Abstract: A refrigerated display case for displaying refrigerated products. The display case is formed in a cabinet that has an interior area for holding the refrigerated products. The cabinet has an access opening for enabling access to the refrigerated products. A first air conduit extends around the cabinet and has inlet and outlet air openings for directing air across the access opening in the cabinet. During a refrigeration cycle of operation, the air traveling through the first air conduit is refrigerated by a set of evaporator coils. A second air conduit extends partially around the cabinet along a path lying outwardly of the first air conduit. The second air conduit has an outlet opening positioned adjacent to the outlet opening of the first air conduit. During the refrigeration cycle, partially cooled air is emitted from the outlet opening of the second air conduit along a path across the access opening of the cabinet but lying outwardly of the air emitted from the outlet opening of the first air conduit.

Abstract: A multiband refrigerated display case having: an outer cabinet, an inner cabinet having an open product display space therein, and a divider between the inner and outer cabinets for dividing the space between the cabinets into adjacent first and second conduits. The divider comprises a first relatively fixed bottom panel member and a second removable panel member. The first bottom panel member has a U-shaped region for loosely receiving one end portion of the second panel member. Support legs are located on the underside of the second panel member for supporting the second panel member on the bottom portion of the outer cabinet in spaced relation thereto. Inlet grill means are loosely supported on the second panel in a position to cover the first and second conduit inlets; and a removable bottom shelf defining the bottom of the inner cabinet and display space is loosely supported on the removable second panel.

Abstract: An improved refrigerated merchandiser cabinet for food products storage and displaying which is equipped with both transparent barrier doors and an air defrost system to improve the energy efficiency. The barrier doors are openable for product entry and customer usage as well as by an air defrost system which creates a gap between the barrier door and the covered access opening to permit flow-through of ambient air for use during the defrost cycle. Operation of the refrigerated cabinet with either a single or multiple air bands during a refrigeration cycle is provided for. During the defrost cycle a number of ambient air flow pattern can be employed, including the use of an auxiliary air fan. Reversal of the air band flow pattern during a defrost cycle is provided for. The method of operating the improved refrigeration display cabinet is also included.

Abstract: An improvement in open front refrigerated cabinets for food product storage and displaying in which transparent barrier doors and an air defrost system are provided for improving the energy efficiency. Barrier doors and an air defrost system can be retrofitted onto an open front refrigerated display case in order to permit operation of the cabinet with lower energy consumption. The air defrost system selectively creates a gap between the barrier doors and the associated access opening in order to provide for through-flow of ambient air during a defrost cycle. Open front cabinets having either single or multiple circulated air bands can be improved with this invention. The method of retrofitting such cabinets and the method of operations thereof is also included.

Abstract: A refrigerated display case for displaying refrigerated products. The display case is formed in a cabinet that has an interior area for holding the refrigerated products. The cabinet has an access opening either in its top wall or its front wall for enabling access to the refrigerated products. A first air conduit extends around the cabinet and has inlet and outlet air openings for directing air across the access opening in the cabinet. During a refrigeration cycle of operation, the air traveling through the first air conduit is refrigerated by a set of evaporator coils. A second air conduit extends partially around the cabinet along a path lying outwardly of the first air conduit. The second air conduit has an outlet opening positioned adjacent to the outlet opening of the first air conduit.

Abstract: An open top refrigerated display case having an upper display portion for displaying refrigerated products and a lower storage portion for storing refrigerated products. A cooling mechanism cools both the display portion and storage portion of the display case. The cooling mechanism establishes a refrigerated air band which encircles the display portion of the display case. This refrigerated air band is established by circulating air through an air conduit which surrounds the display portion and is positioned above the storage portion of the display case. Mounted within the air conduit is a fan for circulating air through the conduit and a set of evaporation coils for cooling the air passing through the conduit. Air is expelled from one end of the conduit at an outlet opening located near the top of the display case and such air is propelled across the opening in the display case towards the opposite end of the case where it is received by an inlet opening of the air conduit.

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: 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 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 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.