WO2009070155A1

WO2009070155A1 - Refrigerated shelf

Info

Publication number: WO2009070155A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/085577
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari; Trevor E. Bailey
Original assignee: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc.
Priority date: 2007-11-27
Filing date: 2007-11-27
Publication date: 2009-06-04

Abstract

A cooled shelf unit has a shelf surface for supporting product. An air flow path passes openly above the shelf surface. A duct is along the air flow path. The duct has an inlet, a portion passing rearward from the inlet and below the shelf surface, and an outlet. A fan is along the duct and is positioned for driving an airflow along the flow path. A cooling unit is along the duct and is positioned for cooling the air flowing along the flow path through the duct.

Description

REFRIGERATED SHELF BACKGROUND

[0001] The disclosure relates to commercial refrigeration. More particularly, the disclosure relates to chilled shelf units for retail display. [0002] In food service and retailing industries, there is a broad need for refrigeration. A wide variety of refrigerated display cases are known. These include both closed cases and open cases. Additionally, chilled plates are known for cooling product thereon.

SUMMARY

[0003] One aspect of the disclosure involves a cooled shelf unit having a shelf surface for supporting product. An air flowpath passes openly above the shelf surface. A duct is along the air flowpath. The duct has an inlet, a portion passing rearward from the inlet and below the shelf surface, and an outlet. A fan is along the duct and is positioned for driving an airflow along the flowpath. A cooling unit is along the duct and is positioned for cooling the air flowing along the flowpath through the duct. [0004] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a view of a refrigerated shelf unit. [0006] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the shelf unit of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative shelf unit.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a view of a shelving unit including the refrigerated shelf unit.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a front view of a cooled shelf of the unit of FIG. 4.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a refrigerated case including a refrigerated shelf unit providing supplemental local cooling.

[0011] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a shelf unit 20 extending from a first end 22 (e.g., left from the point of view of a person facing the shelf unit) to a second end 24. The shelf unit 20 has a front 26 and a back 28. The shelf unit 22 has a bottom 30. The exemplary bottom 30 is a bottom of a base portion 32 of the shelf unit 20. In addition to the base portion 32, the shelf unit has a rear wall portion 34 extending upward from a junction 36 at a rear end of the base portion. A shelf surface 40 for supporting product is formed along a top of the base portion. [0013] The exemplary base portion and rear wall portion define a duct having corresponding portions 44 and 46 (FIG. 2). The duct locally bounds an air flowpath 520 along which an airflow 522 passes. Along the air flowpath 520 the duct has an exemplary inlet 50 along the top of the base near the front thereof. An exemplary outlet 52 is along a front of the rear wall near the top thereof. Along the duct, the exemplary shelf unit 22 includes a fan 56 positioned to drive the airflow and a cooling unit 58 positioned to cool the airflow. The cooled airflow 524 exits the outlet 52 and flows over the product 60 on the shelf surface. An outlet vane array 62 may extend across the outlet to direct the discharge airflow 524. A return/inlet airflow enters the inlet and may comprise a combination of a portion of the discharge/outlet airflow and room/ambient air.

[0014] An exemplary cooling unit 58 is a thermoelectric unit (i.e., Peltier effect). The cooling unit has a cooled/heat absorbing section 70 along a portion of the flowpath 520 within the duct. The cooling unit has a heated/heat rejecting portion 72 remote of the flowpath 520. The exemplary heat absorbing portion 70 is along the duct portion 46 within the rear wall 34. The exemplary heat rejecting portion 72 is therebehind. The heat rejecting portion 72 may be along a second air flowpath 530 along which an airflow 532 may be passive or, alternatively, may be forced. An exemplary forced airflow may be forced by a second fan 80 through a duct 82.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an alternative shelf unit 100 lacking a rear wall/duct portion. The duct 102 extends front-to-back along the base 104 from an inlet 106 to an outlet 108 along the top of the base near the rear end. Relative to the shelf unit 20, the cooling unit 58 of the shelf unit 100 is shifted from the rear wall to the base. The air flowpath is shown as 540 and airflow 542 is shown extending along the flowpath 530 through the duct 102. To direct the exit/outlet/discharge airflow 544 from the outlet 108, an appropriately forwardly angled vane array 110 is provided across the outlet 108.

[0016] By placing the cooled section 70 directly below the product 60 on the shelf surface 42, direct conductive cooling from the cooled section 70 to the product may assist the air cooling associated with the airflow 534 passing over/around the product. In this situation, the surface 40 may be of a relatively thermally conductive shelf member 120 (at least along a portion between the cooling section 70 and the product). Another alternative is to forwardly shift the thermoelectric cooling unit to place the cooled section proximate the inlet (50 or 106). By doing this, the cooled airflow downstream of the cooling unit 70 within the base duct portion (44 or 102) may cool the product via conduction.

[0017] Among various advantages of this system is flexibility and reduced energy consumption relative to a larger refrigerated display cabinet. Compared with a conduction-only system (e.g., a chilled plate) the airflow conductive cooling may increase overall cooling effectiveness and reduce sensitivity to product/packaging shape and material. It may also reduce condensation on the product and shelf surfaces.

[0018] The shelf units may be used in any of a number of situations. It may be placed on a countertop. The exemplary countertop is a top of a refrigerated service case in a retail environment to permit customer access to the product. Another situation is on a shelf of a shelving unit (e.g., a gondola-type shelving unit). FIG. 4 shows a gondola-type shelving unit 200 having a first vertical array 202 of shelves at a first side of a vertical wall 204. The unit 200 has a second vertical array 206 of shelves on the second side of the wall 204. In the exemplary embodiment, several of the shelves of each of the arrays 202 and 204 are conventional non-refrigerated shelves 208 (e.g., having a shelf surface 210 and a plurality of brackets 212 having mounting fingers 214 interfitting with slots in vertical arrays of shelf-mounting slots). At least one of the arrays 202 and 206 has at least one cooled shelf unit such as 20 and 100, above. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary implementation with the unit 20 atop the array 202. The unit 20 may be placed directly atop one of the conventional shelves 208. Alternatively, the unit 20 may be provided with brackets 220 similar to the brackets 212. This arrangement reduces height associated with the thickness of the shelf of the unit 208. FIG. 5 shows such brackets.

[0019] Another situation is to provide supplemental cooling within an existing refrigerated case. For example, in a small volume retail situation, it may be desirable to use a single refrigerated case to display/dispense foods requiring different temperatures. One or more cooled shelf units such as 20 or 100 may be used to provide a frozen food zone within a refrigerated service case containing other non- frozen food. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary case 300 having a vertical array 302 of shelves. The shelves include conventional shelves 304. The exemplary case includes a base 306 containing components of a primary refrigeration system (e.g., a vapor compression system). The exemplary primary refrigeration system includes a heat absorption heat exchanger (e.g., evaporator 310) along an air flowpath 312. A compressor (not shown), heat rejection heat exchanger (e.g., condenser- not shown), and expansion device, may be local (e.g., in the case) or remote (e.g., central to plural cases). [0020] The exemplary case 300 is an open- front case wherein the flowpath 312 extends from an inlet 314 and a front of the base, along a rearward leg 315 through the base. Along the rearward leg, the main case air flow 308 passes through and is driven by a fan 316 and passes through the heat absorption heat exchanger 310. The flow 308 then passes upward along a rear duct 320. The flow then passes forward along a top duct 322 and exits an outlet 324. With the exemplary open front case 300, the net flow returns to the inlet 314 subject to communication and mixing with environmental air. There may be various diversions from the duct. For example, apertures in the front wall 330 of the rear duct 320 or the lower wall 332 of the top duct 322 may present cooled air more directly to the products on the shelves prior to returning to the inlet 314. [0021] In the exemplary case 300, each unit 20 is provided with brackets (e.g., as previously discussed) for mounting to associated structure (e.g., uprights) along the rear duct. In the exemplary embodiment, the thermoelectric cooling unit extends partially through an aperture 340 in the wall 330 so that the heat rejecting portion 72 lies along the flowpath 312 within the rear duct 320. A portion of the flow 308 may thus pass over the heat rejecting portion 72. For example, the fan 80 may be operated in direct flow in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the fan 80 may be eliminated if the fan 316 provides sufficient airflow.

[0022] One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A cooled shelf unit (20; 100) comprising: a shelf surface (40) for supporting product (60); an air flowpath (520; 540) passing openly above the shelf surface; a duct (44,46; 102) along the air flowpath and having: an inlet (50; 106); a portion passing rearward from the inlet and below the shelf surface; and an outlet (52; 108); a fan (56) along the duct positioned for driving an airflow (522;542) along the flowpath; a cooling unit (58) along the duct and positioned for cooling the air flowing along the flowpath through the duct.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein: the cooling unit (58) is a thermoelectric cooling unit having: a heat absorbing section (70) along the flowpath; and a heat rejecting section (72) along a second air flowpath (530).

3. The unit of claim 2 wherein: the heat absorbing section is along a rear portion of the duct behind the shelf surface; and the heat rejecting section is behind the duct.

4. A display system comprising: a plurality of systems according to claim 1 positioned one-above another.

5. A display system comprising: at least one unit according to claim 1; and a plurality of uncooled shelves(208) in an array (202) with the unit.

6. A refrigerated display case comprising: a plurality of shelves one-above another; a heat absorption heat exchanger along a main air flowpath; a fan driving an airflow along the main air flowpath; a rear duct passing the main air flowpath behind the shelves; a cooled shelf unit comprising: a shelf surface for supporting product; an air flowpath passing openly above the shelf surface; a duct along the air flowpath and having: an inlet; a portion passing rearward from the inlet and below the shelf surface; and an outlet; a fan along the duct positioned for driving an airflow along the flowpath; a thermoelectric cooling unit along the duct and having: a heat absorbing section along the flowpath; and a heat rejecting section along the main air flowpath positioned for cooling the airflow flowing along the main air flowpath through the rear duct.

7. The display case of claim βwherein: the plurality of shelves do not have separate cooling systems.

8. The display case of claim 6 wherein: the plurality of shelves and the cooled shelf unit are in a vertical array.

9. A cooled shelf unit comprising: a shelf surface for supporting product; an air flowpath passing openly above the shelf surface; a duct along the air flowpath and having: an inlet; a portion passing rearward from the inlet and below the shelf surface; and an outlet; a fan along the duct positioned for driving an airflow along the flowpath; means for cooling the air flowing along the flowpath through the duct.

10. The unit of claim 9 wherein: the means comprises a thermoelectric cooling unit having: a heat absorbing section along the flowpath; and a heat rejecting section along a second air flowpath.