Abstract:
A refrigerated merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area. The case has an air inlet located adjacent the product display area, an air outlet to discharge an airflow into the product display area, and a passageway fluidly connecting the air inlet to the air outlet to direct a conditioned airflow from the air outlet across the product display area and generally toward the air inlet. The merchandiser also includes an electrical component and a power generation system that has a power generation device in communication with the airflow to convert kinetic energy of the airflow into electrical energy to power the electrical component based on movement of the airflow.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a refrigerated merchandiser, and more particularly, to a refrigerated merchandiser including a power generation system that uses airflow movement to generate power for one or more components in the refrigerated merchandiser. 
     Refrigerated merchandisers generally include a case defining a product display area for supporting and displaying food products to be visible and accessible through an opening in the front of the case. Refrigerated merchandisers are generally used in retail food store applications such as grocery or convenient stores or other locations where food product is displayed in a refrigerated condition. Some refrigerated merchandisers include doors to enclose the product display area of the case and reduce the amount of cold air released into the surrounding environment. The doors typically include one or more glass panels that allow a consumer to view the food products stored inside the case. Other merchandisers do not have doors, but utilize one or more air curtains directed across the product display area to separate the refrigerated environment of the product display area from the ambient environment surrounding the merchandiser. 
     Refrigerated merchandisers also often include one more electrical components, such as fans, light bulbs, etc. that are located within the refrigerated merchandisers and are powered by outside electrical sources. Over time, use of these electrical components results in high electrical costs. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one construction, the invention provides a refrigerated merchandiser that includes a case defining a product display area. The case has an air inlet located adjacent the product display area, an air outlet to discharge an airflow into the product display area, and a passageway fluidly connecting the air inlet to the air outlet to direct a conditioned airflow from the air outlet across the product display area and generally toward the air inlet. The merchandiser also includes an electrical component and a power generation system that has a power generation device in communication with the airflow to convert kinetic energy of the airflow into electrical energy to power the electrical component based on movement of the airflow. 
     In another construction, the refrigerated merchandiser also includes a light source coupled to the case and positioned to illuminate the product display area, a fan positioned in the passageway to generate the airflow, and a power generation system. The power generation system has a housing coupled to the case within the passageway, and an air diffuser and a generator disposed in the housing. The air diffuser has an opening to receive an airflow flowing through the passageway. The generator is in communication with the airflow to convert kinetic energy of the airflow into electrical energy to at least partially power at least one of the light source and the fan based on movement of the airflow within the passageway. 
     In another construction, the invention provides a method of powering an electrical component in a refrigerated merchandiser. The method includes directing an airflow through a passageway within the merchandiser that communicates air to an air outlet, and discharging the airflow through the air outlet to condition a product display area of the merchandiser. The method also includes directing the airflow through a generator, converting kinetic energy of the airflow into electrical energy in response to air passing through the generator, and at least partially powering an electrical component of the merchandiser via the electrical energy generated based on movement of the airflow. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a refrigerated merchandiser embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-section of the refrigerated merchandiser of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a power generation system. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a power generation system according to another construction of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top plan view of the power generation system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the power generation system of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Before any constructions of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a refrigerated merchandiser  10  that may be located in a supermarket or a convenience store (not shown) for presenting fresh food, beverages, and other food product  14  to consumers. The illustrated merchandiser  10  is an upright merchandiser, although other types of merchandisers (e.g., horizontal merchandisers, etc.) fall within the scope of the invention. The merchandiser  10  includes a case  18  that has a base  22 , a rear wall  26 , side walls  30 , a canopy  34 , and a plurality of doors  38 . The doors  38  are supported by the case  18 , and permit access to the food product  14 . The area partially enclosed by the base  22 , rear wall  26 , side walls  30 , and the canopy  34  defines a product display area  42  that supports the food product  14  in the case  18 . The food product  14  is displayed on racks or shelves  46  extending forwardly from the rear wall  26 , and is accessible by consumers through the doors  38  adjacent the front of the case  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the food product  14  and the shelves  46  are visible behind the substantially transparent doors  38 . 
     The case  18  also includes vertical mullions  50  that define openings  54  in communication with the product display area  42  to allow access to the food product  14 . The mullions  50  are spaced horizontally along the case  18  to provide structural support for the case  18 . Each mullion  50  is defined by a structural member that can be formed from a non-metallic or metallic material. The doors  38  are pivotally coupled to the casing  18  over the openings  54 , and substantially enclose the product display area  42 . 
     In the illustrated construction, the refrigerated merchandiser  10  includes four doors  38  separated by the mullions  50 . In other constructions, the refrigerated merchandiser  10  may include fewer or more doors  38  depending on the size of the case  18 . In yet other constructions, the refrigerated merchandiser  10  includes no doors  38  or mullions  50 , and is instead an open refrigerated merchandiser  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , at least a portion of a refrigeration system  58  is in communication with case  18  to provide a refrigerated airflow (denoted by arrows  62 ) to the product display area  42 . The refrigeration system  58  includes an evaporator  66  disposed in an air passageway  70  of the case  18 , a compressor (not shown), and a condenser (not shown) connected in series with each other. As is known in the art, the evaporator  66  receives a saturated refrigerant that has passed through an expansion valve from the condenser. The saturated refrigerant is evaporated as it passes through the evaporator  66  as a result of absorbing heat from air passing over the evaporator. The absorption of heat by the refrigerant allows the temperature of the air to decrease as it passes over the evaporator  66 . The heated or gaseous refrigerant then exits the evaporator  66  and is pumped back to the compressor for re-processing into the refrigeration system  58 . The cooled airflow  62  exiting the evaporator  66  via heat exchange with the liquid refrigerant is directed through the air passageway  70  and is introduced into the product display area  42  as an air curtain that maintains the food product  14  at desired conditions. 
     The airflow  62  is directed downward through the product display area  42  out of an air outlet  74  toward the base  22 , where at least some of the airflow  62  passes through an air inlet  78 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the airflow  62  flowing through the air inlet  78  is drawn into the air passageway  70  by a fan  82  located upstream of the evaporator  66 . The air inlet  78  and the air outlet  74  are both located adjacent the product display area  42 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , the merchandiser  10  also includes light sources  86  disposed within the case  14  to illuminate the product display area  42 . As illustrated, one light source  86  is coupled to the canopy  34  and located adjacent the door  38 , and additional light sources  86  are coupled to the cantilevered end of each shelf  46 . The illustrated light sources  86  are an LED light source, although the light sources  86  can include other types (and quantities) of light sources  86 . Also, while the light sources  86 , or additional light sources, can be located elsewhere in the case  14  to illuminate the product display area  42 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , the merchandiser  10  further includes a power generation system  90  that provides power to at least one electrical component (e.g., the fan  82 , the light source  86 , etc.). The power generation system  90  is in communication with the airflow  62  flowing through the case  14 . The power generation system  90  utilizes the airflow  62  to generate electricity for the light source  86 , and/or for other electrical components within the merchandiser  10 . 
     As illustrated, the power generation system  90  includes an air diffuser  94  coupled to the case  14  at a location adjacent the air inlet  78 . More specifically, the illustrated air diffuser  94  is disposed between the air inlet  78  and the fan  82 . In other constructions the air diffuser  94  can be located elsewhere along the path of the airflow  62 . The air diffuser  94  includes an opening  96  ( FIG. 3 ) that receives the airflow  62 , and that distributes and directs the incoming air toward the fan  82  and evaporator  66 . Generally, the air diffuser  94  can include different shapes and quantities of openings. In some constructions, the opening  96  is approximately equal to the length  98  although the opening  96  can be shorter than the overall length  98 . The air diffuser  94  extends generally an entire length  98  of the merchandiser  10 , although the air diffuser  94  can be shorter than the overall length  98 . In some constructions, several air diffusers  94  can be placed in the merchandiser  10  side-by-side within the passageway  70 . The air diffuser  94  is positionable within the merchandiser  10  such that the elongate opening  96  receives incoming airflow  62  from the product display area  42  and the air inlet  78 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , the illustrated power generation system  90  also includes a generator  102  that is located adjacent the air diffuser  94 . The generator  102  is in communication with the air diffuser  94  to utilize the kinetic energy of the airflow  62  moving through the air diffuser  94  to generate electrical energy. In some constructions, the generator  102  forms part of the air diffuser  94 . The generator  102  includes one or more movable or rotatable blades  104  that are driven by the airflow  62  to generate alternating current (“AC”) power. The illustrated blades  104  are elongate and are in communication with the opening  96  and are primarily or completely driven by the airflow  62 . 
     The power generation system  90  also includes a transformer  106  that is located adjacent the generator  102  and that is in electrical communication with the generator  102 . In some constructions, the transformer  106  forms part of one or both of the generator  102  and the air diffuser  94 . Generally, the transformer  106  transforms the AC power generated by the generator  102  into direct current (“DC”) power. In some constructions the transformer  106  can be a separate component disposed either inside or outside of the housing  92 . 
     As illustrated by the dashed line  108  in  FIG. 2 , the power generation system  90  is in electrical communication with the light sources  86  to provide AC or DC power to the light sources  86 , depending on whether the power requirements for the light sources  86 . In some constructions, the power generation system  90  includes wiring extending from the transformer  106  along the rear wall  26  to the light source  86 . The power generation system  90  also is in electrical communication with the fan  82 , and optionally other electrical components of the case  14  to provide power to those components. 
     In some constructions, one or more of the air diffuser  94 , the generator  102 , and the transformer  106  can be placed in the air passageway  70  along the rear of the merchandiser  10 . For example, in some constructions, the generator  102  and the transformer  106  can be positioned within the air passageway  70  along the rear wall  26 , and as air flows through the air passageway  70 , the air impacts the generator  102  and causes rotation of one or more components in the generator  102  to generate AC power that can be converted into DC power, if needed. Generally, the air diffuser  94 , the generator  102 , and the transformer  106  can be located anywhere in the merchandiser  10  as long as the air diffuser  94  is in airflow communication with the passageway  70 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , the illustrated power generation system  90  is a self-contained power generation system supported by a housing or shell  110 . As shown, housing  110  supports the fan  82 , the air diffuser  94 , the generator  102 , and the transformer  106 , and can power at least one of the fan  82 , the light sources  86 , and other electrical components of the merchandiser  10 . The fan  82  is disposed downstream of the opening  96 . In some constructions, the power generation system  90  can be the only electrical power source for the fan  82  and/or the light sources  86  (e.g., after startup of the merchandiser  10 ). In some constructions, the power generation system  90  may only provide a portion of the electrical power to the fan  82  and the light sources  86 , with the remainder of the power requirements met by other power sources (not shown). 
     As illustrated by dashed line  112  in  FIG. 4 , the generator  102  is directly—or indirectly via the transformer  106 —is in electrical communication (e.g., via electrical wiring) with the fan  82  to provide AC or DC power to the fan  82 . In some constructions, the wiring can extend partially outside of the housing  92 . 
     In operation, the power generation system  90  captures energy from the airflow  62  within the merchandiser  10  and uses that energy to partially or completely power one or more electrical components in the merchandiser  10 . The air diffuser  94  diffuses at least part of the airflow  62  (e.g., directs the airflow  62  in a desired pattern or direction) that is received from the air inlet  78 . The air captured by the air diffuser  94  rotates the blades  104 , which in turn converts the kinetic energy of the moving air into electrical energy in the form of AC power. The transformer  106  can be used to transform the AC power into DC power. The AC power and the DC power output from the power generation system  90  is based on airflow within the merchandiser  10  such that the merchandiser  10  does not need to rely only on an outside power source for operation. 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.