Thermal liquid container system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952197-B2
Application number	US-202016993317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2020
Priority date	Sep 13, 2019
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A thermal liquid container system comprising a main body, a phase change material (PCM) liner disposed within the main body having a PCM disposed therein, a liquid reservoir defined by PCM liner, a liquid dispensing partition disposed within the liquid reservoir such that the liquid reservoir is partitioned into a temperature conditioning channel and a liquid retention chamber, and a lid comprising a liquid ingress and a liquid dispensing opening, the temperature conditioning channel for placing a liquid passing therethrough in thermal contact with the PCM whereby thermal energy is exchanged between the liquid flowing through the temperature conditioning channel and the PCM such that the liquid is dispensed at a temperature that is within a desired temperature range determined by the selected PCM melting temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal liquid container system for dispensing a liquid from the system at a temperature within a desired temperature range, said system comprising:
a main body;
a phase change material (PCM) liner disposed within the main body having a PCM disposed therein, the PCM having a selected melting temperature;
a liquid reservoir defined by PCM liner, the liquid reservoir structured and operable to have a liquid disposed therein having a first temperature;
a liquid dispensing partition disposed within the liquid reservoir such that the liquid reservoir is partitioned into a temperature conditioning channel formed between the PCM liner and the beverage dispensing partition, and a liquid retention chamber defined by the liquid dispensing partition; and
a lid comprising a liquid ingress opening formed within a central body of the lid and a liquid dispensing opening formed within a lip of the lid, the lid connectable to at least one of the main body and the PCM liner such that a seal is formed between the central body and a proximal end of the PCM liner such that in order for a liquid within the liquid reservoir to be dispensed through the liquid dispensing opening, the liquid must flow through the temperature conditioning channel, wherein
the temperature conditioning channel is structured and operable place the liquid passing therethrough in thermal contact with the PCM whereby thermal energy is exchanged between the liquid flowing through the temperature conditioning channel and the PCM such that the liquid is dispensed through the liquid dispensing opening at a second temperature that is within a desired temperature range determined by the selected PCM melting temperature, the second temperature being different than the first temperature.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid dispensing partition comprises a partition insulation cavity at least partially filled with thermal insulation such that the liquid dispensing partition reduces the rejection of thermal energy from liquid within the retention chamber to liquid within the conditioning channel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a main body insulation cavity that is at least partially filled with thermal insulation such that the main body reduces the rejection of thermal energy from the PCM to an ambient environment.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the liquid dispensing partition comprises a partition insulation cavity at least partially filled with thermal insulation such that the liquid dispensing partition reduces the rejection of thermal energy from liquid within the retention chamber to liquid within the conditioning channel.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning channel has a predetermined width that is structured and operable to regulate a volume and a flow rate of liquid flowing through the conditioning channel, thereby regulating the rate of thermal energy exchange between the liquid and the PCM.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one heat sink disposed within the PCM liner, the at least one heat sink structured and operable to increase a rate of the thermal energy exchange between the PCM and the liquid as the liquid flows through the temperature conditioning channel when being dispensed from the liquid reservoir.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one heat sink comprises a heat pipe.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is hot water, and the system further comprises a steeping basket disposable within the liquid retention chamber, the steeping basket structured and operable to retain at least one of dried or ground matter to be steeped by the hot water.

9. A thermal liquid container system for dispensing a liquid from the system at a temperature within a desired temperature range, said system comprising:
a main body;
a phase change material (PCM) liner disposed within the main body having a PCM disposed therein, the PCM having a selected melting temperature;
a liquid reservoir defined by PCM liner, the liquid reservoir structured and operable to have a liquid disposed therein having a first temperature;
a liquid dispensing partition disposed within the liquid reservoir such that the liquid reservoir is partitioned into a temperature conditioning channel formed between the PCM liner and the beverage dispensing partition, and a liquid retention chamber defined by the liquid dispensing partition, wherein
the liquid dispensing partition comprises a partition insulation cavity at least partially filled with thermal insulation such that the liquid dispensing partition reduces the rejection of thermal energy from liquid within the retention chamber to liquid within the conditioning channel; and
the main body comprises a main body insulation cavity that is at least partially filled with thermal insulation such that the main body reduces the rejection of thermal energy from the PCM to an ambient environment; and

a lid comprising a liquid ingress opening formed within a central body of the lid and a liquid dispensing opening formed within a lip of the lid, the lid connectable to at least one of the main body and the PCM liner such that a seal is formed between the central body and a proximal end of the PCM liner such that in order for a liquid within the liquid reservoir to be dispensed through the liquid dispensing opening, the liquid must flow through the temperature conditioning channel, wherein
the temperature conditioning channel is structured and operable place the liquid passing therethrough in thermal contact with the PCM whereby thermal energy is exchanged between the liquid flowing through the temperature conditioning channel and the PCM such that the liquid is dispensed through the liquid dispensing opening at a second temperature that is within a desired temperature range determined by the selected PCM melting temperature, the second temperature being different than the first temperature.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the conditioning channel has a predetermined width that is structured and operable to regulate a volume and a flow rate of liquid flowing through the conditioning channel, thereby regulating the rate of thermal energy exchange between the liquid and the PCM.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising at least one heat sink disposed within the PCM liner, the at least one heat sink structured and operable to increase a rate of the thermal energy exchange between the PCM and the liquid as the liquid flows through the temperature conditioning channel when being dispensed from the liquid reservoir.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one heat sink comprises a heat pipe.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the liquid is hot water, and the system further comprises a steeping basket disposable within the liquid retention chamber, the steeping basket structured and operable to retain at least one of dried or ground matter to be steeped by the hot water.

14. A thermal liquid container system for dispensing a liquid from the system at a temperature within a desired temperature range, said system comprising:
a main body;
a phase change material (PCM) liner disposed within the main body having a PCM disposed therein, the PCM having a selected melting temperature;
a liquid reservoir defined by PCM liner, the liquid reservoir structured and operable to have a liquid disposed therein having a first temperature;
a liquid dispensing partition disposed within the liquid reservoir such that the liquid reservoir is partitioned into a temperature conditioning channel formed between the PCM liner and the beverage dispensing partition, and a liquid r

Assignees

• Ma Hongbin
• Univ Missouri

Inventors

• Ma Hongbin

Classifications

• B65D81/3823 Primary

  formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls · CPC title

• A47J31/005

  Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles · CPC title

• A47J31/50

  Urns with devices for keeping beverages hot or cool · CPC title

• A47J41/0044 Primary

  comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel · CPC title

• B65D81/18

  providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38) · CPC title