Cold plate and seal

• US 5,743,602 A
• Filed: 08/08/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cambro Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Cambro Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Nicholson, Jeff, Windisch, Fred, Maddux, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US08/695,236
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 312/140.1, 312/140.2, 312/236, 312/228, 312/229, 312/249.8, 62/344, 62/400, 62/390, 62/393, 62/396, 62/398, 62/460, 62/461, 62/464, 222/146.6, 222/608
• US Class Current: 312/140.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 69/00 Cocktail cabinets cabinets or racks for bottles only A47B73/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/02 Geometry problems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers

Abstract

A portable bar having a sink disposed therein having a base member having a central opening with a trough disposed peripherally around the opening. A cold plate is sealed against a side wall of the trough within the sink opening. The cold plate is formed of a heat transfer material such as a metal formed into at least one major surface and has a plurality of internal channels for circulation of fluid to be cooled. A peripheral flange surrounding the cold plate has a unique inwardly angled leading edge and an outwardly angled trailing edge for sealing to the trough of the sink.

Claims

1. A cold plate for cooling fluids flowing therethrough comprising:

at least one major first surface for contact with a cold material;

said at least one major first surface having a bottom peripheral edge,

a plurality of channels disposed within said cold plate in heat transfer relationship with said at least one major first surface;

means for connecting to said channels for flow of fluids therethrough; and

,

a peripheral flange attached to said bottom peripheral edge of said at least one major surface, said flange having at least one reduced edge in sealing contact with at least one second sloping surface;

wherein said peripheral flange is adapted to space said major first surface from said at least one second sloping surface.

2. A cold plate according to claim 1 wherein:

said peripheral flange has an angularly reduced edge.

3. A cold plate according to claim 2 wherein:

said cold plate has a central axis; and

,

said peripheral flange has a trailing edge which slopes outwardly from said central axis and a leading edge which slopes inwardly toward said central axis.

4. A cold plate according to claim 3 further comprising:

sidewalls formed between said at least one major first surface and said bottom peripheral edge.

5. A cold plate according to claim 4 wherein:

said at least one major first surface comprises a ridge having at least one surface sloping away from said ridge.

6. A cold plate according to claim 3 wherein:

said leading edge and said trailing edge meet to form a sharpened angular edge having a substantially triangular cross section.

7. A cold plate according to claim 3 wherein:

said cold plate is made of a metal.

8. A cold plate according to claim 5 wherein said at least one major first surface comprises:

two surfaces sloping away from said ridge;

and wherein said reduced edge of said flange is formed of a harder metal than the remainder of the cold plate.

9. A cold plate according to claim 1 wherein:

said cold plate is formed of a metal; and

,

said means for connecting to said channels for flow of fluids therethrough comprises a manifold.

10. The combination of a sink and a cold plate for cooling fluids flowing therethrough comprising:

a sink comprising;

at least one generally upright side wall;

a base member attached to said at least one generally upright side wall;

an opening within said base member;

a trough within said base member disposed peripherally around said opening, said trough having at least one sloping surface for sealing;

a cold plate disposed within said sink comprising;

at least one major first surface for contact with a cold material;

said at least one major first surface having a bottom peripheral edge,

a plurality of channels disposed within said cold plate in heat transfer relationship with said at least one major first surface;

means for connecting to said channels for flow of fluids therethrough;

a peripheral flange secured to said bottom peripheral edge of said at least one major first surface in sealing contact with said at least one sloping surface for sealing of said trough wherein said peripheral flange is adapted to space said major first surface from said at least one sloping surface; and

,

means for pressing said peripheral flange into sealing contact with said at least one sloping surface for sealing of said trough.

11. The combination according to claim 10 further comprising:

a drain disposed within said trough.

12. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said peripheral flange has a reduced, angular edge for engaging a plastic surface.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein:

said cold plate has a central axis;

said peripheral flange has a trailing edge which slopes outwardly from said central axis; and

,

said peripheral flange has a leading edge which slopes inwardly toward said central axis, both forming said reduced angular edge.

14. The combination according to claim 10 further comprising:

sidewalls formed between said at least one major surface and said bottom edge region.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein:

said at least one major surface comprises a ridge having at least one surface sloping away from said ridge.

16. A portable bar comprising:

a top member;

a base member;

at least two sidewalls disposed between said base member and said top member;

a sink disposed within said portable bar;

said sink comprising;

at least one generally upright sidewall;

a base member attached to said at least one generally upright side wall;

an opening within said base member;

a trough within said base member disposed peripherally around said opening, said trough having at least one sloping surface;

a cold plate disposed within said opening of said sink;

said cold plate comprising;

at least one major surface for contact with a cold material and having a bottom peripheral edge;

a plurality of channels disposed within said cold plate in heat transfer relationship with said at least one major surface;

means for connecting to said channels for flow of fluids therethrough;

a peripheral flange extending from said bottom peripheral edge and having a sloping surface adapted for sealing contact with said at least one sloping surface of said trough;

wherein said peripheral flange is adapted to space said one major surface from said at least one sloping surface and,

means for pressing said peripheral flange into sealing contact with said at least one sloping surface of said trough.

17. The portable bar according to claim 16 further comprising:

a drain disposed within said trough.

18. The portable bar according to claim 17 wherein:

at least one of said sidewalls of said portable bar is removable; and

, wherein;

said at least one sloping surface of said trough matches said sloping surface of said peripheral flange.

19. The portable bar according to claim 16 wherein:

said cold plate has a central axis;

said means for pressing said peripheral flange in sealing relationship against said at least one sloping surface of said trough comprises;

a base plate underlying said sink and secured to said cold plate and said sink;

said peripheral flange has a leading edge which slopes inwardly toward said central axis; and

,

said peripheral flange has a trailing edge which slopes outwardly from said central axis.

20. The portable bar according to claim 16 wherein said cold plate further comprises:

sidewalls attached to said cold plate; and

,

said at least major surface comprises a ridge having at least one surface sloping away from said ridge.