TW202410836A - Cold storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

A cold storage system for storing items at a low temperature is provided. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the cold storage system includes a housing configured to form a storage space for accommodating the items and having side walls and a ceiling and a cooler disposed in an upper region of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space, in which at least one of the side walls is provided with an inspection opening opened at a height corresponding to a location of the cooler, and the cooler is configured to be carried out through the inspection opening.

Description

Refrigeration system

The present invention relates to a refrigeration system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a refrigeration system capable of storing a large amount of food or other items to be stored at a low temperature.

Generally speaking, a cold storage is a structure designed to store items such as various agricultural and livestock items, fish and shellfish, food, medicine, liquor, plant seeds and the like at low temperatures. Cold storage is also widely used for commercial purposes, and walk-in cold storage that one person can directly enter and reach-in cold storage that can be opened from the outside to enter the storage space without entering are widely used as commercial cold storage.

Recently, a mixed walk-in and reach-in cold storage is widely used in convenience stores, large supermarkets and the like. This can be understood as a structure in which one person can enter the storage space of the cold storage and can directly take out items by opening the door from the outside.

This commercial cold storage has a large size because it needs to accommodate many items, and a single unit cooler is installed in the large cold storage to provide cold air to maintain the internal storage space at a low temperature. The single unit cooler includes a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor and an evaporator that can form a cooling cycle, and at least one blower that can circulate the cooling air from the evaporator to the storage space.

However, in this walk-in cold storage, the unit cooler is installed in the upper area of the storage space. To maintain the unit cooler, the worker must directly enter the interior of the walk-in storage, and to do this, the storage space must be emptied to a certain extent, which causes a problem of low maintenance efficiency of the unit cooler.

In addition, since workers must repair the unit coolers that are suspended from the ceiling of the storage space, there are many inconveniences in the work. There is also a problem of workers being injured due to stacked items tipping over during the repair process of the unit coolers or because of the storage space being cleared for this purpose.

[Technical objectives]

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration system capable of effectively maintaining a single unit cooler.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration system that can improve the convenience of unit cooler maintenance and promote the safety of workers involved in unit cooler maintenance. [Technical Solution]

According to one aspect, a refrigeration system for storing items at a low temperature is provided, wherein the refrigeration system includes an outer shell configured to form a storage space for accommodating the items and having side walls and a ceiling, and a cooler disposed in an upper area of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space.

At least one of the side walls may have an inspection opening opened at a height corresponding to a position of the cooler, and the cooler may be operated through the inspection opening.

Through this, the maintenance of the unit cooler can be effectively performed.

In addition, the convenience of maintenance of the unit cooler can be improved and the safety of workers involved in the maintenance of the unit cooler can be promoted.

In addition, the refrigeration system may include a first rail fixed to an inner side of the storage space and a second rail coupled to the first rail. The first rail and the second rail may extend in a direction toward the inspection opening, the second rail may slide to an outer side of the storage space through the inspection opening, and the cooler may be coupled to the second rail and taken out of the storage space when the second rail slides to the outer side of the storage space.

In addition, the cooler can be separated from the second rail after being taken out of the storage space together with the second rail.

Additionally, the first rail may be fixed to the ceiling.

In addition, the first rail and the second rail may each be formed by two members arranged to have a width wider than a width of the cooler and extending side by side, and the cooler may be coupled to the two members of the second rail by a bracket.

Additionally, the bracket may have an inverted L-shape, and may have a vertical portion coupled to a side surface of the cooler and a horizontal portion coupled to the second rail.

In addition, the first rail may include a fixing portion fixed to the ceiling, a rail portion disposed below the fixing portion and having a groove formed on a side surface of the cooler side with a cross-section recessed, and a connecting portion connecting the fixing portion and the rail portion, and the second rail may include a main portion adjacent to a side surface of the cooler side of the rail portion, and a first roller coupled to a side surface of the main portion and seated in the groove for rotation.

In addition, the first track may include a guide portion extending below the track portion, the second track may include a second roller coupled to a lower surface of the main body portion for rotation, and the second roller may rotate in contact with a side surface of the guide portion.

In addition, the refrigeration system may include a bracket coupled to a side surface of the cooler and the second track. The second track may include a coupling portion extending from a side surface of the main body toward the side of the cooler, and the bracket may have an inverted L-shape, a vertical portion of which may be coupled to a side surface of the cooler and a horizontal portion of which may be coupled to the coupling portion.

In addition, the inspection opening can be formed respectively on two side walls facing each other between the side walls, and the second rail can slide in two directions relative to the first rail.

In addition, the refrigeration system may include a door coupled to at least one of the side walls to open and close the storage space, and the inspection opening may be formed on any one of the side walls on which the door is formed.

In addition, the refrigeration system may include an air curtain unit disposed above the door, and the cooler may be disposed above the air curtain unit.

In addition, the refrigeration system may include an inspection opening door configured to open and close the inspection opening and a packaging member configured to be sealed between the inspection opening door and the inspection opening. [Effect]

According to the present invention, the maintenance of the single-unit cooler can be performed efficiently.

In addition, the convenience of unit cooler maintenance can be improved and the safety of workers involved in the maintenance of the unit cooler can be promoted.

The terms used in the exemplary embodiments have been selected as general terms that are currently used as widely as possible when considering the functions of the present invention, but these terms may change according to the intention of skilled artisans, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, and the like. In addition, in some cases, the applicant arbitrarily selects terms, and in this case, their meanings will be described in detail in the corresponding description. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the terms and the entire content of the present invention, rather than just the names of the terms.

The postpositions "module" and "component" of the components used in the following description are given or used only for the convenience of writing the instructions, and do not have a different meaning or function. In addition, when describing the exemplary embodiments included in the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related well-known technology may make the gist of the exemplary embodiments included in the present invention unclear, the detailed description may be omitted. In addition, the attached figures are only for the convenience of understanding the exemplary embodiments included in the present invention, and the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to the attached figures, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents or substitutions included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited to the terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

When it is described as being "connected" or "coupled" between any components, the components may be directly connected or coupled, and it should be understood that other components may be interposed between the components. On the other hand, when any component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, singular expressions include plural expressions.

Throughout the specification, terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to specify the existence of one feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, and it should be understood that the possibility of the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof is not excluded.

Throughout the specification, the expression "at least one of a, b, and c" may include "only a", "only b", "only c", "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "all of a, b, and c".

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention belongs can easily implement it. However, the present invention can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along line B-B' of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is an enlarged view of portion P in FIG. 3.

A refrigeration system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an outer shell 110, a door 120, an inspection opening 130, a first rail 140, a second rail 150, a bracket 160, a cooler 170, an air curtain unit 180 and a rack 190, but some of them may be omitted for implementation, and other additional configurations are not excluded.

3, a left and right direction may refer to a first direction x, and wherein the left direction refers to one side of the first direction x, and the right direction refers to the other side of the first direction x. In addition, a direction perpendicular to the first direction x may refer to a second direction y.

Hereinafter, an example refrigeration system 100 will be described in this specification, in which doors 120 are installed on both sides of the outer casing 110 so that a user or manager can access a shelf 190 placed in a storage space S from one side in the first direction x and the other side in the first direction x of the refrigeration system 100. However, it is not limited thereto, and the door 120 may be provided only on a wall on one side in the first direction x of the outer casing 110 in the refrigeration system 100. Alternatively, the door 120 providing direct access to the shelf 190 from the outside may not be provided, and only a separate entrance may be formed.

1, a refrigeration system 100 has a storage space S formed therein to store items at a low temperature. The refrigeration system 100 may be built in the space where the refrigeration system 100 is installed by on-site construction, or may be manufactured as a separate module and transported to the space where the refrigeration system 100 is to be installed, and then installed in the space.

The refrigeration system 100 may include a housing 110. The housing 110 may be formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 110 may form a storage space S for accommodating items therein.

The housing 110 may include a side wall 111 and a ceiling 112. It is understood that the side wall 111 constitutes a portion of a side surface of the rectangular hexahedron housing 110, and the ceiling 112 constitutes a portion of an upper surface of the rectangular hexahedron housing 110. The side wall 111 and the ceiling 112 may be formed of a heat insulating material.

The refrigeration system 100 may include a door 120. The door 120 is coupled to the side wall 111 to open and close the storage space S. The door 120 may be provided in the form of a hinged door or a sliding door depending on the location where the refrigeration system 100 is placed and the purpose of the refrigeration system 100. A user or manager may open the door 120 to access items loaded in the storage space S without entering the interior of the housing 110.

A central area of the door 120 may be formed of a transparent material. For example, the central area of the door 120 may be made of glass. Through this, even when the door 120 is closed, a user or manager may directly check the items displayed on the shelf 190 from the outside.

The door 120 may be formed on each of two side walls 111 facing each other among the side walls 111. For example, referring to FIG. 3 , the door 120 may be formed on a wall on one side in the first direction x and a wall on the other side in the first direction x among the side walls 111. Thus, a user or manager may open the door 120 from any side of the refrigeration system 100 to load or take out items.

The refrigeration system 100 may include an inspection opening 130. The inspection opening 130 may be formed through the side wall 111. The inspection opening 130 may be formed on at least one of the side walls 111. The second rail 150 and the cooler 170 may be removed through the inspection opening 130.

The inspection opening 130 may be formed on any one of the side walls 111 on which the door 120 is formed. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the inspection opening 130 may be formed on a wall on one side of the first direction x. Specifically, a sufficient external space may be provided on one side of the refrigeration system 100 on which the door 120 is formed. In this case, if the inspection opening 130 is formed on one of the side walls 111 on which the door 120 is formed, a space for taking out or maintaining the cooler 170 may be ensured, thereby improving work efficiency.

On the other hand, when a space for a worker to take out the cooler 170 is fixed in one side or the other side of the refrigeration system 100 in the second direction y, the inspection opening 130 can be formed on the wall of one side and/or the other side in the second direction y.

1 to 3 , the inspection opening 130 may be formed at a height corresponding to the position of the cooler 170. The cooler 170 may slide in the first direction x by the first rail 140 and the second rail 150 described later, and at this time, the cooler 170 may be taken out of the storage space S through the inspection opening 130 formed at a height corresponding thereto.

The refrigeration system 100 may include an inspection opening door 131. The inspection opening door 131 may open and close the inspection opening 130. The inspection opening door 131 may be formed of a heat insulating material in the same manner as the side wall 111 or the ceiling 112. The inspection opening door 131 may be opened and closed in a flat opening manner. However, this is not limited thereto, and the inspection opening door 131 may be opened and closed in a sliding manner.

The refrigeration system 100 may include a packaging member 132. The packaging member 132 may be disposed between the inspection opening door 131 and the edge of the inspection opening 130. The packaging member 132 may be made of rubber. The packaging member 132 may be sealed between the inspection opening door 131 and the inspection opening 130. The cold air in the storage space S may be prevented from escaping to the outside through the inspection opening 130 via the packaging member 132.

2 and 3 , the refrigeration system 100 may include a first rail 140. The first rail 140 may be fixed to the inside of the storage space S. The first rail 140 may be disposed adjacent to the ceiling 112. The first rail 140 may guide the movement of the cooler 170 when the cooler 170 is taken out of the storage space S through the inspection opening 130.

The first track 140 may extend in the direction of the inspection opening 130. For example, the first track 140 may extend in a first direction x, which may be understood as extending to the left and to the right based on FIG. 3 .

The first rail 140 may be fixed to the ceiling 112. That is, based on FIG. 3 , the first rail 140 may be fixed to the lower surface of the ceiling 112. The first rail 140 may be coupled to the ceiling 112 by bolts or welding. Through this, the cooler 170 may be as close to the ceiling 112 as possible to minimize interference with other components such as the air curtain unit 180.

However, this is not limited thereto, and the first rail 140 may be fixed to the interior of the storage space S in a manner that one end and the other end in the first direction x are fixed to a wall in the first direction x and another wall in the first direction x, respectively. In this case, the upper end of the first rail 140 may be separated from the lower surface of the ceiling 112. Through this fixing method, the configuration height of the cooler 170 may be adjusted.

2 and 3, the first rail 140 may be formed of two components. The two components of the first rail 140 may be arranged to have a width in the second direction y that is wider than the length of the cooler 170 and extend side by side. Through this structure, both sides of the cooler 170 may be suspended from the first rail 140 through the second rail 150, thereby improving structural stability.

However, it is not limited thereto, and the first rail 140 may be formed of one member. In this case, the cooler 170 may have a structure in which a central portion of the upper surface is suspended from the first rail 140 by the second rail 150.

2 and 3 , the refrigeration system 100 may include a second rail 150. The second rail 150 may be coupled to the first rail 140. The second rail 150 may slide relative to the first rail 140. Specifically, the second rail 150 may slide in a direction in which the first rail 140 and the second rail 150 extend.

When the first track 140 extends in the direction of the inspection opening 130, the second track 150 may extend in the direction of the inspection opening 130. For example, when the first track 140 extends on one side and the other side of the first direction x, the second track 150 may also extend in the first direction x, which is left and right relative to FIG. 3.

The second rail 150 can slide to the outside of the storage space S through the inspection opening 130. Specifically, when the inspection door 131 is closed, the second rail 150 is located within the extension range of the first rail 140, and when the inspection door 131 is opened, the second rail 150 can move toward the outside of the storage space S by sliding in a direction x relative to the first rail 140.

The movable range of the second rail 150 may be greater than the distance between the other end of the cooler 170 in the first direction x and the inspection opening 130. That is, the second rail 150 may have a sufficient movable range to allow the cooler 170 to be completely removed from the storage space S.

The second rail 150 may be formed of two components. The two components of the second rail 150 may be arranged to have a width wider than the width of the cooler 170 and extend side by side. Through this, both sides of the cooler 170 may be fixed to the second rail 150 by the bracket 160, thereby improving structural stability.

However, it is not limited thereto, and when the first track 140 is formed by one member, the second track 150 may also be formed by one member. In this case, a central portion of the upper surface of the cooler 170 may be coupled to the second track 150.

Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the first rail 140 and the second rail 150 and a structure in which the cooler 170 is coupled to the second rail 150 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 .

The first rail 140 may include a fixing portion 141. The fixing portion 141 may be formed in a plate shape. The fixing portion 141 may be fixed to the ceiling. That is, the first rail 140 may be fixed to the ceiling 112 through the fixing portion 141. Specifically, the fixing portion 141 may be fixed to the ceiling 112 using a separate coupling member that passes through the fixing portion 141 and is coupled to the ceiling 112 when in contact with the ceiling 112.

The first track 140 may include a track portion 142. The track portion 142 may be disposed below the fixing portion 141. The track portion 142 may include a groove 142a formed on a side surface of the cooler 170 with a cross-section recess. The groove 142a may extend along the extension direction of the first track 140. The grooves 142a formed on the two components of the first track 140 may face each other. A first roller 152 of the second track 150 may be seated in the groove 142a.

The first rail 140 may include a connecting portion 143. The connecting portion 143 may be connected between the fixing portion 141 and the rail portion 142. The connecting portion 143 may be disposed between the fixing portion 141 and the rail portion 142 to serve as a spacer. That is, the connecting portion 143 may separate the rail portion 142 from the fixing portion 141 by a certain distance. Through this, the cooler 170 may be separated from the ceiling 112 by a predetermined distance and coupled to the second rail 150, so that interference with the side wall 111 or the like may be minimized in the process of performing the cooler 170 through the inspection opening 130.

The first track 140 may include a protrusion 144. One groove 142a may form two protrusions 144, one of which may protrude downward from the upper surface of the groove 142a, and the other protrusion may protrude upward from the lower surface of the groove 142a. A seat portion 152a formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first roller 152 may be seated on the protrusion 144.

The first track 140 may include a guide portion 145. The guide portion 145 may extend below the track portion 142. A second roller 153 of the second track 150 may contact a side surface of the guide portion 145 on the side of the cooler 170.

The second rail 150 may include a main body 151. The main body 151 may be adjacent to the cooler 170 side of the rail portion 142. That is, the main body 151 may be disposed adjacent to the groove 142a. The main body 151 may extend in the first direction x. The main body 151 may serve as a structure of the second rail 150.

The second track 150 may include a first roller 152. The first roller 152 may be coupled to a side surface of the main body 151. At least one first roller 152 may be disposed on a side surface of the main body 151. In order to allow the second track 150 to slide stably relative to the first track 140, at least two first rollers 152 may be disposed.

The first roller 152 may be a wheel-shaped member of the main body 151. The first roller 152 is coupled to the main body 151 for rotation. The first roller 152 may be seated on the inner side of a groove 142a formed in the track portion 142 of the first track 140 for rotation. When the second track 150 slides relative to the first track 140, as the first roller 152 is seated in the groove 142a and rotates, the second track 150 may move smoothly.

A seat portion 152a formed concavely in a circumferential direction may be formed on an outer peripheral surface of the first roller 152. When the first roller 152 is placed in the groove 142a of the first track 140, the seat portion 152a of the first roller 152 may be seated in the protrusion 144 of the first track 140. Thus, the second track 150 may be prevented from being separated from the first track 140 when the second track 150 slides relative to the first track 140.

The second track 150 may include a second roller 153. At least one second roller 153 may be disposed below the main body 151.

The second roller 153 may be coupled to the lower surface of the main body 151. The second roller 153 may be a wheel-shaped member. The second roller 153 may be coupled to the main body 151 to rotate. The second roller 153 may rotate while in contact with the side surface of the guide portion 145. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the second roller 153 may contact the side surface of the guide portion 145 on the cooler 170 side of the first rail 140, and when the second rail 150 slides, it may rotate while in contact with the guide portion 145. Through this, since the shaking of the second rail 150 can be suppressed when the second rail 150 slides relative to the first rail 140, the cooler 170 can be stably discharged through the inspection opening 130.

The second rail 150 may include a coupling portion 154. The coupling portion 154 may extend from the side of the main body 151 toward the side of the cooler 170. That is, the coupling portion 154 may extend horizontally from the main body 151 to the side of the cooler 170. A horizontal portion of the bracket 160 may be coupled to the coupling portion 154.

The refrigeration system 100 may include a bracket 160. The bracket 160 may have an inverted L-shape. The bracket 160 may have a vertical portion coupled to the side of the cooler 170 and a horizontal portion coupled to the second rail 150. Specifically, the vertical portion of the bracket 160 may be coupled to the side surface of the cooler 170 at a portion of the upper surface adjacent to the side surface of the cooler 170, and the horizontal portion may be coupled to the coupling portion 154 of the second rail 150. The vertical portion of the bracket 160 may be coupled to an inner circumferential surface or an outer circumferential surface of the side surface of the cooler 170, and the horizontal portion of the bracket 160 may be coupled to a lower surface or an upper surface of the coupling portion 154. The bracket 160 may be provided as a component separated from the cooler 170, or may be provided integrally with the cooler 170. The horizontal portion of the bracket 160 and the coupling portion 154 of the second rail 150 may be coupled via bolts and nuts.

Alternatively, if the spacing distance between the second rail 150 and the ceiling 112 is sufficient, the vertical portion of the L-shaped bracket 160 may be coupled to an area adjacent to the bottom or center portion of the side surface of the cooler 170.

Unlike what is shown in FIG. 4 , a separate frame may be disposed between the cooler 170 and the rack 160 to coordinate the coupling of the cooler 170 and the rack 160 in the refrigeration system 100.

As shown in FIG4 , since the first rail 140 and the second rail 150 are arranged with a width wider than the width of the cooler 170 in the second direction y and extend side by side, and the cooler 170 can be coupled to the second rail 150 by the bracket 160, the cooler 170 and the coupling portion of the second rail 150 can be easily identified by the user under the cooler 170. Through this, a worker can easily detach the cooler 170 during maintenance.

2 and 3 , the refrigeration system 100 may include a cooler 170. The cooler 170 may be disposed in an upper region of the storage space S. The cooler 170 may cool the storage space S. In the present specification, a case where one cooler 170 is disposed in the storage space S is described as an example, but a plurality of coolers 170 may be provided depending on the size of the storage space S. When a plurality of coolers 170 are provided, the number of inspection openings 130 corresponding to the number of coolers 170 may be formed corresponding to the positions of the coolers 170.

2 and 3 , the cooler 170 may be disposed in an upper region of the air curtain unit 180. The cooler 170 may be disposed at a position that does not overlap the air curtain unit 180 in the lateral direction. This arrangement prevents the cooler 170 from being disturbed during the process performed through the inspection opening 130.

The cooler 170 may include a cooling cycle, which includes a compressor (not shown) that compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas, a condenser (not shown) that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor (not shown) into a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid, an expansion valve (not shown) that expands the refrigerant supplied from the condenser (not shown) to a low temperature and low pressure, and an evaporator 171 that converts the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve (not shown) back into a low-temperature and low-pressure gas.

The cooler 170 may include an evaporator 171. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid coolant may exchange heat when passing through the evaporator 171, and the coolant that has completed the heat exchange may be converted into a low-temperature, low-pressure, gaseous coolant. In this process, the coolant absorbs heat from the surrounding air, so that the surrounding air can be cooled.

The cooler 170 may include a blower fan 172. The blower fan 172 may blow the cold air generated in the evaporator 171 into the storage space S. The blower fan 172 may be formed on one side of the cooler 170. At least one blower fan 172 may be provided. The blower fan 172 may blow the cold air in a horizontal direction, and since the cold air blown out in a horizontal direction has a higher density than the surrounding air, it may flow downward in the storage space S.

The cooler 170 may include a drain plate 173. The drain plate 173 may store and discharge condensed water condensed during the heat exchange process of the evaporator 171. The drain plate 173 may be placed below the jacket of the cooler 170. The drain plate 173 may have an inclined bottom. Through this, the condensed water collected in the drain plate 173 may be naturally guided to a drain hole 176 along the inclined bottom plate.

The low temperature and low pressure liquid coolant can flow into the evaporator 171 through a refrigerant pipe 174. The low temperature and low pressure gaseous coolant that has completed heat exchange in the evaporator 171 can be discharged through an air pipe 175. The diameter of the refrigerant pipe 174 can be smaller than the diameter of the air pipe 175.

The cooler 170 can be taken out through the inspection opening 130. Thus, a worker can take out the cooler 170 through the inspection opening 130 from the outside of the refrigeration system 100 without emptying the items loaded in the storage space S and entering the interior of the storage space S in person to separate the cooler 170.

The cooler 170 may be coupled to the second rail 150. The cooler 170 may be coupled to two members of the second rail 150 by the bracket 160. The structure in which the cooler 170 is coupled to the second rail 150 by the bracket 160 has been described above. The cooler 170 may be taken out of the storage space S when the second rail 150 slides to the outside of the storage space S. The cooler 170 may be separated from the second rail 150 after being taken out of the storage space S. A procedure for implementing and maintaining the cooler 170 will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

The refrigeration system 100 may include an air curtain unit 180. The air curtain unit 180 may be coupled to the inside of the side wall 111 on which the door 120 is formed. The air curtain unit 180 may be disposed above the door 120. That is, the air curtain unit 180 may be coupled to the inside of the door lintel portion of the side wall 111 in which the door 120 is formed.

The air curtain unit 180 may include an air inlet 180a formed on the side surface of the casing, an air outlet 180b formed on the lower surface of the casing, and an air curtain fan (not shown) disposed inside the casing. The air curtain fan may be a cylindrical fan. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2 , the air curtain fan may have a cylindrical shape extending in the second direction y. The air curtain fan may rotate around the axis of the cylinder.

The air curtain fan can quickly blow the air introduced through the air inlet 180a to the air outlet 180b. In the refrigeration system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cold air blown by the blower fan 172 of the self-cooler 170 flows into the air inlet 180a of the air curtain unit 180 to quickly flow downward through the air outlet 180b.

The cold air blown out from the air outlet 180b can flow rapidly downward along the inner surface of the door 120. At this time, since the air outlet 180b can extend in the second direction y like an air curtain fan, the cold air flowing out from the air outlet 180b can form an air curtain. The air curtain can be formed in an inner area of the door 120.

The air curtain can be used to block the air between the two sides. Specifically, when the door 120 is opened, the air curtain can prevent the outside air from flowing into the storage space S and the cold air in the storage space S from escaping to the outside. Through this, not only the thermal efficiency of the refrigeration system 100 can be improved, but also smoke or odor can be prevented from flowing into and out of the storage space S.

The air curtain unit 180 may be arranged to correspond to each door 120. The width of the air curtain unit 180 may be smaller than the width of each door 120 and may be arranged one by one on the top of each door 120. By this, an air curtain effect may be achieved regardless of which door 120 is opened.

The air curtain unit 180 may be disposed in a lower region of the cooler 170. The air curtain unit 180 may not overlap with the inspection opening 130. Thus, when the cooler 170 is taken out through the inspection opening 130, interference with the air curtain unit 180 may be prevented.

The refrigeration system 100 may include a shelf 190. The shelf 190 may be placed in the storage space S. Items may be displayed to be viewed from the outside when loaded on the shelf 190. The shelf 190 may be provided in various sizes and shapes as required. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8.

5 to 7 are operation diagrams of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A method for maintaining or replacing the cooler 170 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 .

5, when the cooler 170 needs to be maintained or replaced, the inspection opening door 131 can be opened. At this time, the inspection opening door 131 can be opened manually by a worker, but is not limited thereto, and can be opened automatically by an electronic method. When the inspection opening door 131 is opened, the inside and outside of the storage space S can be connected to each other through the inspection opening 130.

6 , the second rail 150 can slide out of the storage space S through the opened inspection opening 130. Specifically, the second rail 150 can slide in one direction of the first direction x. At this time, the second rail 150 can be manually pulled by a worker, but is not limited thereto, and can slide automatically through an electronic method.

When the second rail 150 is slid to the outside of the storage space S through the inspection opening 130, the cooler 170 coupled to the second rail 150 can be taken out from the storage space S. When a simple maintenance of the cooler 170 is performed, the maintenance can be performed immediately in this state.

7 , the cooler 170 can be separated from the second rail 150 by a worker. At this time, the worker can release the bolts and nuts fastened between the horizontal portion of the bracket 160 and the coupling portion 154 of the second rail 150, and thus, the cooler 170 can be separated from the second rail 150.

After the cooler 170 is repaired or a new cooler 170 is provided, the procedure of placing the cooler 170 in the storage space S again may be the reverse of the unloading procedure described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 .

FIG. 8 illustrates various examples in which a rack may be placed within a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

8 (a), the racks 190 may be arranged in a row. This type of refrigeration system 100 may be used when a management area where a manager can load items and a display area where a user can check displayed items are separated.

For example, in FIG. 8( a ), a right side area of the refrigeration system 100 may be a management area, and a left side area may be a display area. The manager may check the number of items in the management area and open the door 120 to load the items. After identifying the desired items in the display area, the user may open the door 120 to take out the items. Through this, the manager may easily perform inventory management of items without entering the interior of the storage space S.

It is desirable that the plates of the rack 190 be tilted to the left. When items are loaded in the management area, the items can be automatically moved along the slope toward the display area, so that the user can always check the items displayed at the front end of the rack 190.

Referring to FIG. 8( b ), the shelves 190 may be arranged in two rows. The two rows of shelves 190 may be adjacent to each other. This type of refrigeration system 100 may be used when the management area and the display area are not divided.

For example, since the doors 120 can be provided on both sides of the housing 110 in the refrigeration system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a manager can open one of the doors 120 on either side and load items when necessary. The user can check the items displayed on both sides of the housing 110 and take out the items by opening the door 120 in which the desired items are placed.

8 (b), each plate of the two rows of shelves 190 can be tilted so that the central area of the storage space S is high and the door 120 is low. Through this, the items can always be tilted along the tilted surface toward the door 120, so that the user or manager can easily check the items.

Referring to FIG. 8 (c), the shelves 190 are arranged in two rows, and the shelves 190 in each row can be separated from each other. Specifically, the two rows of shelves 190 can be separated from each other so that one person can be placed therein. This type of refrigeration system 100 can be used when the two sides of the housing 110 are display areas and items are loaded with first-in-first-out important items.

In this type of refrigeration system 100, a manager can directly enter the interior of the outer shell 110 and load items. Therefore, an entrance that a person can enter can be formed separately in the refrigeration system 100 shown in (c) of Figure 8. When a manager loads new items from the rear of the shelf 190, the items previously loaded on the shelf 190 can be placed closer to the door 120 than the new items, so that the user can take out the first loaded items. In this way, the first-in-first-out of items can be achieved. However, it goes without saying that the manager can open the door 120 from the outside of the storage space S as needed and then load the items. In this type of refrigeration system 100, a person can directly enter the storage space S to efficiently perform inventory management of items, and at the same time, the items are displayed on both sides of the refrigeration system 100. Therefore, the utilization rate of space can be improved.

8 (c), the plates of the two rows of shelves 190 can be cleaned so that the central area of the storage space S is high and the door 120 is low. Through this, since the items can always be tilted toward the door along the inclined surface, a user or manager can easily check the items.

Meanwhile, the method of placing the rack 190 inside the refrigeration system 100 of the present invention is not limited to the method shown in Fig. 8. The methods shown in (a) to (c) of Fig. 8 may be combined, or they may be configured in a manner different from that not shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are perspective views of a refrigeration system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along line AA' of Fig. 9.

The detailed configuration of a refrigeration system 200 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention (not described below) can be understood in the same way as the detailed configuration of the refrigeration system 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 .

The refrigeration system 200 may include an inspection opening 230. The inspection opening 230 may be formed on two side walls 211 facing each other among the side walls 211. That is, the inspection opening 230 may be formed on a wall on one side in the first direction x and a wall on the other side in the first direction x among the side walls. Each of the inspection openings 230 formed on the two side walls 211 facing each other may be formed at positions facing each other.

The refrigeration system 200 may include an inspection opening door 231. The inspection opening door 231 may be formed to correspond to the respective inspection openings 230. The inspection opening door 231 may open and close the respective inspection openings 230.

The refrigeration system 200 may include a first rail 240 and a second rail 250. The second rail 250 may slide in any direction relative to the first rail 240. Specifically, the second rail 250 may slide on one side in the first direction x relative to the first rail 240 or on the other side in the first direction x. Then, the second rail 250 may slide outward from the storage space S to the outside through the inspection opening 230 formed on the wall on one side in the first direction x of the side wall 211 or through the inspection opening 230 formed on the wall on the other side in the first direction x of the side wall 211.

The refrigeration system 200 may include a cooler 270. The cooler 270 is coupled to the second rail 250 and can move together when the second rail 250 slides. When the second rail 250 slides in either direction, the cooler 270 can be taken out in either direction through either of the two inspection openings 230 respectively formed on the side walls 211 facing each other. Through this, a worker who maintains the cooler 270 can work on the side where the cooler 270 is conveniently taken out according to the condition of the location where the refrigeration system 200 is placed, thereby improving work efficiency.

Some exemplary embodiments or other exemplary embodiments described above in this article are not mutually exclusive or different from each other. Any of the above exemplary embodiments or other exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used in combination with their respective configurations or functions.

For example, configuration A described in a specific exemplary embodiment and/or figure can be combined with configuration B described in another exemplary embodiment and/or figure. That is, even if the combination between components is not directly explained, it means that the combination is possible unless it is explicitly stated that the combination is not possible.

The above detailed description should not be interpreted as limiting in all aspects and should be regarded as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the scope of the accompanying patent applications, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

100: Refrigeration system 110: Housing 111: Side wall 112: Ceiling 120: Door 130: Inspection opening 131: Inspection opening door 132: Packaging member 140: First track 141: Fixing part 142: Track part 142a: Groove 143: Connecting part 144: Protrusion 145: Guide part 150: Second track 151: Main body 152: First roller 152a: Seat part 153: Second roller 154: Coupling part 160: Bracket 170: Cooler 171: Evaporator 172: Blower fan 173: Drain board 174: Refrigerant pipe 175: Air pipe 176: Drain hole 180: Air curtain unit 180a: Air inlet 180b: Air outlet 190: Shelf 200: Refrigeration system 211: Side wall 230: Inspection opening 231: Inspection opening door 240: First track 250: Second track 270: Cooler S: Storage space x: First direction y: Second direction

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA' of FIG. 1.

FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line BB' of FIG1.

FIG4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is an enlarged view of portion P in FIG3.

5 to 7 are operation diagrams of a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates various examples in which a rack may be placed within a refrigeration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

9 and 10 are perspective views of a refrigeration system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG11 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA' of FIG9.

100: Refrigeration system

110: Shell

111: Side wall

112: Ceiling

120: Door

130: Check the opening

131: Check the opening door

Claims (13)

A refrigeration system for storing items at a low temperature, the refrigeration system comprising: a housing configured to form a storage space for accommodating the items and having side walls and a ceiling; and a cooler disposed in an upper region of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space, wherein at least one of the side walls has an inspection opening opened at a height corresponding to a position of the cooler, and the cooler is configured to be removed through the inspection opening. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a first rail fixed to an interior of the storage space, and a second rail coupled to the first rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail extend in a direction to the inspection opening, the second opening can slide to an exterior of the storage space through the inspection opening, and the cooler is coupled to the second rail and is removed from the storage space when the second rail slides to the exterior of the storage space. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cooler can be separated from the second rail after being taken out from the storage space together with the second rail. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first rail is fixed to the ceiling. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first rail and the second rail are each formed by two members arranged to have a width wider than a width of the cooler and extending side by side, and the cooler is coupled to the two members of the second rail by a bracket. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bracket has an inverted L-shape and has a vertical portion coupled to a side surface of the cooler and a horizontal portion coupled to the second rail. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first rail includes a fixing portion fixed to the ceiling, a rail portion disposed below the fixing portion and having a groove formed on a side surface of a cooler side with a cross-section recess, and a connecting portion connecting the fixing portion and the rail portion, and the second rail includes a main body portion adjacent to a side surface of the cooler side of the rail portion, and a first roller coupled to a side surface of the main body portion and seated in the groove for rotation. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first track further includes a guide portion extending below the track portion, the second track includes a second roller coupled to a lower surface of the main body portion for rotation, and the second roller rotates in contact with a side surface of the guide portion. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 7, comprising: a bracket coupled to a side surface of the cooler and the second rail, wherein the second rail includes a coupling portion extending from a side surface of the main body toward the side of the cooler, and the bracket has an inverted L-shape and has a vertical portion coupled to the side surface of the cooler and a horizontal portion coupled to the coupling portion. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inspection openings are respectively formed on two side walls facing each other among the side walls, and the second rail can slide in two directions relative to the first rail. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a door coupled to at least one of the side walls to open or close the storage space, wherein the inspection opening is formed on any one of the side walls on which the door is formed. The refrigeration system of claim 11, comprising: an air curtain unit disposed above the door, wherein the cooler is disposed above the air curtain unit. A refrigeration system as claimed in claim 1, comprising: an inspection opening door configured to open and close the inspection opening; and a packaging member configured to be sealed between the inspection opening door and the inspection opening.