NL1029083C2 - Device for cooling objects, in particular a cooling jacket for beverage containers. - Google Patents

Description

Device for cooling objects, in particular a cooling jacket for beverage containers. "

The invention relates to a cooling device. The invention relates in particular to a cooling device for articles, in which cooling device can be stored cold energy which can be gradually released.

In practice, cooling devices such as icepacks are known which can be placed in a refrigerator or freezer for some time, whereby cold energy can be stored which can later be released when the cooling device is held against an object, surface or body part to be cooled. The temperature of the cooling device in question will thereby increase by absorbing heat from the surface to be cooled, as a result of which the temperature of that surface will drop. The simplest and most common solution of such a cooling device is the use of water in a foil bag or plastic container. By placing it in a freezer, the water will freeze. During later use, the ice thus formed will melt slowly by absorbing heat from the environment and in particular the surface against which the ice is held.

This known cooling device has the advantage that a relatively large amount of cold energy can be stored. However, a disadvantage of this is that ice is not flexible. As a result, optimum contact cannot be obtained and the ice retained against a surface to be cooled. In particular not if this surface is not completely flat. As a result, poor heat conduction and thus a suboptimal heat transfer is obtained. A lot of energy will therefore be lost during use.

It has already been proposed to solve this problem by using a Potassium or Sodium saline solution in 1029083 2 such cooling devices, often in a gel-like mass. These masses form a eutectic that can be controlled by the concentration of the saline solution relative to an eutectic temperature to be achieved. In such masses, ice crystals are formed at the eutectic temperature which harden the gel-like mass and do not render optimally deformable. During the thawing of this mass, the temperature remains substantially the same, around said eutectic temperature. As a result, good temperature control is possible for a relatively short time.

The invention has for its object to provide a cooling device of the type described in the introduction, wherein at least a number of the said drawbacks of known cooling devices are avoided, or at least reduced.

More in particular, the invention aims at providing such a device with which a good thermal contact can be obtained and maintained between the device and a surface to be cooled, at least object.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooling device of the type described in the introduction, with which good temperature control is possible for a relatively long time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described in the introduction, with which temperature differences in a surface to be cooled, at least an object can be set and / or maintained.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device with which surfaces, at least objects or media arranged therein can be cooled in a particularly simple manner, which device is easy to place and can be applied to various types of surfaces and / or objects to be cooled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of a cooling device and an object to be cooled, in particular a container to be cooled containing a medium such as a liquid, gas, paste or solid, mixture, solution, suspension, dispersion or other combination thereof. The construction is also suitable for cooling body parts of people and / or animals, for example when there is an injury.

At least a number of these and other objects are achieved with a device and / or assembly according to the invention.

A cooling device according to the present invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.

In a cooling device according to the invention, a first and a second medium are provided in a casing. The first medium has a freezing point that is lower than the freezing point of the second medium. The first and second medium are at least designed such that when the cooling device is placed in a freezer the first medium will freeze later than the second medium or will not freeze in its entirety or even freeze at all, while the second medium will freeze , will at least substantially freeze. As a result, use can be made in a particularly advantageous manner of the heat storage capacity, at least the cooling capacity of the second medium, while the first medium will not cure, at least not completely, by freezing and will therefore remain deformable. As a result, a particularly good adaptation of the shape of the envelope can be obtained, while a particularly good cooling capacity is nevertheless achieved.

Because at least two masses are used in a device according to the invention, namely a first and a second medium, the advantage is achieved that a medium can be used which can freeze almost completely and thereby become hard in shape and in which particularly large cooling capacity can be realized, while the other medium remains relatively soft, at least liquid or gel-like and deformable and can follow the shape of a surface to be cooled.

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Cooling device in this context should be understood to mean at least a device that can be placed in a cold environment, such that the device can assume the temperature of that environment, so that a cooling capacity is stored in the device that can be attached to a surface to be cooled. delivered, preferably without having to be supplied with an external energy source.

A eutectic mixture is preferably used for at least one of the media, whereby a predetermined temperature can be maintained for a relatively long time.

As the second medium, for example, water can be used that can easily freeze. Ice has a particularly advantageous capacity for storing cold energy, with which a large cooling capacity can be obtained. The first medium can be, for example, a gel-like mass known per se, a solution of Na or K salts or a water / glycol mixture.

In an advantageous embodiment, a cooling device according to the invention is characterized by the features according to claim 3.

In such an embodiment, the second medium is received in a second part of the cooling device, surrounded by or in contact with a first part in which the first medium is included. Incidentally, several first and second parts can of course also be provided. Such a device offers the advantage that the first and second medium can be easily separated from one another by arranging the first medium in the first part and the second medium in the second part. Of course, in an alternative embodiment, the first and second medium can also be used interchangeably.

Preferably, the or each first part and the or each second part are positioned relative to each other and / or the casing such that the first parts can be applied to a surface to be cooled during use, possibly with the intervention of a wall of the envelope, while the or each second part is shielded by the or a first part thereof. Cold will therefore always be transferred from the cold second part to the surface to be cooled, at least heat will be extracted from that surface via at least the first medium. Incidentally, a portion, in particular a relatively small portion of the second medium, may of course also be situated against or near the surface to be cooled.

It is preferable that the second medium has a high cold storage capacity with respect to the first medium and preferably moreover a high thermal conductivity coefficient.

The first medium is preferably a gel or gel-readable medium, in particular at temperatures at which the second medium freezes. Preferably, the first and second medium are selected such that at an ambient temperature of less than 4 ° C, more particularly between 0 and -30 ° C, even more particularly between 0 and -25 ° C, the second medium does and the first medium does not freeze, or at least does not freeze completely.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment the cooling device is provided with an at least flexible jacket, at least on a side thereof which is turned inwards during use, at least the side which is intended to abut against the surface or object to be cooled, so that it is can optimally mold to a surface to be cooled. Even when this is double curved.

The first medium preferably comprises solid particles, in particular solid metal particles such as, for example, flakes. In particular, relatively small aluminum particles can be used. Such solid particles offer the advantage that the cold transfer through the first medium is improved, while remaining sufficiently flexible, also at low temperatures.

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In a further advantageous embodiment, the solid particles are not uniformly distributed over the first medium, or at least not provided in the same concentration everywhere in the device. As a result, for example, the cold transfer can be influenced locally, so that a first part of a surface to be cooled is cooled faster or, conversely, slower than another part thereof. For example, when the device for cooling a beverage container is used, a lower portion of the container can be cooled faster than an upper portion, so that cooled beverage can be drained relatively quickly from a lower portion of the container.

The device can be provided with, in particular, a series of mutually coupled first and / or second parts filled with the first and / or the second medium. The said parts during use preferably form a tubular cooling device which can for instance be slid over a container or other surface to be cooled. The device can be substantially strip-shaped and can be folded into a tubular shape with the aid of closing means such as Velcro® (Velcro).

As a result, the device can always be adjusted to a desired size and connect well to it.

The invention furthermore relates to an assembly of a cooling device according to the invention and a container containing a medium to be cooled, in particular a beverage.

The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a cooling device.

The invention furthermore relates to a use of at least two different media, at least masses with different freezing points.

The subclaims give a number of further advantageous embodiments of a cooling device, assembly, method and use according to the invention.

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For a better understanding of the invention, a number of embodiments of the invention will be further described with reference to the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1 is a view, partially in section, of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the invention, viewed from a side facing a cooling surface during use, in a flat state;

FIG. 2 the device according to FIG. 1, from a side turned out during use; FIG. 3 schematically a top sectional view of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGs. 4A-4C a cooling device whose inner jacket and outer jacket are detachably connected to each other.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a device similar to that of FIG. 1, with an alternative embodiment of a compartment thereof; FIG. 6 shows a cooling device in perspective view according to an embodiment of the invention, placed around a container, and

FIGs. 7A and 7B show an alternative variant of the cooling device according to the invention.

In this description, the same or corresponding parts have the same or corresponding reference numerals. The embodiments shown and described should not be construed as being limitative in any way and are merely illustrative. The embodiments shown assume a cooling device for cooling a beverage container, for example a substantially cylindrical or barrel-shaped container, but other objects and body parts can also be cooled with such a or comparable cooling device.

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FIG. 1 shows a cooling device 1 according to the invention, from a side facing inwards during use, wherein "inwards" is to be understood to mean a side that faces a surface to be cooled during use. Opposite it will be referred to as "outwards". FIG. 2 shows the same device 1 from the outside. It is clear that the device 1 can be brought into a flat state, for example a strip which is provided with first closing means 3 at one end 2, while the opposite end 4 is provided with second closing means 5 which are adapted to cooperate with the first closing means 3. The first and second closing means 3, 5 can for instance be designed as Velcro, for example Velcro® 15 strips. As a result, the strip can be brought into a closed position, for example cylindrical around a bottle, vessel or the like.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a device 1 according to FIGs. 1 and 2, in section. The device 1 comprises an inner jacket 6 and an outer jacket 7. The inner jacket 6 is shown in FIG. 3 fixed to the outer jacket 7 on mutually spaced connections 8, for example shaft connections 9 in the form of linear welds. A first part in the form of a chamber 10 is formed between the inner casing 6 and the outer casing 7 between each two adjacent welds 9, closed on or near a bottom and top side 11, 12 of the device 1 because the inner casing 6 and outer jacket 7 are fixed to each other by means of a welded connection 9. A second part is provided within each chamber 30, for example a cylindrical chamber 13 which is closed in itself and optionally fixed to a bottom side 11 and top side 12. Of course, different first chambers 10 with second chambers 13 therein can also be provided both next to and above each other.

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The outer jacket 7 is preferably thermally insulating. For example, the outer casing 7 can! are made of plastic. In the embodiment shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the outer casing 7 is constructed as a sandwich with an outer layer 18 and an inner layer 19 with an insulating layer between them, for example a foam layer 20. For example, an inner layer 19 and / or an outer layer 18 of PE - foil with an aluminum coating can be manufactured while the intermediate layer can be made from PE-10 foam. The inner layer 19 can also be made at least in part from a slightly or substantially moisture-absorbent material to prevent condensation from leaving the device 1, which can be detrimental to the cooling capacity. The jacket 7 can be somewhat elastic. The inner jacket 6 is preferably slightly elastic, for example from foil, in particular PE or PA foil or a foil made from a PE / PA mixture. Of course, other materials can also be used, provided they are resistant to the desired temperatures. As a result of the elasticity of at least the inner jacket 6, the cooling device can adapt well to a surface to be cooled. The outer casing 7, at least one or more layers thereof, is preferably suitable for being provided with visually perceptible expressions, for example graphic expressions, such as advertising expressions comprising punctuation marks and / or figures, logos, etc. by means of a printing process or a printing process. another application process.

The first chamber 10 is filled around the second chamber 13 with a first medium 14. The second chamber is filled with a second medium 15. The second medium 15 has a freezing point higher than that of the first medium 14. Freezing point serves these are to be understood as a temperature or temperature range at which the medium in question freezes.

It is important that during use when the device 1 is cooled down considerably, the first medium 14 is not yet frozen, or at least not yet completely, when the second medium 15 has already been frozen, has at least assumed a fixed form.

The second medium is preferably chosen such that it has a freezing point that is between 0 and 5-20 ° C, more in particular between 0 and -15 ° C. The second medium is preferably selected such that it has a freezing point below -5 ° C, more particularly below -8 ° C. The first and / or the second medium 14, 15 are preferably designed as eutectic media. In particular, the first medium 14 is preferably a eutectic medium. As a result, a preselected temperature can be obtained for a surface to be cooled in a simple manner.

The first medium 14 preferably contains solid particles 17, for example metal flakes, in particular aluminum flakes. Thereby, the thermal conductivity of the first medium 14 can be increased considerably. For example, water has a heat conductivity coefficient of approximately 0.60 W / mK, ice approximately 2.1 W / mK and aluminum approximately 220 W / mK. Loose particles 17 are preferably designed as flakes that can move freely through each other through the first medium, but can also lie against each other.

The second medium is preferably a critical eutectic mixture or preferably water, in particular distilled water. A water / glycol mixture can be used as the first medium or, for example, a K and / or Na salt solution. The first medium 14 consists of, for example, 15% glycol, 83% water and 2% thickener. The second medium consists, for example, of 100% water. The first and / or second medium can be somewhat gel-shaped, so that the medium in question is prevented from flowing away if one of the jackets 6, 7 has a small hole.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows each chamber 10, at least every second chamber 13, therein a series of compartments 21, for example eight one above the other, i.e. in a series between the bottom side 11 and top side 1029083 11 12. As a result, the first medium 14 and / or or second medium 15 in each of the compartments 21 are of different design. For example, compartments 21 near the underside 11 can be provided with a larger cooling capacity; of more metal flakes or of a different ratio in volume between first part 10 and second part 13 than in more compartments 21 located near the upper side 12, or conversely. As a result, the cooling caused by the device 10 can be influenced locally. In each chamber 10, a portion 22 of the volume is preferably occupied by a gas, in particular air, whereby deformations and in particular volume changes of the first 10 and / or second chamber 13 can be absorbed.

FIGs. 4A-4C show an alternative embodiment of the device 100, wherein this device 100 comprises an inner jacket 102 and an outer jacket 103 which can be releasably attached to each other. The inner jacket 102 includes chambers 110 which are similar to the chambers 10 in Figs. 1-3 can be performed. The chambers 110 provided with a first medium 114 enclose a second chamber 113 provided with a second medium 115. The chambers 110 can be closed on both sides by a layer 106, for example, from foil, in particular PE or PA foil or a foil made from a PE / PA mixture. The outer jacket 103 may, for example, consist of layers 118, 119, 120, similar to the layers 18, 19, 20 shown in FIG. 3.

The detachability of the inner jacket 102 has the advantage that it takes up less space in, for example, a freezer compartment, than if the entire device 100 were to be cooled therein. The detachability also offers the advantage that different outer jackets 103 provided with different graphic images (e.g. advertising) can be applied while the same inner jacket 102 can be used.

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Various variants are conceivable for attaching the inner jacket 102 and the outer jacket 103 of the device 100 to each other. In the variant shown, cords 104, applied to the outer jacket 103, are applied which are passed between the chambers 110 as shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4B shows the single outer jacket 103 on the side facing the inner jacket 102, provided with the cords 104. Of course, the cords 104 need not necessarily be passed between each of the chambers 110. Alternative attachment variants include the use of elastic cords, snap fasteners, etc.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of compartments 21 of a device 1, wherein the walls 23 of the compartments extending between the bottom side 11 and the top side 12, which can be formed by the connections 9, such as seals or welded connections, are formed such that these can easily follow a change in distance between the top side 12 and the bottom side 11 and / or in the width direction. For this purpose the walls 23 are provided with a curved middle part 24.

In FIG. 6, a device 1 according to the invention is shown, arranged around an object 25, 25 to be cooled, for example a wine, beer or soft drink bottle. The device is tightly wrapped around the outer surface 26 of the object 25 as much as possible, so that the inner jacket 6 abuts it as much as possible. Due to the elasticity and possibly the deformability of the compartments 21, chambers 10 and 13 and the jackets 6 and 7, this is well possible. The device is secured around the object by the cooperating closing means 3, 5.

Prior to placing the cooling device 1 as shown in FIG. 6, the entire device 1 is placed in a further cooling device, such as a refrigerator or freezer, in which there is a low temperature, preferably a temperature below 0 ° C, more particularly less than -4 ° C, but above the freezing temperature of the first medium 14. The first medium 14 will thereby cool strongly but will not freeze, or at least not completely freeze. Preferably, the first medium 14 is and remains gel-shaped and thus deformable. The second medium 15 is cooled indirectly, by the surrounding first medium 14, possibly assisted by the presence of the solid particles 17, and will freeze at the ambient ambient temperature 10. As a result, a particularly high cold capacity is obtained, in particular stored in, or at least obtainable by, the second medium 15.

After at least the second medium 15 has been partially and preferably completely frozen, the device 1 is taken out of the further cooling device and arranged around the object to be cooled, as shown in FIG. 5. Because the first medium 14 is still at least partially and preferably completely liquid, at least gel-shaped, this can simply follow the shape of the surface of the object to be cooled, whereby a particularly good contact between the inner jacket 6 and said surface is obtained and retain. As a result, energy can be transferred in an optimum manner, so that the object 25 can be properly cooled. The second medium 15 mainly provides for the cold supply, the first medium essentially for the cold transport. Particularly if said particles 17 are included therein, a particularly good conductivity is obtained. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the cooling capacity of a device 1 according to the invention 30 appears to be largely the result of the heat of melting of the second medium 15. When eutectic media are used, the advantage is achieved that the object can be brought quickly to a preselected, desired temperature and can be held thereon for a longer time. For example, for white wine, a cooling temperature of, for example, 1029083 14 10 ° C can be set, for beer, for example, 6 ° C and for ice cream, for example, 0 ° C.

For a good understanding of the invention, an example of construction and dimensions of a device according to the invention will be given in more detail, which, however, is only given as an illustration and should in no way be construed as limiting.

A device 1 according to the invention has, for example, a width B1 between the first end 2 and second end 4 of approximately 690 mm and a height H1 between bottom side 11 and top side 12 of, for example, 250 mm.

All connections 9 have, for example, a width of approximately 10 mm. With eight compartments per chamber 10 and twelve chambers 10 next to each other, as shown in Figs. 1, 15, each chamber therefore has a height H2 of approximately 230 mm and a width B2 of approximately 45 mm. Each compartment 21 then has a height H3 of approximately 30 mm. The inner sheath 6 is made of thin, strong PE / PA film, while the outer sheath 7 is about 3-5 mm thick multilayer 20, comprising an inner layer 18 and outer layer 19 of aluminum-coated PE foil with a PE foam layer 20 glued in between The outer casing 7 can also be designed only as a film, identical to or similar to the inner casing 6. Each chamber 10 has a thickness D1, measured perpendicular to the outer casing 7 of, for example, approximately 20 mm, with the second chamber 13 having therein a width B3 of approximately 30 mm and a thickness D2 of approximately 12 mm. The second chamber 13 is preferably slightly oval in cross-section and, for example, is made from extrusion tube 30 of PE foil with a cross-section of approximately 18 mm. The compartments 21 are provided therein by, for example, seal seams 27. The first medium is, for example, a Na and / or K salt solution containing aluminum flakes 17 and a gel-gelling agent, while the second medium 15 is, for example, distilled water. At room temperature 1029083, for example, about 10% of the total volume of each first and second chamber 10, 13 is filled with air.

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown and described in the description and drawings. Many variations thereof are possible within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

A device according to the invention can for instance comprise a different number of first and / or second chambers, whether or not provided with compartments. The first and second parts, in particular chambers 10, 13 can also lie on top of each other instead of the second part 13 surrounded by the first part 10. Other media, whether or not eutectic, can be used for the first and / or second medium, While the first and second medium can also be mixed in one space. With such a solution, ice crystals of the second medium are formed in the first medium, while the latter is still liquid or gel-shaped! is at least deformable. Other solid particles 17 can be incorporated in the media, in particular in the first medium, for example ceramic particles. Other closing means can be used, while the jackets 6! and 7 can also be made closed in themselves, so that the device 1 is, for example, cylindrical and can be arranged by elastic deformation of the jackets 6, 7 around an object to be cooled.

These and many comparable variations, including all combinations of parts of the embodiments shown, are understood to fall under the invention.

An easily manufactured variant is shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, in which the second medium 15 is arranged in a second chamber 13, which second chamber 13 is shaped as a receptacle that fits into a first chamber 10 for the first medium 14. The whole is sealed by an outer jacket 7 1029083. The outer jacket 7 and the first chamber 10 and second chamber 13 are secured at a weld 9.

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Claims (23)

1. Cooling device for cooling objects, comprising an envelope containing a first and a second medium, the first medium having a freezing point located below the freezing point of the second medium, wherein at least the first medium at a temperature at which the second medium is frozen mainly in liquid form or, preferably, is gel-shaped. 2. Cooling device according to claim 1, wherein at least the first or the second medium is a eutectic mixture. 3. Cooling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one first part and at least one second part are provided, wherein the or each second part lies at least partially against and / or is surrounded by a first part and the first part is filled with the first medium and the second part with second medium, wherein preferably the second medium has a high cold storage capacity relative to the first medium and can be brought into a frozen state and has a high cold conductivity in the frozen state. Cooling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least the second medium is a eutectic medium and / or water. 5. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein at least the first medium is a gel or gel-readable medium. Cooling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second medium are eutectic media. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the first part has a first jacket part that is flexible in such a way that it can form against a double-curved surface to be cooled during use. 1029083 8. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein with temporary storage of the cooling jacket at an ambient temperature of less than 4 ° C (277K), in particular at a temperature between -30 and 0 ° C, more in particular between -25 and 0 ° C the second medium freezes almost completely and the first medium remains at least partially flexible. 9. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein at least the first medium comprises relatively small solid particles. Cooling device according to claim 9, wherein said solid particles comprise metal particles, in particular flakes, preferably at least aluminum particles. Cooling device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein in a part of the first medium, at least the first part, a concentration of said particles is provided that is higher than in at least one adjacent part. 12. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the first part and / or the second part is subdivided into compartments and / or a series of first parts is mutually connected to form a cylindrical sleeve. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the device has an outside which is provided with a thermal insulation and an inside which is made from a thermally well-conducting material. 3 0 14. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein in at least the first medium near a bottom side of the device is provided with heat-conducting particles, in particular metal particles in a concentration higher than a higher one! 35 portion of the device. 11 0 29 08 3! 15. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the casing is mantle-shaped and on an outward facing side is at least partially elastic for obtaining an inwardly directed force vector during use. 16. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein said casing is substantially strip-shaped and can be made into a tubular shape with the aid of closing means such as Velcro. A cooling device according to one or more, wherein at least one side, preferably an outwardly facing side, of the cooling device is adapted to contain visually perceptible expressions, such as advertising expressions. 18. Cooling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device comprises an inner jacket adapted to hold the first and second medium and an outer jacket which is detachably attachable to the inner jacket. 19. Cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the cooling device comprises a moisture-absorbing layer adapted to at least partially absorb condensation moisture from the cooling direction. 20. Assembly of a cooling device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims and a container with a medium to be cooled therein, in particular beverage, wherein the cooling device with at least a part of the casing at least a part of a circumferential wall of the container and closely abuts against it, wherein at least a portion of the first medium abuts against the portion of the enclosure that fits tightly around said container. 21. Assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said casing is at least partially elastic and can be placed as a sleeve over said container, with elastic deformation of said 1029083 casing such that it is pulled against said container under the application of an inwardly directed force vector , under close connection. 22. Method of forming a cooling device, wherein at least a first and a second medium are arranged in a casing, the first medium having a freezing point lower than that of the second medium and preferably being a eutectic medium. 23. Use of two media with different freezing points for the formation of a cooling device. 1029083