WO2019063987A1 - Improvements to open display refrigerators - Google Patents

Improvements to open display refrigerators Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019063987A1
WO2019063987A1 PCT/GB2018/052721 GB2018052721W WO2019063987A1 WO 2019063987 A1 WO2019063987 A1 WO 2019063987A1 GB 2018052721 W GB2018052721 W GB 2018052721W WO 2019063987 A1 WO2019063987 A1 WO 2019063987A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
air
cooling unit
refrigerator
air curtain
diverter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2018/052721
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul McAndrew
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
Publication of WO2019063987A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019063987A1/en

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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
    • 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
    • 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
    • A47F3/0426—Details
    • A47F3/0434—Glass or transparent panels
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced 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
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • 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
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/023—Air curtain closures
    • 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
    • F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
    • 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
    • F25D2317/062—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 along the inside of doors
    • 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
    • F25D2317/063—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 with air guides
    • 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
    • F25D2317/0665—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 top
    • 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
    • F25D2317/067—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 air ducts

Definitions

  • the invention relates to open display refrigerators, and to cooling units (refrigerators or freezers) which have doors comprising transparent windows.
  • the invention also relates to methods of modifying such open display refrigerators and cooling units.
  • 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.
  • it is rather inefficient, in particular because the air curtain tends to spill out from the bottom of the refrigerator and warm air from the exterior becomes entrained into the air curtain.
  • One technique is the use of aerofoils fixed on the front edge of shelves in the refrigerator to help constrain the air curtain within a desired region. To work effectively, the aerofoils need to be in reasonably good alignment with an outer edge of the air curtain.
  • an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet; an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • a cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space;
  • air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain;
  • cooling unit further comprises:
  • an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space;
  • a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • interface between the air curtain and the access space it is meant the boundary where the air at a distal edge of the air curtain (which may be cooled by a heat exchanger of the cooling unit, and is blown through the air outlet by the fan), i.e. the edge of the air curtain which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the cooling unit, meets the air of the access space.
  • the air curtain guide guiding flow of air within the air curtain it is meant that the air curtain guide guides air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain back into the stream of the air curtain.
  • the diverter having an air guiding surface it is meant that the diverter comprises a surface which acts to guide airflow within the air duct so as to alter its direction of flow prior to it leaving the air duct.
  • the diverter comprises a front section disposed towards a distal edge of the air outlet and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section, which concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • distal edge of the air outlet it is meant an edge of the air outlet which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • a diverter outlet is formed between the front section of the diverter and a proximal edge of the air outlet, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
  • the diverter may further comprise a rear section disposed towards a proximal edge of the air outlet and extending from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • proximal edge of the air outlet it is meant an edge of the air outlet which is closest to the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • a diverter outlet may be formed between the front section and the rear section, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
  • the front section may be connected to the rear section by a connecting portion, for example a bracket.
  • the air curtain guide has a suction surface which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space (i.e. the suction surface faces away from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit).
  • the suction surface of the air curtain guide may be aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
  • distal edge of the diverter outlet it is meant an edge of the diverter outlet which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the suction surface may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator.
  • the suction surface may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the access space.
  • the air curtain guide may be positioned such that the surface of the air curtain guide that is closest to the refrigerated storage space lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space).
  • the surface of the air curtain guide that is proximal to the refrigerated storage space may be at least partially aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
  • the surface of the aerofoil that is closest to the refrigerated storage space is a pressure surface of the aerofoil (and a suction surface of the aerofoil faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space).
  • a leading edge of the aerofoil may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space).
  • a portion of the leading edge of the aerofoil is aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
  • the open display refrigerator or cooling unit further comprises a shelf disposed in the refrigerated storage space.
  • the air curtain guide may be associated with the shelf.
  • the shelf being “associated with an air curtain guide” it is meant that the air curtain guide and the shelf are positioned relative to one another such that an inner surface of the air curtain guide (i.e. a surface of the air curtain guide which is closest to a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit; also referred to as a proximal surface of the air curtain guide) faces a front edge of the shelf (i.e. an edge of the shelf which faces away from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit).
  • the air curtain guide may be affixed to a casing of the refrigerator (or cooling unit) or to the shelf.
  • the air curtain guide may be attached to the shelf, e.g. by way of brackets.
  • the refrigerator or cooling unit may comprise a plurality of such shelves, and each shelf may have a respective air curtain guide associated with it.
  • the shelf (or shelves) has a front edge which faces away from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the air curtain guide (or guides) may be spaced from the front edge(s) of the shelf (or shelves) by a distance of 99mm or less, 90mm or less, 80mm or less, 75mm or less, 65mm or less, or 55mm or less.
  • the air curtain guide (or guides) may be spaced from the front edge(s) of the shelf (or shelves) by a distance of 15mm or greater, 20 mm or greater, 30mm or greater, 40mm or greater, or 50mm or greater.
  • a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to the front edge of the shelf (or shelves) is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to a proximal edge of the air outlet.
  • the shelf is set back from the air outlet.
  • the air curtain guide may be 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 (suction surface) facing away from away from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of greater than 75 mm, a distance of 80 mm or greater, a distance of 90 mm or greater, or a distance of 100 mm or greater.
  • the open display refrigerator or cooling unit may further comprise at least one additional air outlet in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • additional air outlets may be positioned above an upper surface of the one or more shelves of the refrigerator or cooling unit. These additional outlets act to provide additional cooling of the refrigerated storage space.
  • airflow from the additional air outlets may act to increase the distance between the rear interior wall of the refrigerator (or cooling unit) and the air curtain, and to increase the degree of misalignment of the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator with the air curtain guide (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space).
  • the diverter acts to direct the air curtain back towards the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit, and to ensure that the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space) is aligned with the air curtain guide, even in the presence of further airflow from the additional air outlets.
  • the refrigerator or cooling unit includes a honeycomb structure positioned in the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.
  • a honeycomb structure acts to further ensure alignment of the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space) with the air curtain guide.
  • the refrigerator or cooling unit does not include a honeycomb structure in the air outlet or the diverter outlet (as the diverter already provides sufficient alignment of the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space - or the interface between the air curtain and the access space - with the air curtain guide).
  • the cooling unit is a refrigerator.
  • the term "refrigerator" signifies that a temperature of greater than 0°C but less than ambient temperature is maintained in the refrigerated storage space.
  • the cooling unit is a freezer.
  • the freezer may be an upright freezer or the freezer may be a chest freezer.
  • the term "freezer” means a cooling unit in which a temperature of 0°C or less is maintained in the refrigerated storage space.
  • the transparent window is made of a glass material or a plastic material.
  • the transparent window may be made of a silica glass, a poly(methyl methacrylate), or a polycarbonate.
  • the transparent window may comprise an anti-mist coating or film on the surface of the window which faces the interior space.
  • a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of an open display refrigerator and to extend into an air duct of the refrigerator, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between an air curtain of the refrigerator and air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain of the refrigerator.
  • a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of a cooling unit and to extend into an air duct of the cooling unit, the cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door having a transparent window, the door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, and the interior space comprising a refrigerated storage space which is separated from an access space by an air curtain; wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the cooling unit and the access space is aligned with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain.
  • a kit comprising an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within an air curtain of an open display refrigerator, and a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of the open display refrigerator and to extend into an air duct of the refrigerator, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the refrigerator and air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • a kit comprising an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within an air curtain of a cooling unit, and a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of the cooling unit and to extend into an air duct of the cooling unit, the cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door having a transparent window, the door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, and the interior space comprising a refrigerated storage space which is separated from an access space by an air curtain; wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the cooling unit and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • the air curtain guide comprises a suction surface.
  • the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil (as discussed above regarding the first aspect of the invention).
  • a method of modifying an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, in which air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet; and an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain.
  • the method comprises positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • a method of modifying an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, in which air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet.
  • the method comprises: providing the refrigerator with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • a method of modifying a cooling unit wherein the cooling comprises an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space; wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain; wherein the cooling unit further comprises an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space;
  • a method of modifying a cooling unit wherein the cooling comprises an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space; wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by
  • a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
  • the diverter comprises a front section and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section
  • the method further comprises disposing the front section towards a distal edge of the air outlet and positioning the front section such that the concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the method comprises positioning the diverter such that a diverter outlet is formed between the front section of the diverter and a proximal edge of the air outlet, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
  • the diverter further comprises a rear section
  • the method further comprises positioning the diverter such that the rear section is positioned towards a proximal edge of the air outlet such that the rear section extends from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the front section may be connected to the rear section by a connecting portion, e.g. a bracket.
  • the method may further comprise positioning the diverter such that a diverter outlet is formed between the front section and the rear section, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
  • the air curtain guide has a suction surface and is positioned such that the suction surface faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space.
  • the method may further comprise aligning the suction surface of the air curtain guide in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. Additionally or alternatively, the method may further comprise aligning the air curtain guide such that the suction surface lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator (or at the interface between the air curtain and the access space).
  • the air curtain guide may be positioned such that the surface of the air curtain guide that is closest to the refrigerated storage space lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or at the interface between the air curtain and the access space), as discussed above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • the surface of the air curtain guide that is proximal to the refrigerated storage space may be at least partially aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
  • the surface of the aerofoil that is closest to the refrigerated storage space is a pressure surface of the aerofoil (and a suction surface of the aerofoil faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space).
  • a leading edge of the aerofoil may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or at the interface between the air curtain and the access space), as also discussed above for the first aspect of the invention.
  • a portion of the leading edge of the aerofoil is aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
  • the pressure surface of the aerofoil will lie within the air curtain, whereas the suction surface will lie beyond the air curtain in air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or in the access space).
  • the refrigerator or cooling unit comprises a shelf disposed in the refrigerated storage space.
  • the air curtain guide may be associated with the shelf.
  • the air curtain guide is attached to the shelf, e.g. by way of brackets.
  • the shelf has a front edge which faces away from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the air curtain guide may be spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 99mm or less, 90mm or less, 80mm or less, 75mm or less, 65mm or less, or 55mm or less. Additionally or alternatively, the air curtain guide may be spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 15mm or greater, 20 mm or greater, 30mm or greater, 40mm or greater, or 50mm or greater.
  • a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to the front edge of the shelf is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to a proximal edge of the air outlet.
  • the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil (as discussed above regarding the first aspect of the invention).
  • a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of greater than 75 mm, a distance of 80 mm or greater, a distance of 90 mm or greater, or a distance of 100 mm or greater.
  • the refrigerator or cooling unit further comprises at least one additional air outlet in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the method further comprises positioning a honeycomb structure in the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.
  • the refrigerator or cooling unit does not include a honeycomb structure in the air outlet or diverter outlet.
  • the omission of the honeycomb structure is advantageous, as such structures can become blocked by dust and debris, and also tend to create a back-pressure on the air passing through the air outlet (i.e. the pressure of the air in the air duct is increased). Such backpressure can act to decrease the efficiency of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • the cooling unit is a refrigerator (as discussed above regarding the second aspect).
  • the cooling unit is a freezer (as discussed above regarding the second aspect).
  • the freezer may be an upright freezer or the freezer may be a chest freezer.
  • the transparent window is made of a glass material or a plastic material.
  • the transparent window may be made of a silica glass, a poly(methyl methacrylate), or a polycarbonate.
  • the transparent window may comprise an anti-mist coating or film on the surface of the window which faces the interior space.
  • the air outlet normally spans transversely across the entire width of the refrigerated storage space. This ensures that the air curtain similarly spans across the entire width of the refrigerated storage space.
  • the diverter preferably spans transversely across the width of the air outlet in order to divert airflow within the air duct across the entire width of the air outlet prior to it leaving the air outlet.
  • Figure 1A shows an open display refrigerator in which the front edges of the shelves are aligned with the proximal edge of the air outlet, and in which the air outlet has a depth X (distance between the proximal edge and distal edge thereof) of up to about 75 mm;
  • Figure IB shows an open display refrigerator similar to that of Figure 1A, but in which the air outlet has a depth X of about 100 mm;
  • Figure 1C shows detail of the refrigerator of Figure IB;
  • Figure ID shows an open display refrigerator in which the front edges of the shelves are set back from the proximal edge of the air outlet (i.e. a distance from the rear interior wall to the front edge of the shelf is less than a distance from the rear interior wall to the proximal edge of the air outlet), and in which the air outlet has a depth X of about 100 mm;
  • Figures IE and IF show detail of the refrigerator of Figure ID
  • Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 3A shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator which has additional air outlets (not shown) in a rear interior wall thereof, but which does not include a diverter of the present invention
  • Figure 3B shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the open display refrigerator has additional air outlets (not shown) in a rear interior wall thereof, and also includes a diverter of the present invention;
  • Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1A shows a cross-section through an open display refrigerator 1.
  • the refrigerator has a storage space 2 that is maintained at a lower than ambient temperature. Within the storage space 2, there are five shelves 3a-3e.
  • the refrigerator 1 establishes an air curtain 8 by blowing cold air from an air outlet 4 towards an air inlet 5. Air inlet 5 recovers air from the air curtain 8 and a fan (not shown) within the refrigerator 1 recirculates the air to the air outlet 4.
  • a cooling unit or heat exchanger (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 8) at a desired temperature.
  • the desired temperature is chosen to be lower than ambient and acts to prevent cold air in the storage space 2 from mixing with warm air exterior to the refrigerator.
  • FIG. 1A Also shown in Figure 1A are aerofoils 6a-6e, each of which is fitted to the front edge 9a-9e of a respective one of shelves 3a-3e. These assist in constraining the air curtain 8 to the desired path and prevent warm air exterior to the refrigerator 1 from being entrained into the air curtain 8.
  • the air curtain 8 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 8 is intended to follow as it runs from the air outlet 4 to the air inlet 5 and roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 (i.e. the interface between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space 2).
  • the aerofoils 6a-6e should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 in order for them to work effectively (i.e. to guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 8 back into the stream of the air curtain 8).
  • the situation is acceptable because the air outlet 4 is relatively narrow (depth X is up to around 75 mm), and the gap Y between the shelves 3a-3e and the aerofoils 6a-6e is therefore low.
  • a deeper air outlet is used (e.g. depth X of greater than 75 mm, or even 100 mm or greater).
  • depth X of greater than 75 mm, or even 100 mm or greater.
  • FIG. 2 shows a solution as provided by the present invention to the problems associated with deep air outlets and set-back shelves.
  • a cross-section through only the top portion of the open display refrigerator 1 is shown.
  • the refrigerator 1 comprises a refrigerated storage space 2. Air in the refrigerated storage space 2 is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator 1 by an air curtain 8 established by a fan (not shown) which blows air through an air outlet 4 towards a corresponding air inlet (not shown) which recovers air from the air curtain 8 for recirculation through an air duct 11 to the air outlet 4.
  • the refrigerator also comprises an air curtain guide 6a (in the form of an aerofoil in the embodiment shown in Figure 2), for guiding flow of air within the air curtain 8.
  • the refrigerator 1 also comprises a shelf 3a disposed within the refrigerated storage space 2.
  • the aerofoil 6a is attached to the front edge 9a of shelf 3a by way of brackets (not shown).
  • the shelf 3a is set back from the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4 (i.e. a distance from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1 to the front edge 9a of the shelf 3a is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1 to the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4).
  • the air outlet 4 is also deep, i.e. there is a distance X of greater than 75 mm between the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet and the distal edge 15 of the air outlet.
  • the refrigerator 1 shown in Figure 2 also comprises a diverter 12 positioned at the air outlet 4 and extending into the air duct 11.
  • the diverter 12 has an air guiding surface 13 which diverts airflow within the air duct 11 prior to it leaving the air outlet 4, such that an interface 7 between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior to the refrigerator 1 is aligned with the air curtain guide 6a.
  • the aerofoil 6a has a suction surface 17a which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space 2.
  • the diverter 12 comprises a front section 14 disposed towards a distal edge 15 of the air outlet 4, and the air guiding surface 13 is a concave surface of the front section 14. This concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator 1.
  • the diverter 12 also comprises a rear section 16 disposed towards a proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4.
  • the rear section 16 extends from the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4 in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1, and is connected to the front section 14 by a connecting portion (not shown).
  • a diverter outlet 12a is formed between the front section 14 and the rear section 16, and the airflow in the air duct 11 leaves the air outlet 4 through the diverter outlet 12a.
  • the rear section 16 has an air guiding surface 16a which diverts airflow leaving the diverter outlet 12a at a proximal edge 20 of the diverter outlet 12a so as to more closely align it with a vertical direction.
  • proximal edge of the diverter outlet it is meant an edge of the diverter outlet 12a which is closest to the rear interior wall of the refrigerator.
  • the aerofoil 6a should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 in order for it to effectively guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 8 back into the stream of the air curtain 8.
  • a large gap (Y of Figure IF) would be required between the front edge 9a of the shelf 3a and the aerofoil 6a in order to achieve this placement of the aerofoil 6a.
  • a large gap is undesirable as it renders the aerofoil 6a obtrusive to shoppers and staff when reaching for products displayed within the refrigerator.
  • the brackets attaching the aerofoil 6a to the refrigerator 1 would need to be longer, rendering them prone to breakage or deformation if, for example, a shopper rests a shopping basket on an aerofoil 6a.
  • the diverter 12 of the present invention solves this problem by diverting the air flow in the air duct 11 before it leaves the air outlet 4.
  • the air flow in the air duct 11 passes along the air guiding surface 13, which acts to alter its direction such that - upon leaving the air duct 11 - the air flow is directed away from the vertical towards a rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1.
  • refrigerators 1 in which the shelves are set back from the air outlet 4 whilst avoiding the above- mentioned disadvantages resulting from a large gap between the shelf 3a and the aerofoil 6a.
  • the diverter of the present invention can also be used in refrigerators which have a deep air outlet i.e. a large gap between the proximal edge and distal edge of the air outlet (e.g. X in Figure IF being greater than 75 mm, or even 100mm or greater), but in which the shelves are not set back from the proximal edge of the air outlet.
  • the diverter can be used in refrigerators in which the shelves are set back from the proximal edge of the air outlet, but which do not have a deep air outlet (i.e. a distance between the proximal and distal edges of the air outlet is 75 mm or less).
  • open display refrigerators may further comprise additional air outlets in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator, to provide additional cooling of the refrigerated storage space.
  • the diverter of the present invention can also be used to increase the energy efficiency of such refrigerators.
  • airflow 22 from the additional air outlets may act to increase the distance between the rear interior wall of the refrigerator and the air curtain 8, and to increase the degree of misalignment of the interface 7 between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior with the air curtain guide (thus reducing the effectiveness of the air curtain guide, and reducing the energy efficiency of the refrigerator).
  • the presence of a honeycomb structure 18 i.e.
  • the diverter 12 of the present invention acts to direct the air flow in the air duct 11 back towards the rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1 upon its exit from the air outlet 4, hence the above effect of the airflow 22 from the additional air outlets is reduced (and may even be eliminated). That is, the diverter 12 ensures that the interface 7 between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space 2 is aligned with the air curtain guide 6a, even in the presence of further airflow 22 from the additional air outlets.
  • this effect of the diverter 12 means that the honeycomb structure 18 can be omitted from the refrigerator.
  • omission of the honeycomb structure is advantageous, as such structures can become blocked by dust and debris, and also tend to create a back-pressure on the air passing through the air outlet (i.e. the pressure of the air in the air duct is increased).
  • FIG 4 shows a cooling unit 100 which is similar to the refrigerator 1 illustrated in Figure 2, but which further includes a door 130 having a transparent window 132. A cross-section through only the top portion of the cooling unit 100 is shown.
  • the cooling unit 100 comprises an interior space 101 and a door 130 which comprises a transparent window 132 and separates the interior space 101 from air external to the cooling unit 100.
  • the interior space 101 comprises a refrigerated storage space 102 and an access space 134.
  • Air in the refrigerated storage space 102 is separated from air in the access space 134 by an air curtain 108 established by a fan (not shown) which blows air through an air outlet 104 towards a corresponding air inlet (not shown) which recovers air from the air curtain 108 for recirculation through an air duct 111 to the air outlet 104.
  • the air curtain 108 is within the interior space 101 and is spaced from the door 130, and the access space 134 is bounded by the door 130 and the air curtain 108.
  • the cooling unit 100 also comprises an air curtain guide 106a (in the form of an aerofoil in the embodiment shown in Figure 4), for guiding flow of air within the air curtain 108.
  • the cooling unit 100 also comprises a shelf 103a disposed within the refrigerated storage space 102.
  • the aerofoil 6a is attached to the front edge 109a of shelf 103a by way of brackets (not shown).
  • the shelf 103a is set back from the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104 (i.e. a distance from a rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100 to the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100 to the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104).
  • the air outlet 104 is also deep, i.e. there is a distance X of greater than 75 mm between the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet and the distal edge 115 of the air outlet 104.
  • the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 4 also comprises a diverter 112 positioned at the air outlet 104 and extending into the air duct 111.
  • the diverter 112 has an air guiding surface 113 which diverts airflow within the air duct 111 prior to it leaving the air outlet 104, such that an interface 107 between the air curtain 108 and the access space 134 is aligned with the air curtain guide 106a.
  • the aerofoil 106a has a suction surface 117a which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space 102.
  • the diverter 112 comprises a front section 114 disposed towards a distal edge 115 of the air outlet 104, and the air guiding surface 113 is a concave surface of the front section 114.
  • the diverter 112 also comprises a rear section 116 disposed towards a proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 4.
  • the rear section 116 extends from the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104 in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100, and is connected to the front section 114 by a connecting portion (not shown).
  • a diverter outlet 112a is formed between the front section 114 and the rear section 116, and the airflow in the air duct 111 leaves the air outlet 104 through the diverter outlet 112a.
  • the rear section 116 has an air guiding surface 116a which diverts airflow leaving the diverter outlet 112a at a proximal edge 120 of the diverter outlet 112a so as to more closely align it with a vertical direction.
  • proximal edge of the diverter outlet it is meant an edge of the diverter outlet 112a which is closest to the rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100.
  • the aerofoil 106a should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 107 of the air curtain 108 in order for it to effectively guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 108 back into the stream of the air curtain 108.
  • a large gap Y would be required between the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a and the aerofoil 106a in order to achieve this placement of the aerofoil 106a.
  • a large gap is undesirable as it renders the aerofoil 6a obtrusive to shoppers and staff when reaching for products displayed within the cooling unit.
  • the diverter 112 of the present invention solves this problem by diverting the air flow in the air duct 111 before it leaves the air outlet 104.
  • the air flow in the air duct 111 passes along the air guiding surface 113, which acts to alter its direction such that - upon leaving the air duct 111 - the air flow is directed away from the vertical towards a rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100. This has the effect of translating the air curtain 108 in a direction toward the rear interior wall of the cooling unit.
  • the front edge 107 of the air curtain 108 is thus brought closer to the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a, hence the gap between the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a and the aerofoil 106a can be reduced while still ensuring that the aerofoil 106a is roughly coincident with the outer edge 107 of the air curtain 108.
  • the diverter 112 thus allows for effective use of aerofoils 106a in order to increase the energy efficiency of cooling units 100 in which the shelves are set back from the air outlet 104, whilst avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages resulting from a large gap between the shelf 103a and the aerofoil 106a.
  • An additional advantage of utilising the diverter 112 of the present invention in cooling units 100 which comprise a door 130 having a transparent window 132 is that the air curtain 108 is moved away from the inner surface 136 of the door 130 (and is held away from this inner surface 136 by the air curtain guides 106), which reduces the cooling effect of the air curtain 108 on the transparent window 132 of the door 130, and reduces the extent of misting of the transparent window 132 when the door 130 is opened.

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Abstract

The present invention provides an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet; an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide. A cooling unit comprising a door with a transparent window and including such a diverter is also disclosed. Diverters, and kits comprising diverters and aerofoils, are also provided, along with methods of modifying open display refrigerators and cooling units.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO OPEN DISPLAY REFRIGERATORS
The invention relates to open display refrigerators, and to cooling units (refrigerators or freezers) which have doors comprising transparent windows. The invention also relates to methods of modifying such open display refrigerators and cooling units. 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. However, it is rather inefficient, in particular because the air curtain tends to spill out from the bottom of the refrigerator and warm air from the exterior becomes entrained into the air curtain. To ameliorate this problem of inefficiency, there have recently been developments in controlling the air curtain to prevent the entrainment of warm air. One technique is the use of aerofoils fixed on the front edge of shelves in the refrigerator to help constrain the air curtain within a desired region. To work effectively, the aerofoils need to be in reasonably good alignment with an outer edge of the air curtain. In some refrigerator designs, for example those having a deep air outlet and/or having shelves which are set back from the air outlet, this can result in there being a large gap between the front edge of the shelves and the aerofoils. Large gaps are obtrusive to shoppers and staff. Furthermore, the brackets attaching the aerofoils to the refrigerator need to be longer, rendering them prone to breakage or deformation if, for example, a shopper rests a shopping basket on an aerofoil. These problems can result in retailers electing not to use aerofoils for guiding the air curtain on their refrigerators, and the efficiency gains available by their use are not achieved. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet; an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide. In this aspect, by "interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator" it is meant the boundary where the air at a distal edge of the air curtain (which may be cooled by a heat exchanger of the refrigerator, and is blown through the air outlet by the fan), i.e. the edge of the air curtain which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator, meets the air exterior to the open display refrigerator. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space;
wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain;
wherein the cooling unit further comprises:
an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space; and
a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide. In this aspect, by "interface between the air curtain and the access space" it is meant the boundary where the air at a distal edge of the air curtain (which may be cooled by a heat exchanger of the cooling unit, and is blown through the air outlet by the fan), i.e. the edge of the air curtain which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the cooling unit, meets the air of the access space. In all of the various aspects of the present invention, by the air curtain guide "guiding flow of air within the air curtain" it is meant that the air curtain guide guides air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain back into the stream of the air curtain.
In all of the various aspects of the present invention, by "the diverter having an air guiding surface" it is meant that the diverter comprises a surface which acts to guide airflow within the air duct so as to alter its direction of flow prior to it leaving the air duct.
Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, the optional features described in the following paragraphs may relate to open display refrigerators or cooling units according to any of the first or second aspects of the invention.
In one embodiment, the diverter comprises a front section disposed towards a distal edge of the air outlet and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section, which concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator or cooling unit. By "distal edge of the air outlet", it is meant an edge of the air outlet which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
In one embodiment, a diverter outlet is formed between the front section of the diverter and a proximal edge of the air outlet, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet. Alternatively, the diverter may further comprise a rear section disposed towards a proximal edge of the air outlet and extending from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. By "proximal edge of the air outlet", it is meant an edge of the air outlet which is closest to the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. In the construction where the diverter further comprises a rear section, a diverter outlet may be formed between the front section and the rear section, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet. The front section may be connected to the rear section by a connecting portion, for example a bracket.
In one embodiment, the air curtain guide has a suction surface which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space (i.e. the suction surface faces away from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit). The suction surface of the air curtain guide may be aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. By "distal edge of the diverter outlet", it is meant an edge of the diverter outlet which is furthest from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. Additionally or alternatively, in the first aspect of the invention the suction surface may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator. In the second aspect of the invention, the suction surface may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the access space.
Alternatively, the air curtain guide may be positioned such that the surface of the air curtain guide that is closest to the refrigerated storage space lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space). In other words, the surface of the air curtain guide that is proximal to the refrigerated storage space may be at least partially aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. In this variant, when the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil, the surface of the aerofoil that is closest to the refrigerated storage space is a pressure surface of the aerofoil (and a suction surface of the aerofoil faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space).
Alternatively, when the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil, a leading edge of the aerofoil may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space). In this variant, a portion of the leading edge of the aerofoil is aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. Thus, the pressure surface of the aerofoil will lie within the air curtain, whereas the suction surface will lie beyond the air curtain in air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or in the access space).
In a typical situation, the open display refrigerator or cooling unit further comprises a shelf disposed in the refrigerated storage space. The air curtain guide may be associated with the shelf. By the shelf being "associated with an air curtain guide", it is meant that the air curtain guide and the shelf are positioned relative to one another such that an inner surface of the air curtain guide (i.e. a surface of the air curtain guide which is closest to a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit; also referred to as a proximal surface of the air curtain guide) faces a front edge of the shelf (i.e. an edge of the shelf which faces away from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit). The air curtain guide may be affixed to a casing of the refrigerator (or cooling unit) or to the shelf. For example, the air curtain guide may be attached to the shelf, e.g. by way of brackets. The refrigerator or cooling unit may comprise a plurality of such shelves, and each shelf may have a respective air curtain guide associated with it. In one embodiment, the shelf (or shelves) has a front edge which faces away from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. Additionally, the air curtain guide (or guides) may be spaced from the front edge(s) of the shelf (or shelves) by a distance of 99mm or less, 90mm or less, 80mm or less, 75mm or less, 65mm or less, or 55mm or less. The air curtain guide (or guides) may be spaced from the front edge(s) of the shelf (or shelves) by a distance of 15mm or greater, 20 mm or greater, 30mm or greater, 40mm or greater, or 50mm or greater.
In one embodiment, a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to the front edge of the shelf (or shelves) is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to a proximal edge of the air outlet. In other words, in this embodiment, the shelf is set back from the air outlet. The air curtain guide may be 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 (suction surface) facing away from away from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
In one embodiment, a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of greater than 75 mm, a distance of 80 mm or greater, a distance of 90 mm or greater, or a distance of 100 mm or greater.
The open display refrigerator or cooling unit may further comprise at least one additional air outlet in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. Such additional air outlets may be positioned above an upper surface of the one or more shelves of the refrigerator or cooling unit. These additional outlets act to provide additional cooling of the refrigerated storage space. In the absence of a diverter, airflow from the additional air outlets may act to increase the distance between the rear interior wall of the refrigerator (or cooling unit) and the air curtain, and to increase the degree of misalignment of the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator with the air curtain guide (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space). When present, the diverter acts to direct the air curtain back towards the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit, and to ensure that the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space) is aligned with the air curtain guide, even in the presence of further airflow from the additional air outlets.
In one embodiment, the refrigerator or cooling unit includes a honeycomb structure positioned in the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain. Such a honeycomb structure acts to further ensure alignment of the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space (or the interface between the air curtain and the access space) with the air curtain guide. Alternatively, the refrigerator or cooling unit does not include a honeycomb structure in the air outlet or the diverter outlet (as the diverter already provides sufficient alignment of the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space - or the interface between the air curtain and the access space - with the air curtain guide). In one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the cooling unit is a refrigerator. As used herein, the term "refrigerator" signifies that a temperature of greater than 0°C but less than ambient temperature is maintained in the refrigerated storage space.
In another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the cooling unit is a freezer. The freezer may be an upright freezer or the freezer may be a chest freezer. As used herein, the term "freezer" means a cooling unit in which a temperature of 0°C or less is maintained in the refrigerated storage space.
In one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the transparent window is made of a glass material or a plastic material. For example, the transparent window may be made of a silica glass, a poly(methyl methacrylate), or a polycarbonate. The transparent window may comprise an anti-mist coating or film on the surface of the window which faces the interior space.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of an open display refrigerator and to extend into an air duct of the refrigerator, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between an air curtain of the refrigerator and air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain of the refrigerator.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of a cooling unit and to extend into an air duct of the cooling unit, the cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door having a transparent window, the door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, and the interior space comprising a refrigerated storage space which is separated from an access space by an air curtain; wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the cooling unit and the access space is aligned with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within an air curtain of an open display refrigerator, and a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of the open display refrigerator and to extend into an air duct of the refrigerator, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the refrigerator and air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within an air curtain of a cooling unit, and a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of the cooling unit and to extend into an air duct of the cooling unit, the cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door having a transparent window, the door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, and the interior space comprising a refrigerated storage space which is separated from an access space by an air curtain; wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the cooling unit and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
In one embodiment of any of the third to sixth aspects of the invention, the diverter further comprises a fixing area by which the diverter may be attached to the refrigerator or cooling unit. The fixing area may comprise a through-hole which is capable of receiving a screw. Alternatively, the diverter may be attached to the refrigerator or cooling unit with an adhesive. In one embodiment of any of the third to sixth aspects of the invention, the diverter comprises a front section suitable to be disposed towards a distal edge of the air outlet, and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section. The diverter may further comprise a rear section suitable to be disposed towards a proximal edge of the air outlet and to extend from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. In one embodiment, the front section is connected to the rear section by a connecting portion, e.g. a bracket.
In one embodiment of any of the third to sixth aspects of the invention, the air curtain guide comprises a suction surface.
In one embodiment of any of the third to sixth aspects of the invention, the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil (as discussed above regarding the first aspect of the invention).
In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying an open display refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises: a refrigerated storage space, in which air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet; and an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain. The method comprises positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
In accordance with a eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying an open display refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises: a refrigerated storage space, in which air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet. The method comprises: providing the refrigerator with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
In accordance with a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying a cooling unit, wherein the cooling comprises an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space; wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain; wherein the cooling unit further comprises an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space;
the method comprising:
positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and access space is aligned with the air curtain guide In accordance with a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying a cooling unit, wherein the cooling comprises an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space; wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain;
the method comprising:
providing the interior space of the cooling unit with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain;
positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, the diverter comprises a front section and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section, and the method further comprises disposing the front section towards a distal edge of the air outlet and positioning the front section such that the concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the method comprises positioning the diverter such that a diverter outlet is formed between the front section of the diverter and a proximal edge of the air outlet, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, the diverter further comprises a rear section, and the method further comprises positioning the diverter such that the rear section is positioned towards a proximal edge of the air outlet such that the rear section extends from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. The front section may be connected to the rear section by a connecting portion, e.g. a bracket. The method may further comprise positioning the diverter such that a diverter outlet is formed between the front section and the rear section, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, the air curtain guide has a suction surface and is positioned such that the suction surface faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space. The method may further comprise aligning the suction surface of the air curtain guide in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. Additionally or alternatively, the method may further comprise aligning the air curtain guide such that the suction surface lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator (or at the interface between the air curtain and the access space).
Alternatively, the air curtain guide may be positioned such that the surface of the air curtain guide that is closest to the refrigerated storage space lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or at the interface between the air curtain and the access space), as discussed above for the first aspect of the invention. In other words, the surface of the air curtain guide that is proximal to the refrigerated storage space may be at least partially aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. In this variant, when the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil, the surface of the aerofoil that is closest to the refrigerated storage space is a pressure surface of the aerofoil (and a suction surface of the aerofoil faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space).
Alternatively, when the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil, a leading edge of the aerofoil may lie at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or at the interface between the air curtain and the access space), as also discussed above for the first aspect of the invention. In this variant, a portion of the leading edge of the aerofoil is aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet. Thus, the pressure surface of the aerofoil will lie within the air curtain, whereas the suction surface will lie beyond the air curtain in air exterior to the open display refrigerator (or in the access space). In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects aspects of the invention, the refrigerator or cooling unit comprises a shelf disposed in the refrigerated storage space.
The air curtain guide may be associated with the shelf. In one embodiment, the air curtain guide is attached to the shelf, e.g. by way of brackets. In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the shelf has a front edge which faces away from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit. The air curtain guide may be spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 99mm or less, 90mm or less, 80mm or less, 75mm or less, 65mm or less, or 55mm or less. Additionally or alternatively, the air curtain guide may be spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 15mm or greater, 20 mm or greater, 30mm or greater, 40mm or greater, or 50mm or greater.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to the front edge of the shelf is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to a proximal edge of the air outlet. In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil (as discussed above regarding the first aspect of the invention).
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of greater than 75 mm, a distance of 80 mm or greater, a distance of 90 mm or greater, or a distance of 100 mm or greater.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, the refrigerator or cooling unit further comprises at least one additional air outlet in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
In one embodiment of any one of the seventh to tenth aspects of the invention, the method further comprises positioning a honeycomb structure in the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain. Alternatively, the refrigerator or cooling unit does not include a honeycomb structure in the air outlet or diverter outlet. The omission of the honeycomb structure is advantageous, as such structures can become blocked by dust and debris, and also tend to create a back-pressure on the air passing through the air outlet (i.e. the pressure of the air in the air duct is increased). Such backpressure can act to decrease the efficiency of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
In one embodiment of either of the eighth or tenth aspects of the present invention, the cooling unit is a refrigerator (as discussed above regarding the second aspect).
In another embodiment of either of the eighth or tenth aspects of the present invention, the cooling unit is a freezer (as discussed above regarding the second aspect). The freezer may be an upright freezer or the freezer may be a chest freezer.
In one embodiment of either of the eighth or tenth aspects of the present invention, the transparent window is made of a glass material or a plastic material. For example, the transparent window may be made of a silica glass, a poly(methyl methacrylate), or a polycarbonate. The transparent window may comprise an anti-mist coating or film on the surface of the window which faces the interior space.
Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, the optional features described in the following paragraphs may relate to open display refrigerators according to any of the first to tenth aspects of the invention.
The air outlet normally spans transversely across the entire width of the refrigerated storage space. This ensures that the air curtain similarly spans across the entire width of the refrigerated storage space. The diverter preferably spans transversely across the width of the air outlet in order to divert airflow within the air duct across the entire width of the air outlet prior to it leaving the air outlet.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1A shows an open display refrigerator in which the front edges of the shelves are aligned with the proximal edge of the air outlet, and in which the air outlet has a depth X (distance between the proximal edge and distal edge thereof) of up to about 75 mm;
Figure IB shows an open display refrigerator similar to that of Figure 1A, but in which the air outlet has a depth X of about 100 mm; Figure 1C shows detail of the refrigerator of Figure IB;
Figure ID shows an open display refrigerator in which the front edges of the shelves are set back from the proximal edge of the air outlet (i.e. a distance from the rear interior wall to the front edge of the shelf is less than a distance from the rear interior wall to the proximal edge of the air outlet), and in which the air outlet has a depth X of about 100 mm;
Figures IE and IF show detail of the refrigerator of Figure ID;
Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3A shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator which has additional air outlets (not shown) in a rear interior wall thereof, but which does not include a diverter of the present invention;
Figure 3B shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the open display refrigerator has additional air outlets (not shown) in a rear interior wall thereof, and also includes a diverter of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the air outlet in an open display refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1A shows a cross-section through an open display refrigerator 1. The refrigerator has a storage space 2 that is maintained at a lower than ambient temperature. Within the storage space 2, there are five shelves 3a-3e. The refrigerator 1 establishes an air curtain 8 by blowing cold air from an air outlet 4 towards an air inlet 5. Air inlet 5 recovers air from the air curtain 8 and a fan (not shown) within the refrigerator 1 recirculates the air to the air outlet 4. A cooling unit or heat exchanger (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 8) at a desired temperature. The desired temperature is chosen to be lower than ambient and acts to prevent cold air in the storage space 2 from mixing with warm air exterior to the refrigerator. Also shown in Figure 1A are aerofoils 6a-6e, each of which is fitted to the front edge 9a-9e of a respective one of shelves 3a-3e. These assist in constraining the air curtain 8 to the desired path and prevent warm air exterior to the refrigerator 1 from being entrained into the air curtain 8. In this case, the air curtain 8 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 8 is intended to follow as it runs from the air outlet 4 to the air inlet 5 and roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 (i.e. the interface between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space 2).
The aerofoils 6a-6e should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 in order for them to work effectively (i.e. to guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 8 back into the stream of the air curtain 8). In Figure 1A, the situation is acceptable because the air outlet 4 is relatively narrow (depth X is up to around 75 mm), and the gap Y between the shelves 3a-3e and the aerofoils 6a-6e is therefore low.
In Figures IB and 1C, a deeper air outlet is used (e.g. depth X of greater than 75 mm, or even 100 mm or greater). As the aerofoils 6a-6e should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 in order for them to work effectively (i.e. to guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 8 back into the stream of the air curtain 8) the gap Y required between the front edges 9a-9e of the shelves 3a-3e and the aerofoils 6a-6e becomes unacceptably large.
In Figures ID and IE, the situation shown in Figures IB and 1C is exacerbated by the shelves being set back from the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4. In order for the aerofoils 6a-6e to be positioned so that they are roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8, the gap required between the front edges 9a-9e of the shelves 3a-3e and the aerofoils 6a-6e becomes larger still.
Figure 2 shows a solution as provided by the present invention to the problems associated with deep air outlets and set-back shelves. A cross-section through only the top portion of the open display refrigerator 1 is shown. As in Figures 1A-1F, the refrigerator 1 comprises a refrigerated storage space 2. Air in the refrigerated storage space 2 is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator 1 by an air curtain 8 established by a fan (not shown) which blows air through an air outlet 4 towards a corresponding air inlet (not shown) which recovers air from the air curtain 8 for recirculation through an air duct 11 to the air outlet 4. The refrigerator also comprises an air curtain guide 6a (in the form of an aerofoil in the embodiment shown in Figure 2), for guiding flow of air within the air curtain 8. The refrigerator 1 also comprises a shelf 3a disposed within the refrigerated storage space 2. The aerofoil 6a is attached to the front edge 9a of shelf 3a by way of brackets (not shown). In this embodiment, the shelf 3a is set back from the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4 (i.e. a distance from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1 to the front edge 9a of the shelf 3a is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1 to the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4). The air outlet 4 is also deep, i.e. there is a distance X of greater than 75 mm between the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet and the distal edge 15 of the air outlet.
The refrigerator 1 shown in Figure 2 also comprises a diverter 12 positioned at the air outlet 4 and extending into the air duct 11. The diverter 12 has an air guiding surface 13 which diverts airflow within the air duct 11 prior to it leaving the air outlet 4, such that an interface 7 between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior to the refrigerator 1 is aligned with the air curtain guide 6a. The aerofoil 6a has a suction surface 17a which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space 2. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the diverter 12 comprises a front section 14 disposed towards a distal edge 15 of the air outlet 4, and the air guiding surface 13 is a concave surface of the front section 14. This concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator 1. The diverter 12 also comprises a rear section 16 disposed towards a proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4. The rear section 16 extends from the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4 in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1, and is connected to the front section 14 by a connecting portion (not shown).
A diverter outlet 12a is formed between the front section 14 and the rear section 16, and the airflow in the air duct 11 leaves the air outlet 4 through the diverter outlet 12a. The rear section 16 has an air guiding surface 16a which diverts airflow leaving the diverter outlet 12a at a proximal edge 20 of the diverter outlet 12a so as to more closely align it with a vertical direction. By
"proximal edge of the diverter outlet", it is meant an edge of the diverter outlet 12a which is closest to the rear interior wall of the refrigerator. As discussed above, the aerofoil 6a should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8 in order for it to effectively guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 8 back into the stream of the air curtain 8. However, in refrigerators in which the shelves are set back from the proximal edge 10 of the air outlet 4, a large gap (Y of Figure IF) would be required between the front edge 9a of the shelf 3a and the aerofoil 6a in order to achieve this placement of the aerofoil 6a. A large gap is undesirable as it renders the aerofoil 6a obtrusive to shoppers and staff when reaching for products displayed within the refrigerator. Furthermore, the brackets attaching the aerofoil 6a to the refrigerator 1 would need to be longer, rendering them prone to breakage or deformation if, for example, a shopper rests a shopping basket on an aerofoil 6a. The diverter 12 of the present invention solves this problem by diverting the air flow in the air duct 11 before it leaves the air outlet 4. The air flow in the air duct 11 passes along the air guiding surface 13, which acts to alter its direction such that - upon leaving the air duct 11 - the air flow is directed away from the vertical towards a rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1. This has the effect of translating the air curtain 8 in a direction toward the rear interior wall of the refrigerator. The front edge 7 of the air curtain 8 is thus brought closer to the front edge 9a of the shelf 3a, hence the gap between the front edge 9a of the shelf 3a and the aerofoil 6a can be reduced while still ensuring that the aerofoil 6a is roughly coincident with the outer edge 7 of the air curtain 8. The diverter 12 thus allows for effective use of aerofoils 6a in order to increase the energy efficiency of
refrigerators 1 in which the shelves are set back from the air outlet 4, whilst avoiding the above- mentioned disadvantages resulting from a large gap between the shelf 3a and the aerofoil 6a.
The diverter of the present invention can also be used in refrigerators which have a deep air outlet i.e. a large gap between the proximal edge and distal edge of the air outlet (e.g. X in Figure IF being greater than 75 mm, or even 100mm or greater), but in which the shelves are not set back from the proximal edge of the air outlet. Alternatively, the diverter can be used in refrigerators in which the shelves are set back from the proximal edge of the air outlet, but which do not have a deep air outlet (i.e. a distance between the proximal and distal edges of the air outlet is 75 mm or less). As shown in Figure 3A, open display refrigerators may further comprise additional air outlets in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator, to provide additional cooling of the refrigerated storage space. The diverter of the present invention can also be used to increase the energy efficiency of such refrigerators. In the absence of a diverter, airflow 22 from the additional air outlets may act to increase the distance between the rear interior wall of the refrigerator and the air curtain 8, and to increase the degree of misalignment of the interface 7 between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior with the air curtain guide (thus reducing the effectiveness of the air curtain guide, and reducing the energy efficiency of the refrigerator). The presence of a honeycomb structure 18 (i.e. a cellular matrix of channels) in the air outlet 4 cannot ameliorate this problem, as it only acts to direct air flow in the air curtain 8 towards the vertical upon its exit from the air outlet 4. However, as shown in Figure 3B, the diverter 12 of the present invention acts to direct the air flow in the air duct 11 back towards the rear interior wall of the refrigerator 1 upon its exit from the air outlet 4, hence the above effect of the airflow 22 from the additional air outlets is reduced (and may even be eliminated). That is, the diverter 12 ensures that the interface 7 between the air curtain 8 and the air exterior to the refrigerated storage space 2 is aligned with the air curtain guide 6a, even in the presence of further airflow 22 from the additional air outlets. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3B, this effect of the diverter 12 means that the honeycomb structure 18 can be omitted from the refrigerator. As discussed above, omission of the honeycomb structure is advantageous, as such structures can become blocked by dust and debris, and also tend to create a back-pressure on the air passing through the air outlet (i.e. the pressure of the air in the air duct is increased).
Figure 4 shows a cooling unit 100 which is similar to the refrigerator 1 illustrated in Figure 2, but which further includes a door 130 having a transparent window 132. A cross-section through only the top portion of the cooling unit 100 is shown. The cooling unit 100 comprises an interior space 101 and a door 130 which comprises a transparent window 132 and separates the interior space 101 from air external to the cooling unit 100. The interior space 101 comprises a refrigerated storage space 102 and an access space 134. Air in the refrigerated storage space 102 is separated from air in the access space 134 by an air curtain 108 established by a fan (not shown) which blows air through an air outlet 104 towards a corresponding air inlet (not shown) which recovers air from the air curtain 108 for recirculation through an air duct 111 to the air outlet 104. The air curtain 108 is within the interior space 101 and is spaced from the door 130, and the access space 134 is bounded by the door 130 and the air curtain 108. The cooling unit 100 also comprises an air curtain guide 106a (in the form of an aerofoil in the embodiment shown in Figure 4), for guiding flow of air within the air curtain 108. The cooling unit 100 also comprises a shelf 103a disposed within the refrigerated storage space 102. The aerofoil 6a is attached to the front edge 109a of shelf 103a by way of brackets (not shown). In this embodiment, the shelf 103a is set back from the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104 (i.e. a distance from a rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100 to the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100 to the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104). The air outlet 104 is also deep, i.e. there is a distance X of greater than 75 mm between the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet and the distal edge 115 of the air outlet 104.
The refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 4 also comprises a diverter 112 positioned at the air outlet 104 and extending into the air duct 111. The diverter 112 has an air guiding surface 113 which diverts airflow within the air duct 111 prior to it leaving the air outlet 104, such that an interface 107 between the air curtain 108 and the access space 134 is aligned with the air curtain guide 106a. The aerofoil 106a has a suction surface 117a which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space 102. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the diverter 112 comprises a front section 114 disposed towards a distal edge 115 of the air outlet 104, and the air guiding surface 113 is a concave surface of the front section 114. This concave surface faces toward a rear of the cooling unit 100. The diverter 112 also comprises a rear section 116 disposed towards a proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 4. The rear section 116 extends from the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104 in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100, and is connected to the front section 114 by a connecting portion (not shown).
A diverter outlet 112a is formed between the front section 114 and the rear section 116, and the airflow in the air duct 111 leaves the air outlet 104 through the diverter outlet 112a. The rear section 116 has an air guiding surface 116a which diverts airflow leaving the diverter outlet 112a at a proximal edge 120 of the diverter outlet 112a so as to more closely align it with a vertical direction. By "proximal edge of the diverter outlet", it is meant an edge of the diverter outlet 112a which is closest to the rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100. As discussed above, the aerofoil 106a should be roughly coincident with the outer edge 107 of the air curtain 108 in order for it to effectively guide air which is moving out of a stream of the air curtain 108 back into the stream of the air curtain 108. However, in cooling units in which the shelves are set back from the proximal edge 110 of the air outlet 104, a large gap Y would be required between the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a and the aerofoil 106a in order to achieve this placement of the aerofoil 106a. A large gap is undesirable as it renders the aerofoil 6a obtrusive to shoppers and staff when reaching for products displayed within the cooling unit. Furthermore, the brackets attaching the aerofoil 106a to the cooling unit 100 would need to be longer, rendering them prone to breakage or deformation if, for example, a shopper rests a shopping basket on an aerofoil 106a. The diverter 112 of the present invention solves this problem by diverting the air flow in the air duct 111 before it leaves the air outlet 104. The air flow in the air duct 111 passes along the air guiding surface 113, which acts to alter its direction such that - upon leaving the air duct 111 - the air flow is directed away from the vertical towards a rear interior wall of the cooling unit 100. This has the effect of translating the air curtain 108 in a direction toward the rear interior wall of the cooling unit. The front edge 107 of the air curtain 108 is thus brought closer to the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a, hence the gap between the front edge 109a of the shelf 103a and the aerofoil 106a can be reduced while still ensuring that the aerofoil 106a is roughly coincident with the outer edge 107 of the air curtain 108. The diverter 112 thus allows for effective use of aerofoils 106a in order to increase the energy efficiency of cooling units 100 in which the shelves are set back from the air outlet 104, whilst avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages resulting from a large gap between the shelf 103a and the aerofoil 106a. An additional advantage of utilising the diverter 112 of the present invention in cooling units 100 which comprise a door 130 having a transparent window 132 is that the air curtain 108 is moved away from the inner surface 136 of the door 130 (and is held away from this inner surface 136 by the air curtain guides 106), which reduces the cooling effect of the air curtain 108 on the transparent window 132 of the door 130, and reduces the extent of misting of the transparent window 132 when the door 130 is opened.

Claims

1. An open display refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet,
an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, and
a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
2 A cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space;
wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain;
wherein the cooling unit further comprises:
an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space; and
a diverter positioned at the air outlet and extending into the air duct, the diverter having an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
3. The open display refrigerator of claim 1 or the cooling unit of claim 2, wherein the diverter comprises a front section disposed towards a distal edge of the air outlet and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section, which concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
4. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 3, wherein a diverter outlet is formed between the front section of the diverter and a proximal edge of the air outlet, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
5. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 3, wherein the diverter further comprises a rear section disposed towards a proximal edge of the air outlet and extending from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
6. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 5, wherein the front section is connected to the rear section by a connecting portion.
7. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein a diverter outlet is formed between the front section and the rear section, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
8. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any preceding claim, wherein the air curtain guide has a suction surface which faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space.
9. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 8, wherein the suction surface of the air curtain guide is aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
10. The open display refrigerator of any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the suction surface lies at the interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator.
11. The cooling unit of any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the suction surface lies at the interface between the air curtain and the access space.
12. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any preceding claim, further comprising a shelf disposed in the refrigerated storage space.
13. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 12, wherein the air curtain guide is associated with the shelf.
14. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 13, wherein the air curtain guide is attached to the shelf.
15. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 14, wherein the air curtain guide is attached to the shelf by way of brackets.
16. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any one of claims 13-15, wherein the shelf has a front edge which faces away from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
17. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 16, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 99mm or less.
18. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 17, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 90mm or less.
19. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 18, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 80mm or less.
20. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 19, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 75mm or less.
21. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 20, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 65mm or less.
22. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 21, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 55mm or less.
23. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any one of claims 16-22, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 15mm or greater.
24. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 23, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 20 mm or greater.
25. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 24, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 30mm or greater.
26. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 25, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 40mm or greater.
27. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 26, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 50mm or greater.
28. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any one of claims 16-27, wherein a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to the front edge of the shelf is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to a proximal edge of the air outlet.
29. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any preceding claim, wherein the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil.
30. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any preceding claim, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of greater than 75 mm.
31. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 30, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of 80 mm or greater.
32. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 31, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of 90 mm or greater.
33. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of claim 32, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of 100 mm or greater.
34. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one additional air outlet in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
35. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any preceding claim, wherein the refrigerator or cooling unit includes a honeycomb structure positioned in the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.
36. The open display refrigerator or cooling unit of any one of claims 1-34, wherein the refrigerator or cooling unit does not include a honeycomb structure in the air outlet or the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.
37. The cooling unit of any one of claims 1-36, wherein the cooling unit is a refrigerator.
38. The cooling unit of any one of claims 1-36, wherein the cooling unit is a freezer.
39. A diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of an open display refrigerator and to extend into an air duct of the refrigerator, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between an air curtain of the refrigerator and air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain of the refrigerator.
40. A diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of a cooling unit and to extend into an air duct of the cooling unit, the cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door having a transparent window, the door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, and the interior space comprising a refrigerated storage space which is separated from an access space by an air curtain;
wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the cooling unit and the access space is aligned with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain.
41. A kit comprising an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within an air curtain of an open display refrigerator, and a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of the open display refrigerator and to extend into an air duct of the refrigerator, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the refrigerator and air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
42. A kit comprising an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within an air curtain of a cooling unit, and a diverter suitable to be positioned at an air outlet of the cooling unit and to extend into an air duct of the cooling unit, the cooling unit comprising an interior space and a door having a transparent window, the door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, and the interior space comprising a refrigerated storage space which is separated from an access space by an air curtain;
wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which is capable of diverting airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain of the cooling unit and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
43. The diverter or kit of any one of claims 39-42, wherein the diverter further comprises a fixing area by which the diverter may be attached to the refrigerator or cooling unit.
44. The diverter or kit of claim 43, wherein the fixing area comprises a through-hole which is capable of receiving a screw.
45. The diverter or kit of any one of claims 39-44, wherein the diverter comprises a front section suitable to be disposed towards a distal edge of the air outlet, and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section.
46. The diverter or kit of claim 45, wherein the diverter further comprises a rear section suitable to be disposed towards a proximal edge of the air outlet and to extend from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
47. The diverter or kit of claim 46, wherein the front section is connected to the rear section by a connecting portion.
48. The diverter or kit of any one of claims 39-47, wherein the air curtain guide comprises a suction surface.
49. The diverter or kit of any one of claims 39-48, wherein the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil.
50. A method of modifying an open display refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises: a refrigerated storage space, in which air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet; and an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; the method comprising:
positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
51. A method of modifying an open display refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises: a refrigerated storage space, in which air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet;
the method comprising:
providing the refrigerator with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and
positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the air exterior to the refrigerator is aligned with the air curtain guide.
52. A method of modifying a cooling unit, wherein the cooling comprises an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space; wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain; wherein the cooling unit further comprises an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space;
the method comprising:
positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
53. A method of modifying a cooling unit, wherein the cooling comprises an interior space and a door; wherein the door comprises a transparent window and separates the interior space from air external to the cooling unit; and wherein the interior space comprises (i) a refrigerated storage space and (ii) an access space; wherein air in the refrigerated storage space is separated from air in the access space by an air curtain 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 through an air duct to the air outlet, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door, and the access space being bounded by the door and the air curtain;
the method comprising:
providing the interior space of the cooling unit with an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain; and
positioning a diverter at the air outlet such that the diverter extends into the air duct, wherein the diverter has an air guiding surface which diverts airflow within the air duct prior to it leaving the air outlet, such that an interface between the air curtain and the access space is aligned with the air curtain guide.
54. The method of any one of claims 50-53, wherein the diverter comprises a front section and the air guiding surface is a concave surface of the front section, and the method further comprises disposing the front section towards a distal edge of the air outlet and positioning the front section such that the concave surface faces toward a rear of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
55. The method of claim 54, comprising positioning the diverter such that a diverter outlet is formed between the front section of the diverter and a proximal edge of the air outlet, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the diverter further comprises a rear section, and the method further comprises positioning the diverter such that the rear section is positioned towards a proximal edge of the air outlet such that the rear section extends from the proximal edge of the air outlet in a direction toward a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the front section is connected to the rear section by a connecting portion.
58. The method of claim 56 or claim 57, comprising positioning the diverter such that a diverter outlet is formed between the front section and the rear section, and the airflow in the air duct leaves the air outlet through the diverter outlet.
59. The method of any one of claims 50-58, wherein the air curtain guide has a suction surface and is positioned such that the suction surface faces outwardly from the refrigerated storage space.
60. The method of claim 59, further comprising aligning the suction surface of the air curtain guide in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with a distal edge of the diverter outlet.
61. The method of claim 59 or 60, further comprising aligning the air curtain guide such that the suction surface lies at the interface between the air curtain and the access space or the air exterior to the refrigerator.
62. The method of any one of claims 50-61, wherein the refrigerator or cooling unit comprises a shelf disposed in the refrigerated storage space.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the air curtain guide is associated with the shelf.
64. The method of claim 63, wherein the air curtain guide is attached to the shelf.
65. The method of claim 64, wherein the air curtain guide is attached to the shelf by way of brackets.
66. The method of any one of claims 62-65, wherein the shelf has a front edge which faces away from a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 99mm or less.
68. The method of claim 67, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 90mm or less.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 80mm or less.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 75mm or less.
71. The method of claim 70, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 65mm or less.
72. The method of claim 71, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 55mm or less.
73. The method of any one of claims 67-72, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 15mm or greater.
74. The method of claim 73, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 20 mm or greater.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 30mm or greater.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 40mm or greater.
77. The method of claim 76, wherein the air curtain guide is spaced from the front edge of the shelf by a distance of 50mm or greater.
78. The method of any one of claims 66-77, wherein a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to the front edge of the shelf is less than a distance from the rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit to a proximal edge of the air outlet.
79. The method of any one of claims 50-78, wherein the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil.
80. The method of any one of claims 50-79, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of greater than 75 mm.
81. The method of claim 80, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of 80 mm or greater.
82. The method of claim 81, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of 90 mm or greater.
83. The method of claim 82, wherein a proximal edge of the air outlet and a distal edge of the air outlet are spaced from one another by a distance of 100 mm or greater.
84. The method of any one of claims 50-83, wherein the refrigerator or cooling unit further comprises at least one additional air outlet in a rear interior wall of the refrigerator or cooling unit.
85. The method of any one of claims 50-84, further comprising positioning a honeycomb structure in the diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.
86. The method of any one of claims 50-84, wherein the refrigerator or cooling unit does not include a honeycomb structure in the air outlet or diverter outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.
87. The method of any one of claims 52-86, wherein the cooling unit is a refrigerator.
88. The method of any one of claims 52-86, wherein the cooling unit is a freezer.
PCT/GB2018/052721 2017-09-26 2018-09-25 Improvements to open display refrigerators WO2019063987A1 (en)

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