Refrigerator Cabinet with Door Defogger

Abstract

A refrigerated cabinet defines a product space and a door that controls access to the product space. The refrigerated cabinet includes a heat pump assembly configured to cool air by circulating a cooling medium through an evaporator and a cooler. The refrigerated cabinet includes a fan disposed to move air cooled by the heat pump through the product space. The refrigerated cabinet is configured so that the air that is heated when passing through the cooler is directed outside the cooling cabinet with the assistance of at least one air guide element that is formed in such a manner that the air directed to the outside sweeps past an outer side of the door of the refrigerated cabinet.

Description

The present invention relates to refrigerated cabinets and individual characteristics of them, whereas the characteristics described below, in any combination, are part of the invention, provided that there are no technical inconsistencies.

It must also be noted that the individual aspects can also be realized in product display cabinets that do not serve the purpose of the cooling of products, such as food. Thus, the individual characteristics can also be realized in product display cabinets that do not serve as refrigerated cabinets.

BACKGROUND

Generally, refrigerated cabinets with doors that can pivot around vertical pivot axes are known in the state of the art, whereas the doors are preferably designed to be transparent and comprise one or more interconnected transparent glass panes.

The invention relates to the airflow within a refrigerated cabinet. In general, it is always desirable that condensation from air moisture does not occur on the inside and outside surfaces of the doors of a refrigerated cabinet, as this would impair the visibility of the product space.

First, the refrigerated cabinet, which takes into account this requirement, features a heat pump assembly, through which the air is cooled in the product space. The heat pump assembly comprises a compressor for a heat transfer medium, in which the pressure of the gaseous heat transfer medium flowing into the compressor is increased, whereas the heat transfer medium remains gaseous. The temperature of the heat transfer medium is thereby increased. The heated heat transfer medium then enters the area of a heat exchanger (another name: condenser). There, the heat transfer medium condenses and thereby releases heat to the surrounding area of the heat exchanger.

The heat transfer medium condensed by the heat exchanger enters, in liquid form, the area of a throttle element, in which the pressure of the heat transfer medium is reduced without changing the state of aggregation. The heat transfer medium is thereby further cooled.

From the throttle element, the cold liquid heat transfer medium ultimately enters an evaporator. There, the heat transfer medium absorbs heat from the air, which is conducted past the evaporator (a fan, i.e., a ventilator or a blower, for example, serves this purpose). Due to the heat absorption, the heat transfer medium evaporates and enters back into the evaporator, such that the heat transfer medium circuit is closed.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to prevent the doors from fogging up in the area of their lower outer side because of condensation from air moisture, it is advantageous if the air heated by the heat exchanger condenser is directed from the refrigeration cabinet into its surrounding area in such a manner that, when leaving the refrigerated cabinet or shortly thereafter, it sweeps past the lower outside of one or more doors of the refrigerated cabinet. The warm air prevents fogging up, or if condensation already has formed in such area (for example, during a period in which the heat pump assembly is not being operated), then the warm air absorbs the condensation from the door.

Preferably, the refrigerated cabinet features one or more inlets, through which air from the surrounding area of the refrigerated cabinet can flow into the refrigerated cabinet. The incoming air is sucked in by means of a fan (for example) and flows through one or more channels into the interior of the cabinet. The specified channel(s) should be separated from the cavity(ies) through which the air that is sucked out from the product space and flows back into the product space after cooling by the evaporator is guided.

The inlet(s) is/are preferably arranged in the upper area of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the ceiling area or in the area of the cabinet head. Likewise, an arrangement in the sides or bottom area of the refrigerated cabinet is possible.

Furthermore, the refrigerated cabinet should feature one or more outlets through which the air sucked in through the inlet(s) is able to once again flow out of the refrigerated cabinet after it has been heated by the condenser.

The outlet(s) is/are preferably located in the area of the side(s) of the refrigerated cabinet on which doors are located. Preferably, the outlet(s) is/are arranged in the bottom area of the refrigerated cabinet. In particular, the outlet(s) may be arranged in a manner adjacent to a ram protector (when looking at the doors, preferably behind, above and/or below the ram protector), extending along the side(s) on which doors are also arranged.

In particular, it is advantageous if the outlet(s) is/are allocated with one or more air guide elements, whereas the air outlet(s) may also be part of the outlet(s).

The air guide element, of which several may also be present, may be present, for example, as an air baffle (made of metal or plastic). In particular, it brings about a deflection of the air flowing out of the outlet(s) in the direction of one or more doors in their lower area.

The refrigerated cabinet may feature only a single product space or a single front with one or more doors. However, is also conceivable that the refrigerated cabinet comprises a combination of individual cabinets, in particular several so-called “long cabinets” or several so-called “cabinet end sections,” or a mixture of the two.

In particular, each individual cabinet of a refrigeration cabinet consisting of several cabinets is to feature its own heat pump assembly. Moreover, the remaining sections/components/elements are to be present separately for each individual cabinet. Thus, the individual cabinets are preferably so-called “ready-to-plug-in” cabinets, which feature all of the components necessary for the operation of the cabinet.

Preferably, the refrigerated cabinet comprises at least two long cabinets, which are placed with their backs against each other, such that the doors of the two long cabinets are arranged on two opposites, outwardly facing and mutually parallel outer sides of the refrigerated cabinet.

Preferably, a cavity is present between the two long cabinets, through which it is preferable that air that is sucked in above flows down into one or more cavities, in which one or more heat exchangers are arranged.

It is also advantageous if the refrigerated cabinet features two times X long cabinets (X is between 1 and 10), whereas, in each case, two long cabinets are next to each other with their rear sides turned away from the doors. If there are more than two long cabinets, it is also always the case that the same number of long cabinets are arranged side by side.

Each of the long cabinets features a front side with one or more doors, through which the product space behind it is accessible. It is also advantageous if a cabinet end section is arranged in the area of one or both end faces of the refrigerated cabinet. The respective cabinet end section serves as a connection between two adjacent long cabinets that are placed with their backs against each other.

In particular, the cabinet end section is arranged in such a manner that, with its rear side, it adjoins one side of each long cabinet, whereas the specified side is the area that is perpendicular to the door front of the long cabinet.

Preferably, the rear side of the cabinet end section is at least partially open, such that shelves can extend from the long sides to the product space of the adjacent cabinet end section.

The cabinet end section(s) preferably also feature doors, whereas doors are arranged in the area that runs perpendicular to the door front of the long cabinet (=plane formed by the doors of the long cabinet). In addition or alternatively, doors are to be arranged in the plane of the cabinet end section(s) that is/are parallel to or in the same plane in which the doors of the long cabinet are located.

Thus, the refrigerated cabinet may consist of several individual cabinets. Preferably, an even number of long cabinets is present, whereas the long cabinet features doors only in the area of a front side, whereas the front side extends in the width direction of the long cabinet. Thus, a long cabinet has a rear side, two sides running perpendicular to it and the specified front side, through which the product space is accessible.

Preferably, two or in each case two long cabinets have their rear sides against each other, such that the long cabinets feature doors on two sides facing away from each other.

The refrigerated cabinet also includes one or two cabinet end section. With its rear side, a first cabinet end section can adjoin, in each case, a first side of two adjacently placed long cabinets. With its rear side, a second cabinet end section (if present) can adjoin, in each case, a second side of the specified long cabinet. In place of one long cabinet, more than two long cabinets can be arranged between the two cabinet end section0). Moreover, only one cabinet end section may be present.

All long cabinets of the refrigerated cabinet are to feature doors in the area of its front side. All cabinet end sections are to feature doors in the area of their front side and their two sides. The doors are preferably designed as sliding doors.

In addition, the sides of the long cabinets that adjoin a cabinet end section are not to feature a continuous side wall. Thus, the product space preferably extends from one or two cabinet end sections into the two adjacent long cabinets. If more than two long cabinets are present, the product spaces of laterally adjacent long cabinets are to be connected to each other; that is, they are not separated by partitions.

The refrigerated cabinet preferably has a single product space, whereas this preferably extends into a cabinet end section and two (or X times 2) adjacent long cabinets, or into two cabinet end sections and the long cabinets arranged between them.

The sides of the long cabinet, which do not adjoin either an additional long cabinet or a cabinet end section, may feature a closed, continuous side wall, whereas such side wall may be formed, in whole or in part, by one or more glass panes, in order to enable views into the product space from the specified sides.

Moreover, a part of the invention is also a cabinet end section that features one or more doors both in the area of its front side and in the area of one or both sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention are described in the following embodiments. This following is shown, in each case schematically:

FIG. 1 a front elevation view of a refrigerated cabinet,

FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of a refrigerated cabinet,

FIG. 3 a perspective of the exterior of a refrigerated cabinet,

FIG. 4 the view in accordance with FIG. 3 with additional details of the interior.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the following, characteristics of refrigerated cabinets 1 and their components are described, whereas the individual characteristics can be combined as desired, provided that no obvious inconsistencies arise.

In addition, it must be noted that in figures that feature identical and thus identically represented elements or sections, in some cases, only one of the elements or sections is provided with a reference sign, in order to ensure a proper overview. Finally, it must be clarified that, in all of the figures, not all sections/components are provided with a reference sign if they have already been provided with a reference sign in earlier figures.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a refrigerated cabinet 1 with a frame 28 (that is, a base element to which the other elements of the refrigerated cabinet 1 are attached, directly or indirectly), a multiple number of doors 2 that are pivotable around a vertical pivot axis, whereas, as a rule, the doors 2 comprise one or more glass panes 17 spaced apart from each other, which allow views into the interior of the refrigerated cabinet 1.

The mounting of each door 2 includes a lower door bearing (not shown) and an upper door bearing 4, such that each door 2 can be pivoted around its two bearings, for example with the assistance of a handle 3, between an open position and a closed position. Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable to move the doors 2 with the assistance of a drive.

As FIG. 1 further shows, the doors 2 are mounted through their upper door bearing 4 on or in the so-called cabinet head 5. This comprises, for example, a horizontal transverse strut that forms the upper area of the refrigerated cabinet 1 or is arranged behind a panel.

Preferably, no vertical supports are arranged between the individual doors 2, in order not to impair the view into the interior of the refrigerated cabinet 1.

FIG. 2 shows an additional advantageous aspect in which a cross-section of a double-sided refrigerated cabinet 1 is shown. In all other respects, selections/elements that are presented identically and are thus identical are provided with a reference sign with only one of the two long cabinets 65 (FIG. 3) of the refrigerated cabinet 1, in order to ensure a proper overview.

ln principle, the refrigeration unit 1 comprises two mirror-inverted or identically structured long cabinets 65, which stand with their backs against each other. Each of the long cabinets 65 has a frame 28, a multiple number of doors 2, which are mounted on a sliding manner on the frame 28 by means of a mounting (not shown), a multiple number of shelves 51 for the presentation of food, along with a heat pump assembly for cooling the product space 67.

The heat pump assembly comprises, among other things, a heat transfer medium circuit with a compressor (not shown), an evaporator 53, through which the air conducted past by means of a fan 58 is cooled, a throttle element (not shown) and a heat exchanger 54 (condenser) for the heat transfer medium.

During the operation of the heat pump assembly, through the action of a fan 58, air flows from the product space 67 through an air inlet 52 into a first cavity 55, which is formed as an air guide channel 49. There, the air is cooled with the assistance of the evaporator 53, and ultimately flows through an air outlet 50 back into the product space 67.

A second air stream extends from upper inlets 75 between the rear sides of the long cabinet 65, and is moved into lower cavities 55 of the long cabinet 65 by means of an additional fan 58. The inlets 75 are formed, for example, by disks spaced apart by means of individual supports 61, whereas two locking disks 60, which, in a manner not shown, are connected to the frame 28 of the long cabinet 65, may be covered by a common cover disk 59.

In the lower cavities 55, the air ultimately flows around the condenser 54 and is thereby heated. In order to avoid the fogging up of the doors 2 in their lower area, it is advantageous if, with the assistance of air guide elements 57, the heated air, after leaving the cavities 55, is conducted past the outer sides of the doors 2, and continuously dries the doors 2 and/or protects them from fogging up. The air outlet takes place through one or more outlets 76, which could be formed to be, for example, slit-shaped.

The air guide elements 57 may comprise, for example, air baffles that guide the air in the area of a ram protector 56 arranged at the bottom into the area of the doors 2 and configured to protect the doors 2 against being rammed by a shopping cart. The corresponding air flow 48 is shown by dashed lines.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an additional aspect of a refrigerated cabinet 1. While FIG. 3 reveals the outer characteristics of the refrigerated cabinet 1, a part of the interior of the refrigerated cabinet 1 can be seen in FIG. 4.

ln general, the individual doors 2 include transparent glass panes 17 schematically shown in FIG. 1, such that the view into the product space 67 is ensured even if the doors 2 are closed, even if this does not appear in FIG. 3.

In general, in the case shown schematically in FIG. 4, the refrigerated cabinet 1 consists of two long cabinets 65, which are the sections arranged back-to-back with the glass doors defining the exterior, and one cabinet head end section 64 disposed at one end of the long cabinets 65, whereas the individual sections 64, 65, 65 are placed against each other and are connected to each other as required. The connection area of the two long cabinets 65 and the cabinet end section 64 is schematically characterized in FIG. 4 by a line provided with the reference sign 63. Moreover, an additional cabinet end section 64 can also be arranged on the left rear side of the view schematically depicted in FIG. 4, such that the two long cabinets 65 can be connected, in the area of their end faces, by means of a second cabinet head end section 64.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows that inside the refrigerated cabinet 1, a common display with one or more shelves 51 may be arranged, which shelves may be attached by means of, for example, a center support 66. The shelves 51 extend both into the region of the long cabinets 65 and into the region of the cabinet end section(s) 64, such that a common product space 67 is formed.

In order to be able to reach all of the products placed on the shelves 51 from the outside, it is provided that the cabinet end section 64 features a plurality of doors 2. Thus, doors 2 may be arranged on the sides that constitute the extension of the long cabinets 65 and their doors. In addition, doors 2 may be arranged in the region of the cabinet end section(s) 64, which extend perpendicular to the doors 2 of the long cabinets 65. As a result, finally, three sides (if only one cabinet end section 64 is present) or even four sides (if two cabinet end sections 64 are present) may be opened by opening the respective doors 2.

Of course, more than two long cabinets 65 may be present between the two cabinet end sections 64; such long cabinets 65 are then arranged side by side.

This invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Variations within the framework of the claims, such as any combination of the described characteristics, are also possible, even if they are presented and described in different parts of the description and/or the claims, or in different embodiments, provided that there is no inconsistency regarding the teaching of the independent claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Refrigerated cabinet

2 Door

3 Handle

4 Upper door bearing

5 Cabinet head

17 Glass pane

28 Frame

48 Air flow

49 Air guide channel

50 Air outlet

51 Shelves

52 Air inlet

53 Evaporator

54 Condenser

55 Cavity

56 Ram protector

57 Air guide element

58 Fan

59 Cover disk

60 Locking disk

61 Support

63 Connection area

64 Cabinet End Sections

65 Long cabinet

66 Center support

67 Product space

75 Inlet

76 Outlet cm 1-15. (canceled)

Claims

16. Refrigerated cabinet defined by a main frame that defines a product space in the interior thereof, the refrigerated cabinet comprising:

a door carried by the main frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position so as to control access to the product space, the door defining an outer side disposed outside the cabinet when the door is disposed in the closed position;

a heat pump assembly carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the main frame, the heat pump assembly being configured to cool air and including an evaporator and a condenser;

a first fan carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the frame, the first fan being configured to move the cool air through the product space;

a second fan carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the frame, the second fan being configured to move air past the condenser to become a heated air flow;

a cavity disposed within the main frame and defining an outlet communicating outside the refrigerated cabinet, the cavity being configured to carry the heated air flow from the condenser to the outlet of the cavity; and

an air guide element disposed at the outlet of the cavity and configured to guide the heated air flow to the outer side of the door.

17. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the refrigerated cabinet defines an inlet, through which air from the environment surrounding the outside of the refrigerated cabinet can flow into the interior of the refrigerated cabinet.

18. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the refrigerated cabinet defines a channel in the interior of the refrigerated cabinet, wherein the evaporator is disposed within the channel, and wherein the channel is configured and disposed so that operation of the first fan draws air from the product space into the channel.

19. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the channel is defined separate from the cavity such that air that is sucked out from the product space by operation of the second fan does not move directly into the channel.

20. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the inlet s disposed in an upper region of the product space.

21. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the outlet is located in the region of the frame disposed beneath the door.

22. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the outlet is arranged at a bottom region of the outside of the refrigerated cabinet.

23. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the cavity is disposed in a lower region of the product space of the refrigerated cabinet.

24. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, further comprising a ram protector and wherein the outlet is arranged in manner adjacent to the ram protector.

25. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 24, wherein the air guide element is disposed between the outlet and the ram protector.

26. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the air guide element defines an air baffle configured to bring about a deflection of the air flowing out of the outlet and in a direction that is generally parallel to the outer side of the door.

27. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 16, wherein the refrigerated cabinet includes a plurality of product spaces and a plurality of doors.

28. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 27, further comprising a plurality of heat pump assemblies, wherein a respective one of the plurality of heat pump assemblies is disposed to provide cool air flow to a respective one of the plurality of product spaces.

29. Refrigerated cabinet defined by a main frame that defines a product space in the interior thereof, the refrigerated cabinet comprising:

a first door carried by the main frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position so as to control access to the product space, the first door defining an outer side disposed outside the cabinet when the first door is disposed in the closed position;

a second door carried by the main frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position so as to control access to the product space, the second door defining an outer side disposed outside the cabinet when the second door is disposed in the closed position;

a first heat pump assembly carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the main frame, the first heat pump assembly being configured to cool air and including a first evaporator and a first condenser;

a second heat pump assembly carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the main frame, the second heat pump assembly being configured to cool air and including a second evaporator and a second condenser;

a first fan carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the frame, the first fan being configured to move the cool air through the product space;

a second fan carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the frame, the second fan being configured to move the cool air through the product space;

a third fan carried by the main frame and disposed within the interior of the frame, the third fan being configured to move air past the first condenser to become a first heated air flow, the third fan being configured to move air past the second condenser to become a second heated air flow;

a first cavity disposed within the main frame and defining a first outlet communicating outside the refrigerated cabinet, the first cavity being configured to carry the first heated air flow from the first condenser to the first outlet of the first cavity;

a second cavity disposed within the main frame and defining a second outlet communicating outside the refrigerated cabinet, the second cavity being configured to carry the second heated air flow from the second condenser to the second outlet of the second cavity;

a first air guide element disposed at the first outlet of the first cavity and configured to guide the first heated air flow in a direction parallel to the outer side of the first door; and

a second air guide element disposed at the second outlet of the second lower and configured to guide the second heated air flow in a direction parallel to the outer side of the second door.

30. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 29, wherein the refrigerated cabinet defines a common channel having an inlet disposed in communication with the product space and an outlet disposed in communication with the first cavity and with the second cavity.

31. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 30, wherein the third fan is disposed within the common channel between the inlet of the common channel and the outlet of the common channel.

32. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 29, wherein the first air guide element defines an air baffle configured to bring about a deflection of the air flowing out of the outlet and in a direction that is generally parallel to the outer side of the first door.

33. Refrigerated cabinet as in claim 29, wherein the first cavity is disposed in a lower region of the product space of the refrigerated cabinet.