WEIR SCREENS FOR REFRIGERATORS

Abstract

A refrigerator with a refrigerated interior space can have an air curtain separating air in the refrigerated interior space from air exterior to refrigerator. The air curtain can be established by a fan that blows air though an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet that recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air outlet. A first weir screen can be positioned proximal to the exterior space and a second weir screen can be positioned distal to the exterior space. A channel can be formed between the first weir screen and the second weir screen for receiving air from the air curtain before it is recovered by the air inlet.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerated interior space, air in the refrigerated interior space being separated from air in a space exterior to the refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air through an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet which recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air outlet; a first weir screen positioned proximal to the exterior space; and a second weir screen positioned distal to the exterior space, whereby a channel is formed in between the first weir screen and the second weir screen, the channel for receiving air from the air curtain before it is recovered by the air inlet.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first and second weir screens have respective first edges that are positioned proximal to the air inlet and wherein the first and second weir screens have respective second edges that are positioned distal to the air inlet and wherein the distance between the respective first edges is larger than the distance between the respective second edges.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first and second weir screens have respective first edges that are positioned proximal to the air inlet and wherein the first and second weir screens have respective second edges that are positioned distal to the air inlet and wherein the distance between the respective first edges is approximately equal to the distance between the respective second edges.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first and second weir screens have respective first edges that are positioned proximal to the air inlet and wherein the first and second weir screens have respective second edges that are positioned distal to the air inlet and wherein distance between the respective first edges is smaller than the distance between the respective second edges.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a portion of the air inlet is covered, such that the surface area of the air inlet for receiving air from the air curtain is reduced.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second weir screen is shaped such that a portion of the weir screen covers a portion of the air inlet, such that the surface area of the air inlet for receiving air from the air curtain is reduced.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first weir screen and/or the second weir screen has a rectangular cross-section.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second weir screen has a cross-section that comprises a curve.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second weir screen extends in a vertical direction, with respect to a base of the refrigerator, for a longer distance than the first weir screen.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first weir screen extends in a vertical direction, with respect to a base of the refrigerator, for a longer distance than the second weir screen.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator further comprises an air curtain guide for guiding the flow of air within the air curtain.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil.

13. The refrigerator of claim 11, further comprising at least one light source disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the interior refrigerated storage space.

14. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the air curtain guide further comprises a front portion, wherein the front portion comprises a housing formed of a transparent plastic material for displaying at least one product label.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is an open display refrigerator.

16. A method, comprising: attaching a first weir screen proximal to an exterior space of a refrigerator; and attaching a second weir screen distal to the exterior space of the refrigerator such that a channel is formed in between the first weir screen and the second weir screen, the channel configured to receive air from an air curtain established by a fan which blows air through an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet before it is recovered by the air inlet.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the refrigerator is an open display refrigerator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an open display refrigerator with a single weir screen.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the open display refrigerator of FIG. 1 fitted with a second weir screen.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a single weir screen attached to the base of an open display refrigerator.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a variation of first and second weir screens attached to the base of an open display refrigerator.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows another variation of first and second weir screens attached to the base of an open display refrigerator, with the addition of a blanking plate applied to the air inlet.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows another variation of first and second weir screens attached to the base of an open display refrigerator.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows another variation of first and second weir screens attached to the base of an open display refrigerator, with the addition of a blanking plate applied to the air inlet.

[0040] FIG. 8 shows another variation of first and second weir screens attached to the base of an open display refrigerator.

[0041] FIG. 9 shows another variation of first and second weir screens attached to the base of an open display refrigerator, with the addition of a blanking plate applied to the air inlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a conventional open display refrigerator 1. The refrigerator has an interior space which is maintained at a lower than ambient temperature. Within the interior space, there are four shelves and a base 9. The refrigerator 1 establishes an air curtain 3 by blowing cold air from an air outlet 2 towards an air inlet 5. A first weir screen 4 helps to prevent air from the air curtain 3 from spilling out of the front of the refrigerator. Air inlet 5 recovers air from the air curtain and at least one fan 6 within the refrigerator 1 recirculates the air to the air outlet 2 via a cooling heat exchanger 7 and a duct 8. The cooling heat exchanger is typically placed within the refrigerator 1 and maintains the recirculated air (and hence the air blown through the air outlet 2 to form the air curtain) at a desired temperature. The desired temperature is chosen to be lower than ambient and acts to prevent cold air in the interior space 2 from mixing with warm air exterior to the refrigerator 1. Items 10 to be kept cool may be stored on the base 9 of the refrigerator.

[0043] The first arrow 3b shows the general path of the air curtain flowing from the air outlet 2 to the air inlet 5. The second arrow 3c shows how some of the air in the air curtain spills out of the front of the refrigerator, over the front of the first weir screen 4. The third arrow 3a shows how some air from the air curtain impinges on items 10 on the base 9 of the refrigerator. The fourth arrow 3d shows how cold air that is expelled from perforations in the back wall of the refrigerator hits the base of the air curtain 3.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a similar open display refrigerator 1 to that of FIG. 1, but with a second weir screen 11 attached proximate the air inlet 5. These weir screens are arranged to create a nozzle and hence increase the suction pressure where the air curtain is received in the gap between the two weir screens. The first arrow 3b again shows the general path of the air curtain flowing from the air outlet 2 to the air inlet 5. The second arrow 3c shows how the air that would have spilled out of the front of the refrigerator 1 without the second weir screen 11 is now retained behind the first weir screen 4 and also flows into the air inlet 5. Similarly the third arrow 3a shows how air that would have normally impinged on items 10 stored on the base 9 of the refrigerator is now retained behind the second weir screen 11. Similarly, the fourth arrow 3d shows how air hits the base of the air curtain 3 is now retained behind the second weir screen 11.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a close up of the first weir screen 4 of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, air from the air curtain flows over the front of the first weir screen 4 and out of the front of the refrigerator.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a close up of the first weir screen 4 and the second weir screen 11a of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, air from the air curtain is retained between the two weir screens. In this embodiment, the second weir screen 11a has a cross section that comprises a curve and the gap between the top edges of the first and second weir screens, where the air curtain is received, is smaller than the gap between the bottom edges of the first and second weir screens, proximal to the air inlet 5.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a variation on the weir screens shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen, there is an additional blanking plate 12 that covers a portion of the air inlet 5, thereby reducing the surface area of the air inlet 5 and increasing the suction pressure. In this variation, the blanking plate 12 is separate to the second weir screen 11a, however, it is contemplated that the second weir screen 11a can be of a continuous construction that covers a part of the air inlet 5, thereby negating the need for a separate blanking plate 12.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a variation of the weir screens shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the second weir screen 11b has a rectangular cross section and the first weir screen 4 is parallel to the second weir screen 11b.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a variation on the weir screens shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen, there is an additional blanking plate 12 that covers a portion of the air inlet 5, thereby reducing the surface area of the air inlet 5 and increasing the suction pressure. In this variation, the blanking plate 12 is separate to the second weir screen 11b, however, it is contemplated that the second weir screen 11b can be of a continuous construction that covers a part of the air inlet 5, thereby negating the need for a separate blanking plate 12.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a variation on the weir screens shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the second weir screen 11c has a rectangular cross section and the gap between the top edges of the first and second weir screens, where the air curtain is received, is larger than the gap between the bottom edges of the first and second weir screens, proximal to the air inlet 5.

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a variation on the weir screens shown in FIG. 8. As can be seen, there is an additional blanking plate 12 that covers a portion of the air inlet 5, thereby reducing the surface area of the air inlet 5 and increasing the suction pressure. In this variation, the blanking plate 12 is separate to the second weir screen 11c, however, it is contemplated that the second weir screen 11c can be of a continuous construction that covers a part of the air inlet 5, thereby negating the need for a separate blanking plate 12.

[0052] Any of the weir screens discussed above may be provided as a kit for retrofitting an existing refrigerator. Such a kit includes a first weir screen and a second weir screen in accordance with any of the embodiments discussed above. Further, such a kit may also include a way of attaching the weir screens to a refrigerator, such as screws, nails and/or glue.