Humidification and dehymidification process and apparatus for chilling beverages and other food products and process of manufacture

Abstract

A novel self-cooling food product container apparatus (10) and a process for manufacturing the same is disclosed. A self-cooling food product container (20) combined with a substantive vapor transport system producing a humidification cooling process for cooling food and beverage products P. Methods of assembling and operating the apparatus (10) are also provided.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a container having a container wall and being surrounded by atmospheric pressure; a first chamber containing granulated endothermic chemicals with interstitial spaces filled with a dry gas having a dew point temperature range 10 F. to 150 F. for a humidification liquid at said A DRY GAS pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and a second chamber within said container and being filled with said humidification liquid that is removed from said dry gas at said dew point temperature range; separated from said first chamber by a barrier material insoluble in said humidification liquid, an interconnection structure interconnecting said first chamber and said second chamber, said interconnection structure containing barrier material insoluble in said humidification liquid and internally abutting and initially sealing said interconnection structure; such that when said container is opened and said container interior is exposed to atmospheric pressure, said dry gas pressure expands said interconnection structure collapsible wall away from said barrier material and exposes said humidification liquid vapor to said dry gas and said dry gas absorbs said humidification liquid vapor forming a vacuum within said second chamber; and said vacuum collapses said collapsible wall into a minimal volume by absorption of said humidification liquid in to said interstitial spaces causing a first cooling of said apparatus collapsible walls; and said endothermic compounds react with said humidification liquid to cause a second endothermic cooling of said apparatus collapsible walls and said first and second cooling cools any medium surrounding said collapsible walls.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one endothermic reaction compound is a dry gas contained within said first chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the endothermic reaction compound comprises at least one of potassium nitrate, potassium chloride and urea.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said barrier material comprises a plastic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said medium surrounding said collapsible walls is a beverage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said humidification liquid comprises dimethylether.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said humidification liquid comprises SOLSTICE L41y (R-452B), SOLSTICE 452A (R-452A), SOLSTICE L40X (R-455A), SOLSTICE zd, SOLSTICE ze (R-1234ze), SOLSTICE yf (R-1234YF).

8. A self-cooling beverage container apparatus, comprising: a beverage container surrounded by atmospheric pressure and having a container wall and a container opening mechanism and a carbonated beverage contained within said container and producing a carbonation pressure which increases container internal pressure above atmospheric pressure subsequent to assembly of said container, filling of said container with said carbonated beverage and sealing of said container; a cooling assembly at least partly submerged in said carbonated beverage and comprising a cooling assembly vessel with a collapsible volume and having a vessel wall and a vessel first region and a vessel second region; a compressible plug member formed of a plug member material which lacks resilience to return to its initial cross-section area after being compressed and has a plug member initial cross-sectional area when said container is sealed and is contained within said vessel and abuts a plug member abutment portion of said vessel wall which is compressible and has resilience to return at least partly to its initial cross-sectional area after having been compressed and said plug member abutment portion defining an interconnection structure comprising said plug abutment portion, separating said vessel into said first vessel first region defining a humidification liquid chamber having a humidification liquid chamber wall and a humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber and the vessel second region defining a dry gas chamber having a dry gas chamber wall, and at least one endothermic reaction compound contained within said dry gas chamber, wherein said interconnection structure fluidly interconnects said humidification liquid chamber and said dry gas chamber; said plug member abutment portion having a plug member abutment portion initial cross-sectional area and the interconnection structure having an interconnection structure initial cross-sectional area at atmospheric pressure prior to container assembly and sealing, and being compressed to a plug member abutment portion compressed cross-sectional area by a subsequent increase in container internal pressure to carbonation pressure subsequent to container assembly and sealing which is less than the interconnection structure initial cross-sectional area, thereby compressing the plug member initial cross-sectional area to a plug member compressed cross-sectional area, such that the plug member compressed cross-sectional area and shape matches the plug member abutment portion compressed cross-sectional area and shape and circumferentially abuts said plug member abutment portion, thereby maintaining its sealing of said interconnection structure against the passage of fluid; such that operating said container opening mechanism and thereby opening said container to the surrounding atmosphere causes a decrease in the container internal pressure bearing upon said plug member abutment portion from the carbonation pressure to atmospheric pressure, permitting said plug member abutment portion to resiliently expand relative to said plug member to a plug member abutment portion expanded cross-sectional area, creating space between said plug member and said plug member abutment portion and thereby opening fluid communication between said humidification liquid chamber and said dry gas chamber through said interconnection structure, causing said humidification liquid to mix and react with said at least one endothermic reaction compound endothermically, extracting heat from said beverage, and thereby cooling said beverage.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one endothermic reaction compound is a dry gas contained within said first chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said medium surrounding said collapsible walls is a beverage.

11. A cooling apparatus with a collapsible walls subjected to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and forming a first chamber and a second chamber within said apparatus; said first chamber containing granulated endothermic chemicals with interstitial spaces filled with a dry gas having a dew point temperature range 10 F. to 150 F. fora humidification liquid at said pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; said second chamber separated from said first chamber by a barrier material insoluble in said humidification liquid; said second chamber filled with said humidification liquid that is removed from said dry gas at said dew point temperature range; such that when the apparatus is exposed to atmospheric pressure, said dry gas expands away from said barrier material and exposes said humidification liquid vapor to said dry gas and said dry gas absorbs said humidification liquid vapor forming a vacuum with said apparatus; and said vacuum collapses said collapsible walls into a minimal volume by absorption of said humidification liquid in to said interstitial spaces causing a first cooling of said apparatus collapsible walls; and said endothermic compounds react with said humidification liquid to cause a second endothermic cooling of said apparatus collapsible walls and said first and second cooling cools any medium surrounding said collapsible walls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings representing the preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows the apparatus according to the embodiments of the invention. A metal beverage container is shown with a beverage container lid and beverage container opening means.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. A cut away view of a beverage container is shown within which is the cooling assembly comprising a humidification liquid chamber containing a humidification liquid, a dry gas chamber containing a dry gas and endothermically reacting chemical compounds. The dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber are shown as thin bags separated by a flexible interconnection structure made from either a plastic or metal that is compressible by carbonation pressure. A compressible plug member fills, abuts and seals the interconnection structure and carbonation pressure acting on the interconnection structure keep it in a compressed sealing configuration to form a fluid seal between the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber.

(4) FIG. 3 the cooling assembly of the apparatus which shows a cut off cross-section of the interconnection structure with the compressible plug member filling the interconnection structure that connects the humidification liquid chamber and the dry gas chamber according to the first embodiment of the invention. The configuration shows the apparatus before the beverage container is opened. The humidification liquid chamber made in the form of a flexible bag container sealingly connected to the interconnection structure and the dry gas chamber is also shown made in the form of a flexible bag that is sealingly connected to the interconnection structure. Note that the interconnection structure is shown filled with the compressible plug member which may be a wax or a putty that is deformable by pressure.

(5) FIG. 4 also shows the same configuration of the cooling assembly of the apparatus which shows a portion of the interconnection structure removed to reveal the compressible plug member filling the interconnection structure. A cut away section of the humidification liquid chamber shows the humidification liquid within the humidification liquid chamber and a cut away section of the dry gas chamber shows the dry gas and the endothermically reacting chemical compounds within the dry gas chamber.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of interconnection structure in different stages of operation. The arrows show the stages of actuation as the interconnection structure is compressed by carbonation pressure to a smaller cross-sectional area which then expands by the loss of carbonation pressure to its original cross-sectional area when the carbonation pressure is removed by opening the beverage container opening means. The figure shows the compressible plug member remaining in a smaller cross-sectional area configuration permitting the passage of humidification liquid and dry gas around it.

(7) FIG. 6 shows the invention according to a first embodiment in use with a beverage container in the form of a bottle. The cooling assembly of the humidification liquid chamber, the dry gas chamber and the interconnection structure are shown inserted through the neck of the bottle. The apparatus functions in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment in the simplified form floating in a beverage contained inside a sealed carbonated beverage container.

(9) FIG. 7a shows a simple version of the cooling assembly of the apparatus as a simple tube with sealed ends without the need for the narrow neck forming a smaller interconnection structure.

(10) FIG. 7b shows another simple version of the cooling assembly of the apparatus formed as a lay-flat bag.

(11) FIG. 8 shows a simplification of the interconnection structure as being constructed from the same lay-flat bag materials as the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber. The interconnection structure for this embodiment, is simply a narrow neck connecting the humidification liquid chambers and the dry gas chamber and is filled with the compressible plug member material before the humidification liquid and the dry gas chamber are heat sealed with their respective contents of humidification liquid and dry gas with endothermically reacting chemicals respectively.

(12) FIG. 9 shows a configuration of the first embodiment of the invention with the humidification liquid chamber and the dry gas chamber connected by the interconnection structure in a spiral configuration on the interconnection structure.

(13) FIG. 10 shows the second embodiment of the invention without the beverage container with a rigid dry gas chamber and a flexible bellow acting as the humidification liquid chamber. The figure shows two stages of before and after activation of the cooling. The diagram to the left of the figure shows the dry gas chamber with dry gas saturating the endothermically reacting chemical compounds before actuation of the apparatus with the bellow in an extended configuration filled with humidification liquid. The diagram to the right of the figure shows a gap formed between the interconnection structure and the compressible plug member that permits the bellow to contract by a vacuum generated by dry gas pulling the humidification liquid into the dry gas chamber for cooling. It is anticipated that the bellow can also assist in the pulling of the humidification liquid into the dry gas chamber by means of its elastic and spring-like properties.

(14) FIG. 11 shows the invention according to a third embodiment just as the beverage container is sealed before carbonation pressure builds up. A cross-section of the apparatus is shown and the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber are shown as made from open ended cylindrical containers that slide over each other. Note that the interconnection structure is configured as a tube sleeve that seals the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber and the two chambers are separated by the compressible plug member. Thus the humidification liquid chamber and the dry gas chambers can be made with open-ended metal or plastic cylindrical containers connected by the interconnection structure and made to slide into each other.

(15) FIG. 12 shows the invention according to a third embodiment prior to carbonation pressure build up in the beverage container pressure. Subsequent to carbonation pressure build up, the carbonation pressure compresses the interconnection structure to compress the compressible plug member and reduce its cross sectional area while keeping it in a sealing configuration.

(16) FIG. 13 shows the two stages of the apparatus before and after the beverage container is opened for consumption. The left side of the drawing shows the compressed compressible plug member before opening the beverage container for consumption. The figure to the right shows the state of the apparatus after the beverage container opening means is activated. The loss of pressure releases the compression of the interconnection structure and leaves the compressible plug member in the smaller cross-sectional area configuration. This permits dry gas and humidification liquid to interact and the dry gas can pass around the shrunk compressible plug member to permit humidification liquid to be sucked up by the dry gas to generate a vacuum. The vacuum then pulls and slides the humidification liquid chamber into the dry gas chamber and shrinks the total volume of the two chambers to permit the endothermically reacting chemical compounds to react intimately without leaving any free unused interstitial spaces.

(17) FIG. 13a shows the two stages of the apparatus before and after the beverage container is opened for consumption with the dry gas chamber smaller than the humidification liquid chamber. The left side of the drawing shows the compressed compressible plug member before opening the beverage container for consumption. The figure to the right shows the state of the apparatus after the beverage container opening means is activated. The loss of pressure releases the compression of the interconnection structure and leaves the compressible plug member in the smaller cross-sectional area configuration. This permits dry gas and humidification liquid to interact and the dry gas can pass around the shrunk compressible plug member to permit humidification liquid to be sucked up by the dry gas to generate a vacuum. The vacuum then pulls and slides the dry gas chamber into the humidification chamber and shrinks the total volume of the two chambers to permit the endothermically reacting chemical compounds to react intimately without leaving any free unused interstitial spaces.

(18) FIG. 14 shows the fourth embodiment of the invention with the Tee-connector and the interconnection structure formed as a single piece together with the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber. A small cut out of the interconnection structure shows the compressible plug member structure sealing off the humidification liquid chamber of the apparatus.

(19) FIG. 15 shows the first embodiment of the invention, with the interconnection structure being part of the unified body of the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber. The figure shows the three stages of the actions on the cooling assembly with a first stage showing the cooling assembly unaffected, then a second stage showing carbonation pressure compressing the cooling assembly, and a third stage showing the release of carbonation pressure causing an expansion of the cooling assembly walls forming a passageway for humidification liquid to enter into the dry gas chamber.

(20) FIG. 16 shows the compressible plug made from a combination of a partly resilient material such as plastic and metal with a central deformable membrane. When carbonation pressure rises, the pressure compresses the interconnection structure which then compresses the compressible plug to a smaller diameter while maintaining a sealing configuration.

(21) FIG. 17 shows yet another way the compressible plug may be constructed using a combination of a partly resilient O-ring made from materials such as plastics, rubbers, and metals, held in an O-ring grove on a thin disc. The O-ring grove is designed to tightly hold the O-ring at a smaller diameter when it is compressed by pressure by the interconnection structure, such the O-ring does not re-expand back to a larger diameter when the compressing carbonation pressure is released.

(22) FIG. 18 is a schematic image illustrating an example of the direct transfer of the bond energies from broken humidification liquid molecules to the reformation energy of humidification liquid vapor as a vapor that is immediately transported away or absorbed by dry gas humidification and taken away, where the humidification liquid is water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(23) As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

(24) Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.

(25) For orientation purposes and clarity, the food product container is assumed to be standing in a vertical orientation and thus in its normal placement orientation. This invention uses the thermodynamic potential of the evaporation of a humidification liquid, such as water or other suitable liquid, and the ability of a substantially low vapor pressure medium such as a dry gas DG to force this evaporation from even cold liquids.

Method of Manufacture of the First Embodiment of the Present Invention

(26) A first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-10. In the first embodiment, a cooling assembly 100 comprising an elongate vessel with thin walls in the form of a thin plastic lay-flat tubing 105 with a vessel first end segment and a vessel middle segment and a vessel second end segment formed using thin walled lay-flat tubing 105. A humidification liquid chamber 104 comprises the vessel first end segment sealed to contain a humidification liquid HL. The humidification liquid chamber wall 109 sealingly connects to the vessel middle segment to form a chamber interconnection structure 107. The chamber interconnection structure 107 sealing connects to the vessel second end segment which forms a dry gas chamber wall 110 that extends to form a dry gas chamber 106 which is sealed and contains endothermically reacting chemical compounds and a dry gas DG. The interconnection structure 107 is in the form of the thin wall that spans between the dry gas chamber wall 110 and the humidification liquid chamber wall 109. The interconnection structure 107 has an initial cross-sectional area and is made from materials that are one of resilient and partly resilient plastics, metallized plastics and thin foils. A compressible plug 108 which is made from one of non-resilient and partly resilient materials such as putty, plastic, metal, cork, closed foam, and wax is contained within the interconnection structure 107 to sealingly abut the interconnection structure 107, to form a fluid seal against the passage of humidification liquid from the humidification liquid chamber 104 to the dry gas chamber 106 while subjected to the container internal pressure P created by said carbonated beverage B.

(27) In one preferred method of manufacture of the first embodiment, a humidification liquid chamber 104, a dry gas chamber 106 and the interconnection structure 107 are provided in the form of a contiguous flexible and collapsible structure such as a lay-flat tubing preferably in the form of metalized lay-flat tubing 105. A lay-flat-tube 105, preferably with an expanded diameter of about 2-3 inches and about 8-12 inches long, is first provided with open ends. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 7b, the lay-flat tubing 105 has a heat-sealed middle segment 105a that forms a seal around the interconnection structure 107 to form a humidification liquid chamber 104, a dry gas chamber 106. As shown in FIG. 7, the interconnection structure 107 may be required to have a small cross-sectional area, and thus can be reshaped and formed by heat sealing a narrow neck portion centered on the lay-flat tubing 105's length and width to form the interconnection structure 107 with the two open ends of the lay-flat tubing 105 forming open ends for the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 respectively. This can be achieved, for example, by heat sealing edges 117 and heat sealing edges 117a to form a narrow neck portion to form the interconnection structure 107 as shown in FIG. 7. The cooling assembly 100 comprising the humidification liquid chamber 104, the dry gas chamber 106 and the interconnection structure 107 thus formed preferably are made from a thin-walled, flexible and compressible elastic lay-flat tubing 105 material such as one of PET, PVC, Polyethylene, and Polycarbonate, for example. Preferably, the lay-flat tubing 105 material used is made from substantially impervious film materials that prevent to a great extent beverage and carbonation from passing through its walls. Thus when the formed cooling assembly 100 described above is expanded into its full diameter, an open ended humidification liquid chamber 104 is formed and an open ended dry gas chamber 106 is formed and both chambers are connected by a narrow neck forming the interconnection structure 108.

(28) As shown in FIGS. 15-16, a compressible plug member 108a can also be made from one of a deformable and compressible plug ring 108a made from one of a thin metal or plastic, with a thinner collapsible membrane portion 108b in the form of a disc. As long as the diameter of the compressible plug member 108 can be shrunk irreversibly or only partially reversibly shrunk from its original diameter, the material of the collapsible membrane portion 108b will collapse and permit only partial or no return of the compressible plug ring 108a to its original cross-sectional area. Thus materials such as flexible low density polyethylene and flexible PVC, aluminum, and PET, that can be irreversibly compressed or only partially reversibly compressed by pressure to a smaller diameter in cross-sectional area may be used. Thus the compressible plug ring 108a seals and separates the humidification liquid chamber 104 from the dry gas chamber 106 before and during storage of the apparatus 10 in its final form. The interconnection structure 107 may be incorporated as a portion of the cooling assembly 100 wall to sealingly connect the dry gas chamber 106 to the humidification liquid chamber 104. Alternatively, the narrowing of the lay-flat tubing 105 to form a narrow neck for a smaller interconnection structure 107 is only necessary if the amount of material used to form the compressible plug member 107 needs to be reduced to minimize its thermal penalty on the cooling capacity of the apparatus 10. Thus the cooling assembly 100 also may be formed from a single unaltered tubular bag material as shown in FIGS. 7, 7a, 7b, 14 and 15. Then, advantageously, only the open ends of the bag forming the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 need to be heat sealed during construction of apparatus 10.

(29) As shown in FIG. 17, a compressible plug member 108c can also be made in the form of an 108c from a material that is one of deformable and compressible, such as (but not limited to) one of rubber, cork, closed foam, rubber, putty, plastic, metal, and wax with a non-compressible disc membrane portion 108d in the form of a disc with an O-ring grove. Compressible plug member 108c is made to fit sealingly tight in an O-ring grove 108e on the periphery of disc membrane portion 108d. When pressure is applied to the compressible plug member 108c it is compressed to a smaller diameter into the grove 108e on the periphery of disc membrane portion 108d where it is held in the tight configuration such that it does not re-expand back to its original diameter. As long as the diameter of the compressible plug member 108c can be shrunk irreversibly or only partially reversibly shrunk from its original diameter, the tightness of the O-ring groove 108e will permit only partial or no return of the compressible plug ring 108a to its original cross-sectional area. Thus when carbonation pressure P, builds up against the interconnection member 107, the interconnection member 107 compresses the compressible plug member 108c into the grove 108e on the periphery of disc membrane portion 108d to a smaller diameter, where it is held at the smaller diameter in the tight sealing configuration against the interconnection member 107 and the disc membrane portion 108d such that it does not re-expand back to its original diameter when the same pressure is removed. It is important that the grove 108e on the periphery of disc membrane portion 108d must be made to tightly and frictionally hold the compressible plug member 108c in a sealing configuration with the disc membrane portion 108d and the interconnection member 107 when carbonation pressure P builds up and compresses the interconnection member 107 to a smaller cross-sectional area. However, upon release of the carbonation pressure, it is important that the grove 108e on the periphery of disc membrane portion 108d be made to still tightly and frictionally hold the compressible plug member 108c at its smaller compressed diameter and not permit the same to re-expand back to its original uncompressed starting diameter when carbonation pressure P is released and the interconnection member 107 expands back to its original cross-sectional area.

(30) The next step in manufacturing the apparatus 10 is filling the dry gas chamber 106 with granular forms of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R through its open unsealed end. The endothermically reacting chemical compounds R should be made to fill and contact the maximum possible surface area of the dry gas chamber walls 110. Of course, while the surface area of the dry gas chamber 106 is fixed by the lay-flat tubing 105 material area available to form the dry gas chamber 106, the volume of the dry gas chamber 106 depends on the extent to which the lay-flat tubing 105 that forms the dry gas chamber 106 is expanded. Advantageously any volume between the maximum expanded volume and the minimum lay-flat volume of the two chambers can be accommodated in the same surface area of the dry gas chamber 106.

(31) A further step is making a cooling assembly 100 of the invention is to fill the interconnection structure 107 between the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 with a compressible plug member 108. The compressible plug member 108 is preferably made from a suitable deformable material, one of non-resilient and only partially resilient material such as a non-water-soluble wax, a rubber, cork, closed foam, a plastic, and a putty. In FIGS. 15 and 16, an example of a compressible plug member 108 made from a metal or plastic ring is shown. The compressible plug 108 is shown made as a compressible ring 108a with a collapsible membrane 108b. Compressible ring 108a is simply placed to fit tightly and sealingly against the interconnection structure which in this case is just the wall portion that interconnects the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104. Compressible ring 108a is designed and made to fluidly seal between the two chamber and also separate the two chambers.

(32) The compressible plug member 108 is placed to sealingly fill either a portion or the entire interconnection structure 107 to separate the dry gas chamber 106 from the humidification liquid chamber 104. The compressible plug member 108 can also be made as one of a deformable metal and plastic disc such that the disc can irreversibly deform in cross-section when compressed by beverage pressure acting against the interconnection structure 107. Thus the compressible plug member 108 is made from materials that fluidly seal and separate the humidification liquid chamber 104 from the dry gas chamber 106. The interconnection structure 107 sealingly connects the dry gas chamber wall 110 to the humidification liquid chamber wall 109. Both the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104 can also be made as separate bags connected sealingly to the ends of the interconnection structure 107 by means of thermal welding. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6, the interconnection structure 107, may also be made with any of several possible cross-sectional shapes to sealingly connect to the dry gas chamber wall 110 and the humidification liquid chamber wall 109 by means of an extended dry gas chamber tube 118a and a humidification liquid chamber tube 118 respectively. It is obvious that the interconnection structure 107 may be composed in sections that can be connected together for ease of assembly of the cooling assembly 100 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6. Thus, the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 can be fluidly connected by the interconnection structure 107 with the compressible plug member 108 preventing any fluid communication between the two chambers to form a cooling assembly 100 of the apparatus 10.

(33) Alternatively, the narrowing of the lay-flat tubing 105 to form a narrow neck for a smaller interconnection structure 107 is only necessary if the amount of material used to form the compressible plug member 108 needs to be reduced to minimize its thermal penalty on the cooling capacity of the apparatus 10. The cooling assembly 100 may also be formed from a single unaltered tube material as shown in FIGS. 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 14, and 15. Then, advantageously, only the open ends of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 need to be heat sealed during construction of apparatus 10.

(34) If lay-flat tubing 105 material that is used to form the cooling assembly 100 is too thin, i.e., in the order of magnitude of thickness less than 1 mil, a supporting flexible rubber tube segment may be added to form the interconnection structure 107 to permit the interconnection structure 107 to be compressible by carbonation pressure P to a smaller cross-sectional area, and also to permit the interconnection structure 107 to bounce back to its original shape when the pressure is released, using the rubber material's elasticity. Thus, the interconnection structure 107 may be made as a separate segment of the cooling assembly 100 as shown in FIGS. 2-6. The interconnection structure 107 may also be made separately from one of a rubber material and a plastic material that permits it to be substantially reversibly compressible by beverage carbonation pressure P to a smaller cross-sectional area, and yet permit it to bounce back to its original shape when the compressing carbonation pressure P is released. Alternatively, the interconnection structure 107 may be reinforced by one of, a rubber tube and a plastic tube, to permit it to bounce back to its original shape when deformed by beverage carbonation pressure P. The interconnection structure 107 may also be made from an elastic plastic such as a soft PVC, that can be compressed by the carbonation pressure P, and that will bounce back to its original cross-sectional area and shape when the beverage carbonation pressure P is released.

(35) The next step in manufacturing the apparatus 10 is filling the dry gas chamber 106 with granular particles of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R through its open unsealed end. The endothermically reacting chemical compounds R should be made to fill and contact the maximum possible surface area of the dry gas chamber wall 109. Of course, while the surface area of the dry gas chamber wall 109 is fixed by the lay-flat tubing 105 material's available area, the volume of the dry gas chamber 106 depends on the extent to which the lay-flat tubing 105 forming the dry gas chamber 106 can be expanded. Advantageously, both the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104 can have any volume between the maximum expanded cylindrical volume of lay-flat tubing 105, and the minimum lay-flat volume of lay-flat tubing 105, while both chambers maintain a constant surface area respectively.

(36) The next step is to flood the dry gas chamber 106 with a dry gas DG, preferably one of dry CO.sub.2, dry dimethyl ether (DME), and one or combinations of DME, CO.sub.2, Solstice L41y (R-452B), Solstice 452A (R-452A), Solstice L40X (R-455A), Solstice zd, Solstice ze, (R-1234ze), and Solstice yf (R-1234y). The dry gas DG is filled by simply blowing it at a low flow rate through the granules of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R to replace any air that fills the interstitial spaces between the granules of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R. The next step is to thermally seal the dry gas chamber 106 by heat sealing the open end of the dry gas chamber 106 to form a sealed chamber.

(37) If the amount of dry gas DG needed exceeds the pressure rating of the dry gas chamber 106, a simple remedy is shown in FIG. 14 where it is anticipated that an extension Tee-connector tube 111 of the interconnection structure 107 may be added as an elongated this flexible tube 112 extending from the dry gas chamber 106 through a hole 114 through a wall of the beverage container 20 such as through the beverage container domed base 113, and sealed by a snap on fitting 115 to said hole 114. In such a case the extension flexible tube 112 will act as its own check-valve when carbonation pressure collapses said flexible tube and closes it off to permit only the dry gas DG to be forced into the dry gas chamber 106 from outside the beverage container 20 after the beverage container is sealed without loss of dry gas DG back to atmosphere. This extension flexible tube structure is only necessary if more dry gas DG is anticipated to be stored in the dry gas chamber 106 than can be supported by the dry gas chamber 106 without the support of equilibrating carbonation pressure acting on the dry gas chamber walls 109.

(38) The next step in the assembly of the apparatus 10 is to fill the humidification liquid chamber 104 with humidification liquid HL. The humidification liquid HL must be chosen to react endothermically with the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R and to also evaporate when subjected to the dry gas DG. Preferably, the humidification liquid HL is water. The humidification liquid HL should contact the maximum possible surface area of the humidification liquid chamber 104 that is available. Of course while the surface area of the dry gas chamber 106 is fixed by the lay-flat tubing 105 material, the volume of the humidification liquid chamber 104 depends on the extent to which the lay-flat tubing 105 that forms the humidification liquid chamber 104 can be expanded. Advantageously any volume between the maximum expanded volume and the minimum lay-flat volume of the two chambers can be accommodated. The next step is to thermally seal the humidification liquid chamber 104 by heat sealing its open end to form a closed humidification liquid chamber 104.

(39) A standard beverage container 20 is provided in the form of a conventional metal can or in the form of a plastic bottle. The cooling assembly 100 comprising the humidification liquid chamber 104, the dry gas chamber 106 and chamber contents, and the interconnection structure 107 with the compressible plug member 108 separating the two, is then inserted into the beverage container 20. Carbonated beverage B is then filled into the beverage container 20 by conventional means. A beverage container lid 102 with a beverage container opening means 103 is provided for sealing off the beverage with the cooling assembly 100 to form the apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.

(40) When the beverage container 20 is sealed off by the beverage container lid 102, carbonation pressure P builds up. The carbonation pressure P of the beverage B compresses the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 and the interconnection structure 107 until the internal pressure of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 equals the carbonation pressure P. The carbonation pressure P also deforms the interconnection structure 107 and compresses the interconnection structure 107 and the compressible plug member 108 to a smaller cross-sectional area than their starting cross-sectional areas while the compressible plug member 108 still remains in a sealing configuration. The apparatus 10 is now ready for use.

Method of Operation of the First Embodiment of the Invention

(41) Upon opening the beverage container opening means 103, the change in the container 20's internal carbonation pressure P to atmospheric pressure, causes the interconnection structure 107 to substantially expand preferably back to its original state, leaving the compressed compressible plug member 108 at a smaller cross-sectional area. The difference in dimensions between the final compressed state of the compressible plug member 108 and the starting uncompressed state of the compressible plug member 108 forms a gap that permits fluid communication between the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104. The stages of compression and area reductions are shown in FIG. 5. Dry gas DG absorbs humidification liquid HL forming a vacuum and pulling humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber 106. The humidification liquid chamber 104 collapses to accommodate its new volume. Some humidification liquid HL vapor is evaporated during this process as well. The endothermically reacting chemical compounds R react with the humidification liquid HL and dissolve endothermically to cool the beverage product. The solvation causes a further reduction in volume of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and this causes the walls of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the walls of the dry gas chamber 106 to collapse to permit more humidification liquid HL and humidification liquid HL vapor to be pulled into the dry gas chamber 106. Thus a complete dissolving of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R occurs and cooling of the beverage product occurs and the entire cooling occurs in contact with the maximum area available in both chamber throughout the cooling process. It is important that the surface areas of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 be respectively maximized for best cooling. As such, the apparatus 10 of this embodiment can be constructed using metallized bags connected by the interconnection structure 107 as described above and as shown in the figures.

Method of Manufacture of the Second Embodiment of the Present Invention

(42) A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10. In one preferred method of manufacture of the second embodiment, a humidification liquid chamber 104, a dry gas chamber 106 and an interconnection structure 107 are provided in the form of an injection-stretch-blown thin-walled plastic container. A plastic preform is made by conventional injection molding and then stretch-blown by conventional blow molding, to form the cooling assembly 100. The preform is blown to take the shape of a bottle to define the dry gas chamber 106 and to define the interconnection structure 107 as a narrow neck connecting to a bellows-shaped chamber that defines the humidification liquid chamber 104, as shown in FIG. 10.

(43) The first step in forming a cooling assembly 100 of the present invention is to prepare a preform to form the two chambers and the interconnection structure 107 as a single or multiple stretch-blown plastic pieces, preferably as thin-walled structures with flexible walls. The humidification liquid chamber 104 is preferably a bellows-shaped structure, while the dry gas chamber 106 is preferably a cylindrically-shaped structure, and the interconnection structure 107 is preferably a small tube connecting the two chambers respectively. Preferably, a plastic material such as one of PET, PVC, Polyethylene, and Polycarbonate, is used for this example. The material used preferably is made from substantially impervious plastic materials that prevent to a great extent beverage and carbonation from passing through its walls.

(44) The second step in the making of the cooling assembly 100 of the apparatus 10 is to fill the humidification liquid chamber 104 (the bellows) with humidification liquid HL through the blow spout 120. The humidification liquid HL must be chosen to react endothermically with the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R and to also evaporate when subjected to the dry gas DG. Preferably, the humidification liquid HL is water. Of course while the surface area of the dry gas chamber 106 is preferably substantially fixed as a cylinder, the volume of the humidification liquid chamber 104 depends on the extent to which its bellows shape can be expanded and contracted. Advantageously, any volume between the maximum expanded volume of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the minimum possible contracted volume of the bellows can be accommodated.

(45) The third step in making cooling assembly 100, according to the second embodiment of the invention, is to fill the interconnection structure 107 between the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 with a compressible plug member 108. The compressible plug member 108 is preferably made from a suitable deformable material, one of non-resilient and only partially resilient material such as a non-water-soluble wax, a rubber, cork, closed foam, a plastic, and a putty. The compressible plug member 108 is passed through the blow spout 120 and placed to sealingly fill either a portion or the entire interconnection structure 107 to separate the dry gas chamber 106 from the humidification liquid chamber 104. The compressible plug member 108 also can be made as a deformable metal disc and as a deformable metal cylinder such that it irreversibly or only partially reversibly deforms in cross-sectional area under beverage carbonation pressure, P. Thus, the compressible plug member 108 fluidly seals and separates the humidification liquid chamber 104 from the dry gas chamber 106. The interconnection structure 107 sealingly connects to the dry gas chamber 106 and to the humidification liquid chamber 104. The compressible plug member 108, if made from a wax, can be simply melted and poured to fill the interconnection structure 107. Since a wax floats on water, for example, it is possible to fill the water in the humidification liquid chamber 104 up to the start of the interconnection structure 107 and then pour molten wax to float above the humidification liquid HL and fill the interconnection structure 107.

(46) The next step in manufacturing the apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment is filling the dry gas chamber 106 with granular forms of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R through its open unsealed blow spout 120. The endothermically reacting chemical compounds R should be made to fill and contact the maximum possible surface area of the dry gas chamber walls 109.

(47) The next step is to flood the dry gas chamber 106 through the blow spout 120, with a substantially dry gas DG, preferably one of CO.sub.2, dimethyl ether (DME), and one or combinations of DME, CO.sub.2, Solstice L41 y (R-452B), Solstice 452A (R-452A), Solstice L40X (R-455A), Solstice zd, Solstice ze, (R-1234ze), and Solstice yf (R-1234yf). The dry gas DG is filled by simply blowing it at a low flow rate through blow spout 120 into the granules of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R to replace any air that fills the interstitial spaces between the granules of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R. The next step is to thermally seal the dry gas chamber 106 by heat sealing the open end of the blow spout 120 to form a closed dry gas chamber 106 and to form the completed cooling assembly 100, as shown in FIG. 11.

(48) A standard beverage container 20 preferably is provided in the form of a conventional metal can or in the form of a plastic bottle. The cooling assembly 100, comprising the humidification liquid chamber 104, the dry gas chamber 106 and the interconnection structure 107 with the compressible plug member 108 separating the two, is then inserted into the beverage container 20. Carbonated beverage B is then filled into the beverage container 20 by conventional means. A beverage container lid 102 with a beverage container opening means 103 is provided for sealing off the beverage container 20 with the cooling assembly 100 inside to form the apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment.

(49) When the beverage container 20 is sealed off by the beverage container lid 102, carbonation pressure P builds up. The carbonation pressure P of the beverage compresses the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 and the interconnection structure 107 until the internal pressure of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the internal pressure dry gas chamber 106 and the internal pressure of the interconnection structure equal the carbonation pressure P. The carbonation pressure P also deforms the interconnection structure 107 and compresses the interconnection structure 107 and the compressible plug member 108 to a substantially smaller cross-sectional area than its starting cross-sectional area, while the compressible plug member 108 still remains in a sealing configuration. The apparatus 10 is now ready for use.

Method of Operation of the Second Embodiment of the Invention

(50) Upon opening the beverage container opening means 103, the change in internal pressure within the beverage container 20, from carbonation pressure P to atmospheric pressure P.sub.a, causes the interconnection structure 107 to substantially expand back preferably to its cross-sectional area, leaving the compressed compressible plug member 108 at the smaller cross-sectional area than the expanded cross-sectional area of the interconnection structure 107. The difference in dimensions between the final compressed state of the compressible plug member 108 and the starting uncompressed state of the compressible plug member 108 forms a gap that permits fluid communication between the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104. The stages of compression and area reductions are shown in FIG. 5. Dry gas DG absorbs humidification liquid HL, forming a vacuum and pulling humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber 106. The humidification liquid chamber 104 collapses by the contraction of the bellows to accommodate its new volume. Some humidification liquid HL vapor is evaporated during this process as well. The endothermically reacting chemical compounds R react with the humidification liquid HL and dissolve endothermically to cool the beverage product. The solvation causes a further reduction in volume of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and this causes the walls of the humidification liquid chamber 104 to further collapse to permit more humidification liquid HL and humidification liquid HL vapor to be pulled into the dry gas chamber 106. Thus a complete dissolving of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R occurs and cooling of the beverage B product occurs, and the entire cooling occurs in contact with the maximum area available in both chambers throughout the cooling process. It is important that the surface areas of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 be respectively maximized for best cooling. As such, the apparatus 10 of this embodiment can be constructed using metallized plastic bags materials, and thin aluminum foil materials, connected by the interconnection structure 107, as described above and as shown in the figures. It is also important to note that a compression tension of the humidification liquid chamber 104 can be built into the bellows if the bellows is made in a minimal volume configuration and then expanded to fill the humidification liquid HL in it. Then, upon activation, the tension of the expanded bellows can push humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber 106 as well.

Method of Manufacture of the Third Embodiment of the Present Invention

(51) A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 11-13. In this embodiment of the invention, the same elements used in the first embodiment are used to reconfigure another embodiment of the invention that uses telescoping cylindrical chambers instead of collapsible flexible chambers. A standard beverage container 20 is provided with a beverage lid 102 and a beverage opening means 103 containing a beverage B that is carbonated and under pressure P. The beverage container 20 may be a metal container of standard conventional form or a plastic bottle of conventional form. The humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 with their respective contents therein, form a cooling assembly 100 provided within the sealed beverage container 20 as described hereunder.

(52) A thin cylindrical-walled humidification liquid chamber 104 is provided. Humidification liquid chamber 104 is configured as a cylindrical cup with a tubular cup side wall 104c with a cup open end 104a and a cup end wall 104b opposing the cup open end 104a. Humidification liquid HL such as water is held within the humidification liquid chamber 104 and a compressible plug member 108 preferably made from a suitable irreversibly deformable material which is one of non-resilient and only partially resilient material such as deformable wax, rubber, and plastic, is placed to seal off the humidification liquid chamber 104 open end and fluidly isolate the humidification liquid chamber 104. This can easily be achieved by filling the humidification liquid chamber 104 with water for example, heating the water, and melting a suitable wax over the water surface to form a wax sealing layer. When the wax dries, it forms a hermetic seal over the humidification liquid HL and seals off the open end of the humidification liquid chamber 104.

(53) Similarly, a dry gas chamber 106 is provided comprising a thin cylindrical-walled container having a tubular cup side wall 106c with a cup open end 106a and a cup end wall 106b opposing the cup open end 106a. The dry gas chamber 106 contains crystalline forms of endothermically reacting chemical compounds R such as potassium nitrate, potassium chloride and urea. Dry gas DG is flowed into the dry gas chamber 106 to fill the interstitial spaces between the crystals of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R. When the humidification chamber 104 is slid into the dry gas chamber 106, the interconnection structure 107 is placed over the assembly not only to hold the two chambers in place and to snugly and frictionally and sealingly connect them but also to prevent them from sliding apart. Alternatively, compressible plug member 108 may be filled into the interconnection structure 107 to abut and seal against the interconnection structure 107, to separate the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104.

(54) It is also important that the dry gas DG be chilled to a temperature to prevent fast pressure build up that can drive apart and separate the two chambers before the beverage container 20 is sealed off with the beverage container lid 102. The internal pressure of the dry gas DG will build up until it also equilibrates with the beverage carbonation pressure P. As such, the pressure of the dry gas DG as it heats up to room temperature and gasifies cannot exceed the carbonation pressure P. The carbonation pressure P compresses the interconnection structure 107, and this compresses the compressible plug member 108 to a smaller diameter than its starting diameter while remaining in a sealing configuration.

(55) The interconnection structure 107 preferably is made in the form of one of a plastic sleeve and a rubber sleeve, to tightly and slidingly seal off the open ends of the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104. The dry gas chamber open end 106a is made to snugly and sealingly slide over the side wall and the end wall of the humidification liquid chamber wall 110. Thus, when the humidification liquid chamber 104 is sealingly slid into the dry gas chamber 106, the reduced combined volume of the two chambers will substantially and preferably be made to equal to the volume of the dry gas chamber 106 only. The entire cooling assembly 100 can be left to just float inside the beverage container 20 in the beverage B, and alternatively the cooling assembly 100 also may be affixed to the beverage container inner wall 20a at any place or orientation.

(56) When the beverage container 20 is filled and sealed off as before by the beverage container lid 102, carbonation pressure P builds up internally within the beverage container 20. The carbonation pressure P compresses the interconnection structure 107, which compresses around the compressible plug member 108 until the internal pressure of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and the dry gas chamber 106 equals the carbonation pressure P. The cross-sectional area of the compressible plug member 108 in turn reduces due to carbonation pressure P compression.

Method of Use of the Third Embodiment of the Present Invention

(57) Upon opening the beverage container opening means 103, the change in container 20's internal carbonation pressure P to atmospheric pressure P.sub.a, causes the interconnection structure 107 to relax its pressure compression grip that is transmitted to the compressible plug member 108. The compressible plug member 108 remains in a deformed smaller cross-section and the difference in dimensions between the final compressed state of the compressible plug member 108 and the uncompressed state of the compressible plug member 108 permits fluid communication between the dry gas chamber 106 and the humidification liquid chamber 104, and the and the dry gas DG starts to absorb humidification liquid HL forming a vacuum V and pulling humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber 106. The humidification liquid chamber 104 is pulled further into the dry gas chamber 106 by the generated vacuum. Some humidification liquid HL vapor is evaporated during this process as well. The endothermically reacting chemical compounds R react with the humidification liquid HL and dissolve endothermically to cool the beverage B. The solvation causes a further reduction in volume of the dry gas chamber 106 and this causes more humidification liquid HL and humidification liquid vapor to be pulled into the dry gas chamber 106. Thus a complete dissolving of the endothermically reacting chemical compounds R occurs and cooling of the beverage B occurs. It is important that the surface areas of the humidification liquid chamber 104 and dry gas chamber 106 be maximized for best cooling.

(58) While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.