Cold insulation container

Abstract

To provide a cold insulation container capable of suppressing a cold insulation load used for cooling a plurality of cool boxes kept cool at different temperatures.SOLUTION: In a second cool box 22, a second internal space 22a is kept cool at a temperature lower than a first internal space 21a. The second cool box 22 is stored in the first cool box 21 such that an upper wall part 221 is exposed to the outside of the first cool box 21, and is surrounded by the first internal space 21a. A second opening 221b is provided on the upper wall part 221. Therefore, the second cool box 22 stored in the first cool box 21, since a cooling effect for cooling the first internal space 21a is produced, enables suppressing a cold insulation load in comparison with the case that the second cool box 22 is installed outside the first cool box 21. Also, when a second stored object 12 is taken in or out, since the second stored object 12 can be taken in or out via the second opening 221b without opening the first cool box 21, the increase of the cold insulation load can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooler container that keeps contents cool. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a cooling system that cools a cool box in which an object to be kept cool is stored. In this cooling system, gas cooled by a cooling device disposed outside the cool box is supplied to the cool box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-11989 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the cooling system of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is one cooling box (hereinafter also referred to as a cooling box), but as a modified example of the cooling system, it is assumed that a plurality of cooling boxes, for example, two, are provided to be kept cold, and each cooling box is maintained at a different temperature. In that case, if the two cooling boxes maintained at different temperatures are installed independently, for example, it is considered that the cooling load, in other words, the cooling load consumed for keeping the inside of the cooling box cool, becomes unnecessarily large.

[0005] Therefore, the inventors have considered storing one of two cool boxes maintained at different temperatures in the other cool box, which is kept at a higher temperature, in order to reduce waste of cooling load. However, if one cool box is simply stored in its entirety in the other cool box, when putting in or taking out an item from one cool box, it is necessary to open not only the one cool box but also the other cool box. This causes an increase in the cooling load consumed for cooling the other cool box. As a result of detailed studies by the inventors, the above was found.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooler container that can reduce the cooling load consumed in cooling multiple cooler boxes that are kept at different temperatures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a cold storage container according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a first cooler box (21) in which a first internal space (21a) for accommodating a first content (11) is formed and in which the first internal space is kept cool; a second internal space (22a) for accommodating a second content (12) therein is formed, and the second internal space is kept at a lower temperature than the first internal space; the second cooling box is accommodated in the first cooling box with an exposed portion (221) constituting a part of the second cooling box exposed to the outside of the first cooling box, and is surrounded by the first internal space; The exposed portion is provided with an opening (221b) that connects the second internal space to the outside of the first cooler box.

[0008] In this way, the second cold storage box on the low temperature side housed within the first cold storage box produces a cooling effect that cools the first internal space when viewed from the first cold storage box on the high temperature side, so it is possible to reduce the cooling load compared to when the second cold storage box is placed outside the first cold storage box.

[0009] In addition, when the second content is taken in and out of the second internal space, the second content can be taken in and out through the opening of the exposed portion without opening the first cooler box, so that an increase in the cooling load caused by opening the first cooler box can be prevented. In other words, it is possible to avoid the disadvantages that may occur due to the second cooler box being housed inside the first cooler box.

[0010] In addition, in each section of the application documents, each element may be given a reference number in parentheses. In this case, the reference number merely indicates an example of the correspondence between the element and the specific configuration described in the embodiment described later. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited in any way by the description of the reference number. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a cold storage container according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a cold storage container according to a second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to parts that are the same or equivalent to each other.

[0013] (First embodiment) As shown in Fig. 1, the cold storage container 10 of this embodiment is a device that stores a plurality of contents 11, 12 to be kept cold and keeps the contents 11, 12 at different temperatures. The cold storage container 10 includes a first cold storage box 21, a second cold storage box 22, a first cooling device 27, a second cooling device 28, a first opening / closing lid 31, and a second opening / closing lid 32. Note that Fig. 1 shows the vertical direction Dg when the cold storage container 10 is in use, and the upper side of the paper surface of Fig. 1 is the upper side of the vertical direction Dg.

[0014] The first cool box 21 is a box that contains the first item 11 of the multiple items 11 and 12, and the second cool box 22 is a box that contains the second item 12 of the multiple items 11 and 12. The first cool box 21 is larger than the second cool box 22, and the first cool box 21 and the second cool box 22 are each formed, for example, in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first cool box 21 and the second cool box 22 are made of a heat insulating material with high heat insulating properties, such as polystyrene resin.

[0015] A first internal space 21a is formed inside the first cold storage box 21, and the first internal space 21a accommodates a first content 11. In the first cold storage box 21, the first internal space 21a is kept cool by a first cooling device 27.

[0016] The first cool box 21 has an upper wall portion 211 that is provided at the upper side of the first cool box 21 and separates the outside of the first cool box 21 from the first internal space 21a. The upper wall portion 211 is formed with a fitting hole 211a into which the second cool box 22 is fitted and a first opening 211b that connects the first internal space 21a to the outside of the first cool box 21, and is attached to the first cooling device 27. The first opening 211b is an opening for putting the first content 11 in and taking it out of the first internal space 21a, and is formed to be large enough to allow the first content 11 to pass through.

[0017] The first cooling device 27 cools the first internal space 21a by blowing cooling air into the first internal space 21a as indicated by the arrow AC1. In detail, the first cooling device 27 maintains the temperature of the first internal space 21a at a constant temperature and keeps it cold by blowing out the cooling air. That is, the temperature of the first internal space 21a is maintained by the first cooling device 27 to be a predetermined first target temperature that is lower than the temperature outside the first cold storage box 21 (in other words, the outside air temperature around the first cold storage box 21).

[0018] For example, the first cooling device 27 is a heat pump in which a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates operates. The first cooling device 27 blows cooling air cooled by an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle into the first internal space 21a, dissipates exhaust heat associated with the cooling from a condenser of the refrigeration cycle into exhaust air, and blows the exhaust air containing the exhaust heat to the outside of the first cold storage box 21 as shown by arrow AH1. In this way, the first cooling device 27 cools the first internal space 21a and exhausts heat to the outside of the first cold storage box 21.

[0019] A first opening / closing lid 31 is provided at the first opening 211b of the first cold storage box 21. This first opening / closing lid 31, like the first cold storage box 21, is made of a heat insulating material having high heat insulating properties, such as polystyrene foam resin.

[0020] Also, the first opening / closing lid 31 can open and close the first opening 211b, for example, as shown by the arrow A1. For example, the first opening / closing lid 31 may be a lid that can be attached and detached to the first cool box 21, or may be a lid that can be opened and closed and is connected to the first cool box 21 by a hinge or the like (not shown).

[0021] For example, when the first opening / closing cover 31 closes the first opening 211b, the first opening 211b is airtightly or nearly airtightly closed by the first opening / closing cover 31. In Fig. 1, the first opening / closing cover 31 in a position in which the first opening 211b is closed is shown by a solid line, and the first opening / closing cover 31 in a position in which the first opening 211b is open is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0022] A second internal space 22a is formed inside the second cold storage box 22, and the second internal space 22a accommodates the second content 12. In the second cold storage box 22, the second internal space 22a is kept cool by a second cooling device 28 so that the second internal space 22a is kept at a lower temperature than the first internal space 21a.

[0023] The second cool box 22 has an upper wall portion 221 that is provided on the upper side of the second cool box 22 and separates the outside of the second cool box 22 from the second internal space 22a. This upper wall portion 221 corresponds to the exposed portion of the present disclosure that constitutes a part of the second cool box 22. The second cool box 22 is fitted into the fitting hole 211a of the first cool box 21 and housed in the first cool box 21 with the upper wall portion 221 as the exposed portion exposed to the outside of the first cool box 21. The second cool box 22 is fixed to the first cool box 21 by, for example, screwing or gluing.

[0024] Therefore, the bottom surface and the four side surfaces of the outer circumferential surface of the second cool box 22, excluding the top surface which is one surface formed by the upper wall portion 221, face the first internal space 21a. The second cool box 22 is surrounded by the first internal space 21a. The boundary between the first cool box 21 and the second cool box 22 at the fitting hole 211a of the first cool box 21 is hermetically sealed.

[0025] Further, a second opening 221b is formed in the upper wall portion 221 of the second cooler box 22, connecting the second internal space 22a to the outside of the first cooler box 21, and a second cooling device 28 is attached to the second opening 221b. The second opening 221b is an opening for putting the second content 12 in and taking it out of the second internal space 22a, and is therefore formed to be large enough to allow the second content 12 to pass through.

[0026] The second cooling device 28 cools the second internal space 22a by blowing cooling air into the second internal space 22a as indicated by the arrow AC2. In detail, the second cooling device 28 maintains and keeps the temperature of the second internal space 22a at a constant temperature lower than the temperature of the first internal space 21a by blowing out the cooling air. That is, the temperature of the second internal space 22a is maintained by the second cooling device 28 at a predetermined second target temperature lower than the above-mentioned first target temperature of the first internal space 21a.

[0027] For example, the second cooling device 28 has the same mechanical configuration as the first cooling device 27 described above. That is, the second cooling device 28 is a heat pump in which a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates operates. The second cooling device 28 blows cooling air cooled by an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle into the second internal space 22a, dissipates exhaust heat associated with the cooling from a condenser of the refrigeration cycle into exhaust air, and blows the exhaust air containing the exhaust heat to the outside of the first cold storage box 21 as shown by arrow AH2. In this way, the second cooling device 28 cools the second internal space 22a and exhausts heat to the outside of the first cold storage box 21.

[0028] A second opening / closing lid 32 is provided at the second opening 221b of the second cold storage box 22. This second opening / closing lid 32, like the second cold storage box 22, is made of a heat insulating material having high heat insulating properties, such as polystyrene foam resin.

[0029] Also, the second opening / closing lid 32 can open and close the second opening 221b, for example, as shown by the arrow A2. For example, the second opening / closing lid 32 may be a lid that can be attached and detached to the second cool box 22, or may be a lid that can be opened and closed and is connected to the second cool box 22 by a hinge or the like (not shown).

[0030] For example, when the second opening / closing cover 32 closes the second opening 221b, the second opening 221b is airtightly or nearly airtightly closed by the second opening / closing cover 32. In Fig. 1, the second opening / closing cover 32 in a position in which the second opening 221b is closed is shown by a solid line, and the second opening / closing cover 32 in a position in which the second opening 221b is open is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0031] As described above, according to this embodiment, the second cool box 22 is kept cool so that the second internal space 22a is kept at a lower temperature than the first internal space 21a. The second cool box 22 is accommodated in the first cool box 21 with the upper wall portion 221, which serves as an exposed portion, exposed to the outside of the first cool box 21, and is surrounded by the first internal space 21a.

[0032] Therefore, when viewed from the first cool box 21 side, the second cool box 22 contained within the first cool box 21 produces a cooling effect that cools the first internal space 21a, so it is possible to reduce the cooling load compared to when the second cool box 22 is installed outside the first cool box 21.

[0033] In detail, in the cold storage container 10 of this embodiment, since the second cold storage box 22 is accommodated in the first cold storage box 21, the heat entering the first internal space 21a flows as indicated by the arrow B1, and the heat entering the second internal space 22a flows as indicated by the arrow B2. Therefore, compared to the case where the second cold storage box 22 is installed outside the first cold storage box 21, for example, the amount of heat entering the second internal space 22a as indicated by the arrow B2 can be reduced, and the second cooling device 28 can be operated with reduced power. At the same time, since the second cold storage box 22 produces a cooling effect for cooling the first internal space 21a as described above, the first cooling device 27 can also be operated with reduced power.

[0034] The upper wall portion 221 of the second cooler box 22 is provided with a second opening 221b that connects the second internal space 22a to the outside of the first cooler box 21. Therefore, when the second content 12 is taken in and out of the second internal space 22a, the second content 12 can be taken in and out through the second opening 221b without opening the first cooler box 21, so that an increase in the cooling load caused by opening the first cooler box 21 can be prevented. In other words, the second content 12 can be taken in and out of the second internal space 22a while preventing the influence of the outside air temperature around the first cooler box 21 caused by opening the first cooler box 21. In this way, it is possible to avoid the disadvantages that may occur due to the second cooler box 22 being accommodated in the first cooler box 21.

[0035] (1) In addition, according to this embodiment, the second opening / closing lid 32 is provided at the second opening 221b of the second cooler box 22 so as to be able to open and close the second opening 221b. Therefore, when the second content 12 is not being put in or taken out, the second opening / closing lid 32 can prevent heat from entering the second internal space 22a from the outside of the first cooler box 21 through the second opening 221b. This can prevent the cooling performance of the second cooler box 22 from being impaired. Furthermore, since the second cooler box 22 generates a cooling effect on the first internal space 21a as described above, it can also prevent the cooling performance of the first cooler box 21 from being impaired.

[0036] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second cooling device 28 is disposed on the upper wall portion 221 of the second cool box 22, and cools the second internal space 22a while dissipating heat to the outside of the first cool box 21. Therefore, the heat discharged from the second cooling device 28 is dissipated to the outside of the first cool box 21 as indicated by the arrow AH2, not to the first internal space 21a, and does not become a load on the first cooling device 27. In other words, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the second cool box 22 is accommodated in the first cool box 21 while preventing the heat discharged from the second cooling device 28 from interfering with the cooling of the first internal space 21a.

[0037] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Also, parts that are the same as or equivalent to the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted or simplified. This also applies to the following embodiments.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 2, the cold storage container 10 of this embodiment does not include the first cooling device 27 and the second cooling device 28 of Fig. 1. Instead, the cold storage container 10 includes a first cold storage material 35 and a second cold storage material 36.

[0039] Each of the first cold storage material 35 and the second cold storage material 36 has a cold storage substance that stores cold by being cooled in advance, and a cold storage container in which the cold storage substance is sealed. The cold storage substance is a substance generally used for cold storage, for example, a mixture of acetone, methanol, water, etc., and a natural polymer or a water-soluble polymer in a predetermined composition. The cold storage substance is solidified by being cooled in advance to store cold.

[0040] The cold storage material of the first cold storage material 35 and the cold storage material of the second cold storage material 36 may have the same composition or different compositions. However, the first cold storage material 35 and the second cold storage material 36 are each cooled in advance so that the second cold storage material 36 is at a lower temperature than the first cold storage material 35.

[0041] The first cold storage material 35 is disposed in the first internal space 21a and fixed to the inner wall surface of the first cold storage box 21 facing the first internal space 21a by, for example, screwing or gluing. In detail, the first cold storage material 35 is disposed biased toward the upper side of the first internal space 21a so that the cold air of the first cold storage material 35 is widely distributed in the first internal space 21a. Since the first cold storage material 35 is disposed in the first internal space 21a in this manner, the first internal space 21a is kept cold by the first cold storage material 35.

[0042] The second cold storage material 36 is disposed in the second internal space 22a and fixed to the inner wall surface of the second cold storage box 22 facing the second internal space 22a by, for example, screwing or gluing. In detail, the second cold storage material 36 is disposed biased toward the upper side of the second internal space 22a so that the cold air of the second cold storage material 36 is widely distributed in the second internal space 22a. Since the second cold storage material 36, which has a lower temperature than the first cold storage material 35, is disposed in the second internal space 22a in this manner, the second internal space 22a is kept cold by the second cold storage material 36 so as to be at a lower temperature than the first internal space 21a.

[0043] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, the first internal space 21a is insulated by the first cold storage material 35, and the second internal space 22a is insulated by the second cold storage material 36 so as to be at a lower temperature than the first internal space 21a. Therefore, the first internal space 21a and the second internal space 22a can be respectively insulated without the need for the cooling devices 27 and 28 in Fig. 1. In addition, since the second cold storage box 22 is accommodated in the first cold storage box 21, the cold storage load is suppressed as described above, and therefore the time during which the first cold storage material 35 and the second cold storage material 36 exert their cold storage performance can be extended accordingly.

[0044] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0045] (Other embodiments) (1) In the above-described first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the first cooling device 27 is a heat pump that operates a refrigeration cycle, but is not limited thereto and may be, for example, a device that cools the first internal space 21a by a Peltier element. The same applies to the second cooling device 28.

[0046] (2) In each of the above-described embodiments, the first internal space 21a is formed as a single space as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, but this is only an example. For example, the first internal space 21a may be divided into a plurality of separate spaces. The same applies to the second internal space 22a.

[0047] (3) Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms. Furthermore, it goes without saying that in each of the above-described embodiments, the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential unless expressly stated as essential or considered to be obviously essential in principle.

[0048] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, when the numbers, values, amounts, ranges, and other numerical values ​​of the components of the embodiments are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers, except when it is particularly clearly stated that they are essential or when they are clearly limited to a specific number in principle, etc. In addition, in each of the above embodiments, when the materials, shapes, positional relationships, and the like of the components are mentioned, they are not limited to the materials, shapes, positional relationships, and the like, except when it is particularly clearly stated or when they are clearly limited to a specific material, shape, positional relationship, and the like in principle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 Cooling container 11 First Container 12 Second Container 21 First Cool Box 21a 1st interior space 22 Second Cool Box 22a 2nd internal space 221 Upper wall (exposed part) 221b 2nd opening (opening)

Claims

1. A cold storage container, a first cooler box (21) in which a first internal space (21a) for accommodating a first content (11) is formed and in which the first internal space is kept cool; a second internal space (22a) for accommodating a second content (12) therein is formed, and the second internal space is kept at a lower temperature than the first internal space; The second cold storage box is accommodated in the first cold storage box with an exposed portion (221) constituting a part of the second cold storage box exposed to the outside of the first cold storage box, and is surrounded by the first internal space; The exposed portion is provided with an opening (221b) that connects the second internal space to the outside of the first cool storage box.

2. The cold storage container according to claim 1 , further comprising an opening / closing lid (32) provided on the opening of the exposed portion so as to be able to open and close the opening.

3. The cold storage container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cooling device (28) arranged in the exposed portion, the cooling device cooling the second internal space and dissipating heat to the outside of the first cold storage box.

4. A first cold storage material (35); A second cold storage material (36) having a lower temperature than the first cold storage material, The first internal space is insulated by the first cold storage material, The cold storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second internal space is kept cold by the second cold storage material so as to have a temperature lower than that of the first internal space.

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