Sliding-Element Carbon Dioxide Snow Metering for Precise Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for delivering carbon dioxide snow to cool products are hindered by gas streams, leading to dispersion and impairment due to snow caking or moisture freezing, which affects the device's functionality.
Innovation Solution
A device with a horizontally movable sliding element in a storage container, allowing precise metering and separation of carbon dioxide snow from the gas stream, using a dispensing opening and metering section that can be closed to prevent snow from re-entering, and optionally equipped with a cutting tool or adjustable partitions to manage snow compression and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid carbon dioxide is expanded using the Joule-Thomson effect to produce carbon dioxide snow, then the cooling effect is improved, but the gas stream causes snow particles to swirl and disperse widely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful gas stream from the system by providing a separate gas discharge line that allows carbon dioxide gas to be discharged independently from the snow delivery path. This separates the cooling function (snow delivery) from the pressure relief function (gas discharge), preventing the gas stream from interfering with snow particle trajectory and dispersion control.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical devices such as funnels or baffles are used to focus snow particles, then snow particle dispersion is reduced, but carbon dioxide snow tends to bake on the mechanical devices and impair operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the snow-focusing function from mechanical contact surfaces by delivering snow particles directly through a nozzle without intermediate mechanical focusing devices. The snow is focused aerodynamically or through direct nozzle geometry rather than through funnels or baffles that would contact and accumulate the snow, eliminating the baking problem while maintaining focusing capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If a screw conveyor is used to separate gas flow from carbon dioxide snow, then snow can be transported precisely without swirling, but the device complexity increases and continuous supply limits targeted cooling of individual products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas flow separation function from the snow transport mechanism by providing a separate gas discharge line that diverts gas away from the snow delivery path. This eliminates the need for a screw conveyor or other mechanical separation devices, reducing complexity while maintaining precise snow transport capability through direct nozzle delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables targeted cooling of individual products by controlling the snow supply in a periodic or on-demand manner rather than continuous supply. The system can activate snow delivery only when a product is in position, allowing precise timing and positioning of snow application to individual products on a conveyor belt or in a processing chamber.
4Productivity
If carbon dioxide snow is pressed through wire mesh or cellular wheel sluice, then metered delivery is achieved, but snow and moisture bake up in the meshes and impair functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the metering function from mesh or sluice structures that are prone to caking. Instead, metering is achieved through nozzle geometry, pressure control, and timing mechanisms that do not involve snow passing through narrow mesh openings or wheel slots. The snow is metered by controlling the duration and pressure of delivery through a clear nozzle, eliminating surfaces where snow and moisture can accumulate and freeze.
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 precise and controlled delivery of carbon dioxide snow without gas interference, minimizing the risk of snow caking and moisture issues, ensuring reliable operation and efficient cooling.
Implementation Method 1
carbon dioxide snow is produced by relaxing liquid carbon dioxide using the Joule-Thomson effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~4
AI summary
For dosing carbon dioxide snow, a storage container intended for filling with carbon dioxide has a dispensing unit which comprises a dispensing opening arranged laterally in the base region of the storage container and a horizontally movable sliding element which interacts with the dispensing opening. The sliding element can be moved between a first position, which closes the dispensing opening and a dosing section of the storage container, and a second position, which releases the dosing section and the dispensing opening. A precisely determined volume can be ejected via the dispensing opening by actuating the sliding element.