Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.

An apparatus for cooling bottled beverages may include an open-topped vessel defining a bottle chamber. The vessel may have a tubular wall and a base. The apparatus may further include a cooling device in thermal communication with the base of the vessel and with a heat exchanger. The apparatus may also include a tubular housing surrounding the vessel and enclosing the cooling device and the heat exchanger. Additionally, the apparatus may include a fan configured to provide an air flow along an airflow path. The airflow path may extend from an inlet of the housing, across the heat exchanger, to an outlet of the housing.

For a beverage can having a lower portion, an upper portion and a greater diameter, a beverage insulation system for holding a beverage can includes a base with walls and a bottom that together form a base cup sized and configured to receive the lower portion of the beverage can; a lid with walls and a top that together form a lid cup sized and configured to receive the upper portion of the beverage can; a hinge assembly connecting the lid with the base to enable the lid to pivot between a closed position covering the upper portion of the beverage can received in the base cup and an open position uncovering the upper portion of the beverage can received in the base cup; and a generally cylindrical insert having an inner surface and being coaxially held within and by the lid cup to encircle the upper portion of the beverage can in the closed position.

A method and plant for cooling a mixture of concrete, includes: loading in a hermetically sealed tank a given quantity of ingredients to form the concrete, the ingredients including a predetermined quantity of water; regulating the pressure in the tank to obtain a transitory degree of vacuum in the tank; regulating the pressure inside a hermetically sealed condensation chamber to obtain a basic degree of vacuum in the condensation chamber that is greater than the transitory degree of vacuum, such that the pressure in the condensation chamber is lower than the pressure in the tank; operatively connecting the tank and the condensation chamber to substantially equalize the internal pressure in the tank and in the condensation chamber to a resulting degree of vacuum and to cause at least partial evaporation of the water from the tank towards the condensation chamber to lower the temperature of the ingredients in the tank.

A method and plant for cooling a mixture of concrete, includes: loading in a hermetically sealed tank a given quantity of ingredients to form the concrete, the ingredients including a predetermined quantity of water; regulating the pressure in the tank to obtain a transitory degree of vacuum in the tank; regulating the pressure inside a hermetically sealed condensation chamber to obtain a basic degree of vacuum in the condensation chamber that is greater than the transitory degree of vacuum, such that the pressure in the condensation chamber is lower than the pressure in the tank; operatively connecting the tank and the condensation chamber to substantially equalize the internal pressure in the tank and in the condensation chamber to a resulting degree of vacuum and to cause at least partial evaporation of the water from the tank towards the condensation chamber to lower the temperature of the ingredients in the tank.

A vacuum cooling system (10) having a first fluid (21) and a second fluid (70) circulating through the system (10) in separate cycles, said system (10) including a vacuum chamber (1) containing a portion (14) of said first fluid and a volume of gas (42) evaporated from said first fluid portion (14), a first pump means (7) for removing the gas volume (42) from the vacuum chamber (1) to create a vacuum in said vacuum chamber (1), a means for moving (8) said first fluid (21) into said vacuum chamber (1) to replenish the first fluid portion (14) in said vacuum chamber (1), and heat exchanger means (2) for cooling said second fluid (70) over which air is blown in order to cool air in a space.

A vacuum cooling system (10) having a first fluid (21) and a second fluid (70) circulating through the system (10) in separate cycles, said system (10) including a vacuum chamber (1) containing a portion (14) of said first fluid and a volume of gas (42) evaporated from said first fluid portion (14), a first pump means (7) for removing the gas volume (42) from the vacuum chamber (1) to create a vacuum in said vacuum chamber (1), a means for moving (8) said first fluid (21) into said vacuum chamber (1) to replenish the first fluid portion (14) in said vacuum chamber (1), and heat exchanger means (2) for cooling said second fluid (70) over which air is blown in order to cool air in a space.

A modular apparatus and system for managing the temperature of a livewell or other container housing water, and an associated method for installing the same. The system featuring a self-contained fluid line in communication with a first fluid line, which is in fluid communication with the livewell. The modular apparatus generally featuring the system and an enclosure. The enclosure can be located adjacent the livewell and detachably coupled to a fishing vessel. The modular apparatus and system can further comprise a condenser, which can be a forced air coil unit, a liquid-cooled unit, or a cold plate heat sink unit.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.

This invention describes a device that is able to promote the rapid cooling/freezing of liquids and pasty and solid foods in general, where it is formed by several components that enable the action of cooling/freezing. Additionally, this invention describes that this device can incorporate the additional function of a refrigerator, through direct coupling of a thermal box to the cooling system of the device.