Self-Chilling Container

Abstract

A self-chilling container, including an outer wall and an inner wall defining at least one adsorption chamber in a space provided between the outer wall and the inner wall, the adsorption chamber adapted to contain adsorbent material in heat transfer contact with at least the inner wall; the inner wall further defining at least one cooling chamber adjacent to the adsorption chamber, the cooling chamber being in heat transfer contact with the inner wall; at least one inlet disposed at the outer wall for introduction of a gas subliming solid material into the adsorption chamber for adsorption of sublimed gas onto the adsorbent material; and a valve in communication with the adsorption chamber for controlled release of the gas from the adsorption chamber.

1 . A self-chilling container comprising:
 an outer wall and an inner wall defining at least one adsorption chamber in a space provided between the outer wall and the inner wall, the at least one adsorption chamber adapted to contain adsorbent material in heat transfer contact with at least the inner wall;   the inner wall further defining at least one cooling chamber adjacent to the at least one adsorption chamber, the at least one cooling chamber being in heat transfer contact with the inner wall;   at least one inlet disposed at the outer wall for introduction of a gas subliming solid material into the at least one adsorption chamber for adsorption of sublimed gas onto the adsorbent material; and   a valve in communication with the at least one adsorption chamber for controlled release of the gas from the at least one adsorption chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent material comprises compressed particulate. 
   
   
       3 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent material comprises at least one of particulate activated carbon, zeolite, or metal oxide. 
   
   
       4 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling chamber is adapted to hold for cooling any of a single container, a plurality of containers or a substance. 
   
   
       5 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling chamber comprises a plurality of cooling compartments. 
   
   
       6 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 5 , wherein the cooling compartments are at least one of rectangular or cylindrical in cross section. 
   
   
       7 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet comprises at least one inlet chamber in fluid communication with the at least one adsorption chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one inlet chamber comprises at least one aperture for receiving at least one dry ice pellet. 
   
   
       9 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one inlet chamber is removably mountable to the at least one adsorption chamber for receiving the at least one dry ice pellet, and adapted for sealable contact with the at least one adsorption chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 8 , further comprising a removable cover for the at least one inlet chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent material is surrounded by a layer of at least one of phenolic resin or glass which coats at least one of the outer wall and the inner wall of the self-chilling container. 
   
   
       12 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the adsorbent material and adapted to transfer heat between the inner wall and the adsorbent material. 
   
   
       13 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 12 , wherein the thermally conductive material is in compressed particulate form having particles of different average size than particles of the adsorbent material. 
   
   
       14 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 12 , wherein the thermally conductive material is substantially evenly dispersed among the particles of the adsorbent material. 
   
   
       15 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 12 , wherein the thermally conductive material comprises a resilient planar sheet contiguous with the inner wall over at least a part of the resilient planar sheet surface. 
   
   
       16 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 15 , wherein said resilient planar sheet is substantially S-shaped. 
   
   
       17 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 15 , wherein the thermally conductive material comprises at least one fin extending outwardly from the inner wall. 
   
   
       18 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 12 , wherein the thermally conductive material is formed from at least one of aluminum or an alloy thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner wall or outer wall is rectangular in cross section. 
   
   
       20 . The self-chilling container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner wall or outer wall is circular in cross section. 
   
   
       21 . In a method for cooling a container or a substance, the improvement comprising:
 disposing the container or the substance into a cooling chamber in heat transfer contact with an adsorption chamber containing an adsorbent;   inserting at least one dry ice pellet into an inlet of the adsorption chamber;   permitting the at least one dry ice pellet to sublime into carbon dioxide gas for diffusing into the adsorption chamber to adsorb onto the adsorbent; and   releasing the adsorbed carbon dioxide as gas.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said inserting comprises inserting the at least one dry ice pellet into an aperture of an inlet chamber in fluid communication with the adsorption chamber, and closing or scaling the aperture. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said inserting comprises inserting the at least one dry ice pellet into an inlet chamber at a location remote from the adsorption chamber, and releasably connecting the inlet chamber to the adsorption chamber.