Open Refrigerated Display Case and a Flow Stabilizing Device

Abstract

An open refrigerated display case comprising: a refrigerated display area comprising one or more shelves; an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another; a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct air flow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area; wherein each of the one or more shelves are provided with an associated flow stabilizing device; wherein each flow stabilizing device comprises a pair of stabilizing beams which are spaced from one another so as to define an innermost stabilizing beam and an outermost stabilizing beam; wherein a first slot is formed between the innermost and the outermost stabilizing beams, the first slot extending transversely across the display area perpendicular to the direction of the air flow within the air curtain, the first slot having a stabilizing inlet, a stabilizing outlet and a stabilizing throat disposed therebetween; wherein the innermost stabilizing beam is spaced from the adjacent shelf so as to form a second slot between the innermost stabilizing beam and the shelf; and wherein the one or more flow stabilizing devices are each positioned so that the stabilizing inlet of the first slot receives the air curtain, the stabilizing throat being configured to stabilize the air flow within the air curtain which exits the flow stabilizing device via the stabilizing outlet.

1 . An open refrigerated display case comprising:
 a refrigerated display area comprising one or more shelves;   an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another;   a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct air flow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area;   wherein each of the one or more shelves are provided with an associated flow stabilizing device;   wherein each flow stabilizing device comprises a pair of stabilizing beams which are spaced from one another so as to define an innermost stabilizing beam and an outermost stabilizing beam;   wherein a first slot is formed between the innermost and the outermost stabilizing beams, the first slot extending transversely across the display area perpendicular to the direction of the air flow within the air curtain, the first slot having a stabilizing inlet, a stabilizing outlet and a stabilizing throat disposed therebetween;   wherein the innermost stabilizing beam is spaced from the adjacent shelf so as to form a second slot between the innermost stabilizing beam and the shelf; and   wherein the one or more flow stabilizing devices are each positioned so that the stabilizing inlet of the first slot receives the air curtain, the stabilizing throat being configured to stabilize the air flow within the air curtain which exits the flow stabilizing device via the stabilizing outlet.   
     
     
         2 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing inlet is wider than the stabilizing outlet and the stabilizing throat converges from the stabilizing inlet to the stabilizing outlet. 
     
     
         3 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing throat converges at greater than 0° and less than 20°. 
     
     
         4 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flow stabilizing devices are spaced from the air outlet and/or one another by a distance which corresponds to approximately 4 to 6 times a width of the air outlet. 
     
     
         5 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the flow stabilizing devices are spaced by a distance which corresponds to approximately 5 times a width of the air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each flow stabilizing device is connected to the one or more shelves. 
     
     
         7 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each flow stabilizing device is pivotably connected to the one or more shelves. 
     
     
         8 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each flow stabilizing device is configured so as to allow a distance between the shelf and the stabilizing inlet of the first slot to be varied. 
     
     
         9 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flow stabilizing device further comprises a pair of arms which connect the stabilizing beams to the open refrigerated display case. 
     
     
         10 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing beams are transparent. 
     
     
         11 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outermost stabilizing beam is provided with a product information strip. 
     
     
         12 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an injector port which is configured to introduce additional air into the air curtain. 
     
     
         13 . An open refrigerated display case as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the injector port is connected to the duct. 
     
     
         14 . A flow stabilizing device for stabilizing an air curtain of an open refrigerated display case, the flow stabilizing device comprising:
 a pair of stabilizing beams which are spaced from one another so as to define an innermost stabilizing beam and an outermost stabilizing beam;   wherein a first slot is formed between the innermost and the outmost stabilizing beams, the first slot having a stabilizing inlet, a stabilizing outlet and a stabilizing throat disposed therebetween;   wherein the flow stabilizing device is configured to be positioned so that:   a second slot is formed between the innermost stabilizing beam and an adjacent shelf of the open refrigerated display case; and   the stabilizing inlet of the first slot receives the air curtain, the stabilizing throat being configured to stabilize the air flow within the air curtain which exits the flow stabilizing device via the stabilizing outlet.   
     
     
         15 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing inlet is wider than the stabilizing outlet and the stabilizing throat converges from the stabilizing inlet to the stabilizing outlet. 
     
     
         16 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing throat converges at greater than 0° and less than 20°. 
     
     
         17 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the flow stabilizing device is configured to be pivotably connected to the shelf. 
     
     
         18 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the flow stabilizing device is configured so as to allow a distance between the shelf and the stabilizing inlet of the first slot to be varied. 
     
     
         19 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the flow stabilizing device further comprises a pair of arms which are configured to connect the stabilizing beams to the open refrigerated display case. 
     
     
         20 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing beams are transparent. 
     
     
         21 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the outermost stabilizing beam is provided with a product information strip. 
     
     
         22 . A flow stabilizing device as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising an injector port which is configured to introduce additional air into the air curtain.