Thermal receptacle with phase change material containing insert

Abstract

A thermal receptacle having a side wall which has an inner surface and a spaced outer surface. An interstitial chamber may be defined by the space between the inner and outer surfaces. A phase change material containing insert is provided into the receptacle. The insert contains a phase change material or a plurality of different phase change materials. Phase change material may also be located within the interstitial chamber. The phase change material regeneratively absorbs thermal energy from a hot liquid in the receptacle thereby rapidly lowering the temperature of the liquid and then the material releases the thermal energy back to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid receptacle comprising:
 a vessel having an open upper end and closed lower end and a wall connecting said upper end and said lower end; and   a phase change material disposed within an insert, said insert adapted to be placed within said vessel for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid within a desired temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the insert is secured to a sealing cover. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 2  wherein the insert is a closed tube. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 3  wherein the closed tube is a convoluted metal tube. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 4  wherein ends of the closed tube are secured to the sealing cover. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 3  wherein the insert is a coiled tube. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the vessel has an insulated outer shell defining an interstitial chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 7  wherein a second phase change material is placed into the interstitial chamber of the insulated outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . A liquid receptacle comprising:
 a vessel for containing a liquid, said vessel having an open upper end and closed lower end and a wall connecting said upper end and said lower end;   a sealing cover adapted to engage the open upper end of the vessel and prevent loss of liquid; and   an insert adapted to be placed within said vessel, said insert being in contact with the liquid and containing a phase change material which regeneratively absorbs thermal energy from the liquid and then releases the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid within a desired temperature range.   
     
     
         10 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the insert is secured to the sealing cover. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 10  wherein the insert is a closed tube. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 11  wherein the closed tube is a convoluted metal tube. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 12  wherein ends of the closed tube are secured to the sealing cover. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the insert is a coiled tube. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the vessel has an insulated outer shell defining an interstitial chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid receptacle of  claim 15  wherein a second phase change material is placed into the interstitial chamber of the insulated outer shell. 
     
     
         17 . A method of regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from a liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain temperatures of the liquid within a desired temperature range, said method comprising:
 dispensing a liquid into a vessel; and   sealing the vessel with a cover, said cover including a hollow insert containing a phase change material, with said insert being placed in fluid contact with the liquid when the vessel is sealed with the cover.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising thermally pre-treating the insert and phase change material prior to sealing the vessel with the cover. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the liquid is a hot liquid and the phase change material contained within the insert is heated prior to sealing the vessel with the cover. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising thermally pre-treating the vessel prior to said dispensing the liquid into the vessel.