KR20070113275A - Refrigerated merchandiser - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser (10) has a cabinet (20) defining an interior product display space. A generally vertically extending air supply duct (104) at the rear of the cabinet has an inlet (108) for receiving the refrigerated air and an outlet (109) at its upper end for passing the refrigerated air from the air supply duct into an upper region of the interior space along the top wall of cabinet. An evaporator fan (62) in a compartment (53) beneath the interior space draws air flow downwardly through the product display space and through a return air inlet (102) in the lower wall separating the compartment from the interior space. A flow baffle (140) may be disposed in the upper region of the interior space for directing the air downwardly into the interior space to pass through the product displayed therein and out the air return outlet in the lower wall.

Description

Refrigerated Showcases {REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER}

Cross Reference of Related Application

This application claims the priority of US Provisional Patent No. 60 / 663,472, filed March 18, 2005, under the name COLD AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCT FOR BOTTLE COOLER, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Incorporated by reference in the specification.

The present invention relates to the following applications assigned to the co-assignee of the present application and filed with the US Patent Office on the same date as the present application:

International Patent Application No. PCT / US05 / (Agent List No. 210_816PCT) entitled “SEALING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE”;

International Patent Application No. PCT / US05 / (Agent List No. 210_820PCT) entitled " MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE ";

International Patent Application No. PCT / US05 / (Representative Directory No. 210_879PCT) entitled “Modular REFRIGERATION CASSETTE WITH CONDENSATE EVAPORATIVE TRAY”;

International Patent Application No. PCT / US05 / (Agent List No. 210_818PCT) entitled “BOTTOM DECK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER”; And

International Patent Application No. PCT / US05 / (Agent List No. 210_819PCT) entitled “EVAPORATOR FAN / MOTOR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BRACKET”.

Each of the foregoing patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to display cabinets and, more particularly, to refrigeration cabinets with modular cassette refrigeration units.

The refrigeration cabinet has a refrigeration system incorporated therein to provide a cooled environment inside the refrigeration cabinet. Refrigeration systems of such refrigeration cabinets typically employ known Carnot refrigeration cycles and include condenser, condenser fans and compressors as well as evaporator fans operatively associated with the interior of the evaporator and refrigeration cabinet. In a standalone cabinet, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in equipment compartments that are separated and insulated from the cooled interior of the refrigeration cabinet. The refrigerant is circulated by the compressor through a refrigerant line connecting the compressor, condenser and evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. The insulated interior air of the refrigeration cabinet is circulated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator in a heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant to cool the air. The evaporator and the evaporator fan may be arranged in the cooled interior of the refrigeration cabinet, for example in its upper region.

However, the evaporator and the evaporator fan may also be housed in the equipment compartment in the section of the equipment compartment insulated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, this type of refrigeration cabinet can be used as a refrigerator or freezer display case vending machine, vending machine and cold beverage showcase in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and other retail facilities. For example, cold drinks, such as soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, and the like, are typically displayed in refrigerated showcases for self-service purchases by customers. Conventional beverage vending machines of this type include an insulated cabinet delimiting a refrigerated product display area with one or more glass doors that provide access to the refrigerated interior. Typically, beverage products in cans or bottles, single or multi-packs are stored on shelves in the refrigerated display area of the cabinet. To purchase a drink, the customer opens one of the doors and reaches out into the refrigeration cabinet to find the desired product from the shelf.

Refrigeration showcases with modular cassette refrigeration units disposed above the refrigeration cabinet are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 5,953,929 and 6,070424 to Bauman et al. And US Pat. No. 6,701,739 to Morse. It is disclosed in the call. Refrigeration showcases equipped with modular cassette refrigeration units disposed below the refrigeration cabinet are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. US Pat. No. 5,678,421 to US Pat.

In refrigerated showcases with modular cassette refrigeration units disposed below the refrigeration cabinet, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit generally follows a circular circulation pattern in the product display area of the cabinet. Refrigerated air typically flows from the refrigeration unit along the rear wall of the cabinet to the top wall of the cabinet along the top wall of the cabinet and downwards from the front of the cabinet to the bottom of the product display area and through the air return inlet to the refrigeration unit. . However, a product disposed at the center in the product display area and on the side and rear portions of the lower shelf may not be sufficiently in contact with the circulating refrigerated air, so that a uniform product temperature distribution cannot be achieved by a substantially circular circulation pattern. . In addition, since the refrigerated air passing along the top wall of the cabinet has a large vertical velocity component, a significant amount of cold refrigerated air impinges on the inner surface of the door of the showcase and proceeds forward and downward of the door. This cold air passing down the front of the door can cause excessive condensation on the colder door side.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerated showcase having a refrigerated air flow that passes substantially vertically downward through a product displayed therein.

It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for the circulation of refrigerated air in a refrigerated showcase that provides a flow that is oriented substantially vertically downward through at least the central portion of the product displayed therein.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved distribution of refrigerated air to a product display space of a refrigerated showcase to reduce product cooling time and to reduce variations in product temperature within the product display space.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved distribution of refrigerated air to the product display space of the refrigerated showcase to reduce the downward flow of cold refrigerated air of the front glass door of the refrigerated showcase.

In one aspect of the invention, a refrigerated showcase is provided having a cabinet having an interior space in which a product can be displayed in an environment refrigerated by refrigerated air supplied to the interior space. The cabinet has an upper wall that bounds the interior space, a lower wall with a penetrating air return outlet, a rear wall and a side wall. The rear panel is disposed in the interior space spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet and substantially parallel to the rear wall, forming an air supply duct extending substantially vertically therebetween. The air supply duct has an inlet for receiving the refrigerated air and an outlet at its upper end to pass the refrigerated air from the air supply duct along the upper wall of the cabinet into the upper region of the interior space. One or more flow baffles may be disposed in an upper region of the interior space for redirecting air flow passing along the top wall of the cabinet downwardly through the interior space to pass through the product disposed therein and through the air return outlet of the bottom wall. Can be.

In one embodiment, the flow area at the outlet of the supply duct is smaller than the flow area upstream of the supply duct of the outlet. The flow area may be reduced, for example, by a flow restriction such as a flow baffle disposed at the outlet of the air supply duct to limit the outlet flow area to a flow area smaller than the flow area in the upstream portion of the supply duct. The floating baffle may be an extension of the rear panel extending obliquely at the upper end of the rear panel towards the rear wall of the cabinet.

In another aspect of the invention, the top panel is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall and in an interior space spaced from the top wall of the cabinet, forming an air distribution duct extending substantially parallel therebetween. The top panel has a first plurality of openings through the rear portion of the panel and a second plurality of openings through the front portion of the panel. The air distribution duct has an inlet opening in fluid communication with the air distribution duct. In this embodiment, the flow baffle is provided in the air distribution duct between the first plurality of openings of the top panel and the second plurality of openings of the top panel. The flow baffle causes the air in the air distribution duct that flows past the baffle to cause the display direction to be half-displayed, so that the refrigerated air flowing from the air distribution duct into the interior space is substantially in the forward downward direction through the first plurality of openings. Enter Thus, a portion of the refrigerated air flowing from the air distribution duct into the interior space enters the interior space substantially rearward downward through the first plurality of openings.

In another aspect of the present invention, the rear panel may have a plurality of through openings for passing a portion of the refrigerated air from the air supply duct into the lower and / or central region of the interior space. In one embodiment, a plurality of relatively large openings are provided in the portion of the rear panel that borders the lower region of the interior space, and portions of the rear panel that border the upper region of the interior space are not provided with openings, and relatively A plurality of small openings are provided in the portion of the rear panel that borders the central portion of the interior space.

The refrigeration unit may be provided outside of the interior space and operatively associated with the interior space. The refrigeration unit includes an evaporator and an evaporator fan disposed operatively associated with the evaporator. The evaporator fan operates to draw air from the interior space into the evaporator of the refrigeration unit through the air return opening in the bottom wall and to pass the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit into the air supply duct. The unit may be arranged in an equipment compartment below the bottom wall with an air return outlet at the bottom wall in air fluid communication with the evaporator fan.

The refrigeration unit may comprise a refrigeration unit cassette having a first compartment housing an evaporator and an evaporator fan assembly, and a second compartment housing a condenser, a condenser fan and a compressor operably associated with the condenser, and an evaporator, a compressor. And the condenser is connected in refrigerant fluid communication with the closed loop refrigerant circuit. The first compartment of the refrigeration unit cassette has an air inlet in air fluid communication with the air return outlet of the bottom wall and an air outlet in air fluid communication with the air inlet to the air supply duct. Cassette refrigeration units may be optionally located within and outside the equipment compartment.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for a refrigerated product displayed in an interior space of a refrigerated showcase that has been refrigerated by supplying refrigerated air to the interior space. The method comprises supplying refrigerated air to the upper section of the interior space, orienting the refrigerated air supplied to the upper section of the interior space substantially vertically downward through the product displayed in the interior space, and the lower section of the interior space. Venting air from the air. Orienting the refrigerated air supplied to the upper section of the interior space substantially vertically downwards through the product displayed in the interior space, which orients the first portion of the refrigerated air supplied to the upper section of the interior space in a substantially forward downward direction. And orienting a second portion of the refrigerated air supplied to the upper region of the interior space in a substantially rearward downward direction opposite the first portion of the air.

For further purposes and understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention, which is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a refrigerated showcase according to the present invention.

2 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a refrigerated showcase according to the present invention.

3 is a partial side cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is a partial side cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

4 is a side cross-sectional view of the modular refrigeration cassette shown in FIG.

5A-5D are exploded views of respective exemplary embodiments according to the present invention of the air distribution duct in the upper region of the product display space of the refrigerated showcase of FIG.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in alternative embodiments an interior for holding a product 110 to be purchased, such as a bottle or can soda, milk, water, juice, fruit drink, beer, and other beverages. A chilled cold beverage showcase, shown generally at 10, is shown, including the product display space 100. Although the present invention will be described herein with reference to the illustrated embodiments of refrigerated cold beverage showcases, the present invention needs to be maintained within a controlled environment, such as livestock meat, poultry meat, fish, dairy products, packaged frozen It will be appreciated that it may be applied to other refrigerated display showcases for displaying perishable and frozen foods and beverages, including food and other products.

The beverage showcase 10 is arranged separately from the refrigerated internal product display space 100 and the refrigerated internal product display space 100 and is separated equipment from which heat transfer can be blocked from the refrigerated internal product display space 100. And cabinet 20 forming partition 55. The cabinet 20 has an enclosing sidewall structure comprising an upper wall 22 and a rear wall 34, a front wall 32 and opposite and substantially vertically extending sidewalls 36, 38. The cabinet also includes a lower wall 24 disposed between the refrigerated internal product display space 100 located at the top and the equipment compartment 55 located at the bottom. The interior product display space 100 may be accessed through an access opening, which is an open area in front of the cabinet in the embodiment shown from the outside of the cabinet 20. This open area may be open to the surrounding environment or may be covered by at least one door 40 mounted to the cabinet 20 as in the illustrated embodiment. The door 40 extends across the open area and has a transparent viewing area, such as a glass panel, where at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 can be observed. The door 40 may be selectively positioned between a closed position covering the open area and an open position where the consumer can access the internal product display space 100 to move the product for purchase. Although the embodiment of the display showcase 10 shown in the figure has only one door 40, the display showcase has one, two, three and more doors collectively covering the open area when in the closed position. I will understand that you can have. The door or doors 40 may be mounted to the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, for example on a hinge for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position or on a track for sliding movement.

Top wall 22, bottom wall 24, back wall 34 and side walls 36, 38 may be blocked from heat transfer to insulate the refrigerated interior space from the environment outside of display showcase 10. . A plurality of shelves 112 including an upper shelf 112A and a lower shelf 112B are disposed in the product display space 100. The shelves 112 are configured to be suitable for supporting a particular product 110 to be displayed for purchase. The specific number, arrangement and configuration of the shelves 112 is not closely related to the present invention and is within the discretion of one of ordinary skill in the art for selecting a particular product 100 to be displayed.

The rear panel 134 is provided spaced inwardly of the rear sidewall 34 to form an air supply duct 104 between the rear sidewall 34 and the rear panel 134. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the product display space 100 is bounded by an upper wall 22, a rear wall 134, a lower wall 24, and sidewalls 36, 38. The air cools the product displayed therein partially through the air outlet 109 at the upper end of the air supply duct 104 and partially through the plurality of openings 135 provided in the rear panel 134. Enter the refrigerated product display space 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the top panel 122 is spaced inwardly of the top wall 22 to form an air duct 106 extending substantially horizontally between the top wall 22 and the top panel 122. Is provided. In this embodiment, the product display space 100 is bounded by an upper panel 122, a rear panel 134, a lower wall 24, and sidewalls 36, 38. A portion of the refrigerated air passing through the air supply duct 104 passes through the openings 135 provided in the rear panel 134 into the interior product display space 100, and a portion of the refrigerated air is provided in the panel 122. Pass from feed duct 104 into duct 106 to pass through openings 123 and 125.

The equipment compartment 55 is located in the cabinet 20 under the bottom wall 24 and is separated from the refrigerated internal product display space 100 of the cabinet 20 by the bottom wall 24. The bottom wall 24 forms a common wall separating the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment. The bottom wall has a top surface that forms the floor or deck of the interior product display space 100 and has a bottom surface that faces the refrigerated cassette 50 housed within the equipment compartment. The refrigeration unit 15 includes an evaporator 60 and at least one accessory evaporator fan / motor assembly 62, a condenser 70 and at least one accessory condenser fan / motor assembly 72, and a compressor 74. do. Evaporator 60 and its associated evaporator fan / motor assembly 62 may comprise condenser 70 and its associated condenser fan / motor assembly 72 and a second section of refrigeration unit 50 in which compressor 74 is housed. It is housed in a first section 53 of the refrigeration unit 15, which is separated by a dividing wall 68 from 57.

The refrigeration unit 15 is formed of an upper flange 52, a base plate 54 and a base plate formed of the upper flange 52 and the rear plate 56B, the front plate 56A, and opposite side plates 56C. A refrigerated cassette 50 having a substantially rectangular box-like structure with an enclosing structure 56 extending substantially vertically therebetween. The dividing wall 68 is provided with opposing side plates from the front section of the refrigeration cassette to the back plate 56B to separate the interior of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into the first section 53 and the second section 57 described above. 56C). The condenser 70, its accompanying condenser fan / motor assembly 72 and the compressor 74 are mounted to a common support plate configured to be mounted to a base plate 54 that forms the bottom of the cassette refrigeration unit 50. Base plate 54 may be slidably mounted within compartment 55 to facilitate servicing of the refrigerated compartment mounted thereon and within compartment 55 to facilitate placement outside compartment 55. Can be. A condensate tray 76 may be provided below the evaporator 60 to collect the condensate drippings from the condenser 70 and the evaporator 60 and for the discharge of the condensate collected into the waste line. The condensate tray 76 serves as a condensate evaporation tray which is evaporated from the condenser by the hot air as the hot air exhausted from the condensate collected therein passes over the condensate tray 76.

Evaporator 60, condenser 70 and compressor 74 are connected to a closed loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) in a conventional manner to cool air from internal product display space 100 via known Carnot cycles. do. The condenser fan / motor assembly 72, which is typically a single fan and motor, is provided with a front grille provided on the lower front wall 32 of the cabinet 20, from the outside of the refrigerated showcase 10, such as its external surroundings, for example. 12, through the front grille 12 provided in the lower front of the showcase 10 and through the opening 59 of the front panel 58 to the condenser 70, typically a compressor 74. Only works when) is running. When the outside air passes through the condenser 70 in a heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant passing by the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air is heated. After traversing the condenser 70, this air is exhausted out of the compartment 55 to return to the external environment through the opening at the rear of the second section 57 of the cassette 50. A portion of the air drawn through the refrigeration unit cassette 50 by the condenser fan 72 passes over the compressor 74 to help cool the compressor.

The cooled refrigerant passes from condenser 70 to evaporator 60 through a closed loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown). The evaporator fan / motor assembly 62 or the plurality of evaporator fan / motor assemblies 62 are also referred to as evaporator compartments from the internal product display space 100 via the air inlet 102 of the bottom wall 24. Air is sucked into the first section 53 of 50 and then operates to return the air to the product display space 100 through the evaporator 60 and through the refrigerated air supply duct 104. When the circulating air passes through the evaporator 60, the air is cooled while passing in a heat exchange relationship with the cooled refrigerant passing through the evaporator 60 by the compressor 74, and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated. The evaporator fan 62 is refrigerated from the evaporator compartment 53 via a return air outlet 108 located at the rear portion of the lower wall 24 at the rear of the compartment and in the opening of the refrigerated air supply duct 104. The refrigerated air is circulated back through the evaporator 60 to the internal product display space 100.

The cover plate 120 is disposed above the return air inlet 102 in a very spaced relationship with the lower wall 24 to form a flow path between the cover plate 120 and the lower wall 24, through which the flow path is located. Refrigerated air returning from the product display space 100 flows to the air return inlet 102. The cover plate 120 covers the air return inlet 102, whereby spills or leaks from the product display space 100 flow into the evaporator compartment 53 and the evaporator and / or evaporator Prevents contamination of the fan assembly. In addition, the cover plate 120 is oriented downward when the refrigerated air reaches the lower region of the product display space 100 for passage under the cover plate 120 into the air inlet 102 of the lower wall 24. Causes refrigerated air to flow outwards towards the enclosure walls of the cabinet. In doing so, the refrigerated air passes through the product on the lower shelf to cool the product more evenly and prevent the refrigerated air from converging directly downward into the return air return inlet 102.

In one embodiment, the cover plate 120 is a circumferential flange extending substantially vertically from there to the base wall 24 to support the cover plate 120 over the air inlet 102 of the base wall 124. 126). A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings to form an air flow path connecting the refrigerated internal product display space 100 in flow communication with the air return inlet 102 to the evaporator compartment 53 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. 125 is provided in the circumferential flange 126.

The sealing member 58 has a lower wall 24 for positioning the refrigeration unit cassette 50 in a sealing relationship with the lower wall 24 that separates the refrigerated internal product display space 100 from the equipment compartment 55. And the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and the lifting device.

The sealing member 58 may be mounted to the lower surface of the lower wall 24 near the opening 102 of the lower wall 24, or as shown, of the upper flange 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. It can be mounted on the top surface or simply carried. The sealing member 58 extends at least in the vicinity of the opening 51, which is substantially the same size as the opening 102 of the lower wall 24, and also has an opening (of the lower wall 24 disposed behind the opening 51). 108) extends nearby. The sealing member 58 prevents refrigerated air returned to the refrigeration unit 15 from bypassing the evaporator 60 and instead directly into the inlet 108 from the air return inlet 102 to the air supply duct 104. Let it flow The sealing member 58 also has an air return inlet 102 of the lower wall 24 and the refrigeration unit cassette from which the atmosphere from the outside of the cabinet, such as the atmosphere drawn through the front grille 12 to pass through the condenser 70. It is prevented from being sucked into the refrigerated air returned to the refrigeration unit 15 through the inlet opening of the upper flange 52 of 50.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, refrigerated air from the evaporator compartment 53 passes through the air outlet 108 into the rear air supply duct 104. The rear air supply duct 104 extends substantially vertically upward between the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134 and terminates at the upper end of the air outlet 109. The air outlet 109 opens into the refrigerated interior space above the upper shelf 112A but below the upper wall 22. The flow cross section of the air outlet 109 is limited to less than the flow cross section of the upstream rear duct 104 with respect to the air flow of the outlet 109. For example, a baffle 136 is provided at the outlet end of the air duct 104 to extend above the air outlet 109, thereby reducing the flow cross sectional area of the air outlet 109 relative to the flow cross sectional area of the air duct 104. . In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet baffle 136 is an extension of the rear panel 134 extending obliquely at an angle vertically downward toward the rear wall 34. Outlet baffle 136 may extend rearward at an angle ranging from 30 to 60 degrees. The outlet baffle 136 is rearwarded by a distance sufficient to reduce the flow cross section at the air outlet 109 to about 1/4 to 3/4 of the flow cross section of the flow duct 104 upstream of the outlet baffle 136. Can be extended.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the refrigerated air flowing through the rear duct 104 is partially through the air outlet 109 of the rear duct 104 and partially through the openings 135 of the rear panel 134. Passes into internal product display space 100. The openings 135 constitute relatively narrow slots arranged horizontally and arranged in a plurality of rows and columns in the rear panel, for example, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. The reduction of the flow area at the air outlet 109 causes a portion of the air flow entering the flow duct 104 to pass through the openings 135 of the rear panel to facilitate the distribution of air flow into the product display area. Create a pressure drop. The distribution of air flow can be achieved by changing the size of the restriction of the flow area at the air outlet 109 to the duct 104, for example by changing the extent to which the outlet baffle 136 restricts the flow area at the air outlet 109. Some can be controlled. In order to increase the air flow through the air outlet 109 relative to the air flow through the openings 135 of the rear panel 134, the flow area at the air outlet 109 is increased. Conversely, the flow area at the air outlet 109 is reduced to reduce the air flow at the air outlet 109 as compared to the air flow through the openings 135 of the rear panel 134. The relative reduction in flow area at the air outlet 109 may be selected by varying the configuration of the outlet baffle 136, ie length and / or angle, to provide a predetermined flow area at the air outlet 109.

Air flow entering the internal product display space 100 through the air outlet 109 will flow to the upper portion of the product display space 100 above the upper shelf 112A, and then placed on the shelf 112. Through the return product and through the return air inlet 102 of the bottom wall 24 and into the evaporator compartment 53 substantially vertically. One or more flow baffles 140 may be disposed on the top wall 22 to extend downward into the interior space 100. The flow baffle 140 is relatively short but sufficient to orient in the direction of rotation of the air flow from the air outlet 109 to flow substantially vertically downward through the product on the shelf 112 of the interior product display space 100. Extend downward into the interior space by a distance. Each flow baffle 140 helps the orientation of the air flow to pass downward through the central region of the interior product display space 100, thereby ensuring more efficient cooling of the product of the shelf 112 and 100) minimizes fluctuations in product temperature from rear to front. Once the lamp is placed across the upper front of the interior product display space 100, a heat shield may be provided in association with the lamp to shield the product from the heat generated by the heat lamp and also pass through the product. It may serve as a flow baffle for directing air flow downward.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerated air from the evaporator compartment 53 passes through the air outlet 108 into the rear air supply duct 104. The rear air supply duct 104 extends substantially vertically upward between the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134 and is connected in fluid communication with the horizontal supply air duct 106. In this embodiment, the refrigerated air is partially from the rear duct 104 through the openings 135 of the rear panel 134 and partially through the openings 123 and 125 of the upper panel 122. From 106 into the internal product display space 100. Again, the openings 135 are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns of the rear panel, for example as in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and constitute relatively narrow slots extending horizontally. In this exemplary embodiment, no openings 135 are provided in the upper portion of the rear panel 134, but the openings 135A provided in the lower region of the rear panel 134 are the central region of the rear panel 134. Larger than the openings 135B provided in the. The collective flow area provided by the openings 135A of the lower portion of the rear panel may be larger than the collective flow area provided by the openings 135B of the central region of the rear panel. Thus, the distribution of refrigerated air passing from the duct 104 into the product display space 100 through the rear panel 134 is such that there is no flow through the upper region of the rear panel from the product display space through the lower region of the rear panel. Tilt vertically to the maximum portion of flow through the rear panel into the lower zone of 100.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the remainder of the refrigerated air passing through the refrigerated air supply duct 104 passes from the top duct 106 through the openings 123, 125 through the top panel 122 to the product display space 100. Enter). Exemplary configurations of the upper feed duct 106 are also represented in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. In each configuration, the flow baffle 105 is disposed within the front portion of the duct 106 and the top panel 122 is configured to cause an air flow that penetrates over the baffle 105 in a substantially reverse direction at the front end of the duct 106. From and into the duct 106 and partially across the duct 106. Openings 123 are provided in the upper panel 122 downstream of the air flow of the base of the flow baffle 105, while openings 125 are upstream of the air flow of the base of the flow baffle 105. Provided on top panel 122. Thus, the first portion of refrigerated air entering the upper duct 106 from the rear duct 104 will pass through the openings 123 into the product space 100 in a substantially forward and rearward direction, while the second The portion will pass through the openings 125 into the product display space 100 in substantially forward and backward directions. Thus, refrigerated air entering the product display space 100 through the front set of openings 125 is forward of the velocity associated with the refrigerated air entering the product display space 100 through the rear set. It will have a backward oriented horizontal component at a speed that is opposite to the horizontally oriented horizontal component. Refrigerated air entering the internal product display space 100 from the duct 104 through the openings 123, 125 of the top panel 122 is introduced into the evaporator compartment 53 by the evaporator fan assembly 62 and underneath. The return air inlet 102 of the wall 24 is in fact drawn downwardly via the product 110 disposed on the shelf 112. Thus, the refrigerated air follows the entire path, substantially vertically downward, through the product 110 disposed on the shelf 112, thereby significantly improving the cooling of the product and from the rear to the front of the product display space 100. Minimize temperature fluctuations.

In both illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the portion of the refrigerated air supplied via the duct 104 directly through its horizontally arranged extension as in FIG. 1 or as in FIG. Entering the internal product display space 100 through openings 135 provided in the rear panel 134, a portion of the refrigerated air passes through the outlet 109 of the duct 104 into the internal product display space 100. do. The total flow distribution between the two portions also increases or decreases the total flow area provided by the slots 135 of the rear panel by the desired amount by increasing or decreasing the number of slots 135 or the size of the openings 135. Or by reducing it. In addition, the distribution of the portion of refrigerated air passing through the rear panel may increase or decrease the openings in any arrangement by increasing or decreasing the relative size or relative number of slots in one portion of the rear panel to openings in the other portion of the rear panel. By selectively positioning it can be modified as desired.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 for illustrative purposes, the slots 135 are uniformly sized slots arranged in three columns of a plurality of rows of only the vertical center portion of the rear panel. Each slot has a width of 5.50 inches (139.7 mm) and a height of 0.25 inches (6.4 mm). In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the openings 135A, 135B have a width of 8.00 inches (203.2 mm) and a height of 0.75 inches (19.2 mm) and are located in the lower area of the panel. (A) and a plurality of columns of three columns with 8.00 inches (203.2 mm) wide and 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) high and small slots 135B positioned in the vertical middle portion of the panel. . It will be appreciated that the arrangement, size and number of openings provided in the back panel 135 are within the design choices of those skilled in the art. The number of rows and columns selected, the relative distribution and space between the columns and columns, as well as the specific dimensions of the slots 135, are determined for the flow of refrigerated air entering the interior product display space 100 through the rear panel 134. It may be varied to provide a distribution.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred modes shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made which may affect the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims by those skilled in the art. I will understand.

Claims (29)

A refrigerated showcase having an internal space where the product can be displayed in an environment refrigerated by refrigerated air supplied to the internal space, A cabinet having an upper wall delimiting the interior space, a lower wall with a penetrating air return outlet, a rear wall and sidewalls; An interior space spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet and substantially parallel to the rear wall, extending substantially vertically with the rear wall, an inlet for receiving refrigerated air and an upper portion of the interior space from the air supply duct A rear panel forming an air supply duct having an outlet at its upper end for passing a first portion of refrigerated air into the zone, The upper part of the interior space for redirecting the air flow in the first portion of the refrigerated air downward along the upper wall of the cabinet downward into the interior space such that it is discharged outside the air return outlet of the bottom wall through the product displayed therein. A refrigerated showcase comprising at least one flow baffle disposed in the zone. The refrigerated showcase of claim 1, wherein the at least one flow baffle comprises a flow baffle extending inward from the top wall into the interior space. The refrigerated showcase of claim 1, wherein the at least one flow baffle comprises a pair of spaced flow baffles, each flow baffle extending inward from the top wall into the interior space. The refrigerated showcase of claim 1, wherein the air supply duct has a first flow area upstream of the outlet and a second flow area at the outlet, the second flow area being less than the first flow area. 5. The refrigerated showcase of claim 4, further comprising a flow restriction disposed at an outlet of the air supply duct, the flow restriction restricting a second flow area to a flow area less than the first flow area. 5. The refrigerated showcase of claim 4, further comprising a flow baffle disposed at an outlet of the air supply duct, the flow baffle restricting the second flow area to a flow area smaller than the first flow area. 7. The refrigerated showcase of claim 6, wherein the flow baffle includes an extension of the rear panel that extends obliquely toward the rear wall of the cabinet at an upper end of the rear panel. The refrigerated showcase of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of openings in the rear panel for passing a second portion of refrigerated air from an upstream portion of the air supply duct into the interior space. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a refrigeration unit operatively associated with the interior space and disposed externally of the interior space, wherein the refrigeration unit includes an evaporator and an evaporator fan disposed operatively with the evaporator, An evaporator fan is operable to draw air from the interior space through the air return opening in the bottom wall to the evaporator of the refrigeration unit and to pass refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit into the air supply duct. 10. The refrigeration showcase of claim 9, wherein the refrigeration unit is disposed in an equipment compartment below the bottom wall and the air return outlet of the bottom wall is in air fluid communication with the evaporator fan. 2. The refrigeration unit cassette of claim 1 having a first compartment housing the evaporator and the operatively associated evaporator fan assembly, and a second compartment housing the condenser, the condenser fan assembly and the compressor operably associated with the condenser. Wherein the evaporator, the compressor and the condenser are connected in refrigerant fluid communication with the closed loop refrigerant circuit, the first compartment being in air communication with the air return outlet of the lower wall and with the air inlet to the air supply duct; Refrigerated showcases having air outlets in air fluid communication. 12. The refrigerated showcase of claim 11, wherein the cassette refrigeration unit can be selectively positioned within and outside the equipment compartment. Further comprising an upper panel disposed in the interior space spaced from the upper wall of the cabinet and substantially parallel to the upper wall, the upper panel defining an air distribution duct extending substantially horizontally between the upper wall and the upper wall. And the upper panel has a first plurality of openings penetrating the rear portion thereof and a second plurality of openings penetrating the front portion thereof, wherein the substantially horizontally extending air distribution duct is in fluid communication with the outlet of the air supply duct. Refrigerated showcases having inlet openings in communication. 14. The flow of claim 13 wherein the at least one flow baffle is disposed in the air distribution duct between the first plurality of openings of the substantially horizontal panel and the second plurality of openings of the substantially horizontal panel. Refrigerated showcase containing baffles. 14. The rear panel of claim 13, wherein the rear panel includes a lower portion having a first plurality of openings therethrough, an upper portion without openings therethrough and a second plurality of penetrating portions for passing refrigerated air from the air supply duct into the interior space. Refrigerated showcase having a lower portion with openings. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of openings of the lower portion of the rear panel form a first flow area, and the second plurality of openings of the middle portion of the back panel form a second flow area, The refrigerated showcase wherein the first flow area is larger than the second flow area. A refrigerated showcase with an interior space housing the product in a refrigerated environment for selection by consumers, A cabinet having an upper wall forming an interior space, a lower wall having a penetrating air return opening, a rear wall and sidewalls; A substantially vertical panel disposed substantially parallel to the rear wall and in an interior space spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet, the substantially vertical panel forming a refrigerated air supply duct between the rear wall, A substantially horizontal panel disposed substantially parallel to the upper wall and in an interior space spaced from the upper wall of the cabinet, forming a first air duct between the upper wall and having a rear portion and a front portion; A first plurality of openings disposed through and through the rear portion of the substantially horizontal panel for passing refrigerated air substantially forward downward from the air distribution duct into an interior product display space; A second plurality of openings disposed through and through the front portion of the substantially horizontal panel for passing refrigerated air from the air distribution duct into the interior product display space in a substantially downward downward direction; A refrigeration unit disposed below the bottom wall operatively associated with the interior space and including an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively disposed in association with the evaporator, The first and second air ducts are in fluid communication to form a refrigerated air distribution duct, The heavy duty fan is operative to draw air from the interior space through the air return opening in the bottom wall to the evaporator of the refrigeration unit and to pass the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit into the air supply duct. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a flow baffle in which the air distribution duct is disposed between the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings, wherein the flow baffle is configured to allow the refrigerated air to flow past the flow baffle. A refrigerated showcase operated to cause reversal of the flow direction through the second plurality of openings of the horizontal panel. 18. The refrigerated showcase of claim 17, wherein the substantially vertical panel has a lower portion having a third plurality of openings disposed therein and through to pass refrigerated air from the air supply duct into the interior product display space. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the substantially vertical panel comprises: a lower portion with a third plurality of openings disposed therein and through to allow refrigeration to pass from the air supply duct into the interior space; A refrigerated showcase having a middle portion between an upper portion and a lower portion having a fourth plurality of openings therethrough for passing refrigerated air from the air supply duct into the interior space. 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the third plurality of openings in the lower portion of the substantially vertical panel form a first flow area flow and the fourth plurality of openings in the middle portion of the substantially vertical panel are second flow. A refrigerated showcase forming an area, wherein the first flow area is greater than the second flow area. A method of refrigeration of a product in a refrigerated showcase having a cabinet having an internal space with the product displayed therein and having a cabinet that is refrigerated by supplying refrigerated air to the internal space, Supplying refrigerated air to the upper region of the interior space, Directing the refrigerated air supplied to the upper region of the interior space substantially downwardly through the product displayed in the interior space, Exhausting air from the lower zone of the interior space, A method of product refrigeration in which refrigerated air supplied to the upper region of the interior space flows in a substantially downward downward path through the product displayed in the interior space. The method of claim 22, wherein directing the refrigerated air supplied to the upper region of the interior space substantially downwards through the article displayed in the interior space, Orienting a first portion of the refrigerated air fed into the upper zone of the inner zone in a substantially forward downward direction; Orienting a second portion of the refrigerated air fed to the upper zone of the inner zone in a substantially backward downward direction. A refrigerated showcase having an internal space where the product can be displayed in an environment refrigerated by refrigerated air supplied to the internal space, A cabinet having an upper wall delimiting the interior space, a lower wall with a penetrating air return outlet, a rear wall and sidewalls; A rear panel disposed in the interior space spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet and substantially parallel to the rear wall, the rear panel forming an air supply duct extending substantially vertically between the rear wall, The air supply duct has an inlet for receiving refrigerated air and an outlet at its upper end for passing a first portion of the refrigerated air from the air supply duct into an upper region of an interior space, The air supply duct has a first flow area upstream of the outlet and a second flow area at the outlet, the second flow area being smaller than the first flow area. 25. The refrigerated showcase of claim 24, further comprising a flow restrictor disposed at an outlet of the air supply duct, the flow restrictor restricting the second flow area to a flow area less than the first flow area. 25. The refrigerated showcase of claim 24, further comprising a flow baffle disposed at an outlet of the air supply duct, the flow baffle restricting the second flow area to a flow area smaller than the first flow area. 27. The refrigerated showcase of claim 26, wherein the flow baffle includes an extension of the rear panel that extends obliquely toward the rear wall of the cabinet at an upper end of the rear panel. 25. The refrigerated showcase of claim 24, wherein the flow baffle extends rearwardly at an angle in the range of about 30 to about 60 degrees. 25. The refrigerated showcase of claim 24, wherein the second flow area is about 1/4 to 3/4 area of the first flow area.

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