Beverage Cooling Container With Phase-Change Core for Fast Chilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cooling devices are either time-consuming, complex to use, or limited to cooling a single serving at a time, and often dilute the beverage when ice is mixed with it.
Innovation Solution
A beverage temperature-regulating apparatus with a geometry and temperature-regulating material, such as a high heat capacity gel, that rapidly cools beverages by transferring heat from the liquid to the material through a thermally conductive outer shell, allowing for quick cooling and precise temperature control with a thermometer display for user guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ice is mixed with a beverage to cool it, then the beverage temperature is reduced, but the beverage is diluted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temperature-regulating material (gel) as an intermediary substance that transfers heat from the beverage without mixing with it. The gel is contained within an inner portion that has thermal contact with the beverage through conductive material, allowing heat transfer while preventing dilution of the beverage.
2Speed
If existing rapid cooling devices are used, then cooling speed is improved, but they are complex to use or limited to single serving
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the beverage container and the cooling device. The temperature-regulating material is integrated into the container structure, allowing it to cool multiple servings sequentially without requiring separate cooling devices for each serving.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be simple to use by placing the beverage container directly into the refrigerator with the temperature-regulating material already positioned for thermal contact. The cooling process occurs automatically without requiring complex operations or additional devices.
3Temperature
If conventional cooling methods are used, then beverage is cooled, but it takes too much time
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature-regulating material is nested within an inner portion that is positioned inside the beverage container. This nested configuration ensures intimate thermal contact between the cooling material and the beverage, maximizing heat transfer efficiency and reducing cooling time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the cooling system by using a gel material with high heat capacity and thermal conductivity, and by ensuring close thermal contact between the cooling material and beverage. These parameter changes enable rapid heat transfer and quick cooling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid cooling of beverages to desired temperatures, facilitating quick chilling and maintaining beverage quality by minimizing dilution, with the ability to cool larger volumes efficiently and accurately monitor temperature for optimal serving conditions.
Implementation Method 1
heat can be transferred from the liquid into the temperature-regulating material and thereby drop the temperature of the liquid rapidly
Implementation Method 2
a gel having a high heat capacity, the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of the material one degree Celsius
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature-regulating apparatus is provided to rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature. In some variations, the geometry of the temperature-regulating apparatus is configured to rapidly cool a beverage incorporating one or more inner portions that contain a temperature regulating material, such as a phase change material having a high heat capacity. The geometry of the interior of the container may be configured to aid in rapid heat transfer between the beverage therein and the outer shell of the inner portion and may have a length to width aspect ratio of at least 4:1. The inner portion may be formed between the exterior wall of the container and by a single piece of formed metal that extends along the length, width and base walls to form the interior for receiving a beverage. The cavity formed between the outer shell and the exterior wall may be at least 15 mm deep.