Patent Publication Number: US-2012031112-A1

Title: Turbo-chill chamber with air-flow booster

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/849,232, entitled “DIRECT CONTACT TURBO-CHILL CHAMBER USING SECONDARY COOLANT,” filed on Aug. 3, 2010, the same day as the present application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Individuals who want to quickly chill a beverage in a beverage container are known to place the beverage container directly and loosely within the freezer compartment of an appliance. However, people frequently forget to remove the beverage container from the freezer compartment, which can result in the beverage within the container freezing solid and/or rupture of the beverage container resulting in a significant mess in the interior of the freezer compartment. The discharged liquid then freezes on the material within the freezer and/or on the wall(s) of the freezer and needs to be cleaned, which is often very time consuming and frustrating for a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is generally directed toward an appliance system that includes an appliance and a turbo-chilling chamber for chilling a beverage in a beverage container or other foodstuff. The appliance typically has a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top, a bottom and at least one door that, when the door is closed, either partially or completely encloses the interior of the appliance. When all doors of the appliance are closed the appliance contains at least one insulated section that is the same size or smaller than the interior volume of the appliance and is suitable for the refrigeration of fresh foods. The rear wall, first side wall, second side wall, top, bottom, and the door each have an interior surface and the turbo-chilling chamber for chilling a beverage within a beverage container (or other foodstuff) is operably engaged to an interior surface of the appliance. The turbo-chilling chamber has a user interfacing (typically user-facing) end that allows a user to insert the beverage container or other foodstuff, an opposite end, and a main body portion. The main body portion typically includes: a rigid distal wall that surrounds a beverage container or other (foodstuff) receiving space that accommodates variously sized beverage containers or foodstuffs and has a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet; a rigid inner wall having a length and at least one aperture along the length of the rigid inner wall where the rigid inner wall surrounds the beverage container (foodstuff) when the beverage container (foodstuff) is positioned within the beverage container (foodstuff) receiving space and defines the beverage container receiving space (foodstuff receiving space); a rigid intermediate wall spaced between the rigid inner wall and the rigid distal wall that defines a coolant chamber between the rigid distal wall and the rigid intermediate wall and also defines an air cooling channel between the rigid intermediate wall and the rigid inner wall; at least one coolant solution that typically includes a solvent and a solute spaced within the coolant chamber; and a fan operably engaged to the opposite end of the turbo-chilling chamber. The fan moves air through the air cooling channel, through the at least one aperture and past the beverage container or other foodstuff spaced within the turbo-chilling chamber when the turbo-chilling chamber is activated. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a turbo-chilling chamber for chilling a beverage within a beverage container or other foodstuff. The turbo-chilling chamber has a user facing end and an opposite end. The turbo-chilling chamber is capable of being operably engaged to an interior surface of an appliance. The turbo-chilling chamber typically includes a rigid distal boundary perimeter having a rear wall and side walls that is larger than a beverage container (or the largest foodstuff envisioned to be chilled within it) and typically surrounds all or a portion of the side and the bottom of a beverage container (foodstuff) when the beverage container (foodstuff) is spaced within the turbo-chilling chamber; a rigid inner wall that is typically either cuboid-shaped or cylindrical-shaped; is spaced within the rigid distal boundary perimeter; defines a beverage (foodstuff) receiving space that surrounds the side and bottom of a beverage container (foodstuff) when the beverage container (foodstuff) is spaced within the turbo-chilling chamber; and contains a plurality of apertures that allow airflow therethrough; an at least substantially rigid intermediate wall engaged with the rigid outer wall to form a coolant chamber between the rigid outer wall and the at least substantially rigid or rigid intermediate wall and wherein the at least substantially rigid intermediate wall also forms an airflow channel between the at least substantially rigid intermediate wall and the rigid inner wall; and a fan. The at least substantially rigid inner wall defines a beverage container (foodstuff) receiving space that is sized to receive and capable of receiving various sized beverage containers or other foodstuffs at different times. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of turbo-chilling a beverage in a beverage container without the beverage within the beverage container freezing. This method may also be employed to chill foodstuffs generally, including freezing a foodstuff if desired. The method typically contains step of providing an appliance having a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top, a bottom and at least one door that, when the door is closed, either partially or completely encloses the interior of the appliance. When all doors of the appliance are closed the appliance contains at least one insulated section that is the same size or smaller than the interior volume of the appliance and suitable for the refrigeration of fresh foods. The rear wall, first side wall, second side wall, top, bottom, and the door each have an interior surface. The method also typically includes providing a turbo-chilling chamber for chilling a beverage within a beverage container (or other foodstuff) having a user interfacing end that allows a user to insert the beverage container (or other foodstuff), an opposite end, and a main body portion. The main body portion typically includes: a rigid distal wall that surrounds a beverage container (foodstuff) receiving space that accommodates variously sized beverage containers and has a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet; a rigid inner wall that has at least one aperture and typically surrounds all or a portion of the beverage container (foodstuff) when the beverage container (foodstuff) is within the beverage container (foodstuff) receiving space and defines the beverage container (foodstuff) receiving space; a rigid intermediate wall spaced between the rigid inner wall and the rigid distal wall that defines a coolant chamber between the rigid distal wall and the rigid intermediate wall and also defines an air cooling channel between the rigid intermediate wall and the rigid inner wall. The method also typically includes the steps of providing at least one coolant spaced within the coolant chamber, providing a fan operably engaged to the opposite end of the turbo-chilling chamber, and providing a coolant system positioned within the appliance where the coolant system includes: a coolant tank; a coolant pump; at least two coolant utility conveying lines that operably connect the coolant tank with the coolant outlet and the coolant inlet of the turbo-chilling chamber; and an evaporator. The method further typically includes the steps of engaging the turbo-chilling chamber with an interior surface of the appliance, operably connecting a first coolant utility conveying line to the coolant inlet of the turbo-chilling chamber, and operably connecting a second coolant utility conveying line to the coolant outlet of the turbo-chilling chamber. The method also typically includes the steps of placing a beverage container (or other foodstuff) within the beverage container (foodstuff) receiving space, activating the coolant pump to move coolant through the coolant system and the coolant chamber of the turbo-chilling chamber the coolant chamber, and activating the fan to move air through the air-flow channel and past the intermediate wall to cool the air and further move the air through the at least one aperture and past the beverage container (foodstuff) to thereby chill the beverage container (foodstuff). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 1A  are elevated front plan views of an appliance employing a turbo-chilling chamber. 
         FIG. 1B  is a center-right perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a turbo-chill chamber engaged to the freezer facing wall in the refrigerator section of the appliance so as to enable the turbo-chill chamber to draw freezer air into the chamber as needed to provide the turbo-chilling of a beverage where the beverage container is inserted in an initial, proactivation stage. 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of a turbo-chilling chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the turbo-chilling chamber shown in  FIG. 2A , but in the activated, beverage chilling stage. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an overall system according to an embodiment of the present invention showing the coolant tanks and evaporator located remote from the turbo-chilling chamber with the coolant tank in the freezer compartment and the turbo-chilling chamber in another compartment of the appliance, typically the refrigerator compartment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top schematic view of a turbo-chilling chamber according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the turbo-chilling chamber shown in  FIG. 4A  taken at line  4 B- 4 B in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-section view taken at line  4 C- 4 C in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated cross-sectional view of a turbo-chilling chamber according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the appliance as orientated in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The reference number  10  ( FIGS. 1-1B ) generally designates an appliance, typically a refrigerator and freezer combination appliance, which can, for example, be a side by side or have a refrigerator section on top and a freezer section on the bottom portion of the appliance. While not typical, optionally, the appliance can have a refrigerator section only or a freezer section only. Typically, the appliance  10  has both a refrigerated section and a freezer section and the appliance typically has a rear wall section  12 , a first side wall section  14 , a second side wall section  16 , a top  18 , a bottom  20 , and at least one door  22  providing access to the refrigerator section  24  (See  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A, and  1 B) where the rear wall section, the first side wall section, the second side wall section, the top and bottom and the door define an appliance interior. The refrigerator section  24  within the appliance interior may have the same or a smaller volume than the overall interior of the appliance, i.e., the appliance may be solely a refrigerator or be an appliance having both a refrigerator section and another section, such as a freezer section with an interior, vertically (or horizontally) extending wall section  15  present to divide the appliance into a freezer section and the refrigerator section  24 . The door(s) of the appliance have an exterior surface  28  and an interior surface  30  typically having a door liner  32 . The liner is typically formed with a cavity or pocket  34 . At least the perimeter defining walls of the appliance and any wall or walls between compartments of different temperatures (freezer vs. refrigerator compartments, for example) are typically insulated with a suitable insulative material such as a urethane foam material or other insulation material, typically a foam insulation material. 
     As shown generally in  FIGS. 1A-1B , one or more turbo-chilling chambers  36  can be spaced within the fresh food section or the freezer section, if present, of the appliance as desired by the end user of the appliance. If the turbo-chilling chamber is spaced within the freezer section, this will accelerate freezing of a beverage or foodstuff placed within the turbo-chilling chamber. As will be discussed in more detail, the turbo-chilling chamber(s)  36  are optionally removable such that the functionality provided can be used when desired by the end user of the appliance and the turbo-chilling chamber(s) stored remote from the appliance when not in use. In this manner, the turbo-chilling chamber does not utilize space for fresh food storage within the fresh foods compartment of the appliance when its functionality is not needed. Optionally, the turbo-chilling chamber may not be removable as well. 
     When the turbo-chilling chamber(s) are removable, they are typically structurally held in place by a mounting bracket that helps support the turbo-chilling chamber and ensures proper engagement of the turbo-chilling chamber with the appliance to allow the turbo-chilling chamber to receive coolant, mechanical power, and/or electrical power as needed. The turbo-chilling chamber(s) optionally can engage a top or side of the appliance mounted bracket and slide into engagement with both the bracket and the appliance. Alternatively, grooves can be constructed in the liner (interior surface) of the appliance that receive, engage, and support the turbo-chilling chamber(s). These too can be positioned on the various surfaces of the interior of the appliance including the top, bottom, and/or sides, but most typically on the top and/or one or more sides of the appliance. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the turbo-chilling chamber can be mounted and constructed to operably engage the freezer facing surface of the refrigerator section of the appliance. In this manner, instead of or in addition to using a coolant system for the turbo-chilling chamber(s), freezer air may be drawn from the freezer compartment and utilized in cooling the beverage and beverage container or other foodstuff when in the turbo-chilling chamber(s) (see generally  FIG. 5  also). 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the turbo-chilling chamber  36  has an outer wall  38  that is typically rigid and typically a hollowed cuboid-shape or a hollowed cylinder-shaped structure and having a beverage container-receiving end  40  and an opposite end that is a rigid base  42  of the outer wall  38 . The outer wall may be insulated or not. A perimeter lip  44  that may be of various sizes, but is typically about ¼ to about ½ inches long extends inward from the perimeter of the beverage container receiving end  40  of the outer wall  38 . A flexible interior wall or boundary  46  is engaged about the perimeter lip  44 , typically at the perimeter lip&#39;s inward edge  48 . The flexible interior wall surrounds the beverage container  50 . The volume between the flexible interior wall and the rigid outer wall define a coolant chamber  52 . The turbo-chilling chamber  36  also typically employs a hingedly engaged door  53  that moves between an open beverage inserting/removing position and a closed position that may be secured closed via a magnet system or snap fit connection or other means. The rigid outer wall  38  typically has a coolant inlet  54  and a coolant outlet  56  that are spaced to optimally allow for flow of coolant  58  through coolant chamber  52 . Suitable coolants include, but are not limited to, water alcohol solutions such as a propylene glycol and water solution, a salt (brine) and water solution, or a solution of a solute or solutes that depresses the freezing point of the solvent, typically water may be used. 
     The coolant system  69  ( FIG. 3 ) further includes a coolant tank  60 , a coolant pump  62 , at least two coolant utility conveying lines  64 . The at least two coolant utility lines  64  operably connect the coolant tank  60  with the coolant outlet  56  and the coolant inlet  54  ( FIG. 2B ) and enable flow of the coolant  58  through the coolant system when the coolant pump  62  is engaged and when the coolant utility conveying lines  64  are connected with the turbo-chilling chamber  36 . The coolant system further includes an evaporator  66  and a fan  68 . 
     In operation the turbo-chilling system is engaged to the coolant system contained within the appliance by connecting the coolant utility conveying lines  64  via drip-proof, quick connectors  71 ,  72 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 3 . In this manner, the turbo-chilling chamber  36  can be engaged and disengaged with the appliance as the user needs the functionality or as otherwise user determined. Typically, the coolant utility conveying lines  64  are spaced within the structure of the appliance and insulation is placed (foamed) around the lines  64 . Drip-proof quick connectors  71 ,  72  are optionally used at both ends of the coolant utility lines as desired to connect the turbo-chilling chamber and the cooling system, which is typically positioned remote from the turbo-chilling chamber, but still within the appliance. Typically, at least the evaporator  66 , the fan  68 , and the coolant pump  62 ; components of the cooling system are positioned within the freezer with the coolant tank/reservoir in contact with or a part of the evaporator cover. The coolant tank/reservoir at least partially if not entirely contacting the evaporator cover enables the coolant within the tank to be maintained at a temperature below the temperature of the freezer, which is particularly advantageous for turbo-chilling. 
     The beverage container  50  can be any size and commercially available beverage container or a personal use article such as a refillable filtered or unfiltered water bottle. Non-limiting examples include: 12 ounce cans, 20 ounce plastic bottles, glass soda pop and beer bottles, wine bottles (typically ¾ liter), one liter bottles, and two liter bottles, typically soda pop bottles. The beverage containers are typically sealed and optionally resealable after opening. Other foodstuffs may be chilled within the chamber. In the case of each embodiment of the turbo-chilling chambers discussed herein the beverage containers may be optionally rotated or shaken slowly with for example, an ultrasonic shaker, to further enhance the cooling of the beverage within the beverage container. A motor can optionally rotate or shake the container. Moreover, the coolant pump can provide the oscillatory motion by pulsing the pump flow and having the coolant inlet port  54  introduce coolant into the chamber approximately tangentially to the beverage container to provide a fluid shear force on the flexible interior wall or boundary  46 . Additionally, the coolant flow can be linked to a drive member via a bulb or paddle so that oscillatory motion can be imparted using the coolant flow via the drive member to the beverage container-flexible wall combination thereby moving the beverage container, for example by rotating or shaking the container. When a motor is used to rotate the beverage container, the motor is typically run such that the beverage container makes about one-eighth to about one-quarter revolutions at an approximate rotational speed range of 10 to 30 revolutions per minute. Slow rotation or shaking the beverage container is one method that the present invention employs to facilitate the prevention of localized freezing of the contents of the beverage container while still allowing for turbo-chilling of the contents of the beverage container by promoting mixing of fluid layers within the beverage container. 
     In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the beverage container is inserted in the turbo-chilling chamber(s) (see  FIG. 2A ) once the door of the chamber  53  is closed, the turbo-chilling chamber(s) may be activated automatically or based upon user input using a display or the input/output device. Upon activation, the coolant pump  62  pumps coolant  58  through the system. A higher than atmospheric pressure is achieved within the coolant chamber  52 , which forces the flexible inner wall  46  into substantial engagement or complete engagement with at least the sides and bottom surface of the beverage container. Heat is thereby transferred from the beverage container through the flexible wall and to the coolant, which is then cycled in a continuous or batch mode through the coolant system  69 . 
     Other embodiments of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C  and  FIG. 5 . According to these embodiments of the turbo-chilling chamber of the present invention, the turbo-chilling chamber  136  has an outer wall  138  that is typically rigid and typically a hollowed cuboid-shape or hollowed cylinder-shaped structure. The turbo-chilling chamber  136  also has a beverage container receiving end  140  and an opposite end that is a rigid base  142  of the outer wall  138 . The outer wall  138  may be insulated, partially insulated, or not insulated. The turbo-chilling chamber(s) of this embodiment also includes a door  153 , which, like door  53 , can be insulated and optionally contain structure (clasp, magnet etc.) to hold the door in a closed position when the door is closed by a user. 
     The embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4C  of the present invention the turbo-chilling chamber also includes a middle wall  172 , optionally a fan  170 , and an inner wall  174 , but the inner wall  174  in this embodiment is a rigid and typically perforated rigid structure having a plurality of apertures  177  that allow air flow therethrough. The coolant chamber  152  for holding coolant  58 , which is as discussed previously, typically a liquid solution, is defined by the middle wall  172  and the outer wall  138  (see  FIG. 4A ). The rigid inner wall  174  typically has a plurality of apertures that may be differently sized to regulate and form a consistent or heat transfer optimized airflow from front to back of the turbo-chilling chamber (see  FIG. 4C ). In a preferred embodiment the apertures are spaced such that the airflow swirls around the container at an angle in a tornado-like motion or pattern. For example, the apertures may have a larger diameter the further they are located from the fan  170  to facilitate optimizing the airflow rate of the air traveling past the entirety of the beverage container within the turbo-chilling chamber since the larger apertures will allow more airflow therethrough and will typically result in the air moving past the beverage container being cooler since the air being pulled out by the fan will travel past more of the coolant that resides within the coolant containing space  176  between the outer wall  138  and the middle wall  172 . 
     In yet another version of this embodiment the apertures are all substantially located at the half way point from the end  175  of the inner wall  174 . The end  175  typically has at least one, more typically a plurality of apertures to allow airflow therethrough where appropriate and allow the air to continue to be circulated and/or recirculated. The configuration of the apertures both in the end  175  and along the inner wall  174  may be set and/or configured for a particular use as well. The airflow  173  will travel in the airflow-chilling channel  178  between the middle wall  172  and the inner wall  174  to be chilled and then moved past the beverage container thereby chilling the beverage container and the beverage inside. 
     As with the previous turbo-chilling chamber of the present invention, the outer wall of this embodiment similarly has a coolant inlet  54  and a coolant outlet  56  for coolant to travel through the coolant chamber  152  adjacent the airflow-chilling channel  178  in the turbo-chilling chamber  136 . Each of the inlet and outlet typically are connected to the coolant utility conveying lines  64  via quick connectors and the coolant run through a coolant system as discussed above. 
     In a slight variation of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this version, substantially all of the structure described above is the same; however, there is at least one or a plurality of apertures in the outer wall  138  and the middle wall  172  is typically removed. Also, the fan  170  is optional, but typically used. Chilling air  180  is provided, which is typically drawn from the chilled air of the freezer. The chilled air then moves through the chilled air space  182  and through aperture  177  in the inner wall  174  to chill the beverage when it is located in the turbo-chilling chamber  136 . The fan  170 , when present and activated, facilitates faster chilling of the beverage by increasing the air flow from the chilled air source, such as a freezer compartment. Alternatively, a fan can be located between the turbo-chilling chamber and the freezer compartment or proximate within the freezer compartment to force air directly into the turbo-chilling chamber as opposed to pulling air through the turbo-chilling chamber. A combination of fans at these locations may also be used. 
     In the case of each of the embodiments of the present invention, the turbo-chilling chamber may have one or more temperature sensors that sense the temperature of the interior of the chamber and/or the surface(s) of the beverage container and provide a signal or otherwise communicate with a processor of a computer system that has a memory subsystem storing code. The computer system has a user interface that is operably connected with the processor. The user interface receives input from the user and transmits a signal of that input to the processor. For example, the user of the appliance and turbo-chilling chamber can select a time period for cooling the beverage (foodstuff), cool the beverage (foodstuff) at a certain temperature and optionally keep the beverage (foodstuff) at a certain temperature, cool the beverage (foodstuff) to a predetermined temperature such as one temperature for white wine, one for red wine (or the particular type of wine) or one for a soda pop beverage. The user interface may be a touch screen panel proximate or remote to the turbo-chilling chamber. Conceivably, an alarm/reminder sound emitter may also be operably connected to and in communication with the computer system and/or processor such that, for example, a signal (audio and/or visual) is transmitted after a predetermined time has elapsed since the turbo-chilling chamber has been activated or a signal (audio and/or visual) is transmitted when the beverage or other foodstuff has reached a certain temperature or approximately a certain temperature. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.