WO2008012515A2

WO2008012515A2 - Cooling/heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008012515A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/002777
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Davies; Robert Bassil; Peter Kay
Original assignee: Scottish & Newcastle Limited
Priority date: 2006-07-27
Filing date: 2007-07-20
Publication date: 2008-01-31
Also published as: GB2440634A; GB0614966D0; GB2440634B; GB0714236D0; WO2008012515A3

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for cooling/heating a product, for example, for cooling a beverage can/bottle. The apparatus comprises a reaction chamber for containing a solid reactant, the reaction chamber being communicable with the exterior of the apparatus through an inlet for the introduction of a liquid reactant into the reaction chamber, and an agitator for mixing the solid and liquid reactants to form a cooling liquid or heating liquid in the reaction chamber. In use, the product is cooled or heated by heat transfer between the product and the cooling/heating liquid in the reaction chamber.

Description

Cooling/Heating Apparatus

This invention relates to a cooling/heating apparatus. In particular, this invention relates to a cooling/heating apparatus for cooling/heating a product, such as a beverage, by heat transfer between the product and a cooling or heating liquid formed by the mixing of a solid and a liquid reactant.

It is generally accepted that products such as beverages e.g. beer, lager, cider and soft drinks should be served chilled and refrigeration systems are usually provided in public houses and restaurants for effecting such cooling. Furthermore, cans/bottles of such a beverage for home consumption are usually stored in a domestic refrigerator prior to consumption.

One problem is that there may be insufficient space in a user's domestic refrigerator to cool the required number of beverage cans/bottles.

In some cases, rapid cooling of a beverage is required, for example in cases of unplanned consumption. The time taken for beverage cooling in a domestic refrigerator is often significantly longer than a consumer would want.

Further problems arise when a consumer wishes to consume such a beverage at a location where no refrigeration system is available. For example, a consumer may wish to take cans/bottles of beverage on a picnic, barbeque or to a sporting event at which no electricity is available and thus no electrically powered refrigeration system is available.

In this case, it is known to first cool cans/bottles in a refrigerator and then transport them to and store them at the desired location in an Esky™ which is a portable cooler in which frozen ice packs are placed along with the cans/bottles to keep them cool. Of course, such a cooler only works for as long as the ice packs remain frozen and the cooling will gradually decrease in effectiveness as time passes. Therefore, after some time, the beverage is no longer sufficiently cooled for the consumer's taste.

It is known from US 4607502 to cool beverages using the endothermic interaction between water and a solid reactant. This has the advantage that maximum cooling can be applied just before the beverage is desired rather than at the time the beverage is first removed from the refrigerator. In US 4607502, the solid reactant is provided in a wrapping which extends around an array of beverage containers. Water is added to the solid reactant and the containers are cooled by heat transfer with the refrigerating mixture in the wrapping.

The inventors of the present invention have discovered that the effectiveness and speed of cooling relies on the efficient mixing of the solid and liquid reactants and the extent of heat transfer from the beverage containers. A preferred aim of the present invention is to improve the mixing of the solid and liquid reactants and/or to improve the heat transfer from the product to achieve improved product cooling.

Another preferred aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be used for heating a product using the exothermic interaction between a solid and liquid reactant.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for cooling or heating a product, the apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber for containing a solid reactant, the reaction chamber being communicable with the exterior of the apparatus through an inlet for the introduction of a liquid reactant into the reaction chamber; and an agitator for mixing the solid and liquid reactants to form a cooling or heating liquid in the reaction chamber; wherein, in use, the product is cooled or heated by heat transfer between the product and the cooling liquid or heating liquid in the reaction chamber.

By providing an agitator for mixing the solid and liquid reactants, complete and thorough mixing of the reactants can be achieved leading to a more effective and rapid cooling/heating of the product.

Preferably, the apparatus includes at least one product holder for holding the product in thermal contact with the reaction chamber. By holding the product in thermal contact with the reaction chamber, more effective heat transfer can occur. Rapid cooling is possible e.g. cooling of beverage from room temperature to a desirable drinking temperature (around 4⁰C) can be achieved in around 11 minutes using the apparatus of the present invention.

The product can be any product requiring cooling or heating. It may be a liquid product e.g. a beverage or a solid product e.g. a food item. Preferably the product is a beverage.

The reaction chamber is defined by a chamber wall and the chamber wall adjacent the product holder will be at least partially thermally conductive.

The product holder(s) may be defined by holder walls and the holder wall adjacent the reaction chamber will be at least partially thermally conductive. The holder walls which are not adjacent the reaction chamber are preferably formed of insulating material.

In other embodiments, the product holder(s) may be at least partially defined by the reaction chamber wall i.e., there may be at least one common wall between the reaction chamber and the product holder(s). This will allow maximum heat transfer between the product and the cooling/heating liquid. Most preferably, the product holder is partly defined by the reaction chamber walls and partly defined by insulating material.

The product holder may surround the reaction chamber. For example, the reaction chamber may be a substantially cylindrical chamber and the product holder may be an annular chamber surrounding the reaction chamber. In this case, the inner wall of the product holder may be defined by the outer (thermally conductive) wall of the reaction chamber, or it may be a separate, thermally conductive wall. Preferably, the outer wall of the product holder is defined by an insulating material. Providing the product holder surrounding the reaction chamber ensures that a high degree of thermal contact between the reaction chamber and the product is achieved.

Alternatively, there may be one or more product holders located adjacent the reaction chamber walls but not completely encircling the reaction chamber. For example, the reaction chamber may be a cube or a cuboid with a product holder provided adjacent one or more (preferably two) of the cube/cuboid faces. Alternatively, one or more product holders may be located adjacent the reaction chamber wall defining the base of the reaction chamber i.e. the one or more product holders may be adjacent (below) the base of the reaction chamber. In this way, free convection flow within a liquid product e.g. beverage can be established i.e. beverage adjacent the reaction chamber will be cooled and will sink within the product holder (or within a can/bottle housed in the product holder) with warmer beverage rising within the product holder (or within a can/bottle housed in the product holder). In these embodiments, one face of the one or more product holders may be defined by either a (thermally conductive) wall of the reaction chamber or a separate, thermally conductive holder wall.

In another alternative, the reaction chamber may surround at lea.st one product holder. For example, the product holder may be a substantially cylindrical chamber and the reaction chamber may be an annular chamber surrounding the at least one product holder. The product holder and reaction chamber may share a common, thermally conductive wall. Again, this ensures that a high degree of thermal contact between the reaction chamber and the product is achieved. Preferably, there is a plurality of product holders, each holder extending within and surrounded by the reaction chamber. In embodiments where there is at least one product holder in the interior of the reaction chamber, a layer of insulation is preferably provided around the outside of the reaction chamber.

The product holder(s) may be adapted to contain a liquid product, e.g. beverage, per se (in which case it/they will include a liquid product inlet/outlet) or it/they may be adapted to house a liquid product, e.g. beverage, in containers such as bottles/cans. Preferably, the product holder(s) is/are sized to receive bottles/cans, for example, in a vertical stack or horizontal array. If a product holder is adapted to contain liquid product e.g. beverage containers, e.g. cans in a vertical stack, or a solid product, an ejection mechanism e.g. a spring is preferably provided to allow access to the containers/solid product which are not initially accessible.

Preferably, the cooling apparatus further includes means for preventing removal of the cooling/heating liquid from the reaction chamber by the user. This may be a one-way valve fitted at the inlet. Furthermore, as the liquid reactant e.g. water is poured into the reaction chamber through the inlet, there is a chance that splash back may occur which is inconvenient for the user and may expose the user to the hazardous cooling liquid. The provision of a one-way valve reduces the chance of exposure of the user to the cooling/heating liquid.

Additionally/alternatively, there may be a sealing plate which is deformable under pressure in only one direction so as to allow access to the solid reactant by the liquid reactant but to block the opposite passage of the mixed reactants. The provision of a sealing plate further reduces the chances of the user coming into contact with/removing the cooling/heating liquid.

The agitator is preferably adapted to provide relative motion between the solid reactant and liquid reactant.

For example, the agitator may be adapted to move the liquid contents of the reaction chamber (which will initially be liquid reactant and will become cooling/heating liquid as the solid reactant dissolves/reacts) relative to substantially static (constrained) solid reactant. The reaction chamber may be provided with at least one housing for constraining the solid reactant. The or each housing is provided with at least one wall portion having at least one aperture and preferably a plurality of apertures. For example, at least one wall portion of the housing may be defined by a mesh, sieve or grating. By constraining the solid reactant within such a housing in the reaction chamber, the mixing of the solid and liquid reactants can be improved as the liquid contents of the reaction chamber can be moved relative to the solid reactant by the agitator. Preferably, any housing is provided on the reaction chamber walls adjacent the product holder(s). This provides the maximum cooling/heating effect for the product.

In other embodiments, the agitator may be adapted to move the solid reactant within the liquid contents of the reaction chamber. For example, the agitator may include at least one housing for housing the solid reactant. Preferably the or each housing includes at least one wall portion containing at least one but more preferably a plurality of apertures to allow the ingress of the liquid reactant. Preferably, at least one of wall portion of the or each housing is formed of a mesh, sieve or grating. By providing at least one housing for housing the solid reactant on the agitator, the mixing of the solid and liquid reactants can be improved as the solid reactant can be moved relative to the liquid contents of the reaction chamber by the agitator. In most embodiments, the agitator extends within the reaction chamber. For example, the agitator may include a portion extending within the reaction chamber and an actuation element which is external to the reaction chamber and which can be used to cause movement of the agitator within the reaction chamber.

In some embodiments, the agitator is movable within the reaction chamber in a translational motion, for example, the agitator is one or more plungers. The plunger(s) terminate(s) at one end in an actuation element (handle) externa! to the reaction chamber and movement of the actuation element results in movement of the plunger(s) within the reaction chamber thus creating a mixing flow within the liquid contents of the reaction chamber. As discussed above, the plunger(s) may have one or more housings for housing the solid reactant. Preferably, the plunger has a plurality of axially spaced housings.

In other embodiments, the agitator may be moveable within the reaction chamber in a rotational motion, for example, the agitator may be an Archimedean screw. Preferably, the screw terminates at one end in an actuation element (handle) external to the reaction chamber and rotation of the actuation element results in a corresponding rotation of the screw thus creating a mixing flow within the liquid contents of the reaction chamber. This rotating agitator may also be provided with at least one housing for housing the solid reactant.

In other embodiments, the agitator may be a pump for circulating the liquid contents of the reaction chamber. The pump comprises an inlet from the reaction chamber into which the liquid contents liquid can flow. Preferably, a filter/gauze at the inlet prevents ingress of the solid reactant into the pump. Alternatively, the solid reactant may be constrained within one or more housings as described above. The pump then pumps the liquid contents back into the reaction chamber to creating a circulating flow of the liquid contents through the solid reactant.

In some embodiments, the reaction chamber wall includes a deformable portion and the agitator is adapted to reversibly deform the deformable portion e.g. by compression of the reaction chamber wall. Preferably, the deformation acts to decrease the volume of the reaction chamber in the area of deformation. This deformation and the subsequent release of the deforming force causes agitation in the liquid contents of the reaction chamber by the creation of a wave. In these embodiments, the agitator may include a portion extending within the reaction chamber and an actuation element located outside the reaction chamber. For example, the agitator may include a variable volume member located inside the reaction chamber, the volume of the variable volume member being variable by deformation of the deformable portion of the reaction chamber wall. The variable volume member may be, for example, bellows which are compressible to reduce their volume. The variable volume member is connected to an actuation element (e.g. a pedal) external to the reaction chamber. Preferably, depression of the pedal results in a decrease in the volume of the variable volume member by deformation of the deformable wall portion and release of the pedal results in a return to the original volume of the variable volume member. The liquid contents of the reaction chamber will be sucked into the variable volume member as the volume increases and will be forced from the variable volume member as the volume is decreased. The forced flow of the liquid contents from the variable volume member causes mixing of the reactants.

In alterative embodiments, the agitator may be external to the reaction chamber and may cause deformation of the deformable wall portion by abutment with/compression of the external face of the reaction chamber. For example, the agitator may have at least one contact face for abutting/compressing an external face of the reaction chamber to deform the deformable portion of the reaction chamber wall. The agitator may have two contact faces for alternately abutting adjacent areas of the external face of the reaction chamber.

In some embodiments, the inlet for the liquid reactant is provided as a channel through the agitator. This channel may be sealable, for example using a gasket which expands upon contact with the liquid reactant or by manual movement of the upper portion of the channel out of alignment with the lower portion of the channel.

The solid reactant can be any solid capable of forming a cooling or heating liquid upon mixing with a liquid reactant. For forming a cooling liquid, the liquid reactant is preferably water and the solid reactant is or includes a salt such as ammonium nitrate. The solid reactant may be, for example, a mixture of ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate. The solid reactant is preferably in the form of prills which are easily handled and which will not generate dust. Furthermore, prills have a large surface area/mass ratio and thus will readily dissolve in the liquid reactant. For forming a heating liquid, the solid and liquid reactants are those which undergo an exothermic interaction upon mixing. For example, the solid reactant may be or may include calcium chloride and the liquid reactant may be water.

The apparatus is preferably provided with insulation to prevent heat exchange between the cooling/heating liquid in the reaction chamber and the environment.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated in the following Figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is an Archimedean screw;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a plunger;

Figure 3 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a pump;

Figures 4A and 4B show a side elevation cross-sectional view and an aerial cross-sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a plunger and the reaction chamber includes a defined hydraulic path;

Figure 5 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a plunger carrying solid reactant housings;

Figure 6 shows an aerial cross-sectional view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a two-armed plunger ;

Figure 7 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a plunger;

Figure 8 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention where the agitator is a bellows and the reaction chamber wall includes a deformable portion; and

Figure 9 shows a side elevation cross-sectional view of a ninth preferred embodiment where the agitator is a wedge and the reaction chamber wall includes a deformable portion.

Figure 1 shows a cooling apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical reaction chamber 1 defined by chamber walls 2 which are formed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium. The reaction chamber 1 contains a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown). An inlet 3 is provided in the top of the chamber to allow the introduction of a liquid reactant such as water. A cap 4 is provided to seal the inlet both before and after the introduction of the liquid reactant. A one way valve is provided (not shown) at the inlet 3 to prevent removal the cooling liquid by the user. Guide tube 10 is provided upstanding from the base of the reaction chamber with apertures 11 located adjacent the base of the reaction chamber 1.

The agitator 5 is an Archimedean screw which extends into the interior of the reaction chamber and includes an actuation element (handle) 6 which is external to the reaction chamber.

The product holder 7 is an annular chamber surrounding the reaction chamber. The holder is defined by holder walls 8 but could simply be defined by the reaction chamber wall 2 and insulation 9. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the product holder is adapted to hold beverage per se. There is an inlet (not shown) into which beverage can be poured and an outlet (not shown) from which beverage can be dispensed after cooling. Alternatively, the product holder could be adapted to hold beverage containers e.g. beer cans. For example, the product holder could be dimensioned to hold a vertical stack of beer cans extending around the perimeter of the reaction chamber.

In use beverage or beverage containers are provided in the product holder 7 and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the reaction chamber.

When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is added to the reaction chamber through the inlet 3 and one-way valve after removal of the cap 4.

To ensure thorough mixing of the solid and liquid reactants in the reaction chamber, the handle 6 is turned to effect rotation of the Archimedean screw 5 within the reaction chamber. The movement of the screw results in upwards motion of the reactants within the guide tube 10 in the reaction chamber. As they reach the upper extremity of the guide tube 10, they are drawn back down to the base of the reaction chamber outside of the guide tube by the draw of the screw 5 within the guide tube

10 which creates a circular churning and mixing flow to mix the liquid and solid reactants to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution). In an alternative embodiment (not shown) a sealing plate with downwardly deformable edges is provided in addition to or instead of the one-way valve at the inlet. This sealing plate is provided with a central aperture which cooperates with an external thread provided on the shaft of the screw. The sealing plate is initially located adjacent to the upper extremity of the guide tube 10 and is sized to seal the reaction chamber with the deformable edges abutting the chamber walls. Upon turning of the handle 6, the sealing plate is drawn upwards in the reaction chamber by its cooperation with the external thread on the screw. Liquid reactant introduced through the inlet will initially collect above the sealing plate but, as the sealing plate rises within the chamber, the decrease in volume in the reaction chamber above the sealing plate causes the liquid reactant to exert sufficient pressure on the deformable edges of the plate that the liquid reactant can flow past the sealing plate to mix with the solid reactant. This sealing plate allows the passage of liquid reactant to the solid reactant but does not allow the passage of the mixed reactants towards the inlet thus further reducing the chance that a user will come into contact with the cooling liquid.

Figure 2 shows a cooling apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical reaction chamber 1 defined by chamber walls 2 which are formed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium. The reaction chamber 1 includes a housing 13 which contains a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown). Gauze 14 is provided at the upper and lower extremities of the housing to contain the solid reactant within the housing. Guide tube 10 extends from the housing towards the base of the reaction chamber.

The agitator 5 is a plunger which extends into the interior of the reaction chamber and includes an actuation element (handle) 6 which is external to the reaction chamber.

An inlet 3 is provided in the top of the handle 6 to allow access to a channel 15 within the plunger 5, the channel 15 terminating in a one-way valve 12. A liquid reactant such as water can be introduced into the reaction chamber 1 via the inlet 3, channel 15 and one-way valve 12. Preferably, the handle 6 can be rotated about the axis of the plunger shaft to cause misalignment between the upper and lower portions of the channel. This closes the inlet 3 thus sealing channel 15 to prevent the user from removing the mixed reactants/coming into contact with the mixed reactants. The product holder 7 is an annular chamber forming surrounding the reaction chamber. The holder is defined by holder walls 8 but could simply be defined by the reaction chamber wall 2 and insulation 9. The product holder is dimensioned to hold a vertical stack of beer cans extending around the perimeter of the reaction chamber.

In use beverage containers are provided in the holder 7 and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the housing 13 in the reaction chamber 1. When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is added to the reaction chamber through the inlet 3, channel 15 and one-way valve 12. To ensure thorough mixing of the solid and liquid reactants in the reaction chamber, the handle 6 is moved towards and away from the reaction chamber to effect movement of the plunger 5 within the reaction chamber. As the plunger is forced downwards within the chamber, the liquid reactant is forced upwards through the guide tubelO, through the lower gauze 14 of the housing 13 and through the solid reactant housed in the housing 13. As the plunger 5 is pulled upwards within the reaction chamber 1 , the liquid contents of the reaction chamber is pulled through the upper gauze of the housing 13 and down through the remaining solid reactant in the housing 13. This plunger movement is repeated until the forced flow of the liquid contents through the solid reactant results in efficient mixing of the reactants to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution).

Figure 3 shows a cooling apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical reaction chamber 1 defined by chamber walls 2 which are formed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium. The reaction chamber 1 contains a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown). An inlet 3 is provided in the top of the chamber to allow the introduction of a liquid reactant such as water. A one way valve is provided (not shown) at the inlet 3 to prevent removal of the cooling liquid by the user.

The agitator 5 is a liquid pump having an inlet 17 and an outlet 20. The pump is powered by a battery 18 (but may be powered by an external power source). Both the pump and battery are housed in a base 16.

The product holder 7 is an annular chamber surrounding the reaction chamber. The holder is defined by reaction chamber wall 2 and insulation 9. The product holder is adapted to hold beverage containers e.g. beer cans 19 in a vertical stack of beer cans extending around the perimeter of the reaction chamber. Preferably an ejection mechanism e.g. a spring (not shown) is provided to ensure that the beverage containers which are not initially uppermost in the holder become accessible once the uppermost beverage container is removed.

In use beverage or beverage containers are provided in the product holder 7 and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the reaction chamber. In some embodiments, the solid reactant is constrained within one or more housings (not shown) inside the reaction chamber. When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is added to the reaction chamber through the inlet 3 and oneway valve. To ensure thorough mixing of the solid and liquid reactants in the reaction chamber, the pump 5 is actuated using an actuation element such as a button (not shown). The liquid contents of the reaction chamber are sucked into the pump though pump inlet 17 (which includes a filter/gauze to prevent in ingress of the solid reactant) and then pumped back into the reaction chamber through pump outlet 20. The pump ensures that a mixing flow of the liquid contents is generated through the solid reactant within the reaction chamber to mix the liquid and solid reactants to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution).

Figures 4A and 4B show a cooling apparatus comprising a substantially cuboid reaction chamber 1 for containing a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown). An inlet 3 is provided in the top of the chamber to allow the introduction of a liquid reactant such as water. A one way valve is provided (not shown) at the inlet 3 to prevent removal of the cooling liquid by the user. The reaction chamber also includes flow guide walls 21.

The agitator 5 is a plunger which extends into the interior of the reaction chamber and includes an actuation element (handle) 6 which is external to the reaction chamber. The plunger extends within the reaction chamber 1 inside a guide tube 10 which has an aperture 11 fitted with a one-way valve which allows the oneway passage of the liquid contents from the guide tube 10. The guide tube also has an inlet connected to an inlet tube 22, the inlet tube having a one-way valve which allows the one-way passage of the liquid contents into the guide tube 10. The inlet tube also includes a filter to prevent ingress of the solid reactant into the guide tube. A plurality of product holders 7 is provided, each holder being inset into and surrounded by the reaction chamber 1. Each holder is defined by a wall which is thermally conductive and common to both the reaction chamber 1 and the holder 7.

The product holder is adapted to hold beverage containers e.g. beer cans. For example, the holder could be dimensioned to hold a horizontal array of cans.

In use beverage containers are provided in the product holders 7 and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the reaction chamber. The solid reactant may be constrained within one or more liquid accessible housings. When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is added to the reaction chamber through the inlet 3 and the one-way valve. To ensure thorough mixing of the solid and liquid reactants in the reaction chamber, when sufficient water has been added to cover the aperture 11 and the inlet tube 22, the handle 6 is pushed down to force the liquid contents from the guide tube 10 through the aperture 1 1. The liquid contents will flow through the reaction chamber in a hydraulic path shown by the arrows on Figure 4B, the path being determined by the flow guide walls 21. The liquid contents at the furthermost point from the guide tube 10 are drawn into the inlet tube 22 and back into the now empty guide tube 10 by an upwards pull of the plunger (i.e. by movement of the handle away from the reaction chamber). The pumping action of the plunger is repeated until complete mixing has occurred to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution).

Figure 5 shows a cooling apparatus comprising a substantially cuboid reaction chamber 1 defined by chamber walls 2 which are formed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium. An inlet 3 with a one-way valve is provided in the top of the reaction chamber 1.

The agitator 5 is a plunger which extends into the interior of the reaction chamber and includes an actuation element (handle) 6 which is external to the reaction chamber. The plunger 5 includes a plurality of axially spaced housings 13 which contain a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown). Each housing is formed of gauze 14 so that liquid reactant can easily enter the housings 13. The product holder is not visible in Figure 5. Two product holders are provided, one adjacent each of the larger faces of the cuboid reaction chamber. The entire apparatus is surrounded by insulation 9.

In use beverage/beverage containers are provided in the product holders and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the housings 13 on the plunger 5. When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is added to the reaction chamber through the inlet 3 and one-way valve. To ensure thorough mixing of the solid and liquid reactants in the reaction chamber, the handle 6 moved towards and away from the reaction chamber to effect movement of the plunger 5 within the reaction chamber as shown by the arrow in Figure 5. As the handle and plunger is moved, the solid reactant is moved through the liquid contents of the reaction chamber with the liquid contents being forced through the gauze 14 and into the housings 13 where it mixes with the solid reactant. Movement of the plunger can be continued until complete mixing is effected to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution).

Figure 6 shows a cooling apparatus which is very similar to that shown in Figure 5. The main difference is that the product holder 7 is provided as a central chamber within the reaction chamber 1 i.e. the reaction chamber 1 forms a sleeve around the holder 7.

To accommodate the central product holder, the plunger 5 is divided into two arms 5', 5", with one arm running either side of the holder 7 within the reaction chamber. The cooling apparatus shown in Figure 6 is used in the same way as that shown in Figure 5 i.e. liquid reactant is introduced though an inlet (not shown) and the handle 6 is used to pump the plunger within the reaction chamber 1 to effect efficient mixing of the reactants and hence efficient cooing of beverage in the product holder.

Figure 7 shows another similar embodiment in which the reaction chamber 1 is an annular chamber defined by chamber walls 2 and the product holder is an annular chamber defined by the chamber wall 2 and the insulation 9. The plunger 5 has an annular housing 13 defined at its upper and lower limits by a gauze 14. A sealing plate 24 is provided which is similar to the sealing plate described in relation to the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The sealing plate 24 initially rests above the housing and the liquid reactant is introduced above the sealing plate 24. As the plunger and housing 13 is raised within the reaction chamber, the decrease in volume above the sealing plate 24 causes the liquid reactant to deform the deformable edges of the sealing plate so that the liquid reactant can flow to the base of the reaction chamber. Subsequent lowering of the plunger in the reaction chamber causes the solid reactant within the housing 13 to be forced through the liquid reactant (thus effecting mixing of the reactants). The sealing plate remains adjacent the top of the reaction chamber preventing the passage of the cooling liquid through the inlet 3 and thus protecting the user from contact with the cooling liquid.

Figure 8 shows a cooling apparatus comprising a reaction chamber 1 defined by chamber walls 2 which are partially formed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium. The main body of the reaction chamber 1 contains a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown). The solid reactant is constrained within the main body of the reaction chamber 1 by gauze 14. The reaction chamber also includes an inlet chamber 23 which does not contain any solid reactant. The inlet chamber has a deformable wall portion 25 which can be deformed into pleats to reduce the volume of the agitator which is a variable volume member i.e. bellows 5 and thus the volume of the inlet chamber. An inlet (not shown) is provided in the top of the inlet chamber 23 to allow the introduction of a liquid reactant such as water. A one way valve is provided at the inlet to prevent removal of the cooling liquid by the user.

A plurality of product holders 7 is provided, each being sized to accommodate a beverage can. Each holder is defined by the reaction chamber wall 2 and insulation 9, the insulation being removable to access the beverage.

In use beverage or beverage containers are provided in the product holder 7 and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the main body of the reaction chamber. When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is introduced into the inlet chamber 23 of the reaction chamber through the inlet and one-way valve. The liquid reactant will infiltrate the bellows 5 through at least one aperture, the or each aperture having a one way valve to ensure that liquid reactant does not flow back into the inlet chamber upon compression of the bellows. To ensure thorough mixing of the solid and liquid reactants in the reaction chamber, the foot pedal 6 is depressed such that the upper wall of the inlet chamber 23 bends at a pivot point 26 so that the bellows 5 are compressed and the deformable wall portion 25 is pleated. This reduces the volume of the bellows (and thus the volume of the inlet chamber 23) so that liquid reactant within the bellows is forced from the bellows through apertures (with one way valves) leading to the main body of the reaction chamber. The liquid contents of the main body of the reaction chamber can flow back into the inlet chamber through passage 31. As the bellows re-inflate (by releasing the foot pedal 6), the liquid contents is drawn into the bellows from the inlet chamber 23 and the foot pedal can be depressed again to force the liquid contents back into the main body of the reaction chamber. This forced flow of the liquid contents creates a wave within the main body of the reaction chamber resulting in effective mixing of the reactants to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution).

Figure 9 shows a cooling apparatus comprising a reaction chamber 1 defined by deformable chamber walls 2 which are formed of a thermally conductive materially. The reaction chamber 1 contains a solid reactant such as ammonium nitrate in prill form (not shown).

A plurality of product holders 7 is provided, each being sized to accommodate a beverage can 17. Each holder is defined by the reaction chamber wall 2 and insulation 9.

The agitator 5 is wedge having two contact faces for abutting the reaction chamber walls 2. An inlet 3 is provided in communication with a channel 15 through the agitator. The channel 15 terminates in a blind end 27. Apertures 28 are located adjacent the blind end providing access from the channel to the reaction chamber.

In use beverage containers 17 are provided in the product holders 7 and solid reactant (ammonium nitrate prills) is provided in the reaction chamber. When cooling of the beverage is desired, a liquid reactant (water) is introduced into the inlet 3 and flows through the channel 15 and into the reaction chamber through the apertures 28. As the level of the liquid reactant in the reaction chamber rises, it contacts an expandable gasket 29 causing the gasket to expand and exert a downwards force on an annular flange 30. The force causes downwards movement of the flange such that the apertures 28 become blocked by the flange. This seals the reaction chamber and prevents the passage of the mixed reactants into the channel 15. Once the reaction chamber is sealed, the agitator can be moved in a rocking action such that each contact face alternately abuts the reaction chamber wall. Each abutment results in the deformation of the deformable portion of the reaction chamber wall and compression of the reaction chamber adjacent the abutting contact face. The alternating abutment by the two contact faces sets up a wave within the liquid contents of the reaction chamber which results in effective mixing of the reactants to form the cooling liquid (ammonium nitrate solution).

In all of the embodiments described above, the cooling liquid is cooler than the beverage (assuming the beverage to be at an ambient temperature). This temperature differential causes heat to be transferred from the beverage in the product holder to the cooling liquid thus resulting in cooling of the beverage.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only and various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, embodiments showing at least one product holder adapted to house cans/bottles can alternatively be provided with at least one product holder adapted to contain beverage per se and Wee versa. Similarly, where the at least one product holder is shown as being defined by holder walls, the product holder could be defined by a thermally conductive wall of the reaction chamber and insulation material and vice versa. Furthermore, at least the first, third, fourth, eighth and ninth preferred embodiments could be provided with housings in the reaction chamber for constraining the solid reactant. At least the first and second embodiments could be provided with housing for constraining the solid reactant on the agitator.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cooling/heating a product, the apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber for containing a solid reactant, the reaction chamber being communicable with the exterior of the apparatus through an inlet for the introduction of a liquid reactant into the reaction chamber; and an agitator for mixing the solid and liquid reactants to form a cooling liquid or heating liquid in the reaction chamber; wherein, in use, the product is cooled or heated by heat transfer between the product and the cooling/heating liquid in the reaction chamber.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one product holder for holding the product in thermal contact with the reaction chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the product holder surrounds the reaction chamber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the reaction chamber surrounds the at least one product holder.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the at least one product holder is adapted to hold a beverage bottle or can.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further including means for preventing escape of the cooling liquid from the reaction chamber.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the agitator is configured to provide relative motion between the solid and liquid reactants.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the reaction chamber includes at least one housing for constraining the solid reactant.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the agitator includes at least one housing for constraining the solid reactant.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the agitator is movable within the reaction chamber in a translational motion.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the agitator is at least one plunger.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the agitator is moveable within the reaction chamber in a rotational motion.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the agitator is an Archimedean screw.

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the agitator is a pump for circulating the liquid reactant within the reaction chamber.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the reaction chamber wall includes a deformable portion and the agitator is adapted to reversibly deform the deformable portion so as to agitate the cooling liquid within the reaction chamber.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the agitator is a variable volume member within the reaction chamber, the volume of the variable volume member being variable by deformation of the deformable portion of the reaction chamber wall.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the agitator comprises bellows.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the agitator has at least one contact face for abutting an external face of the reaction chamber.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the wedge has two contact faces for alternately abutting adjacent areas of the external face of the reaction chamber.

20. Apparatus substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.