Heating or cooling containers

• Main Authors: SABBIR AHMED BHAM, MOHAMMED MOBIN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.08.2006
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES; BLASTING; COFFEE MILLS; COLD ROOMS; COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; FURNITURE; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; ICE-BOXES; KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RANGES; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SPICE MILLS; STORING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VENTILATING; WEAPONS

A self-heating or self-cooling container for food or drink comprises inner and outer vessels (1,2) defining a reaction cell between their mutually facing walls. The reaction cell is divided into first and second chambers (3,4) by a rupturable membrane (5). A liquid chemical reagent (17) is filled into the second chamber (4) which is at ambient pressure and a solid chemical reagent (19) is placed in the first chamber (3) which is at sub-atmospheric pressure. The chemicals are chosen for their exothermic or endothermic heats of reaction after rupture of the membrane, and preferably result in a solid or semi-solid porous residue. The sub-atmospheric pressure in the first chamber (3) causes a rapid and thorough mixing of the chemical reagents, and shaking the container after the initial rupture of the membrane assists that rapid mixing. Preferably the second chamber (4) is elastically deformable to increase its internal volume, for example being formed with corrugated walls. That makes it possible to form the reaction cell as a totally sealed volume. Alternatively the reaction cell may be provided with pressure relief valve means. The use of a sub-atmospheric pressure in the first chamber permits the design of the container so that the contents of the inner vessel can be raised from ambient to 85{C to 90{C within three minutes, or alternatively cooled from ambient to 5{C within the same or a shorter time. The base of the second chamber (4) may be formed by a domed wall (14). A temperature-responsive ink marking on the wall (14) indicates when the contents of the container have reached a recommended drinking temperature.