Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D7/00—Devices using evaporation effects without recovery of the vapour
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/24—Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
  • A01G9/246—Air-conditioning systems
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
  • A47F3/0439—Cases or cabinets of the open type
  • A47F3/0443—Cases or cabinets of the open type with forced air circulation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F7/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials
  • A47F7/0071—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for perishable goods
  • A47F7/0078—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for perishable goods for plants or flowers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
  • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
  • Y02A40/25—Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to refrigeration, and display units for perishable items, and more particularly, to refrigeration and display units for fresh cut flowers and the like.
• Another object is to provide an open floral storage and display unit as characterized above that maintains the displayed flowers in a cool, moist environment.
• a further object is to provide a display unit of the foregoing type which is relatively simple in construction and economical to manufacture and operate. Still another object is to provide a storage and display unit of the above kind that is equally useful for the display and preservation of fresh cut or picked vegetables and other perishables.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective of an illustrative floral storage and display unit embodying the present invention
• FIGS. 2-4 are enlarged sections of the illustrated storage unit taken in the planes of lines 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4, respectively, in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a psychrometric chart illustrating the cooling and humidification cycle of operation of the illustrated unit.
• FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings there is shown an illustrative storage and display unit 10 which, in this instance, contains fresh cut floral arrangements 13.
• storage and display .unit 10 will be described in connection with the storage and display of flowers, the invention is equally applicable to the display of fresh cut or. picked vegetables and other perishables.
• perishable is intended to encompass flowers, vegetables and other items which tend to deteriorate or lose their freshness in normal room temperature environments.
• the illustrated storage and display unit 10 has a cabinet 11 which includes a lower compartment section 12 and an upper compartment section 14.
• the cabinet 11 preferably is supported on casters 15 for easy positioning.
• the ' lower cabinet compartment section 12 has a top display shelf 16 and a plurality of front doors 18 suitably mounted to permit access to the interior of the compartment section.
• the upper compartment section 14 in this case has a relatively narrow width rear portion 14a extending upwardly from the rear of the lower compartment section 12 and a top portion 14b extending forwardly to a' point that is set back slightly from the plane of the front edge of the lower cabinet section shelf 16.
• Transparent side panels 19 are mounted at opposed ends of the cabinet between the display shelf 16, the upstanding rear cabinet portion 14a, and the top cabinet portion 14b, which together defines a viewing chamber 20 having a front opening 2a in a ⁇ plane inclined from the vertical at an acute angle which in this Case is about 20°.
• the display shelf 16 is formed with a plurality of apertures 25a, 25b, which in this instance are arranged in front and rear rows, with each aperture being adapted to receive a floral vase or bucket 26.
• the vase receiving apertures 25b of the front row are of larger diameter than the apertures 25a of the rear row such that the vases 26 of the rear row are supported at a higher elevation than those of the front row, thereby supporting the floral arrangements of the rear row at a higher elevation for better viewing and easier access from the front of the viewing chamber 20.
• a lamp.28 is mounted in reeessed relation in the top cabinet portion 14b so as to illuminate the flowers while being out of direct view of persons inspecting the flowers from the front of the viewing chamber.
• the lamp 28 preferably is a high output daylight light of a known type.
• evaporative air cooling and humidifying means for directing onto the encompassing perishable items supported in the viewing chamber with cooled and humidified air having a relatively high moisture content so as to maintain the items in a fresh and attractive condition during storage and display, while enabling direct access to and viewing of the vegetation.
• air cooling and humidifying means 30 is contained within the cabinet 11 and includes a water reservoir 31 disposed in the bottom of the lower cabinet section 12-, an evaporative assembly 32 supported from a rear panel 34 of the cabinet section 12 and over-the reservoir 31 for pumping water onto the top of the evaporative assembly 32, and an electric fan 36 for drawing ambient air from the outside environment and through the evaporative assembly 32 and directing cooled and humidified air into the receiving chamber 20.
• the reservoir 31 is an open top water tank haying an appropriate water inlet line controlled by a float valve 38 of a known type which is adapted to open when the water level lowers to a predetermined level and close when the water level again is raised to the desired upper level.
• the pump 35 is electrically operated and has a discharge line 39 coupled to a pair of fittings 40 on the top " side of the evaporative assembly 32.
• the evaporative assembly 32 includes a pair of evaporative elements or pads 45 supported by a casing 46 disposed about their outer perimeter.
• the evaporative elements 45 may be of a known type, such as disclosed in U.S. patent No. 2,955,064, which comprise a reticulate body of water impermeable material having a large surface area appropriately coated such that it is effective for bringing a large surface area of water in contact with air passing through the elements for producing rapid evaporation of the water.
• distributor channels 48 are mounted at the top of the elements 45 in communication with the -respective fittings 40 and extend lengthwise substantially the length of the elements 45.
• the distributor channels 48 receive water directed through the. fittings 40 and are formed with appropriate longitudinally spaced openings through which water is fed from the distributor channel 448 onto-the top of the evaporative elements 45. The water then flows downwardly and spreads through the contact surface areas of the evaporative elements 45 in a substantially uniform manner with excess water reaching the bottom of the casing 46 and being returned to the reservoir tank 31 through drain openings 49.
• the evaporative assembly 32 is supported in an inlet opening of a first plenum 50 mounted on the rear cabinet panel 34 which together define a first plenum chamber 51.
• the first plenum chamber 51 communicates with a second plenum chamber 52 defined between the panel 34 and a rearward-most panel 54 of the cabinet 11 through an opening 55 within which a blade of 36a of the fan 36 is disposed.
• the fan 36 in this case is mounted on the plenum 50.
• the second plenum chamber 52 extends upwardly from the lower cabinet section 12 into the rear portion 14a of the upper cabinet section 14 and has an outlet opening 60 communicating with the viewing chamber 20 substantially along its entire length.
• the evaporative cooling and humidification means is operable to cool and humidify the air passing through the evaporative assembly to a relatively high moisture level and then direct such cooled and humidified air onto the displayed perishables in a manner which substantially envelopes the perishables and shields them from the outside environment.
• the evaporative cooling and humidification means 30 is operated at a • relatively high evaporative efficiency such that ambient air (designated as Tl in FIG. 4) is humidified to a substantially saturated condition upon passage through the evaporative elements 45 (at point designated T2 in FIG. 4) so as to achieve a relative humidity of about 90% with resulting cooling effects, and is discharged from the outlet 60 of the second plenum chamber 52 (at point designated T3 in FIG. 4) with a relative humidity of about 85%.
• the cooling and humidification cyclically of operation of the illustrated display unit is more specifically depicted in FIG. 5.
• Tl temperature and relative humidity of the Outside ambient air
• moisture in the evaporative elements 45 is evaporated into the air raising the relative humidity to a level near saturation, i.e., about 90%, thereby lowering the dry bulb temperature to a value T2 with the wet bulb temperature remaining constant, as shown in FIG. 5.
• Such dry bulb temperature T2 is only slightly greater than the lowest dry bulb temperature T4 that -could be achieved by such evaporative cooling, i.e., the dry bulb temperature when the relative humidity reaches 100% under the constant wet bulb temperature conditions.
• the evaporative efficiency of such operation is thereby relatively high: actual cooling T1-T2
• gaskets 62 preferably are provided between the casing 46 of the evaporative assembly 32 and the plenum 50, and insulation 64 is provided adjacent walls of the plenums.
• the outlet 60 is provided with a grill 60a which extends lengthwise along the rows of vases 26 and directs the air in a generally downward and forward direction so as to pass the air over the tops of the flowers 11 supported in both t ⁇ e rear and the forward rows of vases, thereby encompassing the flowers in a cooled and humidified environment which tends to preserve their freshness, as well as shield the flowers from the outside environment.
• the grill 60a preferably has movable slats so as to permit selective adjustment in the direction of the discharged air depending upon the sizes of the floral arrangements displayed within the viewing chamber.
• a perforated carrier plate 66 is mounted in the plenum chamber 52 immediately adjacent the outlet 60 thereof.
• a perforated barrier plate 66 creates a relatively uniform pressure build-up along the entire length of the barrier and the outlet grill 60a_.
• the following examples are illustrative of the operation of the storage and display unit 10 of the present invention at different ambient conditions Tl.
• the operating conditions are based upon a storage unit in which the display shelf 16 is 52 inches wide and 19 inches deep and with a fan 36 that is operable to generate an air flow of between 170 and 200 c.f.m. It will be understood that in each case the examples are representative of " operating conditions, inasmuch as various- factors can affect the ambient conditions and air flow patterns about the storage unit and the viewing compartment.
• the air (T2) With the ambient air (Tl) having dry bulb temperature of 75°F and relative humidity of 50%, following passage of the air through the evaporative elements 45 the air (T2) is cooled to dry bulb temperature ' of 64°F and humidified to a relative humidity of 94°.
• the air (T3) Upon discharge from the grill 60a, the air (T3) has a dry bulb temperature of 66?F and a relative humidity of 87%, which is directed over flowers contained within the viewing chamber 20 so as to maintain them in a fresh and relatively cool environment and shield them ' from adverse effects of the outside environment.
• the air (T2) With the ambient air (Tl) having a dry bulb temperature of 70°F and a relative humidity of 35%, following passage of the air through the evaporative elements 45, the air (T2) is cooled to a dry bulb temperature of 55.5°F and humidified to a relative humidity of 92%.
• the air (T3) Upon discharge from the outlet grill 60a, the air (T3) has a dry bulb temperature of 58°F and a relative humidity of 86%, which is directed onto the displayed vegetation. Since the maximum evaporative cooling (T4) of such ambient air would be a dry bulb temperature of 54°F, the evaporative efficiency of the evaporation assembly 32 operation in this instance is 91%.
• the air (T2) With the ambient air (Tl) having a dry bulb temperature of 80°F and a relative humidity of 20%, following passage of the air through the evaporative elements 45, the air (T2) is cooled to a dry bulb temperature of 58°F and humidified to a relative humidity of 90%.
• the air (T3) Upon discharge from the output grill 60a, the air (T3) has a dry bulb temperature of 60°F and a relative humidity of 85%, which is directed onto the vegetation iri the viewing chamber. Since the maximum evaporative cooling (T4) of such ambient air would be to a dry bulb temperature of 56°F, the evaporative efficiency of the evaporation assembly 32 in this case is 91%.
• a humistat 70 is mounted immediately adjacent the downstream side of the evaporative elements 45 and
• OMPI can be selectively set to a predetermined relative humidity level, such as 85%, so that in the event the relative humidity of the air at that point falls below such level, an indicator light 71 mounted on the front of the display unit is energized.
• a predetermined relative humidity level such as 85%
• an indicator light 71 mounted on the front of the display unit is energized.
• the humistat 70 could be located at other locations, such as adjacent the discharge end of the outlet grill 10a, and set for the desired relative humidity level at point (T3), such as 80%.
• the storage and display unit of the present invention is completely open to the outside environment so as to permit easy viewing and inspection of flowers and vegetation contained therein, while providing an environment about the displayed items that preserves their freshness and beauty.
• the storage and display unit also is of relatively simple construction and is considerably more efficient and economical to - manufacture and operate than closed ref igerators heretofore commonly utilized for floral storage.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24152908

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1984
  • 1984-10-05 WO PCT/US1984/001614 patent/WO1985001647A1/en unknown
  • 1984-10-05 EP EP84903848A patent/EP0160669A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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