Air curtain system for open display refrigerators

Abstract

The present invention provides an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air towards an air outlet, air in the air curtain being recovered by an air inlet which recirculates the air from the air curtain into an air duct coupled to the air outlet, and an air guide coupled to the air outlet or air duct and extending from the air outlet such that it bypasses a portion of a void between the uppermost shelf and the air outlet, whereby the air curtain is established between an extremity of the portion of the void proximal to the air inlet and the air inlet.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a housing defining a refrigerated storage space;   a shelf disposed within the refrigerated storage area;   an air outlet;   a fan configured to blows air towards the air outlet to form an air curtain that separates the refrigerated storage area from an exterior of the housing;   an air inlet;   an air duct that fluidically couples the air inlet to the air outlet such that air from the air curtain can be recirculated through the air outlet; and   an air guide projecting from the air outlet, a length of the air guide configured to cause the air curtain to bypass at least a portion of a void between the shelf and the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is an uppermost shelf that is at an angle to the horizontal such that a rear edge of the shelf is higher than a front edge of the shelf. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air guide comprises an air guide inlet coupled to the air outlet and an air guide outlet at which the air curtain is established, the air guide inlet separated by the air guide outlet by the length of the air guide. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a cross sectional area of the air guide inlet is larger than a cross sectional area of an air guide outlet such that a velocity of air increases as it passes through the air guide. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a cross sectional area of the air guide inlet is smaller than a cross sectional area of an air guide outlet. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a honeycomb structure positioned in the air outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a honeycomb structure positioned in the air guide outlet, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain. 
     
     
         12 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 measuring an initial temperature difference between a warmest initial temperature sensed by an array of temperature sensors disposed within a refrigerated housing and a coldest initial temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors, the initial temperature difference measured with no air guide coupled to an air outlet that is configured to produce air for an air curtain that separates an interior of the refrigerated housing from an exterior of the refrigerated housing;   coupling a first air guide to the air outlet such that a length of the first air guide is causes the air curtain to bypass a portion of a void between an uppermost shelf within the refrigerated housing and the air outlet;   measuring a first temperature difference between a warmest first temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors when the first air guide is coupled to the air outlet and a coldest first temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors when the first air guide is coupled to the air guide outlet;   removing the first air guide from the air outlet;   coupling a second air guide to the air outlet after removing the first air guide from the air outlet, the second air guide being different from the first air guide, the second air guide coupled to the air outlet such that a length of the second air guide causes the air curtain to bypass a portion of the void between the uppermost shelf and the air outlet;   measuring a second temperature difference between a warmest second temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors when the second air guide is coupled to the air outlet and a coldest second temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors when the second air guide is coupled to the air outlet;   measuring a second temperature difference between a warmest second temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors when the second air guide is coupled to the outlet and a second coldest temperature sensed by the array of temperature sensors when the second air guide is coupled to the air outlet; and   selecting the second air guide based on at least one of a difference between the initial temperature difference and the second temperature difference exceeding a threshold, or the second temperature difference being greater than the first temperature difference.   
     
     
         15 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting the second air guide such that the second temperature difference is further reduced. 
     
     
         19 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising:
 coupling an air guide to an air outlet that is configured to produce air for an air curtain that separates an interior of a refrigerated housing from an exterior of a refrigerated housing, the air guide having an air guiding surface configured to cause the air curtain to bypass a portion of a void between an uppermost shelf in the refrigerated housing and the air outlet; and   adjusting the air guide to reduce a difference between a warmest temperature measured by at least one temperature sensor disposed within the interior of the refrigerated housing and a coldest temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the air guide is coupled to the air outlet by clips integral to the air guide. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the air guide is coupled to the air outlet with at least one of screws or rivets. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the air guide is coupled to the air outlet with at least one of mastic or adhesive. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the air guide comprises an air guide inlet through which air enters and an air guide outlet at which the air curtain is established, and wherein the air guide outlet is offset relative to the air guide inlet. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the air guide comprises an air guide inlet through which the air enters and an air guide outlet at which the air curtain is established, and wherein the air guide outlet is aligned with the air guide inlet. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a cross sectional area of an air guide inlet is larger than a cross sectional area of an air guide outlet such that a velocity of air increases as it passes through the air guide. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a cross sectional area of an air guide inlet is smaller than a cross sectional area of an air guide outlet. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a cross sectional area of air guide inlet is the same, or is substantially the same, as a cross sectional area of an air guide outlet. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising removing a honeycomb structure from at least one of the air guide outlet or air duct, the honeycomb structure being a cellular matrix of channels which extend in a longitudinal direction parallel to the air flow of the air curtain.