초록 ▼

Devices and methods for rapid chilling of products, articles and devices, including both perishable and non-perishable goods are provided. These devices and methods store thermal energy by ice and/or slush formation and employ the heat of the product to be chilled to help harvest the ice. Devices pr

Devices and methods for rapid chilling of products, articles and devices, including both perishable and non-perishable goods are provided. These devices and methods store thermal energy by ice and/or slush formation and employ the heat of the product to be chilled to help harvest the ice. Devices provided by this invention have a chill tank containing a freezable chilling agent; a source of refrigerant; and one or more thermally-conductive layers in the tank which are in contact with the freezable chilling agent and which have a working surface thermally coupled with the refrigerant source and a heat-absorbing surface thermally coupled with the working surface, wherein selective introduction of a flow of refrigerant closely thermally coupled with the working surface chills the working surface, the chilling agent in the tank and any product in the tank and permits chilling agent to freeze on the working surface and wherein the refrigerant source, the working surface and the heat-absorbing surface are arranged with respect to each other and the refrigerant is selectively applied so that chilling agent does not freeze to the heat-absorbing surface.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A device for chilling a product comprising:(a) a tank which contains a freezable chilling agent for receiving the product to be chilled;(b) a source of refrigerant;(c) one or more thermally-conductive layers in the tank which are in contact with the freezable chilling agent and wh

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A device for chilling a product comprising:(a) a tank which contains a freezable chilling agent for receiving the product to be chilled;(b) a source of refrigerant;(c) one or more thermally-conductive layers in the tank which are in contact with the freezable chilling agent and which have a working surface thermally coupled with the refrigerant source and a heat-absorbing surface thermally coupled with the working surface, rein selective introduction of a flow of refrigerant closely thermally coupled with the working surface chills the working surface, the chilling agent in the tank and any product in said tank and permits chilling agent to freeze onto the working surface and wherein the refrigerant source, the working surface and the heat-absorbing surface are arranged with respect to each other and the refrigerant is selectively applied so that chilling agent does not freeze to the heat-absorbing surface.