Spaced Elongated Air Inlet And Outlet Type, E.g., Air Curtain Patents (Class 62/256)
  • Patent number: 8794021
    Abstract: A shelve cabinet comprises partially cooled shelves which are open towards the front and wherein the goods compartment is cooled by a cool-air curtain flowing through the at least partially perforated rear wall of the goods compartment into the goods compartment and/or by a cool-air curtain flowing along the goods compartment opening. One or more goods display shelves are located in the goods compartment, the goods display shelves being configured in such a manner that the at last one partial flow of the cool-air curtain is guided across them to the front area of the goods display shelves. The goods display shelves are provided with structure for stabilizing at least one partial flow of the cool-air curtain flowing along the goods compartment opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Hähn, Markus Schu, Wolfgang Zäpf
  • Patent number: 8726954
    Abstract: A covering for use with an outdoor located unit defining an opening which exhibits a plurality of cold temperature sensitive components such as heat dissipating coils or cooling tower coils. A plurality of fasteners are secured to a face of the unit at locations proximate to at least one surrounding side of the opening. The fasteners secure to perimeter extending locations associated with an impermeable layer of material arranged over the opening in order to prevent air movement, ice, and snow through said opening in contact with the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Randy Simmons
  • Patent number: 8713954
    Abstract: An open-front refrigerated display case is provided having a medium temperature zone disposed above a low temperature zone in a generally vertically-stacked arrangement. A spillover airflow-diverting device is disposed between the medium temperature zone and the low temperature zone and is configured to direct spillover air from the medium temperature zone air curtain (and ambient air entrained therewith) in a direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The spillover airflow-diverting device may include louvers configured to direct a gravity-induced flow of the spillover air in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone, or may include fans to collect spillover air and forcibly direct it in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The outwardly directed spillover air may be discharged in the form of an ‘outer layer’ for an air curtain on the low temperature zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold M. Stephens, Donald T. Torgerson
  • Publication number: 20140109607
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to covers for use with refrigeration units. The covers may include rails that extend across a top opening of the refrigeration unit. One or more lids may be supported by support surfaces on the rails. The lids may be movable (e.g., slidable) between closed and open positions. The lids may include lid plates and feet configured to raise lid plates off of the support surfaces, thereby forming gaps between the lid plates and the support surfaces. The lids may include filling elements to fill at least a portion of the gaps between the lid plates and the support surfaces. In some embodiments, the feet may have a generally Z-shaped configuration. In some embodiments, the cover may include multiple frame elements having transparent spacers at the ends of the frame elements, and the cover may include end pieces at the ends of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ANTHONY, INC.
    Inventors: James Johann Buehning, John Roche
  • Patent number: 8695362
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case that has a product display area for supporting food product, an opening for providing customer access to the product display area, and an air passageway in fluid communication with the product display area to direct an airflow into the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a door coupled to the case over the opening and including a charged glass pane, and a charge device in fluid communication with the air passageway to alter the polarity of the airflow to create a charged airflow. The charged glass pane and the charged airflow have the same polarity such that the glass pane is insulated from the charged airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Ted W. Sunderland
  • Publication number: 20130319030
    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. A fan plenum has an outlet defining a first plane. A second plane is defined perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the center of a fan aperture. The fan plenum further includes an airflow divider with a first wall member and a second wall member positioned to direct a first portion of the airflow to the first air passageway and a second portion of the airflow to the second air passageway. The space between the first wall member and the second wall member defines an area, the greater portion of which is to one side of the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Ken Nguyen, Timothy D. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20130305762
    Abstract: A merchandiser is adapted for displaying and/or serving merchandise to customers. In some embodiments, the merchandiser includes a display section which may include a refrigerated display section and/or a non-refrigerated display section adapted for holding merchandise for customers to view and access. In some embodiments, the merchandiser also includes a food preparation section accessible to an employee serving the customers. The food preparation section may include an electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to one or more appliances. The merchandiser may include a partition for concealing an appliance area from view by the customers. Shields may be provided for preventing flow of air into or out of an open front of a refrigerated compartment in the refrigerated display section. A curtain may be provided for selectively covering the open front of the refrigerated compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Duke Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Scott E. Willis, Robert J. Reese, Paul Brown
  • Patent number: 8561419
    Abstract: An island merchandiser including a first merchandiser module, a second merchandiser module, a third merchandiser module, and a fourth merchandiser module. The first merchandiser module includes a product display area maintained within a temperature range at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The second merchandiser module is positioned next and coupled to the first merchandiser module. The third merchandiser module is positioned next and coupled to the first merchandiser module and the second merchandiser module. The fourth merchandiser module is positioned next to the first merchandiser module and the second merchandiser module opposite the third merchandiser module. The island merchandiser also includes a first insulation panel positioned between the first and second merchandiser modules and the third merchandiser module, and a second insulation panel positioned between the first and second merchandiser modules and the fourth merchandiser module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    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: 8499683
    Abstract: A hot and cold food holding appliance including (1) Positioning a heat transfer plate above the top of food holding pans forming the top surface of each food holding compartment. (2) Providing a heat transfer module to transfer energy to/from the food holding pans in each compartment. (3) Thermally isolating each heat transfer module from an adjacent heat transfer module. (4) Removable heat transfer partitions that can used to subdivide each food holding compartment into sections providing additional heat transfer capability along the sides of each food holding pan and blocking the flow of ambient air between the food holding pans. (5) A control system that regulates the temperature of each food holding compartment by sensing the temperature of each heat transfer module and adjusting the amount of heat energy to be transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Steven Michael Shei
  • Patent number: 8468841
    Abstract: A cooling system for perishable items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Isolate, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard W. Tillman, Jr., Henry A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20130152616
    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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: David Turner
  • Publication number: 20130019621
    Abstract: A refrigerated display unit (1), having an open-fronted cabinet providing a product display space (3) accessible through an access opening (39) provided by the open front. Cooling means (27) produces cold air to refrigerate items in the product display space (3). A cold air curtain is provided across the access opening (39) using a forwardly-positioned discharge outlet (5) communicating with a supply duct (45) and a forwardly-positioned return inlet (7) in communication with a return duct (41) receiving air from the air curtain (9). The air curtain (9) is substantially unsupported by any supplementary cooling airflow supplied into the product display space (3) separately from the air curtain (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: APPLIED DESIGN AND ENGINEERING LTD
    Inventors: Ian Wood, Edward Hammond
  • Patent number: 8151587
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser (100) includes an upright, open-front, insulated cabinet (110) defining a product display area (125) connected in airflow communication with a compartment (120) via an air circulation circuit (122, 114, 116). A high pressure drop evaporator (40) and a plurality of closely spaced fans (70) are disposed within compartment (120). The evaporator (40) is provided with a relatively high fin density heat exchanger coil providing a relatively high air side pressure drop through the evaporator. The increased flow resistance through the evaporator coupled with the plurality of closely spaced fans results in a substantially uniform evaporator outlet temperature profile across the length of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hong Leung Chiang, Eugene Duane Daddis, Jr., Kwok Kwong Fung, Sue-Li Kingsley Chuang
  • Publication number: 20120042675
    Abstract: An open-front refrigerated display case is provided having a medium temperature zone disposed above a low temperature zone in a generally vertically-stacked arrangement. A spillover airflow-diverting device is disposed between the medium temperature zone and the low temperature zone and is configured to direct spillover air from the medium temperature zone air curtain (and ambient air entrained therewith) in a direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The spillover airflow-diverting device may include louvers configured to direct a gravity-induced flow of the spillover air in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone, or may include fans to collect spillover air and forcibly direct it in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The outwardly directed spillover air may be discharged in the form of an ‘outer layer’ for an air curtain on the low temperature zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Arnold M. Stephens, Donald T. Torgerson
  • Publication number: 20110314857
    Abstract: A device for generating an air wall in an upright refrigerated cabinet (22) comprises a primary blower slit for generating a primary air stream (30) in the frontal opening (34) of the upright refrigerated cabinet which forms a thermal separation between the low inside temperature and the ambient air of a higher temperature. No mixing occurs between the primary air stream (30) and the secondary, optionally forced air streams (1, 9) added thereto. The thereby realized great effective heat resistance achieves that the supply of heat from the ambient air to the interior space of the refrigerated cabinet is considerably limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Ernest Jozef Elias Berben, Peter Julien Joseph Deweerdt
  • Publication number: 20110302945
    Abstract: A tank-less refrigerated display device having an open floor is configured to sit directly upon a floor in a facility such as a supermarket or other food product retail facility. The tank-less and floorless display device includes a front wall section that is substantially free of fans or other electrical components. The front wall section may be readily removable to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. A cooling coil is mounted in a lower portion of a rear wall. A single set of fans are configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system includes a rear wall flue having a vertical profile that is at least partially tapered, and a horizontal top wall flue having a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over an open front in the form of an air curtain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Larry C. Howington, Randy M. Sprigg
  • Publication number: 20100313588
    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: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy Dean Swofford, Larry C. Howington, Jules G. Choueifati
  • Patent number: 7797959
    Abstract: There is provided an open showcase which enables elimination of the drawback that a cooling air rising in an inner layer duct leaks out to an outer layer outlet side from between a partitioning member and a partition wall. The open showcase has a partitioning member which is mounted to the partition wall at a position between the outer layer outlet and the inner layer outlet and extends downward from the partition, and an upstanding wall formed by folding the front edge of the partition wall. The partitioning member has an engagement part to be engaged with the top edge of the upstanding wall from the front side and a fixing part closely contacting the bottom surface of the front part of the partition wall continuing to the upstanding wall when the engagement part is engaged with the top edge of the upstanding wall. The fixing part is fixed to the partition wall with a screw with the fixing part closely contacting the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Amari, Shouichi Kanai
  • Patent number: 7681409
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a display case defining a product display region having an open-front isolated from the ambient air of the store by means of a downwardly directed inner air curtain of relatively cold refrigerated air and a downwardly directed outer air curtain of relatively warmer air established via an improved curtain air admission assembly. The curtain air admission assembly defines a plenum atop the refrigerated display through which the flow of air substantially reverses direction when passing from a first flow passage to a second flow passage. This reversal of flow direction serves to distribute the air flow more uniformly along the length of the display case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari, Mary D. Saroka, Gary D. Winch
  • Publication number: 20100058789
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled case is provided including a base having a deck, a tower having a cavity, and an improved air distribution system. The air distribution system provides enhanced air flow throughout the case and a more balanced cooling profile to maintain products at a more uniform temperature. The air distribution system may include a duct and/or one or more air diverting devices, such as scoops, to permit a first portion of an air flow to be received into the tower and to direct second portion toward the deck. Sub-portions of the first portion may be directed at the rear portions and the front portions of one or more product supporting surfaces. The tower may include an exterior wall having openings through which air is directed by diffusers. The exterior wall may be faceted and the cavity may be segmented into channels corresponding to the facets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Angel A. Barreto, Jules G. Choueifati, Larry C. Howington
  • Publication number: 20100024446
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, and a shelf supported by the case within the product display area. The case includes a base that is disposed below the product display area and a canopy that is disposed substantially above the product display area. The shelf includes an air discharge duct that is configured to direct a first air curtain generally downward from the shelf into the product display area toward the base, and an air return duct that is configured to receive at least a portion of a second air curtain discharged into the product display area from above the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Clay A. Rohrer, Vidhey V. Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20090288423
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case (10) is provided with an open face (25) and an air flow (30) across the open face (25), which is cooled by a primary refrigeration system (20) and a thermoelectric heat pump (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Abbas A. Alahyari
  • Publication number: 20090255287
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a display case defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area. A first air outlet is associated with the display case for directing a first air stream generally downwardly across the front viewing area along a first path, and a second air outlet is associated with the display case for directing a second air stream generally downwardly across the front viewing area along a second path outwardly of the first air stream. The first air stream and the second air stream are directly adjacent to one another and the first air stream exits the first air outlet at a first discharge velocity and the second air stream exits the second air outlet at a second discharge velocity, where the second discharge velocity is at least 1.4 times greater than the first discharge velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari, Mary D. Saroka
  • Publication number: 20090249811
    Abstract: Provided is a showcase for displaying foods, and more particularly, an open-type showcase including a separate storage chamber installed in the showcase, isolatable from the exterior, and continuously receiving cold air through a cold air passage, similar to a display chamber, and capable of simply moving foods which can easily go bad, such as sandwiches or breads, displayed in the showcase, to the storage chamber and keeping the foods refrigerated after business hours, and blocking supply of the cold air into the display chamber when the display chamber is not used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: PARIS CROISSANT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang Chel Shin
  • Publication number: 20090215381
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case, an air curtain system, and a method of providing an air curtain are provided. The air curtain is suitable for use with a refrigerated display case of the type having an open front, including those with a door selectively covering the open-front. The air curtain includes a secondary layer formed of ambient air cooled by exposure to a refrigerated primary layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Timothy Dean Swofford
  • Publication number: 20090205351
    Abstract: A display case cools and displays products. A first fan system circulates cool air through the display case. The cool air is directed downwardly along a front of the display case to form a primary air curtain. A second fan system circulates ambient air to generate a secondary air curtain. The secondary air curtain is located between the primary air curtain and the outside environment, trapping the primary air curtain near an interior display volume of the display case. Each end of the second fan system is several inches shorter than the display case to allow for case to case attachment. The second fan system includes a louver near each of the side walls and a front of the second fan system. Each louver includes a plurality of slanted panels. The louvers direct the ambient air towards the side walls of the display case to improve the secondary discharge air velocity in a front corner area of the display case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Kwok Kwong Fung
  • Patent number: 7451607
    Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigerated merchandiser. The method includes providing a case that defines a product display area and an air passage that has an inlet and an outlet, positioning an evaporator in the air passage to refrigerate the air, positioning a fan in the air passage to move the air through the passage, and logging a first temperature value during frost-free operation of the evaporator. The method also includes logging a second temperature value during frosted operation of the evaporator, calculating a difference of the first and second temperature values, and defrosting the evaporator when the difference exceeds a pre-determined value. Each of the first temperature value and the second temperature value is independently associated with at least one of the air entering the inlet of the air passage, the air exiting the outlet of the air passage, and saturated evaporator temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: John Arthur Behr
  • Publication number: 20080236182
    Abstract: A shelve cabinet comprises partially cooled shelves which are open towards the front and wherein the goods compartment is cooled by a cool-air curtain flowing through the at least partially perforated rear wall of the goods compartment into the goods compartment and/or by a cool-air curtain flowing along the goods compartment opening. One or more goods display shelves are located in the goods compartment, the goods display shelves being configured in such a manner that the at last one partial flow of the cool-air curtain is guided across them to the front area of the goods display shelves. The goods display shelves are provided with structure for stabilizing at least one partial flow of the cool-air curtain flowing along the goods compartment opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Hahn, Markus Schu, Wolfgang Zapf
  • Patent number: 7367198
    Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area. The product display area defines a highest temperature zone and a lowest temperature zone. The merchandiser includes a first product simulator positioned in the highest temperature zone of the product display area to generate a first signal representative of the temperature of products positioned in the highest temperature zone of the product display area, and a second product simulator positioned in the lowest temperature zone of the product display area to generate a second signal representative of the temperature of products positioned in the lowest temperature zone of the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a controller in communication with the first and second product simulators. The controller is operable to adjust an outlet temperature set point in response to the first and second signals from the first and second product simulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: John Arthur Behr
  • Publication number: 20080047287
    Abstract: A combination apparatus includes a food storing and preserving machine and an electronic information center. An insulated cabinet provides a door enabling access to a refrigerated interior space within the cabinet. The door incorporates an electronic circuit including a computing unit with a digital data processor, data storage module, and a touch-sense display panel. A plurality of LCD panels are each enabled for displaying photos and other indicia composed from indicia data within the data storage module. A data port is configured for receiving information transmitted by wireless means. A software program in conjunction with the computing unit receives information at the data port and stores the information in the data storage module. Operational options may be displayed on the touch-sense display unit for manually directing the computing unit for displaying the indicia on the LCD panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Jonathan Paul Ruppert
  • Publication number: 20070289323
    Abstract: An open-front refrigerated case with reduced frost operation includes a housing having an open front and defining a product storage space therein. An air flow device is operatively coupled to an air flow path to direct a flow of air over a dehumidification coil for discharge as a dehumidified air curtain over the open front. The dehumidification coil operates substantially frost-free at a temperature of greater than 32° F. A contact cooling device and/or a gravity cooling device is disposed within the space and arranged to receive a coolant from a coolant system, where the dehumidified air curtain operates as a humidity tempering boundary to minimize the humidity within the storage space, so that the case operates in a substantially frost-free manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Dean Swofford, Larry C. Howington
  • Publication number: 20070227169
    Abstract: There is provided an open showcase which enables elimination of the drawback that a cooling air rising in an inner layer duct leaks out to an outer layer outlet side from between a partitioning member and a partition wall. The open showcase has a partitioning member which is mounted to the partition wall at a position between the outer layer outlet and the inner layer outlet and extends downward from the partition, and an upstanding wall formed by folding the front edge of the partition wall. The partitioning member has an engagement part to be engaged with the top edge of the upstanding wall from the front side and a fixing part closely contacting the bottom surface of the front part of the partition wall continuing to the upstanding wall when the engagement part is engaged with the top edge of the upstanding wall. The fixing part is fixed to the partition wall with a screw with the fixing part closely contacting the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youichi Amari, Shouichi Kanai
  • Patent number: 7263843
    Abstract: A method and system for an improved display case, comprising a display case having air flow paths for circulating air around one or more objects displayable in a display area in the display case, and one or more ultraviolet radiation elements suitably positioned within the air paths for sanitizing the circulating air to reduce the amount of airborne contaminants therein. The display case may comprise a produce display case, meats display case, vegetables display case, floral display case, dairy display case, a frozen foods display case, or a similar type case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventor: Mark T. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 7216494
    Abstract: A supermarket refrigeration system may include a plurality of supermarket refrigeration cases, each including an evaporator and an associated compressor connected downstream therefrom. A common condenser is connected downstream from the compressors, and a receiver is connected downstream from the common condenser and upstream from the evaporators. A liquid header extends throughout the supermarket and connects the receiver and the evaporators. A discharge header extends throughout the supermarket and connects the compressors to the common condenser. An oil-bearing refrigerant mixture may circulate through a refrigerant circulation path to lubricate the compressors without undesired pooling and without an oil separator. The system may further include a selectively operable defrost circuit which uses hot refrigerant mixture for defrosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Matt Alvin Thurman
  • Patent number: 7162882
    Abstract: A multi-band air curtain forms a separation barrier at an interface between a first environment having a fluid at a first condition and a second environment having a fluid at a second condition. A first stream (55) of a fluid is directed along a first path (45) generally parallel to the interface between the first environment and the second environment. A second stream (65) of fluid is directed along a second path (75) generally outwardly at an angle of divergence with the first path (45). A third stream (65) of a fluid is directed along a third path (95) between the first path (45) and the second path (75) at a first interior angle with said first path (45) and at a second interior angle with said second path (75).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari, Mary D. Saroka
  • Patent number: 7158863
    Abstract: A programmable electronic controller that provides multiple command and control instruction for an air curtain being integrated therewith. The controller includes operational controls for fan speed, time adjustment duration including time delay, start time, stop time with internal selectable timer clock provisions. The temperature imputable parameters for on demand heat and a variety of remote sensing and actuation output and input provisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Berner International Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7140193
    Abstract: A gas distribution unit for use in a rack, that holds rack-mounted equipment that produces heat during operation, includes a housing defining a cavity, an exhaust port in a top wall of the housing, and at least one intake port configured to provide fluid communication between the cavity and a volume of gas external to the housing, the at least one intake port being at least partially laterally displaced relative to the exhaust port, the housing being configured to be disposed in and coupled to the rack and to direct gas from the cavity substantially directly upward through the exhaust port when coupled to the rack, and at least one fan coupled to and disposed within the housing and configured to draw gas through the at least one intake port, and to force the drawn-in gas out of the gas distribution unit through the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Johnson, Robert C. Pfleging, Timothy J. Anderson, Daniel C. Kroupa
  • Patent number: 7121104
    Abstract: An adjustable shelving system is disclosed for an open-front refrigerated display case having an air-curtain at least partially across a front of the display case and having a shelf configured to hold products to be displayed. A first bracket and a second bracket are coupled to an interior panel of the display case where each bracket includes a first travel stop and a spaced-apart second travel stop. The shelf has pin members that interface with the brackets and engage the travel stops. The pin members engage the first travel stop to retain the shelf in a first position and engage the second travel stop to retain the shelf in a second position having an angle of inclination relative to the first position. A distance from a front edge of the shelf and the air curtain is substantially constant between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Howington, Steven O. Stubblefield
  • Patent number: 7062932
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area and an air passage at least partially surrounding the product display area. The air passage directs refrigerated air to the product display area. The case also defines an air chamber separate from the air passage and in fluid communication between the air passage and the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a fan operable to draw the refrigerated air from the air passage and pressurize the refrigerated air within the air chamber to facilitate distribution of the refrigerated air from the air chamber and into the product display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Norman L. Downs
  • Patent number: 7010924
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case reduces the temperature of refrigerated items in the front of the case and achieves a tighter temperature range within the case. Air drawn from a cooler is further cooled by a coil. Some of the cold air is discharged along the front of the case as an air curtain is and drawn by fans back into the cooler. The remaining cold air is directed to a duct in the rear of the case. Openings in the duct allow air to flow across the refrigerated items towards the front of the case, further reducing the temperature of the refrigerated items in the front of the case. To prevent refrigerated items in the rear of the case from freezing, air entering the duct is warmed with air that bypasses the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration
    Inventor: Michael J. Kempiak
  • Patent number: 6973800
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprises a display case having a viewing area with the first side and a second side. An air outlet on the first side guides air across the viewing area to an air inlet on the second side. A first fan and a second fan communicate with the air inlet. A volume extends between the air inlet and the first and second fans. The partition divides this volume between the first and second fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc.
    Inventors: Sue-Li Kingsley Chuang, Eugene Duane Daddis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6959560
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a display case 10 having an open front and defining a product display space 30 wherein product 15 is hung for display and customer access on a peg bar support system 50. Refrigerated air passes into the product display space 30 through a back panel 24 perforated with air inlet holes 48. A baffle plate 60 lies superadjacent the peg bar support system 50 and is positioned relative thereto so as to provide an airflow gap 65 between its rearward edge 64 and the back panel 24 and an airflow gap 63 between its forward edge 62 and the tag moulding 58 of the peg bar support system 50. Refrigerated air passes through the rearward and forward airflow gaps to cool the product displayed on the peg bar support system. Additionally, the baffle plate may be perforated with a plurality of holes to provide additional airflow passages 70 through which further refrigerated air may pass to cool the product displayed on the peg bar support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry L. Weikel, Michael J. Kempiak
  • Patent number: 6960129
    Abstract: A conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway is disclosed. The vestibule includes a frame that supports inner and outer moveable door-forming members. The vestibule also includes a heater that circulates air between the inner and outer door-forming members and a variable-speed fan that varies flow of the air between the inner and outer door-forming members. In one embodiment, the airflow from the fan increases upon the opening of the door-forming members and decreases upon the closing of the door-forming members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: HCR Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Ashley, Colin D. Johnstone, Peter R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6931877
    Abstract: In a refrigerating open showcase comprising a showcase body whose top surface is open; an inner plate disposed to form an air passage between the inner plate and the showcase body; and a cooler disposed in the air passage, in which an air curtain is formed on the top surface of the showcase body by causing air having been cooled in the air passage to flow from a discharge port to a suction port, the upper end of the inner plate on the suction port side is bent toward the air passage on the suction side, and the upper face of the bent portion is inclined slightly with respect to the horizontal in the direction that the upper face of said bent portion faces a side wall on the suction port side of the showcase body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Sanden Corp.
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Takahiro Takei
  • Patent number: 6923013
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser (100) includes an upright, open-front, insulated cabinet (110) defining a product display area (125) connected in airflow communication with a compartment (120) via an air circulation circuit (122, 114, 116). The flow of refrigerant through the coils (46) of evaporator (40) disposed in the compartment (120) to cool the airflow from the product display area of the refrigerated merchandiser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Hong Leung Chiang, Eugene Duane Daddis, Jr., Kwok Kwong Fung
  • Patent number: 6912864
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area and an air passage separate from the product display area. The case includes a rear wall separating in part the product display area from a vertical portion of the air passage. The rear wall includes apertures near a lower portion of the product display area. The apertures communicate between the vertical portion of the air passage and the lower portion of the product display area. The refrigerated merchandiser also includes a fan positioned in the air passage to generate an airflow through the passage and an evaporator positioned in the vertical portion of the air passage adjacent the rear wall and at an oblique angle to allow the airflow to pass through the evaporator, through the apertures, and into the lower portion of the product display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: John Roche, Clay Rohrer
  • Patent number: 6874331
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a horizontal air curtain for a cooler doorway has at least one air moving device; at least one motor powering the air moving device; a control system including a sensor, the control system providing power to operate the motor when the sensor detects that the door of the cooler is open; and at least one air discharge nozzle mounted adjacent to the air moving device directing air emitted by the air moving device to create a curtain of air that flows generally horizontally across at least a portion of the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Chandler, Larry R. Scallion
  • Publication number: 20040216478
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a climatic device comprising a working space and an equipment space connected thereto via at least one connection opening, wherein a heat exchanger is arranged in said equipment space. In order to prevent the penetration of moist and cold air into the working space when defrosting the heat exchanger, a blocking device is provided in accordance with the invention with which the exchange of gas via a connection opening can be selectively prevented, wherein there is at least one such connection opening. The blocking device can comprise a device for producing a curtain of gas over the connection opening or a mechanical seal. In addition, the invention pertains to a process for operating the climatic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Achim Melching, Dieter Bidlingmaier, Olaf Bromsen, Jurgen Schneider
  • Publication number: 20040172961
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprises a display case having a viewing area with the first side and a second side. An air outlet on the first side guides air across the viewing area to an air inlet on the second side. A first fan and a second fan communicate with the air inlet. A volume extends between the air inlet and the first and second fans. The partition divides this volume between the first and second fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Sue-Li Kingsley Chuang, Eugene Duane Daddis
  • Publication number: 20040163401
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a display case defining a product display region having an open-front isolated from the ambient air of the store by means of a downwardly directed inner air curtain of relatively cold refrigerated air and a downwardly directed outer air curtain of relatively warmer air. The inner air curtain discharges through a first air outlet at a first discharge velocity and the outer air curtain discharges through a second air outlet at a second discharge velocity, the second discharge velocity being at least about 1.4 times greater than the first discharge velocity, and most advantageously, from about 1.4 to about 1.8 times greater than the first discharge velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari, Mary D. Saroka