Refrigeration system

Abstract

A refrigeration system comprised of a walled insulated enclosure is provided with a drive motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom. The drive shaft and drive motor are positioned along the ceiling of the walled enclosure. The drive shaft terminates at a coupling mechanism. A complimentary coupling mechanism is attached to the top of a well-known movable food rack. Thus, when the food rack is stored within the walled enclosure, the coupling mechanism on the food rack mates with and attaches to the complimentary coupling mechanism of the drive shaft. When the drive motor is actuated, the drive shaft will rotate the movable food rack. It will be appreciated that by rotating the movable food rack, the present invention will permit the food stored on the food rack to chill far more quickly than if the food rack were to remain stationary. In addition, by rotating the food rack, the present invention eliminates warm air pockets which allow bacterial growth. As a result, the present invention provides less food spoilage relative to prior art refrigeration systems and therefore is more economical to the food service industry user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigeration system for storing movable food rack means comprising: an insulated enclosure including an enclosure cover;   rotating means on said enclosure cover for rotating movable food rack means; and   at least one movable food rack means in said enclosure, said movable food rack means including rack coupling means for mating with said rotating means, said rack coupling means comprising a U-shaped bracket having restraint means pivotably mounted thereon.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein said rotating means comprises: drive motor means;   rotatable drive shaft means operatively connected to said drive motor means; and   drive coupling means for mating with a movable food rack means.   
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein said restraint means comprises: a rod; handle means attached to said rod, .Iadd.and restraining bar means attached to said rod, .Iaddend.wherein said restraining bar means retains said drive coupling means in said U-shaped bracket.   
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2 wherein: said drive coupling means comprises a bracket having opposed depending side walls wherein, said side walls are spaced to be received by said U-shaped bracket of said rack coupling means.   
     
     
       5. A refrigeration system comprising: an insulated enclosure including an enclosure cover;   at least one movable rack means in said enclosure, said movable rack means including rack coupling means comprising a U-shaped bracket having restraint means pivotably mounted thereon; and   rotating means on said enclosure cover for rotating said movable rack means, said rotating means including drive coupling means for mating with said rack coupling means.   
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5 wherein said rotating means further includes: drive motor means; and   rotatable drive shaft means operatively connected at a first end to said drive motor means and at a second end to said drive coupling means.   
     
     
       7. The system of claim 5 wherein said restraint means comprises: a rod; handle means attached to said rod; and restraining bar means attached to said rod, wherein said restraining bar means retains said drive coupling means in said U-shaped bracket. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  A refrigeration system comprising: an insulated enclosure having a base, sides and a cover and refrigeration means;   closable access means in at least one side of said enclosure;   food rack means which is transportable into and out of said enclosure through said access means;   means on said food rack means to permit rotation of said food rack means;   rotation means mounted to said enclosure; and   means for disengageably joining said rotation means to said food rack means when said food rack means is in said enclosure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The refrigeration system recited in claim 8, wherein said food rack means is transportable into and out of said enclosure on swivelable casters, said casters also comprising said means to permit rotation of said food rack means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The refrigeration system recited in claim 8, wherein said means for disengageably joining comprises a drive coupling coupled to said rotation means and a mating rack coupling mounted to said food rack means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The refrigeration system recited in claim 8, wherein said rotation means is configured to rotate said food rack means at an angular rotation velocity of between 0.5 and 5 revolutions per minute. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The refrigeration system recited in claim 11, wherein said rotation means rotates said food rack means at one revolution per minute. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The refrigeration system recited in claim 11, wherein said refrigeration means generally maintains the temperature with said enclosure at between about -10° F. and -20° F. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The refrigeration system recited in claim 13, wherein said refrigeration means maintains the temperature within said enclosure at about -15° F. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The refrigeration system recited in claim 8, wherein said rotation means comprises a drive motor having a drive shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The refrigeration system recited in claim 15, wherein said means for disengageably joining comprises a drive coupling on said drive shaft and   
     
     
        mating rack coupling means on said food rack means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The refrigeration system recited in claim 8, wherein said enclosure comprises a plurality of rotation means and is shaped and configured to accommodate a like plurality of food rack means adapted to selectively be joined with one of said rotation means. .Iaddend.