Refrigeration – Liquid contacting discrete commodity
Patent
1997-08-19
1998-12-08
Sollecito, John M.
Refrigeration
Liquid contacting discrete commodity
624574, 624579, 62438, F25D 1702
Patent
active
058455140
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to cooling or chilling apparatus which in a particular but not exclusive aspect, may be applied to the chilling of beverages in containers such as beer, wine and soft drinks in bottles or cans but which may be applied to cooling or chilling other articles.
BACKGROUND ART
Beverages in containers are normally cooled in conventional refrigerators, or in larger commercial establishments, cold rooms. There is, however, usually a considerable period of time which elapses between the time at which the beverage container is placed into a refrigerator or cold room and the time at which its temperature is acceptable for drinking. More rapid cooling can be achieved by using ice, however, ice is not readily available in many situations and additionally cannot be contained easily without melting. The above problems are accentuated in establishments which are involved in the supply of cold beverages such as restaurants. In these situations, it is often impossible for a large range of wines or other beverages to be stored and maintained at a low temperature for service and supply. Some arrangements have been proposed whereby bottles or other containers are placed into a container carrying a chilled liquid, however, in these arrangements the bottles or other containers become wet and therefore are not immediately suitable for use. Additionally, there is a danger that wet bottles or containers can slip from the grasp of a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to provide in a preferred aspect, apparatus for cooling or chilling beverages and in particular beverage containers such as wine bottles, beer and soft drink bottles, cans or the like, and the contents thereof, in a rapid and efficient manner whilst maintaining the beverage containers substantially dry. The present invention whilst particularly applicable to the cooling or chilling of beverages may be used for cooling or chilling of other articles. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
With the above and other objects in view the present invention provides apparatus for cooling or chilling articles such as beverage containers and the contents thereof, said apparatus comprising a chamber for holding a cooling or chilling liquid, means for supporting a said article within said chamber, and flexible membrane means adapted to be disposed about a said article supported on said supporting means, said supporting means being radially collapsible to permit said flexible membrane means to contact a substantial portion of the periphery of said article whereby said article may be subject to the cooling or chilling effect of said liquid but prevented from direct contact with said cooling or chilling liquid.
Preferably the supporting means includes frame means which support the articles so that a major portion thereof is below the level of the cooling or chilling liquid in the chamber. The flexible membrane means is associated with or arranged adjacent the frame means. The pressure of the chilling liquid within the chamber causes the frame means to be radially inwardly deformed to permit the impervious bag to come into contact with the article so that the cooling or chilling effect of the liquid is transferred through heat exchange to the article. The flexible membrane means preferably comprises a bag formed of flexible liquid impervious material, for example a plastics bag which may be located externally of the framework. The bag suitably has its upper end or mouth supported above the level of liquid in the chamber.
The chamber preferably has a top wall provided with one or more openings into which respective articles to be chilled may be inserted. Associated with the or each opening is a respective frame means for supporting respective articles to be chilled. The top wall preferably includes an annular skirt arranged coaxially about each opening and about which a mouth of a bag may be secured such as by a resilient strip, band or other member or alternati
REFERENCES:
patent: 2061427 (1936-11-01), King
patent: 5237835 (1993-08-01), Brochier
patent: 5557943 (1996-09-01), Coelho
Clarke Joseph
Forshaw Brian
Microchill International Limited
Sollecito John M.
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