Low-temperature beverage dispenser system

Abstract

A cryogenic liquid dispenser system includes a container having a phase-change material that can be charged by a thermoelectric module via a first heat sink. A liquid (e.g., a beverage) can be delivered through a conduit immersed in the phase-change material, thereby cooling or chilling the liquid to a temperature below ambient temperature. This cryogenic liquid dispenser system can be incorporated into a liquid dispenser machine (e.g., a beverage dispenser machine).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Incorporation by reference of priority applications All applications in which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the application data sheet filed with this application are incorporated herein by reference under the provisions of 37 CFR Section 1.57.

[0002] This disclosure relates to a beverage dispensing system, and more particularly to a cold beverage dispensing system.

Background Art

[0003] Cold extracted beverages (e.g., tea, coffee) are popular. Often, they are prepared by pouring the extracted hot beverage (e.g., coffee, tea) into a container filled with ice and cooling the beverage. However, this is an inadequate process in that the beverage may be diluted by the ice and the flavor of the beverage may be affected.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an improved cold beverage dispensing system is provided that can cool a hot extracted beverage to a low temperature without beverage dilution.

[0005] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a beverage dispensing machine including a cold beverage dispensing system is provided, wherein the cold beverage dispensing system can cool a hot beverage extracted by the beverage dispensing machine to a low temperature prior to dispensing the beverage from the machine.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cryogenic beverage dispenser system includes a thermal conditioning unit having a phase-change material that can be charged by a heat engine having one or more thermoelectric elements. The beverage can be delivered through a tubular loop in the thermal conditioning unit to cool or chill the beverage to a temperature below ambient temperature. The cryogenic beverage dispenser system can be incorporated into a beverage dispenser machine.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cryogenic beverage dispenser system is provided. The system includes a reservoir for receiving a hot beverage and a beverage-to-air heat exchanger capable of receiving the hot beverage from the reservoir and cooling the beverage to a warm beverage temperature higher than the ambient temperature by flowing air from one or more fans through a tubular loop through which the hot beverage flows. Furthermore, the system includes a thermal conditioning unit comprising an insulated container for housing a phase change material and a tubular loop for flowing a hot beverage through the phase change material and cooling the hot beverage to a cryogenic beverage temperature below the ambient temperature and a tubular loop for flowing a coolant through the phase change material to cool the phase change material in order to charge the phase change material. The coolant is cooled by a thermoelectric element via the heat exchanger, the thermoelectric element is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and a heat sink.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a beverage dispenser machine is provided. The machine comprises a housing, a hot beverage extraction unit located within the housing, and a cold beverage dispenser system located within the housing and communicating with the hot beverage extraction unit. The cold beverage dispenser system includes a reservoir that receives the hot beverage from the hot beverage extraction unit, and a beverage-to-air heat exchanger that receives the hot beverage from the reservoir and can operate to cool the beverage to a warmer beverage temperature than the ambient temperature by flowing air from one or more fans through a tubular loop through which the hot beverage flows. Furthermore, the system accommodates a phase change material. The thermal conditioning unit includes an insulated container, a tubular loop for flowing a hot beverage through a phase change material and cooling the hot beverage to a low-temperature beverage temperature below ambient temperature, and a tubular loop for flowing a coolant through the phase change material to cool the phase change material in order to charge the phase change material. The coolant is cooled by a thermoelectric element via a heat exchanger, and the thermoelectric element is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and a heat sink.

[0009] In some embodiments, the technology described herein is a cryogenic liquid dispenser system, The present invention relates to a cryogenic liquid dispenser system comprising: an insulated container having a chamber for containing a phase change material; a conduit disposed within the chamber of the insulated container, with a portion of it immersed in the phase change material, wherein the phase change material is in thermal contact with the outer surface of a portion of the conduit, and the conduit is configured to receive and pass through a liquid at a first temperature above the ambient temperature, the liquid being cooled as it flows through the conduit, heat being transferred to the phase change material, and the liquid being cooled to a second temperature below the ambient temperature; a first heat sink disposed within the chamber of the insulated container, immersed in the phase change material, with the phase change material in thermal contact with the outer surface of the first heat sink; a thermoelectric module with one side thermally connected to the first heat sink; and a second heat sink disposed outside the chamber of the insulated container, with the other side thermally connected to the thermoelectric module, wherein the thermoelectric module can operate to charge or freeze the phase change material by transferring heat from the phase change material through the first heat sink to the second heat sink.

[0010] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system in which air flows through a second heat sink to remove heat from the second heat sink.

[0011] In some embodiments, the technology described herein further relates to a system that includes one or more fans capable of directing air to flow through a second heatsink to remove heat from the second heatsink.

[0012] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the conduit includes a continuous tube helix having a plurality of spaced-apart tube loops, the continuous tube helix extending circumferentially around a first heat sink in a chamber.

[0013] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the insulated container is a double-walled vacuum insulated container.

[0014] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system further comprising a second insulated container surrounding an insulated container.

[0015] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system further comprising a cover configured to close an insulated container, wherein a second heat sink extends through the cover.

[0016] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the inlet and outlet of a conduit extend through a cover.

[0017] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system further comprising an insulating cover configured to cover a cover.

[0018] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system comprising one or more heat pipes in which a first heat sink is immersed in a phase change material.

[0019] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system in which one or more heat pipes are two spaced-apart heat pipes.

[0020] In some embodiments, the technology described herein relates to a system in which a first heat sink includes one or more fins extending from one or more heat pipes, and one or more fins are immersed in a phase change material.

[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system having a plurality of fins that extend perpendicular to one or more heat pipes.

[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system having one or more fins that extend radially from one or more heat pipes and along the length of one or more heat pipes.

[0023] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system further including a heat spreader that is attached to a first heat sink, disposed within a chamber, and extends circumferentially about an axis of a heat-insulated container.

[0024] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the heat spreader extends circumferentially about a conduit, and the conduit includes a continuous pipe helix having a plurality of spaced-apart pipe loops.

[0025] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the heat spreader includes a plurality of folded fins.

[0026] In some aspects, the technology described herein further includes a reservoir configured to receive a liquid at a first temperature above an ambient temperature, and a heat exchanger that receives the liquid from the reservoir and is operative to cool the liquid to a second temperature below the first temperature and above the ambient temperature by flowing air past a second conduit configured to flow the liquid, where the second conduit is located upstream of an inlet to the conduit.

[0027] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a beverage dispenser machine including a cryogenic liquid dispenser system.

[0028] In some aspects, the technology described herein further includes a housing and a hot beverage extraction unit disposed within the housing, and relates to a beverage dispenser machine in which a cold beverage dispensing system is disposed within the housing and communicates with the hot beverage extraction unit.

[0029] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a beverage dispenser machine in which a cold liquid dispensing system can be removed as a unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] [Figure 1] It is a diagram of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram of the cold beverage dispensing system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view of a beverage dispenser machine incorporating the cold beverage dispensing system of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a side view of the beverage dispenser machine of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a top view of the beverage dispenser machine of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is a schematic perspective view of the beverage dispenser machine of FIG. 3, showing the outer housing of the machine transparently to show the cold beverage dispensing system inside the machine. [Figure 7] It is a schematic perspective view of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 8] It shows a schematic diagram of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 9] It shows a schematic diagram of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 10] It shows a schematic diagram of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 11] It shows a schematic diagram of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 12] It shows a schematic diagram of a cold beverage dispensing system. [Figure 13]This shows a schematic diagram of a chilled beverage dispenser system. [Figure 14] This shows a schematic diagram of a chilled beverage dispenser system. [Figure 15] This shows a schematic diagram of a chilled beverage dispenser system. [Figure 16] This shows a schematic end view of the low-temperature side heatsink for use with a low-temperature beverage dispenser system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Figures 1 and 2 show a cold beverage dispenser system 100 (hereinafter referred to as "System 100") which can operate to cool (e.g., lower the temperature of) a hot beverage 2 that is directed to System 100. System 100 has a thermal control unit 25 which may include an insulated container 26 containing a phase change material (PCM) 28. In one embodiment, the PCM 28 may be water or ice, an aqueous PCM, or a material having a lower melting point (e.g., a melting point of about -5°C or about 5°C, or a melting point between about -5°C and about 5°C). In one embodiment, the insulated container 26 may be a double-walled container with a gap between two walls. In one embodiment, the gap is under vacuum. In another embodiment, the gap is filled with an insulating material (e.g., foam). In another embodiment, the gap is filled with air. One or more temperature sensors S1 can be configured to thermally communicate with the PCM 28, monitor the temperature of the PCM 28, and communicate the detected temperature to a controller (not shown) that controls the operation of the system 100.

[0032] A tube loop 13 (e.g., a coolant loop) extends at least partially into the PCM 28. As shown in Figure 2, the tube loop 13 may be a coiled tube. The tube loop 13 may include a continuous tube or multiple tubes connected to one another. A liquid can flow through the tube loop 13 and act as a coolant. In one example, the liquid may be a mixture of glycol and water. In another example, the liquid may be an alcohol. The tube loop 13 communicates with the reservoir 12, the pump 14, and the cryogenic plate or heat exchanger 16. The cryogenic plate or heat exchanger 16 may be a heat exchanger with a large heat transfer area (e.g., microchannels). During operation, the liquid (e.g., coolant) is pumped by the pump 14, passes through the cryogenic plate or heat exchanger 16 which can act to cool the liquid, and then flows into the thermal conditioning unit 15 and the PCM 28. The liquid leaves the thermal conditioning unit 15, enters the reservoir 12, and from the reservoir 12, is pumped again by the pump 14 and passes through the cryogenic plate or heat exchanger 16. The cryogenic plate 16 is in thermal contact (e.g., operably in contact, direct contact, etc.) with a thermoelectric module 18 (e.g., one or more Peltier elements). The cryogenic plate 16 and the thermoelectric module 18 provide a heat engine 17. The thermoelectric element 18 is positioned between the cryogenic plate or heat exchanger 16 and the heat sink 20 and is in thermal contact with the cryogenic plate or heat exchanger 16 and the heat sink 20. The heat sink 20 may include a heat pipe 21 extending from the thermoelectric module 18 to one or more fins 23. A fan 22 can blow air over one or more fins 23 and / or the heat pipe 21, allowing heat to dissipate from one or more fins 23 and / or the heat pipe 21 to the environment.

[0033] During the adjustment phase of the operation of system 100, the thermoelectric module 18 provides low-temperature plates. The system operates to remove heat from the heat exchanger 16 and transfer that heat to the heat sink 20 (e.g., consuming electricity and operated by a controller), where the heat can be dissipated by airflow as described above. The pump 14 operates to cool the liquid by circulating it through the cryogenic plate 16 (e.g., consuming electricity and operated by a controller), after which the liquid flows through the PCM 28 in the thermal conditioning unit 15. The liquid leaves the thermal conditioning unit 15 and enters the reservoir 12, from the reservoir 12 is pumped again by the pump 14, passes through the cryogenic plate 16 and enters the thermal conditioning unit 15 again. The operation of the system 100 in this conditioning stage continues until the PCM 28 achieves a desired thermal state measured by one or more sensors S1 (e.g., completely solidified or frozen, reaching a desired temperature setpoint, etc.).

[0034] Once the PCM 28 reaches the desired thermal state, the system 100 can operate in a maintenance mode, in which closed-loop control maintains the temperature of the PCM 28 substantially constant for a certain period, during which the system 100 is in a standby mode capable of cooling hot beverages. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric module 18 and / or pump 14 do not operate during the maintenance mode.

[0035] Referring further to Figure 1, the tube loop 11 (e.g., a hot beverage loop) extends at least partially into the PCM 28. As shown in Figure 2, the tube loop 11 may be a coiled tube. The loops of tube loop 11 may optionally be interspersed between the loops of tube loop 13. The tube loop 11 may include a continuous tube or multiple tubes connected to one another. As will be further described below, a hot beverage can be flowed through the tube loop 11 and cooled by the PCM 28 as the beverage flows through the tube loop 11 in the thermal conditioning unit 15. The system 100 includes a reservoir 4 that receives a hot beverage (e.g., a hot brewed beverage such as hot coffee or hot tea). The reservoir 4 communicates with a pump 6, which communicates with the tube loop 11 via a valve 10. The return branch of the tube loop 11 communicates with the reservoir 4. Furthermore, the system 100 optionally includes a heat exchanger 32 (e.g., a beverage-to-air heat exchanger) having a tube loop 7 through which a hot beverage flows. The heat exchanger 32 may have one or more fins 9 that are thermally in contact with the tube loop 7 to assist in heat transfer (e.g., heat dissipation) from the hot beverage flowing through the tube loop. One or more fans 34, 36 may flow air over the tube loop 7 and / or fins 9 to dissipate heat from the tube loop 7 and / or fins 9. In one embodiment, the one or more fans 34, 36 may be a pair of fans. In another embodiment, the one or more fans may be a single fan. The return branch of the tube loop 7 communicates with a reservoir 4, and the inlet branch of the tube loop 7 communicates with the downstream end of a pump 6 via a valve 8. In another embodiment, the heat exchanger 32 is omitted from the system 100.

[0036] During the beverage cooling phase of the operation of system 100 (e.g., after the adjustment phase of PCM 28 is completed), the hot beverage (e.g., after the extraction process) enters reservoir 4. One or more temperature sensors S2 in reservoir 4 can detect the temperature of the beverage in the reservoir. Although not shown, the system may have a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature. Valve 8 is opened, valve 10 is closed, and pump 6 is operated to circulate the hot beverage from reservoir 4 through the tube loop 7 of heat exchanger 32. One or more fans 34, 36 operate to circulate air across the tube loop 7 to cool the hot beverage, and the hot beverage is returned to reservoir 4 and then pumped again through valve 8 through the tube loop 7 by pump 6. The hot beverage circulates through heat exchanger 32 until its temperature (detected by temperature sensors S2) reaches a desired temperature setpoint (e.g., a few degrees higher than the ambient temperature, such as 2°C or 3°C) so that the hot beverage is now a warm beverage. When the desired temperature set point is reached in reservoir 4, pump 6 turns off, valve 8 closes, and valve 10 opens. Pump 6 operates to circulate the hot beverage from reservoir 4 through valve 10 and into tube loop 11, where it is cooled by PCM 28 as described above. Pump 6 operates to circulate the beverage between reservoir 4 and thermal control unit 25 through tube loop 11 until temperature sensor S2 indicates that the beverage has cooled to a desired temperature (e.g., lower than ambient temperature). Once the desired temperature is reached, the cooled or chilled beverage can be dispensed from reservoir 4 into beverage containers (e.g., cups, mugs, glasses, etc.). System 100 can operate to dispense multiple servings of cooled or chilled beverage until PCM 28 needs to be recharged, at which point system 100 operates again in the adjustment phase of operation described above.

[0037] In one embodiment, system 100 can be incorporated into a beverage dispenser machine 200, as shown in Figures 3 to 6. The beverage dispenser machine 200 can prepare a hot beverage (e.g., hot coffee, hot tea) and then pass the hot beverage through system 100, so that the beverage dispensed from the dispensing nozzle 205 to the drip pan or receiving section 220 of the machine 200 is a cold beverage or a low-temperature beverage. The beverage dispenser machine 200 may include a water reservoir 210 and a user interface 230, through which the user can select the beverage to be dispensed, such as a hot beverage or a low-temperature or chilled beverage. Figure 6 shows an example of the arrangement of components within the beverage dispenser machine 200, which may include a hot beverage unit HB, a heat adjustment unit 25, a heat exchanger 32, a heat engine 17, a fan 22, and a heat sink 20.

[0038] In another embodiment, system 100 may be an independent system that receives higher-temperature beverages in reservoir 4 and delivers cooled or chilled beverages. System 100 can be used to cool or chill various types of beverages (e.g., coffee, tea).

[0039] Figure 7 shows a cryogenic liquid dispenser system 300 (e.g., a cryogenic beverage dispenser system). The system 300 includes a container 326. In one example, the container 326 is insulated (e.g., vacuum insulated). The container 326 may be a double-walled container 326. In one example, the container 326 is a double-walled vacuum insulated container 326, where a gap G is defined between the double walls of the container 32, and the gap G is under vacuum. The container 326 (e.g., the chamber of the container 326) can be filled with a phase-change material (PCM). The PCM may be a liquid-solid PCM. The PCM may have a transition temperature lower than the temperature at which the cryogenic beverage is served. The system 300 may optionally have a heat spreader 325 that is placed inside the container 326 and can be immersed in the PCM, and the heat spreader 325 can facilitate heat transfer with the PCM, as will be further described below. In one example, the heat spreader 325 is omitted.

[0040] A conduit or tube 313 for circulating the beverage (e.g., a tube loop or a continuous tube spiral having multiple spaced-apart tube loops) is placed inside the container 326 and immersed in the PCM (e.g., so that the PCM is in contact with the tube 313). The beverage (as a warm liquid) can enter the tube 313 through the inlet 314 and exit the tube 313 (as a cooled or chilled beverage) through the outlet (not shown). The tube 313 may extend around a heat sink 316 (e.g., a chilled side heat sink) also immersed in the PCM. The heat sink 316 may optionally have one or more fins to facilitate heat transfer with the PCM. Optionally, the heat sink 316 may have one or more heat pipes to increase the heat transfer coefficient (as further described below). The heat sink 316 may have a thermoelectric module 318 (e.g., a thermoelectric cooler or T The heatsink 316 can be thermally connected (e.g., thermal contact, operably connected, direct contact) to one side of the EC (one or more Peltier elements). Furthermore, the heatsink 316 can be thermally connected (e.g., thermal contact) to the heat spreader 325 (e.g., if the heat spreader 325 is included in the cold beverage dispenser system 300). The heatsink 320 (e.g., the high-temperature side heatsink) can be thermally connected (e.g., thermal contact, operably connected, direct contact) to the other side of the thermoelectric module 318. The heatsink 320 may optionally have one or more (e.g., multiple) fins to facilitate heat transfer. Furthermore, the system 300 may have one or more (e.g., two) fans 322 that can operate to direct air through the heatsink 320 to remove heat from the heatsink 320. The container 326 can be closed with a cover C, and the heatsink 320 extends through the cover C. In some cases, the fan is removed, and the heatsink 320 is exposed to ambient air or an alternative source of moving air.

[0041] During operation and adjustment, the thermoelectric module 318 operates such that the side adjacent to the heatsink 316 is at a lower temperature and the side adjacent to the heatsink 320 is at a higher temperature. This allows the thermoelectric module 318 to charge (e.g., solidify, freeze) the PCM (for example, over a period of time) by discharging heat from the PCM in the container 326 through the heatsink 316 (and optionally through the heat spreader 325). The heat spreader 325 can conveniently facilitate (e.g., assist, enable) the uniform freezing or charging of the PCM. The heat spreader 325 can extend circumferentially around the axis of the container 326 (e.g., it may be a continuous sheet of thermally conductive material forming spaced channels or folded fin structures, etc.). The thermoelectric module 318 transfers heat from the PCM to the heatsink 320, and the fan 322 works to remove heat from the heatsink 320 and transfer it to the surrounding environment.

[0042] Once the PCM is charged, a beverage (e.g., a warm liquid) can be pumped (not shown) through a tube 313 immersed in the charged PCM. As the beverage flows through the tube 313, the charged (e.g., frozen) PCM cools or lowers the beverage by absorbing heat from it. The heat absorbed by the charged (e.g., frozen) PCM causes the PCM to change into a liquid (e.g., melt). After cooling a certain amount of beverage, the PCM completely melts and loses its heat capacity to cool the beverage any further. At this point, the PCM adjustment step can be repeated to recharge (e.g., freeze) the PCM again.

[0043] In one embodiment, the system 300 can be integrated into a beverage dispenser machine 200, as shown in Figures 3 to 6 (for example, the beverage can enter the tube 313 via the inlet 314 after leaving the dispensing unit of the beverage dispenser machine and exit through the outlet at the opposite end of the tube 313). In another embodiment, the system 300 may be a separate, standalone unit for beverage cooling (e.g., a tabletop unit) distinct from the beverage dispensing machine (e.g., a coffee maker, tea maker, etc.).

[0044] Figures 8 to 15 illustrate the features of the chilled beverage dispenser system 300' (hereinafter referred to as "System 300'"). System 300' is similar to System 300 in Figure 7. Therefore, the reference numbers used to refer to the various components of System 300' are identical to those used to identify the corresponding components of System 300 in Figure 7, except that a single quote ('') is added to the end of the numerical identifier. Thus, the various features and structures and descriptions of the components of System 300, as well as how they operate and are controlled in Figure 7, are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of System 300' in Figures 8 to 15, except as described below. The Pensa system 300' can be incorporated into a beverage dispenser machine (e.g., beverage dispenser machine 200). In one example, the chilled beverage dispenser system 300' can be detachably mounted in the beverage dispenser machine (e.g., it can be removed as a unit from the beverage dispenser machine).

[0045] System 300' differs from System 300 in that the container 326' is surrounded by an insulated container 327' (e.g., made of foam, polystyrene foam, or other suitable insulating material). Similarly, the cover C' is covered by an insulated cover CC' (e.g., made of foam, polystyrene foam, or other suitable insulating material). In another embodiment, one or both of the container 326' and the insulated container 327' can be replaced with a double-walled vacuum insulated container. As shown in Figure 11, the heat spreader 325' may have a folded fin structure extending around a tube 313' (e.g., a tube loop or a continuous tube helix with multiple spaced-apart tube loops). As shown in Figure 13, the heat sink 316' may include fins F and one or more heat pipes HP to increase the heat transfer coefficient with the PCM. In another embodiment, the heat sink 316' may be without fins. The heat pipes HP may, in one example, be made of aluminum (e.g., aluminumacetone). However, the heat pipe HP can be made from other suitable heat conductive materials. The beverage can enter the tube 313' through the inlet 314' (for example, as a warm liquid after beverage extraction) as shown in Figure 15, and exit the tube 313' through the outlet 315' (both extending through cover C') (for example, as a cold liquid, cold beverage).

[0046] Figure 16 shows a modified example of a heat sink 316" surrounded by a tube 313" (e.g., a tube loop or a continuous tube helix having multiple spaced-apart tube loops). The heat sink 316" may be an extruded heat pipe HP" having fins F" extending (e.g., radially) from the heat pipe HP" (e.g., along the length of the heat pipe HP"). The heat sink 316" may have the same cross-sectional shape along its length.

[0047] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. In fact, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in various other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications in the systems and methods described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to encompass forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by reference to the appended claims.

[0048] Features, materials, properties, or groups described in relation to a particular aspect, embodiment, or example should be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification, insofar as it does not conflict therewith. All features disclosed herein (including the appended claims, abstract, and drawings), and / or all steps of any method or process so as to be disclosed, can be combined in any combination, except for any combination in which at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. Protection is not limited to the details of any of the aforementioned embodiments. Protection extends to any novel one or any novel combination of features disclosed herein (including the appended claims, abstract, and drawings), or any novel one or any novel combination of any step of any method or process so as to be disclosed.

[0049] Furthermore, certain features described in this disclosure in the context of separate embodiments may be expressed as a single These embodiments may also be implemented in combination. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may be implemented separately or in any suitable partial combination in multiple embodiments. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in a particular combination, one or more features from a claimed combination may, in some cases, be removed from that combination, and the combination may be claimed as a partial combination or a variation of a partial combination.

[0050] Furthermore, while operations may be shown in the drawings or described in the specification in a specific order, the desired results can be achieved even if such operations are not performed in the specific order shown, or in a sequential order, or even if not all operations are performed. Other operations not shown or described may be incorporated into the exemplary methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or between any of the described operations. Furthermore, the operations may be rearranged or changed in order in other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that in some embodiments, the actual steps performed in the illustrated and / or disclosed processes may differ from those shown in the drawings. Depending on the embodiment, certain steps among the steps described above may be omitted, or other steps may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the particular embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which are included within the scope of this disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as necessary in all embodiments, and the described components and systems may generally be integrated into a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0051] For the purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not all such advantages can necessarily be achieved according to any particular embodiment. A person skilled in the art will therefore recognize that, for example, this disclosure may be embodied or implemented in a manner that achieves one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein, but not necessarily other advantages that may be taught or suggested herein.

[0052] Conditional language such as "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless otherwise specified or understood to mean otherwise in the context in which they are used, is generally intended to convey that a particular embodiment includes certain features, elements, and / or steps, but other embodiments do not. Therefore, such conditional language is generally not intended to mean that features, elements, and / or steps are required in any way in one or more embodiments, nor is it necessarily intended to mean that one or more embodiments include logic for determining whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included in any particular embodiment, or should be performed in any particular embodiment, with or without user input or prompting.

[0053] Connecting phrases such as "at least one of X, Y, and Z" are generally understood to have other meanings in contexts where they are used to convey that an item, term, etc., may be one of X, Y, or Z, unless otherwise specified. Therefore, such connecting phrases are not generally intended to mean that a particular embodiment requires the presence of at least one X, at least one Y, and at least one Z.

[0054] In this specification, the terms "approximately" and "about" are used. The terms "approximately," "generally," and "substantially" as used herein refer to values, quantities, or characteristics that are close to the stated values, quantities, or characteristics, but still perform the desired function or achieve the desired result. For example, the terms "approximately," "about," "generally," and "substantially" may refer to quantities within the ranges of less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, and less than 0.01% of the stated quantity. As another example, in a particular embodiment, the terms "generally parallel" and "substantially parallel" refer to values, quantities, or characteristics whose deviation from exact parallelism is 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degrees or less.

[0055] The scope of this disclosure is not intended to be limited by any specific disclosure of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, but may be defined by the claims, as presented or hereafter presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification. The language of the claims should be interpreted broadly on the basis of the language used in the claims, and not limited to the examples described herein or described during the examination of the application, and such examples should be interpreted as non-exclusive.

[0056] Naturally, the foregoing description is a description of specific features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the apparatus described herein does not need to feature all of the above-mentioned purposes, advantages, features, and aspects. Accordingly, a person skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be embodied or implemented in a way that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein, but does not necessarily achieve other purposes or advantages that may be taught or suggested herein. Furthermore, although several variations of the present invention have been described in detail, other modifications and uses within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art based on this disclosure. Various combinations or partial combinations of these specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and are still considered to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is possible to combine or substitute various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments with each other to form various aspects of the apparatus discussed.

Claims

1. A cryogenic liquid dispenser system, An insulated container having a chamber for containing a phase change material, A conduit disposed within the chamber of the insulated container, a portion of which is immersed in the phase change material, wherein the phase change material is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the portion of the conduit, and the conduit is configured to receive and pass through a liquid at a first temperature above the ambient temperature, the liquid is cooled as it flows through the conduit, heat is transferred to the phase change material, and the liquid is cooled to a second temperature below the ambient temperature, A first heat sink is disposed within the chamber of the heat-insulating container and immersed in the phase change material, wherein the phase change material is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the first heat sink, A thermoelectric module with one side thermally connected to the first heat sink, A second heat sink is positioned outside the chamber of the insulated container and is thermally connected to the other side of the thermoelectric module. Equipped with, A cryogenic liquid dispenser system in which the thermoelectric module can operate to charge or freeze the phase change material by transferring heat from the phase change material to the second heat sink via the first heat sink.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein air flows through the second heat sink to remove heat from the second heat sink.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising one or more fans capable of operating to direct air through the second heatsink to remove heat from the second heatsink.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a continuous helix having a plurality of spaced-apart tubular loops, the continuous helix extending circumferentially around the first heat sink in the chamber.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the insulated container is a double-walled vacuum insulated container.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second insulated container surrounding the aforementioned insulated container.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to close the insulated container, wherein the second heat sink extends through the cover.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the inlet and outlet of the conduit extend through the cover.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a heat insulating cover configured to cover the aforementioned cover.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first heat sink includes one or more heat pipes immersed in the phase change material.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the one or more heat pipes are two spaced-apart heat pipes.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first heat sink includes one or more fins extending from one or more heat pipes, and the one or more fins are immersed in the phase change material.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more fins are a plurality of fins extending perpendicularly to the one or more heat pipes.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more fins extend radially from the one or more heat pipes and along the length of the one or more heat pipes.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a heat spreader attached to the first heat sink, positioned within the chamber, and extending circumferentially around the axis of the heat insulating container.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the heat spreader extends circumferentially around the conduit, and the conduit comprises a continuous tube spiral having a plurality of spaced-apart tube loops.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the heat spreader includes a plurality of bent fins.

18. A reservoir configured to accept a liquid at a first temperature above the ambient temperature, A heat exchanger that receives the liquid from the reservoir and operates to cool the liquid to a second temperature that is below the first temperature and above the ambient temperature by passing air through a second conduit configured to allow the liquid to flow. Furthermore, The system according to claim 1, wherein the second conduit is located upstream of the inlet to the conduit.

19. A beverage dispenser machine comprising the low-temperature liquid dispenser system described in claim 1.

20. The beverage dispenser machine according to claim 19, further comprising a housing and a high-temperature beverage extraction unit disposed within the housing, wherein the low-temperature beverage dispenser system is disposed within the housing and communicates with the high-temperature beverage extraction unit.

21. The beverage dispenser machine according to claim 19, wherein the cryogenic liquid dispenser system is removable as a unit.

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