US2690650A

US2690650A - Open top display refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2690650A
Application number: US310959A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph R Pichler
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1952-09-23
Filing date: 1952-09-23
Publication date: 1954-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1971-10-05

Description

Oct. 5, 1954 J. R. PICHLER 2,690,650

OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 23, 41952 5 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Joseph R. Pichler rnv' @CL 5, 1954 J. R. PlcHLER 2,690,650

OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENToR. Fig- 6 Joseph R. Pichler 06% 5, 1954 J. R. PICHLER OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented oet. 5, 1954 2,690,650

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Joseph R. Pichler, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 23, 1952, Serial No. 310,959

Claims. l

This invention relates to refrigerated display cases.

An object of my invention is to provide improvements in the construction of substantially open top refrigerated food storage and display cabinets and to improve the circulation of air in such cabinets.

Another object of my invention is to provide a more uniform circulation A,of air upwardly 2 application of Marshall W. Baker S. N. 193,795 filed November 3, 1950, Patent No. 2,661,604 dated December 8, 1953.

Referring now to the drawings, for illustrating the present improvement invention, I show in Figure 1 thereof an elongated substantially open top refrigerated food storage and display case generally represented by the reference character I0. This display case includes a cabinet prothrough narrow elongated vertically disposed 10 vided with a long side or rear vertical wall II hollow iiues dividing a food supporting device lo- (see Figure 2), a bottom wall I2, a long side or cated in an open top display case into a plurality front vertical wall I4 and vertical end walls I5 of food storage compartments. and I6, The Walls Il, I2, I4, I5 and I are A further object of my invention is to provide formed by spaced apart inner and outer metal means for preventing the accumulation of moisl5 sheets or panels having suitable insulating mature, frost or ice on elements Within an open terial therebetween as is conventional in the art. top low temperatured food storage and display All the upright or vertical walls of cabinet I!) case exposed to air which enters the case. terminate in substantially the same horizontal A still further and more specific object of my plane. A multiple glass pane structure I'I forms invention is to provide scoops along vertically the upper portion of the front Wall I4 and exextending hollow flues in a refrigerated display tends from one end Wall I5 to the other end case for directing air circulated about the case Wall Iiiv to provide a window through which and particularly beneath and in a direction parfoods or paekaged fOOd DrOdllCtS 011 diSpiaY in alleling the open bottom end of the flues up- Jehe Cabinet 01 CaSe may be VieWed- A Semiwardly therethrough. ceiling I8 extends from the long side or rear wall Further objects and advantages of the present II forwardly a short distance over the cabinet invention will be apparent from the following or case, relative to the other long side or 'front description, reference being had to the accom- Weil I4, t0 DIOVide an Opening ai: the bep 0f panying drawings, wherein a preferred form of CaSe i0 eS G0 permit CllSOmeIS 110 Teach inte the present invention is clearly shown. the case and remove articles therefrom which In the drawings: they desire to purchase. While I have sho'wn Figure 1 is a perspective View of a substanthe display case IIJ as including the semi-ceiling tially open top low temperature frozen food I8 it is to be understood that the semi-ceiling storage and display case having my invention may be emitted t0 pfeVide aCCeSS through the embodied therein; open top of the case from either side thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view A Sheet metal member 2| (See Figure 2) eX- of the display case shown in Figure '1 and is tends from end to end of case I0 throughout the taken on the line 2 2 thereof; length thereof and is secured in any suitable Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horior desirable manner, to a plurality of substan- Zontal sectional view of a portion of the display 40 iaily Z-Sheped 01' the like metal brackets 22 ease and is taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; spaced apart alone and mounted upon the lone Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical beek Weil1 0f the Case The Sheet member sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 2| iS Supported from the 1011 front Wall i4 0f showing an air scoop associated with a vertical Cabinet l0 by being 1110111117611 0n en angie IOII flue; 23 secured, in any suitable manner, to a closure Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical member 24 having offset portions bolted to wall sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3; I4. This closure member 24 serves a dual purand pose in a construction of the type disclosed which Figure 6 is en enlarged fragmentary sectional will become apparent from the following descripview showing a deneetor over an air passage at tion. Member 2l is vertically spaced from the the rear of the display case and having heating means associated therewith.

This application is specifically directed to improvements in refrigerated display cases of the type disclosed and described in the copending cabinet bottom wall I2 to divide the interior of case H3, intermediate its bottom and open top, into an upper chamber 26 and a lower chamber 21. The brackets 22 and closure member 24 project inwardly of the side Walls Il and I4 respectively of case I and the edges of member 2| are spaced from these side walls, throughout the length of the case, to provide a vertical uptake air passage 2S along wall and a vertical return air passage 29 along wall lll. The

air passages

28 and 23 provide communication between the upper and lower chambers 2E and 21 respectively of case lil. A bent inwardly projecting part 3| (see Figure 5) of closure member 2G extends along the long or front side wall of case l above the dividing member 2|. A thick at metal strip 33 extends along the other long side or rear wall of case Ii! above member 2| and is carried by an inturned bent portion 31| on the horizontally spaced apart back brackets 22. The part 3| of closure member 2li and strip 33 form longitudinally extending mounting rails or the like for receiving a food supporting and storage device to now be described.

A food supporting device or structure is located in the upper chamber 2B of case l0 and rests on the longitudinal rails 3| and 33. This structure or device is coextensive with the dividing member 2| and comprises a plurality of imperforate portions in the form of flat plates 3G spaced vertically from member 2| to provide a passageway 31 therebetween which extends horizontally substantially across the interior of the case and has an inlet communicating with the uptake air passage 2S. Plates 35 are disposed in spaced side-by-side relation and form the bottom of the food supporting device. The other front side or end of passageway 31 is closed by closure member 24 and a plurality of elongated openings 38 are provided in member 2|, spaced inwardly of closure member 24, to form air outlets for the passageway 31 communicating with the lower chamber 21. It will be noted that divider member 2| forms the bottom wall of passageway 31 and the top wall of lower chamber 21. The food supporting device also comprises a plurality of narrow sleeve-like hollow vertical metal ues 39 disposed between the plates 3E (see Figure 3) and having outwardly directed feet il located beneath the edge portion of plates 35. Flues 39 extend transversely of the display case substantially across the food supporting device and are horizontally spaced apart along the length thereof. These ues provide double walled partitions dividing the food supporting device and consequently the interior of upper chamber 26 into a plurality of open top food receiving and storing compartments. The food supporting device further includes a vertically disposed long glass plate 43 forming the front wall thereof and a vertical metal plate 44 forming the rear wall of the device. Plate 43 is supported upon the inwardly directed part 3| o closure member 2!! and has its lower edge imbedded in suitable resilient material 16 encased in

metal elements

41 and 48 which are secured to part 3| in any desired or conventional manner (see Figure 5). An angular deiiector i9 is hooked over metal element 41 for a purpose to be hereinafter described and provides a space under the hooked portion thereof for the reception of electric resistance heating means 5|. Glass plate 43 is spaced from the multiple glass pane windowed wall portion Il' of the front wall l@ of case i3 and forms an upward continuation of the return air passage 29. Metal plate M. is spaced from the inner surface of the case rear wall to form an upper continuation of the uptake air passage 23 at the back of the cabinet. Plate 44 has an inturned foot portion secured between the rail 33 and the part 34 on the back brackets 22. The plates 43. |34 and the upper end of iiues 39 terminate below the top of the upright walls of case l. A cap 53, provided with a plurality of air outlet openings 5t, is located over the open upper end of each of the lues 3S. The caps 53 are telescoped over the flues so as to be readily removed therefrom. Openings 54 in caps 33 are adapted to direct air egressing from the upper end of ucs 39 laterally and downwardly onto and over food stored in the compartments adjacent the flues.

An angularly disposed metal piece 56 and a curved metal piece 51 both secured to the inner surface of the inner panel of the case back wall (see Figure 6) cooperate to form a deflector cap over the uptake air passage 28 and an electric resistance heating means 53 is secured to metal piece 5S within the space between this piece and the curved metal piece 51. An electric resistance heating means GI is imbedded in the insulating material of walls l5 and I and disposed in heat exchange relationship with the inner metal surface or panel of these walls. Similar electric resistance heating means E2 and 63 are mounted under rubber or the like gaskets 5S and 61 respectively at opposite sides of the lower portion of multiple pane glass front wall structure i1 of case ICI (see Figure 5). The upper part of the multiple pane glass structure |1 carries a metal lamp bracket 68, containing a suitable lamp such as a iuorescent bulb E59, and an electric resistance heating means 1| is located in thermal exchange relationship with the under side of this bracket (see Figure l). The purpose of all these electric heating means will be described hereinafter.

An elongated refrigerant evaporator 1S, forming a part of a closed refrigerating system (not shown), is disposed within the lower chamber 21 of display case l0 and the refrigerating effect produced by this evaporator provides refrigerating means which cools the air within the case to a sub-freezing temperature. Evaporator 12 may be of any suitable or conventional construction and is preferably of the tube and fm type extending substantially throughout the length of case ID. A plate 11 forms a lower extension of the uptake air passage 28 into the bottom chamber 21. A vertical metal partition 18 within lower chamber 21 of the display case extends substantially throughout the length thereof and is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart round openings 19. A fan or blower 8|, driven by an electric motor 82, is located in each of the openings 19. These fans form means for forcing air over the evaporator 13 where it is cooled thereby and thereafter circulated throughout the interior of case I@ in a manner to now be described.

Operation of the refrigerating system causes evaporation of refrigerant within evaporator 1G, as is well-known to those skilled in the art, and the energization of each motor 82 rotates the same to drive the fans 8l. Rotation of fans or blowers 8| causes the same to create a low pressure area within chamber 21 of case I in the vicinity of the return air passage 29 and draws air therefrom and circulates this air over the evaporator. This causes air to be withdrawn from the upper food storage chamber 26 of the display case IG. Air cooled by evaporator 16 is forced under plate 11 and upwardly through the uptake air passage 28. The inlet end of horizontal passageway 31 is an open communication with the air duct or passage 28, intermediate its ends, and some of the cold air flowing upwardly in the duct or passage will enter the passageway 31. Air entering passageway 31 flows transversely across the display case in a direction paralleling the fues 39. The open bottom ends of the flues 39 communicate with passageway 31 and the food supporting device `divides the air entering this passageway into a plurality of streams of air some of which flow upwardly through the flues 39 and are discharged over or upon frozen food products stored in the food storage compartments while the other streams of air flow from the inlet end of passageway 31 to a point adjacent the front portion of case I0. These other or transversely flowing streams of air are directed out of passageway 31, by way of the openings 38 in divider member 2|, downwardly into the lower chamber 21 without exposure to air exteriorly of the case. These other streams of air are mixed with air egressing from the return air passage 29, within chamber 21, and are thus tempered or blended prior to flow thereof over evaporator 16. At this time air flowing upwardly through the uptake air passage 28 is directed, by the deflector cap means, formed by the

metal pieces

56 and 51, into the food storage compartments and over or upon foods therein. Air discharged from the flues 39 and from the uptake passage 28 flow toward the front of the open top `display case and over the top of glass plate 43 into the return air duct or passage 29. Thus air flowing over or into the food supporting device provides a lm or blanket of air, at a below-freezing temperature, over foods stored in the upper chamber 26. The air circulation described provides a flow of cold air along the bottom of the food compartments and also along all upstanding walls thereof as well as into direct contact with packaged foods stored in the compartments.

It has been discovered that, due to the air being circulated across passageway 31 in a direction parallel to the extention of the ilues 39, this cold air will not readily rise into the flues. This is particularly true in a structure of the type herein disclosed in the vicinity of the front side of passageway 31 where the fans or blowers tend to create a low pressure area. I therefore provide means which insure a positive flow of sufficient air upwardly through these ilues at or adjacent to their forward ends. For this purpose I locate one or more means within passageway 31 which cooperate with the open bottom end of flues 39 for scooping a portion of the air flowing across passageway 31 into the flues for circulation upwardly therethrough. This means in the present disclosure includes air scoops formed of a metal piece having a substantially U-shaped portion 86 (see Figure 3) and integral laterally extending wings 81 disposed at an angle relative to the flues 39 and secured to the feet 4I thereof by rivets or the like B8 (see Figures 3 and 4). The angular disposition of wings 81 of the air scoops form funnel-like obstructions in the path of air flowing from the rear or inlet end substantially to the front or other end of passageway 31 and directs some of this air upwardly into the ilues 39. Wings 81 are spaced vertically from divider member ZI to permit some of the air to pass therebetween. Each air scoop also includes another metal piece 89 (see Figure 4), secured to the U-shaped portion 86 of the winged metal piece by bolts 9|, having a tongue 92 extending angularly up into the flues 39 a short distance.

It is desired to prevent the cold air iiowing in passageway 31 from contacting the front portions of the passageway forming means so as to prevent the formation of frost or ice on the elements exposed to the return air duct or passage 29. For this reason I prevent the ow of air out of the front end of passageway 31 by blocking the same with closure member 24 and provide deilecting means within passageway 31 intermediate closure member 24 and the spaced apart elongated openings 38 in divided member 2I to prevent the by-passed cold air from contacting the closure member along the passageway 31. This deiiecting means comprises a metal baille angularly secured within the passageway 31 (see Figures 1 and 5) and extending throughout the length of the food supporting device. Baiile Sli forms a dead air pocket between it and the closure member 24 and serves to direct that portion of the air passing the air scoops in passageway 31 out of this passageway and downwardly into the display case bottom chamber 21 by way of the openings 38.

Moisture in air which infiltrates the display case through its open top tends to collect, in the form of condensation, frost or ice, on the cold surfaces of elements of the case exposed thereto. According to my invention I reduce or prevent such collection or accumulation by warming the cold surfaces of the exposed elements. This is the purpose of the

electric heating meansl

5I, 58, 6I, 32, 53 and 1 I. These electric means comprise lengths of suitably insulated wires which offer resistance to the flow of electric current therethrough and thus become warm. The wires 5I, 58, BI, 62, 63, and II may be secured in place to the various elements or parts of display case I, hereinbefore described, in any suitable or wellknown manner. Heat dissipated by the resistance wires prevents condensation of moisture out of the infiltrated air to thereby maintain the elements of the display case exposed to such air clear of moisture, frost or ice. For example, heat dissipated by wires 5I, together with the fact that cold air flowing across passageway 31 is prevented from contacting the passageway and closure member 29, in addition to preventing the formation of frost on the inner metal wall of return air passage 29 also maintains the glass plate 43 clear of moisture. Heat dissipated by wires 58 is transmitted to the air deflector cap, formed by the metal pieces 5S and 51, to keep the upper surface of this deflector free of frost. Heat transmitted to the multiple pane glass structure I1 by wires 62 and G3 maintains the inner and outer surfaces of this structure clear of moisture condensation to permit viewing the contents of the display case through this structure. Heat applied to the upper portion of the display case walls Il, I 5 and I9 by wires 3| prevent condensa-tion of moisture on these walls and eliminate flow of condensate water downwardly therealong. Wires 1I heat the top surface of lamp bracket E8 to prevent the collection of condensate thereon.

In view of the foregoing it should be apparent that I have provided improvements in the construction of display case which produces a uniform and more cicient flow of air upwardly through vertical flues from the one end to the other end thereof. Ey directing the cold air passing through the Icy-pass horizontal passagewat1 out of the same inwardly of its front portion frost or ice is prevented from building up on the wall of the return air passage and obstructing the flow of air therethrough. Also by providing meansfor warming elements of an open top display case exposed to air which enters the same I prevent the accumulation of moisture, frost or ice thereon.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical lues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said flucs having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in a direction paralleling said ues, and means cooperating with the open bottom end of said flues and extending laterally therefrom within said passageway for scooping a portion of the air circulated thereinto upwardly through said ues.

2. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in a direction paralleling said flues, means cooperating with the open bottom end of said flues and extending laterally therefrom within said passageway for scooping a portion of the air circulated thereinto upwardly through said ilues, and means within said passageway beyond said air scooping means for directing that portion of the air passing said scooping means downwardly out of said passageway.

3. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical lues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air from one side to substantially the other side of said passageway in a direction paralleling said lues, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom end of said hollow ues for directing a portion of the air flowing into said passageway upwardly through said flues, said air scoops including wings disposed in said passageway and extending laterally from the sides of said flues, and said air scoops also including a tongue extending angularly upwardly into said flues.

4. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air from one side to o substantially the other side of said passageway in a direction paralleling said nues, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom end of said hollow ues for directing a portion of the air owing into said passageway upwardly through said nues, said air scoops including wings disposed in said passageway and extending laterally from the sides of said nues, said air scoops also including a tongue extending angularly upwardly into said flues, and a baie within said passageway extending along said other side thereof for directing that portion of the air passing said scoops downwardly out of the passageway.

5. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air from one side to substantially the other side of said passageway in a direction paralleling said nues, closure means for said other side of said passageway, means cooperating with the open bottom end of said nues and extending laterally therefrom within said passageway for scooping a portion of the air circulated thercinto upwardly through said nues, and a bafe within said passageway and spaced inwardly from said closure means for directing that portion of the air passing said scoops downwardly out of the passageway.

6. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical nues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air from one side to substantially the other side of said passageway in a direction paralleling said nues, closure means for said other side of said passageway, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom end of said hollow flues for directing a portion of the air flowing into said passageway upwardly through said lues, said air scoops including wings disposed in said passageway and extending laterally from the sides of said nues and a tongue extending angularly upwardly thereinto, and means within said passageway spaced inwardly from said closure means thereof for directing that portion of the air passing said scoops downwardly out of the passageway.

7. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical fiues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said lues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in a direction paralleling said flues, means cooperating with the open bottom end of said ues for scooping a portion of the air circulated into said passageway upwardly through said ues, said air scooping means including wings disposed in said passageway in spaced relation to said rst named means and extending 9 laterally from the sides of said flues, and said air scooping means also including a tongue extending angularly upwardly into said nues.

8. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein, means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical nues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of food storage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means for circulating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in a direction paralleling said lues, means cooperating with the open bottom end of said flues for scooping a portion of the air circulated into said passageway upwardly through said flues, said air scooping means including wings disposed in said passageway in spaced relation to said iirst named means and extending laterally from the sides of said lues, and a tongue extending angularly upwardly into said nues, and means within said passageway beyond said air scooping means for directing that portion of the air passing said scooping means downwardly out of said passageway.

9. in a refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom. wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced vertically from cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wall of said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wall thereof, said device including a plurality of spaced apart vertical hollow iiues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separate food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication oi said air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passag transversely across said lower chamber and back to said upper chamber through said uptake air passage, some of the air circulated into said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway in a direction parallelincr said flues, means cooperating with the open bottom end of said hollow ues and extending laterally therefrom within said horizontal passageway for scooping a portion of the air entering the same upwardly through said flues, means for directing that portion of the air passing said air scooping means downwardly out of said horizontal passageway into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed with air circulated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, and refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same.

l0. In a refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wall of said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wall thereof, said device including a, plurality of spaced apart vertical hollow flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separate food storage compartments, said flues having their bottorn end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication of said air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, transversely across said lower chamber and back to said upper chamber through said uptake air passage, some of the air crculated into said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway from one side to substantially the other side thereof in a direction paralleling said iiues, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom end oi said hollow ues for directing a portion of the air entering said passageway upwardly through said flues, said air scoops including wings disposed in said horizontal passageway in spaced relation to said dividing member and extending laterally from the sides of said iiues, closure means for said other side of said horizontal passageway, means within said horizontal passageway spaced inwardly from said closure means thereof for directing that portion of the air passing said scoops downwardly out of said horizontal passageway into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed with air circulated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, and refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same.

11. In a refrigerated display case, an elongated open top cabinet including a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said dividing member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide a return air passage along one side wall and an uptake air passage along the other side wall thereof, a delector cap over said uptake air passage, said device including a plurality of spaced apart vertical hollow flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separate open top food storage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication of said air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, transversely across said lower chamber and back to said upper chamber over foods stored in said compartments through said uptake air passage, some oi the air circulated into said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway from one side to substantially the other side thereof, said device dividing the air entering said horizontal passageway into a plurality of streams of air some of which flow substantially across said horizontal passageway while others iiow upwardly through said flues and over food stored in said compartments, closure means for said other side of said horizontal passageway, means spaced inwardly from said closure means for directing air flowing across said horizontal passageway through said dividing member and into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed with air circulated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same to a temperature below freezing, and electric heating means disposed in thermal exchange relationship with said uptake air passage deflector cap and with said passageway closure means for warming the same and preventing formation of frost or ice thereon.

l2. In a refrigerated display case, an elongated open top cabinet including a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said dividing member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide a return air passage along one side wall and an uptake air passage along the other side wall thereof, a deiiector cap over said uptake air passage, said device including a plurality of spaced apart vertical hollow fiues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separate open top food storage compartments, said iiues having their bottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication of said air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, transversely across said lower chamber and back to said upper chamber over foods stored in said compartments through said uptake air passage, some of the air circulated into said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway from one side to substantially the other side thereof, said device dividing the air entering said horizontal passageway into a plurality of streams of air some of which flow substantialiy across said horizontal passageway while others flow upwardly through said flues and over food stored in said compartments, closure means for said other side of said horizontal passageway, means spaced inwardly from said closure means for directing air flowing across said horizontal passageway through said dividing member and into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed with air circulated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same to a temperature below freezing, and electric means disposed in thermal exchange relationship with the inner surface of theV upper portion of said cabinet side and end walls, with said uptake air passage deiiector cap and with said passageway closure means for warming the same.

13. In a refrigerated display case, an open top cabinet including a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a partitioning member spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom Wall and dividing the interior of the cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in vertically spaced relation to said partitioning member to form a passageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of open top food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicating with said passageway, said device being spaced from each of two opposed upright walls of said cabinet to provide air passages therearound communicating with said upper and said lower chambers, means within said lower chamber for cooling air in said cabinet, means for circulating the cooled air about said device and substantially across said passageway, means within said passageway c0- operating with the open bottom end of said flues, and said last named means including wings disposed at an angle relative to the flow of air across said passageway for scooping some of the air upwardly through said nues.

14. In an open-top refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and dividing the interior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wall of said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wall thereof, said device including a plurality of spaced apart vertical hollow ues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separate open-top food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication of said air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, transversely across said lower chamber and back to said upper chamber through said uptake air passage, means within said cabinet for cooling the air circulated therein, some of the air circulated transversely across said lower chamber toward said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway in a direction paralleling said iiues, and means within said passageway depending from and cooperating with the open bottom end of said hollow iiues for scooping a portion of the air entering the passageway upwardly through said flues.

l5. In a refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wall of said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wall thereof, said device including a plurality of spaced apart vertical hollow iiues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separate food storage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicatingZ with said horizontal passageway, said mem-v ber being spaced from said cabinet side Walls to permit communication with said air passages with said upper and said lower` chambers respectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, transversely across said lower charnber and back to said upper chamber through said uptake air passage, some of the air circulating toward said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway, the air flowing into said passageway being divided into a plurality of streams of air one of which ows transversely across said cabinet beneath said food compartments toward said return passage While others ow upwardly through said ues and are discharged into,

means for directing said one stream of air out of said horizontal passageway into said lower` chamber in the vicinity of said another cabinet side wall wherein it mixes with air circulated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return air passage, and refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowing thereover for cooling the same.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,255,947 Starr Sept. 16, 1941 2,574,242 Brill Nov. 6, 1951 2,631,438 Weber Mar. 17, 1953