THERMALLY INSULATED TRANSPORT CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermally insulated transport container (1). The invention is characterized in that the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is surrounded by a plurality of decentralized refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46), the decentralized refrigerated goods chambers are connected or can be connected to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) via a respective transfer gate (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46), and the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is equipped with a tubular ring slide device (6, 6) that can be rotated about a central axis (X) and has at least one transfer opening (65), which can be brought into register with a respective transfer gate by rotating the ring slide device (6, 6), in the peripheral wall (62) of the ring slide device, thereby forming a passage from a paired decentralized refrigerated goods chamber to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

Claims

1. A thermally insulated transport container (1) comprising an outer housing (2) enclosing an outer insulating chamber (28), an inner housing (3) disposed within said outer housing (2) and enclosing an inner refrigerant chamber (38), and a refrigeration chamber housing (47) disposed within said inner housing (3) and enclosing a refrigeration chamber (4), said refrigeration chamber housing (47) being connected to a closable tubular access channel element (5) the interior (52) of which opens into the refrigeration chamber (4), wherein the refrigeration chamber (4) has a plurality of refrigerated goods chambers (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) for receiving refrigerated goods (7), wherein the refrigeration chamber (4) has a central refrigerated goods chamber (40), and wherein the tubular access channel element (5) is arranged centrally in the outer housing (2) and in the inner housing (3) and is aligned with the central refrigerated goods chamber (40), characterized in that the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) is surrounded by a plurality of decentral refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46), in that the decentral refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are in communication or can be brought into communication with the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) via a respective transfer gate (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46), and in that a tubular ring slide device (6, 6) rotatable about a central axis (X) is provided in the central refrigerated goods chamber (40), which ring slide device (6, 6) has at least one transfer opening (65) in its circumferential wall (62), which transfer opening (65) can be brought into overlap with a respective transfer gate (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) by rotation of the ring slide device (6, 6), whereby a passage is formed from an associated decentral refrigerated goods chamber (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) to the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

2. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring slide device (6, 6) engages in the interior (52) of the tubular access channel element (5) with an end (61, 61) facing away from the bottom (40) of the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

3. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, characterized that the ring slide device (6, 6) is removably inserted into the central tubular access channel element (5).

4. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, characterized that the ring slide device (6) is provided at its end face (63) facing away from the bottom (40) of the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) with coupling means (64) which are designed for rotationally fixed coupling with counter-coupling means (58) provided at an end face (57) of a tubular actuating element (56), the tubular actuating element (56) being insertable into the tubular access channel element (5).

5. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, characterized that the ring slide device (6) extends with an end (61) facing away from the bottom (40) of the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) through the tubular access channel element (5) into an operating space (25) formed between an upper cover wall (21) of the outer housing (2) and a cover (10), and in that the ring slide device (6) is provided with at least one actuating means (60, 66) for rotational actuation of the ring slide device (6).

6. Thermally insulated transport container according to any one of claim 1, characterized in that the ring slide device (6, 6) has a tubular ring slide element (60, 60) which has at least one transfer opening (65) in its circumferential wall (62) and which can be rotated about the central axis (X) relative to the tubular access channel element (5).

7. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 6, characterized in that within the tubular ring slide element (60, 60) and coaxially thereto a radially inner tubular ring slide element (66, 66) is provided, which also has at least one transfer opening (67) in its circumferential wall (68) and which is rotatable relative to the tubular access channel element (5) and relative to the outer tubular ring slide element (60, 60) about the central axis (X).

8. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 6, characterized in that a cylindrical unloading slider (9) is provided or can be provided which engages centrally in the ring slide device (6, 6) in the axial direction and can be displaced axially relative to the ring slide device (6, 6), and in that the cylindrical unloading slider (9) has a tubular section (92), in the wall (95) of which at least one transfer opening (96) is provided, which can be brought into overlap with the at least one transfer opening (65, 67) of the ring slide device (6, 6).

9. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 8, characterized in that the cylindrical unloading slider (9) is provided or can be provided radially inside the inner tubular ring slide element (66, 66) and coaxially therewith and is axially displaceable relative to the inner tubular ring slide element (66, 66), and that the inner tubular ring slide element (66, 66) is rotatable relative to the cylindrical unloading slider (9).

10. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 8, characterized in that the cylindrical unloading slider (9) has a shaft section (90) which is closed in cross section and is made of a thermally insulating or poorly thermally conductive material, and in that the tubular section (92) provided with the transfer opening (96) is formed at the free end (93) of the shaft section (90) which can be inserted into the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

11. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer housing (2) and the inner housing (3) as well as the central refrigerated goods chamber (40) and the tubular access channel element (5) have a circular-cylindrical shape and are arranged coaxially with respect to one another, and in that the decentral refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are arranged in a star shape around the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

12. Thermally insulated transport container of claim 11, characterized in that the decentral refrigerated goods chambers (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) are formed by refrigerated goods niches (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) extending radially outwardly from the central refrigerated goods chamber (40).

13. Thermally insulated transport container according to claim 11, characterized in that the outer housing (2) has a cup-like outer housing base body (20) which is closed by means of an outer cover wall (21).

14. A thermally insulated transport container according to claim 11, characterized in that the inner housing (3) has a cup-like inner housing base body (30) which is closed by means of an inner cover wall (31), and in that the tubular access channel element (5) is connected to the outer cover wall (31).

15. A thermally insulated transport container according to claim 14, characterized that the inner housing (3) accommodates at least one refrigerating element (80, 82) of a refrigerating insert (8).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] It shows:

[0024] FIG. 1 a vertical section through a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention with the ring slide device shown uncut;

[0025] FIG. 2 a horizontal section through the inner housing of the thermally insulated transport container from FIG. 1 along line II-II;

[0026] FIG. 3 a vertical section through the inner housing of a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention with a first modified ring slide device in enlarged view;

[0027] FIG. 4 a vertical section through a first alternative embodiment of a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 5 a vertical section through a second alternative embodiment of a thermally insulated transport container according to the invention with a second modified ring slide device and a unloading slider;

[0029] FIG. 6 a vertical section through the inner housing of the thermally insulated transport container of FIG. 5 with the second modified ring slide device and the unloading slider in enlarged view;

[0030] FIG. 7 a side view of the unloading slider;

[0031] FIG. 7A axial view of the unloading slider in the direction of arrow VII in FIG. 7 and

[0032] FIG. 8 a top view of the ring slide device provided with the unloading slider in the direction of arrow VIII in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0033] In FIG. 1, a circular cylindrical thermally insulated transport container 1 according to the invention is shown in a vertical section. However, the invention is not limited to a circular cylindrical embodiment; the transport container may also have an oval, rectangular or otherwise polygonal layout, although the circular cylindrical shape is preferred and is particularly thermally advantageous due to rotational symmetry.

[0034] An outer housing 2 of the transport container 1 comprises a cup-shaped outer housing base body 20, which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a vertical central axis X, and an annular outer cover wall 21 closing the outer housing base body 20. The outer housing 2 is formed by a wall 22, preferably of poorly heat-conducting stainless steel, which has a cylindrical outer wall 23 and a substantially flat bottom wall 24 of the housing base body 20 and the annular cover wall 21.

[0035] An inner housing 3, described in further detail below, is inserted into the cup-like housing base body 20. The inner housing 3 provided inside the outer housing base body 20 and a tubular access channel element 5 connected thereto are surrounded by the outer housing 2 defining an insulating chamber 28 and form a refrigerant insert 8. The tubular access channel element 5 opens into the inner opening 21 of the stepped annular outer cover wall 21 and is hermetically welded thereto (weld seam 22). The circumferential wall 23 of the cup-like housing base body 20 and the cover wall 21 are also hermetically welded to each other (weld seam 22) to ensure a high vacuum tightness of the outer insulating chamber 28. The wall 22 of the outer housing 2 encloses an annular space 26 surrounding the inner housing 3 and the access channel element 5 and a bottom space portion 27, which together form the outer insulating chamber 28.

[0036] The outer insulating chamber 28 can be evacuated by means of an evacuation valve (not shown) provided in the wall 22 and a vacuum pump (also not shown). During operation of the thermally insulating transport container 1 according to the invention, a vacuum prevails in the outer insulating chamber 28.

[0037] To prevent the compressive forces of the ambient pressure acting on the wall 22 from deforming or even collapsing the wall 22, the entire insulating chamber 28 is filled with a vacuum support material 29 that is a poor conductor of heat and can withstand mechanical pressure, for example with pyrogenic silica, which is indicated in FIG. 1 only in a lower region of the insulating chamber 28 as an example. The provision of this vacuum support material 29 in the insulating chamber 28 allows the wall thickness of the wall 22 to be kept low in order to reduce heat conduction along the wall 22 without reducing its mechanical stability.

[0038] The inner housing 3, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the central axis X, comprises a cup-like inner housing base body 30 and an annular inner cover wall 31 closing the latter. The inner housing 3 has a wall 32, which is preferably made of poorly heat-conducting material, for example stainless steel, and comprises a cylindrical outer wall 33 and a substantially planar base wall 34 of the cup-like inner housing base body 30 and the inner cover wall 31 closing the latter at the top. A refrigeration chamber housing 47, which surrounds a refrigeration chamber 4 for refrigerated goods 7 to be transported and which is described in further detail below, is inserted into the cup-like inner housing base body 30. The tubular access channel element 5 passes through the inner opening 31 of the annular inner cover wall 31 and is hermetically welded thereto (weld seam 32). The peripheral wall 33 of the cup-like housing base body 30 and the cover wall 31 are also hermetically welded to each other (weld seam 32) to ensure a high vacuum tightness of the outer insulating chamber 28. The wall 32 of the inner housing 3 and the wall 50 of the tubular access element 5 enclose an annular space 36 surrounding the refrigeration chamber housing 47 and a bottom space portion 37, which together form an inner refrigerant chamber 38. The inner refrigerant chamber 38 is filled with an organic refrigerant 39 and forms a cold accumulator 39.

[0039] Preferably, the refrigerant chamber 38 contains a metal wool filling 39 with good thermal conductivity. For reasons of clarity, the metal wool filling 39 is shown in FIG. 1 only in part of the refrigerant chamber 38, although preferably the entire refrigerant chamber 38 is provided with the metal wool filling 39. Instead of the metal wool filling 39, a filling of good heat-conducting metal foam, for example aluminium foam, or another good heat-conducting spatial metal grid can also be provided in the refrigerant chamber 38. Preferably, the organic refrigerant used is a material that undergoes a phase transformation from the solid state to the liquid state in the temperature range from 15 C. to 100 C. and has a heat of fusion of, for example, at least 50 J/ml.

[0040] The refrigeration chamber 4 surrounded by the refrigeration chamber housing 47 forms a receptacle for refrigerated goods 7 and has a central refrigerated goods chamber 40 as well as decentral refrigerated goods chambers arranged in a star shape around it, as will be described further below with reference to FIG. 2. The refrigeration chamber housing 47, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the central axis X, has a cup-shaped refrigeration chamber housing base body 48 and an annular upper cover wall 49, which closes the latter and has a central opening 49. The wall of the refrigeration chamber housing 47 comprising the refrigeration chamber housing base body 48 and upper cover wall 49 is preferably formed from a material with good thermal conductivity, for example aluminium, in order to ensure effective cold input from the refrigerant chamber 38 into the refrigeration chamber 4.

[0041] The tubular access channel element 5 extends coaxially to the central axis X from above through the central, inner opening 21 of the outer cover wall 21, to the edge of which it is hermetically welded, through the central, inner opening 31 of the inner cover wall 31, to the edge of which it is also hermetically welded, downwardly to the central opening 49 of the annular upper cover wall 49 of the refrigeration chamber housing 47, where the cylindrical wall 50 of the tubular access channel element 5, preferably consisting of poorly heat-conducting stainless steel, is firmly and tightly connected to the annular upper cover wall 49, preferably consisting of aluminium. The interior 52 of the access channel element 5 thus opens into the refrigeration chamber 4.

[0042] At its upper end region facing away from the refrigeration chamber 4, the cylindrical wall 50 of the tubular access channel element 5 is surrounded by an annular insulating body 29, the radial inner wall 29 of which bears firmly against the cylindrical wall 50 of the access channel element 5 and thus connects the insulating body 29 to the access channel element 5 in a rotationally and axially fixed manner. An upper flange ring 51 forms the upper end of the cylindrical wall 50 facing away from the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 and surrounds an upper opening 51 of the access channel element 5. The upper flange ring 51 rests on the annular insulating body 29 and does not extend radially outwardly beyond the annular insulating body 29. The radial outer wall 29 of the insulating body 29 is fitted accurately into an annular recess 25 formed by the annular stepped outer cover wall 21 of the outer housing 2. The annular insulating body 29, which is a very poor conductor of heat, ensures that the access channel element 5 is received and held in the outer housing base body 2 without permitting any appreciable heat exchange between these bodies.

[0043] To close the upper opening 51 of the tubular access channel element 5, a closure insert 54 is provided, for example in the form of an insulating plug, which projects with an insulating shaft 54 into the interior 52 of the tubular access channel element 5 and fills it either partially or completely in the vertical length. The insulating shank 54 of the closure insert 54 is preferably designed as a hollow cylinder which is filled with a moisture adsorbent, for example with absorbent cotton or felt, in its cavity which is open downwards (towards the refrigeration chamber 4) in order to absorb therewith any liquid which may escape. At its upwardly projecting end, the closure insert 54 is sealed against the inner wall of the access channel element 5 by a neck gasket 54. A further peripheral gasket 54 is provided in the lower region of the insulating shaft 54, which also seals against the inner wall of the access channel element 5.

[0044] An outer container lid 10 can be firmly connected to the outer housing 2 and is supported against the upper cover wall 21 of the outer housing 2 by annular seals 12, 14 shown only schematically in FIG. 1. Preferably, the sealing of the outer container lid 10 to the outer housing 2 is implemented as in EP 2 041 502 B1, originating from the inventor, to whose disclosure in this respect reference is expressly made and which is thereby included in the disclosure of the present application.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section through the inner housing 2 and the refrigeration chamber 4. The refrigeration chamber 4 has a central refrigerated goods chamber 40 for accommodating a refrigerated goods container 70, which is surrounded by six decentral refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, which extend radially outwards from the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 in a star shape. Instead of six decentral refrigerated goods chambers, more or less decentral refrigerated goods chambers may also be provided. In this case, the decentral refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 are formed by refrigerated goods niches 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 extending radially outward from the central refrigerated goods chamber and formed by the inner wall of the inner housing.

[0046] The respective opening of each decentral refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 into the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 forms a transfer gate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 through which a refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 can be moved when filling the refrigeration chamber 4 from the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 into the associated decentral chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and by means of which, when refrigerated goods containers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 are removed from a respective decentral chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, the relevant refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 can be transferred back into the central chamber 40. The respective decentral refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 can also be dimensioned in such a way that it accommodates more than the one refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, then, a plurality of refrigerated goods containers are arranged one behind the other in the radial direction within a refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. The refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 canalternatively or additionallyalso be dimensioned in such a way that several refrigerated goods containers are arranged one above the other and can be removed together as a stack when the height of the transfer gates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and the transfer openings 65, 67 (FIG. 3) is adapted to the height of the decentral refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. The decentral refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 can also be equipped with one or more horizontal intermediate shelves (not shown), so that refrigerated goods containers can be accommodated on several levels in the decentral refrigerated goods chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. The transfer openings 65, 67 (FIG. 3) can then be designed to extend circumferentially offset in a step-like manner in the longitudinal direction of the relevant ring slide element 60, 66 (FIG. 3) in accordance with these levels, in order to specifically allow access to only one of the levels.

[0047] A tubular ring slide device 6, rotatable about the central axis X, is provided in the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 and comprises a ring slide element 60 having a tubular circumferential wall 62. The outer diameter of the tubular circumferential wall 62 is thereby dimensioned such that the ring slide element 60 is accurately but rotatably received within the tubular access channel element 5. The circumferential wall 62 of the ring slide element 60 has at least one transfer opening 65 in the lower region, the dimensions of which substantially correspond to the dimensions of a respective transfer gate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. By rotating the ring slide element 60, the transfer opening 65 can be brought into overlap with any transfer gate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, thereby creating a passage for a refrigerated goods container 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 from an associated decentral refrigerated goods chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 to the central refrigerated goods chamber 40, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0048] The ring slide element 60 of the ring slide device 6 engages in the interior 52 of the tubular access channel element 5 with an upper end 61 pointing away from the bottom 40 of the central refrigerated goods chamber 40. At its upper end face 63 pointing away from the bottom 40 of the central refrigerated goods chamber 40, the ring slide device 60 is provided with coupling means 64 distributed over the circumference and projecting in the axial direction from the upper end face 63, which are designed for rotationally fixed coupling with counter coupling means 58 provided on a lower end face 57 of the circumferential wall 59 of a tubular actuating element 56, wherein the tubular actuating element 56after removal of the closure insert 54can be introduced from above into the tubular access channel element 5 and can be rotationally fixedly coupled to the ring slide element 60. The ring slide element 60 can then be rotated by means of the actuating element 56.

[0049] A modified embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, in which the ring slide device 6 additionally has an inner ring slide element 66 with a tubular circumferential wall 68 inside the outer ring slide element 60, these two ring slide elements being rotatable relative to one another. The inner ring slide element 66 also has at least one transfer opening 67 in its circumferential wall 68 in the lower region, the dimensions of which transfer opening 67 correspond substantially to the dimensions of a respective transfer gate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and thus also to the transfer opening 65 of the outer ring slide element 60.

[0050] An inner actuating element (not shown) is also provided for the inner ring slide element 66, which is rotatably arranged radially inside the circumferential wall 59 of the outer actuating element 56 and which is designed in the same way as the outer actuating element 56. Consequently, the inner actuating element can likewise be coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the inner ring slide element 66 by corresponding (not shown) coupling and counter-coupling means.

[0051] The two ring slide elements 60, 66 are rotatable relative to each other in this manner to either close all transfer gates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 or open a selected transfer gate. Alternatively, the two ring slide elements can be coupled to one another in the direction of rotation in such a way that when one of the ring slide elements, for example the outer ring slide element 60, is rotated in a first direction of rotation about the vertical central axis X from a position in which the two transfer openings 65, 67 are aligned with one another, the other ring slide element 66 does not initially rotate with it, in order thereby to rotate the transfer openings with respect to one another again and thereby close them. Only then do both ring slide elements 60, 66 rotate together and synchronously with each other and with closed transfer openings 65, 67 further in the first direction of rotation. A rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation can then again cause a relative movement between the two ring slide elements 60, 66 so that the transfer openings 65, 67 open again and a further rotation of the two ring slide elements 60, 66 together and synchronously with each other and with open transfer openings 65, 67 takes place further in the second direction of rotation. In this way, a trailing gate operation of the two ring slide elements coupled to each other is made possible.

[0052] An alternative embodiment of a thermally insulated transport container 1 according to the invention with a modified inner housing 3 compared to the embodiment in FIG. 1 is shown in vertical section in FIG. 4. The inner housing 3 is designed in two parts and has an upper housing part 3 designed as a double-walled tube and a cup-like lower housing part 3, which are joined together in a sealing manner along a partition line 3. The upper housing part has a radially inner tube wall 30 and a radially outer tube wall 30, which are connected to one another at their respective upper end facing away from the cup-like housing part 3 by an end wall 30. A cylindrical annular space 36 is thus formed in the upper housing part 3, whichas in the embodiment example of FIG. 1can be filled with refrigerant or into which refrigeration elements 80 filled with refrigerant can be inserted with a precise fit and with heat-conducting contact to the inner wall 32. The cavity 36 formed by the cup-like lower housing part 3 of the inner housing 3 can also be filled with refrigerantas in the embodiment example of FIG. 1or at least one circular disc-shaped refrigerating element 82 filled with refrigerant can be inserted into this cavity with a precise fit. By the way, such refrigeration elements can also be used in the cold accumulator 39 of the variant according to FIG. 1.

[0053] A lower section of the upper housing part 3 has the refrigeration chamber housing 47 inserted, for example shrink-fitted, into it. The overlying upper portion of the upper housing part 3 radially inwardly adjoins an inner annular cylindrical portion 28 of the outer insulating chamber 28, which forms an insulating space between the upper housing part 3 and the tubular access channel element 5. The lower end of the cylindrical wall 50 of the tubular access channel element 5 is tightly and firmly connected to a refrigeration chamber housing 47, which is preferably made of aluminium and surrounds the refrigeration chamber 4.

[0054] FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 show a modified embodiment of the transport container according to the invention compared to the examples in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. Parts and components unchanged from the examples described above have the same reference signs and the above description therefore applies to them in an analogous manner.

[0055] The ring slide device 6 with the outer ring slide element 60 and the inner ring slide element 66 corresponds in terms of its structure and mode of operation to the ring slide device 6 already described above, but the two ring slide elements 60, 66 extend not only into the tubular access channel element 5, but upwardly through it into an operating space 25 formed within the annular recess 25 of the ring-step-like outer cover wall 21 of the outer housing 2.

[0056] In the region of the upper end of the tubular outer ring slide element 60 facing away from the central cooling chamber 40, an actuating element 60 projecting radially outwardly is attached laterally thereto, which forms a lever with which the outer ring slide element 60 can be rotated manually in both directions within the access channel element 5 and relative thereto about the central axis X, as symbolized by the double arrow A in FIG. 8. At least one shaft seal 55, 55, for example a sealing ring, is provided between the radially inner surface 50 of the wall 50 of the access channel element 5 and the radially outer surface 60 of the outer ring slide element 60. As a result, the portion of the ring slide device 6 passing through the access channel element 5 is sealed against the inner circumference of the tubular access channel element 5, thus preventing air exchange between the refrigeration chamber 4 and the operating chamber 25, which improves the thermal insulation of the refrigeration chamber.

[0057] The tubular inner ring slide element 66 extends through the tubular outer ring slide element 60 in the axial direction into the operating chamber 25. The upper end of the tubular inner ring slide element 66 projecting out of the outer ring slide element 60 and facing away from the central refrigeration chamber 40 is also provided with a radially outwardly projecting actuating element 66, which forms a lever with which the inner ring slide element 66 can be rotated manually in both directions within the outer ring slide element 60 and relative thereto about the central axis X, as symbolized by the double arrow B in FIG. 8. At least onenot shownshaft seal can also be provided between the outer ring slide element 60 and the inner ring slide element 66.

[0058] Centrally in the tubular inner ring slide element 66 and coaxially thereto is inserted a cylindrical unloading slider 9, displaceable in the direction of the central axis X, but non-rotatable and preferably sealing at the periphery. The unloading slider 9 has an upper shaft section 90, closed in cross-section, at the upper end of which, emerging from the ring slide device 6, an operating handle 91 is attached. A tubular section 92 provided with a lateral transfer opening 96 is provided at the free end 93 of the shaft section 90 of the unloading slider 9, which end can be introduced into the central refrigerated goods chamber 40 and forms a receiving and transport chamber 97 for a refrigerated goods container 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76. A refrigerated goods container received therein can thus be removed from the refrigeration chamber or introduced into the refrigeration chamber by means of the unloading slider 9.

[0059] The wall 95 of this tubular section 92 is therefore interrupted by the transfer opening 96, which has the same dimensions in the circumferential direction (opening angle) as the transfer openings 65 and 67 of the two ring slide elements 60, 66. The axial extent of the transfer opening 96 in the wall 95 of the removal slide 9 is preferably adapted to the axial length of the refrigerated goods containers 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, i.e. slightly larger than the latter, so that only one refrigerated goods container at a time can be received in the receiving and transport chamber 97. Such an unloading slider 9 is designed for the removal of a single refrigerated goods container at a time.

[0060] Since the unloading slider 9 is received in the inner ring slide element 66 in a rotationally fixed manner, the transfer openings 96 and 67 of the unloading slider 9 and the inner ring slide element 66 are always aligned with each other in the circumferential direction as soon as the removal slide is inserted far enough into the inner ring slide element 66.

[0061] Unloading sliders with an axially longer transfer opening 96 can also be provided for taller refrigerated goods containers or, if the decentral chambers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 each accommodate several refrigerated goods containers one above the other, for the removal of several refrigerated goods containers. For this case, in which a plurality of refrigerated goods containers are accommodated one above the other in a decentral refrigerated goods chamber, an unloading slider can also be provided, in which the axial extent of the transfer opening 96 corresponds substantially to the axial extent of the transfer gates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and which thus forms an uploading slider for the refrigerated chambers. The interchangeability of the unloading slider 9 increases the flexibility of use of the transport container according to the invention.

[0062] Since the unloading slider 9 is closed in cross-section in its upper shaft section 90, when it is inserted into the inner ring slide element 66 it forms a sealing plug for the remaining through channel of the tubular access channel element 5 and thustogether with the tubular ring slide elements 60, 66seals the access channel element 5 and prevents cold from escaping from and heat from entering the refrigerated goods chambers. Both the shaft section 90 of the unloading slider 9 and the ring slide elements 60, 66 are preferably made of a material that does not conduct heat or conducts heat only very poorly, such as stainless steel, titanium or a plastic (e.g. Teflon).

[0063] To remove a refrigerated goods container from a decentral refrigerated goods chamber, the two ring slider elements 60, 66 are first rotated against each other in such a way that their transfer openings 65 and 67 are not aligned with each other, i.e. close each other. Then the transport containerwith the cover 10 removedis brought into a lying position in which the central axis X runs horizontally and the cooling chamber from which the refrigerated goods container is to be removed is at the top. The entire ring slide device 6with transfer openings 65, 67 remaining closedis then rotated so that the transfer opening 67 of the inner ring slide element 66 points upwards. By turning the outer ring slide element 60 so far that its transfer opening 65 is aligned with the transfer opening 67 of the inner ring slide element 66 and thus also with the transfer opening 96 of the unloading slider 9, a refrigerated goods container can fall downward from the decentral refrigerated chamber located above into the receiving and transport chamber 97 due to the force of gravity. Before the unloading slider 9 with the removed refrigerated goods container is now pulled out axially from the inner ring slide element 66, the outer ring slide element 60 is first rotated again relative to the inner ring slide element 66 in order to close the access to the decentral refrigerated chamber again and to prevent cold from escaping. The decentral refrigerated chambers are filled in the opposite way, also using gravity.

[0064] This procedure, made possible by the design of the ring slide device 6, makes it possible to use only gravity both for loading the decentral refrigerated chambers and for unloading them. It is therefore not necessary to provide any gripping devices in the transport container, which must have actuating means to be led out of the transport container, which would always form a thermal bridge or cold bridge.

[0065] Reference signs in the claims, the description and the drawings serve only for a better understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0066] It denote: [0067] 1 thermally insulated transport container [0068] 2 outer housing [0069] 3 inner housing [0070] 3 inner housing [0071] 3 upper housing part [0072] 3 lower housing part [0073] 3 partition line [0074] 4 refrigeration chamber [0075] 5 tubular access channel element [0076] 6 ring slide device [0077] 6 ring slide device [0078] 7 refrigerated goods [0079] 8 refrigerant insert [0080] 9 unloading slider [0081] 10 outer container lid [0082] 12 ring seal [0083] 14 ring seal [0084] 20 outer housing base body [0085] 21 upper outer cover wall [0086] 21 inner opening [0087] 22 wall [0088] 22 weld seam [0089] 22 weld seam [0090] 23 cylindrical outer wall [0091] 24 external bottom wall [0092] 25 annular recess [0093] 26 annular space [0094] 27 bottom space portion [0095] 28 outer insulating chamber [0096] 29 insulating body [0097] 29 radial inner wall [0098] 29 radial outer wall [0099] 30 inner housing base body [0100] 30 inner tube wall [0101] 30 outer tube wall [0102] 31 inner cover wall [0103] 31 Inner opening [0104] 32 wall [0105] 32 weld seam [0106] 32 weld seam [0107] 33 cylindrical outer wall [0108] 34 base wall [0109] 36 annular space [0110] 36 annular space [0111] 36 cavity [0112] 37 bottom space portion [0113] 38 inner refrigerant chamber [0114] 39 refrigerant [0115] 39 cold accumulator [0116] 39 metal wool filling [0117] 40 central refrigerated goods chamber [0118] 40 bottom [0119] 41 decentral refrigerated goods chamber [0120] 41 transfer gate [0121] 41 refrigerated goods niche [0122] 42 decentral refrigerated goods chamber [0123] 42 transfer gate [0124] 42 refrigerated goods niche [0125] 43 decentral refrigerated goods chamber [0126] 43 transfer gate [0127] 43 refrigerated goods niche [0128] 44 decentral refrigerated goods chamber [0129] 44 transfer gate [0130] 44 refrigerated goods niche [0131] 45 decentral refrigerated goods chamber [0132] 45 transfer gate [0133] 45 refrigerated goods niche [0134] 46 decentral refrigerated goods chamber [0135] 46 transfer gate [0136] 46 refrigerated goods niche [0137] 47 refrigeration chamber housing [0138] 48 refrigeration chamber housing base body [0139] 49 top cover wall [0140] 49 central opening [0141] 50 wall [0142] 50 radial inner surface of 50 [0143] 51 flange ring [0144] 51 upper opening [0145] 52 interior [0146] 54 closure insert [0147] 54 insulating shaft [0148] 54 neck gasket [0149] 54 peripheral gasket [0150] 56 actuating element [0151] 57 lower face of 56 [0152] 58 counter coupling means [0153] 59 circumferential wall [0154] 60 outer ring slide element [0155] 60 outer ring slide element [0156] 60 actuating element [0157] 60 radial outer surface of 60 [0158] 61 upper end of 6 [0159] 61 upper end of 6 [0160] 62 tubular circumferential wall [0161] 63 upper end face [0162] 64 coupling means [0163] 65 transfer opening [0164] 66 inner ring slide element [0165] 66 inner ring slide element [0166] 66 actuating element [0167] 67 transfer opening [0168] 68 tubular circumferential wall [0169] 70 refrigerated goods container [0170] 71 refrigerated goods container [0171] 72 refrigerated goods container [0172] 73 refrigerated goods container [0173] 74 refrigerated goods container [0174] 75 refrigerated goods container [0175] 76 refrigerated goods container [0176] 80 refrigerating elements [0177] 82 circular disc shaped refrigerating element [0178] 90 upper shaft section [0179] 91 operating handle [0180] 92 tubular section [0181] 93 free end of 90 [0182] 95 wall of 92 [0183] 96 transfer opening [0184] 97 receiving and transport chamber [0185] X vertical central axis