Cabinet for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration
A cabinet for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration, includes a modular frame structure, space-delimiting elements and shelves (6) bearing the goods, and equipped with a caloric heat exchanger (8) generating an air flow of a temperature selected to suit the goods, and an air channel system (17) communicating with it. Thus a refrigerated cabinet of any size and design can be transformed from an existing cabinet or a mass-manufactured cabinet product range, without altering the module structure of the non-refrigerated cabinet, incorporating all advantageous characteristics of a modular assembly option. The transformation implies no permanent change in structural design, basic parameters or external dimensions of the original cabinet, so it can be transformed back into a non-refrigerated cabinet at any time, by replacing certain elements and the installation and fitting of further units.
The invention relates to a cabinet for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration, consisting of a modular frame structure, space-delimiting elements and shelves bearing the goods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCabinet systems used in food trade for presentation of the goods in the sales area are either non-refrigerated or refrigerated cabinet systems depending on the goods ever. Non-refrigerated cabinets, made usually of galvanized sintered steel plates, are typically structured in a modular way, that is, thanks to their structural design, they can be assembled on the spot, out of “elements” of a smaller size, in function of the demands ever of the user and the possibilities offered by the premises.
In case of modular cabinets, users can assert their claims regarding the length and height of the cabinet, the size and design, loading capacity and fittings of the base shelf and the middle shelves, which can be assembled, upon demand, either as one-sided or as symmetrical, twin frames, as is most expedient for displaying of the goods to be stored on them. The module system and the uniform size dimensions allow the various manufacturers to offer their cabinet systems with different options and hence an extensive array of accessories and complementary elements. It is a highly important and advantageous property of the said cabinets that they can be disassembled and transformed. Their assembly requires no special expertise or skills, and they are transported to the target location in detached form, in pieces. It is a further advantage that they cannot only be built up in a straight line but, thanks to the existing accessories, in an angle, usually of 45° or 90°, also, and hence along diverse cabinets matching the layout of the sales premises ever, to ensure optimum space utilization, making it quite easy to install cabinets around pillars in the outlet, too. Such non-refrigerated cabinets as outlined above are manufactured and distributed by the German Tegometall Ladenbau GmbH (see the product catalogue of the company for 2002, Postfach 1273, D-72502, Krauchenwies).
Refrigerating cabinets are pieces of ready-built furniture manufactured according to the demand ever, transported to the place of use—where only their caloric heat exchanger and electronic units are to be connected to supply sources installed beforehand—in assembled form, ready for operation. Refrigerating wall cabinets, used mainly for the purpose of storing milk and dairy goods, meat and deep-frozen food goods, are typically of a robust design and include an insulated refrigerating furniture body set in a rigid steel frame. The insulation is usually a two-component, high-density polyurethane foam introduced between two steel plates, which forms a sandwich-type panel element of some sort with the latter after solidification. This is the insulated frame of the refrigerating cabinet, and the electrical units and caloric heat exchanger parts are built into this furniture body. The cabinet system used for storing goods is also incorporated into this ready-built frame structure. Systems similar to the refrigerating cabinet outlined above are manufactured and distributed as “RP Standard refrigerated wall cabinets” by the Austrian Hauser Kühlanlagen GmbH (A-4040 Linz, Am Hartmayrgut 4-6). A piece of ready-built refrigerating cabinet is a massive unit that cannot be disassembled into its units after manufacture. Of course, it is possible to manufacture this, too, in non-standard sizes, to design elements broken in some angle or corner elements, but the relevant manufacturing costs often exceed the production cost of refrigerating furniture pieces manufactured in standard sizes.
In summary of the above, it is easy to understand that there exists a significant demand for such cabinets suitable for storing goods requiring refrigeration as can be constructed, similarly to the current non-refrigerating cabinets, in a modular way, and modified or disassembled if necessary and, moreover, that offer good portability and on-the-spot assembly features adjusted or adjustable to the specific circumstances of utilization, without the usual disadvantage of refrigerated cabinets, viz. fixed size, as ordered, impossible to alter later on, often making it necessary to replace the entire furniture set in case of a change in size or location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOur solution of the target objective relies on a cabinet for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration having a modular assembled frame structure, space-delimiting elements and shelves supporting the goods. According to the present invention, said cabinet is equipped it with a caloric heat exchanger means generating an air flow of a temperature selected to suit the goods, and an air channel system communicating with it.
According to a preferred embodiment of the proposed cabinet, the caloric heat exchanger means' includes an air inlet, an evaporator, a fan and an air outlet.
According to another preferred embodiment of the proposed cabinet, the walls of the air channel system consist in part of the frame structure and space-delimiting elements of the said cabinet.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the proposed cabinet, the walls of the air channel system are at least partly heat-insulated. In this case, the implementation whereas the entire air channel system is made of heat-insulating plates shall also be regarded as advantageous.
It is preferred furthermore, that the heat exchanger means and air channel system of the cabinet be designed as a single unit attachable to the assembled cabinet.
According to another preferred embodiment of the proposed cabinet, the caloric heat exchanger means generating the air stream is arranged under the lowest shelf of the cabinet, and the air channel system communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the caloric heat exchanger means generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet, and the air channel system communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the caloric heat exchanger means of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit requiring power supply only, that is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention is described more detailed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
In order to transform the traditional non-refrigerated cabinet shown in
Caloric heat exchanger means 8 can be placed as shown in the cross-section on
The air flows into caloric heat exchanger means 8 through air inlet 10, to go through the lamellar heat exchanger 13 and be cooled subsequently, and to leave the heat exchanger means 8 through air outlet 16, driven by fan 15, and to enter into a preferably insulated air channel system 17 to be presented below.
In the case of housing 9 shown in
Air channel system 17 is built in between column elements 1 from the rear, and it is fixed in a way allowing to take it out and away at any time without destruction if it is no longer necessary to operate the cabinet as refrigerated cabinet. Similarly, housing 9 of caloric heat exchanger means 8 is also installed detachably, and it can be disconnected easily from the caloric and electric supply sources of heat exchanger 13 and fan 15, respectively.
From the point of view of air circulation, it is irrelevant if, instead of being placed under base shelf 5, caloric heat exchanger means 8 is located roof-like in the upper part of the cabinet. In this case, heat exchanger means 8 will suck the air through the air channel system 17 from the lower part of the cabinet, and cool it in its upper part with the help of the heat exchanger 13, and create an air curtain by letting it flow out through air outlet 16 formed at the upper external edge of the cabinet, that will separate the inner space of the cabinet from the outer space and cool goods stored on shelves 6 and base shelf 5. This solution allows, similarly to the traditional refrigerating serve over counters, the refrigeration of goods placed on a platform. In this case, foot elements 2 and the cabinet shall be covered skirt-like at the bottom, so that air channel system 17 should circulate the air inside the cabinet.
So far an almost optimum case has been presented, with caloric heat exchanger means 8 and air channel system 17 either fitted to each other or designed as a single, integrated unit conducting the air creating the air curtain in a heat-insulated way in all directions. In simpler cases, it is also feasible to use heat insulation, instead of the complete channel-like design, only on the back surface of the cabinet, or in case of a design corresponding to column element 1, including air sealing, for a cabinet placed against the wall, air channel system 17 may also be constituted by back panels 4 of the cabinet, the wall of the room including the cabinet, and the column elements 1 as well. From the point of view of manufacture and assembly, heat exchanger means 8 and air channel system 17 realized as a single integrated structural module shall be treated as advantageous implementation, as shown in
Note among the main advantages of the proposed solution that it allows to create a refrigerated cabinet of a size and design chosen at will out of an existing cabinet or a mass-manufactured cabinet product range, so that the module structure of the non-refrigerated cabinet does not have to be altered, and hence the cabinet incorporates all the advantageous characteristics of the modular assembly option. The transformation implies no permanent change in structural design, in the basic parameters or external dimensions of the original cabinet, and hence it can be transformed into a non-refrigerated cabinet at any time at discretion by the replacement of certain elements and the installation and fitting of further units.
It offers the end-user a wider choice of selection and variation options thanks to its simple and serviceable implementation. The cabinet can be adjusted at any time to the needs of the user or the transformation of the premises, and if two of the presented cabinets are placed back to back, it is possible to form a twin refrigerated cabinet as shown in
If necessary, the proposed cabinet can also be used with an in-built condensing unit. As can be seen in
The description does not cover optional accessories (e.g., lighting, night shutters) and their arrangement, as these will change according to the design and module system of the chosen non-refrigerated cabinet range.
Claims
1. A cabinet for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration, consisting of a modular frame structure, space-delimiting elements and shelves (6) bearing the goods, characterized in that said cabinet is equipped with a caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating an air flow of a temperature selected to suit the goods, and an air channel system (17) communicating with it.
2. A cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) includes an air inlet (10), a heat exchanger (13), a fan (15) and an air outlet (16).
3. A cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that the walls of the air channel system (17) consist in part of the frame structure and space-delimiting elements of said cabinet.
4. A cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the air channel system (17) are at least partly heat-insulated.
5. A cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that the entire air channel system (17) is made of heat-insulating material.
6. A cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger means (8) and air channel system (17) of the cabinet are designed as a single unit attachable to a pre-assembled cabinet.
7. A cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is arranged under the lowest base shelf (5) of the cabinet, and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
8. A cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
9. A cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit (19) requiring power supply only, which is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means (8).
10. A cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
11. A cabinet according to claim 3, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
12. A cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
13. A cabinet according to claim 5, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
14. A cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) generating the air stream is built into the upper space-delimiting element of the cabinet and the air channel system (17) communicating with it is located deep-set behind the frame structure of the cabinet.
15. A cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit (19) requiring power supply only, which is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means (8).
16. A cabinet according to claim 3, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit (19) requiring power supply only, which is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means (8).
17. A cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit (19) requiring power supply only, which is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means (8).
18. A cabinet according to claim 5, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit (19) requiring power supply only, which is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means (8).
19. A cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that the caloric heat exchanger means (8) of the cabinet is associated with a condensing unit (19) requiring power supply only, which is arranged on the cabinet, thermally insulated from the caloric heat exchanger means (8).
20. A cabinet according to claim 3, characterized in that the walls of the air channel system (17) are at least partly heat-insulated.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2002
Publication Date: May 25, 2006
Inventor: Vilmos Fockter (Budakeszi)
Application Number: 10/522,304
International Classification: A47F 3/04 (20060101); F25D 19/00 (20060101);