Bottom Cooling Means, E.g., Cooled Floor Patents (Class 62/257)
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Patent number: 10709266Abstract: This disclosure provides a refrigerated display case for maintaining food freshness and improving food safety while reducing the possibility of spoilage and reducing the labor otherwise required for cleaning a standard case where contaminates commonly accumulate. This structure improves humidity levels by avoiding condensation on lower coils while reducing the complexity of adequately cleaning the case and maintaining food safety. Elimination of this hidden cavity reduces cleaning time. The disclosure employs a removable floor assembly or chilled floor component which may be employed in gravity cases or forced air cases. The removable assembly comprises encased cooling coils which may be foamed in or otherwise secured therein. The floor assembly is removable, making the floor and cooling system an integrated and replaceable component. The novel case further incorporates accessible expansion valves which may be adjusted without removing the food product from the case.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Inventor: Margaret Platt Borgen
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Patent number: 8739855Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an inlet header configured to receive a cooling fluid and an outlet header configured to discharge the cooling fluid. A plurality of microchannel tubes are in fluid communication with and extend between the inlet header and the outlet header. The microchannel tubes define a first heat exchanger region and a second heat exchanger region between the inlet header and the outlet header. The first heat exchanger region has a plurality of fins defining a first fin density that is greater than a second fin density of the second heat exchanger region.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Hussmann CorporationInventors: Steve L. Fritz, Matthew J. DeKam
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Patent number: 8056359Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes an insulated cabinet forming an interior cavity and a refrigeration system for cooling the interior cavity. A thermally conductive shelf forms a support surface within the interior cavity, and a thermal sink is operatively coupled to the conductive shelf. The thermal sink is adapted to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy from the thermally conductive shelf. In one example, the thermal sink includes a plurality of thermal sinks operatively coupled to the conductive shelf. In another example, the thermal sink is removable from the interior cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: John R. Smith, Joel Benjamin Kelso, Mary Catherine Stommes
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Publication number: 20110271701Abstract: A refrigerated case has an insulated support structure that serves as a display platform and provides contact cooling for preservation of fresh food products. The case includes a base and an insulated support structure coupled to the base. The insulated support structure includes a platform portion configured for placement of food products directly thereon, and a front wall portion and a rear wall portion. The front and rear wall portions support a canopy, so that the insulated support structure and the canopy substantially enclose and define a temperature controlled space. The insulated support structure includes a top surface facing the temperature controlled space, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface with an interior space defined between the top and bottom surfaces. A pattern of cooling passages are arranged within the interior space along an underside of the top surface at the platform portion to provide contact cooling to food products disposed on the platform portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Arnold M. Stephens, Jack A. Sjogren, Jamie A. Gerald
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Patent number: 7322204Abstract: A low temperature zone forming system by convection type thermal stratification in which the low temperature zone separated from polluted outside air is formed on a movable or fixed table for handling commodities such as marine products while maintaining freshness thereof during the period from carrying-in in the whole sale market, during selling by auction, until shipment of the commodities from the market, comprising an upward-open case body (30) mounted on a chassis (30a), a separate brine chilling unit (30b), and a brine piping (30c), the upward-open case body (30) further comprising a roller conveyer (35) installed in the center part of the floor of the case body (30), cooling flat plates each of which is installed adjacent to the roller conveyer (35), and cooling flat plates are installed on the inside faces of both laterally longitudinal side walls.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2003Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiro Hirao, Kazuo Hariu, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Kousaku Nishida
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Patent number: 7288745Abstract: A pan including a shelf dividing the interior thereof into a lower chilling element and an upper portion disposed in heat relationship with the lower portion and a lid for covering the top of the container and having a serving surface for display of food thereon.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Inventor: Frank Colonna
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Patent number: 7219508Abstract: An evaporator assembly for refrigerating a cold table comprises a housing, an evaporator coil, and at least one electric fan. The housing comprises a mounting portion that is configured and adapted to support the housing from a vertical wall of the cold table. The evaporator is inclined within the housing to reduce the occurrence of evaporator freeze-up. The evaporator assembly is configured to discharge air from the housing both upward and horizontally. Air is drawn into the housing from a space between the housing and the vertical wall of the cold table.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Inventor: Michael J. Durbin
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Patent number: 6883343Abstract: A temperature controlled service case for storage and display of chilled or frozen products, including at least one compartment for product storage, at least one access opening providing entrance to the compartment, at least one shelf within the compartment for holding product, and refrigeration operatively associated with the compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein. The refrigeration includes at least one cooling coil above the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and cooling within the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough. Coolant supply is also provided for supplying cooling medium to the cooling coil and shelf with separate coolant supply and discharge lines from the coolant supply to the cooling coil and shelf. In accordance with a further embodiment, the shelf is divided into separate sections. In accordance with a still further embodiment, means are provided to warm the coolant for at least one of said cooling coil and shelf.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: Mark Lane, Michael B. Davidson
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Patent number: 6539740Abstract: A food display cooler for display of packaged and non-packaged food products for self-service by customers. The cooler simultaneously provides a cooled frosted display platform and a blanket of cooled air above the display platform and over the food products. The display platform is pivotally mounted to a pan underlying the display platform. The display platform has a first cooling coil attached directly to the bottom surface of the display platform and a second cooling coil and a fan is connected to the display platform such that the cooling coil pivots with the display platform when it is pivoted to the open position. A refrigeration unit is connected in fluid flow communication with the cooling coil, and is connected to the exterior surface of the pan.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventor: Manuel Santana, Jr.
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Patent number: 6185951Abstract: Case includes at least one compartment for product storage, at least one access opening providing entrance to said compartment and at least one shelf within the compartment for holding product. Refrigeration is provided operatively associated with the compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein including at least one of (1) transparent cooling coils above the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and (2) cooling within the shelf with a cooling medium therein, whereby a cooled, temperature controlled environment is provided for the products.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: In-Store Products Ltd.Inventors: Mark Lane, Michael B. Davidson
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Patent number: 5347827Abstract: A modular refrigeration apparatus containing a cabinet with a front opening and divided into lower and upper portions, for separately receiving a plurality of removable modular units, said removable modular units including one of a selected plurality of interchangeable storage units and a universal refrigeration unit. A selected one of the plurality of interchangeable storage units is positioned within the upper portion of the cabinet for storing a plurality of containers. The refrigeration unit is positioned within the lower portion of the cabinet and in communication with the upper portion for cooling the entire interior of the cabinet. The cabinet is designed so that the interchangeable storage units and refrigeration unit can be respectfully removed or inserted from the cabinet without affecting the other units.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1992Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Arthur G. Rudick, Shaun B. Gatipon, Howard W. Wachenheim
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Patent number: 4884721Abstract: A holder (8) serves to store a device (1) for producing whipped cream in such a way that it is ready for use. The device (1) comprises a cylindrical housing (2) with an outlet nozzle (4) on one end thereof. In the housing, there is a supply space for cream (7) and also an operating mechanism for producing whipped cream. The holder (8) has a hollow space (9) constructed so as to correspond to the shape of the housing (2). Portions of the wall (12) of the hollow space (9) are formed from heat conducting material. A Peltier element (13) is connected to the wall by its cold side. The remaining portion of the wall (10) of the hollow space (9) is thermally insulated. The holder can be arranged on a support wall or can stand on a counter. The device is accordingly constantly handy and its contents are cooled.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1988Date of Patent: December 5, 1989Inventor: Manfred Kirchler
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Patent number: 4019339Abstract: A System and Cold Cabinet Server therefor to condition pre-packaged foods and to maintain them at serving temperature during storage and for customer access. A structural relationship of means is provided in cooperatively related bin type cabinets to combine the inherent principles of convection, absorption and recirculation to maximum advantage and to the end that heat induction from the surrounding atmosphere is minimized despite the completely open and accessible bin configuration. The Cold Cabinet is a self-sufficient entity provided with a replaceable refrigeration unit supplied with power such as an electrical plug-in, and is completely mobile; and adapted to be quickly assembled in service lines that are readily modified or broken down for storage.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1975Date of Patent: April 26, 1977Inventor: William G. Anderson