System for glazing an object intended to allow a product to be displayed in a visually attractive way, cooled and/or kept at a desired temperature

Abstract

A glazing system includes at least one object displaying at least one body to be glazed. The body to be glazed incorporates a sealed chamber extending inside the body, the chamber having at least one inlet situated at the bottom of the chamber and at least one evacuation outlet situated at the top of the chamber. The system includes a refrigeration device having a refrigeration circuit coupled to the inlet and the evacuation outlet. The refrigeration device circulates a refrigerated liquid between the inlet and the evacuation outlet.

Claims

1. A glazing system comprising: at least one object displaying at least one body to be glazed, wherein the body to be glazed incorporates a sealed chamber extending inside said body, the chamber having at least one inlet situated at a bottom of the chamber, at least one evacuation outlet situated at a top of the chamber, and inside wall and an outside wall which extend from the bottom of the chamber to the top of the chamber and from external surfaces of the body to be glazed; and a refrigeration device comprising a refrigeration circuit coupled to the inlet and the evacuation outlet to circulate a refrigerated liquid between the inlet and the evacuation outlet, wherein the inlet passes the refrigerated liquid to the sealed chamber at the bottom of the chamber, wherein the chamber incorporates at least one dip tube providing the evacuation outlet, the dip tube being situated inside the chamber and communicating with the refrigeration circuit, the at least one dip tube passing between an inside wall and an outside wall of the chamber and crossing the chamber from the bottom of the chamber to the top of the chamber in order to position the at least one evacuation outlet at the top of the chamber, the at least one dip tube being separated from the inside and outside walls of the chamber along at least part of a length of the at least one dip tube so as to define flow paths for the refrigerated liquid along the inside wall and the outside wall of the chamber in a direction from the bottom of the chamber to the top of the chamber, wherein the at least part of the length of the at least one dip tube that is separated from the inside and outside walls of the chamber extends from the bottom of the chamber.

2. The glazing system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a vessel of refrigerated liquid from which a pump feeds the inlet with refrigerated liquid, and said at least one dip tube is coupled to a return pipe opening out into the vessel.

3. The glazing system according to claim 2, wherein the pump feeds the inlet via a supply pipe, and the supply pipe and the return pipe connect to the body to be glazed by passing through a base of the object.

4. The glazing system according to claim 3, wherein the supply pipe and the return pipe are of an isothermal type.

5. The glazing system according to claim 2, wherein the vessel is of an isothermal type and the refrigeration device comprises a cooling evaporator immersed in the vessel.

6. The glazing system according to claim 1, wherein the object is a container formed by a wall that constitutes the body to be glazed.

7. The glazing system according to claim 1, further comprising a device for collecting defrost water.

8. The glazing system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device comprises an adjustable thermostat.

9. The glazing system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a stand-alone power supply.

10. The glazing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dip tube is separated from the inside and outside walls of the chamber along the whole length of the at least one dip tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other characteristics and advantages of the invention shall be better understood upon reading the following description given of a non-limitative preferred embodiment of the invention, provided for illustration purposes with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a glazing system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, overhead view of a body to be glazed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(4) With reference to FIG. 1, the glazing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises at least one object 1 and a refrigeration device 2.

(5) According to this embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the object 1 is a container and has a base 11 and a body to be glazed 10 formed by a wall 12.

(6) As shown, the body to be glazed 10 is incorporated into a sealed chamber 100 that extends within the body to be glazed.

(7) The chamber 100 comprises: an inlet 101 situated in a low position at the bottom of the chamber; two evacuation outlets 102 situated in a high position, the evacuation outlets being constituted by a dip tube 103 incorporated inside the chamber.

(8) The inlet 101 and the evacuation outlets 102 are coupled to a refrigeration circuit so as to circulate a refrigerated liquid 3 inside the chamber 100. The evacuation outlets are thus positioned at the top of the chamber so as to be able to drain the chamber of any air that may be present and of the refrigerated liquid that has filled the chamber and cooled the wall 12.

(9) The refrigeration device 2 comprises the refrigeration circuit coupled to the inlet 101 and to the evacuation outlets 102 via the dip tube 103. More specifically, the refrigeration device comprises an isothermal vessel 20 housing the refrigerated liquid 3 from which runs a supply pipe 21 coupled to the inlet 101, and in which is immersed a return pipe 22 that is coupled to the dip tube 103. Therefore, the refrigerated liquid 3 flows from the vessel 20, cools the wall 12 that constitutes the body to be glazed 10 and returns to the vessel.

(10) In order to allow the refrigerated liquid 3 to flow, a pump 4 immersed in the vessel 20 is coupled to the supply pipe 21. The pressure of the pump feeding the refrigeration circuit can vary and in particular lies in the range 1 bar to 30 bar during operation of the glazing system. This pressure variation allows the circuit to be adapted to suit the shape and inner spacings of the chamber. For example, if the chamber has a passage with a very low spacing, the pressure is increased in order to favour the correct flow of the refrigerated liquid through said passage and in order to obtain the homogeneous glazing of the body to be glazed.

(11) The flow rate of the refrigerated liquid 3 at the outlet of the pump 4 must be adapted to suit the object 1 in order to allow for the correct refrigeration of the body to be glazed. Indeed, if the body to be glazed and the chamber respectively have a large surface area and volume, the flow rate of the refrigerated liquid is set to a high value in order to allow for homogeneous cooling of the body to be glazed. For example, if the body to be glazed has the shape of a sphere, the optimum flow rate of the pump is higher in relation to the optimum flow rate of the pump within the scope of the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, where the body to be glazed has the shape of a cup.

(12) The pressure of the refrigerated liquid in the sealed chamber can also be temporarily increased in order to allow the sealed chamber to be drained of any air bubbles or air present in the chamber prior to activation of the glazing system. The pressure thus allows the air trapped in the chamber to be removed by the dip tube, which provides the evacuation outlets situated at the top of the chamber.

(13) According to other possible solutions, the air can be removed by a siphon mechanism or by a dedicated plug.

(14) With reference to FIG. 1, the supply pipe 21 and the return pipe 22 pass through the base 11 of the container. Therefore, when the base 11 is resting on a suitable surface 6, the refrigeration circuit is not apparent and only the object 1 is visible.

(15) Additionally, the supply pipe 21 and the return pipe 22 are of the isothermal type. These pipes therefore have the following advantages: they do not run the risk of becoming glazed, they are energy-saving, they allow the object 1 to be positioned at a distance from the refrigeration device 2.

(16) According to one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerated liquid 3 contained in the vessel is maintained at a suitable temperature by means of an adjustable thermostat 27 and a conventional refrigeration system.

(17) This conventional refrigeration system comprises a cooling evaporator 23 (immersed in the vessel 20) coupled to a compressor 24, to a condenser 25 and to an expansion valve 26.

(18) The adjustable thermostat 27 is used to adapt the temperature of the refrigerated liquid 3 contained in the vessel 20 to suit the inner volume of the chamber 100, the exhibition conditions of the glazed object and the products displayed. Indeed, if the user observes that, due to the outside temperature, the temperature of the product displayed (for example a bottle containing a beverage) is too high, the thermostat must simply be set to a new temperature that is better suited to the conditions observed.

(19) The adjustable thermostat can also be used according to the experience of the person using the glazing system to modify the appearance of the coat of rime surrounding the body to be glazed. Indeed, depending on the riming conditions, the colour, thickness and texture of the coat of rime can vary.

(20) As shown in FIG. 1, the glazing system comprises a device for collecting the defrost water 5. This defrost water is transported to the refrigeration system, where it is used to cool the compressor 24.

(21) Since the glazing system is designed in a mobile manner, for example such that it can be installed in a temporary manner within the scope of isolated events, the refrigeration device is provided with a stand-alone power supply (not shown). This stand-alone power supply can in particular be of the single-phase inverter type and allows for the formation and maintenance of the glazed layer on the body to be glazed 10 of the object 1 when the system is being moved.

(22) According to one characteristic of the system, the refrigerated liquid is, for example, constituted from a brine or a mixture of glycol and water.

(23) Secondarily, stirring elements are integrated into the vessel in order to prevent the creation of slush in the liquid (formation of small flaky ice cubes in the vessel that risk disrupting the refrigeration circuit).

(24) Advantageously, the body to be glazed is made from a material of the heat conductor type, for example metal.

(25) Preferably, the wall 12 has a constant thickness.

(26) These advantageous characteristics contribute to the capacity of the object to quickly display a coat of rime with a uniform thickness after activation of the glazing system.

(27) According to the principle of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and when the system is placed in operation, the refrigerated liquid 3 contained in the vessel 20 is gradually brought to a set temperature configured using the thermostat 27. For example, the temperature of the refrigerated liquid is brought to 15 C.

(28) Then, the pump 4 pumps the refrigerated liquid through the supply pipe 21 until it enters the chamber 100 of the body to be glazed 10 of the object 1. By filling the chamber 100, the refrigerated liquid 3 expels any air that may be contained in the chamber via the evacuation outlets 102 provided by the dip tube 103. Indeed, the air automatically escapes from the vessel under the effect of the rise in refrigerated liquid inside the chamber, then escapes from the dip tube under the effect of the pressure of the refrigerated liquid generated by the pump.

(29) After removing the air from the sealed chamber and under the effect of the continual supply of refrigerated liquid to the chamber by the pump, the wall 12 (forming the body to be glazed) has a temperature that falls until it reaches a negative temperature.

(30) This temperature drop is in particular homogeneous at all points on the wall 12 and allows, thanks to the riming phenomenon explained hereinabove, a homogeneous and uniform layer of rime to develop on the wall. Indeed, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerated liquid enters the chamber 100 via the inlet 101, spreads throughout the chamber while cooling the body to be glazed 10 in a homogeneous manner, and is then removed through the evacuation outlets 102 provided by the dip tube 103.

(31) Therefore, when the glazing system is in operation, the object has a conventional cup shape with a bowl covered by a uniform coat of rime.

(32) According to another application example of the invention, not shown in the figures, the system can comprise a plurality of objects, each having one or more bodies to be glazed in order to form a particularly impressive, decorative, glazed display assembly. The refrigeration device system is thus adapted and can comprise, for example, a refrigerated liquid vessel with a high capacity (three hundred litres).

(33) According to one characteristic, letters or patterns made from steel, brass or bronze are brazed in a raised manner on the body to be glazed. The rime therefore forms around these raised parts while visually and clearly preserving the appearance thereof. The coat of rime thus takes on a homogeneous and controlled thickness and appearance on the glazed body, except at these raised parts.

(34) According to another characteristic, a lighting system is incorporated into the base. This lighting system contributes to the visual effect obtained by the glazing of the object by diffusing light within the coat of rime, for example by highlighting the glazed raised parts of the letters or patterns brazed on the body to be glazed.

(35) According to one specific embodiment, the system comprises a timer for the refrigeration device, said timer in particular being coupled to the adjustable thermostat and to an external thermostat.

(36) The system thus designed allows the activation of the refrigeration device to be programmed according to an establishment's opening and closing times. For example, the system can be activated automatically one hour before the establishment opens in order to generate the coat of rime.

(37) The adjustable thermostat allows the temperature of the refrigerated liquid contained in the vessel to be precisely modulated, and the external thermostat allows for the determination of the ambient temperature to which the object displaying the body to be glazed is exposed. Using these two thermostats, the system allows the formation of the coat of rime to be automated and precisely adjusted, while allowing for a storage temperature of the products to be displayed that is stable and adjusted to the nearest degree.

(38) Moreover, the timer can be adjusted in order to predictably change the characteristics of the coat of rime (thickness, structure, appearance, shape, etc.). These adjustments made to the timer can, for example, consist of cycles of operation and shutdown of the refrigeration device, variations in the temperature of the refrigerated liquid, or even modulations of the temperature of the refrigerated liquid as a function of the ambient temperature.

(39) Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.