Service case

• US 20030205053A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill Phoenix Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Lane, Mark, Davidson, Michael B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,883,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/246
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2003/0473 Vending or display tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0417 with natural air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0456 Cases or cabinets of the counter type
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0491 Cooled shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/125 the hot fluid being ambient air

Abstract

A temperature controlled service case for storage and display of chilled or frozen products, including at least one compartment for product storage, at least one access opening providing entrance to the compartment, at least one shelf within the compartment for holding product, and refrigeration operatively associated with the compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein. The refrigeration includes at least one cooling coil above the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and cooling within the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough. Coolant supply is also provided for supplying cooling medium to the cooling coil and shelf with separate coolant supply and discharge lines from the coolant supply to the cooling coil and shelf. In accordance with a further embodiment, the shelf is divided into separate sections. In accordance with a still further embodiment, means are provided to warm the coolant for at least one of said cooling coil and shelf.

Claims

1. A temperature controlled case for storage and display of chilled or frozen products, which comprises:

at least one compartment for product storage;

at least one access opening providing entrance to said compartment;

at least one shelf within said compartment for holding product; and

refrigeration means operatively associated with said compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein, wherein said refrigeration means includes at least one cooling coil above said shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and cooling within said shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, including coolant supply means for supplying cooling medium to said cooling coil and shelf with separate coolant supply and discharge lines from said coolant supply means to the cooling coil and shelf.

2. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is divided into separate sections.

3. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, including means to warm the coolant for at least one of said cooling coil and shelf.

4. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, wherein said refrigeration means utilizes a primary and secondary cooling system, where the primary cooling system chills the secondary cooling system and wherein the secondary cooling system provides the refrigeration for the case.

5. A temperature controlled case according to claim 4, including secondary cooling medium flowing through the cooling coil, and secondary cooling medium flowing through the shelf.

6. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, including louvers adjacent and beneath the cooling coil and drain means extending from the louvers.

7. A temperature controlled case according to claim 6, including lighting means adjacent the louvers.

8. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, including a coolant chiller connected to said coolant supply and discharge lines.

9. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, including a coolant liquid inlet header connected to said shelf and a coolant liquid outlet header connected to said shelf.

10. A temperature controlled case according to claim 9, including connectors for connecting and disconnecting each shelf section to said headers.

11. A temperature controlled case according to claim 1, including a first flow regulator connected to the coolant supply line for supplying cooling medium to said cooling coil and a separate second flow regulator connected to the coolant supply line for supplying medium to said shelf.

12. A temperature controlled case according to claim 11, including a chilled liquid supply header connected to said flow regulators.

13. A temperature controlled case according to claim 3, wherein said means to warm the coolant includes heating coils and a fan operative to use warm air from a store environment.

14. A temperature controlled case for storage and display of chilled or frozen products, which comprises:

at least one compartment for product storage;

at least one access opening providing entrance to said compartment;

at least one shelf within said compartment for holding product; and

refrigeration means operatively associated with said compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein, wherein said refrigeration means includes at least one cooling coil above said shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and cooling within said shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, including coolant supply means for supplying cooling medium to said cooling coil and shelf, wherein the shelf is divided into separate sections.

15. A temperature controlled case according to claim 14, wherein said refrigeration means utilizes a primary and secondary cooling system, wherein the primary cooling system chills the secondary cooling system and wherein the secondary cooling system provides the refrigeration for the case.

16. A temperature controlled case according to claim 15, including secondary cooling medium flowing through the cooling coil, and secondary cooling medium flowing through the shelf.

17. A temperature controlled case according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the shelf and cooling coil is connected to a secondary coolant supply header and a secondary coolant discharge header.

18. A temperature controlled case according to claim 17, including first means for connecting at least one of said shelf and cooling coil to the secondary coolant supply header, and second means for connecting at least one of said shelf and cooling coil to the secondary coolant discharge header, wherein said first and second means for connecting comprise water tight connectors and flexible tubing.

19. A temperature controlled case according to claim 14, including cooling medium supply and discharge lines to and from said cooling coils and shelf, wherein temperature control means is provided in at least one of said lines comprising means for restricting or stopping the flow of cooling medium through at least one of said cooling coils and shelf.

20. A temperature controlled case according to claim 14, with separate coolant supply and discharge lines from said coolant supply means to the cooling coil and shelf.

21. A temperature controlled case according to claim 14, including means to warm the coolant for at least one of said cooling coil and shelf.

22. A temperature controlled case according to claim 21, wherein said means to warm the coolant includes heating coils and a fan operative to use warm air from a store environment.

23. A temperature controlled case for storage and display of chilled or frozen products, which comprises:

at least one compartment for product storage;

at least one access opening providing entrance to said compartment;

at least one shelf within said compartment for holding product; and

refrigeration means operatively associated with said compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein, wherein said refrigeration means includes at least one cooling coil above said shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and cooling within said shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, including coolant supply means for supplying cooling medium to said cooling coil and shelf, including means to warm the coolant for temperature control or removing frost for at least one of said cooling coil and shelf.

24. A temperature controlled case according to claim 23, wherein said refrigeration means utilizes a primary and secondary cooling system, wherein the primary cooling system chills the secondary cooling system and wherein the secondary cooling system provides the refrigeration for the case.

25. A temperature controlled case according to claim 24, including secondary cooling medium flowing through the cooling coil, and secondary cooling medium flowing through the shelf.

26. A temperature controlled case according to claim 23, with separate coolant supply and discharge lines from said coolant supply means to the cooling coil and shelf.

27. A temperature controlled case according to claim 23, wherein the shelf is divided into separate sections.

28. A temperature controlled case according to claim 23, wherein said means to warm the coolant includes heating coils and a fan operative to use warm air from a store environment.

29. A temperature controlled case according to claim 24, wherein the means to warm the secondary coolant includes a storage vessel with heating means to warm said secondary coolant.