Patent Description:
A climatization container comprises a container suitable for keeping contents stored therein under particular climatic conditions, for instance within a predetermined temperature or humidity range. Climatization containers are commonly used for storing products such as food and beverages. Particular examples include refrigerators and freezers where the primary requirement is to store food and beverages within a predetermined temperature range. Where in the present document reference is made to a particular example of a climatization container, for instance a refrigerator, this should be understood to include all types of climatization containers unless the context requires that it is limited to the particular example.

A climatization container may comprise a compartment defined by walls and closable by a door. Within the compartment is a shelf support, or series of shelf supports, supporting one or more shelves. On each shelf products, for instance food and beverage products, may be stored.

A climatization container typically requires air to be distributed around a compartment, and for this a fan is provided to draw air in from one part of the compartment and expel air to another part of the compartment. The fan intake and outlet may be spaced apart to encourage air flow around the compartment. For the example of a refrigerator, a cooling system will also be provided to cool the air, and the fan may be provided upstream or downstream of the cooling system. The effectiveness of air circulation within a refrigerator impacts upon the energy consumption of a refrigerator (in addition to other factors, including the required degree of cooling, ambient temperature surrounding the refrigerator and the materials and construction of the refrigerator).

It would be advantageous to provide improvements to air circulation in a climatization container.

<CIT> discloses a cooling air guide unit for a walk-in refrigerator including a mounting part comprising a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface and a cooling air blowing part. The first and second mounting surface of the mounting part are tilted with respect to each other by a predetermined angle.

<CIT> discloses a refrigerator, comprising a box body, a storage chamber arranged within the box body, an air passage arranged within the box body and in communication with the storage chamber, and an evaporator and a fan arranged within the air passage, the air passage being provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, a flow-guiding device also being arranged within the air passage, the flow-guiding device being located between the evaporator and the air inlet.

<CIT> discloses a supercooling freezer including: a body having a cooling chamber having shelves on which objects to be accommodated are placed and a door for opening or closing the side surface of the cooling chamber; an evaporator disposed at the upper portion of the cooling chamber to cool the air of the cooling chamber; a cooling duct for accommodating the evaporator therein; air circulation fans disposed in front of the evaporator in the cooling duct to supply the air of the cooling chamber to the evaporator; a cool air supply duct connected with the cooling duct to induce the air cooled through the evaporator in the cooling duct to the bottom of the cooling chamber; and extension ducts projecting from the cool air supply duct in a direction in which the door is positioned to supply cool air to the objects above the objects placed on the shelves.

<CIT> disclose an electric refrigerator capable of forming a suitable air curtain to prevent leakage of cooled air from a refrigerator compartment. The electric refrigerator has an airflow direction control unit provided at an air outlet formed at the front part of a circulating air duct located at a side of the top surface of a refrigerator compartment. Insofar that a door of the refrigerator compartment is in an opened state, air blown out from the air outlet via the airflow direction control unit is directed downward to form an air curtain.

<CIT> discloses a cooler for bottled beverages having a fan arranged to circulate air through a bottle compartment according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. The fan expels air from a side of the compartment, horizontally towards the bottles and across the compartment. Air is returned from an opposite side of the compartment via a channel formed in the bottom of the compartment.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a climatization container comprising: a compartment for storage of products, the compartment being defined by walls and closable by a door; at least one shelf to support the products; and a fan for distribution of air within the climatization container; wherein the fan is positioned proximal to a top wall of the compartment and angled relative to a vertical direction such that air expelled by the fan is directed towards the top wall of the compartment.

Advantageously, because the fan is angled relative to a vertical direction such that air expelled by the fan is directed towards the top wall of the compartment, for the example of a refrigerator, cooled air may be directed up and over products on an uppermost shelf such that the cool air flow does not immediately strike products proximal to the fan. Accordingly, air may circulate more effectively around the compartment and so cool products throughout the compartment more evenly.

For embodiments including a return airspace underneath a bottom shelf, this again improves the even distribution of air throughout the compartment by avoiding products positioned on the bottom of the compartment from occluding the airflow returning to the fan. For embodiments including a baffle directing air expelled from the fan up and over products on an uppermost shelf, this again improves the efficient distribution of air through the compartment.

For the avoidance of doubt, any of the features described herein apply equally to any aspect of the invention.

For the avoidance of doubt, the terms "may", "and/or", "e.g.", "for example" and any similar term as used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting such that any feature so-described need not be present. Indeed, any combination of optional features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not these are expressly claimed.

Referring to <FIG> these illustrate a refrigerator <NUM> according to the prior art. The following description refers to refrigerators as examples of climatization containers according to the present invention. The invention is not limited only to refrigerators.

The refrigerator <NUM> in each of <FIG> comprises a compartment <NUM> defined by side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, top wall <NUM>, rear wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>. The compartment <NUM> is closable at the front by doors <NUM>, in this example a pair of doors.

Within refrigerator <NUM> there is provide one or more shelves <NUM>. In <FIG> there are two shelves <NUM>, but there may be more or fewer. Each shelf <NUM> is supported by shelf supports (not visible, but they may comprise one or more ladder rack on each side wall <NUM>, <NUM> allowing the vertical position of the shelves within compartment <NUM> to be adjusted). Products <NUM>, for instance beverage bottles, are position on each shelf <NUM>. Additionally, products <NUM> are supported directly on the bottom wall <NUM> of compartment <NUM> in order to maximise the number of products that can be stored in the compartment <NUM>.

Refrigerator <NUM> further comprises a cooling system in cooling system compartment <NUM>. Details of the cooling system are not shown, except for fan <NUM> which is located upon side wall <NUM> of compartment <NUM> in order to expel cooled air into the compartment <NUM>. The fan <NUM> cooperates with air duct <NUM> in order to draw in air from proximal to the bottom wall <NUM> and expel cooled air proximal to the top wall <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the cooling system will include an evaporator within the air duct <NUM> such that air is drawn through the evaporator by the fan <NUM> and so cooled.

Fan <NUM> is vertically orientated and so generally directs air horizontally into the compartment towards the opposite side wall <NUM>. Dashed arrows <NUM> indicate the flow of air around the compartment <NUM>. It can be seen that cooled air expelled by fan <NUM> may directly strike products <NUM> positioned on an uppermost shelf proximal to the fan <NUM>. Disadvantageously, this may result in uneven cooling in that these products may be cooled more that products further away from the fan <NUM>. In order to ensure that all products are adequately cooled it may be required to install a fan <NUM> with greater air flow capacity (or operate it at a higher speed) or increase the cooling capacity of the cooling system. It will be appreciated that such a prior art refrigerator <NUM> suffers from energy inefficiency and uneven product cooling.

As a partial solution to the above problem, it is known to provide a fan grill in the form of a honeycomb with the cells of the honeycomb shaped to steer the airflow, particularly to steer the airflow upwards. However, uneven cooling and energy inefficiency still results.

A further problem with the refrigerator of <FIG> is that products supported on the bottom wall <NUM> of the compartment <NUM> occlude the flow of air returning to duct <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate an example of a refrigerator in accordance with an example of the present invention, which addresses some or all of the above described problems associated with conventional refrigerators. Where <FIG> illustrate corresponding parts to the refrigerator of <FIG>, the same reference numerals are used, and the above description is considered to apply equally to <FIG>. Parts which are unchanged are not described again.

The refrigerator <NUM> of <FIG> differs in that fan <NUM> is angled upwards. In particular, fan <NUM> is shown being positioned under an angle <NUM> relative to the vertical Z direction. Angle <NUM> may be <NUM>° meaning that air is expelled from fan towards the top wall <NUM> at an angle of <NUM>° relative to the vertical Z direction. An airflow angle of <NUM>° has been found to give an acceptable distribution of cooling throughout the refrigerator. However, the precise angle may vary, and air may be expelled at an angle relative to the Z direction within a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, preferably <NUM>° to <NUM>°. This serves to direct the air flow (indicated by dashed arrows <NUM>) up and above products <NUM> upon the uppermost shelf <NUM>. Accordingly, more even product cooling is achieved by not excessively cooling products proximal to the fan <NUM>. Fan <NUM> may thus be specified and operated to be more energy efficient.

In some examples, including that of <FIG>, there may also be provided a baffle <NUM> arranged to further guide air expelled by fan <NUM> up and over products <NUM> and to cause the air flow to be close to the top wall <NUM> and parallel to the X axis as the cooled air enters compartment <NUM>. This further improves the evenness of cooling products.

In some examples, including that of <FIG>, there may also be provided a bottom shelf <NUM> proximal to the bottom wall <NUM> but spaced apart from bottom wall <NUM> to define air space <NUM>. This air space <NUM> may be relatively compact but serves to allow air returning to air duct <NUM> to pass relatively unimpeded by products <NUM> within the compartment <NUM>. That is, refrigerator <NUM> of <FIG> differs from refrigerator <NUM> of <FIG> in that a third, bottommost shelf <NUM> is provided instead of products <NUM> in the lower part of compartment <NUM> being supported directly on the bottom wall <NUM> of the compartment <NUM>. More efficient air circulation results, at the cost of only a small reduction of usable volume within compartment <NUM>. Each shelf <NUM> may be supported by a ladder rack on side walls <NUM> and <NUM> to allow their vertical position to be adjusted (according to size of products). In some examples the lowest shelf support setting on the ladder rack may preserve the minimum required air space <NUM> for efficient air circulation.

The perspective view of <FIG> shows the air circulation in greater detail, indicated by arrows <NUM>. It can be seen that air expelled by fan <NUM> is guided proximal to top wall <NUM> towards the far side wall <NUM>, but also towards the front of the compartment <NUM> (closed by doors <NUM>) and towards the back of compartment <NUM>. This flow of cooled air may be aided by the shape and configuration of fan <NUM> and baffle <NUM>. Cooled air thus travels around all sides of the compartment <NUM>. Cooled air travelling towards the front the compartment <NUM> (towards doors <NUM>) is important for energy efficiency as the doors <NUM> represent the highest energy loss due to being opened and reduced insulation even when closed. Supplying cooled air to the doors <NUM> counteracts this energy loss.

In some embodiments the fan <NUM> may additionally be rotated slightly about the Z axis (as well as about the Y axis as described above) to direct a greater proportion of air towards doors <NUM>. Accordingly, air flow along the Y axis is not uniform in the compartment <NUM>. With reference also now to <FIG>, rotation of the fan <NUM> (and hence also the airflow) about the Y axis and the Z axis is illustrated.

<FIG> is a side view showing rotation of the fan and air flow about the Y axis in order to direct the airflow up and over products on the top shelf. The fan <NUM> is shown relative to the side wall <NUM>, which is aligned with the Z axis shown in <FIG>. The angle <NUM> relative to the Z axis (the vertical direction) is identified. The angle selected is, in some examples, proportional to the width of the refrigerator. That is, for a wider refrigerator it may be necessary to angle the air flow up more to pass over the full length of products on the top shelf. In some examples this may relate to the number of doors <NUM> that the refrigerator has: a one door refrigerator may be narrower than a two, three or four door refrigerator. The angle <NUM> of the air flow relative to the Z axis may be a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>° (where <NUM>° indicates that the airflow is parallel to top wall of the refrigerator and smaller angles indicate an inclination towards the top wall of the refrigerator), preferably <NUM>° to <NUM>°, and preferably approximately <NUM>°.

<FIG> is a side view showing rotation of the fan and air flow about the Z axis in order to direct the airflow preferentially towards the door or doors <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is shown relative to the side wall <NUM> and door <NUM>. Angle <NUM> is rotation of the fan <NUM> about the Z axis and relative to side wall <NUM> which is aligned with the Y axis. The angle selected is, in some examples, proportional to the energy loss from the doors (from their sealing and when opened). The angle <NUM> of the air flow relative to the Y axis may be a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>° (where <NUM>° indicates that the airflow is parallel to the doors and smaller angles indicate an inclination towards the doors).

Claim 1:
A climatization container comprising:
a compartment (<NUM>) for storage of products (<NUM>), the compartment (<NUM>) being defined by walls (<NUM>-<NUM>) and closable at a front by at least one door (<NUM>);
at least one shelf (<NUM>) to support the products (<NUM>); and
a fan (<NUM>) for distribution of air within the climatization container;
wherein the compartment (<NUM>) further comprises an air duct (<NUM>) configured such that the fan (<NUM>) draws air from a position proximal to a bottom wall (<NUM>) of the compartment (<NUM>); and
wherein a bottom shelf (<NUM>) is located proximal to but spaced from the bottom wall (<NUM>) of the compartment (<NUM>) to define an air space (<NUM>) underneath the bottom shelf (<NUM>) in fluid communication with the air duct (<NUM>) such that the fan (<NUM>) draws air from the air space (<NUM>) underneath the bottom shelf (<NUM>)
characterised in that the fan (<NUM>) is positioned upon a first side wall (<NUM>) proximal to a top wall (<NUM>) and angled upwards relative to a vertical direction such that air expelled by the fan is directed towards the top wall (<NUM>) and travels across the top wall (<NUM>) towards a second side wall (<NUM>).