Abstract: A refrigerated, reach-in merchandiser having a product display area with a front opening defined by casing means having at least two mullion members, a reach-in door for closing the front opening and being hingedly mounted on one of the mullion members by door control means, said reach-in door having a transparent panel with a molded frame and at least two glass lites, door control means for hingedly mounting the door on said merchandiser, electric means for said merchandiser including lighting means on one of the mullion members for illuminating the display area, said electric means also including heating means for the glass lites of the transparent panel and including a key member for connecting said heating means to said merchandiser. A thermal door and a method for making the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermally insulated, transparent door for use on a reach-in merchandiser, in which said door has at least two glass lites, and which comprises providing a thermally and electrically insulating spacer member having an outer wall portion and an inner separator body portion, and forming angled notches in the separator body portion to define the respective corners of first and second glass lites; folding the spacer member at the angled notches around one of the glass lites with te body portion in surface contact with the inner glass lite surface and an edge flange of the outer wall portion in engagement with the adjacent marginal edge thereof, and bringing the free ends of the spacer member into juxtaposition and securing them together with locking means for holding the spacer member in assembled peripheral contact around the one glass lite; assembling another glass lite in surface contact with the body portion of the spacer member and in spaced relation with the one glass lite; and molding

Abstract: A refrigerated, reach-in merchandiser having a product display area with a front opening defined by casing means having at least two mullion members, a reach-in door for closing the front opening and being hingedly mounted on one of the mullion members by door control means, said reach-in door having a transparent panel with a molded frame and at least two glass lites, a door control for hingedly mounting the door on said merchandiser, an electric member for said merchandiser including a light on one of the mullion members for illuminating the display area, said electric member also including a heating element for the glass lites of the transparent panel and including a key member for connecting said heating element to said merchandiser.

Abstract: A fluid defrost system and method for defrosting the cooling coil of a product fixture normally cooled by circulating a cold secondary liquid coolant in a cooling loop refrigerated by a primary vapor compression system having compressor, condenser and evaporator means; the defrost system comprising a heat exchanger associated with the condenser means for warming secondary liquid coolant in a heating loop, and means for controlling the circulation of warm liquid coolant through the heat exchanger and cooling coil.

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 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: An air cooling and control system for a refrigerated food merchandiser having an insulated cabinet with a product area 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.