(57) A unit useful for the rapid chilliing and/or freezing of small articles, such as
beverage cans, other perishable items, other articles desired to be chilled or frozen,
and the like products, including an insulated container (40) with a lid.(41) therefor,
a refrigerator unit (101), heat removing coils (16) disposed within a holding tank
for liquid coolant (38); a product chamber (12) above, below or near the coolant holding
tank; a pump (18) to move the coolant (38) to or away from the product chamber (12);
various means to draw the fluid in or out of the product chamber by means of solenoid
valves (44A, 448) or drain holes (37); a vibrator (22), air blast, rinse cycle to
remove undesirable residues; and timer means (5) for controlling the length of time
the coolant is within the product and the length of the drain cycle.
The method of rapidly chilling or freezing articles comprising the steps of: chilling
a liquid (38) substantially below the freezing temperature of water by refrigeration
evaporator coils, said liquid having a very low sruface tension, and low residue depositing,
such as the family of liquid fluorocarbon chemicals, various alcohol and wter formulations
ranging from 40% to 60% alcohol which has properties similar to the family of liquid
flurocarbons, being non toxic and nearly odorless, immersing the article to be chilled
or frozen into the liquid for a desired period of time, and removing said article
therefrom; or in the event of other coolants than those mentioned above are used which
leave an undesirable residue, incorporating a rinse cycle to wash away the residue.
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