University of Missouri

Michael Merwin

Hongbin Ma

Hao Bai

Robert Riegler

Christopher Vincent

Xiaoqin Liu

Adalberto Aviles

Tingting Hao

Chris Vincent

Susan Liu

The present disclosure generally provides an oscillating heat pipe, wherein the oscillating heat pipe comprises a 3-phase working fluid that includes at least one liquid phase portion, at least one vapor phase portion, and at least one solid phase portion, wherein in addition to a phase change between liquid and vapor, there is also a phase change from solid to liquid during a heat transfer process involving the oscillating heat pipe.

Three-phase oscillating heat pipe

A heat exchanging thermal liquid container system that comprises a main body at least partially defining a liquid reservoir structured and operable to retain a liquid, and a phase change material (PCM) liner comprising a PCM liner PCM having a selected melting temperature, and/or at least one PCM pod. Each of the at least one PCM pod(s) comprising a respective PCM pod PCM having a respective selected melting temperature. Wherein the PCM liner and/or the at least one PCM pod are disposable within the liquid reservoir such that when a liquid is disposed within the liquid reservoir the liquid will contact at least one of the PCM liner and the at least one PCM pod such that thermal energy can be exchanged between the liquid and the respective at least one of the PCM liner PCM and the at least one PCM pod PCM.

Heat exchanging thermal liquid container

A drinking container system with multiple temperature zones, wherein the container system includes a main body having a sidewall and a bottom that define a phase change material (PCM) module receptacle, and a phase change material (PCM) module having a sidewall that defines a beverage chamber. The PCM module is disposable within the PCM module receptacle such that a beverage egress flow path is defined between the main body sidewall and the PCM module sidewall. The flow path formed in the container can make the beverage achieve the desired drinking temperature. The PCM module sidewall is at least partially filled with a phase change material and is structured and operable to provide a plurality temperature zones within the beverage chamber. Each temperature zone is operable to maintain a temperature of a respective portion of a liquid disposed within the beverage chamber within a respective temperature range.

Drinking container with different temperature zones

A beverage container lid comprising a body having drinking hole and an air hole, and a slide-seal automatic Open and Close retention mechanism that comprises a sealing arm pivotally connected to the body, a movement and position retention linkage structured and operable to move the sealing arm between an Opened and a Closed position, a control mechanism slidingly disposed within the body and operably connected to the movement and position retention linkage such that movement of the control mechanism will control movement of the sealing arm between the Opened and Closed positions, and a biasing device structured and operable to exert constant force on the sealing arm, such that force exerted by the biasing device in combination with the structure and operation of the movement and position retention linkage will selectively retain the sealing arm in the Opened position and in the Closed position.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MO, United States of America

Michael Merwin