Apparatus for chilling beverages and other food products and process of manufacture
12098880 ยท 2024-09-24
Inventors
Cpc classification
F25D3/14
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D31/007
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2303/083
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2331/809
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2303/0841
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
A cooling apparatus includes an inner beverage container for containing a food product and having a rim and a side wall and a base dome, and an outer shell container having an open rim and a side wall and a base dome, where the inner beverage container is snugly fitted into the open rim of the outer shell container and a common lid on the container rims, and the inner beverage container is shorter than the outer shell container defining a dry gas chamber between the container base domes containing a dry gas and a cooling structure, and where the diameters of the inner beverage container is less than that of the outer shell container leaving a radial space between the container cylindrical walls defining a humidification liquid chamber containing a humidification liquid, and a deformable barrier between the dry gas chamber and the humidification liquid chamber.
Claims
1. A cooling apparatus for cooling food products, comprising: an inner beverage container for containing a food product and having an inner beverage container rim and an inner beverage container cylindrical wall and an inner beverage container base dome; an outer shell container having an outer shell container open rim, and an outer shell container cylindrical wall and an outer shell container base dome, where said inner beverage container is fitted into said outer shell container outer open rim such that said inner beverage container rim is adjacent to said outer beverage container rim; wherein said inner beverage container has a height that is less than the height of said outer shell container, such that there is a cylindrical space between said inner beverage container base dome and said outer shell container base dome defining a dry gas chamber containing a dry gas and a cooling structure, and wherein the diameter of said inner beverage container cylindrical wall is less than the diameter of said outer shell container cylindrical wall, such that there is a radial space between said inner container cylindrical wall and said outer container cylindrical wall defining a humidification liquid chamber containing a humidification liquid.
2. A product temperature change container apparatus, comprising: a product container for containing a product; a humidification liquid chamber in thermal communication with said product container; a humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber; a dry gas chamber in thermal communication with said product container and in fluid communication with said humidification liquid chamber comprising a thermally reactive structure containing interstitial spaces for receiving and storing a dry gas; a dry gas contained under pressure above ambient pressure within said dry gas chamber and within said interstitial spaces in said thermally reactive structure; and a compressible barrier structure between said humidification liquid chamber and said dry gas chamber for collapsing to open fluid communication between said chambers to activate cooling of a product in said product container, by permitting humidification liquid and dry gas to flow between said humidification liquid chamber and said dry gas chamber and thereby to intermix, wherein a temperature change of said product within said product container is generated by the absorption of humidification liquid by thermally reactive structure which then releases said dry gas as an absorbable medium for further thermodynamic cooling.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising: an outer container in the form of an outer can having an outer can first end tapering inwardly to an outer can opening to define a conical neck portion, said outer can opening being surrounded by an outer can rim, an outer can cylindrical wall and an outer can second end with can outer an second end wall; wherein said product container is a product can, said product can having a product can first end with a product can opening surrounded by a product can rim, a product can cylindrical wall and a product can second end with a product can second end wall, said product can being fit sealingly fit through said outer can rim, creating an annular radial space between said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall, said outer can being longer than said product can such that there is a cylindrical space between said product can second end wall and said outer can second end wall; and a can lid sealing fitted to said product can rim; wherein said compressible barrier structure separates at least a portion of said annular radial space and said cylindrical space.
4. Tilt apparatus of claim 2, wherein said humidification liquid chamber comprises at least part of said annular radial space, and wherein said dry gas chamber comprises said cylindrical space.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said dry gas has a dew point within the range of 10 degrees Fahrenheit to ?150 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said thermally reactive structure comprises a thermally reactive block structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said thermally reactive block structure comprises granules of a chemical reactant in crystalline form with crystalline structures defining between them said interstitial spaces.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said thermally reactive structure is formed of at last one endothermic compound where the apparatus is to cool the product.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said endothermic compound is one of urea, potassium chloride, and nitrate salts.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said dry gas is at least one of: carbon dioxide, Solstice L41y (R-452B), Solstice 452A (R-452A), Solstice L40X (R-455A), Solstice zd, Solstice ze (R-1234ze), Solstice yf (R-1234yf), for cooling.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said dry gas is one of: Dimethyll ether and oxygen for heating.
12. A push-down product temperature change container apparatus, comprising: an outer can having an outer can first end tapering inwardly to an outer can opening surrounded by an outer can rim, an outer can cylindrical wall and an outer can second end with an outer can second end wall; a product can for containing a product, said product can having a product can first end with a product can opening surrounded by a product can rim, a product can cylindrical wall and a product can second end with a product can second end wall, wherein said product can is configured to fit sealingly through said outer can rim, defining an annular radial space between said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall, said annular radial space being in thermal communication with said product can, and said outer can being longer than said product can such that there is a first cylindrical space between said product can second end wall and said outer can second end wall, wherein said first cylindrical space and at least a portion of said annular radial space together define a dry gas chamber; a thermally reactive structure comprising an amount of dry gas, wherein said thermally reactive structure is configured to be disposed within said first cylindrical space of said dry gas chamber; a can lid sealing fitted to said product can rim; a humidification liquid chamber cup comprising a cup cylindrical wall configured to be fitted sealingly over and around and in slidable relation to said outer can cylindrical wall, and a cup end wall configured to be spaced from said outer can second end wall when said cup cylindrical wall is fitted sealingly over and around said outer can cylindrical wall, creating a second cylindrical space between said outer can second end wall and said cup end wall and defining a humidification liquid chamber, wherein said dry gas chamber and said humidification liquid chamber are capable of being in fluid communication with each other through a hole in said outer can second end wall; wherein said hole is fitted with a one-way valve configured to prevent dry gas flow from the dry gas chamber into said humidification liquid chamber; humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber; and a vent opening in at least one of said outer can cylindrical wall and said outer can first end wall covered by a gas permeable and liquid impermeable membrane; wherein when said outer can is pressed into said humidification liquid chamber cup, said outer can second end wall is caused to advance toward said humidification liquid cup end wall, causing humidification liquid to flow from said liquid chamber through said one-way valve, thereby causing heating or cooling of a product within said product container by causing said humidification liquid to flow into said dry gas chamber and thereby to intermix with said dry gas and thereby to surround and be in thermal communication with at least a portion of said product can cylindrical wall, wherein a temperature change of said product within said product container is generated by the absorption of humidification liquid by said thermally reactive structure which then releases a dry gas as an absorption medium for further thermodynamic heating or cooling.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said exothermic compound is one of silica gel crystals, sodium silicate and ferrous metals.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said one-way valve is a duck bill check valve.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein pressing said outer can into said humidification liquid chamber cup, and thereby causing said outer second end wall to advance toward said cup end wall, and causing humidification liquid to flow from said liquid chamber through said one-way valve, permits heating or cooling of a product within said product container, by permitting humidification liquid to flow into said chamber for gas and thereby to intermix with said gas and thereby to surround and be in thermal communication with both said product can cylindrical wall and said product can second end wall.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said dry gas has a dew point within the range of 10 degrees Fahrenheit to ?150 degrees Fahrenheit.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said thermally reactive structure comprises a thermally reactive block structure.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said thermally reactive block structure comprises granules of a chemical reactant in crystalline form with crystalline structures defining between them said interstitial spaces.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said thermally reactive structure is formed of at least one endothermic compound where the apparatus is to cool the product.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said endothermic compound is one of urea, potassium chloride, and nitrate salts.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said exothermic compound is one of silica gel crystals, sodium silicate and ferrous metals.
22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said dry gas is at least one of: carbon dioxide, Solstice L41y (R-452B), Solstice 452A (R-452A), Solstice L40X (R-455A), Solstice zd, Solstice ze (R-1234ze), Solstice yf (R-1234yf), for cooling.
23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said dry gas is one of: Dimethyl ether and oxygen for heating.
24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said cup end wall comprises at least one vapor passageway capable of permitting gas to pass therethrough to the ambient.
25. A press-activated product temperature change container apparatus, comprising: an outer can having an outer can first end tapering inwardly to an outer can opening surrounded by an outer can rim, and having an outer can cylindrical wall and an outer can second end with an outer can second end wall; a product can for containing a product, said product can having a product can first end with a product can opening surrounded by a product can rim, a product can cylindrical wall and a product can second end with a product can second end wall, said product can being fit sealingly through said outer can rim, defining an annular radial space between said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall in thermal communication with said product can, said annular radial space defining a humidification liquid chamber, said outer earl being longer than said product can to creating a first cylindrical space between said product can second end wall and said outer can second end wall defining a chamber for gas; a thermally reactive structure contained within said chamber for gas and comprising interstitial spaces for receiving and storing a gas; a can lid sealingly fitted to said product can rim and having lid opening means; humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber; a gas contained under pressure above ambient pressure within said chamber for gas; and a compressible barrier structure comprising a deformable ring extending circumferentially around said product can and abutting said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall, separating said humidification liquid chamber from said chamber for gas, for collapsing by a user pressing inward on said outer can cylindrical wall over said deformable ring to open fluid communication between said chambers to activate cooling of the product in said product container, by permitting humidification liquid and gas to flow between said humidification liquid chamber acid said chamber for gas and thereby to intermix, wherein a temperature change of the product within said product can is generated by the absorption of humidification liquid by thermally reactive structure which then releases said gas as an absorbable medium for further thermodynamic cooling.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said gas is a dry gas.
27. The apparatus of claim 25, additionally comprising a vent port in said outer can, said vent port being covered by a gas permeable and liquid impermeable membrane, for releasing gas when said outer can is pressed into said cup to activate product temperature change.
28. An opening-activated product temperature change container apparatus, comprising: an outer can having an outer can first end tapering inwardly to an outer can opening surrounded by an outer can rim, an outer can cylindrical wall and an outer can second end with an outer can second end wall; a product can for containing a product under pressure above ambient pressure, said product can having a product can first end with a product can opening surrounded by a product can rim a product can cylindrical wall and a product can second end with a product can second end wall, said product can being fit sealingly through said outer can rim, defining an annular radial space between said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall in thermal communication with said product can, said annular radial space defining a humidification liquid chamber, said outer can being longer than said product can such that there is a cylindrical space between said product can second end wall and said outer can second end wall defining a dry gas chamber; a thermally reactive structure contained within said dry gas chamber and comprising interstitial spaces for receiving and storing a gas; a can lid sealingly fitted to said product can rim and having lid opening means; humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber; a gas contained under pressure above ambient pressure within said chamber for gas; and an annular barrier structure comprising a collapsible, resilient tube, said annular barrier structure extending circumferentially and sealingly around said product can and sealingly abutting said outer can cylindrical wall except where said tube extends between said product can cylindrical wall and said annular barrier structure, thereby separating said humidification liquid chamber from said dry gas chamber; such that pressure within said product can presses outwardly and holds said product can cylindrical wall firm against inward collapse and holding said resilient tube sealingly flattened, until said lid opening means is operated, opening said product can and thereby releasing pressure within said product can, permitting the resilience of said resilient tube to cause said resilient tube to resiliently open, thereby opening fluid communication between said dry gas chamber and said humidification liquid chamber.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said outer can has a vent port covered by a gas permeable and water impermeable membrane.
30. A push-down product temperature change container apparatus, comprising: an outer can having an outer can first end tapering inwardly to an outer can opening surrounded by an outer can rim, an cuter can cylindrical wall and an outer can second end with an outer and second end wall; a product can for containing a product, said product can having a product can first end with a product can opening surrounded by a product can rim, a product can cylindrical wall and a product can second end with a product can second end wall, said product can being fit sealingly through said outer can rim, defining an annular radial space between said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall in thermal communication with said product can, said outer can being longer than said product can such that there is a first cylindrical space between said product can second end wall and said outer can second end wall, said first cylindrical space and at least a portion of said annular radial space together defining a chamber for gas; a thermally reactive structure within said chamber for gas having interstitial spaces; a can lid sealingly fitted to said product can rim; a humidification liquid chamber cup having a cup cylindrical wall fitted sealingly over and around and in slidable relation to said outer can cylindrical wall adjacent to said outer can second end, and having a cup end wall spaced from said outer can second end wall creating a second cylindrical space between said outer can second end wall and said cup end wall, defining a humidification liquid chamber, wherein said chamber for gas and said humidification liquid chamber are in fluid communication with each other through a hole in said outer can second end wall which is fitted with a check valve oriented to prevent gas flow into said humidification liquid chamber, and wherein said cup end wall comprises at least one gas passing vapor passageway; humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber; a gas contained within said chamber for gas and filling said interstitial spaces; and such that pressing said outer can into said humidification liquid chamber cup, and thereby causing said outer can second end wall to advance toward said cup end wall, and causing humidification liquid to flow from said liquid chamber through said check valve, permits cooling of a product within said product container, by permitting humidification liquid and gas to flow and be drawn by said gas and thereby into said chamber for gas and into said interstitial spaces, and thereby to intermix, wherein a temperature change of said product within said product container is generated by the absorption of humidification liquid by said thermally reactive structure which then releases a gas as an absorption medium for further thermodynamic cooling.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said gas is a dry gas having a dew point within the range of 10 degrees Fahrenheit to ?150 degrees Fahrenheit.
32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said check valve is a duck bill check valve.
33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said gas is a dry gas having a dew point within the range of 10 degrees Fahrenheit to ?150 degrees Fahrenheit.
34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said thermally reactive structure comprises a thermally reactive block structure.
35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said thermally reactive block structure comprises granules of a chemical reactant in crystalline form with crystalline structures defining between them said interstitial spaces.
36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said thermally reactive structure is formed of at least one endothermic compound where the apparatus is to cool the product.
37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said endothermic compound is one of urea, potassium chloride, and nitrate salts.
38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said exothermic compound is one of silica gel crystals, sodium silicate and ferrous metals.
39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said dry gas is at least one of: carbon dioxide, Solstice L41y (R-452B), Solstice 452A (R-452A), Solstice L40X (R.-455A), Solstice zd, Solstice ze (R-1234ze), Solstice yf (R-1234yf), for cooling.
40. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said dry gas is one of: Dimethyl ether and oxygen for heating.
41. A push-down product temperature change container apparatus, comprising: an outer can having an outer can first end tapering inwardly to an outer can opening surrounded by an outer can rim, an outer can cylindrical wall and an outer can second end with an outer and second end wall; a product can for containing a product, said product can having a product can first end with a product can opening surrounded by a product can rim, a product can cylindrical wall and a product can second end with a product can second end wall, said product can being fit sealingly through said outer can rim, defining an annular radial space between said product can cylindrical wall and said outer can cylindrical wall in thermal communication with said product can, said outer can being longer than said product can such that there is a first cylindrical space between said product can second end wall and said outer can second end wall, said first cylindrical space and at least a portion of said annular radial space together defining a chamber for gas; a thermally reactive structure within said chamber for gas having interstitial spaces; a can lid sealingly fitted to said product can rim; a humidification liquid chamber cup having a cup cylindrical wall fitted sealingly over and around and in slidable relation to said outer can cylindrical wall adjacent to said outer can second end, and having a cup end wall spaced from said outer can second end wall creating a second cylindrical space between said outer can second end wall and said cup end wall, defining a humidification liquid chamber, wherein said chamber for gas and said humidification liquid chamber are in fluid communication with each other through a hole in said outer can second end wall which is fitted with a check valve oriented to prevent gas flow into said humidification liquid chamber, and wherein said cup end wall comprises at least one gas passing vapor passageway; humidification liquid contained within said humidification liquid chamber; a gas contained within said chamber for gas and filling said interstitial spaces; and a vent opening in at least one of said outer can cylindrical wall and said outer can first end wall covered by a gas permeable and liquid impermeable membrane; such that pressing said outer can into said humidification liquid chamber cup, and thereby causing said outer can second end wall to advance toward said cup end wall, and causing humidification liquid to flow from said liquid chamber through said check valve, permits cooling of a product within said product container, by permitting humidification liquid to flow and be drawn by said gas and thereby into said chamber for gas and into said interstitial spaces and thereby to intermix with said gas and to surround and be in thermal communication with at least said product can cylindrical wall, wherein a temperature change of said product within said product container is generated by the absorption of humidification liquid by said thermally reactive structure which then releases a gas as an absorption medium for further thermodynamic cooling.
42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said gas is a dry gas having a dew point within the range of 10 degrees Fahrenheit to ?150 degrees Fahrenheit.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said thermally reactive structure comprises a thermally reactive block structure.
44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said thermally reactive block structure comprises granules of a chemical reactant in crystalline form with crystalline structures defining between them said interstitial spaces.
45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said thermally reactive structure is formed of at least one endothermic compound where the apparatus is to cool the product.
46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said endothermic compound is one of urea, potassium chloride, and nitrate salts.
47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said exothermic compound is one of silica gel crystals, sodium silicate and ferrous metals.
48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said dry gas is at least one of: carbon dioxide, Solstice L41y (R-452B), Solstice 452A (R-452A), Solstice L40X (R-455A), Solstice zd, Solstice ze (R-1234ze), Solstice yf (R-1234yf), for cooling.
49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said dry gas is one of: Dimethyl ether and oxygen for heating.
50. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said check valve is a duck bill valve.
51. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein pressing said outer can into said humidification liquid chamber cup, and thereby causing said outer can second end wall to advance toward said cup end wall, and causing humidification liquid to flow from said liquid chamber through said check valve, permits cooling off of gas and thereby to intermix with said gas and thereby to surround and be in thermal communication with both said product can cylindrical wall and said product can second end wall.
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:
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(20) 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 of apparatus 10 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. For purposes of description, the outer shell container and the inner beverage container shall and may be referred to jointly as the containers.
(21) 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.
(22) For orientation purposes and clarity, the Apparatus 10 is assumed to be standing in a vertical orientation in a normal placement orientation of a beverage container of the conventional kind. This invention uses the thermodynamic potential of endothermic solvation, and the endothermic evaporation of a humidification liquid HL in a dry gas environment cool a beverage.
First Embodiment of the Present Invention and Method of Manufacture
(23) Referring to
(24) The gap between the height of the outer shell container base dome 103 and the height of the inner beverage container base dome 203 forms a cylindrical space A between them. The gap between the diameter of the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111 and the diameter of the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 201 forms an annular radial space R between them. The cylindrical space A forms a dry gas chamber DGC that will hold a cooling structure 107 impregnated with a dry gas DG, and the annular radial space R forms the humidification liquid chamber HLC that will hold a humidification liquid HL.
(25) The first method of forming the cooling structure 107 is by means of using a mixture of dry-ice pellets that are densely packed with crystalline urea and salts to compressively form the desired shape and size of the cooling structure 107. Dry ice pellets are commonly made for industrial use and the density of the packing of the dry ice determines its sublimation rate and eventually its life span as a solid. It is thus important that the dry ice to be used for making a cooling structure 107 that is very dense. If prepared in small batches, a mold 300 acts as a high-pressure molding vessel with a re-sealable closure. See
(26) The shape of the mold cavity 301 is designed to maximize the volume of the cooling structure 107 such that it fills the dry gas chamber DGC according to the first embodiment as shown in
(27) The mold cavity 301 can be heated and lined with a very thin wax layer for easy release of the compressibly-formed cooling structure 107 by melting the thin wax coating inside the mold cavity 301 to release the cooling structure 107. The general thickness and shape of the cooling structure 107 for to the first embodiment is determined by the differences in height between the inner beverage container 200 and the outer shell container 100. A general difference of about 1 inch between the standard beverage containers is provided by the readily available cans such as the 8.5 oz 200 Slim Can? for the inner beverage container 200, and the 12.0 oz 202 Slim Can? for the outer shell container 100, both manufactured by Ball Corp? for example, and other canning companies. For example, the inner beverage container 200 can be chosen to be a 8.5 oz Slim Can? with a 200 neck configuration with the chosen outer shell container 100 being to be a 12 oz standard can or a 12 oz Slim Can? with a 202 neck configuration.
(28) The cooling structure 107 also may be formed by compressive molding in the manner prescribed above and then broken up into granular form so that it can be poured into the outer shell container 100 to form the apparatus 10.
(29) Another method of forming the cooling structure 107 is by using endothermic salts E and carbonates and adding one of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers and activated carbon, in combination with organic salts such as one or more of Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, and in some cases with Sodium Bicarbonate to form the cooling structure 107. The PTFE fibers can be replaced with activated carbon, and fullerene nanotubes, however, PTFE fibers are more effective in application and are preferred for cleanliness. The use of PTFE and other media that can absorb CO.sub.2 to make the cooling structure 107 semi porous for storing gases and also for providing a porous substrate for water, the water easily dissolves the cooling structure 107 by opening the pores formed by compression to release trapped dry gas DG. The mixtures of urea with the PTFE fibers and salts and carbonates can be varied to various proportions as shown as an example in the table below.
(30) TABLE-US-00001 Urea PTFE, activated Salt or range carbon, range carbonate range 60%-80% 2% 38%-18%
(31) The mixture is generally heated in the mold 300 or extrusion cavity to a temperature of 271.4? F. at which point the urea melts to a clear liquid without decomposition. CO.sub.2 is introduced under a pressure of about 820 psi and greater, and even to supercritical pressures over the extrusion or mold cavity 301. The dry gas DG is infused into the mold cavity 301 to mix with the molten urea U by slowly bubbling the dry gas DG through the molten urea U as micro bubbles through the mold cavity 301 using a slow release control valve. The bubbles should be about 0.01 in diameter and, as such, holes made through the mold cavity 301 can be used to bubble a gas for example, such as CO.sub.2. Preferably, the range of diameters of the holes of dry gas DG are as small as 10 microns to 200 microns, and as such they may be laser perforated through the mold 300, if desired. It is important that the mold cavity 301 holes be small enough not to allow the passage of molten urea U and endothermic salts E through them, but can allow the free passage of dry gas DG. Heating of the urea can also be achieved by just introducing the dry DG gas under pressure to generate a heating of the gas. Thus, dry CO.sub.2 for example can be pressurized into the molten urea U mixture through the mold cavity 301 to generate the heat required without heaters. A cooling coil (not shown) may be used to pass cooling media such as cooled air, cooled water, and a cryogenic liquid through the mold cavity 301 to rapidly cool the urea and encapsulate the dry gas DG inside PTFE fibers and activated carbon granules as a sorbent. Urea U has a density 1.32 g/cc while PTFE has a density of 2.2 g/cc. at 271.4? F., the density of liquid CO.sub.2 is about 0.76 g/cc. Thus, CO.sub.2 is the lightest compound of the mixture and will tend to migrate in a vertical, upward direction through the mixture when introduced at the lowest point of the mold cavity 301 where the concentration of PTFE fibers is maximum due to their higher densities.
(32) It is known that PTFE fibers and activated carbon encapsulate liquid CO.sub.2 at a molecular level. If left by themselves, however, the CO.sub.2 will eventually migrate through their pores and dissipate to Lo atmosphere, achieving very little storage. PTFE and activated carbon hollow fibers have facilitated CO.sub.2 capture in other applications and their affinity to repel water makes them attractive in such CO.sub.2 storage applications, where water vapor otherwise tends to fill the pores of other storage medium fibers in place of the CO.sub.2. It is thus important that the dry gas DG, such as CO.sub.2, be dried to a low dew point to avoid storing water in such matrices. Otherwise the storage capacity of the cooling structure 107 will be less than 10% of its available storage capacity at room temperature and normal atmospheric humidity of 50%. A random orientation of the micro PTFE fibers facilitates and allows the dry gas DG to easily interact and be trapped within the PTFE fibers as it migrates through the cooling structure 107. Thus the pores of the PTFE fibers and the urea U in the cooling structure 107 form crystalline blocked fiber cores encapsulating dry gas DG such as CO.sub.2, as the cooling structure 107 cools and crystalizes around the fibers. The dry gas DG is substantially dried to a low dew point by removing water vapor from it. Dry gas DG does not mean non-liquefied CO.sub.2, and one familiar with the term will know that dry CO.sub.2, for example, can be liquefied but contains little or no water. The dry gas DG is substantially dried by flowing it through a desiccant bed to remove as much water as possible, and in this case, the dry gas DG is passed through a desiccant bed of silica crystals repeatedly and over a period of time to remove all moisture. Standard beverage plants and several factories use substantially dry CO.sub.2 for carbonation of soda and beers. Water can reduce the capacity to store CO.sub.2 in such structures, and thus the removal of as much water as possible helps achieve the aims of the invention. Further, the dry gas DG is needed to effectuate further cooling by absorption of water and humidification of the gas during operation of the apparatus 10.
(33) Studies by the inventor show that when the ends of a tube holding liquefied substantially dry CO.sub.2 are plugged with recrystallized molten urea U, the solidified crystals are capable of withstanding the critical pressures of the liquefied dry gas DG, even at large diameters of blockage. When the Urea is dissolved, some of the dry gas DG that has migrated into the urea U is also released with endothermic cooling. This property of urea is adopted to PTFE fibers, which can also store liquefied CO.sub.2 when under pressure. The problem of dry gas DG storage lies in the further migration of the gas to atmosphere as time passes. This problem can be solved by encapsulating the dry gas DG using PTFE fibers trapped inside recrystallized urea U, forming bounded containments. Thus, extruding or molding a mixture of molten urea U, PTFE, and endothermic salts E with a dry gas DG such as CO.sub.2 and then recrystallizing the urea U rapidly in a mold cavity 301 greatly facilitates dry gas DG capture, entrapping the dry gas DG for long term use.
(34) The purpose of the endothermic salts E is to rapidly disintegrate the cooling structure 107 as they dissolve in humidification liquid HL forming cavities and pores which allow easy access for more water molecules to enter the cooling structure 107. The endothermic salts E may not be necessary if the disintegration of the urea U can occur quickly. Advantageously, the endothermic salts E can be chosen to also dissolve endothermically, allowing further cooling effects to be achieved in addition to the cooling effect effectuated by dissolving Urea U in water. The cooling structure 107 can thus be formed in this manner in any desired shape to be used to cool the apparatus 10.
(35) Advantageously, the cooling structure 107 can be made in the form of longitudinal segments of a cylinder as semi-flexible thick membranes that can be wrapped and placed into the outer shell container 100, to expand and abut outer shell container inner cylindrical wall 101 and to surround the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 202 outer surface. It is also possible to mold form the cooling structure 107 by pouring its molten state on a fibrous open-celled sheet material such as a porous foam or a highly absorbent paper tissue to allow it to be flexible and contiguous.
(36) To assemble the apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the cooling structure 107 is first formed and inserted into the outer shell container 100 to sit on its inner dome. If formed as a to compression molded structure, the cooling structure 107 is simply inserted to sit on the outer shell container base dome 103. If formed as a granular structure, the cooling structure 107 is simple poured onto the outer shell container base dome 103.
(37) In both cases, a very thin compressible wax layer is then poured to form a compressible barrier structure 128 that fluidly seals over the surface of the cooling structure 107. Humidification liquid HL is then poured into the outer shell container 100 as to sit above the compressible barrier structure 128 and fill the annular radial space R between the containers and above the cooling structure 107. As shown in
(38) A vapor passageway 110, comprising a small hole of dimensions between ?.sup.th of an inch to ? an inch in diameter is made through the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111, preferably at the highest possible location on the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111. The vapor passageway 110 can also be made by laser perforation to create several small holes in place of a single large hole. The purpose of the vapor passage way 110 is to allow effluent dry gas DG, preferably CO.sub.2, to exit the apparatus 10 from the humidification liquid chamber HLC to atmosphere. The vapor passageway 110 may not be necessary if the volume of dry gas DG that is stored in the cooling structure 107 will not generate a pressure greater than 1 psi.
(39) As noted above, a preferred location for the vapor passageway 110 is at about the 1 from the outer shell container open rim 106. In other cases, the vapor passageway 110 may also be placed on the topmost possible location of the inner beverage container outer cylindrical wall 111 and through the inner beverage container inner cylindrical wall 202. This also allows the dry gas DG to pass through inner beverage container cylindrical wall 202 through the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 201 inner surface and then through the beverage container opening means 116.
(40) Preferably the vapor passageway 110 is placed in the outer shell container 100 to avoid any possibility of contamination between the beverage B in the inner beverage container 200 with the L 5 cooling structure 107. Yet again in other instances, the vapor passageway 110 can be made through the Inner beverage container 200 and additionally through the beverage container opening means 116. The vapor passageway 110 communicates fluidly between atmosphere and the humidification liquid chamber HLC formed by the annular radial space R between the two containers. Thus, advantageously, the vapor passageway 110 can be made on the outer shell container 100 to allow the humidification liquid chamber HLC to communicate with the atmosphere. The vapor passageway 110 can also be made through the inner beverage container 200 to allow communication between the humidification liquid chamber HLC and atmosphere through either the beverage container opening means 116 or alternatively through a vapor passageway 110 made directly through the beverage container lid 113.
(41) A filtration membrane 117 preferably made from a thin hydrophobic plastic disc of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with pore sizes such as 0.05 um, 0.10 um, 0.22 um, 0.45 um, 1 um, 2 um, 3 um, 5 um, is attached by a strong hydrophobic and water compatible adhesive to cover over the vapor passageway 110 either on the inside or the outside surface surrounding the vapor passageway 110. Preferably, the adhesive is placed on the cylindrical portion of the filtration membrane 117, not covering the vapor passageway 110. The filtration membrane 117 also may be welded onto any of the container walls by thermal or ultrasonic welding to cover the vapor passageways 110. The attached filtration membrane 117 must be able to withstand pressures greater than carbonation pressures of about 60 psi. In the case when the vapor passageway 110 is placed on the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 115, the filtration membrane 117 must be large enough to allow the free flow of dry gas DG through its structure without stressing the walls of the inner beverage container 200 with back pressure, otherwise back pressure may crush the walls of the inner beverage container 200. A multiplicity of vapor passageways 110 may also be perforated through both the inner beverage container 200, the outer shell container 100, and the beverage container lid 113 to reduce the back pressure of dry gas DG and prevent it from collapsing the inner beverage container 200 walls.
(42) Preferably the filtration membrane 117 is a thin membrane of a thickness less than 5 mills, and about 20 mm to 50 mm in diameter, and has a burst pressure of above 80 psi and can also adequately withstands the pressures that are generated when the apparatus 10 is in operation, releasing CO.sub.2 to atmosphere.
(43) The filtration membrane 117 is hydrophobic and thus does not allow humidification liquid HL liquids to pass through its pores, but will allow dry gas DG to pass through its pores. The vapor passageway 110 affords a means of passing dry gas DG through a filtration membrane 117 from the humidification liquid chamber HLC to atmosphere.
(44) The next step in the assembly and manufacturing process of the first embodiment is to pour a prescribed amount of humidification liquid HL, preferably water, into the outer shell container 100. The amount of humidification liquid HL must be enough to just fill the annular radial space R between the containers 100 and 200. Then, the next step in assembling the first embodiment of apparatus 10 is to slowly insert the inner beverage container 200 through the outer shell container open rim 106 until the inner beverage container sealing flange 207 rests on the outer shell container sealing flange 207a. During this process, gases inside the empty cylindrical space A forming the humidification liquid chamber HLC will build up pressure and rise and pass through the vapor passageway 110 and through Lo the filtration membrane 117 to atmosphere as the humidification liquid HL is displaced by the inner beverage container 200 to rise inside the cylindrical space A between the containers until it substantially fills the humidification liquid chamber HLC.
(45) A protective sealing membrane 120 in the form of thin membrane of plastic or paper with glue lining on its edge may be attached firmly to cover and protect the filtration membrane 117 from the outside environment. The sealing membrane 120 is not essential but accords protection of the humidification liquid chamber HLC from atmospheric pressure changes and dirt. The protective sealing membrane 120 must be attached so that it can be either be dislodged or can be ruptured by a slight pressure that is greater than carbonation pressure, preferably above 50 psi of pressure. Thus, advantageously, the sealing membrane 120 must be designed to form a seal over the filtration membrane 117 during normal storage of a carbonated beverage B without rupturing. Preferably the sealing membrane 120 is welded by thermal or ultrasonic welding unto the surfaces of the containers 100 and 200 over the vapor passageway 110. The sealing membrane 120 must be attached to withstand pressures greater than carbonation but should be rupturable when the pressure exceeds the carbonation pressure of the beverage B being cooled.
(46) The next step is just filling a beverage B into the inner beverage container 200 through inner beverage container open rim 206 using conventional beverage filling machines. The next step is to jointly seam and seal both the inner beverage container sealing flange 207 and the outer shell container sealing flange 207b simultaneously to the beverage container lid flange 207c. This provides a seal for the beverage B product inside the inner beverage container 200, and also provides a seal for the dry gas chamber DGC and humidification liquid chamber HLC simultaneously. If the outer shell container 100 is required to be pressurized, the filtration membrane 117 may be placed over a vapor passageway 110 made on the inner beverage container 200 and a sealing membrane 120 may be placed over any filtration membrane 117 that is on the beverage container lid 113. Alternatively, it may be placed on the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111 at an appropriate location at the highest possible location. This allows carbonation pressure from the beverage B to enter into the outer shell container 100 and pressurize its walls.
(47) Experiments by the inventor show that the co-seaming of the two flanges as described above provides an adequate seal for the purposes of the invention. However, it is useful to make sure that there is enough compression of the three sealing flanges to form an adequate seal that can withstand carbonation pressure. The vapor passageway 110 made on the inner beverage container 200 ensures rapid equilibration of pressure between the carbonated beverage B and the volume cylindrical space A, so that the inner beverage container 200 bears little or no pressure related stresses.
(48) A means of activating the cooling process for the first embodiment requires a vapor passage way 110 through the inner beverage container outer cylindrical wall 202, through the inner beverage container inner cylindrical wall 201, and the beverage container lid 113.
(49) Apparatus 10 is activated by simply depressing the wall of the outer shell container 100 to compress the compressible barrier 128 formed by the wax ring and deform it from a sealing configuration to a non-sealing configuration.
(50) In the first embodiment, the humidification liquid HL in the cylindrical space A is released by gravity to contact the cooling structure 107 below it as it flows through the deformed compressible barrier 128. Simple agitation by swirling or shaking can ensure that the humidification liquid HL contacts the cooling structure 107 and the process will continue as pressure builds up inside the outer shell container 100 and ruptures the deformed compressible barrier 128. The pressure loss also causes the deformed compressible barrier 128 to break and deform further as the humidification liquid HL becomes carbonated and pushes the deformed compressible barrier 128 to release gas. This way, after the apparatus 10 is activated, the pressurized dry gas DG that is generated will pass through a vapor passageway 110 through the inner beverage container 200 and thus through a filtration membrane 117, and then, through a vapor passageway 110 on the beverage container lid 113. The pressure of the existing gases will be higher than carbonation pressure and thus will dislodge the protective sealing membrane 120 to exit to atmosphere. It is important that the rate of flow of gases through the filtration membranes 117 be selected to match each other. This way, no back pressures are generated during the process that may compressibly crush the inner beverage container 200.
Method of Manufacture of the Second Embodiment of the Invention
(51)
(52) The gap between the height of the outer shell container base dome 103 and the height of the inner beverage container base dome 203 forms a cylindrical space A between them. The gap between the diameter of the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111 and the diameter of the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 201 forms an annular radial space R between them. The cylindrical space A forms humidification liquid chamber HLC which will hold a humidification liquid HL, and the annular radial space R forms a dry gas chamber DGC that will hold a cooling structure 107 impregnated with a dry gas DG.
(53) LO In the second embodiment, the annular radial space R between the two containers now forms a dry gas chamber DGC as opposed to a humidification liquid chamber HLC, and the cylindrical space A forms humidification liquid chamber HLC that will hold a humidification liquid HL. As such, the roles of the dry gas chamber DGC and the humidification liquid chamber HLC have been reversed as a counter example to the first embodiment.
(54) The first step in making the second embodiment is to form a vapor passageway 110 at the center of the outer shell container base dome 103. The vapor passageway 110 communicates fluidly between atmosphere and the cylindrical space A between the two containers. Thus, advantageously, the vapor passageway 110 can be made through the outer shell container cylindrical wall 102 and through the outer shell container base dome 103 to allow the fluid communicate between the cylindrical space A with atmosphere.
(55) As before, a filtration membrane 117 is placed over the vapor passageway 110. Preferably the filtration membrane 117 is a thin membrane of thickness less than 5 mills, and about 20 mm to 50 mm in diameter, and has a burst pressure of above 50 psi and can also adequately withstand the pressures that are generated when the apparatus 10 is in operation releasing CO.sub.2 to atmosphere.
(56) The next step in assembling the second embodiment is to flood the outer shell container 100 with a extremely dry gas DG such as CO.sub.2 or Dimethyl ether. The dry gas DG need not be under pressure. This displaces any air that may be inside the outer shell container 100.
(57) In this embodiment, the cooling structure 107 can be made as one or more segments of a cylinder that fits into the annular radial space R between the containers 100 and 200. If made as a cylinder, the shape of the cooling structure 107 is preferably a split cylinder whose cylindrical wall is cut along its longitudinal axis to allow it to be squeezed to a smaller diameter that can pass through the outer shell container open rim 106 and then expanded to attach itself by friction to shell container Lo cylindrical wall 101 inner surface within the annular radial space R. The cooling structure 107 also may be made in segments that can easily be inserted through the outer shell container open rim 106 to attach to outer shell container cylindrical wall 101 inner surface.
(58) A preferred way of making the cooling structure 107 for this embodiment is by compression molding it into the cylindrical portions in a mold as described above. In such a case, the mixture of urea U, endothermic salts E and some carbonates is compressed to a high tonnage by a press capable of pressures of about 20 tons to 50 tons of force, and then heated in a mold cavity that is pressurized with dry gas DG to form cylindrical segments. The cooling structure 107 mixture will heat up as it is compressed to form a contiguous crystalline structure into the desired cylindrical segment shapes as described earlier. This process can be very effective for mass production and requires at least a 20-ton press for the cakes to be stable in very much the same manner as a tablet of medication is made. This method can also be used to form segmented cooling structure 107 sections that can be easily inserted into the outer shell container 100.
(59) Yet another effective way of making the cooling structure 107 is to heat the cooling structure 107 with sorbents, (PTFE, and or activate carbon), salts and carbonates and to extrude the molten mixture directly unto the outer shell container inner cylindrical wall 101 as the outer shell container 100 is spun on its axis to rotate preferably in a horizontal axis of symmetry. The cooling structure 107 will then solidify as it cools to form a solid cylindrical layer stuck on the outer shell container inner cylindrical wall 101 in the annular radial space R. This process provides a simple and fast method of mass manufacturing the cooling structure 107 while achieving insertion into the outer shell container 100 directly. Care must be taken to allow the flow of the molten cooling structure 107 to form an even cylinder that has a diameter just slightly larger than that of the inner beverage container 200 so that the inner beverage container 200 can slide freely into the outer shell container 100.
(60) Humidification liquid HL is first poured into the outer shell container 100 to sit and fill the cylindrical space A between the outer shell container base dome 103 and the inner beverage container base dome 203. The next step in forming the apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment is to pour a thin layer of molten wax into the outer shell container 100 to float and cover over and seal the humidification liquid HL as it dries.
(61) The vapor passageway 110 can also be made by laser perforation to create several small holes in place of a single large hole. The purpose of the vapor passageway 110 is to allow effluent dry gas DG, preferable, CO.sub.2, to exit the apparatus 10 from the dry gas chamber DGC to atmosphere. The vapor passageway 110 may not be necessary if the volume of dry gas DG stored in the cooling structure 107 will not generate much pressure greater than 1 psi.
(62) As before, the next step is to slowly insert the inner beverage container 200 through the outer shell container open rim 106 until inner beverage container sealing flange 207 rests snugly on the outer shell container sealing flange 207a. During this process, dry gas DG inside the cylindrical space A that forms the dry gas chamber DGC, builds up pressure as the dry gas DG that was flooded into the outer shell container 100 is displaced by the inner beverage container 200. The excess dry gas DG passes through the vapor passageway 110 and through the filtration membrane 117 to atmosphere.
(63) As before, a protective sealing membrane is attached firmly to cover and protect the filtration membrane 117 from the outside environment. The sealing membrane 120 is not essential but accords protection of the dry gas chamber DGC from atmospheric pressure changes and dirt. The protective sealing membrane 120 must be attached so that it can be either dislodged or can be ruptured by pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Thus, the sealing membrane 120 must be designed to form a seal over the filtration membrane 117 during normal storage of a carbonated beverage B without rupturing. Preferably the sealing membrane 120 is welded by thermal or ultrasonic welding unto the to surfaces of the containers over the vapor passageways 110.
(64) The next step is just filling a beverage B into the inner beverage container 200 using conventional beverage filling machines and seaming a beverage container lid 113 to co-seam and seal both the inner beverage container sealing flange 207, and the outer shell container sealing flange 207a to the beverage container lid flange 207c simultaneously. This provides a seal for the beverage product B inside the inner beverage container 200, and also provides a seal for the dry gas chamber DGC and humidification liquid chamber HLC. If the outer shell container 100 is required to be pressurized, the filtration membrane 117 may be placed over a vapor passageway 110 made on the inner beverage container 200 and a sealing membrane 120 may be placed over any filtration membrane 117 that is on the beverage container lid 113 or the outer shell container 100. This allows carbonation pressure from the beverage B to enter into the outer shell container 100 through the inner beverage container to pressurize the outer shell container 100.
(65) Advantageously, in all embodiments, the inner beverage container sealing flange 207 may be softened for easy seaming by heating it and quenching with water. This allows it to easily stretch over the outer shell container sealing flange 207a and the beverage container lid flange 207c for the co-seaming operation.
(66) In particular cases for both the first and the second embodiments, when the apparatus must not be opened for consumption prior to cooling, a beverage container lid made with a finger depressible sealing disc can be used instead of the conventional tab on the beverage container lid. Such lids are readily available from Ball Container Corporation? in the USA and from Crown Cork and Seal Corporation?. The Global Vent? lid made by Crown Cork and Seal? is an example of such a beverage container lid. The resealable twist and turn lid made by Rexam USA? is another example of such a lid. These special lids have an opening that is sealed by a depressible disc. The surface area of the disc can be chosen so that when pressure builds up during cooling and the release of CO.sub.2, the pressure acting on this area will generate a force that is enough to prevent the lid from being readily depressed by finger pressure F, until all the gases have exited the outer shell container through the vapor passageway and through the filtration membrane to atmosphere, allowing the pressure to fall to a pressure that will exert a minimal force that allows the disc to be depressed by finger pressure F. The LS apparatus is now ready for use.
(67) To activate the cooling process, the apparatus 10 is turned upside down with the base dome at the top. The apparatus is activated by simply depressing the wall of the outer shell container 100 to compress the compressible barrier 128 formed by the wax ring and deform it from a sealing configuration. The humidification liquid HL in the cylindrical space A is released by gravity to contact the cooling structure 107 below it as it flows through the deformed compressible barrier 128. Simple agitation by swirling or shaking the can 10 ensures that the humidification liquid HL contacts the cooling structure 107, and the process will continue as pressure builds up inside the outer shell container 100 and ruptures the deformed compressible barrier 128. The pressure loss also causes the deformed compressible barrier 128 to break and deform further as the humidification liquid HL becomes carbonated and pushes the deformed compressible barrier 128 to release gas. This way, after the apparatus 10 is activated, the pressurized dry gas DG that is generated will pass through a vapor passageway 110 through the inner beverage container 200 and thus through a filtration membrane 117, and then, through a vapor passageway 110 on the beverage container 200. The pressure of the exiting gases will be higher than carbonation pressure and thus will dislodge the protective sealing membrane 120 to exit to atmosphere. It is important that the rate of flow of gases through the filtration membranes 117 be selected to match each other. This way, no back pressures are generated during the process that may compressibly crush the inner beverage container 200.
(68) The cooling structure 107 is endothermically dissolved and the urea U that is dissolved allows the CO.sub.2 trapped in the cooling structure 107 to expand and cool the beverage further, and the CO.sub.2 further absorbs water as a dry gas DG and humidifies, effectuating cooling by phase change, evaporation and endothermic cooling. The apparatus 10 can now be left standing in its normal upright configuration and the foaming turbulence thus generated by the CO.sub.2 will gradually allow the Ls humidification liquid HL to continuously disrupt and rupture the remaining compressible barrier 128 to release gas, allowing continuous contact between humidification liquid HL and the cooling structure 107, even in an upright position. The pressure of the gas rises, causing the sealing membrane 120 to rupture or become dislodged from the container and allowing only CO.sub.2 gas to pass through the filtration membranes 117 to atmosphere. This effectuates cooling of the inner beverage container 200 as well as the outer shell container 100.
(69) A second means of activating the cooling process is to simply open the beverage container opening means 116. This requires a vapor passageway 110 and a filtration membrane 117 to be placed either through the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 115 or through the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111. No harm is done if both vapor passages are made as stated earlier in the first activation means. When this is done, the pressure loss then causes inner beverage container 200 walls to momentary relax and the compressible barrier 128 formed by the wax is disrupted. Further agitation will ensure that the water contacts the cooling structure 107 as it disintegrates and falls into the humidification liquid HL. The cooling structure 107 is endothermically dissolved and the dry gas DG trapped in the cooling structure 107 expands and cools the humidification liquid HL further, and the dry gas DG further absorbs humidification liquid HL as a dry gas DG humidifies, effectuating cooling by phase change, evaporation and endothermic cooling. The dry gas DG can either exit through the vapor passageway 110 on the inner beverage container 200 or through the vapor passageway 110 on the outer shell container 100 and also through both vapor passageways 110. The apparatus can now be left standing on its normal upright configuration and the foaming turbulence thus generated by the CO.sub.2 will gradually allow the water to continuously disrupt and rupture the remaining wax barrier structure, allowing continuous contact between water and the cooling structure, even in an upright position.
Method of Manufacture of the Third Embodiment of the Present Invention
(70) As before, the third embodiment of the invention requires two conventional beverage containers with matched sizes to serve the purposes of an outer shell container 100 and an inner beverage container 200 that form part of apparatus 10. The outer shell container 100 and the inner beverage container 200 are chosen such that the outer diameter of the inner beverage container 200 fits snugly through the outer shell container open rim 106, which has a larger diameter than the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 202 outer surface. The inner beverage container 200 is chosen to have a height that is less than the outer shell container 100.
(71) The gap between the height of the outer shell container base dome 103 and the height of the inner beverage container base dome 203 forms a cylindrical space A between them. The gap between the diameter of the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111 and the diameter of the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 201 forms an annular radial space R between them. The cylindrical space A forms humidification liquid chamber HLC which will hold a humidification liquid HL, and the annular radial space R forms a dry gas chamber DGC that will hold a cooling structure 107 impregnated with a dry gas DG.
(72) As shown in
(73) As before, the cooling structure 107 is prepared in the manner prescribed by the second embodiment, i.e. as a cylindrical structure is made according to the second embodiment of the invention to sit in the annular radial space R between the containers.
(74) The next step of manufacturing the apparatus according to the third embodiment is to place the humidification liquid chamber HLC, with the humidification liquid HL sealed within it by compressible barrier 128, to sit inside the cylindrical space A, and allowing the stepped well 123 to project through the outer shell container base dome hole 125, preferably without the stepped well 123 projecting beyond the outer shell container base edge 129. Thus, the outer shell container 100 preferably will sit on outer shell container base edge 129 as usual.
(75) The next step is to insert the inner beverage container 200 through the outer shell container open rim 106 until the inner beverage container sealing flange 107a rests and snugly sits on the outer shell container sealing flange 207a. The next step is just filling a beverage B into the inner beverage container 200 using conventional beverage filling machines, and then seaming a beverage container lid 113 to co-seam and seal both the inner beverage container sealing flange 207a and the outer shell container sealing flange 107a to the beverage container lid flange 207c. The apparatus is now ready to be used as invented.
(76) To activate the cooling of the apparatus 10, a user simply turns the unit upside down and pushes the stepped well 123 of the humidification liquid chamber HLC to break the compressible barrier 128
(77) with the inner beverage container bottom edge 205. The humidification liquid HL spills into and contacts the cooling structure 107 and starts to agitate the cooling structure 107 to endothermically dissolve and cool and also to release dry gas DG and humidify the dry gas DG for further cooling.
(78) While there many other means of forming the cooling structure of each embodiment that have not been described, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that a variety of methods could be used to achieve the same goal. Apart from CO.sub.2 other environmentally friendly gases may be used with the invention. For example, Dry Air and Dry Nitrogen may be used even though it will only be stored in gaseous form. It is anticipated that the cost of the components needed to mass manufacture apparatus in the forms shown above is less than US $0.10 per unit. The wax seal forming the compressible barrier structure C may be replaced by a simple plastic layer 228 forming a barrier. One-way duckbill valves 230 may be used with small tubes (not shown) connect the dry gas chamber DGC to the humidification liquid chamber HLC and allow a one way flow of the humidification liquid HL in instances where carbonation pressure is used to pump the humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber DGC when carbonation pressure is released by opening the beverage container opening means 116.
(79) Alternative material selections can be used to form the inner beverage container 200 and the outer shell container 100. For example, plastic, rather than aluminum containers may be used to achieve the same purposes. In the case of a plastic outer shell container 100, the open end 106 may be left open for insertion of either humification liquid HL or cooling structures 107. Then the open end 106 can be heat shrunk to seal and form the two chambers. HLC and DGC.
Method of Manufacture of the Fourth Embodiment of the Present Invention
(80) A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in
(81) As before, the fourth embodiment of the invention requires two conventional beverage containers with matched sizes to serve the purposes of an outer shell container 100 and an inner beverage container 200 that form part of apparatus 10. The outer shell container 100 and the inner beverage container 200 are chosen, once again, such that the outer diameter of the inner beverage container 200 fits snugly through the outer shell container open rim 106, which has a larger diameter than the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 202 outer surface. The inner beverage container 200 is chosen to have a height that is less than the outer shell container 100.
(82) The gap between the height of the outer shell container base dome 103 and the height of the inner beverage container base dome 203 forms a cylindrical space A between them. The gap between the diameter of the outer shell container cylindrical wall 111 and the diameter of the inner beverage container cylindrical wall 201 forms an annular radial space R between them.
(83) In this case, the cylindrical space A and the annular radial space R together form a dry gas chamber DGC that will hold a cooling structure 107 impregnated with a dry gas DG.
(84) As shown in
(85) A compressible barrier structure 128, such as a wax, is placed to seal off the humidification liquid passageway 130 to prevent humidification liquid HL from freely passing through into the outer shell container 100 from the humidification liquid chamber HLC. The compressible barrier structure 128 could also be a duckbill valve 230 in a different barrier that only allows flow into the outer shell container 100 from the humidification liquid chamber HLC when pressure is applied to the humidification liquid HL.
(86) Grease and other sealing agents that allow the Humidification liquid chamber HLC to freely slide in a sealing configuration is applied to layer the humidification liquid chamber cylindrical walls 131 inner surface, and the humidification liquid chamber HLC is slid to cover over the outer shell container cylindrical wall 102 outer surface. A tape may be applied around the edges of the humidification liquid chamber open rim 126 to hold it in place on the outer shell container cylindrical wall 102 outer surface.
(87) As before, the cooling structure 107 is prepared and positioned as per any of the prior embodiments described herein and in any combinations thereof without limiting the scope of the invention. A dry gas DG, such as Dimethyl ether or CO.sub.2 is then flowed into the outer shell container 100 to remove any traces of air.
(88) Once again, the next step is to insert the inner beverage container 200 through the outer shell container open rim 106 until the inner beverage container sealing flange 107a rests and snugly sits on the outer shell container sealing flange 207a. The next step is just filling a beverage B into the inner beverage container 200 using conventional beverage filling machines and seaming a beverage container lid 113 to co-seam and seal both the inner beverage container sealing flange 207a and the outer shell container sealing flange 107a to the beverage container lid flange 207c. Beverage container lid 113 has a beverage opening means 116 and a scored portion 116a that can be easily broken to open by means of the beverage container opening means for consuming the beverage B, using a finger pull motion as is conventionally done. The apparatus 10 is now ready to be used as invented.
(89) To activate the invention, the humidification liquid chamber HLC is simply pushed to sealingly slide over the outer shell container cylindrical wall 102 outer surface and break the compressible barrier 128 to empty the humidification liquid HL through the humidification liquid passageway 130. The dry gas DG in the outer shell container 100 absorbs humidification liquid HL and generates a vacuum to further pull the humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber DGC. The cooling structure 107 dissolves and endothermically cools the beverage B.
(90) While there many other means of forming the cooling structure of each embodiment that have not been described, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that a variety of methods could be used to achieve the same goal. Once again, apart from CO.sub.2 other environmentally friendly gases may be used with the invention. For example, Dry Air and Dry Nitrogen may be used, even though it will only be stored in gaseous form. It is anticipated that the cost of the components needed to mass manufacture the apparatus 10 in the forms shown above is less than US $0.10 per unit. The wax seal forming the compressible barrier structure C may be replaced by a simple plastic layer 228 forming a barrier. One-way duckbill valves 230 may be used with small tubes to connect the dry gas chamber DGC to the humidification liquid chamber HLC and allow a one way flow of the humidification liquid in instances where carbonation pressure is used to pump the humidification liquid HL into the dry gas chamber DGC when carbonation pressure is released by opening the beverage container opening to means 116. Alternative material selections can be used, once again, to form the inner beverage container 200 and the outer shell container 100. For example, plastic rather than aluminum containers may be used to achieve the same purposes. In the case of a plastic outer shell container 100, the open end may be left open for insertion of either humidification liquid HL or cooling structures 107. Then the open end 106 can be heat shrunk to seal and form the two chambers 100 and 200.
(91) 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.