Cooling method

Abstract

In a display cabinet ( 21 ) articles such as food placed on a shelf ( 20 ) can be kept cooler by having a heat pipe in the shelf with one end of the heat pipe ( 20 a ) cooled by the cabinet's cooling system ( 22 ).

1 . An apparatus for keeping products cold comprising: 
 (a) a cabinet having a closed back portion, closed upper and lower portions and an open front portion exposed to ambient air;    (b) shelf means in said cabinet for holding products to be kept cold; said shelf means having front and back portions;    (c) heat pipe means in thermal heat exchange relationship with said shelf means; said pipe means having front and back portions;    (d) means for circulating cold air in said cabinet for convection cooling of said products; and    (e) means for directing at least some of said cold air portions of said heat pipe means for providing conduction cooling of said shelf means and said food in addition to said convection cooling.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said heat pipe means include hollow passage means for the flow of a refrigerant therethrough and wick means for causing said refrigerant to flow through said hollow passage means.  
   
   
       3 . An open refrigeration cabinet comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of shelves composed of thermally conductive material for supporting products to be cooled;    (b) means for circulating a cold gas for convection cooling of said products; and    (c) heat pipe means in thermal exchange relationship with said shelves and with said cold gas for conduction cooling of said shelves and products in addition to the cooling of said products by said convection cooling.    
   
   
       4 . The refrigeration cabinet of  claim 3  wherein said heat pipe means include hollow passage means for flowing refrigerant therethrough and wick means for circulating said refrigerant through said passage means.  
   
   
       5 . A method of cooling products in an open refrigerated cabinet including shelves supporting products comprising: 
 (a) cooling said products by flowing cold air in contact with said products and removing heat therefrom by convection cooling;    (b) providing a plurality of heat pipes in direct thermal contact with said shelves;    (c) flowing a portion of said cold air in heat exchange relationship with said plurality of heat pipes; and    (d) circulating a refrigerant in said heat pipes so as to remove heat from said heat pipes and thereby providing a second source of refrigeration to said shelves.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  including the steps of providing wicking material in said heat pipes and circulating said refrigerant through said heat pipes by wicking action.