JP2006297032A - Portable thermos bottle with water boiling function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable thermos bottle, obtaining hot water of proper temperature in any place if only a power supply is provided by adding a water boiling function thereto. <P>SOLUTION: This thermos bottle includes an underwater heater, which is moved at the bottom by its gravity even in any condition. In order to prevent heating loss due to contact of the heater with an inner bottle, a clearance gap is forcibly generated by a grid-like protector. The protector has functions of protecting the heater, preventing a scald, and reducing noise caused by contact between the inner bottle and a heater probe in addition to the above function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable thermos with a water heater function and a portable thermos with a rechargeable water heater function.

Portable thermos are mainly made of stainless steel with a hollow cylindrical shape. By utilizing the strength of stainless steel and making the vacuum part thinner, the outer shape is slim with respect to the inner volume, it is lightweight and strong against impacts, and it has the features suitable for the application.

On the other hand, since the thermal conductivity of stainless steel is high, the heat retention performance is slightly inferior, and there is room for improvement.
JP-A-2005-40562

Since the portable thermos described above has a little insulative performance, it cannot be used for applications requiring high temperatures (for example, cup noodles) when hot water is added for 1 hour in the season when the outside air temperature is low.

After a few hours, you can't meet the demand for a hot drink.
However, the benefits are greater and it is widely used in general.

Means to solve the problem

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem of heat retention performance while taking advantage of the features of a stainless steel portable thermos.

The desktop thermos has the same problems as the portable thermos, but it has evolved into a product that can always supply hot water and can be heated by using a semi-stationary heater and attaching a heater to the bottom of the inner bottle.

A portable thermos can solve the problem by installing a heater in the same way, but it is not easy because the usage situation is significantly different from the semi-stationary type.

As an assumed heater mounting position, the bottom part and the side wall part of the inner bottle are conceivable, but heating loss due to the inner bottle occurs.

Heat loss is reduced if the heater is attached to the inner pig in a rod shape so as not to touch the inner bottle. As a countermeasure for the desktop thermos, a thermos having a heating function has been devised by attaching a rod-shaped heater to the inner pig (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this method, if the water level in the thermos is not over the heater part in an upright state, the heater part is exposed and overheated, so it has not been commercialized.

In many cases, it is difficult to replenish water inside or outside the car, and it cannot be applied to a portable thermos unless it can be heated even under conditions where the water level has dropped to some extent. Therefore, this method is not applicable to portable thermos.

If anything, the portable thermos has a little upright state and is often inclined or laid down horizontally, and it is necessary to adopt a system that can be heated under any conditions.

In the present invention, an underwater heater that moves to the bottom by gravity regardless of the state of the thermos was devised to solve the above-described heater overheating problem due to exposure.

In order to prevent heating loss due to the heater coming into contact with the inner bottle, a grid-like protector was devised to create a structure forcibly creating a gap.

The protector also performs other functions such as protecting the heater, preventing burns, and reducing noise generated when the inner bottle hits the heater probe.

The invention's effect

With the hot-water heating function, hot water can be obtained at any temperature as long as there is a power source, such as in a car or outdoor construction site. Since the power cable is removed except during heating, the advantages of stainless steel portable thermos can be used as is.
In addition, the portable thermos with rechargeable water heater function can be used even in places where there is no power source, and the convenience of portability and the like is the same as the conventional portable thermos.

The portable thermos with a rechargeable water heater function is coated with a solar battery on the outer periphery of the casing, and functions as a hot water heater in conjunction with the rechargeable battery at the bottom in the daytime. Charging is possible by connecting an external adapter, and hot water can be obtained even in places where there is no power supply, such as ski resorts.

With the thermo function, the power is automatically turned off when the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature, so heating is possible during operation and work.
In addition, the moving heater can be used in a state where the thermos is laid on the seat or in any state.

Due to the effect of the mobile heater, it can be heated even under conditions where the water level is low, making it suitable for use in vehicles and outdoors where it is difficult to supply water.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The heater unit will be described with reference to FIG. The heater 1 is in the form of a probe and is attached to the inner pig 2 with a suspension cable 3. The suspension cable has a sufficient strength and moderate deformation characteristics (flexibility) by covering the electric wire with a reinforcing material.

The heater is covered with a porous or grid-shaped protector 4 and has a structure that does not directly touch the inner bottle. The heater unit is configured as a set.

The thermostat 5 is installed in the vicinity of the pig side in the heater unit of the hanging cable, prevents overheating, and maintains an appropriate temperature with power saving.

The position of the heater unit under various circumstances will be described with reference to FIG. When the thermos is upright, the heater unit is located at the bottom center. Regardless of whether the thermos is tilted or laid down, the heater probe moves to the bottom of the state by gravity.

The protector has sufficient strength, protects the heater, creates a gap with the inner bottle, brings the entire heater surface into contact with hot water, and improves the heating efficiency (boiling efficiency).

Since the protector is required to be in contact with both the heater and the inner bottle and to have a function of preventing burns, it requires material properties with low heat resistance and low thermal conductivity.

Since the heater probe moves freely in the inner bottle, the protector is required to have appropriate deformability and elasticity in order to reduce the sound generated at that time, especially when walking.

The material of the protector may be a resin that satisfies the material characteristics required above.

The middle pig has a structure that allows the steam generated by heating to be safely exhausted by opening an exhaust hole that also serves as an air hole in the middle of opening the spout.

The power cable is detachable and is always disconnected from the main unit, and used in the same way as an ordinary portable thermos.
Connect the power cable to the socket of the middle pig only during heating, and get power from a cigarette lighter (in the case of a car) or an outlet (generator or commercial power supply)

The portable thermos with a rechargeable water heater function is one of the variations of the present invention, and a solar cell is coated on the outer periphery of the casing, and a heating function works as a power source for a water heater in combination with a rechargeable battery at the bottom in the daytime.

It can be recharged by connecting an external adapter, and hot water can be obtained even in places where there is no power supply, such as excursions, climbing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and outdoors.

If it is replaced with a normal medium pig, it can be used for cold storage as in the conventional case.
Keep the heater unit in a storage case when not in use.

    Conceptual diagram of the structure of a suspended heater unit     Relationship between thermos state and water / heater position

Explanation of symbols

1 heater 2 pig 4 protector

Claims (3)

A heater unit that protects the heater with a grid or porous protector and a cable that incorporates an electric wire and temperature sensor. Medium pig with air holes for hot water supply and power cable socket installed. And a portable thermos consisting of a metal thermos main body, a power plug (power supply side) with a built-in temperature controller and controller, and an ordinary pig for cold storage and general use (for replacement). A metal main body in which a solar cell is covered by a 180 ° outer peripheral portion, a folding storage type handle and leg is installed on the opposite side, and a rechargeable battery, a switch, and a voltage indicator are attached to the bottom. A portable thermos with a rechargeable water heater function comprising the hanging heater according to claim 1 attached to the bottom of a metal main body and an outer pig and a middle pig (for replacement). It is a material with low thermal conductivity that holds the heater heating part inside, has strength and moderate elasticity, is porous or grid-like, and is covered with a coating material that has a silencing function on the outside. The produced protector.

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