Removable Cooling Body With Pumped Drink Circulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing appliances for cooling drinks are inefficient, either diluting the drink with ice, requiring frequent manual refilling of cooling liquids, having limited heat exchange surface area, consuming excessive energy, or being too heavy and expensive for domestic use.

Innovation Solution

A portable appliance with a container and a removable cooling body that uses a motor to circulate the liquid through a closed circuit, enhancing heat exchange and allowing pre-cooling of the cooling body for efficient and rapid cooling without active heat removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a tank is mounted above a heat exchanger for gravity-based cooling, then the device structure is simple, but the cooling liquid must be frequently refilled and the cooling effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static gravity-based cooling system into a dynamic pumped circulation system. A pump circulates the drink through the heat exchanger repeatedly, creating continuous motion and repeated heat exchange contacts, which dramatically improves cooling efficiency without requiring frequent refilling of cooling liquid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pumped circulation system ensures continuous heat exchange action by constantly moving the drink through the heat exchanger. This continuous circulation allows the cooling process to proceed efficiently without interruption, unlike the batch-style gravity system that requires refilling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Device complexity

If a refrigerant gel container is used for passive cooling, then the device is simple and portable, but the heat exchange surface area is small and cooling is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidheat exchange surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system makes the drink dynamic by pumping it through the heat exchanger, increasing the rate of heat transfer. The continuous circulation ensures that fresh portions of the drink constantly contact the cooling surface, maximizing the effective heat exchange area utilization and cooling speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Temperature

If electrical means are used for simultaneous cooling and mixing, then the cooling effect is strong, but the energy consumption is high and the device is heavy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the active cooling function from the system by using a pre-cooled heat exchanger (cooled in a refrigerator or freezer) instead of active electrical cooling. The pump only needs to provide circulation, not cooling, thereby dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling through the pre-cooled heat exchange surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger is pre-cooled before use by placing it in a refrigerator or freezer. This preliminary cooling action stores thermal energy in the heat exchanger, which then transfers to the drink during circulation, eliminating the need for continuous electrical power consumption during the actual cooling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Temperature

If ice is added to cool the drink, then the temperature is reduced quickly, but the drink is diluted and taste is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling speedVSAvoiddrink concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the cooling function from the drink itself by using a dedicated heat exchanger component that can be pre-cooled independently. This allows the drink to be cooled through heat exchange without direct contact with ice or cooling agents, preventing dilution and preserving the original taste and concentration of the beverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The appliance quickly cools drinks to desired temperatures, is easy to use and maintain, and can be produced at a moderate cost, while being lightweight and hygienic, with detachable components for easy cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

a motor member to pump the liquid fit for human consumption around the circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

cooling means inside the container... cooling body... heat exchange with a cooling body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

cooling body shaped in such a way as to define at least one circuit for the liquid fit for human consumption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2078180B1Appliance for cooling a liquid fit for human consumption
Publication Date: 2010.06.23 NESTEC SA
  • EP2078180B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2078180B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2078180B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an appliance (1; 101; 201) for cooling a liquid fit for human consumption, comprising a container (4; 104; 204). At least one motor member (6; 106; 206) located inside the container engages with at least one removable cooling body (10; 110; 210) to guide and pump the liquid fit for human consumption around a closed circuit. The cooling body is designed to optimize the cooling effect by increasing the surface area of the liquid fit for human consumption in contact with the cooling body. To this end it has channels (11, 12; 112) through which the liquid fit for human consumption passes in such a way as to promote heat exchange and so reduce the length of time required to cool the liquid fit for human consumption to a predetermined temperature.