Bottom Cooling Means, E.g., Cooled Floor Patents (Class 62/257)
  • Patent number: 10709266
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Margaret Platt Borgen
  • Patent number: 8739855
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Steve L. Fritz, Matthew J. DeKam
  • Patent number: 8056359
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Smith, Joel Benjamin Kelso, Mary Catherine Stommes
  • Publication number: 20110271701
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Arnold M. Stephens, Jack A. Sjogren, Jamie A. Gerald
  • Patent number: 7322204
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hirao, Kazuo Hariu, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Kousaku Nishida
  • Patent number: 7288745
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventor: Frank Colonna
  • Patent number: 7219508
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Michael J. Durbin
  • Patent number: 6883343
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lane, Michael B. Davidson
  • Patent number: 6539740
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Manuel Santana, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6185951
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: In-Store Products Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Lane, Michael B. Davidson
  • Patent number: 5347827
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Arthur G. Rudick, Shaun B. Gatipon, Howard W. Wachenheim
  • Patent number: 4884721
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Inventor: Manfred Kirchler
  • Patent number: 4019339
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Inventor: William G. Anderson