Flexible Refrigerant Wall Freezer for Slurry Drinks and Ice Flakes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for producing 'slushie'-type frozen beverages and ice flakes are expensive, not suitable for domestic use, and lack versatility in producing a range of beverages, including alcoholic drinks, and do not provide a simple means for creating small volumes of ice flakes for display or play purposes.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective apparatus using flexible or semi-rigid walls made of food-grade materials, with a refrigerant cavity filled by cooled refrigerant or cryogenic materials, capable of converting liquids into semi-frozen slurry or ice particles, including an agitator to facilitate agitation and release of ice particles, and methods for operating the apparatus to produce a variety of frozen forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional machines are used to produce slushie-type frozen beverages, then freezing capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the freezing system into separate functional components: a flexible freezing bag containing refrigerant material, an external agitator mechanism, and a container for the liquid beverage. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and inexpensive while collectively achieving the freezing function, resolving the contradiction between freezing capability and machine complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible freezing bag acts as an intermediary between the refrigerant material and the liquid beverage. The bag can be cooled separately in a freezer, then inserted into the beverage container to transfer coldness. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system by decoupling the refrigerant storage from the direct freezing process, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective freezing capability
2Temperature
If conventional machines are used to produce slushie-type frozen beverages, then freezing capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a disposable or reusable flexible freezing bag that can be manufactured at low cost using common materials like plastic or rubber. This bag contains the refrigerant material and can be discarded or reused after a single use, eliminating the need for expensive permanent freezing machinery. This approach dramatically reduces manufacturing cost while still achieving the required freezing temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The use of flexible plastic or rubber bags as the freezing container provides a low-cost alternative to rigid metal freezing chambers. These flexible shells are inexpensive to manufacture, can be easily sealed, and effectively transfer coldness to the beverage. This material choice directly addresses the manufacturing cost issue while maintaining freezing capability
3Quantity of substance
If conventional machines are used, then ice production is achieved, but versatility in producing different beverage types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The freezing bag and container system is designed to be universal and adaptable to different beverage types including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The system does not rely on machine-specific programming or specialized components for different beverages; instead, it uses a general-purpose flexible container that can accommodate any liquid. This universality enables the production of various slushie-type beverages while maintaining simple, low-cost equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible nature of the freezing bag allows it to adapt dynamically to different beverage volumes, viscosities, and freezing rates. The bag can be manually agitated or shaken to accommodate different beverage types and achieve the desired slushie consistency. This dynamic adaptability provides versatility in handling different beverages without requiring complex machine adjustments
4Strength
If rigid freezing containers are used, then structural stability is maintained, but agitation and ice particle release become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from rigid to flexible container walls, enabling the container to be easily agitated, squeezed, and manipulated. The flexible plastic or rubber material allows users to shake and stir the beverage directly through the bag walls, facilitating easy agitation and uniform freezing. This dynamic flexibility directly improves ease of operation while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through the choice of durable materials
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 apparatus efficiently converts liquids into semi-frozen slurry or ice particles, is inexpensive to manufacture, and can be used for both domestic and toy applications, offering a versatile solution for a range of beverages and ice forms, including alcoholic drinks and ice flakes for display.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant material is cooled below a freezing temperature of the liquid; and when the liquid is brought into contact with at least one of the walls, the liquid is at least partially frozen to form a semi-frozen slurry and/or frozen particles
Implementation Method 2
when the liquid is brought into contact with at least one of the walls, the liquid is at least partially frozen
Implementation Method 3
An agitator or stirrer may be operably connected to at least one of the walls to cause agitation of the liquid in contact with the one of the walls and/or to cause release of the ice particles from the one of the walls
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (10) for converting liquid (60) in a container (50) to a semi-frozen slurry (61) or frozen ice particles, where a refrigerant (41) is contained within a refrigerant cavity (40) defined by two walls (20, 30), the flexing/deformation of at least one of the walls (20, 30) agitating the liquid (60) to assist the conversion thereof into the semi-frozen slurry (61) or ice particles.