SYSTEM

The present invention refers to a rechargeable thermal accumulator, namely indifferently for cold or heat, to a transport container comprising at least one of such accumulators, to a thermal recharging device of at least one of such accumulators and to a system comprising at least one of such accumulators and at least one of such devices .

Portable cold thermal accumulators or

"freezerine" are known in the art, and are composed of a casing made of plastic material, with different shapes, sizes and consistency, containing a gel or an eutectic liquid: after having been suitably refrigerated inside a refrigerating cell, they keep a high refrigerating power and therefore a greater capability of keeping an optimum temperature for longer times without having the inconveniences related to dripping, particular of ice. One of their custom uses in fact is being placed inside thermal bags for refrigerating and storing foodstuff and/or beverages during their transport : such accumulators however have the inconvenience of requiring a relatively long period of time to be again refrigerated once having reached an almost ambient temperature or, anyway, a temperature not any more optimum for their efficient use.

Portable devices are also known in the art, typically as small flexible parallelepipeds, capable of producing heat upon request by triggering exothermal chemical reactions. Such devices however are generally disposable and, once having produced heat by exploiting the above reactions, such items cannot be used any more.

Therefore, object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a thermal accumulator, namely indifferently of cold or of heat, which can preferably be of a portable type and easily rechargeable with a thermally treated fluid, in order to be easily reusable according to needs .

Another object of the present invention is providing a transport container comprising at least one rechargeable thermal accumulator which allows easily thermally conditioning its own contents (for example foods) according to needs.

Moreover, an object of the present invention is providing a device which simply allows thermally recharging at least one thermal accumulator by replacing, at least partially, at least one discharging fluid contained inside such accumulator with at least one charging fluid thermally conditioned in such device, namely having a different temperature (greater of less than) that of the discharging fluid.

Another object of the present invention is providing a system comprising at least one accumulator and at least one device as described above .

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are obtained with a thermal accumulator as claimed in claim 1.

Moreover, the above and other objects and advantages of the invention are obtained with a transport container as claimed in claim 10, with a thermal recharging device as claimed in claim 11 and with a system as claimed in claim 13 ,

Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims ,

It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as appears from the enclosed claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non- limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure la shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rechargeable thermal accumulator according to the present invention;

- Figure lb shows a schematic perspective and partially transparent view of another preferred embodiment of the rechargeable thermal accumulator according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transport container according to the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal recharging device according to the present invention.

With reference to Figures la and lb, it is possible to note that the rechargeable thermal accumulator 1, preferably of the portable type, according to the present invention comprises at least one casing 3, for example made of a plastic material, comprising therein at least one chamber 5 containing at least one thermal fluid (also called discharging fluid FS) , preferably having a temperature T1, such accumulator 1 further comprising connecting means 7 of at least one of such chambers 5 with the outside of such casing 3 to allow replacing or at least partially integrating such thermal fluid or discharging fluid FS, preferably having such temperature T1 , with another thermal fluid (also called charging fluid FC) , preferably having a temperature T2, where T1 ¹ T2. In particular, if the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to subtract heat from the external environment and therefore provide cooling, it will be T1 > T2, while if the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to provide heat to the external environment, and therefore heating, it will be T1 < T2.

From a practical point of view, when, for example, the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is aimed to subtract heat from the external environment and therefore provide cooling, it is enough to replace or at least partially integrate the thermal or discharging fluid FS contained inside the chamber 5 and having a temperature T1 {for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature) , with another thermal or charging fluid FC, suitably cooled, namely thermally conditioned to have a temperature T2 < T1 , through the connecting means 7.

Similarly, when, for example, the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to provide heat to the external environment, and therefore heating, it is enough to replace or at least partially integrate the thermal or discharging fluid FS contained inside the chamber 5 and having a temperature T1 (for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature) , with another thermal or charging fluid FC suitably heated, namely thermally conditioned to have a temperature T2 > T1 , through the connecting means 7.

In a first preferred embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the present invention, it can be provided that it comprises a single chamber 5 substantially coinciding, for example, with the whole internal volume of the casing 3, as shown, for example, in Figure la,

In a second preferred embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the present invention, it can be provided that the chamber 5 is contained in the casing 3 leaving free a residual internal volume 9 of the casing 3 itself, as shown, for example, in Figure lb: it can be provided that the residual internal volume 9 of the casing 3 can be empty or containing air or another fluid.

In a further alternative, always as shown in Figure lb, the chamber 5 can be shaped as a serpentine.

Obviously, the number, arrangement and size of the five chambers of the accumulator 1 can be various, without therefore departing from the scope of the present invention.

The connecting means 7 are therefore aimed to allow introducing from outside the charging fluid

FC (for example, from a source of such charging fluid FC once being thermally conditioned to be taken at the desired temperature T2) inside at least one chamber 5 and the possible extraction of the discharging fluid FS from inside the chamber 5 itself .

In particular, the connecting means 7 can be composed of a single duct or a single opening (not shown) communicating with at least one chamber 5: in this case, throuni such single duct or single opening, it is possible, for example, to:

introduce the charging fluid FC into at least one substantially empty chamber 5;

- introduce a suitable amount of charging fluid FC to integrate the discharging fluid FS already present in the chamber 5 ;

- partially extract an amount of discharging fliiid FS from the chamber 5 and afterwards integrate the discharging fluid FS remaining in the chamber 5, introducing a suitable amount of charging fluid FC; totally extract the discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 and afterwards introduce in the chamber 5 a suitable amount of charging fluid FC.

The connecting means 7 can also be composed, as for example shown in Figures la and lb) of at least one loading duct or opening 7a and of at least one unloading duct or opening 7b communicating with at least one chamber 5. In this case, through such loading 7a and unloading 7b ducts or openings, it is also possible, for example, to introduce an amount of charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 through the loading duct or opening 7a and simultaneously extract a similar amount of discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 itself through the unloading duct or opening 7b: obviously, depending on the amount of charging fluid FC introduced in the chamber 5 and on the amount of discharging fluid FS going out of the chamber 5 itself, a partial or total replacement of the first fluid, initially present in the chamber 5, will be performed.

The connecting means 7 can comprise valve means (not shown) , for example made as quick connections of any type substantially known in the art, which allow, when necessary, keeping the thermal fluid inside the chamber 5 and, when necessary, for example when connected to a source of charging fluid FC, the extraction of the discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 and/or the introduction of the charging fluids FC in the chamber 5 itself.

The present invention further deals with a transport container comprising at least one accumulator 1 as previously described.

With reference then to Figure 2, it is possible to note that the transport container 10 according to the present invention comprises at least one casing outside 12 defining therein one or more compartments to house the goods to be transported (for example, foods, medicines, etc.) under thermal cooling or heating conditions depending on the temperature of the external environment, and at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described, placed in thermal conduction with such one or more compartments: obviously, if the accumulators 1 of the container 10 are designed to subtract heat to the external environment, such one or more compartments will be subjected to cooling while, if the accumulators 1 of the container 10 are designed to provide heat to the external environment, such one or more compartments will be subjected to heating.

Obviously, the external casing 12 can be indifferently rigid to make, for example, a thermal box or vessel (not shown) or flexible to make, for example, a thermal bag like the one representing the transport container 10 of Figure 2.

In a possible embodiment of the transport container 10 according to the present invention, it is possible to provide that the casing 12 comprises one or more portions, such as, for example, pockets, technical compartments, hollow spaces, etc . , suitable to unmovably house one or more accumulators according to the present invention, which, in this way, can be removed from the casing 12 to proceed, for example, to the replacement or integration of the thermal fluids FC, FS therefrom with the above described modes, to be then placed again in such portions.

It is also possible to provide that the accumulators according to the present invention are integrated in the casing 12 (for example in the base of this latter one, as shown, for example, in Figure 2) and substantially unmovable: in this case, it is possible to provide that the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulators can go out of the casing 12 towards outside of the container 10 to allow replacing or integrating the thermal fluids FC, FS with the above described modes, without the need of removing the accumulators from such casing 12 ,

The present invention further deals with a thermal recharging device of at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described.

With reference then to Figure 3, it is possible to note that the thermal recharging device 20 according to the present invention comprises: thermal conditioning means (for cooling if T2 < T1 or for heating if T2 > T1) of at least one thermal fluid to take it to the thermal conditions of a charging fluid FC (for example, at a temperature T2) ;

fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention, such fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b being equipped at least for introducing the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of an accumulator 1 when the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b are connected to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of such accumulator 1 and/or for extracting at least partially the discharging fluid SC, for example when it reaches a temperature next to T1, with at least one chamber 5 of the accumulator 1 when the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b are connected to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1.

In addition, the device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise collecting means of the discharging fluid FS coming from the chamber 5 of the accumulator 1 to convey it to the thermal conditioning means in order to take it back to the thermal conditions of a charging fluid FC,

Obviously, the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b of the device 20 can have complementary configuration and arrangement to those of the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1.

For example, if the connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1 are composed of a single duct or a single opening as described above, also the fluid connecting means 22 of the device 20 can be composed of a single duct suitable to be fluid connected with the duct or the opening of the actuator 1, for example by interposing valve means. Therefore, when such fluid connecting means 22 are operatively and fluid connected to such connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1, it is possible, for example, to:

extract from least one chamber 5 at least partially the discharging fluid FS, for example when this has been taken to a temperature next to T1 or the ambient temperature, and possibly recover it through the collecting means to convey it to the thermal conditioning means;

afterwards, introduce the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of such accumulator already taken to the temperature T2 from the thermal conditioning means of the device 20.

If the connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1 are composed of at least one loading duct or opening 7a and of at least one unloading duct or opening 7b, also the fluid connecting means of the device 20 can be composed of a respective loading duct 22a and unloading duct 22b, each of which being adapted to be fluid connected to the corresponding loading duct or opening 7a or unloading duct or opening 7b of the actuator 1 , for example by interposing the valve means. Therefore, when such fluid connecting means 22a, 22b are operatively and fluid connected to such connecting means 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1, it is possible, for example, to introduce the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of the accumulator already taken to the temperature T2 by the thermal conditioning means of the device 20 through the loading duct 22a connected to the loading duct or opening 7a and simultaneously extract a similar amount of discharging fluid FS, for example when this has been taken to a temperature next to T1 or the ambient temperature, from the chamber 5 itself through the unloading duct or opening 7b connected to the unloading duct 22b (for example exploiting the pressing action of the incoming charging fluid FC) and possibly recovering it through the collecting means to convey it to the thermal conditioning means,

If the accumulators 1 are integrated in a transport container 10 according to the present invention, it will be enough to connect the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b going out of the casing 12 to the respective fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b of the device 20.

Obviously, it is possible to provide that the device 20 is further equipped with control means which detect how an actuator 1 is regularly connected to the fluid connecting means 22 and automatically actuate the operation of introducing the charging fluid FC and/or extracting the charging fluid FC.

It is also possible to provide that the device 20 comprises suitable control means 24 capable of being actuated by a user when the actuator 1 is connected to the fluid connecting means 22 for manually starting the operation of introducing the charging fluid FC and/or extracting the charging fluid FC.

Finally, the present invention further deals with a system comprising:

at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described;

at least one thermal recharging device 20 according to the present invention as previously described.

The system according to the present invention can further comprise at least one transport container 10 according to the present invention as previously described.