Refrigeration – Cooled enclosure – Portable receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-05
2001-01-16
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Cooled enclosure
Portable receptacle
C062S530000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173581
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a liquid cooler.
According to the invention, there is provided a liquid cooler comprising
a container comprising at least one surrounding wall of a material having relatively high thermal insulation characteristics, the surrounding wall defining an internal compartment for holding a liquid to be cooled and having an opening through which the liquid can be introduced into and removed from the internal compartment; and
a cartridge comprising at least one surrounding wall defining an internal compartment for holding a relatively cool substance, the surrounding wall of the cartridge being of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity and having dimensions and a configuration that permits it to be accommodated in the container.
The cartridge may be buoyant, thereby permitting it to rise, in use, within the container when liquid to be cooled is contained therein, thereby increasing the rate at which the liquid is cooled.
The container may have an elongate configuration having two ends, with the surrounding wall thereof including a base wall at one end of the container and at least one side wall, the cartridge and the side wall of the container defining a space between them along which relative flow of a liquid to be cooled, occurs when the cartridge rises within the container, in use.
The space defined between the cartridge and the side wall of the container may be sufficiently small to restrict the flow of liquid through the space and the buoyancy of the cartridge a predetermined amount, so as to cause the cartridge to rise within the container over an extended period of time.
In use, the size of the space defined between the cartridge and the side wall of the container, together with the buoyancy of the cartridge, combine to cause the cartridge to rise within the container over an extended period of time, thereby more effectively cooling liquid in the container as it flows through the space when the cartridge rises in the container.
The space defined between the cartridge and the side wall of the container when the cartridge rises, in use, within the container, may be approximately 1 mm.
The cartridge may have air captured therein to provide buoyancy therefor.
The surrounding wall of the container may comprise an outer wall section of a material having relatively high thermal insulation characteristics and an inner wall section of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity.
The opening of the container may be releasably closeable by means of a closure that forms a fluid-tight seal with the container, in a closed condition of the closure.
The cartridge and the inner wall section of the surrounding wall of the container may be of a stainless steel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4383422 (1983-05-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 5212963 (1993-05-01), McGinnis
patent: 5653124 (1997-08-01), Weber
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Doerrler William
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