US2545602A

US2545602A - Multiple purpose refrigerated case

Info

Publication number: US2545602A
Application number: US110775A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph J Burger
Original assignee: MCCRAY REFRIGERATOR Co
Current assignee: MCCRAY REFRIGERATOR Co
Priority date: 1949-08-17
Filing date: 1949-08-17
Publication date: 1951-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-03-20

Description

March 20, 1951 R. J. BURGER MULTIPLE PURPOSE REFRIGERATED CASE Filed Aug. 17, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \INVENTOR. Ra/p/r J. Burger BY 2 45 ATTORNEY-f March 20, 1951 R. J. BURGER 2,545,602

MULTIPLE PURPOSE REFRIGERATED CASE Filed Aug. 17, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Faoh J. Burger BY March 20, 1951 R. J. BURGER MULTIPLE PURPOSE REFRIGERATED CASE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1949 INVENTOR. hq/p/z d. Burger BY 7 wz/ZM ATTORNEYS refrigerated storage features.

Patented Mar. 20, 195i 2,545,602 MULTIPLE PURPOSE REFRIGERATED CASE Ralph J. Burger, Kendallville, Ind., assignor to McCray Refrigerator Company, Kendallville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application August 17, 1949, Serial No. 110,775

10 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerated display cases, and particularly to such a case that combines self-service with both service display and However, either of these latter may be omitted within the spirit of the invention. 1

It is old in refrigerated cases to combine separate closed display and closed storage compartments wherein cold air is circulated through both from a single refrigerating and air circulating unit, but so far as I am aware this has not been accomplished in combination with an opentop self-service refrigerated display compartment having the same source of cold air supply.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a triple duty refrigerated case combining in a single economical and efficient manner a refrigerated open-top self-service feature with closed service display and storage features, all served by the same air cooling and circulating system, whereby to enhance the coinmercial value and efliciency of refrigerated display storage and service units of this character.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerated case embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a reduced horizontal section on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the main body unit of the case which includes in its lower portion one or more cold storage compartments and above these the closed display and service compartment, together with the air cooling and circulating means therefor, and B designates the open-top refrigerated self-service body unit. This latter unit, in the present instance, is removably attached to the lower front portion of the main unit A and is supplied with it's cooling air from the cooling and circulating means forming a part of the unit A. The main body unit A has a bottom section comprising a base or bottom I, a rear wall 2,

end walls

3, 3, risin therefrom, and a front that is open at 5 with the opening extending substantially from the bottom I up to the top beam marked 4. This structure forms the longitudinally spaced cold storage compartments 6, 6, and has superposed thereon a top section I forming the closed refrigerated display and service compartment 8 that is accessible at the rear through a plurality of openings closed by sliding doors 9 and at the front through a long front opening that is closed by a series of glass plates I0, as is customary with apparatus of this character. Nothing particularly novel is claimed for the construction and arrangement of parts of the main unit A except insofar as it is adapted to cooperate with the body unit B to form the selfservice refrigerated feature of the apparatus.

Each of the cold storage compartments 6 has an access openin at the rear closed by a door II and has a raised grate bottom l2 forming an air circulating space l3 between it and the base I of the structure.

Centrally of the case and separating the two storage compartments 6, 6, is located the air cooling and circulating unit which, in the present instance, comprises a drum like shell l5 open at top and bottom with its axis vertical and having an inwardly spaced vented bottom concentric shell 5 forming an annular space within the shell I5 in which are located a series of I display compartment 8 are separated by a grating or foraminous members 29 forming the bottom of the display compartment 8. The cooled air circulation is up from the storage compartment 5 through the grating 20 and thence upward through the compartment 8 to a top return conduit 2| extending lengthwise of the top portion of the compartment 8 at eachside of a central down draft conduit 22 which directs the returning air to the open top of the drum l5 of the cooling unit, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The

air enters the conduits 2| from the compartment.

8 through slots 23 at the lower rear edge of the conduit. It is thus apparent that when the fan 3 the case enters the return conduits 2| and thence passes down through the conduit 22 to be again passed through the cooling unit, as well understood in the art.

The unit B which constitutes the refrigerated self-service feature of the case, in the present instance, is separable from the unit A and is clamped to the front side thereof in covering. relation to the opening in any suitable manner. In the present embodiment, the unit B comprises the base or bottom part 25 which extends upward at its front side and at its ends to form the shallow upstanding wall portionsdta This wall portion is surmounted by a front glass wall 2! and end glass walls 28. above the horizontal level of the lower edge of the beam 4 which forms the top of the opening 5. The base 25, the rear edges of its end walls 26 and the rear edges of the end plates 28 fit closely against the front side of" the section A, thus giving, the case A with its front extension. B the appearance ofasing-le unitary structure. The pro.- duce-receiving. compartment 313' of the self-serve unit. B. is open. at its top so that customers may reach. in and. select. the'produce desired.

The, means employed. in the present. instance for attaching. thev unitB to the unit A comprises ascries of lag. screws 3| inserted on a downward incline forwardly through the front beam member 32 of the base L and threading into a corresponding beammember 33 that abuts rearwardly against the member 3.2. throughverticalslots in themember 32- to permit verticaladjustment and the heads-of the screws engage wedge members 35. in a manner tocause a. tightening ofthe members 32 and. 33 together when thescrew head slides down on the mem bers 34.

The storage compartments 6 at their front sides are separated from the open front of the unit A by a vertical partition 35' extending the full length .of the caseandproviding the cham-- ber or'a-ir passage 3-6 Whichopens into the'service" compartment 3fl-through'the opening 5 and may form a rearwarclextension of such compartment.

The-partition 35- stops shortof the base-or bottom: member tofztheunit A so astopermit.air'from the spa-eels beneath the grating l2-to pass there under: and into the communicating

chambers

38 and 35 Within the chambers EB-Tand Balsa-bottemplate E i-of foraminousform which serves'to support the produce in said chambers and also to distribute the air uniformly throughout thespace beneath the plate and to permit it to passupward therethrough into the chambers, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

The partition 35 has at its upper edge centrally of its ends a flue 38 extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the compartment 3% to the upper end or fan chamber portion of the refrigerating unit so that return air may pass from said compartment to the unit. Except for this flue, the partition 35 closes any communication between the compartment 35 and the upper portions of the storage compartment 6.

On the front side 'of the partition 35 ismounted a bafiie 39 forming a flue it runninggth'elength of the case and also providing a narrow space between it and the upper front beam'member' i.

which tends to direct therisi'ng air as it passes from the compartments 3t; 36, and is drawn to the'coolingunit through the fine 38 by the action of the fan; The flue dil'communicates'centrally' of the case lengthwise thereof" with thereturn' Each of these walls extends- The screws are inserted 4 flue 38 so that the air entering the flue 40 from the

chambers

30 and 35 passes therealong to the central flue 38 and thence into the fan chamber. One or more fluorescent or incandescent lamps 42 are mounted beneath the beam 4 or top wall of the opening 5, so as to direct light down into both compartments 3H and 36.

The

interior bottom portion

25, 26 of the unit B has a liner 43 (Fig; 2) that overhangs the front upstanding lip edge of the bottom liner 44 of the base member I, and both of these liners are rearwardly and downwardly inclined to direct any condensation or other liquids toward the drainage-0ut1et4'5. The liner 44 is also preferably inclined slightly from both ends towards the drainage outlet so as to' direct liquid thereto. It is apparent in the operation of the apparatus that thestoragecompartment 6 and the display compartment 8 are cooled by the air flow that is directed downwardly through the coils in the cooling, unit and thence dispersed endwise of the case in both directions beneath the beam grating l2- and upward therethrough and through boththat is discharged beneath the grating 12 passes rearwardly fromv the space I3" beneath the partition- 35 and into the lower portions of the service compartments '30 and'stbeneath the grating or foraminous bottom members-37. Thiscold air passes upward through suchmembers and into both of said compartments, and due to the fact that the front and endwalls 21' and 28 ofthe compartment 3ft extend abovethe top of the opening 5, this air, as it is warmed and by reason of.- the forced circulation; iscaused to pass-,. as;

indicated by the arrows; through the opening 5 towardand into the flue 40' and thence to the returnflue 3 8 tothe-f'an chamber, designated- 4G:

The coldair. in its circulation within theopen topconipartment '39 'will not materially spill over thewallsof such compartment but will return toithecooling unit inthe manner now' well un'-' derstood in connection with open-top refr-igerat-' ed service units'of this" character;

Thisainvention provides a" unitary refrigerating case that combines-the t'riplefifun'c'tions of a cooled} storage-spaced, a-cooleddisplay compartment ariti a refrigerated open-top'selfiservice compartment;-

I wish it understo'od that my'inventio'n isnot' limitedto any specific" construction; arrangement or form 'of the-parts, as it iscapable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from thespirit of' the claims;

Having thus described my invention, what" I claim" as new; and desire'to secure by United States Letters Patent; is:

1; Ina'caseo'f the class described; which com-' bin'es a" cold storage "compartment and a display compartmenttogetherwith means for coolingand circulating airtherethrough ina continuous cir cuit; the provision Oran open-top refri'ger'ated' display compartment" at a side of" the cold storage compartment and exposed to the aifthat is cooled'iand circulated by s'aidmea'n's whereby a'lp'oi'tioIi' ofth'e" cooled" air is by-p'a'ssed" from the lower portionv of" the storage compartment and" circulated" through said" o'pemtop compartment and thenreturned .to. the refrigerating means;

22 In a case" of? the class described Having, a"

cooled compartment and an opening in one side of the case together with means for cooling and creating a circulation of air through said compartment, the provision of an open-top refrigerated self-service unit at a side of said case havin its rear and bottom portions in unrestricted communication with said air circulating and cooling means through said side opening whereby a portion of the air cooled and circulated by said means is circulated through the open-top compartment and then returned to the cooling and circulating means.

3. In a case of the class described having a plurality of compartments, and means operable to cool air and to effect an endless circulation of air through said compartments, said case having an opening in one of its upright walls, the provision of means forming an open-top refrigerated display compartment at a side of said case with the rear of its interior in open communication with said opening with the Walls of said open-top compartment extending above the top level of said opening, and means for by-passing a portion of the air circulated by said cooling and circulating means and causing it to enter said open-top compartment at its bottom portion and to then return through said opening to said circulating means.

4. In a case of the class described having a cooling compartment with surrounding walls and with an opening through one wall extending in height some distance above the bottom of the compartment, an air cooling and circulating unit for receiving warm air at the top and directing it downward into the bottom of said compartment and upward therethrough to return to said means, a partition separating said compartment from the wall having said opening, an open-top self-service unit attached to the open side of said case and forming a forward extension of the compartment between said partition and open wall with the top of said compartment at the outer side of the wall disposed at a level above the top of said wall opening, foraminous means forming a bottom for said open-top compartment and. said communicating space, and means for bypassing a portion of the air circulated by said cooling and circulating means so as to direct it under and upward through said foraminous plate and into the compartment thereabove and then returning it to the circulating and cooling means.

5. In a case of the class described having front,

end and rear walls and forming a lower storage compartment and an upper display compartment and having an opening in its front wall, a partition within the case rearwardly of said front wall and forming a space lengthwise of the case in communication with said opening, an extension on the front side of said case forming an open-top self-service compartment with its rear side open through said wall opening to said space and with its front and end walls extending above the level of the top of said opening, a foraminous produce support in the bottom portions of said space and open-top compartment and extending through said opening, and means for cooling and causing an endless circulation of air through said case compartments and also through said space and open-top compartment.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a case having surrounding walls forming a cooling chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a separate unit attached to the wall of said case at the outer side of said opening and forming an open-top self-service display compartment with its rear side open to the interior of the case through said opening and with its side and end Walls terminating on a level above that of the top of said opening, and means associated with the case and operable to cool and effect a forced circulation of air through said first chamber and also through said open-top compartment and then return the air to the cooling means.

7. A triple duty case of the class described having a storage compartment, a closed display compartment, an open-top self-service compartment, and a closed circuit refrigerating system including a refrigerating unit and a forced draft means and having communication with and through each of said compartment, said open-top compartments being of 'the type in which the cold air is introduced into the compartment through the bottom portion and passes outward therefrom through a rear opening the top of which is below the level of the top of the side walls of the compartment.

8. An arrangement as called for in claim 7 wherein the storage and closed compartments are superimposed and the open-top compartment is at the front of one of said first compartments.

9. In a refrigerated case having a storage compartment, a superposed display compartment, and an open-top refrigerated display compartment at the front of said storage compartment, cooling means below said superposed compartment, an air circulating system for directing cooled air from said cooling means through said storage compartment and through both said display compartments and back from each to said cooling means, and means for forcing the circulation of air through said cooling means and system.

10. An arrangement as called for in claim 9, wherein the circulation of cooled air from the storage compartment is up through the bottom portion of the open-top display compartment and therefrom through its rear side portion to the cooling means.

RALPH J. BURGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,462,279 Passman Feb. 22, 1949 2,467,427 Green Apr. 19, 1949 2,477,393 Skoog July 26, 1949 2,511,375 Raskin June 13, 1950