초록 ▼

Apparatus for controlling temperature within a housing (200) comprises a thermal storage device (102) for maintaining a controlled temperature within the housing, and a thermal transfer arrangement (104) for selectively transferring heat between the thermal storage device and the external environmen

Apparatus for controlling temperature within a housing (200) comprises a thermal storage device (102) for maintaining a controlled temperature within the housing, and a thermal transfer arrangement (104) for selectively transferring heat between the thermal storage device and the external environment so as to effect thermal storage in the storage device, the thermal storage device comprising a thermal storage medium which is in direct contact with the thermal transfer arrangement. A further aspect of the invention is disclosed, in which a plurality of thermal storage devices are provided, each one being separate from the other such devices.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A housing having a base, side walls and a roof and incorporating one or more apparatus for controlling temperature within the housing, each said one or more apparatus comprising:a thermal storage device for maintaining a controlled temperature within said housing, anda th

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A housing having a base, side walls and a roof and incorporating one or more apparatus for controlling temperature within the housing, each said one or more apparatus comprising:a thermal storage device for maintaining a controlled temperature within said housing, anda thermal transfer arrangement for selectively transferring heat between the thermal storage device and the external environment, according to the relative temperatures of the thermal storage device and the external environment, so as to effect thermal storage in the thermal storage device, said thermal transfer arrangement comprising:a first heat exchange device within said housing for exchanging heat with said thermal storage device,a second heat exchange device, external to the housing, for exchanging heat with the external environment, anda conduit, in the form of a continuous closed loop, for transporting a thermal transfer fluid between said first and second heat exchange devices;a support assembly disposed on the roof of said housing for supporting said conduit and said second heat exchange device,wherein:a removable part of the conduit, which forms the first heat exchange device, extends through apertures passing through side walls of the housing and also has distal portions extending outside the housing so that any leakage of the thermal transfer fluid occurs outside the housing;the distal portions extend beyond the side walls by an extent selected such that the first heat exchange device is supported by the side walls but can also be removed by sliding it lengthways to release one of said distal ends, inside the housing, from its side wall aperture, andreleasable couplings are provided for the distal portions of the conduit both so as to facilitate (a) removal of said first heat exchange device, and (b) connection to the second heat exchange device, which is formed by another part of the conduit external of the housing.