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  Temperature controlling unit and container using the sameUSPTO Application #: 20060037327Title: Temperature controlling unit and container using the same Abstract: A temperature controlling subunit, which includes a Stirling refrigerator as a temperature controlling device, is attached to an insulative lid. A heat absorbing sink which constitutes a temperature control effect member of the temperature controlling subunit is thermally exposed at one surface side of the lid. The resultant structure functions as a temperature controlling unit. Accordingly, the interior of the insulating container of an arbitrary size can be cooled with its opening closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit, and items to be stored can be continuously stored for a longer time compared with a case of cooling the interior of the insulating container with solid carbon dioxide and a cold reserving agent conventionally used. (end of abstract) Agent: Akerman Senterfitt - West Palm Beach, FL, US Inventors: Ryosuke Saito, Toshikatsu Nomizu, Kiyotaka Oda, Takeshi Suzuki USPTO Applicaton #: 20060037327 - Class: 062006000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Refrigeration, Gas Compression, Heat Regeneration And Expansion, E.g., Stirling Cycle The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060037327. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a temperature controlling unit and a container using the same, and more particularly, to a container for transportation. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In general, a conventional container for transportation comprises an insulating container and a cover, both made of foam synthetic resins, and holds solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like inside, thereby cooling the interior of the container. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-304402 discloses an electronic cooling or heating container comprising an insulating container with an openable and closable lid, in which the insulating container has a built-in cooling or heating unit (corresponding to a temperature controlling unit of the present invention). Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 2553022 discloses a cooling or heating container with a lid which openably and closably covers the opening of an insulating box (corresponding to an insulating container of the present invention), and has a built-in cooling or heating apparatus (corresponding to the temperature controlling unit of the present invention). Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-311576 discloses a cooling box with a lid which openably and closably covers the opening of a box (corresponding to the insulating container of the present invention), and has a built-in a cooling apparatus (corresponding to the temperature controlling unit of the present invention). [0005] The container which cools the interior by solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like, however, has a problem such that as solid carbon dioxide sublimes or the cold reserving agent melts down due to heat from stored items or heat from the exterior of the container, it takes a lot of trouble for refilling solid carbon dioxide or replacing the cold reserving agent to keep the stored items in the container for a long time. In the case of using solid carbon dioxide, its repetitive use over a long period of time increases not only the amount of the solid carbon dioxide, which eventually increases the running cost, but also the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as the solid carbon dioxide gasifies due to the sublimation. While the containers of the above described Japanese publications neither require such a labor nor suffer such an environmental burden, they are unable to store items with larger volumes than the internal volumes of the containers due to the pre-limited inner volumes, and they are relatively heavy and expensive. Accordingly, there is a problem in using them for transportation. [0006] The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a container which enables storage of items for a long period at low running cost and allows its volume to be set relatively freely, and a temperature controlling unit which constitutes the container. [0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively lightweight and inexpensive container as well as a temperature controlling unit which constitutes the container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] A temperature controlling unit according to a first aspect of the present invention is a temperature controlling unit which comprises: an insulative lid; and a temperature controlling subunit which includes a temperature controlling device provided on the lid, and includes a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed at one surface side of the lid. [0009] The temperature controlling subunit may further include an attachment member for attaching the temperature controlling subunit to the lid. [0010] The temperature controlling device may include a Stirling refrigerator. [0011] A container according to a second aspect of the present invention is a container which comprises: an insulating container which has an opening; and the aforementioned temperature controlling unit which is independent of the insulating container, wherein the temperature controlling unit is detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal the opening. [0012] The lid and the insulating container may be made of foam synthetic resins. [0013] The opening of the insulating container may be openable and closable selectively by the temperature controlling unit or an insulative second lid. [0014] The temperature control effect member may be thermally exposed at the interior of the insulating container. [0015] The temperature controlling device may include a Stirling refrigerator. [0016] A temperature controlling unit according to a third aspect of the present invention is a temperature controlling unit which comprises: an insulative main lid; an insulative sub-lid; and a temperature controlling subunit which includes a temperature controlling device provided on the sub-lid, wherein the temperature controlling subunit includes a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed at one surface side of the sub-lid. [0017] The temperature controlling subunit may further include an attachment member for attaching the temperature controlling subunit to the sub-lid. [0018] The temperature controlling device may include a Stirling refrigerator. [0019] A container according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a container which comprises: an insulating container which has an opening; and the temperature controlling unit which is independent of the insulating container, wherein the sub-lid of the temperature controlling unit is detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal a portion of the opening, and the main lid of the temperature controlling unit is attached to the opening of the insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal an other portion of the opening. [0020] The main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container may be made of foam synthetic resins. [0021] The temperature controlling device may include a Stirling refrigerator. [0022] A temperature controlling unit according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a temperature controlling unit which comprises: a frame which has an opening; an insulative main lid so attached to the frame as to freely open and close a portion of the opening of the frame; an insulative sub-lid so attached to the frame as to cover the other portion of the opening of the frame; and a temperature controlling subunit which is attached to said sub-lid, and includes a Stirling refrigerator, wherein the temperature controlling subunit includes a temperature control effect member thermally exposed at one surface side of the sub-lid. Continue reading... Full patent description for Temperature controlling unit and container using the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Temperature controlling unit and container using the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Temperature controlling unit and container using the same or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Dual ignition system for a gas turbine engine Next Patent Application: Cryogenic vessel with an ullage space venturi assembly Industry Class: Refrigeration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Temperature controlling unit and container using the same patent info. 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