Patent Application
20120321490
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to refrigeration systems. More particularly, the invention relates to means and methods of producing a compact and convertible refrigeration unit, easily adapted to direct cooled air in two or more directions.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Other refrigeration systems are known in the related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,005 by Haasis issued on Feb. 14, 2006, discloses a refrigeration system with a sliding sub-unit comprising a centrifugal fan, fan motor, additional fan for cooling the fan motor, a flange and track slider assembly and a collection of springy metal stripes used to secure the sub-unit into a housing unit. Unfortunately, the system disclosed by Haasis leads to added noise and motor vibration due to the use of springy metal strips to secure the sub-unit to the housing. In order to achieve a secure and vibration resistant fit of the sub-unit, silicone or other materials are commonly used within the flange and track slider assembly. When a fan motor needs replacement, the typical service technician will not have the necessary sealants, which results in a newly installed motor causing unacceptable noise and vibration.
Another shortfall in the Haasis system is the inefficiency of using one motor to turn a single traditional centrifugal fan. Moreover, the overall design of the Hassis system requires the use of a second motor cooling fan to cool the motor also turning the centrifugal fan. The added load to the motor from the second cooling fan often creates more heat than what is removed by the second fan. Furthermore, the coil configuration of the Haasis system fails to adapt to varying food storage containers or other applications with untraditional dimensions and access problems. Moreover, the overall configuration of the Haasis system leads to a heavy cooling system making installation difficult in overhead locations.
The present invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by presenting an unobvious and unique combination and configuration of coils, blowers, a blower motor and other components to provide a compact unit with means of easily redirecting cooled air flow to fit various applications.
One of the main advantages of this invention is the creation of a twin cross flow blower system comprising two air blower turbines placed on either side of a unique cross flow motor. The twin blower turbines are sometimes referred to herein as a “cross flow blower” and are sometimes named “cross flow blower 1” and cross flow blower 2. The placement of a cross flow motor between the two disclosed cross flow blowers has achieved unexpectedly favorable results in efficiently moving cooled air to a targeted area.
The cross flow blowers feature a new and efficient air blade configuration as well as a highly moveable air flow diverter. The moveable air flow diverter allows the disclosed cross flow system to be adapted to many configurations to fit most applications.
The disclosed configuration of a center cross flow motor flanked by two cross flow blowers placed over a compact coil system provides clear advantages over the related art in terms of weight and size.
The disclosed coil systems also provide unexpectedly favorable results as they have been configured to adapt to untraditional locations.
Another advantage of the disclosed embodiments, including a second embodiment is a new fan and motor unit used with a new motor housing, the new motor housing allowing the new fan and motor unit to be easily installed in either a top discharge or side discharge configuration. In the related art, separate units were constructed to accommodate either a top discharge or side discharge application. Workers in the field would need to bring the correct machine for a particular job, or carrier two machines. Thus, the present invention, including the second embodiment presents a significant departure from the prior art.
The second embodiment overcomes shortfalls in the art by presenting a new fan and motor unit having artful fastening clips allowing the fan and motor unit to efficiently attached either of two positions within in the motor housing. The motor housing includes a back plate, fastener voids, two sets of discharge vents and other features not found in the prior art.
These and other objects and advantages will be made apparent when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims and their equivalents. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.
Unless otherwise noted in this specification or in the claims, all of the terms used in the specification and the claims will have the meanings normally ascribed to these terms by workers in the art.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.
The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not only the systems described herein. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description.
Any and all the above references and U.S. patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various patents and applications described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. In general, the terms used in the following claims, should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses the disclosed embodiments and all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
Referring to
Typically cooling units are placed within the back section of a food storage container introduce evaporator coils carrying a coolant in expanding gas form. As gas expands, the gas cools and absorb heat from the coils, the coils in turn absorb heat from the surrounding air. After absorbing heat, the gas within the coils travels outside of the food storage container. In this outside area, a compressor and condenser transform the gas into liquid form. An outside fan may be used to blow ambient air over the outside coils. On the return route to the food storage container, the liquid within the coil system passes through an expansion value wherein the liquid expands to gas, travels within the food storage container, cools and then transfers heat to the outside of the food storage container.
Coils containing gas and found within the food storage container are sometimes called evaporation coils 48 and are shown in
A key advantage of the disclosed system is the efficient movement of air over the evaporation coils and into the food storage area. Found at the top of
The use of an extra fan to cool the motor as disclosed in the Haasis system is not needed in the system presented herein. Moreover, in order to achieve a compact size and sturdy construction, the disclosed system does not adopt the configuration of a sub-unit or the use of tracks to install components. Such a cumbersome system of attachment would detract from the compact and lightweight feature of the disclosed system.
Referring to
Referring to
When a fan and motor unit is secured to a back plate 570, the fans will force cooled air out of the top discharge vents. When a fan and motor unit is secured to top plate 550 of the motor housing, the fans will force cooled air out of the side discharge vents.
The configuration of the fan and motor unit 575 having a plurality of fastening clips 575 compatible with fastening voids upon both the back plate and the top plate of the motor housing, allow the second embodiment to be converted in the field for either top or side discharge. The back plate 570 may be secured in a perpendicular position from the top plate 550 of the motor housing.
Disclosed embodiments include the following items:
Item 1. A refrigeration system, convertible to top discharge or side discharge, the system comprising:
a) a fan and motor unit 575 comprising:
i. two or more cross-flow blower wheels 530 attached to a motor 515, the cross-flow blower wheels attached to either side of the motor;
ii. a fan cover 583 for each cross-flow blower wheel, the fan cover partially covering each cross-flow blower wheel;
iii. a plurality of fastening clips 580
iii. an air flow void 585 defined by edges of the fan cover;
b) a motor housing 551 comprising:
i. a top plate 550 comprising top discharge vents 555 and a plurality of fastener voids complementary to the plurality of fastening clips;
ii. a back plate 570 attached to the top plate 550 at an angle between 75 and 115 degrees, the back plate comprising a plurality of fastener voids 572 complementary to the plurality of fastening clips; and
c) a front discharge plate cover 545 attached to the top plate 550, the front discharge plate cover comprising a plurality of side discharge vents 546.
Item 2. The system of item 1 further comprising:
a) a lower housing 544 connected to the front discharge plate and the lower housing comprising a condensation pan 500, a liquid line u bend 520, a TXV valve 525, a coated evaporation coil, a sensing bulb 540, a digital control stat 560, and a power head 565.
Item 3. The system of item 1 wherein the plurality of fastening clips 580 of the fan and motor unit are attached to the fastener voids 552 within the top plate 550 of the motor housing 551.
Item 4. The system of item 1 wherein the plurality of fastening clips 580 of the fan and motor unit are attached to the fastener voids 572 of the back plate 570.
Item 5. The system of item 1 wherein the plurality of fastening clips 580 surround each cross-flow blower wheel.
Item 6. The system of item 1 wherein the digital control stat is attached to the front discharge plate cover.
Item 7. A rotational plate attached to the motor, the rotational plate having one or more air channels.
This is a Continuation in Part utility application based upon U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/284,862 filed on Oct. 28, 2011 which is a non-provisional application based upon provisional application 61/407,572,512 filed on Oct. 28, 2010. These two related applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this utility application and that in the related applications, the disclosure in this utility application shall govern. Moreover, the inventor(s) incorporate herein by reference any and all patents, patent applications, and other documents hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application or the two related applications.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61407572 | Oct 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13284862 | Oct 2011 | US |
| Child | 13541665 | US |
