U.S. patent application number 16/308308 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-03 for self-cooling beverage container having a heat exchange unit using liquid carbon dioxide and a twist top activation system.
This patent application is currently assigned to JOSEPH COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is JOSEPH COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC., Mark SILLINCE. Invention is credited to MARK SILLINCE.
Application Number | 20190301784 16/308308 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60664261 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-03 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190301784 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SILLINCE; MARK |
October 3, 2019 |
SELF-COOLING BEVERAGE CONTAINER HAVING A HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT USING
LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE AND A TWIST TOP ACTIVATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A self-cooling container for holding a food or beverage which
includes a heat exchange unit (HEU) secured internally thereof so
that the food or beverage is in contact with the outer surface of
the HEU, the HEU being closed by a frangible membrane which is
punctured by a pierce pin when a twist base activator is rotated in
a first direction to create dis-equilibrium to cause liquid carbon
dioxide contained within the HEU to pass directly from the liquid
to the gaseous state and pass through a restricted orifice to
atmosphere to cool the food or beverage.
Inventors: |
SILLINCE; MARK; (West
Sussex, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SILLINCE; Mark
JOSEPH COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
Irvine
Irvine |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
JOSEPH COMPANY INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
Irvine
CA
|
Family ID: |
60664261 |
Appl. No.: |
16/308308 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
June 13, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US17/37189 |
371 Date: |
December 7, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62349310 |
Jun 13, 2016 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 3/107 20130101;
F25D 2303/0842 20130101; F25D 2331/805 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/10 20060101
F25D003/10 |
Claims
1. In a self-chilling food or beverage container (12) having a heat
exchange unit (14) secured to an opening in the bottom thereof and
extending into contact with the food or beverage and having a valve
mechanism (140-142) for inserting liquid carbon dioxide into the
heat exchange unit through an opening therein, the improvement
characterized by a frangible member (60-150) closing the opening in
the heat exchange unit; the valve mechanism including a pierce pin
system (56, 58-160, 162) disposed adjacent said frangible member; a
rotary activation member (20-166) coupled to said pierce pin system
adapted to rotate only in one direction and, when so rotated,
advances said pierce pin into engagement with said frangible member
to pierce it to allow liquid carbon dioxide to pass from the liquid
state to the gaseous state and exhaust along a flow path; and a
restricted orifice (75), disposed in said flow path and having a
dimension to create a pressure drop that retains any residual
carbon dioxide in the heat exchange unit in the liquid state.
2. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 1 wherein the pierce pin system includes a pierce
plug (56-162) and a pierce pin (58-160) carried by said pierce plug
and said rotary activation member (70-166) engages said pierce plug
to rotate said pierce plug to advance said pierce pin into
engagement with said frangible member.
3. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 2 wherein said pierce plug defines an opening (66)
therein and said rotary activation member includes a finger (62)
which extends into said opening in said pierce plug to rotate said
pierce plug.
4. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 3 wherein an outer surface (74) of the pierce plug
cooperates with a region (76) of an attachment adapter (16) to
define said restricted orifice (75).
5. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 1 wherein said frangible member functions as a
burst disk which is in constant contact with the liquid CO2 and
will rupture when pressure within the HEU reaches a predetermined
level.
6. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary activation member includes
ratchet teeth (94) which cooperate with ratchet legs (98-100) to
prevent said rotary activation member from rotating in a direction
other than said one direction.
7. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary activation member includes a
downwardly directed outer rim (86) which directs the exhausting CO2
gas flow downwardly along the outer surface of the container
(12).
8. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 1 wherein said heat exchange unit includes a neck
portion (28-128) having threads (132) on the outer surface thereof
and which further includes an adapter (16-136) threadably secured
to said threads on the neck of the HEU to secure the HEU to the
bottom of the container.
9. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container as
defined in claim 8 wherein the adapter is manufactured from an
engineering plastic material comprising a fiberglass filled
polyacrylamide or a fiberglass fitted polyoxymethylene or a
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
10. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container
as defined in claim 8 wherein said rotary activation member
(20-166) includes a downwardly directed flange (88) having an
inwardly directed wedge-shaped lip which secures the rotary
activation member to the adapter.
11. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container
as defined in claim 8 which further includes a frangible member
holder and a grub screw (152) which secures the frangible member in
place in the holder.
12. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container
as defined in claim 11 which further includes a sealing member
seated between the frangible member holder and the bottom of the
adapter (136) to maintain the liquid carbon dioxide in the HEU in
an equilibrium state.
13. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container
as defined in claim 12 wherein the adapter is hollow and further
includes a valve stem (142) disposed in the hollow interior of the
adapter and a spring urging the valve stem to a position to urge
the frangible member into a sealing position, the valve stem being
movable against the force of the spring to move the frangible
member holder away from the bottom of the adapter to allow liquid
carbon dioxide to be inserted into the HEU.
14. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container
as defined in claim 11 wherein said grub screw includes an opening
therein through which the pressure in the HEU is communicated to
the frangible member, the opening in the grub screw being
dimensioned to throttle the pressure of released gaseous carbon
dioxide in the event the frangible member ruptures as a result of
increased pressure in the HEU.
15. The improvement in a self-chilling food or beverage container
as defined in claim 8 which further includes a HEU support collar
(126) surrounding the neck portion (128) of the HEU and seated
against the HEU at one end thereof and against the bottom of the
container at the other end thereof for securing the HEU to the
container.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to containers for
holding food or beverage in which there is also included a heat
exchange unit using liquid carbon dioxide and having an outer
surface which contacts the food or beverage and which when
activated alters the temperature of the food or beverage.
[0002] It has long been desirable to provide a simple, effective
and safe device which may be housed within a container such as a
food or beverage container for the purpose of altering the
temperature of the food or beverage on demand.
[0003] In many instances, such as where one is in locations where
ice or refrigeration are not readily available such as camping, at
the beach, boating, fishing or the like it is desirable to have
beverages which can be cooled before consumption. In the past it
has been necessary that the individual take an ice chest or the
like which contains ice and the containers for the beverages so
that they can be cooled and then consumed in the manner desired.
The utilization of such ice chests is cumbersome, takes up a
substantial amount of space and lasts for only a very limited time
after which the ice must be replaced. While in use it is also
necessary that the water resulting from the melted ice be drained
from the ice chest from time to time.
[0004] As a result of the foregoing, there have been numerous
instances of attempts to provide a container housing a food or
beverage and also housing therein a heat exchange unit which when
activated would cool the food or beverage contained therein. The
heat exchange units in such prior art devices housed a refrigerant
material usually under pressure which when released would absorb
the heat in the surrounding food or beverage thereby cooling the
same prior to consumption. The refrigerants utilized in the heat
exchange units of the prior art included gases under pressure such
as hydrofluorocarbons, ammonia, liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide,
and liquid carbon dioxide. There has also been developed a system
using compacted carbon particles which adsorb carbon dioxide gas
under pressure. When the heat exchange unit is exposed to the
atmosphere by opening a valve, the carbon dioxide gas desorbs and
cools the food or beverage in the container. Examples of such
systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,185,511, 6,125,649 and
5,692,381. Examples of such prior art patents including carbon
dioxide in its gas or liquid form is shown by U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,373,581; 4,688,395; and 4,669,273. The containers utilizing such
heat exchange units as illustrated in the prior art are complex and
difficult to manufacturer, thus causing great expense, rendering
such prior art self-chilling beverage containers commercially
unattractive. In addition, where liquid carbon dioxide was
utilized, the release of the liquid carbon dioxide resulted in the
liquid carbon dioxide transitioning into the solid state which
provided only limited reduction in temperature of the food or
beverage.
[0005] Applicant has discovered that by charging the heat exchange
unit in such containers with liquid carbon dioxide and then
discharging the carbon dioxide through a properly sized restricted
orifice, the liquid carbon dioxide passes directly from the liquid
to the gaseous state. Such a system was disclosed in
PCT/US2015/028318 which is incorporated herein. The system
disclosed therein utilized machined metal parts to develop the
restricted orifice. As a result, Applicant developed a system
utilizing a dual function molded plastic valve to develop the
restricted orifice and such is disclosed in PCT/US16/23194 which is
incorporated herein. This system was activated utilizing a push
button to move the valve into position to cause the liquid carbon
dioxide to transition to the gaseous state and exhaust the gaseous
carbon dioxide. It was found that some users had difficulty in
moving the push button to a position to create the restricted
orifice and release the gaseous carbon dioxide. As a result of the
foregoing there exists a need for a simple, easy to assemble and
efficient self-cooling system for a food or beverage which is easy
to activate and less costly to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In a food or beverage containing assembly comprising an
outer container for receiving a food or beverage and having a top
and a bottom, the bottom defining an opening therethrough, a heat
exchange unit (HEU) including a metallic inner container having an
opening and to be filled with liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) and
adapted to be secured to the outer container in the opening, a
valve means secured to said HEU for providing a restricted orifice
having a dimension which, when activated, creates a dis-equilibrium
to permit the liquid CO2 to pass directly from the liquid state to
the gaseous state but at the same time to maintain the CO2
remaining in the HEU in its liquid state until it is fully
exhausted, the improvement comprising a frangible member closing
said opening in said HEU, said valve means including a pierce pin
and a rotary activation member coupled to said pierce pin to move
said pierce pin into contact with said frangible member to rupture
the frangible member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a phase diagram of carbon dioxide illustrating the
pressure and temperature at which the CO2 is solid, liquid, gas and
supercritical fluid;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a container having a
heat exchange unit constructed in accordance with the principles of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the container of the
present invention utilizing the twist activation;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the
various components of the activation system;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the heat exchange unit
attachment adapter;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchange unit
attachment adapter taken above the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the calibrated pierce plug
of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a side view of the calibrated pierce plug;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the calibrated pierce
plug taken above the lines 9-9 of FIG. 7;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pierce pin;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pierce pin taken
above the lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the twist base
activator;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ratchet attachment
clamp ring;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ratchet
engagement with the base ring;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the vent path for
the carbon dioxide gas;
[0022] FIG. 16 further illustrates the venting of the carbon
dioxide gas to the atmosphere;
[0023] FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the punch profile of the
bottom of the outer container;
[0024] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of a container having an HEU constructed in accordance
with the principles of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the HEU assembly;
[0026] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism of
FIG. 18; and
[0027] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative
embodiment of a container having an HEU constructed in accordance
with the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is
illustrated a phase diagram for carbon dioxide. As is therein
illustrated, the carbon dioxide may have a solid phase, a liquid
phase or a vapor or gas phase. In accordance with the principles of
the present invention it is critical that the carbon dioxide be
maintained in its liquid phase and prevented from passing into a
solid phase where dry ice is formed during the time that the heat
exchange unit is being utilized to lower the temperature of the
food or beverage within the container. As is shown, the triple
point on the phase diagram is the point at which the three states
of matter (gas, liquid and solid) coexist. The critical point is
the point on the phase diagram at which the substance, in this
instance the carbon dioxide, is indistinguishable between liquid
and gaseous states. The vaporization (or condensation) curve is the
curve 10 on the phase diagram which represents the transition
between the liquid and vapor or gaseous states. As is shown, the
phase diagram plots pressure typically in atmospheres versus
temperature, in this case, in degrees Celsius. The lines represent
the combinations of pressures and temperatures at which two phases
can exist in equilibrium. In other words, these lines define phase
change points. In accordance with the principles of the present
invention, the heat exchange unit is charged with carbon dioxide at
a temperature and pressure such that the carbon dioxide is in its
liquid state. The heat exchange unit is then sealed so that the
liquid state is retained in equilibrium within the heat exchange
unit until such a time as it is desired to cool the food or
beverage within the container which surrounds the heat exchange
unit. At that point, dis-equilibrium is created so that the liquid
carbon dioxide is allowed to pass into the vapor or gaseous state
but at the same time it is critical that the pressure within the
heat exchange unit is maintained such that any carbon dioxide which
still exists within the heat exchange unit is maintained in its
liquid state. This is accomplished, as will be described in greater
detail hereinbelow, by providing a path for the liquid carbon
dioxide to pass from its liquid to its gaseous state and exhaust to
the atmosphere by passing through a restricted orifice which has a
dimension to create a pressure drop such that the pressure within
the heat exchange unit is maintained so that the residual carbon
dioxide which is contained within the heat exchange unit remains in
its liquid state until such a time as all of the liquid carbon
dioxide passes directly from its liquid state to its gaseous state
and exhausts through the restricted orifice to the atmosphere,
thereby completely exhausting the liquid carbon dioxide in the heat
exchange unit and cooling the food or beverage in the
container.
[0029] As indicated above and particularly with reference to the
two previously filed PCT patent applications, systems were
developed which did provide the desired dimension for the
restricted orifice and did in fact function to cause the liquid
carbon dioxide to pass directly from its liquid to its gaseous
state and exhaust to the atmosphere and cool the food or beverage
which was in contact with the heat exchange unit. It was, however,
determined that the mechanism which was developed and is disclosed,
was manufactured from machined metal parts and also, in one
embodiment, the activation mechanism was a push button. As a result
of the utilization of the machined metal parts, it was realized
that the resulting mechanism was extremely expensive and would not
be commercially feasible to produce and in the push button
activation, as above noted, it was found that some individuals had
a great deal of difficulty in depressing the button sufficiently to
activate the restricted orifice and thus provide the ability of
liquid carbon dioxide to pass from the liquid to the gaseous state
and accomplish the desired cooling. As a result, Applicant
redesigned the activating mechanism and the manner in which the
restricted orifice was generated and at the same time eliminated
the expensive machined parts thereby reducing the overall cost of
the device so that it could be commercially developed. The present
invention, therefore, is directed to the new structure which
utilizes a twist base or rotary activator coupled to a pierce pin
to move the pierce pin in such a manner that the frangible member
is punctured to create the dis-equilibrium to cause the liquid
carbon dioxide to pass directly into the gaseous state and
accomplish the desired cooling. The redesign resulted in the
structure including molded plastic parts and the only metal being
the pierce pin and the heat exchange unit which will be more fully
described below.
[0030] Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is
shown the overall structure of one embodiment of the present
invention including the twist base or rotary activator 20. As is
shown in FIG. 2, the structure includes an outer container 12 and a
heat exchange unit 14 attached to a heat exchange unit attachment
adapter 16 which is affixed to the bottom 18 of the outer container
12. The twist base or rotary activator 20 may be rotated in a first
direction in order to cause the pierce pin to move toward and
rupture the heat exchange unit frangible member. As will be more
fully described below, a mechanism is provided to prevent the twist
base activator from being rotated in the opposite direction. In the
preferred embodiment, the twist base activator is permitted to be
rotated in a clockwise direction only as is indicated by the arrows
22 on the top of the twist base activator 20 in FIG. 3.
[0031] As has been described previously, the top 24 of the outer
container 12 is closed and includes the typical pop top or lift tab
to provide access to the contents 26 within the outer container 12
which may be a food or beverage and, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a beverage which
surrounds the outer surface of the heat exchange unit 14 so that
the contents 26 may be cooled to a desired consumption temperature.
The outer surface of the heat exchange unit in contact with the
beverage is coated with a food grade coating to prevent metal
pickup in the food or beverage as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,105,384 which is incorporated herein by this reference.
[0032] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, the assembly of
the various component parts of this embodiment for attaching the
HEU to the outer container is illustrated in greater detail. As is
illustrated in FIG. 4, the HEU attachment adapter 16 is threadedly
secured to the neck portion 28 of the heat exchange unit 14. The
attachment adapter 16 is manufactured from an engineering plastic
material which is reinforced with fiberglass. As one example, the
adapter may be manufactured from a 50% fiberglass filled
polyacrylamide or a fiberglass filled polyoxymethylene or an
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The particular engineering
material used must be food compatible. As is illustrated in FIG. 4,
the attachment adapter has an upwardly extending neck portion which
passes through an opening in the bottom 18 of the outer container
12.
[0033] By reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the attachment adapter is
illustrated in greater detail. As is therein shown, the adapter has
a downwardly extending body portion 30 which includes threads 32 on
the internal surface thereof for engaging the threads on the necked
down portion of the heat exchange unit. The adapter includes an
outwardly extending flange 34 which seats against the inner surface
of the bottom 18 of the outer container 12. The adapter also
includes an upwardly extending neck portion 36 which also has
threads 38 formed on the exterior surface thereof as well as
threads 40 formed on the inner surface thereof to receive a
calibrated pierce plug which will be described more fully below.
The adapter 16 also includes a pair of lugs 42 and 44 extending
outwardly from the neck portion 36. The lugs 42 and 44 are utilized
to hold the HEU in place and prevent it from turning when the twist
base activator 20 is utilized as will be more fully described
hereinbelow. The manner in which this occurs is illustrated by the
beverage can punch profile which is shown in FIG. 17 to which
reference is hereby made. As is therein shown, the bottom portion
18 of the outer container 12 has the opening 46 provided therein
which receives the adapter 16 and a pair of slots 48 and 50
extending from the periphery of the opening 46 are also provided.
The lugs 42 and 44 fit within the slots 48 and 50 thereby keeping
the attachment adapter securely positioned within the bottom of the
outer container 12. A ratchet attachment clamp ring 52 is seated
over the neck 36 of the attachment adapter 16. The ratchet
attachment clamp ring 52 is held in place by a nut 54 which is
secured on the outer threads 38 of the neck portion 36 of the
attachment adapter 16. Alternatively, a snap ring may be utilized
in place of the nut 54 if such is desired. The ratchet attachment
clamp ring 52 will be described in greater detail hereinbelow. As
also illustrated in FIG. 4, a calibrated pierce plug 56 is
threadably secured by the threads 40 on the internal surface of the
neck portion 36 of the attachment adapter 16. A pierce pin 58 is
secured internally of the calibrated pierce plug and is utilized
when the twist base activator 20 is activated to puncture the
frangible heat exchange unit member 60 to create the
dis-equilibrium and to allow the liquid carbon dioxide contained
within the heat exchange unit 14 to pass directly from the liquid
to the gaseous state and to be exhausted to atmosphere as will be
explained more fully hereinbelow.
[0034] The twist base activator 20 is also a molded plastic member
formed from fiberglass filled engineering plastic material and
includes a downwardly extending activating finger 62 which engages
the calibrated pierce plug 56 in order to rotate it when the twist
base activator 20 is rotated to cause the pierce plug to move
downwardly and pierce the heat exchange unit frangible member
60.
[0035] Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the
calibrated pierce plug is illustrated in greater detail. The
calibrated pierce plug 56 is also constructed using a fiberglass
filled engineering plastic material as above described. The pierce
plug 56 defines a plurality of threads 64 on the outer surface of
the body thereof which engage the threads 40 on the internal
surface of the neck portion 36 of the attachment adapter 16 to
thereby secure the pierce plug in place. The pierce plug 56 defines
a hexagonal opening 66 in the top 68 thereof which engages with the
finger 62 on the twist base activator 20 so as to move the
calibrated pierce plug 56 downwardly as viewed in FIG. 4 to
accomplish the piercing of the heat exchange unit frangible member
60. The body 70 of the pierce plug defines a slot 72 which extends
along the entire length of the body 70 and extends through the
threads 64 as illustrated. The slot 72 is utilized to provide a
passage for the gaseous carbon dioxide to pass into the area where
the restricted orifice is generated to allow passage of the gaseous
carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as will be more fully described
hereinbelow.
[0036] The outer surface 74 of the top portion 68 of the calibrated
pierce plug 56 is a critical dimension and fits within a further
critical region 76 of the attachment adapter as shown in FIG. 6.
The combination of the outer surface 74 in conjunction with the
inner surface 76 provides the desired dimension for the restricted
orifice to be more fully discussed below.
[0037] The pierce pin 58 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 10 and
11 to which reference is hereby made. As is illustrated, the pierce
pin has a sharp point 78 which is utilized to puncture the heat
exchange unit frangible member when the twist base activator 20 is
rotated in the first direction. The pierce pin 58 has threads 80
formed on the external surface thereof which threads engage threads
82 formed on the internal surface of the pierce plug as shown in
FIG. 9. Although the pierce pin is described as being threadably
secured to the calibrated pierce plug, it should be understood that
it could be press fitted into the calibrated pierce plug or formed
as an overmolded unit where the pierce plug would be molded around
the pierce pin if such is desired. As above noted, the pierce pin
is the only element of the assembly that is formed from metal other
than the heat exchange unit. As is shown particularly at 84, the
pierce pin is formed with a hexagonal opening that is utilized to
thread the pierce pin into place within the calibrated pierce plug
56.
[0038] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 12, the twist base
activator 20 is illustrated in greater detail. The illustration in
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the internal portion of the
twist base activator 20 which cooperates with the ratchet
attachment clamp ring and the calibrated pierce plug 56 to move the
pierce pin 58 downwardly to puncture the heat exchange unit
frangible member 60. The twist base activator 20 includes a
downwardly directed outer rim 86 which, as will be more fully
described below, is used to direct the gaseous carbon dioxide
downwardly along the outer surface of the outer container 12. The
twist base activator 20 includes a downwardly directed flange 88
which seats around the outer surface of the ratchet attachment
clamp ring 52. An inwardly directed wedge-shaped lip extends from
the bottom of the flange 88 and defines a shoulder 89 which seats
against a surface 91 on the ratchet attachment clamp ring 52 as
shown in FIG. 4 to hold the twist base activator 20 in place. When
the components are assembled, the twist base activator 20 is placed
in position and pushed downwardly. The flange 88 will move
outwardly and the wedge-shaped lip will snap into place to secure
the twist base activator 20. A plurality of stiffening ribs 90
extend between the outer surface 92 of the flange 88 and along the
top surface and into engagement with the inner surface of the rim
86 merely to provide additional structural integrity to the twist
base activator 20. The twist base activator 20 includes the
downwardly extending activating finger 62 which includes an
irregular surface 92 which cooperates with the opening 66 in the
calibrated pierce plug to turn the calibrated pierce plug when the
twist base activator 20 is rotated to cause the pierce pin to move
downwardly and puncture the heat exchange unit frangible member 60.
A plurality of ratchet teeth 94 extend completely around the
actuating finger 62 and along the inner edge of the flange 88. The
ratchet teeth cooperate with the ratchet attachment clamp ring as
will be described below to allow the twist base activator 20 to
rotate only in the clockwise direction and to prevent it from
rotating in the counterclockwise direction. It should, however, be
understood by those skilled in the art that if desired, the ratchet
teeth and the clamp ring may be designed such as to cause the twist
base activator to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction for
activation and to prevent rotation in the clockwise direction
should such be desired.
[0039] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 13, the ratchet
attachment clamp ring 52 is illustrated in greater detail. The
ratchet attachment clamp ring 52 includes an upwardly extending
flange 96 which defines a ratchet leg 98 and a ratchet leg 100
which are situated 180.degree. apart on the flange 96. The ratchet
legs 98 and 100 cooperate with the ratchet teeth 94 to allow the
twist base activator 20 to rotate only in the clockwise direction
as above described. If an attempt is made to rotate the twist base
activator 20 in a counterclockwise direction, the ratchet legs 98
and 100 will prevent such from occurring as a result of the ratchet
teeth 94. As is illustrated, the ratchet attachment clamp ring
includes an opening 102 which includes recesses 104 and 106. The
recesses 104 and 106 cooperate with the lugs 42 and 44 on the
attachment adapter 16 to retain the ratchet attachment clamp ring
in position to function properly.
[0040] Now, by reference to FIG. 14, cooperation of the twist base
activator 20 and the ratchet attachment clamp ring 52 is
illustrated. As is therein shown, the ratchet attachment clamp ring
52 is in position such that the ratchet legs such as shown at 98
cooperate with the ratchet teeth 94 so that when the twist base
activator 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction as shown by the
arrow 108, the ratchet leg 98 will permit such to occur. If,
however, an attempt is made to move the twist base activator 20 in
the opposition direction, the ratchet leg 98 would engage the
ratchet teeth 94 and prevent such movement.
[0041] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 15, there is
illustrated the gaseous carbon dioxide vent path when utilizing the
various elements of the activation system as above described. As is
shown in FIG. 15, when the twist base activator 20 is rotated in a
clockwise direction, the finger 62 will cause the pierce plug 56 to
rotate and the threads 64 thereon will cooperate with the threads
40 on the attachment adaptor 16 to move the pierce pin 58
downwardly to rupture the heat exchange unit frangible member 60
creating dis-equilibrium allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to boil
and to move from the liquid state directly into the gaseous state.
The gaseous carbon dioxide would then pass as shown by the arrow
110 upwardly along the slot 72 in the calibrated pierce plug and
would then pass by the restricted orifice 75 formed between the
outer surface 74 of the calibrated pierce plug and the critical
inner surface 76 of the neck 38 of the attachment adapter 16. The
combination of those two surfaces provides the dimension of the
restricted orifice which, in accordance with the presently
preferred embodiment of the present invention, provides a 12 micron
annulus opening allowing the gaseous carbon dioxide to pass through
the restricted orifice and outwardly into the area underneath the
twist base activator 20 as shown by the arrow 112. However, the 12
micron annulus creates a pressure drop such that any residual
carbon dioxide in the HEU remains in the liquid state.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 16 to which reference is hereby made, once
the gaseous carbon dioxide has passed through the restricted
orifice 75, it then passes as shown by the arrows 114 through the
opening 116 beneath the ratchet plug 98 underneath the rim edge of
the flange 88 and outwardly along the bottom portion of the outer
container 12 and downwardly along that surface as shown by the
arrow 118. As a result of this passage of the gaseous carbon
dioxide, not only is the cooling accomplished utilizing the heat
exchange unit internally of the outer container, but also
additional cooling is provided by the gaseous carbon dioxide
passing along the outer surface of the outer container 12.
[0043] To provide a cost savings for the structure as described
hereinabove, the heat exchange unit is manufactured from steel
utilizing a draw and redraw process allowing a high speed
manufacturing process and provides a heat exchange unit of a
configuration and volume to receive approximately 90 grams of
liquid carbon dioxide. In addition thereto, the heat exchange unit
is filled with liquid carbon dioxide and the heat exchange unit
frangible member is placed across the opening in the heat exchange
unit and is sealed prior to the heat exchange unit being
incorporated into the outer container 12. Such is done by placing
the formed heat exchange unit in a carbon dioxide pressure
atmosphere of the sufficient amount to create the liquid carbon
dioxide. Once the heat exchange unit has then been totally filled
with the 90 grams of carbon dioxide, the frangible member is placed
across the opening of the heat exchange unit and sealed in place
and then the pressure atmosphere is opened to atmosphere and the
gassed heat exchange unit is removed. The frangible member 60 also
provides the function of a burst disc. If the pressure in the HEU
becomes excessive, the member 60 will rupture and allow the carbon
dioxide to exhaust safely to atmosphere. Through utilization of
this type of method for pregassing the heat exchange unit, the
overall cost is reduced by about 60%.
[0044] To provide the desired restricted orifice as above
described, the opening is defined as a H7 g6. The H7 refers to the
opening dimension 76 in the neck 38 of the attachment adapter 16
and the g6 refers to a dimension of the outer surface 74 of the
calibrated pierce plug. The combination of those two dimensions
will provide the annulus of 12 microns through which the gaseous
carbon dioxide must pass to then ultimately be exhausted to the
atmosphere as above described.
[0045] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 18, there is
illustrated an alternative embodiment of a beverage container
having a heat exchange unit utilizing a twist top activation system
which is a simplified version of that described above. As is shown
in FIG. 18, the beverage container 120 has the heat exchange unit
122 secured to the bottom 124 of the container 120. A support
collar 126 is positioned over the neck 128 of the HEU and has one
end thereof seated against the HEU and the other end thereof seated
against the bottom of the container and the attachment housing 130
is threadably secured to the neck 128 of the HEU 122 and in so
doing secures the HEU to the bottom 124 of the outer container
120.
[0046] The assembly of the HEU is shown in greater detail in FIG.
19 to which reference is hereby made. As is therein illustrated,
the HEU 122 includes threads 132 on the outer surface thereof and
additional threads 134 on the interior thereof. An adapter 136 is
threadably secured to the threads 134 on the interior of the neck
of the HEU 122. The adapter 136 is hollow as shown and defines a
shoulder 138 which receives a spring 140. A valve stem 142 is
inserted into the hollow interior of the adapter 136. The valve
stem 142 defines an inwardly directed lip 144 at the lower end
thereof. The lip 144 snaps into place and seats within a groove 146
defined in the frangible member or burst disk holder 148. The
frangible member or burst disk 150 is a frangible member and is
seated within the holder 148 and is secured in place by a grub
screw 152. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) washer 154 is seated on
top of the burst disk holder 148 and seats against the bottom of
the adapter 136 to provide a seal to retain the liquid carbon
dioxide which is housed internally of the HEU 122 as will be
described more fully below. The grub screw 152 defines an opening
156 therein. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that
the burst disk 150 is continuously exposed to the pressure of the
liquid carbon dioxide contained within the HEU 122 and if the
pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount, the burst disk 150
will rupture and the liquid carbon dioxide will then commence
boiling and will exhaust through the opening 156 and outwardly into
the atmosphere. The opening 156 is used to throttle the gas to some
extent to protect the components contained within the valve
mechanism upstream of the burst disk 150.
[0047] To fill the HEU 122 with liquid carbon dioxide, the
assembled HEU as shown in FIG. 19 is contacted by the liquid carbon
dioxide filling head which pushes the valve stem 142 downwardly as
viewed in FIG. 19 causing the burst disk holder 148 to move
downwardly breaking the seal defined by the PTFE washer 154 so that
liquid carbon dioxide can then enter the HEU 122. When the desired
amount of liquid carbon dioxide is contained within the HEU 122,
the filling head is removed and the spring 140 will move the valve
stem upwardly allowing the seal defined by the washer 154 to engage
between the top of the burst disk holder 148 and the bottom of the
adapter 146 to again provide a seal and to maintain that seal so
that the liquid carbon dioxide is retained in equilibrium
internally of the HEU 122. Once this is accomplished, the filled
HEU will then be assembled with the remainder of the valve
mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 18.
[0048] By referring now more particularly to FIG. 20, the details
of the valve mechanism are illustrated in greater detail. As is
shown in FIG. 20, a pierce pin 160 is contained within a pierce
plug 162 as above described. The pierce pin 160 is metal and has a
sharp point 164. The pierce plug 162 defines a plurality of drive
splines therein which are engaged by the downwardly directed finger
164 on the twist activator 166. The pierce plug 162 is carried by
the attachment housing 168 in such a manner that when the twist
activator 166 is rotated in a single direction such as clockwise as
hereinabove described, the pierce plug 162 drives the pierce pin
160 downwardly so that the point 164 contacts and ruptures the
burst disk 150 allowing the liquid carbon dioxide contained
internally of the HEU 122 go into disequilibrium, boil and pass
from the liquid state directly to the gaseous state and move
through the opening 156 upwardly around the pierce pin internally
of the valve stem 142 and outwardly through the slot 72 (FIG. 8)
which is formed in the threads of the pierce plug 162 to engage the
lower surface of the twist activator 166 and pass outwardly and
downwardly as above described. A restricted orifice is disposed in
the gas flow path as above described and is dimensioned to provide
the pressure drop to maintain the residual CO2 in the HEU in the
liquid state until all of it passes directly into the gaseous state
and exhausts as above described. It can be seen from the
illustration of FIG. 20 that the structure of the valve mechanism
as contained in this embodiment is simplified from that shown in
the embodiment described hereinabove, thus allowing greater ease of
assembly and provides a less expensive valve mechanism. For
example, the attachment housing 168 is a single molded plastic
member replacing the attachment adaptor 16, ratchet attachment
clamp ring 52 and the nut 54 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
4.
[0049] A support collar 126 carries O-rings 170 and 172. The O-ring
170 prevents the beverage contained within the outer container 120
from contacting the outer surface of the HEU which does not have a
protective coating thereon. The O-ring 172 provides a seal to
prevent the beverage contained within the outer container 120 from
leaving the interior of the container 120.
[0050] By referring now to FIG. 21, there is illustrated yet a
further embodiment of a twist activated HEU constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention. The
structure as shown in FIG. 21 has a different adapter 174 which is
designed to accommodate a different type of HEU from that shown in
FIG. 20. As is also shown in FIG. 21, the HEU support collar 176 is
slightly different in structure from that shown in FIG. 20. In all
other respects the structure shown in FIG. 21 is identical to that
shown in FIG. 20 and functions in the same manner and, therefore,
the description of FIG. 20 otherwise is incorporated herein with
respect to FIG. 21.
[0051] There has thus been described a modification of a heat
exchange unit which has been designed to be activated by a twisting
motion as opposed to utilizing a pushbutton type of activation as
previously described and which utilizes molded plastic parts as
opposed to machined metal parts as also previously described to
substantially reduce the manufacturing cost of the system.
* * * * *