Thermally insulated transport container

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermally insulated transport container (1) with an outer housing (2) which surrounds an outer insulating chamber (28), an inner housing (3) which is arranged within the outer housing (2), and a cooling chamber housing (47) which surrounds a cooling chamber (4), said cooling chamber housing (47) being connected to a closable tubular access channel element (5), the interior (52) of which opens into the cooling chamber (4). The cooling chamber (4) has a plurality of chambers (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) for receiving goods (7) to be refrigerated, wherein the cooling chamber (4) has a central refrigerated goods chamber (40), and the tubular access channel element (5) is arranged centrally in the outer housing (2) and in the inner housing (3) and is flush with the central refrigerated goods chamber (40). The invention is characterized in that the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is surrounded by a plurality of decentralized refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46); the decentralized refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are connected or can be connected to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) via a respective transfer gate (41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46'); and the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is equipped with a tubular ring slide device (6, 6') that can be rotated about a central axis (X) and has at least one transfer opening (65), which can be brought into register with a respective transfer gate (41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46') by rotating the ring slide device (6, 6'), in the peripheral wall (62) of the ring slide device, thereby forming a passage from a paired decentralized refrigerated goods chamber (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermally insulated transport container according to the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In medicine and pharmaceuticals, it is often necessary to transport deep-frozen or frozen samples or active ingredients over long distances and periods of time without interrupting the cold chain and without the temperature of these goods rising above a permissible maximum temperature. Highly insulated deep-freeze transport containers equipped with a cold storage unit are already known that are suitable for solving this problem, for example, the transport container for cooling frozen goods known from EP 2 041 502 B1.

[0003] However, a particular problem arises when distributing vaccines that must be stored frozen (for example, at -70°C to -80°C). This involves transporting numerous small refrigerated containers, namely vaccine vials, to a vaccination site, such as a doctor's office or a mobile vaccination unit. These vials are not needed simultaneously, but rather individually and consecutively, requiring them to be removed from the transport container at intervals. If the transport container is opened and resealed for each removal, warmer ambient air enters the refrigerated compartment inside the container. This causes the storage capacity of the cold storage unit to decrease rapidly, significantly reducing the maximum holding time until the permissible maximum temperature for the refrigerated goods is reached with each removal. STATE OF THE ART

[0004] From DE 10 2007 008 351 A1, a self-cooling transport container is known which is equipped inside the cooling chamber with a revolver-like rotatable magazine containing a plurality of cooling material receptacles arranged in a ring. A tubular access channel element is eccentrically positioned above the ring of individual cooling material receptacles within the transport container. By rotating the magazine, a cooling material receptacle can be positioned under the tubular access element, and the cooling material can then be removed from this receptacle through the access element. Providing such a rotatable magazine in a cooling container, where temperatures of, for example, -70°C to -80°C can prevail, requires considerable technical effort to ensure reliable rotation even at such low temperatures. Furthermore, the eccentric arrangement of the tubular access element is disadvantageous from an insulation perspective.In addition, such a permanently installed removal mechanism makes it more difficult to clean a transport container equipped with it, which is particularly disadvantageous if the transport container is intended for the transport of medical and pharmaceutical products.

[0005] US Patent 3,108,840 A shows and describes the construction of a cooling container with an outer casing wall and an inner casing wall, with an evacuated insulation space between them, which may be filled with a heat-insulating material. The inner casing wall encloses a receiving space for goods to be cooled, with decentralized cooling chambers arranged in a star pattern and designed as cooling compartment niches. Between each of these niches is a circular segment or pie-slice-shaped refrigerant chamber for holding a refrigerant. The wall elements of these refrigerant chambers are each independently located within the inner chamber and, with their perforated side walls, form the boundaries to the adjacent decentralized cooling chambers. Each segment-shaped wall section has a bore through which a solid cryogen can be added.The refrigerant chambers thus cool the cold storage niches from their respective long sides, but not at their respective free ends. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is to improve a thermally insulated transport container of the generic type in such a way that the maximum holding time is not significantly reduced even when transporting a large number of refrigerated containers, the respective removals of which take place at intervals from one another.

[0007] This problem is solved by a thermally insulated transport container having the features of claim 1.

[0008] A thermally insulated transport container is provided with an outer casing surrounding an outer insulation chamber, an inner casing arranged within the outer casing surrounding an inner refrigerant chamber, and a cooling chamber located within the inner casing, wherein the cooling chamber is connected to a tubular access channel element, the interior of which opens into the cooling chamber and which can be closed by means of a closure insert, wherein the cooling chamber has a plurality of cooling compartments for receiving cooling goods, and wherein the cooling chamber has a central cooling compartment surrounded by a plurality of decentralized cooling compartments.that the tubular access channel element is centrally located in the outer housing and in the inner housing and is aligned with the central refrigerated goods chamber () and that the decentralized refrigerated goods chambers are connected or can be connected to the central refrigerated goods chamber via a transfer gate each.

[0009] According to the invention, this transport container provides that the inner refrigerant chamber is formed by an annular space surrounding the cooling chamber housing, which is enclosed by the wall of the inner housing and the wall of the tubular access element, and a bottom space area. ADVANTAGES

[0010] In this embodiment according to the invention, a container of cooled goods is always removed from the central cooled goods chamber located in the axial center of the cooling space, which is surrounded on all sides by coolant, and thus from the central center of the inner housing surrounded by the refrigerant chamber. If warmer ambient air enters the central cooled goods chamber during a removal process, a symmetrical thermal load is created on the refrigerant, which forms a cold storage unit and is provided in the refrigerant chamber, thereby only minimally impacting the storage capacity of the cold storage unit. Furthermore, the solution according to the invention does not require a complex rotary mechanism, because when the central cooled goods chamber is empty, a container of cooled goods can slide from one of the decentralized cooled goods chambers through the associated transfer gate into the central cooled goods chamber by simply tilting the transport container slightly.

[0011] The transport container constructed according to the invention also has the advantage that the central tubular access channel element allows essentially unobstructed access to the cold storage compartment, even when the transport container is being cleaned. Particularly in the case of liquids spilling into the cold storage compartment, reliable and straightforward cleaning of the compartment is possible, especially if the surfaces in the cold storage compartment are formed by a smooth wall, for example, made of stainless steel.

[0012] Further preferred and advantageous design features of the transport container according to the invention are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 15.

[0013] According to the invention, a tubular ring slide assembly, rotatable about a central axis, is provided in the central refrigerated compartment. This ring slide assembly has at least one transfer opening in its circumferential wall, which can be aligned with a respective transfer gate by rotating the assembly. This creates a passage from a decentralized refrigerated compartment associated with the transfer gate to the central refrigerated compartment. Such a ring slide assembly allows for the targeted selection of a decentralized refrigerated compartment by aligning the transfer opening of the ring slide assembly with the transfer gate of a selected decentralized refrigerated compartment. This ensures that only one refrigerated container from this decentralized refrigerated compartment can enter the central refrigerated compartment.The transfer doors of all other decentralized refrigerated storage chambers are sealed by the wall of the ring valve assembly, preventing warmer ambient air entering the central refrigerated storage chamber during the withdrawal process from these sealed decentralized chambers. The ring valve assembly can be easily removed by pulling it out of the interior of the tubular access channel element. This facilitates cleaning of the interior and both the central and decentralized refrigerated storage chambers, as well as enabling rapid cooling of the cold storage unit.

[0014] The central ring valve assembly can preferably be inserted into the central tubular access channel element in a way that allows it to be removed axially. This makes it possible to remove the entire ring valve assembly, for example for cleaning purposes, thereby also facilitating access to the cold storage room for cleaning purposes.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if the ring slide valve assembly engages with an end pointing away from the bottom of the central refrigerated compartment into the interior of the tubular access channel element. This prevents air from entering the decentralized refrigerated compartments from the access channel element, especially if the section of the ring slide valve assembly engaging the access channel element is additionally sealed against the inner circumference of the tubular access channel element by means of a shaft seal. Furthermore, convection-induced air exchange between the interior of the access channel element and the decentralized refrigerated compartments is reliably prevented.

[0016] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with other embodiments, is characterized in that the ring slide element is provided on its end face facing away from the bottom of the central cooling chamber with coupling means designed for rotationally fixed coupling with counter-coupling means provided on an end face of a tubular actuating element, wherein the tubular actuating element can be inserted into the tubular access channel element. This allows the actuating element to be removed from the tubular access channel element when not in use, thus preventing it from forming a thermal bridge when the access channel element is closed with a sealing insert, for example, with an insulating plug.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with other embodiments, the outer housing and the inner housing, as well as the central cooling chamber and the tubular access channel element, have a circular cylindrical shape and are arranged coaxially to one another, with the decentralized cooling chambers arranged in a star shape around the central cooling chamber. This circularly symmetrical design results in particularly effective and uniform insulation of the cooling chambers.

[0018] It is particularly advantageous if the decentralized refrigerated goods compartments are formed by refrigerated goods niches extending radially outwards from the central refrigerated goods compartment.

[0019] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the ring slide device comprises two coaxially arranged, tubular ring slide elements, each with at least one transfer opening in its circumferential wall, which are rotatable relative to each other. This coaxial arrangement of two ring slide elements rotatable relative to each other, each with at least one transfer opening, makes it possible to align a transfer opening of the inner ring slide element and a transfer opening of the outer ring slide element to form a common transfer opening of the ring slide device. This common transfer opening can then be aligned with a transfer gate of a decentralized refrigerated goods chamber to open this decentralized refrigerated goods chamber towards the central refrigerated goods chamber.However, it is also possible to twist the two ring valve elements against each other so that their transfer openings do not overlap, thereby closing the pipe wall of the ring valve device and shielding all decentralized cooling chambers from the central cooling chamber.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with other embodiments, the outer housing comprises a cup-shaped outer housing body, which is closed by means of an outer cover wall, and the tubular access channel element is connected to the outer cover wall. The inner housing body, connected to the tubular access channel element, is inserted into the outer housing body, and its outer wall, together with the wall of the tubular access channel element, the wall of the outer housing body, and the outer cover wall, defines an interior space of the outer housing body. This interior space of the outer housing body is evacuated and therefore provides particularly good thermal insulation.Preferably, the outer interior is filled with a poorly thermally conductive mechanical support material to more effectively counteract the pressure forces of the ambient air acting on the wall of the outer housing body in an evacuated vacuum or reduced pressure state. Furthermore, the support material, in particular pyrogenic silica, restricts the free paths of any individual gas molecules that may still be present in the interior under high vacuum, thus achieving a high degree of insulation even in this case.

[0021] Another preferred embodiment of the invention, which can also be combined with other embodiments, is characterized in that the inner housing has a cup-shaped inner housing base body, which is closed by means of an inner cover wall, and that the tubular access channel element is connected to the inner cover wall. The inner housing base body forms a cooling insert, the wall of which surrounds the cooling chamber and is connected to the tubular access channel element, the interior of which opens into the cooling chamber. The interior of the inner housing base body is filled with a refrigerant, or cooling elements filled with refrigerant are inserted into this interior space.

[0022] If the inner housing body is horizontally divisible, the cooling elements containing the refrigerant can be inserted into the inner interior during assembly. Preferably, different housing body elements of the inner housing body are provided and can be combined with one another, defining different-sized inner interiors so that different numbers or sizes of cooling elements can be accommodated within the inner interior. The cooling capacity can thus be adapted to the requirements during assembly, and different transport containers with varying cooling capacities can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively using a modular system.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] It shows: Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention with the ring valve device shown uncut; Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section through the inner housing of the thermally insulated transport container made of Fig. 1 along line II-II; Fig. 3 a vertical section through the inner housing of a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention with a first modified ring valve device in an enlarged view; Fig. 4 a vertical section through a first alternative embodiment of a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention; Fig. 5 a vertical section through a second alternative embodiment of a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention with a second modified ring valve device and a discharge slide; Fig. 6 a vertical section through the inner housing of the thermally insulated transport container made of Fig. 5 with the second modified ring slide assembly and the dispensing slide in an enlarged view; Fig. 7 a side view of the dispensing slide; Fig. 7A an axial view of the dispensing slide in the direction of arrow VII in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 a top view of the ring slide assembly equipped with the extraction slide in the direction of arrow VIII in Fig. 5 . PRESENTATION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION EXAMPLES

[0025] In Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a circular cylindrical transport container 1, thermally insulated according to the invention, in a vertical section. However, the invention is not limited to a circular cylindrical embodiment; the transport container can also have an oval, rectangular, or otherwise polygonal base plan, although the circular cylindrical shape is preferred and, due to its rotational symmetry, is particularly advantageous from a thermal perspective.

[0026] An outer housing 2 of the transport container 1 comprises a cup-shaped outer housing base body 20, which is rotationally symmetrical about a vertical central axis X, and an annular outer cover wall 21 that closes the outer housing base body 20. The outer housing 2 is formed by a wall 22, preferably made of poorly thermally conductive stainless steel, which has a cylindrical outer wall 23 as well as a substantially flat bottom wall 24 of the housing base body 20 and the annular cover wall 21.

[0027] An inner housing 3, described in detail below, is inserted into the cup-shaped housing body 20. The inner housing 3, located inside the outer housing body 20, and a tubular access channel element 5 connected to it are surrounded by the outer housing 2, which defines an insulating chamber 28, and form a cooling insert 8. The tubular access channel element 5 opens into the inner opening 21' of the stepped, annular outer cover wall 21 and is hermetically welded to it (weld 22'). The circumferential wall 23 of the cup-shaped housing body 20 and the cover wall 21 are also hermetically welded together (weld 22") to ensure a high vacuum tightness of the outer insulating chamber 28.The wall 22 of the outer housing 2 encloses an annular space 26 surrounding the inner housing 3 and the access channel element 5 and a floor space area 27, which together form the outer insulation chamber 28.

[0028] The outer insulation chamber 28 can be evacuated by means of an evacuation valve (not shown) provided in the wall 22 and a vacuum pump (also not shown). During operation of the thermally insulating transport container 1 according to the invention, a vacuum prevails in the outer insulation chamber 28.

[0029] To prevent the pressure forces acting on the wall 22 from deforming or even collapsing the wall 22, the entire insulating chamber 28 is filled with a poorly thermally conductive and mechanically pressure-resistant vacuum support material 29, for example with pyrogenic silica, which is in Fig. 1This is only indicated by way of example in a lower area of ​​the insulation chamber 28. The provision of this vacuum support material 29 in the insulation chamber 28 makes it possible to keep the wall thickness of the wall 22 small in order to reduce heat conduction along the wall 22 without reducing its mechanical stability.

[0030] The inner housing 3, arranged coaxially to the central axis X, comprises a cup-shaped inner housing body 30 and an annular inner cover wall 31 that closes it. The inner housing 3 has a wall 32, preferably made of a poorly thermally conductive material, for example, stainless steel, which includes a cylindrical outer wall 33, a substantially flat bottom wall 34 of the cup-shaped inner housing body 30, and the inner cover wall 31 that closes it at the top. A cooling chamber housing 47, which surrounds a cooling chamber 4 for the transported goods 7 and is described in detail below, is inserted into the cup-shaped inner housing body 30. The tubular access channel element 5 penetrates the inner opening 31' of the annular inner cover wall 31 and is hermetically welded to it (weld 32').The circumferential wall 33 of the cup-shaped housing body 30 and the cover wall 31 are also hermetically welded together (weld 32") to ensure a high vacuum tightness of the outer insulation chamber 28. The wall 32 of the inner housing 3 and the wall 50 of the tubular access element 5 enclose an annular space 36 surrounding the cooling chamber housing 47 and a bottom space 37, which together form an inner refrigerant chamber 38. The inner refrigerant chamber 38 is filled with an organic refrigerant 39 and forms a cold storage unit 39'.

[0031] Preferably, the refrigerant chamber 38 contains a highly thermally conductive metal wool filling 39". For the sake of clarity, the metal wool filling 39" is arranged in Fig. 1The metal wool filling 39" is shown only in a portion of the refrigerant chamber 38, although preferably the entire refrigerant chamber 38 is provided with it. Instead of the metal wool filling 39", the refrigerant chamber 38 can also be filled with a highly thermally conductive metal foam, for example, aluminum foam, or another highly thermally conductive three-dimensional metal mesh. Preferably, the organic refrigerant used is a material that undergoes a phase change from the solid state to the liquid state in the temperature range of -15°C to -100°C and has a latent heat of fusion of, for example, at least 50 J / ml.

[0032] The cooling chamber 4, surrounded by the cooling chamber housing 47, forms a receptacle for cooled goods 7 and has a central cooled goods chamber 40 as well as decentralized cooled goods chambers arranged in a star shape around it, as described below with reference to the Fig. 2The cooling chamber housing 47, arranged coaxially to the central axis X, has a cup-shaped cooling chamber housing base 48 and an annular upper cover wall 49 closing it, with a central opening 49'. The wall of the cooling chamber housing 47, comprising the cooling chamber housing base 48 and the upper cover wall 49, is preferably made of a highly thermally conductive material, for example, aluminum, to ensure effective cooling from the refrigerant chamber 38 into the cooling chamber 4.

[0033] The tubular access channel element 5 extends coaxially to the central axis X from above through the central, inner opening 21' of the outer cover wall 21, to whose edge it is hermetically welded, through the central, inner opening 31' of the inner cover wall 31, to whose edge it is also hermetically welded, downwards to the central opening 49' of the annular upper cover wall 49 of the cooling chamber housing 47, where the cylindrical wall 50 of the tubular access channel element 5, preferably made of poorly thermally conductive stainless steel, is firmly and tightly connected to the annular upper cover wall 49, preferably made of aluminum. The interior 52 of the access channel element 5 thus opens into the cooling chamber 4.

[0034] At its upper end region, facing away from the cooling chamber 4, the cylindrical wall 50 of the tubular access channel element 5 is surrounded by an annular insulating body 29, the radial inner wall 29' of which rests firmly against the cylindrical wall 50 of the access channel element 5, thus connecting the insulating body 29 to the access channel element 5 in a rotationally and axially fixed manner. An upper flange ring 51 forms the upper end of the cylindrical wall 50, facing away from the central cooling chamber 40, and surrounds an upper opening 51' of the access channel element 5. The upper flange ring 51 rests on the annular insulating body 29 and does not extend radially outwards beyond the annular insulating body 29. The radial outer wall 29" of the insulating body 29 is precisely fitted into an annular recess 25 formed by the annularly stepped outer cover wall 21 of the outer housing 2.The very poor thermally conductive ring-shaped insulating body 29 provides a receiving and holding of the access channel element 5 in the outer housing base body 2, without allowing any significant heat exchange between these bodies.

[0035] To close the upper opening 51' of the tubular access channel element 5, a sealing insert 54, designed, for example, as an insulating plug, is provided. This insert projects with an insulating shaft 54' into the interior 52 of the tubular access channel element 5 and fills either part or all of its vertical length. The insulating shaft 54' of the sealing insert 54 is preferably designed as a hollow cylinder. Its downward-facing cavity (opening towards the cooling chamber 4) is filled with a moisture adsorbent, for example, cotton wool or felt, to absorb any liquid that may leak out. At its upward-projecting end, the sealing insert 54 is sealed against the inner wall of the access channel element 5 by a neck seal 54". A further circumferential seal 54‴ is provided in the lower region of the insulating shaft 54', which also seals against the inner wall of the access channel element 5.

[0036] An outer container lid 10 can be firmly connected to the outer housing 2 and is supported by in Fig. 1 The annular seals 12, 14, shown only schematically, separate from the upper cover wall 21 of the outer housing 2. Preferably, the sealing of the outer container cover 10 on the outer housing 2 is carried out as in EP 2 041 502 B1, which is the invention of the inventor and to which explicit reference is made and which is thereby incorporated into the disclosure of the present application.

[0037] Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a horizontal section through the inner housing 2 and the cooling chamber 4. The cooling chamber 4 has a central cooling chamber 40 for receiving a cooling container 70, which is surrounded by six decentralized cooling chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 extending radially outwards from the central cooling chamber 40. Instead of six decentralized cooling chambers, more or fewer decentralized cooling chambers can also be provided. The decentralized cooling chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 are formed by cooling niches 41", 42", 43", 44", 45", 46", which extend radially outwards from the central cooling chamber and are formed by the inner wall 36 of the inner housing.

[0038] The opening of each decentralized refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 into the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 forms a transfer gate 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', through which a refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 can be moved from the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 to the associated decentralized refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 when filling the refrigerated space 4, and through which, when refrigerated goods containers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 are removed from a respective decentralized refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, the respective refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 can be transferred back to the central refrigerated goods chamber 40. The respective decentralized refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 can also be dimensioned so that they can hold more than the amount specified in Fig. 2The refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 shown accommodates a refrigerated goods container. Preferably, several refrigerated goods containers are arranged radially one behind the other within a refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. The refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 can – alternatively or additionally – also be dimensioned such that several refrigerated goods containers are arranged one above the other and, with the height of the transfer doors 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46' and the transfer openings 65, 67 adapted to the height of the decentralized refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 ( Fig. 3 ) can be removed together as a stack. The decentralized refrigerated goods compartments 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 can also be equipped with one or more horizontal intermediate shelves (not shown), so that refrigerated goods containers can be accommodated on several levels in the decentralized refrigerated goods compartments 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. The transfer openings 65, 67 ( Fig. 3) can then be aligned according to these planes in the longitudinal direction of the respective ring valve element 60, 66 ( Fig. 3 ) may be designed to run in a stepped, staggered manner in the circumferential direction, in order to selectively allow access to only one of the levels.

[0039] In the central refrigerated compartment 40, a tubular ring slide valve 6, rotatable about the central axis X, is provided. This ring slide valve element 60 has a tubular circumferential wall 62. The outer diameter of the tubular circumferential wall 62 is dimensioned such that the rotary slide valve element 60 fits precisely but rotatably within the tubular access channel element 5. The circumferential wall 62 of the ring slide valve element 60 has at least one transfer opening 65 in its lower region, the dimensions of which essentially correspond to the dimensions of a respective transfer gate 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46'. By rotating the ring slide mechanism 60, the transfer opening 65 can be brought into contact with any transfer gate 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', thereby creating a passage for a refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 from an associated decentralized refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 to the central refrigerated goods chamber 40, as shown in Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0040] The ring slide element 60 of the ring slide device 6 engages with its upper end 61, which points away from the bottom 40' of the central cooling chamber 40, into the interior 52 of the tubular access channel element 5. On its upper end face 63, which points away from the bottom 40' of the central cooling chamber 40, the ring slide device 60 is provided with coupling means 64 distributed around its circumference and projecting axially from the upper end face 63. These coupling means are designed for rotationally fixed coupling with counter coupling means 58 provided on a lower end face 57 of the circumferential wall 59 of a tubular actuating element 56. The tubular actuating element 56 can be inserted from above into the tubular access channel element 5 and coupled to the ring slide element 60 in a rotationally fixed manner after removal of the closure insert 54. The ring slide element 60 can then be rotated by means of the actuating element 56.

[0041] A modified embodiment is in Fig. 3 The figure shows a ring slide assembly 6 additionally comprising an inner ring slide element 66 with a tubular circumferential wall 68 within the outer ring slide element 60, wherein these two ring slide elements are rotatable relative to each other. The inner ring slide element 66 also has at least one transfer opening 67 in its circumferential wall 68 in the lower region, the dimensions of which essentially correspond to the dimensions of a respective transfer gate 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46' and thus also to the transfer opening 65 of the outer ring slide element 60.

[0042] An inner actuating element (not shown) is also provided for the inner ring slide element 66. This inner actuating element is rotatably arranged radially within the circumferential wall 59 of the outer actuating element 56 and is designed in the same manner as the outer actuating element 56. Consequently, the inner actuating element can also be coupled to the inner ring slide element 66 in a rotationally fixed manner by means of appropriate coupling and feedback devices (not shown).

[0043] The two ring slide elements 60, 66 are thus rotatable relative to each other in order to either close all transfer gates 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46' or to open a selected transfer gate. Alternatively, the two ring slide elements can be coupled to each other in the direction of rotation such that when one of the ring slide elements, for example the outer ring slide element 60, rotates in a first direction about the vertical central axis X from a position in which the two transfer openings 65, 67 are aligned, the other ring slide element 66 initially does not rotate with it, thus preventing the transfer openings from rotating relative to each other and closing. Only then do both ring slide elements 60, 66 rotate together and synchronously with each other, with the transfer openings 65, 67 closed, continuing in the first direction of rotation.A rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction of rotation can then again cause a relative movement between the two ring slide elements 60, 66, so that the transfer openings 65, 67 open again and a further rotation of the two ring slide elements 60, 66 occurs together and synchronously with each other and with the transfer openings 65, 67 open, further in the second direction of rotation. In this way, a sliding gate operation of the two coupled ring slide elements is enabled.

[0044] An alternative embodiment of a thermally insulated transport container 1' according to the invention, compared to the embodiment from Fig. 1 modified inner housing 3' is in Fig. 4The vertical section shows the inner housing 3'. It is formed in two parts and comprises an upper housing part 3" designed as a double-walled tube and a cup-shaped lower housing part 3‴, which are joined together sealingly along a dividing line 3ʺʺ. The upper housing part has a radially inner tube wall 30' and a radially outer tube wall 30" which are connected to each other at their respective upper ends, facing away from the cup-shaped housing part 3‴, by an end wall 30‴. A cylindrical annular space 36' is thus formed in the upper housing part 3" which – as in the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 1 - can be filled with refrigerant or into which refrigerant-filled cooling elements 80 can be inserted precisely and with thermally conductive contact to the inner wall 32. The cavity 36" formed by the cup-shaped lower housing part 3‴ of the inner housing 3' is also - as in the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 1- can be filled with refrigerant, or at least a circular disc-shaped cooling element 82 filled with refrigerant can be inserted precisely into this cavity. Furthermore, such cooling elements are also available in the cold storage unit 39' of the variant according to Fig. 1 usable.

[0045] The cooling chamber housing 47 is precisely fitted into a lower section of the upper housing part 3", for example, by shrink fitting. The upper section of the upper housing part 3 above it radially borders an inner annular cylindrical section 28' of the outer insulating chamber 28, forming an insulating space between the upper housing part 3' and the tubular access channel element 5. The lower end of the cylindrical wall 50 of the tubular access element 5 is tightly and securely connected to a cooling chamber housing 47, preferably made of aluminum, which surrounds the cooling chamber 4.

[0046] Figs. 5 to 8 show a difference compared to the examples of Figs. 1 to 4 Modified embodiment of the transport container according to the invention. Components and parts that are unchanged from the examples described above have the same reference numerals, and the above description applies to them analogously.

[0047] The ring valve device 6' with the outer ring valve element 60' and the inner ring valve element 66' corresponds in terms of its construction and function to the ring valve device 6 already described above, however, the two ring valve elements 60', 66' extend not only into the tubular access channel element 5, but upwards through it into an operating chamber 25', which is formed within the annular recess 25 of the ring-step-like outer cover wall 21 of the outer housing 2.

[0048] In the area of ​​the upper end of the tubular outer ring slide element 60' facing away from the central cooling chamber 40, a radially outwardly projecting actuating element 60" is attached laterally to this element, forming a lever with which the outer ring slide element 60' can be manually rotated in both directions within the access channel element 5 and relative to it about the central axis X, as indicated by the double arrow A in Fig. 8This is shown symbolically. At least one shaft seal 55, 55', for example a sealing ring, is provided between the radially inner surface 50' of the wall 50 of the access channel element 5 and the radially outer surface 60‴ of the outer ring valve element 60'. This seals the section of the ring valve assembly 6' extending through the access channel element 5 against the inner circumference of the tubular access channel element 5, thus preventing air exchange between the cooling chamber 4 and the operating chamber 25', which improves the thermal insulation of the cooling chamber.

[0049] The tubular inner ring slide element 66' extends axially through the tubular outer ring slide element 60' into the operating chamber 25'. The upper end of the tubular inner ring slide element 66', which projects outwards from the outer ring slide element 60' and faces away from the central cooling chamber 40, is also provided with a radially outwardly projecting actuating element 66" that forms a lever. This lever allows the inner ring slide element 66' to be manually rotated in both directions within the outer ring slide element 60' and relative to it about the central axis X, as indicated by the double arrow B in Fig. 8 is represented symbolically. At least one shaft seal – not shown – may also be provided between the outer ring slide element 60' and the inner ring slide element 66'.

[0050] A cylindrical dispensing slide 9 is inserted centrally and coaxially into the tubular inner ring slide element 66'. It is displaceable in the direction of the central axis X, but rotationally fixed and preferably sealing around its circumference. The dispensing slide 9 has an upper shaft section 90 with a closed cross-section, at the upper end of which, protruding from the ring slide assembly 6', an actuating handle 91 is attached. A tubular section 92 with a lateral transfer opening 96 is provided at the free end 93 of the shaft section 90 of the dispensing slide 9, which can be inserted into the central refrigerated compartment 40. This tubular section forms a receiving and transport space 97 for a refrigerated container 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76. A refrigerated container received therein can thus be removed from or inserted into the refrigerated compartment by means of the dispensing slide 9.

[0051] The wall 95 of this tubular section 92 is therefore interrupted by the transfer opening 96, which has the same circumferential dimensions (opening angle) as the transfer openings 65 and 67 of the two ring slide elements 60', 66'. The axial extent of the transfer opening 96 in the wall 95 of the dispensing slide 9 is preferably adapted to the axial length of the refrigerated containers 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, i.e., slightly larger than these, so that only one refrigerated container can be received into the receiving and transport chamber 97 at any given time. Such a dispensing slide 9 is designed for the removal of a single refrigerated container at a time.

[0052] Since the extraction slide 9 is fixedly mounted in the inner ring slide element 66, the transfer openings 96 and 67 of the extraction slide 9 and the inner ring slide element 66 are always aligned with each other in the circumferential direction as soon as the extraction slide is inserted far enough into the inner ring slide element 66.

[0053] Dispensing slides with an axially longer transfer opening 96 can also be provided for taller refrigerated containers or, if several refrigerated containers are stacked one above the other in each of the decentralized refrigerated compartments 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, for the dispensing of several refrigerated containers. In this case, where several refrigerated containers are stacked one above the other in a decentralized refrigerated compartment, a dispensing slide can also be provided in which the axial extent of the transfer opening 96 essentially corresponds to the axial extent of the transfer gates 41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46' and thus forms a filling slide for the refrigerated compartments. The interchangeability of the dispensing slides 9 increases the operational flexibility of the transport container according to the invention.

[0054] Since the dispensing slide 9 is closed in cross-section in its upper shaft section 90, it forms a sealing plug for the remaining passage of the tubular access channel element 5 when inserted into the inner ring slide 66'. Together with the tubular ring slides 60', 66', it seals the access channel element 5 and prevents cold air from escaping and heat from entering the refrigerated compartments. Both the shaft section 90 of the dispensing slide 9 and the ring slide elements 60', 66' are preferably made of a material with non-thermal conductivity or very poor thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel, titanium, or a plastic (e.g., Teflon).

[0055] To remove a refrigerated container from a decentralized refrigerated compartment, the two ring slide elements 60' and 66' are first rotated relative to each other so that their transfer openings 65 and 67 are not aligned and thus close to each other. Then, with the lid 10' removed, the transport container is placed in a horizontal position with the central axis X running horizontally and the refrigerated compartment from which the container is to be removed being positioned at the top. The entire ring slide assembly 6' is then rotated—with the transfer openings 65 and 67 remaining closed—so that the transfer opening 67 of the inner ring slide element 66' points upwards.By rotating the outer ring slide element 60' until its transfer opening 65 aligns with the transfer opening 67 of the inner ring slide element 66' and thus also with the transfer opening 96 of the dispensing slide 9, a refrigerated container can fall downwards from the decentralized cooling chamber located above into the receiving and transport chamber 97 due to gravity. Before the dispensing slide 9 with the removed refrigerated container is axially pulled out of the inner ring slide element 66', the outer ring slide element 60' is first rotated relative to the inner ring slide element 66' to close the access to the decentralized cooling chamber and prevent the escape of cold air. The decentralized cooling chambers are filled in the reverse manner, also utilizing gravity.

[0056] This procedure, made possible by the design of the ring valve device 6', allows gravity alone to be used for both filling and emptying the decentralized cold storage rooms. Therefore, it is unnecessary to include any gripping devices in the transport container that would require operating elements extending from the container, which would always create a thermal bridge.

[0057] Reference numerals in the claims, description and drawings serve only to improve understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Reference symbol list

[0058] It refers to: 1 Thermally insulated transport container 2 Outer housing 3 Inner housing 3' Inner housing 3" Upper housing part 3‴ Lower housing part 3ʺʺ Separation line 4 Cooling compartment 5 Tubular access channel element 6 Ring valve device 6' Ring valve device 7 Refrigerated goods 8 Cooling insert 9 Dispensing slide 10 Outer container lid 12 Ring seal 14 Ring seal 20 Outer housing base body 21 Upper outer lid wall 21' Inner opening 22 Wall 22' Weld seam 22" Weld seam 23 Cylindrical outer wall 24 Outer bottom wall 25 Ring recess 26 Ring space 27 Bottom space area 28 Outer insulation chamber 29 Insulating body 29' Radial inner wall 29" Radial outer wall 30 Inner housing base body 30' Inner tube wall 30"outer pipe wall 31inner cover wall 31'inner opening 32wall 32'weld 32"weld 33cylindrical outer wall 34bottom wall 36anvil space 36'anvil space 36"cavity 37bottom space area 38inner refrigerant chamber 39refrigerant 39'cold storage39" Metal wool filling 40 Central refrigerated goods compartment 40' Base 41 Decentralized refrigerated goods compartment 41' Transfer door 41" Refrigerated goods niche 42 Decentralized refrigerated goods compartment 42' Transfer door 42" Refrigerated goods niche 43 Decentralized refrigerated goods compartment 43' Transfer door 43" Refrigerated goods niche 44 Decentralized refrigerated goods compartment 44' Transfer door 44" Refrigerated goods niche 45 Decentralized refrigerated goods compartment 45' Transfer door 45" Refrigerated goods niche 46 Decentralized refrigerated goods compartment 46' Transfer door 46" Refrigerated goods niche 47 Refrigerated goods housing 48 Refrigerated goods housing base body 49 Upper cover wall 49' Central opening 50 Wall 50' Radial inner surface of 50 51 Flange ring 51' Upper opening 52 Interior 54 Closure insert 54' Insulating shaft 54" Neck seal 54‴Circular seal 56Outer tubular actuating element 57Lower end face of 56 58Counter-coupling means 59Circular wall 60Outer ring slide element 60'Outer ring slide element 60"Actuating element 60‴Radial outer surface of 60' 61Upper end of 6 61'Upper end of 6' 62Tubular circumferential wall 63Upper end face 64Coupling means65 Transfer opening 66 Inner ring slide element 66' Inner ring slide element 66" Actuating element 67 Transfer opening 68 Tubular circumferential wall 70 Refrigerated goods container 71 Refrigerated goods container 72 Refrigerated goods container 73 Refrigerated goods container 74 Refrigerated goods container 75 Refrigerated goods container 76 Refrigerated goods container 80 Cooling elements 82 Circular disc-shaped cooling element 90 Shaft section 91 Actuating handle 92 Tubular section 93 Free end of 90 95 Wall of 92 96 Transfer opening 97 Receiving and transport space Xvertical central axis

Claims

1. Thermally insulated transport container (1) with an outer housing (2) surrounding an outer insulating chamber (28), an inner housing (3) arranged inside the outer housing (2), which surrounds an inner refrigerant chamber (38), and a cooling chamber housing (47) arranged inside the inner housing (3), said cooling chamber housing (47) surrounding a cooling chamber (4), wherein the cooling chamber housing (47) is connected to a closable tubular access channel element (5), the interior (52) of which opens into the cooling chamber (4), wherein the cooling chamber (4) has a plurality of refrigerated goods chambers (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) for receiving refrigerated goods (7), wherein the cooling chamber (4) has a central refrigerated goods chamber (40) and wherein the tubular access channel element (5) is arranged centrally in the outer housing (2) and in the inner housing (3) and is aligned with the central refrigerated goods chamber (40), wherein the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is surrounded by a plurality of decentralised refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46), wherein each of the decentralised refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) is connected or can be connected to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) via a transfer gate (41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46'), and wherein a tubular ring slider device (6, 6') rotatable about a central axis (X) is provided in the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) and has at least one transfer opening (65) in its peripheral wall (62), which opening can be brought into alignment with a respective transfer gate (41', 42', 43', 44', 45', 46') by rotation of the ring slider device (6, 6'), whereby a passageway from an associated decentralised refrigerated goods chamber (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is formed, characterised in that the inner refrigerant chamber (38) is formed by an annular space (36) surrounding the cooling chamber housing (47), and a bottom space area (37), said annular space being enclosed by the wall (32) of the inner housing (3) and the wall (50) of the tubular access element (5).

2. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, characterised in that the ring slider device (6, 6') projects into the interior (52) of the tubular access channel element (5) with an end (61, 61') facing away from the bottom (40') of the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

3. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ring slider device (6, 6') is removably inserted into the central tubular access channel element (5).

4. Thermally insulated transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ring slider device (6) is provided on its end face (63) facing away from the bottom (40') of the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) with coupling means (64) which are designed for rotationally fixed coupling with countercoupling means (58) provided on an end face (57) of a tubular actuating element (56), wherein the tubular actuating element (56) can be inserted into the tubular access channel element (5).

5. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the ring slider device (6') extends with an end (61') facing away from the bottom (40') of the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) through the tubular access channel element (5) into an operating space (25') formed between an upper cover wall (21) of the outer housing (2) and a cover (10'), and in that the ring slider device (6') is provided with at least one actuating means (60', 66') for rotatably actuating the ring slider device (6').

6. Thermally insulated transport container according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the ring slider device (6, 6') comprises a tubular ring slider element (60, 60') which has at least one transfer opening (65) in its peripheral wall (62) and which is rotatable relative to the tubular access channel element (5) about the central axis (X).

7. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 6, characterised in that a radially inner tubular ring slider element (60, 60') is provided within the tubular ring slider element (60, 60') and coaxially thereto, which also has at least one transfer opening (67) in its peripheral wall (68) and which is rotatable about the central axis (X) relative to the tubular access channel element (5) and relative to the outer tubular ring slider element (60, 60').

8. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that a cylindrical removal slider (9) is provided or can be provided centrally in the ring slider device (6, 6') in an axial direction, which cylindrical removal slider is axially displaceable relative to the ring slider device (6, 6'), and in that the cylindrical removal slider (9) has a tubular section (92) in the wall (95) of which at least one transfer opening (96) is provided, which can be brought into alignment with the at least one transfer opening (65, 67) of the ring slider device (6, 6').

9. Thermally insulated transport container according to claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the cylindrical removal slider (9) is provided or can be provided radially inside the inner tubular ring slider element (66, 66') and coaxially thereto and is axially displaceable relative to the inner tubular ring slider element (66, 66'), and in that the inner tubular ring slider element (66, 66') is rotatable relative to the cylindrical removal slider (9).

10. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the cylindrical removal slider (9) has a shaft section (90) closed in cross-section made of a thermally insulating or poorly heat-conducting material, and in that the tubular section (92) provided with the transfer opening (96) is formed on the free end (93) of the shaft section (90) which can be inserted into the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

11. Thermally insulated transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer housing (2) and the inner housing (3) as well as the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) and the tubular access channel element (5) have a circular cylindrical shape and are arranged coaxially with each other, and in that the decentralised refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are arranged in a star shape around the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

12. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 11, characterised in that the decentralised refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are formed by refrigerated goods niches (41", 42", 43", 44", 45", 46") extending radially outwards from the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

13. Thermally insulated transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer housing (2) has a cup-like outer housing base body (20) which is closed by means of an outer cover wall (21).

14. Thermally insulated transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner housing (3) has a cup-like inner housing base body (30) which is closed by means of an inner cover wall (31) and in that the tubular access channel element (5) is connected to the outer cover wall (31).

15. Thermally insulated transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner housing (3) accommodates at least one cooling element (80, 82) of a cooling insert (8).

Images