DAMPER STRUCTURE OF ADSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

A damper structure is configured to open and close evaporator-side communication paths and the condenser-side communication paths respectively formed between adsorbing/desorbing devices and an evaporator and a condenser in an adsorption type refrigerator. There are spherical dampers in the communication paths respectively rollably placed therein. A ring-shape seal member having an inner circumference that can be sealed by the spherical damper is provided on a tilting lower end side of each of the communication paths in a path formation direction. A stopper for preventing the spherical damper from falling out of the communication path is provided on a tilting upper end side of each of the communication paths in the path formation direction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a damper structure used in an adsorption type refrigerator configured to open and close communication paths which communicate a plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices with an evaporator and a condenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In an adsorption type refrigerator, heat transfer pipes are inserted through two adsorbing/desorbing devices and a solid adsorbent, such as silica gel, is applied to surfaces of the heat transfer pipes in the adsorbing/desorbing devices. The evaporator and the condenser can individually communicate with the respective adsorbing/desorbing devices by opening and closing a damper. The adsorbing/desorbing devices, the evaporator, and the condenser are vacuumized and a refrigerant can be circulated through these devices. While the adsorption type refrigerator is operating, the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as an adsorbing device by circulating cooling water in the heat transfer pipe and the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as a desorbing device by circulating warm water in the heat transfer pipe are switchably used in turn at given time intervals.

An example of the damper structure for opening and closing the communication paths may be formed as a plurality of valves used in the temperature control method for adsorption type refrigerator disclosed in Patent document 1. Those valves are opened and closed by leveraging pressure differences generated between adsorbing/desorbing devices and an evaporator or a condenser. The respective valves are each configured to unidirectionally circulate refrigerant vapor. More specifically, the valves provided in communication paths between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator allow the refrigerant vapor to be circulated from the evaporator to the adsorbing/desorbing devices, while inhibiting the refrigerant vapor to flow back from the adsorbing/desorbing devices to the evaporator. The valves provided in communication paths between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the condenser allow the refrigerant vapor to be circulated from the adsorbing/desorbing devices to the condenser, while inhibiting the refrigerant vapor to flow back from the condenser to the adsorbing/desorbing devices.

For the fluid valve disclosed in Patent document 2, a valve member used as a damper is formed in a shell-like shape having a curved surface, and a communication port where the valve member is provided is formed in a conical tapered shape. The outer-peripheral curved surface of the valve member abuts on a surface of the conical tapered communication port under a refrigerant dynamic pressure generated in a direction between spaces defined by the valve member, thereby closing the communication port. The closed communication port is opened upon uprising of the valve member from the communication port under a refrigerant dynamic pressure generated in the other direction between the spaces. A valve guide is provided to prevent any displacement of the valve member that may be caused by the refrigerant dynamic pressures travelling through the spaces.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

• Patent Document 1: JP-A No. 64-58966
• Patent Document 2: JP-A No. 2002-257250

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the adsorption type refrigerators, pressure differences between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator and the condenser are rather small. It is an option to use a damper that is light enough to be opened and closed byway of such small pressure differences. However, the damper opened and closed as often as tens of thousands of times a year should not be reduced in weight, otherwise, its durability would be undermined.

According to Patent documents 1 and 2 in which the valve or the valve member used as the damper is formed in container-like shape, these dampers increase their own weights as condensed water is increasingly accumulated in the container-like portions, and these dampers are possibly no longer opened or closed by such small pressure differences. As a result, there may cause the risk of failing to normally operate.

The present invention was made to solve these conventional technical problems. The present invention provides a damper structure of an adsorption type refrigerator, in which a damper is reduced in weight and improved in durability, and the damper is configured to stably open and close communication paths by leveraging pressure differences suitably generated between adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator and the condenser.

Means for Solving Problems

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a damper structure for an adsorption type refrigerator which is provided with a plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices each having a heat transfer pipe inserted therethrough, a surface of which is applied with a solid adsorbent, an evaporator configured to communicate with the plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices individually, and a condenser configured to communicate with the plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices individually, and is operated by switching between the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as an adsorbing device by circulating a cooling water in the heat transfer pipe and the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as a desorbing device by circulating a warm water in the heat transfer pipe at given time intervals. The damper structure is provided with evaporator-side communication paths formed between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator with a tilt, having a side communicating with the evaporator lower than a side communicating with the adsorbing/desorbing devices, and the condenser-side communication paths formed between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the condenser with a tilt, having a side communicating with the condenser higher than a side communicating with the adsorbing/desorbing devices, a spherical damper movably placed in each of the communication paths as the evaporator-side communication path and the condenser-side communication path, a ring-shape seal member provided on a tilting lower end side of the communication path in a path formation direction, which has an inner circumference sealed by the spherical damper, and a stopper provided on a tilting upper end side of the communication path in the path formation direction, which prevents the spherical damper from falling out of the communication path.

Effect of the Invention

According to the damper structure of the adsorption type refrigerator, the evaporator-side communication paths and the condenser-side communication paths are respectively formed with tilts and provided with the spherical dampers movably set therein. The ring-shape seal members and the stoppers are respectively provided on the tilting lower end sides and the tilting upper end sides of the respective communication paths in the path formation direction.

The adsorbing/desorbing devices, the evaporator, and the condenser of the adsorption type refrigerator are vacuumized, and refrigerant vapor can be circulated through these devices via the communication paths.

Movement of the spherical dampers in the communication paths will be described below.

The solid adsorbent is cooled down by the heat transfer pipe in the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as an adsorbing device by supplying the cooling water in the heat transfer pipe, and the refrigerant vapor is adsorbed to the solid adsorbent by adsorption reaction (exothermal reaction). Then, an internal pressure of the adsorbing device reduces to a pressure level lower than internal pressures of the evaporator and the condenser.

In the adsorbing device, the spherical damper placed in the evaporator-side communication path is subjected to a pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the adsorbing device lower than the internal pressure of the evaporator, and disengages itself from the ring-shape seal member, and then further moves to the tiling upper end side of the evaporator-side communication path (moves away from the evaporator toward the adsorbing device). As a result, the evaporator-side communication path is opened.

In the adsorbing device, the spherical damper placed in the condenser-side communication path, under its own weight and a pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the adsorbing device lower than the internal pressure of the condenser, moves to the tiling lower end side of the condenser-side communication path (moves away from the condenser toward the adsorbing device). As a result, the spherical damper keeps rolling to finally seal the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member, thus closing the condenser-side communication path. The closed state of the communication path can be retained by the pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the desorbing device lower than the internal pressure of the condenser.

In this way, the spherical dampers can open the evaporator-side communication paths communicating between the adsorbing device and the evaporator, and close the condenser-side communication paths communicating between the condenser and the adsorbing device.

In the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as a desorbing device by supplying the warm water in the heat transfer pipe, the solid adsorbent is heated by the heat transfer pipe, and the refrigerant vapor is desorbed from the solid adsorbent by desorption reaction (endoergic reaction). Then, an internal pressure of the desorbing device rises to a pressure level higher than internal pressures of the evaporator and the condenser.

In the desorbing device, the spherical damper placed in the condenser-side communication path is subjected to a pressure difference resulting from the increased internal pressure of the desorbing device higher than the internal pressure of the condenser, and disengages itself from the ring-shape seal member. It then moves to the tiling upper end side of the condenser-side communication path (moves away from the desorbing device toward the condenser). As a result, the condenser-side communication path is opened.

In the desorbing device, the spherical damper provided in the evaporator-side communication path moves under its own weight to the tiling lower end side of the evaporator-side communication path (moves away from the desorbing device toward the evaporator). As a result, the spherical damper keeps rolling to finally seal the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member, thus closing the evaporator-side communication path. The closed state of the communication path can be retained by the pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the desorbing device higher than the internal pressure of the evaporator.

In this way, in the desorbing device, the spherical dampers can open the evaporator-side communication path communicating between the condenser and the desorbing device, and close the condenser-side communication path communicating between the evaporator and the desorbing device.

When the adsorbing/desorbing device currently functioning as the desorbing device is switched to the adsorbing device, the currently high internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device changes to a low-pressure level. When the adsorbing/desorbing device currently functioning as the adsorbing device is switched to function as the desorbing device, the currently low internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device changes to a high-pressure level. The spherical dampers placed in the respective communication paths are thought to move while rolling in the process of those pressure changes in most of the case. Depending on the speed of change in the pressure difference exerted to the spherical damper and self-weight, there may be the case that the spherical damper 6 slidably moves.

The spherical damper is thought to move mostly while rolling under its own weight from the tilting upper end side to the tilting lower end side through the internal pressure variability of the adsorbing/desorbing devices when the adsorbing/desorbing device is switched to and from the adsorbing device and the desorbing device in turn.

Because of the stopper provided on the tilting upper end side of each communication path, the spherical damper moving to the tilting upper end side under the pressure difference is prevented from falling out of the communication path.

As described above, the spherical dampers can open the communication paths leveraging the pressure differences generated between the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as the adsorbing device and the evaporator, and between the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as the desorbing device and the condenser. Further, the spherical dampers can close the communication paths under their own weights. Therefore, it is unnecessary to separately provide any drive source to drive the spherical dampers.

The dampers formed in such a simple spherical shape can be easily produced and reduced in weight.

The spherical damper is thought to move through the communication path while swinging and sliding under the impact from the circulating refrigerant vapor because of its spherical shape. Therefore, the spherical damper can suitably change its direction when sealing the ring-shape seal member. This directional flexibility can prevent a certain part of the spherical damper from being repeatedly in contact with the ring-shape seal member and worn out, thus improving durability of the spherical damper.

Because of the spherical shape of the damper, it is very unlikely that the refrigerant vapor accumulates thereon to increase the weight of the damper. Therefore, the pressure differences between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator and the condenser can be kept at appropriate levels, and the communication paths can be reliably opened and closed by the spherical dampers. The pressure differences which induce the movements of the spherical dampers can be arbitrarily adjusted by changing the masses of the spherical dampers or the tiling angles of the communication paths.

According to the damper structure of the adsorption type refrigerator, the dampers can be reduced in weight and improved in durability, and the communication paths can be stably opened and closed by leveraging the pressure differences suitably generated between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator and the condenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an adsorption type refrigerator according to an embodiment where a first adsorbing/desorbing device functions as an adsorbing device and a second adsorbing/desorbing device functions as a desorbing device to operate the refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the adsorption type refrigerator according to the embodiment where the first adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the desorbing device and the second adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the adsorbing device to operate the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of structural characteristics on and around adsorbing/desorbing devices and communication paths in a horizontal adsorption type refrigerator according to the embodiment wherein the first adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the adsorbing device and the second adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the desorbing device to operate the refrigerator.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of structural characteristics on and around the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the communication paths in the horizontal adsorption type refrigerator according to the embodiment wherein the first adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the desorbing device and the second adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the adsorbing device to operate the refrigerator.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a communication path according to the embodiment where a spherical damper is placed.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view cut along A-A line of FIG. 5, illustrating a communication path according to the embodiment where the spherical damper is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of structural characteristics on and around adsorbing/desorbing devices and evaporator-side communication paths in a vertical adsorption type refrigerator according to the embodiment wherein the first adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the adsorbing device and the second adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the desorbing device to operate the refrigerator.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of structural characteristics on and around the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the condenser-side communication paths in the vertical adsorption type refrigerator according to the embodiment, in which the first adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the desorbing device and the second adsorbing/desorbing device functions as the adsorbing device to operate the refrigerator.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A preferred mode of a damper structure of an adsorption type refrigerator is described referring to the accompanied drawings.

In the evaporator-side communication path, when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as the adsorbing device becomes lower than the internal pressure of the evaporator, preferably, the spherical damper moves to the tilting upper end side to open the evaporator-side communication path, and when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device becomes higher than the internal pressure of the condenser, the spherical damper moves to the tilting lower end side under its own weight to close the evaporator-side communication path. In the condenser-side communication path, when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as the desorbing device becomes higher than the internal pressure of the condenser, preferably, the spherical damper moves to the tilting upper end side to open the condenser-side communication path, and when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device becomes lower than the internal pressure of the condenser, the spherical damper moves under its own weight to the tilting lower end side to close the condenser-side communication path.

In this case, the respective spherical dampers can be easily moved in the communication paths by the pressure differences or under their own weights applied to tilting surfaces of the communication paths.

Preferably, the spherical damper is made from a resin, and the ring-shape seal member is a rubber packing material.

Accordingly, the spherical damper can be easily reduced in weight, and the ring-shape seal member can be inexpensively formed.

The spherical damper, depending on its size and own weight variable from a material, may be a solid-core damper having inside filled with resin or a shell-like damper having a hollow part therein.

Preferably, the tilting lower end side of the communication path is provided with a stopper for preventing the spherical damper from immovably fitting in the ring-shape seal member.

The spherical damper may accidentally fit in the ring-shape seal member when moving to the tilting lower end side by the pressure differences between the adsorbing/desorbing devices, and the evaporator and the condenser to seal the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member. The fit-in preventing stopper can prevent such an undesirable event as fitting in the ring-shape seal member.

EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the damper structure of the adsorption type refrigerator is described referring to the accompanied drawings.

A damper structure 5 according to the embodiment is configured to open and close communication paths 51A and 51B respectively formed between adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and an evaporator 31 and a condenser 32 in an adsorption type refrigerator 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the adsorption type refrigerator 1 has a plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B each having a heat transfer pipe 21 inserted therethrough, a surface of which is applied with a solid adsorbent 211, an evaporator 31 configured to communicate with the plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B individually, and a condenser 32 configured to communicate with the plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B individually. The adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functioning as an adsorbing device X1 by circulating a cooling water C in the heat transfer pipe 21 and the adsorbing/desorbing device 2B (or 2A) functioning as a desorbing device X2 by circulating a warm water H in the heat transfer pipe 21 is switchably used in turn at given time intervals to operate the adsorption type refrigerator 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the evaporator-side communication paths 51A between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the evaporator 31 are tilted so that a side thereof communicating with the evaporator 31 is lower than a side thereof communicating with the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the condenser-side communication paths 51B between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the condenser 32 are each tilted so that a side thereof communicating with the condenser 32 is higher than a side thereof communicating with the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B.

The communication paths 51A and 51B as the evaporator-side communication path 51A or the condenser-side communication path 51B, have spherical dampers 6 respectively placed and allowed to roll therein. A ring-shape seal member 55 having an inner circumference that can be sealed by the spherical damper 6 is provided on a tilting lower end side of each of the communication paths 51A and 51B in a path formation direction L. A stopper 56 for preventing the spherical damper 6 from falling out of the communication path 51A or 51B is provided on a tilting upper end side of each of the communication paths 51A and 51B in the path formation direction L.

The damper structure 5 of the adsorption type refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment is described in detail referring to FIGS. 1 to 8.

First, the adsorption type refrigerator 1 which employs the damper structure 5 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the adsorption type refrigerator 1 operated by allowing the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A to function as the adsorbing device X1 and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B to function as the desorbing device X2. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the adsorption type refrigerator 1 operated by allowing the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A to function as the desorbing device X2 and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B to function as the adsorbing device X1 to operate the refrigerator. In the drawings, the communication paths 51A and 51B and the spherical dampers 6 are schematically illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, the adsorption type refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment has the two adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B each having a heat transfer pipe 21 inserted therethrough, a surface of which is applied with a solid adsorbent 211, the evaporator 31 configured to communicate with the two adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B individually, and the condenser 32 configured to communicate with the two adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B individually.

A refrigerant A can be circulated through the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, evaporator 31, and the condenser 32. The internal spaces of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, evaporator 31, and the condenser 32 are in a vacuum state to readily allow evaporation of the refrigerant A. The evaporator 31 has an internal pressure equal to about 1/100 of atmospheric pressure, and the condenser 32 has an internal pressure equal to about 1/20 of atmospheric pressure. According to the embodiment, the solid adsorbent 211 is silica gel, and the refrigerant A is water.

The evaporator 31 is provided adjacent to one sides of the two adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the condenser 32 is provided adjacent to the other sides of the two adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B.

The spherical dampers 6 placed in the evaporator-side communication paths 51A between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the evaporator 31 close the evaporator-side communication paths 51A under their own weights to inhibit communication between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the evaporator 31. These spherical dampers 6 are configured to open only when the internal pressures of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are lower than the internal pressure of the evaporator 31. The spherical dampers 6 placed in the condenser-side communication paths 51B between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the condenser 32 close the condenser-side communication paths 51B under their own weights to inhibit communication between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the condenser 32. These spherical dampers 6 are configured to open only when the internal pressures of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are higher than the internal pressure of the condenser 32.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat transfer pipes 21 of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are piped to reach two selector valve devices 46A and 46B.

The evaporator 31 has an evaporator pipe 311 inserted therethrough as a passage of a cold water W. The evaporator pipe 311 is connected to a cold water tank 44. The evaporator pipe 311 is connected to a refrigerating device 45 to which the cold water W is supplied and chilled. The refrigerating device 45 may be formed as an air conditioning system or a refrigerator, for example. The evaporator pipe 311 is piped through the evaporator 31, cold water tank 44, and refrigerating device 45.

The condenser 32 has a condenser pipe 321 inserted therethrough as a passage of the cooling water C. The condenser pipe 321 is connected to a cooling water tank 41. The cooling water C from the cooling water tank 41 is supplied to the condenser pipe 321 by way of the selector valve device 46A, heat transfer pipes 21 of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and a selector valve device 46B, and then returns to the cooling water tank 41 from the condenser pipe 321.

The condenser 32 has a tray 35 for receiving the refrigerant A (water according to the embodiment) condensed and liquefied by the condenser pipe 321. A circulation pipe 36 is provided between the tray 35 and the evaporator 31 to feed the refrigerant A accumulated in the tray 35 to a surface of the evaporator pipe 311 in the evaporator 31.

The warm water H supplied to the heat transfer pipes 21 of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B is heated by exhaust heat discharged from a heat generator 42 that generates heat. For example, a solar energy assisted system, a gas engine system, a boiler, or a device configured to discharge vapor drain may be employed as the heat generator 42. The warm water H is obtained by the use of exhaust heat discharged from the heat generator 42 and stored in a warm water tank 43, and then supplied to inlets of the heat transfer pipe 21 of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B by way of the selector valve device 46A. The warm water H is further circulated from outlets of the heat transfer pipe 21 of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B to the heat generator 42 by way of the selector valve device 46B.

The cooling water C is water at a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 35° C. (about 30° C.), and the warm water H is water heated to 70° C. to 90° C. (about 80° C.). The cold water W in the evaporator pipe 311 of the evaporator 31 is cooled down to 9 to 14° C. (about 11° C.).

The adsorption type refrigerator 1 is configured to be operated by switching between the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functioning as the adsorbing device X1 by circulating the cooling water C in the heat transfer pipe 21 and the adsorbing/desorbing device 2B (or 2A) functioning as the desorbing device X2 by circulating the warm water H in the heat transfer pipe 21 using the two selector valve devices 46A and 46B at given time intervals to cool down the cold water W in the evaporator pipe 311 inserted in the evaporator 31. This allows the adsorption type refrigerator 1 to continuously feed the produced cold water W from the cold water tank 44 to the refrigerating device 45.

According to the embodiment, a recovery step of avoiding mixture of the cooling water C and the warm water H is conducted between steps of adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant vapor A to and from the solid adsorbent 211 repeatedly performed at given time intervals.

Next, the damper structure 5 is described in detail.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the communication path 51A or 51B where the spherical damper 6 is placed. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along A-A line of FIG. 5, illustrating the communication path 51A or 51B where the spherical damper 6 is omitted.

According to the embodiment, the spherical damper 6 made from a resin, such as polypropylene, is a solid-core damper having inside filled with the resin. The mass of the spherical damper 6 can be suitably adjusted by selecting a suitable material or suitably changing absolute dimensions of the ring-shape seal members 55 and the spherical damper 6.

The tilting upper end side and the tiling lower end side respectively represent those of the communication path 51A or 51B in the path formation direction L. An upper surface side and a lower surface side respectively represent those of the communication path 51A or 51B in a vertical direction. In FIG. 5, the tilting upper end side is illustrated with an arrow L1, and the tilting lower end side is illustrated with an arrow L2.

In the communication paths 51A and 51B according to the embodiment, the section area at the end of the path on the tilting lower end side is smaller than the section area at any other part of the path including the tilting upper end side. A stepped portion 52 is formed at the end part of the communication path 51A or 51B on the tilting lower end side, and an annular groove 521 for holding the ring-shape seal member 55 is formed at the end part of the stepped portion 52 on the tilting upper end side.

The ring-shape seal member 55 according to the embodiment is a rubber packing material.

The section area dimensions of the communication path 51A or 51B is larger than a diameter of the spherical damper 6. When the spherical damper 6 rolls in the communication path 51A or 51B, a clearance 53 is formed at the upper side of the communication path 51A or 51B.

The ring-shape seal member 55 is eccentrically placed on the lower surface side of the stepped portion 52 of the communication path 51A or 51B. The ring-shape seal member 55 is formed so that the spherical damper 6 rolling on a bottom part 511 of the communication path 51A or 51B from the tilting upper end side to the tilting lower end side abuts on a whole inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member 55.

When the spherical damper 6 is rolling to the tilting upper end side, the refrigerant vapor A is conveyed from the tilting lower end side to the tilting upper end side through the clearance 53 formed between the spherical damper 6 and the communication path 51A or 51B. The spherical damper 6 moving from the tilting lower end side to the tilting upper end side is thought to move while rolling in most of cases because the refrigerant vapor A flows into the clearance 53 formed at the upper surface side of the communication path 51A or 51B.

A relative size of the ring-shape seal member 55 with respect to the spherical damper 6 may be determined such that an inner circumferential diameter of the ring-shape seal member 55 is at least 0.5 times to less than 0.8 times as large as the diameter of the spherical damper 6.

The stopper 56 according to the embodiment is provided laterally across the end part of the communication path 51A or 51B on the tilting upper end side. The stopper 56 may be formed in a ring shape and provided so that an upper end side of the stopper 56 is suspended in a space of the communication path 51A or 51B. Unlike the ring-shape seal member 55, the stopper 56 may be formed in various shapes as far as rolling of the spherical damper 6 is stopped while keeping the communication path 51A or 51B opened.

When a tilting angle θ of the communication path 51A or 51B is set to a moderate angle, the spherical damper 6 pushed by the pressure of the refrigerant vapor A is allowed to roll to the tilting upper end side of the communication path 51A or 51B more easily. If the tilting angle θ of the communication path 51A or 51B is unnecessarily small, there may cause the risk of destabilizing the position of the spherical damper 6 in the communication path 51A or 51B under the pressure of the refrigerant vapor A. On the contrary, if the tilting angle θ of the communication path 51A or 51B is made steep, an adverse effect may occur.

When the mass of the spherical damper 6 is reduced, the spherical damper 6 pushed by the pressure of the refrigerant vapor A is allowed to roll to the tilting upper end side of the communication path 51A or 51B more easily. If the mass of the spherical damper 6 is too small, there may cause the risk of destabilizing the position of the spherical damper 6 in the communication path 51A or 51B under the pressure of the refrigerant vapor A. On the contrary, if the mass the spherical damper 6 is made large, the adverse effect may occur.

If the tilting angle θ of the communication path 51A or 51B is made too steep or the mass of the spherical damper 6 is made too large, the force that brings the spherical damper 6 in abutment on the ring-shape seal member 55 is intensified. The resultant pressure difference generated between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 may cause the risk of hindering the spherical damper 6 from opening the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member 55.

In consideration of these unfavorable events that may occur, the pressure differences generated between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are also taken into account to determine appropriate values of the tilting angle θ of the communication path 51A or 51B and the mass of the spherical damper 6.

The tilting angle θ of the communication path 51A or 51B may be set to be in the range from 1° to 15° relative to a horizontal direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the tilting lower end side of the communication path 51A or 51B may be provided with a fit-in preventing stopper 57 for preventing the spherical damper 6 from immovably fitting in the ring-shape seal member 55. The fit-in preventing stopper 57 can prevent the spherical damper 6 from immovably fitting in the ring-shape seal member 55 when rolling to the tiling lower end side to seal the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member 55 under the pressure differences between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32.

The damper structure 5 which includes the communication paths 51A and 51B having the spherical dampers 6 placed therein may be applied to a variety of adsorption type refrigerators 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adsorption type refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment may be provided as a horizontal adsorption type refrigerator 1 wherein the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are arranged to face with each other so as to be horizontally directed. The first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are arranged while slightly tilting with respect to the horizontal direction.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the horizontal adsorption type refrigerator 1 operated in the state where the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the adsorbing device X1 and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functions as the desorbing device X2, focusing on the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the communication paths 51A and 51B, and the region therearound. FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the horizontal adsorption type refrigerator 1 operated in the state where the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the desorbing device X2 and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functions as the adsorbing device X1, focusing on the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the communication paths 51A and 51B, and the region therearound.

The horizontal adsorption type refrigerator 1 is structured so that an evaporator-side communication path formation member 58A for piping to the evaporator 31 is provided on the tilting lower end sides of the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B in the horizontal direction, and a condenser-side communication path formation member 58B for piping to the condenser 32 is provided on the tilting upper end sides of the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B in the horizontal direction.

The evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are respectively provided below the communication path formation members 58A and 58B. The evaporator-side communication paths 51A are disposed so as to have those sides communicating with the evaporator 31 tilted downward relative to the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B at the same angle as the tilting angle of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B. The condenser-side communication paths 51B are disposed so as to have those sides communicating with the evaporator tilted upward relative to the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B at the same angle as the tilting angle of the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B. The communication paths 51A and 51B respectively have the ring-shape seal members 55 on the tilting lower end sides thereof and the stoppers 56 on the tilting upper end sides thereof.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the event that the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functions as the adsorbing device X1, when the internal pressure of the adsorbing device X1 is lower than the internal pressure of the evaporator 31, the spherical damper 6 rolls to the tilting upper end side to open the evaporator-side communication path 51A. In the event that the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functions as the desorbing device X2, when the internal pressure of the desorbing device X2 is higher than the internal pressure of the condenser 32, the spherical damper 6 rolls down to the tilting lower end side under its own weight to close the evaporator-side communication path 51A.

In the event that the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functions as the desorbing device X2, when the internal pressure of the desorbing device X2 is higher than the internal pressure of the condenser 32, the spherical damper 6 rolls to the tilting upper end side to open the condenser-side communication path 51B. In the event that the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functions as the adsorbing device X1, when the internal pressure of the adsorbing device X1 is lower than the internal pressure of the condenser 32, and the spherical damper 6 thereby rolls down to the tilting lower end side under its own weight to close the condenser-side communication path 51B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the adsorption type refrigerator 1 may be formed as a vertical adsorption type refrigerator 1 structured to have the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B disposed in a vertical direction at a predefined interval.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the vertical adsorption type refrigerator 1 operated in the state where the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the adsorbing device X1 and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functions as the desorbing device X2, focusing on the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the communication paths 51A and 51B, and the region therearound. FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the vertical adsorption type refrigerator 1 operated in the state where the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the adsorbing device X1 and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functions as the desorbing device X2, focusing on the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the communication paths 51A and 51B, and the region therearound

The vertical adsorption type refrigerator 1 is equipped with the evaporator-side communication path formation member 58A for piping to the evaporator 31 (see FIG. 7) and the condenser-side communication path formation member 58B for piping to the condenser 32 (see FIG. 8) between upper end parts of the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B.

The evaporator 31 is provided below the evaporator-side communication path formation member 58A between the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B, and the evaporator-side communication paths 51A are respectively provided in portions where the evaporator-side communication path formation member 58A is connected to the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B. The evaporator-side communication paths 51A are tilted downward from horizontal outer sides where the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are located toward a horizontal center position where the evaporator 31 is located.

The condenser 32 is provided above the condenser-side communication path formation member 58B, and the condenser-side communication paths 51B are respectively provided in portions where the condenser-side communication path formation member 58B is connected to the first and second adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B. The condenser-side communication paths 51B are tilted downward from the horizontal center position where the condenser 32 is located toward the horizontal outer sides where the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are located.

The spherical dampers 6 placed in the communication paths 51A and 51B open and close the communication paths 51A and 51B as described below for operation of the adsorption type refrigerator 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the adsorbing device X1 when the cooling water C is supplied to the heat transfer pipe 21 in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A. In this case, the solid adsorbent 211 applied to the surface of the heat transfer pipe 21 provided in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A is cooled down, and the refrigerant vapor A is adsorbed to the solid adsorbent 211 by adsorption reaction. Then, the internal pressure of the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A reduces to a pressure level lower than the internal pressures of the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functioning as the adsorbing device X1, a spherical damper 6A disposed in the evaporator-side communication path 51A is subjected to a pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A lower than the internal pressure of the evaporator 31 and disengages itself from the ring-shape seal member 55, and then rolls to the tilting upper end side of the evaporator-side communication path 51A (moves away from the evaporator 31 toward the adsorbing device X1). As a result, the evaporator-side communication path 51A is opened.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerant vapor A in the evaporator 31 flowing into the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A removes heat of evaporation from the surface of the evaporator pipe 311 in the evaporator 31. As a result, the cold water W in the evaporator pipe 311 can be cooled down.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functioning as the adsorbing device X1, a spherical damper 6B placed in the condenser-side communication path 51B rolls down to the tilting lower end side of the condenser-side communication path 51B (moves away from the condenser 32 toward the adsorbing device X1) under its own weight. The spherical damper 6B keeps rolling to finally seal the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member 55, thus closing the condenser-side communication path 51B. The closed state of the communication path can be retained by the pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A lower than the internal pressure of the condenser 32.

As described above, the spherical dampers 6A and 6B are allowed to open the evaporator-side communication paths 51A communicating with the evaporator 31 in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functioning as the adsorbing device X1, while closing the condenser-side communication paths 51B communicating with the condenser 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the cooling water C is supplied to the heat transfer pipe 21 in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A, the warm water H is supplied to the heat transfer pipe 21 in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B. The second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B supplied with the warm water H in the heat transfer pipe 21 therein functions as the desorbing device X2. The solid adsorbent 211 applied to the surface of the heat transfer pipe 21 in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B is heated, and the refrigerant vapor A is desorbed from the solid adsorbent 211 by desorption reaction. Then, the internal pressure of the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B is elevated to a pressure level higher than the internal pressures of the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functioning as the desorbing device X2, a spherical damper 6D placed in the condenser-side communication path 51B is subjected to a pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the desorbing device X2 higher than the internal pressure of the condenser 32 and disengages itself from the ring-shape seal member 55, and then rolls to the tilting upper end side of the condenser-side communication path 51B (moves away from the desorbing device X2 toward the condenser 32). As a result, the condenser-side communication path 51B is opened.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerant vapor A in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B flowing into the condenser 32 is condensed by the cooling water C circulating through the condenser pipe 321 in the condenser 32. The condensed refrigerant vapor A is circulated into the evaporator 31 through the circulation pipe 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functioning as the desorbing device X2, a spherical damper 6C placed in the evaporator-side communication path 51A rolls down to the tilting lower end side of the evaporator-side communication path 51A (moves away from the desorbing device X2 toward the evaporator 31) under its own weight. The spherical damper 6C keeps rolling to finally seal the inner circumference of the ring-shape seal member 55, thus closing the evaporator-side communication path 51A. The closed state of the communication path can be retained by the pressure difference resulting from the internal pressure of the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B higher than the internal pressure of the evaporator 31.

As described above, the spherical dampers 6C and 6D ensure to open the evaporator-side communication paths 51A communicating with the condenser 32 in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functioning as the desorbing device X2, while closing the condenser-side communication paths 51B communicating with the evaporator 31.

When the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) currently functioning as the desorbing device X2 is switched to function as the adsorbing device X1, the currently high internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) changes to a low pressure level. When the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) currently functioning as the adsorbing device X1 is switched to function as the desorbing device X2, the currently low internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) changes to a high pressure level. The spherical dampers 6 placed in the respective communication paths 51A and 51B move while rolling in the process of those pressure changes. Depending on the speed of change in the pressure difference executed to the spherical damper and self-weight, there may be the case that the spherical damper 6 slidably moves.

The spherical damper 6 is thought to move mostly while rolling under its own weight from the tilting upper end side to the tilting lower end side through the internal pressure variability of the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A, 2B when the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A, 2B is switched to and from the adsorbing device X1 and the desorbing device X2 in turn.

Because of the stopper 56 provided on the tiling upper end side of the communication path 51A or 51B, the spherical damper 6 moving to the tilting upper end side under the pressure difference is prevented from falling out of the communication path 51A or 51B.

Thereafter, when an amount of the refrigerant vapor A adsorbed to the solid adsorbent 211 in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functioning as the adsorbing device X1 is approaching a saturation amount, two selector valve devices 46A and 46B are manipulated as illustrated in FIG. 2 to circulate the warm water H in the heat transfer pipe 21 in the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A and circulate the cooling water C in the heat transfer pipe 21 in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B. Then, the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A is switched to the desorbing device X2, and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B is switched to the adsorbing device X1. Accordingly, the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functions as the adsorbing device X1, and the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the desorbing device X2 as described as above.

When the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A functions as the desorbing device X2, and the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B functions as the adsorbing device X1 (see FIG. 4), an operation for opening and closing the communication paths 51A and 51B using the spherical dampers 6 is similar to the operation described referring to FIG. 3.

Thereafter, the cooling water C and the warm water H to be circulated in the heat transfer pipe 21 of the first adsorbing/desorbing device 2A and the heat transfer pipe 21 in the second adsorbing/desorbing device 2B are changed in turn. Accordingly, two adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B are switchably used as the adsorbing device X1 and the desorbing device X2 in turn at given time intervals, so that the cold water W generated in the evaporator pipe 311 is continuously supplied to the refrigerating device 45.

As described above, the spherical dampers 6 can open the communication paths 51A and 51B using the pressure differences generated between the adsorbing/desorbing device 2A (or 2B) functioning as the adsorbing device X1 and the evaporator 31, and between the adsorbing/desorbing device 2B (or 2A) functioning as the desorbing device X2 and the condenser 32. Further, the spherical dampers 6 can close the communication paths 51A and 51B under their own weights. Therefore, it is unnecessary to separately provide any drive source to drive the spherical dampers 6.

The dampers 6 formed in such a simple spherical shape can be easily produced and reduced in weight.

The spherical damper 6 is thought to move through the communication path 51A or 51B while swinging and sliding under the impact from the flowing refrigerant vapor A because of its spherical shape. Therefore, the spherical damper 6 can suitably change its direction when sealing the ring-shape seal member 55. This directional flexibility can prevent a certain part of the spherical damper 6 from being repeatedly in contact with the ring-shape seal member 55 and worn out, thus improving the durability of the spherical damper 6.

Because of the spherical shape of the damper 6, it is very unlikely that the refrigerant vapor A accumulates thereon to increase the weight of the damper 6. Therefore, the pressure differences between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 can be suitably maintained, and the communication paths 51A and 51B can be reliably opened and closed by the spherical dampers 6. The pressure differences which induce the movements of the spherical dampers 6 can be arbitrarily adjusted by changing the masses of the spherical dampers 6 or the tilting angles of the communication paths 51A and 51B.

According to the damper structure 5 of the adsorption type refrigerator 1 of the embodiment, the dampers 34 can be reduced in weight and improved in durability, and the dampers are configured to stably open and close the communication paths 51A and 51B by leveraging the pressure differences suitably generated between the adsorbing/desorbing devices 2A and 2B and the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 adsorption type refrigerator
• 2A, 2B adsorbing/desorbing device
• 21 heat transfer pipe
• 211 solid adsorbent
• 31 evaporator
• 311 evaporator pipe
• 32 condenser
• 321 condenser pipe
• 5 damper structure
• 51A evaporator-side communication path
• 51B condenser-side communication path
• 56 ring-shape seal member
• 57 stopper
• 57 fit-in preventing stopper
• 6 spherical damper
• X1 adsorbing device
• X2 desorbing device

Claims

1. A damper structure for an adsorption type refrigerator which is provided with a plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices each having a heat transfer pipe inserted therethrough, a surface of which is applied with a solid adsorbent, an evaporator configured to communicate with the plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices individually, and a condenser configured to communicate with the plurality of adsorbing/desorbing devices individually, and is operated by switching between the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as an adsorbing device by circulating a cooling water in the heat transfer pipe and the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as a desorbing device by circulating a warm water in the heat transfer pipe at given time intervals, the damper structure comprising:

evaporator-side communication paths formed between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the evaporator with a tilt, having a side communicating with the evaporator lower than a side communicating with the adsorbing/desorbing devices, and the condenser-side communication paths formed between the adsorbing/desorbing devices and the condenser with a tilt, having a side communicating with the condenser higher than a side communicating with the adsorbing/desorbing devices;

a spherical damper movably placed in each of the communication paths as the evaporator-side communication path and the condenser-side communication path;

a ring-shape seal member provided on a tilting lower end side of the communication path in a path formation direction, which has an inner circumference sealed by the spherical damper; and

a stopper provided on a tilting upper end side of the communication path in the path formation direction, which prevents the spherical damper from falling out of the communication path.

2. The damper structure for the adsorption type refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein

in the evaporator-side communication path, when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as the adsorbing device becomes lower than the internal pressure of the evaporator, the spherical damper moves to the tilting upper end side to open the evaporator-side communication path, and when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device becomes higher than the internal pressure of the evaporator, the spherical damper moves to the tilting lower end side under its own weight to close the evaporator-side communication path; and

in the condenser-side communication path, when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device functioning as the desorbing device becomes higher than the internal pressure of the condenser, the spherical damper moves to the tilting upper end side to open the condenser-side communication path, and when the internal pressure of the adsorbing/desorbing device becomes lower than the internal pressure of the condenser, the spherical damper moves under its own weight to the tilting lower end side to close the condenser-side communication path.

3. The damper structure for the adsorption type refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the spherical damper is made from a resin, and the ring-shape seal member is a rubber packing material.

4. The damper structure for the adsorption type refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the tilting lower end side of the communication path is provided with a stopper for preventing the spherical damper from immovably fitting in the ring-shape seal member.

5. The damper structure for the adsorption type refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the spherical damper is made from a resin, and the ring-shape seal member is a rubber packing material.

6. The damper structure for the adsorption type refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the tilting lower end side of the communication path is provided with a stopper for preventing the spherical damper from immovably fitting in the ring-shape seal member.

7. The damper structure for the adsorption type refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the tilting lower end side of the communication path is provided with a stopper for preventing the spherical damper from immovably fitting in the ring-shape seal member.