A portable beverage carrier and dispenser. The carrier comprises an elongate tube have one end open and the opposite end generally enclosed. The tube includes perforations to permit water to move in and out of the tube, and a float that is placed into the tube prior to inserting beverage containers. The carrier is designed to be inserted into a hole in the ice surface on a body of water. A flange prevents the tube from falling into the hole into the underlying body of water. Anchors can be provided to anchor the carrier to the ice surface. When the carrier is placed in a hole in the ice surface, water enters the interior of the tube via the perforations. The float is placed in the tube and then beverage containers are loaded on top of the float. The buoyancy of the float in the water forces the beverage containers upwards in the tube so that the topmost container can be readily retrieved by a user.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A floating beverage holder designed to chill and maintain a cold beverage container in an upright position on water. The beverage holder includes an open cavity sized and shaped to accommodate a desired beverage container, or multiple beverage containers. A first sealed compartment substantially surrounds the cavity and includes a freezable material, such as water, refrigerant or a gel. A second compartment filled with a buoyant and insulative material, such as a polyurethane, substantially surrounds the first compartment. A hard outer shell protects the insulative material of the second compartment. The body of the holder is shaped to provide stability on the water surface.

The present invention provides a waterless keep-alive apparatus and a refrigeration appliance having the same. The waterless keep-alive apparatus is provided in an inner tank of a refrigeration appliance, and comprises: a keep-alive box allowing pulling inward and outward; a temperature controlling module and a humidity controlling module which are connected with the keep-alive box; and an air controlling module having an air hole provided on a side wall of the keep-alive box and an air duct fixed on the inner tank of the refrigeration appliance. The air duct is hermetically connected with the air hole when the keep-alive box is pushed into the inner tank of the refrigeration appliance. The air duct is disconnected from the air hole when the keep-alive box is pulled out. The waterless keep-alive apparatus realizes convenient article fetching while the oxygen concentration in the keep-alive box can meet the survival needs of aquatic products.

An air duct assembly is provided that is configured to supply air to a compartment and including: an outer cover housing, configured to be fixed to an outer side of a compartment wall defining the compartment, an external accommodating cavity being defined inside the outer cover housing; an inner cover housing, configured to be disposed opposite to the outer cover housing on an inner side of the compartment wall, an internal accommodating cavity being defined inside the inner cover housing. An air inlet is formed in the outer cover housing, so as to allow external air to enter the external accommodating cavity via the air inlet. A vent is formed in the compartment wall, so that the external accommodating cavity communicates with the internal accommodating cavity. An air outlet is formed in the inner cover housing, so as to supply the air in the internal accommodating cavity to the inside of the compartment.

A temperature-controlled vending machine able to apply a required temperature uniformly within itself includes a cabinet and a temperature control system fixed at the bottom of the cabinet. The temperature control system includes a water tank, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator defining an air outlet, and a cross-flow fan. The cross-flow fan includes a plurality of fan blades opposite to the air outlet and a housing defining an air guiding exit. The cross-flow fan is able to circulate cool air expelled from the evaporator from the bottom of the cabinet to the top of the cabinet.

The present work depicts a thermal device for solid and liquid products consisting of a container with an external surface with one or more thermoelectric plates (20) or micro heat exchangers interconnected with a micro-compressor heat sink (30); this container (10) is placed on an eccentric axle (40) connected to a rotary electric motor or moving device (50) which increases the heat transfer coefficient by internal convection of the container (10) where the element to be cooled or heated is stored.

The evaporator (1) of a refrigeration cycle machine, comprising at least a first container (2) and at least a second container (3) housed within the first container (2), the first container (2) and the second container (3) having opposite surfaces configured and arranged to form in cooperation with one another a channel (6) for the circulation of the coolant fluid used in the refrigeration cycle.

A dispenser for dispensing milk from a bulk container. The dispenser is mounted outside of a refrigerator and the bulk container is stored within the refrigerator. The dispenser is provided with means for conveying the milk from the bulk container to a pouring spout. Several bulk containers may be connected together to form a large bulk container of milk that is kept refrigerated in its entirety.

A beverage making machine having a tank may be arranged to carbonate and/or chill liquid in the tank. A thermoelectric device may be thermally coupled to the tank to cool precursor liquid in the tank, and a heat pipe may transfer heat from the thermoelectric device to a heat sink. The heat sink may be located remotely from the thermoelectric device, e.g., in an air duct that helps prevent contact of moisture, dirt, etc. in the duct with the thermoelectric device.