WO2006097436A1

WO2006097436A1 - Device for cooling a hot liquid foodstuff to a drinking temperature

Info

Publication number: WO2006097436A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/060628
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Marx
Original assignee: Dieter Marx
Priority date: 2005-03-12
Filing date: 2006-03-10
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: DE202005006424U1; JP4964224B2; ES2391981T3; JP2008533423A; EP2002187B1; EP2002187A1

Abstract

A device (1) for cooling a hot liquid foodstuff, particularly water (20) to a drinking temperature comprises a cooling system (2), which contains a coolant (19) and which has a cooling line (13). This cooling line is guided through the coolant (19), has an inlet for admitting the hot liquid and an outlet for the cooled liquid. The device (1) comprises at least one filling vessel (3), which has a defined filling volume, can be connected to the end side of the cooling system (2) with the inlet via its opening (5) and which can be closed by connecting to the cooling system (2). In order to connect the filling vessel (3) to the cooling system (2), both parts have connecting elements (9) that interact in a complementary manner so that a representational unit (1) can be formed consisting of a filling vessel (3) and of the cooling system (2) for carrying out the cooling. According to the defined amount of liquid flowing out of the filling vessel (3) and into the inlet of the cooling system (2), to the temperature and to the amount of the coolant (19) contained in the cooling system (2), the liquid exits from the outlet of the cooling system (2) with a temperature that is preset within close limits.

Description

Apparatus for cooling a hot liquid food to a serving temperature

The invention relates to a device for cooling a hot liquid food, in particular water to a drinking temperature, comprising a coolant containing a cooling unit with a guided through the coolant, an inlet for introducing the hot liquid and a spout for the cooled liquid having cooling line.

Such cooling devices are used for example for preparing a meal for a baby or toddler. In preparing such a meal, boiled hot water as a liquid food is passed through the cooler to cool the hot water to serving temperature, thus accelerating the otherwise prolonged cooling process to the ambient air. A cooling device designed for this purpose from WO 2004/070294 A1 is known. The cooling device described in this document comprises in its core a cooling unit, which is filled with a coolant and through which a cooling line is guided. The cooling line is designed in the manner of a coil immersed in the coolant, the upper connecting piece leading to an inlet and the lower connecting piece to an outlet. The inlet opens at the upper end side of the cooling unit, the outlet at the lower end side. On the inlet side of the cooling unit, a filling aid can be placed. The filling aid is a funnel-shaped article having a lower outlet serving to introduce the hot liquid into the inlet of the cooling line. According to an embodiment described in the aforementioned document, the filling aid also has the function of a measuring cup for measuring the amount of liquid to be cooled. However, so that a defined quantity of hot liquid can be supplied to the cooling unit of this prior art device and the hot liquid poured into the filling aid does not flow into the cooling line before completion of the measuring process, it is necessary for the filling aid to be on the outlet side or the cooling unit on the inlet side Valve, which is closed in the process of filling and measuring the hot liquid in the filling aid. Otherwise the measuring process will be interrupted by already expiring hot liquid falsified. This can then lead to overflow of a matched to the amount of liquid to be cooled collecting vessel. Furthermore, it is then not guaranteed that the liquid flowing out of the cooling unit has the intended drinking temperature, possibly too cool, so that subsequently the prepared meal has to be slightly heated again.

The underside of the cooling unit has connection means to which a collecting vessel, for example a baby bottle, can be connected. In this flows from the cooling line exiting cooled liquid food, for example, the water. With the water at drinking temperature then the desired meal is prepared and administered to the baby or toddler.

A disadvantage of this known cooling device is their handling and the difficulty to cool a predefined amount of liquid, if not additional valves are used. Especially with devices that come into contact with food, such as in the above-described cooling device, one endeavors to make those parts of the device that come into contact with the food as simple as possible, so as not to unnecessarily complicate a cleaning of the device. Moreover, in this prior art cooling device, when filling the hot liquid food into the filling aid, the remaining components of the cooling device, should they not be otherwise secured, are held in place to cause the cooling device to tip over and the hot liquid to spill out Avoid water from the filling aid.

Based on this discussed prior art, the invention is therefore the object of developing a cooling device mentioned above in such a way that encountered the disadvantages of the discussed prior art.

This object is achieved by an aforementioned, generic cooling device according to the invention, wherein the device at least one connectable to the end side of the cooling unit with the inlet with its opening and by connecting to the cooling unit closable filling vessel having a defined filling volume, wherein for the purpose of connecting the filling vessel to the cooling unit, both parts each bear complementary cooperating connecting elements, so that from a filling vessel and the cooling unit for the process of cooling, an objective unit can be formed and in dependence on the defined , From the filling vessel in the inlet of the cooling unit flowing amount of liquid, the temperature and the amount of coolant contained in the cooling unit, the liquid exits at a predetermined temperature within narrow limits from the outlet of the cooling unit.

This cooling device has one or more filling vessels with a defined filling volume. Each of these filling vessels can be connected with its opening to the inlet side of the cooling unit, for example by positive engagement by cooperating threaded sections, one of which is assigned to the filling vessel and the other to the cooling unit. The Einfüllgefäße can be connected to the cooling unit and form with this then a representational unit. It is important that the filling vessels are closed by connecting to the cooling unit and in this composite in the filling vessel liquid can occur only on the cooling line contained in the cooling line. The filling vessels therefore have expediently on one and the same side only one opening for filling the hot, to be cooled food and also for discharging the same. Conveniently, the filling vessels are designed in the manner of a cup or a bottle. The filling vessels have according to an advantageous embodiment, a thermal insulation. This facilitates the handling of the filling vessels. By such a measure, however, the filled in the hopper hot liquid is maintained for some time at its hot temperature level, so that the entering into the cooling line in the process of cooling liquid has a defined temperature. Such a filling vessel has a defined filling volume. The predetermined filling quantity can be indicated by a marking in or on the filling vessel. According to an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the filling vessel is designed such that, when filled with the predetermined amount of liquid, the filling vessel is virtually full to the brim. The handling also such, almost brimming Einfüllgefäßes that is filled with hot liquid, such as hot water, is not a problem, since the hopper basically does not need to be moved. Rather, the cooling unit can be connected to the filling vessel, for example by screwing, whereby the filling vessel is sealed against outwardly leaking liquid. The filling vessel is thus closed with the cooling unit in the manner of a lid.

Before the start of the cooling process, the filling vessel is arranged at the bottom with the hot liquid to be cooled and is closed by the cooling unit by means of the inlet side of the cooling unit. By tilting the cooling device, so that the cooling unit at the bottom and the filling vessel with its opening facing down to the inlet of the cooling unit is located at the top, the cooling process is initiated. The hot liquid contained in the filling vessel then enters the inlet of the cooling unit, passes through the cooling line, wherein the hot liquid is deprived of a defined amount of heat, and then from the outlet of the cooling unit. The coolant contained in the cooling unit has previously been brought to a defined temperature, for example by storing in a refrigerator or freezer for a certain period of time at refrigerator temperature. When used as intended, a defined amount of liquid is thus introduced into the cooling line through the filling vessel, due to the knowledge of the temperature of the coolant, for example at refrigerator temperature and its quantity, the flow rate of the liquid to be cooled withdrawn a defined amount of heat, so that the outlet then cooled Liquid exits at a predefined temperature within narrow limits. In this cooling device, the fact is exploited that rises by the possibility of forming a representational unit between the hopper and the cooling unit in the process of tipping over the present in the hopper air through the hot liquid to the bottom of the hopper, it heats up and expanded. As a result, a certain pressure is generated in the filling vessel during the introduction of the hot liquid into the cooling unit and accordingly during the passage of the liquid through the cooling unit, which assists the flow of the liquid to be cooled through the cooling line and contributes to the total amount of liquid passed through the cooling line flows through the cooling line at a defined flow rate, especially supported by the pressure building up in the hopper defined flow through the liquid to be cooled with already partially or substantially emptied filling vessel. Appropriately, a ventilation opening is provided to initiate air in the process of cooling in the emptying filling vessel. Such a ventilation opening are located at the interface between the filling vessel and the cooling unit, so that the thereby supplied in the filling vessel during its emptying air warmed by passing through the located in the hopper hot liquid expands and to a defined pressure build-up within the hopper at contributes to its emptying.

In this cooling device, in which the filling vessel is assembled with the refrigerating unit for the operation of cooling to an objective unit, there is no risk that hot, uncooled liquid can leak if misused. After the objective unit is established between the filling vessel with the hot liquid to be cooled and the cooling unit, this cooling device can be handled easily. For example, the cooling device can be placed with its outlet pointing down on a drinking vessel, such as a cup or a cup, so that the expiring at the outlet of the cooling liquid enters the drinking vessel. Such use of the cooling device may be used to cool tea to shorten the cooling time until it has reached its drinking temperature.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the cooling unit also has outlet side connection means for connecting a collecting vessel for collecting the cooled liquid. This may be, for example, an internally threaded portion, to which, for example, a baby bottle with an external thread can be connected. In such an embodiment, a GE genständliche unit from the filling vessel, the cooling unit and the collecting vessel is formed for the process of cooling, before the cooling process is initiated by turning or overturning of the cooling device formed in this way. From this cooling device then neither hot nor cooled liquid can escape.

The cooling device may be associated with a stand for holding the objective unit, consisting of the filling vessel and the cooling unit and optionally the collecting vessel. By this, the cooling device can be securely held. In a further development of such a stand it is provided to conceivably pivot the holder so that the holder stands up on a base and the cooling device can be pivoted about 180 ° in order to overturn it accordingly after filling the hot water into the filling vessel and assembling the cooling device so that the hot water can flow through the cooling unit into the collecting vessel. The cooling device can be connected to the holder with a cable arranged on the holder, into which, for example, the cooling unit can be suspended.

The invention is described below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

1 shows a side view of three elements required for creating a cooling device, comprising a cooling unit,

2 shows the cooling device formed by the three elements of FIG. 1 before cooling in a longitudinal section;

3 shows the cooling device of Figure 2 in the process of cooling,

4 shows a perspective detailed view of the inlet side of the cooling unit

5 is a plan view of the outlet side of the cooling unit of the cooling device,

Fig. 6: a filling vessel according to another embodiment of a cooling device and 7 shows a foot assigned to the cooling device of FIGS. 1 to 5 with the cooling unit inserted therein (right-hand illustration) and in a perspective view onto the underside (left-hand illustration).

A cooling device 1 comprises a cooling unit 2, a filling vessel 3 and a collecting vessel 4. The filling vessel 3 and the collecting vessel 4 are each bottle - shaped and have a single opening 5 or 6. The openings 5, 6 are enclosed by a neck section 7 or 8, on which an external thread section 9 or 10 is formed. The external screw section 9, 10 serves to connect the filling vessel 3 and the collecting vessel 4 to the cooling unit 2. The cooling unit 2 has for this purpose via complementary female threaded sections for connecting the filling vessel 3 at its inlet side 1 1 and the collecting vessel 4 at its outlet side 12 are arranged. In order to avoid a connection confusion, the two threaded sections 9, 10 each have a different diameter. This ensures that the filling vessel 3 can be connected only on the inlet side 1 1 and the collecting vessel 4 only on the outlet side 12 of the cooling unit 2 as intended.

The composite cooling device 1 is shown in FIG. Visible is the connection of the collecting vessel 4 to the outlet side 12 of the cooling unit 2 and the connection of the filling vessel 3 to the inlet side 1 1 of the cooling unit 2. The inlet side 1 1 and the outlet side 12 have to connect the inlet vessel 3 and the collecting vessel 4 via complementary internal thread sections , The cooling unit 2 has a coiled cooling line 13, whose lower connection 14 in FIG. 2 is led to the inlet side 11 and whose upper connection 15 is led to the outlet side 12 of the cooling unit 2. The bottom of the inlet side 1 1 and the outlet side 12 each has an opening for admitting liquid into the cooling line 13 and to omit the same. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling unit 2 of two half-shells 16, 17, which are sealed together, constructed. The lower half shell 16 has a closure 18 through which a coolant can be introduced into the cooling unit 2. The cooling unit 2 is filled with a coolant 19 (not indicated by hatching). The coolant 19 may be, for example, water or an alcohol or alcohol mixture. The coolant 19 is encapsulated within the cooling unit 2 and can emerge from this only when the shutter 18 is open. Within the cooling unit 2 is a defined amount of coolant. In any case, one will bring in the cooling unit 2 such a quantity of coolant, that the coiled portion of the cooling line 13 is immersed therein.

The collecting vessel 3 has a defined filling volume and, in the illustration of FIG. 2, is filled to the brimful with boiled hot water 20. Between the water level and the bottom of the inlet side 1 1 of the cooling unit 2, a small amount of air is included. The hot water 20 has been introduced into the filling vessel 3 before its opening 5 has been closed by screwing on the cooling unit 2 with its inlet side 11. The cooling unit 2 has been stored for the operation of the intended cooling prior to its screwing onto the filling vessel 3 in a refrigerator. The coolant 19 contained in the cooling unit 2 therefore has a refrigerator temperature of about 4 ° -6 °.

For cooling the hot water located in the filling vessel 3, the cooling device 1 is tilted over by 180 ° so that - as shown in FIG. 3 - the collecting vessel 4 is at the bottom and rises with its bottom. As a result of the tipping over of the cooling device 1 in its cooling position shown in FIG. 3, the hot water 20 located in the filling vessel 3 enters the cooling line 13. When passing through the cooling line 13, heat is removed from the passing hot water, whereby the coolant 19 located in the cooling unit 2 heats up. At the outlet side 12 of the cooling unit 2 then exits cooled water, which enters the collecting vessel 4, for example, a baby bottle. In this process, the air originally present in the filling vessel 3 passes through the hot water 20, as indicated in FIG. 3 by the bubbles therein, expands and builds in the now upper region 21 of the filling vessel 3 a pressure supporting the emptying process , At the interface between the cooling unit 2 and the filling vessel 3 there is also a ventilation opening through which ambient air enters the filling vessel 3 when it is emptied. This is also guided by the hot water 20, expands and supports the pressure build-up in the hopper and thus the emptying process, especially at partially emptied hopper 3. The pressure build-up within the hopper 3 during the discharge of the hot water 20 supports a defined running cooling process, especially in terms of As a result of this, and as a result of the knowledge of the other factors influencing the cooling process, the water temperature exiting at the outlet side can be predicted within relatively narrow limits. Consequently, the cooling process is defined and reproducible with a constant outlet temperature. This assumes that the coolant 19 contained in the cooling unit is brought back to its initial temperature, expediently refrigerator temperature after each cooling operation. For this purpose, the cooling unit 2 is placed in the refrigerator for some time.

In a preferred embodiment, the clear passage width of the ventilation opening at the interface between the filling vessel 3 and the cooling unit 2 is dimensioned so that admittedly air, but water can not escape from this. The existing in the hopper 3 air presses due to their expansion after turning the arrangement from the position shown in Figure 2 in the position shown in Figure 3, the hot liquid in the cooling line 13 of the cooling unit 2, which in turn causes an intake of ambient air, the due to its heating and the concomitant expansion as it passes through the hot liquid to be cooled maintains the pressure within the filling vessel 3.

The previously described ventilation opening at the interface between see the cooling unit 2 and the filling vessel 3 is shown in a perspective detail view in Figure 4. Figure 4 shows the inlet side 1 1 of the cooling unit 2 with its bottom 22 and its inlet opening 23. The bottom 22 is funnel-shaped toward the inlet opening 23. A notch 24 penetrating the internal thread section and engaging in the bottom 22 serves as a way of letting ambient air into a filling vessel 3 connected to the inlet side 11 of the cooling unit 2 when it is emptied. Figure 5 shows the outlet side 12 of the cooling unit 2 with its outlet opening 25, which can be closed by a slide 26. The slide 26 can be pushed over the outlet opening 25, when the cooling unit 2 with the outlet side 12 facing down, for example, is turned off in a refrigerator for cooling the coolant 19 contained therein. At the interface between the cooling unit 2 and the collecting vessel 4, a vent opening 27 is provided to allow the displaced by the entry of the cooled liquid into the collecting vessel 4 escape air.

Instead of providing the notch in the inner edge of the inlet side 1 1 of the cooling unit 2, as shown in Figure 4, this can also be arranged on the outer edge of the neck portion 7 of the filling vessel 3.

FIG. 6 shows a filling vessel 3 'for a cooling device in which a ventilation notch 28 is introduced into the upper end of the filling vessel 3'. This filling vessel is used in connection with a cooling unit, which is constructed in principle as the cooling unit 2 described above, but has no notch 24.

FIG. 7 shows a base 28, by means of which the stability of the cooling device 1 in its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is increased. The base 29 can also serve for insertion of the cooling unit 2, as shown in Figure 7 in its right figure. The base 29 has for this purpose on an upper side recording, in each of the lowermost portion of the hopper 3 (at a position of the cooling device 1 according to Figure 2), the collecting vessel 4 (at a position of the cooling device 1 according to Figure 3) or the cooling unit 2 (as shown in Figure 7) can be used. In a further development, this foot 29 has on its underside a cruciform shape 30 whose configuration is complementary to the cross-slot-shaped recess of the closure 18 of the cooling unit 2. The foot 29 also serves as a tool for opening and closing the shutter 18 of the cooling unit. 2 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 cooling device

2 cooling unit, 3 'filling vessel

4 collecting vessel

5 opening

6 opening

7 neck section

8 neck section

9 male thread section

10 male thread section

1 1 inlet side

12 outlet side

13 cooling line

14 connection

15 connection

16 half shell

17 half shell

18 closure

19 coolant

20 water

21 area

22 floor

23 inlet opening

24 notch

25 outlet opening

26 slides

27 vent

28 notch

29 pedestal

30 expression

Claims

claims

A device for cooling a hot liquid food, in particular water (20) to a serving temperature, comprising a coolant (19) containing a cooling unit (2) with a through the coolant (19) out, an inlet for admitting the hot liquid and a Outlet for the cooled liquid having cooling line (13), characterized in that the device (1) at least one to the end side of the cooling unit (2) with the inlet with its opening (5) connectable and by connecting to the cooling unit (2) includes closable filling vessel (3) with a defined filling volume, wherein for the purpose of connecting the filling vessel (3 ') to the Kühlag- gregat (2) both parts each cooperating complementary

Wear connecting elements (9), so that from a filling vessel (3 ') and the cooling unit (2) for the process of cooling, a representational unit (1) can be formed and in dependence on the defined, from the filling vessel (3') in the inlet of the cooling unit (2) flowing amount of liquid, the temperature and the amount of coolant contained in the cooling unit (2) (19) the liquid exits at a predetermined temperature within narrow limits from the outlet of the cooling unit (2).

2. Cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling unit (2) at its inlet side (1 1) for connecting a filling vessel (3, 3 ') has a female threaded portion and the at least one filling vessel (3, 3') has a corresponding male threaded portion ( 9).

3. Cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at the interface between the cooling unit (2) and the filling vessel (3, 3 ') a ventilation opening (24) is arranged.

4. Cooling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the ventilation opening in the manner of a the connecting elements of the inlet side (1 1) of the cooling unit (2) by cross notch (24). is.

5. Cooling device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cooling unit (2) has at its side with the outlet via connection means for connecting a collecting vessel (4) for collecting the cooled liquid and the device (1) at least one the outlet side (12) of the cooling unit (2) is assigned to connectable collecting vessel (4).

6. Cooling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the respective complementary threaded portions for connecting a filling vessel (3, 3 ') and a collecting vessel (4) to the cooling unit (2) have a different diameter.

7. Cooling device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at the interface between the cooling unit (2) and the collecting vessel (4) a vent opening (27) is arranged.

8. Cooling device according to one of claims 1 to 7, character- ized in that the one or more filling vessels (3, 3 ') are thermally insulated.

9. Cooling device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cooling device (1) has a stand (29) is assigned.

10. Cooling device according to claim 9, characterized in that the underside of the base (29) carries a designated for use as a tool expression (30).