ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSKBAHRIS..MTNORS......................JDIM360 Ver 2.15 (14 Jul 2008) - 1100000/02177849EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONA120100421EP08167022.620081020enenen2010042120101620100421201016

F25D 19/00 20060101AFI20090203BHEP

F25B 21/02 20060101ALI20090203BHEP

F28D 15/02 20060101ALI20090203BHEP

deBehälter zum Aufbewahren von Artikeln bei einer vorher festgelegten TemperaturenContainer for storing articles at a predetermined temperaturefrConteneur pour stocker des articles à une température prédéterminée1Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO03249560LH/P86513EP00Schoemakerstraat 972628 VK DelftNLColtratech B.V.08799380LH/P86513EP00Taalstraat 1335261 BC VughtNLKrosse, Luciënne Jozefina Wilhelmina MariaVogelplantsoen 1276951 HX DierenNLLinnewiel, Arnold FelixPeperstraat 101411 PZ Naarden-VestingNLOversloot, Hendrik PieterAlbastdijk 194706 AK RoosendaalNLHatzmann, Martinet al09278551Vereenigde Johan de Wittlaan 72517 JR Den HaagNLATBEBGCHCYCZDEDKEEESFIFRGBGRHRHUIEISITLILTLULVMCMTNLNOPLPTROSESISKTRALBAMKRS

Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature, comprising heat insulated walls (9), as well as a Peltier element (1) which, under control of a control module (2), can he energized by a battery (3) in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container. The Peltier element is connected, via a heat spreader (4), to one or more heat pipes (5) extending through at least one of said insulating walls (9) which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container, as an outside container frame (6) or a part of such frame and/or a heat conducting foil or coating (7), applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls (9). The container, moreover, may comprise photovoltaic means (8) outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.

The transportation sector has a great need for methods and means for the transportation of products in an guaranteed and stable temperature environment. Important conditions for such products are: no increase of mass or volume, self-supporting (i.e. no mains needed), reliable, self regulating and without combustible, toxic or ecotoxic media.

In present cool box configurations no use is made of active refrigeration or heating. The performances are determined by the quality of the isolated walls (λ ≈ 0.0042W/mK). Alternative cool boxes, e.g. in use in the aviation, may use dry ice.

Both variants have in common that the maximum admissible transportation time is determined by the internal temperature rise in the container. Use is made of a certain buffer of dry ice and/or thermal mass. If the container, during transportation, would have to wait for longer time in the burning sun, the maximum transportation time will be drastically restricted.

Thus, a need exists within the transportation sector for a solution which comprises active cooling, which is self-supporting, reliable, self-regulating, light en small. It is an aim of the present invention to provide this need.

According to the invention it is preferred to provide a container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature, comprising heat insulated walls, the container comprising a Peltier element which, under control of a control module, can be energized by a battery in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container; the Peltier element being connected, via a heat spreader, to one or more heat pipes extending through at least one of said insulating walls which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container.

The outside means may comprise an outside container frame or a part of such frame and/or a heat conducting foil or coating, applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.

Moreover, the container may comprise photovoltaic means outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.

The configuration according to the present will be elucidated hereinafter, referencing to figure 1.

The container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature shown in figure 1, comprises heat insulated walls 9, surrounding the container's inside room 10, which can be filled -via a lid (not shown) with articles to be transported. The container comprises a Peltier element 1 which, under control of a control module 2, connected to a thermometer 11, can be energized by a battery 3 in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container, depending of the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature. The Peltier element is connected, via a heat spreader 4, to one or more heat pipes 5 which extend through at least one of the insulating walls 9 and which are connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from (again, depending of the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature) the outside environment of the container.

Container according to claim 1, said outside means for emitting or collecting heat may be formed by an outside container frame 6 or a part of such frame. Instead or additionally, those outside means may comprise a heat conducting foil or coating 7, applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.

The electric power supply of the (self-supporting) container may be supplemented by the electrical output of a photovoltaic layer 8 which is provided outside the container, and which is arranged for converting incident light into electric energy which can be fed, under control of control module 2 to the Peltier element.

Finally, a control/display unit 12 is provided outside the container, which is arranged to switch ON/OFF the circuitry and to set/adjust the container's inside temperature; moreover, unit 12 can display the actual inside temperature, the remaining battery charge, etc.

Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature, comprising heat insulated walls, the container comprising a Peltier element (1) which, under control of a control module (2), can be energized by a battery (3) in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container; the Peltier element being connected, via a heat spreader (4), to one or more heat pipes (5) extending through at least one of said insulating walls which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container.

Container according to claim 1, said outside means comprising an outside container frame (6) or a part of such frame.

Container according to claim 1 or 2, said outside means comprising a heat conducting foil or coating (7), applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.

Container according to claim 1, comprising photovoltaic means (8) outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.