Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D3/12—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using solidified gases, e.g. carbon-dioxide snow
  • F25D3/14—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using solidified gases, e.g. carbon-dioxide snow portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D3/02—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
  • F25D3/06—Movable containers
  • F25D3/08—Movable containers portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
  • F25D2303/084—Position of the cold storage material in relationship to a product to be cooled
  • F25D2303/0844—Position of the cold storage material in relationship to a product to be cooled above the product
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
  • F25D2303/085—Compositions of cold storage materials
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
  • F25D2400/16—Convertible refrigerators
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2600/00—Control issues
  • F25D2600/04—Controlling heat transfer

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to temperature controlled containers, and more particularly, to a portable temperature controlled container.
• a portable temperature controlled container In many portable food vending applications, the use of a portable temperature controlled container is necessary for keeping the product to be dispensed at a particular temperature. For example, in vending applications involving the dispensing of a frozen dessert such as the "soft-serve" variety of soft ice cream, it would be preferable if the ice cream is kept at a temperature that is within a specific range of temperatures. If the ice cream is not kept cold enough, then it will melt. Conversely, if the ice cream is kept at a temperature that is too low, then the ice cream may be too hard to dispense. In other examples, it is desirable that liquids such as beer are cooled and maintained around a certain temperature.
• the food or liquid to be dispensed is to be kept at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature.
• a roaming vendor at a baseball stadium may desire to sell hot dogs at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature.
• the foods to be dispensed may be a liquid such as hot chocolate or soup.
• the foods or liquids to be dispensed are carried by a vendor in an insulated container, with the temperature of the interior of the container being maintained around a particular temperature through the use of a source of cooling or heating.
• cooling may come from a coolant, such as an ice or dry ice (i.e., frozen carbon dioxide) pack, that is much colder than the item to be cooled.
• a coolant such as an ice or dry ice (i.e., frozen carbon dioxide) pack
• the container were able to maintain the temperature of the items contained therein within a specific range even though the source of cooling is at a temperature that is much lower than the desired temperature.
• the approach used to cool the contents of the container needs to be compatible with the portability aspect of the application. This eliminates such solutions as refrigeration units due to the weight of these units and the amount of energy they need to operate, even though refrigeration units are capable of being turned off and on to control the amount of cold that is generated.
• the food to be stored in the container is kept at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature.
• the heat source may be a heat pack that generates heat using a chemical reaction or an electrically powered heater.
• the heat source is typically at a higher temperature than the food needs to be.
• the system were able to maintain the temperature of the items contained therein within a specific range even though the source of heating is at a temperature that is much higher than the desired temperature.
• a temperature controlled container that is portable by providing a portable temperature controlled container having a body including an internal chamber with an opening into the internal chamber; and a temperature control unit coupled to the body and displaced to be thermally coupled with a first portion of the internal chamber, the temperature control unit configured to selectively alter the temperature in the internal chamber by releasing a thermally controlled material into the internal chamber.
• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a frozen food dispenser
• FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the frozen food dispenser of FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the frozen food dispenser of FIG. 1 with a open front door exposing an internal chamber;
• FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a temperature control and compressor assembly contained in the frozen food dispenser of FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 5 is a second front perspective view of the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 is a third front perspective view of the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4 with an exposed temperature control assembly
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shut-off valve of the frozen food dispenser of
• FIG. 1 A first figure.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an elevator assembly of the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a frozen food container
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the frozen food container of FIG. 9 in the process of being inserted into an internal chamber the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the frozen food container of FIG. 9 inserted into the internal chamber of the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 12 is a front plan view of the frozen food container of FIG. 9 inserted into the internal chamber of the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the frozen food container of FIG. 9 inserted into the internal chamber of the temperature control and compressor assembly of FIG. 4, wherein a portion of the contents of the frozen food container has been dispensed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 14 is a front exploded perspective view of the temperature control assembly of FIG. 6;
• FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the temperature control assembly of FIG. 6;
• FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly of FIG. 6, taken along line XVI-XVT as illustrated in FIG. 15; and,
• FIG. 17 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly of FIG. 6.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a frozen food dispenser 100 configured in accordance with a disclosed aspect of the portable temperature controlled container.
• the frozen food dispenser 100 includes a pair of cup dispensers 102 and a pair of cup holders 104.
• Each cup dispenser of the pair of cup dispensers 102 in an aspect of the disclosed frozen food dispenser holds two sets of cups 114 into which the frozen food is to be dispensed.
• other containers may be used, including edible containers.
• the pair of cup dispensers 102 may dispense edible ice cream cones.
• the frozen food dispenser 100 includes a top door 106 through which a pair of cooling chambers is accessed, as further described herein.
• the top door 106 includes a pair of top door latches 156 to secure the top door 106 to the body of the frozen food dispenser 100.
• the frozen food dispenser 100 also includes an instrument panel 108 for a user to interface with the frozen food dispenser 100, and a front door 110 through which a pair of internal chambers of the frozen food dispenser 100 is accessed.
• FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the frozen food dispenser 100 illustrating a back panel 176 and attachment points 172 and 174 for a harness (not shown).
• the user wears the harness, with the frozen food dispenser 100 being located in front of the user.
• the frozen food dispenser 100 may use insulation technology to thermally separate the user from the contents of the frozen food dispenser 100. The use of insulation is also desirable to maximize the cooling that has been applied to the contents of the frozen food dispenser 100.
• FIG. 3 illustrates the frozen food dispenser 100 with the front door 110 being opened to expose an interior chamber that houses a temperature control and compressor assembly 310.
• the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 includes a pair of inner doors 306 used to access a pair of respective internal chambers 304 of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310.
• Each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers 304 has a particular volume in which a container or other object may be inserted. Insulation may also be used on each internal chamber to thermally separate them.
• the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 includes a volume control system configured to change the volume of each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers 304, as well as a temperature control system configured to control the temperature of the internal chamber 304, as further described herein.
• the volume control system of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 includes an elevator assembly 302 and a pressure plate 308 for each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers 304.
• the elevator assembly 302 and the pressure plate 308 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as being apart from each other. However, in operation of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310, the elevator assembly 302 will be moved to engage the pressure plate 308.
• the elevator assembly 302 may also be mechanically attached to the pressure plate 308 so that the elevator assembly 302 and the pressure plate 308 move together.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the elevator assembly 302 of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 of FIG. 3 configured in accordance with an aspect of the disclosed temperature control and compressor assembly.
• the elevator assembly 302 includes a motor 802 mounted in an elevator frame 804 that drives a worm gear 810.
• the worm gear 810 is attached to a shaft 808 to drive a second shaft 814 through a plurality of bevel gears 812.
• the second shaft 814 includes a plurality of drive gears 816 that are engaged with the plurality of tracks 440 to compress the frozen food container 900.
• the plurality of drive gears 816 may be driven to move the elevator assembly 302 up or down.
• the elevator assembly 302 is coupled to the pressure plate 308 so that when the elevator assembly 302 is driven up or down, the pressure plate 308 is also moved up or down, respectively.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 from the frozen food dispenser 100, including a base 420 in which batteries and other electrical components used for the operation of the frozen food dispenser (not shown) are mounted.
• the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 also includes a temperature control system 404 mounted below a pair of coolant chambers 402. Referring also to FIG. 5, in an aspect of the operation of the temperature control and compressor assembly, coolant material is placed into the pair of coolant chambers 402. Then, in operation, the temperature control system 404 controls how much coolant is released from each of the pair of coolant chambers 402 into its respective internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers 304 through a plurality of cooling slots 508.
• FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 with an exposed temperature control system 404 configured in accordance with one aspect of the disclosed temperature control system.
• the temperature control system 404 includes a pair of temperature control disks 602, each configured with a plurality of cooling slots 604 cut therein.
• the plurality of slots 604 are used in conjunction with the plurality of cooling slots 508 from the coolant chambers 402 and, referring also to FIG. 14, a plurality of cooling slots 1404 located in the tray of the temperature control system 404, to control the amount of coolant that is dispensed into the coolant chambers 402.
• each one of the plurality of cooling slots 1404 are aligned to a respective one of the plurality of cooling slots 508, and, as each of the temperature control disks 602 is rotated, the plurality of cooling slots 604 will be aligned to the plurality of cooling slots 508.
• the plurality of cooling slots 1404 is aligned to the plurality of cooling slots 508, when the plurality of cooling slots 604 is aligned to the plurality of cooling slots 508, the plurality of cooling slots 604 will also be aligned to the plurality of cooling slots 1404.
• the amount of coolant released into the coolant chambers 402 can be controlled.
• Each one of the pair of temperature control disks 602 may be controlled separately.
• each disk in the pair of temperature control disks 602 may be controlled to independently affect the temperature of the interior chamber contained below. [0037] FIG.
• the frozen food container 900 includes a plurality of folds 902 that allows the frozen food container 900 to be compressed in a controlled and predictable manner so that the frozen food contained therein may be dispensed.
• the frozen food container 900 also includes a dispensing tube 904 through which the frozen food may exit when the frozen food container 900 is compressed. The frozen food container 900 will allow quick and sanitary replacement of the frozen food.
• the shut-off valve 412 includes a motor 702 that drives a threaded shaft 704 to close a clamp 706 to control the dispensing of the contents of the frozen food container 900.
• clamp 706 is configured to close down upon dispensing tube 904 to limit what is being dispensed from frozen food container 900 and is used in conjunction with elevator assembly 302 and a pressure plate 308 to control the dispensing of the frozen food contained in the frozen food container 900, as further detailed herein.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the frozen food container 900 about to be inserted into one of the internal chambers 304 of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310. To simplify the description, only one half of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310 will be described.
• the frozen food container 900 is inserted into one of the pairs of internal chambers 304 in the frozen food dispenser 100, with the dispensing tube 904 of the frozen food container 900 being inserted through the opening of the shut-off valve 412 associated with that internal chamber.
• FIGs. 11 and 12 illustrate perspective and side plan views, respectively, of the frozen food container 900 after it has been inserted into one of the pairs of internal chambers 304 of the temperature control and compressor assembly 310.
• the shut-off valve 412 can clamp the dispensing tube 904. Then, the elevator assembly 302 will be lowered to be snug with the frozen food dispenser 900.
• elevator assembly 302 will be used to prime the frozen food to be dispensed so the frozen food container 900 will be squeezed until a predetermined amount of the frozen food contained in the frozen food container 900 is dispensed from the dispensing tube 904 and then the shut-off valve 412 will be closed.
• the pressure plate 308 is also moved up or down.
• the frozen food container 900 is compressed by the pressure plate 308 to dispense the contents of the frozen food container 900.
• the dispensing of the contents of the frozen food container 900 through the dispensing tube 904 is also regulated by the shut-off valve 412.
• the shut-off value 412 may be used to regulate the maximum amount of frozen food that is dispensed from the frozen food container 900 while the elevator assembly 302 and the pressure plate 308 may be used to generate a desired positive pressure applied to the frozen food container 900.
• the elevator assembly 302 and the pressure plate 308 may be used to generate a desired negative pressure as applied to the frozen food container 900 before the shut-off valve 412 is operated to stop the dispensing the frozen food.
• the elevator assembly 302 and thereby the pressure plate 308 is moved upwards, the frozen food container 900 will be allowed to expand (or will be forced to expand like an accordian if the frozen food container 900 is attached to the pressure plate 308). In this case, the contents of the frozen food container 900 will be pulled back in through the dispensing tube 904.
• the elevator assembly 302 is operated in conjunction with the shut-off valve 412 so that the dispensing of the contents of the frozen food container 900 can be regulated.
• FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the frozen food container 900 that was previously inserted into the temperature control and compressor assembly 310, wherein a portion of the contents of the frozen food container 900 has been dispensed in accordance with an aspect of the operation of the frozen food container.
• FIG. 14 is a front exploded perspective view of the temperature control assembly 404, which will be described with reference to FIGs. 10-13 and 15-18.
• the temperature control assembly 404 includes a cooling pack 1002 that is stored in the coolant chamber 402.
• cooling pack 1002 is filled with water.
• Cooling pack 1002 also includes a dry ice portion 1602. The cooling pack 1002 is inserted into the interior of the coolant chamber 402.
• the cooled air goes down the plurality of cooling slots 508, passes through the portion of the plurality of cooling slots 604 of the temperature control disk 602 that is aligned with the plurality of cooling slots 508 and the plurality of cooling slots 1404 in the tray of the temperature control system 404 into the interior of the coolant chamber 402.
• FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly 404, taken along line XVI-XVI of the top plan view illustrated in FIG. 15.
• FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of selected components from control assembly 404, with FIG. 18 being an exploded cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly 404.
• the temperature control disk 602 is rotated by a motor 1602 coupled to a set of gears 1604. The alignment of the temperature control disk 602 controls the cooling from the coolant cooled air into the internal chambers 304 of the frozen food dispenser 100.
• the plurality of cooling slots 604 of the temperature control disk 602 are aligned with the plurality of cooling slots 508 from the coolant chambers 402 and the plurality of cooling slots 1404 located in the tray of the temperature control system 404 to control the cooling provided to the items in the internal chamber 304.
• the position of the coolant e.g., cooling pack 1002 is located with respect to the frozen food dispenser 100 so that the air being cooled, which becomes more dense, is pulled by gravity over the product to be cooled.
• one frozen food that may be dispensed from the frozen food dispenser 100 is ice cream.
• the items being cooled may be such items as liquids (e.g., alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages); semi-frozen liquids (e.g., "slushies"); or any item that needs to be cooled or maintained around a particular temperature.
• the portable temperature controlled container described herein may be used to cool non-food items, such as biological materials (e.g., human organs) or chemicals that need to be maintained at a predetermined temperature.
• the configuration of the portable temperature controlled container may be altered to suit the contents being carried, including a form that resembles a shape similar to beverage coolers.
• the portable cooling system may have other dispensing mechanisms built into it to dispense frozen, liquid or semi-frozen liquid beverages, mixed or non-mixed.
• a standard interior size may be created so that custom modules that perform various functions (mixing, cooling, heating) can made interchangeable.
• each portable temperature controlled container can be customized for a particular application simply by the selection of an appropriate module.
• a heated container may be used to store items that need to be maintained at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature.
• the temperature control (i.e., heating) unit may be located on the bottom of the internal chamber of a temperature control and compression assembly to take advantage of the physical property that heat rises.
• the disclosed temperature control and compressor assembly may be reoriented upside down.
• the amount of heat that is provided to the internal chamber is based on the size of the opening in the temperature control unit that will allow the heat from the temperature control unit to rise into the internal chamber.
• Any suitable heat source may be used, including chemical or electrically-based solutions.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Citations (5)

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• 2007
  • 2007-12-03 WO PCT/IB2007/004655 patent/WO2009019532A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-12-03 BR BRPI0720773A patent/BRPI0720773A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-12-03 JP JP2009542275A patent/JP2010513841A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-12-03 CN CN200780050778A patent/CN101677721A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-12-03 EP EP07875172A patent/EP2126497A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-12-03 KR KR1020097015208A patent/KR101489874B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2007-12-03 RU RU2009127764/12A patent/RU2468312C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (5)

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