The present disclosure relates to refrigeration units and more particularly, relates to a modular refrigeration unit and methods of forming a main cabinet of the modular refrigeration unit.
Refrigerators are widely used around the world for preservation of commodities, for example, food items, medicines, and any other product that needs to be preserved in a cold environment. A refrigerator is usually made of a main cabinet for storing the commodities and a door generally hinged to the main cabinet providing access to the interiors of the refrigerator, for example, to the stored commodities.
Currently, the main cabinet of the refrigerators is formed as a single body component, for example, by joining sheet-metal. Once formed by the sheet-metal joining, the main cabinet may then be foamed for insulation. Thereafter, remaining components are assembled on the main cabinet to form the refrigerator, and the refrigerator is then dispatched to a customer. Generally, such refrigerators are of large dimensions and warrant immense care in handling in order to ensure a leakage-free structure. Accordingly, their handling within a manufacturing facility and their transportation from the manufacturing facility to a customer location are cumbersome tasks, which involve a significant expenditure as well.
Moreover, as is generally known, based on different desired storage capacities, refrigerators have to be manufactured with different dimensions for different applications. For example, dimensions of a refrigerator to be installed in a shop for storing beverages may be different than the dimensions of a refrigerator to be used in a large warehouse. Accordingly, main cabinets with different dimensions are to be manufactured to comply with the different demands of the consumers.
In order to accommodate the manufacturing of main cabinets with different dimensions, a number of moulds corresponding to each dimension are required, as each mould can only be used to form main cabinets of a predefined dimension. Considering the cost associated with such moulds, an overall cost of manufacturing of the refrigerators is consequently increased. Additionally, maintenance and storing of a large number of moulds pose cannot be neglected as well.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modular refrigeration unit is disclosed. The modular refrigeration unit includes a plurality of panels adapted to form a main cabinet of the modular refrigeration unit. Each of the plurality of panels is formed as a separate component. The modular refrigeration unit includes at least one camlock assembly adapted to couple the plurality of panels with each other to form the main cabinet. The at least one camlock assembly includes a first sub-assembly disposed on a first panel, from among the plurality of panels. The at least one camlock assembly includes a second sub-assembly disposed on a second panel, from among the plurality of panels, and adapted to be aligned with the first sub-assembly. The at least one camlock assembly further includes a hook disposed in one of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. The hook is adapted to rotate when the first sub-assembly is aligned with the second sub-assembly, to engage the first sub-assembly with the second sub-assembly, for coupling the first panel with the second panel.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a modular refrigeration unit is disclosed. The modular refrigeration unit includes a plurality of panels adapted to form a main cabinet of the modular refrigeration unit. Each of the plurality of panels is formed as a separate component. The modular refrigeration unit includes at least one guiding pin assembly disposed in parts on a first panel and a second panel, from among the plurality of panels, and adapted to align the first panel with the second panel for coupling. The modular refrigeration unit includes at least one camlock assembly disposed in parts on the first panel and the second panel, and adapted to couple the first panel with the second panel. The plurality of panels is coupled to each other to form the main cabinet. The modular refrigeration unit includes a cooling chamber adapted to be disposed at the bottom of the main cabinet, and a glass panel adapted to be coupled with the main cabinet such that the glass panel forms an entrance of the main cabinet.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of forming a main cabinet of a modular refrigeration unit is disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of panels as separate components, foaming each of the plurality of panels with Polyurethane Foam (PUF) insulation, and aligning the plurality of panels with each other for coupling. The plurality of panels is aligned with each other by at least one guiding pin assembly. The method further includes coupling the plurality of panels with each other to form the main cabinet. The plurality of panels is coupled with each other by at least one camlock assembly.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in
In an embodiment, the plurality of panels 104 is hereinafter interchangeably referred to as the panels 104, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The panels 104 may be adapted to be coupled to each other to form the main cabinet 102. In an embodiment, each of the panels 104 may be a Polyurethane Foam (PUF) insulated panel. For example, a foam thickness of about 50 mm may be used for insulating each panel 104. In an embodiment, thickness of each panel 104 may be different from thickness of other panels, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, a foam density of each panel 104 may be about 40 kg/m3.
Further, the cooling chamber 106 of the modular refrigeration unit 100 may be embodied as a cassette-type chamber adapted to be disposed within the main cabinet 102, for example, at the bottom. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the door 108 may be a glass panel adapted to be coupled with the main cabinet 102. In an embodiment, the glass panel may be hinged with the main cabinet 102 such that the glass panel forms an entrance of the main cabinet 102. In other embodiments, the door 108 may be coupled to the main cabinet 102 by using any other connecting mechanism, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the main cabinet 102 is formed by assembling five panels 104, namely, a first panel 104-1, a second panel 104-2, a third panel 104-3, a fourth panel 104-4, and a fifth panel 104-5. In an embodiment, the first panel 104-1, the second panel 104-2, the third panel 104-3, the fourth panel 104-4, and the fifth panel 104-5 may form a left side, a top side, a right side, a bottom side, and a back side of the main cabinet 102, respectively.
In the illustrated embodiment, for forming the main cabinet 102, the first panel 104-1 may be connected with the second panel 104-2, the fourth panel 104-4, and the fifth panel 104-5. Further, the second panel 104-2 may also be connected with the third panel 104-3 and the fifth panel 104-5. The third panel 104-3 may also be connected with the fourth panel 104-4 and the fifth panel 104-5. The fourth panel 104-4 may also be connected with the fifth panel 104-5. By the virtue of the abovementioned connections, the panels 104 may form the main cabinet 102.
The panels 104 may be connected to each other by the at least one guiding pin assembly and the at least one camlock assembly. In an embodiment, each pair of the panels 104 may first be aligned with each other by the at least one guiding pin assembly, which is disposed in parts on each panel 104. Once aligned, the panels 104 may then be coupled with each other by the at least one camlock assembly, which is also disposed in parts on each panel.
For the sake of clarity, constructional and operational features of the at least one guiding pin assembly 302 and the at least one camlock assembly 304 are explained with respect to the coupling of the first panel 104-1 and the second panel 104-2. As would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the same description is equally applicable to the coupling of any two panels 104 of the present disclosure to form the main cabinet 102, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
In an embodiment, the at least one guiding pin assembly 302 may be disposed in parts on the first panel 104-1 and the second panel 104-2. The at least one guiding pin assembly 302 may be adapted to align the first panel 104-1 with the second panel 104-2 for subsequent coupling by the at least one camlock assembly 304.
Once aligned, the first panel 104-1 and the second panel 104-2 may be coupled with each other by the at least one camlock assembly 304. The at least one camlock assembly 304 may be disposed in parts on the first panel 104-1 and the second panel 104-2.
In an embodiment, the first sub-assembly 502 may be disposed on the first panel 104-1. Further, the second sub-assembly 504 may be disposed on the second panel 104-2. The second sub-assembly 504 may be adapted to be aligned with the first sub-assembly 502, for example, when the at least one pin 402 engages with the at least one pin receiving component 404 of the at least one guiding pin assembly 302. Further, the hook 506 may be adapted to rotate when the first sub-assembly 502 is aligned with the second sub-assembly 504. The rotation of the hook 506 may engage the first sub-assembly 502 with the second sub-assembly 504, for coupling the first panel 104-1 with the second panel 104-2. In particular, owing to the rotation, the hook 506 may extend out of the second sub-assembly 504 and enter the first sub-assembly 502 to engage with a corresponding engaging slot therein.
Further, in particular, the first sub-assembly 502 and the second sub-assembly 504 may be disposed within the first panel 104-1 and the second panel 104-2, respectively. Therefore, the first sub-assembly 502 and the second sub-assembly 504 may not be visible from outside. Considering that the hook 506 is disposed within the second sub-assembly 504 in the present embodiment, the second sub-assembly 504 may include a tool insertion slot 508. In an embodiment where the hook 506 is disposed within the first sub-assembly 502, the first sub-assembly 502 may include the tool insertion slot 508, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
In an embodiment, the second panel 104-2 may include a hole on a surface facing the inside of the main cabinet 102. The hole may be formed such that the hole aligns with the tool insertion slot 508 of the second sub-assembly 504. Therefore, the tool insertion slot 508 may be accessed by a tool through the hole on the inside surface of the second panel 104-2. In an embodiment, the tool may access the tool insertion slot 508 for rotating the hook 506 to engage the first sub-assembly 502 with the second sub-assembly 504 and therefore, for coupling the first panel 104-1 with the second panel 104-2. In an embodiment, an Allen key may be used as the tool to rotate the hook 506.
In an embodiment, the modular refrigeration unit 100 may include a protection cap adapted to cover the hole on the inside surface of the second panel 104-2 of the main cabinet 102.
At a block 902, the method 900 includes forming the panels 104 as separate components. At a block 904, the method 900 includes foaming each of the panels 104 with PUF insulation. At a block 906, the method 900 includes aligning the panels 104 with each other for coupling. The panels 104 may be aligned with each other by the at least one guiding pin assembly 302. At a block 908, the method 900 includes coupling the panels 104 with each other to form the main cabinet 102. The panels 104 may be coupled with each other by the at least one camlock assembly 304.
In an embodiment, the method 900 may include rotating, by the tool, the hook 506 disposed in one of the first sub-assembly 502 and the second sub-assembly 504 of the at least one camlock assembly 304. The first sub-assembly 502 may be disposed on the first panel 104-1, and the second sub-assembly 504 may be disposed on the second panel 104-2. The hook 506 may be rotated when the first sub-assembly 502 may be aligned with the second sub-assembly 504, to engage the first sub-assembly 502 with the second sub-assembly 504 for coupling the first panel 104-1 with the second panel 104-2.
As would be gathered, the panels 104 may be adapted to be conveniently coupled with each other to form the main cabinet 102 of the modular refrigeration unit 100. Further, owing to the flexible modularity, the modular refrigeration unit 100 can be conveniently assembled at any location, for example, at a customer location or at a warehouse. Therefore, inconvenience and cost associated with handling and transportation of the refrigerators are significantly reduced. Moreover, each panel 104 is separately foamed and then coupled with other panels 104 by using the at least one guiding pin assembly 302 and the at least one camlock assembly 304. Such coupling ensures integrity to an overall structure of the modular refrigeration unit 100. Accordingly, the modular refrigeration unit 100 of the present disclosure doesn't have any sort of foam or air leakage.
With regard to ease of assembly, in an example, it would take about 20-30 minutes to assemble the modular refrigeration unit 100. Further, only one tool may be sufficient to assemble the modular refrigeration unit 100 or at least the main cabinet 102. Therefore, assembling the panels 104 to form the main cabinet 102 and consequently the modular refrigeration unit 100 is easier as well as faster as compared to the installation of the existing refrigerators. As a result, with minimum use of tools and workforce, the modular refrigeration unit 100 of the present disclosure can be assembled at any location. Also, in case of movement, the modular refrigeration unit 100 can easily be disassembled as well.
In addition, as far as the manufacturing of the panels 104 is concerned, a single mould can be used for manufacturing the panels 104 of different dimensions. Accordingly, cost associated with having multiple moulds for different dimensions as was the case in the existing techniques, is eliminated. Rather, in the present disclosure, just by using one mould, multiple panels 104 with different dimensions can be manufactured. Therefore, the modular refrigeration unit 100 of the present disclosure is easy to assemble, cost-effective, of high quality, flexible in implementation, convenient to handle, and leakage free.
While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201911032806 | Aug 2019 | IN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IN2020/050100 | 1/31/2020 | WO |