CN110881813A

CN110881813A - Refrigerated display case with improved thermal insulation system

Info

Publication number: CN110881813A
Application number: CN201910840995.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·阿波南特; L·波西
Original assignee: Kebo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kebo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-07
Filing date: 2019-09-06
Publication date: 2020-03-17
Also published as: EP3620084A1; EP3620084B1

Abstract

A refrigerated display case (100) comprising: the display cabinet comprises a frame (1), a rear wall (10), a front wall (11), two side walls (12), a refrigerating chamber (R) defined by the frame (1) and the walls, a refrigeration system configured in such a way as to cool the refrigerating chamber (R), a support device (2) arranged in the refrigerating chamber (R) to support the goods to be displayed, and insulating panels (3, 4) arranged on the walls of the refrigerated display cabinet. The insulation panels comprise two insulation panels (4) of the Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) type, which are arranged on the rear wall (10) and on the front wall (11) of the refrigerated display cabinet, respectively.

Description

Refrigerated display case with improved thermal insulation system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerated display case having an improved insulation system.

Background

Refrigerated display cabinets are known on the market and are used for displaying ice cream contained in a tub and also for displaying pastry goods.

Such refrigerated display cases are provided with a refrigeration system adapted to refrigerate a refrigerated compartment containing the goods to be displayed.

The temperature of the refrigerating compartment must be maintained within a wide range, ranging from-20 ℃ to +20 ℃. In fact, ice cream must be stored at about-20 ℃, pastry items at about +4 ℃ and praline at about +20 ℃.

The refrigerating chamber is obtained by a heat-insulating plateOften consisting of a metal plate or a plastic wall, which defines a cavity in which approximately 40Kg/m is filled³The density of (a) is injected into the polyurethane foam.

Insulation panels of this type are affected by some drawbacks, since said panels do not guarantee good insulation. In view of the above, it is necessary to use a plate having a thickness of about 50 to 60 mm.

Therefore, the prior art refrigerated display cabinets have a large volume due to the high thickness of the panels. Such a drawback is experienced in particular in the case of small stores, where very little space is taken on the refrigerated display cabinets due to the small size and high rent of the store.

Vacuum panels, commonly defined as "vacuum insulation panels" (VIPs), are known on the market. These panels use the insulating power of the vacuum to increase the thermal resistance compared to conventional panels. A vacuum panel with a tight film is obtained which creates a filled chamber in which a vacuum is created.

Vacuum panels of this type are commonly used in the aerospace industry or in laboratory applications at low temperatures.

Vacuum panels have disadvantages because they are very fragile. In fact, if the film is perforated, the vacuum inside the panel is lost and the panel loses its insulating properties.

Thus, the vacuum panels are not used in refrigerated display cases. In fact, the refrigerated display cabinets are continuously handled by operators and users who may damage the vacuum panels and compromise the thermal insulation properties of the refrigeration compartment.

WO03083386 discloses a method of dispensing frozen food products by means of an insulated container.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a refrigerated display cabinet with a thermal insulation system that is effective, efficient, reliable, versatile, not cumbersome and easy to install.

These objects are achieved according to the invention with the features of independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The refrigerated display cabinet of the present invention is defined by claim 1.

The advantages of a refrigerated display case according to the present invention comprising Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP) are apparent. In fact, the VIP guarantees a higher insulation and a lower thickness compared to traditional insulation panels, thus reducing the volume of the refrigerated display cabinet.

Drawings

Additional features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which is given by way of illustrative, non-limiting example only, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerated display case according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the refrigerated display case of FIG. 1 rotated 90;

figure 3 is an exploded side view of the refrigerated display case of figure 1.

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 2, with the refrigerated display cabinet in an assembled state;

fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vertical plane V-V of fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vacuum panel of a refrigerated display case according to the present invention. And

fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a laminate film of the vacuum panel of fig. 6.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, a refrigerated display case according to the present invention is disclosed and generally indicated by reference numeral 100.

The refrigerated display cabinet 100 includes:

-a frame 1 having a frame shape with a plurality of frame shapes,

a front wall 1 adapted to face the consumer,

a rear wall 10 adapted to face an operator, and

two side walls 12.

The front and

rear walls

10, 11 are longer than the side walls 12.

The front wall 11 is lower than the rear wall 10.

The frame 1 and the

walls

10, 11, 12 define a refrigerating compartment R (fig. 5) having a substantially parallelepiped shape.

The refrigerating chamber R is refrigerated by means of a refrigeration system of known type, which is omitted in the figures. The supporting device 2 is provided in the refrigerating chamber R to support the goods to be displayed. For illustrative purposes, the support means 2 may be an ice cream bucket. However, the support means 2 may be a top or tray to support the pastry item to be displayed and to be maintained at a controlled temperature.

The insulation panels 3 are provided on the side walls 12 of the refrigerated display cabinet. The insulating panels 3 of the side walls are of conventional type. For the purpose of illustration, the insulating panels 3 of the side walls have sheet metal or plastic walls, which define a cavity in which a foamed polyurethane is injected and have a thickness of 50-60 mm. The insulating panels 3 are used for structural fixation at least on both sides of the refrigerated display cabinet.

The rear wall 10 and the front wall 11 of the refrigerated display cabinet are provided with

recesses

13, 14 defined by

rectangular frames

15, 16.

Insulating panels 4 of the vacuum insulating panel type (VIP) are provided in

recesses

13, 14 in the rear and front walls.

Referring to figure 6, the insulating panel 4 of VIP type comprises an outer membrane 40 which creates an airtight envelope filled with a core 41 made of fibrous or powdered material which becomes the structural part of the panel.

The core 41 may comprise an insulating material in the form of fibers (glass wool), or in the form of a porous (open-cell polyurethane foam) or powder (silica powder).

An absorbent material 42, commonly referred to as a "getter", is disposed within the panel enclosure to absorb gases, if any, and maintain a vacuum within the panel enclosure.

The absorbing material 42 may include a material having an oxide and a calcium salt base or zirconium-aluminum alloy (St 101), zirconium-vanadium-iron alloy (St 707), and zirconium-nickel alloy (St 198).

The outer film 40 may comprise a laminated multilayer film composed of various material layers, such as a polymer layer and an aluminum layer deposited on the polymer layer.

The polymer layer may be Polyamide (PA), Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other material that allows for a thermal welding operation after the evacuation process.

Aluminum may be deposited on the polymer layer by sputtering or vapor deposition (PVD). The aluminum layer serves to prevent water vapor.

Fig. 7 shows an example of an outer film 40 composed of a multilayer laminated film, including:

a first layer 4a of heat-weldable polyethylene,

a second layer 4b of aluminium,

a third layer 40c of polyethylene, and

a fourth layer 40d of polyamide or oriented polypropylene.

This type of outer membrane 40 has a thickness of about 6 μm.

A vacuum is generated in the envelope of the insulating panel 4 at a pressure below 0.1 mbar. The exterior film 40 is then heat-welded by heat welding W.

The VIP type insulating panel 4 has a thickness of about 15 mm.

Two insulating panels 4 of the VIP type are arranged in a sandwich structure between a soft inner layer 5 and an outer protective layer 6.

For illustrative purposes, the soft inner layer 5 may comprise a soft, deformable material and have a thickness of about 1 mm.

For example, the outer protective layer 6 may comprise sheet metal or a rigid plastic plate. The thickness of the outer protective layer 6 is about 1 mm.

Each external protective layer 6 is coupled with the frame 1 by coupling means M so as to cover the VIP type insulating panel 4.

The outer protective layer 6 includes:

a flange 61, which protrudes in a lower position; and

a rib 62, which protrudes in an upper position.

Referring to fig. 5, the frame 1 includes:

two

bases

7, 70, respectively arranged below the rear wall 10 and below the front wall 11; and

two

upper portions

8, 80, respectively arranged above the rear wall 10 and above the front wall 11.

Coupling means M connecting the lower flange 61 of each heat shield 4 to the

base portion

7, 70 of the frame and the upper rib 62 of each heat shield 4 to the

upper portion

8, 80 of the frame.

Advantageously, the coupling means M are of the removable type. In view of the above, if the heat insulating board 4 is damaged, the outer protective layer 6 may be removed and the heat insulating board 4 may be replaced.

For example, the connecting means M may be a screw means V or a fitting means.

Numerous equivalent variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, which are within the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art and in any event fall within the scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Refrigerated display cabinet (100) comprising:

-a frame (1),

-a rear wall (1) adapted to face an operator,

-a front wall (1) adapted to face a consumer,

-two side walls (12);

-a refrigerating compartment (R) delimited by the frame (1) and the wall,

-a refrigeration system configured to cool the refrigerating compartment (R),

-support means (2) arranged in the refrigerating compartment (R) to support the goods to be displayed, and

-insulating panels (3, 4) provided on the wall of the refrigerated display cabinet,

wherein said insulation panels comprise two insulation panels (4) of the vacuum insulation panel VIP type, provided on the rear wall (10) and on the front wall (11) of the refrigerated display cabinet, respectively,

wherein a VIP-type insulating panel (4) is provided in recesses (13, 14) in the rear wall (10) and the front wall (11) and is protected by an outer protective layer (6);

wherein the outer protective layer (6) is connected to said frame (1) of the refrigerated display cabinet by means of a detachable coupling device (M); it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the outer protective layer (6) of the rear wall comprises:

-a flange (61) projecting in a lower position to engage with a base (7) arranged below the rear wall (10); and

-a rib (62) projecting in an upper position to engage with an upper portion (8) arranged above the rear wall (10); and is

The outer protective layer (6) of the front wall comprises:

-a flange (61) projecting in a lower position to engage with a base (70) arranged below the front wall (11); and

-a rib (62) projecting in an upper position to engage an upper portion (80) arranged above the front wall (11).

2. A refrigerated display cabinet (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that the insulating panel (4) of VIP type has a thickness comprised between 15mm and 25 mm.

3. A refrigerated display cabinet (100) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each VIP-type insulating panel (4) is provided in a sandwich configuration between the soft inner layer (5) and the outer protective layer (6).

4. Refrigerated display cabinet (100) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that each VIP-type thermal insulation panel (4) comprises an external membrane (40), the external membrane (40) creating an airtight enclosure that fills a core (41), the core (41) being made of fibrous or powdery material, wherein a vacuum is created, the pressure value of which is lower than 0.1 mbar.

5. A refrigerated display cabinet (100) according to claim 4 characterized in that the core (41) of the insulating panel (4) of the VIP type comprises an insulating material in the form of fibres such as glass wool or in the form of pores such as open cell polyurethane foam or in the form of powder such as silica powder.

6. Refrigerated display cabinet (100) according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that each VIP-type thermal insulation panel (4) comprises an absorbing material (42) arranged inside the envelope of the panel to absorb gases in the presence of gases and to maintain a vacuum inside the envelope of the panel, the absorbing material (42) comprising a material with oxide and calcium salt bases or a zirconium-aluminium alloy St 101, a zirconium-vanadium-iron alloy St 707 and a zirconium-nickel alloy St 198.

7. Refrigerated display cabinet (100) according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the outer film (40) comprises a laminated multilayer film consisting of a polymer layer and at least one aluminum layer deposited thereon.