SUPERMARKET REFRIGERATOR
The invention concerns a refrigerator (10) which is suitable for supermarket use. The refrigerator has a refrigeration space (12) for accommodating and displaying food items and there is a thermally insulated bottom panel (16) beneath the refrigeration space. This panel has a relatively high, laterally extending front portion (16.1), a relatively low, laterally extending rear portion (16.3) and an intermediate, upstanding wall portion (16.2) joining the front and rear portions. The intermediate wall portion separates a front compartment (22) located forwardly of the intermediate wall portion beneath the front portion from a rear compartment (36) located rearwardly of the intermediate wall portion above the rear portion. A compact arrangement is achieved by locating a compressor (42) and associated components (44, 46, 63) of the refrigeration circuit in the front compartment and by locating an evaporator unit (30) to the rear of the rear compartment to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit components in the front compartment. Air distribution fans (38) are arranged to direct air along an air flow path from the refrigeration space, through the rear compartment, through the evaporator unit and back into the refrigeration space.
THIS invention relates to a supermarket refrigerator, i.e. a refrigerator suitable for use in a supermarket to keep food items cold and display those items for sale.
In conventional supermarket refrigeration systems, the refrigeration space or display cabinet in which food items are displayed for sale, and from which such items can be accessed by shoppers, is situated at the appropriate position on the sales floor while the operative components of the refrigeration circuit, including compressors, heat exchangers and the like, are situated at a remote position. This is typically in a separate refrigeration room away from the sales floor.
Such arrangements require substantial lengths of piping to be laid, properly levelled, insulated and embedded in the floor slab of the supermarket to extend from the refrigeration space/display cabinet to the remote circuit components. This can contribute considerably to the overall cost, complexity and efficiency of the system.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a substantially more compact supermarket-type refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention there is provided a refrigerator suitable for supermarket use, the refrigerator comprising:
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- a refrigeration space for accommodating refrigerated food items;
- a thermally insulated bottom panel beneath the refrigeration space, such panel having a relatively high, laterally extending front portion, a relatively low, laterally extending rear portion and an intermediate, upstanding wall portion joining the front and rear portions, the intermediate wall portion separating a front compartment located forwardly of the intermediate wall portion beneath the front portion from a rear compartment located rearwardly of the intermediate wall portion above the rear portion,
- a compressor and associated components of a refrigeration circuit in the front compartment;
- an evaporator unit located to the rear of the rear compartment to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit components in the front compartment; and
- at least one air distribution fan arranged to direct air along an air flow path from the refrigeration space, through the rear compartment, through the evaporator unit and back into the refrigeration space.
The refrigeration apparatus is accordingly a self-contained unit in which the components of the refrigeration circuit are located compactly beneath and behind the refrigeration space, thereby obviating the need for remote siting of such components.
In the preferred embodiments, the bottom panel is made in one piece and comprises a thermally insulating core in a moulded skin of plastics material. The intermediate wall portion of the bottom panel is preferably inclined, at an acute angle, typically 45°, to the horizontal while the front and rear portions of the bottom panel are generally horizontal.
The front compartment typically accommodates a compressor, a heat exchanger and a receiver in side by side relationship. The heat exchanger is preferably arranged to operate in counter-flow mode to provide a compact construction. In practice, the heat exchanger may comprise a relatively small diameter inner pipe for conveying refrigerant in counter flow to cooling water conveyed in a water jacket between the inner pipe and a relatively large diameter outer pipe within which the inner pipe is located.
The air distribution fan(s) may be mounted in a fan support panel between the intermediate wall portion and the evaporator unit.
The preferred refrigerator includes an upstanding back panel at the back of the refrigeration space and an upstanding rear panel situated at the rear of the refrigeration space and spaced forwardly of the back panel, the space between the rear and back panels forming part of the air flow path and the rear panel having openings therein for directing cooled air forwardly through the panel from the air flow path into the refrigeration space.
The air flow path conveniently includes a diffuser, located above the refrigeration space and communicating with the space between the rear and back panels for directing air downwardly at the front of the refrigeration space.
The upper surface of the rear portion of the bottom panel may have front and rear sections sloping downwardly to a central drainage channel.
In another version of the invention the refrigerator may include a glass door for closing the front of the refrigeration space.
In yet another version of the invention, the refrigerator comprises a pair of back to back refrigeration spaces, typically with open tops and with an upstanding wall between them, a thermally insulated bottom panel beneath each refrigeration space, each bottom panel defining a front compartment, a compressor and associated components of a refrigeration circuit in at least one of the front compartments, an evaporator unit within the upstanding wall between the refrigeration spaces, and air distribution fans for each refrigeration space.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The term “food item” as used in this specification includes all manner of comestible products, including solid items such as butter, fruit and so on as well as liquid products such as milk, yoghurt and so on.
The refrigeration space 12 has a removable, lower shelf 14.1 located over a bottom panel 16. The lower shelf 14.1 is omitted from
The bottom panel 16 has a relatively high, horizontal front portion 16.1, a relatively low, horizontal rear portion 16.3, an intermediate, upstanding wall portion 16.2 joining the rear edge of the front portion to the front edge of the rear portion and a vertical rear portion 16.4. The wall portion 16.2 is arranged at an acute inclination, in this case about 45°, to the horizontal.
There is a horizontal base structure 18, which rests on the floor, beneath the bottom panel 16. The rear portion 16.3 of the bottom panel is mounted on the base as illustrated. The front edge of the front portion 16.1 is mounted over a front panel 20.
The base 18, front panel 20, front portion 16.1 and wall portion 16.2 define a front compartment 22.
The shelves 14 extend forwardly from an insulated, inclined rear panel 24 mounted forwardly of the vertical back panel 26 of the refrigerator. This back panel is partially provided by the rear portion 16.4 of the bottom panel 16. A fan support panel 32 extends between the wall portion 16.2 and a supporting bracket 34. The evaporator unit of the refrigeration circuit, designated 30, is situated against the vertical rear portion 16.4 of the bottom panel 16.
The rear portion 16.3 of the bottom panel 16, the wall portion 16.2, the fan support panel 32 and the evaporator unit 30 define between them a rear compartment 36. Air distribution fans 38 are mounted in ducts 40 spaced apart in the fan support panel 32 which is situated beneath the shelf 14.1.
The front compartment 22 accommodates mechanical components of the refrigeration circuit, generally designated 41. The components include a compressor 42, counter-flow heat exchanger 44 and receiver or accumulator 46. As shown in
In use, the fans 38 cause air to flow along the path indicated by the numerals 49. As illustrated, the air is initially directed downwardly in the compartment 36, then flows upwardly through the evaporator unit 30 which cools it, and into the space 28 between the panels 24 and 26. Some air flows forwardly between the shelves 14 through openings in the panel 24, thereby cooling food products on the shelves. Remaining air which reaches the top of the space 28 is directed downwardly, in the form of an air screen 49.1, by a diffuser 47.
The diffuser may have a honeycomb structure and consist of a great number of slender, tubular members arranged in a nested configuration.
At the bottom of the refrigeration space 12, the air is taken into a space beneath the shelf 14.1 and from there is again directed downwardly into the compartment 36, whereafter the cycle repeats itself.
As indicated above, the heat exchanger 44 is of counter-flow design. As shown also in
An important advantage of the illustrated embodiment is the fact that the relevant components of the refrigeration circuit are located side by side in the front compartment 22, beneath the refrigeration space. The compact arrangement of these components, and the ability to accommodate them in the front compartment 22 is to some extent made possible by the fact that the circuit makes use of an efficient counterflow heat exchanger which occupies little space in a vertical sense.
Another advantage of the illustrated embodiment arises from the fact that the fan 38 is mounted at a relatively low level and is arranged to direct at least some of the air flow downwardly onto the inclined wall portion 16.3 of the bottom panel. The inclination of the wall portion 16.3 assists in generating a smooth and efficient air flow distribution pattern in the refrigerator.
The location of the refrigeration circuit components in the front compartment obviates the need for remote location of such components as in conventional supermarket refrigeration installations. As a result there is no need for refrigerant piping to be laid and embedded in the floor slab of the supermarket, and it is anticipated that this will considerably reduce the overall complexity and cost of the refrigeration installation.
The compressor 42 is mounted on a sliding tray 65 by means of which it can be pulled forwardly, out of the compartment 22, for maintenance purposes.
In this embodiment of the invention, the evaporator unit 30 is of two stage design. It is described in more detail in a copending patent application filed simultaneously with the present application by the same applicant.
The rear portion 16.3 of the bottom panel 16 has an upper surface with counter-sloping front and rear sections 70.1 and 70.2 leading to a central channel 70.3. This feature is provided to facilitate drainage of liquids from the refrigeration space 12. The drainage feature is described in more detail in another copending patent application filed simultaneously with the present application by the same applicant.
The refrigerator 72 seen in
The refrigerator 76 seen in
Whereas the refrigerators seen in
The roof 90 of the refrigerator 10 has an extension 92 in which several fluorescent tubes 94 are mounted to direct light downwardly onto the shelves. In this case the light is prevented from shining directly into the eyes of customers by a front cowling or hood 96 mounted on the extension 92. As illustrated lenses 98 (only one shown), similar to the lens 86, can also be provided to control the light distribution pattern provided by the tubes 94.
Referring in particular to
Claims
1. A refrigerator suitable for supermarket use, the refrigerator comprising:
- a refrigeration space for accommodating refrigerated food items;
- a thermally insulated bottom panel beneath the refrigeration space, such panel having a relatively high, laterally extending front portion, a relatively low, laterally extending rear portion and an intermediate, upstanding wall portion joining the front and rear portions, the intermediate wall portion separating a front compartment located forwardly of the intermediate wall portion beneath the front portion from a rear compartment located rearwardly of the intermediate wall portion above the rear portion,
- a compressor and associated components of a refrigeration circuit in the front compartment;
- an evaporator unit located to the rear of the rear compartment to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit components in the front compartment; and
- at least one air distribution fan arranged to direct air along an air flow path from the refrigeration space, through the rear compartment, through the evaporator unit and back into the refrigeration space.
2. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom panel is made in one piece and comprises a thermally insulating core in a moulded skin of plastics material.
3. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate wall portion of the bottom panel is inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal.
4. A refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate wall portion is inclined at an angle of 45° to the horizontal.
5. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear portions of the bottom panel are generally horizontal.
6. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the front compartment accommodates a compressor, a heat exchanger and a receiver in side by side relationship.
7. A refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the heat exchanger is arranged to operate in counter-flow mode.
8. A refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a relatively small diameter inner pipe for conveying refrigerant in counter flow to cooling water conveyed in a water jacket between the inner pipe and a relatively large diameter outer pipe within which the inner pipe is located.
9. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each air distribution fan is mounted in a fan support panel between the intermediate wall portion and the evaporator unit.
10. A refrigerator according to claim 1, including an upstanding back panel at the back of the refrigeration space and an upstanding rear panel situated at the rear of the refrigeration space and spaced forwardly of the back panel, the space between the rear and back panels forming part of the air flow path and the rear panel having openings therein for directing cooled air forwardly through the panel from the air flow path into the refrigeration space.
11. A refrigerator according to claim 10 wherein the air flow path includes a diffuser, located above the refrigeration space and communicating with the space between the rear and back panels for directing air downwardly at the front of the refrigeration space.
12. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rear portion of the bottom panel has an upper surface with front and rear sections sloping downwardly to a central drainage channel.
13. A refrigerator according to claim 1, including a glass door for closing the front of the refrigeration space.
14. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom panel also includes an upstanding back wall portion extending upwardly from the rear portion behind the evaporator unit.
15. A refrigerator according to claim 1, comprising a pair of back to back refrigeration spaces with an upstanding wall between them, a thermally insulated bottom panel beneath each refrigeration space, each bottom panel defining a front compartment, a compressor and associated components of a refrigeration circuit in at least one of the front compartments, an evaporator unit within the upstanding wall between the refrigeration spaces, and air distribution fans for each refrigeration space.
16. A refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the refrigeration spaces have open tops.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 5, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2009
Applicant: OMEGA REFRIGERATION (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED (Glenvista, Johannesburg)
Inventor: Derek William Higgs (Johannesburg)
Application Number: 12/307,496
International Classification: A47F 3/04 (20060101); F25B 1/00 (20060101);