ES2455743A1 - Glass chiller and similar (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooler of glasses and similar machines. Starting from a base structure similar to any conventional chiller that uses co2 liquid for cooling, coming from a cylinder to which a hose (5) is connected and which ends in a spray nozzle ( 1) controlled by a solenoid valve (4), the invention consists in establishing in the machine a second circuit, also constituted by a hose (9) feeding a second spray nozzle (7) through its corresponding solenoid valve (8), but with the particularity that said hose (9) is connected to a water supply tank, provided with a driving pump. The water spray nozzle (7) opens immediately before the spray nozzle (1) of co2, so that the latter accesses an environment with a high degree of relative humidity, which optimizes the frosting of the container with a minimum co2 consumption. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Vessel cooling machine and the like

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chiller machine of the type used in establishments selling beverages, which must be supplied cold to the consumer, machines with which virtually instantaneous cooling of the glasses, cups or other containers in which they are obtained is achieved serve the beverage, by spraying said containers with liquid CO2. The object of the invention is to achieve a functional optimization of this type of machines, the freezing of the container being achieved more quickly and consequently with the contribution of a lower amount of CO2. The invention is therefore located in the field of machinery for the hospitality industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regardless of other vessel cooling systems and the like, which are not relevant, one of the commonly used solutions is to spray the container in question with CO2 in a liquid state, using a spray nozzle with respect to which the container must be conveniently positioned. Liquid CO2, at its exit from the nozzle, undergoes a sudden change of state, going into the gas phase, for which it absorbs a remarkable amount of heat, which is equivalent to a sharp cooling of the container. This decrease in the temperature of the container in turn brings with it the condensation on it of the environmental humidity, producing a frosting of the water on the body of the container, which acts as a signal for the user or consumer that the glass or cup is very cold, signaling that logically establishes a parallel between the level of frosting of the container and the temperature at which it is supposedly found. Obviously the level of frosting of water on the container is a function of the degree of environmental humidity, so that, in order to achieve the same visual effect, the CO2 input time must be much longer the lower the relative humidity level, what supposes that in dry or very dry environments it is necessary to lengthen the time of application of CO2, that is to say the opening time of the spray nozzle, with the consequent increase in the consumption of CO2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The glass cooling machine and the like that the invention proposes solves in a fully satisfactory manner the above-mentioned problem, allowing to reduce to a minimum and in any case the consumption of CO2. For this, said machine, from the basic structuring of a conventional machine of this type, of a spray nozzle that receives the CO2 from the corresponding tank through a conduit or hose in which the corresponding solenoid valve is established, conveniently governed , focuses its characteristics on the incorporation of a second circuit in which a second hose participates, finished off in a second spray nozzle and also communicates the nozzle through a solenoid valve with a water supply tank, from a supply tank provided of a drive pump.

This second circuit supplies water sprayed to the container to be cooled immediately before the application of the CO2, so that it generates extraordinarily high relative humidity in the environment of the container, which results in the frosting of the water on the body of the container being produced in optimal conditions, consequently as quickly as possible with the lowest CO2 consumption.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical realization thereof, a unique drawing is attached as an integral part of said description. Illustrative and non-limiting, a vessel cooling machine and the like made in accordance with the object of the present invention, whose housing is partially sectioned to show its interior structure, has been schematically depicted and in perspective.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the practical example chosen, the CO2 spray nozzle (1) is conveniently positioned to spray the CO2 from the upper zone of the container to be cooled, for which purpose said nozzle (1) is placed on an over-raised head ( 2) of the machine, specifically on a base platform (3) on which the containers to be cooled will be arranged. In this head (2) there is also the solenoid valve (4) that opens and closes the supply of the nozzle (1), which receives the CO2 in a liquid state through a hose (5) that descends through the column (6 ) that relates the head (2) to the base platform (3) and that extends under this platform in a section (5 '), long enough to reach the CO2 containing cylinder. However, the invention is equally applicable to any other conventional CO2 circuit, with different positioning for the CO2 spray nozzle (1). Well, according to the invention, a second circuit with its corresponding nozzle (7), solenoid valve (8) and hoses (9) participates in the machine, but with the particularity that the extension (9 ') of said hose It establishes communication between the nozzle (7) and a water container reservoir, not shown in the drawing, and inside which there is a pump capable of propelling the water to the nozzle (7) at a suitable pressure. As previously noted, the solenoid valve (8) opens immediately before the solenoid valve (4), so that when CO2 is sprayed on the container in question, in the environment of said container the relative humidity has increased significantly due to the spraying of water supplied by the nozzle (7). The structure described is complemented by the corresponding electronic circuit (10) for control of the solenoid valves (4 and 8), housed inside the hollow interior of the base platform (3), and with a touch screen (11) for machine control . It should also be noted that the possibility that the water contained in the corresponding tank and that feeds the nozzle (7), can incorporate any flavoring additive, such as a lemon-flavored additive, is provided so that the machine not only accelerates and enhances the cooling of the containers, but provides the latter with a suitable aroma to the beverage that is subsequently introduced into the container.

Claims (2)

1.- Glass cooling machine and similar, of the type that incorporate a circuit based on a hose that relates a container of liquid CO2 with a spray nozzle, through the corresponding solenoid valve, characterized in that it also incorporates a second circuit, based on a second hose (9) that 5 relates a second nozzle (7) with a water supply tank, also through the corresponding solenoid valve (8), said water container reservoir counting with a pump that supplies the water to the nozzle (7) mentioned at a pressure adequate. 2. Cup cooling machine and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that it incorporates an electronic control circuit (10) that determines that the water spray nozzle (7) is opened immediately before 10 than the nozzle (1) for spraying CO2, said circuit (10) being assisted by a touch screen (11). 3.- Glass cooling machine and the like according to previous claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit (10) and the screen (11) are located on a base platform (3) from which a column (6) surmounted on a head emerges upper (2), in which the nozzles (1 and 7) with their corresponding solenoid valves (4 and 8) are located. SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201231585 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 16.10.2012 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: F25D31 / 00 (2006.01) F25D3 / 10 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

X

WO 02081356 A1 (H P BULMER LTD et al.) 17.10.2002, page 3, lines 8-30; page 4, lines 1-15; claims 13-14,22-24. 1-3

X

US 2003145620 A1 (NEWMAN, BRIAN) 07.08.2003, summary; page 2, paragraph 36; figure 2. 2-3

TO

EN 2380707 A1 (LAGOS GAINZARAIN FRANCISCO et al.) 05.17.2012, the whole document.

TO

EN 2337008 A1 (GAUGOR S A) 04/19/2010, the whole document.

TO

GB 2307976 A (GLASSFROSTER UK LTD) 11.06.1997, the whole document.

TO

EN 8609681 A1 (LIQUID CARBONIC DE SPAIN S A) 16.12.1986, the whole document.

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of completion of the report 10.12.2012

Examiner E. Arias Perez-Ilzarbe Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201231585 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) F25D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201231585 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 10.12.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims 2-3 Claims 1 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-3 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201231585  1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

WO 02081356 A1 (H P BULMER LTD et al.) 17.10.2002

D02

US 2003145620 A1 (NEWMAN, BRIAN) 07.08.2003

D03

ES 2380707 A1 (LAGOS GAINZARAIN FRANCISCO et al.) 05/17/2012

D04

EN 2337008 A1 (GAUGOR S A) 04/19/2010

D05

GB 2307976 A (GLASSFROSTER UK LTD) 11.06.1997

D06

ES 8609681 A1 (LIQUID CARBONIC DE SPAIN S A) 16.12.1986

 2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The main object of the invention is a vessel cooling machine and the like that incorporates two circuits, one corresponding to a liquid CO2 container and another associated to a water supply tank, both circuits providing hoses and solenoid valves that allow the exit and spraying sequential of both liquids. This machine incorporates an electronic control circuit assisted by a touch screen, both located on a base platform, from which a column emerges which is the one that contains the two independent liquid supply devices (liquid CO2 and water). Document D01, considered the most relevant in the state of the art, describes a beverage dispensing apparatus that has three nozzles, associated with three independent tanks corresponding to: beverage, water and CO2. This document describes the initial cooling of the vessel with the sequential use of water and CO2, which allows an improvement in the frosting of the vessel / container, both liquids being stored in separate tanks, attached to the spray nozzles through hoses. and regulated by solenoid valves. Therefore, the object of the invention set forth in claim 1 derives unequivocally from document D01. Dependent claim 2 reflects the presence in the chiller of an electronic control circuit assisted by a touch screen. Document D01 does not expressly mention this management system, which is described in document D02, which also describes a CO2 cooling machine. Therefore, it is considered that the characteristic of using an electronic control system is obvious to a person skilled in the art, as it is simply one of several possibilities evident in devices of this type. Dependent claim 3 does not contain any technical characteristics and is a mere selection of the design and location of the control system, and therefore does not meet the requirement of inventive activity. Therefore, claim 1 is considered to be novel in accordance with art. 6.1 of the Patent Law and dependent claims 2 and 3 lack inventive activity according to art. 8.1 of the Patent Law. State of the Art Report Page 4/4