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US 6,474,100 B1Granted
Evacuated sorbent assembly and cooling device
AssigneeThermal Products Development, Inc.
InventorsDouglas Smith, Kevin Roderick, Lyra Fiset, Robert Braun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An evacuated sorbent driven cooling device which may be added to a beverage or food container and which may also be affixed to, or integrated within, a panel of a beverage container.
Claims64
An evacuated sorbent assembly for coupling to a liquid refrigerant reservoir comprising:
- at least one sorbent section, the sorbent section containing a sorbent for a liquid refrigerant;
- at least one liquid passageway section adjacent the sorbent section, the liquid passageway section defining a liquid passageway through at least a portion of the evacuated sorbent assembly to the sorbent section, the liquid passageway containing sufficient wicking material to prevent the liquid refrigerant from contacting the sorbent;
- and
- an actuator for controlling liquid communication between the liquid passageway section and the liquid refrigerant reservoir.
1 more element
An evacuated sorbent assembly for coupling to a liquid refrigerant reservoir comprising:
- at least one sorbent section containing a sorbent for a liquid refrigerant;
- at least one liquid passageway section adjacent the sorbent section, the liquid passageway section defining a liquid passageway through at least a portion of the evacuated sorbent assembly to the sorbent section;
- a vapor-permeable membrane separating adjacent sorbent and liquid passageway sections;
- and
- an actuator for controlling liquid communication between the liquid passageway section and the liquid refrigerant reservoir.
2 more elements
A cooling device comprising:
- a casing surrounding
- at least one sorbent section containing a sorbent for a liquid refrigerant;
- at least one liquid passageway section adjacent the sorbent section, the liquid passageway section defining a liquid passageway through at least a portion of the cooling device to the sorbent section;
- a vapor-permeable membrane separating adjacent sorbent and liquid passageway sections;
- a liquid refrigerant reservoir adjacent the liquid passageway section;
- and
- an actuator for controlling liquid communication between the liquid passageway section and the liquid refrigerant reservoir.
4 more elements
A cooling device comprising:
- a casing surrounding
- at least one sorbent section containing a sorbent for a liquid refrigerant;
- at least one liquid passageway section adjacent the sorbent section, the liquid passageway section defining a liquid passageway through at least a portion of the cooling device to the sorbent section;
- at least one wicking material disposed in the liquid passageway section;
- at least one thermal spacer in contact with the sorbent section;
- a vapor-permeable membrane interposed between the liquid passageway section and the thermal spacer;
- a heat-removing material in thermal contact with the sorbent;
- at least one liquid barrier interposed between the heat-removing material and the sorbent;
- a liquid refrigerant reservoir adjacent the liquid passageway section;
- and
- an actuator for controlling liquid communication between the liquid passageway section and the liquid refrigerant reservoir.
8 more elements
A cooling device comprising:
- a casing surrounding
- a liquid managing insulation material which has a hydrophilic region on one side and a hydrophobic region on the opposite side;
- at least one sorbent section containing a sorbent for a liquid refrigerant each adjacent to the hydrophobic region of the liquid managing insulation material;
- a gas permeable liquid barrier formed at the junction of the sorbent and the hydrophobic region, whereby only the vapor from the liquid refrigerant may pass into the sorbent;
- at least one liquid passageway section, the liquid passageway section defining a liquid passageway through at least a portion of the cooling device to the hydrophilic side of the liquid managing insulation material a heat-removing material in thermal contact with the sorbent;
- at least one liquid barrier interposed between the heat-removing material and the sorbent;
- a liquid refrigerant reservoir adjacent the liquid passageway section;
- and
- an actuator for controlling liquid communication between the liquid passageway section and the liquid refrigerant reservoir.
6 more elements
A beverage container with integrated cooling device comprising a flexible, plastic lined, beverage pouch with a cooling device integrated into one or more of the side walls.
A method of manufacturing a self-cooling beverage container comprising the steps of:
- integrating a cooling device into side panels of a flexible plastic lined material;
- heat sealing the side panel with integrated device to a substantially similar side panel, without a cooling device, along the side and bottom edges, thereby forming an open pouch;
- filling the opened pouch with a beverage;
- and
- sealing the top edge of the filled opened pouch.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.