Patent Publication Number: US-6701718-B1

Title: Heat exchanging apparatus for handling and transporting vessels

Description:
This application is based on priority Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/284,641 filed Apr. 18, 2001, of which the following specification is a Continuation-in-Part. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Related Applications 
     2. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates generally to heating and cooling a media-containing vessel and handling or transporting the vessel. The present invention covers the fields of heat-exchanging devices and handling-transporting devices. First, the present invention provides a heat-exchanging means for cooling or heating fluids contained in a vessel. Second, the present invention provides a handling-transporting mechanism, with a locking means, to safely and quickly transport a cooled or heated vessel and its contents therein, without incorporating additional equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In industry, growth media have been known for decades and are used in laboratories and research facilities through the world. These are made by mixing a specified amount of dehydrated growth media with a set volume of water. To completely dissolve the media, the growth media is typically mixed as it boils. This can be performed on a composite hot plate with a magnetic stirrer where a metallic stir-bar inside the flask follows the magnetic guide of rotating magnet housed within the hot-plate base. After boiling, the media is typically sterilized by autoclaving the media-containing vessel at 121 degrees Celsius for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes. 
     After the flask has been removed from the autoclave, it is still too hot to handle directly. Furthermore, because media are generally created in large volumes (500 ml−2 L), it often takes a fair amount of time for the media-containing vessel and media therein to cool sufficiently to allow for handling or transporting. In addition, temperature-sensitive agents, such as antibiotics, virions, and enzymes, cannot be added while the vessel is still hot. Because the introduction of a thermometer into the liquid media can cause contamination, most people simply judge by feeling the outer glass surface of the vessel to determine when the vessel has sufficiently cooled to allow for handling and transporting. 
     The problems associated with a lack of a heat-exchanging device are prevalent. First, premature handling or transporting of hot flask&#39;s side walls can lead to burns and spills. A person handling or transporting hot media-containing vessels often has to wear bulky oven-mitt like gloves if he needs to pour, for example, the hot solution into Petri dishes before the media begins to solidify. Second, a subjective guess of the temperature of the vessel introduces unwanted experimental variation between batches of solutions. Third, waiting on large volumes of solution to sufficiently cool is time-consuming and uneconomical. Fourth, if the gradual cooling process is compromised, such as placing the hot media-containing vessel in a cold-water bath or refrigerator, the media inside the vessel may solidify non-uniformly on side walls. 
     Thus, what is needed is a heat-exchanging apparatus that simultaneously serves as a handling-transporting device, which incorporates a quick-release handle and a locking means to transport a media-containing vessel. 
     It has long been known to use hollow tubes constructed in helical patterns in heat-exchanging devices and as handling-transporting devices simultaneously, without the need of additional equipment. Thus, existing prior art teaches either a helical heat-exchanging means or a handling or transporting means coupled with a locking means, but not a combination. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 654,358 shows the use of spiral pipes through which liquid passes to be cooled. The apparatus is placed in a cooler or icebox to be cooled as liquid flows from one end to the other. The spiral pipes are located within a container, which prevents the pipes from being used as a handling or transporting means. In addition, the pipes are not compressible to easily and safely expand and contract the pipes to serve as a handling or transporting device. 
     Another proposal for a heat-exchanging device is set out in U.S. Pat. No. 936,060. That patent discloses an ice-freezer that has a cooling medium composed of cooling coils that provide a passage of brine therein. However, this invention also does not use the cooling coils as a handling-transporting device, in conjunction with its intended purpose of serving as a heat-exchanging device. 
     In addition, the prior art teaches handling or transporting devices with a releasable spring and locking means. However, their purposes and uses are limited to handling or transporting and do not incorporate the combination of handling-transporting means coupled with a heat-exchanging means. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 46,235 teaches a device that has snail-shaped clamping ends that are compressed and released by hand pressure. However, the clamp is limited in its uses. It is fairly small and is not designed to fit around vessels. Moreover, the invention does not provide a means for thermo-stabilizing media-containing vessels. Thus, additional equipment is needed for the invention to simultaneously serve as a heat-exchanging device and a handling-transporting device. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an ergonomic and safe apparatus by which a media-containing vessel can be cooled or heated at a controlled rate and further allows a means whereby the vessel may also be handled-transported without the need for additional equipment. 
     The present invention relates to a heat exchanging apparatus with a quick-release handle and a locking means to transport a hot or cold media-containing vessel. This present invention satisfies the needs stated above by simultaneously providing a non-obvious combination of a heat-exchanging device and a handling-transporting device with a quick-release handle for locking means, for a media-containing vessel. A preferred version of the present invention comprises: (1) a flexible, hollow tube generally in the shape of a coil; (2) an insulated, gripping means; (3) two flexible, heat-insulating tubes; and (4) a locking means. 
     The flexible, hollow tube can be cut to any desired length and adjusted to fit the circumference of the vessel to be cooled or heated and handled or transported. The flexible, hollow tube can be any flexible material; e.g., a metal, such as copper, or a plastic. The insulated gripping means can also be cut to any desired length to fit around the handle to allow for squeezing and holding of the flexible, hollow tube while fitting the present invention over the media-containing vessel to be cooled or heated. The two flexible, heat-insulating tubes should also be cut to desired length to allow for handling or transporting of the vessel from one destination to another. The flexible, heat-insulating tubes are adapted to connect to a source of hot and cold fluids at one end. In use, the flexible, hollow tube is wrapped around the media-vessel to come into contact with the outer surface of the vessel while creating a helical configuration around the circumference of the vessel. 
     Finally, a locking means is connected to the insulated handle and the opposite end of the flexible, hollow tube to prevent squeezing of the quick-release handle when it is locked. This insures that the apparatus will not be squeezed to cause the flexible, hollow tube to expand and release from the circumference of the media-containing vessel, thus causing the vessel to be dropped unexpectedly. 
     The heat-exchanging device is engaged when fluid is introduced into the flexible, hollow tube via the flexible, heat-insulating tubes that are connected to a fluid dispenser. As fluid travels through the flexible, hollow tube, in a helical motion around the circumference of the media-containing vessel, the solution within the media-containing vessel is heated or cooled depending on its temperature relative to the fluid traveling through the flexible, hollow tube. By increasing or decreasing the temperature and velocity of the fluid traveling through the flexible, hollow tube, the heating or cooling rate can be controlled. This provides the benefit of maximizing the consistency between batches when thermo-sensitive agents are adding to the solution and allowing for a high degree of reproducibility between batches. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the speed of cooling is maximized by attaching a flask clasp coil to a closed circuit evaporative refrigeration system. The flask clasp serves as the evaporative refrigeration coil pulling heat from the supported flask. 
     In still another alternative embodiment of the invention, both heating and cooling of the flask may be effected by the utilization of spring-mounted, waterproof, Peltier thermoelectric contact panels. By reversing the polarity of direct current (DC) power, heating or cooling of flask is possible. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a media-containing vessel, resting on a heater and magnetic stir plate with a magnetic stir bar; 
     FIG. 2 is the same elevation view as FIG.  1  and includes the flexible, hollow tube, the flexible, heat-insulating tubes, an overflow guard and support handle, and the insulated, gripping means; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the boil-shield; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-section view at line  4 — 4  of a preferred embodiment of the heat-exchanging device; 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment that includes a flexible cavity and a quick-release spring lock that surrounds a media-containing vessel; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of FIG. 5, which includes hinges and the flexible, heat-insulating tubes; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view, of an embodiment that includes a heat-exchanging cavity, which allows for maximum surface are in contact with a cylindrical device, and a handle; 
     FIG. 8 is an offset front elevation view of FIG. 7 showing the handle in a detailed view; and 
     FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of FIG. 8 showing a chamber thermometer and a connecting means. 
     FIG. 10 is a partially sectional isometric view of an embodiment of the invention utilizing Peltier thermoelectric contact panels. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Below is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The present invention is directed to a heat-exchanging apparatus having quick-release handle  6 ,  7  and locking means  79 , adapted to transport media-containing vessel  1 . With reference to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat-exchanging apparatus has flexible, hollow tube  15  shaped in a helical fashion, adapted to fit around a media-containing vessel  1 . One embodiment of the flexible, hollow tube  15  is a hollow, coil-like material with a specific diameter as desired by one of ordinary skill in the art. This size of flexible, hollow tube  15  can vary in diameter, depending on the size of media-containing vessel  1 . 
     Another embodiment of flexible, hollow tube  15  can be flexible, hollow tube with a square  20 , rectangular  21  or triangular  47  cross-section. Other geometric shapes as known to those of ordinary skill in the art are also contemplated by the instant invention as well. 
     Yet, another embodiment of the flexible, hollow tube, which may be of any cross-sectional shape (such as a square, rectangle, or circle), is placed inside heat-exchanging fluid filled cavity  16  known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The fluid-filled cavity contains the flexible, hollow tube within its membrane  17  while the inner surface of the fluid cavity is in contact with the media-containing vessel. This provides better surface area contact between the media-containing vessel and all sides of the coil as mediated by the fluid-filled cavity, thereby, allowing better heat exchange between the two structures. To further optimize heat transfer, the flexible, hollow tube may be wrapped around the media-containing vessel, in a helical pattern  15 ,  16  as many times as possible; the greater the number of revolutions around the media-containing vessel, the greater the surface contact between the inner wall of the media-containing vessel and the flexible, hollow tube. Thus, the greater the surface contact, the greater the heat transfer rate between the flexible, hollow tube and the media-containing vessel. The fluid-filled cavity&#39;s outer wall is insulated to prevent undesirable heat exchange with the air around it. 
     Another embodiment for the flexible, hollow tube may encompass a heating means in situ  43  with the flexible, hollow tube. This heating means can further aid the regulation of fluid temperature within the diametric walls of the flexible, hollow tube. 
     Another embodiment can replace the flexible, hollow tube that surrounds the media-containing vessel. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two flexible fluid containing devices  44 , each having first end  45  and second end  46 , composed of outer wall  36  and inner wall  37  are attached by clasping means  39  at the first end  45 . The outer and inner walls of the flexible fluid containing devices form hollow cavity  38  that encompasses fluid therein. The second ends of the flexible fluid containing devices are joined together by locking means  42 . The locking means is adjusted by quick release spring lock  42   a  to allow for easily expanding or contracting the diameter of the flexible fluid containing devices. 
     The flexible fluid containing devices  36  are fitted around a media-containing vessel to encourage the heat-transfer process between inner wall  37  of the flexible fluid containing device and the outer wall of the media-containing vessel. Each first end  45  of the flexible fluid containing devices have two openings  40 ,  41  to allow the flexible heat-insulating tubes to attach to them. The flexible, heat-insulating tube  25  that introduces cool or hot fluid into the flexible fluid containing device is removeably connecting to lower opening  41  located at the bottom of the flexible fluid containing device&#39;s first end. The flexible, heat-insulating tube that removes the cool or hot fluid from the flexible fluid containing device is removeably connecting to upper opening  40  located at the top of the flexible fluid containing device&#39;s first end. 
     Thus, as fluid is introduced through the flexible fluid containing device&#39;s lower opening  41 , air is displaced and fluid is exited out of the flexible fluid containing device&#39;s upper opening  40  via the flexible, heat-insulating tube  26 . This flexible fluid-containing device allows for the maximum surface area contact with an outer wall of media-containing vessel. Therefore, the heat-exchange rate is maximized. Furthermore, this flexible fluid-containing device can adapt to many shapes that match various media-containing vessels known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The inner wall of media-containing vessel  22  and the inner wall of flexible, hollow tube  20  are connected by a flexible, he at-exchanging mesh-like material  23  which provides a gripping means to allow for secure handling or transporting of the media-containing vessel. The flexible, heat-exchanging mesh-like material  23  can be attached to the inner wall of the flexible, hollow tube  20  via securable conventional clasping means  24 . 
     As stated above, the purpose of the present invention is to achieve rapid counter-current thermal equalization of a media-containing vessel while providing a means for handling or transporting the media-containing vessel in a safe and effective manner. 
     The first end of the flexible, hollow tube  6  is attached to one flexible, heat-insulating tube  25  via a connecting means (discussed below). The flexible, heat-insulating tube  25  is attached to fluid-dispensing device  27  (preferably with one hot and one cold fluid dispenser, i.e. faucet) via adapting means  28 . The fluid-dispenser should provide both hot and cold fluid to allow for a spectrum of fluid temperatures. The second end of flexible, hollow tube  7  should not be connected to a fluid-dispenser. Instead, it should be directed towards a fluid reservoir where fluid can exit after it travels through the flexible, hollow tube that is fit in a helical pattern around the media-containing vessel. As an alternate embodiment, the flexible, heat-insulating tubes may be connected to other heat-insulating tubes via an adapting means to allow for extended ranges of motion of the media-containing vessel while the flexible, heat-insulating tubes are connected to the fluid dispenser. 
     The first end of the flexible, hollow tube  6 serves as a handle to grasp when squeezing, releasing, and handling-transporting the media-containing vessel. Insulated-gripping means  29  covers the handle to prevent the handler from coming into direct contact with the flexible, hollow tube while it is too hot or cold. Insulated handle  7  (flexible, hollow tube&#39;s first end) has locking means  6  attached to it and the second end of the flexible, hollow tube to allow for a secure and consistent grip of the media-containing vessel. Many conventional locking means available may be adapted to the present invention and are considered within the scope of the ordinary skill in the art. 
     As the flexible, hollow tube is fit in a helical pattern around the circumference of the media-containing vessel, either with or without a heat-exchanging fluid-filled cavity, handle  6  (first end of the flexible, hollow tube) and second end of the flexible hollow tube  7 , can be squeezed and released to create a gripping force around the media-containing vessel. Because the flexible, hollow tube is fit in a helical pattern around the media-containing vessel, it has a natural resiliency. Thus, in its released state, the flexible, hollow tube fits snuggly around the media-containing vessel to allow for handling or transporting the media-containing vessel. Conversely, if the first and second end of the flexible, hollow tube are squeezed, the helical shape of the flexible, hollow tube will expand and allow the media-containing vessel to be removed from the flexible, hollow tube. Also, the handle (first end of the flexible, hollow tube), allows the handler to adjust and fit the flexible, hollow tube around the circumference of the media-containing vessel. 
     In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, boil-shield  30  can be added to the present invention to act as an overflow recovery reservoir. The inner walls of boil-shield  30  rise from bottom planar surface  14  to create inner container  11 . Top  31  of the boil-shield is open and has a larger diameter than boil-shield&#39;s bottom planar surface  14 , which has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the top opening of the media-containing vessel  32 . Inside the boil-shield is cone-like structure  33 , which extends from bottom surface  74  of the boil-shield to approximately the mid-way between the bottom surface and top surface  10  of the boil-shield. The cone-likestructure is hollow, exposing the base of the cone-like structure, which is located parallel to the boil-shield&#39;s bottom planar surface  74 , to the top opening of media-containing vessel  32 . This creates a channel that allows boil-over media to pass and settle in the boil-shield&#39;s inner container  11 . The base of the cone-like structure has a larger diameter than its top to allow for a snug fit over the circular, top opening of media-containing vessel  32 . At the top opening of the cone-like structure is silicon seal  10  which comes into contact with the top opening of the media-containing vessel  32  to prevent overflowing fluid from leaking through inner container  11  of the boil-shield. Removal and pouring handle  72  in the shape of a ring is attached to the top edge of boil-shield&#39;s outer circumference (side walls)  9  that is diametrically opposite to the pouring handle. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the number of revolutions flexible, hollow tube  15 ,  16  is wrapped around the media-containing vessel is not static. The number of revolutions the flexible, hollow tube orbits the media-containing vessel can vary, depending on the conventional size and thickness of media-containing vessel  1 . By simply squeezing insulated gripping handle  6  against the second end of flexible, hollow tube  7 , the present invention may be slipped over the base of media-containing vessel  34 . Release of the handle allows for a quick and secure fit around the outer wall of the media-containing vessel. 
     As clockwise spinning of the solution within the vessel is initiated, via heat/stir plate  4 , heat vectors  3  to and through the outer walls of the media-containing vessel and are rapidly and efficiently absorbed via cooler fluid passing in a counter-current fashion through flexible, hollow tube  15 ,  76 , which surrounds the outer wall of the media-containing vessel in a helical pattern. The result is rapid, even, and efficient even thermo-stabilization. The same process occurs for heating the solution inside a media-containing vessel. However, for heating the solution in the media-containing vessel, the fluid traveling through the flexible, hollow tube must have a higher temperature relative to the temperature of the solution inside the media-containing vessel. 
     As stated above, by turning on heat/stir plate  4 , the handler initiates a clockwise mixing of the hot solution located within inner walls  22  of the media-containing vessel. This mixing directionally vectors  3  heat energy to and through the outer wall of the media-containing vessel. An alternative embodiment allows an inexpensive contact strip thermometer to attach on the outer wall of the media-containing vessel for temperature monitoring. Because the flexible, hollow tube is configured to pass cooler incoming water, which originates from a renewable supply (such as a sink adjusted to the desired temperature)  27 , directionally through the device in a manner opposite the directional flow of the hot solution (i.e. counter-clockwise), the result is a rapid equalization in temperature as the heat energy is drawn off with the outgoing flow passing out via the second end of the flexible, hollow tube  7 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, the use of quick-release line attachments equipped with one-way ball valves  35  in the insulated handle allows for easy tubing detachment and insulated handle durability and unrestricted mobility, since the one-way valves prevent leaking between disconnecting and reattaching the flexible, hollow tube and the flexible, heat-insulating tubes. 
     Once temperature equilibrium has been achieved, a continuous low-rate water flow that is adjusted to a desired temperature in conjunction with continued mixing perpetuates a stable and uniform solution temperature without having to resort to an expensive and bulky water bath (which does not allow for mixing), or the unpredictability of heat/stir plate&#39;s  4  heating element (most heat/stir plates do not note the set temperature of its dial). Moreover, the present invention can be used to “jump start” the preparation of fresh media. By simply passing hot water through flexible, hollow tube  15 , the cool deionized water used to make media is rapidly heated through the media-containing vessel&#39;s outer wall  1 . In addition, even if boil over occurs, the boil-shield collection reservoir (as shown in FIG. 3) prevents media from boiling over the hot plate. Furthermore, the boil-shield recovers any boiled-over media, which can be important when later amending media to a desired concentration (as one needs to factor in the volume of solution). 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention quickly, simply, and securely slips on and off media-containing vessels with a simple squeeze of first  6  and second  7  end of the flexible, hollow tube. When insulated handle  6 (first end of the flexible, hollow tube) is released, flexible, hollow tube  15  springs back to its original shape. By this quick-release means of springing back, the media-containing vessel is securely gripped at its widest circumference. This allows the handler to pick up and transport hot or cold flasks from, or alternately, to the heat/stir plate without directly touching the outer wall of the media-containing vessel. 
     An alternative embodiment FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  of the invention allows for the heating or cooling and handling or transporting of cylindrical-shaped vessels  66 , rather than conical-shaped vessels. Cylindrical shaped vessels  66  possess a flayed upper lip and pour spout, which interfere with the attachment of the other embodiments. This embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  is designed to circumvent this problem to allow for concurrent thermo-regulation and transportation of beakers and other similarly cylindrical-shaped vessels  66 . This embodiment allows for the maximum amount of surface area contact between the cylindrical-shaped vessels and two heat-insulating cavities  67 ,  68 . 
     This embodiment consists of heat-exchanging cavities  67 ,  68 , each with first end  69  and second end  70 . First end  69  is attached by handle  77 , which is used to grip cylindrical-shaped vessel  66  and contains latching means  73  for securing handle  77  in locked position  72 . Handle  71  contains heat-insulated first  53  and second  54  handle cavities to allow for the flow of in-current  74  and out-current  75  fluid, respectively. First handle cavity  53  is located in the upper portion of handle  71 , which provides a channel for out-current  75  fluid flow. Second handle cavity  54  is located in the lower portion of handle  71 , which provides a channel for in-current  74  fluid flow. 
     First  53  and second  54  heat-insulated handle cavities are mutually exclusive and do not allow in-current  74  and out-current  75  fluids to mix together. Heat-conducting membrane  63  covers the inner wall of heat-exchanging cavities  67 ,  68 . Chamber thermometer  62  is attached, via a connecting means, to either first  67  or second  68  heat-exchanging cavity. Outer walls  64  of first  67  and second  68  heat-exchanging cavities are transparent and insulated to minimize the level of heat loss generated by fluid  58  inside the cavity. In-current  55  and ex-current  56  delivery lines evenly communicate the travel path of fluid  58 throughout first  67  and second  68  heat-exchanging cavities. 
     Cold fluid  58  enters through first handle cavity  54 , via the flexible heat-insulating tubes, and enters first  67  and second  68  heat-exchanging cavities via a series of lower openings  58 . Lower openings  58  are diametrically opposed and located on in-current delivery line  55 to allow for an even flow of in-current fluid  74 . As in-current fluid  74  enters first and second heat-exchanging cavities  67 ,  68 , both air  65  and warmed fluid  60  are displaced through a series of upper openings  57  on the out-current delivery line  56  to allow for an even flow of out-current fluid  75 . In-current  55  and out-current  56  delivery lines communicate fluid throughout the circumference of heat-insulating cavities  67 ,  68 . 
     Heat-insulating cavities  67 ,  68  further comprise flexible contact membrane  57  and rigid outer support wall  50 . Two elastic drawstrings  52 , each with first  76  end and second  77  end, help secure heat-insulating cavities  67 ,  68  surface contact with cylindrical-shaped vessels&#39;  66  outer circumference. Elastic drawstrings&#39;  52  first ends  76  are attached, via a connecting means, to out-current delivery line  56  located at diametrically opposing points. Elastic drawstrings&#39;  52  second ends  77  are attached, via connecting means, to heat-exchanging cavities&#39;  67 ,  68  outer walls  50  atdiametrically opposed ends. Second end  70  of heat-exchanging cavities  67 ,  68  are attached to each other by connecting means  49 . 
     Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the spirit and scope of the invention is by no means restricted to what is described above. For example, the number of helical revolutions  15  around a media-containing vessel may vary or the thickness of the heat-exchanging mesh-like material  23  may vary. 
     FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the invention employing substantially waterproof Peltier thermoelectric contact panels  100  coincident to vessel  66  for heating and cooling vessel  66  by reversing the polarity of power source  120 . Preferably, contact panels  100  are biased against vessel  66  by springs  110 . 
     Having thus described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of the preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof, as obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, the constructions are set forth in the appended claims.