Spaced Elongated Air Inlet And Outlet Type, E.g., Air Curtain Patents (Class 62/256)
  • Patent number: 11927363
    Abstract: An air curtain containment system and assembly for data centers forms an air curtain over the server cabinets thereby separating hot air in a hot aisle from cool ambient air. The air curtain containment system includes ducts which include a hot air intake section that receives hot air discharged from servers, which are disposed in server cabinets. The ducts include heat exchangers for cooling the hot air and at least one air curtain discharge section. A housing is coupled to a wall of the ducts, and includes a cooling edge device fan. The cooling edge device fan is disposed along the ducts, and is configured to draw the hot air for cooling through the heat exchangers. An air curtain fan assembly is disposed along the ducts. The air curtain fan assembly expels cold air through the air curtain discharge section, and thereby forms an air curtain over the server cabinets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: INERTECH IP LLC
    Inventor: Ken Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11892224
    Abstract: A cooling unit comprising: an interior space; a door separating the interior space from air external to the cooling unit, wherein the door comprises a transparent window; an air curtain system having an air egress and an air-recovery ingress, wherein the air curtain system produces an air curtain between the air egress and the air-recovery ingress, the air curtain being within the interior space and spaced from the door; and an air curtain guide for guiding flow of air within the air curtain, wherein the air curtain guide is within the interior space. A method of reducing condensation on a transparent window in a door of a cooling unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Aerofoil Energy Limited
    Inventor: Paul McAndrew
  • Patent number: 11779136
    Abstract: The provides disclosure describes a method for configuring an open display refrigerator, the method comprises: a measuring an initial temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by an array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors; coupling an air guide to at least one shelf; adjusting the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf for the at least one shelf; measuring a final temperature difference associated with the distance, the final temperature difference being the temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperatures sensors after coupling an air guide to the at least one shelf; selecting a distance from the plurality of distances that gives rise to at least a threshold temperature difference, or selecting the distance from the plurality of distances wherein the difference between the initial temperature
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Aerofoil Energy Limited
    Inventor: Paul McAndrew
  • Patent number: 11737583
    Abstract: An open display refrigerator comprises a refrigerated interior space, air in the refrigerated interior space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air through an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet which recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air outlet. A distal region of the air outlet is occluded to leave only a region of the air outlet proximal to the interior space open, and an air curtain guide is aligned in a direction of air flow of the air curtain with an edge of the blanking plate proximal to the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Aerofoil Energy Limited
    Inventor: Paul McAndrew
  • Patent number: 11655992
    Abstract: A measuring system includes a temperature-variable container, an optical device and an air conditioner. The temperature-variable container includes a transparent plate. The optical device includes a first optical sensor unit and a second optical sensor unit. The air conditioner is disposed between the transparent plate and the optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Chun Hung Tsai, Hsuan Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11559147
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case includes a housing surrounding multiple shelves. An air distribution gap is defined behind the shelves. An air return passage is defined below the shelves. A radial cross-flow fan is disposed in a fan region of the air return passage. The radial cross-flow fan includes an output connected to the air distribution gap. A primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger is disposed in the fan region downstream of the radial cross-flow fan such that air output from the radial cross-flow fan to the air distribution gap passes through the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger. A pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Arindom Joardar
  • Patent number: 11528904
    Abstract: Modular blood product storage system for temperature-regulated storage of blood products with a temperature regulation unit for temperature regulation of the blood product storage system, a base unit and at least one agitator unit with an upper connection side, a lower connection side, a movable compartment to receive the blood products and a drive for movement of the compartment, wherein the compartment is arranged between the upper connection side and the lower connection side, wherein the upper connection side of the agitator unit is selectively connectable to the temperature regulation unit or a further agitator unit, and wherein the lower connection side of the agitator unit is selectively connectable to the base unit or a further agitator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: B MEDICAL SYSTEMS S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Alan Rushing, Marc Foyen
  • Patent number: 11519659
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a body, a storage compartment disposed inside the body, an evaporator configured to generate cold air and disposed behind the storage compartment, and a duct configured to supply the cold air generated by the evaporator to the storage compartment. The duct includes a first discharge hole through which air flowing in the duct is discharged, a plurality of second discharge holes through which air is discharged at a speed lower than a speed of the air discharged through the first discharge hole, and a damper configured to selectively regulate a flow of air to guide the air in the duct to the first discharge hole or the plurality of second discharge holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joohee Song, Byungkwan Yang, Hyejeong Oh, Jooyong Lee, Byungwoo Jeon, Hyoju Han
  • Patent number: 11402145
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an evaporator, a first fan, a first duct, a second fan, a second duct, and a plate. The first duct is mounted between the evaporator and the first fan. The first fan moves air from the first duct into a first zone. The second fan moves air from the second duct into a second zone. The plate is mounted between the evaporator and the second duct. The plate includes a plate aperture wall that defines a duct aperture formed through the plate. A first aperture of the second duct is adjacent the second fan. A second aperture of the second duct is positioned to encompass the duct aperture. A center of the duct aperture is positioned a distance from a center of the evaporator measured in a first direction. The distance is between 0% and 40% of a total length of the evaporator in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sub-Zero Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Wohlers, Brant David Springer
  • Patent number: 11346592
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outer case. The refrigerator further includes an inner case that is located in the outer case and that defines a storage space. The refrigerator further includes a metal plate that is coupled to inner surfaces of an upper portion and both sides of the inner case and that includes a front end that is spaced apart from a front end of the inner case a first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunwoo Seo, Sanghwan Shin
  • Patent number: 11217250
    Abstract: A method comprising detecting an activation of an intelligent assistant on an electronic device, waking up the intelligent assistant from a sleep mode in response to the activation, and determining an amount of vocabulary the intelligent assistant acts upon during a listening mode based on a type of the activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Olson, Henry N. Holtzman, Jean-David Hsu, Jeffrey A. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11193709
    Abstract: A graphical display device for mounting to a door of an appliance includes an electronic visual display having a display screen, a housing having a receptacle for receiving the electronic visual display and a mount for affixing the housing to the door of an appliance. The housing additionally includes an internal cavity with a controller retained within the internal cavity, with the controller being operable to selectively enable visual display information to be displayed on the display screen. In a particular embodiment the graphical display device is configured as a housing with the housing including a grip portion and one or more mounts extending rearwardly from the grip portion. The controller may include an interface enabling connection with a remote computer for controlling the visual display information to be displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CSE, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Miedema
  • Patent number: 11181542
    Abstract: To suppress inflow of external air through a rack insertion opening while a sample rack is pulled out. An apparatus includes a housing, a temperature control space, and an air temperature control part. The housing has the rack insertion opening on one side surface for putting in and taking out the sample rack. The air temperature control part has an air intake portion for intake of air in the temperature control space, a fan for blowing air taken in from the air intake portion toward the sample rack accommodated in the temperature control space, and a cooling element provided to cool the air on a path of air taken in from the air intake portion. The air temperature control part is configured to reduce an amount of air flowing near the rack insertion opening while the sample rack is pulled out from the temperature control space as compared to while the sample rack is accommodated in the temperature control space, so as to suppress inflow of air through the rack insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Koki Miyazaki, Shinji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11047608
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet including an inner case defining a storage compartment, an outer case surrounding the outside of the inner case, and an insulation material provided between the inner case and the outer case, a storage compartment door opening and closing the storage compartment, a cold air duct provided in the storage compartment and disposed in an upper side of the storage compartment to discharge cold air to the storage compartment, and a guide duct disposed outside the inner case to communicate with the cold air duct and extending to the storage compartment door to guide the cold air received from the cold air duct to the storage compartment door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghwi Kim, Sunghee Kang, Minho Song, Yongbum Cho
  • Patent number: 10966547
    Abstract: A refrigerator has an open front, an air curtain system having at least one upper air egress having an outer edge and at least one lower air-recovery ingress. The air curtain system is adapted to produce a substantially vertical air curtain over at least part of the open front of the refrigerator. The refrigerator has a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress including a first shelf that has an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the first shelf being located in the upper half of the open front of refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a second shelf that does not have an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the second shelf being located below the first shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Aerofoil Energy Limited
    Inventors: Paul Francis McAndrew, Matthew Piers Burke, Ian Stuart Turner
  • Patent number: 10804128
    Abstract: A transport space Si is formed in front of an article storage rack 1, and a plurality of up-down partition bodies that partition storage sections 1a adjacent to each other in an up-down direction are provided in the article storage rack 1. A flow path space S2 extending in the up-down direction is formed between a wall portion 43 and the plurality of storage sections 1a, and each of the plurality of storage sections 1a is located between the flow path space S2 and the transport space S1, and is in communication with the flow path space S2 and the transport space S1. A gas supply portion 51 includes a flow inlet 53 into which a gas from the outside flows, and is in communication with an upper end portion of the transport space S1 and an upper end portion of the flow path space S2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Tadahiro Yoshimoto, Kazuya Omori, Shinsuke Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10746455
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor that is configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser that is configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor, an expander that is configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, a first evaporator provided at one side of a refrigerator compartment, and that is configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized in the expander, a second evaporator provided at one side of a freezer compartment, and that is configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized in the expander, a valve unit provided at an outlet pipe of the condenser, and that is configured to introduce the refrigerant into at least one of the first or second evaporators, and a hot gas path that connects the valve unit to the second evaporator, and that is configured to guide flow of the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hosan Kim
  • Patent number: 10677511
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door. While a user is holding an object in both hands, a door may be automatically and additionally opened using another part of a body other than hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minsub Kim, Hongsik Kwon, Dongjeong Kim, Jungjae Lee, Jaehoon Shin
  • Patent number: 10524484
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a storage area for refrigerated goods and a control facility or unit for controlling a storage climate in the storage area by using storage climate parameters. One storage climate parameter is a temperature in the storage area. Another storage climate parameter relates to an air speed in the storage area. The refrigeration appliance is used in particular for the dry curing of meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Astrid Klingshirn, Bernd Schessl
  • Patent number: 10499752
    Abstract: A food bar, such as a salad bar, has a cooling system with a refrigerating arrangement, and a cabinet in which pans are arranged. The cooling system is adapted for cooling the food bar such that at least two different climate zones are provided, the cooling of which is separately controllable. The cooling system has one evaporator, a cooling arrangement arranged close to, and above, pan back walls and adjacent a rear section of a covering arrangement adapted to cover pans and so that cooled air flows from a lower edge outward above the pans, and upward in toward an upper edge due to self-convection, forming a first climate zone. Pan holder elements are disposed in the cabinet so disposed that between the pan holder elements and the bottom and lateral walls of the pans, a second climate zone is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: PICADELI AB
    Inventor: Markus Palmnäs
  • Patent number: 10477985
    Abstract: A refrigeration display case for refrigerating and displaying perishable goods includes a plurality of evaporator coils for cooling air, a display case frame forming a display area, and a coil cover for at least substantially covering a portion of the plurality of evaporator coils and coupled to the display case frame. The coil cover includes a planar member having a living hinge formed in the planar member extending from a first side end to a second end and defining a first portion of the planar member and a second portion of the planar. The living hinge is configured to allow movement between the first portion of the planar member and the second portion of the planar member. Other embodiments and designs are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kysor Warren EPTA US Corporation
    Inventors: Chera Selvan Neelagantan, Michael Smith, Vinod Kunchala
  • Patent number: 10368660
    Abstract: A refrigerated sales furniture (2) comprises a base (4) provided at the bottom of the refrigerated sales furniture (2); a goods presentation space (10) comprising a front portion allowing access to the goods presentation space (10) and an opposing rear portion; wherein the goods presentation space (10) includes a bottom area (12) located next to the base (4); and a cold air channel (48) located next to the rear portion of the goods presentation space (10) comprising a lower portion (54) arranged next to the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10) and having an opening (18) fluidly connecting the cold air channel (48) with the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10) for allowing cold air to flow from the lower portion (54) of the cold air channel (48) into the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10). The opening (18) is provided as a single opening (18) extending substantially over the whole height and width of the bottom area (12), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrej Vonberg, Markus Fuchs
  • Patent number: 10323873
    Abstract: An island merchandiser including a first merchandiser module, a second merchandiser module, and a single, unitary base. The first merchandiser module includes a first case defining a first product display area that is maintained within a predetermined temperature range below approximately 41 degrees Fahrenheit. The second merchandiser module is positioned next to the first merchandiser module, and includes a second case defining a second product display area The second merchandiser module is positioned so that a rear wall of the second case is in communication with a rear wall of the first case so that the first and second merchandiser modules are positioned in a back-to-back relationship. The unitary base is positioned to at least partially support each of the first and second merchandiser modules relative to a support surface. The module defined by the second merchandiser module is different from the module defined by the first merchandiser module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Moisses Navarro, Diego Wood, Raymond P. Twohy, Kevin A. Moody, Michael A. Gillett, Anand Ganesh Rajagopalan, Robert Mullen, Al Arrosagaray
  • Patent number: 10222115
    Abstract: Provided are a refrigeration cycle that is formed by connecting a compressor, a condenser, expansion means, and an evaporator and that performs cooling operation; an evaporator heating device that heats the evaporator; a drain pan that receives drain-water from the evaporator and drains the drain-water; a drain-pan heating device that heats the drain pan; frost detecting means including a light-emitting element that emits light to the evaporator and a light-receiving element that receives reflected light from the evaporator and outputs a voltage according to the reflected light; and a control device that controls on-off operation of the evaporator heating device and the drain-pan heating device. The control device determines a frosting condition on the evaporator from an output of the frost detecting means and individually controls the evaporator heating device and the drain-pan heating device in accordance with the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Hamada, Fumitake Unezaki, Akira Morikawa, Satoshi Ueyama, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Tetsuya Yamashita, Yusuke Otsubo
  • Patent number: 10203145
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case includes a frame, a door, and a lateral flow barrier. The frame includes a first mullion and a second mullion. The frame defines a common refrigerated zone. The door is hingedly mounted to the first mullion. The door is configured to selectively interface with the second mullion. The lateral flow barrier is coupled to one of the first mullion and the second mullion. The lateral flow barrier extends into the common refrigerated zone. The lateral flow barrier partially separates the common refrigerated zone into an first sub-compartment proximate the door and bounded by the lateral flow barrier and an second sub-compartment opposite the first sub-compartment. The lateral flow barrier is not thermally insulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc
    Inventors: Roy Bates, Lawrence W. Eget
  • Patent number: 10182667
    Abstract: A fan plenum for a refrigerated merchandiser, in which the refrigerated merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area and a lower flue, a first air passageway, and a second air passageway, and in which the first air passageway and second air passageway are in fluid communication with the lower flue and with the product display area, includes a top wall including a fan aperture for receiving a fan having a plurality of fan blades. The fan plenum further includes a side wall and a plenum base. An airflow divider partitions the fan plenum into a first duct and a second duct. The first duct is fluidly couplable with the first air passageway and the second duct is fluidly couplable with the second air passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Nguyen, Timothy D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10123633
    Abstract: A refrigerated shelf unit includes a housing, shelves arranged stair-like within the housing, an access opening arranged in the housing, and a night time cover assembly which closes the access opening. The night time cover assembly includes a shutter tube fastened to the housing, an insulating film with an upper end fixed to the shutter tube and a lower end, a tensioning rail arranged at the lower end of the insulating film, and a pivot arm. The insulating film is rolled on the shutter tube when the night time cover assembly is open and is rolled off the shutter tube to span the access opening when the night time cover assembly is closed. An upper and lower end of the pivot arm are hinged to hinges which are inclined so that a pivot plane of the pivot arm is inclined by 10° to 70° with respect to a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: REMIS GESELLSCHAFT FUER ENTWICKLUNG UND VERTRIEB VON TECHNISCHEN ELEMENTEN MBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Laqua, Ralf Toschek
  • Patent number: 10028594
    Abstract: A merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area. The case includes a canopy that has a first air outlet in fluid communication with a primary air passageway within the case to direct a primary air curtain into the product display area, and a second air outlet in fluid communication with a secondary air passageway within the case to direct a secondary air curtain into the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a divider that is coupled to the canopy between the primary air passageway and the secondary air passageway. The divider provides airflow communication between the primary air passageway and the secondary air passageway upstream of the first and second air outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Anderson, Ken Nguyen, Paul R. Laurentius
  • Patent number: 9962014
    Abstract: A refrigerated case includes a case body including a top panel, a rear panel, and a bottom that cooperate to define a display space, a portion of a refrigeration system disposed in the case and operable to cool a flow of air, and a first air passage positioned to direct the flow of air near the top panel from the rear panel generally toward a front of the case. A one piece holder is positioned to receive the flow of air adjacent the front of the case, the one piece holder formed as a unitary component using a PVC foam material and arranged to accelerate and redirect the flow of air in a downward direction toward the bottom, and a filter member is at least partially supported by the holder and positioned to receive the flow of air in the downward direction and to redirect that flow into the display space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Zero Zone, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Sparks
  • Patent number: 9936824
    Abstract: The invention is a container refrigeration case having at least one cooling air duct extending through a wide area of a rear wall unit and top unit, having a bottom region that accommodates a rolling container, and having side wall units. Cooling air is guided to circulate through the cooling air duct, a cooling air curtain traveling from top to bottom on the front side, and across the bottom region. The bottom region has a flat bottom structure situated under the container, an inner cover oriented toward the cooling chamber, and a floor-side duct section embodied under the inner cover which routes the cooling air duct from the front side to the lower, rear section of the cooling air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: AHT Cooling Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhold Resch
  • Patent number: 9930974
    Abstract: A cooling unit having, on two sides, supporting C-shaped lateral frames. The lateral frames are formed from frame profiles having a rear-sided vertical profile and a lower and an upper forward-projecting horizontal profile. A rear wall group having a heat-insulating outer covering is mounted on the vertical profiles, a base group is mounted on the lower horizontal profile and an upper group is mounted on the upper horizontal profile, and the groups surround a cooling chamber from behind, below and above. The construction has at least the outer covering of the rear wall group arranged on the inner side, facing the cooling chamber, of the vertical profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: AHT COOLING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Reinhold Resch
  • Patent number: 9915469
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit includes: a front portion; a rear portion distal from the front portion; a cooling table section extending from the rear portion towards the front portion; an upper portion positioned between the front portion and the rear portion, positioned above the cooling table portion, and defining a circumferential opening configured to receive a storage container; a lower region distal from and below the upper portion and at least partially separated from the upper portion by the cooling table section defining a plenum defining holes allowing passage of air from the plenum of the cooling table section to the upper portion of the refrigeration unit, the lower region configured for food storage; and an evaporator section proximate to the rear portion and configured to circulate air to the cooling table section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hoshizaki America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Huckaby, Rob McDonald, Jeremy Neill, Connor McColl, Luiz Antonio Lopes, Donald Pilkey, Glenn Melton, Bradford Czerwonky
  • Patent number: 9814326
    Abstract: An air cooling system for a temperature-controlled display case includes at least two modular cooling elements, one or more fans configured to provide an air flow to the at least two modular cooling elements, and an air plenum common to each of the one or more fans and the at least two modular cooling elements, the air plenum being configured to direct the air flow from the one or more fans through the at least two modular cooling elements and into a product area of the temperature-controlled display case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Larry C. Howington, Timothy D. Swofford
  • Patent number: 9788666
    Abstract: A ducted shelf for an open-fronted display unit employing air curtains. The shelf has a supply duct at a lower level communicating with a downwardly-facing forward discharge outlet and a return duct at an upper level communicating with an upwardly-facing forward return inlet. In front-to-back section through the shelf, a forward supply duct extension in front of the supply duct narrows forwardly above the discharge outlet and a forward return duct extension in front of the return duct reaches downwardly to the lower level of the shelf to lie forwardly of the supply duct. This beneficially reduces the thickness of the front of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Design and Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Wood, Edward Hammond
  • Patent number: 9759472
    Abstract: An ice-making apparatus for an appliance having a housing with an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended in the interior volume. The ice tray has a cold plate with a top surface and a bottom surface and a containment wall surrounding an edge portion of the cold plate to retain water. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the cold plate. An intake conduit extends into the interior volume over the ice tray and is configured to draw ambient air into the interior volume over the ice tray, and the ambient air is above freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley
  • Patent number: 9737156
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area and an access opening. The case has an air inlet and an air outlet, and a passageway fluidly connects the air inlet with the air outlet to direct a refrigerated airflow across the customer access opening in the form of an air curtain. The merchandiser also includes shelves that are coupled to the case. Each shelf includes an inlet, an outlet, a fan unit disposed in the shelf, and a heat exchanger. The fan unit is in communication with the passageway to draw air through the inlet to direct a portion of the airflow through the shelf toward the outlet. The heat exchanger is disposed in the shelf to cool the airflow in the shelf to provide independent zone cooling to a predetermined region of the product display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond P. Twohy
  • Patent number: 9687086
    Abstract: A refrigerated sales furniture (2) according to the present invention comprises a furniture rear wall (6) extending substantially upright from a base (4); a goods presentation space (10) including a bottom area (12); an air suction channel (20) for sucking air from a lower front end portion of the refrigerated sales furniture (2), the air suction channel (20) having a rear air suction channel portion (26) being arranged at a position behind the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10) and arranged adjacent to and substantially in parallel to the furniture rear wall (4); a fan (30) for conveying air from the air suction channel (20) through an air pressure channel (32), through an evaporator (46), through a cold air channel (48) and through a perforated goods presentation space rear wall (16) to the goods presentation space (10), the fan (30) being arranged between the air suction channel (20) and the air pressure channel (32) at a height corresponding to the height of the bottom area (12) of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stefan Strupp, Bernhard Moeller, Stefan Ullrich, Dimitri Keller
  • Patent number: 9675185
    Abstract: A merchandiser including a case that has an air inlet and defines a product display area with a customer access opening. The merchandiser also includes a canopy that has a first air outlet and a second air outlet, a first passageway connecting the air inlet with the first air outlet to direct a first airflow through the first air outlet at least partially across the opening to define a primary air curtain, and a second passageway in fluid communication with a HVAC system by ducting coupled between the merchandiser and the HVAC system to direct a second airflow defining a secondary air curtain from the HVAC system through the second air outlet at least partially across the opening. The primary and secondary air curtains cooperate with each other to minimize infiltration of ambient air into the product display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Anderson, Ken Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9633366
    Abstract: A system for tracking and analyzing display case usage is disclosed. The system preferably includes a display case having a door and a transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) housed within said door. A CPU is preferably in electrical connection with the transparent LCD as well as a door sensor. The CPU is adapted to store information regarding the content being shown on the LCD and whether the door is open or closed. A network connection allows the CPU to transmit this information to a remote location. A temperature sensor can also be in electrical connection with the CPU in some embodiments and this data can also be stored and transmitted to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: MANUFACTURING RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: William Dunn
  • Patent number: 9526354
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled case including a base having a deck and an air flow device located below the deck, a tower having a cavity, and an air distribution system. The air distribution system includes a duct and one or more air diverting devices which permit a first portion of an air flow to be received into the tower and direct a second portion of the air flow toward the deck. Sub-portions of the first portion may be directed at the rear portions and front portions of one or more shelves. The tower includes an exterior wall having openings through which air is directed by the air diverting devices. The exterior wall may be faceted and the cavity may be segmented into channels corresponding to the facets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Angel A. Barreto, Jules G. Choueifati, Larry C. Howington
  • Patent number: 9456707
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area. The case has an air inlet located adjacent the product display area, an air outlet to discharge an airflow into the product display area, and a passageway fluidly connecting the air inlet to the air outlet to direct a conditioned airflow from the air outlet across the product display area and generally toward the air inlet. The merchandiser also includes an electrical component and a power generation system that has a power generation device in communication with the airflow to convert kinetic energy of the airflow into electrical energy to power the electrical component based on movement of the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin A. Moody, Raymond P. Twohy
  • Patent number: 9456706
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area and having a base, a lower flue, a first air passageway, and a second air passageway. The first air passageway and second air passageway are in fluid communication with the lower flue and with the product display area. The refrigerated merchandiser also includes an evaporator positioned in the first air passageway and a fan assembly positioned in the base in fluid communication with the lower flue to generate an airflow. A fan plenum into which the fan assembly is disposed includes an airflow divider to direct a first portion of the airflow to the first air passageway and to direct a second portion of the airflow to the second air passageway. The proportion of air between the first portion and the second portion is a function of the position and geometry of the airflow divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Nguyen, Timothy D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9410729
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent refrigerator which comprises a reagent refrigerator compartment including reagent storing trays; an upper housing a cooling equipment compartment and a cooling purification compartment; a side duct defined by a side partition having a through hole at the side of the reagent refrigerator; one each of a second side duct, separately defined by a side partition having a through hole at the other side thereof, and a rear duct, separately defined by a rear partition having a through hole at the rear side thereof; and an upper duct having one end communication with the upper portion of the second side or rear side, and the other end communicating with the cooling purification compartment. Accordingly, refrigeration temperature of the reagent refrigerator can be controlled, and circulation flow in the reagent refrigerator is improved, to thereby purify the air therein and minimize deviations from refrigerator temperature values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GTSCIEN CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yeon Kyun Kang
  • Patent number: 9339126
    Abstract: A refrigerated air curtain redirection unit can be retro fitted to the front base of a an existing reach-in commercial open-display refrigerated cabinet, or provided as original built-in equipment for a newly manufactured cabinet to reduce refrigerated air spillage. The unit has a body part that protrudes outwardly of the open frontage of the cabinet at an upward angle and there is an inwardly curved part at its top region whereby an air vortex is formed that acts to draw air from the curtain at its base into an air duct of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: David Turner
  • Patent number: 9188291
    Abstract: A light fixture is provided that includes a plurality of light emitting sources, such as e.g., LEDs, that are arranged along a longitudinal direction. A heat sink provides a support structure for the lights while also assisting with the dissipation of heat. A diffuser covers the light emitting sources and is also supported by the heat sink. One or more optical elements such as e.g., a reflector or internally reflecting lens may be used to help direct light rays from the light emitting sources. Certain features may be added at the ends of the light fixture for mounting upon a surface and/or for further controlling the direction of light rays projecting from the light fixture. The light fixture is suitable for a variety of applications including e.g., the illumination of products displayed on shelving for consumer viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventors: Todd Edwin Cassidy, Xiaoning Wang, William Matthew Witt, Hexi Qin
  • Patent number: 8910488
    Abstract: A refrigerated case includes a housing including an interior display volume and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a circuit defined by a heat exchanger section including a plurality of tubes that define a flow path, a reheat section including a reheat tube, and a connecting tube fluidly connecting the flow path of the heat exchanger section with the reheat tube. Air flows over the plurality of tubes of the heat exchanger section and rejects heat to a refrigerant flowing through the plurality of tubes to heat the refrigerant. The heated refrigerant then flows through the reheat tube. As the air passes over the reheat tube, the air accepts heat from the heated refrigerant flowing through the reheat tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwok Kwong Fung
  • Publication number: 20140311173
    Abstract: A refrigeration cabinet, in particular a commercial refrigerator or freezer, is provided. The refrigeration cabinet has a housing, which has a front access opening, a door, which has at least one door leaf, for the access opening, and a guide. The door leaf has a height and a width and is mounted such that it can be rotated about a vertical rotation axis and can be displaced transverse to the rotation axis. The guide defines a movement of the door leaf between a closed position and an open position in such a way that the pivot region of the door leaf projects less than a full door-leaf width into the exterior in front of the access opening, and that the door leaf is mounted such that it can be rotated about a vertical axis and can be displaced transverse to the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Dietmar Nilles, Jochen Diederichs, Michael Lammel, Bertrand Illert, Blazek Lumir, Jiri Gazda, Petr Divin
  • Patent number: 8863541
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled case is provided including a rear wall spaced apart from an intermediate wall, forming a cavity therebetween. The intermediate wall includes a first set of openings disposed below a second set of openings. A deck may be disposed proximate to the first set and the shelves proximate to the second set of openings. Each shelf may include a shelf base and cover, the cover having openings through which air may be directed. An air distribution system having an air diverting device provides for improved air flow and cooling of products within the case. The air diverting device directs a first portion of an air flow toward the deck and permits a second portion to be directed toward the shelves. The air diverting device may direct the first portion of the air flow through the cavity and towards the deck, or away from the cavity and towards the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Dean Swofford, Larry C. Howington, Jules G. Choueifati
  • Publication number: 20140260374
    Abstract: A merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area. The case includes a canopy that has a first air outlet in fluid communication with a primary air passageway within the case to direct a primary air curtain into the product display area, and a second air outlet in fluid communication with a secondary air passageway within the case to direct a secondary air curtain into the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a divider that is coupled to the canopy between the primary air passageway and the secondary air passageway. The divider provides airflow communication between the primary air passageway and the secondary air passageway upstream of the first and second air outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy D. Anderson, Ken Nguyen, Paul R. Laurentius
  • Publication number: 20140216090
    Abstract: A refrigerated sales furniture (2) according to the present invention comprises a furniture rear wall (6) extending substantially upright from a base (4); a goods presentation space (10) including a bottom area (12); an air suction channel (20) for sucking air from a lower front end portion of the refrigerated sales furniture (2), the air suction channel (20) having a rear air suction channel portion (26) being arranged at a position behind the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10) and arranged adjacent to and substantially in parallel to the furniture rear wall (4); a fan (30) for conveying air from the air suction channel (20) through an air pressure channel (32), through an evaporator (46), through a cold air channel (48) and through a perforated goods presentation space rear wall (16) to the goods presentation space (10), the fan (30) being arranged between the air suction channel (20) and the air pressure channel (32) at a height corresponding to the height of the bottom area (12) of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Stefan Strupp, Bernhard Moeller, Stefan Ullrich, Dimitri Keller