Constant-temperature storage container and transportation method

Abstract

Disclosed is a container that is capable of maintaining articles requiring thermal management at a prescribed temperature without being influenced by the outside air temperature, and that is capable of storing and transporting the articles. The constant-temperature storage container is equipped with a heat-insulating box, and two or more types of cold-storing materials or heat-storing materials disposed therein; has a latent-heat first cold-storing or heat-storing material (a) disposed in a solid state adjacent to an article being kept cool or warm, and a latent-heat second cold-storing or heat-storing material (b) disposed in a molten state on the exterior of the first cold-storing or heat-storing material (a); and the solidifying and melting temperature of the first cold-storing or heat-storing material (a) exceeds 0° C. The constant-temperature storage container is capable of maintaining the article being kept cool or warm in an arbitrary temperature range exceeding 0° C. for long periods of time.

1 . A constant-temperature storage container comprising:
 a heat-insulating box; and   two or more kinds of cold-storing materials or heat-storing materials placed in the heat-insulating box;   a latent heat first cold-storing material or heat-storing material (a) in a solidified state being placed adjacent to an article to be kept cold or warm;   a latent heat second cold-storing material or heat-storing material (b) in a molten state being placed on an outer side of the first cold-storing material or heat-storing material (a); and   the first cold-storing material or heat-storing material (a) having a solidifying and melting temperature of more than 0° C.   
     
     
         2 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1 , the container further comprising a third cold-storing material or heat-storing material (c), the third cold-storing material or heat-storing material (c) being placed on an outer side of the second cold-storing material or heat-storing material (b) and being in a lower temperature state than the second cold-storing material or heat-storing material (b). 
     
     
         3 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a container management temperature A (° C.) is 1 to 30° C. 
     
     
         4 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the first cold-storing material or heat-storing material (a) and the second cold-storing material or heat-storing material (b) have a solidifying and melting temperature of (A−3)° C. to (A+3)° C. where the container management temperature is A (° C.). 
     
     
         5 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 2 , wherein the third cold-storing material or heat-storing material (c) has a solidifying and melting temperature of (A−10)° C. to (A−5)° C. where the container management temperature is A (° C.). 
     
     
         6 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the first cold-storing material or heat-storing material (a) and the second cold-storing material or heat-storing material (b) have a solidifying and melting temperature of 2° C. to 8° C. 
     
     
         7 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 2 , wherein the third cold-storing material or heat-storing material (c) has a solidifying and melting temperature of −5 to 0° C. 
     
     
         8 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein at least one of the first cold-storing material or heat-storing material (a) and the second cold-storing material or heat-storing material (b) is composed of a heat-storing material composition containing an aqueous solution of at least one salt, the salt being insoluble in a polyalkylene glycol and soluble in water, and a polyalkylene glycol. 
     
     
         9 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 2 , wherein the third cold-storing material or heat-storing material (c) is a cold-storing material mainly containing water. 
     
     
         10 . The constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the article to be kept cold or warm is stored in a heat-insulating inner box. 
     
     
         11 . An article transportation method comprising: transporting an article to be kept cold or warm stored in the constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 1  where an outside air temperature of the container is lower than a container management temperature A (° C.). 
     
     
         12 . An article transportation method comprising: transporting an article to be kept cold or warm stored in the constant-temperature storage container according to  claim 2  where an outside air temperature of the container is higher than a container management temperature A (° C.).