Classifications

• • 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
  • F25D23/00—General constructional features
  • F25D23/08—Parts formed wholly or mainly of plastics materials
  • F25D23/082—Strips
  • F25D23/087—Sealing strips
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
  • A47F3/0404—Cases or cabinets of the closed type
  • A47F3/0408—Cases or cabinets of the closed type with forced air circulation
• • 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
  • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• • 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
  • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
  • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
  • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
  • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
• • 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
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
  • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• • 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
  • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
  • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
• • 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
  • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
  • F25D2317/065—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air return
  • F25D2317/0655—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air return through the top
• • 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
  • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
  • F25D2317/066—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air supply
  • F25D2317/0665—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air supply from the top
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Definitions

• This invention relates to controlled environment containers, and in particular to a vertical modular container system for storing items in a controlled environment.
• Prior art freezers or chill.cabinets are well known for storing frozen products, such as ice cream, or simply fresh products which deteriorate in warm weather. Such fresh products may include confectionery, which can melt if overheated.
• Known prior art freezers and chill cabinets tend always to have openings, possibly closed with doors, on top. This is to prevent the cold air within the container from "falling out” of the container each time the door is opened. In this way, energy can be conserved because cold air does not need to be replaced every time an item is removed from the container.
• the present invention aims to improve upon these prior art containers.
• the present invention provides a controlled environment container comprising a base unit, a top unit and a modular storage unit disposed vertically between the base unit and the top unit, wherein the base unit or the top unit or both includes a temperature control device for controlling the internal air temperature in the modular storage unit via an air flow path through the modular storage unit and wherein access is obtained to items stored in the container via an aperture in a side of the modular storage unit.
• a container according to the present invention can be readily expanded simply by adding modular storage units between the base and the top unit. Accordingly, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of modular storage units are stacked vertically between the base unit and the top unit. Preferably the air flow path passes from the top unit through the or each modular storage unit into the base unit and back to the top unit via a return passage at the rear of each modular storage unit.
• a temperature control device is preferably situated solely in the top unit. If this is the case, cold air produced by the temperature control device may simply fall under gravity through the or each modular storage unit. Alternatively, the cold air may be driven through the air flow passage and return through the module storage units.
• the temperature control device may be a thermo-electric cooling engine, a set of eutectic plates or cold packs, a modular chiller, freezer, warmer or heater. Any other appropriate temperature control device could equally well be used.
• a surface seal is preferably provided between each unit of the container to isolate the air flow path from external air outside the container.
• Each unit is preferably shaped to receive an adjacent unit in a locking formation, full locking of adjacent units being effected by one or more fastenings at the rear of the container.
• a bracket may be provided at the rear of the container to enable the container to be mounted on a wall or other vertical support.
• the base unit may be filled with ballast or otherwise secured to increase the stability of the container when erected on a horizontal surface.
• the present invention also provides a controlled environment container comprising a pivoted drum for receiving items to be stored and a temperature control device for controlling the ambient air temperature in the drum via an air flow path through the drum, access to items stored in the drum being obtained via an aperture in a side of the container, wherein the pivoted drum can rotate between a first position closing the aperture and opening the air flow path through the drum and a second position opening the aperture and closing the air flow path through the drum.
• the air flow path preferably passes through the drum when the aperture is closed and is re-directed via a by ⁇ pass channel when the aperture is open.
• the drum preferably includes an obstruction which closes the by-pass channel when the drum is in its first position and the aperture is closed. Furthermore, the obstruction preferably abuts against an upper seal when the drum is in its second position to prevent ambient air in the remainder of the container from escaping out of the open aperture.
• the drum also preferably abuts against the upper seal when closed, thereby preventing external air from entering the container.
• a lower seal is preferably provided for abutment by the drum to prevent internal air escaping from the container below the drum.
• Side seals are also preferably provided in the modular storage unit for abutment by flanges of the drum in both its first position and its second position to prevent the release of ambient air from within the container and the introduction of external air from outside the container.
• the drum may include a removable product storage support for receiving items to be stored. By including the product storage support, which may remain stationary when in the modular storage unit, the items being stored are not rotated every time the drum is rotated. The drum will preferably rotate automatically when released to close the aperture.
• a container according to the present invention will be used as a cooler for confectionery
• the container could be used for storing any other goods or could be used as a freezer to keep frozen goods.
• the container could be used as a heater to keep items, such as pies and the like, hot during display.
• the use of the container will simply be dictated by the type of temperature control device incorporated in the container.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular cooler according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a perspective rear view of a modular storage unit of the type shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a sectional side view of a cooler as shown in Figure 1, except that two modular storage units are included;
• Figure 4 is a cut away side view of a single modular storage unit as shown in Figure 2 essentially showing a side view of the drum.
• a container having a single modular storage unit 1 (cf. Figure l) or two modular storage units 1 (cf. Figure 3) are shown.
• Each container has a base unit 3 and a top unit 5 stacked vertically in modular fashion with the storage unit(s) l positioned therebetween.
• the base unit 3 may be filled with some form of ballast, or otherwise secured to provide stability to the container.
• Adjacent units of the container inter-engage by means of locking formations 7a, 7b formed at the front corners of each unit and simple clips 9 acting between adjacent units at the rear of the units (cf. Figure 2) .
• Surface seals are provided between the units to prevent the ingress of external air into the container.
• thermo-electric cooling engine (not shown) is accommodated in the top unit 5 and is powered by an electrical supply (not shown) . Any other suitable cooling system could equally well be used. Furthermore, since the type of thermo-electric cooling engine does not form a part of the present invention, it will not be described in any detail other than to say that it provides a supply of cool air which is either pumped or falls under gravity through the modular storage units 1 to the base unit 3 and recirculates via a return passage li back to the top unit 5. When the air returns to the top unit 5, it is slightly warmer and is either expelled from the device through rear vents or recirculated via the cooling engine back around the system.
• Each modular storage unit 1 includes a wire basket 13 for receiving confectionery to be chilled.
• the wire basket 13 remains essentially stationery when positioned in the storage unit l.
• a partially cut away drum 15 surrounds the basket 13 and is able to pivot about an axis 17.
• the drum 15 includes a plurality of apertures 19 on its lower side through which air may pass.
• a window 21, which closes an aperture 22, is integral with the drum 15 and rotates around the pivot axis 17 when the drum 15 rotates.
• cool air when cool air is released from the top unit 5, it falls into the drum 15 through an upper opening 23 in the storage unit 1.
• the cool air therefore also falls into the basket 13 and cools the confectionery 25 stored therein.
• the air is then free to fall out of the basket 13 through the apertures 19 and on into an adjacent unit l.
• the aperture 22 is opened by rotating the drum 15 about pivot axis 17 by means of a handle 41.
• a protruberance 43 between the window 21 and the drum 15 abuts the lower seal 35 and the obstruction 29 of the drum 15 abuts the upper seal 27.
• the cool air leaving the upper storage unit 1 cannot enter the drum 15 of the lower storage unit 1 because the obstruction 29 directs the cool air into the by-pass channel 31.
• each side wall 45 of the drums 15 includes an outwardly extending flange 47 which abuts a side seal 49 to prevent loss of cool air from the storage units l along this edge.
• the drum 15 likewise abuts the side seal 49 to seal the storage device 1.
• a different portion of the flange 47 abuts the side seal 49 and a different portion of the drum 15 also abuts the side seal 49, but once again a reliable seal is provided to prevent the ingress of warm air from outside the storage unit 1.
• a concentric seal 51 is provided to close the small remaining gap between the side seal 49 and the drum 15 in either position.
• Other seal arrangements can, of course, alternatively be envisaged or used.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
• Cooling Or The Like Of Electrical Apparatus (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10743715

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1993
  • 1993-10-18 GB GB9321439A patent/GB2282875A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1994
  • 1994-02-18 TW TW083101342A patent/TW253936B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-10-17 WO PCT/GB1994/002266 patent/WO1995010964A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-10-17 ES ES94929611T patent/ES2110261T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-10-17 BR BR9407847A patent/BR9407847A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-10-17 EP EP94929611A patent/EP0724704B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-10-17 DE DE69407308T patent/DE69407308T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-10-17 AU AU78606/94A patent/AU677442B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1994-10-17 JP JP7511501A patent/JP2799521B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-10-17 CN CN94193828A patent/CN1133632A/zh active Pending

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