Heat transfer device and method

• US 5,461,878 A
• Filed: 02/01/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delfield Company (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: Delfield Company (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Moore, Earl H., Smith, Wayne W., Frick, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/189,893
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 62/255, 62/256, 62/413, 62/414, 165/55, 165/139
• US Class Current: 62/255
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/06 for restaurant service systems table equipment A47G ; dirty crockery transport in association with crockery washing machines A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0443 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/067 Evaporator fan units
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/063 with air guides
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0664 from the side
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/08 Refrigerator tables
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/02 Geometry problems

Abstract

A heat transfer device for cooling a fluid has powered means for moving the fluid to create a primary fluid flow, a heat exchanger, and direction controlling surfaces for directing the primary fluid flow toward and through a first portion of the heat exchanger, thereby cooling the fluid flow. The direction controlling surfaces then split the primary fluid flow into a first and second subsidiary fluid flow, and direct the second subsidiary fluid flow through a second portion of the heat exchanger, thereby cooling it to a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature.

Claims

1. A refrigerated cooler for containing a product, comprising:

a cabinet having a partition defining a heat transfer chamber and a thermally insulated product storage chamber having an access opening providing fluid communication between said product storage chamber and ambient air;

powered means mounted near an inlet opening defined by said partition for moving air to create a primary fluid flow from said product storage chamber into said heat transfer chamber;

a heat exchanger disposed in said heat transfer chamber;

direction controlling means for directing said primary fluid flow toward and through a first portion of said heat exchanger, thereby cooling said primary fluid flow to a first temperature, said direction controlling means adapted to split said primary fluid flow into first and second subsidiary fluid flows, and to direct said first subsidiary fluid flow through a first outlet defined by said partition into said product storage chamber, and to direct said second subsidiary fluid flow through a second portion of said heat exchanger, thereby cooling said second subsidiary fluid flow to a second temperature, said direction controlling means adapted to direct said second subsidiary fluid flow through a second outlet defined by said partition into said product storage chamber;

baffle means in said heat transfer chamber for maintaining said primary fluid flow and said second subsidiary fluid flow separate; and

flow means for directing said second subsidiary fluid flow in an air curtain across said access opening;

wherein said first temperature is greater than said second temperature, thereby more evenly cooling said chamber.

2. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of said baffle means defines a proportional relationship between respective sizes of said first and second portions of said heat exchanger, thereby defining proportional flow rates between said first and second subsidiary fluid flows.

3. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product has a freezing temperature, said cabinet adapted to maintain said product at a temperature proximate to and greater than said freezing temperature.

4. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cooler further comprises elevating means for supporting said product and thereby forming a channel between a bottom of said product and a floor of said cooler for facilitating passage of said first subsidiary fluid flow.

5. A refrigerated cooler for containing a product, comprising:

a cabinet having a partition defining a heat transfer chamber and a thermally insulated product storage chamber having an access opening disposed at an upper front portion of said cabinet;

powered means mounted near an inlet opening defined by said partition at an upper rear portion of said storage chamber for moving a fluid to create a primary fluid flow from said product storage chamber into said heat transfer chamber;

a heat exchanger disposed in said heat transfer chamber;

direction controlling means for directing said primary fluid flow toward and through a first portion of said heat exchanger, thereby cooling said primary fluid flow to a first temperature, said direction controlling means adapted to split said primary fluid flow into first and second subsidiary fluid flows, and to direct said first subsidiary fluid flow through a first outlet defined by said partition proximate to a floor of said chamber into said product storage chamber, and to direct said second subsidiary fluid flow through a second portion of said heat exchanger, thereby cooling said second subsidiary fluid flow to a second temperature, said direction controlling means adapted to direct said second subsidiary fluid flow through a second outlet defined by said partition along an edge of said access opening into said product storage chamber; and

baffle means in said heat transfer chamber for maintaining said primary fluid flow and said second subsidiary fluid flow separate;

wherein said first temperature is greater than said second temperature, thereby more evenly cooling said chamber.

6. A storage unit for storing a product comprising:

a cabinet having a partition to define a heat transfer chamber and a product storage chamber and an opening, said partition having an inlet and a first and second outlet formed therein to provide fluid communication between said heat transfer chamber and said product storage chamber;

powered means for creating a primary fluid flow of a fluid from said product storage chamber through said inlet and into said heat transfer chamber; and

a heat transfer device disposed within said heat transfer chamber including;

a heat exchanger;

direction controlling means for directing said primary fluid flow across a first portion of said heat exchanger to affect a first temperature change of said primary fluid flow, for splitting said primary fluid flow into first and second subsidiary fluid flows such that said first subsidiary fluid flow is discharged through said first outlet into said product storage chamber, for directing said second subsidiary fluid flow across a second portion of said heat exchanger to affect a second temperature change of said second subsidiary fluid flow, and for discharging said second subsidiary fluid flow through said second outlet into said product storage chamber across said opening as a curtain of fluid; and

a baffle located between said inlet and said second outlet.

7. The storage unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second subsidiary fluid flow flows through said second portion of said heat exchanger in a direction opposite said primary fluid flow over said first portion of said heat exchanger.

8. The storage unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said baffle defines a proportional size of said first and second portions of said heat exchanger, thereby defining proportional flow rates between said first and second subsidiary fluid flows.

9. The storage unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first outlet is disposed proximate to a floor of said cabinet.

10. The storage unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said opening is disposed at an upper front portion of said cabinet;

said inlet is disposed at an upper rear portion of said product storage chamber;

said first outlet is disposed proximate to a floor of said product storage chamber; and

said second outlet is disposed along an edge of said opening.

11. The storage unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cabinet further comprises means for supporting the product above said floor thereby facilitating passage of said first subsidiary flow from said heat transfer chamber into said product storage chamber.

12. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said heat transfer device is adapted to cool said primary and said second subsidiary fluid flows, said second temperature being lower than said first temperature.

13. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said heat transfer device is adapted to contain a product having a freezing temperature, said first temperature being greater than said freezing temperature, said second temperature being lower than said freezing temperature, so that said product is maintained at a range of temperatures proximate to said freezing temperature without freezing said product, during normal operation of said heat transfer device.

14. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said product is maintained at a range of temperatures less than 40°

F. without freezing said product.

15. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said heat exchanger is adapted to heat said primary and second subsidiary fluid flows, said second temperature being greater than said first temperature.

16. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fluid is air.