Air cooled display case shelf

Abstract

A refrigerated display case is provided that includes a display chamber for displaying product. The display chamber includes a product tray for supporting the product. A cooling chamber is arranged beneath the product and is in communication with a surface of the product tray. The cooling chamber is sealed from the display chamber, in one example, and includes a cooling coil. A fan is in communication with the cooling chamber and cooling coil. The fan circulates a cooling flow through the cooling coil. The cooling flow moves across the surface and absorbs heat from the product tray by convection. The cooled product tray removes heat from the product by conduction.

1 . A refrigerated display case comprising:
 a display chamber having a product tray for supporting product, the product tray having a topside and an underside;   a cooling chamber disposed beneath the product tray; and   a fan in communication with the cooling chamber a cooling coil for generating a flow of chilled air across the underside of the product tray to remove heat therefrom;   wherein the product tray provides a seal between the display chamber and the cooling chamber to prevent the chilled air in the cooling chamber from infiltrating the display chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan generates a horizontal flow of chilled air across the underside of the product tray. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 2 , further comprising a baffle arranged in the cooling chamber, the baffle directing the flow of chilled air across the underside of the product tray. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 3 , wherein the fan blows the flow of chilled air generally parallel to the baffle. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 3 , wherein the fan blows the flow of chilled air generally parallel to the product tray. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 5 , wherein the cooling coil comprises first and second coils and the baffle comprises first and second baffles associated with the first and second coils and the fan is arranged between the first and second coils to generate first and second flows of chilled air in opposing directions respectively through first and second coils and returning to the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan and the cooling coil are disposed within the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling coil is disposed within the cooling chamber in a non-contact relationship with the product tray and the flow of chilled air generates convection cooling of the underside of the product tray. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 8 , wherein the convection cooling generates conduction cooling of product on the topside of the product tray. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gravity coil arranged in the display chamber, the gravity coil generating cooling providing a buoyancy circulation air pattern within the display chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated display case according to  claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant system that includes the cooling coil arranged within the cooling chamber and a gravity coil arranged within the display chamber, a refrigerant from the cooling coil and gravity coil flowing to a compressor arranged upstream from a heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the heat exchanger flowing to an expansion device before being received by the cooling coil. 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing a refrigerated display case, comprising the steps of:
 separating and sealing a display chamber and a cooling chamber from one another using a product tray, the product tray having a topside configured to support products thereon and an underside;   generating a convection cooling on the underside of the product tray, the convection cooling contained within the cooling chamber and configured to cool the products with conduction cooling on the top side of the tray ; and   providing a gravity cooling coil within the display chamber configured to cool the products with a buoyancy circulation of chilled air from the gravity cooling coil.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising the step of generating a cooling flow in a cooling chamber arranged beneath the product tray. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising blowing the cooling flow across a cooling coil. 
     
     
         15 . The display case according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling coil includes fins. 
     
     
         16 . The display case according to  claim 1 , wherein the display chamber includes a display window providing visual access to the product within the display chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerated display case comprising:
 a display chamber having a product tray for supporting one or more products thereon, the product tray having a topside and an underside;   a cooling chamber disposed beneath the product tray and separated from the display chamber by the product tray, the product tray defining a seal between cooling chamber and the display chamber; and   at least one cooling coil in communication with the cooling chamber;   a fan configured to generate a flow of chilled air through the cooling coil;   at least one baffle configured to direct a first flow of the chilled air in a first direction across the underside of a first portion of the product tray and in a second direction across the underside of a second portion of the underside of the product tray to remove heat therefrom, the first direction and the second direction being substantially opposite one another.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerated according to  claim 17  wherein the fan has a common inlet for recirculating the flow of chilled air from the first flow of chilled air and the second flow of chilled air. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerated according to  claim 17  wherein the seal between the cooling chamber and the display chamber substantially prevents infiltration of chilled air from the cooling chamber to the display chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerated according to  claim 17  wherein the first and second flow of chilled air provide a first convective cooling flow within the cooling chamber, and further comprising a gravity cooling coil arranged within the display chamber and configured to generate a second convective cooling flow through buoyancy circulation within the display chamber, the first convective cooling flow and the separate convective cooling flow being separate and exclusive from one another.