EP0152155A2

EP0152155A2 - Removable cold-storage elements for a chest freezer

Info

Publication number: EP0152155A2
Application number: EP85200179A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guido Ferella Falda; Franco Germi; Franco Moretti
Original assignee: Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 1984-02-15
Filing date: 1985-02-12
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: DK64385D0; IT8420865V0; DK64385A; ES284547Y; ES284547U; EP0152155A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a plurality of cold-storage elements for a chest freezer, each element comprising a casing of plasticsmaterial, for example, polyethylene, containing an eutectic solution. The storage elements are each constructed to be removably mounted in the freezer (1, 2) in contact with a refrigerated wall thereof so as to extend over at least a portion of this wall, and are provided with means (13, 14; 20, 21) whereby they can be fitted to one another by inosculation and with means (9) for removably connecting them to the freezer.

Description

This invention relates to a plurality of cold-storage elements for a chest freezer, each element comprising a casing of plastics material, for example polyethylene, containing a eutectic solution, for example, based on sodium and/or ammonium salts. These elements are used in chest freezers in order to maintain suitably low temperatures for reasonably lengthy periods in the event of failure of the electricity supply which feeds the freezer compressor. In particular, the storageelements can be used in such a manner that the eutectic solution becomes frozen by practically continuous operation of the compressor during those (night) hours in which the mains electricity is sold at reduced tariff. The thermal energy stored by these elements is.then utilised during those (day) hours in which the mains electricity is sold at full tariff, so avoiding operation of the freezer compressor during these hours.
In conventional methods (see for example U.S.A. patent 3 747 364 and GB patent 1 338 553), the storage elements constitute a structural part of the chest freezer in the sense that they are incorporated in the structure of the chest freezer structure in a non-removable manner. This constitutes a drawback in that it compels freezer manufacturers to produce freezers both with and without cold storage because there is a user requirement for both types of freezer. Moreover, it is not possible to change the overall storage capacity of a freezer fitted with cold storage, should the user so desire.
In order to obviate these drawbacks, the present utility model invention provides a plurality of cold-storage elements which are each constructed to be removably mounted in a chest freezer in contact with a refrigerated wall thereof so as to extend over at least a portion of this wall, and are provided with means whereby they can be fitted to one another by inosculation, and with means for remoably connecting them to the freezer.
The invention also provides a cold-staage element for use in the plurality of such elements, the element comprising a casing of plastics material containing a eutectic solution, characterized in that the storage element is constructed to be removably mounted in the freezer in contact with a refrigerated wall thereof so as to extend over at least a portion of this wall, and is provided with means whereby it can be fitted to another storage element by inosculation, and with means for removably connecting it to the freezer. The invention will be more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a plurality of storage elements according to an embodiment of the invention fitted together and mounted on the vertical walls of a chest freezer;
Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale;
Figure 3 is a front view of a flat storage element;
Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrow V;
Figure 7 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a front view of a storage element with curved ends;
Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a partly sectional plan view of the subject storage element of Figure 7;
Figure 10 is a section on the line X-X of Fig.9. With reference in particular to Figure 2, the reference numeral 1 indicates a chest freezer of any known construction closable by a lid 2 and partly covered on its inner vertical walls by a plurality of cold- storage elements 3, 4 each comprising a casing 5, 6 respectively of plastics material, for example polyethylene, and a charge of eutectic solution, the purpose of which is to store cold during the operation of the freezer. The storage elements 3, 4 comprise means which enable them to be fitted together by inosculation as described in detail hereinafter, and they are suspended from the upper edges 7 of the vertical freezer chest 8 by means of an outwardly directed flange 9 on each element. The storage elements on two opposite side walls of the chest 8 are kept from one another by flat grids or braces 10, the vertical sides 11 of which are inserted into grooves 12 provided in the flat storage elements 3. The storage elements are divided into wholly flat elements 3 and elements 4 which have curved ends. In addition to the upper flange 9 and the groove 12, each flat element 3, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, also comprises a vertical hollow rib 13 on one of its minor vertical sides and on the opposite minor vertical side three parallel projections 14 one of which is offset by a distance L from the other two which are aligned with each other. As can be seen from Figures 1, 5 and 6, the vertical hollow rib 13 of one of the flat storage elements on one of the afore said side walls of the chest 8 inosculates with the space of dimension I defined by the projections 14 on the adjacent flat storage element. A sealable aperture 15 is provided in the top of each storage element for changing the element with the eutectic solution, and cup-shaped recesses 16 are provided in the front of each storage element for stiffening purposes.

In addition to the suspension flange 9, the sealable apertures 15 for changing the element with the eutectic solution and the cup-shaped stiffening recesses 16 each of the curved-end storage elements 4, as shown in Figures 7 to 10, also comprises a central vertical hollow rib 20 on one of its minor vertical sides, and on the other minor vertical side a pair of spaced vertical hollow ribs 21 which between them define a groove 22 to receive the hollow rib 13 of an adjacent flat element 3. The rib 20 of each curved-end storage element 4 fits between the hollow projections 14 of the other adjacent flat element 3. The storage elements 3, 4 are mounted in the chest 8 of the freezer 1 by first hanging them one at a time on the upper edges 7 of the walls of the chest by means of their flanges 9, then fitting them laterally into each other by. the aforesaid inosculation means, and finally inserting the flat grids or braces 10 into the grooves 12 in the flat storage elements 3.
It is not necessary for enough storage elements 3, 4 to be inserted in the freezer chest to extend over the entire area of the vertical walls of the chest 8. If the user so desires he can insert a different number of elements, even just one, in which case it could be advantageous to secure the storage element by means of self-tapping screws suitably located in the flange 9 of the element and screwed into the upper edge 7 of the relevant wall of the freezer chest.

Claims

₁. Aplurality of cold-storage elements for a chest freezer, each element comprising a casing of plastics material, for example, polyethylene, containing a eutectic solution, characterized in that the storage elements are each constructed to be removably mounted in the freezer (1, 2) in contact with a refrigerated wall thereof so as to extend over at least a portion of this wall, and are provided with means (13, 14; 20, 21) whereby they can be fitted to one another by inosculation, and with means (9) for removably connecting them to the freezer.

2. A plurality of cold-storage elements as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the means for fitting the storage elements together by inosculation comprise mutually complementary projections and seats (13, 14; 20, 21, 22) formed on minor sides of the elements so as to mate with one another in the mounted positions of the elements, in which positions said minor sides of the elements are vertically disposed.

3. A cold-storage element for use in a plurality of such elements as claimed in Claim 1, the element comprising a casing of plastics material containing a eutectic solution, characterized in that the storage element is constructed to be removably mounted in the freezer in contact with a refrigerated wall thereof so as to extend over at least a portion of this wall, and is provided with means whereby it can be fitted to another storage element by inosculation, and with means for removably connecting it to the freezer.

4. A cold-storage element as claimed in Claim 3 for use in a plurality of such elements as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the means for fitting the storage element to another storage element by inosculation comprise a projection or projections or a seat or seats formed on a minor side of the element so as to mate with a seat or seats' or a projection or projections respectively on a minor side of the other element in the mounted positions of the elements. 5. A cold-storage element as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the means for removably connecting the element to the freezer comprise a flange (9) which is situated at the top of the element in the mounted position thereof.

6. A cold-storage element as claimed in Claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized by a groove (12) formed in a side of the element which is remote from the wall of the freezer in the mounted position of the element, for receiving a side of a flat grid or brace (10) or similar spacing member, the groove being arranged to extend vertically in the mounted position of the storage element.