Abstract:
An air conditioning or heating refrigerator assembly, preferably for use in institutional kitchens. The refrigerator assembly includes a refrigerator unit having a cooling/heating coil subassembly mounted thereon, a blower subassembly mounted thereon downstream of said cooling/heating coil subassembly, and an air discharge chamber mounted on the top thereof. The cooling/heating coil and blower subassemblies are in air transport communication with each other, the blower subassembly being adapted to draw ambient air into the cooling coil subassembly and into contact with the cooling/heating coil, and to blow the cooled or heated air through an air discharge chamber into the atmosphere adjacent the refrigerator. In the air conditioning mode, the cooling/heating coils of the cooling coil subassembly are in communication with a condenser which supplies liquid refrigerant to the coils and condenses refrigerant vaporized in the coils.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an air conditioning or heating refrigerator assembly, particularly an air conditioning or heating refrigerator assembly for use in institutional kitchens. By “institutional” kitchens is meant kitchens of the size used in restaurants, schools, etc. 
     Because of the large number of items of heat generating equipment, such as stoves and refrigerators typically in use, institutional kitchens are notorious for becoming overheated, particularly during hot weather. Such overheating is not only uncomfortable for those working in the kitchen but it causes problems with equipment located in the kitchen, particularly refrigerators which can quickly become overtaxed and under perform in such conditions. 
     Central air conditioning typically is used to cool the entire premises, and cannot be turned down far enough to properly cool the kitchen without causing discomfort in the remainder of the premises. 
     Due to limited or non-existent window space, window air conditioning units usually cannot be installed in such kitchens. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,530, granted to the same inventor as the present invention, describes an air conditioning refrigerator having a cooling coil and blower located within a housing attached to the inside of the freezer compartment door with cool air flowing through apertures in the door. While such a device is suitable for cooling residential kitchens, it is inadequate to meet the needs of an institutional kitchen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning or heating refrigerator assembly capable of at least partially cooling or heating an institutional kitchen without taking up valuable space. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning or heating refrigerator of the present invention is comprised of a refrigerator having an air conditioning or heating coil subassembly mounted thereon and a blower subassembly mounted thereon downstream of said coil subassembly substantially adjacent thereto and in air transfer communication therewith. 
     The coil subassembly, when adapted to provide cooling, is connected to a condensing unit by suitable conduits. Refrigerant is liquified in the condensing unit and pumped through the cooling coil of the cooling coil subassembly unit where it is vaporized and absorbs heat from ambient air passing over the cooling coils of said cooling coil unit. The vaporized refrigerant passes back to the condensing unit where it is condensed back into liquid refrigerant and recirculated through the cooling coil of the cooling coil subassembly. 
     The blower subassembly has a blower which pulls ambient air through the cooling/heating coil unit where the air is cooled or heated. The cooled or heated air is then blown by the blower through a duct to an air exhaust chamber located on the top of the refrigerator from which the cooled or heated air is blown through a diffuser grill to the atmosphere adjacent the refrigerator. 
     In a first embodiment of the present invention the air conditioning or heating coil subassembly and blower subassembly are both mounted on the back of the refrigerator. 
     In a second embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning or heating coil and blower are both mounted on the top of the refrigerator. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial, exploded, perspective rear view, partially in section, of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator assembly system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator of the present invention with enclosure covers removed; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator of the present invention with enclosure covers removed; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the air exhaust chamber and enclosure covers of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator of the present invention with enclosure covers in place; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator of the present invention with enclosure covers in place; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of a second embodiment of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator assembly of the present invention, the air conditioning/heating unit being shown with its cover removed; and 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded rear view of the second embodiment of the air conditioning/heating refrigerator assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The air conditioning/heating refrigerator assembly  10  of the present invention includes a conventional refrigerator unit  12 . Conventional refrigerator unit  12  can be any refrigerator used in institutional kitchens. Typically such refrigerator units  12  have side-by-side doors  14  and  16  with a freezer being located behind one of the doors and a refrigerator being located behind the other door. The refrigerator unit  12  typically has a condensing unit located in the bottom thereof with heat being exhausted through grill  18  located in the front of the refrigerator unit  12 , the condensing unit being accessible through an access door  19  located on the back side of the refrigerator unit  12 . 
     Although the invention is not limited to a particular refrigerator unit design, a solid door reach-in refrigerator/freezer T-49 manufactured by True Food Service Equipment, Inc. of O&#39;Fallon, Missouri is illustrative of those units suitable for use as refrigerator unit  12  of the present invention. 
     The invention will be primarily described as it is configured in its air conditioning mode. However, it is to be understood that the unit may be adapted to provide heated air as well. 
     In a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-7, an air conditioning cooling coil subassembly  20  is mounted on the back of refrigerator unit  12 . A blower subassembly  30  is also mounted on the back of refrigerator unit  12  and substantially adjacent to cooling coil subassembly  20 , preferably mounted on the top thereof, and attached thereto, as shown. Cooling coil subassembly  20  is attached to bottom bracket  25  affixed to the back of refrigerator unit  12  and blower subassembly  30  is attached to top bracket  35  affixed to the back of refrigerator unit  12 . 
     Cooling coil subassembly  20  and blower unit  30  are in air transport communication with each other. A duct  40  communicates blower subassembly  30  with the back side of a cooled air exhaust chamber  50 . Cooled air exhaust chamber  50  has a diffuser grill  52  located in the front thereof through which cooled air is blown into the room adjacent refrigerator unit  12 . 
     Cooling coil subassembly  20  is of a conventional design, having an insulated cabinet  22  containing a heat transfer member  24  comprised of staggered rows of rifled copper tubes mechanically expanded into aluminum fins to provide high heat transfer relative to the air to be cooled passing therethrough in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4. A warm ambient air intake duct (not shown) and a cooled air exhaust duct (not shown) are located in the bottom and top of the cabinet  22 , respectively, in a manner well known in the art. 
     Details of the cooling coil subassembly  20  are not described since such details are well known in the art. A suitable cooling coil unit is one manufactured by Coleman Evcon Model FD036S17 rated at 3 tons. 
     Cooling coil subassembly  20  is cooled by liquid refrigerant provided by condensing unit  60 . Liquid refrigerant circulates from an outlet port in condensing unit  60  through conduit  62  and into a liquid refrigerant inlet port in heat transfer member  24  of cooling coil unit  20  where it vaporizes and cools air passing through heat transfer member  24 . The vaporized refrigerant is circulated back to condensing unit  60 , through conduit  64  (which is insulated), where it is condensed, all in a manner well known in the art. 
     Conduits  62  and  64  are preferably flexible refrigerant tubing made of suitable material such as copper, stainless steel, or aluminum. An excess “loop” of the tubing is provided adjacent the rear of refrigerator unit  12  to enable refrigerator assembly  10  to be rolled in and out of place on wheels  17 . 
     In order to dissipate the heat of condensation efficiently, condensing unit  60  is preferably located outside the building in which refrigerator assembly  10  is housed, the wall  70  of such building being partially illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     Details of condensing unit  60 , such as motors, water connections, etc. will not be described since such details are well known in the art. A suitable condensing unit is Model BRCS0361BD manufactured by Coleman Evcon and rated at 3 tons. 
     Blower subassembly  30  has a cabinet  32  and a blower  34  powered by an electric motor (not shown). Preferably blower  34  is driven by a multi-speed, direct drive motor. Blower  34 , being in air transport communication with cooling coil subassembly  20 , is adapted to draw warm ambient air into cooling coil cabinet  22  and through heat transfer member  24  where the air is cooled. From cooling coil cabinet  22  blower  34  draws the cooled air into blower cabinet  32  through an opening in the bottom that communicates with an opening in the top of cooling coil cabinet  22 . Blower  34  then forces the cooled air out of air exhaust port  36  and into duct  40 . 
     Details of blower subassembly  30 , such as electrical connections, etc, will not be described since such details are well known in the art. A suitable blower subassembly is one manufactured by Coleman Evcon, Blower Model AHB1201 rated at 2.5-3 tons. 
     A thermostat  80  is positioned in a pre-cut faceplate at an upper corner of the front of refrigerator unit  12 . Thermostat  80  is electrically connected to blower subassembly  30  and condenser unit  60  in a manner well known in the art. A suitable thermostat is a digital thermostat manufactured by Totaline Signature, Model #P374-1100FM. 
     The cooling coil subassembly  20  and blower subassembly  30  are adapted to be attached together in a manner well known in the art. Bottom bracket  25  is aligned with the top edge of the refrigerator condenser access opening  19  and attached to the rear of refrigerator  12 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The combined cooling coil subassembly  20  and blower subassembly  30  units are placed on the bottom bracket  25  and the top bracket  35  attached to the rear of refrigerator  12  as shown in FIG.  2  and the combined units attached to the bottom and top brackets  25  and  35  by any suitable means, such as pop rivets. 
     After all wiring and plumbing is completed, cooled air exhaust chamber  50  is attached to the top of refrigerator  12 . When in place, exhaust chamber  50  is in communication with exhaust port  36  of blower subassembly  30 . 
     Enclosure covers  54  and  56  are then installed over the rear of refrigerator  12  to cover cooling coil subassembly  20  and blower subassembly  30 . Enclosure cover  56  has an access door  58  located therein. 
     One of the advantages of the present invention, in addition to space conservation, is that by locating the air conditioning unit on the refrigerator unit, the cooled air circulating close to the refrigerator unit helps to keep the refrigerator unit itself cooler than it would otherwise be, which is especially important in hot weather. 
     While the invention has been described above relative to its air conditioning ability, the device may also be adapted to provide heated air by providing for cooling coil subassembly  20  to act as a heater by circulating hot water through the coil from a conventional source of hot water. Alternatively, a separate coil dedicated to provide heating from hot water circulating therethrough may be included within the cooling coil subassembly. 
     A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment an air conditioning/heating assembly  90  is located on the top of a conventional refrigerator unit  12 . 
     Assembly  90  is comprised of a pair of blowers  91  operated by electric motor  97 . Cooling/heating coil  92  is located in front of blowers  91  and adapted to either cool or heat ambient air being drawn through filter  93  and into the assembly  90  in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG.  8 . Refrigerant may be supplied to coil  92  via supply line  95  and removed via return line  96  from a condensing unit such as unit  60  shown in FIG.  2 . Where heated fluid is supplied to assembly  90  it may be supplied to coil  92  or a separate heating coil (not shown) via supply line  95  and removed via line  96  or separate supply and return lines, not shown. 
     The cooled or heated air is discharged from the front of assembly  90  through a stainless steel diffuser grill  94 , which can be identical to diffuser grill  52  of the first embodiment. Assembly  90  is preferably covered with a stainless steel cover (not shown) which fits over the top and sides of assembly  90 . 
     The air conditioning/heating assembly  90  may be any commercially available unit or one that is separately assembled as shown. A useful unit commercially available is one sold under the trademark “MagicAire” by CCX of Wichita Falls, Tex., available in 1.5 through 3 ton air conditioning sizes and having a height of less than eleven inches. 
     It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments of this invention without departing from the underlying principles thereof. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.