MOISTURELESS REFRIGERATION DEVICE FOR MOBILE COOLING CONTAINER

Abstract

A moistureless cooling device used in a mobile refrigerator is disclosed to include a thermal-insulation container having a storage chamber defined therein for storing low temperature substances and an opening in communication with the storage chamber and covered by a container cover, an air heat exchanger unit having a flow-guide conduit extending through and isolated from the storage chamber, and an air supply unit installed in one of the air inlet and air outlet of the flow-guide conduit for delivering outside air through the flow-guide conduit to transfer low temperature from the low temperature substances in the storage chamber of the thermal-insulation container to an enclosed space in the mobile refrigerator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to refrigeration technology and more particularly to a moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling container that utilizes ice cubes to generate cooling air.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Regular mobile cooling containers or refrigerators commonly use a forced air flow through ice cubes or cooling bags, thereby reducing the temperature of the forced air flow to achieve a cooling effect without an electric compressor. FIG. 1 illustrates a refrigeration device for mobile refrigerator according to the prior art. According to this design, the refrigeration device comprises a container 10 holding a plurality of ice cubes 30, an electric fan 20 installed in an air inlet 101 of the container 10 and operable to induce an air flow to flow from the air inlet 101 through the ice cubes 30 to the outside of the container 10 via an air outlet 102. As the induced air flow flows over the ice cubes 30 directly, it carries moisture from the ice cubes 30 and the ice cubes 30 will melt quickly, lowering the refrigeration efficiency. Thus, the user needs to add a new supply of ice cubes 30 regularly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a moistureless cooling device, which enables a low temperature to be transferred from low temperature substances (e.g. ice cubes) in a thermally insulated storage chamber to an intake flow of air passing through a flow-guide conduit so that the temperature of the intake flow of air can be greatly reduced for cooling application in a mobile refrigerator or cooling container without carrying moisture.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a moistureless cooling device for use in a mobile refrigerator comprises a thermal-insulation container having a storage chamber defined therein for storing low temperature substances and an opening in communication with the storage chamber and covered by a container cover, an air heat exchanger unit having a flow-guide conduit extending through and isolated from the storage chamber, and an air supply unit installed in one of the air inlet and air outlet of the flow-guide conduit for delivering outside air through the flow-guide conduit to transfer low temperature from the low temperature substances in the storage chamber of the thermal-insulation container to an enclosed space in the mobile refrigerator.

Based on the structural design of the storage chamber of the thermal-insulation container and the air heat exchanger unit, the intake flow of air does not absorb moisture when passing through the flow-guide conduit. Thus, the cooling air that flows out of the outlet of the flow-guide conduit does not absorb moisture from the low temperature substances (e.g. ice cubes) and can achieve the desired moistureless refrigeration. Further, the storage chamber of the thermal-insulation container is thermally insulated by a heat-insulation container wall. As the intake flow of air does not pass through or flow toward the ice cubes directly and the storage chamber of the thermal-insulation container is thermally insulated by the heat-insulation container wall, the ice cubes will not melt rapidly, i.e., the period of effective refrigeration is greatly prolonged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the structure and operation principle of a refrigeration device according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of a moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention, illustrating an alternate form of the air heat exchanger unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention, illustrating another alternate form of the air heat exchanger unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention, illustrating still another alternate form of the air heat exchanger unit.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the present invention, illustrating still another alternate form of the air heat exchanger unit.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a moistureless refrigeration device for mobile cooling container in accordance with the present invention is shown. The moistureless cooling device comprises a thermal-insulation container 1, an air heat exchanger unit 2, and an air supply unit 3. The thermal-insulation container 1 can be made in a rectangular shape or in any of a variety of other shapes, comprising a storage chamber 11 adapted for storing low temperature substances, a heat-insulation container wall 12 surrounding the storage chamber 11, an opening 13 in communication with the storage chamber 11, and a container cover 14 covering the opening 13. The air heat exchanger unit 2 is a temperature conduction structure adapted for transferring low temperature for heat exchange with hot air, comprising a metal flow-guide conduit 21 isolated from the storage chamber 11, an air inlet 22 located on the outside of the thermal-insulation container 1 and kept in communication with one end of the metal flow-guide conduit 21, and an air outlet 23 located on the outside of the thermal-insulation container 1 and kept in communication with the other end of the metal flow-guide conduit 21. Further, the metal flow-guide conduit 21 can be made having a circular, rectangular or any other cross-section. The air supply unit 3 can be an electric fan or any other equivalent means installed in the air inlet 22 or air outlet 23 of the heat exchanger unit 2 for delivering outside air through the metal flow-guide conduit 21 of the heat exchanger unit 2 (by suction or blowing) to transfer low temperature from low-temperature materials stored in the storage chamber 11 of the thermal-insulation container 1 to an external enclosed space outside the moistureless refrigeration device. The thermal-insulation container 1, the air heat exchanger unit 2 and the air supply unit 3 are assembled to form the desired moistureless refrigeration device that works as the core cooling device of a mobile cooling container or refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 4, when using the present invention, ice cubes 30, cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials can be stored in the storage chamber 11 of the thermal-insulation container 1 and kept in contact with the air heat exchanger unit 2. Thus, low temperature can be transferred from the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 to the metal flow-guide conduit 21 of the air heat exchanger unit 2. At the same time, the air supply unit 3 keeps delivering outside air through the air inlet 22 of the air heat exchanger unit 2 into the metal flow-guide conduit 21 toward the air outlet 23. When the external hot air touches the conduit wall of the metal flow-guide conduit 21, the hot air is converted into cold air by means of heat exchange and then guided out of the air outlet 23. For the advantage of generating cooling air without an electric compressor, the invention is practical for use in a mobile cooling container or refrigerator. Further, the structural design of the storage chamber 11 of the thermal-insulation container 1 and the air heat exchanger unit 2 prevents the intake flow of hot air from passing through or flowing toward the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 directly, and therefore the cooling air thus produced does not absorb moisture from the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 and can achieve the desired moistureless refrigeration. As the intake flow of hot air does not pass through or flow toward the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 directly, the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 will not melt rapidly, i.e., the period of effective refrigeration is prolonged without the need to add or replace ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30 frequently.

In order to enhance the low-temperature transfer and/or heat exchange efficiency for lowering the temperature level of the produced cooling air, as shown in FIG. 5, the metal flow-guide conduit 21 of the air heat exchanger unit 2 can be made in the form of a coil conduit, providing a detour air passage between the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 to extend the time in which the intake flow of air passes through the metal flow-guide conduit 21. Thus, a relatively lower temperature of cooling air can be produced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a first thermal conduction structure 24 may be mounted in the storage chamber 11 of the thermal-insulation container 1. The first thermal conduction structure 24 comprises a plurality of radiation fins 241 extending from the periphery of the metal flow-guide conduit 21 and suspending in the storage chamber 11 to increase the contact surface area between the metal flow-guide conduit 21 and the ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30, enhancing the low-temperature transfer efficiency. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a second thermal conduction structure 25 may be installed inside the metal flow-guide conduit 21. The second thermal conduction structure 25 comprises a plurality of radiation fins 251 extending from the inside wall of the metal flow-guide conduit 21 in a parallel manner relative to the extending direction of the metal flow-guide conduit 21 to avoid interference with the flow of air passing through the metal flow-guide conduit 21. Thus, the radiation fins 251 greatly increase the contact surface area between the metal flow-guide conduit 21 and the intake flow of hot air. When the intake flow of hot air flows through the air inlet 22 into the metal flow-guide conduit 21 toward the air outlet 23, the radiation fins 251 in the metal flow-guide conduit 21 enhance the heat exchange efficiency, causing the temperature of the air passing therethrough to be rapidly reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the second thermal conduction structure 25 can be configured to comprise a plurality of thermal conduction tubes 252 arranged in the metal flow-guide conduit 21, each having one or both of two opposing ends thereof kept in communication with the storage chamber 11 for receiving the supplied ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30, enhancing low-temperature transfer and/or heat exchange efficiency.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the second thermal conduction structure 25 further comprises a plurality of radiation fins 253 extending from the periphery of the thermal conduction tubes 252 and suspending in the metal flow-guide conduit 21 to increase the contact surface area between the metal flow-guide conduit 21 and the intake flow of hot air, thereby enhancing the heat exchange efficiency.

Further, the heat-insulation container wall 12 of the thermal-insulation container 1 that surrounds the storage chamber 11 is a thermal insulation structure having a thermal insulation foam layer 121 stuffed therein, as shown in FIG. 3. The thermal insulation foam layer 121 is made from a polymeric plastic material, for example, polystyrene foam. By means of the thermal insulation foam layer 121, the heat-insulation container wall 12 prevents dissipation of the low temperature of the stored ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30, prolonging the refrigerating performance. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the heat-insulation container wall 12 can be configured having an internal vacuum insulation space 122. By means of the internal vacuum insulation space 122, the heat-insulation container wall 12 prevents dissipation of the low temperature of the stored ice cubes (cooling bags or any other low-temperature materials) 30, prolonging the refrigerating performance.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A moistureless cooling device for a mobile refrigerator, comprising:

a thermal-insulation container comprising a storage chamber adapted for storing low temperature substances, a heat-insulation container wall surrounding said storage chamber, an opening in communication with said storage chamber, and a container cover covering said opening;

an air heat exchanger unit comprising a flow-guide conduit extending through and isolated from said storage chamber, said flow-guide conduit having an air inlet and an air outlet respectively disposed outside said storage chamber of said thermal-insulation container; and

an air supply unit installed in one of the air inlet and air outlet of said flow-guide conduit of said heat exchanger unit for delivering outside air through said flow-guide conduit to transfer low temperature from the low temperature substances stored in said storage chamber of said thermal-insulation container to an enclosed space in said mobile refrigerator.

2. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow-guide conduit is a coil conduit defining therein a detour flow passage.

3. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger unit comprises a first thermal conduction structure in contact with the metal flow-guide conduit and disposed in said storage chamber of said thermal-insulation container.

4. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first thermal conduction structure comprises a plurality of radiation fins extending from the periphery of said flow-guide conduit and suspending in said storage chamber of said thermal-insulation container.

5. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger unit comprises a second thermal conduction structure disposed on the inner periphery of said flow-guide conduit.

6. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second thermal conduction structure comprises a plurality of radiation fins extending from the inner peripheral wall of said flow-guide conduit and suspending inside said flow-guide conduit.

7. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second thermal conduction structure further comprises at least one thermal conduction tube arranged in said flow-guide conduit, each said thermal conduction tube having at least one of two opposite ends thereof kept in communication with said storage chamber for receiving the supplied low temperature substances.

8. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second thermal conduction structure further comprises a plurality of radiation fins extending from the periphery of each said thermal conduction tube and suspending in said flow-guide conduit.

9. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-insulation container wall of said thermal-insulation container comprises a thermal insulation foam layer stuffed therein.

10. The moistureless cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-insulation container wall of said thermal-insulation container has an internal vacuum insulation space defined therein.