초록 ▼

A self-cooling can ( 10 ) which is suitable for cooling 300 ml of beverage by 30° F. in a maximum of 3 minutes comprises an internal evaporator ( 30 ) and an absorber unit ( 20 ) which is fixed typically to the base of the can. Cooling is initiated by providing a vapour path from the evaporator

A self-cooling can ( 10 ) which is suitable for cooling 300 ml of beverage by 30° F. in a maximum of 3 minutes comprises an internal evaporator ( 30 ) and an absorber unit ( 20 ) which is fixed typically to the base of the can. Cooling is initiated by providing a vapour path from the evaporator ( 30 ) to a desiccant region of the absorber unit ( 20 ). Heat is removed from the vapour and/or any heat due to the reaction with the desiccant ( 24 ) by heat sink material ( 26 ) around the desiccant region ( 22 ).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A self cooling can comprising:a cylindrical can body for beverage product;an evaporator within the can body for removing heat from beverage product surrounding the evaporator, the evaporator comprising an annular component having an inner and outer wall with a gap between the walls, the curled ed

1. A self cooling can comprising:a cylindrical can body for beverage product;an evaporator within the can body for removing heat from beverage product surrounding the evaporator, the evaporator comprising an annular component having an inner and outer wall with a gap between the walls, the curled edge of the outer wall being clipped onto a ridge on the inside chine wall of the base of the can body to form a sealed unit which holds a high vacuum and is isolated from beverage product;an absorber unit fixed to the outside of the can body and including a first desiccant region and a second region containing heat sink material, either the desiccant region or the second region of the absorber unit comprising an absorber element having one or more pockets for the desiccant or heat sink material respectively; andmeans for providing a vapor path from the evaporator to the absorber unit such that, in use, when the vapor path is opened, vapor passes from the evaporator to the desiccant region of the absorber unit, the vapor being absorbed by the desiccant and heat from the vapor and/or the reaction of the desiccant being removed by the heat sink material, thereby cooling product around the evaporator. 2. A can according to claim 1, in which the absorber element is a metal container comprising one or more annuli which form the one or more desiccant pockets. 3. A can according to claim 2, in which the absorber element is formed by multiply redrawing metal. 4. A can according to claim 3, in which the metal container and annuli thereof are surrounded by heat sink material. 5. A can according to claim 1, in which the absorber element comprises one or more pouches, each divided into one or more pockets filled with heat sink material. 6. A can according to claim 5, in which the pouch comprises a corrugated strip of heat sealed foil or laminate film. 7. A can according to claim 6, in which the pouch is coiled within the absorber unit, in order to provide maximum cooling surface. 8. A can according to claim 6, in which voids between the pockets are filled with desiccant. 9. A can according to claim 7, in which voids between the pockets are filled with desiccant. 10. A can according to claim 5, in which voids between the pockets are filled with desiccant. 11. A can, comprising:a body portion for holding a beverage product;an evaporator located within the body portion and filled with a vapor; andan absorber unit located external to the body portion, the absorber unit comprising a first portion having a heat sink material therein, and a second portion having a desiccant material therein, wherein the absorber unit is coupled to the evaporator so that the evaporator and the absorber unit are in fluid communication on a selective basis, and the vapor flows from the evaporator to the absorber unit and is absorbed by the desiccant when the evaporator and the absorber unit are in fluid communication. 12. A method of cooling a beverage product in a can body, the method comprising:beading the upper end of a metal container and reverse redrawing said beaded container to form an evaporator element having an outer wall and an inner wall, said inner and outer walls being spaced by a gap;inserting the evaporator element into the can body and fixing the evaporator in the can body by clipping the curled edge of the evaporator onto a ridge on the inside chine wall of the base of the can body to form a sealed unit which holds a high vacuum and is isolated from beverage product;fixing an absorber unit to the outside of the can body;evaporating liquid in the evaporator and providing a vapor path from the evaporator to a desiccant region of the absorber unit;absorbing moisture from the vapor by reaction between the desiccant and the vapor; andremoving heat from the vapor and/or reaction of the desiccant, thereby cooling beverage product surrounding the evaporator. 13. A can, comprising:a body portion for holding beverage product;an evaporator located within the body p ortion and filled with a vapor; andan absorber unit located external to the body portion, the absorber unit comprising a first portion having a heat sink material therein, and a second portion having a desiccant material therein, wherein the absorber unit is coupled to the evaporator so that the evaporator and the absorber unit are in fluid communication on a selective basis, and the vapor flows from the evaporator to the absorber unit and is absorbed by the desiccant when the evaporator and the absorber unit are in fluid communication. 14. A can according to claim 13, in which the absorber unit includes an absorber element that has one or more pockets. 15. A can according to claim 14, in which the desiccant or the heat sink material is disposed in the pockets. 16. A can according to claim 14, in which the absorber element is a metal container comprising one or more annuli. 17. A can according to claim 16, in which the desiccant is disposed in the annuli. 18. A can according to claim 16, in which the absorber element is formed by multiply redrawing metal. 19. A can according to claim 16, in which the metal container and annuli thereof are surrounded by the heat sink material. 20. A can according to claim 14, in which the absorber element comprises one or more pouches, each divided into one or more pockets filled with heat sink material. 21. A can according to claim 20, in which the pouch comprises a corrugated strip of heat sealed foil or laminate film. 22. A can according to claim 21, in which the pouch is coiled within the absorber unit, in order to provide maximum cooling surface. 23. A can according to claim 20, in which voids between the pockets are filled with desiccant. 24. A can according to claim 15, in which the absorber unit is fixed to the can body by heat shrink, glue or mechanical engagement.