# US 2017/0307289 A1 · Device that can be used to heat and/or refrigerate and/or maintain the temperature of a receptacle suited to housing foodstuffs in particular > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0307289 A1 - Document ID: US20170307289A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/516,120 - Filed: 2015-09-29 - Published: 2017-10-26 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-01 - Assignees: Coldway - Applicants: Coldway - Inventors: Laurent RIGAUD; Francis KINDBEITER; David TADIOTTO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170307289A1 ## CPC - F25D 31/005: {Combined cooling and heating devices} - A47J 36/28: Warming devices generating the heat by exothermic reactions, e.g. heat released by the contact of unslaked lime with water - A47J 39/006: {for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving} - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 11/027: {of the sorption cycle type} - F25D 25/028: {Cooled supporting means} - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract The present invention relates to a device that can be used for heating and/or refrigerating and/or maintaining the temperature of a receptacle. According to the invention, characteristically it comprises a base module which comprises: heat-producing means (5) and cold-producing means (7), said cold producing means comprising a reservoir (7) containing a fluid and possibly connected to an evaporator, said heat-producing means comprise a thermochemical reactor (5) connected to said reservoir (7) and containing a reagent able to react reversibly with said fluid during an exothermal reaction:—means forming a valve that allows said reservoir (7) or said evaporator to be connected to said thermochemical reactor (5) to produce heat in said reactor (5) as a result of said aforementioned exothermal reaction and simultaneously to produce cold in said reservoir (7), as the result of the expansion and/or evaporation of said fluid;—at least one receptacle (3) made of a thermally conducting material which has a first face able to house the foodstuff that is to be heated/refrigerated and a second face, opposite to said first face and arranged in contact with said heat-producing means (5) or said cold-producing, means (7);—an insulating element (15) which thermally insulates said heat-producing means (5) from said cold-producing means (7); and said reactor (5) and/or said receptacle (3) are removably mounted on said base module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for heating and/or cooling and/or maintaining at temperature a receptacle suitable for receiving food products in particular, comprising a base module which comprises: heat production means (5) and cold production means (7), said cold production means comprising a reservoir (7) containing a fluid and possibly connected to an evaporator, said heat production meetings comprising a thermochemical reactor (5) connected to said reservoir (7) and containing a reagent capable of reacting reversibly with said fluid during an exothermic reaction; valve means enabling said reservoir (7) or said evaporator to be connected to said thermochemical reactor (5) for the production of heat at said reactor (5), due to the aforementioned exothermic reaction and for the simultaneous production of cold at said reservoir (7), resulting from the expansion and/or evaporation of said fluid; at least one receptacle (3) of thermally conductive material that has a first face capable of receiving the food to be heated/cooled and a second face, opposite to said first face and disposed in contact with said heat production means (5) or said cold production means (7); an insulating element (15) which thermally insulates said production means (5) from said cold production means (7); and wherein said reactor (5) and/or said receptacle (3) are mounted so as to be removable from said base module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising a cabinet (9; 10), possibly at least partially made of thermally insulating material, which has a substantially horizontal upper face, said upper face has an opening, said base module is capable of being mounted in said cabinet (9; 10), and when said base module is mounted in said cabinet (9; 10), said receptacle (3) is disposed either substantially at said opening or above said opening, said first face of said receptacle (3) being oriented in the direction opposite to said cabinet (9; 10). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein said cabinet (9) being at least partially made of thermally insulating material and extending beneath the base module, said base module is adapted to cooperate with said cabinet (9) in such a way as to thermally insulate the internal volume of said cabinet (9) situated beneath said base module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising a container (4) inside which said base module can be mounted and said base module is capable of cooperating with the interior of said container (4) in order to separate the interior of said container (4) into two thermally insulated zones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein said base module comprises at least two bars (17), said cabinet (9; 10) or said container (4) comprises support means (91; 41) and said bars (17) and said support means (91; 41) are disposed respectively on said base module and in said cabinet/container (9; 10; 4) in such a way that when said bars (17) are supported on said support means (91; 41) said receptacle (3) is disposed horizontally in said cabinet/said container (9; 10; 4). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle (3) and/or said heat production means (5) and/or said cold production means (7) and/or said insulating element (15) is (are) mounted so as to be removable from said base module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, comprising an additional receptacle (31) capable of being mounted on said heat production means (5)/cold production means (7). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising means (110) of regenerating said thermochemical reactor (5). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein said reactor (5) is mounted so as to be removable from said module and said regeneration means comprise heating means (110) that are external of said module and capable of being placed in contact with said reactor (5). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said insulating element (15), said reactor (5), said valve means and said reservoir (7) and the possible evaporator form an integral unit that can easily be removed from the module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said reactor (5) is mounted so as to be removable from said module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle (3) is mounted so as to be removable from said module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said base module comprises at least one box (11) separated into two compartments by said insulating element (15). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein said box (11) is formed from two separable boxes, one box comprising said reactor (5) and the other said reservoir (7). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein said box (11) comprises lateral bars (17). ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein each box comprises lateral bars (17).