WO1999041152A2

WO1999041152A2 - Beverage can with autonomous heating/cooling

Info

Publication number: WO1999041152A2
Application number: PCT/IL1999/000093
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reuven Tal; Mordechay Tenenboum
Original assignee: Reuven Tal; Mordechay Tenenboum
Priority date: 1998-02-17
Filing date: 1999-02-15
Publication date: 1999-08-19
Also published as: IL123344A0; WO1999041152A3; AU2542799A

Abstract

A container (100) for storing a substance (2) such as a beverage and then safely heating or cooling the substance to the point of undergoing a phase transition such as boiling. The container includes an outer compartment (1) for storing the substance (2) and an inner compartment (5) that includes a temperature alteration mechanism (6) for changing the temperature of the substance and an activation mechanism (10) for activating the temperature alteration mechanism. A sealing mechanism seals the outer compartment while blocking access to the activation mechanism. The sealing mechanism also includes means for safe equilibration of pressure between the outer compartment (1) and the environment when the activation mechanism is operated. The temperature alteration mechanism and the activation mechanism also may be used separately as a stand-alone immersion heater/cooler.

Description

BEVERAGE CAN WITH AUTONOMOUS HEATING/COOLING

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of hot and cold beverages, such as coffee. tea, soft drinks, and soups, as well as other ingestible products that are consumed at non-ambient temperature, such as baby food and medicines.

The invention enables to store and carry food and drink products at ambient temperature conditions, and to bring them to the desired temperature just before using them, without using external energy sources. It is also possible to embody the heating device that constitutes a component of the beverage can, as a stand-alone product for heating any type of beverage or food.

Most beverages and food products are consumed either in hot or in cool condition. Bringing them to the desired temperature requires various devices such as refrigerators, vending machines with refrigerating capabilities, vending machines instantly preparing hot drink, and ice machines. In many cases such devices are too expensive for specific locations or impractical, especially for outdoor activities.

US Patents 4523,083, 4914920 and 5549219 teach methods of heating and cooling beverages and food products, requiring exterior means and none of them is a self-contained, autonomous device. US Patent 5626022 presents a container with an integral material cavity containing a solid reactant while the liquid reactant being contained in a separate cap. By depressing an actuator disc, prongs break the barrier between the reactants, initiating an exothermic/endothermic chemical reaction. US Patent 5370107 teaches a beverage can heated by a charge which is ignited using a piezo-electric initiation system. The medium in the piezo-electric generator that generates the spark is oxygen, which is sealed in a closed container containing the electrodes as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods of heating/cooling a beverage or a food can which are self-contained and therefore are adequate for use at any location and at any time, without any need for water, electricity, heating/cooling appliances or any other additional means. Heating/cooling are achieved by activating an exothermic/endothermic chemical reaction, without using external energy sources. The chemical reacting substances are stored in one unit with the product container. The materials used as reactants have a high specific heat and a high rate of reaction. Physical separation (possibly double-wall design) between the chemical reactants and the ingestible product prevents any mixing or contact. The reactants are completely safe, and no spontaneous reaction will occur as a result of heating, mechanical shock, drop, impact or any other conditions which might occur during normal storage, transportation and handling. Prior to activating the chemical reaction, the can is opened, in order to prevent pressure build-up as the boiling takes place. This precondition is implemented mechanically. The structure of the can is provided with appropriate thermal insulation in order to prevent injury or inconvenience due to the high temperature of the beverage/food and of various parts of the cans a result of the exothermic reaction. The present invention applies chemical heating/cooling to the beverage and food industry. In this field, there are special requirements in terms of safety, reliability and price. Also, special attention has been given to achieve a heating/cooling rate adequate for the immediate consumption of the beverage or food after opening the can. In order to achieve a high temperature after heating, irrespective of the initial temperature, a heating device generating sufficient heat is required. In order to make such heating device safe, irrespective of the initial temperature, a design with features as presented in the present invention is required. The present invention has the following advantages: a. Only a small percentage of the overall can volume and weight is dedicated to the heating device, as the heat of reaction of the reactants (solid and liquid) is relatively high. b. Fast reaction rate and subsequently short heating time. c. Final temperature independent of initial temperature, as liquid is always brought to boiling temperature. d. Absolute safety due to design preventing bursting of the can in case of activation of heating system, this feature being a result of physically preconditioning the activation on opening the can or on a controlled weakening of part of the can, which can serve as a "fuse" in case of excessive pressure buildup and/or arriving at a specified temperature.

As for the chemical heating device itself, as a stand-alone item, US Patent 3998749 teaches of heaters based on reactions of various types of metal chlorides with water. US Patent 5593792 teaches an electrochemical heat source which could be activated mechanically. US Patent 5517981, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein, teaches a device based on a chemical combination that generates heat, without the simultaneous production of molecular hydrogen gas and that contains metallic reductant, promoters, catalysts, a scavenger of molecular hydrogen precursors, and water both as a reactant and as medium for the reaction.

According to the present invention there is provided a container, for storing a substance and for changing a temperature of the substance while the substance is stored in the container, including: (a) an outer compartment for storing the substance; (b) an inner compartment, at least partly enclosed by the outer compartment and including: (i) a temperature alteration mechanism for changing the temperature of the substance, and (ii) an activation mechanism, accessible via the outer compartment, for activating the temperature alteration mechanism; and (c) a sealing mechanism, for sealing the outer compartment, thereby concealing both the substance and the activation mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for storing a substance and subsequently inducing a phase transition in the substance, including the steps of: (a) providing a container for the substance, the container including: (i) an outer compartment for storing the substance, (ii) an inner compartment, at least partly enclosed by the outer compartment and including: (A) a temperature alteration mechanism for changing a temperature of the substance to a degree sufficient to effect the phase transition, and (B) an activation mechanism, accessible via the outer compartment, for activating the temperature alteration mechanism, and (iii) a sealing mechanism, for sealing the outer compartment, thereby concealing both the substance and the activation mechanism; (b) at least partly removing the sealing mechanism, thereby exposing at least the activation mechanism; and (c) activating the temperature alteration mechanism, using the activation mechanism. According to the present invention there is provided a device for changing the temperature of a substance, including: (a) a temperature alteration mechanism that is placed in contact with the substance to change the temperature of the substance; and (b) an activation mechanism, for activating the temperature alteration mechanism, the activation mechanism including a safety mechanism for inhibiting premature the activating of the temperature alteration mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of changing the temperature of a substance, including the steps of: (a) providing a device including: (i) a temperature alteration mechanism, and (ii) an activation mechanism, for activating the temperature alteration mechanism, the activation mechanism including a safety mechanism for inhibiting premature the activating of the temperature alteration mechanism; (b) placing the temperature alteration mechanism in contact with the substance; and (c) activating the temperature alteration mechanism, using the activation mechanism. The subject of the present invention is a beverage/food can with an autonomous heating/cooling device, without using external energy sources. The heating/cooling device is based on a an exothermic/endothermic reaction resulting from bringing into contact two substances which react and release/absorb heat. In case of heating, the reaction is essentially gasless with a heat of reaction of the order of 3.5 kcalories/gram, which is larger by about one order of magnitude than the heat of reaction of the chemicals used in heating devices as detailed in the aforementioned patents. The activation is done by bringing the reactants together at ambient temperature.

Opening the can or its controlled weakening is done mechanically and is itself a precondition to the physical activation of the reaction mechanism. The activation process can be physically connected to the can opening/controlled weakening or can be enabled by it. The can and its heating device are designed in a way to enable rapid heating of the beverage. In the case of cooling an endothermic reaction mechanism is chosen. The can could contain a ready-to-drink beverage, or water. In the later case, when the water is brought to boiling, it can be mixed with or poured on a beverage ingredient such as instant coffee, tea, tea bags, cacao, soup mix. Such ingredient can be conveniently packaged together with the can.

The aforementioned heating device can be an integral part of the can, or a stand-alone device, including the heating charge and its means of initiation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a first embodiment of a device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-section of the temperature alteration mechanism and of the activa* on mechanism of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of a device of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a third embodiment of a device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a container which can be used to store a substance and to heat or cool the substance prior to use. Specifically, the present invention can be used to heat or cool the substance to an extent that induces a phase transition such as boiling, without damage to the container, because the container is constructed so that the part of the container that holds the substance is opened to the outside air either before or while the heating/cooling mechanism is activated. This ensures that the pressure inside the container remains the same as the pressure outside the container, despite large volumetric changes in the contained substance associated with the phase transition.

Although the scope of the present invention includes containers for any substance, the description herein focuses on the primary intended use of the present invention, in which the stored substance is an ingestible product such as a beverage. The principles and operation of a container according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a container 100 of the present invention. Container 100 is based on a can 1 containing a beverage 2. Can 1 is equipped with a safety cover 3 on its lid 4. Lid 4 has a receptacle 5 in which a heating device 6 is inserted. Heating device 6 contains as reactants a metallic component 7, such as magnesium, an electrolyte 8, and an additive 9 such as cupric chloride to scavenge hydrogen gas precursors in order to prevent release of hydrogen gas, and a plunger 10 which when being depressed cause the reactants to mix and to undergo a highly exothermic chemical reaction, bringing beverage 2 to boiling. Safety cover 3 is physically connected to lid 4 beneath a conventional pull-tab 40, and removing safety cover 3 from left to right using pull-tab 40 first creates an opening at point 14 in lid 4 and only afterwards exposes plunger 10. In this way, before plunger 10 can be depressed, lid 4 is partially opened and thus pressure build-up in can 1 is prevented.

Figure 2 illustrates in more detail heating device 6, which can be part of container 100, as in Figure 1 , or can form a stand-alone item, as an immersion heater, which can be used to heat any beverage or food in an open vessel. The reactants of heating device 6, namely a solid metallic component 7, such as magnesium, preferably as a major component of a supercorroding metallic alloy, a liquid electrolyte 8 such as aqueous sodium chloride, and an additive 9 such as cupric chloride, to prevent release of hydrogen, are placed in a housing 15. Metallic component 7 and additive 9 are stored in a first compartment 101. Electrolyte 8 is stored in a second compartment 102. Compartments 101 and 102 are separated by a thin barrier 103. A plunger 10 is provided which when being depressed urges electrolyte 8 against barrier 103, causing barrier 103 to rupture and allowing the reactants to mix and to undergo an exothermic chemical reaction. A cover 16 hermetically seals heating device 6. When the user of the device of Figure 1 presses on plunger 10, a shear pin 17 is sheared and plunger 10 causes the reactants to mix and to undergo a highly exothermic chemical reaction. A cooling column 18 is incorporated in the plunger 10 for the condensation of the vapor generated by the reaction with the purpose of recycling the condensed vapor to continue the reaction.

To use heating device 6 as an immersion heater, heating device 6 is immersed in a beverage to be heated, or heating device 6 is inserted in a food to be heated, and plunger 10 is depressed.

Can 1 is an example of an outer compartment for storing beverage 2. Receptacle 5 is an example of an inner compartment for holding heating device 6. Inside heating device 6, compartments 101 and 102, reactants 7 and 8 and additive 9 contained therein, barrier 103 that separates reactants 7 and 8, and cooling column 18 constitute a temperature alteration mechanism for heating device 6. Plunger 10 functions as part of an activation mechanism for activating the temperature alteration mechanism: moving plunger 10 downward causes barrier 103 to rupture. Shear pin 17 also is part of the activation mechanism, to prevent premature movement of plunger 10. Opening safety cover 3 from right to left using pull-tab 40 first uncovers beverage 2, below the opening at point 14, and then uncovers plunger 10.

Preferably, reactants 7 and 8 are present in sufficient quantities to generate enough heat to cause beverage 2 to boil. Preferably, there is more liquid electrolyte 8 than is needed to react stoichiometrically with metallic component 7, so that the leftover liquid electrolyte 8 functions as a heat transfer medium, to transfer heat, produced by the exothermic reaction of reactants 7 and 8, to beverage 2 by convection. Preferably, metallic component 7 is in the form of small grains, of at least 80 mesh, so that the reaction proceeds rapidly and beverage 2 is brought to a boil before the heat can be lost to the surrounding environment.

Figure 3 illustrates a container 110 of the present invention. Like container 100, container 110 is based on a can 1 containing a beverage 2. Can 1 is equipped with a safety cover 33 on its lid 43. Lid 43 bears a receptacle 5 in which heating device 6 is inserted. Heating device 6 contains as reactants a solid metallic component 7, such as magnesium, a liquid electrolyte 8 and an additive 9 such as cupric chloride, to prevent release of hydrogen gas, and a plunger 10 which when being depressed causes the reactants to mix and to undergo a highly exothermic chemical reaction, bringing the beverage to boiling. In this embodiment of a container of the present invention, safety cover 33 is not physically connected to lid 43. Lid 43 itself has openings 44 sealed by a weak, yet sealing material, such as an aluminum foil which opens in a controlled pattern at a predefined pressure. Lid 43 also includes ribs holding heating charge receptacle 5 and connecting lid 43 to the rim of receptacle 5. Removing safety cover 33 uncovers plunger 10 and enable pressing on plunger 10, in a condition where there is no danger of high pressure build-up because the pressure of steam from boiling beverage 2 breaks the seals of openings 44 before a dangerously high level of pressure is reached inside can 1.

In container 110, lid 43 of can 1 is an example of an inner lid that seals only can 1, and safety cover 33 is an example of an outer lid that conceals both lid 43 and plunger 10.

Figure 4 illustrates a container 120 of the present invention. Like containers 100 and 110, container 120 is based on a can 1 containing a beverage 2. Can 1 is equipped with a safety cover 3 on its lid 4. Lid 4 has a receptacle 5 in which a heating device 6 is inserted. Heating device 6 has a lower body 34 and an upper body 35 crimped together. Lower body 34 contains, as a first reactant, a solid metallic component 7 such as magnesium, and also an additive 9 such as cupric chloride that prevents release of hydrogen gas. Upper body 35 contains, as a second reactant, a liquid electrolyte 8, a cooling column 36 which typically is a highly porous metallic body such as a wire lattice, a sealing cover 37 and a pull rod 38. Upper body 35 is sealed at its bottom by a thin barrier 39 to which pull rod 38 is physically attached. Pulling upward on pull rod 38 causes barrier 39 to break, thereby enabling metallic component 7 to contact electrolyte 8, resulting in a highly exothermic chemical reaction that brings beverage 2 to a boil. Safety cover 3 is physically connected to lid 4 beneath a conventional pull tab 40. Safety cover 3 also is physically connected to pull-rod 38. Removing safety cover 3 using pull-tab 40 creates an opening at point 14 in lid 4, to expose beverage 2 to ambient pressure, while pulling pull-rod 38 to initiate the reaction of reactants 7 and 8 in one continuous motion. The almost simultaneous, consecutive exposure of beverage 2 to ambient pressure and initiation of the reaction of reactants 7 and 8 prevents the buildup of dangerously high pressure in can 1 as beverage 2 boils.

The various mechanisms in containers 100, 110 and 120 for preventing dangerously high pressure buildup in can 1 upon the boiling of beverage 2 allows the save provision of sufficient reactants 7 and 8 to generate enough heat to boil beverage 2. This is in contrast with similar prior art devices, such as the food tray described in US 5517981. In these devices, the amount of reactants must be limited to preclude a phase transition such as boiling of the substance being heated, because no provision is made for accommodating volumetric changes of the substance that accompany the phase transition. As a result, the food tray of US 5517981 heats the food therein to a warm temperature on a warm day, but only to a lukewarm temperature on a cold day. By contrast, the present invention heats beverage 2 to boiling, independent of the outside temperature. In the preferred embodiments described above, beverage 2 is heated. It is straightforward to one skilled in the art to substitute, for reactants 7 and 8, other reactants that react endothermically, producing devices similar to containers 100, 110 and 120 for cooling or even freezing beverage 2.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A container, for storing a substance and for changing a temperature of the substance while the substance is stored in the container, comprising:

(a) an outer compartment for storing the substance;

(b) an inner compartment, at least partly enclosed by said outer compartment and including:

(i) a temperature alteration mechanism for changing the temperature of the substance, and (ii) an activation mechanism, accessible via said outer compartment, for activating said temperature alteration mechanism; and

(c) a sealing mechanism, for sealing said outer compartment, thereby concealing both the substance and said activation mechanism.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said sealing mechanism is configured so that removing said sealing mechanism both at least partly uncovers the substance and uncovers said activation mechanism.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein said sealing mechanism is configured so that removing said sealing mechanism at least partly uncovers the substance before uncovering said activation mechanism.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein said sealing mechanism includes:

(i) an inner lid, for sealing only said outer compartment, said lid including a frangible portion operative to rupture in response to an increase in pressure in said outer compartment; and

(ii) an outer lid for concealing both said inner lid and said activation mechanism.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein said sealing mechanism is operationally connected to said activation mechanism so that removing said sealing mechanism from said outer compartment also operates said activation mechanism to activate said temperature alteration mechanism.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein said temperature alteration mechanism includes:

(A) a first chamber enclosing a first reactant;

(B) a second chamber enclosing a second reactant; and

(C) a barrier separating said first chamber from said second chamber; and wherein said activation mechanism is operative to rupture said barrier, thereby allowing said first and second reactants to mix and react.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein said first and second reactants are operative to react exothermically.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein at least one of said reactants is a liquid.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein said first reactant includes a solid metal, and wherein said second reactant includes a liquid electrolyte.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein said solid metal includes magnesium.

11. The container of claim 8, wherein said liquid is present in stoichiometric excess, so that said liquid serves as a heat transfer mechanism during and after said reaction.

12. The container of claim 8, wherein said temperature alteration mechanism further includes: (D) a recirculation mechanism for condensing and recirculating vapors of said liquid.

13. The container of claim 6, wherein said first and second reactants are operative to react endothermically.

14. The container of claim 6, wherein said temperature alteration mechanism includes a hydrogen scavenger.

15. The container of claim 6, wherein said activation mechanism includes:

(A) a penetration mechanism operative to move to rupture said barrier; and

(B) a shear pin, for inhibiting premature said moving of said penetration mechanism.

16. The container of claim 6, including sufficient said reactants to change the temperature of the substance to a degree sufficient to induce a phase transition in the substance.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein said temperature altering mechanism is operative to change the temperature of the substance to a degree sufficient to induce a phase transition in the substance.

18. A method for storing a substance and subsequently inducing a phase transition in the substance, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a container for the substance, said container including: (i) an outer compartment for storing the substance, (ii) an inner compartment, at least partly enclosed by said outer compartment and including:

(A) a temperature alteration mechanism for changing a temperature of the substance to a degree sufficient to effect the phase transition, and (B) an activation mechanism, accessible via said outer compartment, for activating said temperature alteration mechanism, and (iii) a sealing mechanism, for sealing said outer compartment, thereby concealing both the substance and said activation mechanism;

(b) at least partly removing said sealing mechanism, thereby exposing at least said activation mechanism; and

(c) activating said temperature alteration mechanism, using said activation mechanism.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least partial removing and said activating are effected substantially simultaneously.

20. A device for changing the temperature of a substance, comprising:

(a) a temperature alteration mechanism that is placed in contact with the substance to change the temperature of the substance; and

(b) an activation mechanism, for activating said temperature alteration mechanism, said activation mechanism including a safety mechanism for inhibiting premature said activating of said temperature alteration mechanism.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said temperature alteration mechanism includes:

(i) a first chamber enclosing a first reactant;

(ii) a second chamber enclosing a second reactant; and

(iii) a barrier separating said first chamber from said second chamber; and wherein said activation mechanism is operative to rupture said barrier, thereby allowing said first and second reactants to mix and react.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said activation mechanism includes a penetration mechanism operative to move to rupture said barrier, and wherein said safety mechanism includes a shear pin for inhibiting premature said moving of said penetration mechanism.

23. A method of changing the temperature of a substance, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a device including:

(i) a temperature alteration mechanism, and

(ii) an activation mechanism, for activating said temperature alteration mechanism, said activation mechanism including a safety mechanism for inhibiting premature said activating of said temperature alteration mechanism;

(b) placing said temperature alteration mechanism in contact with the substance; and