JP4964224B2 - A device for cooling hot liquid foods to drinking temperature - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for cooling a hot liquid food (especially hot water) to a drinking temperature. The apparatus has an inlet for injecting hot liquid and an outlet for cooled liquid, has a cooling line passing through the coolant, and is composed of a cooling mechanism including the coolant.

  This cooling device is used for preparing meals for infants, for example. When preparing these meals, boiling water boiled as liquid food is poured into a cooling device, and this boiling water is cooled to the drinking temperature. By using this device, the time-consuming ambient air cooling process is accelerated.

Patent Document 1 discloses a cooling device configured for this purpose. The cooling device described in the same document is provided with a cooling mechanism in its core, which is filled with a coolant and through which a cooling line passes. The cooling line consists of a coil whose upper joint leads to the inlet and whose lower joint leads to the outlet and is immersed in the coolant. The inlet opens at the upper end of the cooling mechanism, and the outlet opens at the lower end.
International patent application WO2004 / 070294 A1

  It is possible to provide a filling aid on the inflow side of the cooling mechanism. The filling aid is a funnel-shaped object having an outlet at the bottom, and serves to guide a hot liquid to the inlet of the cooling line. According to the embodiment described in Patent Document 1, the filling aid further has a function of a measuring cup for measuring the amount of liquid to be cooled.

  However, with this known cooling mechanism, it is necessary to discharge the filling aid in order to supply a specified amount of hot liquid and to prevent the hot liquid injected into the filling aid from flowing into the cooling line before metering. A valve is required that is closed while filling and metering liquid at the end and at the inflow end of the cooling mechanism.

  Without this valve, correct metering cannot be performed with liquid that has already flowed out. If not properly metered, liquid can overflow from the collection container adapted to the amount of liquid to be cooled. Furthermore, in this case, the liquid flowing out of the cooling mechanism is not guaranteed to have the intended drinking temperature, and the prepared meal may have to be cooled and reheated before weighing the liquid.

  The lower part of the cooling mechanism includes a coupling means that can be coupled to a storage container, for example, a baby bottle. A cooled liquid food such as hot water supplied by the cooling line flows into the storage container. Then, a desired meal is prepared with hot water at the drinking temperature and given to the infant.

  The disadvantages of the known cooling devices are their handling and the difficulty of cooling a predefined amount of liquid without using additional valves. More precisely, for example in the case of devices that come into contact with food, as in the cooling device already described, in order not to make the cleaning of the device unnecessarily difficult, in a way that the parts are as simple as possible, It is necessary to mount the parts that come into contact.

  Furthermore, in this known cooling device, when filling the filling aid with a high-temperature liquid food, the cooling device will fall over from the filling aid even though other components of the cooling device are not fixed in place. In order to avoid the situation where hot water flows out, the cooling device must be held fixed.

  Accordingly, the present invention addresses the problem of further advancing the cooling device described above, based on the description of the prior art, so as to eliminate the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

  The above problem is solved by a cooling device of the type described at the beginning. The cooling device according to the present invention can be connected to at least the end side of the cooling mechanism having an inlet at the opening of the filling container, and has a specified filling volume that can be blocked by the connection with the cooling mechanism. A container is provided with a coupling element in which both parts cooperate to couple the filling container to the cooling mechanism.

  Thereby, the filling container and the cooling mechanism can form a substantial unit. Depending on the amount of liquid flowing out from the filling container and flowing into the inlet of the cooling mechanism and the temperature and amount of the coolant contained in the cooling mechanism, the liquid is cooled to a temperature within a specific narrow range, and the cooling mechanism It begins to flow out of the outlet.

  The cooling device comprises one or more filling containers having a defined filling volume. Each of these filling containers has, for example, an opening of the filling container and a cooling mechanism in a state in which the shapes of the filling container and the cooling mechanism are fitted to each other by cooperating with a screw thread portion, one of which is attached to the filling container and the other is attached to the cooling mechanism. The inflow end can be coupled. In this way, the filling container can be coupled to the cooling mechanism and forms a substantial unit with the cooling mechanism.

  The important point is that the filling container is connected to the cooling device to close its opening, and this mutual connection allows the liquid in the filling container to flow out to the cooling line of the cooling mechanism. Accordingly, the filling container is preferably provided with a unique opening at the end for filling the hot food to be cooled and for allowing the hot food to be cooled to flow out.

  The filling container is preferably configured in the form of a mug or bottle. In a more preferred embodiment, the filled container is thermally insulating. This heat insulation facilitates handling of the filled container. However, on the other hand, the hot liquid filled into the filling container by such means will be maintained at that hot temperature level for a while and when the liquid enters the cooling line in the cooling process, the liquid has a specified temperature. become.

  The filling container has a defined filling volume. The specified filling amount can be indicated by markings in the filling container or on the surface. In a more preferred embodiment, it allows the filling container to be configured to appear full when the filling container is filled with a certain amount of liquid. The handling of a filling container filled with a high-temperature liquid, such as hot water, which is full in appearance as described above, has no problem because it is basically unnecessary to move the filling container.

  This cooling mechanism can be coupled to the filling container by, for example, a screw-type coupling. Therefore, the filling container is sealed so that the liquid does not flow out. That is, the filling container seals the cooling mechanism in the form of a lid.

  Initially, the filling container containing the hot liquid to be cooled is disposed below the cooling mechanism and is closed by the inflow end of the cooling mechanism. Next, by turning the cooling device upside down, the cooling mechanism is placed on the lower side, the filling container is arranged on the upper side with its opening facing downward, and the inlet of the liquid to be cooled is located on the upper side of the cooling device. The cooling process is started.

  The hot liquid filled in the filling container flows in from the inlet of the cooling mechanism and passes through the cooling line. Therefore, a prescribed amount of heat is absorbed from the high-temperature liquid, and then flows out from the outlet of the cooling mechanism. The coolant in the cooling mechanism has been lowered to a predetermined temperature in advance, for example, by placing it in a refrigerator or freezer for a certain period of time.

  A prescribed amount of liquid is led from the filling container into the cooling line, for example, based on knowledge about the coolant temperature in the refrigerator, knowledge about its amount, and knowledge about the flow through of the liquid to be cooled, A specified amount of heat is absorbed from the outflow end so as to continuously flow out at a temperature within a specified narrow range.

  In this cooling device, since the filling container and the cooling mechanism can substantially form a unit, in the process of turning upside down, the air in the filling container passes through the hot liquid and rises to the bottom of the filling container, It is utilized that the air is heated and expands.

  This creates a certain pressure in the filling container when hot liquid flows into the cooling mechanism and accordingly when liquid flows through the cooling mechanism. This pressure facilitates the flow of liquid to be cooled through the cooling line and contributes to the flow of liquid being fed through the entire cooling line to a specified flow through rate, and the filled container is partially or mostly When emptied, this pressure increases in the filling container, facilitating the flow of the cooled liquid.

  Conveniently, vents are provided to guide air into the filling container that is becoming empty during the cooling process. Such a vent is arranged at the joint surface between the filling container and the cooling mechanism, and the air supplied into the filling container when the filling container is emptying fills the filling container through the high-temperature liquid. When heated, it expands and contributes to a specified increase in pressure in the filling container as it is emptied.

  In this cooling device in which the filling container is combined with a cooling mechanism to form a unit substantially, there is little risk of hot uncooled liquid flowing out even if handled improperly. After the substantial unit of the filling container and the cooling mechanism holding the hot liquid to be cooled is assembled, the cooling device can be easily handled.

  For example, the cooling device arranged in a state where the outlet is on the lower side is arranged on a drinking container such as a cup or a mug so that the liquid flowing out from the outlet of the cooling mechanism flows into the drinking container. be able to. Such usage of the cooling device can also be used for cooling tea to shorten the cooling time until the drinking temperature is reached.

  In another embodiment, the cooling mechanism may include coupling means at its outflow end for coupling a collection container for collecting the cooled liquid. As this coupling means, for example, it is possible to provide an inner threaded portion capable of coupling a baby bottle having an outer threaded portion.

  In this cooling process embodiment, before starting the cooling process by turning the cooling device upside down, a substantial unit is formed by the filling container, the cooling mechanism and the collection container. Neither hot liquid nor cooled liquid can leak out of the cooling device.

  A stand for holding a substantial unit consisting of a filling container, a cooling mechanism and a collecting container can be coupled to the cooling device. The stand can hold the cooling device in a fixed manner.

  As another aspect of the stand, after filling the filling container with hot water and coupling the cooling device, the cooling device is turned upside down so that the hot water flows through the cooling mechanism and into the collecting device. To enable the holder, the holder can be placed on the base and the holder can be configured to be rotatable so that the cooling device can rotate 180 degrees on the base. The cooling device can be coupled to a holder having a cable, in which the cooling mechanism can be suspended, for example.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of three components necessary for a cooling device including a cooling mechanism. The cooling device 1 includes a cooling mechanism 2, a filling container 3, and a collection container 4. The filling container 3 and the collection container 4 are each in the form of bottles and have a single opening 5 and 6, respectively. Openings 5 and 6 are surrounded by necks 7 and 8, respectively, and outer threaded parts 9 and 10 are formed in necks 7 and 8, respectively. The outer threaded portions 9, 10 serve to connect the filling container 3 or the collection container 4 to the cooling mechanism 2.

  For this purpose, the cooling mechanism 2 has an inner threaded portion which meshes with the outer threaded portion, which couples the filling container 3 with the inflow end 11 of the cooling mechanism. And for connecting the collecting container 4 with the outflow end 12 of its cooling mechanism. In order to avoid mistakes at the time of connection, each of the two threaded portions 9, 10 has a different diameter. As intended for this, the filling container 3 is coupled only to the inflow end 11 of the cooling mechanism and the collection container 4 is coupled only to the outflow end 12 of the cooling mechanism 2.

  The combined cooling device 1 is shown in FIG. A state in which the collection container 4 is coupled to the outflow end portion 12 of the cooling mechanism 2 and a state in which the filling container 3 is coupled to the inflow end portion 11 of the cooling mechanism 2 are shown. The inflow end 11 and the outflow end 12 have an inner thread that meshes with an outer thread for joining the filling container 3 and the collection container 4.

  The cooling mechanism 2 includes a coiled cooling line 13, and a coupling portion 14 of the cooling line 13 shown on the lower side in FIG. 2 is led to the inflow end portion 11, and an upper coupling portion 15 of the cooling line 13 is Then, it is guided to the outflow end 12 of the cooling mechanism 2. The bottoms of the inflow end 11 and the outflow end 12 are each provided with an opening for allowing the liquid to flow into the cooling line 13 or for allowing the liquid to flow out of the cooling line 13.

  In the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cooling mechanism 2 is constituted by two half-shells 16, 17 that are joined together in a sealed state. The semi-outer shell 16 shown below in FIG. 2 includes a sealing portion 18 from which coolant is injected into the cooling mechanism 2. The cooling mechanism 2 is filled with a coolant 19 (not shaded). The coolant 19 can be, for example, water, alcohol or an alcohol mixture.

  The coolant 19 is sealed in the cooling mechanism 2 and can flow out of the cooling mechanism 2 only when the sealing portion 18 is opened. The cooling mechanism 2 is filled with a specified amount of coolant. In any case, the cooling mechanism 2 is filled with an amount of coolant such that the coiled portion of the cooling line 13 is immersed in the coolant.

  The filling container 3 has a prescribed filling volume. In FIG. 2, the filling container 3 is filled with boiling hot water 20 in appearance. A small amount of air is sealed between the hot water surface and the bottom of the inflow end 11 of the cooling mechanism 2. The hot water 20 is poured into the filling container 3 before the opening 5 of the filling container 3 is closed by screwing into the cooling mechanism 2 having the inflow end 11. The cooling mechanism 2 is stored in the refrigerator before being screwed into the filling container 3 for the purpose of the cooling process. Therefore, the coolant 19 in the cooling mechanism 2 has a refrigerator internal temperature of approximately 4 to 6 ° C.

  In order to cool the hot water filled in the filling container 3, the cooling device 1 is rotated up and down 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 3 so that the collection container 4 is placed on the lower side and the collection container 4 is placed at the bottom. The As shown in FIG. 3, by turning the cooling device 1 upside down, the cooling device 1 becomes a cooling position, and the hot water 20 in the filling container 3 flows into the cooling line 13. While the hot water passes through the cooling line 13, the heat of the hot water is recovered by the cooling line, and the coolant 19 in the cooling mechanism 2 is heated. Subsequently, the hot water cooled at the outflow end 12 of the cooling mechanism 2 flows out and flows into the collection container 4, for example, a baby bottle.

  During this process, the air originally present in the filling container 3 rises as bubbles in the hot water 20 as shown in FIG. 3 and expands in the region 21 now on the upper side of the filling container 3, The pressure to accelerate the process of extruding increases. A ventilation hole is further provided in the joint surface between the cooling mechanism 2 and the filling container 3, and ambient air enters the filling container 3 through the ventilation hole while the filling container 3 is empty.

  This air rises in the hot water 20 and expands, and particularly when the filling container 3 is partially emptied, it accelerates the pressure increase in the filling container and the process of extruding the hot water in the container at that pressure. The increase in pressure in the filling container 3 promotes a cooling process that proceeds under specified conditions regarding the flow rate of the hot water 20 when the hot water 20 flows out of the filling container 3, particularly when passing through the cooling line 13.

  As a result, and knowledge of other factors affecting the cooling process, it is possible to predict the temperature of hot water flowing out at the outflow end within a narrow range. As a result, this cooling process is limited to a constant delivery temperature and is reproducible. This assumes that after each cooling process, the coolant 19 contained in the cooling mechanism is again brought to its cooling start temperature, preferably to the refrigerator temperature. For this purpose, the cooling mechanism 2 is stored in the refrigerator for a while.

  In a preferred embodiment, the width of the vent hole in the joint surface between the filling container 3 and the cooling mechanism 2 is set to a size that allows hot water to leak out while allowing air to enter. Due to the expansion of the air after changing the arrangement of the cooling device from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3, the air in the filling container 3 becomes a high-temperature liquid into the cooling line 13 of the cooling mechanism 2. , Thereby sucking in the ambient air, and the pressure in the filling container 3 is caused by the heating and expansion of the air caused in the filling container 3 as it rises in the hot liquid that is being cooled. Maintained.

  The vent hole in the joint surface between the cooling mechanism 2 and the filling container 3 described above is shown in the detailed perspective view of FIG. FIG. 4 shows the inflow end 11 of the cooling mechanism 2 having a bottom 22 and an inlet 23. The bottom 22 is formed in a funnel shape toward the inlet 23. A notch 24 that penetrates the inner thread and extends into the bottom 22 serves as a path for ambient air to enter the filling container 3 coupled to the inflow end 11 of the cooling mechanism 2 when the container is empty. To play a role.

  FIG. 5 shows the outflow end 12 of the cooling mechanism 2 with an outlet 25 that can be closed by a sliding part 26. When the sliding portion 26 is stored in the refrigerator, for example, when the sliding portion 26 is disposed in a state where the outflow end portion 12 is on the lower side in order to cool the coolant 19 included in the cooling mechanism 2. Can be slid onto the outlet 25. A vent hole 27 is provided in the joint surface between the cooling mechanism 2 and the collection container 4 so that the discharged air escapes when the liquid cooled by the vent hole enters the collection container 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, instead of providing a notch at the inner edge of the inflow end 11 of the cooling mechanism 2, this notch can be provided at the outer edge of the neck 7 of the filling container 3.

  FIG. 6 shows a filling container 3 ′ for a cooling device in which a ventilation notch 28 is provided in the sealing portion at the upper front end of the filling container 3 ′. This filling container is basically configured like the cooling mechanism 2 described above, but is used in combination with a cooling mechanism that does not have the notch 24.

  FIG. 7 shows a pedestal 29 that is more stable against falls at the position of the cooling device 1 shown in FIGS. Further, the pedestal 29 can serve as a pedestal for inserting the cooling mechanism 2 as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 7.

  For this purpose, the pedestal 29 is used for the filling container 3 (position of the cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 2), the collection container 4 (position of the cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 3), or the cooling mechanism 2 (shown in FIG. 7). The upper receiving part which can accommodate the lowest part is provided. In another aspect, the pedestal 29 has a cross-shaped molding portion 30 on the lower surface thereof whose shape meshes with the cross-cut recess of the sealing portion 18 of the cooling mechanism 2. As a result, the pedestal 29 also serves as a tool for opening and closing the sealing portion 18 of the cooling mechanism 2.

It is each side view of three components required for a cooling device provided with a cooling mechanism. It is sectional drawing of the vertical direction of the cooling device before cooling formed with three components shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of the cooling device of FIG. 2 during a cooling process. It is a detailed perspective view of the inflow end part of a cooling mechanism. It is detail drawing seen from the outflow end part of the cooling mechanism of a cooling device. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a filling container of a cooling device according to another embodiment. It is the figure (right figure) of the base with which the cooling mechanism relevant to the cooling device of FIGS. 1-5 was installed (right figure), and the perspective view (left figure) of the lower surface.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooling device 2 Cooling mechanism 3, 3 'Filling container 4 Collection container 5 Opening part 6 Opening part 7 Neck part 8 Neck part 9 Outer thread part 10 Outer thread part 11 Inflow end part 12 Outflow end part 13 Cooling line 14 Coupling Part 15 Coupling part 16 Semi-outer shell 17 Half-outer shell 18 Sealing part 19 Coolant 20 Hot water 21 Area 22 Bottom part 23 Inlet 24 Notch 25 Outlet 26 Sliding part 27 Venting hole 28 Notch 29 Base 30 Molding part

Claims (8)

  An apparatus (1) for cooling hot liquid food, in particular hot water (20), to a drinking temperature, comprising an inlet for passing hot liquid and an outlet for cooled liquid, 19) having a cooling line (13) passing through it, comprising a cooling mechanism (2) containing said coolant (19), said device (1) having at least one filling volume (3) 3 ′), and the opening (5) of the filling container can be coupled to the end side of the cooling mechanism (2) having the inlet, and by coupling with the cooling mechanism (2) In order to couple the filling container (3 ′) to the cooling mechanism (2), each of these two parts has a coupling element (9) that cooperates complementarily, For the cooling process, the filling container (3 ') and the cooling mechanism (2 A substantial unit (1) can be formed, and a vent (24) is provided at the joint between the cooling mechanism (2) and the filling container (3 ') As a result, ambient air is introduced into the empty filling container (3, 3 '), so that when the device (1) is rotated 180 degrees to start the cooling process, the introduced air is hot. A specified amount of liquid that is heated while passing through the food product and flows from the filling container (3 ′) to the inlet of the cooling mechanism (2), and is contained in the cooling mechanism (2). Depending on the temperature and amount of the coolant (19), the liquid flows from the outlet of the cooling mechanism (2) at a temperature within a specified narrow range, and the cooling mechanism (2) Collect the cooled liquid at its end with the outlet At least one collection container that can be coupled to the outflow end (12) of the cooling mechanism (2), comprising coupling means for coupling a collection container (4) for coupling A device characterized in that (4) is coupled. The particular interengaging thread for coupling the filling container (3, 3 ') or the collection container (4) to the cooling mechanism (2), respectively, has a different diameter. Item 2. The cooling device according to Item 1 . The cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vent hole (27) is provided on a joint surface between the cooling mechanism (2) and the collection container (4). The cooling mechanism (2) has an inner thread portion at an inflow end (11) for connecting the filling container (3, 3 ′), and is at least one of the filling containers (3, 3 ′). one, but the corresponding and having a threaded portion of the outer side (9), cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The cooling device according to claim 4 , characterized in that the vent hole is of the notch (24) type that penetrates the coupling element of the inflow end (11) of the cooling mechanism (2). The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that one or both of the filling containers (3, 3 ') are heat insulating containers. The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that a pedestal (29) is coupled to the cooling device (1). Cooling device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the underside of the pedestal (29) comprises a molding part (30) used as a tool.

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