Insulated chamber with phase change material

Abstract

An insulated chamber having an interior chamber for storing items therein includes a phase change material to facilitate controlling the temperature of the interior chamber and the items. A heating device or cooling device may be used to melt or freeze the phase change material, which may be in various locations such as the walls of the chamber or packets which may serve as shelves and may be removable from the interior chamber with the items thereon. The packets may have recesses for receiving the items. The phase change material may be within capsules which may be within a liquid or a solid matrix. Controls may be provided to control humidity and carbon dioxide within the interior chamber.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container defining a storage interior chamber adapted to receive therein a storage item;   a first phase change material adjacent the interior chamber and having a first melting or freezing phase change temperature; and   a temperature-altering device adjacent the first phase change material and capable of causing the first phase change material to reach the first melting or freezing phase change temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the temperature-altering device is electrically powered. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the temperature-altering device comprises a heating device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the temperature-altering device comprises a cooling device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sidewall of the container comprising a layer which includes the first phase change material and an inner layer between the layer of the first phase change material and the interior chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the sidewall comprises a layer of thermal insulation; and the layer of the first phase change material is between the layer of thermal insulation and inner layer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sidewall of the container which defines a sidewall interior chamber; and wherein the first phase change material is inside the sidewall interior chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a layer of thermal insulation within the sidewall interior chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a metal inner layer of the sidewall which bounds the storage interior chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a metal inner layer of the sidewall which bounds the storage interior chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a liquid in the sidewall interior chamber; and a plurality of capsules in the sidewall interior chamber each containing a portion of the phase change material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of capsules each containing a portion of the phase change material; and a solid matrix in which the capsules are embedded. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a door which is mounted on the container, is movable between open and closed positions, and comprises the phase change material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a shelf which comprises the phase change material and which is movable between a first position inside the interior chamber and a second position outside the interior chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  in combination with the storage item; and wherein the shelf and storage item are movable together between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a shelf which comprises the phase change material and is inside the interior chamber; and a recess which is formed in the shelf and adapted to receive therein the storage item. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a packet comprising a metal skin defining a packet interior chamber; and wherein the phase change material is inside the packet interior chamber; and the packet is insertable into and removable from the storage interior chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising an outer surface on the metal skin; and a storage item-receiving recess which is formed in the skin, extends inwardly from the outer surface and is adapted to receive therein the storage item. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second phase change material adjacent the interior chamber and having a second melting or freezing phase change temperature which is different than the first melting or freezing phase change temperature; and a temperature-altering device adjacent the second phase change material and capable of causing the second phase change material to reach the second melting or freezing phase change temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a fan in communication with the storage interior chamber; a humidity control unit operatively connected to the storage interior chamber; and a carbon dioxide control unit operatively connected to the storage interior chamber.