Cooling cell

Abstract

Cooling cell (1) with a housing which has at least one housing section (4; 4a; 4b), and at least one door element (2) closing the housing, wherein at least one double sealing unit is arranged between the at least one door element (2) and the adjoining housing section (4) and / or between at least two housing sections (4a; 4b), wherein the double sealing unit has at least a first sealing element (8; 40) on a warm side (W) of the housing and at least one further sealing element (20; 48) on a cold side (K) of the housing and the two sealing elements (8, 20; 40, 48) delimit a free space (22; 46) lying between them.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cold storage cell, in particular for low temperatures of less than -70°C, which has a double sealing unit. background

[0002] Especially for pharmaceutical applications, it is important that these can be stored permanently at low temperatures. Low temperatures in this context mean that temperatures below -30 °C, preferably below -70 °C, can be maintained.

[0003] In practice, numerous seals for commercially available refrigerators or cold rooms are known, but none of them are designed for temperatures below -70°C. The door area, in particular, represents a weak point, as such low temperatures cause freezing and condensation to form on the exterior. Furthermore, the condensation can cause the rubber seal to freeze solid, making the doors difficult or impossible to open, and there is a risk of cracking the rubber. Task

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a cold storage cell which can be reliably opened and closed even at temperatures of less than -70 °C and which avoids the formation of condensation on the outside and the resulting freezing.

[0005] The problem is solved by the technical features specified in claim 1. Solution

[0006] The essence of the present invention is that a cold storage cell with a housing, which has at least one housing section, and at least one door element closing the housing, has at least one double sealing unit between the at least one door element and the adjacent housing section and / or between at least two housing sections. Furthermore, the double sealing unit is characterized in that it has at least a first sealing element on a warm side of the housing and at least one further sealing element on a cold side of the housing, and the two sealing elements delimit a free space between them. It has proven particularly advantageous if the free space between the two sealing elements is filled with air. A stagnant air layer is particularly advantageously formed in the free space.This creates a particularly effective, additional insulation barrier.

[0007] It has proven particularly advantageous that the double sealing unit described here has at least two sealing elements which form a seal of the air path on both the warm side of the cold storage cell and the cold side of the cold storage cell.

[0008] Due to the high temperature difference between the warm and cold sides, which can easily reach 110-130 K, a flow of cold air between the housing section and the door element and / or between two adjacent housing sections would lead to condensation and freezing of the sealing element. This can be avoided with the double sealing unit according to the invention.

[0009] The "cold side" refers to the interior of the cold storage room, which preferably has a temperature of -70 °C or less. The "warm side" refers to the space surrounding the cold storage room, which is normally at room temperature.

[0010] For production and functional reasons, a gap is required between the door element and the housing section, as otherwise the door element could not be opened and closed. The double seal unit described here is particularly advantageously positioned in this gap. Furthermore, the double seal unit seals this gap on both the warm and cold sides of the cold storage room, thus interrupting the flow path of the low-temperature air from the housing interior and permanently preventing icing on the housing exterior.

[0011] An alternative or complementary arrangement of the double seal unit can be between two adjacent housing sections. This is advantageous when the cold storage room can be opened at the rear for maintenance or repair work. To ensure a permanently ice-free exterior, the double seal unit described here can also be installed between two adjacent housing sections. Here, too, the low-temperature air path is interrupted by the double seal unit, thus permanently preventing icing.

[0012] Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment, the first sealing element can be designed, for example, as a magnetic sealing profile. In a further advantageous embodiment, the second sealing element, which advantageously seals the cold side of the cold storage cell against unwanted escaping cold air flow, can be made, for example, of silicone or silicone foam. It should be noted that the double sealing unit described here prevents icing and freezing on the outside of the housing, i.e., the warm side, particularly when the cold storage cell is closed.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one double seal unit further comprises at least one heat transfer blocking element. This is advantageous because it creates an additional barrier to temperature transfer. Both the at least one door element and the housing sections of a cold storage cell are designed like a sandwich. Both the cold side and the warm side are each formed, for example, from a metal sheet, the space between which is filled with insulating foam. The metal surface design in particular ensures very good cold conduction from the cold storage cell interior to the outside. This cold conduction, which runs through the material, can also lead to condensation on the warm side or, subsequently, to ice formation due to the temperature falling below the dew point.Therefore, it has proven advantageous to provide at least one additional heat transfer blocking element that interrupts the cold conduction from the inside to the outside. The heat transfer blocking element advantageously forms a thermal separation between the cold and warm sides.

[0015] It has proven particularly advantageous if the heat transfer blocking element is selected from a material with low thermal conductivity. Examples include plastics, resin compositions, multiplex structures made of plastic and / or wood.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one heat transfer blocking element is embedded in a housing section. Particularly advantageously, the heat transfer blocking element is provided directly during the manufacture of the corresponding housing sections and is advantageously embedded directly or even foamed in. This ensures secure and permanent fixation.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the double sealing unit further comprises at least one heating element. This has proven advantageous because this at least one heating element can heat the air-filled free space spanned between the first sealing element and the second sealing element. This allows for additional heating of this free space. Surface heating elements, which can be arranged in a particularly space-saving manner, have proven particularly advantageous in this regard.

[0018] In one possible embodiment, but not to be understood as limiting, two heating elements are advantageously provided between the at least one door element and the housing sections arranged adjacent thereto. Particularly advantageously, the two heating elements are firmly connected to the heat transfer blocking element, for example, glued. This ensures permanent heating of the air within the free space between the two sealing elements. It has proven particularly advantageous if the air is tempered to a temperature in the range of 20 °C. Particularly advantageously, the temperature of the heated air in the free space is set significantly higher than the internal temperature of the cold side. The surface temperature of the adjacent components is advantageously raised by heating the free space.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, the double sealing unit further comprises at least one profile that connects the first and second sealing elements to one another. The profile is particularly advantageously designed as an L-shaped profile. The second sealing element is advantageously mounted and arranged at its own lower end, which is associated with the cold side. At the second free end of the profile, the first sealing element advantageously forms a common contact surface with the hot side.

[0020] This additional L-profile, which is advantageously made of metal, for example aluminum, creates an interruption so that heat conduction from the cold storage interior via the metal sheets of the door element and housing sections is interrupted. It is particularly advantageous if one free end of the L-profile forms a butt joint with the metal sheet on the warm side of the housing section. This butt joint is sufficient to interrupt any possible heat transfer from the low-temperature cold storage interior to the warm side. Of course, this is not to be understood as limiting, so that other arrangements are also conceivable instead of the butt joint. What all arrangements have in common, however, is that they create a thermal separation between the L-profile and the metal sheets of the door element. This prevents thermal transfer.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the profile spans at least one heat transfer blocking element, at least in sections. This is advantageous because the profile, which is advantageously made of metal, can transfer the heat released by the at least one heating element arranged underneath it directly to the free space above. Thus, with minimal use of heating elements, surface heating can be created for the free space. This enables, in particular, the air in the free space to heat up evenly and the heating can also be maintained accordingly. The profile thus has a dual function. It interrupts any possible heat conduction via the metallic surfaces of the housing section and door element and simultaneously provides surface heating for the free space.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment, this has a further double sealing unit which is arranged between two housing sections. This is advantageous if, for example, the cold storage cell has to be opened from the rear or the side for repair or inspection. It has therefore proven advantageous to also use the double sealing unit described here between two housing sections arranged next to one another. The double sealing unit can also fulfil the tasks described above between two housing sections of a cold storage cell. Here, too, a gap is created between the two housing sections arranged next to one another. The double sealing unit is particularly advantageously inserted into this gap and seals this gap both on the warm side via the at least first sealing element and on the cold side via the at least second sealing element.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one housing section has a projection against which the second sealing element is arranged. This is advantageous because this at least one projection forms a further, additional physical barrier. When the cold room is closed, the cold air flow from the cold room interior first encounters the at least one projection and is deflected by it for the first time. It is therefore not possible for the cold air flow to strike the gap between the at least one door element and the adjacent housing section and / or the gap between two adjacent housing sections in a direct and straight line. The gap therefore forms a stepped shape overall. This is advantageous because it interrupts and deflects a possible air flow within the gap several times.

[0024] In the embodiment of sealing the gap between at least one door element and an adjacent housing section, the gap on the cold side is sealed and closed by the second sealing element.

[0025] In a further alternative or additional embodiment of sealing the gap between two adjacent housing sections, the gap on the cold side is also sealed and closed by the second sealing element. In addition, two or more L-profiles are used, which initially span the gap on the cold side and thus prevent the cold air flow from directly impinging on the gap. The two profiles are advantageously arranged butt-to-end. Further advantageously, a first housing section has the first L-profile on its cold side, and the second, adjacent housing section has the second L-profile on its cold side. If the two housing sections are now arranged butt-to-end, the two L-profiles sit butt-to-end and span the gap extending underneath. On the first housing section, the sealing element is advantageously arranged below the L-profile.It is advantageous if this first housing section also has at least one, advantageously two or more, heat transfer blocking elements. Particularly advantageously, at least one heat transfer blocking element is provided below each sealing element.

[0026] Furthermore, the first housing section has a projection, preferably on its warm side, so that the gap here is also stepped. This stepped shape proves advantageous because it repeatedly breaks any possible airflow between the two sealing elements, thus slowing or completely stopping it.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of a double sealing unit between two housing sections, both housing sections have at least one heat transfer blocking element. It has proven advantageous if the second housing section also has at least one heat transfer blocking element. This can, as already described above, be designed as a thermal separator. In this embodiment, the heat transfer blocking element also particularly advantageously extends along the gap so that the free space spanned by the two sealing elements, which is filled with air, can be heated. For this purpose, at least one heating element, advantageously a surface heating element, is arranged on the heat transfer blocking element, for example glued to it.This arrangement also proves to be advantageous since the heat transfer blocking element has no or only a low thermal conductivity and thus the entire heat energy generated by the at least one heating element can be released directly into the air-filled free space.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, the cooling cell is designed to be mobile. This is advantageous because, especially in pharmaceutical applications, the position of the cooling cell can be changed. In the simplest case, the cooling cell is therefore designed to be mobile and can be repositioned and transported, for example, using a forklift or pallet truck. In the simplest embodiment, which is not to be understood as limiting, it is conceivable that the cooling cell has corresponding recesses in its floor section so that forklifts or pallet trucks can drive in directly and lift the cooling cell. This makes transport possible without any problems.

[0029] In the present invention, the door element can be understood as an element that can be opened like a door. Furthermore, however, the term "door element" can be understood as any type of element that releasably closes one and / or more openings in a housing. For example, hatches, flaps, sliders, and the like can also be understood as door elements.

[0030] In the present invention, the cold storage cell can also be understood as a cold storage room, cold storage room, room cell and / or deep-freeze cell.

[0031] Further advantages, features and design options emerge from the following description of figures of non-limiting embodiments. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] In the drawings shows: Figure 1 shows an enlarged sectional view of a first double seal unit; Figure 2 shows an enlarged sectional view of a second double seal unit; and Figure 3 shows a sectional view of a cold storage cell with a total of four double seal units.

[0033] In the drawings, elements provided with the same reference numerals essentially correspond to one another unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, components that are not essential to understanding the technical teaching disclosed herein are omitted. Reference numerals will not be repeated for all elements already introduced and illustrated, provided that the elements themselves and their function have already been described or are known to a person skilled in the art. Detailed description of implementation examples

[0034] Figure 1shows a section of a cold storage cell 1, with a door element 2 and a housing section 4 in the closed state of the cold storage cell 1. Furthermore, the warm side W and the cold side K, i.e. the cold storage cell interior, are shown.

[0035] Both the door element 2 and the housing section 4 are designed as a sandwich structure. The door element 2 has an L-shaped metal sheet 6 on the warm side W. The free end of the metal sheet 6 is received by the first sealing element 8. The first sealing element 8 is designed in several parts. The first sealing element 8 is advantageously designed as a magnetic sealing profile.

[0036] Furthermore, the door element 2 has another metal sheet 10, which is arranged on the cold side K, also extending in an L-shape. Its free end, shown here, is also received by the first sealing element 8. Both metal sheets 6, 10 are firmly connected to each other via an insulating foam 12.

[0037] The housing section 4, located adjacent to the door element 2, also has an insulating foam 12, which is delimited by two metal sheets 14, 16. Furthermore, the housing section 4 has a projection 17 in the housing interior. This projection 17 serves to physically break and redirect any possible air flow.

[0038] Furthermore, the housing section 4 here has, for example, a heat transfer blocking element 24. Its geometric extension is designed such that it advantageously extends at least partially along the gap profile 18.

[0039] For example, two heating elements 26 are embedded in the heat transfer blocking element 24, for example, glued and / or at least partially installed in a groove. Furthermore, the two heating elements 26 can be additionally or alternatively at least partially applied to the heat transfer blocking element 24.

[0040] Both the two heating elements 26 and the heat transfer blocking element 24 are spanned by the profile 28. On the one hand, this sits in abutment with the metal sheet 14 of the housing section 4. On the other hand, the profile 28 merges into the second sealing element 20 and ends in it.

[0041] Thermal energy can be released through the two heating elements 26. This thermal energy is virtually impermeable to heat transfer by the heat transfer blocking element 24 located behind the two heating elements 26. Thus, the released thermal energy can be transferred into the free space 22, allowing the air therein to be heated to a predeterminable temperature.

[0042] The gap 18 is formed between the door element 2 and the housing section 4. This gap is stepped. Furthermore, the gap 18 between the door element 2 and the housing section 4 is advantageously delimited by the two sealing elements 8, 20. The gap 18 between the two sealing elements 8, 20 is also referred to as the free space 22. Starting from the cold side K, the second sealing element 20 is arranged such that it closes the gap 18 on the cold side. The free space 22 is formed between the first sealing element 8 and the second sealing element 20. This free space 22 is advantageously filled with air. Towards the warm side W, the first sealing element 8 closes the gap 18.

[0043] The advantageous combination of the double sealing unit, which has at least a first and second sealing element 8, 20, which span a free space 22 between them, and the stepped design of the gap 18, provides a particularly effective seal against temperature leakage from the cold side K to the warm side W. Freezing and condensation on the warm side are therefore avoided.

[0044] Figure 2 shows a further sectional view of a section of a cold storage cell 1 with a further double sealing unit. Advantageously, a double sealing unit is understood to mean at least the provision of a first and second sealing element, which define a free space 46 between them.

[0045] In this embodiment, two housing sections 4a, 4b are shown. The double seal unit shown here is required when two housing sections 4b, 4a are arranged adjacent to one another and the resulting gap 18a is to be sealed against condensation on the warm side W. Both housing sections 4a, 4b are also constructed in a sandwich manner and each have an internal insulating foam 12. Towards the warm side W and the cold side K, both housing sections 4a, 4b are bordered by metal sheets 30-36.

[0046] The housing section 4a has a projection 38 on the warm side W. A first sealing element 40 is arranged on this projection, which seals the gap 18a toward the warm side W. For this purpose, the sealing element 40 forms a common contact surface with the further housing section 4b. Particularly advantageously, the common contact surface is formed between the first sealing element 40 and the metal sheet 34 as well as the heat transfer blocking element 42.

[0047] Opposite the sealing element 40, a heat transfer blocking element 42 is advantageously provided as part of the further housing section 4b. The heat transfer blocking element 42 is also to be understood here as a cold separation profile, which is arranged between the outer sheet 30 and the inner sheet 34. It forms a thermal separation between the metal sheets 30, 34. This prevents heat transfer between the two metal sheets 30, 34. On the opposite side of the gap 18a, the insulating foam 12 is spanned by a further profile 41. This also serves to provide thermal insulation between the metal sheet 32 ​​and the metal sheet 26.

[0048] A heating element 44 is arranged at least partially within the heat transfer blocking element 42. This heating element can also advantageously be designed as a surface heating element. In this exemplary embodiment, it is at least partially embedded in a groove.

[0049] The heat transfer blocking element 42 advantageously extends at least partially along the free space 46. The gap profile 18a is closed on the cold side K by a further sealing element 48. To create a stepped configuration of the gap 18a, it is formed on the cold side K by abutting a profile 50 with the metal sheet 30. This spans the second sealing element and forms a common contact surface with the profile 50. The gap profile 18a is thereby interrupted on the cold side K. In this exemplary embodiment, the first housing section 4a also has two further inserts 54, 56. These serve to stabilize the housing and can be used for further fastenings. In addition, at least one insert 54 or 56 can be designed as a heat transfer blocking element.

[0050] Finally, Figure 3Another top view of a section of a cold storage cell 1. This has a door element 2 and several housing sections 4, 4a, 4b. The door element 2 can be operated via the closure 58. The door element 2 forms a gap 18 with the housing sections 4. This gap 18 is sealed by a double sealing unit, as in Figure 1 shown and described, sealed.

[0051] Furthermore, a movable housing section 4a is provided on the rear side, which can be completely removed, for example, in the event of repair or inspection. To ensure that this removable housing section 4a can also be arranged in a sealed manner and to prevent the formation of condensate on the warm side W, the gap 18a formed between the housing sections 4a and 4b has a double sealing unit, as shown in Figure 2shown. This allows the gap 18a, which is also stepped, between two housing sections 4a, 4b to be doubly sealed, as is also the case for the gap 18. This double seal permanently prevents the formation of condensation and freezing on the warm side W. The cold storage cell 1 shown here has four double sealing units as an example.

[0052] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the advantageous embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples. Other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to the feature combinations specified below; rather, other combinations and subcombinations that are obvious to those skilled in the art can also be formed from the disclosed features. List of reference symbols

[0053] 1Cold cell 2Door element, opening element 4 Housing section 4aHousing section 4bHousing section 6Metal sheet 8Sealing element 10Metal sheet 12Insulating foam 14Metal sheet 16Metal sheet 17Protrusion 18Gap, gap profile 18aGap, gap profile 20Sealing element 22Free space 24Heat transfer blocking element 26Heating element 28Profile 30Metal sheet 32Metal sheet 34Metal sheet 36Metal sheet 38Protrusion 40Sealing element 41Profile 42Heat transfer blocking element 44Heating element 46Free space 48Sealing element 50Profile 54Heat transfer blocking element, insert 56Heat transfer blocking element, insert 58Closure

Claims

1. A cooling cell (1) with a housing which has at least one housing section (4; 4a; 4b), and at least one door element (2) closing the housing, wherein at least one double sealing unit is arranged between the at least one door element (2) and the adjoining housing section (4) and / or between at least two housing sections (4a; 4b), wherein the double sealing unit has at least a first sealing element (8; 40) on a warm side (W) of the housing and at least one further sealing element (20; 48) on a cold side (K) of the housing, and the two sealing elements (8, 20; 40, 48) delimit a free space (22; 46) lying between them.

2. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one double seal unit further comprises at least one heat transfer blocking element (24; 42; 54; 56).

3. Cold storage cell according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe at least one heat transfer blocking element (24; 42; 54; 56) is embedded in a housing section (4; 4a; 4b).

4. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in that the double seal unit further comprises at least one heating element (26; 44).

5. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in that the double sealing unit further comprises at least one profile (28) which connects a first and a second sealing element (8, 20) to one another.

6. Cold storage cell according to claim 5, characterized in that the profile (28) spans at least one heat transfer blocking element (24) at least in sections.

7. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in that this has a further double sealing unit which is arranged between two housing sections (4a; 4b).

8. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in thatat least one housing section (4; 4a; 4b) has a projection (16; 38) against which the second sealing element (20; 40) is arranged.

9. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in that in the double seal unit between two housing sections, both housing sections (4a; 4b) have at least one heat transfer blocking element (42; 54; 56).

10. Cold storage cell according to claim 1, characterized in that this is mobile trained.

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