WO2007095755A1 - Appareil pour soulever les contenus interieurs d'une unite de refrigeration ou equivalent - Google Patents

Appareil pour soulever les contenus interieurs d'une unite de refrigeration ou equivalent Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007095755A1
WO2007095755A1 PCT/CA2007/000292 CA2007000292W WO2007095755A1 WO 2007095755 A1 WO2007095755 A1 WO 2007095755A1 CA 2007000292 W CA2007000292 W CA 2007000292W WO 2007095755 A1 WO2007095755 A1 WO 2007095755A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
inner frame
drum
pulley
main body
refrigeration unit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2007/000292
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth Hugh Cameron Macnair
Original Assignee
Macnair Research Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Macnair Research Ltd. filed Critical Macnair Research Ltd.
Publication of WO2007095755A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007095755A1/fr

Links

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
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • F25D25/04—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by conveyors
    • 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
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/10—Refrigerator top-coolers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in household refrigeration units, and more particularly to household refrigerators and freezers of the top-opening type.
  • a major fault of conventional side-opening freezer and refrigerator units is that when one of these units is opened, cold air within the unit, being heavier than the warm air of the surrounding room, flows out through the lower portion of the unit's doorway and is replaced by warm air which flows into the unit through the upper portion of the doorway. This necessitates a re-cooling of most of the interior volume of the unit every time the unit's door is opened.
  • This fault is largely remedied by top- opening freezer and refrigerator units (top-opening units). When one of these units is opened, the cold air within the unit, being heavier than the air of the surrounding room, stays inside of the unit's compartment. The only increase in temperature is caused by the momentary contact between the air within the unit and the outside air. This increase is negligible when compared to the temperature increase caused by briefly opening a side- opening unit.
  • top-opening unit lies in the inaccessibility of goods stored in the bottom of the unit's well or compartment.
  • a top-opening unit When a top-opening unit is utilized to capacity, boxes and packages are piled on top of each other. To access an article at the bottom of a full unit, overlying articles must first be removed by hand, a distinctly uncomfortable and inconvenient exercise. Accessing an article at the bottom of a top-opening unit also
  • Prior art attempts to solve the accessibility problem have included the use of baskets which hang from the top of the freezer into the interior.
  • the baskets are removed to access the lower items.
  • the number of baskets is limited so that the baskets can be manually slid to one side or the other to access the area under the basket without actually removing the basket.
  • a problem with removing upper items or whole baskets of items to access lower items is that occasionally the item or basket is forgotten in a location outside the freezer where it was placed while accessing lower items. Such items can spoil quickly if the error is not discovered in a short time.
  • the present invention provides improved accessibility in an energy efficient top-opening refrigeration unit such as is used for freezing or cooling contents.
  • the present invention provides a storage insert for a top opening storage unit.
  • the insert comprises an outer frame shaped to fit within the top-opening unit, and an inner frame movably mounted to the outer frame for up and down movement relative to the outer frame.
  • At least one substantially horizontal shelf is mounted on the inner frame, and a lifting assembly is operatively connected between the inner and outer frames to selectively raise and lower the inner frame relative to the outer frame.
  • the present invention provides a top opening refrigeration unit comprising a main body having a substantially horizontally oriented open top, and a door pivotally attached along a top edge of the main body and movable from a closed position covering the open top, to a raised open position.
  • An inner frame is movably mounted inside the main body such that the inner frame can move relative to the main body from a lowered position inside the main body, to a raised position at least partially above the open top of the main body.
  • At least one substantially horizontal shelf is mounted on the inner frame, and a lifting assembly is operatively connected between the inner frame and the main body to selectively raise and lower the inner frame.
  • the present invention provides a method of providing access to an
  • the method comprises mounting at least one substantially horizontally oriented shelf within the interior of the storage unit and operatively connecting the at least one shelf to a selectively operable lifting mechanism for vertically raising and lowering the at least one shelf relative to the unit's interior.
  • the present invention thus provides a simple apparatus for mechanically lifting the interior contents of a top-opening unit, thus making the contents of the unit easily accessible.
  • the lifting apparatus can be configured to be easily installed in existing top- opening units, or integrated into a storage unit such as a freezer or the like during manufacture. It is contemplated that the lifting apparatus will allow efficient use of a significantly larger proportion of the available volume of the freezer interior compared to the prior art, and combined with drawer type shelves or rotating shelves the convenience and capacity can be increased still further.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the insert of the present invention and a top-opening unit where the insert may be installed;
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic cut-away perspective view of the threaded rod lift assembly used in the embodiment of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of an alternate embodiment of the insert of the present invention using a cable and pulley lift assembly and installed in a freezer;
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of the embodiment of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of a lifting mechanism provided by pneumatic cylinders powered by pressurized refrigerant fluid from a refrigeration unit.
  • an apparatus in the nature of a storage insert 100 comprises an inner frame 102 having walls 101 and shelves 103, and an outer frame 104 having walls 105 and a floor 106.
  • the walls 101, 105 and floor 106 provide the required structural integrity to the inner and outer frames 102, 104. Sufficient structural integrity could also be provided by a frame work of braces or the like, as will be recognized by persons skilled in the art.
  • the outer frame 104 is shaped to fit within the storage unit such as the illustrated top- opening freezer unit 200 with a hinged door 202 covering the open top of a storage compartment 204 inside the freezer. Similar refrigeration units are known that only cool
  • the inner frame 102 is movably mounted to the outer frame 104 for up and down movement relative to the outer frame 104.
  • the inner frame 102 is essentially a box that fits in a sliding relationship inside a slightly bigger box that is the outer frame 104. Stability for inner frame 102 when elevated is also provided by the sliding proximity of inner frame walls 101 to outer frame walls 105.
  • a plurality of horizontal shelves 103 are mounted on the inner frame 102.
  • insert 100 When inner frame 104 of insert 100 is in its lowest position, the insert fits inside storage compartment 204 and door 202 can be opened and closed without interference.
  • the insert 100 is shaped to fit beside the freezer's compressor housing 206 in the bottom of the compartment 204.
  • the illustrated shelves 103 can be simple flat surfaces or drawers could be provided instead to both increase the capacity by utilizing more of the available volume of the freezer interior, and further facilitate easy access to items on the rear portion of the shelves.
  • Horizontal shelf 103B is laterally slidable with respect to the inner frame 102, and includes side panels 119 forming a drawer that can slide in and out to provide improved access to the items at the rear of the shelf 103B, and also increase the capacity of the shelf 103B by ensuring that items placed on the shelf remain on the shelf.
  • a lifting assembly 110 is attached to the floor 106 of outer frame 104.
  • the lifting assembly 110 is operatively connected between the inner and outer frames 102, 104 to selectively raise and lower the inner frame 102 relative to the outer frame 104.
  • the lifting assembly 110 includes a motor 112, and a drive mechanism actuatable by the motor and configured such that when the motor 112 rotates in a first direction the inner frame 102 moves upward relative to the outer frame 104, and such that when the motor 112 rotates in an opposite second direction the inner frame 102 moves downward relative to the outer frame 104.
  • the motor 112 is operatively connected to a drive mechanism comprising a rotating screw actuator 114, which turns a threaded rod 116.
  • the threaded rod 116 extends substantially vertically into a threaded aperture defined in a substantially horizontal base support member 107 that is attached to the bottom shelf 103 A. Rotation of the rod 116 in one direction raises the inner frame 102 and rotation in the other direction lowers the inner frame 102.
  • motor 112 When a user activates motor 112 using for example an externally mounted switch, motor 112 rotates screw actuator 114 which rotates threaded rod 116. The rotating rod 116 causes the threaded base support 107 to move upward.
  • Inner frame 102 fixedly attached to lower shelf 103A and thus to threaded base support 107, moves in concert.
  • motor 112 is activated to rotate in the opposite direction, and thus rotate the rod 116 in the opposite direction until inner frame 102 is fully lowered into the freezer.
  • Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternate storage insert 300 comprising a network of pulleys 316 and cables 318 connected to the inner frame 302 and the outer frame 304.
  • a cable drum 314 is rotatably attached to a bottom portion of the outer frame 304 about a substantially vertical axis DA.
  • the cables 318 are connected to the drum 314 and the drum 314 is connected to be rotated by the motor 312 and the drive mechanism 310 to raise and lower the inner frame 304.
  • the outer frame 304 comprises four upright frame members 324 configured to be located in a central portion of the freezer 400, and the inner frame 302 extends out to the ends of the freezer 400 to just fit inside the freezer compartment.
  • the inner frame 302 extends out to the ends of the freezer 400 to just fit inside the freezer compartment.
  • the bottom of the inner frame 302 is configured to fit above the freezer's compressor housing 406 in the bottom of the compartment 404. While the inner frame 302 is illustrated without any shelves mounted thereon for clarity of illustration, those skilled in the art will recognize that
  • the storage insert 300 comprises upper and lower front right, upper and lower front left, upper and lower rear right, and upper and lower rear left pulleys 316 attached to the upper and lower ends of the upright frame members 324.
  • a front right cable 318A is wrapped on the drum 314 and passes from the drum 314 to the lower front right pulley 316LFR, then up to the upper front right pulley 316UFR, then down to the inner frame 302.
  • Cables 318B, 318C, and 318D are similarly wrapped on the cable drum 314 and pass through pulleys 316 on the other upright frame members 324 to the inner frame 302 such that the inner frame is supported in a horizontal position as illustrated.
  • the motor 312 rotates the drum 314 the cables wind onto the drum 314 to raise the inner frame 302, and when the motor 312 rotates in the opposite direction, the weight of the inner frame 302 draws the cables 318 off the drum 314 and the inner frame moves down.
  • the insert of the invention is adaptable to existing freezers and like storage units by properly configuring the insert to fit the unit desired.
  • the insert can also be incorporated during manufacture.
  • the lift assembly, pulleys, drive mechanism, and the like can be mounted directly as required on the main body of the freezer unit, instead of on an outer frame that would be inserted into the freezer compartment.
  • the lifting assembly can be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated.
  • Other lifting mechanisms could be used, for example meshing rack and pinion gears or pneumatic lift cylinders could be located at the corners of the freezer.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a lifting mechanism comprising a plurality of pneumatic cylinders 425.
  • One cylinder 425 is located at each corner of the freezer, and the cylinders 425 are actuated by pressurized refrigerant fluid from the freezer refrigeration system.
  • the refrigeration system includes a compressor 427 operative to draw refrigerant fluid from the low pressure side of the system LP, compress the fluid, and direct same into the high pressure side of the system HP.
  • Pressurized refrigerant fluid from the high pressure side HP is connected to a control valve 429, and through the valve 429 to the cylinders 425 which are slaved so as to move up and down together to raise and lower the inner frame and shelves.
  • the return line from the last slaved cylinder 425 is connected to the control valve 429 and through same to the low pressure side of the system LP.
  • Reservoirs 431 are added to both the high pressure side HP and low pressure side LP of the system to provide sufficient capacity to operate the system satisfactorily using a conventional freezer compressor.
  • the pressurized refrigerant system of the freezer or like refrigeration unit could also similarly be connected to power a motor in a lifting mechanism.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un insert de stockage pour une unité de stockage s'ouvrant par le haut, telle qu'un congélateur, comprenant un cadre externe formé pour s'adapter dans l'unité s'ouvrant par le haut, et un cadre interne monté mobile par rapport au cadre externe selon un mouvement vers le haut ou vers le bas par rapport au cadre externe. Des étagères horizontales sont montées sur le cadre interne, et un ensemble de levage est fonctionnellement disposé entre les cadres interne et externe pour monter et descendre à la demande le cadre interne par rapport au cadre externe.
PCT/CA2007/000292 2006-02-27 2007-02-26 Appareil pour soulever les contenus interieurs d'une unite de refrigeration ou equivalent WO2007095755A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2,537,723 2006-02-27
CA002537723A CA2537723A1 (fr) 2006-02-27 2006-02-27 Appareil d'elevation de contenus interieurs d'un congelateur
CA2,568,704 2006-11-23
CA002568704A CA2568704A1 (fr) 2006-02-27 2006-11-23 Appareil d'elevation des contenus interieurs d'une unite de refrigeration

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007095755A1 true WO2007095755A1 (fr) 2007-08-30

Family

ID=38442745

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2007/000292 WO2007095755A1 (fr) 2006-02-27 2007-02-26 Appareil pour soulever les contenus interieurs d'une unite de refrigeration ou equivalent

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20070199334A1 (fr)
CA (2) CA2537723A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007095755A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014082836A1 (fr) * 2012-11-29 2014-06-05 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Appareil domestique dans lequel la quantité de charge de l'étagère est mesurée
CN104364593A (zh) * 2012-03-23 2015-02-18 B/E航空公司 用于飞机乘客套间的动态降温迷你吧台
CN109237838A (zh) * 2018-08-27 2019-01-18 安徽省皖美食品有限公司 一种抗冻裂速冻食品生产设备
IT201800000707A1 (it) * 2018-01-11 2019-07-11 Fly Kit S R L "struttura di contenimento per prodotti gelati in banchi frigo"

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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DE102008046396B4 (de) * 2008-09-09 2011-11-10 Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Kühlen von Gewebeproben enthaltenden Kassettenmagazinen
US20150130343A1 (en) * 2013-11-14 2015-05-14 David Earl Morris Cooling appliance with interior lift
US9534834B1 (en) * 2014-04-24 2017-01-03 Leighton Klassen Elevating shelf system
EP3276264A1 (fr) * 2016-07-29 2018-01-31 Apparatebau Gronbach Srl Dispositif de déplacement d'un appareil de cuisine et appareil de cuisine comprenant un tel dispositif de déplacement
CN111137808B (zh) * 2018-11-02 2024-07-26 杭州海康机器人股份有限公司 搬运小车
KR20210007639A (ko) * 2019-07-12 2021-01-20 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
CN112240664B (zh) * 2019-07-16 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112240667B (zh) * 2019-07-16 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112240663B (zh) * 2019-07-16 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112240662B (zh) * 2019-07-16 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112240666B (zh) * 2019-07-16 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112240665B (zh) * 2019-07-16 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112432416B (zh) * 2019-08-26 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN112444042B (zh) * 2019-08-30 2024-09-24 海信冰箱有限公司 一种具有升降层架的冰箱
CN110657620A (zh) * 2019-10-09 2020-01-07 裕克施乐塑料制品（太仓）有限公司 一种空间节约型可隐藏式隔板自动升降装置
CN112283973A (zh) * 2020-10-16 2021-01-29 广东唯实生物技术有限公司 热控装置及免疫诊断系统
CN113639503B (zh) * 2021-09-03 2022-09-09 江西省科星生物工程有限公司 一种用于皮肤保存且便于取放的冷冻柜
CN113995240A (zh) * 2021-10-15 2022-02-01 武汉万纳信息技术有限公司 一种智能化档案整理存储一体机
CN114459198A (zh) * 2022-01-27 2022-05-10 澳柯玛股份有限公司 一种可调式物品放置架以及冷柜

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3650591A (en) * 1970-04-08 1972-03-21 Ernest B Longmire Sr Elevator shelf unit
US5273352A (en) * 1992-11-06 1993-12-28 Barry Saper Load-distributing platform transport apparatus
CA2153364A1 (fr) * 1992-07-09 1997-01-07 Michael J. Ii Geiss Armoire d'entreposage mobile, polyvalente, a etageres reglables dans les plans horizontal et vertical
WO2004075684A2 (fr) * 2003-02-25 2004-09-10 Wieslaw Bober Casier secondaire modulaire pour meuble a element mobile

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3650591A (en) * 1970-04-08 1972-03-21 Ernest B Longmire Sr Elevator shelf unit
CA2153364A1 (fr) * 1992-07-09 1997-01-07 Michael J. Ii Geiss Armoire d'entreposage mobile, polyvalente, a etageres reglables dans les plans horizontal et vertical
US5273352A (en) * 1992-11-06 1993-12-28 Barry Saper Load-distributing platform transport apparatus
WO2004075684A2 (fr) * 2003-02-25 2004-09-10 Wieslaw Bober Casier secondaire modulaire pour meuble a element mobile

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104364593A (zh) * 2012-03-23 2015-02-18 B/E航空公司 用于飞机乘客套间的动态降温迷你吧台
WO2014082836A1 (fr) * 2012-11-29 2014-06-05 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Appareil domestique dans lequel la quantité de charge de l'étagère est mesurée
IT201800000707A1 (it) * 2018-01-11 2019-07-11 Fly Kit S R L "struttura di contenimento per prodotti gelati in banchi frigo"
CN109237838A (zh) * 2018-08-27 2019-01-18 安徽省皖美食品有限公司 一种抗冻裂速冻食品生产设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2568704A1 (fr) 2007-08-27
CA2537723A1 (fr) 2007-08-27
US20070199334A1 (en) 2007-08-30

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