Supercooling apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a supercooling apparatus which maintains an object and liquid in a supercooled state. According to the present invention, a supercooling apparatus includes a cooling chamber supplied with cool air, and a heating device ( 100 ) for preventing freezing of water by heating air over a container ( 200 ) storing an object or liquid and cooled in the cooling chamber. In this configuration, the air over the container ( 200 ) where ice crystals are easily formed is heated to prevent freezing of water stored in the container ( 200 ) and store water in a supercooled state.

1 . A supercooling apparatus, comprising:
 a cooling chamber supplied with cool air; and   a heating device for preventing freezing of water by heating air over a container storing an object mostly composed of liquid or liquid and cooled in the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device comprises a main body formed in the shape of a cylinder with at least one open face. 
     
     
         3 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heating device comprises a heating wire to heat the container or the air which is in contact with the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heating device comprises an inductor spaced apart from an upper portion of the main body, and the main body contains metal. 
     
     
         5 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is attached and detached to/from the container. 
     
     
         6 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the main body is formed to surround a top and/or a side surface of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heating device comprises a sealing member positioned at a lower portion of the cylinder-shaped main body to seal up the container and the heating device. 
     
     
         8 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing member is an adhesive pad. 
     
     
         9 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; and   a separate room, which is a part of the cooling chamber, positioned on the door and opened and closed by a portion of the door.   
     
     
         10 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the heating device is positioned in the separate room. 
     
     
         11 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling chamber comprises a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and the heating device is positioned in the freezing chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A supercooling apparatus, comprising:
 a cooling chamber for maintaining a cooling state at a temperature below zero;   a container for storing an object mostly composed of liquid or liquid in the cooling chamber; and   a heating device for preventing freezing of the liquid in at least a portion contacting the container containing the object or liquid.   
     
     
         13 . A supercooling apparatus, comprising:
 a cooling chamber for maintaining a cooling state at a temperature below zero;   a container for storing an object mostly composed of liquid or liquid in the cooling chamber;   a heating device for preventing freezing of the object or liquid in the container; and   a control device for controlling a temperature of the heating device to be over zero.   
     
     
         14 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; and   a separate room, which is a part of the cooling chamber, positioned on the door and opened and closed by a portion of the door, wherein the container and the heating device are positioned in the separate room.   
     
     
         15 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heating device is attached and detached to/from the container. 
     
     
         16 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the heating device further comprises a sealing member formed at a lower portion of the heating device to seal up a gap between the container and the heating device, when the heating device is attached to the container. 
     
     
         17 . A supercooling apparatus, comprising:
 a first storage space maintained in a temperature range below zero;   a second storage space maintained in a temperature range higher than the temperature range of the first storage space; and   a container positioned over the first and second storage spaces to store an object containing liquid or liquid.   
     
     
         18 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second storage space is maintained in a temperature range higher than a temperature range of a maximum ice crystal formation zone. 
     
     
         19 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second storage space is maintained in a normal temperature range. 
     
     
         20 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second storage space is positioned in the first storage space, and sealed up with respect to the first storage space.