Evaporator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041737-B2
Application number	US-96976010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2010
Priority date	Dec 16, 2010
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

The present application provides an evaporator. The evaporator may include a housing, a coil assembly mounted within the housing, and a replaceable fan module positioned within the housing. The replaceable fan module may include a fan mounted therein.

First claim

We claim:

1. A cooler comprising:
an enclosure comprising a ceiling;
an evaporator coupled to the ceiling and comprising:
an evaporator housing, the evaporator housing comprising a top panel and a bottom drain pan;
a coil assembly mounted within the evaporator housing;
a fan housing positioned within the evaporator housing, wherein the fan housing comprises a grill and four edges extending from the grill into the evaporator housing, wherein the fan housing and grill are together slidably removable from the evaporator housing; and
a drain line extending to an exterior of the cooler,

wherein the fan housing comprises a replaceable fan and a replaceable venturi ring sized to accommodate the replaceable fan such that the fan housing can accommodate a differently sized replaceable fan and a differently sized replaceable venturi ring, wherein the replaceable fan is configured to direct airflow out of the fan housing through the grill, and wherein the fan housing comprises a fan aperture in one of the four edges and the replaceable venturi ring is positioned within the fan aperture.

2. The cooler of claim 1 , wherein the fan housing comprises a fan assembly therein.

3. The cooler of claim 2 , wherein the fan assembly comprises the replaceable fan, a fan motor, and a fan mounting bracket.

4. The cooler of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable fan comprises a backward incline centrifugal fan.

5. The cooler of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable venturi ring comprises an attachment disk.

6. The cooler of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable venturi ring comprises one or more attachment hooks.

7. The cooler of claim 6 , wherein the one or more attachment hooks comprise a substantial harpoon like shape.

8. The cooler of claim 6 , wherein the one or more attachment hooks comprise a groove therein for flexibility.

9. The cooler of claim 6 , wherein the one or more attachment hooks comprise a semi-rigid plastic.

10. The cooler of claim 6 , wherein the fan housing comprises one or more fan attachment apertures to mate with the one or more attachment hooks.

11. The cooler of claim 6 , wherein the one or more attachment hooks comprises three attachment hooks.

12. The cooler of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable venturi ring comprises a fan shape body sized to accommodate the replaceable fan.

13. The cooler of claim 12 , wherein the fan body comprises a tapered shape.

14. A cooled enclosure comprising:
an interior surface;
an evaporator coupled to the interior surface and comprising:
an evaporator housing, the evaporator housing comprising a top panel and a bottom drain pan;
a coil assembly mounted within the evaporator housing;
a fan housing with a fan aperture, wherein the fan housing comprises a grill and four edges extending from the grill into the evaporator housing, wherein the fan housing and grill are together slidably removable from the evaporator housing, and wherein the fan aperture is located in one of the four edges;
a replaceable fan positioned within the fan aperture of the fan housing, wherein the replaceable fan is configured to direct airflow out of the fan housing through the grill;
a replaceable venturi ring sized to accommodate the replaceable fan; and
a drain line operable to direct condensation to an exterior of the cooled enclosure;

wherein the replaceable venturi ring is attached to the fan housing via one or more attachment hooks, and wherein the fan housing can accommodate a differently sized replaceable fan and a differently sized replaceable venturi ring.

15. The cooled enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the replaceable fan comprises a backward incline centrifugal fan.

16. The cooled enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the replaceable venturi ring comprises an attachment.

17. The cooled enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the number of attachment hooks comprise a substantial harpoon like shape.

18. The cooled enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the one or more attachment hooks comprise a groove therein for flexibility.

19. The cooled enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the fan housing comprises one or more fan attachment apertures to mate with the one or more attachment hooks.

20. A freezer comprising:
an interior surface;
an evaporator coupled to the interior surface and comprising:
an evaporator housing, the evaporator housing comprising a top panel and a bottom drain pan;
a coil assembly mounted within the evaporator housing;
a fan housing positioned within the evaporator housing, wherein the fan housing comprises a grill and four edges extending from the grill into the evaporator housing, wherein the fan housing and grill are together slidably removable from the evaporator housing;
a replaceable backward incline centrifugal fan positioned within the fan housing, wherein the replaceable backward incline centrifugal fan is configured to direct airflow out of the fan housing through the grill;
a replaceable venturi ring sized to accommodate the replaceable backward incline centrifugal fan positioned in the fan housing via a number of harpoon shaped attachment hooks; and
a drain line extending from the evaporator to an exterior of the freezer;

wherein the fan housing can accommodate a differently sized replaceable backward incline centrifugal fan and a differently sized replaceable venturi ring and wherein the fan housing comprises a fan aperture in one of the four edges and the replaceable venturi ring is positioned within the fan aperture.

Assignees

• Seccuro Scott
• Collins Todd
• Sharma Subodh
• Heatcraft Refrigeration Products Llc

Inventors

• Seccuro Scott
• Collins Todd
• Sharma Subodh

Classifications

• F25D17/067

  Evaporator fan units · CPC title

• F28F1/04

  polygonal, e.g. rectangular {(F28F1/022 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F25D2317/0681

  Details thereof · CPC title

• F28F2250/08

  Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans · CPC title

• F28D1/0477 Primary

  the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag · CPC title