermal container in a similar manner to intermediate shelves.

[0009] However, all of these known thermal containers have the disadvantage that their handling and production involve relatively high costs and / or that uniform cooling of the temperature-sensitive product within the thermal container is almost impossible. Furthermore, in many cases, the desired time period within which a maximum temperature must not be exceeded cannot be guaranteed. Cooling with nitrogen or dry ice also entails high investment costs and ongoing operating costs.

[0010] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a thermal container that minimizes the aforementioned problems, in particular by improving the insulation effect and thus extending the transport time. This allows for less or even no use of difficult-to-handle dry ice or liquid nitrogen, and eliminates the need for a dosing device.

[0011] The object of the invention is achieved by a mobile thermal container for the transport of temperature-sensitive products, which has a housing with a tightly closing door, wherein the wall of the housing has an inner wall made of plastic and an outer wall made of plastic and an intermediate insulation layer made of a plastic foam, characterized in that (a) either between the inner wall and the insulation layer, or (b) the outer wall and the insulation layer, or (c) a vacuum layer is arranged embedded in the insulation layer.

[0012] By introducing a vacuum layer into the wall of the housing, the insulating effect of the thermal container according to the invention can be drastically increased, resulting in an extension of the transport time during which the temperature-sensitive products are subject to relatively constant cooling.

[0013] The thermal container according to the invention is preferably one that does not have an active electrically operated cooling device.

[0014] The vacuum layer is preferably realized by being present within a vacuum insulation panel that is introduced into the wall of the thermal container according to the invention.

[0015] The wall of the housing of the thermal container according to the invention preferably has six sides, wherein the six sides consist of a bottom side, a top side, and four vertical sides orthogonal to the bottom side and the top side, wherein the door of the housing is located on one of the vertical sides, wherein at least one, preferably two or more of the six sides has a vacuum layer. It is particularly preferred that each of the six sides has a vacuum layer.

[0016] The vacuum layer preferably extends over at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the length and width or the height and depth or the height and width of at least one, preferably two or more, of the six sides of the thermal container according to the invention. In this way, excellent insulation is achieved.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferred that the wall of the door has a vacuum layer.

[0018] It is particularly preferred in the thermal container according to the invention that the vacuum layer is embedded in the insulation layer. This allows for particularly good insulation.

[0019] The plastic foam of the insulation layer of the thermal container according to the invention is preferably a plastic foam, particularly preferably a polyurethane foam.

[0020] The inner wall and / or the outer wall of the thermal container according to the invention preferably consists of a plastic, in particular of a thermoplastic plastic (PE or PP) or a thermosetting plastic (GRP or PUR).

[0021] The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures: Fig. 1: Fig. 1 shows a mobile thermal container according to the invention, which is arranged on rollers. Fig. 2: Fig. 2 shows a mobile thermal container according to the invention, which is arranged on feet. Fig. 3a to 3c: The Fig. 3a to 3c show different walls of a clamp container according to the invention.

[0022] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a mobile thermal container 1 according to the invention. Fig. The thermal container 1 shown in Figure 1 has four rollers on its underside with which it can be moved. Fig. The thermal container 1 shown in Figure 2 has feet instead of rollers and can be moved, for example, with a forklift. The thermal containers 1 shown in these figures have a housing 3 with six sides, wherein at least one of the six sides of the housing 3 has a wall 4 as shown in Figures Fig. 3a to 3c. The thermal container 1 according to the invention has a door 2, which preferably extends over one entire side of the housing 3.

[0023] The Fig. 3a to 3c show different walls 4 of the housing 3 of a thermal container 1 according to the invention. Fig. The wall 4 shown in Figure 3a has an inner wall 5 and an outer wall 6, between which there is an insulation layer 7, which is preferably composed of a plastic foam. Between the outer wall 6 and the insulation layer 7 there is a vacuum layer 8. The Fig. 3b shows a wall 4 with an inner wall 5 and an outer wall 6 and an insulating layer 7 in between. Here, the vacuum layer 8 is arranged between the inner wall 5 and the insulating layer 7. The Fig. The wall 4 shown in Fig. 3c has an inner wall 5 and an outer wall 6 with an insulating layer 7 therebetween, the vacuum layer 8 being embedded in the insulating layer 7. List of reference symbols: 1 mobile thermal container 2 doors 3 housings 4 Wall of the housing 5 Inner wall of the housing 6 Outer wall of the housing 7 Insulation layer 8 vacuum layer

Claims

[1] Mobile thermal container (1) for the transport of temperature-sensitive products with a housing (3) having a tightly closing door (2), wherein the wall (4) of the housing (3) has an inner wall (5) made of plastic and an outer wall (6) made of plastic and an intermediate insulation layer (7) made of a plastic foam, characterized by , that (d) either between the inner wall (5) and the insulation layer (7), or (e) the outer wall (6) and the insulation layer (7), or (f) a vacuum layer (8) is arranged embedded in the insulation layer (7). [2] Thermal container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum layer (8) is present within a vacuum insulation panel. [3] Thermal container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall (4) of the housing (3) has six sides, wherein the six sides consist of a bottom side, a top side and four vertical sides orthogonal thereto, wherein the door (2) of the housing (3) is located on one of the vertical sides, wherein at least one, preferably two or more of the six sides has the vacuum layer (8). [4] Thermal container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vacuum layer (8) extends over at least 80% of the length and width or the height and depth or the height and width of at least one, preferably two or more of the six sides. [5] Thermal container (1) according to claim 4, wherein the vacuum layer (8) extends over at least 90% of the length and width or the height and depth or the height and width. [6] Thermal container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wall (4) of the door (2) has a vacuum layer (8). [7] Thermal container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the vacuum layer (8) is arranged embedded in the insulation layer (7). [8] Thermal container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plastic foam of the insulation layer (7) is a polyurethane foam. [9] Thermal container according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inner wall (5) and / or the outer wall (6) is made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic.

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