Dry ice container and portable apparatus and process for the production of dry ice

Abstract

Portable snow and dry ice production system for use and handling individuals in home and recreational applications, rather than experts skilled in the field of manufacture of dry ice, and more specifically to a portable container for manufacturing solid carbon dioxide particles in the form of a tubular member having peripheral slits there around as well as to a method and apparatus for facilitating the formation, capture and compression of snow-like carbon dioxide in a portable environment conducive to efficient formation of dry ice.

1 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice comprising: 
 a first tubular member having a diameter, a first end, a second end, a length and a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, and a periphery having an inside surface and an outside surface; a plurality of slits which extend through said periphery from said inside surface of said periphery through said outside surface of said periphery;    wherein carbon dioxide introduced into said collection chamber forms dry ice within said collection chamber as carbon dioxide vapor escapes through said plurality of slits.    
   
   
       2 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 1  further comprises a rib portion, wherein said slits are positioned circumferentially through said periphery of said tubular member and wherein said slits are configured to comprise a first segment of slits and a second segment of slits, said first segment being spatially separated from said second segment by said rib portion which about the periphery of said collection chamber.  
   
   
       3 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 2  to further comprise a third segment of slits, a fourth segment of slits and a spine portion, said third segment of slits and said fourth segment of slits are spatially separated from said first segment of slits and said second segment of slits by a spine section of said tubular member, said spine section extending from a first end of said collection chamber to said second end of said collection chamber.  
   
   
       4 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 3  to further comprise a first closure means positioned on said first end of said collection chamber wherein said first closure means comprises a tubular member comprising a first connector and a first plug, said first connector comprising a tubular configuration and having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first connector having an internal diameter whereby said first end of said collection chamber may be slideably mated with said first end of said first connector and wherein said second end of said first closure has an internally threaded portion about the inside periphery of said first closure, and wherein said first plug comprises a tubular configuration having a first end and a second end, said second end of said plug having threads about the periphery of said plug for mating engagement with said internally threaded portion about the inside periphery of said first closure means.  
   
   
       5 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 4  to further comprise a second closure means position on said second end of said collection chamber wherein said second closure means comprises a tubular member comprising a second connector and a first cap, said second connector comprising a tubular configuration and having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second connector having an internal diameter whereby said second end of said collection chamber may be slidably mated with said first end of said second connector and wherein said second end of said second closure has an externally threaded portion about the periphery of said second closure and wherein said first cap comprises a tubular configuration having a first end and a second end, said second end of said cap having threads about the internal periphery of said cap for mating engagement with said externally threaded portion about the outside periphery of said second closure means.  
   
   
       6 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 5  to further comprise: 
 a second tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, and a periphery having an inside surface and an outside surface;    a plurality of slits which extend through said periphery from said inside surface of said periphery through said outside surface of said periphery and    a third closure means positioned on said first end of said second tubular member, wherein said third closure means comprises:    a first connector and    a first cap,    said first connector of said third closure means comprising:    a tubular configuration and having    a first end and    a second end, said second end of said first connector having:    an internal diameter whereby said first end of said second tubular member may be slideably mated with said second end of said first connector and wherein said first end of said first connector of said third closure has an externally threaded portion about the outside periphery of said third closure means and wherein said first cap comprises:    a tubular configuration having: 
 a first end and  
 a second end,  
 said second end of said cap having threads about the internal periphery of said cap for mating engagement with said first end of said externally threaded portion about the outside periphery of said third closure means whereby said externally threaded portion about the outside periphery of said third closure means may be screwingly engaged with said first closure member of said collection chamber when said plug of said first closure member of said collection chamber is disengaged therefrom.  
   
   
   
       7 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 6  to further comprise a fourth closure means positioned on said second end of said second tubular member wherein said fourth closure means comprises a tubular member comprising a first connector and a first plug, said first connector comprising a tubular configuration and having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first connector having an internal diameter whereby said first end of said collection chamber may be slideably mated with said first end of said first connector and wherein said second end of said first closure has an internally threaded portion about the inside periphery of said first closure, and wherein said first plug comprises a tubular configuration having a first end and a second end, said second end of said plug having threads about the periphery of said plug for mating engagement with said internally threaded portion about the inside periphery of said first closure means.  
   
   
       8 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 1  in combination with a filtration chamber comprising a tubular filtration jacket, said tubular filtration jacket comprising a length substantially the same as said length of said collection chamber and a diameter substantially the same as the periphery of said collection chamber, said collection chamber being positioned inside said tubular filtration jacket, wherein the space between said tubular filtration jacket and said collection chamber comprises said filtration chamber and wherein said filtration jacket has a porosity to trap purulent carbon dioxide from passing therethrough while enabling carbon dioxide vapor to pass there through whereby the efficiency of transformation of liquid carbon dioxide to dry ice is enhanced.  
   
   
       9 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said filtration jacket insulates said collection chamber from ambient atmosphere surrounding said collection chamber.  
   
   
       10 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said tubular filtration jacket is comprised of synthetic material to trap liquid carbon dioxide and permit vapor to pass there through while deterring sublimation of liquid carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       11 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice comprising: 
 a first tubular member having a diameter, a first end, a second end, a length and a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, and a periphery having an inside surface and an outside surface; a plurality of slits which extend through said periphery from said inside surface of said periphery through said outside surface of said periphery in combination with an aggregation chamber for introducing carbon dioxide into said collection chamber to form dry ice within said collection chamber as carbon dioxide vapor escapes through said plurality of slits, said aggregation chamber comprising:    a tubular chamber having a first planar end having an opening there through, a length and a diameter greater than said diameter of said collection chamber for sliding engagement of an end said aggregation chamber to said collection chamber, whereby said aggregation chamber is extant between said first end of said collection chamber and said planar end of said tubular chamber and wherein carbon dioxide enters into said aggregation chamber through said opening through said planar end wherein carbon dioxide entering said aggregation chamber causes carbon dioxide snow to form and accumulate inside said aggregation chamber at said planar surface to cool carbon dioxide liquid entering into said aggregation chamber before the carbon dioxide thereafter enters into said collection chamber.    
   
   
       12 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 11  to further comprise a first closure means positioned on said first end of said collection chamber wherein said first closure means comprises a tubular member comprising a first connector and a first plug, said first connector comprising a tubular configuration and having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first connector having an internal diameter whereby said first end of said collection chamber may be slideablely mated with said first end of said first connector and wherein said second end of said first closure has an internally threaded portion about the inside periphery of said first closure, and wherein said first plug comprises a tubular configuration having a first end and a second end, said second end of said plug having threads about the periphery of said plug for mating engagement with said internally threaded portion about the inside periphery of said first closure means.  
   
   
       13 . A collection chamber for creating dry ice as set forth in  claim 1  in combination with a liquid carbon dioxide reservoir and a storage apparatus wherein said collection chamber and said liquid carbon dioxide reservoir are disposed when carbon dioxide introduced into said collection chamber forms dry ice within said collection chamber as carbon dioxide vapor escapes through said plurality of slits and into said storage apparatus to provide a cooling chamber housing said carbon dioxide reservoir and said collection chamber.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said storage apparatus comprises a rectangular unit having a front, a back, a left side, a right side, a bottom and a top and wherein said top is hinged to said back of said storage apparatus such that the top may be opened and wherein said front is hinged to the bottom of said rectangular unit such that the front door so formed may be opened to receive into said cooling chamber said carbon dioxide reservoir wherein said door comprises a collar member positioned thereon for mating engagement with a collar member positioned on said back of said storage apparatus for forming a top portion of said cooling chamber and for positioning said carbon dioxide reservoir in said storage unit such that a portion of said carbon dioxide reservoir protrudes outside said cooling chamber.  
   
   
       15 . A method of providing highly agglomerated carbon dioxide snow, comprising supplying pressurized flow of liquid carbon dioxide into the agglomeration chamber according to  claim 11  whereupon the carbon dioxide flows through said agglomeration chamber and thorough said slits of said collection chamber and expands to form solid carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide vapor in said agglomeration chamber and said collection chamber to form solid carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       16 . Method for packaging carbon dioxide snow in a collection chamber in which method the following steps are employed: 
 a—a fluid which has a temperature below the dew point of the air is injected into and in contact with the collection chamber, then,    b—the carbon dioxide snow is introduced into the collection chamber, then    c—the collection chamber is closed.    
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 16  characterized in that it comprises a prior step of passing the fluid passes through an agglomeration chamber before being introduced into the collection chamber.  
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 16  characterized in that the fluid which has a temperature below the dew point is liquid carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       19 . A method of providing highly agglomerated carbon dioxide snow, comprising supplying a pressurized flow of liquid carbon dioxide into the collection chamber according to  claim 1  whereupon the carbon dioxide flows into said collection chamber and expands to form solid carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide vapor in said collection chamber as carbon dioxide vapor escapes through said plurality of slits.  
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 16  characterized in that it comprises a prior step of positioning the collection chamber in a sleeve which forms an insulation chamber around the collection chamber as dry ice is formed within the collection chamber.