Portable instant cooling system with controlled temperature obtained through timed-release liquid or gaseous co2 coolant for general refrigeration use in mobile and stationary containers

Abstract

Standalone and self-contained cooling systems using compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2 containers positioned in an insulated or non-insulated vessel and consisting of a specially designed unit where the containers are vertically positioned in an upright or upside-down position. The liquid and/or gas CO 2 coolant is then released into capillary tube(s) embedded into a heat transfer plate or heat exchanger thus leveraging the CO 2 coolant properties. The temperature is controlled by a metering CO 2 releasing system encompassing an electronic control device which can be operated remotely and/or via a touch screen and which sends alerts when pre-defined thresholds are exceeded. The invention's metering CO 2 releasing system may be triggered by an electronic or a thermostatic valve or may be triggered manually or by an electronic solenoid. The invention's cooling system also encompasses check valves, which avoid liquid and/or gas CO 2 from escaping when removing or replacing CO 2 containers individually.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated cooler comprising at least:
 a. an insulated box with insulated lateral walls, an insulated resealable lid and an insulated bottom surface;   b. a liquid and/or gas cooling CO 2  system, including:
 i. at least one compressed liquid and/or gas container, 
 ii. a CO 2  refrigerant retained within an interior chamber surrounded by a circumferential sidewall and top of each of said at least one compressed liquid container, 
 iii. a heat transfer plate having at least an upper surface, 
 iv. a manifold block affixed to said upper surface of said heat transfer plate, the manifold block having a body adjacent an end of the heat transfer plate and extending perpendicular to the upper surface with at least one opening extending into the body of the manifold block and female mating threads on a surface of the at least one opening, the at least one opening extending to a corresponding opening in a sidewall of the body of the manifold block, 
 v. said compressed liquid and/or gas container having a member in fluid communication with said interior chamber of said at least one compressed liquid container, the member having a circumferential sidewall with mating male threads, the compressed liquid container placed in an inverted condition with the male mating threads engaged with and threaded onto the female mating threads so that the at least one compressed liquid container is retained in an inverted condition in the at least one opening of the manifold block, 
 vi. a check valve between the manifold block and the retained at least one compressed liquid container, the check valve connected to a fluid dispensing valve releasing compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  to a capillary embedded in the heat transfer plate, and 
 vii. a release or control valve, as part of the metering CO 2  control releasing system, which is controlled or actuated electronically to release the liquid and/or gas CO 2  from the CO 2  containers into the invention's cooling systems, the control valve configured to match at least one liquid and/or gas CO 2  container, 
   c. an electronic control device located on the external side of lateral wall of the container which is embedded in and connected internally to the invention's unit throughout isolated electrical wires, the electronic control device transmitting encrypted commands to an electronic control member, and when the desiring cooling temperature is determined, the electronic control member opens the control valve, and liquid and/or gas CO 2  are dispensed through the at least one dispensing valve through the capillary to the heat transfer plate with the heat transfer plate providing the cooling temperature to a selected location, the electronic control device selected from the group consisting of:
 i. a display where the following temperatures are visualized: a) external to the cooler; b) internal into the cooler; and c) at the upper surface of the heat exchanger, 
 ii. an electronic board with the purpose to check the current temperatures and send the desired temperatures to the electronic valve, 
 iii. a wired electronic connection to the invention's cooling system, 
 iv. a USB port, 
 v. a power supply component, 
 vi. a Bluetooth component, 
 vii. a WiFi component, 
 viii. a radio frequency component, and 
 ix. a case-box containing the electronic components with input and to output connectors and having the display in one of its surface; and 
   d. an ice making system selected from the group consisting of:
 i. a special designed cold disbursement plate; 
 ii. a capillary to convey the liquid and/or gas CO 2  from the cartridge to the cold disbursement plate, 
 iii. a containment tray, and 
 iv. a liquid divider. 
   e. one or more capillary tube(s) with various widths and lengths are embedded in the heat transfer plate or wrapped around a cooling chamber designed to refrigerate, cool or freeze beverages including cans, bottles or other small items in need of refrigeration, cooling or freezing;   f. the various widths and lengths of the capillary tube(s) allow an operator to manually regulate, change or control the flow of compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  thus acting on the temperature setting and on the quantity of compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  to be released for a more efficient utilization of the heat transfer plate; and   g. the capillary tube(s) convey the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  along the heat transfer plate, tubes having filters to avoid any freezing, clogging or blocking of the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  flow, the capillary tubes(s) convey the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  to be safely released from the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container(s) in the heat transfer plate, thereby avoiding the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  to be directly spilled on the items in need of refrigeration.   
     
     
         2 . A liquid and or gas cooling system used with said insulated cooler as described in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container;   b. a CO 2  refrigerant retained within an interior chamber surrounded by a circumferential sidewall and top of each of said at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container;   c. a heat transfer plate having at least an upper surface;   d. a manifold block affixed to said upper surface of said heat transfer plate, the manifold block having a body adjacent to an end of the heat transfer plate female mating threads;   e. said at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container having a member in fluid communication with said interior chamber of said at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container, the member having a circumferential sidewall with mating male threads, the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container placed in an inverted condition with the male mating threads engaged with and threaded onto the female mating threads so that the at least one compressed liquid container is retained in an inverted condition in the at least one opening of the manifold block;   f. at least one check valve between the manifold block and the retained at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container, the at least one check valve connected to at least one releasing valve releasing compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  to one or more capillary tubes embedded in the heat transfer plate; and   g. at least one release valve as part of a metering CO 2  control releasing system, which is controlled or actuated selected from the group consisting of manually, electromechanically, electronically or thermostatically, to release liquid and/or gas CO 2  from at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container into the system, the at least one releasing valve metering and controlling the release of compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  from the at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container.   
     
     
         3 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. the manifold block with at least one opening having the female mating threads on a surface where the male mating male threads of the at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container is screwed into;   b. said manifold block having an internal cavity where the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  is conveyed once released; and   c. said internal cavity is in connection with the at least one capillary tube embedded into the heat transfer plate.   
     
     
         4 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. the heat transfer plate is utilized, the heat transfer plate made of any material having the capability of transferring heat through its surface and containing embedded capillary tube(s) where the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  is released by the releasing valve (either electronic or thermostatic or manual or electromechanical) into the capillary tube(s); and   b. the controlled reduction and steady maintenance of temperature along the heat to transfer plate allows items to be maintained refrigerated, cooled or frozen.   
     
     
         5 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least a member functioning as a manual valve control for the purpose of opening and releasing compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  into the capillary tube(s) embedded in the heat transfer plate when deemed necessary by a user.   
     
     
         6 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. an electronic control device including a transmittal member to transmit encrypted commands to said electronic control device. and when a desired cooling temperature is determined, the electronic control device opens the control valve, and compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  are dispensed through the at least one dispensing valve through the capillary tube(s) embedded in the heat transfer plate with the heat transfer plate providing the cooling temperature to a selected location; and   b. at least an electronic CO 2  member functioning as an electronic valve control for the purpose of evaluating the temperature of a cooler and its surroundings and electrically open and release compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  into the capillary tube(s) embedded in the heat transfer plate until a set threshold temperature inside the cooler is achieved for a desired period(s) and length(s) of time.   
     
     
         7 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. an electronic control device including a transmittal member to transmit encrypted commands to said electronic control device, and when a desired cooling temperature is determined, the electronic control member opens the control valve, and compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  are dispensed through the at least one dispensing valve through the capillary tube(s) embedded in the heat transfer plate with the heat transfer plate providing the cooling temperature to a selected location;   b. at least one electronic solenoid member included into the manifold block and functioning as a valve controller for the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid and/or gas CO 2  into the capillary embedded in the heat exchanger plate when deemed necessary by the user;   c. when the solenoid is energized, a magnetic field is produced actuating the a lever contained in the manifold block which in turn raises a plunger allowing flow of compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  through the valve; and   d. the solenoid CO 2  valve control remains activated for various times to control the flow of compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  depending on a desired temperature and/or a desired period(s) and length(s) of time required or needed.   
     
     
         8 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. at least a thermostatic CO 2  member functioning as a valve controlling the temperature from −78° C. to ambient external temperature the at least one compressed liquid and/or gas container;   b. the thermostatic CO 2  member is a polymeric/wax-based thermostatic valve which operates by exploiting the thermal expansion of a mixture of polymer/wax components;   c. as the polymer/wax mixture begins to melt, the material expands and opens the valve;   d. as the system begins to cool, the material contracts and solidifies which allows the valve to close;   e. the temperature at which the polymer/wax begins to melt is dependent on its formulation and is selected based on its desired operating temperatures; and   f. when the desired operating temperatures are reached, the wax-based thermostatic valve closes for a period of time until an operating temperature exceeds-a desired operating; temperature, then the wax-based thermostatic valve opens.   
     
     
         9 . The system as described in  claim 2  , further comprising:
 a. at least one check valve placed between the compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container's manifold block and the manifold block joining two or more compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  containers; 
 b. the said at least one check valve avoids compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  from escaping when removing or replacing CO 2  containers individually; and 
 c. the at least one check valve enables efficient utilization of one or more than one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  containers. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system as described in  claim 6 , further comprising: the electronic control device including:
 a. a display where the following temperatures are visualized: i) external to the cooler; ii) internal into the cooler; and iii) at the upper surface of the heat exchanger;   b. an electronic board for checking the current temperatures and sending the desired temperatures to the electronic valve;   c. a wired electronic connection to the cooler;   d. a USB port;   e. a power supply component;   f. a Bluetooth component;   g. a WiFi component;   h. a radio frequency component; and   i. a case-box containing at least one of the electronic board and connection to the cooler, the USB port, the power supply component, a Bluetooth component, a WiFi component, and a Radio Frequency component, collectively defined as one or more of the electronic components, with an input and an output having a display on a surface of the cooler.   
     
     
         11 . The system as described in  claim 10  further comprising: the electronic control device is powered by a battery. 
     
     
         12 . The system as described in  claim 11  further comprising: the battery is chargeable via a USB port. 
     
     
         13 . The system as described in  claim 11  further comprising: the battery is chargeable via a 12V DC automotive connection. 
     
     
         14 . The system as described in  claim 11  further comprising: the battery is chargeable via a 120V AC connection. 
     
     
         15 . The system as described in  claim 11  further comprising: the battery is powered via a solar panel. 
     
     
         16 . The control system as described in  claim 10  further comprising: the encrypted commands are transmitted from an electronic control device in the cooler through Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Radio Frequencies to a smartphone or tablet or a server encrypted to avoid spoofing, intrusion, interference, meaconing, jamming or data falsification. 
     
     
         17 . The system as described in  claim 10  further comprising: the desired temperature and its length of time are remotely controllable. 
     
     
         18 . The system as described in  claim 10  further comprising: alerts are communicated using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technologies to a mobile phone or email account, or sound, buzzer or vibration for notifying an operator of the system for:
 a. temperature of items, at the top and at the bottom of cooler as well as the ambient temperature outside the cooler equipped with the system out of acceptable limits for determined acceptable periods and lengths of time, 
 b. liquid and/or gas CO 2  level low, 
 c. battery level low; and 
 d. air pressure status. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising: the at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container positioned in an upright position. 
     
     
         20 . The system as described in  claim 2 , further comprising: the at least one compressed liquid and/or CO 2  container positioned in an upside-down position. 
     
     
         21 . The system as described in  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. an embodiment of the system used for back up refrigeration in the event of primary refrigeration cycle failure including:
 i. for residential/commercial use (backup to a compressor based refrigeration cycle); and 
 ii. for recreational use (backup to a thermoelectric cooler as the primary cycle). 
 
 
     
     
         22 . The system as described in  claim 2  further comprising: the system is integrated into a vehicle for food delivery. 
     
     
         23 . The system as described in  claim 2  further comprising: the system is integrated into a vehicle for food storage. 
     
     
         24 . The system as described in  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. the system is designed for a container for personal medical storage such as including insulin; 
 b. the system further comprises an insulated plastic, composite or metal container with either traditional or vacuum insulation; and 
 c. the container and control mechanism of the system contained inside the container. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system as described in  claim 2  further comprising: the system is designed for critical refrigeration of medical materials including vaccines and drugs. 
     
     
         26 . The system as described in  claim 2  further comprising: the system is designed to receive food, beverages, medical supplies, blood, temperature sensitive chemicals and pharmaceuticals, any prey resulting from fishing or hunting activities or any other perishable items in need of refrigeration, cooling or freezing deliveries when the owner, renter or resident of a residential dwelling (i.e.: houses, apartments, dormitories or town-houses) is not present. 
     
     
         27 . The at least one compressed liquid and/or gas CO 2  container as described in  claim 2  is selected from the group consisting of:
 a. 12 g disposable metal canister (soda fountain cartridge),
 b. 12, 16, 20, 24, 32 oz metal or composite cylinder (paint ball cylinders), 
 c. 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 lb portable compressed gas cylinders, 
 d. >20 lb semiportable/bulk compressed gas cylinders, 
 e. large volume liquid containers, and 
 f. a specially designed compressed liquid container specific for the invention's cooling system and a custom manifold block where the CO 2  container(s) can be screwed into or connected to form a seal between the CO 2  container(s) and the manifold block that prevents the liquid and the gas CO 2  from escaping and prevents the leakage of the liquid or the gas CO 2 . 
 
 
     
     
         28 . The electronic control device as described in  claim 10  further comprising:
 the system is integrated with wireless or hard wire transmission technology selected from the group consisting of:
 a. bluetooth connection to a phone or computer, or tablet; 
 b. Wi-Fi for connection to a phone, tablet, or computer; 
 c. radio frequency, and 
 d. hard wire transmission utilizing a hard wire connection for areas where there is high environmental interference of the wireless transmission. 
 
 
     
     
         29 . The control system as described in  claim 28  further comprising: the data transmitted from the active control device of the system via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/radio frequencies to a smartphone or tablet or a server encrypted to avoid spoofing, intrusion, interference, meaconing, jamming or data falsification. 
     
     
         30 . The system as described in  claim 28  further comprising: desired temperature and its length of time are remotely controllable. 
     
     
         31 . The system as described in  claim 28  further comprising: alerts are communicated using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technologies to a mobile phone or email account, or sound, buzzer or vibration for notifying the operator of the invention's cooling system for:
 i. temperature of items, at the top and at the bottom of the vessels as well as the ambient temperature outside the vessel equipped with the invention's cooling system out of acceptable limits for determined acceptable periods and lengths of time; 
 ii. liquid and/or gas CO 2  level low; 
 iii. battery level low; and 
 iv. air pressure status. 
 
     
     
         32 . The system as described in  claim 5 , further comprising: the electronic control device including:
 a. a display where the following temperatures are visualized: i) external to the cooler; ii) internal into the cooler; and iii) at the upper surface of the heat exchanger;   b. an electronic board for checking the current temperatures;   c. a wired electronic connection to the cooling system;   d. a USB port;   e. a power supply component;   f. a Bluetooth component;   g. a WiFi component;   h. a radio frequency component; and   i. a case-box containing the electronic components with input and output connectors and having the display in one of its surface.   
     
     
         33 . The system as described in  claim 32  further comprising: the electronic control device is powered by a battery. 
     
     
         34 . The system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: the battery is chargeable via a USB port. 
     
     
         35 . The system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: the battery is chargeable via a 12V DC automotive connection. 
     
     
         36 . The system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: the battery is chargeable via a 120V AC connection. 
     
     
         37 . The system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: the battery is powered via a solar panel. 
     
     
         38 . The control system as described in  claim 33  further comprising:
 the data transmitted from the active control device of the system via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Radio Frequencies to a smartphone or tablet or a server is encrypted to avoid spoofing, intrusion, interference, meaconing, jamming or data falsification. 
 
     
     
         39 . The system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: desired temperature and its length of time are remotely controllable. 
     
     
         40 . The system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: alerts are communicated using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technologies to a mobile phone or email account, or sound, buzzer or vibration for notifying the operator of the invention's cooling system for:
 a. temperature of items, at the top and at the bottom of the vessels as well as the ambient temperature outside the vessel equipped with the invention's cooling system out of acceptable limits for determined acceptable periods and lengths of time; 
 b. liquid and/or gas CO 2  level low; 
 c. battery level low; and 
 d. air pressure status. 
 
     
     
         41 . The electronic control device as described in  claim 33  further comprising: the system is integrated with wireless or hard wire transmission technology selected from the group consisting of:
 a. bluetooth connection to a phone or computer or tablet; 
 b. Wi-Fi for connection to a phone, tablet or computer; 
 c. radio frequency, and 
 d. hard wire transmission utilizing a hard wire connection for areas where there is high environmental interference of the wireless transmission. 
 
     
     
         42 . The control system as described in  claim 33  further comprising: the data transmitted from the active control device of the system via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/radio frequencies to a smartphone or tablet or a server or any kind of other device is encrypted to avoid spoofing, intrusion, interference, meaconing, jamming or data falsification. 
     
     
         43 . The system as described in  claim 42  further comprising: desired temperature and its length of time are remotely controllable. 
     
     
         44 . The system as described in  claim 42  further comprising: alerts are communicated using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technologies to a mobile phone or email account, or sound, buzzer or vibration for notifying the operator of the invention's cooling system for:
 i. temperature of items, at the top and at the bottom of the vessels as well as the ambient temperature outside the vessel equipped with the invention's cooling system out of acceptable limits for determined acceptable periods and lengths of time; 
 ii. liquid and/or gas CO 2  level low; 
 iii. battery level low; and 
 iv. air pressure status.