COOLING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device 1, in particular a freezer 2, having a closable cooling space 3, an electrically operated cooling circuit, and preferably a cold accumulator 4, wherein the at least one closable cooling space 3 and the cold accumulator 4 can be cooled by the electrically operated cooling circuit. The invention is characterized in that the cooling device has a current distributor 5 for distributing electric power of at least one regenerative current source 6 to an electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 and to at least one further electric consumer 7. Moreover, the current distributor 5 has an automatic control with an arithmetic unit 23, a memory 24 as well as a priority logic. The priority logic in case of lacking electric power of the at least one regenerative current source 6 first of all shall supply the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 with current.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A cooling device, in particular a freezer, having at least one closable cooling space, an electrically operated cooling circuit, and preferably a cold accumulator, wherein the at least one closable cooling space and the cold accumulator can be cooled by the electrically operated cooling circuit, characterized in that the cooling device has a current distributor for distributing electric power of at least one regenerative current source to an electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and to at least one further electric consumer, and the current distributor has at least one power input, a first power output and at least one second power output, wherein the at least one power input can be connected to the at least one regenerative current source and wherein the first power output is constructed as a cooling device connection for connecting the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and wherein the at least one second power output is constructed as consumer connection for connecting the at least one further electric consumer and wherein the current distributor has an automatic control with an arithmetic unit, a memory, and a priority logic, wherein the priority logic in case of lacking electric power of the at least one regenerative current source first of all supplies the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device with current.

14. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one regenerative current source is a solar collector or a wind-driven generator.

15. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the current distributor has at least one first sensor for determining a power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device.

16. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the current distributor has at least one second sensor for determining the density of available energy.

17. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the current distributor disconnects the at least one further electric consumer from the at least one regenerative current source as soon as the produced electric power of the at least one regenerative current source falls below the power consumption of the cooling device and the at least one further electric consumer.

18. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the current distributor connects the at least one further electric consumer to the at least one regenerative current source as soon as the produced electric power of the at least one regenerative current source exceeds the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and the at least one further electric consumer.

19. The cooling device according to claim 18, characterized in that in case of operating a plurality of further electric consumers the current distributor performs disconnection from or connection to the at least one regenerative current source depending on the power consumption of the respective further electric consumer.

20. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the current distributor supplies the at least one further electric consumer with current in a state where the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device does not consume electric power.

21. The cooling device according to claim 13, characterized in that the consumer connection is constructed as a charging device for an accumulator-operated electric consumer, in particular one or more of a lamp, a computer, a telephone, an accumulator itself.

22. A method for operating a cooling device according to claim 13, with the following processing steps: a) first determination of the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device by the first sensor before the at least one further electric consumer is connected to the at least one regenerative current source; b) storing the first determination in the memory of the automatic control; c) connecting the at least one further electric consumer to the at least one regenerative current source; d) second determination of the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device by the first sensor after the at least one further electric consumer has been connected to the at least one regenerative current source; e) comparing the first determination with the second determination in the arithmetic unit; f) disconnecting the at least one further electric consumer from the at least one regenerative current source, when the power consumption of the second determination is below the power consumption of the first determination; and g) periodic repetition of processing steps a) to f).

23. A method for operating a cooling device according to claim 13 with the following processing steps: a) entering the maximum power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device, entering the performance characteristics of the regenerative current source, and entering the maximum power consumption of the at least one further electric consumer into the memory of the automatic control; b) determining the density of the available energy by the second sensor; c) calculating the available power of the regenerative current source in the arithmetic unit of the automatic control by means of the performance characteristics of the regenerative current source and the density of the available energy; d) connecting the at least one further electric consumer to the at least one regenerative current source, when the available power of the regenerative current source is greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and the maximum power consumption of the at least one further electric consumer; e) disconnecting the at least one further electric consumer from the at least one regenerative current source, when the available power of the regenerative current source is smaller than the sum of the maximum power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and the maximum power consumption of the at least one further electric consumer; and f) periodic repetition of processing steps b) to e).

24. A method for operating a cooling device according to claim 13 with the following processing steps: a) entering the operating voltage/desired voltage into the memory; b) first voltage measurement of the supply voltage applied to the cooling device by the first sensor; c) storing the value of the first voltage measurement in the memory of the automatic control; d) comparing the operating voltage/desired voltage to the value of the first voltage measurement in the automatic control: if the value of the first voltage measurement is smaller than the operating voltage/desired voltage (continue to processing step b), otherwise continue to processing step e); e) connecting the at least one further electric consumer to the at least one regenerative current source; f) second voltage measurement of the supply voltage applied to the cooling device by the first sensor after the at least one further electric consumer has been connected to the at least one regenerative current source; g) comparing the operating voltage/desired voltage to the value of the second voltage measurement in the automatic control: if the value of the second voltage measurement is greater than or equal to the operating voltage/desired voltage continue to processing step f), otherwise continue to processing step h); h) disconnecting the at least one further electric consumer from the at least one regenerative current source, when the operating voltage/desired voltage is greater than the value of the second voltage measurement; and i) periodic repetition of processing steps b) to h).

Description

[0034] In the following, the invention is explained in detail with the help of three examples of the cooling device illustrated in the figures. Here:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a cooling device in a first embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a cooling device in a second embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic arrangement of the components of a cooling device according to the first or second embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a schematic arrangement of the components of a cooling device according to a third embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a detail view of the current distributor for a cooling device according to the first or second embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a perspective front view of the cooling device according to the first embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a perspective rear view of a cooling device according to the first embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a perspective rear view of the current distributor shown in FIG. 7;

[0043] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart with the processing steps of the first method;

[0044] FIG. 10 shows a flow chart with the processing steps of the second method; and

[0045] FIG. 11 shows a flow chart with the processing steps of the third method.

[0046] The first embodiment of the cooling device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a freezer 2 and can be closed with a freezer lid 20. The cooling device 1 via a cabling 25 at the first power output 9 with its cooling device connection 11 is connected to the current distributor 5. The current distributor 5 in turn is connected to a regenerative current source 6 via a cabling 25 from its power input 8. Here, the regenerative current source 6 is comprised of four solar panels 15. Moreover, the current distributor has a second power output 10 having three consumer connections. A computer 18 and a telephone 19 as electric consumers 7 each are connected to two of the three consumer connections. In the first embodiment of the cooling device 1 the current distributor 5 is arranged separate from the cooling device 1 and is only connected to it via the cabling 25.

[0047] In the second embodiment of the cooling device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 the cooling device is in the form of a freezer 2 in the inside of which there is the closable cooling space 3. Inside the freezer 2 eight cold accumulators 4 are arranged. The second embodiment of the cooling device 1 differs from the first embodiment in that the current distributor 5 is arranged integrated in the cooling device 1. Here, the cabling 25 extends from the at least one regenerative current source 6 directly via the power input 8 to the current distributor 5. The shown embodiment of the at least one regenerative current source 6 in FIG. 2 also comprises four solar panels 15. In the second embodiment of the cooling device 1 the cooling device connection 11 of the first power output 9 that supplies the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 with electric current is arranged covered in the freezer 2 and thus, cannot be seen in the illustration of FIG. 2. In the second embodiment three consumer connections 12 of the current distributor 5 are arranged on the freezer 2 such that they are easily accessible, so that the at least one electric consumer 7 (not shown) can be connected to the current distributor 5.

[0048] In the schematic illustration shown in FIG. 3 the individual components of the cooling device 1 in the first and the second embodiment are arranged relative to each other and connected via cablings 25. For the schematic illustration of the arrangement it is not relevant whether the current distributor 5 is integrated in the cooling device 1 or is arranged outside of the cooling device 1. As already shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the regenerative current source 6 on the power input 8 is connected to the current distributor 5 via a cabling 25. Moreover, also the cooling device 1 with its electrically operated cooling circuit is connected to the current distributor 5 via the cooling device connection 11 of the first power output 9 via the cabling 25. Further, it is illustrated in FIG. 3 how two of the at least one further electric consumers 7 are connected to the current distributor 5 each via a cabling 25 and the consumer connections 12 of the second power output 10. The schematically shown first sensor 13 arranged inside the current distributor 5 serves for determining the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1.

[0049] The schematic illustration of a cooling device 1 of a third embodiment of the cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 4 differs from the first and second embodiment, respectively, of the cooling device 1 in that the current distributor 5 has a second sensor 14 which measures the density of the available energy acting on the at least one regenerative current source. Also in the shown third example the current distributor 5 can be integrated in the cooling device 1 or arranged outside the cooling device 1. However, the second sensor is arranged outside of the cooling device 1 close to the at least one regenerative current source 6. Moreover, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has two regenerative current sources 6 connected to the current distributor. Here, the arrangement of the further components in FIG. 4 corresponds to the schematic arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

[0050] The current distributor 5 of the first embodiment of the cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged outside of the cooling device 1. The current distributor 5 has a power input 8, a first power output 9 with a cooling device connection 11 as well as a second power output 10 having three consumer connections 12. The first sensor for determining the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 is installed inside the current distributor 5 (not visible).

[0051] The inventive cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has a current distributor 5 that is laterally attached to the cooling device 1. Here, the cooling device 1 is in the form of a freezer 2. It is closed by a freezer lid 20. The connection between the cooling device 1 and the current distributor 5 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, wherein the at least one regenerative current source 6 however is not shown. A lamp 17 as the at least one further electric consumer 7 is illustrated at the second power output 10. Moreover, the current distributor 5 has a place to put something 21 and four further consumer connections 12 at the second power output 10.

[0052] In the cooling device 1 shown FIG. 7 the current distributor 5 is attached by means of a guide bar 22 on the rear of the freezer 2. The guide bar 22 laterally protrudes beyond the freezer 2, so that the current distributor 5 can be laterally arranged on the cooling device 1. The power input 8 and the first power output 9 are arranged on the rear of the current distributor 5. The first power output 9 is connected to the cooling device connection 11 via a cabling 25 on the rear of the freezer 2.

[0053] The power input 8 shown in FIG. 8 and the first power output 9 of the current distributor 5 together with the cooling device connection 11 are constructed as a plug-in connection.

[0054] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart about the course of the first method for operating a cooling device 1. Here, the first method is suitable for operating a cooling device 1 according to the first and second embodiment, respectively. First, a first determination P.sub.1 of the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit is performed. The value of the first determination P.sub.1 is stored in the memory 24 of the automatic control of the current distributor 5. Subsequently, the at least one further electric consumer 7 is connected to the at least one regenerative current source 6. This is followed by a second determination P.sub.2 of the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit. In the arithmetic unit 23 of the current distributor 5 there is performed a comparison between the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 and the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2. If here, the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2 is below the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 this means that the at least one regenerative current source 6 cannot provide sufficient electric power to sufficiently supply both the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 as well as the at least one further electric consumer 7 with current. Accordingly, the automatic control disconnects the at least one further electric current consumer 7 from the regenerative current source 6 to ensure the supply of the electrically operated cooling circuit. If however, the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 is equal to the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2 this means that the regenerative current source 6 provides sufficient electric power to supply both the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 and the at least one further electric consumer 7 with current. Accordingly, the connection between the at least one regenerative current source 6 and the at least one further electric consumer 7 is not disconnected. After completion of the comparison between the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 and the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2 the processing steps are repeated by a new determination of the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1.

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a flow chart about the processing steps of the second method for operating a cooling device 1. The second method for operating a cooling device 1 is suitable to operate a cooling device 1 according to the third embodiment. At first, in the process flow the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(1) of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 as well as the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(7) of the at least one further electric consumer is stored in the memory 24 of the automatic control of the current distributor 5. Moreover, in the memory 24 of the automatic control also the performance characteristics P.sub.max(6) of the regenerative current source 6 are entered and stored. Subsequently, there is performed a determination of the density of the available energy Q by the second sensor 14. By means of the stored performance characteristics P.sub.max(6) of the at least one regenerative current source as well as the density of the available energy Q the available power P.sub.act of the at least one regenerative current source 5 can be calculated in the arithmetic unit 23 of the automatic control.

[0056] Subsequently, the available electric power P.sub.act of the at least one regenerative current source 6 is compared to the sum of the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(1) required for the operation of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(7) of the at least one further electric consumer 7. If the result of the comparison is that the available power P.sub.act of the at least one regenerative current source 6 is greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(1) of the electrically operated cooling circuit and the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(7) of the at least one further electric consumer 7, the one further electric consumer 7 is connected to the at least one regenerative current source 6. If otherwise the available electric power P.sub.act of the regenerative current source is too low, the at least one further electric consumer 7 is disconnected from the at least one regenerative current source 6 or not connected thereto, respectively. After completion of the processing steps a new determination of the density of the available energy Q is performed and the method is executed again.

[0057] FIG. 11 shows a flow chart about the processing steps of the third method for operating a cooling device 1. Here, the third method is suitable for operating a cooling device 1 according to the first or second embodiment, respectively. At first, in the process flow the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 is stored in the automatic control of the current distributor 5. Subsequently, there is performed a first voltage measurement U.sub.1 of the supply voltage. The value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is stored in the memory 24 of the automatic control of the current distributor 5.

[0058] Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the measured value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is compared to the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op in the automatic control. If the result is that the measured value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is smaller than the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op, a new first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is performed. However, if the measured value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is greater than or equal to the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op, the at least one further electric consumer 7 is connected to the at least one regenerative current source 6. Subsequently, in a second voltage measurement U.sub.2 the supply voltage is measured and in the automatic control compared to the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op. If the result is that the measured value of the second voltage measurement U.sub.2 is greater than or equal to the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op, a new second voltage measurement U.sub.2 of the supply voltage and a new comparison between the measured value of the second voltage measurement U.sub.2 and the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op are performed. If the measured value of the second voltage measurement U.sub.2 is smaller than the operating voltage/desired voltage U.sub.op, the at least one further electric consumer 7 is disconnected from the at least one regenerative current source 6. After the at least one further electric consumer 7 has been disconnected from the at least one regenerative current source 6 a new first voltage measurement U.sub.1 of the supply voltage is performed. Processing steps b) to h) are regularly repeated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0059] 1: cooling device [0060] 2: freezer [0061] 3: closable cooling space [0062] 4: cold accumulator [0063] 5: current distributor [0064] 6: regenerative current source [0065] 7: electric consumer [0066] 8: power input [0067] 9: first power output [0068] 10: second power output [0069] 11: cooling device connection [0070] 12: consumer connection [0071] 13: first sensor [0072] 14: second sensor [0073] 15: solar collector [0074] 16: wind-driven generator [0075] 17: lamp [0076] 18: computer [0077] 19: telephone [0078] 20: freezer lid [0079] 21: place to put something [0080] 22: attaching device [0081] 23: arithmetic unit [0082] 24 memory [0083] 25: cabling [0084] P.sub.1: first determination [0085] P.sub.2: second determination [0086] P.sub.max(1): maximum power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit [0087] P.sub.max(7): maximum power consumption of the at least one further electric consumer [0088] P.sub.max(6): performance characteristics of the at least one regenerative current source [0089] P.sub.act: available power of the at least one regenerative current source [0090] Q: density of the available energy [0091] U.sub.op: operating voltage/desired voltage [0092] U.sub.1: first voltage measurement [0093] U.sub.2: second voltage measurement