Cooling Device for Beverages

Abstract

In a cooling device for beverages in beverage containers, including a preferably cylindrical chamber for receiving a beverage container and at least one cooling element ( 1 ), the chamber is constructed as a basin for a cooling bath.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A cooling device for beverages in beverage containers, including a chamber for receiving a beverage container, at least one cooling element, said cooling element ( 1 ) being incorporated in a coolant cycle of a Joule-Thomson or mixed Joule-Thomson cooler, whereby the chamber is constructed as a basin for a cooling bath, wherein the filling level of a cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises at least 1.5 times, when introducing a circular-cylindrical test body having a diameter of 49.9 mm or 79.9 mm or 109.9 mm or 139.9 mm or 169.9 mm or 199.9 mm into the cooling bath of any desired volume. 
     
     
         35 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one cooling element ( 1 ) is arranged within the chamber. 
     
     
         36 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one cooling element ( 1 ) is disposed on a wall ( 5 ) of the chamber. 
     
     
         37 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the cooling element ( 1 ) is comprised of a cooling coil. 
     
     
         38 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein means for circulating the cooling liquid are provided. 
     
     
         39 . A cooling device according to  claim 38 , wherein the means for circulating the cooling bath comprise a rotor ( 13 ) arranged in the chamber, a circulation pump or a membrane (e.g. ultrasonic membrane). 
     
     
         40 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein a wall ( 5 ) of the chamber is surrounded by a thermal insulation ( 3 ). 
     
     
         41 . A cooling device according to  claim 40 , wherein said insulation ( 3 ) is comprised of a vacuum insulation. 
     
     
         42 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein a heating element ( 2 ) for heating the cooling bath is provided. 
     
     
         43 . A cooling device according to  claim 42 , wherein the heating element ( 2 ) is arranged in the chamber and configured as an electric resistance heater. 
     
     
         44 . A cooling device according to  claim 42 , wherein the heating element ( 2 ) is designed as a heating coil disposed on the wall ( 5 ) of the chamber. 
     
     
         45 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein an opening provided for introducing the beverage container into the chamber comprises one or several passage seals ( 14 ). 
     
     
         46 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein a temperature sensor ( 6 ) is provided for detecting a bath temperature, said temperature sensor being connected to a control circuit ( 11 ). 
     
     
         47 . A cooling device according to  claim 46 , wherein the control circuit ( 11 ) is connected to the cooling element ( 1 ), and if desired to the heating element ( 2 ), via control lines ( 8 ) in order to control cooling and/or heating capacities as a function of the measurements of the temperature sensor ( 6 ). 
     
     
         48 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the cooling liquid ( 4 ) of the cooling bath is comprised of alcohol or an alcohol-water mixture. 
     
     
         49 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the chamber has a portion widened in terms of cross section. 
     
     
         50 . cooling device according to  claim 49 , wherein the widened portion is formed as an edge portion bordering the opening of the chamber and having an inner surface conically widening as far as to the opening of the chamber. 
     
     
         51 . A cooling device according to  claim 34  for beverage cans, wherein the annular gap resulting from the introduction of a can is outwardly delimited by an element having an inner diameter of 50 mm to 145 mm. 
     
     
         52 . A cooling device according to  claim 34  for beverage bottles, wherein the annular gap resulting from the introduction of a bottle is outwardly delimited by an element having an inner diameter of 50 mm to 220 mm. 
     
     
         53 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the chamber is cylindrical. 
     
     
         54 . A cooling device according to  claim 48 , wherein the cooling liquid is comprised of ethanol. 
     
     
         55 . A cooling device according to  claim 51 , wherein the annular gap resulting from the introduction of a can is outwardly delimited by an element having an inner diameter of 50 mm to 105 mm. 
     
     
         56 . A cooling device according to  claim 52 , wherein the annular gap resulting from the introduction of a bottle is outwardly delimited by an element having an inner diameter of 50 mm to 140 mm. 
     
     
         57 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the filling level of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises at least 3 times. 
     
     
         58 . A cooling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the filling level of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises at least 4 times. 
     
     
         59 . A method for cooling beverages contained in beverage containers, comprising filling the chamber of the cooling device according to claim  1  with a cooling liquid, inserting beverage containers containing a beverage(s) to be cooled in said cooling device, and cooling said beverage(s) in beverage containers. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 59 , wherein the volume of the chamber (optionally with the cooling element), the volume of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) present in the cooling bath, and the diameter and/or volume of the beverage container are adapted to one another in such a manner that the filling level of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises at least 1.5 times, when introducing the beverage container into the cooling bath. 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 59 , wherein the volume of the chamber (optionally with the cooling element), the volume of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) present in the cooling bath, and the diameter and/or volume of the beverage container are adapted to one another in such a manner that an annular gap of 3 cm at most, remains between the wall ( 5 ) of the beverage container and the wall of the chamber, or the cooling element. 
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 59 , wherein the volume of the chamber, the volume of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) present in the cooling bath, and the diameter of the beverage container are adapted to one another in such a manner that the filling level of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises at least as far as to the upper edge of the cooling element ( 1 ) when introducing the beverage container into the cooling bath. 
     
     
         63 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the filling level of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises 3 times. 
     
     
         64 . A method according to  claim 60 , wherein the filling level of the cooling liquid ( 4 ) rises at least 4 times. 
     
     
         65 . A method according to  claim 61 , wherein the diameter and/or volume of the beverage container are adapted to one another in such a manner that an annular gap of 2 cm at most, remains between the wall ( 5 ) of the beverage container and the wall of the chamber, or the cooling element. 
     
     
         66 . A method according to  claim 61 , wherein the cooling element is disposed on the chamber wall ( 5 ).