Devices and methods for altering temperature of beverage containers

Abstract

The disclosure features various embodiments and aspects of a chest for quenching beverages. The chest can include a tank for holding a chilled mixture of ice and water, an ice maker adapted for making ice having an output for ejecting ice into a conduit in fluid communication with the tank, and a plurality of quench trays disposed above the tank for holding containers of beverages located in first and second positions. The trays can be filled with cold water by way of a conduit in fluid communication with the tank. The quench trays can include a compartment defined by a bottom and a plurality of walls, and defining therein a plurality of rows for aligning and containing a plurality of beverage containers. The drawers can further include at least one drain orifice configured to guide water out of the quench tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for changing the temperature of beverage containers comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a liquid heat transfer medium;   a device to alter a temperature of the liquid heat transfer medium;   at least one tray configured to hold containers of beverages, the at least one tray including a compartment defined by a bottom and a plurality of walls, and defining therein a plurality of rows for aligning and containing a plurality of beverage containers, the at least one tray further including at least one drain orifice configured to guide liquid heat transfer medium out of the at least one tray; and   at least one pump configured to direct liquid heat transfer medium from the reservoir to the at least one tray.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tray defines a plurality of openings therethrough for guiding the liquid heat transfer medium out of the quench tray. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tray is accessible by way of an opening defined through a top surface of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one tray is stationary. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for controlling the operation of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the control system can be controlled manually via a control panel mounted on the device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is adapted and configured to communicate with a control device over a computer network to facilitate control of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the control device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the flow of liquid heat transfer medium to the at least one tray is controlled by the control system in response to temperature data received from the at least one tray. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the flow of liquid heat transfer medium to the at least one tray is controlled by the control system in response to accessing the at least one tray. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the flow of liquid heat transfer medium to the at least one tray is controlled by the control system in response to data received from the at least one tray indicating that the contents of the at least one tray has changed. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be powered by a gas tank. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device is powered by a gas from the gas tank. 
     
     
         14 . The chest of  claim 13 , wherein the gas includes at least one of: propane, natural gas and ethanol. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transient computer readable medium containing a machine readable computer program to operate a device for changing the temperature of beverage containers, the program comprising instructions to receive instructions wirelessly from a portable computing device to operate a pump within the device to circulate a liquid heat transfer medium from a reservoir for holding a liquid heat transfer medium to at least one tray disposed proximate the tank for holding containers of beverages, the at least one tray being at least partially filled with the liquid heat transfer medium by way of a conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the machine readable program includes instructions to operate the pump to circulate liquid heat transfer medium from the reservoir to the tray in response to temperature data received from the at least one tray. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the machine readable program includes instructions to operate the pump to circulate liquid heat transfer medium from the reservoir to the at least one tray based on a time-based algorithm configured to periodically circulate the liquid heat transfer medium if the liquid heat transfer medium has not been circulated for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the machine readable program includes instructions to operate the pump to circulate liquid heat transfer medium from the reservoir to the at least one tray in response to a user accessing the at least one tray. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the machine readable program includes instructions to operate the pump to circulate liquid heat transfer medium from the reservoir to the at least one tray in response to data received from the at least one tray indicating that the contents of the at least one tray has changed. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the machine readable program includes instructions to stop operating the pump in response to data received from at least one photodetector indicative of a cover of the device for changing the temperature of beverage containers being opened.