Heat insulating structure for cooling device, and cooling device

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Solution Overview

Problem

The heat insulating performance of partition walls in cooling apparatuses, such as ultra-low-temperature freezers, is inadequate, impacting the overall cooling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A heat insulating structure that combines vacuum heat insulation material with urethane foaming resin inside a hollow partition wall, where the vacuum heat insulation material is strategically positioned to minimize heat transmission paths and is reinforced with resin heat insulation material to fill gaps and maintain airtightness, enhancing the insulating properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a hollow partition wall is filled with heat insulation material, then heat insulating performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transmissionVSAvoidpartition wall structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall combines vacuum heat insulation material with urethane foaming resin to create a composite insulation system. The vacuum material provides primary thermal barrier while the resin fills gaps and provides structural support, achieving superior insulation performance without requiring complex multi-component structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum heat insulation material is strategically positioned at specific locations within the partition wall where heat transmission is most critical. The urethane resin is applied locally to fill remaining gaps and provide airtight sealing, creating optimized local insulation zones rather than uniform insulation throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If vacuum heat insulation material is used, then heat insulating performance is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transmissionVSAvoidpartition wall fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum heat insulation material is pre-installed within the hollow partition wall structure before the urethane foaming resin is applied. This preliminary positioning ensures proper placement and alignment, simplifying the overall manufacturing process by establishing the critical insulation layer first, then using the resin to seal and secure it in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If heat insulation material is added to partition wall, then heat insulating performance is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transmissionVSAvoidmaterial quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The combination of vacuum heat insulation material and urethane foaming resin creates a synergistic effect where the vacuum material provides high-performance thermal barrier in thin layers, reducing the total volume of insulation material needed compared to using conventional materials alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The urethane foaming resin creates a porous structure that provides both insulation and structural functionality. This porous material fills irregular spaces efficiently, reducing material waste while maintaining insulation performance, thereby reducing overall material consumption compared to solid insulation materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration significantly improves the heat insulating performance by reducing heat transmission and condensation/frost formation, while simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs by eliminating the need for additional components and minimizing temperature-induced shrinkage effects.

Implementation Method 1

a hollow partition wall for partitioning the interior is filled with a heat insulation material, and discloses an exemplary case of using a combination of a foaming resin heat insulation material and a vacuum heat insulation material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum heat insulation: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoaming resin heat insulation: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP3783286B1Heat insulating structure for cooling device, and cooling device

Publication Date: 2022.12.21 PHC HLDG CORP

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AI summary

The invention is provided with a housing which has an inner space open in a first direction, a partition body which divides the inlet of the inner space into a plurality of openings arranged next to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a door which is provided to each of the openings and which closes the opening from the first direction side, a first vacuum heat insulating material which is disposed inside the partition body, and a second vacuum heat insulating material which is disposed inside the door. The first vacuum heat insulating material and the second vacuum heat insulating material are arranged so as to overlap each other when viewed from the first direction side or from the second direction side.