Tschnical Field

THIS INVENTION relates to beverage cooling apparatus and in particular to apparatus for cooling or chilling bottled beverages such as beer, wine and soft drinks. Background Art

The normal method of cooling beverages is to use a conventional refrigerator or in larger commercial establishments cold rooms. Whilst such setups are suitable for reducing the temperature of beverages to an acceptable level for drinking there is usually a considerable period which elapses between the time at which the beverage 1s placed Into a refrigerator or cold room and the time at which 1tβ temperature is acceptable for drinking. Often placement of beverage containers directly in 1ce enables a more rapid cooling to be achieved, however, ice is not readily available in many situations and additionally cannot be contained easily without melting. The above problems are accentuated 1n establishments which are involved in the supply of cold beverages such as restaurants. In these situations, it 1s often impossible for a large range of wineβ or other beverages to be stored and maintained at a low temperature for service and suppl .

Summary of the Invention

The present Invention aims to provide apparatus for cooling or chilling beverages and 1n particular beverage containers such as wine bottles, beer bottles, soft drink bottles or the like and these contents thereof 1n a rapid and efficient manner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following deβorlption. With the above and other objects in view the present invention provides apparatus for cooling or chilling beverage containers and the contents thereof, said apparatus comprising a hollow chamber, a cooling liquid within said chamber, means

1n said chamber for supporting beverage containβrβ within said chamber and in contact with βaid liquid, said supporting means defining 1n said chamber an upper cooling portion and a lower heat exchange portion and cooling means in said heat exchanger

portion of said chamber for cooling said liquid therein.

Preferably said cooling means comprises cooling coils of a refrigeration unit, the coils being in contact with the liquid so that the liquid is subject to the direct cooling effect of the coils. Preferably also means are provided for circulating the liquid within the chamber, such circulation means preferably comprising a pump. The support means for beverage containers preferably comprises a grid-like member upon which beverage containers may stand, the grid-like member permitting circulation of liquid about the beverage containers. The grid may be in any form such as separate slats, a wire like grid, an apertured plate or other member through which liquid can pass and circulate about the containers.

The pump preferably comprises a submersible pump disposed within the chamber being submerged in the liquid therein. Most preferably the pump is supported on the lower side of the grid-like member for maximum efficiency of circulation. The pump suitably is provided with an outlet which circulates fluid on the lower side of the grid. Liquid circulated on the lower side of the grid prevents or minimizes crystalliza ion or solidification of the cooling liquid. The pump however also causes circulation of liquid on the upper side of the grid-like member about the containers to be cooled or chilled to thereby increase the efficiency of cooling. If desired, the pump may include an outlet for directing fluid to the upper side of the grid-like member.

The chamber is preferably closed by a cover having a series of apertures therein into which respective containers to be cooled may be inserted. Associated with the apertures may be wiping assemblies which ensure that moisture is wiped from the bottles as they are withdrawn from the apparatus. Such wiper assemblies preferably comprise-tongue like flexible elements formed for example of natural or synthetic rubber. The flexible elements preferably comprise first and second sets of elements on different radii to engage bottles or containers at different positions on their outer surfaces.

The apparatus also preferably includes a timing and

indicating arrangement which provides to the user a visual and/or aural indication of when containers may be removed from the apparatus.

In order to prevent excessive heating of liquid in the 5 hollow chamber, an insulating material is preferably disposed about the chamber so that the liquid is substantially insulated from external temperatures. Preferably the chamber comprises an open-topped chamber supported within an outer casing and the insulating material comprises a two part foam deposited into the space between the chamber and the casing.

The cooling liquid preferably comprises a salt solution, preferably a saturated salt solution. Suitably the solution comprises water which contains up to 33% by weight of salt. Brief Description of the Drawings

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the grid for supporting containers: Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the details of the bottle wiper arrangement; and

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the wiper arrangement of Fig. 4 functions. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and

2 there is illustrated beverage cooling apparatus 10 according * to the present invention including an external casing 11 surrounding an inner chamber assembly 12 which defines a hollow chamber 13 adapted to contain a liquid. Preferably, the external casing 11 is formed of sheet metal and the chamoer assembly 12 formed of glass reinforced plastics (GRP) and defines about the upper periphery cf the chamber 13, side

flanges 14 for mounting of the chamber assembly 12 on the casing 1t , ana an upwardly extending back wall 15. The chamoer

13 as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 includes side walls 16 and is surrounded by an insulating material 17 which fills the space between the side walls 16 and the casing 11. For this purpose, the inner chamber assembly 12 and outer casing 11 are assembly and upturned and a two-part insulating-foam such as a polyurethane foam deposited therebetween up to the level 18 so as to encompass the base 19 of the chamber 13. The insulating material thus, as well as providing insulation to the chamber 13, also provides some support thereto.

Defined in the chamber walls 16 is an upper ledge 20 about the upper periphery of the chamber 13 and an intermeαiate ledge 21 which is adapted to support a grid-like member 22 which simply seats thereon in a substantially horizontal attitude, the member 22 in this embodiment and as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, preferably being in the form of a stainless steel apertured plate. The member 22 however may be formed of a plastics material. The member 22 is adapted to support bottles or other like containers which are placed into the chamber 13 in an upstanding attitude.

Located in the region between the member 22 and the base 19 of the chamber 13 is a refrigeration coil 23 which extends in a sealed manner through the base 19 via a tube 24 communicating therewith to be connected for a refrigeration assembly 25. The refrigeration assembly 25 is arranged in the base of the apparatus 10 and comprises a compressor 26 and condenser 27, the latter being vented through a vent 28 provided in, or -Fixed to the outer casing 11. To ensure proper ventilation, an additional spacing grid 29 is provided on the outside of the casing 11 to minimize risks of blockages to the vent 28. The refrigerator assembly 24 is a capillary type assembly and includes as is conventional a thermostat to control the temperature of the refrigerant. Preferably the refrigerant is a non CFC refrigerant.

A submersible pumD 20 is provided in the chamber 13 being ounteα to the unαerside of the grid memDer 22. The pump

30 includes an intake 31 and an outlet 32 whicn is directed inwardly as shown. The pump 30 as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 is located adjacent one wall 16 of the chamber 13 so thai, in use operation of the pump 30 will set up a circulating flow of liquid both in the region of the chamber 13 beneath the grid member 22 to minimize crystallization and/or solidification of the Coolant liquid and in the region above the grid member 22 to increase efficiency of flow about containers placed into the chamber for cooling purposes. Supported on and secured to the ledge 20 about the too of the chamber 13 is a cover assembly 33 which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings 34 into which respective bottles to be cooleα may be inserted. The cover assembly 33 as shown more clearly in Fig. 5 includes upper and lower plates 35 and 36 preferably formed of an aluminium sheet and provided with mating container receiving apertures. The plates 35 and 36 also sandwich therebetween a sheet of flexible material 37 such as rubber. The flexible material 37 is formed ^* at each opening 34 into a wiping assembly 38 comprising a plurality of ci rcumferential 1y spaced inner and outer wiping fingers 39 and 40 which define a central aperture 41 through which the neck of a bottle or like container normally projects in use. The wiping fingers 39 have enlargeα arcuate head portions 42 disposed about the aperture 41 and shank portions 43 between which are formed the fingers 40. The fingers 39 thus project radially inwardly of the fingers 40 so that the wiping surfaces are on different radii to ensure efficient wiping of moisture from bottles or other containers as they are removed from the apparatus as described further below. The arrangement is such that as a bottle or other container is drawn through the wiping assemoly 34, the arcuate portions 42 contact the container and move outwardly and ci rcumferent.ial 1 y away from each other leaving regions of the container between the arcuate portions 4*2 unwiped. This region however is engaged and wiped by the outer fingers 40 which are ci cumferential 1 y offset from the portions 42 so that substantially the full circumference of the container is engaged by the inner and outer fingers 39 and 40

and wiped upon withdrawal from the apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 additionally comprises a pair of timer assemblies 44 each of which includes an actuating push button 45 and a series of indicating lights 46 (preferably light emitting diodes) arranged one above the other. A timing control circuit is associated with each push button 45 to control illumination of the respective lights 46. Additionally associated with the circuitry is a buzzer or other audible alarm which provides an indication to the user that a bottle or other container may be withdrawn from the apparatus 10 having been sufficiently cooled. Thus when a push button 45 is operated the top light 47 is illuminated. Each succeeding light is illuminated in turn after a set period of time so that if necessary the user can judge when to remove a bottle from the apparatus 10. After a predetermined number of lights 46 have been illuminated being representative of a set period of time, the buzzer will be actuated to prompt removal of a bottle from the apparatus 10. When the final lowest light 48 is illuminated, a circuit is operated to cause that light to flash thereby indicating sufficient cooling. At the same time or alternatively the buzzer is again operated so as to provide an audible indication that the bottle is ready for removal. Preferably the timer assemblies 44 comprise ten indicating lights which are illuminated in turn at set intervals so that the fifth light and buzzer or alarm are operated after four and one half minutes. This time is normally sufficient for chilling flat wines. The final light 48 and buzzer or alarm again operates after eight minutes which is suitable usually for chilling champagne. In use, the chamber 13 is filled with a cooling liquid 49 up to the level indicated. The cooling liquid 49 preferably comprises a low freezing point liquid and most preferably a salt solution. The solution is preferably a saturated solution of salt and water containing up to 33% by weight of salt. A colourant preferably a type 42092 may be added to the liquid 49 to increase appeal. The refrigerant assembly 25 is then oσerated so that through heat exchange between the coil 23 and

liquid 49, the liquid 49 is rapidly cooled until a temperature below freezing is achieved. Preferably the temperature is in the range of -18 to -20 degrees Centigrade. A bottle 50 to be chilled or cooled is simply placed into one of the openings 30 to be seated upon the member 22 to be supported in an upstanding attitude as shown in Fig. 2. One of the buttons 45 is then depresseo to cause actuation of the timing circuit 44. After a predetermined period of time, the buzzer or alarm associated with the timing circuit 44 is operated to prompt removal of the bottle 50 from the apparatus 10. Of course the bottle 50 may be left within the apparatus 10 for a shorter period of time or longer if additional chilling is required. Upon removal of the bottle 50 as shown in Fig. 5, the respective wiping fingers 39 and 40 will engage the side wall of the bottle 50 at different radii so that the moisture is substantially wiped from outer surface of the bottle 50 as described above thus providing a bottle 50 for immediate usage.

Many variations may be made to the configuration of the device described above. For example the refrigeration assembly 25 may be of a different form than that described above and the refrigeration coils 23 may be of any configuration. The grid member 22 may comprise a metal grid or a grid of any other form and the pump 30 may if desired be located at the base of the chamber 13 or even externally of the chamber 13 and connected thereto so as to effect circulation of the liquid therein.

The liquid used for the cooling process is preferably a brine liquid as described above, however, it may comprise any other low freezing point liquid. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.