Abstract:
Air circulation system for a refrigerated display case and a method for ventilating a space including a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case includes a space inside a frame of the display case, shelves in the space and an inside air circulation system for circulating air from the bottom portion of the display case to the top portion of the display case. Warm air is supplied by a blower arranged in connection with the refrigerated display case and blown to the front side of the refrigerated display case in the vicinity of the floor on which the refrigerated display case is situated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an air circulation system for a refrigerated display case and a method for ventilating a room space, hall space or refrigerated division in a hall space provided with one or more refrigerated display cases.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the prior art, constructions of refrigerated display cases are known in which the refrigerated display case is provided with an air-circulation system in the shelf space in the refrigerated display case. Air is circulated through a channel placed at the bottom and in the rear wall of the display case to the top portion of the display case and from there, the air is directed as a curtain jet to the front side of the display case and further into a channel placed in the lower part of the display case. The circulation system comprises a blower that produces the circulation flow of air as well as an air refrigerator for cooling the thus-circulating air.  
           [0003]    A drawback in the prior art constructions of refrigerated display cases is that cold air is discharged from the shelf space of the display case into the store space and further to the vicinity of the floor level. This cold air produces a disagreeable sensation for the customers in the store when situated proximate the display case.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved circulation systems for refrigeration display cases.  
           [0005]    It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved methods for ventilating a room space, hall space or refrigerated division of a hall space provided with one or more refrigerated display cases.  
           [0006]    It is still another object of the present invention to avoid the drawback of prior art refrigeration display cases mentioned above.  
           [0007]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide new and improved combinations of a refrigerated display case and an air circulation system for circulating fresh air into a room space in which the refrigerated display case is situated.  
           [0008]    In order to attain at least some of these objects, and others, in the present invention, a arrangement is employed separate from the circulation system of the display case yet by whose means warm air is directed from locations below the display case to the front side of the display case to the vicinity of the floor on which the display case is situated. In accordance with the present invention, a channel for the supply of warm air includes a blower arranged in connection with the refrigerated display case, in which case, air from the room is circulated by means of the blower. The blower is placed in a stationary position in connection with the refrigerated display case, and no separate pipe connections are needed for the refrigerated display case in this embodiment of the invention. After the blower, there can be a separate heater, for example an electric heater to heat the air being directing into the room space via the blower.  
           [0009]    Within the scope of the invention, an embodiment is also possible in which, from a trunk channel, warm or heated air is passed into a channel placed in connection with the refrigerated display case and further, from below the refrigerated display case, through nozzles into the room space. In this embodiment, the entire supply of fresh air into the room space, hall space or refrigerated division in a hall space provided with a refrigerated display case preferably takes place through one or more channels placed underneath the refrigerated display case.  
           [0010]    In accordance with the invention, pairs of refrigerated display cases can be arranged one opposite to the other. In such a case, by means of nozzles, the warm intake air is passed into the room space so that it extends as an effective flow up to the flow of warm intake air passed out of connection with the opposite refrigerated display case. By means of the nozzle, the ejecting distance of the intake air can be adjusted to the desired level so that air can be passed out of the opposite display cases so that the whole of the floor area between the display cases is covered with warm intake air.  
           [0011]    Also, the air circulation system in accordance with the invention, which makes air flow in connection with a refrigerated display case, comprises an equipment for supply of warm air, more particularly, a blower in connection with the refrigerated display case and which is in flow communication with a channel or conduit. Air is made to flow by means of the blower out of the channel. The channel is opened at a location below the refrigerated display case. In this manner, warm air is passed to the front side of the refrigerated display case to the vicinity of the floor.  
           [0012]    In the method in accordance with the invention for ventilation in a room space, hall space or in a refrigerated division in a hall space provided with a refrigerated display case/cases, the entire supply of fresh air into the room space, hall space or into the refrigerated division in a hall space is optimally arranged to take place from below the refrigerated display case/cases while the fresh air is passed from a trunk channel into a channel placed in connection with the refrigerated display case. The channel is opened at the bottom part of the refrigerated display case so that fresh air flows to the front side of the refrigerated display case to the vicinity of the floor.  
           [0013]    In a combination of a refrigerated display case and supply means in accordance with the invention, the display case includes means defining an interior space, e.g., a frame, at least one shelf arranged in the interior space, and an air circulation system for circulating air in the interior space. The supply means are coupled to the display case for supplying warm air to a location in front of the display case and comprise a first channel having an outlet opening situated below the display case and a blower coupled to the first channel for directing air into the first channel and out of the outlet opening. In one embodiment, regulation means are arranged in the outlet opening of the first channel for regulating flow of the air through the outlet opening. The regulation means may comprise at least one nozzle or valve arranged to regulate a distance to which the air is ejected from the first channel. The nozzle(s) may be a slot nozzle comprising a rotatable, eccentric regulator piece arranged in opposed relationship to a curved wall whereby rotation of the regulator piece varies an opening between the regulator piece and the curved wall through which the air flows. The air circulation system is arranged to circulate air from a bottom portion of the interior space to a top portion of the interior space. Also, the air circulation system may comprise a second channel and cooling means for cooling air flowing in the second channel. In this embodiment, the combination may optionally include a first heat exchanger operative on the air flow in the first channel, and a second heat exchanger operative on the air flow in the second channel, the first and second heat exchangers being arranged to transfer energy such that the air flow in the first channel is cooled as the air flow in the second channel is heated.  
           [0014]    An important feature of the invention is that the first channel has a vertically extending branch adapted to extend along a vertical wall of the display case and above the top of the display case. As such, the combination of the display case and supply means may be positioned flush against a wall an the intake air flow obtained from the space between the top of the display case and the ceiling of the space in which the display case is situated. The first channel would then also includes a horizontally extending branch in flow communication with the vertically extending branch and extending below the display case.  
           [0015]    In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to some exemplifying embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures in the accompanying drawing. However, the invention is by no means strictly confined to the details of the illustrated embodiments alone.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1A shows a refrigerated display case in accordance with the invention, which is provided with an air circulation system in accordance with the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  1 B- 1 B in FIG. 1A.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a refrigerated display case in accordance with the invention situated in a room space.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3A is a side view of an intake channel used in the air circulation system in accordance with the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3B shows the intake channel as viewed in the direction of the arrow K, in FIG. 3A.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3C shows the intake channel as viewed in the direction of the arrow K 2  in FIG. 3A.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4A shows a slot-like nozzle construction.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along the line  4 B- 4 B in FIG. 4A.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 illustrates a method in accordance with the invention in which warm air is passed from two trunk channels to the bottom parts of the display cases and in which the ejecting distances of the intake air are regulated by means of a nozzle construction as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B so that the entire passage between the display cases is covered with warm air.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements, FIG. 1A is a perspective, schematic illustration of a refrigerated display case  10  in accordance with the invention and FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along the line  1 B- 1 B in FIG. 1A. The refrigerated display case  10  comprises an air circulation system  11  in the interior thereof. The air circulation system  11  comprises a blower  12  for imparting movement to air, an air channel  13  in which the blower  12  is situated and a heat exchanger  14  operative at a location in the air channel  13  after blower  12  in the moving direction of the air (FIG. 1B). Instead of blower  12 , other means for imparting movement to the air in channel  13  can be provided. Also, the position of blower  12  in channel  13  as shown is not limiting and the blower  12  may be situated elsewhere in channel  13 . Further, channel  13  may be formed from a single passage-defining component or multiple components in flow communication with one another.  
         [0027]    As indicated by the arrows L 1 , air is circulated through the air channel  13  to the top portion of a shelf space D in the refrigerated display case  10 , and air is also discharged from a rear wall F of the shelf space D directly into connection with shelves  15   a   1 ,  15   a   2 ,  15   a   3 ,  15   a   4 . The air is discharged from the top portion of the shelf space D as curtain jets L 1a  in the vicinity of the front wall of the refrigerated display case  10  (not shown). Through the channel  13  which has an inlet opening at the bottom portion of the display case  10  and by means of a circulation of air produced by the blower  12 , air is circulated through the heat exchanger  14  and cooled thereby. The cooled air is forced up, e.g., by the effect of blower  12 , through the channel  13  running along the rear wall F of the space D to the top portion of the space D, where the cold air is discharged into the space D. Component flows L 1 ′, L 1 Δ, . . . of cold air are directed into connection with the shelves  15   a   1 ,  15   a   2 , . . . , i.e., over the shelves, out of a vertical portion of the channel  13  through flow openings or flow nozzles  13   a   1 ,  13   a   2 , . . . The rear wall F of the space D can be formed by a panel defining the channel  13 .  
         [0028]    In accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the air circulation system comprises supply means  16  for supplying intake air in connection with the refrigerated display case  10 , more specifically to a location in front of the refrigerated display case  10 . The supply means  16  comprises a blower  17  arranged in connection with the refrigerated display case  10  and an intake air channel  19 . Blower  17  is arranged to blow air from the room from a location above the display case  10  or air that has been heated into the channel  19 . Channel  193  includes a vertically extending branch adapted to be situated alongside a vertical wall of the display case  10  and a horizontally extending branch adapted to be situated below the display case  10 . Optionally, a heat exchanger  102  (dashed lines) or an electric heater  18  is arranged in the channel  19  to heat the air drawn into the channel  19  by blower  17 . The air is passed out of the channel  19  into the room space H through nozzles or valves  24   a  in the outlet opening of channel  19  to locations below the display case  10  (FIG. 1A). In the illustrated embodiment, the flow of air blown from the bottom portion of the display case is denoted by arrows L 2 .  
         [0029]    Instead of blower  17 , other means for imparting movement of air into and through channel  19  can be provided. Also, the position of blower  17  at the top of the vertically extending branch of channel  19  is not limiting and the blower  17  may be situated elsewhere in channel  19 . Further, channel  19  may be formed from a single passage-defining component or multiple components in flow communication with one another to define a flow passage from an inlet at the top of vertically extending branch of channel  19  to the nozzles or valves  24   a  in the outlet opening of the channel  13 .  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 1B, the blower  17  for producing the flow of air is placed directly in connection with the refrigerated display case  10  above the top of the display case  10  and connected with the display case  10 . In order that the air should be appropriately warm, the air can be heated to a desired temperature by means of the heat exchanger  102  or, preferably by means of the electric heater  18 , which is associated with the channel  19  and operative on the air flowing therethrough. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the blower  17  draws or sucks air out of the room space H. However, an embodiment is also possible in which the suction side of the blower  17  is connected to a trunk channel  21  for fresh intake air (FIG. 2).  
         [0031]    The dashed lines in FIG. 1B illustrate a heat exchanger construction in which heat is transferred from a heat exchanger  101  arranged in channel  13  to the heat exchanger  102  in channel  19 . The heat exchanger  101  is placed at the cold side, and its function is to cool the air that is circulated in the circulation within the refrigerated display case  10 , and the heat is transferred from the heat exchanger  101  to the heat exchanger  102  in order to heat the air in the channel  19 . Thus, heat is transferred from the air that flows in the channel  13  into the air that flows in the channel  19 . The system is thus quite economical.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 shows a refrigerated display case  10  in accordance with the invention as positioned in a room space, a hall space or in a refrigerated division in a hall space H. Fresh air is passed into the channel  14  in the refrigerated display case  10  directly from the trunk channel  21  placed in the vicinity of a ceiling K of the room space or the refrigerated division H. The entire supply of fresh intake air into the room space or the refrigerated division H is preferably arranged by means of the system in accordance with the invention. In this case, the entire fresh intake air for the room, the hall space, or for the refrigerated division, which fresh intake air can be heated or which can be passed directly from outdoors, for example, in the summer time without heating, is passed into the room space through the channel  19  and discharged to the front side of the display case/cases.  
         [0033]    Air is passed out of room space or hall space H into an air exhaust channel  22  which includes an exhaust air valve  23 , which is opened into the room space or hall space H at a top portion of the space. Thus, the supply of fresh air for substantially the entire room space or hall space or refrigerated division H takes place exclusively through the supply of air through the bottom portion of the refrigerated display case/cases  10 . The discharge of air takes place through the exhaust air valve  23  and through the exhaust channel  22 . The discharge air flow L 3  is produced by a blower optionally arranged in the exhaust channel  23  and the intake air flow is produced by a blower optionally arranged in the channel  19  or trunk channel  21 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the blower for the intake air flow can be substituted for by a blower  17  connected with the refrigerated display case  10 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3A is a side view of the intake air channel  19  incorporated into the display case  10  (without the blower  17  and heater  18 ).  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3B shows the intake air channel  19  as viewed in the direction of the arrow K 1  in FIG. 3A, i.e., from the top.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3C shows the intake air channel  19  as viewed in the direction of the arrow K 2  in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3C, the air (arrow L 2 ) is passed into an air chamber M placed at the end of the horizontal branch of channel  19  and branched to the nozzles or valves  24   a   1 ,  24   a   2  . . . which can be preferably valves provided with a wing rim (not shown), which produces vortex formation in the flow.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of the invention in which the channel  19  terminates in a slot nozzle  25  including at least one nozzle slot  26 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along the line  4 B- 4 B in FIG. 4A. The air flow taking place through the nozzle slot  26  is regulated by means of an oblong regulator piece  27  placed in the chamber M. The regulator piece  27  is an eccentric piece, which can be rotated into different positions of regulation relative to a curved air-flow guide face E in the chamber M to thereby enable adjustment of the flow through nozzle slot  26 . Thus, depending on the position of the regulator piece  27 , it is possible to regulate, e.g., the ejecting distance of the air discharged from the chamber M. Other means for regulating the flow of air through the outlet opening of the channel  19 , e.g., the ejecting distance, rate or volume, can also be provided.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the air flows from opposite refrigerated display cases  10  are arranged so that the ejecting distance of each intake air flow L 2  covers one half of the width J of the passage between the display cases  10 . Thus, the entire area of the passage J between the display cases  10  can be covered with warm air by regulating the slot nozzle  25  in accordance with FIGS. 4A and 4B provided at the ends of the channels  19  in the display cases  10 .  
         [0040]    Above, the invention has been described by way of example with reference to the figures in the accompanying drawing. The invention is, however, not confined to the exemplifying embodiments shown in the figures in the drawing alone, but different embodiments of the invention can show variation within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the accompanying patent claims.