EP2129266B1

EP2129266B1 - Refrigerating cabinet

Info

Publication number: EP2129266B1
Application number: EP06841096.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dieter Weidenbach
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2006-12-21
Filing date: 2006-12-21
Publication date: 2016-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-21
Also published as: EP2129266A1; ES2597382T3; PL2129266T3; WO2008074355A1

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerating cabinet such as a display cabinet with front access, the cooling system thereof providing air flow which maintains such display cabinet in a cool condition, and to a storage apparatus therefor.
Refrigerating cabinets for providing cooled or refrigerated goods to customers, for example in a supermarket, are known to have an open viewing area that permits consumers to have access to the storage space of the display case of the cabinet in which chilled products such as milk and diary goods or meat are stored. For the cooling of the goods, the display case usually has at least one air outlet for directing cooling air towards the goods to be cooled into the open viewing area. Such refrigeration cabinet commonly has heat exchanger means built into the cabinet, providing the cooling air of the temperature required for the goods located in the storage space of the cabinet.
The refrigeration system generally employed in such display cabinets comprises a fan motor to move air across the evaporator, and an expansion valve. The fan motor distributes cold air to the cooled chamber or display space in which the goods are displayed and stored.
Commonly, such refrigerating cabinet comprises shelves for the bearing of the goods which require refrigeration, the shelves being placed within the display space. In order to keep the display area cool, it is usual to provide cold air circulation over the evaporator and thereafter into the display area or space. In this regard, systems are known where a insulating air curtain is provided across the open front of the cabinet to insulate the display area from the ambient air temperature and to keep the display area at a lower temperature, the air from the air curtain exiting an outlet in the top area of the cabinet. Additionally, there may also be provided openings or air outlets at a rear panel of the display case of the cabinet, so that anther flow of cooling air may exit at the rear area of the display case, the cooling air directed along the bottom surface of the shelves. This horizontally exiting flow of cold air along the shelves (cooling air provided sequentially along the rear panel of the display case) combines or merges at least partially with the vertical air curtain at the open front of the cabinet for circulating back into the refrigeration system. Such system enhances stabilization of the temperatures within the display area and insulation of the display area from the ambient air temperature, and is particularly applicable for cooling and storing of goods requiring low temperatures such as chilled goods.
However, such refrigeration system is rather inflexible as to the varaible disposition of the shelves at the rear panel of the display case. Particularly; the location of the shelves must correspond with the positions of the openings or air outlets at the rear panel where the flow of cold air is provided or tapped from the vertical cold air conduit of the cabinet and directed into the display area. For providing good cooling properties, it is advantageous when the air outlets in the back area of the display case are positioned for directing a flow of cooling air into the display space alongside the bottom surface of the respective shelf.
EP 0 589 783 A describes a device for the sales presentation of foodstuffs with refrigeration means able to set up and maintain a flow of chilled air all around the food, of the kind comprising at least one module having a back panel and at least one shelf, said panel and said shelf being provided with internal ducts to carry said flow of air, characterised in that each module comprises the following components: a vertical back panel; at least one vertical lateral post; at least one shelf; and means for releasably securing at least one of the components to the other two.
On the other hand, different applications or needs may require less or more shelves provided within the display space, thus requiring removing or adding of shelves to a given display space according to the special application. Removing or adding of shelves to the display area may, however, involve shifting of shelves along the rear panel of the display case for increasing or decreasing the vertical distance between adjacent shelves. In this respect, however, some of the shelves may be displaced with respect to the air outlets at the rear panel as a result of the rearrangement of the shelves, thus decreasing efficiency of the cooling system.
Therefore it would be beneficial to improve flexibility of such cooling system where the cooling air is provided sequentially and along the shelves into the display area for adapting to a variety of needs.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a storage apparatus for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration comprises at least one shelf for bearing of goods requiring refrigeration, the shelf adapted for attachment in a display case defining a display space, the shelf adapted to communicate with at least one of air outlets of a rear panel of the display case for receiving a flow of cooling air, and characterized by at least one plate mounted to the shelf in a portion of the shelf where the shelf abuts against the rear panel of the display case, the at least one plate adapted to cover at least one of the air outlets of the rear panel.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerating cabinet comprising a display case defining a display space and at least one shelf arranged in the display case for bearing of goods requiring refrigeration. A rear panel is adjacent to a conduit for conducting cooling air along the rear panel and having at least one air outlet towards the display space. A supporting arrangement is provided for attaching the rear panel. The shelf is adapted to communicate with the at least one air outlet of the rear panel for receiving a flow of cooling air, the rear panel comprising at least two variable panel portions, each of which being attachable to the supporting arrangement at variable positions.
According to an embodiment, the variable panel portions are arranged spaced apart to each other forming a substantially horizontal slot between them for constituting the air outlet.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerating cabinet comprising a display case defining a display space, at least one shelf arranged in the display case for bearing of goods requiring refrigeration, and a rear panel adjacent to a conduit for conducting cooling air along the rear panel and having a plurality of air outlets towards the display space. The shelf is adapted to communicate with at least one of the air outlets of the rear panel for receiving a flow of cooling air, wherein at least one plate is mounted to the shelf in a portion of the shelf where the shelf abuts against the rear panel of the display case, the at least one plate adapted to cover at least one of the air outlets of the rear panel.
In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one plate is capable of being movable in a direction along the shelf and/or capable of being variably pivoted with respect to the shelf.
Further embodiments and aspects of the invention are evident from the dependent claims.
The invention will now be described with reference to the following disclosure of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1: shows a schematical sectional view of an embodiment of a refrigerating cabinet according to the invention;
Figure 2: shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a storage apparatus provided in a refrigerating cabinet according to the invention;
Figure 3: shows a schematical side view of another embodiment of a storage apparatus provided in a refrigerating cabinet according to the invention;

Figure 1 shows a schematical sectional view of an embodiment of a refrigerating cabinet according to the invention. A display case 13 defines a display space 15 for the storage of goods to be cooled. A number of shelves 2 is arranged in the display case for bearing of the goods requiring refrigeration. A rear panel 7 is arranged vertically in the display case 13 and adjacent to a conduit 4 for conducting cooling air 40 along the rear panel and having, in this embodiment, multiple air outlets 14 towards the display space 15. The refrigeration system generally employed in such display cabinet comprises, inter alia, a fan 5 to move return air of conduit 8 in the bottom area of the display case across an evaporator 3. The cold air 40 from evaporator 3 is flowing along the rear panel 7 for being sequentially tapped through the air outlets 14 for exiting the cooling air into the cooling chamber or display space 15. Further, an insulating air curtain 60 is provided across the open front display space 15 of the cabinet 1 to insulate the display area from the ambient air temperature and to keep the display area at a lower temperature, the air from the air curtain 60 exiting an outlet 6 in the top area of the cabinet.
A supporting arrangement 9 is schematically shown for attaching the rear panel 7. The shelves 2 are adapted to communicate with the correspondent air outlet 14 of the rear panel, which the respective shelf abuts against, for receiving a flow of cooling air 21 from conduit 4 through openings 20 adjacent to the respective shelf 2.
The rear panel 7 comprises, according to this embodiment, multiple panel portions 71 to 76, each of which being attachable to the supporting arrangement 9 at variable positions. Particularly, adjacent panel portions, e.g. panel portions 71 and 72, are arranged spaced apart to each other forming a substantially horizontal slot 14 between them for constituting the respective air outlet. This applies analogously also to the arrangement of the other panel portions 72 to 76. As a result, the shelves 2 may be variably arranged at different heights and/or with different distances from each other using the same components, wherein the air outlets 14 are adapted correspondingly by attaching the panel portions 71 to 76 at the respective location leaving a slot in-between for constituting the respective air outlet.
Accordingly, the variable panel portions may be attached at different positions of the display case according to current needs of the application, the shelves being placed correspondingly with the panel portions. Thus, the location of the shelves along the rear panel may be varied, wherein the location of the respective air outlet may be varied correspondingly by means of individually arranging the variably attachable panel portions.
Between the shelves, air outlets are not provided so that for each individual arrangement of the shelves the cooling air tapped sequentially from the rear conduit is only provided along the shelves and not in-between of them. As a result, the same components such as the rear panel components and shelves may be used and arranged according to current needs. Hence, the power efficient and low-temperature refrigerating system as described above providing the cooling air sequentially along the rear panel of the display case and alongside the shelves into the display space may also be used when involving variable adjustability of the shelves.
Figure 3 shows a schematical side view of a further embodiment of the invention showing a storage apparatus provided in a refrigerating cabinet. The shelf 2 of this embodiment comprises a hollow chamber 24 between a bottom shelf portion 24 and a top shelf portion 25 for receiving the flow of cooling air 21 (Fig. 1) from the conduit along the rear plane. The hollow chamber 24 is formed wedge-shaped in this embodiment, with the wider end abutting against the rear panel. As the shelves of Fig. 1, described herein before, the shelf 2 is adapted to communicate with at least one of air outlets of the rear panel (not shown in Fig. 3) for receiving the flow of cooling air. The air outlets may be similar to the air outlets 14 of Fig. 1. However, also different arrangements of air outlets are possible such as a pattern of openings or slots in the rear plane forming a plurality of outlets therein. In this embodiment two plates 22, 23 are mounted to the shelf 2 in a portion of the shelf where the shelf abuts against the rear panel 7 of the display case, wherein the plates are each adapted to cover at least one of the air outlets 14 (illustrated with dotted lines in Fig. 3) of the rear panel, for example one or more rows of slots of the pattern provided in the rear panel.
In order to provide a closed, covered portion at the rear panel where no shelf is arranged, two adjacent shelves are arranged such that the adjacent plates 22, 23 of the different shelves are overlapping with each other, forming a fully covered rear panel area in-between the shelves.
Accordingly, the shelves may be-attached at different positions of the display case according to current needs of the application, the shelves being adapted to cover air outlets which are not needed by means of a respective plate. Thus, the location of the shelves along the rear panel may be varied, wherein the location of the respective covered air outlet is varied correspondingly by means of the cover plates, leaving only those air outlets of the rear panel uncovered which are needed for the individual arrangement of shelves. Hence, the power efficient and low-temperature refrigerating system as described above providing the cooling air sequentially along the rear panel of the display case and alongside the shelves into the display space may also be used when involving variable adjustability of the shelves.
In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the plates, preferably both plates 22, 23 are capable of being movable in a direction 32 along the shelf and/or capable of being variably pivoted with respect to the shelf (direction 31). Thus, the shelf 2 may also be varied with respect to the inclination of the respective shelf, wherein with adjustment of the plates 22, 23 the stream of cooling air may be maintained horizontally even when pivoting the shelf.
Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a storage apparatus provided in a refrigerating cabinet according to the invention. The shelf 2 is substantially constituted as shown and described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3. The cabinet comprises attaching means provided with the supporting arrangement 9 for attaching the shelves 2, wherein the attaching means are adapted for variably attaching the shelves as described. That is, in the present embodiment the shelves may be variably attached along the vertical direction 30, in substantially unlimited variations. Particularly, the attaching means comprise a plurality of openings 91 which are adapted to receive an attaching lug 92 of the respective shelf. At least one of the shelves 2 is arranged for varying an inclination (inclination angle α) of the respective shelf with respect to the rear panel 7 of the display case. Particularly, the inclination α of the respective shelf is variable in a range between 90° and 110° with respect to a portion of the rear panel 7 arranged above the respective shelf.
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 embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A storage apparatus for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration, comprising:
at least one shelf (2) for bearing of goods requiring refrigeration, the shelf adapted for attachment in a display case (13) defining a display space (15),

the shelf (2) adapted to communicate with at least one of air outlets (14) of a rear panel of the display case for receiving a flow of cooling air (21),

and characterised by

at least one plate (22, 23) mounted to the shelf (2) in a portion of the shelf where the shelf abuts against the rear panel (7) of the display case, the at least one plate adapted to cover at least one of the air outlets (14) of the rear panel.
The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the at least one shelf (2) comprising a hollow chamber (24) for receiving the flow of cooling air from the rear panel.
The storage apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein
the at least one shelf (2) being adapted for varying an inclination (α) of the respective shelf with respect to the rear panel (7) of the display case.
The storage apparatus of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the at least one plate (22, 23) is capable of being movable in a direction (32) along the shelf and/or capable of being variably pivoted with respect to the shelf.
A refrigerating cabinet (1), comprising:
a display case (13) defining a display space (15),

a storage apparatus of one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one shelf (2) is arranged in the display case for bearing of goods requiring refrigeration, and

the rear panel (7) adjacent to a conduit (4) for conducting cooling air (40) along the rear panel and having a plurality of air outlets (14) towards the display space.
The refrigerating cabinet of claim 5, comprising
at least two shelves (2) arranged in the display case, each for bearing of goods requiring refrigeration,
the shelves (2) each adapted to communicate with at least one of the air outlets (14) of the rear panel for receiving a respective flow of cooling air (21),
each of the shelves having at least one plate (22, 23) mounted to the respective shelf in a portion of the shelf where the shelf abuts against the rear panel (7) of the display case, each plate adapted to cover at least one of the air outlets (14) of the rear panel,
wherein adjacent plates (22, 23) of different shelves are overlapping with each other.
The refrigerating cabinet of claim 5 or 6, wherein
the at least one plate (22, 23) is capable of being movable in a direction (32) along the shelf and/or capable of being variably pivoted with respect to the shelf.
The refrigerating cabinet of one of claims 5 to 7, wherein
the at least one shelf (2) comprising a hollow chamber (24) for receiving the flow of cooling air from the rear panel.
The refrigerating cabinet of one of claims 5 to 8, wherein
the cabinet having attaching means (9) for attaching the at least one shelf (2), wherein the attaching means are adapted for variably attaching the at least one shelf.
The refrigerating cabinet of claim 9, wherein
the attaching means (9) comprise a plurality of openings (91) which are adapted to receive an attaching lug (92) of the respective shelf.
The refrigerating cabinet of one of claims 5 to 10 wherein
the at least one shelf (2) being arranged for varying an inclination (α) of the respective shelf with respect to the rear panel (7) of the display case.
The refrigerating cabinet of claim 11, wherein
the inclination (α) of the respective shelf is variable in a range between 90° and 110° with respect to a portion of the rear panel arranged above the respective shelf.