Patent ID: 8365543

Claim:
A cooling storage comprises: a refrigerating cycle comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for releasing heat from the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, a valve device having an entrance and two exits, the entrance being connected to the condenser, the exits being connected to a first and a second refrigerant supply channels, respectively, and capable of a selectively interconnecting motion for selectively interconnecting the entrance side with any one of the first and the second refrigerant supply channels, and a commonly interconnecting motion for commonly interconnecting the entrance side with both the first and the second refrigerant supply channels, first and second evaporators provided respectively in the first and the second refrigerant supply channels, a respective throttle device for throttling the refrigerant flowing into each evaporator, a refrigerant exit merging channel which has a check valve and commonly connects the refrigerant exit sides of the first and the second evaporators, and a refrigerant circulating channel branched off from the downstream side of the check valve in the refrigerant exit merging channel and connected to the refrigerant sucking side of the compressor; a storage body wherein the inside thereof is cooled by cold air produced by the first and the second evaporators; a thermal load detection device for detecting a thermal load condition of the refrigerating cycle; and a valve drive circuit for drive-controlling the valve device; wherein the valve drive circuit allows the valve device to conduct the selectively interconnecting motion during the operation of the refrigerating cycle so as to alternately supply a refrigerant to any one of the first and the second evaporators, while on the other hand, during stoppage of the refrigerating cycle, when the thermal load detection device is detecting a thermal load that exceeds a prescribed value, the valve drive circuit allows the valve device to conduct the commonly interconnecting motion, whereas, when the thermal load detection device is detecting a thermal load that is equal to or lower than a prescribed value, allowing the valve device to conduct the selectively interconnecting motion.