Modular refrigeration apparatus

• US 5,347,827 A
• Filed: 07/01/1992
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Rudick, Arthur G., Gatipon, Shaun B., Wachenheim, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennet, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilner, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US07/907,501
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 62/237, 62/249, 62/257, 62/407, 62/417, 62/418, 62/440, 62/448, 62/449, 62/450, 62/454, 62/455, 62/499, 62/246, 62/255, 62/
• US Class Current: 62/440
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0408 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/062 in household refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/02 plug-in type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/003 for cooling refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0651 through the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/0021 using air guides
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/00264 through the front bottom part
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/00271 from the back bottom
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/00282 the fans not of the axial type

Abstract

A modular refrigeration apparatus containing a cabinet with a front opening and divided into lower and upper portions, for separately receiving a plurality of removable modular units, said removable modular units including one of a selected plurality of interchangeable storage units and a universal refrigeration unit. A selected one of the plurality of interchangeable storage units is positioned within the upper portion of the cabinet for storing a plurality of containers. The refrigeration unit is positioned within the lower portion of the cabinet and in communication with the upper portion for cooling the entire interior of the cabinet. The cabinet is designed so that the interchangeable storage units and refrigeration unit can be respectfully removed or inserted from the cabinet without affecting the other units.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting a refrigerated coin-operated vendor to a refrigerated self-service display apparatus, said vendor having a cabinet with a front opening, said front opening formed by removal of coin-operated vending components from said cabinet, and having a refrigeration means for circulating cool air within the interior of said cabinet and venting warm air, comprising;

a front panel attached to the front opening for sealing the interior of said cabinet, said front panel having a transparent door pivotally mounted to said front panel; and

a partition positioned adjacent and parallel to the rear interior wall of said cabinet defining an air distribution plenum therebetween, said partition having a plurality of slots disposed at spaced locations along substantially the entire length of the partition for directing a plurality of layers of cool air currents flowing from the plenum toward said front panel.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, said partition further comprising a plurality of air directors, each of said air directors being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of said slots for directing a portion of the air flow from said air distribution plenum toward said front panel.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said air directors is curved for causing the air to flow in a curved path from the air distribution plenum to the interior of said cabinet and toward said front panel.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising an air deflecting plate extending horizontally from the partition and separating the interior of said cabinet into a refrigeration and unrefrigerated portion, said air deflection plate defining an intake opening to the refrigeration means between a front edge thereof and said front panel.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said refrigeration means includes:

condenser means for circulating a refrigerant through a plurality of coils, said condenser means including a condenser fan for exhausting warm air to the outside of said cabinet through a condenser exhaust channel, the air being exhausted along one side of said condenser exhaust channel creating an aspiration effect thereby drawing air from outside said cabinet for cooling a compressor disposed in a side of the exhaust channel opposite from said one side; and

evaporator means, connected to said condenser for cooling and removing moisture from the air flowing within said cabinet.