JP3369770B2 - Cooler for fluid - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid cooler which can be suitably used as a water purifier, an electrolytic water purifier, a beer quencher, a radiator or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a fluid cooler, a cooling means is exclusively attached directly to the outer peripheral surface of a cooling pipe through which a fluid flows. For example, there is a fluid cooler that uses a Peltier element as the cooling means. The fluid cooler has one side of the Peltier element as the cooling side, the other side as the heat radiation side, and the cooling side as a liquid to be cooled. Is attached to the outer wall of the flowing pipe.

With such a structure, when a voltage is applied to the Peltier element, the Peltier element takes away the heat in the liquid from one side of the Peltier element by the so-called Peltier effect, while the heat can be radiated from the other side. As a result, the liquid can be cooled.

[0004]

However, the fluid cooler described above still has the following problems to be solved.

That is, in the fluid cooler, one side of the Peltier element is simply attached to the outer wall of the pipe through which the liquid or the like to be cooled flows, so that a sufficient heat absorption area cannot be secured. The heat absorption efficiency, that is, the cooling efficiency is low.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid cooler capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a regenerator with
A cooling pipe with a large number of heat-absorbing fins attached to the outer surface of the fluid flowing inside is attached, and a Peltier element is attached to one surface of an element attachment plate made of a good heat conductor, and the other surface of the element attachment plate is The present invention relates to a fluid cooler in which one ends of a large number of heat absorbing fins are elastically brought into contact with each other.

The present invention is also characterized in that the above-described fluid cooler has the following configuration.

[0009]

(1) One end of each heat absorbing fin is bent, and the bent end is brought into contact with the other surface of the element mounting plate in a pressed state.

(2) An elastic plate is arranged on the other end side of each heat absorbing fin, and one end of the heat absorbing fin is pressed against the other surface of the element mounting plate by the elastic force of the elastic plate.

(3) One end of each heat absorbing fin is bent at a right angle to form an L-shape, and the L-shaped end is brought into contact with the other surface of the element mounting plate.

(4) Part of the heat-absorbing fins is replaced with a trunk cooling plate made of a good heat conductor having a higher heat conductivity than the heat-absorbing fins.

(5) A base end of a trunk cooling plate made of a good heat conductor is mounted on the other surface of the element mounting plate, and a large number of heat absorbing fins are mounted on the trunk cooling plate.

[0015]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, the fluid cooler is the water cooler A.

First, the overall structure of the water cooler A will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, an under-sink type water conditioner is arranged in a lower space of a cabinet K below a sink B of a system kitchen.

The water cooler A is mounted on the floor plate 10 in a space below the cabinet K and slightly apart from the lower portion of the sink S, and also on one side of the water cooler A. The water purifier D is attached to the side surface in a juxtaposed state.

Next, the internal structure of the water cooler A will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the water cooler A has a rectangular box-shaped main body case 11 partitioned by a partition wall 11a. A storage space 11b and a control unit storage space 11c are formed.

In the heat exchanger housing space 11b, there are arranged a flat rectangular box-shaped heat exchanger 12 and a Peltier element 13 which is attached to the heat exchanger 12 in a joined state and constitutes a water cooler body. A control device C is provided in the control unit storage space 11c.

Next, the pipe arrangement around the main body case 11 will be described. In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 15 is a water supply rising pipe connected to the raw water supply unit 9 such as a water pipe below the sink S. On the other hand, 16 is a hot water supply rising pipe similarly arranged below the sink S and connected to the hot water supply source, and is arranged in parallel with the water supply rising pipe 15.

The upstream sides of these rising pipes 15 and 16 are connected to a hot and cold water mixing port of a hot and cold water mixing tap 18 installed on the top plate 17 of the sink B.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first raw water hose 19 is branched from the water supply rising pipe 15, and the upstream end of the raw water hose 19 is installed on the top plate 17 of the sink B. The flow path switching device 20 is connected to the raw water inlet 20a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path switching device 20 has a switching valve 21 inside, through which the first raw water hose 19 is connected to the spout 22 or the second raw water. The hose 23 is selectively communicated and connected.

The downstream end of the second raw water hose 23 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, it is connected to the inflow port 24 of the water purifier D.

On the other hand, the outlet 25 of the water purifier D is connected to the water purification pipe 26.
Is connected to the cooling pipe 27 arranged in a bent shape in the heat exchanger 12 via the cooling water, and the downstream end of the cooling pipe 27 is connected to the cold purified water extraction pipe.
It is connected to the upstream end of 28. The cold purified water extraction pipe 28 has its downstream end connected to the cold purified water inlet 29 of the flow path switching device 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upstream end of the drain branch pipe 30 is further connected to the cooling pipe 27, and the drain branch valve 30 is provided with a drain switching valve 31 such as an electromagnetic valve. Has been.

The operation of the water cooler A having the above-mentioned structure will be briefly described below. When the raw water is taken out from the water outlet 22, the switching valve 21 of the flow path switching device 20 is operated to move the water outlet 22 to the first position. When directly connected to the first raw water hose 19, raw water can be discharged into the sink S through the first raw water hose 19 → the switching valve 21 → the spout 22.

Next, when the cold purified water is taken out from the water outlet 22, the switching valve 21 of the flow path switching device 20 is operated to connect the first raw water hose 19 and the second raw water hose 23, and 1
Raw water hose 19 → Switching valve 21 → Second raw water hose 23 → Water purifier D
→ Purified water pipe 26 → Heat exchanger 12 cooling pipe 27 → Purified water extraction pipe 28
→ Flow path switching device 20 → Flows through the spout 22. At this time, the raw water becomes purified water by passing through the water purifier D, and then becomes cold purified water by passing through the heat exchanger 12, that is, cold purified water, so that the cold purified water can be taken out from the spout 22.

When the water cooler A is not used, in order to prevent freezing, the drainage switching valve 31 such as a solenoid valve is opened after a predetermined time has elapsed based on the non-use signal to open the heat exchanger 12. The accumulated water in the cooling pipe 27 arranged inside is drained to the drain main 32 through the drain branch pipe 30.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water supply rising pipe 15 to the heat radiating section cooling pipe 33 are provided.
Is branched, and the downstream end of the heat radiation part cooling pipe 33 is connected to the inlet 34 of the cooling flow path R formed inside the heat radiation part cooling part 14. On the other hand, the outlet 35 of the cooling flow path R is connected to the drainage connection pipe 37 connected to the drainage main pipe 32 via the post-cooling water discharge branch pipe 36 together with the drainage branch pipe 30 described above.

Further, the heat radiation section cooling pipe 33 is
The on-off valve 33a and the flow rate limiting part 33b are attached.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cooling flow path R provided in the heat radiating section cooling section 14 is one side division plate 14 of division plates 14a and 14b made of metal such as aluminum.
It can be easily formed by providing a bent groove in a and combining the split plates 14a and 14b. The back surface of one split plate 14a has a heat dissipation part of the Peltier element 13 described later.
It will come into contact with 13b.

With this structure, the water supply rising pipe 15
When a part of the raw water is flowed from the cooling plate 33 to the heat radiation part cooling pipe 33, the raw water flows in the cooling flow path R of the heat radiation part cooling part 14 to divide the plate 14.
Cool the heat dissipation part 13b of the Peltier element 13 via b, 14b,
Heat dissipation can be promoted.

The present invention is characterized in the connection structure between the heat exchanger 12 and the Peltier element 13 in the water cooler A having the above-mentioned structure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 12 is a heat insulating material.
A cold storage agent 41 (for example, Adeka Thermo Top 6 manufactured by Asahi Denka Co., Ltd.) is filled in a rectangular box-shaped frame case 40 whose entire surface is covered with 39, and a large number of cooling pipes 27 are arranged in the cold storage agent 41. It is arranged in a bent state vertically.

An opening 42 is provided in the central portion on the rear surface side of the frame case 40 of the heat exchanger 12, and a small-diameter base portion 43a of an element mounting plate 43 made of a good heat conductor is fitted in the opening 42. On the other hand, the large-diameter heat-absorbing part 43b that is integrated with the small-diameter base 43a
Is disposed in the frame case 40 and is in contact with the heat storage agent 41.

In the frame case 40, a large number of rectangular plate-shaped heat absorbing fins 44 are arranged in a layered state in a direction orthogonal to the cooling pipes 27 with a predetermined gap therebetween.
Each is welded to the outer peripheral surface of the cooling pipe 27.

Further, one end of each heat absorbing fin 44 is in contact with the heat absorbing surface which is the front surface of the large diameter heat absorbing portion 43b of the element mounting plate 43.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the Peltier element 13 is arranged on the back side of the frame case 40, and the heat absorbing portion 13a of the Peltier element 13 forms the back surface of the small-diameter base portion 43a of the element mounting plate 43. It is in surface contact with the heat dissipation surface.

On the other hand, the heat radiating portion 13b of the Peltier element 13 is in surface contact with the heat absorbing surface of the heat absorbing side divided plate 14a of the heat radiating portion cooling portion 14 covered with the heat insulating plate 45.

Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the Peltier element 13, heat can be taken from the cold storage agent 41 through the element mounting plate 43 and the large number of heat absorbing fins 44 in contact with the heat radiation surface of the element mounting plate 43. As a result, the cool storage agent 41 is entirely cooled, and the purified water flowing in the cooling pipe 27 can be cooled to obtain cold purified water. On the other hand, the heat absorbed by the Peltier element 13 is radiated from the heat radiating portion 13b.

As described above, in this embodiment, the Peltier device is
Since the element 13 is not brought into direct contact with the cooling pipe 27 but is brought into contact with the element mounting plate 43, the large number of heat absorbing fins 44, and the regenerator agent 41, the cooling tube 27 and the Peltier element 13 are The contact area can be remarkably increased, and the cooling effect of purified water, which is the object to be cooled, can be remarkably improved.

The present embodiment is also characterized in that the connection structure between the heat exchanger 12 and the Peltier element 13 described above has the following structure.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, each heat absorbing fin 44 is bent at one end with a certain inclination angle, and the bent end 44a is formed on the heat absorbing surface of the element mounting plate 43. It is in surface contact with the pressed state. By pressing the bent end 44a in this manner, the bent end 44a can be elastically crimped to the heat absorbing surface of the element mounting plate 43, and the heat absorbing fins 44 and the heat absorbing surface of the element mounting plate 43 contact each other. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the cold storage agent 41 can be improved. Moreover, since the contact area between the heat absorbing fins 44 and the heat absorbing surface of the element mounting plate 43 can be increased, the cooling efficiency of the cold storage agent 41 can be increased also from this surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the frame case 40 is
Elastic plates 46, 47 made of urethane rubber and the like that also function as watertight seals are attached to both sides of the elastic plates 46, 4
The heat absorbing fin 44 is elastically attached to the element mounting plate by the urging force of 7.
It can be pressed against the heat absorbing surface of 43.

In FIG. 6, one end of each heat-absorbing fin 44 is bent into an L shape, and the L-shaped bent end 44b is in surface contact with the heat absorbing surface of the element mounting plate 43. By doing so, the contact area between each heat absorbing fin 44 and the heat absorbing surface of the element mounting plate 43 can be significantly increased, and the cooling efficiency of the cold storage agent 41 can be increased.

7 and 8 show a modification of the above-mentioned FIG. In FIG. 7, each heat absorbing fin 44 has its other end bent at a constant inclination angle, and the bent end 44c is pressed by an elastic plate 48 made of urethane rubber or the like. On the other hand, in FIG. 8, the elastic plate 48 is used without using the bent end 44c.
Pressing with.

FIG. 9 shows a part of the heat absorbing fin 44 described above.
A material having a higher thermal conductivity than the heat absorbing fins 44, for example, a plurality of trunk cooling plates 49 made of a good heat conductor like the element mounting plate 43.
It has been replaced by.

In this case, the main line cooling plate 49 can absorb and cool the element mounting plate 43 substantially at the same time, and further, the regenerator 41 can be absorbed and cooled quickly and uniformly.

10 to 12 show a Peltier element 13 as a heat exchanger.
12 shows a modification example provided on the side surface side instead of the front surface.

In this case, as shown in the figure, the element mounting plate 43
From the heat absorption surface of the T-shaped, L-shaped, or U-shaped material having a higher thermal conductivity than the heat absorption fins 44, for example, the element mounting plate 43
Similarly to the above, a plurality of main cooling plates 49a made of a good heat conductor can be extended. Therefore, since the short heat absorbing fins 44 can be attached to both side surfaces of the main cooling plate 49a, by applying a voltage to the Peltier element 13 to absorb and cool the main element cooling plate 49 and the element mounting plate 43 at the same time, The heat absorbing fins 44 can absorb and cool the heat absorbing fins 44 quickly and uniformly, and the heat storage agent 41 can be cooled quickly and uniformly over the whole.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 3, the substrate cooling plate 51 is connected to one end of the substrate 50 of the control device C in an orthogonal state, and the substrate cooling plate 51 is attached to the element mounting plate 43. It is also possible to make surface contact with.

In this case, the substrate 50 of the control device C can also be cooled by the Peltier element 13, and it is possible to reliably prevent the substrate 50 from being deformed due to heat generation.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body case 11 has a dew-condensation absorbing material on the bottom plate 11d thereof.
52 are stretched.

When a substrate cooling plate 53 that can be connected to the substrate 50 of the controller C is placed on the dew condensation water absorbent material 52 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. The water can effectively prevent heat generation of the substrate 50 through the substrate cooling plate 53, and by evaporating the water in the dew condensation water absorbent material 52, the good water absorption function of the dew condensation water absorbent material 52 is always maintained. be able to.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the water coolers described in the above embodiments. For example, a water purifier or an electrolysis water conditioner. Also, it can be suitably used as a beer quencher, a radiator, or the like, and the cooling means is not limited to the Peltier element described above, and other cooling means can be used. Further, the fluid flowing in the fluid cooler can be effectively cooled by placing it in, for example, a refrigerator without using a cooling means.

[0059]

According to the present invention, a cooling pipe, in which a fluid flows inside and a large number of heat absorbing fins are attached to the outer peripheral surface, is arranged in the regenerator, and the Peltier element is provided as an element attachment plate made of a good heat conductor. One end of each of the plurality of heat absorbing fins is elastically brought into contact with the other surface of the element mounting plate. Therefore, the cooling effect of the object to be cooled by the cool storage agent can be significantly improved.

Further, the contact between the heat-absorbing fins and the element mounting plate can be ensured and the contact area can be increased, so that the cooling effect of the object to be cooled can be enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an installation state in a kitchen when a fluid cooler according to the present invention is embodied as a water cooler.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of the water cooler.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the water cooler.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the water cooler.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of a heat absorbing fin.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of a heat absorbing fin.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of a heat absorption fin.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of heat absorbing fins.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of heat absorbing fins.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of heat absorbing fins.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of a heat absorbing fin.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of a heat absorbing fin.

[Explanation of symbols]

A water cooler D water purifier S Sync 12 heat exchanger 13 Peltier element 43 Element mounting plate 44 Heat sink fin

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Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cooling pipe in which a fluid flows inside and a large number of heat-absorbing fins are attached to the outer peripheral surface is disposed in the regenerator .
Peltier element on one side of element mounting plate made of good heat conductor
Attach the same number of heat absorbing fins to the other side of the element mounting plate.
A cooler for fluid, characterized in that one end of is elastically abutted . 2. One end of each heat-absorbing fin is bent to form a bent end.
2. The fluid cooler according to claim 1 , wherein the element is brought into contact with the other surface of the element mounting plate in a pressed state . 3. An elastic plate is disposed on the other end side of each heat absorbing fin ,
Fluid cooler according to claim 2, characterized in that is in contact with the pressing state to the other surface of the element mounting plate an end of the heat absorbing fin by the elastic force of the elastic plate. 4. One end of each heat-absorbing fin is bent at a right angle.
L-shaped and without Te, fluid cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the L-shaped end was brought into contact with other surfaces of the element mounting plate. 5. The part of the intake heat fins, heat transfer from the heat absorbing fin
Replaced by a main cooling plate made of a good heat conductor with high conductivity
Fluid cooler of any one of claims 1 to 4 serial <br/> mounting, characterized in that it has. 6. A trunk made of a good heat conductor on the other surface of the element mounting plate.
Attach the base end of the wire cooling plate, and
Any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
2. A fluid cooler according to item 1.