Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure relate to a vehicle-occupancy alert system. The system includes a controller circuit configured to receive occupant data from an occupancy-monitoring sensor configured to detect a presence of one or more objects inside a vehicle. The controller circuit is also configured to determine whether an operator of the vehicle has exited the vehicle based on the occupant data. The controller circuit is also configured to determine based on the occupant data that the one or more objects remain inside the vehicle for a time exceeding a first threshold after the operator has exited. The controller circuit is also configured to output an alert indicating the one or more objects remain inside the vehicle when the time exceeds the first threshold. The system can improve passenger safety by alerting the vehicle operator that a child remains in the vehicle unattended before the operator moves away from the vehicle.

Abstract: A cleaning system for an oven having shelves which provide for distributed jets of heated air, allows water accumulation within the shelves during cleaning by reducing airflow through the shelf, and then provides rapid expulsion of the water in cohesive streams after accumulation to provide high inertial cleaning.

Abstract: The disclosure can include systems, methods, and apparatus for providing associated functionality for a refrigeration unit. In one embodiment, a refrigeration unit can include some or all of the following associated functionality: a cooling table plenum, a cross-linking member, a cabinet trim and thermal breaker, a collapsible hood, an internal plenum, an internal bracket, an external rib, an evaporator shroud and condensate drain, and/or a cutting board support bracket.

Abstract: A method and system of providing a mist in a grocery display that injects biocidal solution into a misting line of water during a phase of the misting cycle.

Abstract: An island merchandiser including a first merchandiser module, a second merchandiser module, a third merchandiser module, and a fourth merchandiser module. The first merchandiser module includes a product display area maintained within a temperature range at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The second merchandiser module is positioned next and coupled to the first merchandiser module. The third merchandiser module is positioned next and coupled to the first merchandiser module and the second merchandiser module. The fourth merchandiser module is positioned next to the first merchandiser module and the second merchandiser module opposite the third merchandiser module. The island merchandiser also includes a first insulation panel positioned between the first and second merchandiser modules and the third merchandiser module, and a second insulation panel positioned between the first and second merchandiser modules and the fourth merchandiser module.

Abstract: A refrigerated case (20) has a body (22). The body has a refrigerated compartment (24) and an air flowpath (100). The body includes a lower wall (156) below the air flowpath. A drain pipe (150) protrudes from the lower wall and has a lower outlet (166). A refrigerant air heat exchanger (72) is along a refrigerant flowpath and within the air flowpath. The body further includes a water trap vessel (152) having an upper end (176) secured to the base, a lower portion (174) surrounding the drain outlet, at least one vessel outlet (170) above the drain outlet, and a segmented rim flange. The body includes a plurality of features (240) engaging an underside of the flange along respective segments to vertically and laterally retain the water trap vessel and permit removal of the vessel via a rotation of the vessel.

Abstract: A refrigerated device has an evaporative condensate dissipation system for disposing water from its cooling element during defrosting. Progressive stages operating at increasing temperatures provide a cascading evaporative dissipation. One pan receives water from the cooling coil and operates at ambient temperature for a first evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the pan flows through a first standpipe to a second stage. The second stage includes another pan that receives water from the first standpipe, and is heated by hot gas refrigerant for operation at a higher second temperature to provide a second evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the second pan is directed through a second standpipe to a third stage. The third stage includes a third pan that receives the water from the second pan via the second standpipe, and is heated by an electric heater for operation at a higher third temperature to provide a third evaporative dissipation.

Abstract: A showcase for storing and/or displaying objects which require a protective gas atmosphere, the base and the cover construction of the showcase more or less surrounding the showcase interior which is sealed in an airtight manner as far as possible relative to the exterior air, having a compressor (2) by which the air (1) present outwith the showcase interior (7) is suctioned in and compressed. Subsequently a protective gas is produced from the compressed air by a gas producer (3) and is supplied to the showcase interior (7), the gas producer (3) being able to be accommodated within or outwith the showcase. In this way, provision of a supply container for the protective gas is avoided.

Abstract: The technology described herein provides a portable electric cooler for meat storage, tenderizing, and aging in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. The portable electric cooler includes a first and second sets of low pressure coils coupled to a compressor and three-way solenoid valves in order to alternate in a timed pattern the refrigerant flow in order to allow one set of low pressure coils to defrost while the other set circulates the refrigerant. The cooler includes a temperature sensor. The cooler includes a humidity system having a sensor, a controller, a water reservoir, at least one air duct coupled to the water reservoir to channel humidified air drawn from the water reservoir through the refrigeration chamber, and a solenoid configured to direct the fresh outside air being pumped in, to only travel through a set of coils that currently is in the rest mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides low temperature zone forming equipment having a storage function capable of controlling temperature and humidity and a method and equipment for maintaining the quality of hauled fishes in an auction market of marine products such as fishes shellfishes, which constitute a low temperature distribution system closely linked with a purchase and sale system in consideration of the characteristics of the market.

Abstract: A refrigerator is described, specially for beverage bottles, in particular beer bottles, a humidity production system for a refrigerator and a method for generating a COVERING OF ICE CRYSTALS on the bottle. The objective of the invention is to provide an equipment for producing a COVERING OF ICE CRYSTALS on a beverage bottle, in particular beer bottles, which produces a covering of ice crystals regardless of the weather conditions of the place and without causing the freezing of the beverage. This objective is achieved with a refrigerator comprising a humidity production system (4) to produce humidity in the internal compartment (3), the humidity production system (4) having a water feed.

Abstract: A fogging vending machine is provided. A vending machine has a housing, and a fogging means provides a fog consisting of a mist of atomized coolant which is partially evaporated and entrained in an air flow. At least one conduit is provided which has an inlet coupled to the fogging means and an outlet coupled to the vending machine housing to direct the fog away from the housing.

Abstract: A humidified cigar showcase is provided having a closed cabinet defining an interior with a plurality of partitions such as shelves or drawers. Moist air is supplied to one side of the interior through a supply plenum and withdrawn from an opposite side through a return plenum, creating a horizontal humid airflow through channels defined between the partitions. The plenums are arranged in a rear wall of the showcase to have an inconspicuous profile and so that the showcase interior may be viewed through windowed side panels. The humidity is maintained with a humidistat which controls a fan. The fan drives the airflow, withdrawing moisture from a water reservoir and delivering the humid airflow through the plenums. Baffles may be provided in the plenums to vent airflow more uniformly along the plenums.

Abstract: A refrigerator counter includes a goods receiving chamber and a counter bed. Following cooling by a cooling source and following moistening by hot steam of an air moistening system, a circulating air current is conveyed through the goods receiving chamber and from it at least in part back to the cooling source and to a steam feed point. Following cooling, at least one portion of the resultant cold air is branched off from the circulating air current and is swirled in a mixed air chamber with hot steam guided into the mixed air chamber. Resulting moistened mixed air is conveyed by at least one steam outlet nozzle into the goods receiving chamber.

Abstract: A humidification system for humidifying a controlled space which, in its most preferred embodiment, includes a control device connected to a water source for supplying water at a constant pressure, a tubing network for transferring water from the control device, a mist nozzle located within the controlled space and connected to the tubing network to receive water transferred from the control device, and a droplet discrimination device positioned around the mist nozzle and located within the controlled space for removing and draining larger water droplets from the mist sprayed from the mist nozzle for releasing a very fine water mist into the controlled space outside the droplet discrimination device.

Abstract: Here is disclosed a humidifier in which a water reservoir is provided on a heat radiating side of an element having Peltier effect and said element is energized so that a quantity of water filling said reservoir is heat-evaporated by calorific power radiated from said element and water vapor thus obtained is used to protect foods, cake, dairy products etc. against drying. More preferably, a blowing fan is provided on the cooling side of the Peltier element and cooled air stream is exhausted together with the air stream containing heated stream through a common outlet. Said humidifier may be located on the outlet side of cooled air supplied form a cooling coil of a display case to avoid inconvenience that humidified air might be brought into direct contact with the cooling coil and condensated, with loss of humidified steam.

Abstract: The present invention represents an automatic produce hydration system of improved efficiency and design. The system is self-contained, and adaptable for use in both pre-existing and new produce display racks. The system first includes a filter unit designed to remove foreign particulate materials from incoming water. In fluid communication with the filter unit is an automatic filter cleaning system for ejecting collected foreign particulate materials from the system at selected time intervals. After filtration, the water is introduced into a pressurization system. Once the pressure has been increased, pressurized water is delivered through an external water delivery line having a plurality of spray heads associated therewith. The spray heads have restriction means therein to ensure that a fine mist-like spray is delivered to the produce materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a humidifier for a refrigeration showcase comprising a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators for atomizing water, ultrasonic oscillation circuits provided for the vibrators respectively in corresponding relation thereto,and control means for varying the oscillation output of the oscillation circuit corresponding to at least one of the vibrators to control the amount of atomized water to be produced.

Abstract: A refrigerated display cabinet includes an insulating cabinet body having an open lateral or upper side, a partition plate disposed in the cabinet body and defining therein a storage chamber and a cooled air passage having an outlet extending along one edge of the open side and an inlet extending along an opposite edge thereof, a refrigerating unit and an air blower disposed in the cooled air passage for forcibly circulating cooled air to form an air curtain across the open side and cool the storage chamber, a humidifier unit disposed in the body outside of the storage chamber for producing a mist, and outlet pipe means for delivering the mist produced by the humidifier unit for being mixed in the forcibly circulated cooled air, the outlet pipe means having an outlet port positioned in the storage chamber in the vicinity of the outlet of the cooled air passage.

Abstract: A humidifier unit for use with a refrigerated display cabinet having a cooled air passage includes a body adapted to be mounted on an upper surface of the refrigerated display cabinet, a horizontally elongate atomizing water tank disposed in one side of the body and having a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators mounted on a bottom thereof and arrayed in a longitudinal direction, an air blower disposed in an opposite side of the body for supplying air drawn from a suction port into the atomizing water tank, and pipes angularly movably mounted on the atomizing water tank in coaction with the ultrasonic vibrators, respectively, for transferring a mist generated by the ultrasonic vibrators in the atomizing water tank and air from the air blower into the cooled air passage of the refrigerated display cabinet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger which operates by blowing atomized or sprayed water against an evaporator pipe through which a refrigerant is circulating and by forcing air to circulate through the sprayed water, and to a refrigerating installation or a refrigerator in which the heat exchanger is used. This invention is useful for the refrigeration of cakes and perishable foods, for example, because a substance being refrigerated can be refrigerated while its moisture is prevented from evaporating, since the air cooled by the invention heat exchanger contains tiny water droplets and contacts the substance being refrigerated directly.

Abstract: A system of preserving fresh produce in a refrigerator displayed for observation and selection by the public, such as in a grocery store. Moisture is applied to the articles, in the form of an extremely fine mist, made up of particles in the range of about 75-150 micron diameter, suspended in air, and slowly falling. The moisture applied to the produce articles is only film-thick so as to minimize flow-off from the articles. Producing the mist includes selectively, hydraulic pressure means, or air pressure means. The mist is controlled by automatic on-off control means and is produced by misting nozzles centrally positioned above the shelf means for supporting various produce articles within the refrigerator display means.

Abstract: An in-store fixture for the displaying of bananas or the like in an atmosphere of controlled temperature and humidity has a plurality of support members that accommodate a number of banana hands in a substantially vertically oriented display. The support members are arranged to accommodate the banana hands in a substantially spaced, noncontacting relationship relative to one another such that a zone or curtain of circulating, temperature and humidity controlled air essentially surrounds each respective banana hand. Individual banana hands are held by respective hook elements depending from their associated support members to permit removal of any selected one banana hand without the need for handling adjacent hands, thereby significantly reducing wastage caused by excessive handling of the product and undesirable contact of the same with one another.

Abstract: A system of preserving fresh produce in a refrigerator displayed for observation and selection by the public, such as in a grocery store. Moisture is applied to the articles, in the form of an extremely fine mist, made up of particles in the range of about 75-150 micron diameter, suspended in air, and slowly falling. The moisture applied to the produce articles is only film-thick so as to minimize flow-off from the articles. Producing the mist includes selectively, hydraulic pressure means, or air pressure means. The mist is controlled by automatic on-off control means and is produced by misting nozzles centrally positioned above the shelf means for supporting various produce articles within the refrigerator display means.