Hybrid shelf with embedded thermal spreader

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area and including an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with the product display area to form an air curtain across a front of the product display area. The refrigerated merchandiser also includes a shelf that is coupled to the case within the product display area. The shelf includes insulation between a top and a bottom of the shelf, and a passive heat exchanger that has a heat pipe embedded in the shelf within the insulation and that extends from a front of the shelf to a back of the shelf. Ambient air infiltrating the air curtain initiates passive heat transfer within the plurality of heat tubes.

1 . A refrigerated merchandiser comprising:
 a case defining a product display area and including an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with the product display area to form an air curtain across a front of the product display area;   a shelf coupled to the case within the product display area, the shelf including insulation between a top and a bottom of the shelf, the shelf further including a passive heat exchanger having a heat pipe embedded in the shelf within the insulation and extending from a front of the shelf to a back of the shelf,   wherein ambient air infiltrating the air curtain initiates passive heat transfer within the plurality of heat tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is a first heat pipe and the refrigerated merchandiser further includes a deck plate defining a lower boundary of the product display area and having a second heat pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes a wick and a working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is coupled to an interior upper wall of the shelf by elongate grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 4 , wherein the heat pipe is secured within the elongate grooves by a press-fit attachment, soldering, welding, or a thermal epoxy. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is sandwiched between the top and the bottom of the shelf 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the shelf is formed of a material configured to spread a cooling impact of the heat pipe toward and at least partially into a section of the shelf without a heat pipe. 
     
     
         8 . A shelf configured to be attached to a merchandiser, the shelf comprising:
 a top wall;   a front wall coupled to the top wall;   side walls coupled to the front wall and the top wall;   a bottom wall coupled to the front wall and the sidewalls to enclose a space between the top wall, the front wall, the side walls, and the bottom wall;   insulation disposed in the space; and   a passive heat exchanger disposed in the space and having a heat pipe embedded within the insulation and extending from a front of the shelf to a back of the shelf,   wherein passive heat transfer is configured to be initiated by ambient air infiltrating the merchandiser.   
     
     
         9 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the heat pipe includes a wick and a working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the heat pipe is coupled to an interior upper wall of the shelf by elongate grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The shelf of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe is secured within the elongate grooves by a press-fit attachment, soldering, welding, or a thermal epoxy. 
     
     
         12 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the heat pipe is sandwiched between the top wall and the bottom wall. 
     
     
         13 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the top wall is formed of a material configured to spread a cooling impact of the heat pipe toward and at least partially into a section of the shelf without a heat pipe.