Beverage cooling apparatus capable of rapidly cooling and maintaining beverage at appropriate temperature

Abstract

A beverage cooling apparatus includes: a housing; a container disposed inside the housing comprising a container chamber configured to receive a beverage container, and including a flexible side surface; the apparatus configured to receive a refrigerant between the housing and the container receiving portion; a refrigerant control device comprising a piston configured to control an amount of the refrigerant between the housing and the container receiving portion; and a refrigerant cooling device comprising a radiator configured to cool the refrigerant. The refrigerant control device is configured to control the amount of the refrigerant according to a type of beverage contained in the beverage container, thereby controlling a contact area between the flexible side surface of the container receiving portion and the beverage container, thereby cooling and maintaining the beverage at an optimal temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage cooling apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a container receiving portion disposed inside the housing comprising a container chamber configured to receive a beverage container, and including a flexible side surface;   the apparatus configured to receive a refrigerant between the housing and the container receiving portion;   a refrigerant control device comprising a piston configured to control an amount of the refrigerant between the housing and the container receiving portion; and   a refrigerant cooling device comprising a radiator configured to cool the refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant control device is configured to control the amount of the refrigerant according to a type of beverage contained in the beverage container, thereby controlling a contact area between the flexible side surface of the container receiving portion and the beverage container, to cool and maintain the beverage at a specified temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the container receiving portion is disposed rotatably with respect to the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 the container receiving portion is configured to be rotated by a motor disposed below the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the container receiving portion comprises:   a base plate;   a support ring disposed above the base plate;   a plurality of connecting bars connecting the base plate and the support ring;   a plurality of support bars extending upward from the base plate and disposed spaced apart at specified intervals between the plurality of connecting bars; and   a flexible membrane disposed inside the plurality of support bars and including an edge fixed to the support ring and a concave portion forming the container chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant control device comprises:   a cylinder;   a piston disposed inside the cylinder; and   a linear motor configured to reciprocate the piston in a straight line.   
     
     
         6 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant cooling device is provided apart from the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the refrigerant cooling device comprises:   a discharge pipe connected to the housing and configured to discharge the refrigerant in the housing;   a radiator connected to the discharge pipe and configured to lower a temperature of the refrigerant;   an inlet pipe supplying the refrigerant discharged from the radiator to the housing; and   a circulation pump disposed in one of the discharge pipe and the inlet pipe.   
     
     
         8 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger, 
 wherein the radiator is configured to exchange heat with the heat exchanger of the refrigeration cycle. 
 
     
     
         9 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein
 the radiator is configured to exchange heat with a Peltier effect device comprising a heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant cooling device comprises a plurality of Peltier effect devices each comprising a heat exchanger disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein
 the refrigerant cooling device comprises a Peltier effect cooling device comprising a heat exchanger configured to cool the plurality of Peltier effect devices.   
     
     
         12 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant comprises water.   
     
     
         13 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the housing is disposed to be inclined with respect to a reference plane.   
     
     
         14 . The beverage cooling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the beverage container; 
 a beverage recognition sensor configured to recognize a type of beverage contained in the beverage container; and 
 at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to control the refrigerant control device according to the temperature of the beverage container transmitted from the temperature sensor and the type of beverage transmitted from the beverage recognition sensor, to control the contact area between the flexible side surface of the container receiving portion and the beverage container, and cooling the beverage to the specified temperature and maintaining the temperature of the cooled beverage. 
 
     
     
         15 . A home appliance comprising:
 the beverage cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 .