GB2290131A

GB2290131A - Cryogenic self-cooling beverage can

Info

Publication number: GB2290131A
Application number: GB9411718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Ford Freeman; Mark Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-10
Filing date: 1994-06-10
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Also published as: GB9511779D0; GB9411718D0

Abstract

Compressed or liquified carbon dioxide gas is used to cool a canned beverage by its evaporation. The gas is released automatically upon broaching, or may be released just prior to opening the can in order to drink the contents. The cryogenic gas may be stored in the wall of a doubleskinned beverage can, or in a separate chamber within the can. The cryogenic gas is arranged to vent directly to the atmosphere, or across the surface of the beverage. It does not vent through the beverage and thereby avoids difficulties of other, similar, in-can coolers. The invention has applications for the cooling of all carbonated beverages, for example, soft drinks, mineral water and beers. It may also be used to cool uncarbonated beverages, for example fruit juice.

Description

CRYOGENIC, SELF-COOLING BEVERAGE CAN DESCRIPTION This invention relates to SELF-COOLING BEVERAGE CANS.

This invention describes a cryogenic in-can device which enables the contents to be cooled automatically upon opening (broaching) of the can. Attempts have been made in the past to achieve this. These include the mixing of two substances to initiate an endothermic reaction.

An example is sodium thiosulphate and water. Another device allows compressed carbon dioxide gas to be released from an insert at the base of the can.

The use of chemicals is undesirable where foods are concerned. Also, the thermal capacity of simple endothermic reactions, for example the solubilisation of 'hypo' (sodium thiosulphate) is limited and the rate of heat absorbtion slow.

The in-can compressed carbon dioxide container suffers from the purging effect of the gas on the drink. The carbon dioxide released causes volatile flavour and aroma compounds to be washed out of the beverage, together with some of the carbonic acid present in the drink. The result is a beverage which, although cooled, has reduced flavour, aroma and carbonation levels compared to the same beverage which has not been subjected to rapid cooling in this way.

According to the present invention, the cryogenic effect of allowing compressed carbon dioxide gas to expand, or liquid carbon dioxide to volatilise, is exploited without any effects on the beverage, other than to reduce its temperature.

A specific embodiment of the invention is to use a double-walled beverage can. The outer chamber contains compressed carbon dioxide gas, or liquid carbon dioxide (as distinct from that used to carbonate the beverage). This is allowed to escape through a small orifice in the wall dividing the outer chamber of the can from the inner chamber. This is arranged to be above the surface of the beverage when the can is placed upright on an horizontal surface. The cryogenic carbon dioxide therefore escapes without purging the beverage of its flavour, aroma or carbonation.

A further benefit of the invention is that the double-walled can provides an insulative container for the contents. The thermal barrier is provided by the carbon dioxide remaining in the outer chamber after the can has undergone self-cooling. This 'dead' space provides an excellent thermal barrier.

A further specific embodiment is the use of a chamber compressed carbon dioxide gas which is attached to the inner wall of a conventional beverage can. The contents of this chamber are released upon broaching the can and escape into the headspace without passage through the beverage. In this embodiment the device confers no particular insulative properties to the can.

However, all, or almost all, of the surface of the chamber available for cooling the contents in this embodiment.

In both these specific embodiments, the compressed gas may be released by a mechanical movement separate to that required to make the beverage available to drinking. Also, the gas may be released directly to the atmosphere without passing over or through the beverage.

Claims

What we claim to do is: 1 The invention allows rapid (30 seconds or less) cooling of a beverage in a metal can.
2 The cooling action does not affect the aroma or flavour compounds present in the beverage, nor does it affect the level of carbonation of the beverage.
3 In one embodiment of the invention, that of a double-walled can, the can has enhanced insulative properties, by virtue of its double wall.
4 In all embodiments the compressed carbon dioxide gas may be released directly to the outside of the can without passage over or through the beverage. In this case the cooling action can be activated before the beverage is released for drinking.
5 The invention allows the degree of cooling to be varied to suit different climates and beverages. The cooling effect can be made to achieve a 10 celsius reduction in the temperature of the beverage, or a 25 celsius reduction, depending on the amount of cryogenic carbon dioxide used.