Air distribution system for temperature-controlled case

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9526354-B2
Application number	US-48051009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2009
Priority date	Sep 11, 2008
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A temperature-controlled case including a base having a deck and an air flow device located below the deck, a tower having a cavity, and an air distribution system. The air distribution system includes a duct and one or more air diverting devices which permit a first portion of an air flow to be received into the tower and direct a second portion of the air flow toward the deck. Sub-portions of the first portion may be directed at the rear portions and front portions of one or more shelves. The tower includes an exterior wall having openings through which air is directed by the air diverting devices. The exterior wall may be faceted and the cavity may be segmented into channels corresponding to the facets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:
a base including a deck and an air flow device located below the deck and configured to provide an air flow;
an air distribution tower comprising a vertical exterior wall defining a cavity;
a plurality of shelves each having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion of each shelf disposed adjacent to the air distribution tower;
at least one of the plurality of shelves including a shelf base, a shelf cover, and a space defined therebetween, the shelf cover including a plurality of openings at the front portion of the at least one shelf;
a first set of openings in the vertical exterior wall between the shelf base and the shelf cover, the first set of openings providing a first flow path from the cavity, into the space between the shelf base and the shelf cover, and through the plurality of openings at the front portion of the at least one shelf;
a second set of openings in the vertical exterior wall between the plurality of shelves, the second set of openings providing a second flow path from the cavity to the rear portion of the at least one shelf without passing through any of the plurality of shelves; and
an air diverting device disposed adjacent to the vertical exterior wall and comprising a first opening below the deck, a second opening above the deck, and a body defining a passage through the deck between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the air diverting device receives a second portion of the air flow at the first opening below the deck, directs the second portion of the air flow through the passage from the first opening to the second opening, and outputs the second portion of the airflow perpendicularly outward from the vertical exterior wall at the second opening above the deck.

2. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the air distribution tower includes a first diffuser that at least partially defines the first flow path of the air flow toward the front portion of the at least one shelf and a second diffuser that at least partially defines the second flow path of the air flow toward the rear portion of the at least one shelf.

3. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the shelf base and the shelf cover define a wedge shaped space therebetween.

4. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise circular holes arranged in a pattern and disposed toward the front portion of the at least one shelf.

5. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shelves includes a first shelf comprising openings arranged in a first pattern and a second shelf comprising openings arranged in a second pattern, the second shelf being above the first shelf and the openings of the second pattern being generally larger than the openings of the first pattern.

6. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shelves includes a first shelf comprising openings arranged in a first pattern and a second shelf comprising openings arranged in a second pattern, the second shelf being above the first shelf and the second pattern comprising more openings than the first pattern.

7. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the air distribution tower includes the vertical exterior wall having a plurality of substantially planar segments.

8. The temperature-controlled case of claim 7 , wherein at least one shelf includes a plurality of substantially planar segments corresponding to the plurality of substantially planar segments of the exterior wall of the air distribution tower.

9. The temperature-controlled case of claim 7 , wherein the air distribution tower includes the cavity segmented into a plurality of channels extending substantially vertically and corresponding to the plurality of substantially planar segments of the exterior wall of the air distribution tower.

10. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:
a base including a deck providing an upper surface of a cavity below the deck;
an air flow device located within the cavity below the deck and configured to provide an air flow, the air flow having a first portion and a second portion;
an air distribution tower having a perimeter with a portion defined by a polygonal shape having a plurality of substantially planar wall segments;
a plurality of shelves each having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion of each shelf disposed adjacent to the air distribution tower;
a plurality of air diverting devices, wherein each air diverting device is disposed adjacent to one of the planar wall segments and comprises a first opening below the deck, a second opening above the deck, and a body defining a passage through the deck between the first opening and the second opening, wherein each air diverting device receives the second portion of the air flow at the first opening below the deck, directs the second portion of the air flow through the passage from the first opening to the second opening, and outputs the second portion of the airflow perpendicularly outward from the adjacent planar wall segment at the second opening above the deck; and
wherein each air diverting device permits the first portion of the air flow to be directed into the air distribution tower.

11. The temperature-controlled case of claim 10 , further comprising a duct configured to receive the first portion of the air flow and direct the first portion of the air flow into the air distribution tower.

12. The temperature-controlled case of claim 10 , wherein the air diverting device is configured to receive the second portion of the air flow having a first flow direction at the first opening, to direct the second portion of the air flow through the deck of the base, and to output the second portion of the airflow having a second flow direction at the second opening, wherein the second flow direction is opposite the first flow direction.

13. The temperature-controlled case of claim 10 , further comprising an air return disposed proximate a front portion of the deck, wherein the second portion of the air flow is at least partially drawn into the air return by the air flow device.

14. The temperature-controlled case of claim 10 , wherein the air diverting device comprises one or more scoops, each scoop including the body extending through the deck of the base, the first opening below the deck, and the second opening above the deck.

15. The temperature-controlled case of claim 14 , the passage at least partially defining a curved air flow path.

16. The temperature-controlled case of claim 15 , wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening.

17. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:
a base including a deck;
an air flow device located below the deck and configured to provide an air flow;
a faceted air distribution tower including a substantially vertical exterior wall, the exterior wall defined at least partially by a plurality of vertical planar segments and defining a cavity, the cavity being segmented by at least one interior wall that extends vertically upward from a bottom of the air distribution tower to a top of the air distribution tower and that separates the cavity into a plurality of separate and adjacent substantially vertical channels, wherein each of the plurality of channels substantially corresponds to one of the plurality of planar segments of the exterior wall and directs the air flow upward from the bottom of the air distribution tower along a corresponding planar segment of the exterior wall, wherein each of the plurality of ver

Assignees

• Barreto Angel A
• Choueifati Jules G
• Howington Larry C
• Hill Phoenix Inc

Inventors

• Barreto Angel A
• Choueifati Jules G
• Howington Larry C

Classifications

• F24F11/0001

  for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47F3/0443 Primary

  with forced air circulation · CPC title

• A47F3/0439

  Cases or cabinets of the open type (A47F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47F2003/046

  with shelves having air ducts · CPC title