AU672680B2 - Refrigeration means for rapid cooling of articles - Google Patents

Description

4 pi r e Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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9* 99 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention title: ASHLEY VERNON WILLIAMS ASHLEY VERNON WILLIAMS and GREGORY JAMES WILLIAMS R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia "REFRIGERATION MEANS FOR RAPID COOLING OF

ARTICLES"

j Details of Associated Provisioal Application No: PL 8396 filed 22nd April 1993 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it kno me.

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This invention relates to a refrigeration means for rapid cooling of articles, and in particular relates to a refrigeration means which allows articles at room temperature to be placed within the refrigeration means, and a short time thereafter to be withdrawn, at a cooled temperature.

Using existing refrigeration systems, which operate at temperatures near or just below freezing point, it is impossible to rapidly cool articles. Such articles may include items of food or drink which may be contained within steel or glass containers. Obviously, if there is a need to rapidly cool such articles, then this is virtually impossible with an existing household or commercial refrigeration .44, system.

The main reason is that the heat contained within the item must be conducted to the refrigerated environment. The speed at which the article cools down relates to the temperature difference between the refrigerated volume and the article, and obviously the greater the difference then S the shorter the period of time that the article will take to reach the temperature required.

Another problem associated with transfer of heat from an article to a refrigerated cabinet is the type of fluid used within the cabinet. In most commercial and household roour refrigeration systems, the refrigerated medium is air within the refrigeration cabinet, and obviously this has poor conductivity properties. This in turn further increases the time taken for an article to be cooled.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a refrigeration means for the rapid cooling of articles.

Such a refrigeration means will be useful for cooling of any article, but it will be seen to be particularly usefu for the cooling of bottled beverages. However the scope of the invention is in no way to be restricted or confined to this application.

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1 t s: i 11 i,, 1! i 1: eoo o *ooo o oo 2o orro oe ee oo r In its broadest form, the refrigeration apparatus of the present invention comprises a tank suitable for containing a coolant liquid, an evaporator coil, and holding means for holding an article located within the evaporator coil, said holding means comprising one or more bags formed from material which is substantially impervious to the coolant liquid and is sufficiently flexible to collapse inwards under the pressure of surrounding coolant liquid.

Preferably, the tank is formed from polymeric or fibreglass material, and is installed within a cabinet wherein the refrigeration equipment comprising the compressor and condenser coil and other control instrumentation are mounted beneath the polymeric or fibreglass tank.

The evaporator coil is preferably formed from metal tubing, arranged in a coil.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a submersible pump which is located within the coolant liquid so as to circulate the coolant liquid within the tank.

The refrigeration means of the present invention may optionally further comprise a closure means over the tank having an access hatch and removable cover for the access hatch located therein. This assembly may in turn be covered by a separate lid hinged to the cabinet.

In order to prevent condensation forming on the closure means and hatch, sufficient insulation is placed between the material forming the closure means and the coolant liquid.

In one aspect of the invention, when used to rapidly chill bottles containing beverage, the means for holding the article within the evaporator coil may further comprise a frame having one or more recesses therein for location of the bottles. This location means is arranged such that the bottles remain stable while within the moving brine solution.

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i ;iFsg /~~lI Each of the recesses is locatable within a corresponding bag, so that the bottles remain dry, whilst in the refrigeration cabinet.

Alternatively, the holding means may further comprise a cage or cages, each having an open top, and each of which is locatable within a corresponding bag.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, a preferred embodiment is described below. However, it should be realised that the invention is not to be confined or restricted to the precise details of the embodiment described.

e a m. o er This embodiment is described in the accompanying representations in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of the refrigeration apparatus; and Fig 2 is an "exploded" perspective view of the refrigeration apparatus, indicating how the various components fit together.

In this embodiment, the refrigeration apparatus comprises an upright cabinet 17. A polymeric or fibreglass tank 11 is located in the upper half of the cabinet 17, and the remaining refrigeration equipment 18 is mounted in the lower half of the cabinet.

In this embodiment, the cabinet 17 is constructed from laminated fibreboard, but obviously any suitable material may be used. The polymeric or fibreglass tank 11 is supported on a platform mounted within the cabinet, and insulating material is placed between the polymeric or fibreglass tank 11 and the cabinet walls.

17 Copper tube is used to form the evaporator coil 13, and in this embodiment, the copper tube is wound in a helix such 4 1 Y~ I- YI--ll~l- 1 7' t~ p.-~h I .ii r? 1 i; 11ir i i: that the inlet tube winds from the top of the polymeric or fibreglass tank 11 to the base of the polymeric or fibreglass tank, and the return tube winds back to the top of the tank in the reverse direction. The inlet and outlet tubes enter and leave the tank over one edge of the polymeric or fibreglass tank, and are located between the polymeric or fibreglass tank and the cabinet wall so as to be connected to the compressor and condenser coil.

In this arrangement, the evaporator coil 13 forms a cylinder, and into this cylinder is placed the means for holding the various articles.

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00 Preferably, -the ho2ding means 14 comprise a cage or cages 16, each foxmed from a suitable material, e.g.

stainless steel wire or rods, and having an open top, through which the bottle can be inserted and removed. More preferably, each cage is surrounded by a bag 15 formed from a suitable polymeric material. The polymeric material should be able to withstand low temperatures, for extended periods of time. Furthermore, the bag 15 should be sufficiently loose fitting and/or flexible that the pressure of the surrounding brine solution (or other liquid cooling medium) will cause portions of the bag to be pressed inwards, through gaps in the cage 16, to come into direct contact with the bottle within the cage. In this way, the bottle is kept dry, whilst still remaining in substantially direct contact with the liquid cooling medium.

0* Alternatively, bags 15 can fit within cages 16.

In order to create the very low temperature required for operation of the refrigeration means, the polymeric or fibreg.ass tank 11 is filled with a brine solution. The preferred salt used in this particular solution is calcium chloride.

In order to maintain a constant movement of the brine solution within the polymeric or fibreglass tank, there is

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I -i-i Y -iiil provided a submersible pump 19 which produces the required circulation. The pump 19 is mounted at a lower level within the polymeric or fibreglass tank 11.

As mentioned previously, the refrigeration equipment is mounted below the polymeric or fibreglass tank in the lower half of the cabinet. Openings on opposite sides of the cabinet are provided, so as to allow air movement through the condenser coils.

An electronic timer 21 is affixed to closure means over the tank 11.

SIn use, the temperature of the brine can be maintained n e at a very low temperature, preferably approximately -30'C. At this temperature, any bottled beverage takes only a few minutes to cool to the required drinking temperature.

Obviouly, this will provide a useful refrigeration means for the rapid cooling of bottles of wine, beer and the like and the refrigeration means will be particularly useful in retail outlets of such products, and in restaurants.

.W While the present invention has been described in terms goo£ of a preferred embodiment in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated that I f .various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. The present disclosure is therefore to be considered as merely illustrative, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

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Claims (11)

1. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a tank suitable for containing a coolant liquid, an evaporator coil, and holding means for holding an article located within the evaporator coil, said holding means comprising one or more bags formed from material which is substantially impervious to said coolant liquid and is sufficiently flexible to collapse inwards under the pressure of the surrounding coolant liquid.

2. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tank is formed from polymeric or fibreglass material.

3. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said evaporator coil is formed from metal I tubing, arranged in a coil.

4. Refrigeration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said holding means further comprises a frame having a recess or recesses, each of which is locatable within one of said bags.

5. Refrigeration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said holding means further comprises a cage or cages, each having an open top, and each of which is locatable within one of said bags.

6. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim -wherein each cage is formed from wire or rods, with gaps therebetween, such that the pressure of surrounding coolant liquid will cause portions of the associated bag to be pressed inwards, to come into direct contact with an article I I held within the cage.

7. Refrigeration apparatus according to any one of A claims 1 to 3, wherein said holding neans further comprises a 7 A- 4 cage or cages, each having an open top, and each of which surrounds one of said bags.

8. Refrigeration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said bags are formed from polymeric material.

9. Refrigeration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said article is a bottle.

Refrigeration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said coolant liquid is brine solution.

11. Refrigeration apparatus substantially as described herein, and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 4* 6 to 4 #444 54 Dated this 21st day of April 1994. 4 444* 4~ 4 5. Sd ASHLEY VERNON WILLIAMS By his Patent Attorneys R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES e fi? mn 10,j -A/ 1-4, i ii I~ I i 1 1 i C C. *444 CCI., C4 C 0* ABSTRACT The refrigeration apparatus (10) of the present invention comprises a tank (11) suitable for containing a coolant liquid, an evaporator coil and holding means (14) for holding an article located within the evaporator coil said holding means (14) comprising one or more bags (15) formed from material which is substantially impervious to said coolant liquid and is sufficiently flexible to collapse inwards under the pressure of the surrounding coolant liquid. u ;r