WO2018020260A1 - Perfectionnements apportés à des réfrigérateurs ouverts - Google Patents

Perfectionnements apportés à des réfrigérateurs ouverts Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018020260A1
WO2018020260A1 PCT/GB2017/052201 GB2017052201W WO2018020260A1 WO 2018020260 A1 WO2018020260 A1 WO 2018020260A1 GB 2017052201 W GB2017052201 W GB 2017052201W WO 2018020260 A1 WO2018020260 A1 WO 2018020260A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
air curtain
refrigerator
curtain guide
light source
shelf
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2017/052201
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Paul McAndrew
Matthew Piers Burke
Original Assignee
Aerofoil Energy Limited
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 Aerofoil Energy Limited filed Critical Aerofoil Energy Limited
Priority to EP17748888.9A priority Critical patent/EP3490413A1/fr
Priority to CN201780046942.5A priority patent/CN109561769A/zh
Priority to CA3031307A priority patent/CA3031307A1/fr
Priority to AU2017303860A priority patent/AU2017303860A1/en
Publication of WO2018020260A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018020260A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A47F3/0439—Cases or cabinets of the open type
    • A47F3/0443—Cases or cabinets of the open type with forced air circulation
    • A47F3/0447—Cases or cabinets of the open type with forced air circulation with air curtains
    • 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
    • A47F3/001—Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
    • 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
    • A47F3/0439—Cases or cabinets of the open type
    • A47F3/0469—Details, e.g. night covers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to open display refrigerators and to methods of modifying open display refrigerators.
  • Open display refrigerators are commonly used in retail environments, such as supermarkets, to store and display products, such as meat and dairy products, which must be kept at lower than ambient temperatures.
  • the open front of such a refrigerator makes it easy for customers to view the products being displayed and to retrieve products they wish to purchase from the refrigerator.
  • This type of refrigerator has an air curtain, which is established by blowing cold air across the front of the refrigerator.
  • the air curtain issues from an air outlet at the top of the refrigerator towards an air inlet at the bottom of the refrigerator.
  • the air inlet recovers air from the air curtain and recirculates it to the air outlet via a cooling heat exchanger and fan.
  • the air curtain prevents cold air in the refrigerator from mixing with warm air exterior to the refrigerator.
  • Open display refrigerators often include some form of lighting in order to allow the contents of the refrigerator to be displayed clearly. Such lighting may be incorporated into canopies or side walls of the refrigerator, or may be mounted onto doors or under shelves.
  • this lighting cannot illuminate the front faces of products positioned at the front of the shelves, and cannot always illuminate the full breadth and height of the display at the open front of the refrigerator. Furthermore, this lighting can cause shadows throughout the refrigerator, thus partially obscuring the products on display. For example, canopy lights (which are directed downwards) may illuminate the upper part of the display and the fronts of shelves, but this illuminating effect is much reduced for lower shelves of the refrigerator. Furthermore, downwardly-directed lights create shadows within the refrigerator. Some manufacturers have used extended arms at the tops of open display refrigerators to position lights outside and facing back into the refrigerator, but this system also creates shadows and poor lighting in the lower parts of the refrigerator.
  • Under-shelf lighting can illuminate all shelves within the refrigerator, but this lighting again directs light downwards onto the shelf below and so does not illuminate the fronts of products on the shelves. This downwardly-directed lighting also creates shadows in the refrigerator (as discussed above for canopy lighting).
  • a further problem caused by the use of under-shelf lighting is the need to connect the lights to a power source. This introduces power cables inside the refrigerator which can reduce the movement of shelves, and also requires costly fitting.
  • an open display refrigerator with lighting which is able to: illuminate the front faces of products positioned at the front of the shelves; illuminate the full breadth and/or height of the display at the open front of the refrigerator; and/or avoid shadows being created in areas of the refrigerator where they may impact negatively on the display of products.
  • an open display refrigerator comprising: an interior refrigerated space; an air curtain separating the interior refrigerated space from air external to the refrigerator; an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; at least one light source disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the interior refrigerated space.
  • the air curtain is established by a fan which blows air through an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet which recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation via a cooling unit
  • the air outlet typically spans transversely across the entire width of the interior space. This ensures that the air curtain similarly spans across the entire width of the interior space.
  • the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil.
  • a typical design of aerofoil that can be used is a cambered aerofoil. This will usually be oriented with the leading edge uppermost and the cambered surface facing away from the interior space.
  • the open display refrigerator typically comprises a shelf disposed in the interior refrigerated space and associated with the air curtain guide.
  • the refrigerator may comprise a plurality of shelves, each shelf being associated with a respective air curtain guide. By the shelf being "associated with an air
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 curtain guide it is meant that the air curtain guide and the shelf are positioned relative to one another such that an inner edge of the air curtain guide (i.e. an edge nearest to a rear interior surface of the refrigerator; also referred to as a proximal edge of the air curtain guide) faces an outer edge of the shelf (i.e. an edge which is nearest to the air curtain; also referred to as a distal edge of the shelf).
  • a gap may be left between the inner edge of the air curtain guide and the outer edge of the shelf.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the shelf, for example the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the outer edge of the shelf.
  • the shelf/shelves have a surface for receiving products to form a product display area.
  • This surface may be an upper surface of the shelf (i.e. a surface nearest to the air outlet, or to the ceiling of the interior refrigerated space) upon which products can be placed to form a product display area.
  • this surface may be a lower surface of the shelf (i.e. a surface nearest to the air inlet, or to the floor of the interior refrigerated space) comprising structures upon which products can be mounted to form a product display area (e.g. hooks from which the products can be suspended).
  • the at least one light source is disposed in the associated air curtain guide so as to illuminate the product display area of the shelf.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the associated air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of the shelf.
  • the light source itself may be angled by 20-70° to the horizontal, e.g. by 30-60°, or by about 45° (based on the angle formed between the axis of the light source and the horizontal).
  • the light source may be angled such that light is directed over an angular range of from 10-80° to the horizontal, e.g. from 20-70° from the horizontal.
  • the refrigerator may comprise a plurality of such shelves, each shelf having a surface for receiving products to form a product display area.
  • this surface is an upper surface of the respective shelf, as discussed above.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the associated air curtain guide so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf below that with which the air curtain guide is associated (for example, the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the associated air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf below that with which the air curtain guide is associated).
  • this surface is a lower surface of the respective shelf, as discussed above.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the associated air curtain guide so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf above that with which the air curtain guide is associated (for example, the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the associated air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf above that with which the air curtain guide is associated).
  • the light source may itself be angled by 20-70° to the horizontal, e.g.
  • the air curtain guide may be attached or connected to the shelf via at least one connecting member (such as a bracket).
  • the air curtain guide may be attached or connected to a casing of the refrigerator via at least one connecting member (e.g. a bracket).
  • the air curtain guide may be attached via the at least one connecting member to an interior side surface of the refrigerator.
  • the at least one connecting member may form part of the air curtain guide.
  • the light source may be a low-energy light source.
  • low energy light sources include LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), fluorescent lamps (e.g. fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)), and halogen lamps.
  • the light source may be in the form of an LED lamp, i.e. a lamp formed of one or more LEDs.
  • the air curtain guide may include a recess, and the light source may be disposed in the recess such that a surface of the light source is flush with a surface of the air curtain guide, e.g.
  • the recess may be in a surface of the air curtain guide which faces the interior refrigerated space of the refrigerator (or, in one embodiment, a shelf of the refrigerator), and the light source may be disposed in the recess such that a surface of the light source which faces the interior refrigerated space (or the shelf) is flush with the surface of the air curtain guide which faces the interior refrigerated space (or the shelf).
  • the light source could be an LED light source in the form of a strip.
  • the surface of the air curtain guide is curved, light sources having a profile which matches that of the surface of the air curtain guide could be used.
  • a power source such as solar power, a battery system, mains electricity, or a thermoelectric generator (TEG; sometimes known as a Seebeck generator) may be used to power the light source.
  • TOG thermoelectric generator
  • the light source could be powered using energy harvested from ambient
  • flexible photovoltaic power cells may be positioned on an exterior surface of the refrigerator (including the outer surface of the air curtain guide, i.e. an edge furthest from the rear interior surface of the refrigerator - also referred to as a distal edge of the air curtain guide) in order to harvest energy from store lighting and/or sunlight.
  • the battery system When a battery system is used as the power source, the battery system may be contained within (or affixed to) the air guide, the connecting members, or the shelf. In addition to being used as the sole power source for the at least one light source, battery power may also be used in conjunction with the other power sources listed above.
  • thermoelectric generator when used as the power source, would make use of the temperature differentials between surfaces which are disposed within the interior refrigerated space (e.g. shelf surfaces, interior surfaces of the refrigerator) and surfaces which are outside the interior refrigerated space (e.g. an external surface of the refrigerator).
  • Thermoelectric generators convert heat energy into electrical energy using thermoelectric materials.
  • a temperature gradient across the thermoelectric material is required in order to produce a voltage. If the temperature difference between the surfaces is not sufficiently large to produce electric energy, then an additional surface (whether heated or cooled) could also be introduced in order to provide the required temperature differential. For example, such a surface (e.g.
  • a sheet of metal could be placed within vents of the refrigerator which exhaust hot air from the heat exchanger to the atmosphere, thus providing a surface with a higher temperature than other exterior surfaces of the refrigerator.
  • the air curtain guide itself may also have a temperature difference across its surface, (e.g. from the leading edge to the trailing edge; or from the distal edge to the proximal edge). Therefore, in one embodiment, a TEG could be incorporated into the air curtain guide, thus enabling the air curtain guide/light source combination to be self-powering.
  • TEGs are available from e.g. European Thermodynamics Limited - see
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 Energy could also be harvested from ambient electromagnetic radiation (such as radiofrequency energy from high-power broadcast signals e.g. digital television (DTV) and mobile network signals e.g. Wi-Fi, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), or Long Term Evolution (LTE)).
  • DTV digital television
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communication
  • LTE Long Term Evolution
  • a company which produces and develops this energy-harvesting technology is Drayson Technologies - see http://www.getfreevolt.com/index.php
  • the power source in the present invention may therefore be a harvester which comprises an antenna, rectifier, and power management module. These harvesters can provide perpetual power for low energy consumption devices, such as LEDs.
  • the harvester could be incorporated into the air curtain guide strip.
  • the power source and/or the light source may have cabling associated therewith.
  • cabling associated with the power source means electrical cables, leads or wires attached to the power source for its connection to the light source.
  • cabling associated with the light source means electrical cables, leads or wires attached to the light source for its connection to the power source. Cabling associated with at least one of the power source and the light source may be routed through the air curtain guide. Alternatively or additionally, cabling associated with at least one of the power source and the light source may be routed through the at least one connecting member. As used herein, the term “routed through” means “encased within” or "affixed to”.
  • Routing the cabling through the air curtain guide and/or the connecting members allows it to be protected from damage as well as being concealed from view.
  • the light source and the refrigerator are both powered by a common power source.
  • cabling associated with the power source for its connection to the light source may be routed under a shelf of the refrigerator with which the air curtain guide is associated. This provides the advantage that only a single power source (e.g. mains electricity) is required to power both the refrigerator itself and the light source in the air curtain guide.
  • Provision of an air curtain guide which has at least one light source as described in any of the above embodiments allows light to be directed straight onto the front faces of those products which are positioned at the front of the shelves, and avoids the creation of shadows in areas where they may impact negatively on the display of products. It also allows illumination of the full breadth of the display at the open front of the refrigerator, as light sources may be positioned along the entire length of the air curtain guide (i.e. from one interior side surface of the refrigerator to the opposing interior side surface).
  • an air curtain guide for an open display refrigerator, the air curtain guide comprising at least one light source and at least one connecting member adapted for attachment to a shelf of the refrigerator or to a surface of the refrigerator.
  • the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil.
  • a typical design of aerofoil that can be used is a cambered aerofoil. When attached to the refrigerator, the aerofoil will usually be oriented with the leading edge uppermost and the cambered surface facing away from an interior refrigerated space of the refrigerator.
  • the connecting member may be a bracket.
  • adapted for attachment to it is meant that the connecting member comprises features which allow it to be attached to the shelf or surface of the refrigerator. Examples of such features include (but are not limited to): a particular orientation with respect to the air curtain guide and the shelf or surface of the refrigerator; a through-hole allowing the connecting member to be attached to the shelf or surface by way of e.g. a screw, a bolt, or a nail; and a structure which allows the connecting member to be received in a
  • the surface of the refrigerator may be an interior surface, for example an interior side surface.
  • the at least one connecting member may form part of the air curtain guide.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate an interior refrigerated space of the refrigerator when the at least one connecting member is attached to the shelf or interior surface.
  • the at least one light source may also illuminate the shelf, for example the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the outer edge of the shelf.
  • the at least one light source is disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate a product display area of a shelf of the refrigerator with which the air curtain guide is associated, when the at least one connecting member is attached to the shelf or interior surface.
  • the light source may be angled so as to illuminate the product display area of the shelf.
  • the light source itself may be angled by 20-70° to the horizontal, e.g. by 30-60°, or by about 45° (based on the angle formed between the axis of the light source and the horizontal); or the light source may be angled such that light is directed over an angular range of from 10-80° to the
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 horizontal, e.g. from 20-70° from the horizontal.
  • product display area and the shelf being “associated with an air curtain guide” (or the air curtain guide being “associated with a shelf") are as described above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • an upper surface or a lower surface of the shelf may be the surface for receiving products in order to form the product display area.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate a product display area of a shelf of the refrigerator below a shelf with which the air curtain guide is associated, when the at least one connecting member is attached to the shelf or interior surface.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the associated air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf below that with which the air curtain guide is associated.
  • the light source may be angled by 20-70° to the horizontal, e.g. by 30-60°, or by about 45° (based on the angle formed between the axis of the light source and the horizontal).
  • the light source may be angled such that light is directed over an angular range of from 10-80° to the horizontal, e.g. from 20-70° from the horizontal.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate a product display area of a shelf of the refrigerator above a shelf with which the air curtain guide is associated, when the at least one connecting member is attached to the shelf or interior surface.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the associated air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf above that with which the air curtain guide is associated.
  • the light source may be angled by 20-70° to the horizontal, e.g. by 30-60°, or by about 45° (based on the angle formed between the axis of the light source and the horizontal).
  • the light source may be angled such that light is directed over an angular range of from 10-80° to the horizontal, e.g. from 20-70° from the horizontal.
  • the light source may be a low-energy light source.
  • low energy light sources include LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), fluorescent lamps (e.g. fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)), and halogen lamps.
  • the light source may be in the form of an LED lamp, i.e. a lamp formed of one or more LEDs.
  • the air curtain guide may include a recess and the light source may be disposed in the recess such that a surface of the light source is flush with a surface of the air curtain guide, e.g. the recess may be in a surface of the air curtain guide which is to face a shelf of the refrigerator, and the light source may be disposed in the recess such that a surface of the light source which is to face the shelf is flush with said surface of the air curtain guide.
  • the light source could be an LED light source in the form of a strip.
  • the surface of the air curtain guide is curved, light sources having a profile which matches that of the surface of the air curtain guide could be used.
  • a power source such as solar power, a battery system, mains electricity, or a thermoelectric generator (TEG; sometimes known as a Seebeck generator) may be used to power the light source.
  • TOG thermoelectric generator
  • the light source could be powered using energy harvested from ambient
  • Each of these power sources may be as discussed above for the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the power source and/or the light source may have cabling associated therewith.
  • the meaning of the phrases “cabling associated with the power source” and “cabling associated with the light source” are as discussed above for the first aspect of the present invention.
  • Cabling associated with at least one of the power source and the light source may be routed through the air curtain guide.
  • cabling associated with at least one of the power source and the light source may be routed through the at least one connecting member.
  • the meaning of the term “routed through” is as discussed above for the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the light source and the refrigerator may both be powered by a common power source, as discussed above for the first aspect of the present invention.
  • a method of modifying an open display refrigerator comprising an interior refrigerated space and an air curtain separating the interior refrigerated space from air external to the refrigerator; the method comprising disposing in the refrigerator an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, such that the air curtain guide comprises at least one light source disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the interior refrigerated space.
  • the air curtain guide whilso as to illuminate the interior refrigerated space
  • the at least one light source is positioned in the inner edge of the air curtain
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 guide i.e. an edge nearest to a rear interior surface of the refrigerator; also referred to as a proximal edge of the air curtain guide
  • a proximal edge of the air curtain guide so that light therefrom is directed into the interior refrigerated space towards a rear interior wall of the refrigerator.
  • the method may further comprise disposing the air curtain guide in the refrigerator so that the air curtain guide is associated with a shelf of the refrigerator.
  • the meaning of the air curtain guide being "associated with a shelf” (or the shelf being “associated with an air curtain guide") is as discussed above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • a gap may be left between the inner edge of the air curtain guide and the outer edge of the shelf.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the shelf, for example the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the outer edge of the shelf.
  • the at least one light source is disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate a product display area of a shelf of the refrigerator with which the air curtain guide is associated.
  • product display area is as described above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • an upper surface or a lower surface of the shelf may be the surface for receiving products in order to form the product display area.
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate a product display area of a shelf of the refrigerator below a shelf with which the air curtain guide is associated (for example, the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf below that with which the air curtain guide is associated).
  • the at least one light source may be disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate a product display area of a shelf of the refrigerator above a shelf with which the air curtain guide is associated (for example, the at least one light source may be disposed in the inner edge of the air curtain guide and angled so as to illuminate the product display area of a shelf above that with which the air curtain guide is associated).
  • the light source may be any of the light sources as discussed above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • the light source may be powered by any of the power sources as discussed above for
  • the air curtain guide may include a recess and the light source may be disposed in the recess, as discussed above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • the method may include attaching the air curtain guide to a shelf or surface of the refrigerator by way of a connecting member.
  • the connecting member may comprise any of the features as discussed above for the second aspect of the invention.
  • Cabling associated with at least one of the power source and the light source may be routed through the air curtain guide.
  • cabling associated with at least one of the power source and the light source may be routed through the at least one connecting member.
  • the meaning of the terms "routed through”, “cabling associated with the power source” and “cabling associated with the light source” are as discussed above for the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the light source and the refrigerator may both be powered by a common power source, as discussed above for the first aspect of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows an open display refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2 is an expanded view of the upper section of the refrigerator of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 shows an open display refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 4 shows an open display refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through an open display refrigerator 1.
  • the refrigerator has an interior space 2 that is maintained at a lower than ambient temperature. Within the interior space 2, there are five shelves 3a-3e.
  • the refrigerator 1 establishes an air curtain by blowing cold air from an air outlet 4 towards an air inlet 5. Air inlet 5 recovers air from the air curtain and a fan (not shown) within the refrigerator 1 recirculates the air to the air outlet 4.
  • a cooling unit (not shown) within the refrigerator 1 maintains the recirculated air (and hence the air blown through the air outlet 4 to form the air curtain) at a desired temperature.
  • the desired temperature is chosen to be lower than ambient and acts to prevent cold air in the interior space 2 from mixing with warm air exterior to the refrigerator 1.
  • aerofoils 6a-6e are also shown in Figure 1 , each of which is fitted to the front edge of a respective one of shelves 3a-3e by way of brackets (not shown).
  • the aerofoils 6a-6e assist in constraining the air curtain to the desired path and prevent warm air exterior to the refrigerator 1 from being entrained into the air curtain.
  • the air curtain runs vertically from the air outlet 4 to the air inlet 5.
  • the aerofoils 6a-6e are thus aligned vertically beneath an outer edge of the air outlet 4. More generally, they will be aligned to be parallel with the direction that the air curtain is intended to follow as it runs from the air outlet 4 to the air inlet 5 and roughly coincident with the outer edge of the air curtain.
  • Each aerofoil 6a-6e comprises a respective light source 7a-7e.
  • Each light source 7a-7e is affixed to the inner edge of the aerofoil 6a-6e (i.e. the edge of the aerofoil which faces the front edge of the respective shelf 3a-3e).
  • the light sources 7a-7e illuminate the interior space 2 of the refrigerator 1.
  • the light sources 7a-7e are powered by a power source (not shown).
  • Cabling (not shown) which connects the power source to the light sources 7a-7e is contained within the aerofoils 6a-6e and routed through the brackets (not shown).
  • each light source 7a-7e is embedded within the inner surface of the respective aerofoil 6a-6e, and is angled so as to illuminate the front edge of the shelf 3a-3e with which the aerofoil is associated. This is shown in more detail in Figure 2, in which light emitted by the light sources 7a-7e is denoted by arrows.
  • products lOa-lOe (of which products 10c- lOe are not shown) are placed on the upper surfaces 8a-8e (of which surfaces 8b-8e are not shown)
  • the light sources 7a-7e illuminate the product display.
  • the light sources 7a-7e positioned in the inner edges of the aerofoils 6a-6e are angled so as to illuminate both the product display of the shelf 3a-3e to which the aerofoil 6a-6e is fitted, and the product display of the shelf immediately below.
  • Figure 3 shows an embodiment similar to that of Figure 2, but in which the light sources 7a-7e are angled so as to illuminate only the product display of the shelf 3a-3e to which the aerofoil 6a-6e is fitted.
  • Figure 4 shows an embodiment similar to that of Figure 2, but in which the light sources 7a-7d are angled so as to illuminate only the product display of the shelf 3b-3e below the shelf 3a-3d to which the aerofoil 6a-6d is fitted.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un réfrigérateur ouvert (1) comprenant : un espace intérieur réfrigéré (2) ; un rideau d'air séparant l'espace intérieur réfrigéré de l'air extérieur au réfrigérateur ; un guide de rideau d'air (6) pour guider l'écoulement d'air au sein du rideau d'air ; au moins une source de lumière (7) disposée dans le guide de rideau d'air de manière à éclairer l'espace intérieur réfrigéré (2). L'invention porte également sur un guide de rideau d'air pour un réfrigérateur ouvert, le guide de rideau d'air comprenant au moins une source de lumière (7) et au moins un élément de liaison conçu pour être fixé à une étagère (3) du réfrigérateur ou à une surface intérieure du réfrigérateur. L'invention concerne également un procédé de modification d'un réfrigérateur ouvert.
PCT/GB2017/052201 2016-07-28 2017-07-27 Perfectionnements apportés à des réfrigérateurs ouverts WO2018020260A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17748888.9A EP3490413A1 (fr) 2016-07-28 2017-07-27 Perfectionnements apportés à des réfrigérateurs ouverts
CN201780046942.5A CN109561769A (zh) 2016-07-28 2017-07-27 开放式陈列冰箱的改进
CA3031307A CA3031307A1 (fr) 2016-07-28 2017-07-27 Perfectionnements apportes a des refrigerateurs ouverts
AU2017303860A AU2017303860A1 (en) 2016-07-28 2017-07-27 Improvements to open display refrigerators

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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GB1613067.6A GB2552536A (en) 2016-07-28 2016-07-28 Improvements to open display refrigerators

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GB2575298A (en) * 2018-07-05 2020-01-08 Wirth Res Limited A refrigerated display case and a flow control device for a refrigerated display case
GB2578141B (en) * 2018-10-18 2020-10-07 Wirth Res Limited A flow stabilising device for an open refrigerated display case
GB2584613B (en) * 2019-05-16 2023-02-22 Aerofoil Energy Ltd Process for optimising the position of refrigerator air guides in order to achieve increased energy efficiency of the refrigerator
GB2584462A (en) * 2019-06-04 2020-12-09 Aerofoil Energy Ltd Improvements to open display refrigerators
GB2585250B (en) * 2019-07-05 2023-11-15 Aerofoil Energy Ltd Bracket for use with open display refrigerators

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EP0441357A2 (fr) * 1990-02-09 1991-08-14 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Meuble de vente réfrigéré
JP2011188889A (ja) * 2010-03-11 2011-09-29 Fuji Electric Co Ltd ショーケース
GB2522571A (en) * 2013-04-11 2015-07-29 Fridgeland Uk Ltd Improvements in refrigerators
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CN109561769A (zh) 2019-04-02
GB201613067D0 (en) 2016-09-14
GB2552536A (en) 2018-01-31
EP3490413A1 (fr) 2019-06-05
AU2017303860A1 (en) 2019-02-07
MA45774A (fr) 2019-06-05
CA3031307A1 (fr) 2018-02-01

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