U.S. patent application number 10/731264 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for rapid fluid cooling and heating device and method.
Invention is credited to Loibl, Gregory H., Sidebotham, George.
Application Number | 20040112069 10/731264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26774574 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040112069 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loibl, Gregory H. ; et
al. |
June 17, 2004 |
Rapid fluid cooling and heating device and method
Abstract
A method and device for rapidly changing at least one of the
temperature and the state of a liquid in a container is provided.
The container is rapidly rotated about its longitudinal axis. A
source of a thin film of a medium having a different temperature
than the liquid in the container is provided to thermally affect
the container while rotating the container. The container is
positioned at an angle to the horizontal of less than 45.degree.,
and the position of the container with respect to the thin film
source is controlled by angling the axis of the container skewed
from the axis of the rotating mechanism. The device can be used to
cool liquids such as beverages, warm liquids such as infant
formula, and/or make ice cream.
Inventors: |
Loibl, Gregory H.; (Salt
Point, NY) ; Sidebotham, George; (Babylon,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Levisohn, Berger & Langsam LLP
19th Floor
805 Third Avenue
New York
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
26774574 |
Appl. No.: |
10/731264 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10731264 |
Dec 9, 2003 |
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10086285 |
Mar 1, 2002 |
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6662574 |
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60272510 |
Mar 1, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 11/02 20130101;
F25D 3/10 20130101; F28D 3/00 20130101; F25D 2400/28 20130101; F25D
2400/06 20130101; F25B 21/04 20130101; F25D 31/007 20130101; F25D
3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/064 |
International
Class: |
F25D 017/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container, the
container having a longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of: a)
rapidly rotating the container about its longitudinal axis; b)
providing a source of a thin film of cooling medium to cool the
container while performing said rotating step; c) positioning the
container at a first angle to the horizontal of less than
45.degree.; and d) controlling the position of the container with
respect to the thin film source.
2. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 1, wherein said rotating step is performed at a rate
dependent upon the geometry of the container.
3. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 1, said step b) comprising the step of spraying the container
with the cooling medium from a spray source.
4. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 3, wherein said spraying step is performed to cover at least
a majority of the surface area of the container with the cooling
medium.
5. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 4, wherein said spraying step is performed from above the
container.
6. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 3, further comprising the step of selectively disabling said
rotating step so as to accommodate at least one of the geometry and
the physical properties of the container.
7. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 1, wherein said controlling step comprises the step of
positioning the container at a second angle from a rotational axis
of a rotating mechanism performing said rotating step and thereby
urging the container to move along the rotating mechanism.
8. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 3, further comprising the steps of: setting a predetermined
time period for said rotating and spraying steps; and automatically
ceasing said rotating and spraying steps upon expiration of the
predetermined time period.
9. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according to
claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature
of at least one of the cooling medium and the liquid in the
container.
10. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 1, wherein the liquid is a beverage and the container is a
conventional beverage container.
11. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: providing a housing
into which the container is disposed during said steps a) through
c); and providing a hole in the housing, wherein a portion of the
container is allowed to protrude from the housing via the hole
during said steps a) through c).
12. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 11, further comprising the step of covering the hole in
the housing to reduce splashing of the cooling medium during
operation.
13. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: overriding said
automatic cessation step; and continuing to perform said spraying
and rotating steps for a second predetermined period of time for
extra cooling of the liquid in the container.
14. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 1, wherein the cooling medium is at least one of a liquid
and a gas.
15. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: collecting the cooling
medium in a reservoir; and cooling the cooling medium with a
cooling element in thermal communication with the reservoir.
16. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 1, further comprising the step of shielding the container
from direct physical contact with the cooling medium by providing a
covering around the container in thermal communication with the
container, wherein the cooling effects of the cooling medium pass
through the covering and cool the liquid in the container.
17. A method of rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 3, further comprising the step of shielding the container
from direct physical contact with the cooling medium by providing a
covering around the container in thermal communication with the
container, wherein the cooling effects of the cooling medium pass
through the covering and cool the liquid in the container.
18. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container, the
container having a longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:
rapidly rotating the container about its longitudinal axis;
spraying the container with a warming medium from a spray source
while performing said rotating step; positioning the container at a
first angle to the horizontal of less than 45.degree.; and
controlling the position of the container with respect to the spray
source.
19. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, wherein said rotating step is performed at a rate
dependent upon the geometry of the container.
20. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, wherein said spraying step is performed to cover at
least a majority of the surface area of the container with the
warming medium.
21. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 20, wherein said spraying step is performed from above the
container.
22. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, wherein said controlling step comprises the step of
positioning the container at a second angle from a rotational axis
of a rotating mechanism performing said rotating step and thereby
urging the container to move along the rotating mechanism.
23. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, further comprising the steps of: setting a
predetermined time period for said rotating and spraying steps; and
automatically ceasing said rotating and spraying steps upon
expiration of the predetermined time period.
24. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 23, further comprising the step of selectively disabling
said rotating step so as to accommodate at least one of the
geometry and the physical properties of the container.
25. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, further comprising the step of monitoring the
temperature of at least one of the warming medium and the liquid in
the container.
26. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, wherein the liquid is an infant beverage and the
container is a conventional baby bottle.
27. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, further comprising the steps of: providing a housing
into which the container is disposed during said rotating,
spraying, and positioning steps; and providing a hole in the
housing, wherein a portion of the container is allowed to protrude
from the housing via the hole during said rotating, spraying, and
positioning steps.
28. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 27, further comprising the step of covering the hole in
the housing to reduce splashing of the warming medium during
operation.
29. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: overriding said
automatic cessation step; and continuing to perform said spraying
and rotating steps for a second predetermined period of time for
extra warming of the liquid in the container.
30. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, further comprising the steps of: collecting the
warming medium in a reservoir; and heating the warming medium with
a heating element in thermal communication with the reservoir.
31. A method of rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 18, further comprising the step of shielding the container
from direct physical contact with the warming medium by providing a
covering around the container in thermal communication with the
container, wherein the warming effects of the warming medium pass
through the covering and heat the liquid in the container.
32. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container, the
container having a longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of: a)
rapidly rotating the container about its longitudinal axis; b)
providing a source of a thin film of a cooling medium having a
temperature below 0.degree. C. to cool the container while
performing said rotating step; c) positioning the container at a
first angle to the horizontal of less than 45.degree.; and d)
controlling the position of the container with respect to the spray
source.
33. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 32, said step b) comprising the step of spraying the
container with the cooling medium from a spray source.
34. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 33, wherein said spraying step is performed to cover at
least a majority of the surface area of the container with the
cooling medium.
35. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 33, wherein said spraying step is performed from above the
container.
36. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 32, wherein said controlling step comprises the step of
positioning the container at a second angle from a rotational axis
of a rotating mechanism performing said rotating step and thereby
urging the container to move along the rotating mechanism.
37. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 33, further comprising the steps of: setting a
predetermined time period for said rotating and spraying steps; and
automatically ceasing said rotating and spraying steps upon
expiration of the predetermined time period.
38. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 32, further comprising the step of monitoring the
temperature of at least one of the cooling medium and the liquid in
the container.
39. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 32, wherein the cooling medium is at least one of a liquid
and a gas.
40. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 32, further comprising the steps of: collecting the
cooling medium in a reservoir; and cooling the cooling medium with
a cooling element in thermal communication with the reservoir.
41. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 32, further comprising the step of shielding the container
from direct physical contact with the cooling medium by providing a
covering around the container in thermal communication with the
container, wherein the cooling effects of the cooling medium pass
through the covering and cool the contents in the container.
42. A method of rapidly making ice cream in a container according
to claim 33, further comprising the step of shielding the container
from direct physical contact with the cooling medium by providing a
covering around the container in thermal communication with the
container, wherein the cooling effects of the cooling medium pass
through the covering and cool the liquid in the container.
43. A method of rapidly changing at least one of the temperature
and the state of a liquid in a container, the container having a
longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of: a) rapidly rotating the
container about its longitudinal axis; b) providing a source of a
thin film of a medium having a different temperature than the
liquid in the container to thermally affect the container while
performing said rotating step; c) positioning the container at an
angle to the horizontal of less than 45.degree.; and d) passively
controlling the position of the container with respect to the thin
film source.
44. A method of rapidly changing at least one of the temperature
and the state of a liquid in a container according to claim 43,
wherein the medium is at least one of a liquid and a gas.
45. A method of rapidly changing at least one of the temperature
and the state of a liquid in a container according to claim 43,
said step b) comprising the step of spraying the container with the
medium from a spray source.
46. A method of rapidly changing at least one of the temperature
and the state of a liquid in a container according to claim 45,
further comprising the step of shielding the container from direct
physical contact with the medium by providing a covering around the
container in thermal communication with the container, wherein the
thermal effects of the medium pass through the covering and change
at least one of the temperature and the state of a liquid in a
container.
47. A method of rapidly changing at least one of the temperature
and the state of a liquid in a container according to claim 43,
said step d) comprises the step of positioning the container at a
second angle from a rotational axis of a rotating mechanism
performing said rotating step and thereby urging the container to
move along the rotating mechanism.
48. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container having a
first longitudinal axis, comprising: a housing having a bottom and
side walls defining an interior volume; a rotating mechanism having
a second longitudinal axis disposed in said housing adapted to
rotate a container placed in said interior volume about said first
longitudinal axis; a lateral positioner disposed at an angle to
said second longitudinal axis in said housing adapted to position
the container; a spray jet spraying a cooling medium onto the
container, wherein said lateral positioner causes the container to
be at said angle to said second longitudinal axis.
49. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, further comprising: a reservoir in said interior
volume adapted to contain a quantity of the cooling medium; and a
pump in communication with said reservoir and said spray jet,
wherein said pump draws the cooling medium from said reservoir and
pumps it to said spray jet.
50. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, wherein said lateral positioner and said rotating
mechanism support the container within said interior volume out of
contact with said reservoir.
51. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, further comprising a support structure disposed within
said interior volume adapted to support the container within said
interior volume out of contact with said reservoir.
52. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, wherein said lateral positioner and said rotating
mechanism support the container within said interior volume in at
least partial contact with said reservoir so that the container is
at least partially submerged in said reservoir.
53. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, further comprising a support structure disposed within
said interior volume wherein said support structure supports the
container within said interior volume in at least partial contact
with said reservoir so that the container is at least partially
submerged in said reservoir.
54. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, said lateral positioner comprising a plurality of ribs
projecting inwardly from an inner surface of at least one of said
walls.
55. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 54, wherein a profile of said ribs is skewed with respect
to said second longitudinal axis thereby urging the container to
move along said rotating mechanism.
56. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 55, wherein said ribs are spaced apart sufficiently to
allow a user to insert fingers respectively between said ribs to
retrieve or place the container in said interior volume.
57. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, said lateral positioner comprising an interior surface
of one of said side walls, said interior surface being skewed with
respect to said second longitudinal axis thereby urging the
container to move along said rotating mechanism.
58. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, said rotating mechanism including a roller, wherein
the container is disposed on top of said roller when placed in said
interior volume.
59. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 58, wherein said lateral positioner supports the container
from the side of the container and said roller supports the
container from the bottom of the container when the container is
disposed in said interior volume.
60. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 59, wherein said lateral positioner and said roller
support the container within said interior volume in a position
that is one of i) out of contact with said reservoir and ii) in at
least partial contact with said reservoir so that the container is
at least partially submerged in said reservoir.
61. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 59, further comprising a temperature monitor disposed in
said interior volume measuring a temperature of at least one of the
cooling medium and the liquid in the container.
62. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 61, said temperature monitor being disposed in at least
one of the following locations: said reservoir, said rotating
mechanism, and an inner wall of said housing.
63. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, further comprising a timing circuit connected to and
controlling said rotating mechanism, wherein said timing circuit
automatically shuts off said rotating mechanism after a preset time
period.
64. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, further comprising a timing circuit connected to and
controlling said rotating mechanism and said pump, wherein said
timing circuit automatically shuts off said rotating mechanism and
said pump after a preset time period.
65. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 63, wherein a user can select a duration of said preset
time period from a control panel.
66. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 64, wherein a user can select a duration of said preset
time period from a control panel.
67. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, further comprising a control mechanism in
communication with said rotating mechanism and said pump which
selectively activates said pump and does not activate said rotating
mechanism.
68. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 64, further comprising a control mechanism in
communication with said rotating mechanism and said pump which
selectively extends said preset time period to thereby cool the
liquid to a greater degree.
69. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 55, wherein said lateral positioner causes the container
to move towards said spray jet when said rotating mechanism is
rotating.
70. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, wherein said housing is a portion of a
refrigerator.
71. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, further comprising an active cooling unit in thermal
communication with said reservoir.
72. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 71, wherein said active cooling unit comprises
refrigeration coils and a compressor.
73. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 49, wherein said housing is a portion of a refrigerator,
and wherein refrigeration coils and a compressor of the
refrigerator actively cool the cooling medium in said
reservoir.
74. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 71, said active cooling unit comprising Peltier devices
disposed in said housing in thermal communication with said
reservoir.
75. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 59, said roller further comprising raised portions
disposed along said roller, wherein when the container is placed on
said roller, the container only contacts said raised portions.
76. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, said housing further comprising a hole, wherein a
portion of the container is allowed to protrude from said housing
via said hole while said rotating mechanism and spray jet are
operating.
77. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 76, further comprising a removable splash guard attachable
to said housing to cover said hole at least partially.
78. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, wherein the liquid is a beverage and the container is
a conventional beverage container.
79. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, wherein said cooling medium is at least one of a
liquid and a gas.
80. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 48, further comprising: a covering removably disposable
around the container in thermal communication with the container
shielding the container from direct contact with said cooling
medium, wherein the cooling effects of the cooling medium pass
through said covering and cool the liquid in the container.
81. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 80, wherein said covering is elastic and when disposed
around the container conforms to the container geometry allowing
substantially no air gaps between said covering and the
container.
82. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 80, wherein said covering is rigid and is dimensioned to
conform to a specific container so as to allow substantially no air
gap between said covering and the container.
83. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container according
to claim 82, said covering further comprising a plurality of rigid
coverings each dimensioned to conform to a different specific
container.
84. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container having a
first longitudinal axis, comprising: a housing having a bottom and
side walls defining an interior volume; a rotating mechanism having
a second longitudinal axis disposed in said housing adapted to
rotate a container placed in said interior volume about said first
longitudinal axis; a lateral positioner disposed at an angle to
said second longitudinal axis in said housing adapted to position
the container; a spray jet spraying a warning medium onto the
container, wherein said lateral positioner causes the container to
be at an angle to said second longitudinal axis.
85. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 84, further comprising: a reservoir in said interior
volume adapted to contain a quantity of the warming medium; and a
pump in communication with said reservoir and said spray jet,
wherein said pump draws the warming medium from said reservoir and
pumps it to said spray jet.
86. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, wherein said lateral positioner and said rotating
mechanism support the container within said interior volume out of
contact with said reservoir.
87. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, wherein said lateral positioner and said rotating
mechanism support the container within said interior volume in at
least partial contact with said reservoir so that the container is
at least partially submerged in said reservoir.
88. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, further comprising a support structure disposed within
said interior volume wherein said support structure supports the
container within said interior volume in at least partial contact
with said reservoir so that the container is at least partially
submerged in said reservoir.
89. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 84, said lateral positioner comprising a plurality of ribs
projecting inwardly from an inner surface of at least one of said
walls.
90. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 89, wherein a profile of said ribs is skewed with respect
to said second longitudinal axis, thereby urging the container to
move along said rotating mechanism.
91. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 90, wherein said ribs are spaced apart sufficiently to
allow a user to insert fingers respectively between said ribs to
retrieve or place the container in said interior volume.
92. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 84, said lateral positioner comprising an interior surface
of one of said side walls, said interior surface being skewed with
respect to said second longitudinal axis, thereby urging the
container to move along said rotating mechanism.
93. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, further comprising a temperature monitor disposed in
said interior volume measuring a temperature of at least one of the
warming medium and the liquid in the container.
94. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 84, further comprising a timing circuit connected to and
controlling said rotating mechanism, wherein said timing circuit
automatically shuts off said rotating mechanism after a preset time
period.
95. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, further comprising a timing circuit connected to and
controlling said rotating mechanism and said pump, wherein said
timing circuit automatically shuts off said rotating mechanism and
said pump after a preset time period.
96. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 86, wherein the container is a conventional baby bottle,
and wherein said lateral positioner causes the bottle to move
towards said spray jet when said rotating mechanism is
rotating.
97. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, further comprising a control mechanism in
communication with said rotating mechanism and said pump which
selectively activates said pump and does not activate said rotating
mechanism.
98. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container according
to claim 85, further comprising an active warming unit in thermal
communication with said reservoir.
99. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a contained according
to claim 98, said active warming unit comprising Peltier devices
disposed in said housing in thermal communication with said
reservoir.
100. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container
according to claim 83, wherein said warming medium is at least one
of a liquid and a gas.
101. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container
according to claim 84, further comprising: a covering removably
disposable around the container in thermal communication with the
container shielding the container from direct contact with said
warming medium, wherein the warming effects of the warming medium
pass through said covering and warm the liquid in the
container.
102. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container
according to claim 101, wherein said covering is elastic and when
disposed around the container conforms to the container geometry
allowing substantially no air gaps between said covering and the
container.
103. Apparatus for rapidly warming a liquid in a container
according to claim 101, wherein said covering is rigid and is
dimensioned to conform to a specific container so as to allow
substantially no air gap between said covering and the
container.
104. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream, comprising: a
container having a first longitudinal axis into which ice cream
ingredients are disposable; a housing having a bottom and side
walls defining an interior volume into which said container is
placed; a rotating mechanism having a second longitudinal axis
disposed in said housing adapted to rotate said container about
said first longitudinal axis; a lateral positioner disposed at an
angle to said second longitudinal axis in said housing adapted to
position said container; and a spray jet spraying a cooling medium
having a temperature below 0.degree. C. onto said container,
wherein when said container is placed within said interior volume,
said lateral positioner causes said container to be at an angle to
said second longitudinal axis.
105. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 104,
further comprising: a reservoir in said interior volume adapted to
contain a quantity of the cooling medium; and a pump in
communication with said reservoir and said spray jet, wherein said
pump draws the cooling medium from said reservoir and pumps it to
said spray jet.
106. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 104,
said lateral positioner comprising a plurality of ribs projecting
inwardly from an inner surface of at least one of said walls.
107. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 106,
wherein a profile of said ribs is skewed with respect to said
second longitudinal axis, thereby urging said container to move
along said rotating mechanism.
108. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 104,
said lateral positioner comprising an interior surface of one of
said side walls, said interior surface being skewed with respect to
said second longitudinal axis, thereby urging said container to
move along said rotating mechanism.
109. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 105,
further comprising a timing circuit connected to and controlling
said rotating mechanism and said pump, wherein said timing circuit
automatically shuts off said rotating mechanism and said pump after
a preset time period.
110. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream, according to claim
104, said container further comprising at least one fin projecting
inwardly from an inner surface of said container, wherein when said
container is rotated, said fin agitates the contents of said
container to facilitate hardening of the contents into ice
cream.
111. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 105,
further comprising an active cooling unit in thermal communication
with said reservoir.
112. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 111,
wherein said active cooling unit comprises refrigeration coils and
a compressor.
113. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 111,
said active cooling unit comprising Peltier devices disposed in
said housing in thermal communication with said reservoir.
114. Apparatus for rapidly making ice cream according to claim 104,
wherein said cooling medium is at least one of a liquid and a
gas.
115. Apparatus for rapidly changing at least one of the temperature
and the state of a liquid in a container, comprising: a housing
having a bottom and side walls defining an interior volume; a
rotating mechanism having a longitudinal axis disposed in said
housing adapted to rotate a container about the container's
longitudinal axis; a lateral positioner disposed at an angle to
said longitudinal axis in said housing adapted to position the
container; and a source of a thin film of a medium having a first
temperature different from a second temperature of the liquid
inside the container to thermally affect the container, wherein
when the container is placed within said interior volume, said
lateral positioner causes the container to be at an angle to said
longitudinal axis.
116. Apparatus according to claim 115, said source of thin film
comprising a spray jet spraying the medium towards the
container.
117. Apparatus according to claim 115, said source of thin film
comprising at least one piece of ice disposed above the container
in contact with the container, wherein as said ice melts, said ice
creates a thin film of cold water which cools the container.
118. Apparatus according to claim 116, further comprising: a
reservoir in said interior volume adapted to contain a quantity of
the medium; and a pump in communication with said reservoir and
said spray jet, wherein said pump draws the medium from said
reservoir and pumps it to said spray jet.
119. Apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said lateral
positioner causes said container to move towards said spray jet
when said rotating mechanism is rotating.
120. Apparatus according to claim 118, further comprising a Peltier
device in thermal communication with said reservoir, wherein when
said apparatus is being used to cool the liquid, said Peltier
device cools the medium in said reservoir, and when said apparatus
is being used to warm the liquid, said Peltier device warms the
medium in said reservoir.
121. Apparatus according to claim 115, further comprising: a
covering removably disposable around the container in thermal
communication with the container shielding the container from
direct contact with the medium, wherein the thermal effects of the
medium pass through said covering and change at least one of the
temperature and the state of the liquid in the container.
122. Apparatus according to claim 115, wherein said housing is a
portion of a refrigerator.
123. Apparatus according to claim 122, wherein said source of thin
film comprises at least one piece of ice disposed above the
container in contact with the container, wherein as said ice melts,
said ice creates a thin film of cold water which cools the
container.
124. Apparatus according to claim 118, further comprising an active
cooling unit in thermal communication with said reservoir.
125. Apparatus according to claim 124, wherein said active cooling
unit comprises refrigeration coils and a compressor.
126. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container,
comprising: a housing having a bottom and side walls defining an
interior volume, said housing being part of a refrigerator; a
rotating mechanism having a longitudinal axis disposed in said
housing adapted to rotate a container about the container's
longitudinal axis; a source of a thin film of a cooling medium to
cool the container, wherein when the container is placed within
said interior volume, the thin film of cooling medium thermally
communicates with the container while said rotating mechanism
rotates the container.
127. Apparatus for rapidly cooling a liquid in a container
according to claim 126, wherein said thin film source comprises at
least one of a spray jet directing the cooling medium towards the
container and a piece of ice disposed above the container in
contact with the container, said ice forming a thin film of cold
water as said ice melts and cools the liquid in the container.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims domestic priority from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/272,510 filed Mar. 1, 2001
and incorporates by reference all of the teachings therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to methods and devices for use in the
rapid cooling and heating of fluids in various containers of
differing geometry.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Various devices and methods have been employed in cooling
beverages or fluids in containers from room temperature to
consumption-pleasing low temperatures, generally of about 5.degree.
C. The most common method is the use of commercial or household
refrigerators or freezer units into which the beverage containers
are statically placed. Air inside the conventional refrigerator or
freezer is cooled, and the air cools the beverages or fluids. While
effective, such cooling means entails the utilization of massive
refrigerator and freezer space (especially in commercial
establishments) which is costly and is at a premium, particularly
when freezer or refrigerator space is generally required for other
food storage purposes.
[0006] In addition to occupying a lot of space, these conventional
refrigeration and freezer units require inordinate initial periods
of time to cool a liquid such as a beverage, for example, from room
temperature (20.degree.-25.degree. C.) to the desired 5.degree. C.,
approximately an hour to several hours. If reasonably immediate
consumption is required, such as at point of sale, at parties, or
on very hot days, this time delay for cooling is unacceptable.
Also, many individuals prefer beverages at temperatures colder than
a conventional refrigerator can provide, e.g., 1-2.degree. C.
[0007] Accordingly, quick cooling devices have been developed
specifically for use with beverage containers. Some of these
devices, while generally effective in reducing the time for cooling
beverages, nevertheless still require a minimum of about five
minutes for the cooling of a standard 12 oz beverage can, still an
inordinate amount of waiting time for a customer; this cooling lag
time increases for larger containers, such as 16 oz or 20 oz soda
or beer bottles and roughly 25 oz wine bottles.
[0008] Existing cooling devices operate on one of two general
methods involving heat transfer. A first method, and the most
common one, involves cooling with ice such as embodied in a
commercial device known as the Chill Wizzard and as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,405 to Cretemeyer, III. This device provides
for placement of a beverage can on a bed of ice to effect heat
transfer and cooling. Since only a portion of the container is in
contact with the ice, the container is rotated against the ice. In
order to rotate the device, a suction cup connected to the spindle
of a motor is attached to the bottom of the can. In addition, in
order to maintain heat transfer-contact with the ice, the device
provides for a constant mechanically-exerted contact pressure of
the container against the ice to compensate for the melting and
consequent reduction of height of the ice. Since ice can have
substantially lower temperatures than the desired drinking
temperature, heat exchange and beverage temperature lowering is
facilitated and hastened. However, the Chill Wizzard device can
only chill 12 oz cans and is unable to accommodate a variety of
different-sized or -shaped containers. Further problems with this
method are discussed below.
[0009] A second, less effective method involves conveying or
placing the beverage containers into a cold water or bath. Because
the container is stationary, cooling times for this method have
been substantially longer than that for methods which utilize
horizontal rotation of the container. This is also true because the
water is stationary as well.
[0010] Another commercial device is the Vin Chilla, a bucket-shaped
device for cooling wine bottles. A bottle is placed upright in the
bucket and ice and water are added thereto. The device swirls the
water around the bottle. Although the Vin Chilla commercial
literature claims it can chill wine to a drinkable temperature in
about 4 minutes, this period is only valid for cooling red wines,
which are to be consumed at only 1-2 degrees below room
temperature. A white wine requires up to 20 minutes of cooling to
be brought to a desirable temperature, e.g., 5.degree. C.
[0011] Despite its effectiveness in cooling (because of its low
temperatures relative to water), the use of ice as a direct cooling
medium can however be detrimental in certain common uses. When used
for cooling carbonated beverages, particularly when such cooling is
not carefully monitored, freezing of the beverage, with untoward
consequences, is possible. Moreover, the temperature of ice is
rarely at 0.degree. C. and is usually significantly lower. As a
result, if the ice temperature is sufficiently low, freezing of the
beverage within the container is possible, especially with extended
cooling times. Since such containers are closed, it is difficult if
not impossible to monitor temperature and phase conditions of the
beverage during the cooling process to stop the process prior to
any freezing. Under these conditions, with excessive cooling,
partially frozen carbonated beverages will erupt when the container
is opened. Though cold water is not subject to this detrimental
effect with carbonated beverages, its use is however not as
efficient in effecting the requisite rapid cooling.
[0012] In addition, none of the prior art devices discussed above
can be used without major modification for other purposes, such as
warming a beverage such as infant formula or making ice cream.
[0013] One major improvement in this field of endeavor is described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,054 to Loibl et al., the same inventors as
the instant inventors and which patent is assigned to the same
entity to which the instant invention is assigned. Loibl et al.
teach an extremely rapid method and device for cooling beverages.
One or more beverage containers are rapidly rotated substantially
along their respective longitudinal axes while being downwardly
sprayed with a cooling water spray, with the water being recycled
from a 0.degree. C. ice water bath. The volumetric rate of the
water in the water spray is sufficient to form a continuous coating
on the rotating container. Rotation of the containers is effected
in a horizontal direction, with the containers being nested between
adjacent rotating rollers and rotated with a speed of between
200-500 rpm. Standard 12 oz. beverage cans can be cooled thereby
from room temperature to a drinking temperature of 5.degree. C. in
under one minute. The teachings of the Loibl patent are herein
incorporated by reference, particularly col. 2, line 55- col. 5,
line 58.
[0014] Yet the teachings of Loibl et al. in the '054 patent do not
expressly address the need to accommodate a variety of
different-sized and shaped containers. Further, the prior Loibl
device, while extremely effective, incorporates a number of spray
jets positioned in various locations above the rotating containers
and a number of rollers positioned below the containers. It is
desirable to simplify this design. Also, since the average beverage
consumer is not necessarily a technician, it is desirable to make
the use of such a device as simple as possible, with respect to
container placement within the device, among other things.
[0015] Moreover, it is desired to be able to use the basic
principles of Loibl '054 to increase the temperature of certain
fluids and beverages, e.g., infant formula or milk. A current
method involves placing a baby bottle in a pot of water on a stove
and heating the water. Heating a baby bottle in this manner can
cause the contents of the bottle to become extremely hot to the
point of being dangerous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] It is an object of the present invention to provide a means
for the very rapid cooling and heating of liquids such as beverages
within containers, with a time period of cooling which is
significantly shorter than that of prior art devices which utilize
cooling with ice.
[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
rapid cooling and heating device which is safe, easily
manufactured, and appropriate for a fairly unsophisticated
consumer/retail market.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
rapid cooling device without the detriment of possible freezing of
carbonated beverages.
[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide a single,
simple-to-use control system for either cooling or heating a
beverage or other fluid within a container.
[0020] It is another object of the invention to provide a rapid
cooling device that can accommodate containers of differing sizes,
shapes, and materials.
[0021] It is another object of the invention to provide a rapid
cooling device that can change the state of the contents of a
container.
[0022] The above and other objects are fulfilled by the invention,
which is a method and device for rapidly cooling or heating fluids
held in containers. The inventive method of rapidly changing at
least one of the temperature and the state of a liquid in a
container includes the steps of rapidly rotating the container
about its longitudinal axis and providing a source of a thin film
of a medium having a different temperature than the liquid in the
container to thermally affect the container while rotating the
container. The container is positioned at an angle to the
horizontal of less than 45.degree., and the position of the
container is passively with respect to the thin film source. The
medium may be either a liquid or a gas. The provision of a thin
film may preferably be accomplished by spraying the container with
the medium from a spray source. As an alternative, in the case
where it is desired to cool the contents of the container, ice may
be employed above the container which melts to thereby provide the
thin film of cooling medium (i.e., ice-cold water) which covers a
substantial portion of the container by gravity and rotational
forces.
[0023] The container may be shielded from direct physical contact
with the medium by providing a covering around the container in
thermal communication with the container. Preferably, the thermal
effects of the medium pass through the covering and change at least
one of the temperature and the state of a liquid in a container.
The passive positioning of the container may preferably include
angling the container at an angle from the rotational axis of the
rotating mechanism so as to urge the container to move along the
rotating mechanism via relative corkscrew application of force by
the rotating mechanism.
[0024] The inventive method preferably includes a number of
features to accommodate a variety of different containers. For
example, the rotation of the container may be selectively disabled
to accommodate containers that may not rotate conveniently (e.g.,
containers with non-round cross-sections, containers with comers,
irregular-shaped containers, etc.). The inventive method may also
preferably include providing a housing having a hole or cut-out
portion to accommodate containers of varying sizes (i.e., some
containers would be placed inside the housing but project from the
hole).
[0025] The inventive method may further preferably include specific
methods of cooling liquids in containers (such as beverages),
warming liquids in containers (such as infant formula or milk in a
baby bottle), and making ice cream.
[0026] The invention also includes a device for performing the
above-described method. The device includes a housing having a
bottom and side walls defining an interior volume. In one
embodiment, the housing is a portion of a refrigerator, e.g., the
door. A rotating mechanism having a longitudinal axis is disposed
in the housing for rotating a container about the container's
longitudinal axis. A lateral positioner is disposed at an angle to
the longitudinal axis in the housing adapted to position the
container at an angle to the rotating mechanism. The device
includes a source of a thin film of a medium having a first
temperature different from a second temperature of the liquid
inside the container to thermally affect the container. As
mentioned above, the source of the thin film may be a spray jet
spraying the medium towards the container, or it may include at
least one piece of ice disposed above the container in contact with
the container. In the latter version, as the ice melts, the ice
creates a thin film of cold water which cools the container.
[0027] In the former spray jet version, the device preferably
includes a reservoir in the interior volume adapted to contain a
quantity of the medium and a pump in communication with the
reservoir and the spray jet. The pump draws the medium from the
reservoir and pumps it to the spray jet. The lateral positioner
causes the container to move towards the spray jet when the
rotating mechanism is rotating.
[0028] The device may preferably include an active heating or
cooling unit in communication with the reservoir to maintain the
temperature of the medium in the reservoir. In one embodiment, that
function is accomplished by a Peltier device in thermal
communication with the reservoir. When the apparatus is being used
to cool the liquid, the Peltier device cools the medium in the
reservoir, and when the apparatus is being used to warm the liquid,
the Peltier device warms the medium in the reservoir. The great
versatility of the Peltier device is achieved simply by reversing
the direction of the flow of current through the Peltier device.
That is, when the current flows in one direction, one side is cold
and the other is hot. When the current flows in the opposite
direction, the first side is hot while the second side is cold.
[0029] A covering may be provided removably disposable around the
container in thermal communication with the container shielding the
container from direct contact with the medium. The thermal effects
of the medium pass through the covering and change at least one of
the temperature and the state of the liquid in the container.
[0030] In one embodiment, the lateral positioner includes a
plurality of ribs that project from at least one of the side walls,
and may be provided from more than one side wall. The rotating
means is preferably a single roller preferably having raised
contact portions, such as rubber contact rings, for example, which
contact the container only at discrete points along the length of
the roller/can interface. The roller and ribs may support the
container above the reservoir, either out of contact with the
reservoir or partially submerged in the reservoir. In the preferred
embodiment, the roller supports the container from underneath and
the ribs (or side wall) support the container on the side.
[0031] Preferably, the ribs vary in width (the dimension orthogonal
to the side wall from which they project); specifically, the
profile of the ribs is skew-angled with respect to the roller. This
angling of the profile of the ribs forces the container to be
angled with respect to the roller, which causes the container to
move longitudinally as it is rotated, a feature which will be
explained below.
[0032] A water jet of sufficient volumetric flow rate will tend to
spread over the entire surface of the container even if it is
limited to a small initial area of impingement on the container.
Thus, water jet dispensing means, such as a shower head or spray
jet is effectively provided directly above a portion of the
container. The provision of the aforementioned contact rings on the
roller enables the water to coat a greater surface area of the
container than would be possible with a solid roller; i.e., the
sprayed water clings to the container around the entire surface of
the container--even the bottom-most portion--except where the
contact rings engage the container. The contact rings also create
much better frictional contact with the container than a simple
solid roller and prevent hydroplaning of the container on the
roller during rotation. Because of the angling of the profile of
the ribs, the container moves closer to the rear of the housing
towards the spray jet. The advantage is that the need for a number
of spray jets is reduced, because the container is consistently and
repeatably positioned within the cooling unit so that a single
spray jet can cover the entire surface of the container.
[0033] The housing is also preferably provided with a cut-out
portion formed in a front end of the housing. The cut-out is
provided to accommodate containers having long necks that may
exceed the dimensions of the cooling unit. In this way, containers
such as wine or beer bottles may be rapidly chilled by a device
that need not be as large as to enclose an entire wine bottle.
Manufacturing materials are saved, and costs are thus reduced.
Moreover, the size of the device is reduced, thereby conserving
kitchen counter space in a domestic setting. The provision of a
cut-out further emphasizes the importance of angling the ribs to
control the positioning of the container with respect to the spray
jet. A splash guard may be removably provided to cover the cut-out
portion so as to reduce the amount of the medium that exits the
housing during operation.
[0034] Optionally, the device includes timing means for showering
the containers for a predetermined time sufficient to effect the
requisite cooling or warming. The device may be preprogrammed with
a set number of different timing sequences and/or rotational speeds
depending on the type of container, the type of liquid/beverage,
and the desired temperature of the liquid. The device may include a
means for continuing the sequence beyond the predetermined period
of time if the user wishes to provide extra cooling or warming for
the liquid. Temperature sensors may be provided to monitor the
reservoir, the liquid in the container, or both. The container
sensors may be contact sensors, infrared sensors, or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a standard beverage container in the
upright and horizontal positions, showing the liquid contents level
therein in dotted lines.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of
the cooling device of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a splash
guard according to the invention.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a right perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
2 with the lid closed and the splash guard in place.
[0039] FIGS. 5A-B are rear and side cutaway schematics showing the
interior of the embodiment of FIG. 2.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic of an embodiment of a control panel
for the invention.
[0041] FIGS. 7A-D are a series of front view schematics of a
preferred rib design for the invention.
[0042] FIGS. 8A-B are schematics of the normal frictional forces
created during rotation of a container against a wall.
[0043] FIG. 9A-B is a schematic of an alternate embodiment of the
invention.
[0044] FIG. 10 is an end view schematic of a shield or sleeve for
use with the invention.
[0045] FIG. 11 is an end view schematic of an alternative means of
supplying a thin film of cooling medium onto the container.
[0046] FIG. 12 is a sectional view schematic of a special container
for use with the invention in making ice cream.
[0047] FIG. 13 is an alternative embodiment of the invention which
can accommodate multiple containers and can preferably transport
them during cooling.
[0048] FIG. 14 is a broken side sectional view of a preferred
cooling element of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0049] Detailed description of the invention will now be provided
with reference to FIGS. 1-14. It should be understood that these
drawings and this detailed description are exemplary in nature
only, and do not serve to limit the scope of the invention, which
is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow.
[0050] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a typical 12 ounce beverage container
10 positioned vertically and horizontally respectively. The
beverage 11, contained therein is shown with an air space 12A
in
[0051] FIG. 1A and a full can length air space 12B in FIG. 1A.
Rotation of the container along its longitudinal axis L, when the
container is positioned vertically, results in a rotation of an
essentially rigid body with little mixing and extensive cooling
times being required. By contrast, the horizontally disposed
container 10 in FIG. 1B, when rotated about its longitudinal axis
L, results in a high degree of agitation with a high degree of
mixing and exchange heat transfer rates.
[0052] FIGS. 2-7 depict a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Cooling unit 20 has a housing 22 which includes a front end 24 and
a rear end 26 as well as left and right side walls 28 and 30,
respectively. It should be understood that any shape may be
employed for the housing of cooling unit 20. The side walls and the
bottom define an interior volume or reservoir 32 into which an ice
water solution is disposed. The housing is preferably made of
plastic, however any material can be used. The side walls 28 and 30
and bottom of housing 22 are preferably double-walled, i.e., they
have a layer of insulation such as air disposed between two layers
of housing material. As shown in FIG. 14, for example, housing 22
may include inner wall 22A and outer wall 22B with insulative layer
22C (e.g., air, foam, etc.) therebetween. The air layer serves two
insulative functions. First, by insulating the exterior from the
ice-cold ice water reservoir, a layer of condensation ("sweat")
will not form on the exterior of housing 22, an otherwise
undesirable occurrence. Second, by insulating the interior from the
outside ambient air (which is presumably at room temperature or
approximately 25.degree. C.), the ice water reservoir 32 remains
colder longer because it is absorbing less heat from the
environment. Air is an excellent insulator, however other
insulation materials may be employed instead of or in addition to
air.
[0053] Leaving a gap between the two layers of housing material
also enables active control of the temperature of the reservoir in
that cooling elements may be disposed between the layers in the
bottom and/or sidewalls of housing 22. For example, such cooling
elements may include standard refrigeration coils. A preferred
embodiment is shown in FIG. 14. Cooling element 222 is disposed
between walls 22A and B in thermal communication with reservoir 32.
The preferred embodiment of element 222 is a thermoelectric module
or Peltier device, a module typically comprised of two ceramic
substrates that serve as foundations and insulation for components
connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel between
the substrates. If current is applied to a Peltier device in one
direction, one side of the device becomes hot while the other side
becomes cold. If current is applied in the other direction, the
heat flow is reversed. Thus, current can be applied in one
direction to keep the cooling medium in reservoir 32 cold while
pumping heat out of the cooling unit (e.g., from the bottom of
housing 22). If the current is reversed, heat can be pumped into
reservoir 32 for use in heating or warming liquids, as will be
discussed below. The invention contemplates using any form of
thermoelectric module as a cooling element 222.
[0054] A container such as soda can 10 is intended to be placed
within housing 22; depending on the relative height of the support
structure upon which the container rests, the container may not be
in direct contact with the ice water solution disposed in reservoir
32, or it may be partially submerged in reservoir 32. A drive
roller 34 is provided on which the container is to be placed. The
drive roller 34 preferably includes several spaced apart contact
rings 36 upon which the container is intended to be supported. As
mentioned above, contact rings 36 provide for better frictional
contact between roller 34 and container 10 than a simple smooth
roller would provide, because the same weight of the container is
contacting a much smaller surface area (i.e., the ring-container
interface is significantly smaller than a smooth roller-container
interface). The contact rings also allow water that is sprayed onto
the container for cooling (see below) to wrap fully around the
container and thus contact a greater surface area of the container,
thereby maximizing heat transfer. Further, the gaps between
adjacent contact rings provide channels into which water may fall
off of the container back into reservoir 32; this channeling effect
helps to prevent hydroplaning of the container on the roller, which
would otherwise be caused by a thin layer of water getting trapped
between the container and a smooth roller. Of course, a roller of
uniform profile may also be employed without departing from the
invention. It would be desirable to create good frictional contact
between the roller and the container in any event.
[0055] Since roller 34 is circular in section and the majority of
beverage containers are also circular in section, single roller 34
by itself provides insufficient support for a typical container,
particularly since roller 34 will be rotating and causing can 10 to
rotate. Thus, a plurality of ribs 38 are formed in one or both of
the side walls to provide lateral support for a container to be
placed within cooling unit 20. That is, when a container is placed
therein, it is supported on the bottom by roller 34 and on the side
by ribs 38. Ribs 38 are preferably spaced apart to enable a person
to get his/her fingers around the container more easily when
removing the container after chilling, and strengthen the wall upon
which they are provided.
[0056] The ribs also facilitate the addition of ice into reservoir
32 by providing additional clearance between roller 34 and wall 30.
Were the ribs not provided, wall 38 would need to be moved to where
the innermost portions of ribs 38 are, i.e., inwardly closer to the
roller, thereby reducing the sectional area through which ice may
be added to the reservoir. As with the contact rings 36, ribs 38
also allow water to flow smoothly entirely around container 10; if
a smooth wall were provided, the water sprayed on top of the
container would flow to the wall/container interface and stop. The
ribs allow the water to flow smoothly around the bottom of the
container and then neatly collect back in the reservoir. Ribs 38
are preferred but not required; a flat or curved wall or additional
roller(s) could be used to provide support for the container as
well. Further, additional support structure may be provided to
secure the container and prevent it from falling into the
reservoir; for example, a clamp or netting may be provided which
keeps the container in contact with roller 34 may be provided in
the interior volume of the housing, either attached to a side wall
or from the underside of lid 50, for example.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, a pump 40 is preferably provided,
powered by power supply (not shown), to send water from the ice
water reservoir 32 up through tubing or piping 41 to spray jet or
nozzle 44. The floor of housing 22 is preferably angled to cause
water in reservoir 32 to collect or pool nearest the pump inlet. In
this way, the amount of water required to run the cooling cycle is
minimized, thereby allowing a maximum amount of ice to be employed
to maximize the amount of heat the ice-water solution can absorb. A
grill 43 is provided in front of the intake 42 of pump 40 to
minimize air bubbles being pulled into the pump.
[0058] Spray jet 44 is designed to shower the circumferential
surface of a container placed in the cooling unit with ice-cold
water so as to cool the contents of the container. Optionally, an
additional spray jet may be provided to coat the bottom surface of
a container with a separate jet spray. It is preferred to provide a
single spray jet for each surface of the container so that the film
of water sprayed onto a given surface of the container is smooth
and clings to the container; the provision of multiple spray jets
for a given surface (i.e., a number of spray jets positioned above
the circumferential surface of the container) is not preferred,
because the respective jets of water interfere with each other and
prevent a smooth film of water from forming over the entire
container. A container must therefore be placed within the cooling
unit so that the sprayed water from spray jet 44 will substantially
contact the container. In the preferred embodiment shown, since
spray jet 44 is only provided in the rear of the cooling unit 20,
the proper placement of the container is extremely important.
[0059] Accordingly, ribs 38 are not preferably provided as being
identical. Rather, the distance from the drive roller to the outer
edge of the ribs 38 preferably varies from front to back; that is,
front-most rib 38A is the closest to the roller 34, rib 38B is
further than rib 38A, rib 38C is further than rib 38B, and rib 38D
is further than rib 38C. An example of the dimensioning of the ribs
is shown in FIGS. 7A-D, where ribs 38A-D are left-side ribs and
ribs 38A'-D' are right side ribs. As a result, the profile or outer
extent of the ribs is not parallel to roller 34 but rather skewed
at an angle .alpha. from parallel to the roller. The angling of the
profile of ribs 38 causes the container placed in the cooling unit
to be angled with respect to roller 34. As such, the roller 34
causes a corkscrew-like rotation in the container with respect to
the roller, and container will travel in the longitudinal
direction. If the container is made to rotate as shown by arrow A
in FIG. 2, the corkscrew motion will cause the container to travel
in the direction of arrow B, towards the rear 26 of cooling unit 20
and thus closer to spray jet 44.
[0060] Unit 20 is preferably provided with a lid 50 to cover the
device during operation so as to minimize splashing and provide an
improved aesthetic appearance. Lid 50 preferably has a cut-out 51
and housing 22 is preferably provided with a cut-out or lip 51A in
its front section. Cut-out 51 is provided to accommodate the necks
of bottles which would otherwise not fit within the confines of
housing 22. The cooling unit thus need not be dimensioned to
surround an entire beer bottle or a wine bottle, since the neck
portion is allowed to stick outside of housing 22 during use,
resting on lip 51 A. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a removable splash
guard is provided to cover cut-out 51 so as to minimize the amount
of cooling medium that splashes out of the device during operation
when a container fits entirely within housing 22. Splash guard 52
is preferably provided with tabs 54 which mate with slots (not
shown) formed in lid 50 to retain the splash guard on the end of
lid 50 in a removable fashion.
[0061] FIG. 4 also depicts a control panel 60 placed in a
convenient location outside housing 22. The longer a container is
rotated and sprayed, the cooler the contents become. Accordingly,
settings such as "chilled", "cold", and "ice-cold" can be selected
on the control panel as described below to provide the user with an
idea of how cold he/she can make the fluid inside the container. As
a simpler alternative, a basic on-off switch may be provided
instead of a timing switch.
[0062] The operation of this embodiment of the invention is as
follows. Ice is added to reservoir 32 of cooling unit 20, and then
water added to reservoir 32. Next, container 10 is placed in
cooling unit 20. Can 10 rests on support rings 36 of roller 34 and
against ribs 38 projecting from at least one of the side walls of
housing 22. Ribs 38 are angled and cause can 10 to sit on roller 34
askew from the axis of the roller by an angle. Finally, the user
selects a button from control panel 60 (or an on-off switch) to
activate the device. Roller 34 begins to rotate in this embodiment,
which causes can 10 to rotate in the opposite direction as depicted
by arrow A. The angle of can 10 with respect to the axis of
rotation of roller 34 causes can 10 to migrate in the direction of
arrow B towards spray jet 44. As can 10 rotates, the impinging
water jet from spray jet 44 hits the can and is directed by the
rotation of the can to coat the can with a thin film heat transfer
layer of constantly replenished water at approximately 0.degree. C.
At the same time, agitated fluid within the cans presents an
extended surface area to the heat transfer effects of the cooling
water. The water thereafter falls off of can 10 and drains into the
ice water reservoir 32 so that it may be re-cooled to 0.degree. C.
and be re-sprayed onto the container. No special suction cups,
chambers, or other holding devices are required to keep the
container in place for the requisite rotations. The clear advantage
of the simple roller and ribs configuration is that the device may
accommodate containers of significantly different geometries and
sizes.
[0063] The geometry of the unit plays an important part in the how
the device functions. As shown in FIGS. 8A-B, the container can
either rotate in a clockwise direction (FIG. 8A) or a
counterclockwise direction (FIG. 8B) with respect to the right
wall. In either case, rotation in either direction will still carry
out the invention. The distance from the ribs to the roller, the
direction of the rotation of the motor, and the angle of the
profile of the ribs with respect to the roller, are all variables
used to control the positioning of the container. One roller can be
used to chill two containers on opposite sides (assuming that the
dimensions of the containers and the housing allow), and the length
of the roller can increase the amount of containers being chilled,
as will be discussed below.
[0064] As shown in FIGS. 5A and B, roller 34 is rotated by motor 44
in a direct drive configuration. It is also possible to use gearing
between the motor and the roller, however the unit operates more
quietly and fails less often using a direct drive
configuration.
[0065] FIG. 6 depicts a preferred embodiment of the control panel
60. User interface 60 includes several container selector buttons
62 and an on-off button 64. The user determines which container
he/she is going to be chilling and depresses the appropriate button
62. The user then presses the start button 64 to begin the chilling
cycle. LEDs 63 indicate which chilling cycle has been selected and
whether the device is on or off. A computer chip (not shown) or a
mechanical timing mechanism (also not shown) may be connected to
the container selector buttons 62 which will provide the proper
length of chilling cycle for the desired container. In a more
advanced embodiment, the selector buttons 62 may also change the
volumetric flow rate of the water coming out of the spray jet
and/or the speed of rotation of the roller (and thus the speed of
rotation of the container); such parameters may be pre-programmed
on a computer chip, a programmable logic controller, or the
like.
[0066] In the preferred interface 60 of FIG. 6, the user is also
provided with two additional cooling options. The first is a "spray
only" button 66. This feature disables the rotation aspect of the
process; roller 34 will not rotate, but spray jet 44 will coat the
container with ice-cold water from the reservoir. The "spray only"
option allows for the cooling of non-cylindrical containers that
would not necessarily rotate smoothly over roller 34. Also, certain
carbonated beverages (e.g., Guinness Stout and Murphy's Stout) are
sold in containers having a diaphragm built into the container. The
agitation of such a container via rotation may cause the product to
fizz over when opened. A consumer may wish to chill champagne via
the "spray only" method; champagne is notoriously explosive when
disturbed or agitated. A cooling cycle having spraying without
rotating will take somewhat longer than a spraying and rotating
cooling cycle, however the fluid will still be cooled quicker than
by conventional means.
[0067] A second feature enabled by user interface 60 is the "extra
cold" button 67. By depressing this button in conjunction with any
of the container selector buttons 62, the cooling cycle is extended
by a predetermined period of time, depending on which container was
selected. This will cool the beverage beyond the initial set point
of, for example, 5.degree. C. and bring it down to a lower
temperature of, for example, 1 or 2.degree. C.
[0068] Through use of the cooling unit of the invention, eventually
all of the ice will melt and the cooling medium in reservoir 32
will begin to heat up. The user interface may preferably include an
indicator 65 which informs the user that the ice-water solution is
no longer at an optimal temperature. A temperature sensing device,
such as a thermocouple, may be disposed in the housing in thermal
communication with the reservoir 32. The temperature sensor may be
disposed in reservoir 32 or in or near spray jet 44, or anywhere
else that is convenient in the cooling medium flow path. When the
cooling medium temperature rises above a certain point, for
example, 3.degree. C., the "Add Ice/Remove Water" indicator 65 is
lighted to inform the user that the solution needs
replenishing.
[0069] Another feature includes sensing or detecting the
temperature of the container itself. This is helpful in determining
when a liquid is properly cooled, so that the cooling unit may be
deactivated when the set point temperature is reached. A
temperature sensor may be provided in or on roller 34 in contact
with the container being cooled for a direct contact measurement of
the container's temperature, Alternatively, an infrared sensor may
be disposed in the interior of housing 22 to visually detect the
temperature of the container. An infrared detector might be
disposed, for example, on an underside of lid 50 so that it would
not be in contact with the cooling medium.
[0070] FIGS. 7A-D illustrates a preferred rib system for the
invention. As shown, the cooling unit is provided with graduated
ribs on both sides of the housing. Each of FIGS. 7A-D is a head-on
or front view of each pair of ribs; it is not a top view of the
ribs. On the left side, ribs 38A-D become progressively narrower as
one approaches the rear 26 of the housing. On the right side, ribs
38A'-D' become progressively wider as one approaches rear 26 of the
housing. As mentioned, the right-side ribs 38A'-D' have a profile
skewed from the axis of roller 34. The left side ribs 38A-D have a
profile which is also skewed from the axis of roller 34. By
providing two sets of ribs on either side of a container, the
container is held in an extremely stable fashion while it is being
rotated, and the movement of the container towards the rear of the
housing, regardless of which side wall the container rests, towards
the spray jet is better ensured. The preferred angle for the rib
profiles is between 0 and 15 degrees from the axis of the roller.
The respective left and right rib profiles need not be precisely
parallel to each other, but they should "tilt" in the same general
direction. The preferred clearance between the ribs should be
sufficient to accommodate a wide variety of containers. Larger
containers may fit snugly against both sets of ribs, while smaller
container may spin only against one wall, with the second wall
possibly acting as a guide during longitudinal movement.
[0071] The ribs also serve to strengthen and reinforce the side
walls; it is thus desirable to strengthen both side walls as
opposed to merely one side wall. The ribs, as mentioned above,
allow a person to obtain a better grip on the container when
attempting to extract it from the cooling unit; providing ribs on
both sides of the device accommodates both left-handed and
right-handed people. The ribs have an aesthetic appeal as well.
[0072] One preferred embodiment of the invention includes a
reservoir having a 1.5 L capacity. Such a reservoir is capable of
receiving roughly 2 trays of ice cubes and 350 ml of water,
sufficient ice water to cool six 12 oz cans of soda or beer fully
within an hour of adding the ice and water to the device. The spray
jet may be provided anywhere with respect to the axis of the
container. The flow rate of water in the preferred embodiment of
the invention is 10 to 15 L/min per 12 oz. container. Any flow rate
between 5 and 100 L/min is acceptable for a tabletop domestic unit,
however it has been determined that 10 L/min provides the greatest
cooling effect per dollar spent on materials. In other words, while
a 100 L/min pump would provide more cooling, the most
cost-efficient flow rate is approximately 10 L/min for the domestic
tabletop version of the invention.
[0073] The invention is not limited to the above description. For
example, the invention describes the container as being placed
horizontally within the housing of the device. However, the
container may be placeable at an angle to the horizontal and still
be within the scope of the invention. One way this could be
accomplished is by the angling of the roller away from the
horizontal. The container may be at an angle of as much as
45.degree. and still be within the scope of the invention. The
angling of the container allows for certain open containers to be
chilled with the inventive process, e.g., open bottles of wine. It
would be recommended that the bottle be recorked prior to chilling,
however recorking may not be required. The pump and motor are
electrically interconnected with a computer controller which is
preprogrammed with time parameters for cooling of the cans based on
the desired temperature, can material and size of the can, with
information entered via a keyboard. In other embodiments, such
parameters can be readily written into EPROM for dedicated
microprocessor control. At the appropriate cooling time, the pumps
and motor stop and the beverage cans can then be removed from the
device. Also, the inventive cooling unit is shown as a stand-alone
device; however, the cooling unit may be incorporated into the door
of a refrigerator or freezer as shown in FIGS. 9A-B. Refrigerator
300 may be provided with a conventional ice maker 310 recessed in
the front of the unit and may be provided with a beverage chiller
320 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9B,
chiller 320 includes an ice water reservoir 332, a roller 334, and
a spray jet 344, all substantially similar to their respective
counterparts described in the aforementioned embodiments.
[0074] Also, the invention is described as providing a thin film of
cooling medium by spraying ice-cold water onto a container. Several
variations are possible and contemplated as part of the invention.
First, a shield may be provided to surround the container prior to
it being sprayed by cooling medium so that the container itself
does not get wet but is still cooled. As shown in FIG. 10, a shield
or sleeve 110 can be disposed around container 10 to shield the
container from direct contact with the cooling medium. Shield 110
may be rigid and dimensioned to fit snugly around container 10; a
set of different-sized shields may be provided with cooling unit 20
to accommodate different sizes of containers (e.g., soda can, beer
bottle, etc.). Alternatively, shield 110 may be flexible and
elastic and be stretchable around any container of any size. In
either case, the shield is preferably made from a material which is
a good thermal conductor and is in snug contact with the container
so that the thermal effects of the cooling medium contacting the
shield are transmitted to the container and thence to the liquid
inside.
[0075] Another alternative is shown in FIG. 11. Instead of
providing a pump-driven spray jet to provide the thin film of
cooling medium, A piece or pieces of ice or other cooling substance
132 may be provided in direct contact with container 10 (and/or
with shield 110) while the container is rotated. The warmer
container causes the ice 132 to melt, thereby providing a thin film
of ice-cold water which will surround the container owing to
gravity and rotation. The ice 132 is shown as an arcuate-shaped
piece, however any shape and any number of pieces of ice are
contemplated as a source of a thin film of cooling medium for the
container. In this embodiment, instead of a reservoir, a drain may
be provided to collect the runoff from ice 132 and remove it from
use, rather than recycle it. This ice-drain alternative may be
employed in the refrigerator door embodiment of FIG. 9.
[0076] Further, the invention is shown in the exemplary drawings as
having a single-container capacity. However, larger embodiments
which can accommodate multiple containers are also contemplated as
being within the scope of the invention. As shown in schematic in
FIG. 13, a cooling unit 320 is provided with a housing 322 and a
roller 334 disposed at an angle to the housing walls. A number of
containers 10 can be fed into cooling unit 320. Multiple spray jets
may be provided. As roller 334 turns, containers 10 travel along
the roller in the direction of arrow B, as described above. The
result is that the device can not only cool multiple containers
simultaneously or sequentially but transport them as well. Such an
embodiment is ideal for a commercial setting, e.g., in a bar; warm
drinks may be fed into the cooling unit 320 and by the time they
emerge from the other side, they are cold and ready for
consumption.
[0077] Also, the provision of ribs is preferred but not required.
Instead, a smooth wall may be provided to support the rotating
container laterally. The wall is preferably angled or curved to
create the same corkscrew effect that is achieved by providing the
graduated ribs of the preferred embodiment. Whether ribs or a
smooth wall are employed, it is desirable to minimize the amount of
friction between the container and the wall or free spinning
rollers. Conversely, whether the roller employs contact rings or a
smooth roller, it is desirable to maximize the friction between the
roller and the container. The invention contemplates any materials
which would achieve these goals.
[0078] The inventive method and device call be used to heat liquids
instead without changing the structure or function of the device.
Instead of adding ice water or another cooling medium to the
reservoir, the user may add warm or hot tap water. The same steps
of spraying and rotating will cause the liquid in the container to
rapidly warm up. This method has excellent applications in warming
baby bottles so that they do not become too hot (the current method
of placing the bottle in a pot of water on a stove runs the risk of
scalding the child). In another application, hospitals or trauma
centers can rapidly warm or thaw refrigerated blood for use in a
patient.
[0079] The invention is extremely flexible in use, and can not only
be used to change the temperature of a liquid in a container but
also to change the state of the liquid inside a container. For
example, the invention can be used with a special container to make
ice cream rapidly from the liquid components thereof. Instead of
simply using water and ice, a solution of salt water--or any other
fluid that can be cooled below 0.degree. C.--can be employed as the
cooling medium. In such an application, it is desired to cool the
contents of the container below 0.degree. C. A special container
for making ice cream is shown in schematic section in FIG. 12.
Container 210 is provided with one or more fins 212 projecting from
an inner surface of the container. When the container is rotated,
the contents slosh against fins 212 and are greatly agitated. This
extra agitation is helpful in the forming of ice cream.
[0080] The cooling or warming medium to be used in the invention is
not limited to water. Other fluids such as propylene glycol,
alcohol, and the like, as well as chilled gases (e.g., very cold
air, etc.), may be employed.
[0081] Having described the invention with regard to specific
embodiments, it is to be understood that the above description is
not meant as a limitation excluding such further variations or
modifications as may be apparent or may suggest themselves to those
skilled in the art. The invention is defined by the claims
appearing hereinbelow.
* * * * *