Cooling Element
There are many products that need to be transported from one place to another and which can only be transported in a cooled state. rv refrigerators This is particularly true in sectors such as the food industry (supplies of meat, fish and AGF), web shops and the medical sector (pharmacy and blood transport).
Shape-retaining cooling elements are used for these types of transports to keep goods cold. These elements are available in various shapes and sizes, so they can be adapted to suit different requirements.
A Cooling Element according to claim 1 consists of two layers of foil material, each of which comprises a weldable material and is at least locally welded together to form a compartment with a flow restriction. A buffer reservoir is formed adjacent to the compartment and is separated from the two layers of foil material by a welded seam. The buffer reservoir has a maximal volume essentially equal to the liquid volume of the liquid absorbing vapour-releasing material when this material is saturated with liquid.
In addition, the intermediate layer is secured at one or more locations where the two layers of foil material are welded together by constituting at least one of the welds through a part of the intermediate layer and blending the weld at least locally around the material of the intermediate layer. This ensures that the intermediate layer remains well connected to the two layers of foil material and thereby maintains the cooling effect.
The intermediate layer is preferably rounded at its corners and/or ends to avoid stress concentrations in the foil material adjacent to the welded connections. This ensures that fewer tears are formed during use of the cooling element and also makes it more attractive.
Cooling elements may be manufactured more easily than previously, because the foil materials are able to be produced in a single low-cost welding cycle. This is especially favourable in the case of the intermediate layer, as it is no longer necessary to bring the intermediate layer into the correct fitting shape beforehand, and thus it is no longer possible for the foil materials to become folded or crumpled. This reduces the manufacturing costs and the overall strength of the assembled cooling element. The rounded corners and/or ends of the welded connections also make it easier to apply a weld between the two layers of foil material. In addition, this prevents the welded connections from deforming after use of the cooling element.