US20110302945A1

US20110302945A1 - Temperature controlled storage and display device

Info

Publication number: US20110302945A1
Application number: US13/105,703
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry C. Howington; Randy M. Sprigg
Original assignee: Hill Phoenix Inc
Current assignee: Hill Phoenix Inc
Priority date: 2010-06-09
Filing date: 2011-05-11
Publication date: 2011-12-15
Also published as: CA2741244A1

Abstract

A tank-less refrigerated display device having an open floor is configured to sit directly upon a floor in a facility such as a supermarket or other food product retail facility. The tank-less and floorless display device includes a front wall section that is substantially free of fans or other electrical components. The front wall section may be readily removable to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. A cooling coil is mounted in a lower portion of a rear wall. A single set of fans are configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system includes a rear wall flue having a vertical profile that is at least partially tapered, and a horizontal top wall flue having a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over an open front in the form of an air curtain.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/353,100, titled “Temperature Controlled Storage and Display Device” and filed on Jun. 9, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of temperature controlled display devices (e.g. refrigerated display device, etc.) for storing and displaying refrigerated objects (e.g. food products, etc.). More specifically, the present invention relates to a refrigerated display device having a “tank-less” and floorless design for use with roll-in or fixed shelving racks, pallet displays, or with fixed shelving. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tank-less and floorless refrigerated display device having a front wall section without fans or other electrical components therein. More particularly still, the present invention relates to a refrigerated display device where the front wall section is readily removable to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerated display device having a rear-mounted cooling coil and a single set of fans configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. More particularly still, the present invention relates to a refrigerated display device where the chilled air distribution system may include an adjustable air diversion scoop configured to divert chilled air through a rear lower baffle, and a vertically tapered rear wall flue configured to distribute chilled air evenly through rear upper baffles, and a horizontal top wall flue having an adjustable damper and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over an open front in the form of an air curtain, and/or louvered openings configured to discharge air vertically downwardly over the food products. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a movable fixture for use in transporting the tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display case.

BACKGROUND

It is well known to provide a temperature controlled display device such as a refrigerator, freezer, refrigerated merchandiser, refrigerated display case, etc., that may be used in commercial, institutional, and residential applications for storing or displaying refrigerated or frozen objects. However, these temperature controlled display devices present a number of disadvantages, including relatively poor energy efficiency for maintaining a desired temperature within an interior temperature controlled space of the display device.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device that overcomes the disadvantages of prior devices.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention relates to a “tank-less” refrigerated display device having an open floor (i.e. floorless) that is configured to sit directly upon a floor in a facility such as a supermarket or other food product retail facility. The tank-less and floorless display device includes a front wall section that is substantially free of fans or other electrical components. The front wall section may be readily removable to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. A cooling coil is mounted in a lower portion of a rear wall. A single set of fans are disposed beneath the cooling coil and are configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system includes an adjustable air diversion scoop configured to divert chilled air through a rear lower baffle, and a rear wall flue having a vertically tapered profile configured to distribute chilled air evenly through rear upper baffles, and a horizontal top wall flue having an adjustable damper and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over an open front in the form of an air curtain.
The front wall section may be a lower front wall section that extends from one side of the display device to an opposite side of the display device. The lower front wall section allows the front of the display device to remain generally open for access to the food products disposed within the interior space. The lower front wall section may include a hinge at one side and a latch at the other side to permit the lower front wall section to be readily removed, or otherwise opened, to permit roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. The lower front wall section may also include suitable vents and flow passages intended to receive air from the air curtain and direct the received air toward a suction side of the single set of fans.
The upper and lower rear baffles may be generally planar sheet members having a series of apertures formed therein to provide an air distribution pattern. The upper rear baffles are disposed above the lower rear baffle and receive chilled air from the rear wall flue. The apertures may be in the form of elongated slots. The lower rear baffle is disposed forward of the cooling coil and received a supply of chilled air from the air diverter scoop. The air diverter scoop may have an arcuate cross-section profile and is adjustable so that a greater portion of the scoop is disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil (to divert more chilled air to the lower rear baffle), or a lesser portion of the scoop is disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil (to divert less chilled air to the lower rear baffle).
The adjustable damper within the horizontal top wall flue extend substantially completely across the flue and includes adjacent slidable damper members, each having a pattern of alternating apertures and obstructions, that may be positioned relative to each other to provide a net flow passage area intended to obtain the desired chilled air flow pressure and distribution characteristics from the chilled air distribution system to the interior space and to the air curtain.
A polyurethane coated drip pan may be disposed beneath the cooling coil and configured to route condensation from the cooling coil to a floor drain of the facility. The floor drain may be within the interior space, or external to the display device.
The single set of fans may be disposed in the rear wall beneath the cooling coil and operable to force air to be chilled into a bottom portion of the cooling coil. The single set of fans are spaced horizontally along the rear wall so that each fan corresponds to a respective rear wall flue zone defined by a plurality of substantially vertical flue dividers disposed within the rear wall flue.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a tank-less refrigerated display device having an interior space at least partially defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a front having a lower front wall beneath an open front portion, and an open floor that is configured to placed over a floor in a facility. A cooling coil with an air inlet and an air outlet is disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall. A single set of fans is disposed proximate the rear wall and upstream of the cooling coil to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system includes a rear wall flue that distributes chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures in the rear wall, and a top wall flue that distributes chilled air downwardly over the interior space through a second series of apertures. A frontal outlet discharges chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain.
Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a tank-less refrigerated display device having an interior space at least partially defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a front having a lower front wall beneath an open front portion, and an open floor that is configured to placed over a floor in a facility. A cooling coil with an air inlet and an air outlet is disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall. A single set of fans is disposed proximate the rear wall and upstream of the cooling coil to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system has a rear wall flue to distribute chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures, and a top wall flue configured to distribute chilled air at least partially over the interior space through a second series of apertures. A frontal outlet discharges chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain. An elongated substantially horizontal receptacle is disposed on each of the opposite side walls, and a movable fixture has a platform that removably engages the receptacles.
Still another embodiment of the invention relates to a tank-less refrigerated display device having an interior space at least partially defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a front having a lower front wall beneath an open front portion, and an open floor that is configured to placed over a floor in a facility. A cooling coil has an air inlet and an air outlet, and is disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall. A single set of fans disposed proximate the rear wall and upstream of the cooling coil push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system includes a rear wall flue that distributes chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures disposed in the rear wall, and a top wall flue that distributes chilled air at least partially over the interior space through a second series of apertures, and a frontal outlet that discharges chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain. An elongated substantially horizontal receptacle is disposed on each of the opposite side walls, and a movable fixture has a platform that removably engages the receptacles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic image of a front perspective view of a fully assembled tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device with a lower front wall free of fans and other electrical components according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic image of a front perspective view of a partially disassembled tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device including a rear wall with lower (e.g. bottom) rear mounted cooling coil and drip pan connected to a drain, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic image of an inside top perspective view of a partially disassembled lower rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device having a single set of fans disposed at an elevation beneath the cooling coil and aligned so that each fan corresponds to a separate rear wall flue zone defined by rear wall flue dividers, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic image of another inside top perspective view of a partially disassembled lower rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device including an air diverter scoop configured to divert chilled air from a top outlet of the cooling coil to the lower rear baffle, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic image of an inside perspective view of a partially disassembled rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device, including a vertical rear wall flue with (partially) tapered flue zones corresponding to the upper rear baffles (not shown), according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic image of an inside perspective view of a top wall flue having an adjustable damper of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic image of a front perspective view of a fully assembled tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device with a roll-out lower front wall free of fans and other electrical components according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic image of a front perspective view of a partially disassembled tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device including a rear wall with lower (e.g. bottom) rear mounted cooling coil and drip pan connected to an external drain, according to the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic image of an inside top perspective view of a partially disassembled lower rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device having a single set of upwardly-angled fans disposed at an elevation beneath the cooling coil, according to the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a schematic image of an inside perspective view of a partially disassembled rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device, including a vertical rear wall flue with (partially) tapered flue zones, according to the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a schematic image of a perspective view of one embodiment of a movable fixture for transporting and installing a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display case, according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a tank-less and floorless refrigerated display device 10 is shown according to a first exemplary embodiment. The display device 10 includes a substantially open bottom (i.e. floorless), a rear wall 18, a partial front wall 12 (i.e. lower front wall) providing an open front portion 14, a top wall 16, and opposite side walls 20, which together define a temperature controlled interior space for the storage and display of refrigerated objects (e.g. food products, etc.). The front of the top wall 16 includes a chilled air outlet discharge 24 to discharge a flow of chilled air across the open front portion 14 in the form of an air curtain. The lower front wall 12 includes a series of apertures configured to receive at least a portion of the air from the air curtain and includes a passage configured to direct the air along the bottom of the interior space toward a suction side of the single set of fans. The display device 10 may also include a retractable thermal barrier 22 extendable across the open front portion 14 (e.g. a “night curtain”), product illumination lighting, retractable casters to facilitate mobility of the display device, among other features. The lower front wall portion 12 is intended to be readily removable, otherwise repositionable, to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices 28 (e.g. pallets, movable racks and shelf systems, etc.). According to one embodiment, the lower front wall portion 12 includes a hinge coupling one side of the lower front wall to one side wall of the display device, with the other side of the lower front wall releasably latched (or otherwise connected—e.g. in the manner of a door or the like) to the opposite side wall, and may also include a roller (e.g. caster, etc.) to support the free end of the lower front wall section upon the floor of the facility during opening and closing operations. Alternatively, the lower front wall section may be hinged at each side and coupled in the middle (e.g. in a double-door manner, or in a bi-fold manner, etc.). According to a further alternative embodiment, the lower front wall portion be may slidable across the front of the display device, or may be configured to drop-down (e.g. in the manner of a tailgate or the like). All such variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 2, a partially disassembled tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device 10 illustrating the rear wall with a lower (e.g. bottom) rear-mounted cooling coil and drip pan 30 (shown connected to a drain 32 of the facility), and a top wall 16, and a portion of an air distribution system 40, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The rear wall 18 includes cooling coil 42 mounted proximate the bottom of the wall 18 and extending substantially from one side of the display device to the opposite side, with a bottom-facing air inlet and a top-facing air outlet. A substantially vertical rear wall flue 44 is disposed above the cooling coil 42 and is separated into rear wall flue zones by rear wall flue dividers 46. A drip pan 30 (e.g. polyurethane coated, etc.) is disposed beneath the cooling coil 42 and is configured to capture condensate, or ice melt during defrost operations, etc., and divert such liquids to a drain 32 of the facility, which may be within the interior space or external of the display device. The top wall 16 includes a substantially horizontal top wall flue 60 that communicates with the rear wall flue 44 and extends from the rear wall 18 to the air outlet 22 at front of the display device 10. The rear wall flue 44 and the top wall flue 60 make up two main passages of the air flow distribution system 40 for delivering chilled air from the cooling coil 42 to the interior space and to the air curtain. The cooling coil 42 is configured to receive a source of coolant, such as a chilled liquid (such as in a “secondary cooling” type refrigeration system) or a refrigerant (e.g. in a “direct expansion” type of refrigeration system) from either a dedicated (e.g. local, self-contained, distributed, etc.) cooling system or a centralized (e.g. remote, etc.) cooling system (not shown).
Referring to FIG. 3, a partially disassembled lower rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device 10 having a single set of fans 48 disposed at an elevation beneath the cooling coil 42 and aligned so that each fan corresponds to a separate rear wall flue zone defined by the rear wall flue dividers 46, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The single set of fans 48 are shown (by way of example) to be axial flow fans configured to draw a suction from the lower portion of the interior space adjacent the floor of the facility and to force (e.g. push, etc.) the air to be chilled into the inlet of the cooling coil 42 and through the cooling coil 42 so that chilled air is discharged at the outlet of the cooling coil 42. The single set of fans 48 is intended to overcome one of the disadvantages of conventional display devices having multiple sets of fans, in which the multiple sets of fans tend to work against each other and decrease the efficiency of the display device. According to the illustrated embodiment, the single set of fans 48 are advantageously the only fans provided in the display device 10 and are disposed in the rear wall 18 beneath the cooling coil 42 and are not disposed within a front wall portion of the display device.
Referring to FIG. 4, a partially disassembled lower rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device including an air diverter scoop 50 configured to divert chilled air from a top outlet of the cooling coil 42 to a lower rear baffle 52, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The lower rear baffle 52 is shown by way of example to comprise generally planar sheet members (e.g. sheet metal, etc.) having a series of apertures 54 formed therein to provide an air distribution pattern for distributing chilled air to the lower portion of the interior space. The apertures are shown in the form of elongated slots, but may have any shape, size, pattern and spacing intended to provide desired air distribution characteristics for a particular application or type of product display device to be stored within the interior space. The lower rear baffle 52 is shown disposed forward of the cooling coil 42 and is configured to receive a supply of chilled air that is diverted downward from the cooling coil outlet by the air diverter scoop 50. The air diverter scoop 50 may have an arcuate cross-section profile, and having a smooth or faceted surface, and is adjustable (e.g. horizontally forward and rearward) so that a greater portion of the scoop 50 may be disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil 42 (to divert more chilled air to the lower rear baffle), or a lesser portion of the scoop 50 may be disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil 42 (to divert less chilled air to the lower rear baffle).
Referring to FIG. 5, a partially disassembled rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device, including a vertical rear wall flue 44 with partially tapered flue zones corresponding to upper rear baffles 56 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The rear wall flue 44 is shown to extend vertically from the cooling coil 42 outlet to the top wall 16 of the display device, where it joins and communicates with the top wall flue 60. The rear wall flue 44 is shown to include a vertically tapered portion that results in a progressively decreasing flow area as elevation above the coil increases. The rear wall flue 44 may be partially tapered (as shown in FIG. 5), or may be completely tapered (not shown). The height and angle of the taper are intended to be selected to provide a substantially uniform distribution of chilled air through the apertures in the upper rear baffles (not shown) so that the distribution of chilled air to the interior space is substantially uniform. According to other embodiments where the cooling load in one portion of the interior space is intended to be greater than another, the taper and/or pattern/size/shape/spacing of apertures in the upper rear baffles or lower rear baffles may be changed or tuned to provide the desired cooling profile within the interior space.
Referring to FIG. 6, a top wall flue 60 having an adjustable damper 62 of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The adjustable damper 62 within the horizontal top wall flue 60 extends substantially completely across the top wall flue 60 and includes adjacent slidable damper members, each having a pattern of alternating apertures and obstructions, that may be positioned relative to each other to provide a net flow passage area from a maximum (with all apertures in each member aligned) and a minimum (with all apertures in one member aligned with obstruction in the other member). The damper position is selectively adjustable and is intended to help balance the air distribution system, along with the air diverter scoop, to obtain the desired chilled air flow pressure and distribution characteristics from the chilled air distribution system to the interior space and to the air curtain.
Referring to FIG. 7, a tank-less and floorless refrigerated display device 110 is shown according to a second exemplary embodiment. The display device 110 includes a substantially open bottom (i.e. floorless), a rear wall 118, a roll-out, partial front wall 112 (i.e. lower front wall) providing an open front portion 114, a top wall 116, and opposite side walls 120, which together define a temperature controlled interior space for the storage and display of refrigerated objects (e.g. food products, etc.). The front of the top wall 116 includes a chilled air outlet discharge 124 to discharge a flow of chilled air across the open front portion 114 in the form of an air curtain. The roll-out, lower front wall 112 includes a series of apertures configured to receive at least a portion of the air from the air curtain and includes a passage configured to direct the air along the bottom of the interior space toward a suction side of the single set of fans. The lower front wall portion 112 is intended to be readily removable, or otherwise repositionable, to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices 128 (e.g. pallets, carts, boxes movable racks and shelf systems, etc.). Roll-out lower front wall 112 may include mobility features to facilitate easy removal so that the food product display devices 128 can be easily moved into and out of the temperature controlled space. For example, the mobility features may include rollers, wheels, castors or the like. Also, roll-out lower front wall 112 may include quick-disconnect features to permit easy and secure coupling and removal of the lower front wall 112 from the case 110. According to one embodiment, the quick disconnect features include latches 113, such as an over-center type latch, buckle, or other suitable connecting device. The display device 110 may also include a retractable thermal barrier 122 extendable across the open front portion 114 (e.g. a “night curtain”), product illumination lighting, among other features. All such variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 8, a partially disassembled tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device 110 illustrating the rear wall with a lower (e.g. bottom) rear-mounted cooling coil and drip pan 130 (shown connected to a drain 132 of the facility located external to the display device), and a top wall 116, and a portion of an air distribution system 140, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The rear wall 118 includes cooling coil 142 mounted proximate the bottom of the wall 118 and extending substantially from one side of the display device to the opposite side, with a bottom-facing air inlet and a top-facing air outlet. A substantially vertical rear wall flue 144 is disposed above the cooling coil 142 and includes a rear wall flue with flue zones defined generally between rear wall supports 146. The rear wall supports 146 include openings formed therein that permit exchange of air between the flue zones to promote mixing of air discharged from the cooling coil. The openings in supports 146 may be sized and shaped to permit a desired amount of mixing of air flow between the zones. A drip pan 130 (e.g. polyurethane coated, etc.) is disposed beneath the cooling coil 142 and is configured to capture condensate, or ice melt during defrost operations, etc., and divert such liquids to a drain 132 of the facility, which is shown to be external to the display device.
Referring further to FIG. 8, the top wall 116 includes a substantially horizontal top wall flue 160 that communicates with the rear wall flue 144 and extends from the rear wall 118 to the air outlet 122 at front of the display device 110. The rear wall flue 144 and the top wall flue 160 make up two main passages of the air flow distribution system 140 for delivering chilled air from the cooling coil 142 to the interior space and to the air curtain. The cooling coil 142 is configured to receive a source of coolant, such as a chilled liquid (such as in a “secondary cooling” type refrigeration system) or a refrigerant (e.g. in a “direct expansion” type of refrigeration system) from either a dedicated (e.g. local, self-contained, distributed, etc.) cooling system or a centralized (e.g. remote, etc.) cooling system (not shown). Top wall 116 is shown to include a plurality of apertures 162 (e.g. “louvered hits,” slots, nozzles, etc.) disposed strategically throughout an interior panel of top wall 116 and configured to discharge cooled air from top wall flue 160 in a generally vertically-downward manner over the interior space (e.g. in the manner of a “rainforest shower” or the like). The apertures may be sized and arranged in a variety of patterns to provide a cooled desired air flow distribution for a particular application. Display device 110 may also include a panel 143 (such as a clear Plexiglas panel or the like) coupled to top wall 116 and disposed substantially between the air curtain discharge 124 and the apertured interior panel of top wall 116 to reduce mixing and turbulence between the front air curtain and the vertically-downward flow of cooled air from apertures 162.
Referring to FIG. 9, a partially disassembled lower rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device 110 having a single set of fans 148 disposed at an elevation beneath the cooling coil 142 and disposed in an angularly upward-facing manner so that each fan directs a flow of air with a vertical component into the cooling coil 142. The single set of fans 148 are shown (by way of example) to be axial flow fans configured to draw a suction from the lower portion of the interior space adjacent the floor of the facility and to force (e.g. push, etc.) the air to be chilled angularly upward into the inlet of the cooling coil 142 and through the cooling coil 142 so that chilled air is discharged at the outlet of the cooling coil 142. The single set of fans 148 is intended to overcome one of the disadvantages of conventional display devices having multiple sets of fans, in which the multiple sets of fans tend to work against each other and decrease the efficiency of the display device. According to the illustrated embodiment, the single set of fans 148 are advantageously the only fans provided in the display device 110 and are disposed in the rear wall 118 beneath the cooling coil 142 and are not disposed within a front wall portion of the display device.
Referring further to FIG. 9, a lower rear baffle 152 is shown disposed inwardly (i.e. toward the interior space) and formed from generally planar sheet members (e.g. sheet metal, etc.) having a series of apertures 154 formed therein to provide an air distribution pattern for distributing chilled air to the lower portion of the interior space. The apertures are shown in the form of elongated slots, but may have any shape, size, pattern and spacing intended to provide desired air distribution characteristics for a particular application or type of product display device to be stored within the interior space. The lower rear baffle 152 is shown disposed inward and forward of the cooling coil 142 and is configured to receive a supply of chilled air from the rear wall flue.
Referring to FIG. 10, a partially disassembled rear wall of a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display device, including a vertical rear wall flue 144 with partially tapered flue zones is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The rear wall flue 144 is shown to extend vertically from the cooling coil 142 outlet to the top wall 116 of the display device, where it joins and communicates with the top wall flue 160. The rear wall flue 144 is shown to include a vertically tapered portion that results in a decreasing flow area as elevation above the coil increases. The rear wall flue 144 may be partially tapered (as shown in FIG. 10), or may be completely tapered (not shown). The height and angle of the taper are intended to be selected to provide a substantially uniform distribution of chilled air through the apertures in the upper rear baffles (not shown) so that the distribution of chilled air to the interior space is substantially uniform. According to other embodiments where the cooling load in one portion of the interior space is intended to be greater than another, the taper and/or pattern/size/shape/spacing of apertures in the upper rear baffles or lower rear baffles may be changed or tuned to provide the desired cooling profile within the interior space.
Referring to FIG. 11, a movable fixture 200 for use in transporting and installing a tank-less and floorless temperature controlled display case 10, 110 such as those shown in the first and second embodiments herein, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Movable fixture 200 is intended to provide a secure and convenient device for transporting the display case from one location to another (e.g. from a manufacturer to a customer, or from one location to another location within a customer's facility, etc.). The movable fixture 200 is shown to include a substantially horizontal framework comprising a base or platform portion 210, and a substantially vertical framework, coupled to the platform 210, which serves as an accessory rack 240 for temporarily holding and securing accessories or other components of the display device during transport. The movable fixture 200 is configured to be conveniently and easily positioned within, and adapted to, and then removed from, the display case. The platform 210 includes front and back rail members 212, 214 that generally span a width of the interior space of the display case, and are connected by cross-members 216, 218, and support the vertical rack 240. A block 220, which may serve as a shim or a glide device (e.g. a glide block of low friction material, etc.) is disposed on the top lateral end of each of the front and back rail members 212, 214. The platform 210 is shown to include several mobility features. First, the front rail 212 and the back rail 214 of the platform include openings 222 suitable to receive forks from a forklift truck or the like. Second, the front rail 212 and the back rail 214 include attachment points configured to receive a set of removable casters 224. The platform 210 with its various features is configured to engage the display device in a manner that permits the platform to support the weight of the display device during transport, and using either of the mobility features. Referring further to FIG. 11, an inside surface of each of the side walls 20, 210 of the display device 10, 110 includes a receptacle 226, shown by way of example as a generally horizontal and C-shaped channel (only one wall and one channel is shown for clarity).
According to one embodiment, the movable fixture is adapted to engage and support the display device in the following general manner. Upon removal of the lower front wall of the display device, the movable fixture 200 is slid, rolled or otherwise moved into the interior space so that the opposite lateral ends of the front and back rail members 212, 214 are received within the receptacles 226, with the top of the receptacles 226 supported on the blocks 220. The display device is secured to the platform, e.g. using bolts or clamps or the like to join the top of the receptacle 226 to the lateral ends of the front and back members 212, 214. The accessories and other components (e.g. racks, shelves, etc.) of the display device can be temporarily secured to the vertical accessory rack 240 for transport. The lower front wall can be reinstalled on the front of the display device. The assembly of the display device and the movable fixture can then be easily moved using the first mobility device for lifting by a forklift (e.g. using the openings 222) and loaded onto a pallet or the like for shipping the display device to a customer location. The assembly of the display device and the movable fixture can also be easily moved using the other mobility feature (such as when the assembly is delivered to a customer facility), by lifting the assembly from the pallet (or other shipping device), coupling the set of casters 224 to the underside of the platform 210, and wheeling the display device into position. Once the display device is in the desired location, the movable fixture 200 may be removed from the interior space by holding the display device in position and pulling the platform 210 from the receptacles 226, the ease of which is enhanced by the low-friction interface between the blocks 220 and the top of the receptacles 226. The accessories may then be removed from the vertical accessory rack 240 and installed in the display device and the lower front wall re-coupled to the front of the display device.
According to any preferred embodiment, a “tank-less” refrigerated display device having an open floor (i.e. is “floorless”) is configured to sit directly upon a floor in a facility such as a supermarket or other food product retail facility. The tank-less and floorless display device includes a front wall section that is substantially free of fans or other electrical components. The front wall section may be readily removable to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. A cooling coil is mounted in a lower portion of a rear wall. A single set of fans are configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system included an adjustable air diversion scoop configured to divert chilled air through a rear lower baffle, and a rear wall flue having a vertical profile that is at least partially tapered to distribute chilled air more evenly through rear upper baffles, and a horizontal top wall flue which may have an adjustable damper, and/or louvered air discharge slots configured to deliver a vertical downward flow of chilled air throughout the interior space, and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over an open front in the form of an air curtain. The interior of the display case may also include receptacles configured to temporarily receive a movable fixture for transport of the display device.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the insulated support structure with a direct cooling display platform for a temperature controlled storage device as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present inventions.

Claims

1. A tank-less refrigerated display device, comprising:

an interior space defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a lower front wall section, an open front portion above the lower front wall section, and an open floor that is configured to be placed over a floor in a facility;

the front wall section being substantially free of fans and electrical components;

a cooling coil having an air inlet and an air outlet, the cooling coil disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall;

a single set of fans disposed proximate the rear wall and configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system;

the chilled air distribution system included an adjustable air diversion scoop ii configured to divert chilled air downward through a rear lower baffle, and a rear wall flue having a vertical profile that is at least partially tapered and configured to distribute chilled air through rear upper baffles, and a substantially horizontal top wall flue having an adjustable damper and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower front wall section extends between the opposite side walls.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the lower front wall section allows the front of the display device to remain generally open for access to food products disposed within the interior space.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the lower front wall section includes at least one of: (i) a hinge at one side and a latch at the other side, (ii) a hinge at both sides, or (iii) a latch at both sides, to permit the lower front wall section to be readily removed.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the lower front wall section includes vents and flow passages configured to receive air from the air curtain and direct the received air toward a suction side of the single set of fans.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower rear baffles comprise generally planar sheet members having a series of apertures formed therein to provide an air distribution pattern.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the upper rear baffles are disposed above the lower rear baffles and receive chilled air from the rear wall flue.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the apertures comprise elongated slots.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower rear baffle is disposed forward of the cooling coil and receives a supply of chilled air from the air diversion scoop.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the air diversion scoop comprise an arcuate cross-section profile and is adjustable between a first position so that a greater portion of the scoop is disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil to divert more chilled air to the lower rear baffle, and a second position where a lesser portion of the scoop is disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil to divert less chilled air to the lower rear baffle.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable damper within the horizontal top wall flue extends substantially completely across the flue and includes adjacent slidable damper members, each having a pattern of alternating apertures and obstructions, that may be positioned relative to each other to provide a net flow passage area.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a polyurethane coated drip pan disposed beneath the cooling coil and configured to route condensation from the cooling coil to a floor drain of the facility.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the floor drain is within the interior space or outside of the interior space.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the single set of fans are disposed in the rear wall beneath the cooling coil and are operable to force air to be chilled into a bottom portion of the cooling coil.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the single set of fans are spaced horizontally along the rear wall so that each fan corresponds to a respective rear wall flue zone defined by a plurality of substantially vertical flue dividers disposed within the rear wall flue.

16. A tank-less refrigerated display device, comprising:

an interior space at least partially defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a front having a lower front wall beneath an open front portion, and an open floor that is configured to placed over a floor in a facility;

a single set of fans disposed proximate the rear wall and upstream of the cooling coil and configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system;

the chilled air distribution system including a rear wall flue configured to ii distribute chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures disposed in the rear wall, and a top wall flue configured to distribute chilled air downwardly over the interior space through a second series of apertures, and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the single set of fans are disposed proximate the rear wall in an angled orientation to force air to be chilled at least partially upward into a bottom portion of the cooling coil.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the lower front wall is removably coupled to the opposite side walls to facilitate loading food products within the interior space.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the lower front wall is substantially free of electrical components and couples to the opposite side walls by one or more latches.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the opposite side walls comprise elongated substantially horizontal receptacles, and further comprising a movable fixture having a platform portion that removably engages the receptacles to facilitate transporting the display device.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the movable fixture further comprises an accessory rack supported by the platform and configured to secure accessories when transporting the display device.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the platform comprises openings configured to receive a forklift.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the platform comprises a set of removable casters.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein the platform comprises glide blocks engagable with the receptacles to provide a low-friction interface.

25. The device of claim 16, further comprising a substantially clear panel extending from the top wall and disposed between the second set of apertures and the frontal outlet.

26. A tank-less refrigerated display device, comprising:

the chilled air distribution system including a rear wall flue configured to ii distribute chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures disposed in the rear wall, and a top wall flue configured to distribute chilled air at least partially over the interior space through a second series of apertures, and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain;

an elongated substantially horizontal receptacle disposed on each of the opposite side walls; and

a movable fixture having a platform that removably engages the receptacles.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the movable fixture further comprises an accessory rack supported by the platform and configured to secure accessories when transporting the display device.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the platform comprises openings configured to receive a forklift.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the platform comprises a set of removable casters.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the platform comprises glide blocks engagable with the receptacles to provide a low-friction interface.