Merchandiser with supplemental air return

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12514384-B2
Application number	US-202318327758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2023
Priority date	Jun 3, 2022
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

The present invention provides a merchandiser including a case defining primary and secondary air passageways, a first fan, and an evaporator. The case includes a base having first and second air inlets, one or more walls, and a canopy cooperatively defining a product display area accessible through an opening. The evaporator is disposed in the base. A first fan is disposed in the case and generates a primary airflow through the primary air passageway. The first fan, or a second fan, generates a secondary airflow through the secondary air passageway. Air from the product display area, air outlet, or both entering the first air inlet at least partially defines the first airflow which flows through the evaporator via the primary air passageway. The secondary airflow flows through the evaporator and is at least partially defined by air flowing past the first air inlet and entering the second air inlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A merchandiser comprising:
a case defining a primary air passageway and a secondary air passageway, the case including a base, one or more walls, and a canopy cooperatively at least partially defining a product display area and an opening through which the product display area is accessible, the base having a first air inlet and a second air inlet, and the canopy having an air outlet disposed adjacent the opening; a first fan disposed in the case and configured to generate a primary airflow through the primary air passageway, and the first fan or a second fan configured to generate a secondary airflow through the secondary air passageway; and an evaporator disposed in the base, wherein the primary airflow is at least partially defined by air from the product display area or the air outlet, or both, entering the first air inlet, and the primary airflow configured to flow through the evaporator via the primary air passageway, wherein the secondary airflow is at least partially defined by air flowing past the first air inlet and entering the second air inlet, and wherein the secondary airflow is configured to flow through the evaporator.

2 . The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the evaporator includes a partition defining a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is disposed in the primary air passageway and the second section is disposed in the secondary air passageway.

3 . The merchandiser of claim 2 , wherein the first fan is configured to generate the primary airflow and the second fan is configured to generate the secondary airflow.

4 . The merchandiser of claim 1 , further comprising an airfoil coupled to the base adjacent and upstream of the second air inlet to guide air to the second air inlet.

5 . The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the first fan is disposed downstream of the evaporator and is configured to generate the primary airflow and the secondary airflow.

6 . The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the primary airflow and the secondary airflow merge within the case upstream of the air outlet.

7 . The merchandiser of claim 1 , further comprising insulation at least partially surrounding the secondary air passageway.

8 . The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the first fan is positioned in the primary air passageway and the second fan is positioned in the secondary air passageway.

9 . The merchandiser of claim 8 , wherein the first fan is positioned upstream of the evaporator.

10 . The merchandiser of claim 8 , wherein the second fan is positioned upstream of the evaporator.

11 . A merchandiser comprising:
a case defining a primary air passageway and a secondary air passageway, the case including a base, one or more walls, and a canopy cooperatively at least partially defining a product display area and an opening through which the product display area is accessible, the base having a first air inlet and a second air inlet, and the canopy having an air outlet disposed adjacent the opening; a first fan disposed in the case and configured to generate a primary airflow through the primary air passageway, the first fan or a second fan configured to generate a secondary airflow through the secondary air passageway; and an evaporator disposed in the case, wherein the primary airflow and the secondary airflow combine within the case to define a merged airflow at a location upstream of the air outlet and downstream of the evaporator, wherein the primary airflow is at least partially defined by air from the product display area or the air outlet, or both, entering the first air inlet, and the primary airflow is configured to flow through the evaporator via the primary air passageway, and wherein the secondary airflow is at least partially defined by air flowing past the first air inlet and entering the second air inlet.

12 . The merchandiser of claim 11 , wherein the secondary airflow is configured to flow through the evaporator.

13 . The merchandiser of claim 11 , wherein the evaporator includes a partition defining a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is disposed in the primary air passageway and the second section is disposed in the secondary air passageway.

14 . The merchandiser of claim 13 , wherein the first section includes an internal structure defined by one or more of an evaporator tube orientation, an evaporator tube spacing, a fin size, or a fin spacing, wherein the second section includes an internal structure defined by one or more of an evaporator tube orientation, an evaporator tube spacing, a fin size, or a fin spacing, and wherein the internal structure of the first section is different from the internal structure of the second section.

15 . The merchandiser of claim 11 , further comprising an airfoil coupled to the base adjacent and upstream of the second air inlet, wherein the airfoil is configured to guide air toward the second air inlet.

16 . A merchandiser comprising:
a case defining a primary air passageway and a secondary air passageway, the case including a base, one or more walls, and a canopy cooperatively at least partially defining a product display area and an opening through which the product display area is accessible, the base having a first air inlet and a second air inlet, and the canopy having an air outlet disposed adjacent the opening; an evaporator disposed in the base; and a first fan disposed in the primary air passageway and configured to generate a primary airflow through the primary air passageway, the primary airflow at least partially defined by air from the product display area entering the first air inlet, and the primary airflow configured to flow through the evaporator via the primary air passageway, a second fan disposed in the secondary air passageway and configured to generate a secondary airflow through the secondary air passageway, the secondary air passageway in communication with the second air outlet and positioned to receive spillover air flowing from the product display area or the second air outlet along an exterior of a front portion of the base via the second air inlet, and
wherein the secondary air passageway is positioned in the base such that the secondary airflow is configured to flow through the evaporator.

17 . The merchandiser of claim 16 , wherein the evaporator includes a partition defining a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is positioned in the primary air passageway and the second section is positioned in the secondary air passageway.

18 . The merchandiser of claim 17 , wherein the first section includes an internal structure defined by one or more of an evaporator tube orientation, an evaporator tube spacing, a fin size, or a fin spacing, wherein the second section includes an internal structure defined by one or more of an evaporator tube orientation, an evaporator tube spacing, a fin size, or a fin spacing, and wherein the internal structure of the first section is different from the internal structure of the second section.

19 . The merchandiser of claim 16 , further comprising an airfoil coupled to the base adjacent to and upstream of the second air inlet, the airfoil configured to guide air toward the second air inlet.

20 . The merchandiser of claim 16 , wherein the primary airflow and the secondary airflow combine to define a merged airflow at a location downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the air outlet.

Assignees

• Hussmann Corp

Inventors

• Mandelcorn Timothy K
• Gillett Michael A
• Melton Eric J

Classifications

• A47F3/0447 Primary

  with air curtains · CPC title

• A47F2003/046

  with shelves having air ducts · CPC title

• A47F3/0452 Primary

  with cooled storage compartments · CPC title