Abstract:
A build-up monitoring system in combination with a refrigerated enclosure comprises a refrigerated enclosure having a drain, a drain basin and a refrigeration unit adapted to maintain refrigerating conditions in the refrigerated enclosure. A build-up detector is positioned with respect to the refrigerated enclosure so as to monitor a level of build-up in the drain/drain basin. A condition analyzer receives detection data from the build-up detector, the condition analyzer identifying from the detection data a build-up in the drain/drain basin requiring an intervention. An interface indicates the requirement for the intervention. A method is provided to identify a build-up requiring an intervention in a drain/drain basin of a refrigerated enclosure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/890,290, filed on Feb. 16, 2007, by the present Applicant. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Application 
         [0003]    The present application relates to refrigerated enclosures of the type used in supermarkets and the like to score foodstuff and, more particularly, to a draining of liquid in such refrigerated enclosures. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    In supermarkets, grocery storages, and industrial storage, amongst other applications, refrigerated enclosures are commonly used to maintain foodstuff at suitable temperatures, or to freeze the foodstuff in order to preserve its freshness. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIG. 1  of the prior art, a refrigerated enclosure is generally illustrated at  10 . The refrigerated enclosure  10  is defined by a casing  11  that forms an outer shell of the enclosure  10 , and within which specific temperature conditions are maintained. Shelves  12  are provided as support for the foodstuff (not shown) that will be refrigerated/frozen in the enclosure  10 . A drain basin  13  is provided at a bottom of the casing  11 . As such, any residual liquid will be drained via the sloping of the drain basin  13 , to the drain  14 /siphon  15 . 
         [0007]    It is observed that the refrigeration unit  16  is in the drain basin  13 . The refrigeration unit  16  is typically coils in which a refrigerant circulates, and upon which coils ambient air is blown. 
         [0008]    Because of the low temperatures associated with refrigerated enclosures, there is a risk that the residual liquid to be drained by the drain basin  13  will freeze. Moreover, as the refrigeration unit  16  is in some cases adjacent to the drain  14 , the temperatures adjacent to the drain  14  are lower than the temperature at the shelves  12 , increasing the risk of freezing of the residual liquids. A solid build-up can damage the refrigerated enclosure. For instance, coils of the refrigeration unit  16  have broken because of ice build-ups in the drain, resulting in refrigerant leakage, emergency transfer of foodstuff, and even temporary store closure for maintenance of the refrigeration system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    It is therefore an aim of the present application to provide a drain monitor system for refrigerated enclosures that addresses issues associated with the prior art. 
         [0010]    Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided 
         [0011]    Further in accordance with the present application, there is provided a build-up monitoring system in combination with a refrigerated enclosure, comprising: a refrigerated enclosure having a drain, a drain basin and a refrigeration unit adapted to maintain refrigerating conditions in the refrigerated enclosure; a build-up detector positioned with respect to the refrigerated enclosure so as to monitor a level of build-up in the drain/drain basin; a condition analyzer for receiving detection data from the build-up detector, the condition analyzer identifying from the detection data a build-up in the drain/drain basin requiring an intervention; and an interface for indicating the requirement for the intervention. 
         [0012]    Further in accordance with the present application, there is provided a method for identifying a build-up requiring an intervention in a drain/drain basin of a refrigerated enclosure, comprising: positioning a build-up detector in the refrigerated enclosure; monitoring detection data from the build-up detector; identifying a build-up condition by comparing the detection data with at least one predetermined parameter value for a given time period; and indicating the requirement for an intervention from the build-up condition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a sectioned elevation view of a refrigerated enclosure in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a build-up monitoring system for refrigerated enclosures, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a printout of a user-interface screen as used with the build-up monitoring system of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for identifying a build-up requiring an intervention in a drain/drain basin of a refrigerated enclosure in accordance with another embodiment of the present application. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a build-up monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment is generally shown at  20 . The monitoring system  20  is used in conjunction with a refrigerated enclosure such as the one illustrated at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The monitoring system  20  is provided to monitor the refrigerated enclosure for ice build-ups in the drain basin  13 , and to alarm maintenance personnel when predetermined levels of build-ups are detected. 
         [0018]    The monitoring system  20  has a control system  21 , which includes a processing unit. The control system  21  is typically part of a main controller used to operate the refrigeration system of a store/building. 
         [0019]    A build-lip detector  22  is connected to the control system  21 . The build-up detector  22  is positioned within the refrigerated enclosure to monitor ice build-ups, by monitoring the drain basin  13 , the drain  14  and/or the coils  16  of the refrigeration unit. 
         [0020]    A plurality of configurations are considered for the build-up detector  22 . In a first embodiment, the build-up detector  22  is a thermocouple or thermometer positioned within the drain basin  13  and/or in contact with the drain  14 . As such, any ice build-up will result in a stabilization of temperature that will be identified by the monitoring system  20 . 
         [0021]    In a second embodiment, the build-up detector  22  is an optical sensor that will visually monitor the presence of an ice build-up beyond a predetermined level. Different types of optical sensors are considered with, for instance, emitters/receivers, etc. 
         [0022]    In a third embodiment, sensors from other industries can be used in the monitoring system  20 . For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,853, issued to Federow et al. on Mar. 22, 1994, discloses a laser ice detector, components of which can suitably be used to form the build-up detector  22 . It is also considered to use infrared sensors. 
         [0023]    The control system  21  receives detection data from the build-up detector  22 , and transmits the data to the condition analyzer  23 . The condition analyzer  23  is provided to defect ice build-up from the detection data. The condition analyzer  23  triggers an alarm signal once ice build-up beyond a predetermined level is identified by the condition analyzer  23 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment in which the build-up detector  22  is a thermocouple, detection parameters are provided to the condition analyser  23  by way of a database  24  with such detection parameters. For instance, the detection parameters are a temperature set-point limit or a temperature range along with a time period, whereby detection of a temperature above the set-point limit for more than the time period will have the condition analyzer  23  trigger the alarm signal. 
         [0025]    The time period used by the condition analyzer  23  filters out punctual perturbations, such as the shelving of new produces that are at room temperature. In such cases, liquids dropping from these products and reaching the drain are temporarily above refrigerated temperatures, and should not be considered as a build-up. Therefore, monitoring such temperatures for an extended time period allows the products to cool down prior to an alarm being triggered. 
         [0026]    Moreover, the time period can be used to monitor temperature variations. For instance, temperature readings in refrigerated enclosures  10  vary as a function of numerous factors: refrigerant temperature, air temperature, enclosure doors being opened, new products being shelved in the enclosure  10 . If there is a build-up on the build-detector  22  measuring the temperature, the build-up will act as thermal insulation that will generally prevent temperature variations in the readings of the detector  22 . Accordingly, in an embodiment, a uniform temperature over an extended time period is identified as a build-up by the condition analyzer  23 . 
         [0027]    The database  24  is writable, such that the detection parameters are changeable. For instance, if a defrost cycle is run to melt frost on the coils, it may be required to change the detection parameters in the database  24 , although it is preferred that the detection parameters be set so as to exclude a defrost cycle from being detected as ice build-up. Another example in which it is required to change the detection parameters is when the temperature of operation of the refrigerated enclosure is changed (i.e., going from refrigerating meats to vegetables). 
         [0028]    In the embodiment in which the build-up detector  22  is an optical sensor or like sensor, the detection data may simply be decoded by the condition analyzer  23 , such as to identity detected build-up signals from the detection data. The database  24  of detection parameters may represent a filter to ensure that the alarm signal is not triggered accidentally. For instance, if an attendant triggers accidentally the optical sensor into detecting an ice build-up, the detection parameters are typically set to prevent an alarm being triggered by such action. 
         [0029]    It is considered to provide the monitoring system  20  with a plurality of build-up detectors  22 , with complementary features. For instance, optical sensors can be used in combination with thermocouples, to increase the accuracy of the detection. 
         [0030]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the monitoring system  20  has an interface  25  that may be used to display the detection data in suitable format. For instance, referring to  FIG. 3 , a GUI screen  25 A is illustrated, and shows a temperature detected in a refrigerated enclosure as a function of time. It is seen that a graph shows a pair of peaks on screen. The peaks are typically the result of defrost cycles being run to remove frost on the coils of the refrigeration units  16  ( FIG. 1 ). The interface  25  may project data that is viewed on a periodic basis by an operator so as to detect ice build-up. 
         [0031]    Alternatively, an alarm  26  may be provided, whether on site or through the interface  25  (e.g., in the form of a pop-up window), to indicate that maintenance is required to clear up the drain/drain basin. 
         [0032]    The build-up monitoring system  20  described above may be conveniently retrofitted to existing refrigerated enclosures, such as refrigerated enclosure  10  of  FIG. 1 . More specifically, considering that most industrial refrigeration systems have a centralized processing unit, the condition analyzer  23  may be installed in the centralized processing unit, with the build-up detector/detectors  22  being connected to the centralized processing unit (e.g., wireless) to provide the detection data to the condition analyzer  23 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  generally illustrates an embodiment for implementing the method for identifying a build-up requiring an intervention in a drain/drain basin of a refrigerated enclosure at  30 . 
         [0034]    In Step  32 , at least one of the build-up detectors  22  is installed in the refrigerated enclosure  10  so as to monitor the drain basin  13  or drain  14  for ice build-ups. 
         [0035]    In Step  34 , the detection data provided by the build-up detector  22  is monitored. The monitoring is continuous, but may be paused in maintenance periods, such as during a defrost cycle. 
         [0036]    In Step  36 , a build-up condition is identified from monitoring of the detection data, over a given time period. The detection data is as a function of the types of build-up detector  22  selected: temperature, visual presence of build-up. 
         [0037]    In Step  38 , indication is made to maintenance personnel that an intervention is required due to a build-up condition. For instance, maintenance personnel on-site or off-site may be warned by way of an alarm.