Modular retrofit quench unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ice chests are inefficient in cooling beverages, taking 30 to 60 minutes to cool drinks and lack a reliable method to determine when they have reached the ideal temperature, and they require heavy ice that melts, warming the beverages over time.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated chest with an ice maker and a quench tray system that uses a tank for a chilled mixture of ice and water, along with temperature sensors and a control system to manage cooling, allowing for precise temperature control and notification when beverages are cooled to the desired temperature, and includes a modular retrofit device for use in existing coolers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional ice chests are used to cool beverages, then the beverages can be cooled, but it takes 30 to 60 minutes and the user cannot determine when the ideal temperature is reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the beverage temperature and provides feedback to a control system. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect when the beverage reaches the ideal temperature range (38-42°F) and automatically stop the cooling process, eliminating the time loss associated with manual monitoring and preventing over-cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional passive ice-chest mechanical cooling system with an active electronic cooling system that uses a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and electronic temperature sensor. This substitution enables precise temperature control and automated shutdown, dramatically reducing cooling time from 30-60 minutes to approximately 5-10 minutes while providing accurate temperature measurement capability.
2Temperature
If heavy ice is used in traditional ice chests, then cooling capacity is provided, but the ice melts and warms the beverages over time
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor continuously monitors beverage temperature and provides feedback to the control system, which adjusts the cooling cycle accordingly. This feedback control prevents over-cooling and maintains the beverage within the ideal temperature range (38-42°F), eliminating the energy loss associated with ice melting and temperature fluctuation in traditional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the cooling system by using a compressor-based refrigeration cycle instead of passive ice. The system maintains a constant evaporator temperature and controls the cooling duty cycle based on beverage temperature feedback, enabling precise temperature control without the energy loss from ice melting. The system can maintain temperatures with ±1°F precision, preventing the warming that occurs in traditional ice chests.
3Temperature
If a compressor-based refrigeration system is used, then precise temperature control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions: it monitors temperature via the sensor, controls the compressor cycling, operates the defrost heater, manages the condensate pump, and provides user interface control. By consolidating these functions into a single microcontroller-based system, the patent achieves precise temperature control while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes automatic defrost functionality where the defrost heater and condensate pump operate autonomously based on temperature sensor feedback. When the evaporator temperature drops below a threshold, the system automatically activates the defrost heater to prevent ice buildup, then drains the condensate using the pump. This self-service capability reduces the need for manual intervention and simplifies the overall system operation despite the added components.
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 system rapidly cools beverages to a pre-selected temperature and provides visual notification when they are ready, maintaining optimal temperature and reducing the need for heavy ice, enhancing cooling efficiency and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The pump directs water into the basin in a manner similar to a 'water fall' from a first end proximate to the pump to a second end
Implementation Method 2
A modular retrofit quench unit that may be fitted or inserted into any adequately sized thermally insulated cooler... The quench unit includes a basin configured to hold a plurality of beverage containers
Implementation Method 3
a thermally insulated cooler (e.g., an insulated thermal beverage cooler)
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure features various embodiments and aspects of a chest for quenching beverages. The chest can include a tank for holding a chilled mixture of ice and water, an ice maker adapted for making ice having an output for ejecting ice into a conduit in fluid communication with the tank, and a plurality of quench trays disposed above the tank for holding containers of beverages located in first and second positions. The trays can be filled with cold water by way of a conduit in fluid communication with the tank. The quench trays can include a compartment defined by a bottom and a plurality of walls, and defining therein a plurality of rows for aligning and containing a plurality of beverage containers. The drawers can further include at least one drain orifice configured to guide water out of the quench tray.