| CPC B67D 1/0859 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0009 (2013.01); B67D 1/0014 (2013.01); B67D 2001/1259 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A rapid water-chilling system for use in a water dispenser, comprising:
a closed-cycle refrigeration system for a first refrigerant, wherein the closed-cycle refrigeration system includes a set of first refrigerant tubing that carries the first refrigerant, and the first refrigerant changes states between a liquid and a gas in the closed-cycle refrigeration system;
a chilling tank having a first chamber and a second chamber that are in fluid communication with one another, wherein:
disposed within the first chamber of the chilling tank are:
a second refrigerant that exists solely in a liquid state in the chilling tank; and
a plurality of first refrigerant coils formed from a portion of the set of first refrigerant tubing that carry the first refrigerant inside the chilling tank;
wherein, in use, the plurality of first refrigerant coils refrigerates the second refrigerant;
disposed within the second chamber of the chilling tank are:
a cold water storage tank; and
a plurality of water inlet coils;
a circulation pump for pumping the second refrigerant; wherein the circulation pump is in fluid communication with the first chamber of the chilling tank and the second chamber of the chilling tank for circulating the second refrigerant from the first chamber to the second chamber;
wherein, in use, the first refrigerant chills the second refrigerant and, when activated, the circulation pump pumps the second refrigerant from the first chamber to the second chamber of the chilling tank to put the second refrigerant in contact with an outside of the cold water storage tank and an outside of the plurality of water coils to chill water contained within each; and
wherein, after contacting the outside of the cold water storage tank and the outside of the plurality of water coils, the second refrigerant returns to the first chamber of the chilling tank.
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