WALL-MOUNTED POINT-OF-USE AIR CHILLER FOR AIRCRAFT GALLEY CART COMPARTMENT

• US 20100224726A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Ha, Thang, Whisler, Steven, Bates, Edward J., Oswald, Ian, Birkmann, Timothy Andrew, Lu, Qiao
• Granted Patent: US 9,062,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.500
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/006 for mounting refrigerating machinery components
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0651 through the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0665 from the top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/20 Carts specially adapted for transporting objects to be cooled

Abstract

A point-of-use air chiller unit for an aircraft galley cart compartment is provided comprising a generally flattened rectangular case, comprising two main surfaces having a substantially larger surface area than four remaining surfaces of the case, a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and an evaporator fan, wherein the condenser, compressor, and evaporator are connected in a standard refrigeration manner, and a plane parallel to the main surfaces passes through the condenser, the compressor, the evaporator, and the evaporator fan.

Claims

1. A point-of-use air chiller unit for an aircraft galley cart compartment, comprising:

a generally flattened rectangular case, comprising two main surfaces having a substantially larger surface area than four remaining surfaces of the case;

a condenser;

a compressor;

an evaporator; and

an evaporator fan;

wherein

the condenser, compressor, and evaporator are connected in a standard refrigeration manner; and

a plane parallel to the main surfaces passes through the condenser, the compressor, the evaporator, and the evaporator fan.

2. The chiller according to claim 1, wherein:

the condenser is located in a lower portion of one side of the rectangular case;

the evaporator is located in a lower portion of an opposite side of the rectangular case; and

the compressor is located in between the condenser and the evaporator.

3. The chiller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first unsealed wall partition within the case that separates the condenser from the compressor; and

a second generally sealed wall partition within the case that separates the evaporator from the compressor and condenser.

4. The chiller according to claim 1, wherein the chiller weighs approximately 20 pounds and is sized to fit within a food galley cart compartment.

5. The chiller according to claim 1, wherein the total power consumption is less than 700 watts.

6. The chiller according to claim 1, further comprising a condenser fan.

7. The chiller according to claim 1, wherein the condenser fan is located within the case.

8. The chiller according to claim 1, further comprising valves and safety switches to control pressure in refrigeration lines.

9. The chiller according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the fans are reversible.

10. An aircraft galley cart comprising:

a cart outer case having a rear and side walls;

a cart vent assembly comprising cart vents;

a point-of-use air chiller unit as claimed in claim 1 mounted on the rear wall of the cart;

upper and lower ducts that are respectively connected on one end to the chiller unit for air supply and return air, and connected on an other end to the cart vent assembly.