EP1574798A1 - Kälteeinheit für eine Trinkwasserquelle und eine Wasserquelle mit solch einer Einheit - Google Patents

Kälteeinheit für eine Trinkwasserquelle und eine Wasserquelle mit solch einer Einheit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1574798A1
EP1574798A1 EP04290497A EP04290497A EP1574798A1 EP 1574798 A1 EP1574798 A1 EP 1574798A1 EP 04290497 A EP04290497 A EP 04290497A EP 04290497 A EP04290497 A EP 04290497A EP 1574798 A1 EP1574798 A1 EP 1574798A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
cooling unit
thermal exchange
self
exchange fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04290497A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Eric Dietschi
Alexandre Pereira
Eric Fournier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dieau SA
Original Assignee
Dieau SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dieau SA filed Critical Dieau SA
Priority to EP04290497A priority Critical patent/EP1574798A1/de
Priority to PCT/IB2005/000465 priority patent/WO2005085726A1/en
Priority to JP2007500312A priority patent/JP2007523317A/ja
Priority to CA002557182A priority patent/CA2557182A1/en
Priority to RU2006133915/12A priority patent/RU2006133915A/ru
Priority to CNA2005800058162A priority patent/CN1922455A/zh
Priority to EP05708585A priority patent/EP1738121A1/de
Priority to US10/590,767 priority patent/US20090090119A1/en
Publication of EP1574798A1 publication Critical patent/EP1574798A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
    • F25D31/002—Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooling unit for drinking water fountains, and fountains containing such a unit.
  • Drinking water fountains are known generally in the art, and many systems have been commercialised for a long period of time. Most drinking fountains can be classed into one of two types : mainline water supplied drinking fountains, or bottled water fountains. Most of the drinking water fountains manufactured today have a cooling unit that enables water in the fountain to be chilled before being dispensed, and possibly also a heating unit in order to provide warm or tempered drinking water to the user.
  • the cooling units on most drinking water fountains involve a system of heat exchange with an evaporator coil that chills a thermal exchange liquid and then this chilled thermal exchange liquid is pumped around a separate coil through which the water to be chilled is circulated. As the warmer drinking water passes through the coil containing the thermal exchange liquid, heat energy is transferred by conduction from the drinking water to the thermal exchange liquid, and in this way the drinking water becomes cooler.
  • each drinking water fountain is generally designed in such a way that it is very difficult to replace one cooling unit with another from a different manufacturer, which also makes maintenance more costly, and very much dependent on the initial manufacturer of the fountain.
  • the present applicants have sought to overcome these problems by providing a self-contained cooling unit designed in such a way that it is both easy to maintain, clean, and install in other manufacturers' drinking water fountains.
  • a self-contained cooling unit therefore opens up a whole range of water fountains that may be aging, or in need of repair, and which can be easily converted to function with the self-contained cooling unit of the present invention.
  • one object of the present invention is a self-contained cooling unit for drinking water fountains, wherein the cooling unit comprises :
  • the fluidtight chamber holding the thermal exchange fluid is divided into two sub-chambers, an inner sub-chamber being contained within an outer sub-chamber.
  • the thermal exchange fluid is provided with at least one flow passage within the chamber for flow of the thermal exchange fluid within the chamber. Even more preferably, the at least one flow passage allows thermal exchange fluid to flow from the outer sub-chamber to the inner sub-chamber and vice-versa.
  • the at least one drinking water conduit is located in an outer sub-chamber of the chamber.
  • the at least one drinking water conduit is located in an inner sub-chamber of the chamber.
  • the drinking water conduit is preferably arranged within the chamber as a coil.
  • the source of cold energy transferable to the thermal exchange fluid is located on an external wall of the chamber, and most preferably, the source of cold energy transferable to the thermal exchange fluid is located on an external wall of the inner sub-chamber. In another preferred embodiment, the source of cold energy transferable to the thermal exchange fluid is located within the inner sub-chamber of the chamber, and in a particularly preferred alternative embodiment, said source of cold energy transferable to the thermal exchange fluid is located within an exterior cavity formed by a wall of the inner sub-chamber.
  • the sources of cold energy that can be used in the cooling unit of the present invention are multiple and various.
  • the source of cold energy transferable to the thermal exchange fluid is a Peltier plate.
  • the source of cold energy is a dielectric cooler.
  • the source of cold energy is an evaporator coil placed within an inner sub-chamber of the chamber.
  • an insulating material is provided on one side of the chamber between the source of cold energy located on an external wall, and the external wall of the chamber. This prevents that side of the chamber from becoming too cold, and thereby avoids the problem of the thermal exchange fluid changing phase from fluid to solid.
  • the self-contained cooling unit further comprises a temperature sensor located within the chamber.
  • the sensor is chosen for its ability to not only monitor the temperature, and send according signals to increase or decrease cold generation, but can also detect a phase change in the thermal exchange fluid and send an appropriate signals to control this.
  • thermal exchange fluids many are known to the skilled person, and do not need to be mentioned here.
  • water is the preferred thermal exchange fluid, because of its ability to form ice within the chamber that generates even more cold than the thermal exchange fluid.
  • Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional representation of a self-contained cooling unit according to a first preferred embodiment.
  • the unit is indicated generally by the reference number 1, and comprises an outer casing 2 forming a fluidtight chamber, having a top closure 3 and a bottom closure 8.
  • the chamber is subdivided into two sub-chambers, an outer sub-chamber 5, and an inner sub-chamber 7, located within the outer sub-chamber 5.
  • the outer 5 and inner 7 sub-chambers are defined by an outer wall 4 and an inner wall 6 respectively, whereby the space between the outer wall 4 and the inner wall 6 corresponds to the outer sub-chamber 5, and the inner wall 6 is continuous and generally circular in circumference, thereby defining a space inside of the circumference that is the inner sub-chamber 7.
  • the self-contained cooling unit of this embodiment also comprises a drinking water conduit 11 arranged in a coil within the outer sub-chamber 5, and having a drinking water inlet 9 and a drinking water outlet 10 connected to the drinking water conduit, but located outside of the chamber.
  • the unit is also equipped with a temperature sensor 12, that projects down from the top closure 3 into the inner sub-chamber 7.
  • the temperature sensor 12 is covered with an insulating sheath material 13 along most of its length, except for the tip. The sensor is capable of detecting not only fluid temperatures, but can also check for the presence of phase change with the inner sub-chamber. Both the inner 5 and outer sub-chambers are filled with the same thermal exchange fluid, for example water (not shown).
  • the thermal exchange fluid can flow from one sub-chamber to the next via at least one flow passage within the chambers 5, 7.
  • the water used as thermal exchange fluid and held within the chambers is circulated between the inner and outer sub-chambers 5, 7, via a pump 14 arranged on the side of the unit, which pump takes thermal exchange water from the inner sub-chamber 7 and pumps it through a passage 16 back into the outer chamber 5.
  • thermal exchange fluid is caused to flow up the side of the outer sub-chamber 5 around and over the water conduit 11, and then over the top of the inner wall 6 to fall down from the top of the unit into the inner sub-chamber 7.
  • Pump 15 is provided adjacent to a passage 17 to enable the thermal exchange fluid to be pumped out, either permanently or temporarily, and then be pumped back into the chamber via passage 17.
  • the inner sub-chamber 7 houses a source of cold energy that is transferable to the thermal exchange fluid.
  • the source of cold energy is an evaporator circuit 18 that is held within the inner sub-chamber such that cold energy is dissipated into the thermal exchange fluid, in this case, water, and then this water is pumped around the chamber out of the inner sub-chamber 7, and into the outer sub-chamber 5, as explained above.
  • the evaporator charges the water with cold energy, ice crystals tend to form in the inner sub-chamber 7, and this adds to the cooling effect on the water that is the thermal exchange fluid.
  • the chilled thermal exchange fluid is circulated over and around the drinking water conduit 11, resulting in chilling and cooling of the drinking water in the conduit 11.
  • the drinking water After having entered the system by inlet 9 in an unchilled state, the drinking water will exit the system via outlet 10, and have been chilled in the process.
  • the unit still comprises a chamber having two sub-chambers, one outer sub-chamber 5, and one inner sub-chamber 7, defined by an outer wall 4, and an inner wall 6.
  • the drinking water conduit 11 is arranged in a spiral in the inner sub-chamber 7.
  • the outer wall 4 receives an insulating coat 21, for example of silicone rubber, or polystyrene that is affixed to the outward face of outer wall 4 on one side of the unit.
  • An evaporator coil 19 extends around the whole periphery of the outer wall 4, and on the side of the unit that does not have the insulating coat 21, the evaporator coil 19 touches the outer wall 4 to transmit its cold energy to the outer sub-chamber 5 via conduction, and then through the outer wall 4 via conduction into the chamber 5 containing the thermal exchange fluid.
  • the cold energy transmitted by conduction causes the thermal exchange fluid to change phase and become a solid, i.e. in the case where water is the thermal exchange fluid, to make an ice block 20.
  • the ice block 20 further imparts a chilling effect to the remainder of the thermal exchange fluid.
  • This fluid is present in both sub-chambers, and is circulated between the inner sub-chamber 7 and the outer sub-chamber 5 by means of a passage 22 leading to a pump 24, equipped with rotors 25.
  • the rotors 25 of the pump 24 expel the chilled thermal exchange fluid into the bottom of the outer sub-chamber 5 via an outlet 23 located in the bottom of the outer sub-chamber 5.
  • chilled thermal exchange fluid flows from the top of the outer sub-chamber 5 into the top of inner sub-chamber 7 and down over the drinking water conduit 11, thereby cooling the drinking water.
  • the inner sub-chamber 7 can be fitted with an outlet 26, that enables the cooling unit to be drained of thermal exchange fluid should that be necessary, for example for cleaning and maintenance, and also provides a convenient way of being able to reintroduce said thermal exchange fluid back into the chamber again once these operations have been carried out.
  • This can be done for example, by providing a bin into which the thermal exchange fluid is pumped via outlet 26, using a separate pump, where the bin can be located above the cooling unit in another part of the water fountain.
  • the preferred embodiment of Figure 3 is similar to that of Figure 2, and the references have been retained where the elements of the unit are the same.
  • the major difference between the embodiment of Figure 3 and that of Figure 2 is that the self-contained cooling unit of Figure 3 has been designed to fit in a much smaller useful volume, such as is to be found in certain water fountains that use a bag system for distributing water.
  • the cooling unit needs to be dimensioned according to the corresponding dimensions of the bag, i.e. relatively narrow, and relatively long. Consequently, the coils of the drinking water conduit have been made tighter in order to fit into a smaller volume and still offer sufficient surface contact for the thermal exchange fluid, which is partly frozen as ice in outer sub-chamber 5, to contact the drinking water conduit and ensure adequate cooling.
  • Figure 4 shows yet another way in which the self-contained cooling unit can be arranged. This unit is similar to that described previously in the description with respect to Figure 1. The only differences here are that :
  • this arrangement also makes it easy to change or replace the ceramic shell evaporator 27, should that ever be necessary.
  • the shape of the exterior cavity 30 formed by the wall 29 of the inner sub-chamber 7 substantially corresponds to the peripheral shape of the ceramic shell evaporator 27, such that introduction of the latter into the former leads to an elastically gripped and engaged seal between the two.
  • the same basic unit is modified in that the source of cold energy transferable to the thermal exchange fluid is a Peltier plate 31.
  • the Peltier plate 31 is attached or affixed to the outside of the wall 6 of the inner sub-chamber 7, preferably towards the bottom 8, and the temperature sensor 12 is extended down from the top 3 of the chamber so that the tip of the sensor is substantially in alignment with the middle of the Peltier plate 31. In this way, the temperature sensor can more precisely control the degree of cold energy generated, and any ice build-up within the chamber.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
EP04290497A 2004-02-24 2004-02-24 Kälteeinheit für eine Trinkwasserquelle und eine Wasserquelle mit solch einer Einheit Withdrawn EP1574798A1 (de)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04290497A EP1574798A1 (de) 2004-02-24 2004-02-24 Kälteeinheit für eine Trinkwasserquelle und eine Wasserquelle mit solch einer Einheit
PCT/IB2005/000465 WO2005085726A1 (en) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Cooling unit for a drinking water fountain, and water fountain containing such a unit
JP2007500312A JP2007523317A (ja) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 飲料水供給装置用クーリングユニット、およびこの種のクーリングユニットを含む飲料水供給装置
CA002557182A CA2557182A1 (en) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Cooling unit for a drinking water fountain, and water fountain containing such a unit
RU2006133915/12A RU2006133915A (ru) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Охлаждающее устройство для фонтана для питьевой воды и фонтан для воды, содержащий такое устройство
CNA2005800058162A CN1922455A (zh) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 用于饮水机的冷却单元以及包含这样一种单元的饮水机
EP05708585A EP1738121A1 (de) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Kühleinheit für einen trinkbrunnen und solch eine einheit enthaltender trinkbrunnen
US10/590,767 US20090090119A1 (en) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Cooling unit for a drinking water fountain, and water fountain containing such a unit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04290497A EP1574798A1 (de) 2004-02-24 2004-02-24 Kälteeinheit für eine Trinkwasserquelle und eine Wasserquelle mit solch einer Einheit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1574798A1 true EP1574798A1 (de) 2005-09-14

Family

ID=34814415

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04290497A Withdrawn EP1574798A1 (de) 2004-02-24 2004-02-24 Kälteeinheit für eine Trinkwasserquelle und eine Wasserquelle mit solch einer Einheit
EP05708585A Withdrawn EP1738121A1 (de) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Kühleinheit für einen trinkbrunnen und solch eine einheit enthaltender trinkbrunnen

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05708585A Withdrawn EP1738121A1 (de) 2004-02-24 2005-02-24 Kühleinheit für einen trinkbrunnen und solch eine einheit enthaltender trinkbrunnen

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20090090119A1 (de)
EP (2) EP1574798A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2007523317A (de)
CN (1) CN1922455A (de)
CA (1) CA2557182A1 (de)
RU (1) RU2006133915A (de)
WO (1) WO2005085726A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7299992B1 (en) * 2004-12-09 2007-11-27 Jui-Chien Chen Drinking water fountain having mixed hot and cold water

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007016026A2 (en) * 2005-07-26 2007-02-08 Johnson James H Jr Method of staging relief supplies
CN101315249B (zh) * 2007-05-31 2011-06-15 元山科技工业股份有限公司 饮品装置的冷却模块
US10670333B2 (en) 2017-04-21 2020-06-02 Elkay Manufacturing Company Modular water cooler and method
JP2020153564A (ja) * 2019-03-19 2020-09-24 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷媒量判定キット

Citations (6)

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DE646207C (de) * 1934-12-14 1937-06-12 Robert Bosch Akt Ges Getraenkekuehler
DE684559C (de) * 1937-09-25 1939-11-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Durch eine Kaeltemaschine gekuehltes Schankgeraet
EP0191436A1 (de) * 1985-02-12 1986-08-20 SIPP S.p.A. Vorrichtung zum Kühlen und Ausschenken von Getränken
JP2000028249A (ja) * 1998-07-10 2000-01-28 Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd 飲料冷却注出装置
US6442960B1 (en) * 1998-11-09 2002-09-03 Dieau S.A. Autonomous gravity-feed beverage dispenser with cooling device
GB2383322A (en) * 2001-12-22 2003-06-25 Imi Cornelius Beverage dispense system

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US3008299A (en) * 1959-04-09 1961-11-14 Carrier Corp Thermoelectric water cooler
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DE2217678A1 (de) * 1971-04-14 1972-10-19 Leeuwen, Harry Donald van, Greensborough, Victoria (Australien) Kühlgerät
JPS4734563U (de) * 1971-05-14 1972-12-18
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NL1015368C2 (nl) * 2000-05-31 2001-12-12 Heineken Tech Services Drankafgiftesamenstel alsmede houder voor drank, in het bijzonder koolzuurhoudende drank, en drankafgifteleiding voor toepassing in een dergelijk samenstel.

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE646207C (de) * 1934-12-14 1937-06-12 Robert Bosch Akt Ges Getraenkekuehler
DE684559C (de) * 1937-09-25 1939-11-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Durch eine Kaeltemaschine gekuehltes Schankgeraet
EP0191436A1 (de) * 1985-02-12 1986-08-20 SIPP S.p.A. Vorrichtung zum Kühlen und Ausschenken von Getränken
JP2000028249A (ja) * 1998-07-10 2000-01-28 Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd 飲料冷却注出装置
US6442960B1 (en) * 1998-11-09 2002-09-03 Dieau S.A. Autonomous gravity-feed beverage dispenser with cooling device
GB2383322A (en) * 2001-12-22 2003-06-25 Imi Cornelius Beverage dispense system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 04 31 August 2000 (2000-08-31) *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7299992B1 (en) * 2004-12-09 2007-11-27 Jui-Chien Chen Drinking water fountain having mixed hot and cold water

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2557182A1 (en) 2005-09-15
EP1738121A1 (de) 2007-01-03
CN1922455A (zh) 2007-02-28
US20090090119A1 (en) 2009-04-09
RU2006133915A (ru) 2008-03-27
JP2007523317A (ja) 2007-08-16
WO2005085726A1 (en) 2005-09-15

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