AU2014286659B2

AU2014286659B2 - Refrigeration cabinets for containers

Info

Publication number: AU2014286659B2
Application number: AU2014286659A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gunther Hertel
Original assignee: Viessmann Kuehlsysteme GmbH
Current assignee: Viessmann Kuehlsysteme GmbH
Priority date: 2013-07-01
Filing date: 2014-06-30
Publication date: 2017-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-30
Also published as: DE112014003109A5; EP3016552A1; PT3016552T; AU2014286659A1; EP3016552B1; DE102014001241A1; WO2015000455A1; ES2667175T3; DK3016552T3; PL3016552T3

Abstract

A base plate, arranged near the bottom of a refrigeration cabinet for containers and having a support for containers and an air intake extending parallel to a cold-air supply of an air curtain, and a front cover which can be opened for the placement of containers and which comprises the air intake, make it possible to maximize the energy efficiency of a refrigeration cabinet for containers.

Description

1

Container cooling shelf unit The invention relates to a container cooling shelf unit.

Container cooling shelf units of that kind are technologically very similar in their technology to conventional cooling shelf units which are equally provided particularly for commercial use in the foodstuffs field, such as, for example, for the sale of meat, vegetables, fruit and milk products. Cooling shelf units of that kind, such as container cooling shelf units, comprise a merchandise area which is constructed to be open or openable towards at least a user side for access to merchandise. Depending on the actual design, cooling shelf units can here comprise glass doors or similar, which, however, are obviously not provided in the case of container cooling shelf units. Other cooling shelf units are open as such during the opening times of appropriate businesses which have cooling shelf units of that kind, so that customers can immediately and directly remove goods. For reasons of energy management, provision can be made for energy losses to be minimised by covers such as, for example, roller blinds and the like outside business hours.

Conventional cooling shelf units comprise a cabinet structure, which surrounds the merchandise area, with a roof element and a wall, wherein a cold air feed for the merchandise area or in the case of conventional cooling shelf units for a cold air mist is provided in the roof element along the open or openable user side. The cold air feed is provided with a cold air supply, which comprises a main air channel arranged at least partly in the wall and in the roof element, air suction means, a fan, which is arranged in the main air channel, and a cold point, which is arranged in the main air channel, of a cooling unit.

In departure from conventional cooling shelf units, container cooling shelf units have at least one receptacle for a container carrying goods, such as, for example, a trolley or goods pallets, which receptacle can be furnished with containers by way of the user side. This requires a floor assembly of the container cooling shelf unit to be accessible for trolleys and also for forklifts carrying goods pallets, so that appropriate furnishing can be carried out. A construction of that kind has, by comparison with conventional cooling shelf units, the advantage that furnishing or rearranging the container cooling shelf unit in the region of the receptacle can be carried quickly and efficiently even in the case of large quantities of goods. Accordingly, container cooling shelf units do not have floor troughs 2 2014286659 06 Feb 2017 such as can be found in conventional cooling shelf units.

It will be obvious that conventional shelves such those known per se in conventional cooling shelf units can also be provided in the upper regions of the container cooling shelf units. In cases of that kind, merely the space remaining below the lower shelf is then available as a receptacle for the container. US 2005/257548 A1 discloses a refrigerated display case including a case having rear and bottom walls that are coupled together to at least partially define a product display area adapted to receive a wheeled cart containing food product. The bottom wali includes a cart support surface elevated above the floor and adapted to support the wheeled cart within the product display area. The case includes an air passageway having a lower return flue located below the cart support surface, A refrigeration component is at least partially located in the air passageway to cool air directed to the product display area to maintain the products at the desired temperature. At least a portion of the cooled air in the product display area returns to the refrigeration component through the lower return flue. JP S 49 141093 U discloses a refrigerated display cabinet comprising a moveable front element. FR 1 597 328 A discloses a refrigerated display case comprises a stationary section which serves to receive a movable product supporting section, a removable front portion and means for forming an air curtain across the open part of the assembled case. Section includes air ducts which are laterally movable so as to allow the introduction of movable sections of different sizes, and the sections are sufficiently elevated by wheels as to pass over the ducts. The forward ends of the latter are engageable with front portion which includes an air passage having an inlet for receiving air from an elongated outlet at the top of section and from further outlets at the rear of the stationary section. The latter is itself provided with shelves.

Further, EP 0 089 556 At, JP 2005 334325 A and JP S51 16899 A disclose a refrigerated display stand with a lever arm arrangement, wherein the lever arm arrangement enables to deviate a front element. The front element limits the cooling room. However, the front element does not provide any further benefits. 2014286659 06 Feb 2017

2A

It is the aim of the present invention to increase the energy efficiency of container cooling shelf units. A container cooling shelf unit with the features of claim 1 is proposed as a solution. Further advantageous embodiments are present in the subclaims and in the following description, in that regard, the invention proceeds from the basic recognition that for increasing the energy efficiency even with container cooling shelf units a suitable air curtain which forms in front of the goods on the user side is of advantage, particularly that for such a purpose an appropriate suction means, which has the capability of sucking cold air of the cold air curtain with as little as possible warm room air, is of advantage with respect thereto.

Accordingly, it is of advantage if in the Moor region of the container cooling sheii unit a floor plate with a support for the container and with the air suction means is provided, wherein the air suction means extends parallel to the cold air feed. In this way, air suction can be carried out substantially on the user side, thus in front of the goods, so that ail goods present within the goods area, thus also in the containers, are separated off in outward direction by way of the cold air curtain. This avoids, in particular, warmer room air from mixing with the cold air of the cold air curtain to an impermissible degree.

Cumulatively, a front apron - which can be opened for the furnishing with the container - is provided with the air suction means. Through a front apron of that kind, which actively comprises air suction means, the air suction takes place not directly at the floor, but physically somewhat elevated by the front apron itself, which in turn has the consequence that less air is inducted from the room. Moreover, this embodiment makes possible, when the front apron bears sufficiently tightly against the other walling of the container cooling shelf unit, design of an arrangement which is similar to the floor trough in 2014286659 29 Sep 2016 3 conventional cooling shelf units and has already proved satisfactory with respect to the energy efficiency thereof in conventional cooling shelf units. On the other hand, the capability of opening for furnishing purposes represents only an insignificant hindrance to furnishing with containers, thus, for example, with trolleys or goods pallets.

In a. preferred concrete realisation the front apron can comprise a front apron air channei, which has at one end the air suction means and is connectible at the other end with air suction means of a floor plate and/or with another channel inlet of the main air channel by way of a channel outlet. In this way, the cold air, which is inducted by way of the air suction means, of the cold air curtain can be conducted without further measures and, in terms of construction, with operational certainty from the front apron into the main air channel. It will be obvious that optionally also other solutions such as, for example, connection by way of air hoses or similar can be employed, wherein the aforesaid solutions have the advantage that they can be realised with little constructional outlay even over the width of the entire container cooling shelf unit so that very large channei cross-sections can also be readily realised.

The front apron is preferably constructed to be capable of being walked on so that customers - but also in a given case personnel - can climb onto the front apron in order to reach shelves or into regions which are higher in the container cooling shelf unit.

The front apron is mounted by rotatably mounted lifting arms on the cabinet structure of the container cooling shelf unit so that the front apron can be pivoted upwardly in order to thus free the path for the containers. An appropriate pivotation up or down can be assisted by mechanical aids, such as, for example, compressed gas springs. Alternatively, the front apron is displaceable upwardly by way of lateral rails provided at the cabinet structure of the container cooling shelf unit, wherein this movement can also optionally be assisted by suitable mechanical aids such as, for example, counterweights. 4

In a concrete realisation, the floor plate of the container cooling shelf unit, in which the air suction means is provided, can be constructed to be interrupted so that wheels of forklifts or of trolleys can, staying on the floor, be introduced into the receptacle. This avoids the need for corresponding wheels to be displaced upwardly in order to reach the floor plate, so that furnishing of the receptacle is not made difficult for personnel by comparison with conventional container cooling shelf units.

If in the case of such a design it should be established that the cold air curtain which forms does not descend sufficiently uniformly, since due to corresponding openings in of the floor plate obviously no air suction can take place there, it is of advantage if the floor plate is formed to be continuous. Alternatively thereto, a projection in front of the floor plate with a continuous or widened air suction means similar to the front apron can be provided, which can be removed prior to the furnishing and reattached after the furnishing. However, in practice a continuous floor plate has proved relatively efficient and operationally reliable.

The cold air feed and the air suction means preferably each have a length in horizontal direction and parallel to the user side, wherein the length of the air suction means differs from the length of the cold air feed by at most 50%. It has proved that in the case of greater differences excessive energy losses arise. The length of the air suction means preferably differs by at most 20%, particularly by at most 10%, from the length of the cold air feed so that the cold air curtain can be formed to be as parallel and uniform as possible.

Overall, it is of advantage if the length of each of the cold air feed and the air suction means is at least approximately 90%, preferably 95%, of the open user side, so that the relevant cold air curtain covers the user side as widely as possible.

The floor plate is preferably similarly provided with an air channel, thus a floor-plate air channel, so that the air can be conducted from the air suction means in constructionally simple manner to the main air channel.

It will be obvious that not only the floor-plate air channel, but also the front-apron air channel can be constructed to be substantially airtight. In a given case, it is also conceivable to design an air channel at the floor side to be open, provided appropriate edge elements ensure operationally reliable guidance of the air and, in particular, limit 5 penetration of warm air to a minimum.

Equally, it is of advantage if the respective connections between the different air channels are formed to be suitably airtight or approximately airtight.

Particularly when the floor plate is constructed to be continuous and has a very wide air channel, this can be stiffened against possible distortion or be supported by support elements.

Moreover, it will be obvious that the respective air suction means can be covered by a grill so as to minimise the risk of penetration of objects into the air channel. Equally, drain channels or other cleaning devices known per se from the field of conventional cooling shelf units can be appropriately provided.

In order to a form a sufficient cross-section for the floor-plate air channel, the floor plate can be specifically 1 centimetre high or somewhat higher.

In order to be able to push the container onto the floor plate it is of advantage if the floor plate comprises a ramp or a ramp can be attached thereto. In this way, furnishing of the receptacle with containers is facilitated.

The ramp can, depending on the actual realisation of the present invention, be constructed to be pivotable or able to be pushed up or in so that, when it is not used for furnishing, the formation of a floor trough in the region of the receptacle is assisted or attachment of a front apron is not hindered.

Alternatively, the ramp can have openings which serve as air suction means or comprise the air suction means itself. A movable or pivotable execution of the ramp is then not necessary, so that the ramp itself has the air suction means. Equally, it is conceivable for a front apron to be attached by its channel outlet to the front-apron air channel at the openings of the ramp so that the air inducted by way of the front apron and the air suction means thereof travels to the main air channel by way of this channel outlet and the openings of the ramp, which then serve as the channel inlet of the main air channel.

It will be obvious that the features of the foregoing solutions or solutions described in the 6 2014286659 06 Feb 2017 penetration of warm air to a minimum.

In order to be able to push the container onto the floor piate it is of advantage if the floor plate comprises a ramp or a ramp can be attached thereto, in this way, furnishing of the receptacle with containers is facilitated.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a container cooling shelf unit 2014286659 06 Feb 2017

6A including (i) a merchandise area, which is open or openable towards at least a user side for rapid access to goods, with at least one receptacle for a container carrying goods, (ii) a cabinet structure, which encloses the merchandise area, with a roof element and a wall, (iii) a cold air feed provided in the roof element along the open or openable user side, and (iv) a cold air supply to the cold air feed, which supply includes a main air channel, which is arranged at least partly in the wail, with air suction means as well as a tan arranged in the main air channel and a cold point, which is arranged in the main air channel, of a cooling unit, wherein the receptacle can be furnished with containers by way of the user side, including a front apron, which is openable for the furnishing with the container, with the air suction means, wherein the front apron includes a front-apron air channel, which has the air suction means at one end and is connectible at the other end by way of a channel outlet with an air suction means of a floor plate and/or with a channel inlet of the main air channel, and wherein the front apron is mounted by a rotatably mounted lever arm on the cabinet structure, wherein the front apron can be pivoted upwardly, or the front apron is displaceable upwardly by way of lateral rails provided at the cabinet structure

It will be obvious that the features of the foregoing solutions or solutions described in the 7 possible night cover, which - depending on the respective actual realisation of present embodiments - can be drawn down when required, for example as a roller blind, at the user side is not illustrated.

The container cooling shelf units 1 have a receptacle 4 in the merchandise area 3 for reception of containers 5 such as, for example, trolleys or goods pallets, so that the container cooling shelf units 1 can be rapidly furnished with appropriate goods even when these are in large quantities or heavy goods.

The container cooling shelf units comprise a cabinet structure 6, which carries a roof element 7 in a roof region 16 as well as a wall 8, which laterally closes off the container cooling shelf unit 1 apart from the user side 2 and is constructed to be appropriately insulating. A respective main air channel 11, which also reaches into the roof element 7 and in which a fan 13 as well as a cold point 14, usually an evaporator, of a cooling unit are arranged, extends in the wall 8 of the container cooling shelf units 1.

As a result, a cold air supply 10 to a cold air feed 9 for the merchandise area 3 or for a cold air curtain 28 in front of the merchandise area 3 is ensured.

It will be obvious that the container cooling shelf units 1 each have a length dimension perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing and specifically extend longitudinally over several metres, up to over 10 metres or even longer. In a given case, in order to be able to ensure appropriate levels of cooling several main air channels 11 or several cold points 14 and fans 13 are provided. Equally, for reasons of stability, vertical partitions or additional support devices of the cabinet structure 6 can serve for stabilisation. As a rule, the container cooling shelf units 1 are delivered in length sections of between 1 metre and 3 metres and in a given case assembled on site so as to not unnecessarily make transport to and from difficult.

All of the container cooling shelf units 1 illustrated in the figures have, in the floor region 15, air suction means 12 for the main air channel 11, the air suction means being connected with the main air channel 11 by way of a floor-plate air channel 25 and a floor plate 17. As already explained in the foregoing, an appropriate almost airtight connection 8 between the channels 25 and 11 is advantageous. In modified forms of embodiment the floor plate can be constructed to be downwardly open so that a corresponding air channel is formed on the one hand through the floor plate and on the other hand through the floor on which the container cooling shelf unit 1 stands. In the case of an embodiment of that kind it is advantageous if the thereby-formed air channel is laterally bounded by appropriate boundaries at the floor plate.

Depending on the respective actual embodiment of the floor plate 17, the floor plate 17 can here have supports (not illustrated in more detail) within the floor-plate air channel 25, which prevent or minimise warping of the floor plate 17 into the floor-plate air channel 25. In a given case, still further reinforcements of the floor plate 17 can be provided alternatively thereto or cumulatively therewith.

The floor plate 17 is formed to be continuous in longitudinal direction and forms a support 18 for the container 5 in the embodiments illustrated here. In modified forms of embodiment the floor plate or the floor-plate air channel can be interrupted so that wheels come to rest not on the floor-plate air channel, but adjacent thereto, and the containers have to be raised by the height of the floor plate 17 inclusive of the floor-plate air channel 25 or when the furnishing is carried out.

In the container cooling shelf unit 1 illustrated in Figure 1 a pivotable ramp 19 which facilitates pushing-on of the containers 5 is provided. For the loading, this ramp 19 covers the air suction means 12, which, however, is non-critical in terms of energy since loading processes of that kind last for only a short time in the overall operational time period of the container cooling shelf unit 1. After loading, the ramp 19, which is fastened to the floor plate 17 by way of a hinge, is folded upwardly so that the air suction means 12 is freed. In addition, the ramp 12 forms together with the remaining wall 8 of the container cooling shelf unit 1 in the folded-up state a trough, which retains cold air, in the floor region. The freed air suction means 12 can then readily extend parallel to the cold air feed 9 and, in this embodiment, over the same length as the cold air feed 9.

In a form of embodiment modified with respect to the embodiment according to Figure 1, the ramp 19 can also be constructed to be removable or able to be pushed onto or into the floor plate 17. 9

In addition, the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 (in which for reasons of clarity the fan 13 is not again illustrated in Figures 2 and 5) has a ramp 19 which is constructed to be appropriately pivotable. This ramp can, in a given case, also be constructed to be removable or able to be pushed in any manner.

In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, after any furnishing processes have been concluded and the ramp 19 folded up, a front apron 20 is pushed in front of the floor plate 17, which has in its body a front-apron channel 21 connected at one end with air suction means 12 of the front apron 20 and at the other end with a channel outlet 22. In that regard, the air suction means 12 of the front apron 20 is oriented upwardly and, by comparison with the air suction means 12 of the embodiment according to Fig. 1, arranged to be elevated and the channel outlet 22, when the front apron 20 is pushed in front of the floor plate 17, is connected with a channel inlet 23 of the floor-plate air channel 25, wherein the channel inlet 23 substantially corresponds with the air suction means 12 according to the embodiment of Figure 1. By virtue of the air suction means 12 arranged to be higher and upwardly directed, on the one hand formation of a cold air curtain 28 which is as parallel as possible is promoted. On the other hand, the risk of induction of extraneous air, which is obviously somewhat warmer, is minimised.

For reasons of safety the front apron 20 in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 is locked to the floor plate 17 or otherwise to the cabinet structure 6, so that the front apron 20 can also be walked on by customers or personnel so as to reach higher regions, such as, for example, goods on any shelves 24.

In the case of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 a separate and movable ramp 19 has been dispensed with. Rather, the ramp 19 is integrated in the floor plate 17, as illustrated by way of example in the detail in Figure 9, and the air suction means is realised by openings 26 in the ramp 19.

By virtue of a design of that kind it is possible to dispense with a foldable ramp 19 such as provided in the container cooling shelf unit 1 according to Figures 1 to 5, so that as a result a ramp 19 inclusive of air suction means 12 can be realised in constructionally simple manner.

It is also possible to combine a floor plate 17, which corresponds with the arrangement 10 according to Figure 9, with a front apron when this has, for example, a projection which corresponds with the ramp 19 and which directly co-operates with the ramp 19, such as is realised in the embodiments according to Figures 6 to 8.

Thus, the embodiment according to Figure 6 has a front apron 20 arranged at a lever arm 27 so that the front apron 20 can be pivoted up at the lever arm 27. The lever arm 27 is fastened to the cabinet structure 6 by way of a universal joint (not designated). In a given case it is also conceivable to fasten the front apron 20, which is used in the embodiments according to Figures 2 to 5, to the container cooling shelf unit by way of a lever arm of that kind. Still further locking means can be provided depending on the respective actual realisation. Equally, it is conceivable to use, instead of a lever arm, vertically oriented guide rails or the like for guidance of the front apron 20.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the front apron 20 is constructed to be removable and displaceable in correspondence with the embodiment according to Figures 2 to 5, wherein, in addition, this front apron is designed to be appropriately complementary to the ramp 19 such as illustrated in Figure 9, so that it is possible to dispense with a pivotable or otherwise movable ramp 19.

Respective air suction means 12 extending over large lengths substantially parallel to the cold air feed 9 are provided through the floor plate 17, the ramp 19 and the front apron 20. The air inducted in this way passes through the floor-plate air channel 25 into the main air channel 11, where it is inducted by the fan 13 and conveyed upwardly.

In that case, the air passes a cold point 14 of a cooling unit such as, for example, an evaporator. The cold air passes into the roof element 7 by way of the main air channel 11, which is formed in the wall 8 or in the cabinet structure 6 and which - as sufficiently known in the case of conventional cooling shelf units - can optionally also have further openings with respect to the merchandise area 3, and is supplied by way of the cold air supply 10 to the cold air feed 9 for a cold air curtain 28 (illustrated by way of example in Figure 2).

This cold air curtain 28 insulates the merchandise area 3 relative to, in particular, room air, wherein it is inevitably heated to some degree. Through the air suction means 12, which extend over a large length parallel to the cold air feed 9, a greater part of the cold air curtain 28 is inducted so that cooling at the cold point 14 or the output of the fan 13 can be 2014286659 29 Sep 2016 11 minimised. This applies particuiarly in the case of use of the front apron 20 with its elevated air suction means 12.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication {or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 12

Reference numeral list container cooling shelf unit user side merchandise area receptacle container cabinet structure cover element wall cold air feed cold air supply main air channel air suction means fan cold point floor region roof region floor plate support ramp front apron front-apron channel channel outlet channel inlet shelf floor-plate air channel opening lever arm cold air curtain

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. Container cooling shelf unit including (i) a merchandise area, which is open or openable towards at least a user side for rapid access to goods, with at least one receptacle for a container carrying goods, (ii) a cabinet structure, which encloses the merchandise area, with a roof element and a wall, (iii) a cold air feed provided in the roof element along the open or openable user side, and (iv) a cold air supply to the cold air feed, which supply includes a main air channel, which is arranged at least partly in the wall, with air suction means as well as a fan arranged in the main air channel and a cold point, which is arranged in the main air channel, of a cooling unit, wherein the receptacle can be furnished with containers by way of the user side, including a front apron, which is openable for the furnishing with the container, with the air suction means, wherein the front apron includes a front-apron air channel, which has the air suction means at one end and is connectible at the other end by way of a channel outlet with an air suction means of a floor plate and/or with a channel inlet of the main air channel, and wherein the front apron is mounted by a rotatably mounted lever arm on the cabinet structure, wherein the front apron can be pivoted upwardly, or the front apron is displaceable upwardly by way of lateral rails provided at the cabinet structure.
2. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein the front apron can be walked on.
3. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cold air feed has a length and the air suction means has a length and the length of the air suction means differs from the length of the cold air feed by at most 50%.
4. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 3, wherein the length of the air suction means differs from the length of the cold air feed by at most 20%.
5. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 3, wherein the length of the air suction means differs from the length of the cold air feed by at most 10%.
6. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein the lever arm is fastened to the cabinet structure by way of a universal joint.
7. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 1, further including gas springs which assist a pivotation up and down of the lever arm.
8. Container cooling shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein the front apron is displaceable by way of lateral rails provided at the cabinet structure and including counterweights which assist the movement of the front apron.