MXPA00005673A - Self-cooling fluid container with nested refrigerant and fluid chambers - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-cooling fluid container (10) for beverages includes a beverage chamber and a refrigerant chamber in a nested configuration. Release of the refrigerant effects cooling of the beverage as a result of conductive heat transfer between the expanding refrigerant and the beverage chamber. The refrigerant chamber is wholly self-contained and nests snugly within a recess (20) formed in the beverage chamber, thereby providing enhanced wall thickness and strength for containing a pressurized refrigerant, as well as enhanced heat transfer between the beverage chamber and the refrigerant chamber.

Description

CONTAINER WITH SELF-COOLING FLUID WITH COOLED CHAMBERS FOR REFRIGERANT AND FLUID FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to improvements in fluid containers, with self-cooling, such as beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that fluid containers, with self-cooling, include, in general, a first chamber containing a beverage to be cooled, a second chamber containing refigerator, in thermal contact with the first chamber, an assembly for dispersion of the coolant, which includes a third chamber that provides a volume for the refrigerant to expand upon release from the second chamber and a means for the activation of the cooling, in order to establish a route for the fluid, between the refrigerant region and the region of dispersion. When the refrigerant is released from the second chamber, the fluid in the first chamber is cooled adiabatically as a result of thermal contact between the refrigerant in the dispersion region and the fluid in the beverage chamber. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,214,933 issued to Aitchison et al and 5,555,741 issued to Oa ley, each assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated, therefore, as reference in this application, describe fluid containers, with self-cooling. The Aitchison et al patent discloses a capsule type refrigerant chamber that extends into the fluid region of the beverage container. This design provides a surface area for substantial heat transfer between the fluid to be cooled and the coolant capsule. However, the possibility of refrigerant leaking into the fluid container should be prevented, although this is very unlikely. The Oakley patent discloses a refrigerant chamber that is integral with the base of the chamber containing the beverage. This integrated design eliminates the need to manufacture, store and assemble multiple components, separately. However, the walls of the integral capsule must be thick enough to contain the pressurized refrigerant, safely, thus increasing the cost of the container. Also, the integrated design requires that the refrigerant, which is relatively expensive, be introduced to the container during the manufacturing process, prior to pasteurization and the final quality control checks. If a container is found to be defective, it must be discarded from the production line and the refrigerant charged to it must be disposed of or recovered at a considerable cost. French patent No. 513,015 issued to Sterne, describes a beverage bottle or other fluid container, which includes a hermetically sealed chamber containing chemicals that are mixed and reacted to effect heating or cooling of a fluid that is in contact with the chamber. The hermetically sealed chamber appears to be an independent structure, generally cylindrical, within a cavity of a similar shape, in the fluid container. The contents of the hermetically sealed chamber remain inside the chamber, even after they have been combined to initiate the chemical reaction. In this way, the leakage of chemicals inside the chamber represents a potential danger. In addition, the chamber can not be removed from the fluid container and therefore must be made with the container. In addition, the sealed chamber can not be reused after the chemical reaction has occurred. The disposal of the camera can be problematic, depending on the integrity of the camera and the nature of the chemicals that are in it. In addition, the chamber is not designed to withstand the storage pressures characteristic of liquid refrigerants and other pressurized substances. Accordingly, it would be a breakthrough in the fluid container technique, with self-cooling, to provide a fluid container, with self-cooling, having a freezing chamber that is completely separate and removable from the chamber containing the beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 illustrates the self-cooling beverage container of the present invention, which is advantageously configured to be substantially the same size and shape as a conventional beverage container, such as a soda can. The beverage container of the present invention is, in general, similar to that described in the Aitchison et al. And Oakley patents, with the additional features of a fully removable and reusable coolant chamber, which is closely housed within a formed cavity. in the beverage chamber, and a cooling activation element, which is placed inside the dome-shaped cavity at the bottom of the container. A self-flushing container, for fluids, typically includes a first chamber having walls to define a region for fluid interior thereto, a second chamber having walls to define a portion of coolant therein, a mounting for the dispersion of the coolant , which has means to define a dispersion region adjacent to the first and second chambers, and a cooling activation element, to selectively form a fluid path, from the refrigerant region of the second chamber, to the dispersion region. The dispersion region includes a first portion adjacent to the refrigerant region and separated therefrom by a coupling portion of the walls of the refractor region and a second portion adjacent to the region of the fluid and separated therefrom by a coupling portion, of the walls of the fluid region. The dispersion region and the fluid region are thermally coupled through the coupling portion of the walls of the fluid region. The dispersion region is substantially closed and vented to regions outside the container. The fluid route for the refrigerant is established through the coupling portion of the walls of the refrigerant region. According to the invention, the first chamber includes a recessed portion extending from a wall of the first chamber, at least partially in the fluid region, of the first chamber. The second chamber is adapted to engage and closely fit within the recessed portion of the first chamber in a housed configuration and is further adapted to be removed from the recessed portion of the first chamber and to be replaced therein. The refrigerant chamber is adapted to contain and release a pressurizable material, such as a liquid refrigerant. The coolant chamber preferably comprises a capsule having at least one hole through which the pressurizable material can be introduced and released. In a preferred embodiment, the coolant capsule is adapted to be reused after the pressurizable material has been released therefrom. The cooling activation element can be selectively coupled with the coolant chamber, in the dispersion region, to open the orifice in the coolant capsule, in order to release the coolant therefrom. The recessed portion of the first chamber preferably extends along a major axis of the first chamber and the container. The refrigerant chamber and the recessed portion of the beverage chamber are substantially of the same size and shape, such that the respective walls of the respective chambers, are housed together and function as a single-wall structure, to contain the pressurized refrigerant. In a preferred embodiment, the walls of the coolant capsule and the recessed portion of the first chamber are slightly inclined at a nominal angle from the main shaft to facilitate the insertion and removal of the capsule from the cavity. In another preferred embodiment, the region between the coolant capsule of the recessed portion of the first chamber is filled with a thermally conductive material, to enhance the transfer of heat between the coolant and the beverage. These and other features of the invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is further described, by the following description and figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container, with self-cooling, in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of a self-cooling beverage container of the figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 1 shows a container 10, with self-cooling, for beverages, such as for example juices, carbonated soft drinks, beer and the like. The container has a conventional opening tab on its upper end wall and conforms, in general, to the external, conventional dimensions and shape of those containers. Each structural component of the invention is of a composition that is preferably selected from aluminum, steel, aluminum and steel or other metal or metal alloy, plastic or any other material of sufficient strength, thermal conductivity and recyclability. As shown more clearly in the figure 2, the container 10 of the present invention is divided into two chambers, which include an outer chamber defining a reservoir for fluid 12, typically for containing a beverage, and an inner chamber defining a capsule 14 for refrigerant. The beverage container 12 is defined by a cylindrical side wall 16, generally a disc-shaped upper wall 17, an annular bottom wall 18 having a dome shape and a recessed portion 20 of the first chamber, which extends preferably from the base wall 18 at least partially towards the region of the fluid, of the first chamber. The recessed portion 20 is preferably arranged in a substantially concentric manner, within the beverage container and coaxial with the main axis X of the reservoir. The capsule 14 for refrigerant is preferably generally cylindrical in shape, with rounded ends to provide sufficient strength to contain pressurized materials, such as liquid refrigerants. At its lower end, the capsule 14 for refrigerant includes a hole 19 through which the refrigerant can be introduced and released. The orifice can be, for example, a releasable membrane that can be penetrated with a piercing member, or a valve that can be selectively activated to release the contents of the capsule. The coolant capsule is adapted to fit closely with the recessed portion 20, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, in order to provide maximum contact and thus maximum heat transfer between the capsule and the container. container for drinks. The walls of the recessed portion 20 and of the capsule 14 are preferably inclined at a nominal angle? from a vertical axis Y parallel to the main axis X in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the capsule, from the cavity. This configuration is often employed in stackable articles, such as paper cups and the like. In a preferred embodiment the angle? is at least approximately 1 * from a nominally vertical Y axis. A cooling activation element 22 is "placed below the dome-shaped bottom 18 of the container," As detailed more fully below, the cooling activation element 22 can be selectively coupled with a lower portion of the capsule. 14 to open the hole 19 of the capsule in order to release the coolant therefrom and initiate cooling of the contents of the container 12 for the fluid In a preferred embodiment, the cooling activation element 22 is in threaded engagement with a corresponding threaded portion which is at the bottom of the coolant capsule 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a piercing element 26 is substantially aligned with the orifice 19 of the coolant capsule. 22 to the coolant capsule, causes the piercing element 26 to penetrate the orifice and allow the contents of the capsule to be released through the orifice to a dispersion region 24 1 defined between the cooling activation element 22 and the bottom portions of the fluid container and of the capsule for refrigerant. In an alternative embodiment, the cooling activation element can be selectively coupled with the coolant capsule, pushing it up and in contact with the coolant capsule and allowing the natural flexible action of the bottom of the container to return the activation element of the cooling to its nominal position, after the hole 19 has been opened to release the refrigerant. The dispersion region 24 occupies a substantial portion of the volume below the dome-shaped bottom 18 of the fluid container and is configured to allow expansion and vaporization of the pressurized refrigerant at the time of its release from the capsule. In a preferred embodiment, the dispersion region 24 is in substantial thermal contact with the fluid container 12, so as to effect heat transfer between the expanding refrigerant and the beverage within the container 12. The region of The dispersion 24 is substantially closed but includes one or more vent holes 28 towards the outside of the container, for venting the vaporized refrigerant to the atmosphere after it has substantially reached room temperature. The capsule 14 for refrigerant is a substantially independent unit that can be inserted and removed from the recessed portion 20 of the beverage container, as desired, such as during the manufacture or recycling of the beverage container. Both the capsule 14 for refrigerant and the cavity 20 of the beverage container are preferably continuous structures manufactured without a seam. A seamless configuration allows the accommodated chambers 14, 20 to form a double wall of press fit, which is optimized with respect to its strength, as well as for the transfer of heat therethrough. As detailed more fully below, an advantage of the seamless structures, for the beverage and refrigerant chambers, is the elimination of the risk of a chemical reaction between the beverage and a non-inert metal surface inside the container. The capsule 14 for refrigerant is designed to be housed inside and thus to be substantially contiguous with the walls of the recessed portion 20 of the beverage chamber 12, when the capsule is installed in place. The narrow fit of the coolant capsule, in the recessed portion of the beverage container, substantially minimizes the size of any free space or of the insulation space between the chambers, thereby providing maximum physical contact between the housed chambers. To achieve improved heat transfer, between the chambers, the region between them can be filled with a thermally conductive material 30, such as an epoxy or thermally conductive lubricant. The capsule 14 includes an interior region 32 for refrigerant, which is adapted to contain a predetermined amount of a refrigerant, preferably under pressure and in liquid form, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), carbon dioxide or other suitable liquid refrigerants. The region for the fluid, defined by the interior walls of the beverage container, contains the beverage to be cooled and the consumer can access it through a die-cut tab device 34. The region of dispersion 24 between the cooling activation element 22 and the bottom of the beverage chamber and coolant capsule is exposed to normal atmospheric pressure through ventilation pores 28 which are at the bottom of the drinking chamber. . In the process of cooling a beverage that is inside the container, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling activation element 22 is rotated towards the upper part of the container, in order to allow the perforating element to penetrate the hole 19 of the capsule 14 for refrigerant. The refrigerant, upon release from the capsule and upon exposure to normal atmospheric pressure, rapidly evaporates and expands through the orifice to the dispersion region 24, where it decelerates and absorbs heat. The capsule 14 for refrigerant and the dome-shaped bottom 18 of the beverage container 12 are cooled by conduction as a result of the cooling effect of the evaporation and the adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant vapor. Therefore, the beverage that is in the container is cooled by thermal conduction. The speed with which the vapor of the refrigerant is vented regulates the cooling efficiency and is determined in part by the diameter of the orifice 19, by the volume of the dispersion region 24, the surface area enclosing the dispersion region and the vent pore size 28. Various advantages of a hosted configuration of the refrigerant chamber within a recessed portion of the beverage container may be contemplated. First, a separate refrigerant chamber can be manufactured, filled and stored independently of the chamber containing the beverage, thereby providing flexibility and an economic advantage. Second, a separate refrigerant chamber can be introduced into a beverage container, finally inspected, approved and refilled and / or after the beverage has been pasteurized in the container, if necessary, thereby ensuring that the refrigerant Do not load containers that are not going to be consumed. Third, a separate refrigerant chamber can also be reused in a new beverage container, which can also reduce the unit cost of the container. Fourth, refrigerant and beverage chambers, if independent, can be manufactured from dissimilar materials. Preferred materials for a beverage chamber include, for example, aluminum and steel, while a preferred material for the refrigerant chamber may include, for example, a thermally conductive plastic. The use of a plastic for the refrigerant chamber allows the chamber to be manufactured through a relatively inexpensive injection molding process, instead of traditional manufacturing processes used for metals, such as stretch and extrusion by thinning and percussion. Sixth, the use of two separate chambers that are housed to breed a double walled structure, is advantageous for the effective containment, from the cost point of view, of pressurized refrigerants. The combined strength of two contiguous, relatively thin walls is probably at least as strong as a thicker, and therefore more expensive, single-walled structure. Seventh, the intensified heat transfer potential between the drinking chamber and the refrigerant chamber is a result of its contiguity and the absence of any insulating space between them, especially if the space between them is filled with a thermally conductive material. The tightly fitting walls of the two chambers behave thermally and structurally as a single wall. Eighth, the seamless structure of the beverage and coolant chambers, eliminates the possibility that the beverage within the container chemically reacts with any portion of the beverage container, such as non-inert metal, in an internal seam of the container. As the beverage found in the container is probably relatively corrosive, any chemical reaction between an internal surface not protected or not inert, of the container, and the beverage, can adversely affect the flavor or quality of the beverage. The invention can be incorporated into other specific forms, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments should therefore be considered, in all respects, as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All the changes that are within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are, therefore, to be included in them.

Claims (13)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the above invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS

1. In a fluid container, with self-cooling, including a first chamber having walls to define a fluid region, interior thereto, a second chamber for containing a pressurizable refrigerant and having walls to define a refrigerant region, interior to the same and means for causing a refrigerant that is in the second chamber to cool a fluid that is in the first chamber, the improvement characterized in that it comprises: the first chamber that includes a substantially cylindrical recessed portion, extending from a wall of the first chamber, at least partially towards the fluid region, to a distal end having a substantially hemispherical shape, wherein the radius of the recessed portion is substantially constant and wherein the radius of the distal end of hemispherical shape, of the cupped portion, is substantially equal to the radius of the cupped portion and, the outer wall of the cup Each chamber is adapted to fit and fit closely within the recessed portion of the first chamber, in a housed configuration, wherein the outer wall of the second chamber is substantially cylindrical and terminates at a distal end which is substantially hemispherical, wherein the The radius of the outer wall of the second chamber is substantially constant and wherein the radius of the distal hemispherical end is substantially equal to the radius of the outer wall of the second chamber.

2. A container for fluids, with self-cooling, according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for causing a refrigerant that is in the second chamber to cool a fluid that is in the first chamber, comprises an assembly for dispersing the coolant, which includes means for defining a dispersion region adjacent to the first and second chambers and means for activating the cooling, to selectively form a fluidic route, from the refrigerant region of the second chamber, to the dispersion region, where the dispersion region is substantially closed and vented to regions outside the container.

3. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 2, characterized in that the dispersion region includes a first portion adjacent to the refrigerant region and separated therefrom by a coupling portion of the walls of the region of the refrigerant. refrigerant and a second portion adjacent to the fluid region and separated therefrom by a coupling portion of the walls of the fluid region, the dispersion region and the fluid region are thermally coupled through the coupling portion of the fluid. the walls of the fluid region and wherein the fluid path from the refrigerant region from the first chamber to the dispersion region is established through the coupling portion of the walls of the refrigerant region.

4. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 3, characterized in that the second chamber further includes means for releasing the pressurizable material to the dispersion region.

5. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 4, characterized in that the second chamber comprises a capsule having at least one hole through which the pressurizable material can be introduced and released. 6 A container for fluids, with self-cooling, according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for activating the cooling can be selectively coupled with the second chamber within the dispersion region of the refrigerant, where the coupling of the activation means of the refrigerant with the second camera, causes the orifice to be opened to release the pressurizable material from the second chamber. 7. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 6, characterized in that the second chamber can be re-filled with a pressurizable material, after the pressurizable material has been released therefrom. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 7, characterized in that the recessed portion of the first chamber extends along a main axis of the first chamber and the container. 9. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 1, characterized in that the second chamber and the recessed portion of the first chamber are substantially the same size and shape, wherein the walls of the second chamber are housed in substantially contiguous relationship within the walls of the recessed portion of the first chamber, when the second chamber is coupled with the recessed portion of the first chamber. 10. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 8, characterized in that the walls of the second chamber and the recessed portion of the first chamber are inclined at a nominal angle? from the main axis, to facilitate the introduction and removal of the second chamber, from the recessed portion of the first chamber. 11. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 10, characterized in that the nominal angle? it is at least approximately 1 *. 12. A fluid container, with self-cooling, according to claim 9, characterized in that the region between the walls of the second chamber and the recessed portion of the first chamber is filled with a thermally conductive material. 13. In a fluid container, with self-cooling, including a first chamber having walls to define a region of fluid interior thereto, a second chamber for containing a pressurizable material and having walls to define a cooling region internal to the and a mounting for dispersion of the refrigerant, having means to define a dispersion region adjacent to the first and second chambers, the dispersion region includes a first portion adjacent to the refrigerant region and separated therefrom by a coupling portion. of the walls of the refrigerant region and including a second portion adjacent to the fluid region and separated therefrom by a coupling portion of the walls of the fluid region, the dispersion region and the fluid region are coupled thermally through the coupling portion of the walls of the fluid region, the dispersion region n is substantially closed and vented to regions outside the container and cooling activation means, to selectively form a fluid route from the refrigerant region of the second chamber, to the dispersion region through the coupling portion of the walls of the refrigerant region, the improvement characterized in that it comprises: the first chamber including a hollow portion, substantially cylindrical, extending from a wall of the first chamber, at least partially towards the region of the fluid, to a distal end which has a substantially hemispherical shape at the distal end, wherein the radius of the recessed portion is substantially constant and wherein the radius of the distal end of hemispherical shape, of the recessed portion, is substantially equal to the radius of the recessed portion and, the wall The exterior of the second chamber is adapted to be coupled with and tightly fitted within the or of, the recessed portion of the first chamber, in a housed configuration, wherein the outer wall of the second chamber is substantially cylindrical and terminates at a distal end that is substantially hemispherical., wherein the radius of the outer wall of the second chamber is substantially constant and wherein the radius of the distal hemispherical end is substantially equal to the radius of the outer wall of the second chamber.