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
  • F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
  • F25D19/02—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors plug-in type
• • 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
  • 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
  • F25D2317/0651—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 bottom
• • 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
  • F25D2317/0661—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 bottom
• • 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
  • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2323/002—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery
  • F25D2323/0026—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the incoming air flow
  • F25D2323/00264—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the incoming air flow through the front bottom part
• • 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
  • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2323/002—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery
  • F25D2323/0027—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the out-flowing air
  • F25D2323/00276—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the out-flowing air from the bottom

Definitions

• Refrigerated air may also enter the product display zone from the rear flow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display zone.
• the refrigerated air from the product display zone returns to the equipment compartment, entering thereto upstream of the evaporator refrigeration unit through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor.
• Each generally L-shaped member may be positioned in a first position for rotating the at least one cam section so as to raise the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress the compressible seal between the refrigeration unit cassette and the lower wall thereby establishing the sealing relationship.
• Each generally L-shaped member may be positioned in a second position for rotating the at least one cam section so as to lower the refrigeration unit cassette downwardly to release the refrigeration unit cassette from sealing relationship with the lower wall.
• a flat surface may be provided on the surface of the raised portion of the first elongated leg contacting the refrigeration unit cassette when in the locked position.
• Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation view taken along line 2-2 of
• Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the positioning apparatus of
• Figure 6A operatively associated with a refrigeration unit cassette
• Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the locking of the positioning apparatus of Figure 4.
• the beverage merchandiser 10 includes a cabinet 20 housing a refrigerated interior product display space 100 and a separate equipment compartment 55 disposed separate from, and may be heat transfer insulated from, the refrigerated interior product display space 100.
• the cabinet 20 has a top wall 22 and a surrounding side wall structure including a rear wall 34, a front wall 32, and opposed generally vertically extending side walls 36 and 38.
• the cabinet also includes a lower wall 24 disposed between the refrigerated interior product display space 100 located thereabove and the equipment compartment 55 located there beneath.
• the interior product display space 100 may be accessed from exteriorly of the cabinet 20 through an access opening, which in the depicted embodiment is an open area at the front of the cabinet.
• This open area may be open to the environment or may be covered, as in the depicted embodiment, by at least one door 40 mounted to the cabinet 20.
• the door 40 extends across the open area and has a transparent viewing area, for example a glass panel, through which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 can be viewed.
• the door 40 is selectively positionable between a closed position covering the open area and an open position in which consumers may access the interior product display space 100 to remove a product for purchase.
• the embodiment of the display merchandiser 10 depicted in the drawing has only one door 40, it is to be understood that the display merchandiser may have one, two, three or more doors that collectively cover the open area when in the closed position.
• the equipment compartment 55 is located within the cabinet 20 beneath the lower wall 24 and is separated by the lower wall 24 from the refrigerated interior product display space 100 of the cabinet 20.
• the lower wall 24 forms a common wall separating the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment and has an under surface that faces the refrigeration unit cassette 50 of the refrigeration unit 15 housed within the equipment compartment.
• the refrigeration unit 15 includes an evaporator 60 and at least one associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62, a condenser 70 and at least one associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and a compressor 74.
• the division wall 68 extends between the opposed side plates 56C from a forward region of the top plate 52 to the back plate 56B to separate the interior of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into the aforementioned first section 53 and second section 57.
• the condenser 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are mounted to the base plate 54 which forms the floor of the cassette refrigeration unit 50.
• the base plate 54 may be slidably mounted within the compartment 55 for selective disposition into and out of the compartment 55 in order to facilitate servicing of the refrigeration equipment mounted thereon.
• a condensate tray 76 may be provided to collect condensate dripping from the evaporator 60.
• the evaporator 60, the condenser 70 and the compressor 74 are coupled in a closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) in a conventional manner for refrigerating air from the interior product display space 100 via the well- known Camot cycle.
• the condenser fan/motor assembly 72 typically a single fan and motor, is operative, typically only when the compressor 74 is in operation, to draw air from outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10, such as for example from the ambient environment external thereof through the front grille 12 provided in the lower front wall 32 of the cabinet 20, through an opening 59 provided in the front plate 56A and through the condenser 70.
• the condenser 70 As the external air passes through the condenser 70 in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant being passed therethrough by the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air heated. Having traversed the condenser 70, the hot air is exhausted out of the compartment 55 to return to the external environment through exhaust channel 67 from beneath the first section 53 in the aft portion of second section 57 of the cassette 50. A portion of the air drawn through the cassette 50 passes over the compressor 74 to assist in cooling the compressor.
• the chilled refrigerant is circulated from the condenser 70 through the closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) to the evaporator 60.
• the evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 which may be a single fan and motor or a plurality of fans with associated motors, is operative to draw air into the first section 53 of the refrigeration unit 50, also referred to as the evaporator compartment, from the interior product display space 100 through the air return inlet opening 102 in the lower wall 24 and thence pass the air through the evaporator 60 to and through the refrigerated air supply duct 104 to return to the product display space 100.
• the air As the circulating air passes through the evaporator 60, the air is cooled as it passes in heat exchange relationship with the chilled refrigerant circulated through the evaporator 60 by the compressor 74 and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated.
• the evaporator fan 62 circulates refrigerated air having traversed the evaporator 60 from the evaporator compartment 53 back into the refrigerated interior product display space 100 through a return air outlet 108 located in the lower wall 24 aft of rear panel 134 and into refrigerated air supply duct 104.
• the refrigerated air passes through the product on the lower shelves to more evenly cool that product and to block the refrigerated air from funneling downwardly directly into the return air return inlet 102.
• the cover plate 120 also restricts the flow of spills or leaks from product in the product display space 100 from flowing directly into the evaporator compartment 53 and fouling the evaporator and/or evaporator fan assembly.
• a sealing system including a sealing member 58 positioned between the lower wall 24 and the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and a positioning apparatus 150 for placing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into sealing relationship with the common wall, which in the depicted embodiment is the lower wall 24 that separates the refrigerated interior product display space 100 from the equipment compartment 55.
• the sealing system prevents refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 from the product display space 100 from bypassing the evaporator 60 and instead flowing directly into the inlet 108 to the air supply duct 104 from the air return inlet 102.
• the sealing system also prevents ambient air from externally of the refrigeration unit cassette 50, such as the ambient air that has been drawn through the front grille 12 to pass through the condenser 70, from being drawn into the refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 through the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24.
• the positioning apparatus is a lifting apparatus 150 that is positionable in a first position for raising the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the lower wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette, and is positionable in a second position for lowering the refrigerated unit cassette from its sealing relationship with the lower wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette.
• the lifting mechanism may comprise a cam mechanism selectively positionable in a first position, as illustrated in Figure 4, for positioning the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the lower wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette, and is positionable in a second position, as illustrated in Figure 5, for releasing the refrigerated unit cassette from its sealing relationship with the lower wall to facilitate removal of the refrigeration unit cassette from the equipment compartment
• the lifting apparatus 150 is a pair of generally L-shaped members 152, one operatively associated with one side of the refrigeration unit cassette and the other operatively associated with the opposite side of the refrigeration unit cassette.
• Each generally L-shaped member has a first elongated leg 154 extending along its respective side of the refrigeration unit cassette and includes at least one cam 155 section therealong. The cam section 155 may comprise a raised portion of the first leg 154.
• Each generally L-shaped member 152 has a second leg 156 extending outwardly from an end of the first leg 154 in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to a first plane in which the first leg 154 and its raised cam section 155.
• the generally L-shaped members 152 may be formed from 3/8 inch diameter, zinc-plated carbon steel rod, but may also be formed of equivalent materials possessing adequate strength and corrosion resistant characteristics. [0042] When the refrigeration unit cassette 50 is installed within the equipment 55 and placed in its operational position, each of the generally L-shaped members 152 is positioned in a first position, as illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the cam sections 155 extend upwardly so as to raise the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress the compressible seal 58 between the top plate 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and the undersurface of the lower wall 24 thereby establishing the sealing relationship.
• the second leg 156 is generally horizontally disposed so as to extend inwardly toward the other member 152 and partially across the lower portion of the access opening to the equipment compartment 55 and in front of the refrigeration unit cassette 50.
• the respective second legs 156 of the paired generally L-shaped members 152 serve as barriers to removal of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 when positioned in sealing relationship with the lower wall 24.
• the second legs 152 in effect lock the refrigeration unit cassette 50 in its sealing position and prevent removal of the cassette 50 thereby protecting the sealing member 58 from possible damage.
• the cam sections 155 on the respective first legs 154 are canted slightly off the vertical in an inwardly direction, that is generally towards each other, whereby the weight of the refrigeration cassette 50 acting downwardly on the cam sections 155 acts to rotate the respective second legs 156 downwardly and lock the cassette 50 in the sealing position.
• a locking device such as for example a cotter pin 51 inserted through holes 153 in latch studs 157 and a corresponding hole in a distal portion of the second leg 156, as illustrated in Figure 9, may be provided to ensure the generally L-shaped members can not rotate out of position without direct action by a person accessing the unit.
• a flat surface may be provided on the surface of the raised cam section 155 contacting the refrigeration unit cassette when in the locked position.
• the first leg 154 of each member 152 is mounted to the base of the cabinet for pivotal movement, for example by means of a clamp bracket 159 or other suitable means.
• the service person may readily slide the refrigeration unit cassette 50, partially or fully, out of the equipment compartment 55.
• the front wall 32 carrying the grille 12 can not be re-installed until the refrigeration cassette 50 is inserted and lifted into its sealed position.
• the respective second legs 156 must first be rotated inwardly, thereby lifting the refrigeration cassette into its first, i.e. sealed, position. This ensures that the refrigerated merchandiser will not be inadvertently returned to operation with the refrigeration cassette 50 inserted but not positioned in sealing relationship with the refrigerated interior of the refrigerated merchandiser.
• the lifting apparatus 150 may be a pair of cam sets 162, one set operatively associated with one side of the refrigeration unit cassette and the other operatively associated with the opposite side of the refrigeration unit cassette.
• Each cam set 162 comprises a pair of cam members 165 disposed in spaced relationship and operatively interconnected by a linkage mechanism 164.
• the linkage member 164 may comprise a pivot mechanism 166 located centrally between the paired cam members 165 and connected to the forward cam member by a first link bar 163 and to the rearward cam member by a second link bar 167.
• each cam member 165 is pivoted into a first position with its distal end 161 extending generally vertically upwardly, thereby raising the refrigeration unit cassette 50 upwardly, as illustrated in Figure 7, so as to compress the compressible seal between the top plate 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and the lower wall 24 so as to establish the sealing relationship.
• a cam stop 155 may be provided to limit the pivotal movement of the cam member 165 beyond the vertical position.
• each cam member 165 is positioned in a second position with its distal end 161 extending generally horizontally outwardly. So positioned, the refrigeration unit cassette 50 will move downwardly thereby releasing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 from sealing relationship with the lower wall 24 as illustrated in Figure 8.
• the pivot mechanism 166 of the right and left cam sets 162 may be independently operable or may be cross-linked so as to rotate together. With the distal ends 161 of the cam members 165 fully disengaged from the under surface of the refrigeration unit cassette 50, the sealing member 58 is not compressed and the cassette 150 may be withdrawn, fully or partially, from the equipment compartment 55.
• a roller track or other translation facilitating means may be provided within the equipment compartment 55 beneath the refrigeration unit cassette 50 to ease removal of the cassette.
• the cam members 155, 165 are positioned to extend generally vertically upwardly to engage and lift the refrigeration unit cassette 50 upwardly off the roller track and compress the compressible sealing member 58 between the top plate 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and the undersurface of the lower wall 24 thereby establishing the sealing relationship.
• the sealing system of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings for purposes of illustration and to facilitate understanding of the invention.
• the positioning apparatus may be used to establish a sealing relationship in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with sealing members that are not compressible.
• various other embodiments of positioning apparatus may be employed to establish a sealing relationship between the cabinet and the refrigeration unit cassette by acting upon a sealing member disposed therebetween without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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• 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)
• Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
• Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=37024092

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (15)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (23)

• 2005
  • 2005-09-16 MX MXPA06013428A patent/MXPA06013428A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-09-16 CA CA002565522A patent/CA2565522A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-09-16 AU AU2005329415A patent/AU2005329415A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-09-16 EP EP05797883A patent/EP1859212A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-09-16 WO PCT/US2005/033079 patent/WO2006101513A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-09-16 BR BRPI0511249-4A patent/BRPI0511249A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-09-16 CN CNA200580015448XA patent/CN1977134A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-09-16 RU RU2007138612/12A patent/RU2007138612A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2006
  • 2006-02-21 US US11/358,814 patent/US20060207276A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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