THERMAL RECEPTACLE WITH PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL CONTAINING INSERT

• US 20130255824A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Entropy Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Entropy Solutions Inc.
• Inventors: WILLIAMS, Preston Noel, LINDQUIST, Eric Robert, SUTTERLIN, William Rusty, HAUN, Luke
• Application Number:
  US13/735,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20130255824A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/18 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient with thermal insulation B65D81/38; ice-boxes with cooling means F25D
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0842 inside the beverage contained in a bottle, can, drinking glass, pitcher or dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans

Abstract

A thermal receptacle having a side wall which has an inner surface and a spaced outer surface. An interstitial chamber may be defined by the space between the inner and outer surfaces. A phase change material containing insert is provided into the receptacle. The insert contains a phase change material or a plurality of different phase change materials. Phase change material may also be located within the interstitial chamber. The phase change material regeneratively absorbs thermal energy from a hot liquid in the receptacle thereby rapidly lowering the temperature of the liquid and then the material releases the thermal energy back to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid.

Claims

1. A liquid receptacle comprising:

a vessel having an open upper end and closed lower end and a wall connecting said upper end and said lower end; and

a phase change material disposed within an insert, said insert adapted to be placed within said vessel for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid within a desired temperature range.

2. The liquid receptacle of claim 1 wherein the insert is secured to a sealing cover.

3. The liquid receptacle of claim 2 wherein the insert is a closed tube.

4. The liquid receptacle of claim 3 wherein the closed tube is a convoluted metal tube.

5. The liquid receptacle of claim 4 wherein ends of the closed tube are secured to the sealing cover.

6. The liquid receptacle of claim 3 wherein the insert is a coiled tube.

7. The liquid receptacle of claim 1 wherein the vessel has an insulated outer shell defining an interstitial chamber.

8. The liquid receptacle of claim 7 wherein a second phase change material is placed into the interstitial chamber of the insulated outer shell.

9. A liquid receptacle comprising:

a vessel for containing a liquid, said vessel having an open upper end and closed lower end and a wall connecting said upper end and said lower end;

a sealing cover adapted to engage the open upper end of the vessel and prevent loss of liquid; and

an insert adapted to be placed within said vessel, said insert being in contact with the liquid and containing a phase change material which regeneratively absorbs thermal energy from the liquid and then releases the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid within a desired temperature range.

10. The liquid receptacle of claim 9 wherein the insert is secured to the sealing cover.

11. The liquid receptacle of claim 10 wherein the insert is a closed tube.

12. The liquid receptacle of claim 11 wherein the closed tube is a convoluted metal tube.

13. The liquid receptacle of claim 12 wherein ends of the closed tube are secured to the sealing cover.

14. The liquid receptacle of claim 9 wherein the insert is a coiled tube.

15. The liquid receptacle of claim 9 wherein the vessel has an insulated outer shell defining an interstitial chamber.

16. The liquid receptacle of claim 15 wherein a second phase change material is placed into the interstitial chamber of the insulated outer shell.

17. A method of regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from a liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain temperatures of the liquid within a desired temperature range, said method comprising:

dispensing a liquid into a vessel; and

sealing the vessel with a cover, said cover including a hollow insert containing a phase change material, with said insert being placed in fluid contact with the liquid when the vessel is sealed with the cover.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising thermally pre-treating the insert and phase change material prior to sealing the vessel with the cover.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the liquid is a hot liquid and the phase change material contained within the insert is heated prior to sealing the vessel with the cover.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising thermally pre-treating the vessel prior to said dispensing the liquid into the vessel.