Patent Publication Number: US-10317134-B2

Title: Rapid cooling systems for beverages

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of Indian Patent Application No. 2016/21012753 filed on Apr. 11, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to rapid cooling systems for beverages and components thereof, specifically, systems that rapidly cool hot brewed beverages. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The following patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/448,218 discloses a beverage chiller that can rapidly cool beverages without the need for ice, and a device for mixing beverages, i.e., a cocktail shaker, that does not require a cap. The beverage chiller cools a beverage or beverage stream in a continuous, or nearly continuous manner, for example, the output of a coffee or tea brewing machine. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/736,700 discloses a method of producing a drink, a cold drink, in particular iced coffee is produced from a hot drink, in particular a coffee/espresso, which is produced in a drinks machine by means of a hot-drinks-preparing device. 
     Indian Patent Application No. 10366/DELNP/2013 discloses fluid cooling apparatus includes a first cooling portion have a first series of cooling elements with first cooling surfaces. A second cooling portion has a second series of cooling elements with second cooling surfaces. The second cooling portion can be removably nested together with the first cooling portion such that the first and second cooling surfaces of respective first and second series of cooling elements can be positioned adjacent to each other with gaps there between to form cooling cavities for cooling fluid introduced into the cooling cavities. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described herein in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In certain examples, a cooling system for rapidly cooling a beverage includes a cooling channel and a nozzle. The cooling channel includes an inner peripheral surface, an upstream inlet, and a downstream outlet. The cooling channel is configured to convey a beverage from upstream to downstream. The nozzle is configured to spray the beverage onto the inner peripheral surface of the cooling channel such that the beverage is conveyed by gravity along the inner peripheral surface such that the beverage is cooled by condensation and convection. 
     In certain examples, a method of rapidly cooling a beverage includes supplying the beverage to a cooling channel having an inner peripheral surface; spraying the beverage through a nozzle onto the inner peripheral surface of the cooling channel, wherein the nozzle is configured to reduce the pressure of the beverage such that the beverage is cooled as the beverage pressure is reduced; and conveying the beverage by gravity along the inner peripheral surface to cooling channels such that the beverage is cooled by condensation and convection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples of systems for rapidly cooling beverages are described with reference to the following drawing Figures. The same numbers are used throughout the Figures to reference like features and components. 
         FIG. 1  is an example of a cooling system. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the cooling system along  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an example system diagram for an example cooling system. 
         FIG. 4  is an example cooling system with a beverage recirculation system. 
         FIG. 5  is an example cooling system including a cooling media recirculation system and a post-chill coil. 
         FIG. 6  is an example cooling media recirculation system including a pair of perforated tubes 
         FIG. 7  is an example cooling system including a post-chill coil and a cooling media refrigeration system. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the example cooling system shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of the example cooling system of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is an example beverage machine. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of two double-walled cooling channels. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cooling channels of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-section view of the cooling channels of  FIG. 11  along line  13 - 13  depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-section view of the cooling channels of  FIG. 11  along line  13 - 13  depicted in  FIG. 12  with an outlet manifold. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-section view of an example double-walled cooling channel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the present disclosure, certain terms are used for brevity, clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The present disclosure is described herein using several definitions, as set forth below and throughout the application. Unless otherwise specified or indicated by context, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” mean “one or more.” For example, “a compound” should be interpreted to mean “one or more compounds.” As used herein, “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” and “significantly” will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art and will vary to some extent on the context in which they are used. If there are uses of these terms which are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art given the context in which they are used, “about” and “approximately” will mean plus or minus ≤10% of the particular term and “substantially” and “significantly” will mean plus or minus &gt;10% of the particular term. 
     As used herein, the terms “include” and “including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise” and “comprising” in that these latter terms are “open” transitional terms that do not limit claims only to the recited elements succeeding these transitional terms. The term “consisting of,” while encompassed by the term “comprising,” should be interpreted as a “closed” transitional term that limits claims only to the recited elements succeeding this transitional term. The term “consisting essentially of,” while encompassed by the term “comprising,” should be interpreted as a “partially closed” transitional term which permits additional elements succeeding this transitional term, but only if those additional elements do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim. 
     During research and development, the present inventors have determined that it is desirable to provide systems for rapidly cooling beverages. More particularly, the present inventors have found that it is desirable to provide systems for rapidly cooling hot brewed beverages (e.g. hot tea and coffee) by conveying the hot brewed beverages through a cooling channel and a nozzle such that the beverage cools by expansion, condensation, and convection. Through research and experimentation, the present inventors conceived of the concepts in the present disclosure. Various alternative concepts will become apparent from the following non-limiting description and drawings. 
       FIGS. 1-2  depict an example cooling system  10  for rapidly cooling a beverage  8  (refer to flow arrows of the beverage  8 ). The cooling system  10  includes a plurality of cooling channels  12  configured to convey the beverage  8  from upstream to downstream. The cooling channels  12  include an inner peripheral surface  13 , an upstream inlet  14  configured to receive the beverage  8 , a downstream outlet  15  configured to dispense the beverage  8 , and a lower surface  18  configured to convey the beverage  8  by gravity from the inner peripheral surface  13  to the downstream outlet  15 . Each cooling channel  12  includes a pair of opposing parallel sides  20 . The number of cooling channels  12  depicted is merely exemplary and can vary from that which is shown. In some examples, the cooling system  10  includes three cooling channels  12  (see  FIGS. 1-4 ). In other examples, the cooling system  10  includes four cooling channels  12  (see  FIGS. 5-6 ). The size and shape of the cooling channel  12  can vary from that which is shown. In one example, the cooling channel  12  is a cylinder (see  FIG. 6 ). In other examples, the cooling channel  12  is a double-walled cylinder (see  FIGS. 11-15 ) including a first inner peripheral surface  151 , a second inner peripheral surface  152 , a lower surface  153  coupling the first inner peripheral surface  151  to the second inner peripheral surface  152 , an upper surface  155 , and a downstream outlet  154 . 
     The cooling system  10  includes a nozzle  22  that is configured to spray the beverage  8  onto the inner peripheral surface  13  of the cooling channel  12  such that the beverage  8  is conveyed by gravity along the inner peripheral surface  13  and cooled by condensation and convection. The nozzle  22  is configured to reduce the pressure of the beverage  8  such that the beverage  8  expands and cools. In some examples, the nozzle  22  is an atomizing nozzle configured to atomize the beverage  8 . The nozzle  22  can be one of a plurality of nozzles  22  included with the cooling system  10 . The plurality of nozzles  22  are configured to spray the beverage  8  onto the inner peripheral surface  13  of each cooling channel  12 . The number of nozzles  22  included with the cooling system  10  can correspond with the number of cooling channels  12 . In certain examples, two nozzles  22  are included with each cooling channel  12  (e.g. the example shown in  FIGS. 1-2  has three cooling channels  12  and six nozzles  22 (note that three of the nozzles  22  are not visible)). The number of cooling channels  12  and/or nozzles  22  depicted is merely exemplary and can vary from that which is shown. Referring to the example double-wall cooling channel  12  depicted in  FIG. 15 , the nozzle  22  is configured to spray the beverage  8  onto the first and second inner peripheral surfaces  151 ,  152  of a double-wall cooling channel  12  (as depicted in  FIGS. 11-14  and described above) such that the beverage  8  is conveyed by gravity along the upper surface  155  and the first and second inner peripheral surfaces  151 ,  152  and cooled by condensation and convection. 
     The cooling system  10  includes a tank  24  configured to contain a cooling media  26 . Each of the plurality of cooling channels  12  are located in the tank  24  such that the cooling media  26  cools the cooling channel  12  ( FIG. 1  depicts the tank  24  in dashed lines). The type of cooling media  26  utilized to cool the cooling channel  12  can vary and for example can include water, refrigerant, ice, water-ice slurry, and/or the like. 
     The cooling system  10  includes an inlet manifold  30  that is coupled to each of the plurality of cooling channels  12  such that the inlet manifold  30  conveys the beverage  8  to each of the plurality of cooling channels  12  and/or nozzles  22 . The inlet manifold  30  has an upstream end  31  configured to receive the beverage  8 . The cooling system  10  includes an outlet manifold  32  that is coupled to each of the plurality of cooling channels  12  such that the outlet manifold  32  collects the beverage  8  from each of the plurality of cooling channels  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cooling system  10  includes an operator input device  40  and a computer controller  50 . The type and configuration of operator input device  40  and controller  50  can vary from that which is shown. The operator input device  40  can include one or more conventional input devices for inputting operator selections of beverage  8  and/or additives  9  (further described herein below with reference to  FIG. 10 ) to the controller  50 . Exemplary operator input devices  40  include touch screens, mechanical buttons, mechanical switches, voice command receivers, tactile command receivers, gesture sensing devices, and/or remove controllers such as personal digital assistant(s) (PDAs), handheld(s), laptop computer(s), and/or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the controller  50  is configured to control the operator input device  40 , the supply of beverage  8 , at least one supply of additive  9 , and pumps  62 ,  71 ,  82 , outlet valves  35  and/or other devices associated therewith for supplying selected beverage  8  and additive(s)  9  in accordance with inputs to the operator input device  40 . The controller  50  can be on the cooling system  10  and/or can be located remotely from the cooling system  10 . In some examples, the controller  50  can be configured to communicate via the Internet or any other suitable communication link  51 . Although  FIG. 3  shows one controller  50 , there can be more than one controller  50 . Portions of the methods described herein can be carried out by a single controller  50  or by several separate controllers  50 . Each controller  50  can have one or more control sections or control units. In some examples, the controller  50  can include a computing system that includes a processing system, storage system, software, and input/output (I/O) interfaces (e.g. operator input device) for communicating with devices described herein and/or with other devices. The processing system can load and execute software from the storage system. The controller  50  may include one or many application modules and one or more processors, which may be communicatively connected. The processing system may comprise a microprocessor and other circuitry that retrieves and executes software from the storage system. Non-limiting examples of the processing system include general purpose central processing units, applications specific processors, and logic devices. The storage system can comprise any storage media readable by the processing system and capable of storing software. The storage system can include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. The storage system can be implemented as a single storage device or across multiple storage devices or sub-systems. The storage system can further include additional elements, such as a controller capable of communicating with the processing system. Non-limiting examples of storage media include random access memory, read only memory, magnetic discs, optical discs, flash memory, virtual memory, and non-virtual memory, magnetic sets, magnetic tape, magnetic disc storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and that may be accessed by an instruction execution system. The storage media can be a non-transitory or a transitory storage media. 
     In this example, the controller  50  communicates with one or more components of the cooling system  10  via one or more communication links  51 , which can be a wired or wireless links. The controller  50  is capable of monitoring and/or controlling one or more operational characteristics of the cooling system  10  and its various subsystems by sending and receiving control signals via the communication links  51 . It should be noted that the extent of connections of the communication link  51  shown herein is for schematic purposes only, and the communication links  51  in fact provides communication between the controller  50  and each of the devices and various subsystems described herein, although not every connection is shown in the drawing for purposes of clarity 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cooling system  10  includes an outlet valve  60  that dispenses the beverage  8  from the cooling channel  12 . The outlet valve  60  can be manually opened and/or closed. In another example, the outlet valve  60  is selectively controlled by the controller  50  (see  FIG. 3 ) based on an input received by the operator input device  40 . The cooling system  10  includes a pump  62  upstream of the cooling channels  12 . The pump  62  is configured to pressurize the freshly brewed, or otherwise prepared, beverage  8 . The controller  50  controls the pump  62  based on an input received by the operator input device  40  and the pressurized brewed beverage  8  is conveyed to the cooling channels  12  or inlet manifold  30  based on an input received by the operator input device  40  (see  FIG. 3 ). The cooling system  10  includes a check or one-way valve  64  located downstream of the pump  62 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the cooling system  10  includes a beverage recirculation system  70  that circulates the beverage  8  from the downstream outlet  15  of the cooling channel  12  to the upstream inlet  14  of the cooling channel  12 . The beverage recirculation system  70  is coupled to the outlet valve  60 . The beverage recirculation system  70  includes a pump  71 . The controller  50  controls the pump  71  based on an input received by the operator input device  40  such that beverage  8  is circulated to the upstream inlet  14  of the cooling channels  12  (see  FIG. 3 ). The beverage recirculation system  70  is configured to recirculate the beverage  8  through the cooling channels  12  such that the beverage  8  is further cooled by the cooling channels  12  (i.e. the beverage  8  is cooled multiple times by the cooling channels  12 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the cooling system  10  includes a post-chill coil  75  for cooling the beverage  8  downstream of the cooling channel  12 . The post-chill coil  75  is located in the tank  24  such that the cooling media  26  cools the post-chill coil  75 . The cooling system  10  includes a pump  77  configured to pull the beverage  8  from the post-chill coil  75  such that the beverage is dispensed through the outlet valve  60  to the operator. The controller  50  controls the pump  77  based on an input received by the operator input device  40  such that the beverage  8  is pulled through the post-chill coil  75  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The cooling system  10  includes a cooling media circulation system  80  configured to circulate the cooling media  26  in the tank  24  (flow arrows on  FIG. 5  which depict the flow path of the cooling media  26 ). The cooling media circulation system  80  includes a pump  82  for circulating the cooling media  26  and a perforated tube  83  configured to distribute the circulated cooling media  26  into the tank  24  (see also  FIG. 6 ; flow arrows on  FIG. 6  which depict the flow path of the cooling media  26 ). The controller  50  controls the pump  82  of the cooling media circulation system  80  based on an input received by the operator input device  40  and/or a cooling module or program configured to maintain a consistent temperature of cooling media  26  in the tank  24  (see  FIG. 3 ) based on signals from a temperature monitoring system  95  having a plurality of sensors (not shown) that are configured to sense the temperature of the cooling media  26 . The temperature monitoring system  95  can provide real-time feedback to the controller  50  pertaining to the temperature of the cooling media  26  such that the cooling system  10  operates the cooling media circulation system  80  to maintain the temperature of the cooling media  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the cooling system  10  includes a cooling media refrigeration system  90  configured to convey a refrigerant that exchanges heat with the cooling media  26 . The cooling media refrigeration system  90  includes an evaporator coil  92  located in the tank  24  such that the cooling media  26  exchanges heat with the refrigerant, a condenser  93 , and a compressor  94 . In certain examples, the cooling media refrigeration system  90  is a vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS). The controller  50  controls the cooling media refrigeration system  90  based on an input received by the operator input device  40  and/or a cooling module or program configured to maintain a consistent temperature of cooling media  26  in the tank  24  (see  FIG. 3 ). The cooling system  10  includes an agitator  85  and/or a cooling media recirculation system  80  configured to agitate the cooling media  26  in the tank  24 . The controller  50  controls the agitator  85  and/or a cooling media recirculation system  80  (see  FIG. 3 ). The cooling media refrigeration system  90  can be operated based on the temperature sensed by the sensors (not shown) of the temperature monitoring system  95  (see  FIG. 3 ). The temperature monitoring system  95  in connected to the controller  50 . The controller  50  can alarm or notify the operator (via the operator input device  40  or visual/audio indicator  44 ) when the temperature monitoring system  95  relays a signal that the temperature the cooling media  26  in the tank  24  is elevated above a certain level (see  FIG. 3 ). The cooling media refrigeration system  90  can be operated to maintain the temperature of the cooling media  26  and/or the operator may add ice to the tank  24  to quickly change the temperature of the cooling media  26 . The refrigerant can be any acceptable heat transfer fluid including but not limited to water, glycol, phase change material (PCM), and/or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a beverage machine  100  is depicted. The beverage machine  100  includes the cooling system  10  and other components described herein. The controller  50  can control the components of the beverage machine described herein  100  based on an input received by the operator input device (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The beverage machine  100  includes a water inlet  102  configured to receive water from a water source (not shown). The water received by the water inlet  102  is conveyed through a water heat exchanger  104  (discussed further herein) to a boiler  106  which heats the water. The water is conveyed to a beverage brewer  108  which is configured to receive a powdered beverage mix and/or grinds from a seed grinder  110 . The water conveys through the beverage brewer  108  by gravity to a beverage collector  112  which collects a hot brewed beverage (see the beverage  8  depicted in  FIG. 10 ) which comprises the hot water and flavoring from the grinds and/or the powdered beverage. The hot brewed beverage is conveyed by a hot beverage pump  114  to a hot beverage dispense valve  116  which is configured to selectively dispense the hot brewed beverage to the operator. Alternatively, the hot brewed beverage can be conveyed by the pump  62  to be cooled by the cooling system  10  (as described above). The pump  62  conveys the hot brewed beverage to the cooling system  10  through the water heat exchanger  104  such that the hot brewed beverage exchanges heat with the water conveying to the boiler  106 . The hot brewed beverage is conveyed by the inlet manifold  30  to each of the cooling channels  12  where each nozzle  22  sprays the hot brewed beverage onto the inner peripheral surfaces  13  of each cooling channel  12 . The cooling channel  12  cools the hot brewed beverage and the outlet manifold  32  collects the cooled beverage. A cooled beverage pump  118  pulls the cooled beverage from the outlet manifold  32  and conveys the cooled beverage to a multi-flavor valve  120  that is configured to receive the cooled brewed beverage and receive additives  9  from an additive system  130  (described further herein). The multi-flavor valve  120  is configured to selectively dispense the cooled brewed beverage with or without at least one additive  9 . 
     The additive system  130  is configured to supply at least one additive  9  (e.g. flavoring, color) (see flow of additive  9  on  FIG. 10 ) to the multi-flavor valve  120 . The additive system  130  includes at least one bag-in-the-box (BIB) additive source  132  that contain the additive  9 . The additive source  132  is coupled to a flavor pump  134  configured to convey the additive  9  from the additive source  132  and convey the additive  9  to the multi-flavor valve  120 . The controller  50  controls the flavor pumps  134  based on an input received by the operator input device  40 . The additives and/or flavors are dispensed with the beverage at the multi-flavor valve  120 . The additive system  130  includes a tank  136  configured to contain a cooling media  138 . The additive source  132  is located in the tank  136  such that the cooling media  138  cools the additive source  132 . The additive system  130  includes a refrigerant coil  140  in the tank  136  that is configured to convey a refrigerant such that the cooling media  138  exchanges heat with the refrigerant. The evaporator coil  92  is coupled the condenser  93  and the compressor  94 . 
     The present disclosure thus provides example methods for rapidly cooling a beverage  8  including supplying the beverage  8  to the cooling channel  12  having an inner peripheral surface  13 ; spraying the beverage  8  through a nozzle  22  onto the inner peripheral surface  13  of the cooling channel  12 ; conveying the beverage  8  by gravity along the inner peripheral surface  13  of the cooling channel  12  such that the beverage  8  is cooled by condensation and convection; conveying the beverage  8  from the inner peripheral surface  13  by gravity along a lower surface  18  to a downstream outlet  15  of the cooling channel  12 ; locating the cooling channel  12  in a tank  24  configured to contain a cooling media  26 ; and conveying the beverage  8  through a post-chill coil  75  configured to cool the beverage. 
     Certain examples of the cooling system cool the beverage from 190 degrees Fahrenheit down to less than or equal to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain examples of the tank include a lid to prevent heat infiltration. Certain examples of the inlet manifold include a cover assembly configured to cover the cooling channels and/or the tank. Certain examples of the cooling system can cool each beverage of a plurality of beverages at the same time such that each of a plurality of manifolds convey a separate beverage and each of a plurality of cooling channels cools each beverage of a plurality of beverages, respectively. Certain examples of the cooling system include a plurality of post-chill coils each configured to cool each beverage of a plurality of beverages and a plurality of pumps each configured to pull each beverage of the multiple beverages through each of the plurality of post-chill coils. Certain examples of the cooling system allow an operator to dispense the beverage manually. Certain examples of the cooling system includes a display (e.g. touch screen, LCD display) configured to display status of the temperature in the tank. Certain examples the nozzle has a spray pattern (e.g. solid stream, hollow cone, full cone, flat spray, multiple plume spray) for spraying the beverage. Certain examples of the cooling system include a nozzle configured to spray a beverage onto cooling channel such that the beverage sprays in droplets that transfer heat to the cooling channel wherein droplets accumulate to form a laminar flow profile on the cooling channel 
     Through research and experimentation, the present inventors have determined that the number of cooling channels included with the cooling system proportionately affects a drink dispense rate required at the outlet (e.g. six cooling channels are included when the drink dispense rate at the outlet is high (i.e. high drink dispense rate); two cooling channels are included when the drink dispense rate at the outlet is low (i.e. low drink dispense rate)). 
     The present disclosure provides example methods for rapidly cooling a beverage including brewing a hot beverage in a brewer; pumping the hot beverage to nozzles; spraying the hot beverage into the cooling channel such that the hot beverage is atomized into very fine droplets which collide against the walls of the cooling channel and accumulate; dispensing a cold beverage by gravity from the cooling channel; and receiving the cold beverage in a cup. In certain examples, the method includes recirculating the beverage such that the beverage is further cooled by the cooling channels.