U.S. patent number 3,675,637 [Application Number 05/058,886] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-11 for heat exchange container.
Invention is credited to Cebern B. Trimble.
United States Patent |
3,675,637 |
Trimble |
July 11, 1972 |
HEAT EXCHANGE CONTAINER
Abstract
A heat exchange container for use in effecting a temperature
change in consumable products is disclosed. Inner and outer
containers are connected at one end by a flexible member and define
chambers for separating the consumable products from the reaction
chamber. The heat exchange occurs through the interaction of a
solid chemical mixture and a liquid chemical. The liquid chemical
is separated from the solid chemical by an independent container
secured within the outer container.
Inventors: |
Trimble; Cebern B. (Dayton,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
22019519 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/058,886 |
Filed: |
July 28, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/263.05;
126/262 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
36/28 (20130101); F25D 5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
36/28 (20060101); A47J 36/24 (20060101); F25D
5/00 (20060101); F25D 5/02 (20060101); F24j
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/263,262 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Myhre; Charles J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heat exchange container comprising:
an inner container defining a consumable products chamber;
an outer container;
flexible means connecting said inner and outer containers at one
end, said inner and outer containers defining a first chemical
chamber surrounding said first container; and
a rupturable container defining a second chemical chamber secured
at the other end of said outer container, said rupturable container
being a cup-like member having a plurality of crushable ribs
extending inwardly from the periphery, a cover extending over the
open end of said cup-like member and being sealed to the body
portion of said cup-like member wherein said inner container is
supported by said ribs whereby pressure exerted on said inner
container causes a rupturing of said rupturable container so that
chemicals maintained in said first and second chemical chambers
become intermixed causing a temperature change to occur.
2. A container as set forth in claim 1 further comprising spring
means mounted between said inner container and said rupturable
container wherein said spring means will urge said inner container
upward upon removal of the rupturing force applied to said inner
container.
3. A heat exchange container comprising:
an inner container defining a consumable products chamber;
an outer container;
flexible means connecting said inner and outer containers at one
end, said inner and outer containers defining a first chemical
chamber surrounding said first container, and
a rupturable container defining a second chemical chamber secured
at the other end of said outer container, said rupturable container
being an inverted cup-like member, a cover sealingly attached to
the open end of said cup-like member, a lip projecting outwardly
from said inverted cup-like member for receiving said inner
container, said inverted cup-like member being formed with an area
of reduced cross section extending around said lip wherein pressure
exerted on said inner container will cause said inverted cup-like
member to fracture along said area of reduced cross section so that
chemicals maintained in said first and second chemical chambers
become intermixed causing a temperature change to occur.
4. A heat exchange container comprising:
an inner container defining a consumable products chamber;
an outer container;
flexible means connecting said inner and outer containers at one
end, said inner and outer containers defining a first chemical
chamber surrounding said first container; and
a rupturable container defining a second chemical chamber secured
at the other end of said outer container, said rupturable container
being a cup-like member having an annular groove about the
periphery of the walls at the open end thereof, a cover sealingly
mounted in said annular groove and closing said cup-like member,
said cover being formed with an area of reduced cross section for
receiving said inner container whereby pressure exerted on said
inner container causes a rupture of said cover so that chemicals
maintained in said first and second chemical chambers become
intermixed causing a temperature change to occur.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to containers and more
particularly to novel improvements in a heat exchange container for
use with consumable products. While the disclosure herein relates
more specifically to cooling devices by endothermic reactions, it
is to be understood that the container of this invention is equally
adaptable for heating by exothermic reactions.
There has long been a need for a convenient and effective container
which may be used to effect a heat exchange in consumable products.
The container must be of economical construction, simple to operate
and be capable of separately storing the different chemicals
required for the heat exchange until such time as the reaction is
to be activated. Numerous such containers are known in the art but
many such containers have limited use.
Many combinations of chemicals, all well known in the art, may be
used with the containers to effect the heat exchange. If the
consumable product is one which should be heated prior to use, the
chemicals may be of such nature that the mixing thereof results in
an exothermic reaction to transfer heat through the heat conducting
wall to the product. On the other hand, if the product is a
beverage or the like that should be cooled before use, chemicals
may be of such nature that they absorb heat to produce an
endothermic reaction. One particular combination of such chemicals
is disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 39,584, filed
May 22, 1970, for Method of Cooling and Cooling Composition. The
chemicals utilized to produce the endothermic or exothermic
reactions are known in the art and as such do not constitute a
novel part of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
heat exchange container having novel structural arrangements for
separating the storage compartments.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a container
of the type set forth which requires a telescoping action of the
separate containers to initiate the reaction.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a container in
which a hydraulic action may be repeatedly performed to further mix
the reaction chemicals.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a container
of the type set forth that is economical to manufacture and
reliable in operation.
These and other objects of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description wherein various embodiments of
the invention are illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an improved heat exchange container usable
for consumable products. The heat exchange container comprises a
heat conductive inner container flexibly secured to an insulated
outer container so as to define a chemical receiving chamber
separate from a consumable product. An independent liquid chemical
container is secured within the outer container, said liquid
container supporting the inner container. The heat exchange
container is of simple and economical construction, and is easy to
operate.
Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become
apparent as the following description of the exemplary embodiments
thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show present exemplary embodiments of
this invention in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the container of this
invention in an assembled condition prior to use;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing the
container in use;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the liquid container of one embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of
this invention and particularly illustrating different inner
container supporting means;
FIG. 6 is a top view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the
liquid chemical container used for supporting the inner
container;
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another exemplary
embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 9 is a vertical fragmentary view of another exemplary
embodiment of this invention particularly illustrating a different
insulating outer container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, which
illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the improved heat exchange
container of this invention, which is designated generally by the
reference numeral 20. The heat exchange container is comprised of
an inner container 22, an outer container 24, a bottom lid 26, a
liquid chemical container 28 and a flexible connecting element
30.
The inner container 22 is made of a heat conducting material, such
as aluminum, and defines a chamber 32 in which the consumable
products are placed. The container 22 may be an enclosed can, such
as a beverage can or the like, in which the consumable products
have already been placed or the can 22 may merely be a conducting
receptacle into which the consumable product may be placed.
The flexible member 30 is of the type commonly referred to as a
flexible spider similar to the types used to support speakers and
the like. In other words, the member 30 has a plurality of
concentric ring-like elements which are flexible so as to support
the container 22 yet allow movement thereof as will be explained
herebelow. The flexible spider 30 has a central aperture formed
therein and into which the container 22 is mounted and sealingly
secured therein by suitable means so as to prevent the escape of
any gas. The outer periphery of the flexible spider 30 is secured
at 34 to one end of the outer container or shell 24. One convenient
way of securing the spider 30 to the outer container 24 is by a
suitable groove 36 formed in the member 24 into which the periphery
of the spider 30 is placed and cemented.
The inner container 22 and the outer container 24 define a chamber
38 into which the solid chemical mixture 40 utilized to provide the
appropriate reaction is placed. A suitable chemical mixture to
provide an endothermic reaction is described in my co-pending
application hereinabove mentioned. The outer container 24 is
preferably of an insulating material such as a poly foam insulating
material so as to protect the user's hand and to insure that there
is a minimum heat loss through the outer container.
THe liquid chemical, such as water, which is required to cause the
appropriate reaction, is held in independent container 28 which is
more easily seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The container 28 comprises a
cup-like member 42 having a plurality of crushable ribs 44. The
liquid chemical such as water is placed in the cup-like member 42
and a suitable cover, such as aluminum foil 46, is placed over the
cup 42 to enclose and contain the liquid chemical therein. THe
cover 46 is sealingly secured to the cup 42 by any suitable means
such as by compression bonding of the cover 46 to the cup 42 at 48.
The ribs 44 support the inner container 22 so that the cover 46 is
not ruptured when the container 20 is assembled. The ribs 44 are
crushable but are of a sufficient strength to prevent inadvertent
or premature crushing until an operator is ready to utilize the
container 20.
As best seen in FIG. 1, the container 28 is placed within the outer
container 24 such that the inner container 22 rests thereon. The
bottom lid 26 is then secured to the outer container 24 by suitable
means such as cementing the lid 26 to the container 24 at 50 to
make a leak-tight seal.
To assemble the container 20 of this invention, the inner container
22 is inserted through the central aperture of the flexible spider
30 and the spider 30 is sealed thereto. The flexible spider 30 is
sealingly secured to the outer container 24 so that the chamber 38
is defined. The containers 22 and 24 are inverted so that the
flexible member 30 is at the bottom and the appropriate amount of
solid chemical mixture 40 is placed in chamber 38. The liquid
container 28, having previously been assembled, is placed in the
container 20, the container still being in the inverted position,
so that the container 28 rests on the bottom of the inner container
22. The bottom lid 26 is then secured to the outer container 24 and
the container 20 may then be placed in the upright position of FIG.
1. In this way, the inner container 22 is supported by the ribs
44.
To operate the heat exchange container 20, it is only necessary to
exert a sufficient downward force on the inner container 22 which
will cause a rupturing of the cover 46 and ribs 44. FIG. 2 shows
the container 20 in which the container 28 has been ruptured. When
this occurs, it allows the liquid chemical within the container 28
to escape and make contact with the solid chemicals 40 to produce
the desired reaction. To increase the reaction, the container 22
may be repeatedly raised and lowered which will produce an
increased hydraulic mixing of the liquid chemical with the solid
chemical. It should also be noted that as the reaction takes place,
if a gas is generated, the gas by-product resulting from the
reaction will accumulate in the area just under the flexible spider
30 and will tend to cause an expansion of the spider 30. Hence, use
of the flexible spider 30 eliminates the need for any exhaust vent
to allow escape of the gases and eliminates the need for high
strength materials to prevent rupture thereof. The reaction
mixture, i.e., solid and liquid chemical intermixed, surrounds the
intercontainer 22 on the sides and bottom to provide an overall
heat exchange surface.
Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
FIG. 9 of the drawings. The container illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6
is very similar to the container 20; therefore, such container will
be designated generally by the reference numeral 20A and parts of
the container which are very similar to corresponding parts of the
container 20 will be designated by the same reference numeral as
container 20 also followed by the letter designation "A" and not
described again. The main difference between the container 20A and
the container 20 is in the liquid chemical container 28. In this
embodiment, the cup-like member 42A is inverted and closed with a
cover 46A by any suitable means such as cementing one to the other
at 48A. The member 42A is made of a light weight material such as
plastic, having sufficient strength to support the inner container
22A. The cup-like member 42A has a fracture line of reduced crossed
section 52 formed thereabout so that downward pressure on the
container 22A will cause the member 42A to fracture along the line
52 when it is desired to initiate the chemical reaction. The cup
member 42A is also formed with an outward protruding rib or lip 54
which receives and grips the container 22A.
Another exemplary embodiment of the liquid container is illustrated
in FIG. 7. Only a fragmentary view is illustrated showing another
embodiment of the liquid chemical container and will be designated
by the same reference numerals followed by the letter designation
"B" and not described again. In this embodiment, the cup-like
member 42B is formed with an annular groove 56. The cover 46B is
sealed in the groove 56. It should be noted that the cover 46B has
a reduced thickness portion so as to receive the inner container
and also to permit rupture thereof. The members 42B and 46B are
preferably made of a light weight material having sufficient
strength to support the inner container, yet allow rupture
thereof.
One additional illustrative embodiment of this invention is
illustrated in FIG. 8 in which similarly corresponding parts of
this embodiment which correspond to like parts of the container 20
will be designated by the same reference numeral followed by the
letter designation "C" and not described again. In this embodiment,
the inner container 22C is supported above the chemical container
28C by a spring 58. The downward movement of the inner container
22C will cause the spring 58 to rupture the container 28C to cause
chemical reaction to be initiated. The spring 58 will cause the
inner container 22C to be raised upward upon release of the
downward force on the container 22C. The use of the spring 58
facilitates the hydraulic mixing action by readily permitting the
up and down movement of the inner container 22C relative to the
outer container 24C.
Although the outer container has hereinabove been described as
being formed of a poly foam material so as to provide insulation,
it is possible to make the outer container of a metal yet still
have insulating capabilities. This embodiment is illustrated in
FIG. 9. Only a fragmentary view is illustrated showing essentially
another embodiment of the container and will be designated by the
same reference numerals followed by the letter designation "D" and
not described again.
In this embodiment, the outer container 24D is formed out of a
metallic material. An insulating layer 60, such as a spray or the
like, of which many are commercially available and known in the
art, is applied to the inside surface of the container 24D. The
layer 60 becomes a solid in a short time and thus provides the
insulating qualities required and the container 24D provides added
strength to prevent crushing of the container.
While the heat exchange containers hereinabove described have been
specifically described and shown as being round containers, it can
readily be seen that the container of this invention may be formed
of other non-circular shapes.
It is seen that the container of this invention provides separate
compartments or chambers to keep the consumable product, solid
chemical and liquid chemical, separate one from another. The heat
exchange reaction is initiated by the downward urging of the inner
container causing a rupture of the liquid chemical container. Thus,
this invention provides a heat exchange container which is of
simple and economical construction, is easy to operate, and
accomplishes the objects hereinbefore set forth.
While present exemplary embodiments of this invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this
invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced by
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *