METHOD OF MITIGATING STRATIFICATION OF TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF A MOBILE HEATED CABINET, AND MOBILE HEATED CABINET USING SAME

• US 20120199568A1
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterMetro Industries Corporation (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc. (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: SICKLES, Willard, OLSON, Jeffrey C., KILGALLON, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,992,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/201
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/003 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0252 Domestic applications

Abstract

A mobile heated cabinet and method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of the mobile heated cabinet are disclosed, wherein the mobile heated cabinet can be used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location. The disclosed mobile heated cabinet and method mitigate stratification of temperature by providing a heating device, an air circulating device, an external power source, and a self-contained power source.

Claims

1. A method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of a mobile heated cabinet used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location, said method being performed during performance of both the storing function and the storing and transporting function and including the steps of:

providing an electric-powered heating device associated with the interior of the cabinet;

providing an electric-powered air circulating device in the interior of the cabinet;

providing a connection for receiving, from an external source, electrical power for the heating device and the air circulating device, for use when the cabinet is performing the storing function at a stationary location;

providing a self-contained source of electrical power associated with the cabinet for the air circulating device for use when the cabinet is performing the storing and transporting function;

powering the heating device and air circulating device with the external power source when the cabinet is in the stationary location, to thereby mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet; and

powering the air circulating device with the self-contained power source when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source during performance of the storing and transporting function, to thereby also mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet when performing the storing and transporting function.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of temperature sensors in the interior of the cabinet;

powering the temperature sensors with the external power source when the cabinet is in the stationary location;

automatically powering the temperature sensor with the self-contained power source when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source during performance of the storing and transporting function; and

measuring a temperature differential with the temperature sensors within the interior of the cabinet.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing a display to the exterior of the cabinet;

powering the display with the external power source when the cabinet is in the stationary location;

automatically powering the display with the self-contained power source when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source during performance of the storing and transporting function; and

displaying on the display a temperature differential measured by said measuring step.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a logging unit to the exterior of the cabinet;

powering the logging unit with the external power source when the cabinet is in the stationary location;

automatically powering the logging unit display with the self-contained power source when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source during performance of the storing and transporting function; and

logging status information of the cabinet.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in said step of automatically powering, said step of automatically powering device powers the air circulating device for a predetermined amount of time, thereby mitigating stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet when performing the storing and transporting function for a predetermined period.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in said step of automatically powering, said step of automatically powering device powers the air circulating intermittently, thereby mitigating stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet when performing the storing and transporting function.

7. A method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of a mobile heated cabinet used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location, said method being performed during performance of both the storing function and the storing and transporting function and including the steps of:

providing an electric-powered heating device associated with the interior of the cabinet;

providing an electric-powered air circulating device in the interior of the cabinet;

providing a plurality of temperature sensors in the interior of the cabinet;

providing a connection for, from an external source, receiving electrical power for the heating device, the air circulating device, and the temperature sensor, for use when the cabinet is performing the storing function at a stationary location;

providing a self-contained source of electrical power associated with the cabinet for the air circulating device and the temperature sensor for use when the cabinet is performing the storing and transporting function;

powering the heating device and air circulating device with the external power source when the cabinet is in the stationary location, to thereby mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet;

measuring a temperature differential with the temperature sensors within the interior of the cabinet; and

automatically powering the air circulating device with the self-contained power source when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source during performance of the storing and transporting function and when a minimum temperature is measured by said step of measuring temperature, to thereby also mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet when performing the storing and transporting function.

8. A mobile heated cabinet for mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of said mobile heated cabinet used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location, said mobile heated cabinet comprising:

an electric-powered heating device disposed in the interior of the cabinet, which heats the interior thereof;

an electric-powered air circulating device disposed in the interior of the cabinet, which circulates air in the interior of the cabinet; and

a self-contained source of electrical power which powers the air circulating device when the cabinet is performing the storing and transporting function,

wherein an external source of electrical power powers the electric-powered heating device and the air circulating device when the cabinet is performing the storing function at a stationary location, thereby mitigating stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet, and

wherein the self-contained source of electrical power powers the air circulating device when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source during performance of the storing and transporting function, thereby also mitigating stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet when performing the storing and transporting function.