Patent Application
20060207276
The present invention relates to refrigerated merchandisers in general and, more particularly, to a refrigerated merchandiser including a modular cassette refrigeration unit stowed in a compartment separate from and beneath a refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet.
Refrigerated merchandisers have a refrigeration system associated therewith for providing the cooled environment within a refrigerated interior product space defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigeration systems of such refrigerated merchandisers commonly employ a conventional refrigeration cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively associated with the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet, as well as a condenser, a condenser fan, and compressor. In stand alone cabinets, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in an equipment compartment separate from and insulated from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. A refrigerant is circulated by a compressor through refrigerant lines connecting the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. Air within the insulated refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet is circulated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant so as to cool the air. The evaporator and evaporator fan may be disposed within the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the upper region thereof.
However, it is well-known that the evaporator and evaporator fan may also be housed in the equipment compartment in a section of the equipment compartment insulated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated merchandisers of this type may be used as product display cabinets for refrigerated or frozen foods, as vending machines, and as cold beverage merchandisers in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail establishments. For example, cold beverages, such as soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, etc. are commonly in refrigerated merchandisers for self-service purchase by customers. Conventional beverage merchandisers of this type include an insulated cabinet defining a refrigerated interior product display space having one or more glass doors that provide access to that product display space. The beverage product, typically in cans or bottles, single or in packs, is stored on shelves within the refrigerated display zone of the cabinet. To purchase a beverage, the customer opens one of the doors and reaches into the refrigerated cabinet to retrieve the desired product from the shelf.
Refrigerated merchandisers equipped with modular refrigeration units disposed beneath the refrigerated cabinet are disclosed, for example, by Rudick et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,827; 5,402,654; 5,417,079; and 5,417,081. In these refrigerated merchandisers, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit flows up from the equipment compartment through a flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet, along the top wall of the cabinet toward the front of the cabinet and down the front of the cabinet to the floor, also referred to as the bottom deck, of the product display zone. Refrigerated air may also enter the product display zone from the rear flow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display zone. The refrigerated air from the product display zone returns to the equipment compartment, entering thereto upstream of the evaporator refrigeration unit through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor.
The refrigeration unit disclosed therein includes an evaporator, condenser and compressor collectively arranged on a base supported on a plurality of skids affixed to the bottom of the base. The compressor and condenser are positioned on the front portion of the base, and are separated from the evaporator by an insulated vertical partition disposed therebetween. The partition includes a compliant seal on the evaporator side of the partition that abuts the cabinet for sealing the evaporator side of the refrigerant unit in communication with the refrigerated space within the cabinet.
In refrigerated merchandisers having air inlets and outlets in the wall separating the refrigerated interior product space and the equipment compartment therebeneath, the refrigeration unit needs to be effectively sealed in relation to that separation wall to ensure efficient refrigeration operation. Without an effective seal, return air could leak from the inlet duct to the outlet duct, thus bypassing the evaporator and reducing the efficiency of the refrigeration operation. Additionally, air could leak into the return air duct from the ambient air stream passing into the condenser which would increase the workload on the evaporator.
It is an object of the invention to provide an effective seal established between a refrigeration unit cassette and a refrigerated interior product space of a refrigerated merchandiser.
It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a lifting apparatus for locking a refrigerated unit cassette in sealing relationship with a wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette.
It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a lifting mechanism for positioning a refrigerated unit cassette in a first position where the cassette is in sealing relationship with a wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette and in a second position where the cassette is released from that sealing relationship to facilitate removal from the equipment compartment.
A refrigerated merchandiser is provided having a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers. A refrigeration unit cassette is disposed in operative association with the interior space in an equipment compartment separated from the refrigerated interior space by a common wall. A first opening in the common wall provides an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the refrigerated interior space to an evaporator housed in the refrigeration unit cassette disposed in the equipment compartment beneath the lower wall. A second opening may be provided in the common wall to provide an inlet to an air supply duct for directing refrigerated air from the equipment compartment into the refrigerated interior space. A sealing system is provided having a sealing member positioned between the common wall and the refrigeration unit cassette, and a positioning apparatus for placing the refrigerated unit cassette in sealing relationship with the common wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette. In one embodiment, the sealing member may be a compressible seal which may be mounted to the common wall or may be carried on a surface of the refrigeration unit cassette.
In a further aspect of the invention, the positioning apparatus is positionable in a first position for positioning the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the common wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette, and is positionable in a second position for releasing the refrigerated unit cassette from its sealing relationship with the common wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette.
In an embodiment, the lower wall of the cabinet forms the common wall separating the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment wherein the refrigeration unit cassette is housed. In this embodiment, the positioning apparatus is a lifting apparatus for selectively raising and lowering the refrigeration unit cassette. The lifting apparatus may comprise a cam mechanism selectively positionable in a first position for positioning the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the lower wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette, and is positionable in a second position for releasing the refrigerated unit cassette from its sealing relationship with the lower wall to facilitate removal of the refrigeration unit cassette from the equipment compartment.
In a one particular embodiment of the invention, the lifting apparatus is a pair of generally L-shaped members, one operatively associated with one side of the refrigeration unit cassette and the other operatively associated with the opposite side of the refrigeration unit cassette. Each generally L-shaped member has a first elongated leg extending along its respective side of the refrigeration unit cassette and includes at least one cam section therealong. The cam section may comprise a raised portion of the first leg. Each generally L-shaped member has a second leg outwardly from an end of the first leg in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to a first plane in which the first leg and its raised portion lie. Each generally L-shaped member may be positioned in a first position for rotating the at least one cam section so as to raise the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress the compressible seal between the refrigeration unit cassette and the lower wall thereby establishing the sealing relationship. Each generally L-shaped member may be positioned in a second position for rotating the at least one cam section so as to lower the refrigeration unit cassette downwardly to release the refrigeration unit cassette from sealing relationship with the lower wall. A flat surface may be provided on the surface of the raised portion of the first elongated leg contacting the refrigeration unit cassette when in the locked position.
In another embodiment of the invention, the lifting apparatus is a pair of cam sets, one set operatively associated with one side of the refrigeration unit cassette and the other operatively associated with the opposite side of the refrigeration unit cassette. Each cam set comprises at least two cam members disposed in spaced relationship and operatively interconnected by a linkage mechanism. Each linkage mechanism may be positioned in a first position for pivoting the cam members so as to raise the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress the compressible seal between the refrigeration unit cassette and the lower wall thereby establishing the sealing relationship. Each linkage may be positioned in a second position for pivoting the cam members so as to lower the refrigeration unit cassette downwardly to release the refrigeration unit cassette from sealing relationship with the lower wall.
For a further understanding of these and objects of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, where:
Referring now to
The beverage merchandiser 10 includes a cabinet 20 housing a refrigerated interior product display space 100 and a separate equipment compartment 55 disposed separate from, and may be heat transfer insulated from, the refrigerated interior product display space 100. The cabinet 20 has a top wall 22 and a surrounding side wall structure including a rear wall 34, a front wall 32, and opposed generally vertically extending side walls 36 and 38. The cabinet also includes a lower wall 24 disposed between the refrigerated interior product display space 100 located thereabove and the equipment compartment 55 located there beneath. The interior product display space 100 may be accessed from exteriorly of the cabinet 20 through an access opening, which in the depicted embodiment is an open area at the front of the cabinet. This open area may be open to the environment or may be covered, as in the depicted embodiment, by at least one door 40 mounted to the cabinet 20. The door 40 extends across the open area and has a transparent viewing area, for example a glass panel, through which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 can be viewed. The door 40 is selectively positionable between a closed position covering the open area and an open position in which consumers may access the interior product display space 100 to remove a product for purchase. Although the embodiment of the display merchandiser 10 depicted in the drawing has only one door 40, it is to be understood that the display merchandiser may have one, two, three or more doors that collectively cover the open area when in the closed position. The door or doors 40 may be mounted to the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, for example on hinges for pivotal movement or on a track for sliding movement between an open and closed position.
In the depicted embodiment, the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, rear wall 34 and the side walls 36 and 38 are heat transfer insulated for insulating the refrigerated interior product display space 100, from the environment exterior of the interior product display space 100. A plurality of shelves 112 are disposed within the interior product display space 100. The shelves 112 are adapted as appropriate to support the particular product being displayed for purchase. The specific number, arrangement and configuration of the shelves 112 is not germane to the invention and is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art to select for the particular product being displayed.
A rear panel 134 is provided spaced inwardly of the rear side wall 34 to establish, in part, a refrigerated air supply duct 104 between the rear side wall 34 and a rear panel 134. The interior product display space 100 within the refrigerated interior of the display cabinet 20 is bounded by the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, the side walls 36, 38, and in part by each of the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134. In the depicted embodiment, refrigerated air enters into the product display space 100 to cool product displayed therein in part through an air outlet 109 at the upper end of the air supply duct 104 and in part through a plurality of openings 135 provided in the rear panel 134. Refrigerated air exits the product display space 100 through an opening 102 provided in the lower wall 24.
The equipment compartment 55 is located within the cabinet 20 beneath the lower wall 24 and is separated by the lower wall 24 from the refrigerated interior product display space 100 of the cabinet 20. The lower wall 24 forms a common wall separating the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment and has an under surface that faces the refrigeration unit cassette 50 of the refrigeration unit 15 housed within the equipment compartment. The refrigeration unit 15 includes an evaporator 60 and at least one associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62, a condenser 70 and at least one associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and a compressor 74. The evaporator 60 and its associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 are housed within a first section 53 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 which is separated by division wall 68 from a second section 57 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 wherein the condenser 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72 and the compressor 74 are housed.
Referring now also to
The evaporator 60, the condenser 70 and the compressor 74 are coupled in a closed—loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) in a conventional manner for refrigerating air from the interior product display space 100. The condenser fan/motor assembly 72, typically a single fan and motor, is operative, typically only when the compressor 74 is in operation, to draw air from outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10, such as for example from the ambient environment external thereof through the front grille 12 provided in the lower front wall 32 of the cabinet 20, through an opening 59 provided in the front plate 56A and through the condenser 70. As the external air passes through the condenser 70 in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant being passed therethrough by the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air heated. Having traversed the condenser 70, the hot air is exhausted out of the compartment 55 to return to the external environment through exhaust channel 67 from beneath the first section 53 in the aft portion of second section 57 of the cassette 50. A portion of the air drawn through the cassette 50 passes over the compressor 74 to assist in cooling the compressor.
The chilled refrigerant is circulated from the condenser 70 through the closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) to the evaporator 60. The evaporator fan/motor assembly 62, which may be a single fan and motor or a plurality of fans with associated motors, is operative to draw air into the first section 53 of the refrigeration unit 50, also referred to as the evaporator compartment, from the interior product display space 100 through the air return inlet opening 102 in the lower wall 24 and thence pass the air through the evaporator 60 to and through the refrigerated air supply duct 104 to return to the product display space 100. As the circulating air passes through the evaporator 60, the air is cooled as it passes in heat exchange relationship with the chilled refrigerant circulated through the evaporator 60 by the compressor 74 and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated. The evaporator fan 62 circulates refrigerated air having traversed the evaporator 60 from the evaporator compartment 53 back into the refrigerated interior product display space 100 through a return air outlet 108 located in the lower wall.24 aft of rear panel 134 and into refrigerated air supply duct 104.
A cover plate 120 may be disposed over the return air inlet 102 in spaced relationship with and superadjacent the base wall 24 thereby forming flow passage between the cover plate 120 and the base wall 24 through which refrigerated air returning from the product display space 100 flows into the air return inlet 102. The cover plate 120 covers the air return inlet 102, thereby causing the downwardly directed refrigerated air to flow outwardly toward the surrounding walls of the cabinet as the refrigerated air approaches the lower region of the product display space 100 in order to pass beneath the cover plate 120 into the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24. In doing so, the refrigerated air passes through the product on the lower shelves to more evenly cool that product and to block the refrigerated air from funneling downwardly directly into the return air return inlet 102. The cover plate 120 also restricts the flow of spills or leaks from product in the product display space 100 from flowing directly into the evaporator compartment 53 and fouling the evaporator and/or evaporator fan assembly.
In one embodiment, the cover plate 120 includes a circumferential flange 126 extending generally vertically downwardly therefrom to the base wall 24 for supporting the cover plate 120 over the air return inlet 102 in the base wall 124. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 125 are provided in the circumferential flange 126 to form the air flow passage connecting the refrigerated interior space 25 in flow communication with the air return inlet 102 to the evaporator compartment 53 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50.
A sealing system is provided including a sealing member 58 positioned between the lower wall 24 and the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and a positioning apparatus 150 for placing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into sealing relationship with the common wall, which in the depicted embodiment is the lower wall 24 that separates the refrigerated interior product display space 100 from the equipment compartment 55. The sealing system prevents refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 from the product display space 100 from bypassing the evaporator 60 and instead flowing directly into the inlet 108 to the air supply duct 104 from the air return inlet 102. The sealing system also prevents ambient air from externally of the refrigeration unit cassette 50, such as the ambient air that has been drawn through the front grille 12 to pass through the condenser 70, from being drawn into the refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 through the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24.
The sealing member 58 may be mounted to the under surface of the lower wall 24 about the opening 102 in the lower wall 24, or may be mounted or simply carried upon to the upper surface of the top plate 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. The sealing member 58 extends at least about the opening 51A in the top plate 52, as illustrated in
The sealing member 58 may comprise one or more compressible seals provided on the refrigeration unit cassette 50 which are compressed against the lower wall 24 when the cassette refrigeration unit 50 is raised within the compartment 55 by operation of the positioning apparatus 150. However, the sealing member 58 may also comprise one or more non-compressible seals, such as contact seals, that coact with the respective opposing surfaces of the refrigeration unit cassette and of the common wall separating the refrigerated interior space from the equipment compartment and surrounding the respective openings therein to provide the desired sealing arrangement therebetween when the cassette refrigeration unit 50 is positioned by operation of the lifting apparatus 150 to sandwich the sealing member 58 therebetween.
In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the positioning apparatus is a lifting apparatus 150 that is positionable in a first position for raising the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the lower wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette, and is positionable in a second position for lowering the refrigerated unit cassette from its sealing relationship with the lower wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from an equipment compartment housing the refrigeration unit cassette. The lifting mechanism may comprise a cam mechanism selectively positionable in a first position, as illustrated in
Referring now to
When the refrigeration unit cassette 50 is installed within the equipment 55 and placed in its operational position, each of the generally L-shaped members 152 is positioned in a first position, as illustrated in
When it is desired to release the refrigeration unit cassette 50 for removal for servicing, each of the generally L-shaped members 152 may be rotated into a second position wherein the second leg 156 of each extends generally upwardly and outwardly at the sides of the access opening to the equipment compartment 55 laterally of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. So positioned, the cam sections 155 will now lie flat beneath the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and the refrigeration unit cassette will move downwardly thereby releasing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 from sealing relationship with the lower wall 24 as illustrated in
Referring now to
In the depicted embodiment, when the pivot mechanism 166 of each cam set 162 is rotated clockwise, as illustrated in
In either of the aforedescribed embodiments, a roller track or other translation facilitating means may be provided within the equipment compartment 55 beneath the refrigeration unit cassette 50 to ease removal of the cassette. With the lifting apparatus 150 positioned in its first positioned, the cam members 155, 165 are positioned to extend generally vertically upwardly to engage and lift the refrigeration unit cassette 50 upwardly off the roller track and compress the compressible sealing member 58 between the top plate 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and the undersurface of the lower wall 24 thereby establishing the sealing relationship. With the lifting apparatus 150 positioned in its second position, the cam members 155, 165 are positioned to extend generally horizontally to release the refrigeration unit cassette 50 to move downwardly to contact the roller track and relax the compressible sealing member 58 as so to break the sealing relationship, thereby allowing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 to be translated along the roller track for withdrawal from the equipment compartment 55 without risk of damage to the sealing member 58.
The sealing system of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings for purposes of illustration and to facilitate understanding of the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that modifications, some of which may have been alluded to hereinbefore, may be made to the depicted embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the positioning apparatus may be used to establish a sealing relationship in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with sealing members that are not compressible. Further, various other embodiments of positioning apparatus may be employed to establish a sealing relationship between the cabinet and the refrigeration unit cassette by acting upon a sealing member disposed therebetween without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/662,960, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled CAM COMPRESSION MECHANISM FOR GASKET SURFACES FOR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE AND CABINET DESIGNS, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. This application is related to the following applications subject to assignment to the common assignee of this application and filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the same date as this application: U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210—817NP), entitled “REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER ”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210—820NP), entitled “MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE ”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210—879NP), entitled “MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE WITH CONDENSATE EVAPORATIVE TRAY ”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210—818NP), entitled “BOTTOM DECK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER ”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210—819NP), entitled “EVAPORATOR FAN/MOTOR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BRACKET ”. Each of the afore-listed patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60662960 | Mar 2005 | US |
