Apparatus using stirling cooler system and methods of use

An apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure;
• a first heat-conducting member having opposite ends, said first member extending through said enclosure such that one end extends into said enclosure and said other end extends outside said enclosure;
• a first Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said first Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion, said cold portion of said first Stirling cooler being removably connected in heat exchange relationship to said end of said first member extending outside said enclosure;
• a first heat-conducting plate disposed inside said enclosure, said plate being connected in heat exchange relationship adjacent said end of said first member extending inside said enclosure, such that heat from air in said enclosure can flow from said air surrounding said first plate through said plate and said first member to said cold portion of said first Stirling cooler.

An apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• and
• a heat-conducting member disposed within said enclosure, said heat-conducting member being connected in heat exchange relationship to said cold portion of said Stirling cooler, said heat-conducting member having a surface area greater than the surface area of said cold portion of said Stirling cooler.

An apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure having an inside and an outside;
• a first Stirling cooler having a cold portion and a hot portion, a portion of said first Stirling cooler extending through said enclosure such that said cold portion is disposed inside said enclosure and said hot portion is disposed outside said enclosure;
• and
• a first heat-conducting member disposed inside said enclosure and connected in heat transfer relationship to said cold portion of said first Stirling cooler.

An apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure being at least partially defined by a removable insulating panel;
• a first Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said first Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion, said first Stirling cooler being attached to said removable panel, said first Stirling cooler extending through said insulating panel such that said cold portion of said first Stirling cooler is disposed inside said insulated enclosure and said hot portion of said first Stirling cooler is disposed outside said insulated enclosure;
• and
• a heat-conducting member disposed inside said enclosure, said heat-conducting member being connected to said cold portion of said first Stirling cooler in a heat transfer relationship, said heat-conducting member having a surface area greater than the surface area of the cold portion of the first Stirling cooler.

A transportable apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure for containing a plurality of containers, said enclosure having an inside, an outside and a door for dispensing containers from said inside to said outside, said enclosure being mountable in a vehicle;
• a dispensing path defined by a pair of spaced members, said dispensing path being for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship and for dispensing them sequentially from said apparatus, a portion of said dispensing path adjacent said door is at least partially defined by a first member made of a heat-conducting material, such that said containers in said dispensing path contact said first member before being dispensed through said door;
• and
• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion, said Stirling cooler being disposed outside said insulated enclosure, said Stirling cooler being powerable by said vehicle's electrical system, said cold portion of said Stirling cooler being connected to said first member in heat transfer relationship.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• a pair of spaced members disposed inside said enclosure, said plates defining a path for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship, at least a portion of at least one of said spaced members being formed from a heat-conducting material such that at least some of said containers stacked therein contact said heat-conducting portion of said member before said containers are dispensed from said apparatus;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with said cold portion of said Stirling cooler;
• a fluid conduit loop connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith, said fluid conduit loop also being in heat exchange relationship with said heat-conducting portion of said member;
• and
• a pump operatively associated with said fluid conduit loop for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said conduit from said fluid heat exchanger to said member and back to said fluid heat exchanger, such that heat from said heat-conducting portion of said member is transferred to said circulating fluid and heat from said circulating fluid is transferred to said cold portion of said Stirling cooler.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• at least one slanted plate disposed inside said enclosure, said slanted plate defining a slanted surface for supporting a plurality of containers in slanted stacked relationship, at least a portion of said plate being formed from a heat-conducting material such that at least a portion of said containers stacked thereon contact said heat-conducting portion of said plate before said containers are dispensed from said apparatus;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold end of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• a fluid conduit having first and second portions, said first portion of said conduit being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith, said first portion also being connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of said plate;
• said second portion of said conduit connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of said plate, said second portion also being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• and
• a pump operatively associated with said fluid conduit for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said conduit from said fluid heat exchanger to said plate and back to said fluid heat exchanger, such that heat from said plate is transferred to said circulating fluid and heat from said circulating fluid is transferred to said cold portion of said Stirling cooler.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• at least two plates disposed inside said enclosure in spaced relationship, each of said plates defining a path for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship, at least a portion of each said plate being formed from a heat-conducting material such that at least a portion of said containers stacked thereon contact said heat-conducting portion of said plate before said containers are dispensed from said apparatus;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold end of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• a fluid conduit having first, second and third portions, said first portion of said conduit being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith, said first portion also being connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of one of said plates;
• said second portion of said conduit being connected in heat exchange relationship with said heat-conducting portion of said one plate and to said heat-conducting portion of said other plate;
• said third portion of said conduit being connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of said other plate, said third portion also being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• and
• a pump operatively associated with said fluid conduit for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said conduit from said fluid heat exchanger to said one plate, to said other plate and back to said fluid heat exchanger, such that heat from said plate is transferred to said circulating fluid and heat from said circulating fluid is transferred to said cold portion of said Stirling cooler.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• at least two pairs of plates disposed inside said enclosure in spaced relationship, said pairs of plates each defining a path for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship, at least a portion of at least one of each said pairs of plate being formed from a heat-conducting material such that at least a portion of said containers stacked in each said path contact said heat-conducting portion of said plate before said container is dispensed from said apparatus;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold portion of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• a first manifold having an inlet and at least two outlets;
• a first fluid conduit connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith, said first conduit also being connected to said manifold;
• a second fluid conduit connected to one of said manifold outlets for fluid communication therewith, said second conduit also being connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of one of said plates;
• a third fluid conduit connected to another of said manifold outlets for fluid communication therewith;
• said third conduit also being connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of another of said plates;
• a second manifold having at least two inlets and an outlet;
• a fourth fluid conduit connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of one of said plates, said fourth conduit also being connected to one of said inlets of said second manifold;
• a fifth fluid conduit connected in heat exchange relationship to said heat-conducting portion of another of said plates, said fifth conduit also being connected to another of said inlets of said second manifold;
• a sixth fluid conduit connected to said second manifold for fluid communication therewith, said sixth conduit also being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• a pump operatively associated with said fluid conduits for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said conduits from said fluid heat exchanger to said first manifold, to said plates, to said second manifold and back to said fluid heat exchanger, such that heat from said plates is transferred to said circulating fluid and heat from said circulating fluid is transferred to said cold portion of said Stirling cooler.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• means disposed inside said enclosure for defining a path for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship and for dispensing containers therefrom;
• heat-conducting means associated with said path means such that at least a portion of said containers stacked in said path contact said heat-conducting means before said containers are dispensed from said apparatus;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• and
• means for circulating a heat-conducting fluid from said cold portion of said Stirling cooler to said heat-conducting means and back to said cold portion such that said heat-conducting fluid undergoes heat exchange with said heat-conducting means and with said cold portion of said Stirling cooler.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside, an inside and an openable door for accessing containers stored inside said enclosure;
• at least one vertically oriented fluid conduit disposed inside said enclosure, said fluid conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end, said fluid conduit being made from a heat-conducting material;
• at least one heat-conducting shelf disposed inside said enclosure, said shelf being connected in heat exchange relationship to said conduit;
• at least one Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold portion of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• a second fluid conduit connected to said fluid heat exchanger and to said inlet end of said vertical conduit;
• a third fluid conduit connected to said outlet end of said vertical conduit and to said fluid heat exchanger;
• and
• a pump operatively associated with said conduits for circulating a heat transfer fluid from said fluid heat exchanger to said vertical conduit and back.

An apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside, an inside;
• a pair of spaced members disposed inside said insulated enclosure, said members defining a path for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship, at least a portion of at least one of said spaced members being formed from a heat-conducting material such that at least a portion of each said containers stacked therein contact said heat-conducting portion of said member before said containers are dispensed from said apparatus;
• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold portion of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• said heat-conducting chamber defining a fluid chamber, said fluid chamber being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• and
• a pump operative to circulate a heat transfer fluid from said fluid heat exchanger to said chamber and back to said fluid heat exchanger.

An apparatus comprising:

• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold portion of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• a fluid reservoir for containing a heat transfer fluid, said fluid reservoir being connected to said fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer fluid from said fluid reservoir through said fluid heat exchanger and back;
• an inner flexible annular sleeve for containing said heat transfer fluid and for receiving a container therein in heat exchange relationship therewith, said sleeve being connected to said fluid reservoir for fluid communication therewith;
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer liquid in said fluid reservoir through said inner sleeve and back.
• an annular outer inflatable sleeve disposed about said inner sleeve, such that when said outer sleeve is inflated, said inner sleeve is pressed into contact with a container received therein and when said outer sleeve is not inflated, said container can be removed from said inner sleeve;
• and
• a pump operatively associated with said outer sleeve to selectively inflate said outer sleeve.

An apparatus comprising:

• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a first fluid heat exchanger disposed adjacent said cold portion of said Stirling cooler and in heat exchange relationship therewith;
• a fluid reservoir for containing a heat transfer fluid, said fluid reservoir being connected to said first fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer fluid from said fluid reservoir through said first fluid heat exchanger and back;
• a second fluid heat exchanger having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a heat transfer fluid inlet and a heat transfer fluid outlet, said second heat exchanger being operative to transfer heat from a fluid flowing from said inlet to said outlet to a heat transfer fluid flowing from said heat transfer fluid inlet to said heat transfer fluid outlet, said fluid inlet being connectable to a source of fluid under pressure so that fluid can flow from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet;
• and
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer fluid from said fluid reservoir to said second fluid heat exchanger and back.

A method comprising:

• circulating a heat transfer fluid from a fluid reservoir to a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a cold portion of a Stirling cooler, such that said heat transfer fluid in said reservoir is at a desired temperature;
• positioning a container containing a fluid to be chilled inside a sleeve fillable with said heat transfer fluid from said reservoir;
• placing said container into heat transfer contact with said sleeve;
• circulating said heat transfer fluid from said fluid reservoir through said sleeve and back, such that heat from said container and said contained fluid is transferred to said heat transfer fluid circulated through said sleeve;
• and
• removing said container from contact with said sleeve.

An apparatus comprising:

• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a first fluid heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with said cold portion;
• a fluid reservoir for containing a heat transfer fluid, said fluid reservoir being connected to said first fluid heat exchanger for fluid communication therewith;
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer fluid in said fluid reservoir to said first fluid heat exchanger and back so as to maintain said heat transfer fluid at a desired temperature;
• a second fluid heat exchanger connected to said fluid reservoir for fluid communication therewith, said second fluid heat exchanger being connectable to a source of fluid to be chilled such that heat from said fluid to be chilled is transferred to said heat transfer fluid in said second fluid heat exchanger;
• and
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer fluid in said fluid reservoir to said second fluid heat exchanger and back.

An apparatus comprising:

• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a first fluid heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with said cold portion, said first fluid heat exchanger containing a first heat transfer fluid;
• a fluid reservoir for containing a second heat transfer fluid;
• a second fluid heat exchanger disposed in said heat transfer fluid in said fluid reservoir;
• a pump operative to circulate said first heat transfer fluid in said first fluid heat exchanger to said second fluid heat exchanger and back so as to maintain said second heat transfer fluid in said reservoir at a desired temperature;
• and
• a third fluid heat exchanger disposed in said second heat transfer fluid in said fluid reservoir, said third fluid heat exchanger being connectable to a source of fluid to be chilled for fluid communication therewith, said fluid to be chilled being under pressure so that it can selectively flow through said third fluid heat exchanger, said third fluid heat exchanger being connected to a fluid dispenser for selectively permitting fluid to be chilled to flow through said third fluid heat exchanger and then to said fluid dispenser.

An apparatus comprising:

• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a fluid reservoir for containing a heat transfer fluid;
• a heat-conducting member disposed in said heat transfer fluid in said fluid reservoir, said heat-conducting member being connected in heat transfer relationship to said cold portion of said Stirling cooler;
• a fluid heat exchanger disposed in said heat transfer fluid in said fluid reservoir, said fluid heat exchanger being connectable to a source of fluid to be chilled for fluid communication therewith, said fluid heat exchanger being connected to a fluid dispenser for selectively permitting fluid to be chilled to flow through said fluid heat exchanger and then to said fluid dispenser.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said insulated enclosure having an outside and an inside;
• means disposed inside said enclosure for defining a path for receiving a plurality of containers in stacked relationship and for dispensing individual containers therefrom;
• heat-conducting means associated with said path means such that at least a portion of each container stacked in said path contacts said heat-conducting means before each said container is dispensed from said path means;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• and
• at least one heat pipe connected to said cold portion and to said heat-conducting means.

A container dispensing apparatus comprising:

• an insulated enclosure, said enclosure having an outside and an inside and a door for accessing containers contained in said enclosure;
• at least one heat-conducting shelf disposed inside said enclosure for supporting a plurality of containers thereon;
• a Stirling cooler disposed outside said enclosure, said Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• and
• one end of at least one heat pipe being connected to said cold portion and said other end being connected to said heat-conducting shelf.

An apparatus comprising:

• a Stirling cooler having a hot portion and a cold portion;
• a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with said cold portion of said Stirling cooler and operative to remove heat from a heat transfer fluid in said first heat exchanger;
• a fluid reservoir for containing a phase change fluid;
• a second heat exchanger disposed in said phase change fluid in said reservoir and in fluid communication with said heat transfer fluid in said first heat exchanger and operative to transfer heat between said phase change fluid and said heat transfer fluid in said second heat exchanger;
• a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with said heat transfer fluid in said second heat exchanger and operative to remove heat from a fluid to be chilled in heat transfer relationship with said third heat exchanger;
• and
• a pump operative to circulate said heat transfer fluid from said first heat exchanger to said second heat exchanger to said third heat exchanger and back.