Patent Grant
8245769
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to transport aircraft galley systems, and more particularly relates to a refrigerator-oven combination for heating of food, and storage of food and beverages.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Aircraft galley systems for modern transport aircraft incorporate self-contained refrigeration units which are cooled to prevent spoilage of food prior to distribution to passengers, and to keep beverages at desired serving temperatures. These self-contained refrigeration units have in the past been interfaced with cold air supply systems in the galley designed to cool the interiors of the self-contained refrigeration units. Conventional galley refrigeration systems typically utilize self-contained air chillers which provide the cooled air directly to the food carts or refrigerated compartments. Such air chillers are typically installed above, below or otherwise within close proximity of the galley, and deliver cooled air via air ducts.
Such aircraft galley systems also commonly contain separate ovens for heating food in the preparation of hot meals to be served aboard aircraft. Currently space must be allocated for each of the heating and cooling devices separately, either in the same galley or in different galleys.
With the advent of long-range flights and larger passenger loads, the demand for more food and beverages on aircraft has dramatically increased. The need to provide multiple meals on very long flights has required extensive food chilling compartments. Also, because of the length of flights, more hot meals are being served, requiring more oven space.
It would be desirable to provide a system for heating of food and cooling of food and beverages for aircraft galley systems that overcomes the shortcomings of current systems requiring separation of refrigerated spaces from oven spaces in aircraft, and conserves space and weight in aircraft in providing for both hot and cold food and beverage service. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.
Briefly, and in general terms, the invention provides for a refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system, that allows for efficient hot and cold food and beverage service and the conservation of space and weight in aircraft.
The present invention accordingly provides for a refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system, the refrigerator-oven combination having a heating mode for heating food items, and a refrigerator mode for cooling food and beverage items. The refrigerator-oven combination includes a housing defining a thermally insulated compartment, a heating device disposed in the thermally insulated compartment for heating at least a portion of an interior of the compartment, and a refrigeration device disposed in the thermally insulated housing for cooling at least a portion of the interior of the compartment.
The heating device may employ any common heating techniques, such as steam heating, radiant heating, convection heating, or combinations thereof. In one presently preferred aspect, the heating device includes an electric heater, which can be energized to provide conventional convection heating, as well as a steam injection valve, which allows hot moisture to be injected into the interior of the food compartment, to provide for additional heat and moisture during the heating mode. One or more temperature sensors may also be disposed in the compartment for measuring temperature in the compartment during the heating mode, and a timer may also be provided for controlling heating and cooking of food in the compartment.
The refrigeration device can either actively or passively cool at least a portion of the interior of the compartment for cold storage of food or beverages. In one presently preferred embodiment, a chilled fluid is supplied from a remote source, and is piped into a heat exchanger mounted to the compartment. Alternatively, the chilled fluid supplied from a remote source is piped through tube assemblies mounted to an internal wall of the compartment. One or more temperature sensors may be located within the compartment, and a regulating valve controls the temperature of the compartment by metering the flow of the chilled fluid through the heat exchanger or tube assemblies as a function of temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors.
In another presently preferred embodiment, a separate refrigeration unit is mounted to the back of the compartment and is used to directly provide chilled air during the food or beverage cold storage mode. In one presently preferred aspect, the separate refrigeration unit may be a thermoelectric cooling device attached to the compartment in order to provide cooling during the refrigeration mode. The refrigeration device typically would also include a system for automated defrosting of the interior of the compartment during the refrigeration mode, and a temperature control system receiving input from the one or more temperature sensors for controlling cooling temperatures to prevent freezing of the food. A motorized fan may also be provided in the compartment for circulating air within the compartment, to allow for rapid cooling of the contents of the refrigerator-oven combination, and the fan can be shut off when a desired chilled temperature is reached.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the operation of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, which are provided for purposes of illustration and by way of example, the present invention provides for a refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system. The refrigerator-oven combination advantageously has a heating mode for heating food items, and a refrigerator mode for cooling food and beverage items, to permit for conservation of space and weight in an aircraft, while allowing for full hot and cold food and beverage service.
As is illustrated in
The temperature in the compartment during the heating mode can be monitored and controlled by a closed loop control unit 25 and one or more temperature sensors 26 located in the compartment, and by a timer (not shown) for measuring heating time. A motorized fan 28 may also be provided in the compartment for circulating air within the compartment, which is useful for improving efficiency of either the heating mode or the refrigeration mode, as will be further explained below.
As is illustrated in
Referring to
As is illustrated in
Referring to
Any of the foregoing refrigeration devices preferably would typically also include a system for automated defrosting of the interior during the refrigeration mode, and a temperature control system receiving input from the one or more temperature sensors for controlling cooling temperatures to prevent freezing of the food. The motorized fan may also be used in the compartment for circulating air within the compartment during the refrigeration mode, to allow for rapid cooling of the contents of the refrigerator-oven combination, and the fan can be shut off when a desired chilled temperature is reached.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/114,902, filed Apr. 25, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,721,797, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2779171 | Lindenblad | Jan 1957 | A |
| 3216215 | Schuett | Nov 1965 | A |
| 3744474 | Shaw | Jul 1973 | A |
| 3818818 | Hice, Sr. | Jun 1974 | A |
| 3888303 | Skala | Jun 1975 | A |
| 3952794 | Spanoudis | Apr 1976 | A |
| 4156454 | Skala | May 1979 | A |
| 4180125 | Schulz et al. | Dec 1979 | A |
| 4187325 | Tyree, Jr. | Feb 1980 | A |
| 4346756 | Dodd et al. | Aug 1982 | A |
| 4426923 | Ohata | Jan 1984 | A |
| 4700685 | Miller | Oct 1987 | A |
| 4884626 | Filipowski | Dec 1989 | A |
| 4890463 | Cantoni | Jan 1990 | A |
| RE33510 | Williams | Jan 1991 | E |
| 5052472 | Takahashi et al. | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5069273 | O'Hearne | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5093556 | Oelfke | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5215000 | Desage et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5235903 | Tippmann | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5265437 | Saperstein et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
| 5369960 | Mueller et al. | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5477915 | Park | Dec 1995 | A |
| 5491979 | Kull et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
| 5496000 | Mueller | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5513500 | Fischer et al. | May 1996 | A |
| RE35259 | Williams | Jun 1996 | E |
| 6014866 | Durham | Jan 2000 | A |
| 6073547 | Westbrooks, Jr. et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6244165 | Trombley et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6619189 | Tippmann et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6880351 | Simadiris et al. | Apr 2005 | B2 |
| 6894252 | Paller et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
| 6996334 | Parsons et al. | Feb 2006 | B1 |
| 7024104 | Moore et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
| 7745763 | Fraccon et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7757601 | Lagares Corominas et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
| 7777158 | Saltenis et al. | Aug 2010 | B2 |
| 7820947 | Gaynor et al. | Oct 2010 | B2 |
| 7823626 | Mueller et al. | Nov 2010 | B2 |
| 7946220 | Ose et al. | May 2011 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 06129761 | May 1984 | JP |
| 01097177 | Jun 1989 | JP |
| 08173278 | Sep 1996 | JP |
| 2001299313 | Oct 2001 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100200555 A1 | Aug 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11114902 | Apr 2005 | US |
| Child | 12763960 | US |
