# US 9,038,401 B2 · Beverage cooler, a refrigerator comprising such a beverage cooler and a method for cooling beverage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,401 B2 - Document ID: US9038401B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/120,774 - Filed: 2009-09-23 - Published: 2011-12-22 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-26 - Assignees: Electrolux Home Products, Inc. - Applicants: Daniel L. Johansson; Ilan Cohen; Susanne Hedblom; Urban Wahlby; Richard Furberg - Inventors: Daniel L. Johansson; Ilan Cohen; Susanne Hedblom; Urban Wahlby; Richard Furberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038401B2 ## CPC - F25D 31/002: {Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler (receptacle coolers F25D31/006)} - F25D 23/126: {Water cooler} - 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) ## Abstract The invention relates to a beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container (5) having an inlet (10) and an outlet (11), for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively, and a cooling tube (14) located inside the cooling container. The cooling container (5) is adapted to be located in an ambient temperature which is above the freezing point for the beverage, wherein the cooling tube (14) is adapted to carry a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point of the beverage and is located such that the beverage can pass between the cooling tube and an outer wall of the cooling container (5). Hence, the beverage will pass by the cooling tube and be cooled from it and freeze to solid phase in the area closest to the cooling tube, whereas the outside of the cooling container, having a temperature above the freezing point of the beverage, will ensure a free passage of non-frozen beverage closest to the outside wall of the cooling container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container having an inlet and an outlet, for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively, an inner tube located inside the cooling container, and a cooling tube extending through the inner tube, wherein the cooling container is adapted to be located in an ambient temperature which is above the freezing point for the beverage and the cooling tube is adapted to carry a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point of the beverage and is located such that the beverage is present and can pass between the cooling tube and an outer wall of the cooling container, and wherein the cooling container is adapted to be, filled with frozen and unfrozen beverage such that the cooling container has no unfilled space, and wherein the inner tube is configured such that the beverage passing through the cooling container flows both through the inner tube and outside of the inner tube between the inner tube and the outer wall of the cooling tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling tube is located centrally within the cooling container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating device, which controls the cooling effect. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the beverage cooler is positioned in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator having a temperature above 0° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the beverage cooler is positioned in a combined refrigerator having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, wherein the cooling container is positioned in the fresh food compartment, whereas the cooling fluid is cooled in the freezer compartment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The beverage cooler according to claim 5, wherein the cooling fluid is air which is taken from the freezer compartment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The beverage cooler according to claim 6, wherein the cooling tube is formed as a closed loop and filled with a fluid, which is cooled in the freezer compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein in use there will be formed a layer of frozen beverage around the cooling tube, whereas unfrozen beverage always will be present in an area closest to a peripheral wall of the cooling container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling container comprises a housing wherein one end of the housing is provided with the inlet and the outlet for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The beverage cooler according to claim 9, wherein the cooling tube is formed with one or more loops within the cooling container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling tube is in form of an evaporator in line with a compressor that forms part of a cooling system of a refrigerator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the beverage cooler is formed as a self contained unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is combined with a carbonation unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling tube is in series with an evaporator of a refrigerator cooling system configured to cool the inside air of a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling flange spirally wound around the cooling tube, wherein the cooling flange extends the entire distance between an outer surface of the cooling tube and the outer wall of the cooling container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling container is adapted to be filled with frozen and unfrozen beverage such that the beverage is in direct contact with the cooling tube and there is no air in direct contact with the frozen and unfrozen beverage in the cooling container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The beverage cooler according to claim 1, further comprising a control device configured to control cooling of the beverage within the cooling container such that an amount of the beverage forms a layer of frozen beverage in direct contact with the cooling tube and another amount of the beverage near a peripheral wall of the cooling container is maintained in an unfrozen state. ### Claim 18 A method for cooling beverage, comprising the steps of: providing a cooling container having an inlet and an outlet for the beverage to be cooled, an inner tube located inside the cooling container, and a cooling tube located extending through the inner tube; positioning the cooling container in an ambient temperature above the freezing point for the beverage; circulating a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point for the beverage through the cooling tube; passing the beverage to be cooled through the cooling container such that the beverage fills the cooling container such that the cooling container has no unfilled space and the beverage flows by the cooling tube; passing the beverage through the container such that the beverage passing through the cooling container flows both through the inner tube and outside of the inner tube between the inner tube and the outer wall of the cooling container; and controlling the temperature and/or the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the cooling tube such that frozen beverage is accumulated around the cooling tube while a free passage of non-frozen beverage is maintained in an area closest to an outside wall of the cooling container (5). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, comprising the further step of: arranging the cooling tube inside a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator having a temperature above O° C. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, comprising the further step of: cooling the cooling fluid in the cooling tube by means of a freezer compartment of a refrigerator having a temperature below 0° C. ### Claim 21 A beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container having an inlet and an outlet, for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively, an inner tube located inside the cooling container, and a cooling tube extending through the inner tube, wherein the cooling container is adapted to be located in an ambient temperature which is above the freezing point for the beverage, wherein the cooling tube is adapted to carry a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point of the beverage and is located such that the beverage is present and can pass between the cooling tube and an outer wall of the cooling container, and wherein the cooling container is adapted to be, filled with frozen and unfrozen beverage such that the cooling container has no unfilled space, wherein the cooling tube is adapted to contact the beverage and wherein the inner tube is configured such that the beverage passing through the cooling container flows both through the inner tube and outside of the inner tube between the inner tube and the outer wall of the cooling container.