Cabinet-style apparatus for transferring heat to food and cooling food

• US 5,404,935 A
• Filed: 12/09/1992
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aftec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beltec International, Co.
• Inventors: Liebermann, Benno E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/987,635
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 165/48.1, 165/64, 165/918, 165/919, 99/483, 99/470, 312/236, 219/387
• US Class Current: 165/48.1
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 1/10 by radiators heated by fluids other than steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/006 for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 15/00 Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/20 Carts specially adapted for transporting objects to be cooled
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/028 Cooled supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/918 Heated and cooled food cabinets and/or trays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/919 Wheeled

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a vertical cabinet having the dual function of heating or cooling food articles within the cabinet. The cabinet comprises a plurality of removable, vertically spaced-apart support shelves of a conductive material for supporting food articles. One aspect of the invention provides for heating and cooking of food articles by circulating a thermal liquid fluid through a heating channel having a serpentine configuration in each shelf. Each shelf has quick-disconnect couplings. Another aspect of the invention provides for cooling and refrigeration of food articles by circulating a chilled fluid transfer media from a cooling unit connected to the vertical cabinet to the shelves of the cabinet.

Claims

1. A vertical cabinet for transferring heat to food articles within said cabinet, comprising:

a. a plurality of vertically spaced-apart support shelves located in said vertical cabinet for supporting food articles within said cabinet, said shelves being made from a heat conductive material;

b. serpentine-shaped means for thermalizing each support shelf, said means being integrally constructed with each shelf, wherein at least 65 percent of the straight portion of said serpentine-shaped means is parallel to the length of said shelf;

c. a liquid fluid circulation element at the upper end of said cabinet for circulating liquid fluid through said thermalizing means;

d. inlet and outlet connectors along the length of said shelves for passing said liquid fluid into and out of said thermalizing means;

e. supply conduits within said cabinet to which said inlet connectors are removably connected for transferring said liquid fluid from said liquid fluid circulation element to said thermalizing means;

f. return conduits within said cabinet to which said outlet connectors are removably connected to facilitate return of said liquid fluid from said thermalizing means to said liquid fluid circulation element; and

,

g. quick-connector fittings adapted for securing and removing said shelves to and from said cabinet, said quick-connector fittings comprising male portions attached to said supply conduits and said return conduits of said cabinet, said male portions adapted for engagement with female portions attached to said inlet and outlet connectors of said shelves, wherein upon removal of said shelves from said cabinet, said female portions are disengaged from said male portions in such a manner as to prevent loss of said liquid fluid from said shelves and said male portions, and to prevent entrance of air into said supply conduits and return conduits.

2. The vertical cabinet of claim 1 wherein said cabinet has a cooling assembly means connected to said cabinet for converting said liquid fluid circulation element from a thermalizing means to a cooling means, wherein said cooling assembly comprises:

a. a heating/cooling selector attachment unit connected to the back portion of said cabinet, said attachment unit having a plurality of valves and pipes for diverting the flow of said liquid fluid depending on whether said cabinet is in a heating mode or a cooling mode;

b. a cooling unit separate and remote from said cabinet and connected to said attachment unit wherein said cooling unit has a heat exchanger/evaporator, compressor, condenser, circulating pump and circulating pump motor for cooling and re-cooling of said liquid fluid;

c. an input pipe unit connecting said attachment unit and said cabinet to said cooling unit, wherein said input pipe unit transports said liquid fluid from said cabinet through said attachment unit and to said cooling unit for re-cooling; and

,

d. an output pipe unit connecting said cooling unit to said attachment unit and said cabinet, wherein said output pipe unit transports re-cooled liquid fluid from said cooling unit to said attachment unit and said shelves of said cabinet.

3. A vertical cabinet for chilling food articles within said cabinet, comprising:

a. a plurality of vertically spaced-apart support shelves located in said vertical cabinet for supporting food articles within said cabinet, said shelves being made from a conductive material;

b. serpentine-shaped cooling means for cooling each of said support shelves, said means being integrally constructed with each of said shelves;

c. an attachment unit adjacent the back of said cabinet comprised of a plurality of pipes and valves for circulating a cooled fluid transfer media to and from said cooling means within said shelves;

d. a cooling unit connected to said attachment unit via an input pipe unit and an output pipe unit, wherein said cooling unit cools said fluid transfer media, said input pipe unit transports said cooled fluid transfer media to said attachment unit and said cabinet, and said outlet pipe unit transports said fluid transfer media from said cabinet and said attachment unit back to said cooling unit for re-cooling;

e. inlet and outlet connectors along the length of said shelves for passing said fluid transfer media into and out of said cooling means;

f. supply conduits within said cabinet to which said inlet connectors are removably connected for transferring said fluid transfer media from said attachment unit to said cooling means;

g. return conduits within said cabinet to which said outlet connectors are removably connected to facilitate return of said fluid transfer media from said cooling means to circulate through said attachment means and return to said cooling unit for re-cooling; and

,

h. quick-connector fittings adapted for securing and removing said shelves to and from said cabinet, said quick-connector fittings comprising male portions attached to said supply conduits and said return conduits of said cabinet, said male portions adapted for engagement with female portions attached to said inlet and outlet connectors of said shelves, wherein upon removal of said shelves from said cabinet, said female portions are disengaged from said male portions in such a manner as to prevent loss of said fluid from said shelves and said male portions, and to prevent entrance of air into said supply conduits and return conduits.

4. A vertical cabinet for conduction cooling and heating of food articles within said cabinet, comprising:

a. a plurality of vertically spaced-apart support shelves located in said vertical cabinet, said shelves being made of a conductive material;

b. a heating or cooling means located within each of said support shelves for circulating a fluid transfer media that heats or cools said support shelves;

c. inlet and outlet connectors along the length of said shelves for passing said fluid transfer media into and out of supply and return conduits connected to said heating or cooling means;

d. an attachment unit adjacent said cabinet that diverts said fluid transfer media to a heating element if said cabinet is in a heating mode or diverts said fluid transfer media to a cooling unit if said cabinet is in a cooling mode;

e. said cooling unit connected to said cabinet for chilling said fluid transfer media when said cabinet is in said cooling mode;

f. said heating element connected to said cabinet for heating said fluid transfer media when said cabinet is in said heating model

g. quick-connector fittings adapted for securing and removing said shelves to and from said cabinet, said quick-connector fittings comprising male portions attached to a manifold of said cabinet, said male portions adapted for engagement with female portions attached to said inlet and outlet connectors of said shelves, wherein upon removal of said shelves from said cabinet, said female portions are disengaged from said male portions in such a manner as to prevent loss of said fluid from said shelves and said male portions, and to prevent entrance of air into said supply conduits and return conduits.