U.S. patent application number 15/853117 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-03 for rapid spinning liquid immersion beverage supercooler.
The applicant listed for this patent is Supercooler Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Douglas Shuntich.
Application Number | 20180120023 15/853117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53797795 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180120023 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shuntich; Douglas |
May 3, 2018 |
Rapid Spinning Liquid Immersion Beverage Supercooler
Abstract
Methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and
cooling closed bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food
items to selected desired temperatures by rapidly rotating and
counter-rotating the bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and
food items that are immersed in cooled liquids in short time spans
to a super cooled temperature wherein an effect can cause
slush-on-demand.
Inventors: |
Shuntich; Douglas;
(Maitland, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Supercooler Technologies, Inc. |
Maitland |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53797795 |
Appl. No.: |
15/853117 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14298117 |
Jun 6, 2014 |
9845988 |
|
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15853117 |
|
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61966106 |
Feb 18, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 16/00 20130101;
F25D 2400/361 20130101; F25D 2400/36 20130101; F25D 2303/081
20130101; F25D 31/007 20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101; F25D 2700/00
20130101; F25D 2400/28 20130101; Y02A 40/963 20180101; F25D 31/002
20130101; Y02A 40/968 20180101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 31/00 20060101
F25D031/00; F25D 3/08 20060101 F25D003/08 |
Claims
1. A method for providing slush-on-demand in closed beverage
containers, comprising the steps of: immersing a closed beverage
container of a liquid in a cooling substance; alternatively
rotating and counter-rotating the closed beverage container in the
cooling substance to rapidly cool the liquid in the beverage
container to a selected cooled temperature below approximately 34
F; and instantly converting the liquid inside the closed beverage
container to turn into slush.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing
a can as the closed beverage container.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing
a bottle as the beverage container.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling substance is a
chilled liquid.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of mounting
via a mount the closed beverage container upright in a housing.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alternatively
rotating and counter rotating includes the step of: continuously
alternatively rotating and counter-rotating the mount and the
beverage container between approximately 500 rpm and above
approximately 500 rpm.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alternatively
rotating and counter-rotating includes the step of: switching
between each of the rotating and the counter-rotating directions
between approximately 1/10 and above approximately 1/10 of a
second.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
providing a display for a temperature input; providing a
temperature sensor for the cooling liquid; providing a temperature
sensor for the beverage container; providing a motor for the
mounted container; inputting a selected chilled temperature for the
beverage container onto the display; and automatically alternating
the rotating and the counter-rotating of the beverage container
until the temperature sensor for the beverage container reaches the
selected cooled temperature.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of instantly converting
includes the step of: slamming the closed beverage container on a
surface.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of instantly converting
includes the step of: inserting ice into the closed beverage
container.
11. A system for creating slush-on-demand from rapidly cooled
closed beverage containers, comprising: a housing with a cooling
substance inside; a mount supporting a closed beverage container
containing a liquid inside, wherein the closed beverage container
is immersed in the cooling substance; and a motor for alternatively
rotating and counter-rotating the closed beverage container in the
cooling substance to rapidly cool the liquid in the beverage
container to a selected cooled temperature below approximately 34
F, wherein the beverage inside the container is cooled to a
selected cooled temperature; and a slush causing effect for
converting the cooled liquid inside the beverage container to
instantly become slush.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the mount supports the closed
beverage container in an upright position.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the closed beverage container
includes a closed bottle.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the closed beverage container
includes a closed can.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the cooling substance is a
chilled liquid.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the motor continuously and
alternatively rotates and counter-rotates the mount and the
beverage container in the immersed substance between approximately
500 rpm and above approximately 500 rpm,
17. The system of claim 11, wherein switching time of the motor
between each of the rotating and the counter-rotating, is between
approximately 1/10 of a second and above approximately 1/10 of a
second.
18. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a temperature
sensor for the cooling substance; a temperature sensor for the
beverage container; a display for a temperature input, so that a
selected chilled temperature is inputted onto the display, and the
motor automatically alternates between the rotating and the
counter-rotating of the beverage container until the temperature
sensor for the beverage container reaches the selected cooled
temperature.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the slush causing effect for
instantly causing slush inside the closed container includes
slamming the closed container on a surface.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the slush causing effect for
instantly causing slush inside the closed container includes
inserting ice into the closed beverage container.
Description
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/298,117 filed Jun. 6, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,845,988, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/966,106 filed Feb. 18, 2014. The entire
disclosure of each of the applications listed in this paragraph are
incorporated by specific reference thereto.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to cooling and chilling beverages,
desserts, and food items, and in particular to methods, processes,
apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and cooling bottled or
canned beverages, desserts, and food items to selected desired
temperatures by rapidly rotating and counter-rotating the bottled
or canned beverages, desserts, and food items that are immersed in
cooled liquids in short time spans.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0003] Packaged-ice, such as different weights of bagged ice has
been popular to be used in portable coolers to chill canned and
bottled beverages. Packaged-ice has generally become standardized
over the past decades with a few popular sizes in the U.S. and
around the world dominating the sales. For example, the 10 lb bag
of packaged-ice is the most popular retail version of packaged-ice
in the U.S., followed in descending popularity by 20 lb, 8 lb, 7 lb
and 5 lb bags of packaged-ice.
[0004] In Canada, the United Kingdom(UK), and other European
countries, other standard sizes such as but not limited to 6 lb
(2.7 kg), and 26.5 lb (12 kg) are also very popular forms of
packaged-ice.
[0005] The bags of packaged-ice generally comprise loose ice cubes,
chips and the like, that are frozen fresh water. The standard use
of the bags of ice is having the consumer place the bag(s) loosely
in cooler containers, and then adding canned and/or bottled
beverages, such as sodas, waters to the coolers containing the
packaged-ice.
[0006] Due to the melting properties of the fresh-water ice, canned
and bottled beverages placed in ice cannot be chilled below 32
degrees Fahrenheit for any significant length of time, which is the
known general freezing point.
[0007] Over the years the addition of ice-melters such as salt have
been known to be used to lower the melting point of fresh-water
ice. Forms of using salt have included sprinkling loose salt on
packed-ice in a cooler to produce lower temperatures for certain
canned and bottled beverages placed inside. Sprinkling salt has
been tried with beer, since beer will not freeze at 32 degrees due
to its alcohol content. However, the use of sprinkling loose salt
has problems.
[0008] Due to the uneven spread of salt on ice, it is impossible to
know or control precisely the resulting temperate below 32 degrees
on various ice-cubes in the cooler obtained by sprinkling of salt.
Salt sprinkling has inevitably resulted in some of the beverages
"freezing hard" while others remain liquid and sometimes at
temperatures above 32 degrees. As such, the spreading of salt or
other ice-melters on packaged-ice in a cooler to obtain colder
temperatures than 32 degrees is an impractical method to know and
control precisely the resulting temperature of ice-cubes in a
cooler environment.
[0009] Some recent trends in custom cold beverage creation at home
and at commercial establishments rely on traditional refrigeration
and/or placing ice inside the beverage to obtain cold temperatures.
At home custom beverage creating devices such as SODASTREAM.RTM. by
Soda-Club (CO2) Atlantic GmbH, and KEURIG COLD.TM. by Keurig Green
Mountain Inc. each rely on one of these traditional methods for
cooling, and each of these devices having significant
drawbacks.
[0010] Traditional refrigeration offers a relatively slow and
inefficient method of cooling, requiring hours to obtain
approximately 40 F drinking temperatures.
[0011] Placing ice inside a beverage, while providing very rapid
cooling and `ice-cold` temperature, has the drawbacks of; 1)
watered-down flavoring, 2) introducing impurities, and 3) causing
premature de-carbonation of carbonated beverages.
[0012] The non-traditional method of cooling canned and bottled
beverages rapidly by spinning then on their longitudinal axis while
the can or bottle is in contact with ice or `ice-cold` liquid
(usually fresh water at or near approximately 32 deg-F) has also
been attempted. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,054 to Loibl
et al. This patent describes a rapid beverage cooling method and
device that attempts to reduce beverage cooling times from hours to
close to a minute without putting ice in the beverage.
[0013] Other devices, such as the SPINCHILL.TM. device, shown on
the web at www.spinchill.com use portable type drills with a
suction cup which can attach to one end of a canned beverage and
claim `cooling times` of 60 seconds or less for canned beverages
spun at roughly 450 rpm in a standard ice-cooler containing ice
and/or iced-water, though the term `cooling` is used loosely and
generally describes a beverage temperature between 40-50 F or
thereabouts.
[0014] These non-traditional beverage cooling devices mentioned
above and their techniques generally spin canned or bottled
beverages at a constant rpm(revolutions per minute)rate in
one-direction only. These devices generally expose surface are of
the can or bottle over and over again to ice or cold liquid in
order to rapidly cool the beverage.
[0015] These devices also seek to minimize agitation inside the
canned or bottled beverage by spinning them at relatively mild
rates of 350-500 rpm which, they claim, is optimal for rapid
cooling and prevents undesirable foaming of carbonated beverages
and beer.
[0016] These devices will still require a few to several minutes of
spinning in a cooling medium in order to obtain `ice-cold` drinking
temperatures for the beverages, and have no automated way of
communicating exactly when a beverage has reached its' optimal or
lowest drinking temperature.
[0017] Moreover, none of these devices seek to maximize heat
transfer coefficients (thereby minimizing cooling times) via
utilization of 1) Liquid-immersion, 2) Turbulent fluid flow within
the beverage container, and 3) Turbulent fluid-flow within the
cooling medium.
[0018] It has been known for many years that alcoholic and
non-alcoholic bottled and canned beverages of all varieties,
including bottled water, can be super cooled below 32 deg-F while
remaining liquid for short periods of time. What is not generally
known is how to cool these beverages rapidly to precise super
cooled temperatures which allow for enjoyable `slush-on-demand`
drinking experiences while preventing unwanted or premature
freezing which can result in undesirable effects such as 1)
premature foaming or release of carbonation in an undesirable way,
and 2) hard frozen or `chunky` frozen beverages which are difficult
to consume.
[0019] In addition, the prior art generally does not have ability
to supercool beverages below 32-degrees and/or below their own
freezing point while keeping them in a liquid state to allow for
previously impossible beverage options, such as creating instant
milkshakes from super cooled milk beverages and creating instant
smoothies from super cooled fruit and vegetable juices without the
need to blend-in chopped-ice into the smoothie.
[0020] Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems
with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide
methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and
cooling bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items to
selected desired temperatures by rapidly rotating and
counter-rotating the bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and
food items that are immersed in cooled liquids in short time
spans.
[0022] A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide
methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and
cooling bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items to
selected desired temperatures, by automatically communicating
exactly when a beverage has reached its' optimal or lowest drinking
temperature.
[0023] A third objective of the present invention is to provide
methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and
cooling bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items
rapidly to precise super cooled temperatures which allow for
enjoyable `slush-on-demand` drinking experiences while preventing
unwanted or premature freezing which can result in undesirable
effects such as 1) premature foaming or release of carbonation in
an undesirable way, and 2) hard frozen or `chunky` frozen beverages
which are difficult to consume.
[0024] A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide
methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems to supercool
beverages below 32-degrees and/or below their own freezing point
while keeping them in a liquid state to allow for previously
impossible beverage options, such as creating instant milkshakes
from super cooled milk beverages and creating instant smoothies
from super cooled fruit and vegetable juices without the need to
blend-in chopped-ice into the smoothie.
[0025] The invention provides preferred embodiments for beverage
cooling to range of 15 deg-F to 26 deg-F allowing for a wide
variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic bottled and canned beverages
to be super cooled (from room temperature)--remaining in liquid
form--in as little as 10 to 20 seconds in some cases (less or more
depending on size and type of container and liquid immersion
temperatures).
[0026] In addition to supercooling, the invention allows for the
rapid and precise cooling into any temperature range desired by
maximizing heat-transfer coefficients across multiple regions of
the cooling system.
[0027] By maximizing the heat transfer coefficients of the entire
beverage cooling system via a sub-cooled liquid immersion medium
and turbulent flow in both the beverage container and the liquid
immersion medium, the invention is able to minimize beverage
cooling times in order to make it practical to incorporate the
technology into a vending environment, a bar, or a household or
portable beverage supercooling device.
[0028] The addition of temperature sensors that are in contact with
the beverage container and/or the liquid immersion medium and in
communication with a `smart` electronic timer allows the present
invention to inform and/or alert the user to the exact time
required and precise temperature obtained (within approx. +/-1 or 2
deg-F) within the beverage container.
[0029] To create turbulent flow within the beverage container and
simultaneously prevent unwanted nucleation during cooling (either
nucleation of the carbonation within the liquid or
nucleation-freezing of the liquid) the beverage container such as a
cylindrical can, and the like, can be spun on axis in a vertical
position at very high RPM (generally >1000 RPM, and potentially
as high as 10,000 RPM or more) for short periods of time (generally
less than 1 second, but can be more or less) and then spun in the
reverse direction for an equally short period of time.
[0030] This process can be repeated until the desired and selected
temperature is reached inside the beverage container. This rapid
spinning and reversing direction process greatly improves heat
transfer and thus greatly reduces beverage cooling times compared
to the prior art.
[0031] Moreover, prior art patents (see for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,505,054 to Loibl et al., which is incorporated by reference
suggest an inverse relationship between cooling times and higher
RPM when spinning above 345-400 RPM, which indicates an incomplete
understanding of heat transfer inside the canned or bottled
beverages which is misleading, limiting, and would not have led to
the present invention or discovery.
[0032] For another embodiment, in order to create turbulent flow
within the liquid immersion medium, one or more high-volume liquid
pumps can be activated in concert with the directional spinning of
the beverage container to create turbulent flow and maximize heat
transfer away from the beverage container into the liquid
medium.
[0033] By maximizing heat transfer coefficients and reducing
cooling time, this method becomes an energy-efficient way to cool
individual canned or bottled beverages rapidly, offering
energy-efficiency advantages over larger air-based refrigerated
systems that require hours of run-time to cool a few beverages.
[0034] Further objects and advantages of this invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the presently
preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0035] FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away view of a rapid-spinning
liquid-immersion single-beverage supercooler with high-speed motor
and spinning apparatus, insulated liquid-immersion cavity, optional
self-contained refrigeration and heat-transfer system, high-flow
liquid turbulence pumps, temperature sensors, digital control(s)
and various power adapters.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a partial see-through view of a preferred
embodiment of a rapid-spinning liquid-immersion single-beverage
supercooler with a top-mounted high-rpm motor, a double-walled
`clear` plastic or glass liquid immersion cavity, an optional
bottom-mounted self-contained refrigeration and heat-transfer
system, high-flow liquid turbulence pumps, temperature sensors,
digital control(s) and various potential power adapters.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a multiple beverage
rapid-spinning liquid-immersion supercooler.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows the potential telescoping base for automatic
rapid beverage ejection from the liquid cooling medium.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a touch screen timer user interface containing
various inputs, selections, and sensory outputs on a user control
interface.
[0040] FIG. 6 shows a self-contained touch-screen timer user
interface containing electrical connections, battery, protective
case and cover, attaching bracket, and temperature sensor with
mini-pump.
[0041] FIG. 7 is an exploded-view of a self-contained touch-screen
timer user interface similar to that shown in FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present
invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its applications to the details of the particular
arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other
embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose
of description and not of limitation.
[0043] In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of
Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference
is made to particular features (including method steps) of the
invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the
invention in this specification includes all possible combinations
of such particular features. For example, where a particular
feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or
embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the
extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other
particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the
invention generally.
[0044] In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be
described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope
of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to
like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate
similar elements in alternative embodiments.
[0045] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. Unless otherwise
defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
to which this invention pertains. Although methods and materials
similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the
practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and
materials are described below.
[0046] Any publications, patent applications, patents, and other
references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their
entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including
any definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods
and examples given are illustrative in nature only and not intended
to be limiting. Accordingly, this invention may be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these illustrated
embodiments are provided solely for exemplary purposes so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Other features
and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description and from the claims.
[0047] A list of the components will now be described. [0048] 10
Rapid-Spinning Liquid-Immersion Beverage Supercooler Apparatus
[0049] 20 Motor head(high speed motor) [0050] 25, 26
Beverage-holder assembly [0051] 28 single or dual rechargeable
battery [0052] 30 Thermally insulated liquid immersion cavity
[0053] 40. Liquid immersion medium [0054] 45. Ice [0055] 50 Lower
beverage container holder [0056] 60 Liquid turbulence pumps [0057]
80 Liquid immersion temperature sensor [0058] 90 Beverage container
temperature sensor [0059] 95 heat-transfer plugs [0060] 100 Self
contained refrigeration and heat exchange system/unit [0061] 120
compressor [0062] 130 evaporator [0063] 140 condenser [0064] 150
battery system [0065] 160, 170 electrical connections [0066] 161
wall-plugged transformer [0067] 162 12V automotive cigarette-light
adapter [0068] 171 wall-plugged transformer [0069] 172 12V
automotive cigarette-light adapter [0070] 200 Interface
microcontroller mechanism [0071] 310 rapid-spinning
liquid-immersion single-beverage supercooler [0072] 320
bi-directional motor [0073] 330 glass or plastic liquid immersion
cavity [0074] 400 Self-contained refrigeration unit [0075] 480
Multiple beverage unit [0076] 485 Telescoping support [0077] 500
Timer [0078] 510 Circuit board [0079] 520 Display [0080] 530 liquid
medium temperature [0081] 540 countdown timer [0082] 550
temperature [0083] 560 container size [0084] 570 starting drink
temperature [0085] 580 Start-end button [0086] 590 Reset button
[0087] 600 container position selection [0088] 610 up and down
arrow selections [0089] 620 turbo-pump on/off selection [0090] 630
bag or membrane use selection [0091] 700 Timer apparatus [0092] 710
self-contained case [0093] 715 self-contained case [0094] 725
rechargeable battery and connectors [0095] 730 protective
transparent lid [0096] 740 mounting bracket [0097] 750 precision
temperature probe [0098] 760 pump [0099] 770 standardized jack
[0100] 780 Connector [0101] 790 Power adapter
[0102] TABLE 1 illustrates the obtained supercool temperatures and
rapid cooling times of various canned and bottled beverages
(between 8 oz and 16 oz) starting at a room temperature of
approximately 75 F (approximately 24.0 C) using a prototype of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention rotating at 2500
rpm(which can include approximately 2500 rpm) and switching
directions every 0.65 seconds(which can include approximately 0.65
seconds). The term approximately can include +/-10%.
[0103] These cooling times and temperatures are significantly
faster and lower than those mentioned in referenced in the prior
art, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,054 to Loibl et
al., and have no undesirable `side-effects` of pre-released
carbonation or foaming.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Container Type/Size Final Beverage Temp Time
(Seconds) 8 oz Plastic Bottles 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 40 sec 22 F. (-5.6
C.) 35 sec 8 oz Cans 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 20 sec 22 F. (-5.6 C.) 16 sec
12 oz Cans 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 24 sec 12 oz Cans 22 F. (-5.6 C.) 18 sec
16 oz Cans 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 32 sec 16 oz Cans 22 F. (-5.6 C.) 25 sec
12 oz Plastic Bottles 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 55 sec 12 oz Plastic Bottles
22 F. (-5.6 C.) 45 sec 16 oz Glass Bottles 22 F. (-5.6 C.) 95
sec
[0104] TABLE 2 illustrates the obtained supercool temperatures and
rapid cooling times of various canned and bottled beverages
(between 20 oz and 2 Liters) starting at a room temperature of
approximately 75 F (approximately 24.0 C) using a prototype of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention rotating at 2500
rpm(which can include approximately 2500 rpm) and switching
directions every 0.65 seconds(which can include approximately 0.65
seconds). The term approximately can include +/-100. These cooling
times and temperatures have no undesirable `side-effects` of
pre-released carbonation or foaming.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Container Type/Size Final Beverage Temp Time
(Seconds) 20 oz Plastic Bottles 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 75 sec 22 F. (-5.6
C.) 60 sec 20 oz Cans 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 45 sec 22 F. (-5.6 C.) 35 sec
32 oz Plastic Bottles 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 95 sec 22 F. (-5.6 C.) 80 sec
64 oz Plastic Bottles 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 150-210 sec 22 F. (-5.6 C.)
120-280 sec 2 Liter Plastic Bottles 18 F. (-7.8 C.) 300 sec 22 F.
(-5.6 C.) 260 sec
[0105] TABLE 2 can also be used for other larger beverage
containers, such as but not limited to 48 oz, 1 liter and 3 liter
plastic bottles, and the like. Additionally, different glass
bottles having the sizes listed in the above tables can also be
included.
[0106] TABLES 1 and 2 can include the specific temperatures an
times listed. Additionally, each of the listed specific
temperatures and times can be each include approximately in front
of the listed temperatures and times, where approximately can
include +/-10%.
[0107] The times listed in TABLES 1 and 2 are from room temperature
to the final temperature. Each of the times listed in both the
listed times and in approximately the listed times can be reduced
at least half, if the initial temperature is from a refrigerated
temperature of approximately 34 F to the supercooled
temperature.
[0108] While the switch times between rotating and counter-rotating
has been tested at 0.65 seconds(including approximately 0.65
seconds), the invention can be practiced with different values of
rpm(revolutions per minute) and switch times as illustrated in
TABLE 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Operating Parameter Broad Range Narrow Range
Preferred Rotation (RPM) 500-10,000 1,000-5,000 2,500 Switch Time
(Sec) 1/10-2 3/10-1 0.3-0.7
[0109] While the rpm and seconds list specific values, each of the
values can include approximately those values, where approximately
includes +/-10%.
[0110] The operating parameters of rpm and switch times can also be
used with the alternatively rotating and counter-rotating of the
various beverage containers referenced in TABLES 1 and 2, and can
include additional applications for chilling of beverage
containers. For example, a beverage container being rotated at
approximately 1,000 rpm can be switched between rotations and
alternative rotations at switch times of approximately 3/10 of a
second per rotation.
[0111] The beverage container rotations in TABLES 1, 2 and 3 can
include the beverage containers initially being alternatively
rotated between clockwise(CW) and counter-clockwise(CCW), by
starting at clockwise(CW) or starting at
counter-clockwise(CCW).
[0112] FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away view of a rapid-spinning
liquid-immersion single-beverage supercooler with high-speed motor
and spinning apparatus, insulated liquid-immersion cavity, optional
self-contained refrigeration and heat-transfer system, high-flow
liquid turbulence pumps, temperature sensors, digital control(s)
and various power adapters. It shows a high-rpm(revolutions per
minute) motor mounted at the top capable of rapidly spinning the
beverage and rapidly changing the direction of spin. Support,
holding/retaining mechanisms for various sized canned and bottled
beverages are also shown.
[0113] FIG. 2 is a partial see-through view of a preferred
embodiment of a rapid-spinning liquid-immersion single-beverage
supercooler with a top-mounted high-rpm motor, a double-walled
`clear` plastic or glass liquid immersion cavity, an optional
bottom-mounted self-contained refrigeration and heat-transfer
system, high-flow liquid turbulence pumps, temperature sensors,
digital control(s) and various potential power adapters.
[0114] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a Rapid-Spinning Liquid-Immersion
Beverage Supercooler Apparatus 10 and its associated methods
according to the present invention. In a first preferred
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the device can include a rapid
spinning bi-directional motor head 20, beverage holder assembly 25,
26, a thermally insulated liquid immersion cavity 30, and an
immersion cooling/chilling medium 40.
[0115] The immersion cooling/chilling medium 40 can include a
cooling liquid or substance 45, such as but not limited to ice and
water, and/or water saline solution, and/or propylene glycol and
water mix, and/or vegetable glycerin and water mix, and/or any
glycol mix, and/or glycerin plus water mix, and/or a non-toxic
liquid anti-freeze similar to anti-freeze blend such as described
in the "Ice-Accelerator Aqueous Solution" U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/163,063 filed Jan. 24, 2014 to the same inventor as the
subject invention, which is incorporated by reference in its'
entirety.
[0116] TABLE 4 shows the various temperatures that can be used for
the liquid cooling medium or substance.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 LIQUID COOLING MEDIUM/SUBSTANCE TEMPERATURES
Broad Range Narrow Range Preferred -20 F. to +34 F. -5 F. to +32 F.
+5 F. to +20 F.
[0117] The number values in TABLE 4 can include the exact number
values listed. Additionally, each of the number values can be
approximately those values, where the term approximately includes
+/-10%.
[0118] The liquid immersion temperatures below -3 F can very
difficult to work with due to premature freezing of contents inside
canned containers. Also, some embodiments (for example in a
commercial and/or vending machine application of this invention)
will seek to minimize time of cooling by using liquid immersion
temperatures on the lower end (such as near 0 F), while home units
can benefit from using Liquid Immersion temperatures nearer to the
desired supercooling temperatures of 15 F to 18 F in order to allow
a supercooled beverage to remain in the liquid indefinitely (after
it has been supercooled) without the risk of freezing.
[0119] In other words, a home apparatus unit(such as those
described in this application) can be designed in a way that
slightly sacrifices speed of supercooling in order to allow for a
secondary function (indefinite stay inside the machine) of the
supercooled beverage.
[0120] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the device 10 can further include a
lower beverage container holder 50, one or more high-volume liquid
"turbulence" pumps 60, a liquid immersion temperature sensor 80
which is in communication with the user interface microcontroller
mechanism 200, an optional beverage container temperature sensor
90, which can be in communication with the user interface
controller.
[0121] The device 10 can further include an optional self-contained
refrigeration and heat exchange system 100, which can include a
compressor 120--condenser 140 evaporator 130 refrigeration system
in series. The motor 20 and compressor 120 can be D/C(direct
current) electronic devices, a single or dual rechargeable battery
28, 150 system can be used to power the entire apparatus.
Alternatively the motor and compressor can be A/C (alternating
current) powered via standard electrical outlets.
[0122] Electrical connections comprising standard A/C power are
shown as item 160 and 170, whereas D/C power connections are shown
as wall-plugged transformers 161 and 171 and/or 12V automotive
cigarette-lighter adapters 162, 172.
[0123] The method of operation can involve 1) first filling the
liquid immersion cavity with cooling liquid or substance 45, Such
as but not limited to ice and/or water saline solution, and/or
propylene glycol and water mix, and/or vegetable glycerin and water
mix, and/or any glycol and/or glycerin plus water mix, and/or a
non-toxic liquid anti-freeze similar to anti-freeze blend such as
described in the "Ice-Accelerator Aqueous Solution" U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/163,063 filed Jan. 24, 2014 to the same
inventor as the subject invention, which is incorporated by
reference in its' entirety.
[0124] The cooling liquid in the liquid immersion cavity can be
used to obtain a desired liquid medium temperature that is many
degrees below freezing (32 F).
[0125] If the optional self-contained refrigeration unit 100 is
attached, it will be turned-on and the heat-transfer plugs 95 will
be removed so the liquid can flow through the heat transfer system
via a pump (not shown) in the refrigeration unit to cool the liquid
immersion medium. This is required if ice is not used in the liquid
immersion medium, but optional when ice is used. In the drawing in
FIG. 1, a liquid immersion medium temperature of 6.5 F is shown on
the touch-screen user interface control 200.
[0126] 2) Next the user selects the desired supercool (or
non-supercool) temperature for the beverages to attain, the size
and type of beverage (drawing depicts a standard 12 oz canned
beverage), the starting temperature of the beverage, and removes
the motor head and beverage holding apparatus (20, 25, 26, 28, 90)
and places a beverage container in the holder. The touch-screen
timer, which can be an app on a cell-phone or other electronic
device, such as but not limited to a laptop computer, personal
computer, and the like, and operated remotely via wireless
connection (not shown) will show the estimated time for cooling the
beverage to the desired drinking temperature selected. The drawing
depicts an estimated time of 30 seconds. Note: specialized beverage
containers (not shown) that are designed to work with the present
invention for home-made or custom mixed beverages that are not
manufactured in disposable containers are part of the present
invention and may be sold with the device or sold separately.
[0127] 3) Next the user places the beverage container in the holder
26 and inserts the beverage down into the liquid immersion medium
where it is held in place via the tension spring appendages 50.
Note: the center area where the beverage is inserted may be
protected with a screen-like cylindrical mesh (not shown) that
keeps ice cubes out of the center area for easy insertion and ease
of operation during rapid spinning. The mesh must allow the
free-flow of liquid immersion medium into and away-from the
beverage container. An optional switch (not shown) at the bottom of
the beverage tension spring apparatus 50 may be used to communicate
with the controller that a beverage is in the system and ready for
cooling.
[0128] 4) Next the user presses `go` or `start` or other
begin-cooling command on the user interface 200 and the device
automatically spins the beverage and rapidly reverses direction
over and over according to the microcontroller algorithms. When the
timer is complete, the device automatically stops spinning and
alerts the user that the beverage has reached the desired
temperature and the operation is complete. In the case of
supercooling, it is possible the device can be equipped with an
automatic telescoping base (as shown in FIGS. 3-4) to rapidly eject
the cooled beverage from the liquid immersion medium to prevent
nucleation (freezing) of the beverage.
[0129] 5) Finally the user removed the beverage from the liquid
immersion medium (if it has not been automatically lifted or
ejected), removed the container from the holding apparatus and
opens the beverage container for consumption. In the case of
supercooling, the beverage will provide a "slush-on-demand" effect
when nucleated via a variety of means such as slamming on a table
or inserting a very small piece of ice into the beverage. The
system is then ready to be used again, and will be capable of
cooling and/or supercooling dozens or more standard beverages in
any given outing with or without electricity (if ice is used and/or
batteries are charged) and should be constantly ready for use at a
moments' notice.
[0130] FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of the present
invention 310 with a top-mounted high-speed bi-directional motor
320, and other systems similar to those in FIG. 1. Of note is the
clear, double-walled (or triple-walled) glass or plastic liquid
immersion cavity 330, and a "see-through" self-contained
refrigeration unit 400.
[0131] FIG. 3 shows a multiple beverage unit 480 similarly designed
to the apparatus in FIG. 1, but with the capability to
simultaneously rapidly cool several different and varying sized
beverage containers in the same liquid immersion medium. For
simplicity, the drawing leaves out many of the detailed components
shown in FIG. 1. An optional telescoping support 485 below the
beverage containers can be used to rapidly and automatically eject
the beverages from the liquid immersion medium in order to prevent
freezing (nucleation) of the beverages if left in the liquid
immersion medium after supercooling is complete. FIG. 4 shows the
telescoping support 485 being fully extended.
[0132] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate preferred embodiments of a
built-in or self-contained touch-screen user-interface supercooling
Timer 500, 700, their methods and designs. The apparatus 500
described in FIG. 5 is meant to show possible displayed input
selections and outputs of a supercooling user-interface timer
control and display utilizing built-in electronics and algorithms.
The user interface of the present invention can contain more, less,
or other inputs, selections and outputs than depicted.
[0133] The device can contain a circuit board 510 and a touch
screen display 520. The touch-screen display can contain a variety
of user selected inputs such as the desired supercool temperature
550, the container size and type 560, the starting drink
temperature 570, the start-end button 580, a reset button 590, a
container position selection 600, up and down arrow selections 610,
a turbo-pump on/off selection 620, a bag or membrane use selection
630, and other selections as required. The outputs to the user
interface may include a display of the liquid medium temperature
530, a countdown timer 540, a battery level indicator (if
appropriate) and a container position indicator (not shown).
[0134] The timer apparatus 700 described in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes
the entire touch-screen display 500 described in FIG. 5 set into a
self-contained case 710, 715 with protective transparent lid 730,
rechargeable battery and connectors 725, a mounting bracket 740, a
standardized power adapter and connector 790, 780, and standardized
jack 770 and precision temperature probe 750 and small pump 760.
The small pump is turned-on periodically via control software
algorithms to time the operating of the pump to maximize turbulence
within the liquid immersion medium. For example, pumps can create
more turbulence in liquid immersion mediums.
[0135] The software algorithms can control the pumps to stir the
liquid medium around the temperature probe for several seconds
prior to taking a temperature reading in the case of stagnant
liquid medium.
[0136] The apparatus may contain an audible alarm (not shown) to
alert users of certain conditions including "timer-done" activity
and/or the ability to automatically turn on/off the spinning motor
head, change speeds or rpm, and automatically remove the beverage
from the liquid cooling medium.
[0137] The software algorithms contained in micro
processors(computer) in the apparatus can be capable of calculating
the amount of time required to attain the desired supercooling
temperature for the beverages based on a number of inputs including
the liquid medium temperature and those listed above and/or
others.
[0138] The software algorithms in the computer can change rotation
speeds, switching times based on size and type and shape of the
beverage containers (cans or bottles, plastic or glass, different
shapes(cylindrical, bottle, square, rectangular), and the desired
final temperatures starting from either room temperature or
refrigerated temperature that can include approximately 34 F.
[0139] The apparatus may be manufactured as an integral part of the
various liquid-immersion beverage supercooling devices mentioned in
the present invention or may be manufactured as a stand-alone
device to be used in any standard beverage cooler.
[0140] While the preferred embodiments show containers being
bottles and cans, the invention can be used to rapidly cool and
chill other shaped containers, such as square, rectangular,
triangular, and the like.
[0141] Although the preferred embodiments describe rapidly cooling
beverages, the invention can be used to rapidly cool and chill
desserts, and food items, and the like.
[0142] Although the preferred embodiments have the beverage
containers being chilled to be mounted by being immersed in a
housing of cooling liquid, followed by alternatively rotating and
counter-rotating, the invention can be used with other cooling
techniques. For example, an insert such as a pipe, tube, oblong
shape can be inserted into the cap portion of the larger bottles,
such as the 64 ounce or 1 liter or 2 liter or 3 liter bottle, and
can contain the cooling liquid sealed from the beverage inside of
the beverage container. The beverage container can both rotate in
the immersed cooling fluid and rotate about the insert through the
cap, so that the cooling fluids substantially decrease the time for
chilling the beverages in the beverage containers.
[0143] Other embodiments can allow for the larger containers, such
as a 2 liter bottle, and the like, to not have to be immersed in a
liquid housing, where the beverage container is in a bath effect.
The invention can allow for eliminating the main housing so that
the beverage containers are not immersed in any cooling liquid. The
cap portions of the beverage containers, can be mounted to the
motors, through the cap portions, where elongated inserts(tubes,
pipes, oblong shapes) are inserted into the beverages inside of the
container. The inserts would contain cooling liquids in either a
stationary form or being circulated in and out of the inserts by
pumps. The beverage containers would be continuously rotated and
counter-rotated about the inserts.
[0144] While the invention has been described, disclosed,
illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or
modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the
invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be,
limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may
be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved
especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims
here appended.
* * * * *
References