Air curtain for open-fronted, refrigerated showcase

• US 6,301,916 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ramon Munoz Navarro
• Original Assignee: Ramon Munoz Navarro
• Inventors: Navarro, Ramon Munoz
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/709,500
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 622/79, 622/80
• US Class Current: 62/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0447 with air curtains
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/14 Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/003 for cooling refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/0024 Filters in the air flow cooling refrigerating machinery

Abstract

A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a slanted, perforated, Interior panel located near a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Lips are applied and extended from edges of vertical sides of the access opening to reduce the loss of coolant air through the air curtain. Thus, relative flows of the coolant air and the air curtain are maintained inside the showcase.

Claims

1. In a refrigerated storage and display case having an open front section along a major portion thereof, a compressor, condenser coils, a dissipater pan, a line for transferring refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser coils, and an air curtain passing downwardly in the open front section, an improvement comprising:

a refrigerant condenser;

a precondenser coil interposed in the line for transferring the refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser coils, said precondenser coil being placed in the dissipater pan to provide a heat source for evaporating condensate;

a fan motor means for passing air over the condenser coils to cool refrigerant in the condenser coils;

means for filtering the air before passing through the fan motor means, said filtering means being located above the precondenser coil; and

means for passing the condensate downwardly over the filtering means and then onto the precondenser coil.