Abstract:
A cooling unit arrangement including at least two mutually arranged shelf modules, with a base group, a rear wall group and an upper group with respective covering parts and forming a cooling chamber, and a cooling device. The shelf modules have identical modular parts with frame profiles and which support the base group, the rear wall group and the upper group and at least the rear wall group of each shelf module is equipped with components of the cooling device. The module frame forms with frame profiles, lateral frames of the shelf modules and the base group, the rear wall group and the upper group are mounted with the respective covering parts thereof on the lateral frames. All these measures allow an advantageous installation and the cooling device includes at least one compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, connecting elements including connecting lines, a ventilator and a control device with a control unit. Said shelf arrangement is provided with a common evaporator arranged in the rear wall group and extending along several or all shelf modules. The rear wall group, the base group and/or the upper group of each shelf module each is designed for detachably mounting additional components of the cooling device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a cooling unit system composed of a cooling device and at least two shelving modules that can be aligned in a row and in identical fashion, have a base group, a rear wall group, and an upper group with respective casing parts and form a cooling chamber. The shelving modules have identical module frames with frame profiles, which support the base group, the rear wall group, and the upper group, and at least the rear wall group of each shelving module is equipped with components of the cooling device. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0004]    German Patent Reference DE 20 2010 008 333 U1 discloses a cooling unit in which it is also possible to place several of these cooling units next to one another. The cooling unit has a flat cooling element, which is embodied as particularly flat and which is placed in a rear wall group of the cooling unit and can also optionally be integrated into a base group or an upper assembly. The cooling unit also has a system composed of vertical adjusting rails that can be inserted into one another and horizontal adjusting rails attached to them at the top and bottom, protruding toward the front. The vertical adjusting rails are positioned between a rear wall and air-guiding walls situated close to the cooling chamber and are spaced apart by the same distance as these walls. The distance of the air-guiding walls from the rear wall is determined by the width of the heat exchanger or by fans, which produce an air flow along the heat exchanger. If a correspondingly high cooling power is required, then the heat exchanger is connected to a central refrigeration unit. The connection procedure must be performed by a specialized company. When there are a large number of such cooling units, this entails a corresponding installation expense. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,894 discloses a cooling unit system with a cooling device that has different components such as evaporators, condensers, compressors, and the like in order to provide the necessary cooling chambers required in a supermarket sector. The entire cooling unit system with the cooling device includes various shelves and cabinet units accommodating components of the cooling device. The entire refrigeration system entails a significant installation expense. 
         [0006]    Another cooling unit system is disclosed in PCT Patent Reference WO 2012/025240 A2. In this known design, a plurality of modularly embodied cooling units are combined in a system with a plurality of cooling units. Each cooling unit has a cooling device specific to the cooling unit, with an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor. A cooling device specific to the cooling unit can also be associated with at least two cooling units. The cooling units can be connected in parallel or in series via a secondary circuit to a central heat exchanger. 
         [0007]    The condenser and a control unit are positioned in the upper region of the cooling unit, while the compressor is positioned in its lower region. In individual cases on site, circumstances frequently arise that require complex installation work and that impede the installation. 
         [0008]    PCT Patent Reference WO 2005/075910 A1 proposes another cooling unit system with modular cooling units that have an overall length of 1250 mm, for example. The cooling unit modules each have their own cooling unit with evaporator(s), fan(s), expansion valve(s), and control(s). The cooling unit of a cooling unit module can be embodied as a so-called plug-in cooling unit or can be connected via corresponding pipework to a central refrigeration system. By embodying the cooling unit system inside the individual cooling unit modules, it is possible to achieve different temperatures or temperature groups or classes. This design is intended, for example, to eliminate the disadvantage of elongated heat exchangers and evaporators that have a length of greater than 3000 mm in cooling unit systems composed of a plurality of refrigeration unit modules, as is known in the design according to German Patent Reference DE 102 19 101 A1. Even shelving modules with such predetermined designs can cause problems during installation on site due to different circumstances that make it difficult to achieve an optimum adaptation to the conditions while also achieving an efficient energy use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    One object of this invention is to provide a cooling unit system of the type mentioned above but with which it is possible to adapt to different on-site conditions with a simple installation. 
         [0010]    This object and others are attained with the features of this invention as described in this specification and the claims. In this case, the module frames with the frame profiles form side frames of the shelving modules and the base group, the rear wall group, and the upper group are mounted to the side frames with respective casing parts. The cooling device includes at least one compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, connecting means including connecting lines, a fan, and a control device with a control unit, where the cooling unit system is provided with a shared evaporator provided in the rear wall group and extending along several or all of the shelving modules, and the rear wall group, the base group, and/or the upper group of each shelving module is/are embodied for detachable installation of other components of the cooling device. 
         [0011]    These measures achieve a stable basic structure of the shelving modules with simple installation options for the components of the cooling device and assembly of the shelving modules to produce the cooling unit system comprised of or comprising one or more, such as two or three shelving modules, so-called biaxial or triaxial system. For example, the entire cooling unit system can be preassembled and then positioned in the intended location inside the building. Where provided, the connecting means, including connecting lines integrated into the shelving modules or the cooling unit system and provided in the building, can also be used to produce a simple connection to a central heat exchanger of a refrigeration system. From a mechanical standpoint, the entire evaporator can be embodied of one piece or of individual evaporator units, which are fluidically connected to one another for the circulation of the refrigerant, preferably forming a compact unit. 
         [0012]    In one advantageous embodiment of the cooling unit system, only some of the shelving modules, in particular only one of the shelving modules, are provided with a compressor and/or a control unit. These measures provide for a simple design with a simultaneously simple installation in the building. In particular, only one compressor, one control unit, and one condenser are used for a plurality of shelving modules and optionally, the connection to a central heat exchanger of a refrigeration system via a supply line and a return line is also correspondingly simple. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of this invention, which is advantageous for heat removal and heat is removed by the cooling device being connected to a central heat exchanger via connecting lines. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment of this invention that is advantageous for a good function, with an efficient energy use and a simple design, the rear wall group between a thermally insulating outer casing and an inner cover that adjoins the cooling chamber at the back and is provided with ventilation openings, and a vertical intermediate space is provided. The vertical intermediate spaces of adjacent shelving modules complement one another to form a combined intermediate space extending continuously across the entire width of the cooling unit system, which space is closed in a sealed fashion at the lateral ends, and the evaporator extends in the combined intermediate space. 
         [0015]    One advantageous design also has the evaporator fastened to adjacent vertical profiles and/or to the front side of a flat intermediate partition. 
         [0016]    Other advantageous embodiments for the design, the assembly, and the installation are achieved if the receiving device for each shelving module or for only one of them is equipped in the lower region of the rear wall group with a receiving chamber for a compressor and is equipped in the rear wall group or in or on the upper group with a receiving part for the control unit and/or a condenser. In addition to the only one compressor and the only one control unit, the cooling unit system can also be provided with other components of the cooling device. 
         [0017]    Another advantageous measure is if the compressor and the control unit are situated in the same shelving module. 
         [0018]    In this case, additional advantages for the design and installation are achieved if in addition, only one condenser is provided in the cooling unit system for the part of the group of shelving modules or for all of them and is situated in the same shelving module as the compressor and the control unit. 
         [0019]    One stable design with advantages for the assembly and installation is achieved if the side frames each has a rear vertical profile, a lower horizontal profile protruding forward from it at the bottom, and an upper horizontal profile protruding forward from it at the top, a support profile is installed between the upper and lower horizontal profile, spaced apart from the vertical profile toward the front, and the inner cover is attached to the front side or between the support profiles of the two side frames and the thermally insulating outer casing is mounted to the front side, the rear side, or the between the vertical profiles. In this case, the placement of the outer casing onto the front side yields advantages for the thermal insulation and the assembly. 
         [0020]    The design, assembly, and function also benefit from the fact that the evaporator extending across the width of several cooling units is positioned between the vertical profiles and the support profiles. The evaporator can, for example, be easily installed through the installation and removal of the support profiles. 
         [0021]    Other advantages for the function are achieved if between the inner cover and the outer casing of each shelving module, at least one fan, in particular a radial fan, is provided, which produces a cold air flow through the evaporator. 
         [0022]    For the air flow routing, a particularly advantageous embodiment is achieved if one or more fans situated laterally next to one another is/are situated above the evaporator. This yields a uniformly distributed air flow routing through the gap between the vertically extending fins of the evaporator without back pressure, of the kind that can occur when fans are mounted below, and without the risk of electrical malfunctions or damage due to dripping and moisture. 
         [0023]    Other advantages for the design, the assembly, and the function are achieved if the base group, on its upper side oriented toward the cooling chamber, is provided with a floor cover and, spaced apart from and below this, with a deflector plate in order to form a lower horizontal intermediate space, the upper group, on its lower side oriented toward the cooling chamber, is provided with a lower cover and, spaced apart from and above this, with an upper cover and/or an intermediate cover in order to form an upper horizontal intermediate space, and the lower and upper horizontal intermediate spaces are fluidically connected to the vertical intermediate space, which contains the evaporator and is situated between the inner cover and the outer casing, for a circulating cold air flow, with the cold air flow being completed via the front side of the shelving modules or the cooling unit system. 
         [0024]    In connection with the cooling function of the cooling unit system, other advantages are achieved if in the base group on the underside of the deflector plate, an outer, lower flow conduit is formed by a floor plate situated below it, and in the upper group between the upper cover and the intermediate cover, an outer, upper flow conduit is formed. In the rear wall group between the front side of the outer casing and the intermediate partition, an outer, vertical flow conduit is formed, and the outer, lower flow conduit and the outer, upper flow conduit are fluidically connected to the outer, vertical flow conduit to form a circulating warm air flow, with the warm air conduit being completed via the front side of the shelving modules or the cooling unit system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    This invention is explained in greater detail in view of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  shows three shelving modules aligned to form a cooling unit system, in the not yet fully assembled state, in a perspective view from the front and to the side; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of three cooling unit systems including one shelving module, two shelving modules, and three shelving modules, respectively, with schematically depicted components of a cooling device with a connection to a central heat exchanger; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a shelving module obliquely from the front and to the side in a depiction in which it is open at the side; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows an open side view of a shelving module; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  shows an open side view of a lower section of a shelving module; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a front, bottom corner region of a cooling unit system in a perspective view obliquely from the front, above, and to the side; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom corner region of a cooling unit system with the bottom base plate removed, in a perspective view obliquely from the front, below, and to the side; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  shows an upper section of a shelving module, in a perspective view obliquely from the front, above, and to the side; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9A  shows an open side view of an upper section of a shelving module; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 9B and 9C  show an upper and lower corner region, respectively, of a shelving module in a perspective view; 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic view of a shelving module in a cross-section viewed from the side; and 
           [0037]      FIGS. 11A through 11X  show different depictions of assembly steps of a shelving module according to different embodiments of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a unit composed of or comprising three shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3  combined into a cooling unit system. The cooling unit system encloses a frontally accessible cooling chamber  4  at the back, from above and below, and at least when in use, also from the side, for which purpose the two corresponding side walls are mounted on both sides of the system. The front side can be open and freely accessible or for special applications, can be provided with door elements. When in use, shelves are mounted in the cooling chamber  4 , onto which the chilled goods, such as meats, dairy products, or the like, are placed in a sales room. A single shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  can be used as a cooling unit. Side walls can be mounted on both sides and the front side can be open or can be closed by at least one door element. 
         [0039]    To keep the cooling chamber  4  cold, components of a cooling device  5  are integrated into the cooling unit system (see  FIG. 2 ), in particular an evaporator  50 ,  50 ,  50 ″, a compressor  51 , a condenser  52 , an expansion valve device, connectors  53  including connecting lines  53 . 1 , and a control unit  55 . 1  of a control system  55  (see  FIG. 8 ), as well as fans  56 ,  57  for producing or assisting required air flows (see  FIG. 3 ). The condenser  52  can be connected by corresponding connecting lines  53 . 1  via a secondary circuit to a heat exchanger  54 , such as located in another space. If necessary, it is also possible, for example, for a larger cooling unit system to include a plurality of such components of the cooling device  5 . 
         [0040]    In one version of the exemplary embodiment shown, the condenser  52  with corresponding connectors  53  is situated or positioned in or on an upper group  13  in an upper cooling component recess  13 . 30  situated there in the region of an upper cover  13 . 3  so that it is easily accessible from above or behind, while the compressor Si is preferably situated in the lower region of a rear wall group  12 , behind an inner cover  12 . 1  that delimits the cooling chamber  4  at the back, in a receiving space (not shown in detail) of a receiving device. In the middle region of the rear wall group  12 , the evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ is likewise situated behind the inner cover  12 . 1  and is mounted with the receiving device. As clear from  FIG. 1 , the evaporator  50 ″ extends continuously across all three shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 , while the compressor  51  and condenser  52  for all three shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3  of the cooling unit system are jointly situated in only one shelving module  1 , in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in the one on the right, and are connected to the evaporator  50 ″ via corresponding connecting lines with the interconnection of relevant intermediate elements of the cooling device  5  such as expansion valves or restrictors. 
         [0041]    Aside from the upper group  13  and rear wall group  12  mentioned above, each shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  also has a base group  11 . With a floor cover  11 . 1  situated on top, it delimits the bottom of the cooling chamber  4  and at its front, has a covering grating  11 . 10 , which is provided with air passage holes, in particular air passage slots, and a front cover  11 . 4  with a protective or decorative molding in the front edge region. 
         [0042]    Essential components of each shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  are the side frames  10  situated on each side, which have a C-shaped form when viewed from the side, with a vertical profile  10 . 1  along the back side, a lower horizontal profile  10 . 2  connected to and extending forward from the bottom of the vertical profile, and an upper horizontal profile  10 . 3  connected to and extending forward from the upper end section of the vertical profile  10 . 1 . In the depiction shown, the lower horizontal profile  10 . 2  extends farther forward than the upper horizontal profile  10 . 3 . Further testing, however, has shown that an upper profile  10 . 3  that is exactly as long as or longer than the lower horizontal profile  10 . 2  can be advantageous, for example, to support a front part with a roller curtain and lighting system in a stable fashion, without flexing. A support profile  10 . 4  is installed in front of the vertical profile  10 . 1 , spaced apart from it toward the front, between the lower and upper horizontal profile  10 . 2 ,  10 . 3 . The lower horizontal profile  10 . 2  is supported on height-adjustable feet  60 ,  61 . The two side frames  10  of each shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  support the base group  11  by their lower horizontal profiles  10 . 2 , support the rear wall group  12  by their vertical profiles  10 . 1  and support profiles  10 . 4 , and support the upper group  13  by their upper horizontal profiles  10 . 3  and produce a stable structure with simple assembly steps. They also make it possible to align a plurality of shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3  next to one another in a stable fashion or design to form the cooling unit system, it thus being possible to transport the cooling unit system as a stable unit by a hoisting device or vehicle. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , an advantageous exemplary embodiment of a cooling unit system comprises only one shelving module  1  with all of the components of a cooling device except for the possibly provided central heat exchanger  54 , with relevant connecting lines  53 . 1  leading back and forth (module of design type b), while the other shelving modules of a cooling unit system are only provided with an evaporator  50 ,  50 ,  50 ″, with the evaporator  50 ′,  50 ″ advantageously but not necessarily being embodied in the form of a continuous unit (modules of design type a). The evaporator in modules of design type a is connected via corresponding connectors  53  including connecting lines  53 . 1  and possibly electrical cabling for a signal transmission (sensors, control) and electrical energy supply to the remaining relevant components of the cooling device in the shelving module  1  of design type b. All of the shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 , however, are prepared in the same way for accommodating all of the required components of the cooling device  5  and also with pre-installed sections of the connecting lines  53 . 1  and connectors for a fast, easy connection between the cooling components of the shelving modules and possibly with the central heat exchanger  54  so that with little assembly effort, modules of one design type can be converted into a module of the other design type or possibly even of yet another design type with different or additional components of the cooling device. It is also possible, for example in a cooling unit system with a large number of shelving modules, for there to be more than only one shelving module of design type b or of a design type with additional components of the cooling device. 
         [0044]    An evaporator  50 ′,  50 ″ extending across a plurality of shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3  can also be subsequently inserted with relative ease between the relevant vertical profiles  10 . 1  and support profiles  10 . 4  that are spaced apart from them and fastened to the vertical profiles and/or to an intermediate partition, in particular an intermediate wall  12 . 2 . The subsequent installation takes place, for example, by inserting the heat exchanger, in particular the evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″, from a side parallel to the plane of the rear wall or from the front, after the removal of relevant support profiles  10 . 4 , which are then reinstalled. As described in greater detail below, the particular assembly method of the support profiles  10 . 4  permits a simple installation and removal. 
         [0045]    As evident from  FIG. 2 , with the design shown, only one shelving module  1  needs to be connected to the central heat exchanger  54  with the prepared connectors  53 , which include quick couplings and controllable valves, for example, while the other shelving modules  2 ,  3  need only be simply connected to one another via the integrated connector  53 . In this case, the central heat exchanger  54  is generally connected via a secondary circuit to the condenser  52  of the relevant shelving module  1  (design type b). A different refrigerant is used in the secondary circuit than in the cooling unit system. For example, a compact plate- or tube heat exchanger can be used for the condenser  52 . In the central heat exchanger  54 , incoming heat can be removed for another use of the thermal energy, as indicated by the arrow at the top right. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the base group  11 , the rear wall group  12 , and the upper group  13  are embodied of multiple layers with intermediate spaces embodied therein for the air flow routing. The air flow routing is produced or assisted by fans  56 ,  57 , which are embodied in the form of radial fans or diagonal fans and of which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, one is situated in the lower region of the rear wall group  12  and one is situated in its upper region or alternatively two are situated in the upper region of the rear wall group  12 . The upper fan or fans  56  in this case each produces the air flow through the evaporator  50 ,  50 ,  50 ″ from bottom to top, as indicated in  FIG. 10 . In this case, a part of the cooling air flow produced by the evaporator  50 ,  50 ,  50 ″ conveyed farther downward on the back side of the inner cover  12 . 1  and flows through the ventilation slots provided in the inner cover  12 . 1  into the cooling chamber  4  in order to keep the latter at the required refrigeration temperature. In order to achieve an optimum cooling, this cooling air flow that is conveyed into the cooling chamber  4  can be fanned out and suitably adapted, for example by reducing the flow resistance toward the bottom. Another part of the cooling air flow is conveyed via the upper fan(s)  56  through the vertical inner intermediate space  12 . 4  of the rear wall group  12  into an upward intermediate space  13 . 7  connected thereto in the upper group  13 , along the top of a lower cover  13 . 1  that delimits the cooling chamber  4  at the top, to a front top section  13 . 4 , where at the underside of the latter, it emerges from a slit-like outlet opening  13 . 50  with an outlet grating  13 . 5  and forms a cold air curtain  70  on the front side (see  FIG. 10 ). In the front region of the base group  11 , the air flow of the cold air curtain  70  then travels through an inlet opening  11 . 11  which is provided there, is covered by a covering grating  11 . 10 , and extends along the front side, and back into the intermediate space  11 . 6  below the floor cover  11 . 1  in order to then once again flow through the inner vertical intermediate space  12 . 4  of the rear wall group  12  fluidically connected to it in the circuit through the evaporator and the upper fan  56 . In order to ensure a good transmission of the cooling power toward the cooling chamber  4 , the floor cover  11 . 1 , the inner cover  12 . 1 , and the lower cover  13 . 1  of the upper group  13  are composed of or comprise thin-walled plates, in particular of metal or plastic, which are also easy to handle and clean. The plates of the floor cover  11 . 1  are advantageously segmented in the width direction and extend from the inlet opening  11 . 11  in the frontal region of the base group  11  to the lower region of the inner cover  12 . 1  of the rear wall group  12 . The plates of the inner cover  12 . 1  of the rear wall group  12  are advantageously segmented in the vertical direction and extend across the entire width between the two side frames  10  of a shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3 . A plurality of plates situated one on top of the other vertically can be inserted or removed in an easily maneuverable way in order to uncover, clean, install, or remove relevant components of the cooling device  5 . 
         [0047]    As shown in greater detail from  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , the floor cover  11 . 1  is placed onto a plurality of block-shaped support elements  11 . 5  in the front region, such as plastic blocks composed of or comprising hard plastic, and are placed onto other support elements in the rear region, which are embodied, for example, in the form of support angles with forward-protruding support legs, particularly embodied in the form of an angled strip mounted to the lower section of the support profiles  10 . 4  of the two side frames  10 . 
         [0048]    Under the intermediate space  11 . 6  situated beneath the floor cover  11 . 1 , there is a deflector plate  11 . 2  composed of or comprising heat-insulating and sound-insulating material, the top of which simultaneously serves as a catch basin for liquid that forms and has a drain hole  11 . 21 , to which a drainpipe system is connected. On the underside, the deflector plate  11 . 2  is provided with a system  11 . 20  of molded conduits by which, beneath the deflector plate  11 . 2 , a lower, outer horizontal intermediate space is embodied in the form of a lower, outer air flow conduit  11 . 7 , which is covered at the bottom by a base plate  11 . 3  or a plurality of partial base plates or cover plates on the underside of the base group  11 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a plurality of conduits of the system  11 . 20  of molded conduits leading from respective inlet openings  11 . 70  are brought together at the rear of the deflector plate  11 . 2  on its underside and transition via a relatively wide recess or molded area of the deflector plate  11 . 2  into a rear, outer vertical intermediate space or outer vertical flow conduit  12 . 5  of the rear wall group  12  fluidically connected to them, which is embodied between the front side of the outer casing  12 . 3  and an intermediate partition with an intermediate wall  12 . 2  between the outer casing  12 . 3  and the inner cover  12 . 1 , as is also shown by  FIG. 3  and partially by  FIG. 10 . In order to produce the transition between the lower outer air flow conduit  11 . 7  and the lower section of the outer vertical flow conduit  12 . 5 , the lower region of the relatively thick-walled insulating outer casing  12 . 3  can be cut out and, for example, only a thin cover plate can be left, which covers an insulation layer of the outer casing  12 . 3  on the back side. The recess in the insulating outer casing  12 . 3  can, for example, be produced by subsequently cutting it out from the front, thin cover plate and the insulation layer or even during the manufacture by leaving this region free during the foaming and recessing of the front cover plate. In this way, the transition and a lower section of the vertical outer flow conduit  12 . 5  can be suitably positioned and can pass, for example, downstream of the lower fan  57  and to one side of a compressor accommodated in the lower region of the rear wall group  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). Then, the vertical outer flow conduit  12 . 5  is spread out toward the top over the entire width of the rear wall group  12  by baffle elements. 
         [0050]    The fan  57  situated in the lower region of the rear wall group  12  is situated in the outer vertical intermediate space or in the vertical outer flow conduit  12 . 5  formed by it, which extends upward through the intermediate partition with the intermediate wall  12 . 2  behind the evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ and in front of the outer casing  12 . 3  and is connected to an outer upper intermediate space or outer upper flow conduit  13 . 8 , forming a fluidic connection, as is clear from  FIGS. 8 and 9A  in connection with  FIG. 10 . In the upper group  13 , the outer upper flow conduit  13 . 8  is divided from the inner upper flow conduit  13 . 7  by an intermediate cover  13 . 2  and extends between the intermediate cover  13 . 2  and the underside of the upper cover  13 . 3  to the front top section  13 . 4  and exits from the latter through an outlet slit  13 . 80  provided on the underside, spaced apart from the outlet opening  13 . 50  with the outlet grating  13 . 5 , in order to form, on the front side of the relevant shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  or cooling unit system, a warm air curtain  71  situated in front of the cold air curtain  70 . In the front region of the base group  11 , the air flow produced by the warm air curtain  71  enters a slit-like inlet opening situated in front of the cover grating  11 . 10 , into the lower outer intermediate space or lower outer flow conduit in order to form a warm air circuit. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 10 , the lower cover  13 . 1 , the intermediate cover  13 . 2 , and the upper cover  13 . 4  in the upper group  13  are held apart from one another by a plurality of jointly used support pins  13 . 6  in order to form the inner upper intermediate space  13 . 7  and the outer upper flow conduit  13 . 8 . The upper cover  13 . 3  in this case is embodied in a thermally insulated way in the form of an insulating plate composed of or comprising insulation, for example in a way that corresponds to that of the outer casing  12 . 3 . The insulating cover  13 . 3 , together with the insulating outer casing  12 . 3  of the rear wall group  12  and the insulating deflector plate  11 . 2  of the base group  11 , forms a shell-like thermal insulation. 
         [0052]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, the insulating outer casing  12 . 3  of the rear wall group  12 , the insulating upper cover  13 . 3  of the upper group  13 , and the insulating deflector plate  11 . 2  of the base group  11  are each mounted to the inside of the vertical profile  10 . 1  oriented toward the cooling chamber  4 , to the upper horizontal profiles  10 . 3 , and to the lower horizontal profiles  10 . 2 , respectively, of the associated side frames  10 . At least on the inside oriented toward the cooling chamber numeral  4 , the outer casing  12 . 3  is provided with a stable covering or is entirely embodied in the form of a stable, load-bearing plate so as to permit the intermediate wall  12 . 2  of the intermediate partition to be mounted thereon in a stable fashion, for example by a vertical spacer profiles that have an H-shaped cross-section, with the relevant spacing for the outer vertical intermediate space. The intermediate wall  12 . 2  can be bent at the vertical edges, such as in a Z shape, with end sections protruding outward in a flange-like fashion, and can be fastened to the side of the outer casing  12 . 3  oriented toward the cooling chamber  4 , such as by screws or rivets. 
         [0053]    The intermediate wall  12 . 2 , which is composed of or comprises sheet steel or another suitable metal, offers a stable support base for the attachment of the evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″, which advantageously extends across a plurality of shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 , as described above. The evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″, which can be composed of or comprises sections associated with the shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 , is thus situated in the region of the cooling air conduit in front of the warm air conduit and is mounted there in stable fashion by connectors of the receiving device, such as by fastening screws and fastening lugs. In an evaporator  50 ,  50 ′  50 ″ extending across a plurality of shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 , there is enough space provided at least on one side, (for example, see  FIG. 1 ) so that connectors can be placed in this region for connecting lines for the refrigerant supply and for the injection of the refrigerant, such as a plurality of injection valves of the injection system, for the evaporation. The evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ in this case is not fastened to the frame profiles or support profiles so that on the one hand, no thermal transmission to the outside via the frame occurs and on the other hand, the support profiles  10 . 4  can be installed and removed without hindrance. 
         [0054]    In alternative exemplary embodiments, in lieu of an evaporator for the cooling, it is also possible for another heat exchanger to be built into the rear wall group  12  or the upper region of the cooling unit, with the refrigerant advantageously being cooled in a remotely positioned central heat exchanger (such as with a water chiller). 
         [0055]    The support profile  10 . 4  is screwed to and supported on the underside of the upper horizontal profile  10 . 3  of the side frame  10  in stable fashion by an intermediate piece that is elongated from front to back and an upper support plate  10 . 50  (see  FIG. 9B ). As already shown in  FIG. 5  and illustrated in  FIGS. 9B and 9C , on its underside, the support profile  10 . 4  is supported by a support plate  10 . 40  that extends from front to back relative to the top of the lower horizontal profile  10 . 2  of the relevant side frame  10 . Advantageously, an intermediate piece  10 . 41  made of hard plastic is inserted, which produces both a thermal insulation and a sound installation. This attachment permits the support profiles  10 . 4  to be easily installed and removed. In this case, the fastening elements for attaching the intermediate pieces to the horizontal profiles  10 . 2 ,  10 . 3  on the one hand and for attaching the support plate  10 . 40 ,  10 . 50  of the support profiles  10 . 4  to the intermediate pieces on the other hand are offset so that no continuous metallic thermally conductive contact is produced between the support profile  10 . 4  and the horizontal frame profiles  10 . 2  and  10 . 3 . 
         [0056]    The metallic support profiles  10 . 4  are provided with rows of holes in a predetermined, preferably standardized, spacing pattern, in which the plates of the inner cover  12 . 1  of the rear wall group  12  are accommodated so that they can be easily hooked and unhooked. In addition, support arms for the shelves can easily be hooked into the support profiles at the desired height. 
         [0057]    Anti-tipping devices  62  protruding downward are mounted at the lower end section of the vertical profiles  10 . 1 , which advantageously permit an adaptation to uneven floors, for example by resilient or elastic intermediate elements and/or adjusting elements. A lighting device  64  can be positioned in the front region of the base group  11  and/or upper group  13 . Advantageously, a roller curtain  63  is situated in the front, upper region in order to close the cooling chamber at the front, for example during non-business hours, and thus to save cooling energy. 
         [0058]    Sealing components are installed at the sides in order to seal the intermediate spaces in the base groups  11 , rear wall groups  12 , and upper groups  13  of the shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
         [0059]    In this case, the sealing components are advantageously inserted, for example, between the adjacent outer casings  12 . 3 , the upper covers  13 . 3 , and particularly also between the deflector plates  11 . 2 . Additional sealing elements can in fact or solely be situated between the side frames  10  of adjacent shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3  aligned next to one another in order to seal the cooling chamber  4  between the shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 , but the side frames  10  are clamped to one another in a stable fashion and with a definite positioning, preferably only by interposed spacer elements such as spacer sleeves. Various embodiments of sealing elements can be used for the sealing components, for example sealing strips with a mushroom-shaped cross-section and leaves. In addition, with adapted sealing components, side walls can be attached to the side frames  10  in a corresponding fashion, such as can be attached to the narrow edges of the outer casing  12 . 3 , to the lower cover  13 . 3 , and to the deflector plates  11 . 2  in a sealed fashion at the respective connecting edge. 
         [0060]    Various lateral partitioning elements can be used for laterally sealing the inner intermediate spaces  11 . 6 ,  12 . 4 ,  13 . 7  for the cold air flow and the outer flow conduits  11 . 7 ,  12 . 5 ,  13 . 8  for the warm air flow. In an exemplary embodiment that has been tested, with a plurality of shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3  in a row, the inner intermediate spaces  12 . 4  of the rear wall group  12  are continuously connected to one another across the entire cooling unit system and only terminated in a sealed fashion at the two ends of the cooling unit system by relevant partitioning elements. This has one advantage of not hindering the use of a continuous evaporator  50 ,  50 ″. By contrast, in an advantageous embodiment, the inner intermediate spaces  11 . 6  and  13 . 7  of the base group  11  and upper group  13  are partitioned on both sides of each shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  and are connected to the vertical, inner intermediate space  12 . 4  by appropriate air baffle plates in order to avoid disadvantageous flow leakages. The inner cover  12 . 1  of the rear wall group  12  is supplemented by intermediate plates in the transition region between the aligned shelving modules  1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
         [0061]    In the tested exemplary embodiment, the outer flow conduits  11 . 7 ,  12 . 5 ,  13 . 8  are respectively partitioned for each shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3 . In the rear wall group  12 , this occurs in the region of or near the intermediate wall  12 . 2 , for example by its lateral edges or by inserted strips, and correspondingly also in the region of the upper group  13  and in the region of the base group  11 , for example by the molded indentations on the underside of the deflector plate  11 . 2 . 
         [0062]      FIGS. 11A through 11X  show one exemplary embodiment for successive assembly steps of constructing a shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3  or cooling unit as well as a system composed of or comprising two shelving modules. If so desired, individual assembly steps here can also be omitted, changed, or swapped. 
         [0063]    First, according to  FIG. 11A , two side frames  10  are each produced from a vertical profile  10 . 1 , a lower horizontal profile  10 . 2  protruding forward in the vertical profile&#39;s lower region, and an upper horizontal profile  10 . 3  protruding forward in the vertical profile&#39;s upper region. The undersides of the lower horizontal profiles  10 . 2  are provided with height-adjustable feet  60 ,  61  and at the lower end of the vertical profiles  10 . 1 , the anti-tipping device  62  protrudes downward. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the upper horizontal profile  10 . 3  is embodied as shorter than the lower horizontal profile  10 . 2 , but in a likewise advantageous embodiment, the upper horizontal profile  10 . 3  can be embodied as exactly the same length or longer than the lower horizontal profile  10 . 2 , in order to be able to attach the upper group  13  in a stable fashion. The two side frames  10  are embodied as spaced apart from each other in accordance with the width of the shelving module  1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
         [0064]    In another step ( FIG. 11B ), the base plate  11 . 3  as the lower cover of the base group  11  is provided with a back side  11 . 30  that is to be turned toward the vertical profiles  10 . 1  and the drain hole  11 . 21 . This covers the underside of the deflector plate  11 . 2  with the molded conduits  11 . 20 , as shown in the subsequent assembly step according to  FIG. 11C . In lieu of the base plate  11 . 3 , however, the molded conduits  11 . 20  can also be separately covered and advantageously sealed by one or more partial plates. As also shown in  FIG. 11C , the molded conduit  11 . 20  that is composed of or comprises, for example, a plurality of sub-conduits feeds into a relatively wide slit-like outlet opening  11 . 22  situated on one side of the back of the deflector plate  11 . 2 , opens upward and is delimited on the back side by a bending of the base plate  11 . 3  or a partial plate. The drawing also shows the inlet openings  11 . 70  of the molded conduit  11 . 20 . 
         [0065]    In a subsequent step according to  FIG. 11D , the thus-prepared deflector plate  11 . 2  is placed onto the lower horizontal profiles  10 . 2  and fastened. 
         [0066]    Then according to  FIG. 11E , the thermally insulating outer casing  12 . 3  is mounted onto the front side of the vertical profiles  10 . 1 . In the lower region, the outer casing  12 . 3  is provided with a compressor opening  12 . 30  extending through it for subsequent installation of the compressor, which is situated next to the outlet opening  11 . 22  of the deflector plate  11 . 2 . Above the outlet opening  11 . 22 , a lower fan opening  12 . 10  is provided in the outer casing  12 . 3 , but is covered on the back side of the outer casing  12 . 3  such as with a thin covering layer of the outer casing  12 . 3  or a separate plate and forms a conduit for the air flow from the outlet opening  11 . 22  of the lower fan  57  to be subsequently installed. 
         [0067]    In another step, the upper cover  13 . 3  is mounted to the underside of the upper horizontal profiles  10 . 3  ( FIG. 11F ). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the upper cooling component receptacle  13 . 30  is cut out from the right, rear of the top side of the upper cover  13 . 3 , leaving only a lower covering layer of the thermally insulating upper cover  13 . 3 . 
         [0068]    In the next step shown in  FIG. 11G , spacers  12 . 31  are fastened to the front side of the outer casing  12 . 3  in the vicinity of or near the vertical edges. 
         [0069]    Then, the support profiles  10 . 4  are installed between the upper and lower horizontal profiles  10 . 3 ,  10 . 2 , in their rear region, spaced apart from and parallel to the front side of the vertical profiles  10 . 1 , using the support plates  10 . 40 ,  10 . 50  and the insulating intermediate pieces between the underside of the upper cover  13 . 3  and the top side the deflector plate  11 . 2  ( FIG. 11H ). 
         [0070]    In the next step of the method ( FIG. 11I ), fixing parts  10 . 10  are mounted, if necessary, between the support profiles  10 . 4  and the vertical profiles  10 . 1 , for stiffening purposes or to serve as holding elements, but can also be omitted if the supporting force is sufficient. 
         [0071]    In a subsequent step ( FIG. 11J ), the lower fan  57  is mounted in front of the lower fan opening  12 . 10  and in subsequent steps, is enclosed with a fan housing  12 . 11  ( FIGS. 11K and 11L ) in order to form the lower region of the outer vertical flow conduit. 
         [0072]    In another step ( FIG. 11M ), the front side of the outer casing  12 . 3  has strip-like vertical spacers  12 . 32  mounted onto it, onto which the intermediate wall  12 . 2  is mounted, spaced apart from the outer casing  12 . 3  to form the upper region of the vertical flow conduit, producing a connection to the upper opening of the fan housing  12 . 11  ( FIG. 11N ). 
         [0073]    A plate-like cooling air baffle plate  12 . 40  is mounted onto the intermediate wall  12 . 2  and spaced apart from it, behind which the evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ (not shown) or another heat exchanger is placed. In addition, the upper fan  56  is mounted on a plate that is spaced apart from the intermediate wall  12 . 2  ( FIGS. 11O and 11P ). The upper fan  56  or instead of it, a plurality, such as two, upper fans situated next to one another, each is covered by an upper fan cover  12 . 20  in a housing-like fashion. Cooling air flowing upward out of the evaporator  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ or heat exchanger is taken in by the upper fan  56 , for example in the axial direction, and conveyed away in the radial direction, in fact with one partial flow traveling downward on the inside of the cooling air baffle plate  12 . 40  oriented toward the cooling chamber  4  and one partial flow traveling upward into the upper, inner intermediate space  13 . 7  of the correspondingly added upper group  13  ( FIGS. 11Q and 11R ). The housing-like upper fan cover  12 . 20  is embodied to route the air flow in the desired direction and with the desired intensity and can also be provided with an intermediate partition between two fans  57  in order to avoid a reciprocal influence (such as short-circuiting). For example, outflow openings of a calibrated size can be provided in the fan cover  12 . 20 , toward the top and bottom and also toward the front if so desired. 
         [0074]    The outer vertical flow conduit  12 . 5  is also connected to the relevant outer upper flow conduit  13 . 8  of the upper group  13 , after which the outer upper flow conduit  13 . 8  and the upper intermediate space  13 . 7  in the upper group  13  are produced using the support pins  13 . 6  ( FIGS. 11S and 11T ). In this case, the slit-like outlet opening  13 . 50  and the outlet slit  13 . 80  for the cold air curtain  70  and the warm air curtain  71  are also provided in the front, lower region of the upper group  13 . 
         [0075]    In other steps, a cooling unit system is constructed, such as out of two shelving modules  1 ,  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 11U ,  11 V,  11 W, and  11 X. In these steps, the side frames  10  on the vertical profiles  10 . 1 , the lower horizontal profiles  10 . 2 , and/or the upper horizontal profiles  10 . 3  are clamped to each other in a definite relative position with the interposition of spacer elements such as spacer sleeves and are sealed along the narrow edges that face one another on their outer casings  12 . 3 , deflector plates  11 . 2 , and upper covers  13 . 3  with the interposition of scaling elements such as sealing strips  11 . 8  with a mushroom-shaped cross-section.