GB2136550A - Freezer units for use in caravans, boats or worktops - Google Patents

Abstract

A freezer unit for a caravan, boat or kitchen worktop comprises an outer support case (1) forming a ledge (7) which will rest on the rim of an opening set into the floor of a caravan or other housing. Freezer pipes (3) are insulated from the casing (1) by insulating material (5) and are connected to a freezer motor (6). An inner liner (9) acts as a store for frozen items and can be lifted out by means of finger grips (14). The top edge of the liner (9) defines a flange (8) supported on the ledge (7) and a ledge (10) receiving a rebated trap door lid (12), which closes off the container in the floor of the caravan or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to freezer units for use in enclosed spaces This invention is concerned with a freezer unit for use in enclosed spaces, such as in caravans ortrailers in particular, although several othersituationsare envisaged.

Inside a caravan, for example, space is at a premium and so the freezer unit should intrude as little as possible into the available space. Furthermore, if the freezeer unit were to be operated by gas powerthere are problems in ensuring thatthefumes produced are adequately removed from the confined space within the caravan or other enclosed region.

Accordingly, it is an object ofthis invention to provide a freezer unitwhich is readily adapted for use in enclosed regions, where space is ata premium.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an underfloorfreezer unit adapted for mounting into a floor or working top surface and comprising an outer support casing provided with means for securing the outer casing belowsaid surface, an inner casing defining a freezer compartment and incoporating insulation and pipeworkfor cooling fluid, a flush fitting trap doorforfitting over the opening to the inner casing, and a heat exchange unit outside the support casing and interconnected with the pipework.

The provision of the freezer u nitwithin and below the floor ofthe caravan, for example, produces a number advantages. Firstly, the available space within the caravan is not reduced. Furthermore, instead of the freezer unit being inside the caravan where the temperature can become quite hot on a sunny day, it is positioned in a much cooler area underneath the caravan and so the power requirements for operating the freezer unit are kept down. A still further advan- tage is thatwhere the freezer unit is to be operated by gas power, the fumes can readily be exhausted to the outside air underneath the caravan.

In the preferred arrangement the inner casing will include a removable rigid inner liner portion. This could be formed from high impact plastics material and could include recessedfingergrips near the open top on the inside. Such a removable inner lining can readily be removed for cleaning orforfilling with items which are to be kept cool.

With advantage the inner casing could additionally include light alloy sheets enclosing the pipework.

It is preferred that the inner casing should incorporate a rebated portion for receipt of the trap door as a flush fitting. It is also preferred that the inner casing should incorporate a grit channel around the top surface to be covered by the trap door.

The trap door itself may incorporate flush fitting lifting handles. Advantageously, the outer casing will incorporate integral fixing brackets for securing the unit below a floor. Also the heat exchange unit may incorporate a protective cowling for exhaust gases.

Ideally a thermostatic control console will be linked by a cable to the heat exchange unit. This control console could incorporate switching for enabling the heat exchange unit to be operated in electrical or gas modes.

The invention also extends to a caravan or other housing provided with a raised floor and incorporating a freezer unit ofthis invention as hereinbefore defined secured below the floor so asto be flush with the edges of an opening formed in the floor.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective exploded view of parts of a freezer unit ofthis invention, Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section through the main parts of the unit shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a front view of a control console for use with the unit shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The freezer unit has an outer support casing 1 formed from metal and acting as a protective enclosure forthe unit. This is held in place below an opening in the floor of a caravan by means of a fixing bracket 2.

Within the outer casing 1 there is provided an array of freezerpipes3 positioned between lightalloysheets4 and insulated from the casing 1 by a fibroustype insulating material 5. The pipework3 isintercon- nected with the freezer motor 6 which will operate in a conventional mannerfrom a gasorelectrispower supply. The outer casing 1 forms a ledge 7 by which it may be supported within an opening within the floor ofthe caravan and which also serves to support a flange 8 surrounding a rigid inner liner portion 9 formed from a high impact plastics material. The liner 9 itself provides a ledge 10 which receives a rebated portion 11 of a trap door lid 12 which closes off the interior ofthe container.The liner 9 also incorporates a grit channel 13to collect small grit particles which may be present on the floor of the caravan and prevent them from entering the container itself. Afurther feature of the liner 9 is the provision of finger grips 14 which can be grasped to remove the liner 9for cleaning orfilling purposes. The trap door 12 includes flush fitting lifting handles 15.

The outer surfaces ofthe metal support casing 1 will be under-sealed and rustproofed for protection against debris and salt on the road and the exterior of the freezer motor 6 can be treated similarly. If the freezer motor is to be operated from a gas supply then preferably a metal protective cowling will be provided on the freezer motor 6 forthe exhaust gases and this will also be rustproofed and under-sealed.

Figure 3 illustrates a proposed console unitfor controlling operation ofthe freezer motor 6. This unit has a control panel with a rotary switch 1 6for setting the desired operating temperature as well as an on/off switch 17. A light 18will indicatethatthe unit is running and anotherlight 19will come on if the system fails. Another rotary switch 20 is a mode selection switch which can be operated to allow for different methods of operation of the freezer motor 6 respectively from a 12 volt supply (e.g ., a battery), a 220/240 volt (or even 110 volt) mains supply or a gas supply such as from a gas bottle. The ignition for the gas will be fully electronic with a gas safety cut out.

Thefreezerunitcan readily be positioned in the floor of a caravan so that it will be entirelyhiddenfrom view and the trap door lid could be provided with carpet channel clips on its top to receive a portion of the carpet positioned over the floor of the caravan. The underfloor mounting provides the advantages that heat and exhaust gases are readily dissipated and providesforgreater safety should any malfunction occur, particularly since any gas connections would be underthe floor. Furthermore, when the freezer unit is used in the gas mode, the console unit can indicate a gas leak which would triggerthe operation of the fail light 19.

Whilstthis particular example has been described in connection with caravans, it is envisaged that the underfloorfreezer unit can be used in a variety of situations. Immediate possible uses include trailers and motor homes and the boots of large cars.

However it is also proposed that the freezer unit could be incorporated in yachts, boats orthe like, in which case the enclosed region within which the unit is mounted would be interconnected to the exterior by an outlet pipe extending through the decking or with an opening in the decking (ideally covered by a grille) to exhaust fumes and/or hot air. Another possibility is the installation of the freezer unit in a working top surface in a domestic kitchen, with an outlet pipe opening through the working top or a side wall ofthe cupboard housing the freezer unit.

The control console unitforthe freezer motorwill ideally be mounted in a wall or some other accessible area of the caravan or other enclosed space. However where such space forthe control unit is not available it could be housed within the freezer cabinet itself in its own compartment insulated from the rest. It will be appreciated thatthe liner 9 could be omitted or removed from the freezer unit to increase the freezing space available in the interior of the cabinet.

Claims (17)

1. An underfloorfreezerunit adapted for mounting into a floororworking top surface and comprising an outer support casing provided with means for securing the outer casing below said surface, an inner casing defining a freezer compartment and incorporating insulation and pipeworkfor cooling fluid, a flush fitting trap doorforfitting overthe opening to the inner casing, and a heat exchange unit outside the support casing and interconnected with the pipework.

2. Afreezer unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner casing includes a removable rigid inner liner portion.

3. Afreezer unit according to claim 2, wherein the inner liner is formed from high impact plastics material.

4. Afreezer unit according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the inner liner includes recessed finger grips nearthe opentop on the inside.

5. Afreezer unit according to anyone of claims 2 to 4, wherein the inner casing additionally includes light alloy sheets enclosing the pipework.

6. Afreezer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner casing incorporates a rebated portion for receipt ofthe trap door as a flush fitting.

7. Afreezer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner casing incorporates a grit channel around the top surface to be covered by the trap door.

8. Afreezer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein thetrap door incorporates flush fitting lifting handles.

9. Afreezer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,whereinthe outer casing incoporates integral fixing brackets for securing the unit below a floor.

10. Afreezer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the heat exchange unit incorporates a protective cowling for exhaust gases.

11. Afreezer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, including a thermostatic control console linked byacabletothe heat exchange unit.

12. Afreezer unit according to claim 11, wherein the control console incorporates switching for enabling the heat exchange unitto be operated in electrical or gas modes.

13. Afreezer unit according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the control console is housed within the support casing.

14. Afreezerunit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A caravan or other housing provided with a raised floor or mounting surface and incorporating a freezer unit as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14 secured belowthefloor or surface so asto be flush with the edges of an opening formed intheflooror surface.

16. A housing and freezer unit combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein the enclosed region within which the freezer unit is housed is connected to the exterior by an exhaust outlet pipe.

17. A housing and freezer unit combination substantially as herein described.