Cooling Cabinet

Abstract

Cooling cabinet, comprising a cooling space (30) enclosed by upright walls (41) and having cooling means which are able and configured to generate and maintain a cooled airflow in the cooling space (30), which cooling space (30) has an elongate lateral section with a longitudinal direction in which at least one console element (60) is placed adjacently of the cooling space (30), which console element (60) comprises at least one air channel which receives the cooled airflow from the cooling means and returns it via at least one outflow opening to the cooling space (30), characterized in that the at least one console element (60) is placed on a central axis of the lateral section of the cooling space (30) and maintains on at least a first side and a second side thereof a distance to an opposite wall of the cooling space (30), that the console element (60) provides on each of the first and second side at least one outflow opening to the cooling space (30) for the cooled airflow, and that at least one product shelf (34) is provided in the cooling space (30) between each of the first side and the second side of the console element (60) and the relevant opposite wall of the cooling space (30).

Claims

1. Cooling cabinet, comprising a cooling space enclosed by upright walls and having cooling means which are able and configured to generate and maintain a cooled airflow in the cooling space, which cooling space has an elongate lateral section with a longitudinal direction in which at least one console element is placed adjacently of the cooling space, which console element comprises at least one air channel which receives the cooled airflow from the cooling means and returns it via at least one outflow opening to the cooling space, wherein the at least one console element is placed on a central axis of the lateral section of the cooling space and maintains on at least a first side and a second side thereof a distance to an opposite wall of the cooling space, that the console element provides on each of the first and second side at least one outflow opening to the cooling space for the cooled airflow, and that at least one product shelf is provided in the cooling space between each of the first side and the second side of the console element and the relevant opposite wall of the cooling space.

2. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the console element maintains on all sides a distance to an opposite wall of the cooling space and provides on each of the sides thereof at least one outflow opening to the cooling space for the cooled airflow, and that at least one cooling shelf is provided in the cooling space between each of the sides of the console element and the relevant opposite wall of the cooling space.

3. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the console element comprises on each of said sides at least one separate air channel which receives a part of the cooled airflow from the cooling means and carries it to the adjacent side of the cooling space via at least one outflow opening.

4. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the console element comprises at least one air channel which is separated therein and which receives a part of the cooled airflow from the cooling means and supplies it in the form of an air curtain from an upper side of the cooling space downward along an opposite wall of the cooling space.

5. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the console element supports at least one platform extending over only a part of said distance to an opposite wall and forming a bottom of the at least one cooling shelf.

6. Cooling cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the console element supports a number of platforms which each form a bottom of a cooling shelf, wherein at least one of the platforms is provided on an underside with lighting means.

7. Cooling cabinet according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the at least one platform is couplable to the console element at different heights.

8. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the cooling space surround a lateral section with a substantially polygonal contour and the console element has a polygonal section corresponding therewith.

9. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein each of the opposite walls comprises at least an access door which provides access to an adjacent cooling shelf.

10. Cooling cabinet according to claim 9, wherein the walls and the access doors take an at least substantially wholly transparent or at least translucent form.

11. Cooling cabinet according to claim 10, wherein the walls and the access doors are each formed at least substantially wholly from a transparent plastic or glass.

12. Cooling cabinet according to claim 9, wherein the at least one access door comprises in at least a set of opposite longitudinal sides of the cooling space a set of access doors which are each suspended pivotally about a pivot axis.

13. Cooling cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the access doors of the set of access doors are pivotally suspended on mutually facing sides.

14. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the cooling space comprise a set of polygonal walls which each follow a side of a substantially polygonal section, and that placed between adjacent polygonal walls of successive polygonal sides is a column element which provides a transition between each of the adjacent polygonal sides.

15. Cooling cabinet according to claim 14, wherein the column element provides in cross-section a rounding of a polygonal corner.

16. Cooling cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the column element comprises on a side directed toward the cooling space a support on which a distal outer end of a platform is received.

17. Cooling cabinet according to claim 16, wherein the support comprises a shoulder which is formed by a ridge or protrusion formed on or in the column body, or is formed by a wall of a cavity formed therein.

18. Cooling cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the column elements take an at least substantially wholly transparent or at least translucent form.

19. Cooling cabinet according to claim 18, wherein the column elements are formed at least substantially wholly from a transparent plastic or glass.

20. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the cooling space comprise a set of polygonal walls which each follow a side of a substantially polygonal section, and that adjacent polygonal walls of successive cooling cabinets are connectable in order to combine a number of cooling cabinets into a greater whole, particularly with cooling spaces in mutually open communication.

21. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the cooling space is bounded at a base by a bottom element which provides space for an air displacing device accommodated therein for generating and maintaining the cooled airflow, and a heat exchanger accommodated therein, which is in heat-exchanging contact with the cooled airflow on one side and is thermodynamically coupled to a cooling device on the other.

22. Cooling cabinet according to claim 21, wherein the cooling device is likewise accommodated in the bottom element.

23. Cooling cabinet according to claim 21, wherein the bottom element comprises a bumper all around and thereby protrudes outside the walls of the cooling space.

24. Cooling cabinet according to claim 23, wherein the bottom element bounds a recess all around under the bumper and provides a space for feet therein.

25. Cooling cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the cooling space is bounded on an upper side by a roof element with a top sheet, and that the top sheet provides on a free surface additional shelf space.

Description

[0026] The invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to an exemplary embodiment and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

[0027] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first exemplary embodiment of a cooling cabinet according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2A is a front view of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 2B is a side view of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 2C is a vertical section of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1 along the line C-C in FIG. 2B;

[0031] FIG. 2D is a vertical section of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1 along the line D-D in FIG. 2A;

[0032] FIG. 2E is a horizontal section of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1 along the line E-E in FIG. 2B;

[0033] FIG. 3 is an isometric section of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1 along the line D-D in FIG. 2A;

[0034] FIG. 4 is an isometric section of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1 along the line C-C in FIG. 2B;

[0035] FIG. 5 is the vertical section of the cooling cabinet of FIG. 1 along the line D-D in FIG. 2A;

[0036] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a second exemplary embodiment of a cooling cabinet according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a low embodiment variant of a cooling cabinet according to the invention in isometric view;

[0038] FIG. 8A is an isometric view of an assembly of a number of connected cooling cabinets according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 8B is a plane section through the assembly of FIG. 8A;

[0040] FIGS. 9A-9C are a plenum for supply of cooling air into the cooling cabinet according to the invention in respectively an isometric view, a front view and a top view;

[0041] FIG. 10 is a vertical section of a further exemplary embodiment of a cooling cabinet according to the invention;

[0042] FIGS. 11A-G are a lateral sections of modules for assembly of a cooling cabinet according to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 12 is a first assembly from a number of modules of FIGS. 11A-11G;

[0044] FIG. 13 is a second assembly from a number of modules of FIGS. 11A-11G;

[0045] FIG. 14 is a third assembly from a number of modules of FIGS. 11A-11G; and

[0046] FIG. 15 is a fourth assembly from a number of modules of FIGS. 11A-11G.

[0047] It is otherwise noted here that the figures are purely schematic and not always drawn to (the same) scale. Some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numeral.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cooling cabinet according to the invention in an isometric view. In the figure the cabinet is drawn from a right-hand orientation, but has the same appearance from a diametrically opposite viewpoint. The cabinet is formed by a bottom element 10 and a roof element 20 between which a cooling space 30 extends.

[0049] The cooling space 30 is here enclosed all the way around by a number of upright walls 41, 42 which are alternated with vertical column elements 50 in the corners and thereby surround a substantially polygonal, i.e. practically rectangular, practically closed section. The long sides of the cabinet are about 1875 millimetres long and the cabinet is about 1250 millimetres wide. The cabinet can be embodied with different height dimensions. This embodiment is based on a height of about 2150 millimetres. Another height dimension is for instance 1500 millimetres, with equal length and width dimensions, as shown in FIG. 6. The width is here defined mainly by a maximum shelf depth, which in turn is imposed by a reach of the user. In practice, this reach has been found to lie around 60 centimetres. The height and length of the cabinet can however be varied as desired, in tune with a floor space to be filled thereby. With a view to application in self-service establishments, such as supermarkets, the bottom element 10 is equipped all around with a bumper 11, see also FIGS. 3 and 4. Bumper 11 protects the glass parts 41, 42, 50 against any possible impact from a shopping cart or the like. Situated thereunder is a recess 12 whereby a foot space 12 is provided, so that a user can place their feet without hindrance when accessing the cabinet with product space 30.

[0050] In this embodiment the upright walls 41, 42 are wholly taken up by a set of swinging doors which swing outward pivotally about a vertical pivot axis 45 each and provide access to the cooling space 30 over the whole relevant side. Fixed panels can optionally also be applied within a side, along a part of that side. Both the swinging doors 41, 42 and the column elements 50 take a fully transparent form so as to provide an unobstructed view into cooling space 30. In this case glass is for this purpose used as material for these parts, although recourse can if desired also be had to a plastic such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polycarbonate. For the purpose of optimal energy management and to avoid condensation from forming on walls 41, 42, 50, the doors 41, 42, panels and/or columns 50 can if desired take a double-walled form with a thermally insulating separation in the form of a cavity therebetween.

[0051] The bottom element 10 takes a hollow form and thereby provides space for cooling means 15, 16 whereby a cooled airflow is generated and maintained, see also FIG. 5. In that respect the bottom element 10 of this embodiment comprises a condenser and compressor unit 14 for an environmentally friendly cooling means which is electrically powered from a power grid 13 present. The temperature drop which can be achieved therewith is exchanged by means of an evaporator/heat exchanger 15 with an airflow S, see FIG. 5, which is maintained by an electric fan 16 and is carried to the cooling space 30. The required cooling technology can be built into the bottom, and optionally also wholly or partially into roof element 20, as separate components. The cooling technology can here particularly be provided in a module which is assembled wholly or partially beforehand and which is inserted as a cartridge into the element in question, which comprises for this purpose an infeed cavity directly accessible from a longitudinal or transverse side, particularly a bay which is taken up at least practically wholly by the relevant cartridge so as to ultimately provide a form-closed whole. Not only is this efficient from a viewpoint of production engineering; it also facilitates maintenance and replacement of the cooling technology of the cooling cabinet. The roof element advantageously takes a hollow form and comprises a part of the air channel along which a part of the airflow is carried to the flanks and particularly the corners of the cabinet. A considered coordination of the different internal dimensions in the air channels can thus provide an air curtain directed downward from above along the walls of the cabinet, which provides an at least substantially homogeneous airflow density all around.

[0052] The cooling means 15, 16 are only shown schematically in the figures because they are assumed sufficiently known to a person with ordinary skill in the art. Depending on the volume of cooling space 30 and a desired cooling capacity, they can be assembled as desired and adequately dimensioned by the skilled person. For the cooling means in particular, use can optionally also be made of a central compressor and condenser installation which is located at a distance and can be shared by a number of cooling cabinets. The cooling cabinets are in that case coupled thereto by means of cooling conduits which circulate the cooled coolant from the central unit around the heat exchangers of the individual cabinets. This can be both energetically and economically advantageous and moreover saves space in the bottom elements, which can thereby take a slimmer form or provide more space for the fan and heat exchanger, if desired. In addition, the cooling cabinets will in that case be quieter in that the sound of the compressor in particular, which is often perceived as annoying, has been moved elsewhere.

[0053] The thus generated cooled airflow S is shown schematically in a vertical section of the cooling cabinet in FIG. 5. According to the invention, the cooling cabinet comprises a centrally disposed, hollow console element 60 in which at least one air channel 61 extends. The console element 60 can optionally be divided vertically into separate sub-air channels by means of one or more baffles. The console element is about 100 centimetres long, with a width of about 20 centimetres. Only roughly 10% of the floor space taken up by the cabinet is thus taken up by the console element 60, and the cooling cabinet otherwise provides on successive levels 31-35 useful product space on which fresh produce can be displayed. The one or more air channels 61 in console element 60 here carry the cooled airflow S from the fan 16 to the different levels in cooling space 30. An outflow opening for a sub-flow S1-S5 is provided for this purpose at every level 31-35 of the product space 30 in console element 60, on each side thereof.

[0054] At every level 31-35 the console element supports on either side a plateau 31-35L,R (platform) and thereby provides shelf space which is cooled all around at successive heights, see also FIGS. 3 and 4. The plateaus 31-35L,R here always maintain a certain distance W to the adjacent wall 41, 42 of cooling space 30 and so leave a return path along which the cooling air S can circulate freely. This creates a flowing air curtain S along access doors 41, 42, which thermally screens off the cooled cooling space 30 from the outside air in the event that the doors are opened. The return air S is collected at the bottom 10 and carried back to heat exchanger 15 and fan 16 and, once cooled again, carried back to space 30.

[0055] Such a division is also realized at the end surfaces of the cooling cabinet, see FIG. 3B, so that cooled shelf spaces accessible at different levels are also present here. These shelf spaces are accessible via the swinging doors 42. The relatively large span to the column elements 50 is mitigated by a support which is provided by the column elements 50. This support is formed by a series of shoulders formed internally in or on the material of the columns 50, in this case in the form of a series of ribs glued thereto. The ribs form ridges on which distal outer ends of shelf supports (carriers) 31-35L,R are received and produce a neat, continuous line pattern as seen from the outside. It is instead however also possible to make use of cavities into which the shelf supports extend with their distal outer ends, or of small protrusions to make the support less clearly visible.

[0056] An alternative embodiment of the cooling cabinet is shown in FIG. 6. This embodiment is largely the same as that of the preceding example. The access doors 41, 42 however do not now pivot about an individual pivot axis 45 adjacently of the columns 50. Instead, these pivot axes 45 are realized adjacently of each other, roughly in the centre of the relevant wall. When the cabinet is used by several users on either side, the swinging doors 41, 42 will hereby automatically form a barrier therebetween. Transmission of microorganisms, such as a virus or bacteria, from one user to the other is hereby inherently counteracted in the event of simultaneous use of the cabinet. In addition, the vertical line provided roughly halfway along the relevant side by the pivot axes 45 provides a bearing construction. The span on the long sides of the cabinet will thereby be supported in particular, and thus gains more stability.

[0057] The preceding examples related to an individual cooling cabinet which can be applied in wholly stand-alone manner. Because it provides shelf space accessible on all sides, it will advantageously be applied in the middle of a retail space or other type of interior. This omnidirectional and at least two-sided character imparts to the cabinet a heretofore unparalleled ratio of the usable shelf space to the floor space taken up thereby. The cabinet can be adjusted as desired in height, width and length to specific requirements. Use is here particularly made of a modular system wherein larger cooling cabinets are constructed from standard modules. FIG. 7 gives an example thereof. In this case the cabinet is embodied with a height of about 150 centimetres, with equal lateral dimensions. It is optionally also possible to make use of an even lower embodiment with a height of for instance 120 centimetres or 90 centimetres. In all these cases the surface of the roof element 20 can advantageously be utilized as additional shelf space or as a worktop.

[0058] The cooling cabinet 80 shown in FIG. 8A comprises a chain of a large number of central modules 81 which can be added to as desired along an aisle. At their outer ends the series is capped with in each case an end element 82. In respect of construction and operation, both the end cabinets 82 and the central parts 81 correspond substantially, mutatis mutandis, with the solitary cooling cabinet described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. In this case it is also possible to opt both for a partially central remote cooling system which is shared by the modules, and for modules 81, 82 operating in wholly stand-alone manner and each individually having a wholly independently operating cooling system.

[0059] A part of the series of FIG. 8A is also shown in cross-section in FIG. 8B. Although the central console elements 60 can take up a whole length of a connected unit of the series of cabinets, use is in this case made, as in the above shown cabinets, of a console element which takes up only a part of this length. This results in intermediate spaces 85, enabling an unobstructed view from one to the opposite longitudinal side. This provides a particularly open effect of seeing through the cabinet, which will thereby form less of a barrier in the space.

[0060] In order to be able to provide a sufficient sub-airflow S1-S5 to the corners in the column elements in particular, plenum panels 90 with outflow openings 91-93 adapted thereto are preferably provided. An example thereof is shown in FIGS. 9A-9C in respectively an isometric view, a front view and a top view. One or more of such plenum panels are provided as outlet opening for the cooled air on each side of console element 60 at every level of the cooling space 30. The panels 90 comprise a matrix of roughly spherical cavities 95 which are in each case provided in their wall with an outflow opening 91-93. The cavities 95 can be realized in relatively simple manner by punching or pressing from a flat plate, wherein the openings 91-93 were for instance provided beforehand. A series of such panels can be provided in a side of the cooling cabinet, or a panel can be applied over a whole length of this side. The panels can thereby be applied with both their convexity and concavity facing outward.

[0061] The orientation and size of an outflow opening 91-93 is in each case adapted to a strength and direction of the airflow aimed at thereby. The outflow openings 91, 92 at the flanks are thus directed more outward toward the corners 50 and have larger dimensions, while the outflow openings 93, 94 in the more centrally located part lie in the centre of the cavity or are even provided in a flat part of the panel 90. This gives the skilled person the freedom to tweak and tune the airflow S in a concrete configuration and thereby achieve optimal cooling air management.

[0062] A further exemplary embodiment of a cooling cabinet according to the invention is shown in FIG. 10. This exemplary embodiment largely corresponds with that of FIG. 5, and in this case the cooling cabinet can also be embodied with diverse height, depth and length dimensions. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, the console element 60 comprises in this case not a single, shared air channel 61 which discharges over the different shelves 31 at successive levels, but instead comprises a multiple air channel system 61, 62. The console element 5 of this embodiment is furthermore divided laterally into a left-hand section 60L and a right-hand section 60R, each for a corresponding flank of the cooling cabinet. If desired, a head and tail section can be added thereto for the purpose of separate airflows in respectively the end surface and rear part of the cooling cabinet.

[0063] Characteristic for this embodiment is that each of the sections 60L, 60R in the console element comprises a double air channel 61, 62; a relatively narrow inner air channel 62 for a cooled airflow L2 with a relatively high flow velocity and a wider, outer air channel 61 for distribution of cooled air L1 over the shelves 31 at a lower air velocity. In this example the air velocity in each of the outer air channels 61 lies in the order of 0.1 m/s in order to avoid excessive drying of the displayed fresh produce on the shelves, while the air velocity in the inner air channels 62 lies in the order of a factor 10 higher. This latter airflow L2 runs directly to the roof 20 of the cooling cabinet and is there carried back downward in the form of a narrow air curtain L2. The shelves 31 maintain a distance to the doors 41 of the cooling cabinet so as to allow this narrow air curtain L2 to pass. The cold air curtain L2 provides a particularly effective and efficient thermal separation between the internal cooling space 30 in the cooling cabinet and the outside environment when a door 41 of the cooling cabinet is opened.

[0064] The cooling cabinet according to the invention is eminently suitable for modular application, wherein a cooled display case or cooling wall is constructed from a number of mutually coupled parts. According to the invention, these parts are each laid out as described above and individually provided with a centrally disposed console element 60 with cooling means. A collection of such modules is shown in FIGS. 11A-11G for the purpose of illustration, whereby a practically unlimited variation of cooling cabinets can be realized by mutually coupling selected modules which are thus each provided with their own cooling provision and so add equally to an overall cooling capacity.

[0065] The collection comprises a head element M1, as shown in FIG. 11A, provided with one or two doors 41 with which a cooling assembly can be completed. For an individual, stand-alone smallest cooling cabinet the collection provides two types of mono-element M2, M5 with a respective corpus length of 1250 millimetres and 1875 millimetres, see FIGS. 11B and 11E. The mono-elements M2, M5 are characterized in that they are provided on each of the two free outer ends with a free space toward the console element 60 as shelf space for a head element M1 to be connected thereto. A smallest elongate cooling cabinet can be assembled from two of such head elements M1 with a small mono-element M2 therebetween, see FIG. 11B. The elements M1, M2 can be coupled immovably to each other by means of hooks (not further shown) to form the cooling cabinet shown in FIG. 12, with an overall length of 1875 millimetres and an overall width of 1250 millimetres. The larger mono-element M5 can similarly be combined with two head elements M1 to form the longer individual cooling cabinet shown in FIG. 13, with an overall length of 2500 millimetres.

[0066] The collection additionally comprises end elements M3, M6 with a respective corpus length of 1250 and 1875 millimetres, see FIGS. 11C and 11F, and central elements M4, M7 with a respective corpus length of 1250 and 1875 millimetres, see FIGS. 11D and 11G. The end elements M3, M6 provide at only one end an intermediate space to the console element 60 so that a coupling to a head element M1 can be formed there. On the opposite side the console element 60 connects practically seamlessly to that of a second end element, see FIG. 14, or a central element, see FIG. 15, the console element 60 of which ends on each of the two outer ends at the outer contour of the central element. A cooling cabinet with an almost unlimited length can thus be composed from two head elements M1 with therebetween two short end elements (FIG. 14), two long end elements M6, or a short end element M3 and a long end element M6, wherein one or more short central elements M4 and/or long central elements M7 can be inserted therebetween as desired to be able to realize almost any desired overall length.

[0067] Although the invention has been further elucidated above on the basis of only several exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many variations and embodiments are still possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art. The given dimensions, however much geared to common available dimensions in shops and supermarkets, are thus given only by way of example and other dimensions can instead also be opted for.

[0068] Besides wholly transparent walls, use can also be made for the cooling cabinets of tinted, translucent or even wholly or partially opaque walls and/or doors. Single-walled or multi-walled glass are also suitable instead of double-walled glass. And instead of glass, suitable single-walled, double-walled or multi-walled plastic panels and/or doors can also be applied, particularly transparent plastics such as polycarbonate and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The embodiments are based on cooling cabinets comprising only access doors between the corner columns. Instead, one or more fixed panels, optionally transparent, can also be applied in the sides.

[0069] And although use was always made above of a console element disposed centrally in the cooling cabinet, the console element can if desired also be placed out of the centre and here for instance provide more shelf space on a first side more and less on a second side. The length, width and height dimensions can also always be adapted to a specific situation, product group and/or available space. The invention always provides a particularly high ratio of usable shelf space to floor space taken up.