| 摘要 |
A self-contained cooler/freezer apparatus for carrying items (46) in a frozen or refrigerated environment. The apparatus comprises an insulated container (10) which is divided into two portions. The first portion (42) is where the items are stored. The second portion (38) houses a coolant compartment for storing a solid coolant, namely, solid carbon dioxide or dry ice (54). Within a short period of time, the dry ice starts to sublimate, thereby forming cold gaseous carbon dioxide which fills the volume of the apparatus. A fan (52) is used to circulate the gaseous carbon dioxide throughout the insulated container thereby removing heat from the first portion and rejecting it to the dry ice in the coolant compartment, thereby cooling the first portion of the insulated container. The cold gaseous carbon dioxide is circulated throughout the insulated container via gas ducts located within the walls of the insulated container. A thermostatic controller (56) actuates the fan based upon temperature readings from thermocouples located within the first portion of the insulated container. A pressure relief valve (34) is positioned within the insulated container to prevent the pressure within the insulated container from building beyond a maximum value. |
