EP1188995B1 - Device for cooling or heating a container of liquid food - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooler can be used for cooling, heating or maintaining the temperature of beer in a glass (R). It has a chamber (1) which is closed and has Peltier effect heat pumps mounted in its circumference. Each heat pump is in contact with a metal sheet (4,4') on which is formed a padding (5) of thermal conductive material shaped to fit the glass.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of placing or maintaining temperature of food products, in particular of the viscous or liquid type, and relates to a device for cooling, heating or maintaining the temperature of a container containing a liquid or a liquid. pasty food.

The present invention relates more particularly to the cooling of mini-drums of beer or similar drinks, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, bags or soft containers sealed with sauces or the like or bottles of water.

The cooling of these containers is currently carried out either by cooling the drum or the cylinder in a cold room or a refrigerated cabinet whose internal volume is significantly larger than the container to be cooled, or by instantaneous cooling of the liquid flowing in a coil in stainless food, itself immersed in a refrigerated liquid by a cooling group.

These known systems require heavy equipment, expensive and bulky, often unattractive and reserved for fast flow or bulky. This results in a generally fixed installation of the draw system by and for professionals. Another disadvantage, these devices must never be tilted during transport, even before their first start (presence of heat transfer gas, for example Freon-name deposited).

On the other hand to implement these two types of cooling systems, it is essential to use cooling groups that incorporate refrigerant gases, source of pollution.

It is therefore easy to understand that these facilities can not be accessible to the general public, or to small coffee shops, hoteliers or restaurants selling only small volumes of drinks.

Furthermore, these known systems and installations have a low cooling efficiency, both in terms of cooling rate and the ratio of cooled volume / power consumption, operate continuously and have no means of automatic decommissioning when they are empty or unsolicited.

Document FR-A-2 609 880 already discloses a device for cooling, heating and / or maintaining temperature according to the preamble of claim 1, more particularly a temperature regulation device for a bottle of wine.

This document discloses a first alternative embodiment in which the single Peltier element is in contact with a metal plate forming a heat transfer device.

However, the contact of this plate with the container to be regulated in temperature is not intimate, or even discontinuous with respect to the surface of this plate, in particular because of the presence of a central flat portion.

This document also develops a second alternative embodiment in which a plurality of Peltier elements are provided, associated with a flexible heat transfer device in the form of a torus-shaped membrane filled with coolant (for example water), which provides the interface between the bottle and the Peltier elements.

Such an envelope has, particularly with respect to a metal plate, a certain thermal inertia delaying the surface diffusion of heat or cold and requires, in addition, a complex additional device to at least partially empty the envelope and allow the extraction or the introduction of the bottle (also requiring an additional amount of coolant).

Furthermore, none of the aforementioned constructive alternatives allows the reception of containers provided with means for extracting the content in situ.

Document DE-A-19753036 discloses a device for refreshing a small container in the form of a metal can. This device is in the form of a cylindrical hollow body, open on top, receiving the bobbin to cool and having a single Peltier element which is in contact with a flexible conductive pad. The latter is associated, at its side facing the bobbin, a cylindrical surface contact plate against which the bobbin is biased elastically.

However, because of the reduced cylindrical contact surface between the single Peltier element and the bobbin, the latter is cooled inhomogeneously and the absence of upper closure of the hollow body reduces the thermal insulation of the latter. In addition, a thermal transfer effective is possible with containers with external shape exactly adapted to that of the contact sheet and no means for positioning or orientation of the container in the hollow body is provided.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned limitations and to provide a device according to the preamble of claim 1 adapted to containers provided with means for extracting their content in situ, which ensures an effective regulation of the temperature, while authorizing precise placement and easy extraction of the container.

The above object is achieved according to the invention by means of a device of the above type showing the additional characteristics mentioned in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The device according to the invention therefore consists of a cooling system with thermoelectric elements with Peltier effect acting via metal plates on padding bodies in the form of preformed envelopes, semi-rigid or rigid in order to limit the deformation. These envelopes come into immediate contact with the barrel or the container during closure and provide an apparatus comprising a body with a solid base on which is fixed a movable portion serving as an opening system.

It is thus possible to deposit the drum or any other container to be cooled in the device or apparatus, with its unit or flow system. By folding the movable part or parts, the cooling wall comes to match the shape of the latter and puts the source of cold in contact with the container to refrigerate thus resulting in efficient cooling and a reduction of dead volumes.

The regulation of the temperature is controlled by a thermostat whose probe is placed under the base of the container placed in the hollow body. The probe is kept in constant contact with the container to be refrigerated.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale d'un dispositif selon l'invention selon la ligne A-A de la figure 2;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale horizontale d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention selon 1 ligne B-B de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2, la partie mobile formant porte étant ouverte ;
• 1a figure 4 est une vue élévation latérale d'un appareil selon l'invention tel que représenté aux figures 1 et 2, et,
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle en coupe représentant une variante de réalisation d'un élément de dissipation de la chaleur.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a device according to the invention along the line AA of Figure 2;
• Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention along line BB of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, the movable portion forming a door being open;
• Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an apparatus according to the invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and
• Figure 5 is a partial sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of a heat dissipating element.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, the device for cooling, heating and / or maintaining the temperature of a container R containing a food liquid or the like is essentially constituted firstly by a hollow body closed 1 thermally insulated, intended to contain said container, mounted on a support structure 1 'and comprising a movable or retractable portion 2 forming an access door or cover and, secondly, by several thermoelectric elements 3, 3', 3 ", 3 '" Peltier effect, mounted in the wall of the hollow body 1 and associated with a circuit 6, 7, 8 of power supply and control of the temperature of the container R contained in said hollow body 1.

According to the invention, each Peltier effect element 3, 3 ', 3 ", 3'" is in contact with or mounted on, on the one hand, a metal plate 4, 4 'covering a part of the inner face of the wall of the hollow body 1 and on which is formed or reported a padding body 5, 5 'composed or containing a slightly deformable material and thermally conductive, whose conformation is adapted the dimensions and shape of the container R intended to be received in the hollow body 1, for an intimate contact with said container R over a large part of the outer surface thereof and, secondly, with an element 9, 10 of dissipation of heat in the external environment, having a large exchange surface, and in that the power supply and regulation circuit 6, 7, 8 comprises a means for automatically switching off the electrical power supply. absence of a container (R) in the hollow body 1 and / or exceeding the set point.

In addition, the hollow body 1 has at least a first opening 12 for the passage of a discharge conduit from the contents of the container R, forming part of a flow or extrusion unit mounted on said container R, and at least a second opening 13 for the passage of a control member of said unit, said openings 12, 13 being each formed half in the movable part 2 and in the complementary fixed part 1 "of the hollow body 1.

Preferably, the automatic breaking means consists of a thermostatic probe 6 integrated in a contact piece 6 'which is thermally conductive and mounted on a spring 6 ", which rests on or is fixed on a contact pad or surface 7 on which it comes into contact. supporting a contact terminal of said thermostatic probe 6 during the compression of the spring 6 ", so as to form a serial electric circuit portion, said automatic breaking means being located at the bottom of the volume defined by the hollow body 1 and said contact piece 6 'being protruding towards the inside of said volume with respect to said bottom, in the absence of container R, under the elastic action of the spring 6 ".

The hollow body 1 will have a size adapted to that of the container R to contain and a shape similar or not to the latter (parallelepiped, cylindrical, round or oblong), the shape of the interior volume being optionally adaptable to containers of various shapes and different or different from the outer form.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hollow body 1 has a cylindrical shape with a circular section, comprising four Peltier effect elements 3, 3 ', 3 ", 3'" or four pairs of Peltier effect elements distributed uniformly on the periphery of said hollow body 1 and mounted on two complementary metal plates 4 and 4 'each extending over a half-circumference of the inner face of the wall of said hollow body 1 and secured respectively with the movable part 2 and with the complementary fixed part 1 "of said hollow body 1.

Advantageously, the padding bodies 5, 5 'are mounted removably on the metal plates 4, 4', several sets of bodies 5, 5 'interchangeable of different shapes and sizes that can be associated with said device for receiving containers R various dimensions.

According to a first variant embodiment, represented in FIGS. 1 to 4, the heat dissipation elements consist of finned heat exchangers 9 extending in vertical air circulation ducts 9 'formed in the thickness of the wall of the hollow body 1 and convergent under said hollow 1 at a blower 11 or a cavity 11 'enclosing a blower 11 generating an upward forced air flow in said ducts 9', the latter opening to the external downstream of finned exchangers 9 at openings closed by grids 9 "or the like.

According to a second variant embodiment, shown partially in FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings, the heat dissipation elements consist of crenellated, ribbed or fluted portions of a metal coating external to the wall of the hollow body 1, a blower being provided where appropriate under the hollow body 1 to cause forced air circulation at said portions.

The transmission of heat or cold from or to the crenellated portions 10 is effected by a transmission part 10 'forming a thermal bridge, these different portions possibly being contiguous and be subjected to a forced air flow along its vertical grooves (inside the metal carcass, in 9 'channels for example).

The wall of the hollow body 1 consists essentially of two layers, namely an inner layer of a thermally insulating material (hatched in FIGS. 1 to 3), for example expanded polystyrene, and an outer layer made of a structuring and dressing material. , preferably metal, forming the carcass of said hollow body 1.

This carcass can extend downwards under the hollow body 1, to form the uprights of the support structure 1 'and the legs 1 "" of the device or the apparatus according to the invention, the latter elements 1' and 1 " "being located in the extension and in the vertical planar projection surface thereof and the legs 1" "being disposed at the outer periphery of said surface to obtain maximum stability for minimal space (arrangement of the constituent elements of the device in one vertical structure). Between the legs 1 "" extend openings allowing a good suction of air by the fan 11.

The power supply of the device can be achieved by simple connection to the network or to a mobile generator by a cord 17 adopted, the device comprising a stabilized supply module 8, allowing a reversal of the feed direction or polarity, disposed under the hollow body 1 and on the support structure 1 'and subjected to a forced air flow generated by the blower 11.

In the case of use as a heating device, the heat dissipating elements 9, 10 'will function as elements for removing frigories.

As also shown in Figures 1 and 4, appended drawings, the cylindrical hollow body 1 is closed at its upper end by a hemispherical wall portion 1 "'.

To further increase the rate of heating or cooling, the device according to the invention may further comprise a fan mounted in the hollow body 1 and can generate a forced air flow in the interior volume of the latter not shown.

In order to prevent the liquid from being drawn off when it is drawn off or leaked, a removable dropper 14 may be provided which is arranged under the first opening 12.

Preferably the control panel of the device will comprise only two organs so as to allow easy use and without tedious instructions, namely an on / off button 15 and a mechanical or electronic selector 16 for programming the desired temperature ( Fig. 4).

As a practical, but not limiting, embodiment, in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4, a more detailed description of a device or apparatus according to the invention having around a hinge 2 ', equipped with a locking means 2 "in the closed position (for example of the magnetic type, with resilient interlocking, with a hook or the like), to allow the placement of receptacles R receivable by the internal volume of the hollow body 1.

On the inner faces of the walls of the door 2 and the fixed part 1 'are fixed two curved metal plates 4 and 4', optionally covered with cushioning material 5, 5 ', for example in the form of two semi-rigid envelopes containing a coolant, when the size or shape of the container R makes it necessary.

These two bodies 5 and 5 ', envelop the container R whose temperature must be modified and the change in the temperature of these envelopes is obtained by thermoelectric elements Peltier effect 3, 3', 3 ", 3 '", the number can vary from two to eight depending on the desired power. These are arranged at regular intervals on the inner periphery of the fixed part 1 "and the door 2, at 90 ° relative to each other in the presence of four elements or four pairs of element arranged in 2 X 4 elements on two different levels.

For each thermoelectric element Peltier effect, a finned exchanger 9 is reported, with a vertical orientation, on the hot part of the element. These exchangers 9 are placed in lateral ducts 9 ', arranged in the external part of the fixed part of the body 1 and the door 2, and intended for the evacuation of calories or frigories and in which a forced air flow circulates through a tangential fan 11 placed in a cavity 11 'on the hollow body 1. The tangential fan 11 also cools the power supply module 8 rectified, stabilized and regulated. Openings, made in the upper part of the apparatus and closed by grids 9 ", are provided at the end of each duct 9 'in order to allow the air thus heated or cooled to escape.

A regulated and stabilized power supply module 8 for Peltier effect elements 3, 3 ', 3 "and 3'" is also placed in said cavity 11 '. The supply thereof is by a cord 17 adapting to the current supplied on the network sector, the latter being in accordance with the country in which the device will be used.

An on / off button 15 is provided, as well as a thermostat or selector 16 which can be either mechanical or electronic. A cavity 6 '"is provided at the base of the hollow body 1 to allow the housing of the metal piece 6', mounted on a spring 6", and receiving the probe 6 of the thermostat 13. This set is based on a contact 7 placed in series with the on / off button 15.

When there is a container R inside the device, it presses on the part 6 'and actuates the contact 7 which allows the power supply. The thermostat probe is incorporated in the room 6 'placed under the container to be refrigerated which allows it to be in contact permanent with this one. It is considered that the container R is totally cold when the probe 6 receives its information.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for cooling, heating, and/or maintaining the temperature of a receptacle (R) containing a liquid foodstuff or the like, said apparatus being essentially constituted firstly by a thermally insulated closed hollow body (1) that is designed to contain said receptacle, that is mounted on a support structure (1') and that comprises a moving or retractable portion (2) forming an access door or a lid and a complementary stationary portion (1"), and secondly by at least one Peltier-effect thermoelectric element (3, 3', 3", 3"') mounted in the wall of the hollow body (1) and associated with a power supply and temperature regulation circuit (6, 7, 8) for electrically powering it and for regulating the temperature of the receptacle (R) contained in said hollow body (1), the or each Peltier-effect element (3, 3', 3", 3"') being in contact with or mounted on firstly a metal plate (4, 4') covering a portion of the inside face of the wall of the hollow body (1) and secondly an element (9, 10) that dissipates heat to the outside environment and that presents a large heat exchange area, the electrical power supply and temperature regulation circuit (6, 7, 8) being provided with means for automatically interrupting the electrical power supply in the absence of a receptacle (R) in the hollow body (1) and/or in the event that the setpoint value is exceeded;
   said apparatus being characterized:

   - in that the hollow body (1) is adapted to receive a receptacle (R) on which a delivery or extrusion unit is mounted together with a control member, such a receptacle being a mini beer keg or the like;

   - in that the hollow body (1) is provided with at least one first opening (12) for passing a duct for pouring out the contents from the receptacle (R), which duct is part of the delivery or extrusion unit mounted on said receptacle (R), and at least one second opening (13) for passing the control member of said unit, each of said openings (12, 13) being provided half in the moving portion (2) and half in the complementary stationary portion (1") of the hollow body (1) ;

   - in that it includes a plurality of Peltier-effect elements (3, 3', 3", 3"'), in contact with or mounted on a plurality of metal plates (4, 4'); and

   - in that a packing body (5, 5') is formed or mounted on each metal plate (4, 4'), which packing body is made of or includes a material that is slightly deformable and that is thermally conductive, the shaping of the packing body being adapted to the dimensions and to the shape of the receptacle (R) that is designed to be received in the hollow body (1), so that said packing body is in intimate contact with said receptacle (R) over a large portion of the outside surface thereof.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the packing bodies (5, 5') are mounted removably on the metal plates (4, 4'), it being possible for a plurality of interchangeable sets of packing bodies (5, 5') of different shapes and sizes to be associated with said apparatus, for the purposes of receiving receptacles (R) of various sizes.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the hollow body (1) presents a cylindrical shape that is circular in section, including four Peltier-effect elements (3, 3', 3", 3"') or four pairs of Peltier-effect elements distributed uniformly around the periphery of said hollow body (1) and mounted on two metal plates (4 and 4') that are mutually complementary, each extending over one half-circumference of the inside face of the wall of said hollow body (1), and that are secured respectively to the moving portion (2) and to the complementary stationary portion (1") of said hollow body (1).
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heat dissipater elements consist of fin heat exchangers (9) extending in vertical air flow ducts (9') that are provided in the thickness of the wall of the hollow body (1) and that converge under said hollow body (1) at a blower (11) or at a cavity (11') enclosing a blower (11) generating a forced air flow rising inside said ducts (9'), which ducts open out to the outside downstream from the fin heat exchangers (9) at openings closed off by gratings (9") of the like.
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heat dissipater elements consist of crenellated, ribbed, or fluted portions (10) of an outer metal coating or covering of the wall of the hollow body (1), a blower optionally being provided under the hollow body (1) for forcing air to flow over said portions.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that it includes a stabilized power supply module (8) allowing the direction or the polarity of the power supply to be reversed, which module is disposed under the hollow body (1) and on the support structure (1') and is subjected to a forced air flow generated by the blower (11).
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has a blower mounted in the hollow body (1) and that can generate a forced air flow in the internal volume of said hollow body.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the cylindrical hollow body (1) is closed at its top end by a hemispherical wall portion (1"').
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that it further includes a removable drip tray (14) disposed under the first opening (12).

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