Temperature controlled storage and display device

Abstract

A tank-less refrigerated display device having an open floor is configured to sit directly upon a floor in a facility such as a supermarket or other food product retail facility. The tank-less and floorless display device includes a front wall section that is substantially free of fans or other electrical components. The front wall section may be readily removable to permit convenient roll-in and roll-out of food product display devices. A cooling coil is mounted in a lower portion of a rear wall. A single set of fans are configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system. The chilled air distribution system includes a rear wall flue having a vertical profile that is at least partially tapered, and a horizontal top wall flue having a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over an open front in the form of an air curtain.

1 . A tank-less refrigerated display device, comprising:
 an interior space defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a lower front wall section, an open front portion above the lower front wall section, and an open floor that is configured to be placed over a floor in a facility;   the front wall section being substantially free of fans and electrical components;   a cooling coil having an air inlet and an air outlet, the cooling coil disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall;   a single set of fans disposed proximate the rear wall and configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system;   the chilled air distribution system included an adjustable air diversion scoop ii configured to divert chilled air downward through a rear lower baffle, and a rear wall flue having a vertical profile that is at least partially tapered and configured to distribute chilled air through rear upper baffles, and a substantially horizontal top wall flue having an adjustable damper and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower front wall section extends between the opposite side walls. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the lower front wall section allows the front of the display device to remain generally open for access to food products disposed within the interior space. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the lower front wall section includes at least one of: (i) a hinge at one side and a latch at the other side, (ii) a hinge at both sides, or (iii) a latch at both sides, to permit the lower front wall section to be readily removed. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the lower front wall section includes vents and flow passages configured to receive air from the air curtain and direct the received air toward a suction side of the single set of fans. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower rear baffles comprise generally planar sheet members having a series of apertures formed therein to provide an air distribution pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the upper rear baffles are disposed above the lower rear baffles and receive chilled air from the rear wall flue. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the apertures comprise elongated slots. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower rear baffle is disposed forward of the cooling coil and receives a supply of chilled air from the air diversion scoop. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the air diversion scoop comprise an arcuate cross-section profile and is adjustable between a first position so that a greater portion of the scoop is disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil to divert more chilled air to the lower rear baffle, and a second position where a lesser portion of the scoop is disposed over the outlet of the cooling coil to divert less chilled air to the lower rear baffle. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable damper within the horizontal top wall flue extends substantially completely across the flue and includes adjacent slidable damper members, each having a pattern of alternating apertures and obstructions, that may be positioned relative to each other to provide a net flow passage area. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a polyurethane coated drip pan disposed beneath the cooling coil and configured to route condensation from the cooling coil to a floor drain of the facility. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the floor drain is within the interior space or outside of the interior space. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the single set of fans are disposed in the rear wall beneath the cooling coil and are operable to force air to be chilled into a bottom portion of the cooling coil. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the single set of fans are spaced horizontally along the rear wall so that each fan corresponds to a respective rear wall flue zone defined by a plurality of substantially vertical flue dividers disposed within the rear wall flue. 
     
     
         16 . A tank-less refrigerated display device, comprising:
 an interior space at least partially defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a front having a lower front wall beneath an open front portion, and an open floor that is configured to placed over a floor in a facility;   a cooling coil having an air inlet and an air outlet, the cooling coil disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall;   a single set of fans disposed proximate the rear wall and upstream of the cooling coil and configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system;   the chilled air distribution system including a rear wall flue configured to ii distribute chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures disposed in the rear wall, and a top wall flue configured to distribute chilled air downwardly over the interior space through a second series of apertures, and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the single set of fans are disposed proximate the rear wall in an angled orientation to force air to be chilled at least partially upward into a bottom portion of the cooling coil. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the lower front wall is removably coupled to the opposite side walls to facilitate loading food products within the interior space. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the lower front wall is substantially free of electrical components and couples to the opposite side walls by one or more latches. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the opposite side walls comprise elongated substantially horizontal receptacles, and further comprising a movable fixture having a platform portion that removably engages the receptacles to facilitate transporting the display device. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the movable fixture further comprises an accessory rack supported by the platform and configured to secure accessories when transporting the display device. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the platform comprises openings configured to receive a forklift. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the platform comprises a set of removable casters. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the platform comprises glide blocks engagable with the receptacles to provide a low-friction interface. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a substantially clear panel extending from the top wall and disposed between the second set of apertures and the frontal outlet. 
     
     
         26 . A tank-less refrigerated display device, comprising:
 an interior space at least partially defined by a top wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a front having a lower front wall beneath an open front portion, and an open floor that is configured to placed over a floor in a facility;   a cooling coil having an air inlet and an air outlet, the cooling coil disposed in a lower portion of the rear wall;   a single set of fans disposed proximate the rear wall and upstream of the cooling coil and configured to push air to be chilled through the cooling coil and into a chilled air distribution system;   the chilled air distribution system including a rear wall flue configured to ii distribute chilled air to the interior space through a first series of apertures disposed in the rear wall, and a top wall flue configured to distribute chilled air at least partially over the interior space through a second series of apertures, and a frontal outlet configured to discharge chilled air over the open front portion in the form of an air curtain;   an elongated substantially horizontal receptacle disposed on each of the opposite side walls; and   a movable fixture having a platform that removably engages the receptacles.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the movable fixture further comprises an accessory rack supported by the platform and configured to secure accessories when transporting the display device. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the platform comprises openings configured to receive a forklift. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the platform comprises a set of removable casters. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the platform comprises glide blocks engagable with the receptacles to provide a low-friction interface.