Cold storage box and cold storage structure thereof

Abstract

To provide a technique for a cold storage box capable of extending the service life of a cold storage body formed by including a coolant in a bag-shaped film.SOLUTION: A cold storage box 1 that cools a storage compartment (C2) using a coolant 45 frozen by cooling comprises: a cold storage body 40 formed by including a coolant 45 in a bag-shaped film 50; an outer fitting member 60 attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state of sandwiching, from the outside, a designated portion 41 of the cold storage body 40 including a corner portion 47 of the coolant 45, the outer fitting member 60 applying a constraining force F1 to the designated portion 41 while allowing the designated portion 41 to be expanded by the freezing-induced expansion of the coolant 45; and a cooling device 20 that cools the cold storage body 40, to which the outer fitting member 60 is attached, during operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cold storage type cooler and its cold storage structure. [Background technology]

[0002] The cold storage type cooler is used, for example, as a cold roll box in low-temperature logistics such as home delivery, i.e., as a vehicle-mounted cold storage. The cold roll box includes a cold storage body, a cold storage unit, a refrigeration cycle, a cold air circulation fan, a battery for driving the fan, and the like. The cold storage unit is provided with an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle as a cooling device. At a goods collection and delivery base for low-temperature logistics, the cooling cycle is driven and the battery is charged by power supplied from outside. During delivery of goods, the cooling cycle is stopped, and the cold air circulation fan is driven by power supplied from the battery, and the cold air around the cold storage unit is circulated inside the box.

[0003] The cold storage unit includes, for example, a case in which an evaporator is provided as a cooling device, and a cold storage body housed in the case. The cold storage body has a structure in which a cold storage agent that is liquid (including gel) when not frozen is enclosed in a soft bag-like film. The bag-like film includes a thermoplastic resin, and is formed into a rectangular bag shape by welding the joints between the original materials. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-25724 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the ice storage agent freezes, it expands (its volume increases). In the ice storage body, the corners of the ice storage agent are blocked from the ice storage agent that expands when frozen, so stress is concentrated at the corners of the ice storage body during cooling, and the ice storage agent may break through the corners of the bag-shaped film and leak out. This requires the ice storage body to be replaced frequently. Even if the ice storage agent is in a gel form, its viscosity decreases with age and it tends to accumulate on the lower side of the bag-shaped film. As a result, the ice storage agent inside the bag-shaped film tends to freeze more slowly on the lower side than on the upper side, and stress is likely to concentrate on the corners on the lower side of the ice storage body during cooling. The present invention discloses a technique capable of extending the life of a cold storage body in a cold storage type cool storage box, the cold storage body being made of a bag-shaped film containing a cold storage agent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The cold storage type cooler of the present invention is a cold storage type cooler that keeps the inside of the cooler cool by cooling and freezing a cold storage agent, a cold storage body in which the cold storage agent is enclosed in a bag-shaped film; an outer fitting member that is attached to the cold storage body in a state where it sandwiches a set portion including a corner of the cold storage material from the outside, and applies a force to narrow the set portion while allowing the set portion to expand due to expansion caused by freezing of the cold storage material; and a cooling device that cools the cold storage body to which the outer fitting member is attached during operation.

[0007] The cold storage structure of the present invention is a cold storage structure of a cold storage type cool storage that keeps the inside of the storage cool by a cold storage agent frozen by cooling, a cold storage body in which the cold storage agent is enclosed in a bag-shaped film; The present invention has an aspect in which the ice storage body is provided with an outer fitting member which is attached to the ice storage body while clamping from the outside a set portion including a corner of the ice storage material, and which applies a narrowing force to the set portion while allowing the set portion to expand due to expansion caused by freezing of the ice storage material. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique capable of extending the life of a cold storage body in which a cold storage agent is sealed in a bag-shaped film in a cold storage type cool storage box. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic example of a cold storage type cooler; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic example of a cold storage type cooler. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic example of a cold storage unit; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic example of one unit of the cold storage section. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5A is a front view showing a schematic example of a cold storage body in an open state, and FIG. 5B is a front view showing a schematic example of a cold storage body in a used state. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic example of a cooling storage body to which an external fitting member is attached. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating examples of elastic members. [Figure 8] 8A to 8C are diagrams showing schematic examples of main parts of a cooling storage body to which an external fitting member is attached by a different attachment method. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a refrigerant material is repeatedly melted and frozen; [Figure 10] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of an elastic member having a falling-off prevention structure, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example in which a welded portion is sandwiched between the falling-off prevention structures. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a cooling storage body to which an elastic member having a falling-off prevention structure is attached. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a cooling storage body to which an elastic member having a falling-off prevention structure is attached. [Figure 13] FIG. 13A is a diagram showing an example of folding back a corner of a cold storage material in a cold storage body, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of a main part of the cold storage body in which an external fitting member is attached to the folded back part. [Figure 14]FIG. 14A is a diagram showing another example of an elastic member formed by bending a wire into a spring shape, and FIG. 14B is a diagram showing an example of a main part of a cooling storage body to which an elastic member formed by bending a wire into a spring shape is attached. [Figure 15] FIG. 15A is a schematic diagram showing an example in which an external fitting member is attached to a cold storage body having an R-shaped corner weld, and FIG. 15B is a schematic diagram showing an example in which an external fitting member is attached to a cold storage body having a C-shaped corner weld. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a typical breakage of a corner of a regenerator in a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following embodiments of the present invention will be described. Of course, the following embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention, and not all of the features shown in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0011] (1) Overview of the technology included in this invention: First, the outline of the technology included in the present invention will be described with reference to the examples shown in Figures 1 to 16. The figures in the present application are diagrams showing examples in a schematic manner, and the magnification ratios in each direction shown in these figures may differ, and the figures may not be consistent with each other. Of course, each element of the present technology is not limited to the specific example shown by the symbol.

[0012] As illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 6, 9, etc., a cold storage type cool storage 1 according to one embodiment of the present technology is a cold storage type cool storage 1 that cools the inside (for example, cold storage chamber C2) with a cold storage agent 45 frozen by cooling, and includes a cold storage body 40 in which the cold storage agent 45 is enclosed in a bag-shaped film 50, an external fitting member 60, and a cooling device 20. The external fitting member 60 is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which a set portion 41 including a corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40 is sandwiched from the outside, and applies a narrowing force F1 to the set portion 41 while allowing the set portion 41 to expand due to expansion caused by freezing of the cold storage agent 45. The set portion 41 means a part of the cold storage body 40 that includes the corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45. The cooling device 20 cools the cold storage body 40 to which the external fitting member 60 is attached during operation.

[0013] When the cold storage agent 45 is liquid, the outer fitting member 60 applies a constricting force F1 to the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40, so that the liquid cold storage agent 45 in the bag-shaped film 50 is pushed out of the set portion 41. As a result, an opening remains in the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40. Even if the melted cold storage agent 45 is repeatedly frozen by the cooling device 20 and the cold storage agent 45 expands each time it is frozen, the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40 opens, so that the volume of the expanded portion of the cold storage agent 45 is absorbed, and the tear of the corner portion of the bag-shaped film 50 is suppressed. Therefore, the above embodiment can provide a cold storage type cool storage 1 that can extend the life of the cold storage body 40 in which the cold storage agent 45 is sealed in the bag-shaped film 50. As a result, the frequency of replacing the cold storage body 40 is reduced. Furthermore, in the cold storage structure 2 including the cold storage body 40 and the outer fitting member 60, the life of the cold storage body 40 in which the cold storage agent 45 is sealed in the bag-shaped film 50 in the cold storage type cool storage box 1 can be extended.

[0014] Here, the outer fitting member 60 may be an elastic member (e.g., elastic members 60A-60F shown in Figs. 7A, 7B, 10A, 11, 12, and 14A) that applies an elastic force as a constricting force F1 to the set portion 41. This embodiment can provide a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40. The outer fitting member 60 may be a magnet or the like that applies a magnetic force as a constricting force F1 to the set portion 41.

[0015] 10A, 10B, 11, and 12, the outer fitting member 60 may be provided with a falling-off prevention structure 65 for preventing the outer fitting member 60 from falling off the attached cold storage body 40. In this case, even if the cold storage material 45 expands due to freezing, the falling-off prevention structure 65 prevents the outer fitting member 60 from falling off the cold storage body 40. Therefore, this embodiment can also provide a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40. Here, the fall-off prevention structure 65 may be a structure in which the bag-shaped film 50 is corrugated by sandwiching the cold storage body 40 between a plurality of first convex parts 71b and a plurality of second convex parts 72b, or a structure in which the entire side 46 of the cold storage material 45 is sandwiched in the cold storage body 40. Note that "first", "second", ... in this application are terms for distinguishing each component included in a plurality of components having similarities, and do not indicate an order. Which component among the plurality of components corresponds to "first", "second", ... is determined relatively.

[0016] 13B, the outer fitting member 60 may be attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45 folded back in the cold storage body 40 is sandwiched from the outside. In this case, the portion of the cold storage body 40 sandwiched by the outer fitting member 60 increases, so that the volume of the expansion absorbed when the cold storage material 45 is frozen increases, and the tearing of the corner portion of the bag-shaped film 50 is further suppressed. Therefore, this embodiment can also provide a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40.

[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 4 and the like, the cold storage type cooler 1 may further include a case 30 in which the cooling device 20 is provided inside and the cold storage body 40 folded in two is accommodated with the cooling device 20 sandwiched therebetween. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 12, the outer fitting member 60 may be attached to the cold storage body 40 in such a manner that the corners 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the folded cold storage body 40 are aligned with each other and the set portions 41 including the corners 47 are sandwiched together from the outside. That is, one outer fitting member 60 of this embodiment sandwiches two corners 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of outer fitting members 60 attached to the cold storage body 40 can be reduced, and the cost of parts for the cold storage type cooler 1 can be reduced.

[0018] 15A and 15B, the bag-shaped film 50 may have corner welded parts 52 that make the corner parts 47 of the cold storage material 45 arc-shaped or cut-off. In this case, the strength of the corner parts of the bag-shaped film 50 where stress is likely to concentrate during cooling is improved. Therefore, this embodiment can further extend the life of the cold storage body 40. Here, the term "arc-shaped" refers to a shape with rounded corners, such as an R-shape, and the term "cut-off shape" refers to a shape with a straight corner removed, such as a C-shape.

[0019] (2) Specific examples of cool storage refrigerators that include a cool storage structure: 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating a cold storage type cool box 1 used in cold roll boxes in low-temperature logistics for home delivery. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cold storage unit included in the cold storage type cool box 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating one unit of the cold storage unit. 1 and 2, the cold storage type cool box 1 includes a heat-insulating cool box body 3 with an opening at the front, and a door 4 for opening and closing the opening. The cool box body 3 is partitioned from top to bottom into a machine room C1, a cold storage room C2 (an example of the interior of the box), and a cold storage room C3.

[0020] The machine room C1 is equipped with a compressor 6 and a condenser 7 which constitute a part of the refrigeration cycle, a cooling fan 8 for cooling the condenser 7, a control unit 10 for controlling the entire cold storage type cool storage 1, and a battery 12. The refrigeration cycle is driven by power supply from an external power source (not shown) installed at an article collection and delivery base, for example, and quickly cools the cold storage body 40. The control unit 10 may be a microcomputer which controls the cold storage type cool storage 1 according to a control program. The battery 12 is used to operate low-power devices such as the interior fan 11 and the interior light (not shown). The battery 12 is made small because it is not basically expected that the battery 12 will drive the refrigeration cycle which requires a large amount of power. The cold storage compartment C2 is a space for storing items that need to be stored at low temperatures, such as food. An air passage 13 for passing cold air is formed on the rear side of the cold storage compartment C2. An internal fan 11 is installed above the air passage 13. When the internal fan 11 operates by power supply from the battery 12, the cold air in the cold storage compartment C3 is sent to the cold storage compartment C2 through the air passage 13, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2.

[0021] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the multiple cases 30 installed in the cold storage chamber C3 are provided with the cooling device 20 inside, and the two-fold cold storage body 40 is housed with the cooling device 20 sandwiched between them. Therefore, the case 30, the cooling device 20, and the two-fold cold storage body 40 form one unit of the cold storage section. Each case 30 includes a case body 31 with openings at the top and both longitudinal ends, and a lid 32 for closing an opening 31o at the top of the case body 31. Each case 30 is made of sheet metal with good thermal conductivity. The cooling device 20 includes pipe-shaped evaporators 21 and 22 that constitute a part of the refrigeration cycle. The evaporators 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 4 are arranged horizontally in a vertical line inside the case 30. When the refrigeration cycle is operated by power supply from the outside, the cooling device 20 cools the cold storage body 40 inside the case 30. When the power supply from the outside is stopped, the cooling of the cold storage body 40 is stopped, and the cold storage chamber C2 is kept at a low temperature by the operation of the in-fridge fan 11. Therefore, the cooling device 20 cools the cold storage body 40 to which the external fitting member 60 is attached during operation. When the cooling device 20 is not operating, the cold storage type cold storage 1 keeps the cold storage chamber C2 cold by the cold storage agent 45 frozen by cooling.

[0022] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating the cold storage body 40. In Fig. 5A, a plan view and a right side view of the cold storage body 40 in an open state are shown within a double-dashed line enclosure. In Fig. 5B, a right side view of the cold storage body 40 in a used state is shown within a double-dashed line enclosure. The cold storage body 40 has a structure in which a solidifiable and meltable cold storage agent 45 is enclosed in a soft bag-shaped film 50 containing a thermoplastic resin. The cold storage agent 45 is an aqueous solution that is liquid (including gel-like) when not frozen, and when cooled, it freezes and expands, increasing in volume. The bag-shaped film 50 only needs to include a thermoplastic resin layer, and may also include a metal layer such as an aluminum layer.

[0023] The process for forming the cold storage body 40 is not particularly limited, but for example, the cold storage body 40 can be formed by the following process. (a) A process for overlapping opposing sides of a rectangular resin film and welding the resin film to form a cylindrical shape. Note that in this process a, welded portion 51a is formed. (b) A process of welding one end of the tubular resin film to form the resin film into a bag shape. Note that in this process b, welded part 51b is formed. (c) A step of pouring liquid refrigerant 45 into the end of the opening side of the bag-shaped resin film. (d) A process of sealing the liquid refrigerant 45 by welding the end of the opening side of the bag-shaped resin film containing the refrigerant 45. Note that in this process d, a welded portion 51c is formed. The bag-shaped film 50 thus formed has a welded portion 51 on the outside of the enclosed cooling storage material 45. The welded portion 51 collectively refers to the welded portions 51a to 51c.

[0024] 5A, the cold storage body 40 is substantially rectangular in shape when opened. The cold storage material 45 sealed in the bag-shaped film 50 has four corners 47. 3, 4, and 5B, the cold storage body 40 is folded in half and inserted into the case body 31 from the upper opening 31o so as to straddle the cooling device 20, and is housed in the case 30 by fitting the lid 32 to the case body 31. Therefore, the folded part 42 of the cold storage body 40 in the used state is at the upper edge. Here, as shown in FIG. 5B, the edge part along the substantially vertically oriented welded parts 51b, 51c of the cold storage material 45 is referred to as the vertical side 46a, and the lower edge part is referred to as the horizontal side 46b, and the vertical side 46a and the horizontal side 46b are collectively referred to as the side 46.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 16, in the cold storage body 40, the corners 47 of the cold storage agent 45 are blocked from the destination of the cold storage agent 45 that expands due to freezing, so that stress is concentrated at the corners of the cold storage body 40 during cooling, and the cold storage agent 45 may break through the corners of the bag-shaped film 50 and leak out. Fig. 16 shows a tear 90 at the corner of the cold storage body 40 in the comparative example. If the cold storage material 45 leaks from the cold storage body 40, problems such as a decrease in the cold storage capacity occur, so the cold storage body 40 needs to be replaced frequently. Even if the cold storage material 45 is in a gel state, the viscosity of the cold storage material 45 decreases due to deterioration over time, and the cold storage material 45 is likely to accumulate on the lower side of the bag-shaped film 50. As a result, the freezing of the cold storage material 45 inside the bag-shaped film 50 is more likely to be delayed at the lower side than at the upper side, and stress is likely to concentrate on the corners on the lower side of the cold storage body 40 during cooling. If both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case 30 are open, the cooling of both ends in the longitudinal direction, which are susceptible to the influence of the outside air, is weaker than that of the longitudinal center part of the case 30, and the freezing of the corners 47 of the cold storage material 45 tends to be further delayed. If the freezing of the cold storage material 45 is partially delayed, the internal pressure of the corners of the cold storage body 40 is likely to increase due to the influence of the volume expansion of the cold storage material 45 that was frozen earlier.

[0026] Therefore, in this example, an outer fitting member 60 such as an elastic member is attached to the outside of the set portion 41 including the corner 47 of the cold storage material 45 in the cold storage body 40, so that an opening is provided at the corner 47 of the cold storage material 45 in the cold storage body 40 when freezing. As a result, even if the cold storage material 45 expands every time it is frozen, the opening can prevent the corners of the bag-shaped film 50 from breaking. In this example, the cold storage body 40 and the outer fitting member 60 constitute the cold storage structure 2.

[0027] Fig. 6 shows a schematic example of the cold storage body 40 to which the outer fitting member 60 is attached. In the lower part of Fig. 6, an example of the side surface of the cold storage body 40 to which the outer fitting member 60 is attached is shown within a double-dashed line enclosure. The outer fitting member 60 is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state where the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40 is sandwiched from the outside. The outer fitting member 60 applies a narrowing force to the set portion 41 while allowing the set portion 41 to expand due to the expansion caused by freezing of the cold storage agent 45. As in the attachment state ST1 shown in FIG. 6, the outer fitting member 60 may be attached to the cold storage body 40 for each corner portion 47. Also, as in the attachment state ST2 shown in FIG. 6, the outer fitting member 60 may be attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state where the corner portions 47 of the cold storage agent 45 are matched with each other in the double-folded cold storage body 40 and the set portions 41 including the corner portions 47 are sandwiched together from the outside. This reduces the number of outer fitting members 60 attached to the cold storage body 40, and the cost of parts for the cold storage type cool storage 1 is reduced.

[0028] 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of elastic members 60A and 60B that apply an elastic force as a constricting force F1 to the set portion 41 as an example of the outer fitting member 60. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, right side views of the elastic members 60A and 60B are shown within the double-dashed line enclosure. The elastic members 60A and 60B can also be called elastic bodies. Various clips, including office clips, can be used as the elastic members, so the elastic members 60A and 60B are merely examples. The elastic members 60A and 60B can be made of resin molded products, metal pressed products, elastomers such as rubber, and the like. The elastic members 60A and 60B are leaf springs with a relatively simple structure. The elastic member 60A is flat and can be formed at low cost. The elastic member 60B is easy to attach to the setting portion 41 of the cold storage body 40 because the end portion (insertion side ends 61a and 61b) on the side where the cold storage body 40 is inserted is open. Other elastic members are also possible examples of the outer fitting member 60, and other examples will be described later.

[0029] The outer fitting member 60 exemplified by the elastic members 60A and 60B can be attached to the cold storage body 40 by various methods. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the outer fitting member 60 may be attached so as to sandwich the cold storage body 40 while sliding upward from the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45 along the vertical side 46a, that is, toward the inside of the cold storage body 40. In this way, the outer fitting member 60 is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which the setting portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45 in the cold storage body 40 is sandwiched from the outside.

[0030] The outer fitting member 60 may be attached to the cold storage body 40 in the manner exemplified in Fig. 8A to Fig. 8C. Fig. 8A shows a state in which the outer fitting member 60 is attached so as to sandwich the cold storage body 40 while sliding from the welded portion 51b, past the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45, along the horizontal side 46b. Fig. 8B shows a state in which the outer fitting member 60 is attached so as to sandwich the cold storage body 40 while sliding from the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45 in a direction intersecting both the vertical side 46a and the horizontal side 46b in the cold storage body 40, for example, in a direction shifted by 45° from both sides (46a, 46b). FIG. 8C shows that the outer fitting member 60 is attached to the cold storage body 40 so as to sandwich the cold storage body 40 while sliding it in a direction that intersects both the vertical side 46a and the horizontal side 46b so as to pass through the corner 47 of the cold storage material 45 toward the welded portion 51b, for example, in a direction shifted by 45° from both sides (46a, 46b).

[0031] (3) Functions and effects of specific examples of the cold storage type cool storage including the cold storage structure: FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the refrigerant 45 repeatedly melts and freezes. When the cold storage agent 45 melts, as shown in the left side of FIG. 9, the outer fitting member 60 applies a narrowing force F1, for example, an elastic force, to the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the liquid cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40, so that the cold storage agent 45 in the bag-shaped film 50 is pushed out of the set portion 41. As a result, an opening remains in the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40. When the refrigeration cycle is operated by power supply from the outside, the cooling device 20 cools the cold storage body 40. Then, as shown in the right side of FIG. 9, the cold storage agent 45 freezes and expands, thereby pushing outward the set portion 41 sandwiched by the outer fitting member 60 in the cold storage body 40. As a result, the volume of the expanded cold storage agent 45 is absorbed, and the increase in the internal pressure of the corner portion of the cold storage body 40 is suppressed, and the tearing of the corner portion of the bag-shaped film 50 is suppressed.

[0032] When the ice storage agent 45 melts again, as shown in the left side of Fig. 9, the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the liquid ice storage agent 45 in the ice storage body 40 narrows due to a narrowing force F1, for example, an elastic force, of the outer fitting member 60, and the ice storage agent 45 in the bag-shaped film 50 is pushed out of the set portion 41. When the ice storage agent 45 freezes again, as shown in the right side of Fig. 9, the frozen ice storage agent 45 pushes outward the set portion 41 of the ice storage body 40. As described above, even if the melted cold storage agent 45 is repeatedly frozen by the cooling device 20 and expands each time it is frozen, the set portion 41 of the cold storage body 40 opens, absorbing the volume of the expanded cold storage agent 45, and tearing of the corners of the bag-shaped film 50 is suppressed. Even if the viscosity of the cold storage agent 45 decreases due to deterioration over time, the cold storage agent 45 is pushed out from the set portion 41 when melted, and pushes the set portion 41 outward when frozen. Therefore, the cold storage type cool storage 1 including the cold storage structure 2 of this example can extend the life of the cold storage body 40 in which the cold storage agent 45 is sealed in the bag-shaped film 50. As a result, the frequency of replacing the cold storage body 40 is reduced.

[0033] (4) Application examples: The outer fitting member 60 may be provided with a falling-off prevention structure 65 for preventing the outer fitting member 60 from falling off from the attached cold storage body 40, as shown in, for example, FIGS. Fig. 10A shows a schematic example of an elastic member 60C having a fall-off prevention structure 65, and Fig. 10B shows a schematic example of the welded parts 51b and 51c sandwiched between the fall-off prevention structures 65. In the upper part of Fig. 10A, a plan view of the elastic member 60C is shown within a two-dot chain line enclosure. The elastic member 60C can be considered as a leaf spring with a somewhat complicated structure. The elastic member 60C is attached to the cold storage body 40 from the welded part 51b as shown in Fig. 8A, or is attached to the cold storage body 40 from the welded part 51c.

[0034] The elastic member 60C includes a first portion 71 having a plurality of first convex portions 71b, a second portion 72 having a plurality of second convex portions 72b, and a connection portion 73 connecting the first portion 71 and the second portion 72. The first portion 71 has a first surface 71a facing the second portion 72, and the second portion 72 has a second surface 72a facing the first portion 71. The cold storage body 40 is inserted between the first surface 71a and the second surface 72a. Therefore, the elastic member 60C has a first surface 71a and a second surface 72a facing each other with the cold storage body 40 interposed therebetween. The first surface 71a has a plurality of first convex portions 71b that are convex toward the second surface 72a. The second surface 72a has a plurality of second convex portions 72b that are convex toward the first surface 71a. The elastic member 60C sandwiches the welded portion 51b or the welded portion 51c between a plurality of first convex portions 71b and a plurality of second convex portions 72b.

[0035] Here, each first convex portion 71b bulges from the first surface 71a beyond the center line AX1 between the first portion 71 and the second portion 72 to the second surface 72a side. Each second convex portion 72b bulges beyond the center line AX1 to the first surface 71a side. The first convex portion 71b enters between the second convex portions 72b, and the second convex portion 72b enters between the first convex portions 71b, so that the welded portions 51b, 51c are wavy. Therefore, the elastic member 60C has a falling-off prevention structure 65 that causes the bag-shaped film 50 to ripple by sandwiching the cold storage body 40 between the multiple first convex portions 71b and the multiple second convex portions 72b, and by the first convex portion 71b entering between the second convex portions 72b, and the second convex portion 72b entering between the first convex portions 71b. Since the elastic member 60C is attached to the cold storage body 40 while the bag-shaped film 50 is in a wavy state, the resistance between the cold storage body 40 and the elastic member 60C is large, and even if the cold storage agent 45 expands due to freezing, the multiple protrusions (71b, 72b) prevent the elastic member 60C from falling off from the cold storage body 40. Therefore, the elastic member 60C shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B is a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40.

[0036] Fig. 11 shows a schematic example of a cold storage body 40 to which an elastic member 60D having a falling-off prevention structure 65 is attached. In Fig. 11, an example of a side surface of the cold storage body 40 to which the elastic member 60D is attached is shown within a double-dashed line enclosure. The elastic member 60D can also be considered as a leaf spring. The elastic member 60D is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which the setting portion 41 including all of the vertical sides 46a of the cold storage body 40 is sandwiched from the outside. The elastic member 60D has a first portion 71 and a second portion 72 that face each other with the cold storage body 40 sandwiched therebetween, and a connection portion 73 that connects the first portion 71 and the second portion 72. The connection portion 73 contacts the bent portion 42 of the cold storage body 40 folded in two, and passes over the bent portion 42. Since the elastic member 60D surrounds the cold storage body 40 at a position where the entire vertical side 46a is sandwiched therebetween, the cold storage body 40 is prevented from falling off from the attached cold storage body 40. The welded portion 51a of the cold storage body 40 is bent so as to be on the inside of the elastic member 60D.

[0037] From the above, it can be said that the elastic member 60D sandwiches the set portion 41 including the vertical side 46a of the cold storage agent 45 enclosed in the bag-shaped film 50 in the cold storage body 40, and has a fall-off prevention structure 65 that sandwiches the entire side 46 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40. Since the elastic member 60D sandwiches the entire vertical side 46a of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40 and the connection part 73 is on the bent part 42, even if the cold storage agent 45 expands due to freezing, the elastic member 60D is prevented from falling off from the cold storage body 40. Therefore, the elastic member 60D shown in FIG. 11 is also a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40. In addition, when the elastic member 60D is used for the outer fitting member 60, the number of outer fitting members 60 attached to the cold storage body 40 is reduced, and the cost of parts for the cold storage type cool storage 1 is reduced.

[0038] Fig. 12 shows a schematic example of a cold storage body 40 to which an elastic member 60E having a falling-off prevention structure 65 is attached. In the lower part of Fig. 12, an example of a side surface of the cold storage body 40 to which the elastic member 60E is attached is shown within a double-dashed line enclosure. The elastic member 60E can also be said to be a leaf spring. The elastic member 60E is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which the elastic member 60E sandwiches from the outside the set portion 41 including the entire horizontal side 46b of the cold storage body 40. Since the elastic member 60E is attached to the cold storage body 40 at a position where the elastic member 60E sandwiches the entire horizontal side 46b, the elastic member 60E is prevented from falling off the cold storage body 40.

[0039] From the above, it can be said that the elastic member 60E sandwiches the set portion 41 including the horizontal side 46b of the cold storage agent 45 sealed in the bag-shaped film 50 in the cold storage body 40, and is provided with a fall-off prevention structure 65 that sandwiches the entire side 46 of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40. By sandwiching the entire horizontal side 46b of the cold storage agent 45 in the cold storage body 40 with the elastic member 60E, even if the cold storage agent 45 expands due to freezing, the elastic member 60E is prevented from falling off from the cold storage body 40. Therefore, the elastic member 60E shown in FIG. 12 is also a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40. In addition, as in the mounting state ST1 shown in Fig. 12, the elastic member 60E may be attached to the cold storage body 40 for each horizontal side 46b. Also, as in the mounting state ST2 shown in Fig. 12, in the cold storage body 40 folded in two, the horizontal sides 46b are aligned with each other and the elastic member 60E may be attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state where the set portions 41 including the horizontal sides 46b are sandwiched together from the outside. This reduces the number of external fitting members 60 attached to the cold storage body 40, and the cost of parts for the cold storage type cool storage 1 is reduced.

[0040] The corners of the cold storage body 40 may be folded back as shown in Figures 13A and 13B. Figure 13A illustrates a schematic diagram of a corner 47 of the cold storage material 45 in the cold storage body 40 being folded back, and Figure 13B illustrates a schematic diagram of a main part of the cold storage body 40 in which an outer fitting member 60 is attached to the folded back part 43. In the cold storage body 40 shown in FIG. 13A, the corner 47 of the cold storage agent 45 is folded back at the position of the line L1. As a result, the cold storage body 40 has a folded back portion 43 including the corner 47 of the cold storage agent 45. As shown in FIG. 13B, the outer fitting member 60 is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which the outer fitting member 60 sandwiches the set portion 41 including the folded back portion 43 in the cold storage body 40 from the outside. Therefore, the set portion 41 to which the outer fitting member 60 is attached in the cold storage body 40 includes the corner 47 of the folded back cold storage agent 45. As a result, the portion of the cold storage body 40 sandwiched by the outer fitting member 60 increases. Therefore, the volume of the expansion absorbed when the cold storage agent 45 is frozen increases, and tearing of the corners of the bag-shaped film 50 is further suppressed.

[0041] The fitting member 60 may be formed from a wire in a spring shape, as illustrated in Fig. 14A. Fig. 14A typically illustrates an elastic member 60F formed by bending a wire into a spring shape. In Fig. 14A, a right side view of the elastic member 60F is shown within a double-dashed line enclosure. Fig. 14B typically illustrates a main part of the cooling storage body 40 to which the elastic member 60F is attached. The elastic member 60F shown in FIG. 14A is formed, for example, by bending a metal wire so as to have two first portions 62a protruding in a first direction, two second portions 62b protruding in a second direction, and two third portions 62c protruding in a third direction. Here, the angle between the first direction and the second direction is, for example, 45°, and the angle between the second direction and the third direction is, for example, 45°. As a result, the angle between the first direction and the third direction is, for example, 90°. It can be said that the elastic member 60F has two combinations of three portions 62a to 62c. A gap CL1 into which the cold storage body 40 is inserted is formed between the combinations of the portions 62a to 62c. Therefore, the elastic member 60F is easy to attach to the cold storage body 40.

[0042] 14B, in the elastic member 60F attached to the cold storage body 40, the first portion 62a is located in a position extending upward from the corner 47 of the cold storage agent 45 along the vertical side 46a in the cold storage body 40. The second portion 62b is located in a position extending from the corner 47 of the cold storage agent 45 in a direction intersecting both the vertical side 46a and the horizontal side 46b in the cold storage body 40. The third portion 62c is located in a position extending laterally from the corner 47 of the cold storage agent 45 along the horizontal side 46b in the cold storage body 40. When the cold storage agent 45 is in a liquid state, the elastic member 60F applies a constricting force F1 to the set portion 41, so that the liquid cold storage agent 45 in the bag-shaped film 50 is pushed out from the set portion 41. This prevents the elastic member 60F from falling off the cold storage body 40 even if the cold storage agent 45 expands due to freezing. Therefore, the elastic member 60F shown in FIG. 14B is also a suitable example for extending the life of the cold storage body 40.

[0043] As illustrated in Figs. 15A and 15B, the welded portion 51 of the bag-shaped film 50 may have a corner welded portion 52 that makes the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45 have an arc shape or a cut-off shape. Fig. 15A shows an R-shaped corner welded portion 52 as an example of an arc shape. Fig. 15B shows a C-shaped corner welded portion 52 as an example of a cut-off shape. For example, in the above-mentioned step b, one end of the cylindrical resin film is welded into the shape of welded portion 51b including the corner welded portion 52, and in the above-mentioned step d, the opening side end of the bag-shaped resin film is welded into the shape of welded portion 51c including the corner welded portion 52, thereby forming the corner welded portion 52. The outer fitting member 60 is attached to the cold storage body 40 in a state in which the set portion 41 including the corner portion 47 of the cold storage material 45 as well as the corner welded portion 52 is sandwiched from the outside. Since the welded parts 51 have the corner welded parts 52, the strength of the corners where stress is likely to concentrate during cooling is improved in the bag-shaped film 50. Therefore, the example shown in Figures 15A and 15B can further extend the life of the cold storage body 40.

[0044] (5) Variation: The present invention contemplates various modifications. For example, the cold storage body 40 is not limited to being folded in half when in use, and may be used in the open state shown in FIG. 5A. The outer fitting member 60 is not limited to a member made of a single material, but may be a member made of a combination of a plurality of materials. Furthermore, the number of the outer fitting members 60 attached to one of the corners 47 of the cold storage material 45 in the cold storage body 40 is not limited to one, but may be two or more.

[0045] (6) Conclusion: As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that can extend the life of a cold storage body in which a cold storage agent is sealed in a bag-shaped film in a cold storage type cool storage box by various aspects. Of course, even if the technology is composed only of the constituent elements according to the independent claim, the basic action and effect described above can be obtained. In addition, configurations in which the configurations disclosed in the above examples are substituted with each other or the combination is changed, configurations in which the configurations disclosed in the publicly known techniques and the above examples are substituted with each other or the combination is changed, etc. The present invention also includes these configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1... Cool storage type cooler, 2... Cool storage structure, 3... Refrigerator body, 4... Door, 6...compressor, 7...condenser, 8...cooling fan, 10: control unit, 11: interior fan, 12: battery, 13: ventilation path, 20...cooling device, 21, 22...evaporator, 30: case; 31: case body; 31o: opening; 32: lid; 40... cold storage body, 41... setting portion, 42... bending portion, 43... folded portion, 45...cold storage material, 46...side, 46a...vertical side, 46b...horizontal side, 47...corner, 50...bag-shaped film, 51, 51a to 51c...welded portion, 52…Corner welded part, 60: Outer fitting member; 60A to 60F: Elastic member; 65...Falling prevention structure, 71...first portion, 71a...first surface, 71b...first convex portion, 72... second portion, 72a... second surface, 72b... second protruding portion, 73...Connection part, C1: Machine room, C2: Cold storage room (example of inside the storehouse), C3: Cold storage room, F1...narrowing force, ST1, ST2...Installation status.

Claims

1. A cold storage type cooler that keeps the inside of the cooler cool by cooling and freezing the cold storage agent, a cold storage body in which the cold storage agent is enclosed in a bag-shaped film; an outer fitting member that is attached to the cold storage body in a state where it sandwiches a set portion including a corner of the cold storage material from the outside, and applies a force to narrow the set portion while allowing the set portion to expand due to expansion caused by freezing of the cold storage material; A cold storage type cool storage box comprising: a cooling device that cools the cold storage body to which the external fitting member is attached during operation.

2. The regenerator type cool storage box according to claim 1 , wherein the outer fitting member is an elastic member that applies an elastic force as a narrowing force to the set portion.

3. The cold storage type cool storage box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer fitting member has a fall-off prevention structure that prevents the outer fitting member from falling off the attached cold storage body.

4. the outer fitting member has a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other with the cold storage body interposed therebetween, the first surface has a plurality of first convex portions that are convex toward the second surface, the second surface has a plurality of second convex portions that are convex toward the first surface, The cold storage type cool storage container according to claim 3, wherein the anti-fall-out structure is a structure in which the cold storage body is sandwiched between the multiple first convex portions and the multiple second convex portions, and the first convex portions enter between the second convex portions, and the second convex portions enter between the first convex portions, thereby causing the bag-shaped film to corrugate.

5. the set portion includes one side of the cold storage agent sealed in the bag-shaped film in the cold storage body, The cold storage type cool storage box according to claim 3 , wherein the fall-off prevention structure is a structure that sandwiches all of one side of the cold storage material in the cold storage body.

6. In the cold storage body, a corner of the cold storage material is folded back, 3. The cold storage type cool storage box according to claim 1, wherein the outer fitting member is attached to the cold storage body in a state where the outer fitting member sandwiches from the outside the set portion including the corner portion of the cold storage material folded back in the cold storage body.

7. The cooling device is provided inside a case in which the folded cold storage body is accommodated with the cooling device sandwiched therebetween, The cold storage type cooler according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outer fitting member is attached to the cold storage body in a state in which corners of the cold storage material in the folded cold storage body are brought together and the set parts including the corners are sandwiched together from the outside.

8. the bag-shaped film has a welded portion on the outside of the enclosed cooling storage material, 3. The cold storage type cool storage box according to claim 1, wherein the welded portion has a corner welded portion that makes a corner of the cold storage material have an arc shape or a cut-off shape.

9. A cold storage structure of a cold storage type cool storage that keeps the inside of the cool storage box cold by cooling and freezing a cold storage agent, a cold storage body in which the cold storage agent is enclosed in a bag-shaped film; The cold storage structure of a cold storage type cool storage box is provided with an external fitting member that is attached to the cold storage body while clamping a set portion including a corner of the cold storage material from the outside, and applies a narrowing force to the set portion while allowing the set portion to expand due to expansion caused by freezing of the cold storage material.

Images