U.S. patent application number 11/885139 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for chilled beverage storage device.
This patent application is currently assigned to ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATIONN.V.. Invention is credited to Xavier Hue, Magnus Jonzon.
Application Number | 20080282705 11/885139 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36147142 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080282705 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hue; Xavier ; et
al. |
November 20, 2008 |
Chilled Beverage Storage Device
Abstract
The present invention relates to a chilled beverage storage
device constituted by a cold area and a hot area; the cold area
comprises a first structure (2) arranged towards at least one cold
generating module (4, 5) and provided with at least one holding
arrangement (1) adapted to hold, in direct contact, one or more
beverage containers to be kept chilled; one or more reservoirs (7)
containing a phase change material in thermal exchange with the
cold generating module (4, 5) are arranged around the holding
arrangement (1).
Inventors: |
Hue; Xavier; (Orsago,
IT) ; Jonzon; Magnus; (Conegliano, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARNE & GORDON LLP
1801 EAST 9TH STREET, SUITE 1200
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-3108
US
|
Assignee: |
ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS
CORPORATIONN.V.
ZAVENTEM
BE
|
Family ID: |
36147142 |
Appl. No.: |
11/885139 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 13, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2006/000193 |
371 Date: |
July 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ;
165/104.34; 62/457.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 11/006 20130101;
F25D 2331/809 20130101; F25B 21/02 20130101; F25D 2331/803
20130101; F25D 31/007 20130101; F25D 16/00 20130101; F25D 2303/082
20130101; F25B 2321/0251 20130101; F25D 2331/805 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.6 ;
62/457.5; 165/104.34 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02; F25D 3/08 20060101 F25D003/08; F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2005 |
SE |
0500406-4 |
Claims
1. Chilled beverage storage device constituted by a cold area (13)
and a hot area (14), said cold area (13) comprises a first
structure (2) provided with at least one holding arrangement (1)
adapted to hold one or more beverage containers to be kept chilled,
characterized in that said first structure (2) is arranged towards
at least one cold generating module (4, 5), at least one reservoir
(7) containing a phase change material in thermal exchange with
said module (4, 5) being arranged around said holding arrangement
(1), said beverage container being in direct contact with said
holding arrangement.
2. Device as in claim 1 characterized in that said first structure
(1) comprises a first plate (3) facing towards the cold generative
module (4, 5).
3. Device as in claim 1 characterized in that said holding
arrangement (1) is formed by tubes (6).
4. Device as in claims 2 and 3 characterized in that said tubes (6)
are obtained in one piece with said plate (3).
5. Device as in claim 1 characterized in that said reservoirs (7)
are made in the form of pouches to be inserted around said holding
arrangement (1).
6. Device as in claim 1 characterized in that said hot area (14) is
positioned facing said cold area (13) and comprises a second
structure (8) having a second plate (12) provided with supports
(10, 11) for said cold generating module (4, 5), said second
structure (8) being adapted to transfer heat from said module (4,
5) to the ambient air through a fan (9).
7. Device as in claim 6 characterized in that said second plate
(12) is made in one piece with said supports (10, 11).
8. Device as in claim 6 characterized in that a fan holder for said
fan (9) and air inlet and outlet ducts are integrated in said
second plate (12).
9. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that said cold
generating module (4,5) consist in a Peltier thermoelectrical
module.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for storing
chilled beverages contained in bottles or cans.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Beverages contained in bottles or cans are often stored in a
refrigerating appliance which cools down and maintains the beverage
at a temperature well below ambient temperature. Normally
refrigerators in domestic use are located in a kitchen room, which
could be far from the place where the chilled beverage has to be
served or consumed. It would be therefore advisable to have a
portable small container capable of storing chilled cans or bottles
keeping them at the temperature previously reached in the
refrigerator.
[0003] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide
a chilled beverage storage device which is capable of storing and
maintaining chilled beverages at the temperature reached in the
refrigerator.
[0004] Within the aim cited above, a purpose of the present
invention is to provide a chilled beverage storage device having
small dimensions such that it can be easily installed and operated
in the place where the beverage is served or consumed.
[0005] A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a
chilled beverage storage device capable of being manufactured at
competitive costs by using generally known and readily available
tools, machinery and equipments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] These aims and purposes are achieved by a modular
refrigeration unit as defined in claim 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Further features and advantages of the present invention may
be readily understood from the following description of a preferred
embodiment illustrated by way of a non-limiting example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a device according to the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a front view of an appliance using the device
according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the appliance
according to FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a back perspective view of the appliance
according to FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, a chilled beverage storage device
according to the present invention is constituted by a cold area 13
and a hot area 14; the cold area comprises a first aluminium
structure 2 having a first plate 3 arranged towards a pair of
thermoelectrical modules 4, 5 and, opposite to said modules, at
least one holding arrangement 1 adapted to hold one or more
beverage containers, such as cans or bottles, to be kept chilled;
the holding arrangement 1 is formed by aluminium tubes 6,
advantageously obtained in one piece with the plate 3.
[0013] One or more reservoirs 7 containing a phase change material
are arranged around the tubes 6 forming the holding arrangement 1.
Preferably the reservoirs 7 can be made in the form of pouches to
be inserted around each holding arrangement 1.
[0014] The hot area 14, arranged facing the cold area 13, comprises
a second aluminium structure 8 having a second plate 12 provided
with supports 10, 11 for the respective thermoelectrical modules 4,
5; the second aluminium structure 8 is adapted to transfer the heat
from the thermoelectrical modules 4, 5 to the ambient air through a
fan 9.
[0015] The functioning of the thermoelectrical modules 4, 5 is
based on the Peltier effect to create a difference of temperature
when the modules 4, 5 are electrically connected to a power
supply.
[0016] Advantageously the second plate 12 can be made in one piece
with the supports 10, 11, and can also integrate a fan holder for
the fan 9, as well as inlet and outlet ducts (not shown in the
drawing) for the air.
[0017] The cold and hot areas 13,14 are formed in an insulated
casing, preferably obtained by foaming of polyurethane.
[0018] In the device described above the beverage container to be
kept chilled is thus in direct contact, by means of the tubes 6
forming the holding arrangement 1 for the container, with the first
aluminium structure 2 which is cooled by the thermoelectric modules
4, 5 so as to obtain heat transfer by direct conduction in the cold
area 13; conversely, the heat transfer in the hot area 14 is
obtained by conduction plus convection through the fan 9.
[0019] The functioning of the device is as follows: when the device
is connected to the power supply, the thermoelectric modules 4, 5
start to cool down the phase change material such that a decrease
in the temperature is achieved in the holding arrangement 1 formed
by the aluminium tubes 6 of the first aluminium structure 2; when a
beverage container is introduced in the holder arrangement 1, the
coldness stored in the phase change material and in the aluminium
tubes 6 is directly transferred to the container. The device
continues to cool down the container until an equilibrium
temperature is reached between the cold area 13 and the
container.
[0020] The chilled beverage storage device according to the present
invention achieves the aims and purposes mentioned above: in fact,
it has been obtained a compact device having small dimensions which
is capable to store and maintain chilled beverages at the
temperature reached in the refrigerator using heat transfer by
direct conduction in the cold area 13. Furthermore it can be easily
installed and operated in any place where beverages are served or
consumed, provided a plug for power supply is available in the near
surroundings; for example it can be hanged on a wall or located in
the living room near a divan or an arm-chair.
[0021] An appliance having the structure of the present invention
is shown in FIG. 2-4. In FIG. 2 an appliance with nine holding
arrangements 1 is shown, each one having an aluminium tube 6 and a
reservoir 7. Such an appliance is convenient to place on the wall.
In FIGS. 3 and 4 the backside, the hot area 14 can also be seen
with the second aluminium structure 8. The first aluminium
structure 2 is shown in the figures, but in some cases it may be
convenient to cover it by a cover in plastics or similar for design
purposes.
[0022] It is understood that the materials used, as well as the
shapes and the size of the individual component parts, may be the
most appropriate to fit any specific need or comply with any
requirement, without this implying any departure from the scope of
the present invention. For instance the aluminium structures
proposed (for instance for the tubes) 6 can be replaced by a
structures made in another heat conductive material, such as
another metal. Moreover, the number of Peltier thermoelectrical
modules 4,5 used is not restricted to a pair of two.
* * * * *