EVAPORATOR / ENGINE ASSEMBLY FAN SUPPORT CLAMP DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to supporting a fan and motor assembly in general and, more particularly, to a clamp for supporting an evaporator fan and the associated motor in a Limited flow passage of a refrigerated vending machine. The refrigerated vending machines have a cooling system therewith to provide the cooled environment within an interior space of refrigerated product defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated vending machine. Refrigeration systems of such refrigerated vending machines commonly employ a conventional refinery cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively associated with the cooled product interior space of the refrigerated cabinet, as well as a condenser, a condenser and compressor fan. . In stand-alone cabinets, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in a separate equipment compartment and isolated from the refrigerated product interior of the refrigerated cabinet. A refrigerant is circulated through a compressor through the refrigerant lines that connect the compressor, condenser and evaporator in a form
conventional to form a closed circuit. The air inside the refrigerated product interior space insulated from the refrigerated cabinet is circulated through the evaporator fan through the evaporator in relation to the heat exchange with the refrigerant to cool the air. The evaporator and the evaporator fan can be arranged inside the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the upper region thereof. However, it is well known that the evaporator and the evaporator fan can also be housed in the equipment compartment in a section of the isolated equipment compartment of the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated vending machines of this type can be used as product display cabinets for refrigerated or frozen products, such as vending machines, and as vending machines for cold beverages in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and others. retail establishments. For example, cold drinks, such as sodas, beer, pralines, etc. they are commonly sold on refrigerated vending machines for self-service purchases by customers. Conventional beverage vending machines of this type include an insulated cabinet defining an indoor refrigerated product display space having one or more glass doors that
they provide access to that product display space. The beverage product, typically in cans or bottles, single or six-pack, is stored on shelves within the refrigerated display area of the cabinet. To buy a drink, the customer opens one of the doors and reaches the refrigerated cabinet to retrieve the desired product from the shelf. Refrigerated vending machines equipped with cooling units arranged in the refrigerated cabinet are described, for example, by Rudick et al. in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,347,827; 5,402,654; 5,417,079; and 5,417,081. In these refrigerated vending machines, the refrigerated air of the refrigeration unit flows to the equipment compartment through a flow conduit along the rear wall of the cabinet, along the upper wall of the cabinet towards the front from the cabinet to the front of the cabinet to the floor, also referred to as the bottom cover of the product display area. The cooled air can also enter the product display area from the backflow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display area. The refrigerated air from the product display area returns to the refrigeration unit through an opening of
air return inlet through the cabinet floor. It has been recognized that mounting the components of the refrigeration unit on a platform that can be slid in and out of the equipment compartment arranged in the lower part of the display cabinet makes the refrigeration unit more accessible for cleaning and other services. For example, U.S. Patent 5,678,421, aynard et al., Discloses a refrigerated vending machine having a modular refrigeration unit that can be removed from a compartment at the bottom of the cabinet to facilitate service. The condenser and its associated fan are mounted on the front end of a lower tray. The evaporator and its associated fan are mounted on the rear side of a vertical screen that mounts to the rear end of the condenser fan capacitor / rear tray. The motor that drives the evaporator fan is mounted on the screen by means of a generally U-shaped plate that has side tabs that are screwed into the screen. Although effective to support the evaporator fan and motor assembly, a plate clamp presents a relatively high drag on the air flowing to the evaporator fan. In addition, the air flowing past a relatively large plate mounting bracket
It can generate an undesirable level of noise. It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a clamp of relatively low profile to support a motor that drives an evaporator fan. It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a clamp for supporting a motor that drives an evaporator fan that has a relatively low drag characteristic. It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a clamp for supporting a motor that drives an evaporator fan having a relatively low noise characteristic. It is an object of a further aspect of the invention to provide an improved mounting fan, motor and clamp assembly. A clamp is provided for mounting a multi-vane fan and its associated motor in a support member. The clamp has a body having a plurality of extremities extending externally therefrom. The limbs are arranged in a symmetrical relationship with respect to the plurality of fan blades of several blades. The limbs may also be unequal in number to the plurality of fan blades. In one embodiment, the clamp includes a body
generally in T-shape having a longitudinally extending member and a transverse member extending laterally to the longitudinally extending member, a first extremity extends externally of and the longitudinally extending member, a second extremity extending externally of a first end of the transverse member, and a third end extending externally of a second end of the transverse member laterally opposite the first end of the transverse member. Each limb may have a leg extending externally therefrom, each leg having a hole therethrough to receive a fastener for mounting the clamp on the support member. In a further aspect of the invention, a fan, motor and clamp assembly is provided which includes a motor having a drive shaft, a fan having a plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially around and extending externally of a fan hub central mounted on the motor drive shaft, and a clamp having a body adapted to mount the motor therein. The clamp has a body having a plurality of extremities that extend externally therefrom, each limb adapted to be mounted on a structure of
support. The ends are arranged in an asymmetric arrangement with respect to the plurality of fan blades and are unequal in number to the number of fan blades. In one embodiment of the fan, motor and clamp assembly, the clamp includes a generally T-shaped body having a longitudinally extending member and a transverse member extending laterally to the longitudinally extending member, a first end that is extends externally from one end of the longitudinally extending member, a second externally extending end of a first end of the transverse member, and a third externally extending end of a second end of transverse member laterally opposite the first end of the transverse member . At least one hole is provided in the body to receive a fastener for mounting the motor in the body. Each limb has a leg extending therefrom having a hole therethrough to receive a fastener for mounting the clamp on the support member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a further understanding of these and the objects of the invention, reference will now be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is
read together with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view in section of a refrigerated vending machine equipped with a refrigeration unit cartridge mounted in the lower part; Figure 2 is a side elevation view in section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a refrigeration unit cartridge of Figure 1 showing a pair of evaporator / motor fan assemblies mounted thereon; Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a fan, motor and clamp assembly according to the invention; Figure 5 is an extreme elevation view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4 with the engine for clarity and illustration; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the support bracket of the present invention shown in Figures 4 and 5; and Figure 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the support bracket of the present invention. Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, a beverage vending machine is represented.
refrigerated cold, generally designated by the reference number 10, which includes interior product display space 100 to contain the product 110 to be purchased, such as for example bottled or canned soda, milk, water, juices, fruit drinks, beers and other drinks. Although the invention will be described herein with reference to the embodiment shown of a refrigerated cold beverage vending machine, it will be understood that the invention can be applied to other refrigerated display vending machines for displaying perishable and frozen comestibles and beverages, including for example meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, pre-packaged frozen foods, and other products that need to be maintained in a controlled environment. The beverage vending machine 10 includes a cabinet 20 defining an interior refrigerated product display space 100 and separate equipment compartment 55 disposed separately from, and which may be heat transfer isolated from, the interior refrigerated product display space 100. . The cabinet 20 has upper wall 22 and a surrounding side wall structure including a rear wall 34, a front wall 32, and lateral walls 36 and 38 extending generally and vertically opposite. The cabinet also includes a bottom wall 24 disposed between the inner space 100 of
refrigerated product display located below it and the equipment compartment 55 located thereon. The interior product display space 100 can be exceeded from the exterior of the cabinet 20 through an access opening, which in the mode represented is an open area in the front of the cabinet. This open area can be opened to the environment or covered, as in the embodiment shown, by at least one door 40 mounted in the cabinet 20. The door 40 extends through the open area and has a transparent display area, for example a panel of glass, through which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 can be observed. The door 40 can be selectively placed between a closed position covering the open area and an open position in which customers can access the interior product display space 100 to remove a product for purchase. Although the mode of the display vending machine 10 represented in the drawing only has a door 40, it will be understood that the display vending machine may have one, two or three or more doors that collectively cover the open area when in the closed position. . The door or doors 40 can be mounted in the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, for example in hinges for pivoting movement or in a sliding guide for sliding movement between the hinges.
open and closed positions. In the embodiment shown, the upper wall 22, the lower wall 24, the rear wall 34 and the side walls 36 and 38 are the isolated heat transfer to isolate the interior space of the refrigerated product display 100, in the external environment of the space 100 product display interior. A plurality of shelves 112 are disposed within the interior product display space 100. The shelves 112 are appropriately adapted to support the particular product 100 that is displayed for purchase. The specific number, arrangement and configuration of shelves 112 is not related to the invention and is within the experience of someone skilled in the art selecting the particular product that is e > h? be. A rear panel 134 is provided internally spaced from the rear side wall 34 to establish, in part, a chute 104 for supplying cooled air between the rear side wall 34 and a rear panel 134. The interior product display space 100 within the refrigerated interior of the display cabinet 20 is linked by the upper wall 22, the lower wall 24, the side walls 36, 38, and in part by each of the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134. In the embodiment shown, the refrigerated air enters the
product display space 100 for cooling the product exhibited therein partly through an air outlet 109 at the upper end of the air supply duct 104 and partly through a plurality of openings 135 provided in the panel 134 later. The cooled air leaves the product display space 100 through an opening 102 provided in the lower wall 24. The equipment compartment 55 is located within the cabinet 20 ba or the lower wall 24 and is separated by the lower wall 24 from the interior refrigerated product display space 100 of the cabinet 20. The lower wall 24 forms a common wall separating the space Refrigerated interior and equipment compartment. The lower wall has a top surface that forms the floor or cover of the interior product display space 100 and has a surface facing the cooling cartridge 50 housed within the equipment compartment. The refrigeration unit 15 includes an evaporator 60 and at least one associated evaporator fan / motor assembly 62, a condenser 70 and at least one associated condenser motor / fan assembly 72, and a compressor 74. The evaporator 60 and its associated evaporator fan / motor assembly 62 are housed within a first section 53 of a refrigeration unit cartridge 50 which is separated by
the partition wall 68 of a second section 57 of the refrigeration unit cartridge 50 where the condenser 70, its associated condenser motor / fan assembly 72 and the compressor 74 are housed. The evaporator 60, the condenser 70 and the compressor
74 are coupled to a closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) in a conventional manner for the cooling air of the interior product display space 100. The fan / condenser motor assembly 72, typically a single fan and motor, is operative, typically when only the compressor 74 is in operation, to extract air from the exterior of the refrigerated vending machine 10, such as for example from the external environment of the same through the grid 12 provided in the lower front part of the cabinet 20 and through the condenser 70. As the external air passes through the condenser 70 in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant which is passed through it by the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air is heated. Having traversed the condenser 70, this air is exhausted from the compartment 55 through an opening in the back of the cabinet to return to the external environment. A portion of the ambient air extracted in the equipment compartment passes over the compressor 74 to help cool the compressor.
The cooled refrigerant passes from the condenser 70 through the closed-loop refrigerant recirculation circuit (not shown) to the evaporator 60. An evaporator / motor fan assembly 62 or a plurality of fan / evaporator motor assemblies operates for extracting air to the evaporator compartment of the cooling cartridge 50 from the interior product display space 100 through the air return inlet opening 102 in the bottom wall 24 and thereby passing the air through the evaporator 60 up and through the refrigerated air supply duct 104 to return the product display space 100. As the circulating air passes through the evaporator 60, the air is cooled as it passes in heat exchange relationship with the cooled refrigerant passing through the evaporator 60 through the compressor 74 and the refrigerant is fired and evaporated. The evaporator fan 62 circulates the cooled air that has flowed through the evaporator 60 from the evaporator compartment 53 back into the interior refrigerated product display space 100 through a return air outlet 108 located in the aft portion of the evaporator. bottom wall 24 at the rear of the compartment and opening towards the supply duct 104 of refrigerated ane. A cover plate 120 can be disposed on the
return air inlet 102 in spaced-apart relationship with and overlying the bottom wall 24 thereby forming the flow passage between the cover plate 120 and the bottom wall 24 through which the cooled air that is returned from the space 100 of Product display flows to the air return inlet 102. The cover plate 120 covers the air return inlet 102, thereby preventing spills or leaks of the product in the product display space 100 from flowing into the evaporator compartment of the refrigeration unit 15 and clogging the evaporator and / or evaporator fan assembly. Further, the cover plate 120 causes the downwardly directed cooled air to flow externally to the surrounding walls of the cabinet as the chilled air approaches the lower region of the product display space 100 to be able to pass under the cover plate 120 and to the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24. By doing so, the cooled air passes through the product onto the lower shelves to cool that product more evenly and to prevent the cooled air from flowing downward and directly into the air return inlet 102. In one embodiment, the cover plate 120 includes a circumferential flange 126 that extends generally and vertically downwardly thereof to the wall
24 lower to support the cover plate 120 on the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 125 is provided in the circumferential flange 126 to form the air flow passage connecting the refrigerated product display space 100 in flow communication with the air return inlet 102. Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, the refrigeration unit cartridge 50 comprises a generally rectangular box-type structure having an upper flange 52, a base plate 54, and a surrounding structure of side plates 56 extending generally and vertically between the upper flange 52 and the base plate 54, which include a front plate 56A, a rear plate 56B, and opposed side plates 56C. The partition wall 68 extends between opposite side plates 56C of a front, top region of the interior of the cooling cartridge 50 to the rear plate 56B to separate the inside of the cooling unit cartridge 50 in the aforementioned first section 53, that is, the evaporator compartment, and second section 57, that is, the condenser / compressor compartment. An opening 51A is opened in air flow communication with the air return inlet 102 in a lower wall 24 through which the air returning from the air space 100
product display to the evaporator compartment 53. One or more fan / evaporator motor assemblies 62 are disposed within the evaporator compartment 53 upstream of the evaporator 60 to extract air from the product display space 100 in the evaporator compartment 53 which passes the air through the evaporator 60. The condenser 70, its associated condenser motor / fan assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are mounted on a common support plate that is adapted to be mounted on the base plate 54 that forms the floor of the refrigeration unit cartridge 50. An opening 59 is provided in the front plate 56A through which ambient air is drawn by the condenser fan 72 from the storage environment through the grid 12 into the lower front wall of the cabinet and passed through the condenser 70. The base plate 54 can be slidably mounted within the compartment 55 to facilitate deposition in and out of the compartment 55 in order to facilitate the servicing of the refrigeration equipment mounted therein. A condensate tray 76 can be provided under the evaporator 60 to collect the condensate that falls dropwise from the condenser 70 and the evaporator 60 and which drains the collected condensate into a waste line. The condensate tray 76 serves as a condensate evaporation tray where the condensate that is collected in it
it is evaporated by the hot air exhausted from the condenser as the hot air passes over the condensate tray 76. A sealing member 58 is placed between the lower wall 24 and the cooling unit cartridge 50 and a lifting apparatus 150 for positioning the cooling unit cartridge 50 in sealing relation with the lower wall 24, which separates the space 100 interior of refrigerated product display of equipment compartment 55. The sealing member 58 can be mounted on the bottom surface of the lower wall 24 over the opening 102 in the lower wall 24, or can simply be mounted or carried, as illustrated, on the upper surface of the upper flange 52 of the cartridge 50. of refrigeration unit. The sealing member 58 extends at least approximately the opening 51 in the upper flange 52, which substantially is provided with the opening 102 in the lower wall 24, and also extends over the opening 108 in the lower wall 24 disposed behind the opening. the opening 51. The sealing member 58 prevents the cooled air from returning to the cooling unit 15 from the product display space 100 which is derived from the evaporator 60 and which in fact flows directly into the inlet 108 to the duct 104 of supply of air from the air return inlet 102. The sealing member 58 also prevents the
ambient air from the outside of the cabinet, such as the ambient air that has been drawn through a front grill 12 to pass through the condenser 70, from being drawn into the cooled air returning to the cooling unit 15 through the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24 and the inlet opening in the upper flange 52 of the refrigeration unit cartridge 50. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, each evaporator / motor fan assembly 62 includes a fan 63, a motor 90 and a support bracket 80. The fan 63 has a plurality of vanes 61 arranged circumferentially at spaced intervals on a central hub 64, for example four vanes disposed at 90-degree intervals apart on the circumference of the hub. The motor 90 can be any conventional fan motor having a drive shaft 92 that extends along a central longitudinal axis 91. The central hub 64 is mounted as in conventional practice on a drive shaft 92 of an associated motor 90. The motor 90 is mounted on the support bracket 80, which is mounted on a suitable support member, such as a fan shield 96. Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, in the exemplary embodiments of the invention depicted, the bracket 80 is a three-limbed structure that
it has a generally T-shaped body 82 having a longitudinal member 84 and a transverse member 86 extending laterally through a proximal end of the longitudinal member 84, an externally extending end 85 of a distal end of the longitudinal member 84 , and a pair of limbs 87 and 89 that extend externally from the opposite ends of the transverse member 86. Each of the limbs 85, 87 and 89 has a leg 98 extending externally of its distal end. Each leg 98 has a mounting hole 99 therethrough. The support bracket 80 is mounted in the evaporator housing 96 by fasteners inserted through the mounting holes 99 and secured to the evaporator fan shield, such as for example by bolts 92 threaded into the manifold. The longitudinal member 84 of the support bracket 80 has a pair of mounting holes 93 extending therethrough. The evaporator / motor fan assembly 62 is mounted on the longitudinal member 84 by means of fasteners inserted through the mounting holes 93 and secured to the engine crankcase 90, such as for example by bolts 92 threaded into the crankcase . The motor 90 is mounted on the inner side of the longitudinal member 84 whereby the fan 63, which is mounted on the drive shaft of the motor 90 in a form
Conventionally, it is suitably placed within a respective opening 65 in the evaporator fan shield 64 to pass the air flow through the evaporator 60. The support clamp 80 of the fan / motor assembly of the invention has a very limited profile for the air flow that is extracted in the evaporator 60. Therefore, the support clamp 80 creates little drag and does not significantly distribute the air flow past the clamp. Additionally, the ends 85, 87 and 89 of the bracket 80 are arranged in an asymmetric arrangement with respect to the plurality of vanes 61 in the fan 63. In the embodiment of the bracket 80 presented in Figure 6, the two ends 87 and 89 extend perpendicularly and externally of the body 82 of the clamp at the opposite ends of the transverse member 86. In the embodiment of the bracket 80 shown in Figure 7, the two ends 87 and 89 extend externally of the body 82 of the bracket, but not perpendicular thereto, from the opposite ends of the transverse member 86. Additionally, in the embodiment of the clamp 80 shown in Figure 7, the two ends 87 and 89 are connected at the distal end by an additional transverse member that adds additional structural rigidity to the clamp. In any embodiment of the clamp 80, the
three ends of the support bracket 80 are arranged in a generally T-shaped arrangement, while the four vanes 61 of the fan 63 are arranged in a conventional manner at equal intervals, i.e. ninety degrees apart, on the longitudinal ee 91 centrally through the motor 90. In this way, the number of limbs is not equal to the number of fan blades 61, and the three ends 85, 87 and 89 of the support clamp 80 are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the four blades 61 of the fan 63. Therefore, the possibility of cyclic harmonics, and the consequent increased noise, is generated when the fan blades rotate simultaneously passing a corresponding number of extremities, for example as can be the case with a fan of four blades and a symmetrical four-leg support bracket is avoided. The support bracket 80 has been described herein with reference to the three-limb mode and a four-blade fan 63 is shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration and to facilitate understanding of the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that modifications, some of which may have been referred to in the foregoing, may be made in the embodiments shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, yes
the fan / motor assembly is included with a five-bladed fan, a three-limbed T-shaped clamp bracket or a four-leg clamp transversely could be used according to the invention since not only the number of limbs in any case it may not be equal to the number of fan blades, the position of the clamp extremities can be asymmetric with respect to the blades of a five bladed fan. A three-legged T-shaped support bracket could even be used in accordance with the invention to support a fan / motor assembly having a fan with three circumferential and symmetrically spaced blades since the three ends 85, 87, 89 of Support of the T-shaped bracket 80 can be provided asymmetrically with respect to the three fan blades.