Abstract: This invention teaches a food storage refrigeration cabinet suited for operation either on a conventional refrigeration cycle or on a fast cool down refrigeration cycle. The disclosed cabinet has partition structure that separates a food storage space from a defined plenum, and the evaporator coil of the refrigeration system is located inside the plenum. The partition has inboard and outboard openings to define recirculating air flow paths over the evaporator coil from and to the food storage space. For use of the cabinet on a conventional refrigeration cycle, first fan means in the inboard openings draws air from the storage space and passes the same over the evaporator coil for discharge out the outboard openings back to the storage space, and the refrigeration system is cycled on and off in order to maintain the enclosure air within the proper temperature range.

Abstract: This invention teaches a combination refrigerator-thawer cabinet that can be used as a conventional refrigerator or as a thawer for quick thawing frozen food without allowing the temperature of the food to exceed a predetermined guideline temperature, such as 45.degree.F. The disclosed unit is similar to a standard refrigerator having a cabinet for holding the food, but further has an auxiliary air circulating plenum located within the cabinet. Heating means are located within the plenum, and plenum fans draw the cabinet air into the plenum to be heated by the heating means and subsequently to be discharged back into the cabinet. The plenum air flow arrangement provides that the plenum outlets are adjacent the top and bottom cabinet walls and the plenum inlets are near the middle of the cabinet, and this minimizes the formation of hot spots where heated thawing air is blasted directly against the food.