US2298526A

US2298526A - Refrigerated display case

Info

Publication number: US2298526A
Application number: US420798A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John R Caulk; Russell E Davis
Original assignee: HUSSMAN LIGONIER Co
Current assignee: HUSSMAN LIGONIER Co; HUSSMAN-LIGONIER Co
Priority date: 1941-11-28
Filing date: 1941-11-28
Publication date: 1942-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1959-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1942. J. R. CAULK, JR., ETAL 2,298,526

REFRIGERA TED DISPLAY CASE Filed Nov. 28, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l J. R. CAULK, JR., ETAL REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE Filed Nov. 28 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v l u I r k 7 6 fl rill 7'1 5 lfllflllllffll Illa!!! II!!! rllllllfrfllfill n If r! 7111/ rill l l/ 0/) I Oct. 13, 1942'.

| I I I I I I I I I I I I I Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGEBAfiS IZMY flASE John R. Caulk, In, Lod e, and Russell E. Davis,

St. Louis, Mo SIIIIIIOI'I to Humanonic:- compzlnly, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Application November as, 1941, sci-m No. 420,798

3 Claims. (01. oz-aas) Our invention relates to refrigerated display cases, particularly those of the so-called open type, where the merchandise is exposed in an open bin which is continuously refrigerated.

The invention has for its principal objects to provide an efllcient, simple and compact cooling refrigerating system for display cases of this type.

I slope downwardly from the cover 4 to a point Just above the level of the top of the glass wall 9.

. Fluorescent or other lights II are arranged at The invention consists principally in a refrigerated display case of this type wherein the cooled air is propelled upwardly through a refrigerating flue and is discharged above the level of the merchandise, over which it flows to a return duct;

where it is again passed through the refrigerating and merchandise cooling cycle. The invention further consists in the refrigerated display case and in the refrigerating method, in the steps and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, s Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a refrigerated display case embodying our invention, a portion of the top of the case being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale on the line 33 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5--5 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 6-8 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale,

of a deflector for deflecting and baflling the cur- I rent of air on its way to the cooling flue,

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of said deflector,

Fig. 9 is'a side or end elevation thereof,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the front air battle in the path of the return airon its way from the intake duct to the fan; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the supporting members for the bottom of the merchandise bin. 4

The refrigerated display case has a base I, a

low front .wall 2, a high back wall 3, a top 4 extending from the back wall over a portion of the merchandise bin to form a hood or partial cover therefor, and end walls 5. Said parts are all of any suitable construction, including insulated body portions 6 and ornamental trim or .cover portions I of porcelain metal or the like. The front wall 2 extends slightly above the bottom 8 of the merchandise bin (which is made up of parts hereinafter described) and preferably has a glass wall or series of panels 9 extending along its top. The corner portions III of the end walls the front of the cover 4 or top so as to illuminate merchandise in the display bin.

Extending from end to end of the case and resting on supporting flanges ii on the end walls 5, is a supporting strip i3 having base portions l4, an upstanding hi) [5 along its rear edge and an upstanding rib II. Extending from end to end of the case near the front thereof and resting on the support II, for the, rear strip I3, is a supporting strip i1 having base flanges l8 and an upstanding central rib is of the same height as that Il-"of' the rear-strip l3. Mounted on the cal. flange 2| has an inwardly bent lip or bead 22. This vertical flange 2| is spaced away from the front wall 2. of the case to form an air intake or duct "which will be hereinafter pointed out. Extending from end to end of the case at about the middle is a supporting strip 24, similar to the front strip l'l, having base flanges 25 and an upstanding central rib 26 of the same height as those of the front and rear supporting strips. The spaces between the ribs of the front l1, rear I! and middle supporting strips 24 are filled by sheets 21 resting on the base flanges of said strips. The above described parts constitute a horizontal partition which forms the bottom 8 of the merchandise bin.

Extending from front to rear of the case, at the middle thereof, is a,support 28 of inverted channel section which supports the front strip II, middle strip 24 and rear strip l3 and which has its ends resting on brackets 29 secured to the front and rear walls, respectively.

Secured to the rear wall 3, as by screws 30 mounted in countersinks 3|, are spacer blocks 32. Secured to these spacers blocks 32, as by screws 33, is a sheet or wall 34 of insulating material that extends from end to end of the case and has its lower edge resting on the rear supporting strip l3 against the rear lip I5 thereof. Said wall 34 and the rear wall 3 of the box form a flue 35 in which is disposed a refrigerating device 38, preferably comprising a plurality of coils 31 extending from end to end of the case and having suitable flns 38 thereon. The top of the wall 34,'that is, the outlet .of the cold air discharged from the flue 35, is above the level of the merchandise support.

.Preferably' the merchandise support is in the form of a stepped base 39, the top step 40 being below the level of the flue outlet and the bottom step4lbeingabovethebaselofthedisplar chamber. As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8, the merchandise support may be in the form of a simple shelf "A or screen resting on the ribs of the supporting strips i3, i1 and 24.

as the air must move upwardly through the cooling cycle, it is necessary to create a forced chamber 46, the space between the bottom i of the case and the bottom 8 of the display bin. The fan 42 and the motor 420 therefor are mounted on a suitable frame 42b that is secured to said partition wall 44. The fan 42 is disposed so as to cause air to move from the front chamber 45 into the rear chamber 4' and thence upwardly through the cooling flue ll in which'is disposed the refrigerating device it. A baille or deflector 41 is mounted in front of the fan 42, in the front or air intake chamber 45, said baifle 41 beins preferably a simple vertical strip having a bottom flange 48 secured to the bottom of the case. A rear baiile or deflector 49 is placed in the rear compartment 46 between the fan 42 and the cooling flue 35. Said rear deflector includes a central strip 50 arranged at an angle, rearwardly bent body members Ii and reversely or forwardly rebent lower wing members 52 to whichare secured angle brackets 53 having bottom members 54 secured to the bottom of the case.- An angle bracket 55 secured to the central strip extends into said channel support I! and is suitably secured to the base thereof.

As appears from the arrows, cold air discharged from, the top of the flue I5. flows downwardly over the merchandise arranged in the bin, preferably on the steps. The cold air tends to hug the merchandise and cascade down the steps after the fashion of a waterfall. 'At the front of the case, the air now warmed by passing over the merchandise passes into the front chamber through the intake duct 23, being drawn thereinto by the action of the constantly rotating fan 42. The air flow is equalized along the entire intake duct 23 by means of the front baifle member 41 and after being discharged by the fan 42 into the' rear chamber 44 the air is again deflected or baflied by means of the rear deflector 49. By reason of the large size of the rear chamber, the air moves to the flue 35 and throuh the flue rather slowly. The deflector 48 and the weight of cold air cause equal distribution of air from entire length of discharge flue 15. The

outlet of the flue is above the level of the top of the wall. 9 as well as above the merchandise support. This permits merchandise to be dis' played above the top of the wall 9.

While the refrigerating mechanism is shown as being mounted in the flue 35, it may be mounted anywhere in the system between the inlet duct 2| and the outlet of the flue I5.

The above arrangement produces a continuousoccasional interruption to permit defrosting or when the minimum desired display temperature is reached. The degree of cooling'ofthe air may be regulated to suit the requirements of the particular merchandise being displayed. The display case is particularly adapted for use in displaying meats and dairy products, but may be used with vegetables and produce.-

Obviously numerous changes may be made without departing from the invention and we do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What we claim is: I

1. In a refrigerated display case having a base. a top. a rear wall, a front wall and end walls. a horizontal partition extending from end to end of the case withits respective side edges spaced from said front and rear walls, a vertical partitionspaced from said rear wall, with its lower edge resting on said horizontal partition and its upper edge spaced below said top, a'refrigerating extending from end to end of said case and from ly acting refrigerating cycle, the cold air moving in a slow and gentle current. The refrigerating mechanism operates continuously, except-for an said base to said horizontal partition, a fan disposed over an opening provided therefor in said lower vertical partition and arranged to blow air therethrough to create a circulation of air upwardly through said flue and said refrigerating device. and shame disposed forwardly of said fan. a

2. In a refrigerated display case having a base, a top, a rear wall, a front wall and end walls. a horizontal partition extending from end to end of the case with its respective side edges spaced from said front and rear walls, a vertical partition spaced from said rear wall, with its lower edge resting on said horizontal partition and its upper edge spaced below said top, a refrigerating device, a lower vertical partition extending from end to end of said case and from said base to said horizontal partition, a fan disposed over an opening provided therefor in said lower vertical partition and arranged to blow air therethrough to create a circulation of air through said refrigcrating device and upwardly through the flue formed by said rear wall and said vertical partition, and a baille disposed rearwardly of said fan.

3. In a refrigerated display case having a base,

a top, a rear wall, a front wall and end walls, a horizontal partition: extending from end to end of the case with itsrespective side edges spaced from said front and rear walls, a vertical partition spacedfromsaid rear wall, with its lower edge resting on said horizontal partition and its upper edge spaced below said top, a refrigerating device in the flue formed by said rear wall and said vertical partition, a lower vertical partition extending from end to end of said case and from said base to said horimntal'partition, a fan disposed over an opening provided therefor in said lower vertical partition and arranged to blow air therethrough to create a circulation of air upwardly through said flue and said refrigerating device, and baiiies disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said fan, respectively.

- JOHN R. CAULK, JR.

RUSSELL E. DAVIS.