CN109982614B

CN109982614B - Refrigerated merchandiser

Info

Publication number: CN109982614B
Application number: CN201680090995.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C.瓦勒; A.M.马穆德
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2016-11-21
Filing date: 2016-11-21
Publication date: 2021-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-21
Also published as: CN109982614A; WO2018091115A1; EP3541249A1; EP3541249B1

Abstract

A refrigerated sales furniture (10) comprising: a front frame (6), the front frame (6) having at least one opening providing access to a refrigerated goods presentation space (28) of the refrigerated merchandiser (10); at least one mullion (14), the at least one mullion (14) being removably mounted to the front frame (6) and including at least one heat pipe (16); and at least one refrigerant conduit (9), the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extending through at least one section of the front frame (6). The mullion (14) includes a first thermally conductive section (18a) thermally connected to the at least one heat pipe (16). The front frame (6) comprises a second heat conducting section (18b) in thermal connection with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9). The first and second heat conducting sections (18a, 18b) abut each other, thereby forming a heat conducting arrangement (18), the heat conducting arrangement (18) being configured to provide a thermal connection allowing heat to be transferred from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9) to the at least one heat pipe (16).

Description

Refrigerated merchandiser

Technical Field

The present invention relates to refrigerated merchandisers, and in particular to a refrigerated merchandiser including a door and a mullion that is removably mounted to the refrigerated merchandiser and that is configured to reduce the risk of undesirable condensate or frost forming on an outer front surface of the mullion. The present invention also relates to mullions configured for use in such refrigerated merchandisers.

Background

As is known in the art, refrigerated merchandisers include a refrigerated cargo display space configured to receive cargo to be refrigerated and displayed. Some refrigerated merchandisers have a door and a front frame with at least one mullion. To provide access to the goods contained within the goods presentation space, an opening is formed in the front frame and separated by the at least one mullion. The front frame is configured to receive the door when the door is in the closed position.

At least one of the mullions has an outer front surface. An outer front surface facing away from the refrigerated goods presentation space and exposed to ambient air is configured to receive the door when the door is in its closed position. When the refrigerated sales cabinet is in operation, at least one of the mullions is cooled. If the temperature of the front surface of the mullion drops below the dew point temperature of the ambient air, moisture from the ambient air condenses on the outer front surface, which is undesirable and troublesome to the customer. In refrigerated merchandisers used to store frozen food products, the temperature at the front surface of the mullion may even drop below the freezing point of water, causing the door to freeze to the front frame and potentially prevent access to the goods stored in the refrigerated goods presentation space.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, it would be beneficial to prevent the temperature at the outer front surface of at least one mullion from dropping below the dew point temperature of the ambient air or even below the freezing point of water. It would further be beneficial to provide a refrigerated merchandiser that includes a front frame having at least one mullion that is easily assembled and disassembled.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a refrigerated sales furniture of this type comprises: a front frame having at least two openings providing access to a refrigerated goods presentation space of a refrigerated merchandiser; at least one mullion separating the at least two openings, the at least one mullion being removably mounted to the front frame and including at least one heat pipe; at least two doors cooperating with the front frame at the at least two openings and movable between a closed position closing the at least two openings and at least one open position allowing access to the refrigerated sales space through the at least two openings; and at least one refrigerant conduit extending through at least one section of the front frame. The mullion includes a first thermally conductive section thermally coupled to at least one heat pipe. The front frame includes a second thermally conductive section thermally coupled to the refrigerant conduit. The first and second thermally conductive sections abut one another, thereby forming a thermally conductive arrangement configured to provide a thermal connection between the refrigerant conduit and the at least one heat pipe, the thermal connection allowing heat to be transferred from the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe.

The at least one refrigerant conduit is part of the refrigeration circuit and it is arranged in the high-pressure part of the refrigeration circuit, i.e. downstream of the compressor and upstream of the at least one expansion device of the refrigeration circuit. In the refrigeration circuit, the temperature of the compressed and high-pressure refrigerant upstream of the expansion device is higher than the temperature of the expanded and low-pressure refrigerant downstream of the expansion device. The temperature of the high pressure refrigerant downstream of the compressor and upstream of the expansion device is typically in the range of 30 ℃ to 50 ℃.

Thus, in a refrigerated merchandiser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one mullion is heated using waste heat transferred through a heat transfer device from relatively warm refrigerant (i.e., refrigerant having a temperature generally in the range of 30 ℃ to 50 ℃) flowing through a refrigerant conduit downstream of a compressor and upstream of an expansion device to at least one heat pipe within the at least one mullion. At least one heat pipe, which may be secured to the inner wall of the outer front surface of at least one mullion, for example, using thermally conductive glue, distributes heat along the length of at least one mullion. Thus, the temperature on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion does not drop below the dew point temperature of the ambient air, and the risk of undesirable condensate formation on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion is significantly reduced. In a refrigerated merchandiser for storing frozen food products, the temperature on the outer front surface of at least one of the stiles does not drop below the freezing point of water and the risk of the door freezing to the front frame is significantly reduced, potentially preventing access to the goods stored in the refrigerated cargo display space.

In case the heat conducting means comprise a first heat conducting section and a second heat conducting section, which are separable from each other, the at least one mullion is easily mountable to and dismountable from the front frame of the refrigerated merchandiser. This allows for easy and convenient assembly and disassembly of the refrigerated merchandiser.

The mullion is heated without increasing the energy consumption of the refrigerated merchandiser due to the use of waste heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

figure 1a shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a refrigerated sales furniture according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1b shows a simplified front view of a refrigerated sales furniture without a door according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2a shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower front section of the refrigerated merchandiser shown in figure 1 a.

Fig. 2b schematically shows the heat flux through the heat conducting means and the function of the heat pipe when a heat pipe is employed in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3a illustrates a rear view of a front assembly portion and an adjacent second thermally conductive section of a mullion according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3b illustrates a rear view of the front assembly portion of the mullion shown in FIG. 3a and an adjacent second thermally conductive section, according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3c illustrates a rear view of the front assembly portion of the mullion shown in FIG. 3a and an adjacent second thermally conductive section, according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a second heat conducting section of a heat conducting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second heat conducting section of a heat conducting device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second heat conducting section of a heat conducting device according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a depicts a schematic cross-sectional view of a refrigerated sales furniture 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1b depicts a simplified front view of the refrigerated merchandiser 10, with the door not shown.

The refrigerated merchandiser 10 includes an appliance body 1 defining a refrigerated cargo display space 28, the refrigerated cargo display space 28 being configured to store products (not shown) to be displayed therein. A plurality of shelves or shelves 22 (not shown in fig. 1 b) configured to receive and support the products are disposed one above the other within the refrigerated cargo display space 28.

The evaporator 2 (not shown in fig. 1 b) which is part of the refrigeration circuit is provided at the bottom of the refrigerated sales furniture 10, below the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. Additional components of the refrigeration circuit, such as the compressor 30, the condenser 32, and the expansion device 36 (not shown in fig. 1 b), may also be disposed within the refrigerated merchandiser 10, such as in the bottom section 12 of the refrigerated merchandiser 10. Alternatively, one or more of these components, in particular the compressor 30 and/or the condenser 32, may be located outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10, for example in a machine room or on the outside/roof of a building (not shown) housing the refrigerated merchandiser 10.

The access area 11 provided at the front side of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 is closed by at least one door 8 (not shown in fig. 1 b), in particular a glass door. The door 8 is pivotably supported by an upper hinge 7a and a lower hinge 7b (not shown in fig. 1 b). The upper hinge 7a and the lower hinge 7b are attached to the upper section 6a and the lower section 6b of the front frame 6, the front frame 6 being a part of the appliance main body 1 or attached to the appliance main body 1. The upper and

lower sections

6a, 6b of the front frame 6 each extend substantially along a horizontal axis.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the refrigerated merchandiser 10 may be equipped with at least one sliding door mounted on ball bearings that roll on tracks.

At least one mullion 14 extends substantially along a vertical axis between the upper section 6a and the lower section 6b of the front frame 6. A refrigerant pipe 9 fluidly connecting the condenser 32 with an expansion device 36 of the refrigeration circuit passes through the front frame 6. Specifically, the upper and

lower sections

9a and 9b of the refrigerant pipe 9 extend through the upper and

lower sections

6a and 6b of the front frame 6, respectively. The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit 9 upstream of the expansion device 26 is relatively warm, in particular warmer, than the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 2 arranged downstream of the expansion device 36. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit 9 increases the temperature of the front frame 6. This reduces the risk of undesirable condensate forming on the outer front surface of the front frame 6 exposed to the ambient air.

Fig. 1a also shows that a return air duct 26, which extends substantially along a horizontal axis, is formed below the lowermost shelf or shelf 22. The return air duct 26 is fluidly connected to an inlet side of the evaporator 2, which in the exemplary configuration shown in fig. 1a is the right side of the evaporator 2. The return air duct 26 houses a fan 3, which fan 3 is configured to draw air from the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 into the return air duct 26 through a return air opening 4 located at the bottom of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 and to convey said air to the evaporator 2, where the air is cooled in the evaporator 2. The return air opening 4 is covered by a return air grille 34, which return air grille 34 prevents goods and other objects from falling into the return air duct 26.

The cooled air leaving the evaporator 2 (on the left side of the evaporator 2 in the exemplary configuration shown in fig. 1 a) is conveyed into a vertical cold air duct 24, which vertical cold air duct 24 extends vertically along a rear wall 29 of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

The vertical cold air duct 24 is provided with an opening 30, said opening 30 allowing cold air to flow from the vertical cold air duct 24 into the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

A horizontal cool air duct 25 is fluidly connected to an upper end of the vertical cool air duct 24 for conveying cool air from the vertical cool air duct 24 to a front side of the refrigerated cargo display space 28. The front side end of the horizontal cold air duct 25 is provided with an air discharge opening 5, said air discharge opening 5 being configured to discharge cold air from the horizontal cold air duct 25 into the upper front region of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

The cool air discharged into the upper front region of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 through the air discharge opening 5 provides a cool air stream ("cool air curtain") flowing substantially vertically from top to bottom of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 along the inside of the door 8 and the rear side 14b of the at least one mullion 14 facing the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

When the refrigerated merchandiser 10 is in operation, the refrigerated air delivered into the refrigerated cargo display space 28 cools the at least one mullion 14. If the temperature of the outer front surface 14a of the mullion 14 that is in contact with the ambient air outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10 drops below the dew point temperature, moisture from the ambient air condenses on the outer front surface 14a, which is undesirable. In refrigerated merchandisers 10 used to store frozen food products, temperatures below the freezing point of water may even be reached at the front surface 14a of the mullion 14, causing the door 8 to freeze to the front frame 6 and potentially prevent access to the goods (not shown) stored in the refrigerated cargo display space 28.

Fig. 2a shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower front section of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28, in particular the at least one mullion 14.

The mullion 14 includes a front panel 15 and at least one heat pipe 16, the at least one heat pipe 16 extending substantially along a vertical axis on a rear side 15b of the front panel 15 of the mullion 14, i.e., on a side of the front panel 15 facing the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. At least one heat pipe 16 is thermally connected to the front plate 15. In order to minimize the amount of heat that inevitably transfers from the at least one heat pipe 16 to the refrigerated goods presentation space 28, the at least one heat pipe 16 is embedded in a heat insulating material 17 (such as a heat insulating foam) applied to the rear side 15b of the front panel 15.

The lower section of the at least one heat pipe 16 is thermally connected to the first heat conducting section 18 a. The second heat conducting section 18b is thermally connected to the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9, said lower section 9b extending through the lower section 6b of the front frame 6. The first and second

heat conducting sections

18a and 18b are made of a material having high thermal conductivity. This may include, but is not limited to, copper or aluminum, or alloys containing copper and/or aluminum.

When the mullion 14 is mounted to the front frame 6 of the refrigerated merchandiser 10, the lower surface of the first heat conducting section 18a abuts the upper surface of the second heat conducting section 18b such that the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a and 18b form the heat conducting means 18. The heat conducting means 18 provides a thermal connection allowing heat to be transferred from the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 to the at least one heat pipe 16. In order to increase the efficiency of the heat transfer between the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b, a heat conducting compound 19, such as a heat conducting paste or grease, may be provided between the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18 b.

As previously mentioned, the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b of the heat conducting means 18 abut each other when the mullion 14 is mounted to the front frame 6 of the refrigerated merchandiser 10. The mullions 14 are mechanically fixed and/or fastened to the front frame 6, but the first and second thermally

conductive sections

18a and 18b are not mechanically fixed or fastened directly to each other. Thus, the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b can be easily separated from each other in order to detach the mullion 14 from the front frame 6. In addition, assembly of the refrigerated merchandiser 10 is facilitated because the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b of the heat conducting device 18 do not need to be secured or fastened to each other when assembling the refrigerated merchandiser 10.

In a refrigerated merchandiser 10 for storing frozen food products, the door 8 is fitted with a magnetic gasket 20 so as to close against the door frame 6. The area around the magnetic gasket 20 is the most critical temperature zone because the magnetic gasket 20 increases the heat exchange surface with the cold air inside the cabinet and thus lowers the temperature of the outer surface of the mullion 14. Therefore, when the door 8 is arranged in its closed position, it would be beneficial to place the refrigerant conduit 9 and the heat pipe 16 in front of the magnetic gasket 20 of the door 8. This avoids the magnetic washer 20 from freezing to the front frame 6.

FIG. 2b schematically illustrates the function of the heat pipe 16 when the heat pipe 16 is employed in a mullion 14 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. When the refrigerated merchandiser 10 is operating, heat is transferred from the lower section 9a of the refrigerant conduit 9 to the bottom section of the heat pipe 16 through the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b of the heat conducting device 18. The heat causes the liquid heat transfer fluid 13a disposed within each heat pipe 16 to partially evaporate. The evaporated heat transfer fluid 13b then rises along the length (height) of the heat pipe 16 and condenses on the cooler inner walls of the upper portion of the heat pipe 16, which are located higher than the heat conducting section 18 a. The condensation process uses latent heat to distribute the heat flux along the length (height) of the mullion 14 without causing a significant temperature drop.

Thus, the risk of the temperature on the outer front surface 15a of the front plate 15 being unevenly distributed along the entire length of the mullion 14 and falling below the dew point temperature of the ambient air and forming undesirable condensate on the outer front surface 14a of the mullion 14 is significantly reduced.

The evaporated heat transfer fluid 13b condenses on the inner walls of the at least one heat pipe 16 as at least some of the heat of the evaporated heat transfer fluid 13b is transferred to the outer front surface 15a of the front plate 15. The liquid heat transfer medium 13a runs down the inner wall of each heat pipe 16 to the lower section of the heat pipe 16 where it is again heated and evaporated.

Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c show perspective rear views of the front assembly portion of the mullion 14 and the adjacent second thermally conductive section 18b, respectively, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Mullion 14 includes a front panel 15, said front panel 15 having an outer front surface 15a and a rear side 15 b. As shown in fig. 3a, two straight sections of at least one heat pipe 16 are attached to the upper part of the rear side 15b of the front plate 15. As mentioned previously with reference to fig. 2a, the at least one heat pipe 16 may be embedded in a thermally insulating material 17 applied to the rear side 15b of the front plate 15. In order to allow an unobstructed view of the at least one heat pipe 16, the thermally insulating material 17 is not shown in fig. 3a, 3b and 3 c.

The lower end section of the at least one heat pipe 16 is embedded in the first heat conducting section 18a in such a way that an effective thermal connection is provided between the first heat conducting section 18a and the minimum of heat pipes 16.

When the mullion 14 is mounted to the front frame 6 (not shown in fig. 3a, 3b, and 3 c), a lower surface of the first thermally conductive section 18a abuts an opposing upper surface of the second thermally conductive section 18b to provide an effective thermal connection between the first and second thermally

conductive sections

18a, 18 b.

In fig. 3b and 3c, the first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b are depicted transparently, showing two different exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This allows to illustrate the lower end section of the at least one heat pipe 16 embedded within the first heat conducting section 18a and the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 embedded within the second heat conducting section 18 b. Figures 3b and 3c show in particular that the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 meanders through the second heat conducting section 18 b. Details of the configuration of the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 extending through the second heat conducting section 18b will be discussed further below with reference to fig. 5, 6 and 7.

FIG. 3b shows a rear view of a mullion 14 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, mullion 14 includes two straight heat pipes 16 embedded within a first thermally conductive section 18 a. Although two straight heat pipes 16 are shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3b, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the mullion 14 may include only one straight heat pipe 16 or more than two straight heat pipes 16 in different embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 3c shows a rear view of a mullion 14 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the mullion 14 includes a single U-shaped heat pipe 16 having two

legs

16a, 16 b. The two

legs

16a, 16b extend parallel to each other along the length of the mullion 14 and are thermally connected to the rear side 15b of the front panel 15. The two

legs

16a, 16b are fluidly connected to each other by an arc-shaped section 16 c. The arc-shaped section 16c is embedded in the first heat conducting section 18a of the heat conducting device 18.

Although a single U-shaped heat pipe 16 is shown in the embodiment depicted in fig. 3c, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the mullion 14 may include more than one U-shaped heat pipe 16 in different embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, the individual heat pipes may also be shaped in an S-shape or a W-shape in order to increase the heat exchanging surface. Alternatively, at least one U-shaped heat pipe 16 may be mounted in the mullion 14 with the straight leg embedded in the first thermally conductive section 18a of the thermally conductive assembly 18 and the arcuate section 16c located at the opposite side (i.e., on top) of the mullion 14.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a second heat conducting section 18b of the heat conducting device 18 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The second heat conducting section 18b is depicted transparently in order to show that the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 extends through the second heat conducting section 18 b.

Figure 4 shows in particular that the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 meanders through the second heat conducting section 18 b. The refrigerant conduit 9 extends through the second heat conducting section 18b, in particular in the form of an inverted S, which comprises three straight sections 9c extending parallel to each other. In addition, two arc-shaped turnaround sections 9d of the refrigerant conduit 9 are arranged within the second heat conducting section 18b, which two arc-shaped turnaround sections 9d fluidly connect the straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9. This configuration increases the heat transfer from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit 9 to the second heat conducting section 18b, compared to a configuration in which only a single straight section 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 passes through the second heat conducting section 18 b.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the second heat conducting section 18 b. In the alternative embodiment, three straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 also extend parallel to each other through the second heat conducting section 18 b. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, an arc-shaped turning section 9d, which fluidly connects the straight sections 9c to each other, is arranged outside the second heat conducting section 18 b. Therefore, only a straight channel, and no curved channel, needs to be formed in the second heat conducting section 18b in order to accommodate the straight section 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9. Therefore, arranging the arc-shaped turnaround section 9d of the refrigerant conduit 9 outside the second heat conducting section 18b facilitates the production and assembly of the second heat conducting section 18 b.

The first arc-shaped turning section 9d fluidly connects the straight section 9c arranged in the middle of the second heat conducting section 18b with the lower straight section 9c arranged in the lower half of the second heat conducting section 18b, and the second arc-shaped turning section 9d fluidly connects the lower straight section 9c with the upper straight section 9c arranged in the upper half of the second heat conducting section 18 b. The fluid connection between the lower straight section 9c and the upper straight section 9c allows to increase the radius of curvature R of the second arcuate turning section 9d, which is advantageous from a manufacturing point of view.

Fig. 6 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the second thermally conductive section 18 b. In the embodiment, also the three straight sections 9c of the lower portion 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 extend parallel to each other through the second heat conducting section 18 b. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 4 and 5, the turnaround section 9e fluidly connecting the straight sections 9c to each other is not formed as an arcuate section. Instead, the turning section 9e is formed by straight sections of the refrigerant conduit 9 which extend substantially perpendicular to the straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 extending parallel to each other through the second heat conducting section 18 b. The second heat conducting section 18b comprising only

straight sections

9c, 9e of the refrigerant conduit 9 allows said

sections

9c, 9e of the refrigerant conduit 9 to be easily manufactured within the second heat conducting section 18 b. The

straight sections

9c, 9e of the refrigerant conduit 9 may for example be formed by drilling straight holes/channels 38 into the second heat conducting section 18b from the outer surface. Such straight holes/channels 38 can be easily formed at low cost. The holes/channels 38 not used as refrigerant inlets or outlets (in particular, the holes/channels 38 required for drilling the turnaround section 9 e) are closed by blind plugs 39.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the second heat conductive section 18b may have a length L of 70 mm to 90 mm (specifically, a length L of 80 mm), a height H of 30 mm to 50 mm (specifically, a height H of 40 mm), and a width W of 8 mm to 15 mm (specifically, a width W of 10 mm).

The straight section 9c may be bored into the second heat conducting section 18b, have a hole diameter of 3 mm to 8 mm (specifically, a diameter of 5 mm), and the arc-shaped turning section 9d (as shown in fig. 5) disposed outside the second heat conducting section 18b may be made of metal (specifically, copper or an alloy containing copper), have a diameter of 6 mm and a radius R of 10 mm to 20 mm (specifically, a radius R of 15 mm). The conduits of the arcuate turnaround section 9d may be brazed into holes drilled into the second heat conducting section 18 b.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments shown in fig. 4, 5 and 6 are merely exemplary, and that other configurations may be employed, in particular, configurations in which only one or two or more than three sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 extend in parallel.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, at least one heat pipe 16 arranged within the mullion 14 is thermally connected only to the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9. However, the skilled person will understand that alternatively or additionally, a heat conducting means 18 comprising separable first and second

heat conducting sections

18a, 18b may be arranged at opposite (upper) ends of the at least one mullion 14 so as to provide a thermal connection between the heat pipe 16 and the upper section 9a of the refrigerant conduit 9.

In yet another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the refrigerant conduit 9 may extend along a front frame 6 oriented in a substantially horizontal plane (e.g., the front frame 6 disposed on top of the refrigeration case with the access area 11 oriented in a substantially horizontal plane). In this configuration, at least one mullion 14 extends substantially along a horizontal axis between opposite sides of front frame 6. At least one thermally conductive assembly 18 comprising first and second separable thermally

conductive sections

18a, 18b may be disposed at least one end of the mullion 14.

A number of optional features are set forth below. In particular embodiments, these features may be implemented alone or in combination with any other features.

In one embodiment, at least one refrigerant conduit extends horizontally through at least one of the lower section and the upper section of the front frame. This reduces the risk of undesirable condensate formation in the upper and/or lower sections of the front frame.

In another embodiment, a section of the refrigerant conduit extends through the second thermally conductive section embedded in the front frame to provide efficient heat transfer between the refrigerant and the second thermally conductive section embedded in the front frame.

Said section of the refrigerant conduit may wriggle through a second heat conducting section embedded in the front frame. The refrigerant conduit may in particular have a shape, for example an S-shape, an inverted S-shape or a ring shape, with at least two, in particular three, conduit sections extending in parallel.

This configuration results in an improved and very efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the second heat conducting section of the heat conducting arrangement and finally to the at least one heat pipe which is thermally connected to the first heat conducting section of the heat conducting arrangement.

In another embodiment, at least one of the first and second heat conducting sections of the heat conducting device comprises a metal, in particular copper or aluminum or an alloy comprising copper or aluminum. Metals, in particular copper or aluminium, have a high thermal conductivity and are therefore well suited to provide efficient heat conducting means.

In another embodiment, the mullion includes second thermally conductive sections at both ends. Providing an additional thermally conductive section at the second end of the mullion allows for increased heat transfer from the refrigerant to the mullion. This is particularly beneficial for very long mullions, which require, for example, higher heat fluxes to maintain surface temperatures above the dew point temperature of the ambient air.

In another embodiment, at least one heat pipe has a straight (linear) shape. Heat pipes having a straight (linear) shape are easy to install and allow for efficient and uniform distribution of heat along the length of the mullion.

In another embodiment, at least one heat pipe has a U-shape, wherein the second thermally conductive section of the mullion is thermally connected to an arcuate section of the U-shape. This allows for an efficient transfer of heat from the second heat conducting section to both legs of the U-shaped heat pipe.

In another embodiment, the at least one mullion extends in a substantially vertical direction, particularly in the case of a refrigerated merchandiser having at least one substantially vertically oriented opening in its front side.

In another embodiment, at least one mullion includes a front panel made of metal. The front plate made of metal provides a good thermal distribution of the heat supplied by the heat pipe in a direction perpendicular to the length of the heat pipe. In addition, the front plate, which is made of metal, provides a proper seal of the magnetic gasket of the door to the outer surface of the at least one mullion.

In another embodiment, at least one mullion includes a back panel made of plastic. Backplates made of plastic provide good thermal insulation, are lightweight, and are easy to clean.

In another embodiment, at least one mullion includes a thermally insulating material, in particular a thermally insulating foam. In particular, the rear side of the front panel of the at least one mullion, the at least one heat pipe, and the second thermally conductive section may be embedded within an insulating material/foam. Providing an insulating material/insulating foam allows for enhanced thermal insulation and minimizes undesirable heat transfer from the front panel of the at least one mullion, from the at least one heat pipe, and from the second thermally conductive section to the refrigerated cargo display space.

In another embodiment, at least one heat pipe may be attached to the front plate of at least one mullion. This allows for efficient heat transfer from the at least one heat pipe to the at least one mullion (specifically, to the front panel) so as to reduce the risk of undesirable condensate formation on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion.

In another embodiment, the front frame is provided as a door frame configured to support at least one door configured to close at least one opening formed in the front frame so as to prevent cold air from flowing out of the refrigerated cargo display space and hot air from entering the refrigerated cargo display space, thereby reducing the amount of energy required to cool the refrigerated cargo display space to a desired temperature.

In another embodiment, the refrigerated merchandiser further includes at least one expansion device fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit, wherein the second thermally conductive section of the front frame is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one expansion device. This allows a very efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe by the heat conducting means.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further comprise a refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated sales furniture according to the present invention and at least one condenser fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one expansion device. The second thermally conductive section is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit downstream of the at least one condenser. This allows a very efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe by the heat conducting means.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated sales furniture according to the invention further comprises at least one compressor fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one condenser. The second thermally conductive section is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one condenser. This allows a very efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe by the heat conducting means.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration system further comprises at least one evaporator fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit downstream of the at least one expansion device and at least one compressor fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit downstream of the at least one evaporator. At least one evaporator is provided within the refrigerated sales furniture, in particular adjacent to or within the refrigerated goods presentation space, for cooling the refrigerated goods presentation space and the goods presented therein.

In another embodiment, all the elements of the vapour compression cycle, i.e. at least the compressor, at least the condenser, at least the expansion device and at least the evaporator, are installed within the refrigerated sales furniture. Such refrigerated merchandisers are commonly referred to as plug-in refrigerated merchandisers.

Additional embodiments include a mullion configured for use in a front frame of a refrigerated merchandiser as described herein. The mullion includes at least one heat pipe, a thermally conductive section thermally connected to the at least one heat pipe, and a member (means) to be mounted to and demounted from a front frame of the refrigerated merchandiser. The first thermally conductive section is arranged at one or both ends of the mullion and abuts a corresponding thermally conductive section of the front frame in the mounted state of the mullion, thereby providing a thermal connection that allows heat to be transferred from at least one refrigerant conduit extending through at least one section of the front frame to at least one heat pipe.

For such mullions, the advantages and embodiments described herein with respect to refrigerated merchandisers apply. Furthermore, such mullions can be easily disassembled and re-installed in the event of maintenance of refrigerated merchandisers or cleaning operations. They can also be easily replaced when damaged.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Reference numerals

1 apparatus body

2 evaporator

3 Fan

4 opening

5 air discharge opening

6 front frame

6a upper section of the front frame

6b lower section of front frame

7a upper door hinge

7b lower door hinge

8 door

9 refrigerant conduit

9a upper section of refrigerant conduit

9b lower section of refrigerant conduit

Straight channel of 9c refrigerant conduit

Arcuate turn section of 9d refrigerant conduit

Straight turn section of 9e refrigerant conduit

10 refrigerated merchandiser

11 entry area for refrigerated merchandisers

12 bottom section of a refrigerated sales furniture

13a liquid heat transfer fluid

13b gaseous Heat transfer fluid

14 vertical frame

15 front panel of mullion

15a front surface of front plate of mullion

15b rear side of front plate of mullion

16 heat pipe

16a, 16b heat pipe straight legs

Arc-shaped section of 16c heat pipe

17 insulating material

18 heat conducting device

18a first section of a heat-conducting device

18b second section of heat conducting means

19 heat conducting compound

20 magnetic washer

22 shelves or shelves

24 vertical cold air duct

25 horizontal cold air pipeline

26 return air duct

28 refrigerated goods display space

29 rear wall of refrigerated goods presentation space

30 compressor

32 condenser

34 return air grille

36 expansion device

38 holes/channels in the second section of the heat-conducting means

39 blind plug

Claims

1. A refrigerated merchandiser (10) comprising:

a front frame (6), the front frame (6) having at least one opening providing access to a refrigerated goods presentation space (28) of the refrigerated merchandiser (10);

at least one mullion (14), the at least one mullion (14) being removably mounted to the front frame (6) and including at least one heat pipe (16); and

at least one refrigerant conduit (9), the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extending through at least one section of the front frame (6);

wherein the mullion (14) includes a first thermally conductive section (18a) and an end section of the at least one heat pipe (16) is embedded within the first thermally conductive section (18a), providing a thermal connection between the first thermally conductive section (18a) and the at least one heat pipe (16);

wherein the front frame (6) comprises a second heat conducting section (18b) and a section of the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extends through the second heat conducting section (18b), providing a thermal connection between the second heat conducting section (18b) and refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9); and is

Wherein the first and second heat conducting sections (18a, 18b) abut each other and form a heat conducting arrangement (18), the heat conducting arrangement (18) being configured to provide a thermal connection to transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9) to the at least one heat pipe (16).

2. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1, wherein one section of the refrigerant conduit (9) extends through the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6).

3. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extends substantially along a horizontal axis through at least one of the lower section (6b) and/or the upper region (6a) of the front frame (6).

4. Refrigerated sales appliance (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein a section (9b) of the refrigerant conduit (9) meanders through the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6), wherein the section (9b) of the meanders of the refrigerant conduit (9) that meanders through the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6) has an S-shaped, inverted S-shaped or ring-shaped shape with at least two conduit sections (9c) extending in parallel.

5. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 4, wherein the section (9b) has an S-shaped, inverted S-shaped or ring-shaped shape with three duct sections (9c) extending in parallel.

6. A refrigerated merchandiser (10) as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first and second heat conducting sections (18a, 18b) comprises metal.

7. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 6, wherein the metal is copper or aluminum.

8. A refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mullion (14) comprises the second thermally conductive section (18b) at one or both ends.

9. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one heat pipe (16) comprised in the at least one mullion (14) has a straight shape, or wherein the at least one heat pipe (16) comprised in the at least one mullion (14) has a U-shape, and wherein the second heat conducting section (18b) of the mullion (14) is thermally connected to an arc-shaped section (16c) of the U-shaped heat pipe (16).

10. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one mullion (14) extends in a substantially vertical direction.

11. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one mullion (14) comprises a front panel (15) thermally connected to the at least one heat pipe (16).

12. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 11, wherein the front panel (15) is made of metal.

13. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one mullion (14) comprises a heat insulating material (17), wherein the rear side of the front plate (15) of the at least one mullion (14), the at least one heat pipe (16) and the first heat conducting section (18a) arranged at one or both ends of the mullion (14) are embedded within the heat insulating material (17).

14. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 13, wherein the heat insulating material (17) is a heat insulating foam.

15. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the front frame (6) is a door frame configured to support at least one door (8).

16. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one expansion device (36), the at least one expansion device (36) being fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9), wherein the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6) is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit (9) upstream of the at least one expansion device (36).

17. Refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated sales furniture (10) of claim 12 and at least one condenser (32), the at least one condenser (32) being fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9) upstream of the at least one expansion device (36), wherein the second heat conducting section (18b) is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit (9) upstream or downstream of the at least one condenser (32).

18. Refrigeration system according to claim 17, further comprising at least one evaporator (2) and at least one compressor (30), the at least one evaporator (2) being fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9) downstream of the at least one expansion device (36), the at least one compressor (30) being fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9) downstream of the at least one evaporator (2).

19. A mullion configured for use in a front frame (6) of a refrigerated merchandiser (10) as recited in any one of claims 1 to 16, said mullion (14) comprising:

the at least one heat pipe (16);

the at least one first heat conducting section (18a), wherein an end section of the at least one heat pipe (16) is embedded within the first heat conducting section (18a), providing a thermal connection between the first heat conducting section (18a) and the at least one heat pipe (16); and

-a member mounted to the front frame (6) of the refrigerated merchandiser (10) and detaching the mullion (14) from the front frame (6);

wherein the at least one first heat conducting section (18a) is arranged at one or both ends of the mullion (14) so as to abut with the corresponding second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6) when the mullion (14) is mounted to the front frame, thereby providing a thermal connection allowing heat to be transferred from refrigerant flowing through the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extending through at least one section of the front frame (6) to the at least one heat pipe (16).