GB2374918A - A portable self-contained chilled food display unit - Google Patents

A portable self-contained chilled food display unit Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2374918A
GB2374918A GB0110376A GB0110376A GB2374918A GB 2374918 A GB2374918 A GB 2374918A GB 0110376 A GB0110376 A GB 0110376A GB 0110376 A GB0110376 A GB 0110376A GB 2374918 A GB2374918 A GB 2374918A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
food
display unit
temperature
food display
contained
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0110376A
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GB2374918B (en
GB0110376D0 (en
Inventor
Barrie Lloyd Reece
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Priority to GB0110376A priority Critical patent/GB2374918B/en
Publication of GB0110376D0 publication Critical patent/GB0110376D0/en
Publication of GB2374918A publication Critical patent/GB2374918A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2374918B publication Critical patent/GB2374918B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/02—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
    • F25D3/06—Movable containers
    • F25D3/08—Movable containers portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
    • A23G9/00—Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
    • A23G9/04—Production of frozen sweets, e.g. ice-cream
    • A23G9/22—Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups
    • A23G9/225—Ice-cream freezing and storing cabinets
    • 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
    • A47F3/0404—Cases or cabinets of the closed type
    • A47F3/0408—Cases or cabinets of the closed type with forced air circulation
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B27/00—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B27/00—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy
    • F25B27/002—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy using solar energy
    • 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
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • 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
    • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
    • F25D2303/082—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
    • 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
    • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
    • F25D2303/084—Position of the cold storage material in relationship to a product to be cooled
    • F25D2303/0845—Position of the cold storage material in relationship to a product to be cooled below the product
    • 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
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/065—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air return
    • F25D2317/0651—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air return through the bottom
    • 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
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/066—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air supply
    • F25D2317/0661—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air supply from the bottom
    • 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
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/804—Boxes
    • 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
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/12—Sensors measuring the inside temperature
    • 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
    • Y02A40/90—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation
    • Y02A40/963—Off-grid food refrigeration
    • Y02A40/966—Powered by renewable energy sources
    • 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
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal

Abstract

A portable self-contained chilled food display unit in the shape of a box has upper (1) and lower (2) compartments separated by a shelf (3). Food (4) can be displayed and stored for periods of 2 hours or more in the upper compartment during which time the temperatures of the air and the shelf are controlled so that the temperature of the food does not rise above 5{C. The temperature is monitored by a sensor (5) connected to electronics (6) that operates an electric fan (7). The lower compartment contains quantities of coolant (8) that may have been placed in a domestic freezer for 6 hours or more so as to be at a temperature less than the prescribed temperature of 5{C for the food. Air is transferred from the upper compartment to the lower compartment by the fan. In the lower compartment, the temperature of the air is reduced through heat exchange with the coolant. The cooled air then passes into the upper compartment through holes (9) in the shelf. Heat exchange between the cooled air, shelf and food keeps the temperature of the food below 5{C. The fan automatically switches on and off at temperatures set electronically. Power to the fan, electronics and the temperature sensing circuit is provided by small batteries (10). When in use, the device is not connected physically to any source of external power. The walls of the enclosure (11) are constructed of material that offers thermal insulation sufficient to allow the device to operate for the maximum length of time. The coolant (8) may be refrigerated by using a Peltier device and a metal bar.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
A Portable Self-contained Chilled Food Display Unit 1 This invention relates to a self-contained portable device for display of foods that by their nature need to be kept at temperatures less than 5 C (described as"chilled") to reduce bacteria) growth prior to human consumption.
2 Devices for keeping food under refrigerated conditions are commercially available. Such devices can use gas compressors, Peltier semi-conducting heat pumps or heat pumps involving the burning of inflammable gas.
3 These devices rely for their operation on permanent connection to the electric mains or to a gas supply or to batteries in cars that are able to supply substantial power. Most of these devices are not portable ; those that are portable suffer from the disadvantage of having to be attached to an external source of energy by wires to carry electricity or tubes to carry gas in order for the unit to function.
4 Other devices are available for storage of food in thermally insulated boxes by interspersing the food with a frozen coolant ("heat sink") in the form of commercially available"ice-packs"containing mixtures of chemicals activated by retention in a freezer for a period of time. The device ceases to be functional once the ice-packs have become exhausted and the temperature of any part of the food contained within the box has risen above 5 C. Such boxes suffer from inadequate temperature control and uncertainty over the length of time that the food can be left in the box before recommended storage temperatures are exceeded and are not designed to"display"the food.
5 The device described here uses a thermally insulated enclosure, a heat sink made from a suitable activated coolant, a temperature controlled fan energised by small pocket batteries held within the enclosure, the whole being easily lifted and moved by a normal adult and operates without being connected to any external source of power.
6 The device is able to maintain food at temperatures less than 5 C for periods greater than 2 hours dependent on frequency of opening and the external air temperature.
7 The device operates by virtue of electrical energy contained in the batteries, the heat absorption properties of the coolant and its initial temperature.
8 Food is placed on a shelf within the enclosure and its temperature is controlled by its immersion in a stream of air driven by an electric fan over the activated coolant.
9 The air is constrained to circulate around the food and the coolant by a suitably designed enclosure that is thermally insulated from its surroundings.
10 The enclosure is capable of being opened for removal and addition of food, replacement of batteries and removal and replacement of the coolant
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
11 The device is in the shape of a box and consists of 2 compartments as shown in Figure 1 separated by a shelf. Food is placed on the shelf in the upper compartment where the enclosure is transparent allowing the food to be seen. Cooled objects making up a heat sink are placed in the lower compartment that can be opaque.
12 The fan is placed so as to circulate air between the upper and lower compartments through a series of holes in the shelf.
13 The temperature of the air in the upper compartment is monitored either by direct measurement or indirectly by measurement of the temperature of the shelf.
14 The fan is energised only when the temperature of the air in the upper compartment is greater than a set value. The fan ceases to operate when this temperature falls below another set value. These values are set according to regulations for storage of the food held in the enclosure.
15 The enclosure is designed to reduce absorption of heat from the surrounding air and surfaces to an acceptable value that does not impair efficient operation of the device.
16 The size of the device is chosen for the type and quantity of food that needs to be displayed and for ease of carrying by a normal adult.
17 Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings (Figures 1,2 and 3).
18 In all 3 embodiments shown, the device comprises an enclosure made from double walled plastic material (10). The sides and bottom of the lower compartment are made from a sandwich of this same material with the cavity filled by polystyrene (11), the whole providing a high degree of thermal insulation.
19 A plate made from aluminium alloy (3) divides the upper compartment from the lower and possesses holes to allow air to transfer between the 2 compartments.
20 Food commodities requiring storage under refrigerated conditions are. placed in the upper compartment and packs of activated coolant (8) are placed in the lower compartment.
21 A housing (described as the"fan unit") comprising the electrically operated fan (7), batteries (10), electronics (6), and temperature measuring equipment (5) is positioned in a hole in the shelf.
22 A probe from the temperature measuring equipment (5) may be inserted in a hole in the shelf or may be positioned in the air.
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
23 When the temperature of the probe rises above a set value, the electronics activates the fan and air is circulated between the 2 compartments.
24 Air passing through the lower compartment is cooled and this cold air cools both the shelf and the food in the upper compartment.
25 The fan is switched off by the electronics as soon as the temperature of the shelf goes below a set value and this process continues until the heat absorption capability of the coolant in the lower compartment is exhausted.
26 The shelf and fan unit can be easily demounted from the device to allow hygienic cleaning of all exposed parts.
27 In a specific embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1, food temperatures in the upper compartment were less than 50C for a periods greater than 2 hours.

Claims (14)

  1. Claims 1 The invention is a portable self-contained chilled food display unit in the shape of a box (Figure 1) having upper (1) and lower (2) compartments separated by a shelf (3). Food (4) can be displayed and stored for periods of 2 hours or more in the upper compartment during which time the temperatures of the air and the shelf are controlled so that the temperature of the food does not rise above 5 C. The temperature is monitored by a sensor (5) connected to electronics (6) that operates an electric fan (7). The lower compartment contains quantities of coolant (8) that have been placed in a domestic freezer for 6 hours or more so as to be at a temperature less than the prescribed temperature of 5 C for the food. Air is transferred from the upper compartment to the lower compartment by the fan. In the lower compartment, the temperature of the air is reduced through heat exchange with the coolant. The cooled air then passes into the upper compartment through holes (9) in the shelf. Heat exchange between the cooled air, shelf and food keeps the temperature of the food below 5"C. The fan automatically switches on and off at temperatures set electronically. Power to the fan, electronics and the temperature sensing circuit is provided by small batteries (10). When in use, the device is not connected physically to any source of external power. The walls of the enclosure (11) are constructed of material that offers thermal insulation sufficient to allow the device to operate for the maximum length of time conditional on the heat absorption capabilities of the coolant, the original thermal state of the food, ease of portability and the opening and closing of the upper compartment for the removal and addition of food.
    2 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that makes use of solar energy for the purpose of its functioning.
    3 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that makes use of a mechanical source of energy for the purpose of its functioning.
    4 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that makes use of compressed air for the purpose of its functioning.
    5 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that makes use of liquid air for the purpose of its functioning.
    6 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that has a solar reflecting surface to reduce heat absorption in strong sunlight either as a permanent feature or as a removable cover 7 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1that has food contained In the lower compartment and the coolant contained in the upper compartment.
    8 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 with the fan unit situated elsewhere in the shelf as substantially shown in Figure 2.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 5>
    9 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 and as substantially shown in Figure 3 where electricity is connected (12) to the unit prior to its use so as to charge the batteries (10) and to refrigerate automatically the coolant (8) through conduction of heat along a metal bar (13) by a Peltier device (14) to the atmosphere through cooling fins (15).
    10 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 6>
    Amended claims have been filed as followed CLAIMS 1. A portable self-contained chilled food display unit suitable for displaying and storing food for periods of two hours or more at a temperature of below 5OC without, in use, being physically connected to an external source of power, which unit is in the shape of a box and comprises a thermally insulated enclosure having upper and lower compartments separated by a shelf provided with holes, a temperature sensor connected to electronics that operates an electric fan, switching it on and off at temperatures set electronically, quantities of activated coolant, and a source of power which provides power to the fan, electronics and temperature sensor, wherein the fan can transfer air between the upper compartment and the lower compartment and wherein the walls of the enclosure are constructed of material that offers thermal insulation sufficient to allow the device to operate for the maximum length of time conditional on the heat absorption capabilities of the coolant, the original thermal state of the food, ease of portability and the opening and closing of the enclosure for the removal and addition of food.
  2. 2. A food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that has food contained in the upper compartment and the coolant contained in the lower compartment.
  3. 3. A food display unit as claimed in Claim 1 that has food contained in the lower compartment and the coolant contained in the upper compartment.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 7>
  4. 4. A food display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 that makes use of small batteries for the purpose of its functioning.
  5. 5. A food display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 that makes use of solar power for the purpose of its functioning.
  6. 6. A food display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 that makes use of a mechanical source of energy for the purpose of its functioning.
  7. 7. A food display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 that makes use of compressed air for the purpose of its functioning.
  8. 8. A food display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 that makes use of liquid air for the purpose of its functioning.
  9. 9. A food display unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims that has a solar reflecting surface to reduce heat absorption in strong sunlight, either as a permanent feature or as a removable cover.
  10. 10. A food display unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fan is positioned in a hole in the shelf.
  11. 11. A food display unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coolant has been placed in a domestic freezer for six hours or more so as to be at a temperature of less than 5 C.
  12. 12. A food display unit as claimed in claim 4 where the unit has been connected to electricity prior to its use so as to charge the batteries and to refrigerate automatically the coolant through conduction of
    <Desc/Clms Page number 8>
    heat along a metal bar by a Peltier device to the atmosphere through cooling fins.
  13. 13. A food display unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper compartment of the thermally insulated enclosure is transparent.
  14. 14. A portable self contained chilled food display unit substantially as described herein and with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
GB0110376A 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit Expired - Fee Related GB2374918B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0110376A GB2374918B (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0110376A GB2374918B (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 A portable self-contained chilled food display unit

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0110376D0 GB0110376D0 (en) 2001-06-20
GB2374918A true GB2374918A (en) 2002-10-30
GB2374918B GB2374918B (en) 2005-06-01

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2394527A (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-28 Barrie Lloyd Reece Cool packs
EP1525803A1 (en) * 2003-10-22 2005-04-27 Soremartec S.A. Preservation in a cooled condition and display of loose confectionery products which can be damaged by heat
WO2006100412A1 (en) * 2005-03-23 2006-09-28 Coldway Societe Anonyme Refrigerated or heated removable insulated container
WO2007014579A1 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-08 Torsten Reim Temperature-control bell
EP2092861A1 (en) 2008-02-20 2009-08-26 Carrier Corporation Sales furniture
ITMC20080217A1 (en) * 2008-12-05 2010-06-06 Luigi Travaglini FAN-ASSISTED THERMAL ACCUMULATOR ACTING TO REFRIGERATE QUICKLY
US20180228302A1 (en) * 2017-02-14 2018-08-16 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Panel powered produce display table
US11449818B2 (en) * 2020-08-07 2022-09-20 Pavel & Sprauve Llc Methods, systems, and devices for portable environment controlled containers

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4468932A (en) * 1983-05-27 1984-09-04 Bullard Terry S Fan cooler
DE3817871A1 (en) * 1988-05-26 1989-12-07 Holzer Walter Temperature-regulated coolbox
US5709104A (en) * 1996-02-20 1998-01-20 Howcroft; Kent Cooling device for insulated ice chest

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4468932A (en) * 1983-05-27 1984-09-04 Bullard Terry S Fan cooler
DE3817871A1 (en) * 1988-05-26 1989-12-07 Holzer Walter Temperature-regulated coolbox
US5709104A (en) * 1996-02-20 1998-01-20 Howcroft; Kent Cooling device for insulated ice chest

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2394527A (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-28 Barrie Lloyd Reece Cool packs
GB2394527B (en) * 2002-10-25 2006-02-15 Barrie Lloyd Reece Cool packs
EP1525803A1 (en) * 2003-10-22 2005-04-27 Soremartec S.A. Preservation in a cooled condition and display of loose confectionery products which can be damaged by heat
WO2005039304A1 (en) * 2003-10-22 2005-05-06 Soremartec S.A. Preservation in a cooled condition and display of loose confectionery products which can be damaged by heat
WO2006100412A1 (en) * 2005-03-23 2006-09-28 Coldway Societe Anonyme Refrigerated or heated removable insulated container
WO2007014579A1 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-08 Torsten Reim Temperature-control bell
EP2092861A1 (en) 2008-02-20 2009-08-26 Carrier Corporation Sales furniture
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