Abstract: An air cooling and control system for a refrigerated food merchandiser having an insulated cabinet with a product are having adjacent product zones, plural modular evaporator coil sections of substantially equal heat exchange potential and being of predetermined length and arranged in horizontal, spaced, end-to-end predetermined disposition and separate air moving means associated with each coil section and a corresponding product zone for circulating separate air flows through the coil sections and to the product area for cooling. The system further includes a first refrigerant metering valve for controlling liquid refrigerant flow on the high side of the evaporator sections, and a second refrigerant metering valve for controlling suction pressure and refrigerant vapor flow on the low side of the evaporator sections. An electronic control senses exit air temperatures downstream of the evaporator sections and operates the second metering valve in response thereto.

Abstract: A non-compressible coolant fluid system for cooling product merchandisers having heat transfer means constructed and arranged for maintaining preselected product zone temperatures, comprising an integrated closed circuit system having pumping means for circulating non-compressible coolant fluid, a first coolant fluid loop between the pumping means and the heat transfer means and including means for cooling coolant fluid in said first loop, a second coolant fluid loop between the pumping means and the heat transfer means in by-pass relation with the first loop and including means for heating coolant fluid in the second loop, and means for selectively controlling coolant fluid circulation by said pumping means through the first and second loops.

Abstract: A glass front merchandiser having a refrigerated cabinet with a product zone normally closed by a glass front panel having a hinging side margin, the glass front panel including an outer glass pane and a structural frame member secured adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof along its hinging side margin, a hinge directly connected to the structural frame member and being constructed and arranged for hinging movement of the glass front panel on the refrigerated cabinet to open up the product zone, the outer peripheral edge of the structural frame member overhanging the hinge in a closed sealing position of the glass front panel with the merchandiser cabinet, and other seals constructed and arranged along the side margins of the glass front panel.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser comprising an insulated cabinet defining a product zone and having an air cooling and circulating system for maintaining product zone temperatures, the insulated cabinet including a vertical section defining one side of the product zone, an interior frame for structurally supporting the vertical cabinet section, and a load-bearing external frame assembly for supporting the entire insulated cabinet including an external vertical frame located on the outside of the vertical cabinet section and being secured to the interior vertical frame.

Abstract: A commercial refrigeration network including refrigeration system units constructed and arranged for placement in strategic proximity to corresponding product cooling zones within the shopping arena of a food store, each refrigeration unit having a condensing unit rack configured to accommodate the maximum refrigeration loads of its associated zone with an optimum floor space footprint in the shopping arena, and the condensing unit rack including a plurality of multiplexed compressors, condenser and associated high side and low side refrigerant delivery and suction conduits operatively connected to evaporators for cooling the corresponding zone, and the network also including another cooling source remote from said modular refrigeration units and constructed and arranged for circulating a fluid coolant in heat exchange relationship with the condenser to obtain optimum condensing and efficiency of said evaporators in cooling the corresponding zone.

Abstract: A low temperature food merchandiser having a cabinet with an open front product area, a primary cold air system for maintaining substantially constant frozen food temperatures of 0.degree. F. or ice cream product temperatures of -5.degree. F. in the product area including the formation of a series of vertical curtains of primary low temperature air extending across the open front of discrete product area sections, a secondary air system protecting the primary air curtains, and the primary system also including primary evaporator means constructed and arranged to operate at elevated coil temperatures in the range of -5.degree. F. to -8.degree. F. to maintain 0.degree. F. product temperature or coil temperatures of -12.degree. F. to -15.degree. F. to maintain -5.degree. F. product temperatures, and including high efficiency reverse air cycle defrost means for periodically defrosting the primary cooling means.

Abstract: A low temperature food merchandiser having a cabinet with an open front product area, a primary cold air system for maintaining substantially constant low temperatures of at least 0.degree. F. in the product area including the formation of plural primary low temperature air curtains across the open front, a secondary air system protecting the primary air curtains, and the primary system also including primary evaporator cooling means constructed and arranged to operate at elevated coil temperatures in the range of -5.degree. F. to -2.degree. F. to maintain the 0.degree. F. product area temperature, and including reverse air cycle defrost means for periodically defrosting the primary cooling means.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for controlling food temperatures in a food warming cabinet having at least one food holding zone. The apparatus includes a first sensor for sensing a temperature representative of the temperature of the food, a heater, a second sensor for sensing a temperature representative of an operating condition of the apparatus, and a control circuit connected to receive sensed input signals from the first and second sensors, and being constructed and arranged for controlling the operation of the heater in response to the sensed input signals and for selecting a set point value forming an ideal temperature condition for the food.

Abstract: An ice maker including freeze and harvest controls is disclosed. The evaporator includes a unitary evaporator and ice mold. A compressor and condenser cool the evaporator to freeze ice on the mold in a normal refrigeration cycle and the mold is defrosted by hot gas to harvest ice from the ice mold. The temperature of the ice mold and the liquid line temperature of the condenser are sensed to control the length of time of the ice forming cycle.

Abstract: An interface adapter for use in combination with a commercial installation having a central refrigeration system with multiple compressors and refrigerated units and also having environmental apparatus for regulating the heating, ventilating and air conditioning of such installation. The refrigeration system has a local control apparatus for operating the system in response to local status signals and has remote control input ports for remote control of the system. A remote electronic controller adapted to receive the local status signals and to override at least part of said local control means operates the refrigeration system by generating an electrical control signal and a switchback signal indicating that the electrical control signal should be recognized. The interface adapter electronically isolates and interfaces the refrigeration system and the remote controller.

Abstract: A reverse cycle heat reclaim coil in a refrigeration system having compressor, condenser and receiver means on the high side, including first valve means for selectively connecting the heat reclaim coil between the compressor discharge side and the condenser means to obtain heat reclamation during winter operations, and second valve means for selectively connecting the heat reclaim coil between the condenser and receiver means to obtain refrigerant subcooling during summer operations. The invention also includes the method of selectively connecting the heat reclaim coil in reverse cycle refrigerant flow in seasonal heat reclamation and subcooling modes.

Abstract: An outdoor air cooled condenser for a refrigeration installation having at least one refrigeration system circuit and including a condenser coil with a heat transfer surface, a condenser housing having air inlet and outlet means for the passage of air across said heat transfer surface, the outlet means including a primary outlet with air flow control means therefor and a plurality of secondary outlets with air displacement means and damper means associated therewith, sensing means for sensing a predetermined condition of refrigerant in the condenser coil, control circuit means for monitoring and integrating the sensed refrigerant condition with respect to a predetermined ideal condition set point value for the refrigeration system circuit and for operating the air flow control means and air displacement means for controlling the amount of air passing through the housing and across the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: A flow-through surge receiver for a refrigeration system having compressor, condenser and evaporator means, in which a surge-type receiver forms a reservoir for liquid refrigerant and has a flow-through conduit receiving refrigerant from the condenser means and an outlet for passing such refrigerant directly to the evaporator means in by-pass relation with the receiver reservoir, and a passageway for establishing fluid communication between said conduit and reservoir below the normal liquid refrigerant level in the reservoir.

Abstract: A food service table (10) is provided which includes separate heating and cooling systems enclosed within a housing (12) which may be selectively activated to heat or to cool food displayed and served on the table. Substantially all of the upper surface (13) of the housing (12) includes a food service area (14) in which is mounted a food service pan (24). Heating elements (26) and cooling coils (42) mounted on the pan (24) heat or cool foods displayed in the pan. The cooling system includes accumulator means (34) positioned at the lowest level of the cooling system for receiving and collecting refrigerant fluid upon activation of the heating system. Control means are provided to control the expansion and flow of refrigerant fluid during operation of the heating system.

Abstract: An oil return system for a multiple compressor refrigeration system in which said compressors have a common discharge and at least two of said compressors have their low pressure suction side connected to operate at substantially different suction pressures, said oil return system having oil and refrigerant separating means connected to receive the common discharge from said compressors and oil delivery means constructed and arranged to maintain compressor oil levels at the suction side of the respective compressors, and oil control valve means disposed between said separating means and oil delivery means for each of said two compressors, said oil control valve means for each such compressor having pressure means for maintaining the downstream oil pressure to the oil delivery means at a preselected value.

Abstract: A refrigeration system having compressor, condenser, surge receiver and multiple evaporator means, and high side control means including gas defrost means for selectively defrosting the evaporator means with saturated refrigerant gas, a surge control valve for the surge receiver means, and other means for operating the surge control valve in response to differential high side pressures, liquid levels in the receiver means and/or gas defrost operations to regulate refrigerant pressures within the surge receiver means.

Abstract: An air temperature regulating or conditioning control apparatus for use in a space having one or more refrigerated display fixtures. The fixtures have an open refrigerated display zone separated from the conditioned room space by one or more planes (curtains) of refrigerated air substantially lower in temperature than the conditioned room space, which absorb energy from the room air adjacent these planes thereby causing it to be cooled. The apparatus comprises a housing having a return air chamber and a make-up air chamber isolated from the return air chamber. Each of these parallel chambers has an outlet connected to a mixing compartment for mixing the conditioned air received from both chambers. An air moving means is connected to the mixing compartment for displacing the mixed conditioned air through air flow convection ducts back into the space. Each of the chambers further has an air intake or inlet, a filter section and a cooling section.

Abstract: An oil separator unit for use in an oil separation and return system for the compressor means of a refrigeration system, including a unitary oil separation and oil accumulator vessel having an upper vortex separation chamber, oil collecting and separating means, vapor deflector means, oil precipitation means, and a lower oil accumulator chamber for receiving and holding liquid oil.