GB2575298A

GB2575298A - A refrigerated display case and a flow control device for a refrigerated display case

Info

Publication number: GB2575298A
Application number: GB1811028.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: J P Wirth Nicholas
Original assignee: Wirth Research Ltd
Current assignee: Wirth Research Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-05
Filing date: 2018-07-05
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Also published as: GB201811028D0

Abstract

A flow control device for controlling an air curtain across a refrigerated display case comprising a pair of spaced stabilising beams 108 which define a slot 160 between them and attachment means arranged such that a second slot 162 is formed between an inner beam 108b and a shelf 17 in use wherein an inner surface of the inner beam 108b has a light source. Also disclosed is a display case utilising a duct 16 with the flow control device which may have a plurality of shelves 17 each with its own flow control device. The beams 108 may be angled so that the slot 160 between them tapers downwards. The light be an LED strip which can illuminate the shelf 17 it is on and the one below. The beam angles of adjacent lights may overlap between their respective shelves 17.

Description

A REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE AND A FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FOR A REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE

The invention relates to a refrigerated display case and a flow control device for a refrigerated display case.

The display of chilled or frozen items is commonplace in many retail environments, most notably in supermarkets. Such items are often displayed in refrigerated display cases having hinged or sliding doors, or having an open front. Refrigerated display cases utilise an air curtain which is cooled to below ambient temperature and propelled downward, across the front of the display case (either over the open front or behind the refrigerator doors).

The energy consumed by such refrigerated display cases presents a significant contribution to the overall energy consumption of the supermarket. It is therefore desirable to improve the efficiency of refrigerated display cases.

It has previously been proposed to provide an open refrigerated display case in which each shelf of a display area is provided with a flow control device which stabilises flow in the air curtain. Such a flow control device is disclosed in GB2527628B.

The invention seeks to provide developments relating to the use of flow control devices.

According to an aspect of the disclosure there is provided a refrigerated display case comprising: a refrigerated display area which comprises a shelf; 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 front of the display area; a flow control device associated with the shelf and comprising inner and outer stabilising beams which extend transversely across the display area, the inner stabilising beam being arranged outwardly of the shelf in the refrigerated display area to thereby form an inner slot between the shelf and the inner stabilising beam and the outer stabilising beam being arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams; wherein an inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is provided with a light source which is configured to illuminate products supported at least below the associated shelf.

The display area may comprise a plurality of shelves, each shelf being provided with an associated flow control device.

The inner surface of the inner stabilising beam may be inclined such that it is angled downwards.

The light source may be parallel to the inner surface of the inner stabilising beam such that its beam angle is angled downwards with the centre of the beam angled perpendicular to the inner surface.

The inner stabilising beam may be angled relative to the outer stabilising beam such that the outer slot tapers in the direction of airflow.

The outer stabilising beam may not be provided with a light source.

The light source may be an LED strip.

The light source may have a beam angle of less than 60 degrees.

The light source may be further configured to illuminate products supported by the associated shelf.

The light source may have a beam angle of more than 100 degrees (.e.g. between 100 and 150 degrees).

The display area may comprise a plurality of shelves each provided with an associated flow control device having a light source and the light sources of adjacent upper and lower shelves may be arranged so that their beam angles overlap between the adjacent upper and lower shelves.

The beam angles may overlap at a position which is closer to the lower shelf than the upper shelf of the adjacent shelves.

The or each light source may be disposed below the level of the associated shelf.

The refrigerated display case may be an open refrigerated display case (i.e. with no doors).

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a flow control device for controlling an air curtain formed across a display area of a refrigerated display case, the flow control device comprising: a pair of stabilising beams which are spaced from one another so as to define an inner stabilising beam and an outer stabilising beam; wherein an inner slot is formed between the inner and the outer stabilising beams; wherein the flow control device is configured to be positioned so that an outer slot is formed between the inner stabilising beam and an adjacent shelf of the refrigerated display case; and wherein an inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is provided with a light source which is configured to illuminate products supported below the adjacent shelf.

The flow control device may be configured to be positioned so that the inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is inclined such that it is angled downwards.

The outer stabilising beam may not be provided with a light source.

The light source may be an LED strip.

The light source may have a beam angle of less than 60 degrees.

The light source may be further configured to illuminate products supported by the adjacent shelf.

The light source may be configured such that, in use, it is positioned below the level of the adjacent shelf.

The disclosure extends to refrigerated display cases and flow control devices having any combination of the features described herein, except such combinations as are mutually exclusive.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an open refrigerated display case (ORDC) comprising a flow control device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the flow control device;

Figure 3 is a side view of the flow control device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view showing the flow control device attached to a shelf;

Figure 5 is a side view ofthe ORDC showing a lighting arrangement; and

Figure 6 is a side view ofthe ORDC showing an alternative lighting arrangement.

Figure 1 shows an ORDC 2. The ORDC 2 comprises a cabinet portion formed by a lower wall 4, a back wall 6, an upper wall 8, and left and right side walls (not shown). A lower panel 10, a back panel 12 and an upper panel 14 are disposed within the cabinet portion.

The lower, back and upper panels 10, 12, 14 form a display area 15 which is provided with a plurality of shelves 17 (four are shown) on which items may be displayed. The shelves 17 are affixed to the back panel 12.

As shown, the lower, back and upper panels 10, 12, 14 are spaced from the respective lower, back and upper walls 4, 6, 8 to form a duct 16. An intake grille 18 is provided at the lower panel 10 to form an inlet to the duct 16. Similarly, a discharge grille 20 is provided at the upper panel 14 to form an outlet from the duct 16. The intake grille 18 and the discharge grille 20 are thus fluidically coupled to one another by the duct 16. The intake grille 18 and the discharge grille 20 are spaced from the back panel 12 toward the front of the cabinet portion and ahead of the shelves 17.

A fan 22 and a heat exchanger 24 are located within the duct 16 adjacent to the intake grille 18 and thus are disposed between the lower wall 4 and the lower panel 10. The fan 22 draws air into the duct 16 via the intake grille 18 which then passes through the heat exchanger 24 where it is cooled to well below the ambient temperature.

After passing through the heat exchanger 24, the air continues through the duct 16 between the backwall 6 and the backpanel 12. The backpanel 12 is perforated allowing air to pass from the duct 16 into the display area 15 where it cools items located on the shelves 17 and on the lower panel 10.

The remaining air flows through the duct 16 to the discharge grille 20. The air is ejected from the discharge grille 20 and descends over the open front of the display area 15 to form an air curtain 26. The air curtain 26 passes from the discharge grille 20 to the intake grille 18, where it is drawn in by the fan 22 and re-circulated through the duct 16. The air curtain 26 thus forms a non-physical barrier which separates the display area 15 from the ambient air surrounding the ORDC 2.

As shown, a flow control device 102 is attached to each of the shelves (although, in other arrangements, only some of the shelves may be provided with flow control devices 102).

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the flow control device 102 comprises a pair of brackets 106a, 106b and a pair of elongate elements in the form of stabilising beams 108a, 108b. The brackets 106a, 160b are used to attach the device 102 to a shelf. The beams 108a, 108b are connected by a pair of spacers 110a, 110b. The spacers 110a, 110b are provided towards the lateral ends of the beams 108a, 108b. A central spacer 112 may also be provided at the centre of the beams 108a, 108b, midway along their lengths.

The beams 108a, 108b are spaced apart from one another by the spacers 110a, 110b such that upper edges and lower edges of the beams 108a, 108b run parallel to one another. The beams 108a, 108b are, however, angled relative to one another so that a gap between the beams 108a, 108b tapers, with the upper edges of the beams 108a, 108b being further apart than the lower edges.

As shown in Figure 3, the outer beam 108a may be arranged substantially vertically (i.e. with its upper and lower edges aligned in a vertical plane) and the inner beam 108b may be angled so as to form a tapering gap between the beams 108a, 108b.

The device 102 may further comprise a product information strip 114. As shown in Figure 3, the product information strip 114 clips over the upper and lower edges of the outer beam 108a. The product information strip 114 has a channel for receiving tickets which display information regarding products, such as the product’s price.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in use, the beams 108a, 106b define a first slot 160 between the outer and inner beams 108a, 108b and a second slot 162 between the inner beam 108b and the outer surface of the shelf.

The first slot 160 tapers from an inlet at an upper end to an outlet at a lower end. The inlet has a greater width than the outlet and a convergent throat is disposed between the inlet and the outlet.

The beams 108a, 108b are positioned such that the air curtain 26 passes through the first and second slots 160, 162. The beams 108a, 108b act to control and stabilise the air curtain so as to maximise the air which is returned to the intake grille 18 and prevent air from spilling out of the ORDC 2.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each of the inner beams 108b is provided with a light source 120. In contrast, the outer beam 108a is not provided with any light source. The light source 120 may be an LED strip which runs along the length of the inner beam 108b. The LED strip may comprise a flexible circuit board on which a plurality of LEDs are mounted at regular intervals. As shown, the inner beam 108b may comprise a recess which houses the light source 120 such that it does not protrude from the profile of the inner beam 108. A cover may be provided over the light source 120 to ensure the aerodynamic performance of the inner beam 108b is undisturbed or the light source 120 may be encapsulated within the inner beam 108b. Alternatively, in other arrangements, the light source 120 may be affixed directly to the surface of the inner beam 108b.

The light source 120 is located on an inner surface of the inner beam 108b, adjacent to the trailing edge of the inner beam 108b (e.g. in the bottom 25%, or more preferably in the bottom 10%, of the inner beam 108b, measured based on the centre of the light source 120 itself). As described previously, the inner beam 108b (or at least its inner surface) is angled from vertical (inclined) (by 10-15 degrees, for example) with its upper, leading edge spaced further from the shelf 17 than the lower, trailing edge such that the inner surface of the inner beam 108b is angled downwards. Consequently, as shown in Figure 5, the light from the light source 120 is directed downwards towards the shelf below (or, for the lowermost flow control device 102, the lower panel 10). The light source 120 is therefore able to illuminate products supported below its associated shelf 17 (e.g. on the shelf 17 below or on the lower panel 10). The light source 120 has a beam angle (e.g. FWHM) which is selected to ensure that the entire contents of the underlying shelf is illuminated. In particular, the beam angle is selected to avoid the light source 120 illuminating its associated shelf 17 and thereby preventing shadows and glare. The light source 120 may have a beam angle of 60 degrees or less.

It will be appreciated that the light sources 120 are unable to illuminate the products on the uppermost shelf 17. This area may be illuminated by other means, such as via a light source provided in the upper panel 14.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative lighting arrangement in which each light source 120 has a larger beam angle and so illuminates products both on the shelf below and also on the shelf to which it is mounted. In this instance, the light sources 120 have a beam angle of 110 degrees, although beam angles of 100 degrees or more may be suitable. As shown, the light from adjacent light sources 120 overlaps to ensure that each shelf is fully illuminated. As shown in the magnified section of Figure 6, the light sources 120 lie flush against (i.e. are parallel to) the inner surface of the inner beam 108b such that the light is angled downwards at the same angle as the portion of the inner surface to which they are mounted. The centre of the beam angle is therefore perpendicular to (i.e. the light projects perpendicularly from) the portion of the inner surface to which the light sources 120 are mounted. Each light source 120 therefore illuminates a larger proportion of the products on the shelf below than the products on the shelf to which it is fitted. In other words, the beam angles of the adjacent light sources 120 overlap closer to the lower light source than the upper light source. This is beneficial for a number of reasons. In particular, the fact that the shelves are predominantly lit from above and in front means that shadows will be reduced when a customer is looking down, particularly towards the lower shelves. Also, when the shelves are not fully stocked, there will be less illumination 5 of the underside of the shelf above compared with when the beam angles are aligned with the shelf. Such illumination may draw attention to the bracketry, etc. that is usually concealed from view, along with any rust, dirt, etc. that may accumulate there.

As will see seen, in both of the arrangements of Figures 5 and 6, the light sources 120 10 are disposed below the level of the associated shelf i.e. the level on which products are supported.

Although the invention has been described with reference to an open refrigerated display case, it may also be utilised on closed refrigerated display cases with doors.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may be modified or adapted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerated display case comprising:

a refrigerated display area which comprises a shelf;

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 front of the display area;

a flow control device associated with the shelf and comprising inner and outer stabilising beams which extend transversely across the display area, the inner stabilising beam being arranged outwardly of the shelf in the refrigerated display area to thereby form an inner slot between the shelf and the inner stabilising beam and the outer stabilising beam being arranged outwardly from the inner stabilising beam to thereby form an outer slot between the inner and outer stabilising beams;

wherein an inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is provided with a light source which is configured to illuminate products supported at least below the associated shelf.

2. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display area comprises a plurality of shelves, each shelf being provided with an associated flow control device.

3. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is inclined such that it is angled downwards.

4. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light source is parallel to the inner surface of the inner stabilising beam such that its beam angle is angled downwards with the centre of the beam angled perpendicular to the inner surface.

5. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the inner stabilising beam is angled relative to the outer stabilising beam such that the outer slot tapers in the direction of airflow.

6. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer stabilising beam is not provided with a light source.

7. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the light source is an LED strip.

8. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the light source has a beam angle of less than 60 degrees.

9. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any of claims to 1 to 7, wherein the light source is further configured to illuminate products supported by the associated shelf.

10. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light source has a beam angle of more than 100 degrees.

11. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the display area comprises a plurality of shelves each provided with an associated flow control device having a light source and wherein the light sources of adjacent upper and lower shelves are arranged so that their beam angles overlap between the adjacent upper and lower shelves.

12. A refrigerated display case as claimed in claim 11, wherein the beam angles overlap at a position which is closer to the lower shelf than the upper shelf of the adjacent shelves.

13. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each light source is disposed below the level of the associated shelf.

14. A refrigerated display case as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the refrigerated display case is an open refrigerated display case.

15. A flow control device for controlling an air curtain formed across a display area of a refrigerated display case, the flow control device comprising:

a pair of stabilising beams which are spaced from one another so as to define an inner stabilising beam and an outer stabilising beam;

wherein an inner slot is formed between the inner and the outer stabilising beams;

wherein the flow control device is configured to be positioned so that an outer slot is formed between the inner stabilising beam and an adjacent shelf of the refrigerated display case; and wherein an inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is provided with a light source which is configured to illuminate products supported at least below the adjacent shelf.

16. A flow control device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the flow control device is configured to be positioned so that the inner surface of the inner stabilising beam is inclined such that it is angled downwards.

17. A flow control device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the light source is parallel to the inner surface of the inner stabilising beam such that its beam angle is angled downwards with the centre of the beam angled perpendicular to the inner surface.

18. A flow control device as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the inner stabilising beam is angled relative to the outer stabilising beam such that the outer slot tapers in the direction of airflow.

19. A flow control device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the outer stabilising beam is not provided with a light source.

20. A flow control device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the light source is an LED strip.

21. A flow control device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20, wherein the light source has a beam angle of less than 60 degrees.

22. A flow control device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20, wherein the light source is further configured to illuminate products supported by the adjacent shelf.

23. A flow control device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the light source has a beam angle of more than 100 degrees.

24. A flow control device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 23, wherein the light source is configured such that, in use, it is positioned below the level of the adjacent shelf.