Hot and cold shelf assembly with replaceable heating elements

• US 10,288,361 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hatco Corporation (Lanxess AG)
• Original Assignee: Hatco Corporation (Lanxess AG)
• Inventors: Wenzel, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Russell, Devon
• Application Number:
  US14/660,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20160273843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 165 481
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0482 Details common to both closed and open types
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/02 Dish-warmers; Devices to keep food hot
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0042 for foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0077 for tempering, e.g. with cooling or heating circuits for temperature control of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0066 Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids F28D7/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/082 with serpentine or zig-zag configuration
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/22 the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2270/00 Thermal insulation; Thermal decoupling
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2280/00 Mounting arrangements; Arrangements for facilitating assembling or disassembling of heat exchanger parts
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/005 Arrangements for preventing direct contact between different heat-exchange media F28F3/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/686 Heat-storage plates

Abstract

A heating and cooling unit includes a panel, a heating assembly configured to heat the panel as part of a heating operation, and a cooling assembly configured to cool the panel as part of a cooling operation. The heating assembly includes a first plate disposed along a first side of the panel, the first plate having a body that defines a slot. The heating assembly further includes a heating element disposed within the slot. The cooling assembly includes a second plate coupled to the first plate and a cooling element coupled to the second plate. The panel, the heating assembly, and the cooling assembly are arranged in a stacked configuration with the heating assembly between the panel and the cooling assembly.

Claims

1. A heating and cooling unit, comprising:

a panel manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material;

a heating assembly configured to heat the panel as part of a heating operation, the heating assembly comprising;

a first plate including a body that defines a slot, wherein the first plate is disposed along a first side of the panel; and

a heating element disposed within the slot; and

a cooling assembly configured to cool the panel as part of a cooling operation, the cooling assembly comprising;

a second plate coupled to the first plate, wherein the second plate is manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material; and

a cooling element coupled to the second plate,

wherein the panel, the heating assembly, and the cooling assembly are arranged in a stacked configuration with the heating assembly between the panel and the cooling assembly such that the cooling element is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the second plate, the second plate is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the first plate, and the first plate is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the panel during the cooling operation.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the heating element includes a rope-type resistive heating element.

3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the cooling element includes a refrigerant coil.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein the heating element is in direct contact with the panel such that thermal energy flows from the heating element directly into the panel during the heating operation.

5. The unit of claim 4, wherein the body of the first plate defines sidewalls that form at least a portion of the slot, wherein the heating element is in contact with the sidewalls such that thermal energy flows from the heating element indirectly into the panel via the first plate during the heating operation.

6. The unit of claim 5, wherein the second plate has a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the cooling element contacts the first surface of the second plate, and wherein the opposing second surface of the second plate contacts the first plate such that thermal energy removed from the panel during the cooling operation flows through an intact portion of the first plate.

7. The unit of claim 6, wherein the cooling element is attached to the first surface of the second plate opposite the first plate with a thermally-conductive adhesive.

8. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a slab of at least one of granite, quartz, marble, slate, and soapstone, wherein the slab is disposed along a surface of the panel opposite the heating assembly.

9. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a thermal break that includes a thermally-resistive material, wherein the thermal break is disposed between the panel and a surround extending around a periphery of the panel.

10. A heating and cooling unit, comprising:

a panel;

a bracket extending along an edge of the panel;

a heating assembly coupled to the panel and configured to heat the panel as part of a heating operation;

a cooling assembly coupled to the panel and configured to cool the panel as part of a cooling operation;

an enclosure coupled to the panel, the enclosure including a base plate and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base plate that cooperatively define a cavity that receives the heating assembly and the cooling assembly, wherein the panel, the heating assembly, the cooling assembly, and the enclosure are arranged in a stacked configuration with the heating assembly between the panel and the cooling assembly;

insulation disposed between the base plate and the cooling assembly;

a first thermal break including a thermally-resistive material positioned to thermally isolate the enclosure from the panel, the thermally-resistive material including at least one of polypropylene, fiberglass, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, silicone rubber, polyurethane, and foam, wherein the first thermal break is positioned directly between the panel and the plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure; and

a second thermal break disposed between the panel and the bracket, the second thermal break including a thermally-resistive material positioned to thermally isolate the bracket from the panel.

11. The unit of claim 10, wherein the panel is flat.

12. The unit of claim 10, wherein the heating assembly comprises:

a first plate including a body that defines a slot, wherein the first plate is disposed along a first side of the panel; and

a heating element disposed within the slot, wherein the heating element is in contact with the panel.

13. The unit of claim 12, wherein the cooling assembly comprises:

a second plate coupled to the first plate; and

a cooling element coupled to the second plate, wherein the cooling element is attached to a surface of the second plate opposite the first plate with a thermally-conductive adhesive.

14. The unit of claim 10, further comprising a slab of at least one of granite, quartz, marble, slate, and soapstone, wherein the slab is disposed along a surface of the panel opposite the heating assembly.

15. A heating and cooling unit, comprising:

a panel manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material;

a heating assembly configured to heat the panel as part of a heating operation, the heating assembly comprising;

a first plate including a body that defines a slot, wherein the first plate is disposed along a first side of the panel; and

a heating element disposed within the slot and coupled to the first plate;

a cooling assembly configured to cool the panel as part of a cooling operation, the cooling assembly comprising a cooling element thermally coupled to the first plate;

at least one of an enclosure and a bracket coupled to the panel; and

a thermal break including a thermally-resistive material positioned to thermally isolate the at least one of the enclosure and the bracket from the panel;

wherein at least one of;

(i) the cooling assembly further comprises a second plate coupled to the first plate, wherein the cooling element is attached to the second plate directly along a flat exterior surface of the second plate opposite the first plate; and

(ii) the cooling element is attached directly to the first plate along a surface opposite the panel.

16. The unit of claim 15, wherein the heating element and the first plate are in contact with the panel such that thermal energy flows both directly and indirectly from the heating element into the panel during the heating operation.

17. The unit of claim 16, wherein the cooling element is attached to the flat exterior surface of the second plate with a thermally-conductive adhesive.

18. The unit of claim 16, wherein the cooling element is directly attached to the surface of the first plate with a thermally-conductive adhesive.

19. The unit of claim 15, wherein the cooling element is attached directly to the first plate along the surface opposite the panel and the heating element.

20. The unit of claim 15, wherein the thermal break includes a first thermal break and a second thermal break, the first thermal break positioned between the panel and the enclosure, the second thermal break positioned between the bracket and at least one of the panel and the enclosure.