FR2725265A1 - DEVICE FOR REGULATING AND TRANSFERRING REFRIGERATED OR CALORIC FLUIDS FOR TRANSPORT CONTAINERS - Google Patents

Abstract

Device of the type in which cold is transferred from an upper section (2) to a lower enclosure (10) separated by an insulating wall (3a) through a heat pipe of a suitable heat-conducting material, which is filled with a heat-exchanging medium after a vacuum is created therein. According to the invention, the heat pipe consists of an exchange and control plate (7) disposed in the enclosure (10), the plate (7) being fitted with an inner heat exchange fluid coil (6) and, on one side, at least one collecting tube (5, 5a) which communicates with the coil and extends into the upper section (2). The plate is mounted so as to oscillate about a transverse horizontal axis between an exchange position (A) in which slopes down from the collector tube, and a stabilizing position (B) in which it slopes the other way, the plate (7) also being connected to motor means (11 and 9, 28, 28a) which control its oscillation on either side of the horizontal plane according to the temperature in the enclosure (10).

Description

 "Device for regulating and transferring refrigerating or heating fluids for transport containers.

 The device which is the subject of the invention makes it possible to regulate the penetration of frigories stored in a module up to a transport container or an enclosure for storing products, food or the like, which must be maintained and kept cold at an adequate temperature.

The storage of frigories in all its forms being limited in time, the said device allows these frigories, a higher efficiency for a storage period of up to 3 days, thus responding to new laws and decrees on the transport of foodstuffs perishable.

 The device object of the invention is more particularly intended to be adapted to transport containers whose autonomy will have required a mode of refrigeration requiring a particular implementation of a module in which one will have introduced a source of volatile static frigories and renewable but which cannot be controlled, for example: "carboxite breads", Ce2 gas, a reserve with a "E technical" plate glycolated or by cartons previously frozen or even a brine with a saline dosage.

Only these products by their refrigeration power which can go down to -70 or -80 c have the disadvantage of not being able to be braked and introduced as such into the transport container, they propagate an excessive cold which freezes the stored products in the container whose storage temperature is generally from +3 to + 40c. Also, this temperature must be constant and last for a fairly long period of up to 3 days without breaking the cold chain.

Furthermore, since refrigerants are most often volatile, they therefore have a shorter duration of time and must be renewed more quickly.

This is of less importance if we have to transport foodstuffs which must remain at -300C or -40, which must be constant, however certain products do not support too much freezing, they become burnt and dehydrated by the cold and are no longer recoverable under initial conditions before freezing, such as: pizzas.

All these drawbacks of storing frigories have been known for a long time, so it can be seen that the transmission and regulation of frigories are of paramount importance.

 I1 is known techniques of opening and closing by shutters or by insulating partitions in "polypropylene" or other, making it possible to slow down these frigories, but these static and random means are archaic and are not satisfactory, they do not have any regularity in temperature, are not scientifically reliable and have no flexibility adaptable to demand.

 The device which is the subject of the invention avoids these drawbacks, it makes it possible to transfer, control, regulate and distill the frigories necessary for the conservation of the foodstuffs of the transport container. It also allows greater autonomy or an obvious saving.

 I1 is in the form of a metal plate located between the refrigerant storage module and the transport container. This transfer plate comprises over its entire surface, a network of capillaries effected by a coil from which the air has been emptied and filled with a refrigerant gas or a heat-carrying liquid.

This system is already known as a heat transfer coil or "heat pipe" which makes it possible to efficiently transport caloric or refrigerated joules, 10,000 times more than a copper rod, but with the particularity that this heat transfer coil must imperatively, to transfer the joules have a vertical tilt or have a slope of at least 5 ".

That is to say that thanks to its internal circuit very hermetically "drawn empty", this heat transfer tube transports frigories from top to bottom and vice versa for calories: from bottom to top, but it no longer has translation, if it is in a horizontal position.

 Thus the object of the invention consists in adapting this system to a "heat pipe" inserted in a serpentine on a metal plate, which for the present needs, leads the frigories from the storage module to the enclosure of the transport container.

By this means we can therefore, depending on the inclination of the plate which is held by a central axis, drive or stop the frigories, which avoids the drawbacks mentioned above, namely the massive introduction into the container, frigories trapped in the module.

A regulating thermostat located in the enclosure of the container and adjusted to the desired temperature makes it possible to trigger a motor actuated by battery or an electromagnet, coming to tilt or not, by means of an endless screw or other, the transfer plate , stopping or reactivating the efficiency of the heat transfer coil.

To capture this cold in the module, the heat transfer coil is extended by a sensor tube which, thanks to the inclination of the plate, penetrates vertically, into the module and captures the frigories which are then led up and down in the coil. heat transfer of the transfer plate, thus keeping the container enclosure cold.

To stop the influx of frigories, the motor controlled by the thermostat, inclines the plate in an opposite way from top to bottom, driving and retracting the sensor tube out of the module. By retracting this sensor tube which has at its end an insulating plug, obstructs the opening back and forth of the sensor tube between the module and the container. Since the tube is outside the module and the plate no longer has the correct inclination, the cold can no longer be brought to the enclosure of the container.

The object of the invention represents an important innovation for the control of the desired temperature regulation for this type of product and equipment, it allows a much greater autonomy and economy to meet the duration of transport of goods, avoiding thus the disadvantages due to the mass of frigories introduced.

 The device which is the subject of this invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the attached drawings, representing by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this device.

 Figures 1 and 2 show in section the device according to the invention, on the first it is in the closed position, and on the second, in opening.

 FIG. 3 represents a top and overall view of the device according to the invention.

 Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the transport container, complete and equipped with the refrigeration module and the transfer plate.

 With reference to these drawings and in its embodiment, FIGS. 1 and 2, we see the transport container 1 with its module 2 of refrigerants, they are separated by strong insulation 3 and communicate with each other by an opening 4 allowing the transfer of frigories by means of the sensor tube 5 extending the heat transfer coil 6 from the transfer plate 7.

The end of the sensor tube 5 includes a very insulating plug 8 so as to perfectly fit and close the opening 4, when the plate tilts. The regulation thermostat 9 located in the enclosure 10 of the container 1 sends the temperature information to the motor 11 or electromagnet to enable it to actuate by an endless screw 21, the inclination of the transfer plate 7. An axel2 allows the maintenance and the inclination of the plate. The hatch 13 allows the filling of refrigeration products in the module 2, a valve 14 is used for degassing gaseous products. The sensor tube 5 is protected in the module 2 by a sheet metal 15 so that its movement is not hampered by any product or coolant.

An inspection hatch 16 is used to exchange the 11 "batteries and to control the engine 11.

 In FIG. 1, the plate 7 is in the closed position of the frigory module 2, the inclination from bottom to top of the plate 7 being opposite to the circulation of the frigories and having driven the sensor tube 5 downwards by closing the opening. 4 with the plug 8, the frigories of the module 2 are stopped and are no longer conveyed by the coils 6 of the plate 7 to the enclosure 10 of the transport container. Module 2 can include different refrigeration products such as "glycol" 19 or "carboxite" breads 20.

 FIG. 2 shows the plate 7 releasing and transmitting the frigories to the enclosure 10 of the container 1.

The information having been given by the regulating thermostat 9 to the motor 11, actuated by a 11 "battery, the plate 7 has come to tilt and tilt up and down.

The raising of the sensor tube 5, clearing the opening 4 makes it possible to capture the frigories contained in the module 2 which are conveyed to the enclosure 10 by the heat-exchange coil 6 thanks to the adequate inclination of the transfer plate 7
In Figure 3, we see the transfer plate 7 with its axes 12 of inclination as well as the sensor tube 5 of the end of the heat transfer coil 6 of the plate 7, the shape of the coil 6 allows better conductivity and greater cooling surface.

 According to one embodiment, we see in Figure 4, the transport container 1, complete and equipped with the refrigeration module 2 and the transfer plate 7. In the enclosure 10 equipped with shelves 18, a grid 17 protects the plate 7 in its movement.

 However, the shapes, dimensions, arrangements and the means used to produce the device which has just been described may vary within the limit of equivalents.

Claims (2)

 10) Device for transferring and regulating refrigerants for transport containers, characterized by a transfer plate (7) tilting on an axis (12) and equipped with a coil (6) of joules coolant extended by a sensor tube (5 ) vertical, which, depending on the variable and adequate inclination of the transfer plate (7) makes it possible to capture or not the frigories stored in a storage module (2) to transport or stop them to keep cold and regulate the temperature d 'an enclosure (10) of a transport container (1).  20) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that when the transfer plate (7) has reached the appropriate inclination, the sensor tube (5) penetrates into the module (2) to capture the frigories and convey them by the heat transfer coil ( 6) to the enclosure (10) of the container (1).  30) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that when the transfer plate (7) is inclined in an opposite manner (from bottom to top) preventing the transport of frigories in the heat transfer coil (6), the sensor tube (5) driven by the tilting is withdrawn from the module (2) and comes to close by a plug (8) very insulating the opening (4) between the module (2) and the container (1) preventing frigories from penetrating.  4) Device according to all claims, characterized in that the regulating thermostat (9) gives information to an electromagnet or a motor (11) actuated by a battery (11 ") which by a worm (21 ) allows the tilting of the transfer plate (7) to convey or stop the frigories in the heat transfer coil (6) in order to regulate the refrigeration of the enclosure (10) of the transport container (1).