WO2020038837A1 - A refrigerated display case and flow control device - Google Patents

A refrigerated display case and flow control device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020038837A1
WO2020038837A1 PCT/EP2019/071998 EP2019071998W WO2020038837A1 WO 2020038837 A1 WO2020038837 A1 WO 2020038837A1 EP 2019071998 W EP2019071998 W EP 2019071998W WO 2020038837 A1 WO2020038837 A1 WO 2020038837A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
control device
flow control
shelf
slot
bracket
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2019/071998
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nicholas Wirth
Original Assignee
Wirth Research 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 Wirth Research Limited filed Critical Wirth Research Limited
Publication of WO2020038837A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020038837A1/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
    • A47F3/0439—Cases or cabinets of the open type
    • A47F3/0469—Details, e.g. night covers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
    • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
    • A47F3/0439—Cases or cabinets of the open type
    • A47F3/0443—Cases or cabinets of the open type with forced air circulation
    • A47F3/0447—Cases or cabinets of the open type with forced air circulation with air curtains
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
    • A47F3/04—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
    • A47F3/0482—Details common to both closed and open types
    • 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
    • F25D23/023—Air curtain closures

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a refrigerated display case, a flow control device assembly and a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf.
  • Refrigerated display cases utilise an air curtain which is cooled to below ambient temperature and propelled downward, across the front of the display case (either over the open front or behind the refrigerator doors).
  • the invention seeks to provide developments which improve the installation of flow control devices.
  • a refrigerated display case comprising: a refrigerated display area; an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another; a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct airflow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area;
  • the display area comprises at least one shelf, wherein a plurality of hook elements extend from a front surface of the at least one shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion which is affixed to the front of the shelf and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion;
  • the at least one shelf further comprises a flow control device which projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide the air curtain as it passes across the display area; wherein the flow control device is detachably connected to the shelf by a plurality of brackets each having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements.
  • the flow control device may be clipped to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
  • the brackets may each comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw and wherein the stabilising beam is received between the upper and lower jaws.
  • the refrigerated display case may further comprise a retaining clip which is received over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engages with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam within the upper and lower jaws.
  • the stabilising beam may be an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device may further comprise a second outer stabilising beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer airflow slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams.
  • the retaining clip may comprise a spacer portion and the outer stabilising beam may be attached to a distal end of the spacer portion.
  • Each bracket may comprise a flange and a spacer portion which spaces the flange from the front of the shelf to form a riser slot for receiving a riser plate.
  • a surface of the slot may have a taper angle such that the bracket is translated towards and into abutment with the front of the shelf as the bracket is slid over the hook element.
  • the refrigerated display case may further comprise a slot packing element which is received within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
  • the slot packing element may be retained in the receiving slot by a pin which passes through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element.
  • the slot packing element may comprise a neck-supporting portion and a head- supporting portion.
  • the receiving slot may comprise a neck-receiving section and a head-receiving section which is wider than the neck-receiving section.
  • a flow control device assembly for a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: a flow control device; a plurality of hook elements connectable to a front surface of the shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion; a plurality of brackets supporting the flow control device, each bracket having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements so as to detachably connect the flow control device to the shelf.
  • the flow control device may comprise a stabilising beam.
  • the flow control device may be clipped to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
  • the brackets may each comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw and wherein the stabilising beam is received between the upper and lower jaws.
  • the flow control device assembly may further comprise a retaining clip which is received over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engages with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam within the upper and lower jaws.
  • the stabilising beam may be an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device may further comprise a second outer stabilising beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer airflow slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams.
  • the retaining clip may comprise a spacer portion and the outer stabilising beam may be attached to a distal end of the spacer portion.
  • Each bracket may comprise a flange and a spacer portion which spaces the flange from the front of the shelf to form a riser slot for receiving a riser plate.
  • a surface of the receiving slot may have a taper angle such that the bracket is translated towards and into abutment with the front of the shelf as the bracket is slid over the hook element.
  • the flow control device assembly may further comprise a slot packing element which is received within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
  • the slot packing element may be retained in the receiving slot by a pin which passes through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element.
  • the slot packing element may comprise a neck-supporting portion and a head- supporting portion.
  • the receiving slot may comprise a neck-receiving section and a head-receiving section which is wider than the neck-receiving section.
  • a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: attaching a plurality of hook elements to a front surface of a shelf, sliding a bracket over each of the hook elements such that the hook element is received within a receiving slot formed in the bracket; wherein the brackets support a flow control device such that the flow control device projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide an air curtain formed across a display area of the refrigerated display case.
  • the method may further comprise inserting a slot packing element within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
  • the method may further comprise passing a pin through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element to retain the slot packing element in the receiving slot.
  • the flow control device may comprise a stabilising beam, the method further comprising clipping the flow control device to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
  • a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: attaching a plurality of brackets to a front surface of a shelf, clipping a flow control device to the brackets via a stabilising beam of the flow control device.
  • the method may further comprise placing a retaining clip over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engaging the retaining clip with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam.
  • the stabilising beam may be an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device may further comprise a second outer stabilising beam.
  • the retaining clip may comprise a spacer portion. The method may further comprise attaching the outer stabilising beam to a distal end of the spacer portion
  • the method may further comprise removing a strip for retaining a riser plate from the front of the shelf, wherein the plurality of brackets are affixed to the front surface of the shelf via holes previously used to connect the strip to the front of the shelf.
  • Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an open refrigerated display case (ORDC) comprising a flow control device;
  • ODC open refrigerated display case
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of a flow control device
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a shelf bracket
  • Figure 4 is a side view of the shelf bracket
  • Figure 5 is a rear view of the shelf bracket
  • Figure 6 is a bottom view of the shelf bracket
  • Figure 7 is a first rear cross-sectional view of the shelf bracket through plane A-A highlighted in Figure 4;
  • Figure 8 is a second rear cross-sectional view of the shelf bracket through plane B-B highlighted in Figure 4;
  • Figure 9 is a front view of the shelf bracket;
  • Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the shelf bracket through plane C-C highlighted in Figure 9;
  • Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a slot packing element for attachment to the shelf bracket
  • Figure 12 is a bottom view of the slot packing element
  • Figure 13 is a front view of the slot packing element
  • Figure 14 is a perspective view of a retaining clip for attachment to the shelf bracket;
  • Figure 15 is a perspective view of a hook element;
  • Figure 16 is a side view of the hook element
  • Figure 17 is a perspective view of a conventional shelf
  • Figure 18 is a side view of the shelf
  • Figure 19 shows a modified shelf with the hook element in place
  • Figure 20 shows the shelf bracket being installed onto the hook element
  • Figure 21 shows a modified shelf with a pair of shelf brackets installed
  • Figure 22 shows the slot packing element being inserted into the shelf bracket after installation on the hook element
  • Figure 23 shows a pin being installed to retain the slot packing element in place
  • Figures 24 and 25 show the flow control device being installed in the shelf bracket
  • Figures 26 to 28 show the retaining clip being installed on the shelf bracket
  • Figure 29 shows a retaining clip according to another example which forms a spacer between the inner and outer beams.
  • FIG. 1 shows an ORDC 2.
  • the ORDC 2 comprises a cabinet portion formed by a lower wall 4, a back wall 6, an upper wall 8, and left and right side walls (not shown).
  • a lower panel 10, a back panel 12 and an upper panel 14 are disposed within the cabinet portion.
  • the lower, back and upper panels 10, 12, 14 form a display area 15 which is provided with a plurality of shelves 17 (four are shown) on which items may be displayed.
  • the shelves 17 are affixed to the back panel 12.
  • the lower, back and upper panels 10, 12, 14 are spaced from the respective lower, back and upper walls 4, 6, 8 to form a duct 16.
  • An intake grille 18 is provided at the lower panel 10 to form an inlet to the duct 16.
  • a discharge grille 20 is provided at the upper panel 14 to form an outlet from the duct 16.
  • the intake grille 18 and the discharge grille 20 are thus fluidically coupled to one another by the duct 16.
  • the intake grille 18 and the discharge grille 20 are spaced from the back panel 12 toward the front of the cabinet portion and ahead of the shelves 17.
  • a fan 22 and a heat exchanger 24 are located within the duct 16 adjacent to the intake grille 18 and thus are disposed between the lower wall 4 and the lower panel 10.
  • the fan 22 draws air into the duct 16 via the intake grille 18 which then passes through the heat exchanger 24 where it is cooled to well below the ambient temperature.
  • the air After passing through the heat exchanger 24, the air continues through the duct 16 between the back wall 6 and the back panel 12.
  • the back panel 12 is perforated allowing air to pass from the duct 16 into the display area 15 where it cools items located on the shelves 17 and on the lower panel 10.
  • the remaining air flows through the duct 16 to the discharge grille 20.
  • the air is ejected from the discharge grille 20 and descends over the open front of the display area 15 to form an air curtain 26.
  • the air curtain 26 passes from the discharge grille 20 to the intake grille 18, where it is drawn in by the fan 22 and re-circulated through the duct 16.
  • the air curtain 26 thus forms a non-physical barrier which separates the display area 15 from the ambient air surrounding the ORDC 2.
  • a flow control device 102 is attached to each of the shelves (although, in other arrangements, only some of the shelves may be provided with flow control devices 102).
  • the flow control device 102 is formed as a module (i.e. a cassette) which comprises a pair of elongate elements in the form of stabilising beams 108a, 108b.
  • the beams 108a, 108b are connected by a pair of spacers 1 10a, 1 10b.
  • the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b are provided towards the lateral ends of the beams 108a, 108b.
  • a central spacer 1 12 may also be provided at the centre of the beams 108a, 108b, midway along their lengths.
  • the beams 108a, 108b are spaced apart from one another by the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b such that upper edges and lower edges of the beams 108a, 108b run parallel to one another.
  • the beams 108a, 108b are, however, angled relative to one another so that a gap between the beams 108a, 108b tapers, with the upper edges of the beams 108a, 108b being further apart than the lower edges.
  • the outer beam 108a may be arranged substantially vertically (i.e. with its upper and lower edges aligned in a vertical plane) and the inner beam 108b may be angled so as to form a tapering gap between the beams 108a, 108b.
  • the device 102 may further comprise a product information strip 1 14 which may clip over the upper and lower edges of the outer beam 108a.
  • the product information strip 1 14 has a channel for receiving tickets which display information regarding products, such as the product’s price.
  • the beams 108a, 106b define a first, outer (airflow) slot 160 between the outer and inner beams 108a, 108b and a second, inner (airflow) slot 162 between the inner beam 108b and the outer surface of the shelf.
  • the first slot 160 tapers from an inlet at an upper end to an outlet at a lower end.
  • the inlet has a greater width than the outlet and a convergent throat is disposed between the inlet and the outlet.
  • the beams 108a, 108b are positioned such that the air curtain 26 passes through the outer and inner slots 160, 162.
  • the beams 108a, 108b act to control and stabilise the air curtain so as to maximise the air which is returned to the intake grille 18 and prevent air from spilling out of the ORDC 2.
  • FIG. 3 shows a shelf bracket 202 which may be used to attach the flow control device 102 to the shelf 17.
  • the shelf bracket 202 comprises an arm portion 204 which carries at its distal end (as defined with respect to the shelf) a jaw portion 206.
  • the jaw portion 206 comprises a pair of upper jaws 208a, 208b and a pair of lower jaws 210a, 210b.
  • a pair of wings 212a, 212b extend laterally from a proximal end of the arm portion 204 at the opposite end to the jaw portion 206.
  • the shelf bracket 202 further comprises a spacer portion 214 which projects from the arm portion 204 adjacent to the wings 212a, 212b.
  • the spacer portion 214 comprises a (receiving) slot 216 which extends vertically and is open at a lower end and closed at an upper end, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
  • the spacer portion 214 is thus generally U-shaped.
  • the slot 216 extends towards the arm portion 204 and comprises a neck-receiving section 218 and a head-receiving section 220.
  • the plane A-A highlighted in Figure 4 passes through the neck-receiving section 218, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 7, whereas the plane B-B highlighted in Figure 4 passes through the head- receiving section 220, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 8.
  • the neck-receiving section 218 has a first width Wi (see Figure 5) and the head-receiving section 220 has a second width W 2 (see Figure 8) which is larger than the first width Wi, as best seen in Figure 6.
  • the neck-receiving section 218 has a first depth Di and the head-receiving section 220 has a second depth D 2 .
  • the depth Di of the neck-receiving section 218 is such that it extends entirely through the spacer portion 214 and the head- receiving section 220 is formed in the region of the wings 212a, 212b.
  • the upper ends of the neck-receiving section 218 and the head-receiving section 220 are both semi- circular, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
  • a hole 222 passes through either lateral side of the spacer portion 214.
  • the jaw portion 206 comprises a pair of upper jaws 208a, 208b and a pair of lower jaws 210a, 210b.
  • the upper jaws 208a, 208b are spaced laterally from one another and an upper clip-retaining formation 224 is provided therebetween.
  • the lower jaws 210a, 210b are spaced laterally from one another and a lower clip-retaining formation 226 is provided therebetween.
  • the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 each define a notch or indentation in the jaw portion 206.
  • Figure 1 1 shows a slot packing element 302 for attachment to the shelf bracket 202.
  • the slot packing element 302 is configured to be received by the slot 216.
  • the slot packing element 302 thus comprises a neck-supporting portion 304 and a head-supporting portion 306 which are sized to be received by the neck-receiving section 218 and the head-receiving section 220 respectively.
  • the neck-supporting portion 304 comprises an arcuate upper saddle surface 308 and the head-supporting portion 306 comprises an arcuate lower saddle surface 310.
  • the upper saddle surface 308 of the neck-supporting portion 304 is spaced upwards from the lower saddle surface 310 of the head-supporting portion 306.
  • a hole 312 extends through the thickness of the neck-supporting portion 304.
  • the slot packing element 302 is configured to be received by the slot 216 and so its dimensions correspond to (in other words, depending on the context, are slightly smaller or larger than) those of the slot 216.
  • the width W 3 of the neck-supporting portion 304 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the first width Wi of the neck-receiving section 218, the length Li of the neck-supporting portion 304 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly larger than) the depth Di of the neck-receiving section 218, the length l_2 of the head-supporting portion 306 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the second depth D 2 of the head- receiving section 220 and the combined length l_ 3 of the entire slot packing element 302 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the total depth of the slot 216.
  • the upper saddle surface 308 and the lower saddle surface 310 have a common centre (i.e. are concentric).
  • the upper saddle surface 308 has a first radius of curvature Ri and the lower saddle surface 310 has a second radius of curvature R 2 which is larger than the first radius of curvature Ri, as will be described in further detail below.
  • Figure 14 shows a retaining clip 402 for attachment to the shelf bracket 202.
  • the retaining clip 402 is generally C-shaped and comprises an upper tooth 404 and a lower tooth 406 which are configured to respectively engage with the notch defined by the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 of the jaw portion 206.
  • Figure 15 shows a hook element 502.
  • the hook element 502 is configured to be received by the slot 216 of the shelf bracket 202.
  • the hook element 502 comprises a head portion 504 and a neck portion 506 and thus may be considered to have the form of a top hat.
  • a hole 508 extends through the head portion 504 and the neck portion 506 along the axis of the hook element 502.
  • Both the head portion 504 and the neck portion 506 are circular in cross-section.
  • the head portion 504 has first diameter 0 1 and the neck portion 506 has a second diameter 0 2 which is smaller than the first diameter 0 1 , as shown in Figure 16.
  • the diameter 0 1 of the head portion 504 corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the second width W 2 of the head-receiving section 220 of the slot 216.
  • the diameter 0 2 of the neck portion 506 corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the first width Wi of the neck-receiving section 218 of the slot 216.
  • the neck portion 506 has a length l_ 4 which corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly larger than) the depth Di of the neck-receiving section 218.
  • the head portion 504 has a length which corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the depth D 2 of the head- receiving section 220.
  • the combined length l_ 5 of the hook element 502 corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the combined depth of the neck- receiving section 218 and the head-receiving section 220 (i.e. the sum of the first and second depths Di and D 2 ) of the slot 216.
  • the shelf 617 comprises a shelf plate 602 on which products may be supported.
  • the shelf 617 is provided with a strip 604 (which may form or carry a product information strip) which runs along the front of the shelf 617 and is spaced therefrom by a plurality of spacers 605.
  • the strip 604 is attached to the shelf 617 by a plurality (two are shown) of rivets 606 or the like which pass through the spacers 605.
  • a (riser) slot is thus formed between the front of the shelf 617 and the strip 604 which is sized to receive a riser plate 608.
  • the riser plate 608 comprises a plurality of slots along one side which extend partway into the riser plate 608 and are received over the spacers 605 located between the shelf plate 602 and the strip 604.
  • the riser plate 608 rises above the level of the shelf plate 602 and thus forms an upstand for retaining products on the shelf plate 602.
  • the strip 604 is first removed from the shelf plate 602.
  • the strip 604 may be removed by drilling out the rivets.
  • a hook element 502 can then be affixed to the shelf 617 via each the holes through which the rivets previously passed, as shown in Figure 19.
  • the hook element 502 can be affixed to the shelf 617 by passing a rivet or other fastener through the hole 508 of the hook element 502 and into the hole in the front of the shelf 617.
  • the hook element 502 thus projects from the front of the shelf 617 with the head portion 504 spaced from the shelf 617 by the neck portion 506.
  • a shelf bracket 202 can then be attached to the shelf 617 via each hook element 502, as shown in Figures 20 and 21. Specifically, each shelf bracket 202 can be received over one of the hook elements 502 such that the hook element 502 slides along the slot 216 formed in the shelf bracket 202. Specifically, the neck portion 506 of the hook element 502 slides along the neck-receiving section 218 of the slot 216 and the head portion 504 of the hook element 502 slides along the head-receiving section 220 of the slot 216.
  • An outwardly facing surface of the head-receiving section 220 may have a taper (draft) angle such that as it slides downwards over the head portion 504, the shelf bracket 202 translates towards the shelf 617 until the spacer portion 214 abuts against the front of the shelf 617.
  • the head portion 504 seats against the semi-circular end of the head receiving section 220 and the neck portion 506 seats against the semi-circular end of the neck-receiving section 218.
  • the semi-circular ends have a radius of curvature which corresponds to the diameters 01 and 0 2 of the head portion 504 and the neck portion 506 respectively.
  • the slot packing element 302 can then be inserted into the shelf bracket 202. Specifically, the slot packing element 302 can be slid into the slot 216 with the neck-supporting portion 304 received by the neck-receiving section 218 and the head-supporting portion 306 received by the head-receiving section 220.
  • the slot packing element 302 is slid along the slot 216 until the arcuate upper saddle surface 308 of the neck-supporting portion 304 is brought into contact with the neck 506 of the hook element 502 and the arcuate lower saddle surface 310 of the head- supporting portion 306 is brought into contact with the head 504 of the hook element 502.
  • the radius of curvature Ri and R 2 of the arcuate upper saddle surface 308 and the arcuate lower saddle surface 310 correspond to the diameters 0 2 and 0 1 of the neck portion 506 and the head portion 504 respectively so that the upper and lower saddle surfaces 308, 310 fully engage the hook element 502.
  • the locking pin 702 may comprise a threaded portion which screws into a complementary thread in the spacer portion 214.
  • the slot packing element 302 fills the cavity of the slot 216 below the hook element 502.
  • the slot packing element 302 improves the appearance of the brackets 202 and allows easier cleaning.
  • the slot packing element 302 provides material through which load is distributed when a load is applied downward on the brackets 202.
  • the flow control device 102 can then be attached to the shelf brackets 202.
  • the flow control device 102 can be clipped to the shelf brackets 202 by first locating an upper edge of the inner beam 108b under the upper jaws 208a, 208b and then rotating the flow control device 102 to cause a lower edge of the inner beam 108b to ride over and into engagement with the lower jaws 210a, 210b.
  • the retaining clip 402 is connected to the shelf bracket 202. Specifically, as shown in Figures 26 to 28, the lower tooth 406 is first engaged with the notch defined by the lower clip-retaining formation 226 and the retaining clip is then forced over the upper clip-retaining formation 224 and into engagement with its notch. The inner beam 108b is thus sandwiched between the jaw portion 206 of the shelf bracket 202 and the retaining clip 402.
  • the flow control device 102 is clipped to the shelf bracket 202 by first locating an upper edge of the inner beam 108b under the upper jaws 208a, 208b, whereas the retaining clip 402 is clipped to the shelf bracket 202 by first locating the lower tooth 406 within the notch defined by the lower clip-retaining formation 226.
  • the retaining clip 402 is therefore connected in the opposite manner to the flow control device 102 and this prevents the flow control device 102 from being easily detached from the brackets 202.
  • shelf bracket 202 can be affixed to the inner beam 108b of the flow control device 102 at any position along its length (provided it does not coincide with any of the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b, 1 12) and so the flow control device 102 can be attached to shelves with holes (and thus hook elements 502) located in different lateral positions.
  • the riser plate 608 may be refitted by placing it over the spacer portions 214 of the shelf brackets 202.
  • the wings 212a, 212b of each shelf bracket 202 hold the riser plate 608 in place.
  • the flow control device 102 and the brackets 202 can be quickly detached from the shelf. This may be beneficial for procedures such as cleaning or if it is necessary to replace the flow control device 102 and/or brackets 202 (for example, if the shelf is placed at an incline, then a different flow control device 102 and/or brackets 202 may be required).
  • the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary flow control device, it will be appreciated that it may be used with any form of flow control device.
  • the flow control device may have only a single beam.
  • the bracket 202 may contain only a single upper jaw 208 and a single lower jaw 210.
  • the function of the wings 212a, 212b may be provided by any suitable flange formation.
  • Figure 29 shows another example of a retaining clip 802.
  • the retaining clip 802 comprises a generally C-shaped portion which has an upper tooth and a lower tooth which are configured to respectively engage with the notch defined by the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 of the jaw portion 206.
  • a spacer portion 804 extends from the C-shaped portion.
  • the spacer portion 804 replaces the spacers between the outer and inner stabilising beams 108a, 108b such that the outer beam 108a connects directly to a distal end of the spacer portion 804.
  • the outer and inner beams 108a, 108b are therefore not formed as a unitary module or cassette, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the outer beam 108a may be detachably connected to the spacer portion 804 by a screw or other fastener.
  • the outer beam 108a may be clipped onto the spacer portion 804.
  • the spacer portion 804 may comprise upper and lower jaws which receive the outer beam 108a in a similar manner to the jaws 208, 210 of the shelf bracket 202 which receive the inner beam 108b.
  • the spacer portion 804 may similarly comprise upper and lower clip-retaining formations, such as the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 of the shelf bracket 202, and a retaining clip similar to the retaining clip 402 may be affixed over the outer surface of the outer blade 108a.
  • a retaining clip 802 with an integrated spacer portion means that the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b, 1 12 between the beams 108a, 108b can be dispensed with and the shelf bracket 202 can therefore be affixed to the inner beam 108b at any position along its length.
  • brackets may be beneficial even where the bracket is integrally formed with the flow control device or connected to it in other manners instead of the manner described above.
  • a flow control device which can be clipped to brackets at various positions along its length may be beneficial without the use of a hook element to attach the brackets to the shelf (the brackets being instead connected to the shelf in any other way).

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)

Abstract

There is described a refrigerated display case comprising: a refrigerated display area; an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another; a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct air flow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area; wherein the display area comprises at least one shelf, wherein a plurality of hook elements extend from a front surface of the at least one shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion which is affixed to the front of the shelf and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion; wherein the at least one shelf further comprises a flow control device which projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide the air curtain as it passes across the display area; wherein the flow control device is detachably connected to the shelf by a plurality of brackets each having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements. Also described is a flow control device assembly and a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case.

Description

A REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE AND FLOW CONTROL DEVICE
The invention relates to a refrigerated display case, a flow control device assembly and a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf.
The display of chilled or frozen items is commonplace in many retail environments, most notably in supermarkets. Such items are often displayed in refrigerated display cases having hinged or sliding doors, or having an open front. Refrigerated display cases utilise an air curtain which is cooled to below ambient temperature and propelled downward, across the front of the display case (either over the open front or behind the refrigerator doors).
The energy consumed by such refrigerated display cases presents a significant contribution to the overall energy consumption of the supermarket. It is therefore desirable to improve the efficiency of refrigerated display cases.
It has previously been proposed to provide an open refrigerated display case in which each shelf of a display area is provided with a flow control device which stabilises flow in the air curtain. Such a flow control device is disclosed in GB2527628B.
The invention seeks to provide developments which improve the installation of flow control devices.
According to an aspect of the disclosure there is provided a refrigerated display case comprising: a refrigerated display area; an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another; a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct airflow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area; wherein the display area comprises at least one shelf, wherein a plurality of hook elements extend from a front surface of the at least one shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion which is affixed to the front of the shelf and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion; wherein the at least one shelf further comprises a flow control device which projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide the air curtain as it passes across the display area; wherein the flow control device is detachably connected to the shelf by a plurality of brackets each having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements. The flow control device may comprise a stabilising beam which extends transversely across the display area and located within the air curtain; wherein an airflow slot is formed between an inner surface of the stabilising beam and the front of the shelf.
The flow control device may be clipped to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
The brackets may each comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw and wherein the stabilising beam is received between the upper and lower jaws.
The refrigerated display case may further comprise a retaining clip which is received over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engages with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam within the upper and lower jaws. The stabilising beam may be an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device may further comprise a second outer stabilising beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer airflow slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams. The retaining clip may comprise a spacer portion and the outer stabilising beam may be attached to a distal end of the spacer portion.
Each bracket may comprise a flange and a spacer portion which spaces the flange from the front of the shelf to form a riser slot for receiving a riser plate.
A surface of the slot may have a taper angle such that the bracket is translated towards and into abutment with the front of the shelf as the bracket is slid over the hook element.
The refrigerated display case may further comprise a slot packing element which is received within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
The slot packing element may be retained in the receiving slot by a pin which passes through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element. The slot packing element may comprise a neck-supporting portion and a head- supporting portion. The receiving slot may comprise a neck-receiving section and a head-receiving section which is wider than the neck-receiving section. According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a flow control device assembly for a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: a flow control device; a plurality of hook elements connectable to a front surface of the shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion; a plurality of brackets supporting the flow control device, each bracket having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements so as to detachably connect the flow control device to the shelf.
The flow control device may comprise a stabilising beam. The flow control device may be clipped to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
The brackets may each comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw and wherein the stabilising beam is received between the upper and lower jaws. The flow control device assembly may further comprise a retaining clip which is received over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engages with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam within the upper and lower jaws.
The stabilising beam may be an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device may further comprise a second outer stabilising beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer airflow slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams.
The retaining clip may comprise a spacer portion and the outer stabilising beam may be attached to a distal end of the spacer portion.
Each bracket may comprise a flange and a spacer portion which spaces the flange from the front of the shelf to form a riser slot for receiving a riser plate. A surface of the receiving slot may have a taper angle such that the bracket is translated towards and into abutment with the front of the shelf as the bracket is slid over the hook element.
The flow control device assembly may further comprise a slot packing element which is received within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
The slot packing element may be retained in the receiving slot by a pin which passes through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element.
The slot packing element may comprise a neck-supporting portion and a head- supporting portion.
The receiving slot may comprise a neck-receiving section and a head-receiving section which is wider than the neck-receiving section.
According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: attaching a plurality of hook elements to a front surface of a shelf, sliding a bracket over each of the hook elements such that the hook element is received within a receiving slot formed in the bracket; wherein the brackets support a flow control device such that the flow control device projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide an air curtain formed across a display area of the refrigerated display case.
The method may further comprise inserting a slot packing element within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
The method may further comprise passing a pin through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element to retain the slot packing element in the receiving slot.
The flow control device may comprise a stabilising beam, the method further comprising clipping the flow control device to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: attaching a plurality of brackets to a front surface of a shelf, clipping a flow control device to the brackets via a stabilising beam of the flow control device.
The method may further comprise placing a retaining clip over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engaging the retaining clip with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam.
The stabilising beam may be an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device may further comprise a second outer stabilising beam. The retaining clip may comprise a spacer portion. The method may further comprise attaching the outer stabilising beam to a distal end of the spacer portion
The method may further comprise removing a strip for retaining a riser plate from the front of the shelf, wherein the plurality of brackets are affixed to the front surface of the shelf via holes previously used to connect the strip to the front of the shelf.
Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an open refrigerated display case (ORDC) comprising a flow control device;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a flow control device;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a shelf bracket;
Figure 4 is a side view of the shelf bracket;
Figure 5 is a rear view of the shelf bracket;
Figure 6 is a bottom view of the shelf bracket;
Figure 7 is a first rear cross-sectional view of the shelf bracket through plane A-A highlighted in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a second rear cross-sectional view of the shelf bracket through plane B-B highlighted in Figure 4;
Figure 9 is a front view of the shelf bracket; Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the shelf bracket through plane C-C highlighted in Figure 9;
Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a slot packing element for attachment to the shelf bracket;
Figure 12 is a bottom view of the slot packing element;
Figure 13 is a front view of the slot packing element;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a retaining clip for attachment to the shelf bracket; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a hook element;
Figure 16 is a side view of the hook element;
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a conventional shelf Figure 18 is a side view of the shelf;
Figure 19 shows a modified shelf with the hook element in place;
Figure 20 shows the shelf bracket being installed onto the hook element;
Figure 21 shows a modified shelf with a pair of shelf brackets installed;
Figure 22 shows the slot packing element being inserted into the shelf bracket after installation on the hook element;
Figure 23 shows a pin being installed to retain the slot packing element in place; Figures 24 and 25 show the flow control device being installed in the shelf bracket; Figures 26 to 28 show the retaining clip being installed on the shelf bracket; and Figure 29 shows a retaining clip according to another example which forms a spacer between the inner and outer beams.
Figure 1 shows an ORDC 2. The ORDC 2 comprises a cabinet portion formed by a lower wall 4, a back wall 6, an upper wall 8, and left and right side walls (not shown). A lower panel 10, a back panel 12 and an upper panel 14 are disposed within the cabinet portion.
The lower, back and upper panels 10, 12, 14 form a display area 15 which is provided with a plurality of shelves 17 (four are shown) on which items may be displayed. The shelves 17 are affixed to the back panel 12.
As shown, the lower, back and upper panels 10, 12, 14 are spaced from the respective lower, back and upper walls 4, 6, 8 to form a duct 16. An intake grille 18 is provided at the lower panel 10 to form an inlet to the duct 16. Similarly, a discharge grille 20 is provided at the upper panel 14 to form an outlet from the duct 16. The intake grille 18 and the discharge grille 20 are thus fluidically coupled to one another by the duct 16. The intake grille 18 and the discharge grille 20 are spaced from the back panel 12 toward the front of the cabinet portion and ahead of the shelves 17.
A fan 22 and a heat exchanger 24 are located within the duct 16 adjacent to the intake grille 18 and thus are disposed between the lower wall 4 and the lower panel 10. The fan 22 draws air into the duct 16 via the intake grille 18 which then passes through the heat exchanger 24 where it is cooled to well below the ambient temperature.
After passing through the heat exchanger 24, the air continues through the duct 16 between the back wall 6 and the back panel 12. The back panel 12 is perforated allowing air to pass from the duct 16 into the display area 15 where it cools items located on the shelves 17 and on the lower panel 10.
The remaining air flows through the duct 16 to the discharge grille 20. The air is ejected from the discharge grille 20 and descends over the open front of the display area 15 to form an air curtain 26. The air curtain 26 passes from the discharge grille 20 to the intake grille 18, where it is drawn in by the fan 22 and re-circulated through the duct 16. The air curtain 26 thus forms a non-physical barrier which separates the display area 15 from the ambient air surrounding the ORDC 2. As shown, a flow control device 102 is attached to each of the shelves (although, in other arrangements, only some of the shelves may be provided with flow control devices 102).
As shown in Figure 2, the flow control device 102 is formed as a module (i.e. a cassette) which comprises a pair of elongate elements in the form of stabilising beams 108a, 108b. The beams 108a, 108b are connected by a pair of spacers 1 10a, 1 10b. The spacers 1 10a, 1 10b are provided towards the lateral ends of the beams 108a, 108b. A central spacer 1 12 may also be provided at the centre of the beams 108a, 108b, midway along their lengths.
The beams 108a, 108b are spaced apart from one another by the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b such that upper edges and lower edges of the beams 108a, 108b run parallel to one another. The beams 108a, 108b are, however, angled relative to one another so that a gap between the beams 108a, 108b tapers, with the upper edges of the beams 108a, 108b being further apart than the lower edges.
The outer beam 108a may be arranged substantially vertically (i.e. with its upper and lower edges aligned in a vertical plane) and the inner beam 108b may be angled so as to form a tapering gap between the beams 108a, 108b.
The device 102 may further comprise a product information strip 1 14 which may clip over the upper and lower edges of the outer beam 108a. The product information strip 1 14 has a channel for receiving tickets which display information regarding products, such as the product’s price.
As shown in Figure 1 , in use, the beams 108a, 106b define a first, outer (airflow) slot 160 between the outer and inner beams 108a, 108b and a second, inner (airflow) slot 162 between the inner beam 108b and the outer surface of the shelf.
The first slot 160 tapers from an inlet at an upper end to an outlet at a lower end. The inlet has a greater width than the outlet and a convergent throat is disposed between the inlet and the outlet.
The beams 108a, 108b are positioned such that the air curtain 26 passes through the outer and inner slots 160, 162. The beams 108a, 108b act to control and stabilise the air curtain so as to maximise the air which is returned to the intake grille 18 and prevent air from spilling out of the ORDC 2.
Figure 3 shows a shelf bracket 202 which may be used to attach the flow control device 102 to the shelf 17. As shown, the shelf bracket 202 comprises an arm portion 204 which carries at its distal end (as defined with respect to the shelf) a jaw portion 206. The jaw portion 206 comprises a pair of upper jaws 208a, 208b and a pair of lower jaws 210a, 210b. A pair of wings 212a, 212b extend laterally from a proximal end of the arm portion 204 at the opposite end to the jaw portion 206.
As shown in Figure 4, the shelf bracket 202 further comprises a spacer portion 214 which projects from the arm portion 204 adjacent to the wings 212a, 212b. The spacer portion 214 comprises a (receiving) slot 216 which extends vertically and is open at a lower end and closed at an upper end, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The spacer portion 214 is thus generally U-shaped.
The slot 216 extends towards the arm portion 204 and comprises a neck-receiving section 218 and a head-receiving section 220. The plane A-A highlighted in Figure 4 passes through the neck-receiving section 218, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 7, whereas the plane B-B highlighted in Figure 4 passes through the head- receiving section 220, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 8.
The neck-receiving section 218 has a first width Wi (see Figure 5) and the head-receiving section 220 has a second width W2 (see Figure 8) which is larger than the first width Wi, as best seen in Figure 6. The neck-receiving section 218 has a first depth Di and the head-receiving section 220 has a second depth D2. The depth Di of the neck-receiving section 218 is such that it extends entirely through the spacer portion 214 and the head- receiving section 220 is formed in the region of the wings 212a, 212b. The upper ends of the neck-receiving section 218 and the head-receiving section 220 are both semi- circular, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
As shown in Figure 7 (and also Figure 4), a hole 222 passes through either lateral side of the spacer portion 214.
As described previously, the jaw portion 206 comprises a pair of upper jaws 208a, 208b and a pair of lower jaws 210a, 210b. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper jaws 208a, 208b are spaced laterally from one another and an upper clip-retaining formation 224 is provided therebetween. Similarly, the lower jaws 210a, 210b are spaced laterally from one another and a lower clip-retaining formation 226 is provided therebetween. As best seen in Figure 10, the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 each define a notch or indentation in the jaw portion 206.
Figure 1 1 shows a slot packing element 302 for attachment to the shelf bracket 202. The slot packing element 302 is configured to be received by the slot 216. The slot packing element 302 thus comprises a neck-supporting portion 304 and a head-supporting portion 306 which are sized to be received by the neck-receiving section 218 and the head-receiving section 220 respectively. The neck-supporting portion 304 comprises an arcuate upper saddle surface 308 and the head-supporting portion 306 comprises an arcuate lower saddle surface 310. The upper saddle surface 308 of the neck-supporting portion 304 is spaced upwards from the lower saddle surface 310 of the head-supporting portion 306. A hole 312 extends through the thickness of the neck-supporting portion 304.
As described previously, the slot packing element 302 is configured to be received by the slot 216 and so its dimensions correspond to (in other words, depending on the context, are slightly smaller or larger than) those of the slot 216. The width W3 of the neck-supporting portion 304 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the first width Wi of the neck-receiving section 218, the length Li of the neck-supporting portion 304 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly larger than) the depth Di of the neck-receiving section 218, the length l_2 of the head-supporting portion 306 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the second depth D2 of the head- receiving section 220 and the combined length l_3 of the entire slot packing element 302 thus corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the total depth of the slot 216.
As shown in Figure 13, the upper saddle surface 308 and the lower saddle surface 310 have a common centre (i.e. are concentric). The upper saddle surface 308 has a first radius of curvature Ri and the lower saddle surface 310 has a second radius of curvature R2 which is larger than the first radius of curvature Ri, as will be described in further detail below. Figure 14 shows a retaining clip 402 for attachment to the shelf bracket 202. The retaining clip 402 is generally C-shaped and comprises an upper tooth 404 and a lower tooth 406 which are configured to respectively engage with the notch defined by the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 of the jaw portion 206.
Figure 15 shows a hook element 502. The hook element 502 is configured to be received by the slot 216 of the shelf bracket 202. The hook element 502 comprises a head portion 504 and a neck portion 506 and thus may be considered to have the form of a top hat. A hole 508 extends through the head portion 504 and the neck portion 506 along the axis of the hook element 502.
Both the head portion 504 and the neck portion 506 are circular in cross-section. The head portion 504 has first diameter 01 and the neck portion 506 has a second diameter 02 which is smaller than the first diameter 01, as shown in Figure 16.
The diameter 01 of the head portion 504 corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the second width W2 of the head-receiving section 220 of the slot 216. The diameter 02 of the neck portion 506 corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the first width Wi of the neck-receiving section 218 of the slot 216. The neck portion 506 has a length l_4 which corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly larger than) the depth Di of the neck-receiving section 218. Similarly, the head portion 504 has a length which corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the depth D2 of the head- receiving section 220. Further, the combined length l_5 of the hook element 502 corresponds to (in this instance, is slightly smaller than) the combined depth of the neck- receiving section 218 and the head-receiving section 220 (i.e. the sum of the first and second depths Di and D2) of the slot 216.
The installation of the elements described previously with respect to Figures 2 to 16 will now be described with reference to a conventional shelf 617 of the type shown in Figures 17 and 18.
As shown, the shelf 617 comprises a shelf plate 602 on which products may be supported. The shelf 617 is provided with a strip 604 (which may form or carry a product information strip) which runs along the front of the shelf 617 and is spaced therefrom by a plurality of spacers 605. The strip 604 is attached to the shelf 617 by a plurality (two are shown) of rivets 606 or the like which pass through the spacers 605. A (riser) slot is thus formed between the front of the shelf 617 and the strip 604 which is sized to receive a riser plate 608. The riser plate 608 comprises a plurality of slots along one side which extend partway into the riser plate 608 and are received over the spacers 605 located between the shelf plate 602 and the strip 604. The riser plate 608 rises above the level of the shelf plate 602 and thus forms an upstand for retaining products on the shelf plate 602.
In a first stage of installation, the strip 604 is first removed from the shelf plate 602. For example, the strip 604 may be removed by drilling out the rivets. A hook element 502 can then be affixed to the shelf 617 via each the holes through which the rivets previously passed, as shown in Figure 19. The hook element 502 can be affixed to the shelf 617 by passing a rivet or other fastener through the hole 508 of the hook element 502 and into the hole in the front of the shelf 617. The hook element 502 thus projects from the front of the shelf 617 with the head portion 504 spaced from the shelf 617 by the neck portion 506.
A shelf bracket 202 can then be attached to the shelf 617 via each hook element 502, as shown in Figures 20 and 21. Specifically, each shelf bracket 202 can be received over one of the hook elements 502 such that the hook element 502 slides along the slot 216 formed in the shelf bracket 202. Specifically, the neck portion 506 of the hook element 502 slides along the neck-receiving section 218 of the slot 216 and the head portion 504 of the hook element 502 slides along the head-receiving section 220 of the slot 216.
An outwardly facing surface of the head-receiving section 220 may have a taper (draft) angle such that as it slides downwards over the head portion 504, the shelf bracket 202 translates towards the shelf 617 until the spacer portion 214 abuts against the front of the shelf 617.
With the shelf bracket 202 fully seated on the hook element 502, the head portion 504 seats against the semi-circular end of the head receiving section 220 and the neck portion 506 seats against the semi-circular end of the neck-receiving section 218. The semi-circular ends have a radius of curvature which corresponds to the diameters 01 and 02 of the head portion 504 and the neck portion 506 respectively. As shown in Figure 22, the slot packing element 302 can then be inserted into the shelf bracket 202. Specifically, the slot packing element 302 can be slid into the slot 216 with the neck-supporting portion 304 received by the neck-receiving section 218 and the head-supporting portion 306 received by the head-receiving section 220.
The slot packing element 302 is slid along the slot 216 until the arcuate upper saddle surface 308 of the neck-supporting portion 304 is brought into contact with the neck 506 of the hook element 502 and the arcuate lower saddle surface 310 of the head- supporting portion 306 is brought into contact with the head 504 of the hook element 502. The radius of curvature Ri and R2 of the arcuate upper saddle surface 308 and the arcuate lower saddle surface 310 correspond to the diameters 02 and 01 of the neck portion 506 and the head portion 504 respectively so that the upper and lower saddle surfaces 308, 310 fully engage the hook element 502.
In this position, the hole 222 formed in the spacer portion 214 and the hole 312 formed in the slot packing element 302 are aligned with one another such that a locking pin 702 can be passed therethrough in order to lock the slot packing element 302 in position. The locking pin 702 may comprise a threaded portion which screws into a complementary thread in the spacer portion 214.
The slot packing element 302 fills the cavity of the slot 216 below the hook element 502. The slot packing element 302 improves the appearance of the brackets 202 and allows easier cleaning. In addition, the slot packing element 302 provides material through which load is distributed when a load is applied downward on the brackets 202.
The flow control device 102 can then be attached to the shelf brackets 202. In particular, as shown in Figures 24 and 25, the flow control device 102 can be clipped to the shelf brackets 202 by first locating an upper edge of the inner beam 108b under the upper jaws 208a, 208b and then rotating the flow control device 102 to cause a lower edge of the inner beam 108b to ride over and into engagement with the lower jaws 210a, 210b.
To ensure that the flow control device 102 cannot be inadvertently removed from the shelf brackets 202, the retaining clip 402 is connected to the shelf bracket 202. Specifically, as shown in Figures 26 to 28, the lower tooth 406 is first engaged with the notch defined by the lower clip-retaining formation 226 and the retaining clip is then forced over the upper clip-retaining formation 224 and into engagement with its notch. The inner beam 108b is thus sandwiched between the jaw portion 206 of the shelf bracket 202 and the retaining clip 402.
As described above, the flow control device 102 is clipped to the shelf bracket 202 by first locating an upper edge of the inner beam 108b under the upper jaws 208a, 208b, whereas the retaining clip 402 is clipped to the shelf bracket 202 by first locating the lower tooth 406 within the notch defined by the lower clip-retaining formation 226. The retaining clip 402 is therefore connected in the opposite manner to the flow control device 102 and this prevents the flow control device 102 from being easily detached from the brackets 202.
It will be appreciated that the shelf bracket 202 can be affixed to the inner beam 108b of the flow control device 102 at any position along its length (provided it does not coincide with any of the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b, 1 12) and so the flow control device 102 can be attached to shelves with holes (and thus hook elements 502) located in different lateral positions.
The riser plate 608 may be refitted by placing it over the spacer portions 214 of the shelf brackets 202. The wings 212a, 212b of each shelf bracket 202 hold the riser plate 608 in place.
The flow control device 102 and the brackets 202 can be quickly detached from the shelf. This may be beneficial for procedures such as cleaning or if it is necessary to replace the flow control device 102 and/or brackets 202 (for example, if the shelf is placed at an incline, then a different flow control device 102 and/or brackets 202 may be required).
Although the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary flow control device, it will be appreciated that it may be used with any form of flow control device. In particular, the flow control device may have only a single beam.
In other examples, the bracket 202 may contain only a single upper jaw 208 and a single lower jaw 210. The function of the wings 212a, 212b may be provided by any suitable flange formation.
Figure 29 shows another example of a retaining clip 802. As per the retaining clip 402, the retaining clip 802 comprises a generally C-shaped portion which has an upper tooth and a lower tooth which are configured to respectively engage with the notch defined by the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 of the jaw portion 206. However, in this example, a spacer portion 804 extends from the C-shaped portion. The spacer portion 804 replaces the spacers between the outer and inner stabilising beams 108a, 108b such that the outer beam 108a connects directly to a distal end of the spacer portion 804. The outer and inner beams 108a, 108b are therefore not formed as a unitary module or cassette, as shown in Figure 2. The outer beam 108a may be detachably connected to the spacer portion 804 by a screw or other fastener. Alternatively, the outer beam 108a may be clipped onto the spacer portion 804. For example, the spacer portion 804 may comprise upper and lower jaws which receive the outer beam 108a in a similar manner to the jaws 208, 210 of the shelf bracket 202 which receive the inner beam 108b. The spacer portion 804 may similarly comprise upper and lower clip-retaining formations, such as the upper and lower clip-retaining formations 224, 226 of the shelf bracket 202, and a retaining clip similar to the retaining clip 402 may be affixed over the outer surface of the outer blade 108a.
It will be appreciated that the use of a retaining clip 802 with an integrated spacer portion, means that the spacers 1 10a, 1 10b, 1 12 between the beams 108a, 108b can be dispensed with and the shelf bracket 202 can therefore be affixed to the inner beam 108b at any position along its length.
It will be appreciated that the arrangement of a hook element and a bracket with a slot may be beneficial even where the bracket is integrally formed with the flow control device or connected to it in other manners instead of the manner described above. Likewise, a flow control device which can be clipped to brackets at various positions along its length may be beneficial without the use of a hook element to attach the brackets to the shelf (the brackets being instead connected to the shelf in any other way).
Although the invention has been described with reference to an open refrigerated display case, it may also be utilised on closed refrigerated display cases with doors.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may be modified or adapted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerated display case comprising:
a refrigerated display area;
an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another;
a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct air flow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area;
wherein the display area comprises at least one shelf, wherein a plurality of hook elements extend from a front surface of the at least one shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion which is affixed to the front of the shelf and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion;
wherein the at least one shelf further comprises a flow control device which projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide the air curtain as it passes across the display area;
wherein the flow control device is detachably connected to the shelf by a plurality of brackets each having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements.
2. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flow control device comprises a stabilising beam which extends transversely across the display area and located within the air curtain; wherein an airflow slot is formed between an inner surface of the stabilising beam and the front of the shelf.
3. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flow control device is clipped to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
4. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 3, wherein the brackets each comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw and wherein the stabilising beam is received between the upper and lower jaws.
5. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a retaining clip which is received over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engages with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam within the upper and lower jaws.
6. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the stabilising beam is an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device further comprises a second outer stabilising beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer airflow slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams.
7. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 6 when appended to claim 5, wherein the retaining clip comprises a spacer portion and wherein the outer stabilising beam is attached to a distal end of the spacer portion.
8. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each bracket comprises a flange and a spacer portion which spaces the flange from the front of the shelf to form a riser slot for receiving a riser plate.
9. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a surface of the receiving slot has a taper angle such that the bracket is translated towards and into abutment with the front of the shelf as the bracket is slid over the hook element.
10. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a slot packing element which is received within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
1 1 . A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slot packing element is retained in the receiving slot by a pin which passes through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element.
12. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein the slot packing element comprises a neck-supporting portion and a head-supporting portion.
13. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving slot comprises a neck-receiving section and a head-receiving section which is wider than the neck-receiving section.
14. A flow control device assembly for a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising: a flow control device; a plurality of hook elements connectable to a front surface of the shelf, each hook element comprising a neck portion and a head portion which is spaced from the front of the shelf by the neck portion;
a plurality of brackets supporting the flow control device, each bracket having a receiving slot which is configured to receive one of the hook elements so as to detachably connect the flow control device to the shelf.
15. A flow control device assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the flow control device comprises a stabilising beam.
16. A flow control device assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the flow control device is clipped to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
17. A flow control device assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the brackets each comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw and wherein the stabilising beam is received between the upper and lower jaws.
18. A flow control device assembly as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a retaining clip which is received over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engages with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam within the upper and lower jaws.
19. A flow control device assembly as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the stabilising beam is an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device further comprises a second outer stabilising beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer airflow slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams.
20. A flow control device assembly as claimed in claim 19 when appended to claim 18, wherein the retaining clip comprises a spacer portion and wherein the outer stabilising beam is attached to a distal end of the spacer portion.
21 . A flow control device assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 20, wherein each bracket comprises a flange and a spacer portion which spaces the flange from the front of the shelf to form a riser slot for receiving a riser plate.
22. A flow control device assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 21 , wherein a surface of the receiving slot has a taper angle such that the bracket is translated towards and into abutment with the front of the shelf as the bracket is slid over the hook element.
23. A flow control device assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 22, further comprising a slot packing element which is received within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
24. A flow control device assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 23, wherein the slot packing element is retained in the receiving slot by a pin which passes through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element.
25. A flow control device assembly as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein the slot packing element comprises a neck-supporting portion and a head-supporting portion.
26. A flow control device assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 25, wherein the receiving slot comprises a neck-receiving section and a head-receiving section which is wider than the neck-receiving section.
27. A method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising:
attaching a plurality of hook elements to a front surface of a shelf,
sliding a bracket over each of the hook elements such that the hook element is received within a receiving slot formed in the bracket;
wherein the brackets support a flow control device such that the flow control device projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide an air curtain formed across a display area of the refrigerated display case.
28. A method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising inserting a slot packing element within the receiving slot of each of the brackets below the hook element.
29. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising passing a pin through aligned openings in the bracket and the slot packing element to retain the slot packing element in the receiving slot.
30. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the flow control device comprises a stabilising beam, the method further comprising clipping the flow control device to the brackets via the stabilising beam.
31. A method of affixing a flow control device to a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising:
attaching a plurality of brackets to a front surface of a shelf,
clipping a flow control device to the brackets via a stabilising beam of the flow control device.
32. A method as claimed in claim 30 or 31 , further comprising placing a retaining clip over a front surface of the stabilising beam and engaging the retaining clip with the bracket to retain the stabilising beam.
33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the stabilising beam is an inner stabilising beam and the flow control device further comprises a second outer stabilising beam and wherein the retaining clip comprises a spacer portion, the method further comprising attaching the outer stabilising beam to a distal end of the spacer portion.
34. A method as claimed in any of claims 27 to 33, further comprising removing a strip for retaining a riser plate from the front of the shelf, wherein the plurality of brackets are affixed to the front surface of the shelf via holes previously used to connect the strip to the front of the shelf.
PCT/EP2019/071998 2018-08-20 2019-08-16 A refrigerated display case and flow control device WO2020038837A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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GB1813546.7A GB2576512A (en) 2018-08-20 2018-08-20 A refrigerated display case

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