Separable Ambulant Cooled Enclosure And Power Or Cooling Source Patents (Class 62/237)
  • Patent number: 4872320
    Abstract: A refrigeration showcase comprising a display case, a machine case and an air duct connecting the display case to the machine case, the display case comprising a display table for displaying commodities as placed thereon, a cover member openably covering the display table from above to define a commodity chamber above the display table and permitting the commodity chamber to be seen therethrough from outside, and an air passage member disposed under the display table and providing a cold air supply portion for supplying cold air therethrough to the commodity chamber and a cold air discharge portion independent of the supply portion for discharging cold air from the commodity chamber therethrough, the machine case comprising a case body, a refrigerator housed in the case body and providing a refrigeration cycle and a cold air circulating blower for supplying air cooled by the evaporator in circulation, the air duct having a forward air channel for transporting the cold air, and a return air channel independent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshirou Ishizaka, Hiroshi Naganuma, Kenji Sato, Yuji Kishi, Yoshihisa Ishida, Kiyokazu Goto
  • Patent number: 4852365
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprised of a walled insulated enclosure is provided with a drive motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom. The drive shaft and drive motor are positioned along the ceiling of the walled enclosure. The drive shaft terminates at a coupling mechanism. A complimentary coupling mechanism is attached to the top of a well-known movable food rack. Thus, when the food rack is stored within the walled enclosure, the coupling mechanism on the food rack mates with and attaches to the complimentary coupling mechanism of the drive shaft. When the drive motor is actuated, the drive shaft will rotate the movable food rack. It will be appreciated that by rotating the movable food rack, the present invention will permit the food stored on the food rack to chill far more quickly than if the food rack were to remain stationary. In addition, by rotating the food rack, the present invention eliminates warm air pockets which allow bacterial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Standex International Corporation
    Inventors: Granville P. Elrod, John W. Westbrooks, Tracy L. McDonald
  • Patent number: 4835977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for air conditioning parked aircraft is disclosed in which air at a temperature below the freezing point of water is provided under pressure to the aircraft. The use of sub-freezing air enables a reduction in air flow rate over prior art systems. This results in less power consumption for cooling and pressurizing the air and also results in less cabin noise. Further, the air entering the cabin is very low in humidity, which enhances passenger comfort. Several cooling system mechanizations are presented which include provisions for automatic frost removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Haglund, Robert E. Tupack
  • Patent number: 4827731
    Abstract: A temperature control means which is suitable for use with small, transferable refrigerated containers is described. The temperature control means includes a plurality of switches which determine the desired temperature level in the container by switch contact portions provided by the container. The predetermined temperature for controlling the refrigeration in the container is determined by operation of switches which control the refrigerating apparatus by comparing the desired temperature level with the actual temperature in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 4773230
    Abstract: A mobile mortuary comprising an elongated container defining an interior compartment for cadavers. Cadaver trays are supported in the compartment for movement through an opening in the front wall of the container to an extended position. An evaporator is mounted on the container within the compartment, and a compressor-condenser unit and generator are mounted on the container outside the compartment. The mortuary is mounted on wheels for movement upon a supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Lipshaw Corporation
    Inventor: Roger L. Garrett
  • Patent number: 4745770
    Abstract: A heater/cooler unit specially adapted for motels, hotels, hospitals and like structures enables adjacent rooms to be cooled or heated by using certain commonly shared components. An evaporator is disposed in each of two adjacent rooms. The evaporators are connected to a common compressor and condenser disposed outside the rooms. Appropriate control mechanisms are provided to enable the evaporators to operate independently. The components are disposed in a housing which forms a portion of the exterior wall of the structure and a portion of the common wall of the rooms. Certain of the components can be placed atop a cart which can be wheeled into and out of the housing so as to facilitate installation and servicing of the unit. Electrical strip heaters can be added to the evaporators to provide a heating capability. An alternative embodiment employs interior and exterior heat exchangers operated as heat pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Shaker Tinning & Heating Co.
    Inventor: Alvin Mintz
  • Patent number: 4738117
    Abstract: An insulating apparatus for individually managing the temperatures of small containers to be delivered or stocked has containers and cooling units. The cooling unit has a rack for placing the container and cooling elements inserted into the containers. The cooling elements are operated by pressing selectively operable pressors of the container side by a remote switch of the cooling unit side. The cooling elements are independent at the respective containers to individually control the temperatures of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Colpo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Takasugi
  • Patent number: 4736592
    Abstract: Apparatus and the method for directing cool air to stacks of containers holding freshly harvested produce and the like, to remove field heat therefrom. Air is caused to flow in one direction through the containers to cool the produce, then the airflow direction is reversed and the air is caused to flow in the opposite direction. In this way, the produce in the container is uinformly cooled. The apparatus includes a housing having a suction fan for blowing air through an air cooler into a plenum from which the cool air passes through the containers. The direction of airflow is selected by moving damper devices relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: American Industrial Refrigeration, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Ohling
  • Patent number: 4632019
    Abstract: The aircraft pre-ventilation system has a ventilation unit mounted for movement along the ground. A primary and a return duct carry air between the ventilator and the aircraft door opening. The ducts are connected to a fitting which is designed to fit into and seal different size door openings for different aircraft. The fitting has a central rigid member, and a flexible bladder is attached to and surrounds the outside of the central member. The fitting is supporting by an adjustable arm for positioning the fitting in the door opening. When the fitting is properly positioned, the bladder expands to secure and seal the fitting to the aircraft door opening. The support arm that holds the fitting is hollow and carries pressurized air from the ventilator to a hose near the fitting that carries the air into the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Gary D. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 4484448
    Abstract: A system for injecting liquid ice into a stack of individual produce holding cartons (12) having openings (14) therein, comprising a plurality of side walls (20, 25, 27) positioned to enclose the carton stack in a position over a holding tank (18). The side walls include channels (31) into which liquid ice is pumped by a pump (36) through hoses (35) to a pair of manifolds (34) connecting with the channels. The carton stack on a pallet (11) is placed on a pallet tray (15) and shifted to a position between the side walls, the side walls are moved into close contact with the carton stack and liquid ice is pumped into the cartons to ice the produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Growers Ice Company
    Inventor: Richard V. Crabb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4474020
    Abstract: A cooling chamber for drawing down freshly picked and field warmed unitized (for example in cartons stacked on pallets) vegetables, such as cauliflower, is disclosed. Freshly picked cauliflower is placed in rectangular cartons in side-by-side stacks of four extending approximately fourteen cartons high. A group of individual pallets (typically 10 to 12) so loaded are typically placed in the field on a transport chassis and brought to the vicinity of the cooling chamber where they are simultaneously unloaded by a multi-pallet forklift truck. The chamber receives multi-pallet load through an open door and is inserted into the chamber. This chamber has a rear seal which conforms to the periphery of the load and defines in the interstitial volume between the chamber backwall and load a warm air return plenum to forced draft refrigeration apparatus. The load when placed within the chamber has a door closed to form an air-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Bud Antle, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl D. Freeman
  • Patent number: 4450900
    Abstract: A mobile unit for use in a remote enclosed space is disclosed. The unit not only heats or cools the air but also filters out toxic gases, it also is easily handled and extremely mobile. The unit is in the form of an open trailer comprising an air entry having a purifying means to remove toxic gases, cooling means, dehumidifying means and heating means. A ducting system from the air entry connects the purifying means, cooling means, dehumidifying means and heating means to an air exit. Fan means in the unit circulate air in the ducting system from the air entry to the air outlet, and the removable flexible conduits connect the air entry and the air exit to the enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Inventor: Norman Nathan
  • Patent number: 4425768
    Abstract: The icing apparatus comprises an open frame structure for receiving cartons stacked in rows and columns on a pallet. These cartons contain perishable food such as broccoli brought in from the field and are to be treated with liquid ice to preserve their contents. Towards this end, the apparatus includes left and right carriages carrying horizontal rows of liquid ice injecting probes or nozzles. These carriages can move up and down left and right sides of the frame and also the probes themselves can be moved in and out towards and away from cartons on the pallet. By this arrangement, an upper horizontal row of cartons can be simultaneously iced by the horizontal row of probes by simply moving the same into the hand hold openings of the cartons. The carriage structures can then be lowered by the heighth dimension of the cartons and a next horizontal row of cartons simultaneously treated with liquid ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Demco, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Burns
  • Patent number: 4380908
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of produce in shipping containers for shipment to the market. Perishable produce must be chilled to near 32 degrees Fahrenheit for shipment and for this purpose ice is injected into the shipping cartons to chill and maintain chilled the produce. This invention relates to a method and apparatus for injecting a water-ice mixture into the cartons prior to shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Growers Ice Company
    Inventor: Richard V. Crabb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4361014
    Abstract: This invention relates to a panel air chiller for use with a portable food storage unit. The panel air chiller includes in combination first and second spaced apart parallel panels that have thermal insulation disposed between and in contact with the panels. The thermal insulation material has formed therein at least a first and a second chamber between the panels thereby establishing passageways between the panels and through the thermal insulation material. Located in the first chamber is a means to extract heat from air passing thereover to thereby cool the air. At least one return air opening is provided through one of the panels to communicate with the portable storage unit. A fan is coupled to the space between the panels and to the first chamber to thereby draw air through the return air opening coupled to the portable storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Edward S. Blain
  • Patent number: 4339928
    Abstract: A freezing unit for use in a cold chamber to effect freezing of a load of pre-cooked food packages at a rate more rapid than the freezing rate of that load that would take place in the chamber in the absence of the unit. The unit includes a vertical plenum provided with a perforated wall and having an open input and a closeable output. The food packages are stacked in a rack adjacent the perforated wall of the plenum, with air spaces between the packages. Cold air drawn from the chamber atmosphere at a temperature below the freezing point of the food is forced into the input of the plenum to produce a positive pressure therein when the output is closed, thereby causing the pressurized cold air to penetrate the perforated plenum wall and pass through the air spaces in the stack at high velocity, the air returning to the cold chamber whereby rapid cooling of the packages is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Inventor: Raul Guibert
  • Patent number: 4323110
    Abstract: Food is prepared by placing selected food items in pre-determined locations on food trays, placing the trays on shelves of a rack in a food and beverage cabinet with the food and beverage cabinet being inserted in a first environmental control unit which circulates chilled air over the trays and then removing the food and beverage cabinet and placing it at a second environmental control unit which additionally heats selected food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Anchor Hocking Corporation
    Inventors: Harry A. Rubbright, Donald A. Springer
  • Patent number: 4257240
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit for a transport container in which the refrigeration unit has side-by-side evaporator and condenser compartments 18 and 20 in the upper portion of the exterior frame, with a power compartment 24 extending across the entire width of the lower portion of the unit, the power compartment containing an internal combustion engine 26, a motor-alternator 28 and a refrigerant compressor 30 in in-line relationship, a radiator coil 62 condenser coil 64 being in inclined disposition in the condenser compartment and receiving air therethrough from condenser fan 66, the evaporator coil 72 being inclined in the evaporator compartment and in a disposition in which a portion of the coil projects out of the plane of the rear face of the frame, and a pair of double inlet centrifugal fans 74 are provided in the upper portion of the evaporator compartment to draw air from the upper part of the container and direct it downwardly through the coil 72 back into the container, and separate panels 36 and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Christiansen, Kevin W. Kiefer, Lowell B. Naley, Ronald W. Seipp, Lawrence J. Shirek, Robert L. Harrington
  • Patent number: 4251994
    Abstract: A breathing apparatus is provided which delivers cool, air conditioned air to a remote location as much as 100 feet away from the apparatus proper. The unit is powered by an air motor operable from an industrial compressed air tank, and an oil-less pump is driven by the air motor to elevate the pressure of fresh air adequately for remote delivery. Cooling of both the drive air and the respirable fresh air is provided by radiators, and a final cooling stage is incorporated as a heat exchanger which cools the fresh air from the spent drive air, the latter having reached a very low temperature due to the rapid expansion of the air as it passes through the air motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Inventor: Edwin Reinhorn
  • Patent number: 4160806
    Abstract: A mobile catalyst treatment unit and process of operating same involves a closed gas processing loop supported on a normally mobile carrier such as a flat truck bed or trailer which is connectable with the inlet and outlet of a catalytic reactor. The normal process gas is cut off from the catalytic reactor so as to isolate the catalyst and to place the gas processing loop into communication with the reactor. Thereafter, the catalytic reactor can be purged of reducing gases and then treated with an oxidizing gas to burn off carbonaceous materials from the catalyst surface, in the process known as regeneration, or the catalyst can be treated with a reducing gas in the process known as reduction, or the catalyst can be heated for startup purposes, or cooled down for purposes of unloading or other mechanical work on the reactor or treated with other treatment gases such as hydrogen sulfide for sulfiding and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Inventors: Warner D. Long, Charles C. Hager, George T. Hempenstall
  • Patent number: 4077228
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case of the type having an open-front air curtain design to allow direct access by shoppers to the goods displayed within the refrigerated environment therein, including a stationary display fixture which defines a refrigerated enclosure therein and which presents an open-front section having at least one air curtain extending thereover, the display case including upper outlets and lower inlets adjacent the single or multiple air curtains extending over the open-front section, further including at least one movable display cart adapted to transport goods into the interior of the display case and adapted to remain in this location upon the floor of the case for display of the goods thereon, the fixture including a lower air return duct extending from the front edge of the fixture below the case floor to the rear section of the case to provide a flat case floor at approximately the same level as the surrounding store floor to facilitate movement of the display carts into and out of the st
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal P. Schumacher, Shyamol K. Ghosh
  • Patent number: 4034572
    Abstract: An open-fronted refrigerated display case permitting shoppers direct access to goods displayed therein which also allows loading thereof by the movement of a loaded cart into a stationary location within the display case from the front direction or the rear direction, the case including a stationary housing which defines a refrigerated enclosure which further defines a front opening and a rear wall area and a case floor, the front opening having an air curtain extending thereover created by the passage of refrigerated air from air outlets along the upper edge of the front opening to air inlets along the lower edge of the front opening, also including an air circuit means to communicate the air from the inlet to the outlet and through the refrigeration device to form the air curtain from refrigerated air, also including a door means extending over at least a portion of the rear wall area with the remainder of the rear wall area covered by a curtain means, the door means being mounted within at least one track
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert R. Morris, James Henry
  • Patent number: 3996762
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for a mobile home. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system, and access is provided to certain of the air conditioner's components through the air return inlet located in the mobile home interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward E. Calme, Wallace Shakun
  • Patent number: 3977208
    Abstract: An uninsulated container for use in insulated holds has an inlet opening at the base of the container for the introduction of cooled air, a plenum chamber for distributing the air from the opening to the interior of the container, and an outlet opening at the top of the container for the return of the air to the hold. A closure member is provided for the inlet opening for use when the container is removed from the hold and this closure member is mounted within the container. The plenum chamber is formed within a transverse frame member at the bottom of one end wall of the container while the outlet opening is in the top of the other end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Overseas Containers Limited
    Inventor: Arthur Victor Heighton
  • Patent number: 3973939
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for a mobile home and a method of adapting a mobile home for removably receiving an air conditioning unit. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Roy W. Abbott
  • Patent number: 3964271
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for a mobile home. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James L. Schulze, Sr.
  • Patent number: 3964272
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for use in a mobile home. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Raleigh, Bruce L. Ruark
  • Patent number: 3962885
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for a mobile home. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard W. Schoenbachler, Bruce L. Ruark
  • Patent number: 3959985
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for a mobile home. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system. An interlock system is arranged that is effective in preventing removal of the air conditioning unit from the mounting means when the unit is electrically connected to the mobile home power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James L. Schulze, Sr.
  • Patent number: 3933258
    Abstract: A vehicular transportation system and apparatus therefor is disclosed herein wherein small electrically driven passenger vehicles are carried as a group in a transporter or carrier vehicle. Extendable ramps are carried on the transporter vehicle which may be deployed from either end of the vehicle body for loading and unloading the passenger vehicles along a pair of parallel storage decks. Locking mechanism selectively secures each passenger vehicle in a storage space on the transporter vehicle while a separate conduit system for conducting conditioned air to the stored passenger vehicle is provided between the roof of the passenger vehicle and the transporter vehicle body. The transporter vehicle and electrically driven passenger vehicles are adapted to operate as a combined unit, substantially reducing fuel consumption, air pollution, and congestion, or independently as separate elements, on traffic arteries such as highways or expressways or surface streets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Inventors: Robert W. Forsyth, John P. Forsyth