The present disclosure generally relates to a refrigeration unit and, more specifically, to a fan grille for a refrigeration unit.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration unit includes a storage compartment, an evaporator compartment, an evaporator disposed within the evaporator compartment, a drain pan beneath the evaporator and having first and second sloped surfaces, and a panel between the storage and evaporator compartments that defines an opening. The storage compartment is in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment via the opening. The refrigeration unit also includes an evaporator fan that delivers air from the evaporator compartment to the storage compartment via the opening, and an evaporator fan grille coupled to the panel and extending outward therefrom into the storage compartment. The evaporator fan grille includes a body that extends over the opening and that is in a spaced-relationship with the panel, and at least one spacer feature extending from the panel to the body.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a fan grille for a refrigeration unit includes a body that includes a grille panel that defines a grille aperture and a saucer coupled to the grille panel by at least one connecting feature, and at least one spacer feature that extends outward from the body.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration unit includes a storage compartment, an evaporator compartment, an evaporator disposed within the evaporator compartment, and a drain pan beneath the evaporator. The drain pan includes a first sloped surface that slopes downward generally toward a drain hole of the drain pan and a second sloped surface that slopes generally downward toward the drain pan. The angle between the first and second sloped surfaces is greater than 45 degrees.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components related to a refrigeration unit. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
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The refrigeration unit 10 includes at least one storage compartment 12 in which items are configured to be stored in a temperature-controlled environment. In the embodiment illustrated in
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The evaporator fan grille 30 further includes the at least one spacer feature 34. In various embodiments, the at least one spacer feature 34 extends outward from the body 32 of the evaporator fan grille 30 and is coupled to the panel 24 of the refrigeration unit 10. As illustrated in
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The refrigeration unit 10 of the present disclosure may provide a variety of advantages. For example, the angle 90 of the first and second sloped surfaces 20, 22 of the drain pan 18, in combination with the body 32 of the evaporator fan grille 30 being spaced apart from the panel 24 that defines the opening 26, may prevent water condensate that falls from the evaporator 16 into the drain pan 18 from freezing and obstructing the drain hole 88. In particular, the angle 90 between the first and second sloped surfaces 20, 22 of the drain pan 18 being between 46° and 48°, and the body 32 being spaced apart from the opening 26, such that air blown by the evaporator fan 28 more easily exits into the storage compartment 12 via the spacer feature apertures 84, may significantly reduce the likelihood of water condensate freezing within the drain pan 18.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration unit includes a storage compartment, an evaporator compartment, an evaporator disposed within the evaporator compartment, a drain pan beneath the evaporator and having first and second sloped surfaces, and a panel between the storage and evaporator compartments that defines an opening. The storage compartment is in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment via the opening. The refrigeration unit also includes an evaporator fan that delivers air from the evaporator compartment to the storage compartment via the opening, and an evaporator fan grille coupled to the panel and extending outward therefrom into the storage compartment. The evaporator fan grille includes a body that extends over the opening and that is in a spaced-relationship with the panel, and at least one spacer feature extending from the panel to the body.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first sloped surface of the drain pan slopes downward generally toward a drain hole of the drain pan at an angle of about 31 degrees relative to a horizontal plane of the refrigeration unit.
According to another aspect, the second sloped surface of the drain pan slopes downward generally toward the drain hole at an angle of about 15 degrees relative to the horizontal plane of the refrigeration unit.
According to yet another aspect, the first and second sloped surfaces slope downward generally toward a drain hole of the drain pan. The angle between the first and second sloped surfaces is between about 46 degrees and about 48 degrees.
According to another aspect, the body of the evaporator fan grille includes a grille panel that defines a grille aperture and a saucer coupled to the grille panel by at least one connecting feature.
According to another aspect, the saucer is generally concentrically aligned with the grille aperture.
According to another aspect, the saucer includes a concave side that faces away from the evaporator fan.
According to yet another aspect, the at least one spacer feature includes a lip that extends along the panel and a plurality of pillars that extend between the lip and the grille panel, wherein a plurality of spacer feature apertures are at least partially defined by the lip and the plurality of pillars.
According to another aspect, the at least one spacer feature comprises a plurality of legs that extends between the panel and the grille panel.
According to another aspect, a fan grille for a refrigeration unit includes a body that includes a grille panel that defines a grille aperture and a saucer coupled to the grille panel by at least one connecting feature, and at least one spacer feature that extends outward from the body.
According to another aspect, the saucer includes a concave side that faces a direction that is opposite of the direction that the at least one spacer feature extends outward from the body.
According to another aspect, the saucer is concentrically aligned with the grille aperture defined by the grille panel.
According to another aspect, the at least one spacer feature includes a lip and a plurality of pillars that extend between the lip and the grille panel. A plurality of spacer feature apertures are at least partially defined by the lip and the plurality of pillars.
According to another aspect, the at least one spacer feature comprises a plurality of legs that extend away from the grille panel.
According to yet another aspect, a refrigeration unit includes a storage compartment, an evaporator compartment, an evaporator disposed within the evaporator compartment, and a drain pan beneath the evaporator. The drain pan includes a first sloped surface that slopes downward generally toward a drain hole of the drain pan and a second sloped surface that slopes generally downward toward the drain pan. The angle between the first and second sloped surfaces is greater than 45 degrees.
According to another aspect, the first sloped surface of the drain pan slopes downward generally toward the drain hole at an angle of about 31 degrees relative to a horizontal plane of the refrigeration unit.
According to another aspect, the second sloped surface of the drain pan slopes downward generally toward the drain hole at an angle of about 15 degrees relative to a horizontal plane of the refrigeration unit.
According to yet another aspect, the angle between the first and second sloped surfaces is between about 46 degrees and about 48 degrees.
According to yet another aspect, a panel is located between the storage and evaporator compartments that defines an opening. The storage compartment is in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment via the opening. An evaporator fan delivers air from the evaporator compartment to the storage compartment via the opening. Further, an evaporator fan grille is coupled to the panel and extends outward therefrom into the storage compartment. The evaporator fan grille includes a body that extends over the opening and that is in a spaced-relationship with the panel, and at least one spacer feature extending from the panel to the body.
According to another aspect, the at least one spacer feature includes a lip that extends along the panel and a plurality of pillars that extend between the lip and the body. A plurality of spacer feature apertures are at least partially defined by the lip and the plurality of pillars.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.