Abstract: A refrigeration system having an open front display portion and a rear storage portion. The display portion has a plurality of shelves that are accessible through an opening in the front of the display portion. Access to the shelves also can be obtained from the rear storage portion of the system. A cooling unit is provided that includes a fan and two sets of refrigerating coils. The cooling unit provides refrigerated air from one set of coils to an air conduit for establishing a primary air curtain across the front of the display portion. The refrigerated air from the other set of coils is supplied to an air conduit which in turn supplies the air to the storage portion. A second air curtain is also provided across the front of the display portion; this secondary air curtain extends along a path positioned towards the outside of the display portion with respect to the primary air curtain. A return path for the air from the primary and secondary air curtain is provided along the bottom of the display portion.

Abstract: An improvement in refrigerated display cabinets in which barrier doors and one or more guard air bands protect the primary refrigerated air band which is circulated within the cabinets during time periods when the barrier door is opened. The cabinets may be equipped with air defrost systems. When two guard air bands are employed, the outermost of these is directed across the outside surface of the barrier door. The air defrost system can incorporate a door opening mechanism which provides a gap between the barrier door and the access opening in order to permit ambient air through-flow for defrost purposes.Control circuitry can be controlled by opening of the barrier doors in order to actuate the guard air band movement.

Abstract: An open top refrigerated display case having an ambient air automatic defrost system and a method of operating such a case. A single air conduit extends in a U-shaped formation along opposing side walls and the bottom wall of the display case. The air conduit has openings at both ends in the location of the upper portions of the side walls. Arranged within the air conduit is at least one reversible fan and a set of refrigeration coils. During a refrigeration cycle the fan circulates air through the air conduit in a first direction towards the refrigeration coils. When frost buildup within the display case has reached a certain level, the system is switched to a defrost cycle. During the defrost cycle, the fan circulates the air in the opposite direction through the air conduit and draws in ambient air from outside of the display case. Since such ambient air is of a higher temperature than the normally refrigerated air, it serves to defrost the system.

Abstract: A refrigeration system having an increased efficiency of operation and reduction in power consumption. By maintaining a low head pressure and subcooling the liquid refrigerant emitted from the remote condenser, the efficiency of operation of the compressor of the refrigeration system can be substantially increased. The particular type of refrigeration system of concern generally includes a compressor for compressing a gaseous refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the gaseous refrigerant and subcooling the liquid refrigerant, a receiver for receiving the liquid and a plurality of display cases having evaporators for evaporating the liquid refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant passing through the condenser is first condensed into a liquid at a condensing temperature of approximately 10.degree. to 25.degree. F. above a preselected cooling temperature. The condensed liquid is then subcooled to the preselected cooling temperature which should be preferably either approximately 50.degree. F.

Abstract: An improved upright open front refrigerated display cabinet having primary and secondary air flow conduits, in which air flow directing means are provided for selectively drawing ambient air into the secondary air band conduit during a defrost cycle and for substantially preventing ambient air from entering the secondary conduit during a refrigeration cycle and for directing the flow of air through the secondary conduit in a first direction during the refrigeration cycle and in a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, during the defrost cycle. Fans are provided in each of the primary and secondary conduits; the direction of air flow in the primary conduit remains constant at all times, during both refrigeration and defrost cycles.

Abstract: An icebank system is provided for refrigerating produce areas and providing air conditioning in supermarkets. The system is adapted to handle all refrigerating and cooling requirements of supermarkets including produce cases, beverage coolers, food preparation areas, and air conditioning. The icebank system allows a supply of ice to be built up in an icebank storage tank in off-peak hours when the cost of electrical power is lowest. Cold water is circulated from the icebank storage tank to the various produce areas where cooling is required. Each produce area is provided with a heat exchanger which receives cold water from the icebank storage tank to maintain a low refrigeration temperature in the produce area. Each produce area is tapped into a main water conduit extending from the icebank storage tank. The spent water from each produce area is returned to the icebank storage tank via a return conduit.

Abstract: A gas defrost system comprising a heat exchange assembly located in close physical proximity with a branch conduit from the compressor discharge; the branch conduit leads, through a gas manifold, to the several remote evaporators comprising the refrigeration system. Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the heat exchanger from the liquid manifold and evaporated refrigerant is returned from the heat exchanger to the suction manifold. Refrigerant flow through the heat exchanger is controlled by an externally equalized expansion valve which has sensors connected to measure the compressor discharge pressure and the defrost gas temperature downstream of the heat exchange section. The expansion valve can be preset to maintain a desired amount of heat exchange so that the temperature of the defrost gas in the manifold will be maintained at or above a predetermined lower limit.

Abstract: A refrigerated display case having a front opening for enabling access to products within the display case from a plurality of angular positions with respect to the display case. In order to more readily enable the consumer to obtain access to products within the display case, the opening circumscribes an angle of at least 90.degree. or alternatively, the opening within the case extends continuously through the case so that the case has openings on opposing sides. The refrigerated display case includes a cabinet having top and bottom sections with an air conduit portion interconnecting and extending into the top and bottom sections. Either a single air conduit or two air conduits can be utilized. Arranged within the first air conduit is a refrigeration mechanism and air is circulated through that conduit for providing a band of refrigerated air which includes an inner air curtain across the opening in the case, for cooling the product in the display case.

Abstract: A refrigerated display case having a display section within a cabinet and movable door covering the access opening to such display section. The cabinet has top, bottom, rear and side walls with an access opening in its front, which opening is covered by the door. An air conduit extends along the top, bottom and rear walls of the cabinet. The air conduit has an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof with the openings being in alignment so that air leaving the outlet opening will be directed towards and received by the inlet opening thereby forming an air curtain across the front opening of the cabinet along the path inside the door. During a refrigeration cycle of operation of the display case, refrigerated air is circulated through the air conduit and a refrigeration mechanism arranged within the conduit by a positive pressure air flow so as to establish a refrigerated air band and a refrigerated air curtain across the front opening in the cabinet.

Abstract: A refrigerated display cabinet of the open top or open front type having a conduit extending around a storage and display space in the cabinet between an inlet and an outlet, refrigerated coils located in the conduit, air circulating fans for propelling air through the conduit over and/or around and/or through the refrigeration coils in a first direction during a refrigeration cycle, and in a second substantially opposite direction, during a defrost cycle, whereby during a defrost cycle ambient air is drawn into the conduit through the outlet and is passed around and/or through the refrigeration coils to defrost same, a supplemental defroster located in the conduit upstream of the refrigeration coils in the direction of air flow through the conduit in the defrost cycle; and, a sensing and control mechanism coupled with the supplemental defroster for sensing defrost conditions during the defrost cycle and for energizing the supplemental defroster means upon the detection of an abnormal defrost condition to the

Abstract: A refrigerated display case having a display section within a cabinet and movable door covering the access opening to such display section. The cabinet has top, bottom, rear and side walls with an opening in its front, which opening is covered by the door. An air conduit extends along the top, bottom and rear walls of the cabinet. The air conduit has an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposite ends thereof with the openings being in alignment so that air leaving the outlet opening will be directed towards and received by the inlet opening thereby forming an air curtain across the front opening of the cabinet along the path inside the door. During a refrigeration cycle of operation of the display case, refrigerated air is circulated through the air conduit and a refrigeration mechanism arranged within the conduit by a positive pressure air flow so as to establish a refrigerated air band and a refrigerated air curtain across the front opening in the cabinet.

Abstract: A refrigerated display case having a display section within a cabinet and movable door covering the access opening to such display section. The cabinet has top, bottom, rear and side walls with an opening in its front, which opening is covered by the door. An air conduit extends along the top, bottom and rear walls of the cabinet. The air conduit has an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof with the openings being in alignment so that air leaving the outlet opening will be directed towards and received by the inlet opening thereby forming an air curtain across the front opening of the cabinet along the path inside the door. During a refrigeration cycle of operation of the display case, refrigerated air is circulated through the air conduit and a refrigeration mechanism arranged within the conduit by a positive pressure air flow so as to establish a refrigerated air band and a refrigerated air curtain across the front opening in the cabinet.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a storage area for holding and displaying goods to be refrigerated including means for defrosting the coils in the refrigeration system by exposing a portion of the system to the ambient atmosphere. An air flow path is defined in the refrigerator in conjunction with the refrigeration system to refrigerate the goods on display. A closure means which carries a portion of the system is integrated with baffle means to close at least part of the air flow when the closure means is moved to an open position. In the open position the coils are defrosted by exposure to the ambient air, while some cooler air is prevented by the baffle means from being drawn out of the refrigerator.

Abstract: An improved upright open front refrigerated display cabinet having primary and secondary air flow conduits, in which air flow directing means are provided for selectively drawing ambient air into the secondary air band conduit during a defrost cycle and for substantially preventing ambient air from entering the secondary conduit during a refrigeration cycle and for directing the flow of air through the secondary conduit in a first direction during the refrigeration cycle and in a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, during the defrost cycle. Fans are provided in each of the primary and secondary conduits; the direction of air flow in the primary conduit remains constant at all times, during both refrigeration and defrost cycles.

Abstract: A refrigerated case having an access opening for access to the interior of the case by customers in a store where the case is used. Ducts are provided in the case for circulating refrigerated air across the access opening from a discharge opening at one end of the access opening to a return aperture at the other end of the access opening. The refrigeration system used in the case includes at least one conduit carrying refrigerant at a temperature higher than that of the air bands. At least a portion of this conduit is located adjacent the discharge opening to raise the temperature of the case in the vicinity of the discharge opening sufficiently to impede the accumulation of frost.

Abstract: A refrigerator case for supporting items for display having a front wall access to expose a well portion of the case for loading and unloading the items for display. More specifically, the refrigerator case includes a front panel hingedly secured to a front wall of the case. The panel pivots from a closed position where access is not available through the front wall to an open position where the well portion of the case is exposed through the front wall for loading and unloading items. When in the open position the inner surface of the panel is coplanar with the bottom surface of the well portion. The panel is supported in the open position by flexible cable connected to struts in the front wall. In this manner, baskets containing the items for display may be slid over the inner surface of the panel and into the well portion.

Abstract: An improved upright open front refrigerated display cabinet having primary and secondary air flow conduits, in which air flow directing means are provided for selectively drawing ambient air into the secondary air band conduit during a defrost cycle and for substantially preventing ambient air from entering the secondary conduit during a refrigeration cycle and for directing the flow of air through the secondary conduit in a first direction during the refrigeration cycle and in a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, during the defrost cycle. Fans are provided in each of the primary and secondary conduits; the direction of air flow in the primary conduit remains constant at all times, during both refrigeration and defrost cycles.

Abstract: A combined refrigerated display case and walk-in cooler wherein an improved refrigeration system combines a single air circulation means and two distinct refrigeration units, a first refrigeration unit dispersing refrigerated air for a plurality of air curtains travelling across an access opening provided at the front of the display case portion of the combination, a second refrigeration unit dispersing refrigerated air rearwardly to the walk-in cooler portion of the combination. The front access opening provides unimpeded access to the refrigerated space of the display case. Support means are provided between the walk-in cooler portion and display case portion extending between a lower surface of the refrigeration system and the floor for carrying shelves associated with the refrigerated display case portion of the combination.