WO2008079137A1

WO2008079137A1 - Refrigerated case

Info

Publication number: WO2008079137A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/049365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luis F. Avila; Mary D. Saroka; Eugene D. Daddis, Jr.
Original assignee: Carrier Corporation
Priority date: 2006-12-27
Filing date: 2006-12-27
Publication date: 2008-07-03

Abstract

A refrigerated case has a body defining a refrigerated compartment. A refrigeration module may be mounted in a module compartment below the refrigerated compartment. A track and follower may guide insertion and removal of the module. The track may be on a first of the module and body, while the follower may be on the other. The track and follower provide a simultaneous rearward and upward movement of the module during at least a portion of the insertion.

Description

REFRIGERATED CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to refrigerated cases. More particularly, the invention relates to such cases having refrigeration modules. [0002] In several configurations of refrigerated case (including freezers), the refrigeration equipment is located in a self-contained module which may be installed to and removed from the case as a unit. An exemplary module includes the compressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator, and associated fans. The module is typically installed in a base of the case below the refrigerated compartment. The module is typically installed to the base via rearward insertion through a front of the base. The insertion may be followed by a short lifting of the module to mate portions of the module forming the recirculating air flowpath with mating portions of the remaining structure of the case (e.g., and compressing a gasket/seal therebetween).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] Accordingly, one aspect of the invention involves a refrigerated case having a refrigerated compartment. A refrigeration module may be mounted in a module compartment below the refrigerated compartment. A track and follower may guide insertion and removal of the module. The track may be on a first of the module and body, while the follower may be on the other. The track and follower provide a simultaneous rearward and upward movement of the module during at least a portion of the insertion.

[0004] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a refrigerated case.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal (front-to-back) vertical sectional view of the case of FIG.

1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view of the case of FIG. 1 with door and grille removed.

[0008] FIG.4 is a partial partially exploded partial view of the case of FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 5 is a partial partially schematic longitudinal sectional view of the case of FIG. 1 with refrigeration module fully installed.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a view of the case of FIG. 5 with the module partially removed. [0011] FIG.7 is a view of the case of FIG. 5 with the module further removed. [0012] FIG. 8 is a view of the case of FIG. 5 with the module further removed. [0013] FIG. 9 is a partial partially exploded view of an alternate case.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a partial partially exploded view of a second alternate case.

[0015] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerated case 20 having a housing (body) 22 surrounding a refrigerated interior compartment 24. The exemplary housing 22 includes a door 26 positioned to close and open across a front opening 28. The exemplary body 22 has a left sidewall 30, a right sidewall 32, a back 34, and a top 36. For non-limiting reference, left and right are viewed from the perspective of the case rather than a user facing the case. A lower portion of the body 22 forms a base 40 including an exemplary platform 42. A base compartment or bay 44 is separated from the compartment 24 by a compartment bottom wall 46. A front of the compartment 44 may be closed by a removable grille 48. An overall case depth D is shown in FIG. 2. An overall case body height Hi, an overall case height H₂, and an overall case width W are shown in FIG. 3.

[0017] In the exemplary case 22, a recirculating airflow is directed from/to the compartment 24 by a refrigeration equipment module 50 (e.g., containing the compressor, heat exchangers, expansion device, fans, and the like). The module 50 (discussed in further detail below) has an installed position within the compartment 44. The module 50 is removable from the compartment 44 as a unit (e.g., after removing the grille 48, if present), advantageously without the use of tools or with only slight tool use. The exemplary cartridge 50 has a front 51 , a back 52, a top 53, a bottom 54, a left side 55, and a right side 56. [0018] FIG. 2 shows further details of the exemplary case 20 and cartridge 50. The exemplary module 50 contains the compressor 60, the heat rejection heat exchanger (e.g., condenser and/or gas cooler) 62, the expansion device 64, and the heat absorption heat exchanger (evaporator) 66 sequentially along a recirculating refrigerant flowpath (e.g., further defined by appropriate refrigerant lines/conduits). A recirculating airflow 510 passes along a recirculating flowpath (the cold air flowpath) 512 through the module 50 and compartment 24 to cool the compartment. The exemplary flow 510 passes from the compartment 24 into the module 50 through a first port 70 in the wall 46 and returns to the compartment 24 via a second port 72 in the wall 46. The exemplary flow 510 is driven by an electric fan 74 in the flowpath 512 in the module 50. [0019] An airflow 514 passes along a flowpath (the warm air flowpath) 516 which extends through the heat rejection heat exchanger 62. The exemplary path 516 is an open path entering through the grille 48, then entering the front 51 of the module 50 and passing through the heat rejection heat exchanger 62 before exiting the rear 52 of the module and rear of the case. An electric fan 76 may be in the warm air flowpath 516 in the module 50 to drive the airflow 514. A wall 80 may separate the flowpaths 512 and 516 within the module. As so far described, the case may be representative of a portion of the possible cases to which the present disclosure may be applied (e.g., to reengineer or further engineer a baseline case configuration).

[0020] The exemplary platform 42 (FIG. 1) includes a transverse front base rail 90 and a transverse rear base rail 92. Left and right longitudinal rails 93 and 94 join the base rails. The exemplary base rails have downwardly-open C cross-sections for strength. The exemplary rails 93 and 94 have L-shaped cross-sections with one web or flange resting on the upper surfaces of the base rails and the other extending upward from a laterally inboard junction. An exemplary four support feet 95 are mounted to the base rails adjacent the left and right ends of the base rails to support the case atop a floor or ground surface 96. The feet may be adjustable for leveling.

[0021] For lifting the module into the installed position, the exemplary case 20 includes left and right track and follower systems 120 and 122 coupling the module 50 to the body 22. In the exemplary configuration, the system 120 couples the left side 55 of the module to the interior surface 124 of the left sidewall 30. The system 122 couples the right side 56 of the module to the interior surface 126 of the right sidewall 32. The exemplary systems 120 and 122 each include one or more tracks 130 and rollers/wheels 132. In the FIG.3 example, the tracks are mounted to the adjacent side walls and the rollers 132 are mounted to the module 50. FIG.4 shows each exemplary system 120 and 122 as including a single track 130 and a pair of rollers 132: a forward roller being forward of an aft roller. FIG. 4 also shows the ports 70 and 72 as apertures in the compartment bottom wall (dividing wall) 46. The module 50 has corresponding ports 140 and 142. One or more gaskets 144 and 146 may be positioned to seal/isolate the module ports 140 and 142 to their respective associated ports 70 and 72 in the dividing wall 46. [0022] FIG. 5 shows the module 50 in a fully installed condition. The gaskets 144 and 146 are compressed between the top 53 of the module and the underside 150 of the dividing wall 46. A locking mechanism, detent mechanism, or the like (not shown) may be provided to hold the module in the fully installed condition and prevent or resist its extraction. With the locking mechanism (if any) released, the module may be extracted. Exemplary extraction is by a net combined forward and downward movement. The movement may be referenced relative to an appropriate center 152 (e.g., a geometric center, center of gravity, or the like). The exemplary extraction involves pulling the module forward so that the rollers 132 roll along a lower flange 154 of their associated track 130. The exemplary track flanges 154 each have an aft portion 160 and a forward portion 162 lower than the aft portion. A transition portion 164 is between the forward and aft portions. At some point in the extraction, one or both rollers descend. In the FK-K 3 example, the forward and aft portions 162 and 160 are generally level so that the forward roller will descend prior to the aft roller. The descent of the forward roller (FIG. 6) causes a front-down pitching rotation of the module (i.e., about a transverse axis). This motion may lower the front 51 of the module and raise the rear 52. A forward portion of the module upper surface 53 will also descend while an aft portion ascends.

[0023] The ascending/raising of the aft portion may further locally compress one or both of the gaskets 144 and 146 beyond their normal compressed FIG. 5 condition. FIG. 6 shows such a local over-compression of a portion 170 of the gasket 146. Behind the portion 170, a remaining portion 172, however, may expand beyond its compressed condition (e.g., toward or to its relaxed condition). Similarly, the descending/lowering of the associated portion of the module upper surface may cause an at least partial local relaxation (e.g., shown for a region 174 of the gasket 144). Further extraction/withdrawal (FIG. 7) may fully disengage the module from the gaskets and further partially protrude the module from the compartment 44. Optionally, extension sides/tracks (e.g., telescoping slides) 180 maybe provided to extend and allow the rollers to roll along the slide 180 for further partial or complete protrusion of the module 50 from the compartment 44. [0024] FIG. 9 shows a case 20' having a reversal of rollers and tracks: the rollers being mounted to the side walls and the tracks being mounted to the module.

[0025] FIG. 10 shows a system 20" wherein the tracks are more integrally formed in the sidewall (e.g., recessed below the sidewall interior surfaces). Telescoping extensions 180 are also shown. [0026] Among various modifications to the basic illustrated systems, the gasket(s) may be mounted to the module instead of the wall underside. More complex track profiles may be provided. The tracks or rollers may be mounted other than to the sidewalls. For example, in a particularly wide unit, the sidewalls may be relatively far from the module. Accordingly, a structure defining a module-receiving bay may be provided below the dividing wall and the tracks or followers may be mounted to that structure. Multiple tracks may be provided at each side (e.g., where one roller engages one track and another roller engages another track) to provide greater complexity of the path of the module during insertion and extraction. [0027] An insertion/installation may be via a reverse of the extraction/removal process: with the temporary local over-compression (e.g., of FIG. 6) being followed by a partial released/relaxation in the fully installed condition. [0028] One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the principles may be applied in the retrofit of an existing case or the reengineering of an existing case configuration. In an exemplary retrofit or reengineering situation, details of the baseline may influence details of any particular implementation. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerated case (20) comprising: a body (22); a refrigerated compartment (24) within the body; a base compartment (44) below the refrigerated compartment; and a refrigeration module (50) within the base compartment, wherein: one of the body and module has a track ( 130); the other of the body and the module has a follower (132) positioned to engage the track during an insertion and extraction of the module from the body; and the track is shaped to guide the follower to raise the module during at least a portion of the insertion.

2. The case of claim 1 wherein: the follower (132) comprises a pair of rollers.

3. The case of claim 1 wherein: there are first and second said tracks and first and second said followers; and the first and second followers each comprise a pair of rollers.

4. The case of claim 3 wherein: the first and second tracks are on the body; and the first and second followers are on the module.

5. The case of claim 1 wherein: the body includes a gasket (144; 146); and the track is shaped so that the insertion raises the module so that the gasket is compressed during the insertion.

6. The case of claim 5 wherein: the track is shaped so that the gasket compression is at least partially relieved during a portion of the insertion.

7. The case of claim 1 wherein: the module includes: a compressor (60); a heat rejection heat exchanger (62); an expansion device (64); and a heat absorption heat exchanger (66); a recirculating first air flowpath (512) extends between the refrigerated compartment and the heat absorption heat exchanger; and a second air flowpath (516) extends through the heat rejection heat exchanger;

8. The case of claim 7 wherein: the module further includes a first fan (74) along the first air flowpath and a second fan (76) along the second air flowpath.

9. The case of claim 1 wherein the module is formed as a generally right parallelepiped.

10. A method for operating a refrigerated case comprising: installing a refrigeration module into a lower compartment of a body of the case below a refrigeration compartment, the installing comprising: a generally rearward insertion including simultaneous rearward and upward movement.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein: the insertion comprises rolling rollers of a first of the module and body along tracks of a second of the module and the body.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein: the insertion compresses and then only partially releases compression of a gasket.

13. A method for retrofitting a refrigerated case or reengineering a configuration of the case comprising: adding a track and follower mechanism to couple a refrigeration module to a body of the case, the tracks shaped to guide insertion and retraction of the module with a simultaneous rearward and upward movement along at least a portion of the insertion.