US20170336095A1 - Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms - Google Patents
Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170336095A1 US20170336095A1 US15/586,558 US201715586558A US2017336095A1 US 20170336095 A1 US20170336095 A1 US 20170336095A1 US 201715586558 A US201715586558 A US 201715586558A US 2017336095 A1 US2017336095 A1 US 2017336095A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- compartment
- room
- blower
- vestibule
- air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/20—Casings or covers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/26—Arrangements for air-circulation by means of induction, e.g. by fluid coupling or thermal effect
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F7/00—Ventilation
- F24F7/04—Ventilation with ducting systems, e.g. by double walls; with natural circulation
- F24F7/06—Ventilation with ducting systems, e.g. by double walls; with natural circulation with forced air circulation, e.g. by fan positioning of a ventilator in or against a conduit
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D13/00—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms
- F25D13/06—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
Definitions
- the present teachings relate to the field of environmentally controlled spaces and, more particularly, to efficient thermal, particulate, and/or humidity control of enclosure spaces used, for example, in industrial processes that require reducing the effect of environmental conditions and/or contamination from one processing stage to a subsequent stage when processing stages are performed in adjacent spaces.
- each room may have a different and distinct environment created to assist with an aspect of the manufacturing process itself or that is tailored for the specific processing stage performed in the particular room.
- the product may be transported from one room to an adjacent room using, for example, a conveyor belt that moves each product item separately or a forklift, hand truck, or cart that moves an entire production lot of product.
- Environmental conditions within each room may be controlled separately. For example, a first processing stage may occur within a first room at a relatively higher temperature and a second processing stage occurs within a second adjacent room at a relatively lower temperature. Other environmental conditions such as humidity, airborne particulates, etc., may also be controlled.
- environmental air typically moves from the first room to the second room along with the product. In many manufacturing processes this movement of air along with the product is undesirable and may create inefficiencies that increase costs and decrease production.
- product such as fruit and vegetables are heated and/or cooked during processing.
- the heating process may include immersion of the product in hot water, which increases the temperature and humidity of the air within the room. If the product is heated without immersion in water, the heated product may release moisture, thereby increasing the temperature and humidity of the air within the room.
- a food processing room At many food processing facilities, food cooking and/or packaging occurs in a food processing room and flash freezing and/or cold storage occurs in a flash freezer room (freezer) located immediately adjacent to the processing room.
- the product may be transported directly from the processing room to the freezer using a conveyor belt.
- the conveyor belt transports the product in bulk form or in boxes from the processing room, through a hole or opening, and into the freezer.
- warm humid air from the processing facility is transported into the freezer along with the processed product.
- a processing plant may schedule equipment shutdowns to allow maintenance personnel time to manually clear the frost buildup to prevent equipment failure, which decreases production and increases labor costs.
- Food processing plants can also use heat trace equipment to spot heat certain locations within freezer space to prevent frost buildup, which decreases cooling efficiency of the freezer and increases costs.
- high velocity air may be directed across an opening.
- the high velocity air may be prevented from flowing into a cold space using air curtains.
- One drawback with this technology is that when an object such as a vehicle, production personnel, or the product itself passes through the air curtain, the high velocity air can be deflected off of the object and into the room, space, or enclosure (hereinafter, collectively, “room” or “enclosure space”) that the air is meant to protect.
- strip curtains are often used by themselves in an attempt to minimize airflow from the production room into the freezer. While strip curtains alone may provide a passive method to decrease unwanted air flow from a production room into a freezer, they provide only a modest improvement in efficiency.
- a method and structure for providing improved thermal separation, moisture separation, and/or particulate separation between adjacent rooms such as a processing room and a freezer would be desirable.
- a vestibule for reducing the flow of air between a first enclosure and a second enclosure can include at least a first compartment and a second compartment, a first partial barrier that separates the first enclosure from the first compartment, a second partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and a third partial barrier that separates the second compartment from the second enclosure.
- the vestibule can further include a blower configured to draw air from the first enclosure through a vestibule intake and to return the air to the first enclosure through a vestibule exhaust, and a first compartment exhaust port configured such that the blower draws air from the first compartment through the first compartment exhaust port and exhausts the air from the first compartment through the vestibule exhaust into the first enclosure.
- a method for maintaining thermal separation between a first enclosure and a second enclosure using a vestibule can include drawing air from the first enclosure through a vestibule intake using a blower, exhausting the air through a vacuum outlet and back into the first enclosure through a vestibule exhaust, and drawing air from a first compartment of the vestibule through a first compartment exhaust, through the vacuum outlet, and into the first enclosure through the vestibule exhaust, thereby forming a vacuum within the vestibule first compartment using the blower.
- the method can further include drawing air from a second compartment of the vestibule, through a first partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and into the first compartment using the blower, and drawing air from the second enclosure, through a second partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the second compartment, and into the second compartment using the blower.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view
- FIG. 2 is a cross section
- FIG. 3 is an end view of a structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings, wherein the structure includes a vestibule used to thermally separate a first room or area from a second room or area;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective depiction of a vestibule according to another embodiment of the present teachings.
- FIG. 5 is a cross section of a simulated vestibule in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings depicting simulated thermal airflow characteristics
- FIG. 6 is a cross section of a simulated vestibule in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings depicting simulated isotherm characteristics
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view
- FIG. 8 is a cross section, depicting a vestibule according to another embodiment of the present teachings.
- FIGS. It should be noted that some details of the FIGS. have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the present teachings rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.
- thermal separation encompasses both complete and partial thermal separation between two enclosures, spaces, rooms, etc. While the present teachings are described below, generally, with reference to thermal separation, it will be understood that the present teachings may also be used to reduce the transfer of moisture from one room to another, as water vapor carries a significant component of thermal load in many cases. Further, particulate separation between rooms may be better maintained using an embodiment of the present teachings. In various embodiments of the present teachings, some mixing of air from a room with air from a second room may occur intentionally, for example within a vestibule first compartment as described below. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, the term “blower” encompasses blowers, fans, or any device that is capable of moving air from one location to another location.
- a vestibule 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings is depicted in the perspective view of FIG. 1 , the cross section of FIG. 2 , and the end view of FIG. 3 .
- the vestibule 10 may provide an opening, door, or passageway between a first room or space 12 (hereinafter, collectively, a “room”) and a second room 14 separated by a wall 16 .
- the first room 12 is a processing room maintained at a relatively higher temperature and the second room 14 is a freezer maintained at a relatively lower temperature.
- a product conveyor belt 18 may move product 19 from the first room 12 to the second room 14 .
- production personnel may move product from the first room 12 to the second room 14 using, for example, a forklift, a hand truck, etc.
- the vestibule 10 may include an enclosed space including at least a first compartment or airlock 20 and a second compartment or airlock 22 provided between the first room 12 and the second room 14 that assists in maintaining thermal separation between the first room 12 and the second room 14 as described below.
- a plurality of barriers may be employed to assist in thermally separating the first room 12 from the second room 14 .
- the barriers 24 A, 24 B, 24 C, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3 may include, for example, rubber, plastic, or fabric flaps or strip curtains or any other suitable type of barrier.
- the barriers are partial barriers, as some air flow through each of the barriers is desirable; however, each barrier reduces the flow of air between compartments or enclosures compared to if the barrier was absent.
- barrier 24 A separates the first room 12 from the first compartment 20
- barrier 24 B separates the first compartment 20 from the second compartment 22
- barrier 24 C separates the second compartment 22 from the second room 14 .
- an area underneath conveyor belt 18 can include seals 25 to further reduce airflow.
- the seals 25 can be positioned as desired, such as in proximate vertical alignment with the barriers 24 A, 24 B and/or 24 C.
- the vestibule 10 may also include a sloped floor 27 under the conveyor to facilitate improved cleaning and sanitation.
- the vestibule 10 includes subassemblies as described below that maintain the environments within the first compartment 20 and the second compartment 22 .
- the environment of the first compartment 20 is actively maintained to emulate the environment of the first room 12
- the environment of the second compartment 22 is passively maintained to emulate the environment of the second room 14 .
- the vestibule 10 includes a vestibule intake 26 that takes air into the vestibule from the first room 12 , a blower 28 such as a centrifugal fan housed within a blower box 30 , and vestibule exhaust 32 that exhausts air from the vestibule into the first room 12 .
- the vestibule 10 further includes ductwork with a blower box exhaust port 34 that exits out of, and exhausts air from, the blower box 30 .
- the vestibule 10 further includes a first compartment exhaust port 36 in fluid communication with the blower box exhaust port 34 that opens into, and exhausts air from, the first compartment 20 .
- the blower box exhaust port 34 and first compartment exhaust port 36 are in fluid communication with a vacuum outlet 37 that leads to the vestibule exhaust 32 .
- the sizes and shapes of the vestibule intake 26 , the blower 28 , the blower box exhaust port 34 , first compartment exhaust port 36 , and vestibule exhaust 32 are matched or sized such that, during operation, the blower 28 creates a vacuum within the first compartment 20 as described below.
- the blower 28 draws air from the first room 12 through the vestibule intake 26 and into the blower box 30 . Further, the blower 28 directs air out of the blower box 30 through the blower box exhaust port 34 and back into the first room 12 through the vestibule exhaust 32 . Because the first compartment exhaust port 36 that opens into the first compartment 20 is in fluid communication with the blower box exhaust port 34 , a vacuum is created within the first compartment exhaust port 36 and within the first compartment 20 resulting from Bernoulli and/or Venturi effects. A controlled volume of air is also drawn from the second room 14 through the third barrier 24 C and the second barrier 24 B, and into the first compartment 20 , which is then exhausted back into the first room 12 through vestibule exhaust 32 . This maintains a balanced pressure differential between the first room 12 and the second room 14 that maintains thermal separation between the two rooms.
- the vacuum within the first compartment 20 may draw air through the first barrier 24 A and, in turn, from the first compartment 20 to the second compartment 22 and into the second room 14 , which would reduce efficiency.
- perforations 40 may be formed in the sides and/or or top of the vestibule 10 at the first compartment 20 , thus reducing the overall vacuum forces on the first barrier 24 A and the flow of air mass between the first room 12 and the second room 14 .
- the apparatus of the present disclosure can include a means for varying the vacuum force within the vestibule 10 .
- the blower 28 can include a variable speed blower controlled by a blower controller 42 .
- the blower controller 42 is electrically coupled with the blower 28 , and is configured to drive the blower 28 at any number of selected speeds.
- the vacuum forces within the second compartment 20 are proportional to blower 28 speed.
- the speed of the blower 28 can be controlled manually by an operator. In either embodiment, the blower speed is controlled so that a sufficient amount of air is moved through the second compartment 20 and that a sufficient but not excessive amount of air is drawn from the second room 14 through the second curtain 28 B and into the first compartment 20 .
- two or more temperature sensors in communication with the blower controller 42 may be employed to automatically adjust the speed of the blower 28 .
- a first temperature sensor 44 may be placed within the first room 12 and a second temperature sensor 46 may be placed within the vacuum outlet 37 that leads to the vestibule exhaust 32 .
- the blower controller 42 receives first temperature information relative to the first room from the first temperature sensor 42 and receives second temperature information relative to the vacuum outlet 37 from the second temperature sensor 46 , for example through a wired or wireless connection. Based on a temperature differential between the first temperature and the second temperature, the blower controller 42 adjusts the speed of the blower 28 .
- a temperature differential that is too large would indicate that the vacuum within the first compartment 20 is too great, and that excessive air is being drawn into the first compartment 20 from the second room 14 .
- a temperature difference that is too small would indicate that the vacuum within the first compartment 20 is too small, and that insufficient air is being drawn into the second compartment 22 from the second room 14 by the vacuum in the first compartment 20 .
- the blower controller 42 would be programmed to maintain a constant desired temperature differential between the first temperature sensor 44 and the second temperature sensor 46 .
- the vestibule 10 can be scaled for any desired size.
- the vestibule 10 can be sized for transporting a smaller product 19 from the first room 12 , through the first barrier 24 A to the first compartment 20 within the vestibule 10 , through the second barrier 24 B to the second compartment 22 , and through the third barrier 24 C to the second room 14 using, for example, a conveyor belt 18 .
- the vestibule 10 may also be scaled to a larger size so that production personnel can move the product 19 through the vestibule 10 from the first room 12 to the second room 14 using, for example, a forklift, hand truck, cart, or other transport.
- the system according to various embodiments of the present teachings is well suited for any size or type of opening where reducing airflow between two rooms or spaces is beneficial.
- FIGS. are schematic views and that a vestibule 10 in accordance with the present teachings can include other elements that are not depicted for simplicity and that other depicted elements can be removed or modified.
- a vestibule can include a single compartment. This embodiment can include the various elements as depicted in FIGS. 1-3 , for example, in which the second compartment 22 and the third barrier 24 C are omitted.
- the compartment 20 can include first barrier 24 A and second barrier 24 B. Once a product 19 is transported from compartment 20 through the second barrier 24 B, it enters the second room 14 .
- the blower 28 draws air from the first room 12 through the vestibule intake 26 , into the blower compartment 30 , and exhausts the air back into the first room 12 through the vestibule exhaust 32 to maintain thermal, moisture, and/or particulate separation of the first room 12 and the second room 14 .
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view depicting another vestibule 50 embodiment including a first blower 52 , a second blower 54 , a first compartment (e.g., airlock) 56 , a second compartment 58 , a third compartment 60 , a first barrier 62 A, a second barrier 62 B, a third barrier 62 C, and a fourth barrier 62 D.
- the blowers 52 , 54 are placed on a top surface 64 of a hollow duct platform 66 .
- a bottom surface 68 of the hollow duct platform 66 which forms a ceiling across an entire width of the first compartment 56 , includes a plurality of perforations 70 at a location proximate to the second barrier 62 B.
- the perforations 70 which provide a first compartment exhaust port, are located only toward the rear of the duct platform 66 behind the blowers 52 , 54 .
- the perforations 70 are not located forward of the blowers 52 , 54 to prevent air inside of the duct platform from being blown back into the first compartment 56 .
- the vestibule 50 functions similar to the embodiments described above. Air is drawn by the blowers 52 , 54 from a first room 72 through a vestibule intake 74 , and is transported through the hollow duct platform 66 and out of an end of the duct platform 66 which forms a vestibule exhaust 76 , then back into the first room 72 . Through Bernoulli and/or Venturi effects, air is drawn from the first compartment 56 through the perforations 70 in the bottom surface 68 of the duct platform 66 by the blowers 52 , 54 .
- the hollow duct platform provides a vacuum outlet 78 in fluid communication with the perforations 70 and blower box exhaust ports 80 .
- a vestibule 50 including three separate compartments 56 , 58 , 60 may have improved thermal efficiency over a vestibule 10 that has two compartments 20 , 22 , but uses additional materials and physical space.
- the vestibule 50 maintains thermal separation between the relatively warmer first room 72 and a relatively cooler second room 82 .
- the vestibule may include a blower controller 42 and temperature sensors (not individually depicted) that output temperature information to the blower controller 42 in accordance with embodiments of the present teachings discussed above.
- the vestibule 50 instead of three compartments the vestibule 50 includes only the two compartments 56 and 58 .
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view
- FIG. 8 is a cross section, depicting a vestibule 90 according to another embodiment of the present teachings.
- a first room 92 for example a relatively warmer room at ambient temperature
- a second room 94 for example a relatively cooler room below freezing
- the vestibule 90 includes a first compartment 96 , a second compartment 98 , and a third compartment 100 .
- a product conveyor belt 102 may be used to move a product 104 from the first room 92 , through a first partial barrier 106 A into the first compartment 96 , through a second partial barrier 106 B into the second compartment 98 , through a third partial barrier 106 C into the third compartment 100 , and through a fourth partial barrier 106 D into the second room 94 .
- the vestibule can be scaled to move product 104 through a similar path using, for example, a forklift, a hand truck, etc.
- a blower 108 draws air from the first room 92 through a vestibule intake 110 into a blower box 112 , out of the blower box 112 through a blower box exhaust port 114 , and through a vacuum outlet 116 .
- the blower box exhaust port 114 and the vacuum outlet 116 are in fluid communication with at least one first compartment exhaust port 118 and at least one second compartment exhaust port 120 .
- air is forced through the vacuum outlet 116 by the blower 108 , air is drawn from the first compartment 96 through the first compartment exhaust port 118 and from the second compartment 98 through the second compartment exhaust port 120 through Venturi and/or Bernoulli forces, and into the first room 92 through vestibule exhaust 122 .
- the blower 108 is configured to bypass the third compartment 100 such that the blower 108 does not return air from the third compartment 100 to the first room 92 through a third compartment exhaust port 120 . While the blower is configured to bypass the third compartment 100 , some air from the third compartment 100 may be drawn by vacuum generated by the blower 108 within the second compartment 98 and through the third partial barrier 106 C. This air enters the second compartment 98 where it may be drawn through the second compartment exhaust port 120 , through the vacuum outlet 116 , and into the first room 92 through the vestibule exhaust 122 . While some air is thus drawn from the second room 94 into the first room 92 through this effect, the net effect is to better maintains thermal, moisture, and particulate separation between the first room 92 and the second room 94 than conventional systems.
- the first room 92 can be separated from the second room by an insulated wall 124 . Further, cold air is drawn from second room 94 , through the fourth partial barrier 106 , and into the third compartment 100 . As this occurs, some cold air is drawn through a gap 126 between the insulated wall 124 and the conveyer belt 102 , and across product 104 being transported through the third compartment 100 . This pre-cools the product 104 within the third compartment 100 before it enters the second room 94 , and may thereby further increase thermal efficiency.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 A thermal simulation of an apparatus including a three compartment vestibule such as that depicted in FIG. 4 was performed, with results depicted in the thermal plots of FIGS. 5 and 6 .
- the thermal plots of FIGS. 5 and 6 are approximations of data plots which may be found in the provisional application and in the informal FIGS. as filed.
- FIG. 5 demonstrates that relatively warmer air is drawn in from a warmer room 72 at the left side of FIG. 5 , and that relatively cooler air is drawn in from a cooler room 82 at the right side of the FIG. 5 .
- the vestibule maintains a balanced pressure differential between the warmer room 72 and the cooler room 82 , thereby maintaining a cooler temperature within compartments 58 , 60 , and a warmer temperature within compartment 56 . In turn, this maintains thermal separation between the warmer room 72 and the cooler room 82 at the right of FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 6 depicts a simulated isotherm plot of a three compartment vestibule such as that depicted in FIG. 4 .
- the isotherm plot demonstrates that good thermal separation is maintained between the first compartment 56 and the second compartment 58 , and thus good thermal separation would be maintained between the relatively warmer room 72 and the relatively cooler room 82 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Ventilation (AREA)
- Duct Arrangements (AREA)
- Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
Abstract
A system for maintaining thermal separation between first and second adjacent rooms or spaces. The system includes a vestibule with at least a first compartment, and other embodiments may include two or more compartments, such that the vestibule provides a passageway between the first and second rooms. At least one blower draws air from the first room through an air intake, and back into the first room through an exhaust. The system further includes an exhaust port from the first compartment in fluid communication with the exhaust, to exhaust air from the first compartment into the first room. During operation, a vacuum is formed within the first compartment that provides thermal separation between the first and second adjacent rooms.
Description
- This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/827,957, filed Mar. 14, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/625,249, filed Apr. 17, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- The present teachings relate to the field of environmentally controlled spaces and, more particularly, to efficient thermal, particulate, and/or humidity control of enclosure spaces used, for example, in industrial processes that require reducing the effect of environmental conditions and/or contamination from one processing stage to a subsequent stage when processing stages are performed in adjacent spaces.
- In many types of production processes, the processing and assembly of product occurs in separate enclosures, rooms, or spaces. Each room may have a different and distinct environment created to assist with an aspect of the manufacturing process itself or that is tailored for the specific processing stage performed in the particular room. As the product is created or processed, it may be transported from one room to an adjacent room using, for example, a conveyor belt that moves each product item separately or a forklift, hand truck, or cart that moves an entire production lot of product. Environmental conditions within each room may be controlled separately. For example, a first processing stage may occur within a first room at a relatively higher temperature and a second processing stage occurs within a second adjacent room at a relatively lower temperature. Other environmental conditions such as humidity, airborne particulates, etc., may also be controlled. When product is moved from the first room to the second room, environmental air typically moves from the first room to the second room along with the product. In many manufacturing processes this movement of air along with the product is undesirable and may create inefficiencies that increase costs and decrease production.
- For example, in the food processing industry, product such as fruit and vegetables are heated and/or cooked during processing. The heating process may include immersion of the product in hot water, which increases the temperature and humidity of the air within the room. If the product is heated without immersion in water, the heated product may release moisture, thereby increasing the temperature and humidity of the air within the room. Once a food product has been heated and/or cooked, it is often transported to a different, cooler room to be flash frozen to avoid bacterial contamination and spoilage of the product.
- At many food processing facilities, food cooking and/or packaging occurs in a food processing room and flash freezing and/or cold storage occurs in a flash freezer room (freezer) located immediately adjacent to the processing room. The product may be transported directly from the processing room to the freezer using a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt transports the product in bulk form or in boxes from the processing room, through a hole or opening, and into the freezer. During transport of the processed product, warm humid air from the processing facility is transported into the freezer along with the processed product.
- Once in the freezer, the warm air from the processing room cools and water vapor may condense and freeze within the freezer thereby resulting in a rapid buildup of frost within the freezer space itself. To remove the frost buildup, a processing plant may schedule equipment shutdowns to allow maintenance personnel time to manually clear the frost buildup to prevent equipment failure, which decreases production and increases labor costs. Food processing plants can also use heat trace equipment to spot heat certain locations within freezer space to prevent frost buildup, which decreases cooling efficiency of the freezer and increases costs.
- To maintain temperature separation between rooms, high velocity air may be directed across an opening. The high velocity air may be prevented from flowing into a cold space using air curtains. One drawback with this technology is that when an object such as a vehicle, production personnel, or the product itself passes through the air curtain, the high velocity air can be deflected off of the object and into the room, space, or enclosure (hereinafter, collectively, “room” or “enclosure space”) that the air is meant to protect.
- Additionally, strip curtains are often used by themselves in an attempt to minimize airflow from the production room into the freezer. While strip curtains alone may provide a passive method to decrease unwanted air flow from a production room into a freezer, they provide only a modest improvement in efficiency.
- Thus prior technologies used to maintain thermal separation between adjacent rooms are inefficient and/or provide only a minimum improvement. Heat and/or humidity introduced within the freezer can be negated by increasing cooling, which increases demand on the cooling systems, can result in an increase in equipment failure and an increase in required maintenance, a decrease in production, and thus increases costs.
- A method and structure for providing improved thermal separation, moisture separation, and/or particulate separation between adjacent rooms such as a processing room and a freezer would be desirable.
- The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of one or more embodiments of the present teachings. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its primary purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description presented later.
- In an embodiment of the present teachings, a vestibule for reducing the flow of air between a first enclosure and a second enclosure can include at least a first compartment and a second compartment, a first partial barrier that separates the first enclosure from the first compartment, a second partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and a third partial barrier that separates the second compartment from the second enclosure. The vestibule can further include a blower configured to draw air from the first enclosure through a vestibule intake and to return the air to the first enclosure through a vestibule exhaust, and a first compartment exhaust port configured such that the blower draws air from the first compartment through the first compartment exhaust port and exhausts the air from the first compartment through the vestibule exhaust into the first enclosure.
- In another embodiment of the present teachings, a method for maintaining thermal separation between a first enclosure and a second enclosure using a vestibule can include drawing air from the first enclosure through a vestibule intake using a blower, exhausting the air through a vacuum outlet and back into the first enclosure through a vestibule exhaust, and drawing air from a first compartment of the vestibule through a first compartment exhaust, through the vacuum outlet, and into the first enclosure through the vestibule exhaust, thereby forming a vacuum within the vestibule first compartment using the blower. The method can further include drawing air from a second compartment of the vestibule, through a first partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and into the first compartment using the blower, and drawing air from the second enclosure, through a second partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the second compartment, and into the second compartment using the blower.
- The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the figures:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view,FIG. 2 is a cross section, andFIG. 3 is an end view of a structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings, wherein the structure includes a vestibule used to thermally separate a first room or area from a second room or area; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective depiction of a vestibule according to another embodiment of the present teachings; -
FIG. 5 is a cross section of a simulated vestibule in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings depicting simulated thermal airflow characteristics; -
FIG. 6 is a cross section of a simulated vestibule in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings depicting simulated isotherm characteristics; and -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view, andFIG. 8 is a cross section, depicting a vestibule according to another embodiment of the present teachings. - It should be noted that some details of the FIGS. have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the present teachings rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.
- Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It is to be understood, however, that embodiments of the present teachings may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
- For purposes of the present teachings, unless otherwise specified, the term “thermal separation” encompasses both complete and partial thermal separation between two enclosures, spaces, rooms, etc. While the present teachings are described below, generally, with reference to thermal separation, it will be understood that the present teachings may also be used to reduce the transfer of moisture from one room to another, as water vapor carries a significant component of thermal load in many cases. Further, particulate separation between rooms may be better maintained using an embodiment of the present teachings. In various embodiments of the present teachings, some mixing of air from a room with air from a second room may occur intentionally, for example within a vestibule first compartment as described below. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, the term “blower” encompasses blowers, fans, or any device that is capable of moving air from one location to another location.
- A
vestibule 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present teachings is depicted in the perspective view ofFIG. 1 , the cross section ofFIG. 2 , and the end view ofFIG. 3 . Thevestibule 10 may provide an opening, door, or passageway between a first room or space 12 (hereinafter, collectively, a “room”) and asecond room 14 separated by awall 16. In an embodiment, thefirst room 12 is a processing room maintained at a relatively higher temperature and thesecond room 14 is a freezer maintained at a relatively lower temperature. In an embodiment, aproduct conveyor belt 18 may moveproduct 19 from thefirst room 12 to thesecond room 14. In another embodiment, production personnel may move product from thefirst room 12 to thesecond room 14 using, for example, a forklift, a hand truck, etc. - The vestibule 10 may include an enclosed space including at least a first compartment or
airlock 20 and a second compartment orairlock 22 provided between thefirst room 12 and thesecond room 14 that assists in maintaining thermal separation between thefirst room 12 and thesecond room 14 as described below. In an embodiment, a plurality of barriers may be employed to assist in thermally separating thefirst room 12 from thesecond room 14. Thebarriers FIGS. 1-3 , may include, for example, rubber, plastic, or fabric flaps or strip curtains or any other suitable type of barrier. The barriers are partial barriers, as some air flow through each of the barriers is desirable; however, each barrier reduces the flow of air between compartments or enclosures compared to if the barrier was absent. - In an embodiment,
barrier 24A separates thefirst room 12 from thefirst compartment 20,barrier 24B separates thefirst compartment 20 from thesecond compartment 22, andbarrier 24C separates thesecond compartment 22 from thesecond room 14. Thus thebarriers 24A-24C separate thefirst room 12 from thesecond room 14. In an embodiment, an area underneathconveyor belt 18 can includeseals 25 to further reduce airflow. Theseals 25 can be positioned as desired, such as in proximate vertical alignment with thebarriers FIG. 3 , the vestibule 10 may also include asloped floor 27 under the conveyor to facilitate improved cleaning and sanitation. - In an embodiment, the vestibule 10 includes subassemblies as described below that maintain the environments within the
first compartment 20 and thesecond compartment 22. In this embodiment, the environment of thefirst compartment 20 is actively maintained to emulate the environment of thefirst room 12, and the environment of thesecond compartment 22 is passively maintained to emulate the environment of thesecond room 14. - The vestibule 10 includes a
vestibule intake 26 that takes air into the vestibule from thefirst room 12, ablower 28 such as a centrifugal fan housed within ablower box 30, andvestibule exhaust 32 that exhausts air from the vestibule into thefirst room 12. The vestibule 10 further includes ductwork with a blowerbox exhaust port 34 that exits out of, and exhausts air from, theblower box 30. The vestibule 10 further includes a firstcompartment exhaust port 36 in fluid communication with the blowerbox exhaust port 34 that opens into, and exhausts air from, thefirst compartment 20. The blowerbox exhaust port 34 and firstcompartment exhaust port 36 are in fluid communication with avacuum outlet 37 that leads to thevestibule exhaust 32. The sizes and shapes of thevestibule intake 26, theblower 28, the blowerbox exhaust port 34, firstcompartment exhaust port 36, andvestibule exhaust 32 are matched or sized such that, during operation, theblower 28 creates a vacuum within thefirst compartment 20 as described below. - In operation, the
blower 28 draws air from thefirst room 12 through thevestibule intake 26 and into theblower box 30. Further, theblower 28 directs air out of theblower box 30 through the blowerbox exhaust port 34 and back into thefirst room 12 through thevestibule exhaust 32. Because the firstcompartment exhaust port 36 that opens into thefirst compartment 20 is in fluid communication with the blowerbox exhaust port 34, a vacuum is created within the firstcompartment exhaust port 36 and within thefirst compartment 20 resulting from Bernoulli and/or Venturi effects. A controlled volume of air is also drawn from thesecond room 14 through thethird barrier 24C and thesecond barrier 24B, and into thefirst compartment 20, which is then exhausted back into thefirst room 12 throughvestibule exhaust 32. This maintains a balanced pressure differential between thefirst room 12 and thesecond room 14 that maintains thermal separation between the two rooms. - During operation, the vacuum within the
first compartment 20 may draw air through thefirst barrier 24A and, in turn, from thefirst compartment 20 to thesecond compartment 22 and into thesecond room 14, which would reduce efficiency. To reduce or prevent this, perforations 40 may be formed in the sides and/or or top of the vestibule 10 at thefirst compartment 20, thus reducing the overall vacuum forces on thefirst barrier 24A and the flow of air mass between thefirst room 12 and thesecond room 14. - Further, if vacuum forces within the
first compartment 20 are excessively strong, excessive air from thesecond room 14 can be drawn into the vestibule 10, thus reducing efficiency. It is desirable that some air is drawn by the vacuum in thefirst compartment 20 from thesecond room 14 and into thesecond compartment 22, with minimal air from thesecond compartment 22 moving through the second barrier 28B and into thefirst compartment 20. Conversely, if the vacuum forces within thefirst compartment 20 are too weak, the air flow through thefirst compartment 20 will not be sufficient which can result in increased air flow from thefirst room 12 through the vestibule 10 to thesecond room 14. - In an embodiment, the apparatus of the present disclosure can include a means for varying the vacuum force within the
vestibule 10. In an embodiment, theblower 28 can include a variable speed blower controlled by ablower controller 42. Theblower controller 42 is electrically coupled with theblower 28, and is configured to drive theblower 28 at any number of selected speeds. The vacuum forces within thesecond compartment 20 are proportional toblower 28 speed. In another embodiment, the speed of theblower 28 can be controlled manually by an operator. In either embodiment, the blower speed is controlled so that a sufficient amount of air is moved through thesecond compartment 20 and that a sufficient but not excessive amount of air is drawn from thesecond room 14 through the second curtain 28B and into thefirst compartment 20. - In an embodiment, two or more temperature sensors in communication with the
blower controller 42 may be employed to automatically adjust the speed of theblower 28. Afirst temperature sensor 44 may be placed within thefirst room 12 and asecond temperature sensor 46 may be placed within thevacuum outlet 37 that leads to thevestibule exhaust 32. Theblower controller 42 receives first temperature information relative to the first room from thefirst temperature sensor 42 and receives second temperature information relative to thevacuum outlet 37 from thesecond temperature sensor 46, for example through a wired or wireless connection. Based on a temperature differential between the first temperature and the second temperature, theblower controller 42 adjusts the speed of theblower 28. A temperature differential that is too large would indicate that the vacuum within thefirst compartment 20 is too great, and that excessive air is being drawn into thefirst compartment 20 from thesecond room 14. A temperature difference that is too small would indicate that the vacuum within thefirst compartment 20 is too small, and that insufficient air is being drawn into thesecond compartment 22 from thesecond room 14 by the vacuum in thefirst compartment 20. Theblower controller 42 would be programmed to maintain a constant desired temperature differential between thefirst temperature sensor 44 and thesecond temperature sensor 46. - The vestibule 10 can be scaled for any desired size. For example, the vestibule 10 can be sized for transporting a
smaller product 19 from thefirst room 12, through thefirst barrier 24A to thefirst compartment 20 within the vestibule 10, through thesecond barrier 24B to thesecond compartment 22, and through thethird barrier 24C to thesecond room 14 using, for example, aconveyor belt 18. The vestibule 10 may also be scaled to a larger size so that production personnel can move theproduct 19 through the vestibule 10 from thefirst room 12 to thesecond room 14 using, for example, a forklift, hand truck, cart, or other transport. The system according to various embodiments of the present teachings is well suited for any size or type of opening where reducing airflow between two rooms or spaces is beneficial. - It will be understood that the FIGS. are schematic views and that a vestibule 10 in accordance with the present teachings can include other elements that are not depicted for simplicity and that other depicted elements can be removed or modified.
- In another embodiment, a vestibule can include a single compartment. This embodiment can include the various elements as depicted in
FIGS. 1-3 , for example, in which thesecond compartment 22 and thethird barrier 24C are omitted. Thecompartment 20 can includefirst barrier 24A andsecond barrier 24B. Once aproduct 19 is transported fromcompartment 20 through thesecond barrier 24B, it enters thesecond room 14. Theblower 28 draws air from thefirst room 12 through thevestibule intake 26, into theblower compartment 30, and exhausts the air back into thefirst room 12 through thevestibule exhaust 32 to maintain thermal, moisture, and/or particulate separation of thefirst room 12 and thesecond room 14. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view depicting another vestibule 50 embodiment including afirst blower 52, asecond blower 54, a first compartment (e.g., airlock) 56, asecond compartment 58, athird compartment 60, afirst barrier 62A, asecond barrier 62B, athird barrier 62C, and afourth barrier 62D. Theblowers top surface 64 of ahollow duct platform 66. Abottom surface 68 of thehollow duct platform 66, which forms a ceiling across an entire width of thefirst compartment 56, includes a plurality ofperforations 70 at a location proximate to thesecond barrier 62B. Theperforations 70, which provide a first compartment exhaust port, are located only toward the rear of theduct platform 66 behind theblowers perforations 70 are not located forward of theblowers first compartment 56. - In operation, the vestibule 50 functions similar to the embodiments described above. Air is drawn by the
blowers first room 72 through avestibule intake 74, and is transported through thehollow duct platform 66 and out of an end of theduct platform 66 which forms avestibule exhaust 76, then back into thefirst room 72. Through Bernoulli and/or Venturi effects, air is drawn from thefirst compartment 56 through theperforations 70 in thebottom surface 68 of theduct platform 66 by theblowers vacuum outlet 78 in fluid communication with theperforations 70 and blowerbox exhaust ports 80. A vestibule 50 including threeseparate compartments compartments first room 72 and a relatively coolersecond room 82. The vestibule may include ablower controller 42 and temperature sensors (not individually depicted) that output temperature information to theblower controller 42 in accordance with embodiments of the present teachings discussed above. In an embodiment, instead of three compartments the vestibule 50 includes only the twocompartments -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view, andFIG. 8 is a cross section, depicting a vestibule 90 according to another embodiment of the present teachings. In this embodiment, afirst room 92, for example a relatively warmer room at ambient temperature, is separated from asecond room 94, for example a relatively cooler room below freezing, byvestibule 90. The vestibule 90 includes afirst compartment 96, asecond compartment 98, and athird compartment 100. Aproduct conveyor belt 102 may be used to move aproduct 104 from thefirst room 92, through a firstpartial barrier 106A into thefirst compartment 96, through a secondpartial barrier 106B into thesecond compartment 98, through a thirdpartial barrier 106C into thethird compartment 100, and through a fourthpartial barrier 106D into thesecond room 94. In another embodiment, the vestibule can be scaled to moveproduct 104 through a similar path using, for example, a forklift, a hand truck, etc. - In this embodiment, a
blower 108 draws air from thefirst room 92 through avestibule intake 110 into ablower box 112, out of theblower box 112 through a blowerbox exhaust port 114, and through avacuum outlet 116. The blowerbox exhaust port 114 and thevacuum outlet 116 are in fluid communication with at least one firstcompartment exhaust port 118 and at least one secondcompartment exhaust port 120. As air is forced through thevacuum outlet 116 by theblower 108, air is drawn from thefirst compartment 96 through the firstcompartment exhaust port 118 and from thesecond compartment 98 through the secondcompartment exhaust port 120 through Venturi and/or Bernoulli forces, and into thefirst room 92 throughvestibule exhaust 122. As depicted inFIG. 8 , theblower 108 is configured to bypass thethird compartment 100 such that theblower 108 does not return air from thethird compartment 100 to thefirst room 92 through a thirdcompartment exhaust port 120. While the blower is configured to bypass thethird compartment 100, some air from thethird compartment 100 may be drawn by vacuum generated by theblower 108 within thesecond compartment 98 and through the thirdpartial barrier 106C. This air enters thesecond compartment 98 where it may be drawn through the secondcompartment exhaust port 120, through thevacuum outlet 116, and into thefirst room 92 through thevestibule exhaust 122. While some air is thus drawn from thesecond room 94 into thefirst room 92 through this effect, the net effect is to better maintains thermal, moisture, and particulate separation between thefirst room 92 and thesecond room 94 than conventional systems. - In this embodiment, the
first room 92 can be separated from the second room by aninsulated wall 124. Further, cold air is drawn fromsecond room 94, through the fourth partial barrier 106, and into thethird compartment 100. As this occurs, some cold air is drawn through agap 126 between theinsulated wall 124 and theconveyer belt 102, and acrossproduct 104 being transported through thethird compartment 100. This pre-cools theproduct 104 within thethird compartment 100 before it enters thesecond room 94, and may thereby further increase thermal efficiency. - A thermal simulation of an apparatus including a three compartment vestibule such as that depicted in
FIG. 4 was performed, with results depicted in the thermal plots ofFIGS. 5 and 6 . The thermal plots ofFIGS. 5 and 6 are approximations of data plots which may be found in the provisional application and in the informal FIGS. as filed. -
FIG. 5 demonstrates that relatively warmer air is drawn in from awarmer room 72 at the left side ofFIG. 5 , and that relatively cooler air is drawn in from acooler room 82 at the right side of theFIG. 5 . The vestibule maintains a balanced pressure differential between thewarmer room 72 and thecooler room 82, thereby maintaining a cooler temperature withincompartments compartment 56. In turn, this maintains thermal separation between thewarmer room 72 and thecooler room 82 at the right ofFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 6 depicts a simulated isotherm plot of a three compartment vestibule such as that depicted inFIG. 4 . The isotherm plot demonstrates that good thermal separation is maintained between thefirst compartment 56 and thesecond compartment 58, and thus good thermal separation would be maintained between the relativelywarmer room 72 and the relativelycooler room 82. - While the present teachings have been described in connection with the above-referenced embodiments, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings to the particular form set forth herein. On the contrary, the present teachings are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present teachings as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that structural components and/or processing stages can be added or existing structural components and/or processing stages can be removed or modified. Further, one or more of the acts depicted herein may be carried out in one or more separate acts and/or phases. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” The term “at least one of” is used to mean one or more of the listed items can be selected. Additionally, in the discussion and claims herein, the term “on” used with respect to two materials, one “on” the other, means at least some contact between the materials, while “over” means the materials are in proximity, but possibly with one or more additional intervening materials such that contact is possible but not required. Neither “on” nor “over” implies any directionality as used herein. Other embodiments of the present teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure herein.
Claims (7)
1-9. (canceled)
10. A method for maintaining thermal separation between a first enclosure and a second enclosure using a vestibule, the method comprising:
drawing air from the first enclosure through a vestibule intake using a blower;
exhausting the air through a vacuum outlet and back into the first enclosure through a vestibule exhaust;
drawing air from a first compartment of the vestibule through a first compartment exhaust, through the vacuum outlet, and into the first enclosure through the vestibule exhaust, thereby forming a vacuum within the vestibule first compartment using the blower;
drawing air from a second compartment of the vestibule, through a first partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and into the first compartment using the blower; and
drawing air from the second enclosure, through a second partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the second compartment, and into the second compartment using the blower.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
drawing air from the first enclosure, through a third partial barrier that separates the first enclosure from the first compartment, and into the first compartment using the blower.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the blower is a variable speed blower and the method further comprises:
communicating a first temperature from a first temperature sensor within the first enclosure to a blower controller electrically coupled with the blower;
communicating a second temperature from a second temperature sensor within the vacuum outlet to the blower controller; and
controlling a speed of the variable speed blower using the blower controller, wherein the speed of the blower is based on a differential between the first temperature and the second temperature.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second partial barrier separates the second compartment from a third compartment, and the method further comprises:
drawing air from the second enclosure, through a third partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the third compartment using the blower; and
drawing air from the third compartment, through the second partial barrier that separates the second compartment from the third compartment, and into the second compartment.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
supporting the blower on an upper surface of the hollow duct platform; and
drawing air from the first compartment, through perforations in a bottom surface of the hollow duct platform, and into the hollow duct platform that forms the vacuum outlet using the blower,
wherein the perforations in the hollow duct platform form the first compartment exhaust.
15-21. (canceled)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/586,558 US20170336095A1 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2017-05-04 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201261625249P | 2012-04-17 | 2012-04-17 | |
US13/827,957 US9671126B2 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2013-03-14 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
US15/586,558 US20170336095A1 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2017-05-04 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/827,957 Division US9671126B2 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2013-03-14 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170336095A1 true US20170336095A1 (en) | 2017-11-23 |
Family
ID=49325514
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/827,957 Active 2036-04-07 US9671126B2 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2013-03-14 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
US15/586,558 Abandoned US20170336095A1 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2017-05-04 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/827,957 Active 2036-04-07 US9671126B2 (en) | 2012-04-17 | 2013-03-14 | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US9671126B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2015514955A (en) |
CN (1) | CN104380001A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013158725A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9874370B2 (en) * | 2014-01-31 | 2018-01-23 | Lennox Industries, Inc. | Systems and methods for balancing an HVAC system |
CN107131703B (en) * | 2017-07-05 | 2021-12-21 | 南通远征冷冻设备有限公司 | Opposite-flushing blowing cold air circulating device |
JPWO2021117195A1 (en) * | 2019-12-12 | 2021-12-16 | 株式会社サムズ | Waste treatment plant |
CN110940065B (en) * | 2019-12-12 | 2021-06-01 | 上海同渠工程咨询有限公司 | Environment monitoring method, system and computer storage medium |
CN114111213A (en) * | 2021-11-29 | 2022-03-01 | 四方科技集团股份有限公司 | Method for controlling temperature of air heat transfer equipment |
Citations (38)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2039445A (en) * | 1935-04-20 | 1936-05-05 | Onondaga Pottery Company | Tunnel kiln |
US2763195A (en) * | 1951-07-16 | 1956-09-18 | William J Caldwell | Air conditioning of entrance areas |
US3308740A (en) * | 1965-01-15 | 1967-03-14 | Disco Eng Inc | Draft-free air curtain closure |
US3690118A (en) * | 1970-08-06 | 1972-09-12 | Kysor Industrial Corp | Open refrigerated display case with roll-in display racks |
US3744963A (en) * | 1971-11-19 | 1973-07-10 | Nat Lumberman S Bank & Trust C | Heat treatment |
US3923096A (en) * | 1972-12-20 | 1975-12-02 | Lely Cornelis V D | Buildings |
USRE29477E (en) * | 1973-01-17 | 1977-11-22 | Glacier Industries, Inc. | Food product freezing apparatus |
US4133636A (en) * | 1977-06-30 | 1979-01-09 | Blu-Surf, Inc. | Tentor |
US4270283A (en) * | 1979-01-10 | 1981-06-02 | Ellis James F | Air recycling apparatus for drying a textile web |
US4338364A (en) * | 1980-01-14 | 1982-07-06 | Nordson Corporation | Continuous coater |
US4449921A (en) * | 1982-09-02 | 1984-05-22 | Frank Catallo | Combined oven and fume incinerator and method of operating same |
US4535933A (en) * | 1983-08-05 | 1985-08-20 | Foolish Fantasies B.V. | Vehicle with tiltable side walls |
US4587927A (en) * | 1983-09-22 | 1986-05-13 | Rmg-Beierling Gmbh, Industriestr | Painting- and evaporation cabin with air-return ventilation |
US4704953A (en) * | 1986-11-12 | 1987-11-10 | Nordson Corporation | Powder spray system |
US4744750A (en) * | 1986-02-13 | 1988-05-17 | Lingl Jr Hans | Tunnel kiln system for cooling the underside of a train of kiln cars |
US4850382A (en) * | 1988-09-14 | 1989-07-25 | Barnes Drill Co. | Work booth for a robot |
US4944216A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1990-07-31 | Mccutchen Wilmot R | Building emergency exhaust fan system |
US5131841A (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1992-07-21 | Patentsmith Ii, Inc. | Balanced air return convection oven |
US5397394A (en) * | 1993-09-09 | 1995-03-14 | The Fishing Group | Powder coating booth |
US5992173A (en) * | 1997-03-10 | 1999-11-30 | Monfort, Inc. | Food product package chiller for dissipating packaging heat |
US20020185064A1 (en) * | 2000-04-14 | 2002-12-12 | Shutic Jeffrey R. | Powder coating booth containment structure |
US20030041614A1 (en) * | 2001-08-30 | 2003-03-06 | Integrated Marine Systems, Inc. | Continuous throughput blast freezer |
US6595429B1 (en) * | 2002-04-03 | 2003-07-22 | Asi Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for providing continuous real-time conditioned air curtain |
US20040242145A1 (en) * | 2003-05-27 | 2004-12-02 | Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Air shutter and installation method thereof |
US7074274B1 (en) * | 1999-09-17 | 2006-07-11 | Nordson Corporation | Quick color change powder coating system |
US20060199497A1 (en) * | 2003-01-14 | 2006-09-07 | Smith Peter R | Conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway |
US20060242972A1 (en) * | 2005-04-27 | 2006-11-02 | Gideon Shavit | Integrated freezer-anteroom control |
US20080233859A1 (en) * | 2006-01-11 | 2008-09-25 | Peter Smith | Cold storage doorway with airflow control system and method |
US20080245078A1 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2008-10-09 | Integrated Marine Systems, Inc. | Tray-based continuous throughput blast freezer |
US20100119985A1 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2010-05-13 | Bernd Munstermann Gmbh & Co. Kg. | Curing oven |
US7734008B1 (en) * | 2007-05-24 | 2010-06-08 | George Sanders | Vehicle cargo inspection station and associated method |
US7819729B2 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2010-10-26 | Asi Technologies, Inc. | Air curtain doorway |
US20100273121A1 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2010-10-28 | Gleason James M | Oven exhaust fan system and method |
US20110291533A1 (en) * | 2010-05-25 | 2011-12-01 | Mammoth, Inc. | Cabinet for an air handling system |
US8411439B1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2013-04-02 | Exaflop Llc | Cooling diversity in data centers |
US20140065941A1 (en) * | 2012-02-16 | 2014-03-06 | Daelim Industrial Co., Ltd. | Non-directional smoke control damper having chain gear type blade advancing/retreating device |
US20150118632A1 (en) * | 2013-10-31 | 2015-04-30 | Mingsheng Liu | Industrial Conveyor Oven |
US20150196049A1 (en) * | 2014-01-16 | 2015-07-16 | Gary D. Lang | Apparatus and method for chilling or freezing |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3942426A (en) * | 1975-04-14 | 1976-03-09 | Restaurant Technology, Inc. | Heated sanitary sandwich bin with air curtains |
JP2000109215A (en) * | 1998-10-01 | 2000-04-18 | Hitachi Plant Eng & Constr Co Ltd | Through-wall shield device |
JP2002286270A (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2002-10-03 | Kanegafuchi Chem Ind Co Ltd | Air supply and exhaust hole and ventilator, ventilation system employing the same, and variable air duct residence |
JP3852570B2 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2006-11-29 | 石川島播磨重工業株式会社 | Clean room equipment |
JP2006010122A (en) * | 2004-06-23 | 2006-01-12 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | High-frequency heating device having range hood |
-
2013
- 2013-03-14 US US13/827,957 patent/US9671126B2/en active Active
- 2013-04-17 WO PCT/US2013/036913 patent/WO2013158725A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-04-17 CN CN201380020505.8A patent/CN104380001A/en active Pending
- 2013-04-17 JP JP2015507138A patent/JP2015514955A/en active Pending
-
2017
- 2017-05-04 US US15/586,558 patent/US20170336095A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (38)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2039445A (en) * | 1935-04-20 | 1936-05-05 | Onondaga Pottery Company | Tunnel kiln |
US2763195A (en) * | 1951-07-16 | 1956-09-18 | William J Caldwell | Air conditioning of entrance areas |
US3308740A (en) * | 1965-01-15 | 1967-03-14 | Disco Eng Inc | Draft-free air curtain closure |
US3690118A (en) * | 1970-08-06 | 1972-09-12 | Kysor Industrial Corp | Open refrigerated display case with roll-in display racks |
US3744963A (en) * | 1971-11-19 | 1973-07-10 | Nat Lumberman S Bank & Trust C | Heat treatment |
US3923096A (en) * | 1972-12-20 | 1975-12-02 | Lely Cornelis V D | Buildings |
USRE29477E (en) * | 1973-01-17 | 1977-11-22 | Glacier Industries, Inc. | Food product freezing apparatus |
US4133636A (en) * | 1977-06-30 | 1979-01-09 | Blu-Surf, Inc. | Tentor |
US4270283A (en) * | 1979-01-10 | 1981-06-02 | Ellis James F | Air recycling apparatus for drying a textile web |
US4338364A (en) * | 1980-01-14 | 1982-07-06 | Nordson Corporation | Continuous coater |
US4449921A (en) * | 1982-09-02 | 1984-05-22 | Frank Catallo | Combined oven and fume incinerator and method of operating same |
US4535933A (en) * | 1983-08-05 | 1985-08-20 | Foolish Fantasies B.V. | Vehicle with tiltable side walls |
US4587927A (en) * | 1983-09-22 | 1986-05-13 | Rmg-Beierling Gmbh, Industriestr | Painting- and evaporation cabin with air-return ventilation |
US4744750A (en) * | 1986-02-13 | 1988-05-17 | Lingl Jr Hans | Tunnel kiln system for cooling the underside of a train of kiln cars |
US4704953A (en) * | 1986-11-12 | 1987-11-10 | Nordson Corporation | Powder spray system |
US4850382A (en) * | 1988-09-14 | 1989-07-25 | Barnes Drill Co. | Work booth for a robot |
US5131841A (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1992-07-21 | Patentsmith Ii, Inc. | Balanced air return convection oven |
US4944216A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1990-07-31 | Mccutchen Wilmot R | Building emergency exhaust fan system |
US5397394A (en) * | 1993-09-09 | 1995-03-14 | The Fishing Group | Powder coating booth |
US5992173A (en) * | 1997-03-10 | 1999-11-30 | Monfort, Inc. | Food product package chiller for dissipating packaging heat |
US7074274B1 (en) * | 1999-09-17 | 2006-07-11 | Nordson Corporation | Quick color change powder coating system |
US20020185064A1 (en) * | 2000-04-14 | 2002-12-12 | Shutic Jeffrey R. | Powder coating booth containment structure |
US20030041614A1 (en) * | 2001-08-30 | 2003-03-06 | Integrated Marine Systems, Inc. | Continuous throughput blast freezer |
US6595429B1 (en) * | 2002-04-03 | 2003-07-22 | Asi Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for providing continuous real-time conditioned air curtain |
US20060199497A1 (en) * | 2003-01-14 | 2006-09-07 | Smith Peter R | Conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway |
US20040242145A1 (en) * | 2003-05-27 | 2004-12-02 | Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Air shutter and installation method thereof |
US7819729B2 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2010-10-26 | Asi Technologies, Inc. | Air curtain doorway |
US20060242972A1 (en) * | 2005-04-27 | 2006-11-02 | Gideon Shavit | Integrated freezer-anteroom control |
US20080233859A1 (en) * | 2006-01-11 | 2008-09-25 | Peter Smith | Cold storage doorway with airflow control system and method |
US20100119985A1 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2010-05-13 | Bernd Munstermann Gmbh & Co. Kg. | Curing oven |
US20080245078A1 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2008-10-09 | Integrated Marine Systems, Inc. | Tray-based continuous throughput blast freezer |
US7734008B1 (en) * | 2007-05-24 | 2010-06-08 | George Sanders | Vehicle cargo inspection station and associated method |
US8411439B1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2013-04-02 | Exaflop Llc | Cooling diversity in data centers |
US20100273121A1 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2010-10-28 | Gleason James M | Oven exhaust fan system and method |
US20110291533A1 (en) * | 2010-05-25 | 2011-12-01 | Mammoth, Inc. | Cabinet for an air handling system |
US20140065941A1 (en) * | 2012-02-16 | 2014-03-06 | Daelim Industrial Co., Ltd. | Non-directional smoke control damper having chain gear type blade advancing/retreating device |
US20150118632A1 (en) * | 2013-10-31 | 2015-04-30 | Mingsheng Liu | Industrial Conveyor Oven |
US20150196049A1 (en) * | 2014-01-16 | 2015-07-16 | Gary D. Lang | Apparatus and method for chilling or freezing |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2013158725A1 (en) | 2013-10-24 |
US9671126B2 (en) | 2017-06-06 |
US20130273826A1 (en) | 2013-10-17 |
JP2015514955A (en) | 2015-05-21 |
CN104380001A (en) | 2015-02-25 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20170336095A1 (en) | Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms | |
US7516624B2 (en) | Cooling room | |
US5425793A (en) | Coupling-type clean space apparatus | |
WO2016067421A1 (en) | Refrigerated storage unit | |
US9733015B2 (en) | Drying method, drying device, and drying system making use of temperature differential | |
CN1180643A (en) | Temp. control container and temp. control method for container | |
US9297570B2 (en) | Rack-aisle freezing system for palletized product | |
CN1235519C (en) | Apparatus for gas treatment of products | |
WO2007129280A1 (en) | Refrigerated container | |
US8281612B2 (en) | Cooling room | |
US20120231139A1 (en) | Apparatus and method for thawing a product | |
US10921043B2 (en) | Modular heat transfer system | |
JP2015145756A (en) | Refrigeration warehouse | |
US20180238623A1 (en) | Fluidized bed system | |
CA2702526C (en) | Storage configuration with predeterminable storage atmosphere | |
JP3568086B2 (en) | Low temperature food processing equipment | |
CA3072972C (en) | Food freezer with internal exhaust | |
JPH09113093A (en) | Apparatus for precooling agricultural products and the like | |
JP2017156009A (en) | Local cooling device | |
FI106981B (en) | Arrangement of tempering, coagulation and freezing rooms | |
RU1134U1 (en) | Device for drying agricultural products | |
JPH04136487U (en) | Packing boxes for frozen transportation of flowers, etc. | |
JPH0540781U (en) | Continuous freezing device | |
JP2005061714A (en) | Drier of air filter unit | |
JP2017138041A (en) | Near-hand air conditioner of air-conditioning conveyer and conveyer system using the same |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |