EP3773086B1

EP3773086B1 - Refrigerated sales cabinet

Info

Publication number: EP3773086B1
Application number: EP18719780.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Panzer; Tino Braeumer
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2018-04-12
Filing date: 2018-04-12
Publication date: 2022-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-12
Also published as: CN112334044B; CN112334044A; WO2019197031A1; EP3773086A1

Description

The present invention concerns the reliable management and discharge of drip water occurring within the cabinet body and at the evaporator of refrigerated sales cabinets.
During the normal operation of refrigerated sales cabinets condensate may form within the cabinet body. Also, during the defrost operation cycle of the evaporator melting water is produced. Such condensate and melting water is assembled as drip water at the bottom portion of the cabinet body. Mechanisms have been developed for expelling such drip water into the environment outside the refrigerated sales cabinet, however, these solutions do not work or are not suitable for refrigerated sales cabinets with the condenser and condenser fan arranged on top of the cabinet.
US 6 145 327 A shows the features in the preamble of claim 1.
US 6 360 548 B1 shows a refrigerated showcase having a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Dual evaporator coils are arranged in housings on different sides of a plurality of fan motors. Condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils is pumped to a primary dissipater pan arranged on top of the showcase.
WO 02/17681 A2 shows a heating device for heating a liquid, particularly useful for removing liquid condensate from cooling devices, by wetting a heating plate with the liquid and controlling the electrical power supply to maintain the heating plate at a predetermined temperature above the boiling point of the liquid, such that when the heating plate is not wetted by the liquid, the electrical power supply to the heating plate is automatically maintained at a relatively low value, but as soon as the heating plate is wetted by the liquid, the electrical power supplied to the heating plate is automatically increased until the liquid is completely evaporated.
JP 2007 107759 A shows an evaporation tray installed to a back surface of a refrigerator body, and a cover being attached thereto. The cover has a lower surface-opened box shape having a vapor outlet on an upper surface plate, and the cover is supported while extending a lower end portion thereof to the inside of the opening edge of the evaporation tray by engagingly locking an angle-shaped locking member provided on the outer circumferential surface thereof with the opening edge of the upper opening part of the evaporation tray. Dew condensation water generated within the cover according to evaporation is entirely recovered in the evaporation tray.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerated sales cabinet with the condenser and condenser fan arranged on top of the cabinet, which reliably discharges collected drip water, especially condensate formed within the cabinet body and melting water that is produced during defrost of the evaporator.
A refrigerated sales cabinet according to exemplary embodiments of the invention comprises: a cabinet body comprising a roof portion and a bottom portion; an evaporator arranged at the bottom portion; a condenser comprising a condenser fan arranged at the roof portion; a drip water collecting container arranged at or below the bottom portion, configured to collect water from the inside of the cabinet body; a steam conduit leading from an inlet at the drip water collecting container to an outlet at the roof portion; a heater arranged within the drip water collecting container; an ambient air fan arranged at the drip water collecting container configured to blow ambient air through at least a portion of the drip water collecting container entraining steam from the drip water collecting container and to blow such steam through the steam conduit.
Such refrigerated sales cabinet reliably collects all the drip water from within the cabinet body and particularly also from the evaporator, including melting water which is produced during the defrost operation of the evaporator, and condensate which forms within the cabinet body during the normal cooling operation of the evaporator, within the drip water collecting container which is arranged at/or below the bottom portion cabinet body. The formation of mold or unpleasant smells which may be caused by collecting drip water within the cabinet body, are reliably avoided. Also, corrosion can reliably be prevented.
In order to discharge the collected drip water from the drip water collecting container, a steam conduit leading from an inlet at the drip water collecting container to an outlet at the roof portion close to the condenser fan, a heater arranged within the drip water collecting container, and an ambient air fan arranged at the drip water collecting container are provided.
The heater heats up the drip water within the drip water collecting container such that at least a portion of such drip water is evaporated to form steam. The ambient air fan blows ambient air through at least a portion of the drip water collecting container. Steam forming and formed within the drip water collecting container is entrained by the ambient air and blown through the steam conduit.
The combination of such drip water collecting container, such steam conduit, such heater and such ambient air fan can also be retrofitted with existing refrigerated sales cabinet to employ a reliable drip water management.
The steam conduit can particularly be formed as a sealed piping leading from an inlet at the drip water collecting container to an outlet at the roof portion close to the condenser fan.
If the outlet of the steam conduit is located close to the condenser fan, the condenser fan can be used to blow and spread steam coming from the drip water collecting container into the environment outside the refrigerated sales cabinet. Hence, the condenser fan can have an additional function, in addition to its function to blow ambient air over the coils of the condenser.
If the speed with which the steam exits the outlet of the steam conduit has a certain discharge speed, it is not necessary to blow and spread such steam using the condenser fan.
While a refrigerated sales cabinet according to exemplary embodiments of the invention is suitable for all kinds of refrigerated sales cabinet employing a condenser and a condenser fan at the roof portion thereof, it is particularly well suited for so called plug-in refrigerated sales cabinets and particularly plug-in refrigerated sales freezer cabinets having the particular configuration comprising a compressor arranged at the roof portion, wherein the compressor, the condenser, an expansion device and the evaporator are connected to form a vapor compression cycle.
The present invention is particularly suited for a refrigerated sales cabinet of the type wherein the compressor is not arranged at the bottom of the cabinet, but rather on top of the cabinet body, and where accordingly heat of the compressor cannot be used to discharge drip water from the bottom portion of the refrigerated sales cabinet, or where neither a hot gas pipe of the compressor for evaporating such drip water nor a water pump are available or feasible..
The combination of the drip water collecting container, the steam conduit, the heater and the ambient air fan is very robust.
In operation of the refrigerated sales cabinet, drip water collected within the drip water collecting container is heated up by the heater such that at least a portion of the drip water is evaporated to form steam. The ambient air fan blows ambient air through at least a portion of the drip water collecting container such that the ambient air entrains such steam from the drip water collecting container. Such steam is blown through the steam conduit. The steam exits the steam conduit through an outlet at the roof portion thereof, particularly close to the condenser fan. The condenser fan can be used to blow and spread such steam into the environment outside of the refrigerated sales cabinet.
The following embodiments and/or refinements may be combined with the above in any arrangement, as the skilled person will recognize they are capable of fitting with each other.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the condenser fan is configured to blow steam exiting the steam conduit into an outside environment. The condenser fan can have a rearward blowing direction and the outlet of the steam conduit can be located behind the condenser fan(s). Alternatively, the condenser fan can have a lateral blowing direction and the outlet of the steam conduit can be located besides the condenser fan.. As a matter of course, also more than one condenser fan can be provided, and at least one of them can be configured as specified above. By such embodiment, the drip water can be removed from within the refrigerated sales cabinet and the steam resulting from such drip water can be blown into the environment outside the refrigerated sales cabinet using the existing condenser fan(s).
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the steam conduit comprises: a depthwise horizontal pipe, extending from a lateral front end of the drip water collecting container to a rear of the bottom portion of the cabinet; and a vertical pipe, extending from the bottom portion to the roof portion at the rear of the cabinet, wherein the depthwise horizontal pipe is connected in a sealed manner to the vertical pipe.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the steam conduit comprises: a depthwise horizontal pipe, extending from a front end of the drip water collecting container to a rear of the bottom portion of the cabinet; a lateral horizontal pipe, extending from the rear of the depthwise horizontal pipe laterally along the rear of the bottom portion of the cabinet; and a vertical pipe, extending from the bottom portion to the roof portion at the rear of the cabinet, wherein the depthwise horizontal pipe is connected in a sealed manner to the lateral horizontal pipe, and wherein the lateral horizontal pipe is connected in a sealed manner to the vertical pipe.
In this context, the depth dimension is defined as the direction from the front of the refrigerated sales cabinet to the rear of the refrigerated sales cabinet, and the lateral direction is the perpendicular direction to both the depth direction, from, a left side of the refrigerated sales cabinet to the right side of the refrigerated sales cabinet, and perpendicular to the vertical, i.e., height direction. The vertical direction is defined as the direction from the bottom portion to the roof portion, i.e., an orthogonal to the floor or plane upon with the refrigerated sales cabinet rests.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the steam conduit comprises a depthwise horizontal pipe, extending from a front end of the bottom portion to a rear of the bottom portion, and a first vertical pipe, extending from the bottom portion to the roof portion at the rear of the cabinet body.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the steam conduit comprises a first lateral horizontal pipe, extending from a rear of the bottom portion laterally along a length of the rear of the cabinet body to the first vertical pipe, and, optionally, a second vertical pipe, extending from the bottom portion to the roof portion at the rear of the cabinet body, and optionally, a second lateral horizontal pipe, extending from the rear of the bottom portion laterally along the rear to the second vertical pipe.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the evaporator is arranged in a pan at the bottom portion of the cabinet, above the drip water collecting container.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the cabinet may further comprise: a drip water conduit connecting a lower area of the pan, particularly the lowest point of the pan, to the drip water collecting container; and, optionally, a siphon arranged in the drip water conduit.
By arranging the evaporator at a higher position than the drip water collecting container, and/or by providing a drip water conduit which connects a lower area of the pan, particularly the lowest point within the pan, the water produced during a defrosting operation of the evaporator, the condensate formed within the refrigerated sales space of the refrigerated sales cabinet or within the pan at the bottom portion of the cabinet, and the water flowing or dripping from the refrigerated sales space to the pan at the bottom portion of the cabinet, is reliably guided into the drip water collecting container by force of gravity. By using a siphon, unpleasant smells can be avoided.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drip water collecting container is fluidly sealed, i.e., closed, but for the drip water conduit(s), the steam conduit, and an opening for the ambient air fan. In particular, the drip water collecting container can have a base part which can be made out of rustfree metal and a lid which can be made out of plastics material, with a seal disposed therebetween. The drip water tray also can be made completely from plastic or metal. The passageway from the entrance to the drip water conduit, through the drip water collecting container, to the point(s) of exit from the steam conduit(s) is preferably fluidly sealed, which may help to avoid or limit corrosion, rusting, and/or leaks.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drip water collecting container comprises a lid comprising a steam pipe optionally having an inverted half-pipe shape, wherein the steam pipe comprises a first end and a second end, the first end of the steam pipe comprising an opening for the ambient air fan, the ambient air fan being mounted at the opening, and the second end of the steam pipe being connected to the steam conduit, particularly to a depthwise horizontal pipe of the steam conduit, in a sealed manner, more particularly using a pipe connection element bent in a rearward direction. The steam pipe is preferably integral with the lid in order to reduce breach points from which liquid or steam could unintentionally escape. The lid and the base of the drip water collecting container may be integral also, but preferably are not, in order to allow easier access to the interior of the drip water collecting container in the event of repair.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the refrigerated sales cabinet may be one in which the first end of the steam pipe has a flattened, inclined shape portion in which the opening for the ambient air fan is arranged, and wherein the ambient air fan is mounted at the opening to have an inclined orientation, with respect to a horizontal plane, such that the ambient air is blown towards the second end of the steam pipe and towards the steam conduit. The angle of incline may be in a range of from 30 to 60°, particularly 35 to 55°, more particularly 45°, with respect to the horizontal plane, but the desirable angle may depend upon the shape of the drip water collecting container and/or the liquid volume and/or liquid surface exposure location and area.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drip water collecting container comprises a lid comprising a steam pipe extending laterally along at least 50%, particularly at least 75%, more particularly at least 85%, of a width of the drip water collecting container. The length and shape of the steam pipe can be tailored to maximize and/or optimize steam generation from the drip water collected within the drip water collecting container, as desired. The length of the steam pipe can correspond to the length of the heater.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the heater extends laterally along at least 70%, particularly at least 85%, more particularly at least 90%, of a width of a bottom portion of the drip water collecting container. The heater is configured such that it is in contact with the drip water, which is to be heated up by the heater.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the heater includes or is formed as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, configured such that its resistivity increases rapidly with increasing temperature, to a constant temperature. The heater may optionally comprise a PTC ceramic, a PTC rubber, or a combination of two or more of any of these, particularly a doped silicone rubber, wherein the dopant may be metal powder(s), conductive-plated powder(s), carbon (nano) particles, and/or inert inorganic filler(s), such as barium titinate. A PTC heater offers the advantage of rapidly reaching a desired temperature, then plateauing at that temperature, thereby avoiding run-away heating and other problems. The materials used in a PCT heater are not particularly limited, though the desired temperature will generally be in the range of 30 to 200°C, particularly 60 to 120°C, or 65 to 90°C.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the cabinet may further comprise a control unit configured to switch off the heater, if the ambient air fan is not operative or out of order. The control unit can advantageously monitor the status of the ambient air fan, and, as appropriate, shut off the heater and/or signal to maintenance personnel in the event the ambient air fan is shut off, broken, or otherwise improperly functioning. The control unit could detect the status of the condenser fan based upon an electrical signal and/or based upon temperature. It is also possible not to monitor the condenser fan.
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drip water collecting container may further comprise a floater configured to sense and/or signal a water level within the drip water collecting container, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to switch off the heater and/or the ambient air fan, if the sensed water level falls below a predetermined threshold. The heater and the ambient air fan are only operated if there is at least a certain amount of drip water in the drip water collecting container. This saves energy and avoids overheating of the heater.
The measurement and/or monitoring of liquid water volume in the drip water collecting container can advantageously allow the user to toggle between heating and non-operation as desired and thereby save energy.
In the following, a refrigerated sales cabinet according to exemplary embodiments of the invention is described in more detail with respect to the enclosed figures.

Fig. 1 shows an upper left front perspective view, with transparent renderings of the roof, bottom, and rear wall, of a refrigerated sales cabinet including a drip water management system.
Fig. 2 shows an upper right front perspective view the mirror image of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1, having its steam conduit modified such that it further includes a lateral horizontal pipe section.
Fig. 3 shows an upper right rear perspective view of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows a left elevation view of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows an enlarged, simplified, right elevation view of the drip water management system of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows an enlarged front elevation view of the drip water conduit of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 shows an enlarged front elevational view of the drip water management system of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1, with incomplete steam conduit and with the walls of the drip water collecting container rendered transparently.
Fig. 8 shows an enlarged, upper left front perspective view of the drip water management system of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1, with incomplete steam conduit and without surroundings.
Fig. 9 shows an enlarged, upper right rear perspective view of the drip water management system of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1, with incomplete steam conduit and without surroundings.
Fig. 10 shows an enlarged, upper left front perspective view of the drip water management system of the refrigerated sales cabinet of Fig. 1, with incomplete steam conduit and without surroundings, wherein the ambient air fan is formed as a radial fan.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 depict a refrigerated sales cabinet from different views.
The refrigerated sales cabinet is of the front access type and can be provided with or without doors on the front. The refrigerated sales cabinet can be a freezing cabinet providing freezing temperatures within the refrigerated sales space and comprising doors on the front (not shown). The refrigerated sales cabinet can also be a cabinet providing cooling temperatures of above 0°C within the refrigerated sales space, without doors on the front (as shown). In the appended figures, the side walls are omitted for purpose of illustration.
As shown in Fig. 1, the cabinet body of the refrigerated sales cabinet comprises substantially horizontal bottom and roof portions, 10a, 10b and a rear wall 10c connecting the rear ends of the bottom and roof portions 10a, 10b. The bottom and roof portions 10a, 10b, the rear wall 10c and the side walls (not shown) and, optionally, doors provided at the front (not shown) enclose a refrigerated sales space in which refrigerated goods to be sold are supported and presented, e.g. on shelves (not shown).
The refrigerated sales cabinet of the present embodiment is of the so-called plug-in type with all the necessary elements of a vapor compression cycle included therein.
As can be seen in Figure 1, a machine set 11 comprising a compressor, a condenser and a condenser fan is arranged at or on top of the roof portion 10b. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, an evaporator 12 and an expansion device connected upstream thereof are arranged within the bottom portion 10a, particularly within a pan 7 arranged within the bottom portion 10a.
The refrigerated sales cabinet exemplifies a drip water management system comprising a drip water collecting container 1 arranged below the bottom portion 10a, a steam conduit comprising a depthwise horizontal pipe 6b and a vertical pipe 6a, a heater 5 arranged within the drip water collecting container 1 (see Figure 5) and an ambient air fan 3 arranged at the drip water collecting container 1 (see Figures 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9).
This drip water management system collects drip water, within the drip water collecting container 1.
The heater 5 heats up the drip water within the drip water collecting container 1 such that at least a portion of such drip water is evaporated to form steam. The ambient air fan 3 blows ambient air through at least a portion of the drip water collecting container 1. Steam forming and formed within the drip water collecting container 1 is entrained by the ambient air and blown through the steam conduit 6 such that it exits the steam conduit 6 at the upper end of the steam conduit 6. The condenser fan can be used to blow said steam into an outside environment.
As can be seen in Figure 3, the drip water collecting container 1 and the depthwise horizontal pipe 6b of the steam conduit 6 are arranged below the bottom portion 10a of the cabinet body. The vertical pipe 6a of the steam conduit 6 is arranged behind the rear wall 10c. This makes it possible to add these elements to an existing refrigerated sales cabinet.
The vertical pipe 6a of the steam conduit 6 in this embodiment extends between the bottom and the roof portion of the cabinet body and in parallel to the rear wall 10c. The horizontal pipe 6b of the steam conduit 6 extends from the front to the back of the bottom portion 10a of the cabinet body, perpendicular to the vertical pipe 6a.
As shown in Fig. 2, the steam conduit 6 includes an additional component, namely a lateral horizontal pipe 6c, which allows the vertical pipe 6a to be placed in different lateral positions behind the rear wall 10 of the cabinet body.
Adjacent pipe elements of the steam conduit are connected by appropriate sealing connection elements. Also, the pipes 6a, 6b and 6c (Fig. 2) can be fastened to the cabinet body by appropriate fastening means.
The refrigerated sales cabinet as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 further comprises stands (not shown) providing for an appropriate vertical space below the bottom portion 10a of the refrigerated sales cabinet in which the drip water collecting container 1 may be located.
Additional vertical pipes 6B are also possible along a single lateral horizontal pipe 6c, as the situation may require. However, a single vertical pipe 6a is generally sufficient, and the shortest steam conduit possible will generally improve the evacuation of steam from the drip water collecting container 1.
Fig. 4 illustrates the location of the steam conduit, viewed from the left side of the cabinet body 10.
In Figure 4, the pan 7 in the bottom portion 10a is shown, in which pan 7 the evaporator 12 is arranged. The pan 7 is located underneath the refrigerated sales space.
Furthermore, a drip water conduit 2 is shown connecting the lowermost point of the pan 7 to the drip water collecting container 1. A siphon can be arranged as part of the drip water conduit 2. Such siphon avoids a direct air connection between the refrigerated sales space and the drip water collecting container 1. Unpleasant smells cannot get out of the drip water collecting container 1. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4, the ambient air fan 3 is arranged at the drip water collecting container 1.
As can be seen in Figures 5 to 9, the drip water collecting container 1 comprises a lid 1b in which a steam pipe 4 having an inverted half-pipe shape is formed, the steam pipe 4 comprises a first end 4a and a second end 4b. An opening is formed within an inclined end portion at the first end 4a of the steam pipe 4 onto which the ambient air fan 3 is mounted. By such inclined orientation of the ambient air fan 3 the ambient air which is sucked from the environment by the ambient air fan 3 is blown efficiently towards the second end 4b of the steam pipe 4.
The horizontal pipe 6b is connected to the second end 4b of the steam pipe 4 by means of a bent pipe connection element, whereas said connection preferably is sealed.
In this embodiment, the drip water collecting container 1 is located in the front of the cabinet body 10, below the bottom portion 10a of the cabinet body 10. However, as obvious to the person skilled in the art, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements of the drip water collecting container 1. For example, as seen in Fig. 4, the forward incline of the bottom portion 10a of the cabinet body 10, in the depicted case, requires a forward displacement of the drip water collecting container 1, though the opposite inclination would require a rearward displacement of the drip water collecting container 1.
Fig. 5 shows a simplified side view of the drip water collecting container 1 with the environment of the bottom portion 10a of the cabinet body 10 including the pan 7. As depicted, the base 1a of the drip water collecting container 1 may likewise be inclined and the heater 5 can be arranged close to a corner or edge of such inclined base 1. This ensures that the heater 5 is surrounded by drip water, as long as the water level exceeds a predetermined threshold and overheating of the heater 5 is avoided. This improves the efficiency of the heater 5. The heater 5 can be arranged below the steam pipe 4, such that steam is generated within the steam pipe 4 and is entrained by the ambient air. The predetermined water level threshold can be defined, for example, by the position of the heater 5 above the lowermost point within the drip water collecting container 1.
Although Fig. 5 shows the steam pipe 4 arranged in front of the drip water conduit 2, the steam pipe or pipes 4 can also be arranged rear of the drip water conduit(s) 2. The steam pipe 4 can be integral with the lid 1b of the drip water collecting container 1 The ambient air fan 3, brings normally warmer, uncooled environmental air into the drip water collecting container 1. The lid 1b and the base 1a of the drip water collecting container 1, with the exception of the drip water conduit 2, the steam conduit 6 and the opening for the ambient air fan 3 preferably are fluidly sealed.
Fig. 6 shows an enlarged front view of the drip water conduit 2, with the inlet 2a to the drip water conduit 2, which would generally be connected to the bottom portion 10a of the cabinet body 10, or the pan 7 that is arranged at or within the bottom portion 10a. The outlet 2b of the drip water conduit enters into the drip water collecting container 1, bringing condensate and/or melted water from the cabinet body 10 and the evaporator 12 into the drip water collecting container 1 for vaporization and evacuation through the steam conduit 6.
Fig. 7 shows a transparent view of an exemplary drip water collecting container 1, where the ambient air fan 3 is mounted on an inclined first end portion 4a of the steam pipe 4 which forms part of the lid 1b of the drip water collecting container 1.
The heater 5, here in cylindrical form, extends laterally within the drip water collecting container 1 and is in direct contact with the water collected in the drip water collecting container 1, so as to heat up, evaporate, and expel the drip water back as steam into the environment.
The steam conduit 6, particularly the horizontal pipe 6b, is connected with its steam conduit inlet 6d to the second end 4b of the steam pipe 4 opposite to its first end 4a where the ambient air fan 3 is arranged.
The drip water management system is isolated in Figs. 8 and 9, with opaque walls, and a partial rendering of the vertical pipe 6a of the steam conduit 6. As in the other figures, Figs. 8 and 9 show a relationship of the drip water conduit 2 which receives condensate and/or melted water from the cabinet body 10 (not shown) and/or from the pan 7 and which leads it into the drip water collecting container 1.
As seen in Fig. 8 and 9, the ambient air fan 3, steam pipe 4, and inlet 6d to the steam conduit 6, may be arranged in a front third (or quarter) of the lid 1b of the drip water collecting container 1. The ambient air fan 3, steam pipe 4, and inlet 6d are oriented linearly with respect to each other. In addition, although not shown, the steam pipe 4 may be curved or otherwise bent, as desired, though the linear arrangement is generally considered to be the most efficient.
In the embodiment of Fig. 10, the drip water collecting container 1 including its steam pipe 4, the drip water conduit 2, and the steam conduit 6, comprising the inlet of the steam conduit 6d, the depthwise horizontal pipe 6b, and the vertical pipe 6a, correspond to the respective elements of Fig. 8.
In this embodiment, the ambient air fan 3, however, is not formed as an axial fan, as in Figs. 4 to 9, but rather as a radial fan, sucking ambient air through a central upper opening and blowing the same radially into the drip water collecting container 1, particularly into the steam pipe 4, through its radial outer outlet opening. The first end 4a of the steam pipe 4 is oriented vertically. The ambient air fan 3 is mounted to the lid 1b of the drip water collecting container 1 such that its bottom is oriented horizontally and the radial outer outlet opening of the ambient air fan 3 and the first end 4a of the steam pipe 4 align with each other and form a steam-tight connection.
During normal operation of the refrigerated sales cabinet, water, including condensate forming within the refrigerated sales space or within the pan 7 of the cabinet body, especially at the evaporator 12, is guided by force of gravity through the drip water conduit 2 into the drip water collecting container 1.
Likewise, during defrost operation of the evaporator 12, melt water is guided through the drip water conduit 2 into the drip water collecting container 1.
The heater 5 heats up the collected drip water within the collecting container 1. The ambient air fan 3 blows ambient air from outside of the drip water collecting container 1 into the interior of the same and through a portion of the drip water collecting container 1, particularly through the interior of the steam pipe 4 from its first end 4a to its second end 4b. Such ambient air entrains steam from the drip water collecting container 1 and blows such steam through the steam conduit 6, particularly through the inlet 6d, through its depthwise horizontal pipe 6b, optionally through its lateral horizontal pipe 6c (Fig. 2), and through its vertical pipe 6a. The steam exits the steam conduit 6, particularly the vertical pipe 6a at its upper end, see Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The condenser fan can blow such steam into an outside environment.
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 claims. In addition many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the claims. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

List of reference numerals

1: drip water collecting container
1a: base of the drip water collecting container
1b: lid of the drip water collecting container
2: drip water conduit
2a: inlet of the drip water conduit
2b: outlet of the drip water conduit
3: ambient air fan
4: steam pipe
4a: first end of the steam pipe
4b: second end of the steam pipe
5: heater
6: steam conduit
6a: vertical pipe of the steam conduit
6b: depthwise horizontal pipe of the steam conduit
6c: lateral horizontal pipe of the steam conduit
6d: inlet of the steam conduit
7: pan of the cabinet body
10: cabinet body
10a: bottom portion of the cabinet body
10b: roof portion of the cabinet body
10c: rear wall of the cabinet body
11: machine set
12: evaporator

Claims

A refrigerated sales cabinet, comprising
a cabinet body (10) with a roof portion (10b) and a bottom portion (10a);

an evaporator (12) arranged at the bottom portion (10a);

a condenser comprising a condenser fan arranged at the roof portion (10a); and

a drip water collecting container (1) arranged at or below the bottom portion (10a), configured to collect water from the inside of the cabinet body (10);

characterized by

a steam conduit (6) leading from an inlet (6d) at the drip water collecting container (1) to an outlet at the roof portion (10b), particularly close to the condenser fan;

a heater (5) arranged within the drip water collecting container (1); and

an ambient air fan (3) arranged at the drip water collecting container (1) configured to blow ambient air through at least a portion of the drip water collecting container (1) entraining steam from the drip water collecting container (1) and to blow such steam through the steam conduit (6).
The cabinet of claim 1, further comprising
an expansion device arranged at the bottom portion (10a),

and/or

a compressor arranged at the roof portion (10b),

wherein the compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator (12) are connected to form a vapor compression cycle.
The cabinet of claim 1 or 2, wherein the condenser fan is configured to blow steam exiting the steam conduit (6) into an outside environment; and/or
wherein the condenser fan has a rearward blowing direction and the outlet of the steam conduit (6) is located behind the condenser fan or has a lateral blowing direction and the outlet of the steam conduit is located besides the condenser fan.
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steam conduit (6) comprises
a horizontal pipe (6b), extending from a front end of the drip water collecting container (1) to a rear of the bottom portion (10) of the cabinet body (10), and

a vertical pipe (6a), extending from the bottom portion (10b) to the roof portion (10a) at the rear of the cabinet body (10), and

wherein the horizontal pipe (6b) is connected in a sealed manner to the vertical pipe (6a).
The cabinet of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam conduit (6) comprises
a horizontal pipe (6b), extending from a front end of the drip water collecting container (1) to a rear of the bottom portion (10a) of the cabinet body (10),

a lateral horizontal pipe (6c), extending from the rear of the horizontal pipe (6b) laterally along the rear of the bottom portion (10a) of the cabinet body (10); and

a vertical pipe (6a), extending from the bottom portion (10a) to the roof portion (10b) at the rear of the cabinet body (10),

wherein the horizontal pipe (6b) is connected in a sealed manner to the lateral horizontal pipe (6c), and

wherein the lateral horizontal pipe (6c) is connected in a sealed manner to the vertical pipe (6a).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator (12) is arranged in a pan (7) at the bottom portion (10a) of the cabinet body (10), above the drip water collecting container (1).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
a drip water conduit (2) connecting a lower area of the pan (7), particularly the lowest point of the pan (7), to the drip water collecting container (1); and,

optionally, a siphon arranged in the drip water conduit (2).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drip water collecting container (1) is fluidly sealed, with the exception of the drip water conduit (2), the steam conduit (6) and an opening for the ambient air fan (3).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the drip water collecting container (1) comprises a lid (1b) including a steam pipe (4) optionally having an inverted half-pipe shape,

wherein the steam pipe (4) comprises a first end (4a) and a second end (4b),

wherein the first end (4a) of the steam pipe (4) comprises an opening for the ambient air fan (3), the ambient air fan (3) being mounted at the opening,

wherein the second end (4b) of the steam pipe (4) is connected to the steam conduit (6), particularly to a horizontal pipe (6b) of the steam conduit (6), in a sealed manner, more particularly by means of a pipe connection element.
The cabinet of claim 9,
wherein the first end (4a) of the steam pipe (4) comprises a flattened, inclined shape portion,

wherein the opening for the ambient air fan (3) is arranged within the flattened, inclined shape portion, and

wherein the ambient air fan (3) is mounted at the opening to have an inclined orientation with respect to a horizontal plane, such that the ambient air is blown towards the second end (4b) of the steam pipe (4) and towards the steam conduit (6).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drip water collecting container (1) comprises a lid (1b) comprising a steam pipe (4) extending laterally along at least 50%, particularly at least 75%, more particularly at least 85%, of a width of the drip water collecting container (1).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heater (5) extends laterally along at least 70%, particularly at least 85%, more particularly at least 90%, of a width of a bottom portion of the drip water collecting container (1).
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heater (5) is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, configured such that its resistivity increases rapidly with increasing temperature, to a constant temperature.
The cabinet of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
a control unit configured to switch off the heater (5), if the ambient air fan (3) is not operative or out of order

and/or

wherein the drip water collecting container (1) further comprises

a floater configured to sense and/or signal a water level within the drip water collecting container (1), and

a control unit configured to switch off the heater (5) and/or the ambient air fan (3), if the sensed water level falls below a predetermined threshold, the control unit optionally being an integrated device with the control unit or the same device.