U.S. patent application number 10/847749 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for freezer case including self-conforming baffles.
Invention is credited to Decker, Daren, Gupte, Neelkanth S., Lorzadeh, Jamie.
Application Number | 20050252230 10/847749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35308105 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050252230 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gupte, Neelkanth S. ; et
al. |
November 17, 2005 |
Freezer case including self-conforming baffles
Abstract
A freezer includes a freezer compartment in which frozen items
are stored and frozen. Air from the freezer compartment is drawn
into a fan panel by a fan. The air is cooled in an evaporator and
then returned to the freezer compartment. Flexible baffles are
provided in the fan panel. During normal operation, the airflow
created by the fan deflects the baffles, allowing the air to flow
through the fan panel unhindered. When ice and frost forms on the
evaporator, a defrost mode is initiated to melt the ice with heat
generated by a heater. The fan is turned off, and the baffles drop
to a straight vertical position due to gravity. The vertical
baffles create resistance in the airflow and prevent the heated air
and moisture generated by the heater from entering the freezer
compartment and forming frost on the frozen items.
Inventors: |
Gupte, Neelkanth S.;
(Granger, IN) ; Lorzadeh, Jamie; (Carrollton,
TX) ; Decker, Daren; (Midlothian, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD
SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
35308105 |
Appl. No.: |
10/847749 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/275 ;
62/419 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/062 20130101;
F25B 2700/11 20130101; F25D 17/045 20130101; F25D 21/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/275 ;
062/419 |
International
Class: |
F25D 021/06; F25D
017/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A freezer comprising: a fan chamber; a fan in said fan chamber
that draws air into said fan chamber; and at least one flexible
baffle in said fan chamber moveable between a flexed position when
said fan is active and a non-flexed position when said fan is
inactive.
2. The freezer as recited in claim 1 further including a door
pivotally attached to the freezer between an open position and a
closed position.
3. The freezer as recited in claim 1 further including a freezer
chamber and an evaporator in said fan chamber and said fan draws
said air into said evaporator, and wherein said air flowing through
said evaporator rejects heat to a fluid medium, and said air cooled
in said evaporator is provided to said freezer chamber.
4. The freezer as recited in claim 3 wherein said fan chamber
includes an inlet and an outlet, and said at least one baffle
comprises a first baffle and a second baffle, and said first baffle
is located between said inlet and said fan and said second baffle
is located between said evaporator and said outlet.
5. The freezer as recited in claim 3 wherein said fluid medium is
air.
6. The freezer as recited in claim 3 further including a heater,
and wherein said heater operates to generate heat when said fan is
inactive.
7. The freezer as recited in claim 6 wherein said at least one
baffle is in said straight position when said heater operates to
prevent moisture from entering said freezer chamber from said fan
chamber.
8. The freezer as recited in claim 6 further including a defrost
sensor, and said heater operates to generate heat when said defrost
sensor detects a defrosting condition of said evaporator.
9. The freezer as recited in claim 8 wherein said defrosting
condition is frost on said evaporator.
10. The freezer as recited in claim 1 wherein said fan creates an
airflow when active, and said airflow deflects said at least one
baffle to said flexed position.
11. The freezer as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one
baffle is in said straight position when said fan is inactive due
to gravity.
12. The freezer as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one
baffle includes a plurality of baffle segments attached to a baffle
structure, and said plurality of baffle segments are pivotable
between said flexed position and said non-flexed position.
13. A freezer comprising: a freezer chamber; a fan chamber having
an inlet and an outlet; a fan in said fan chamber that draws air
into said inlet of said fan chamber; an evaporator in said fan
chamber and said fan draws said air into said evaporator, and
wherein said air flowing through said evaporator rejects heat to a
fluid medium, and said air cooled in said evaporator exits said fan
chamber through said outlet and is provided to said freezer
chamber; and a heater that operates when said fan is inactive; and
at least one flexible baffle in said fan chamber moveable between a
flexed position when said fan is active and a non-flexed position
when said fan is inactive.
14. The freezer as recited in claim 13 further including a heater
that operates to generate heat when said fan is inactive.
15. A method of controlling an airflow comprising the steps of:
activating a fan to deflect at least one baffle to a flexed
position; sensing a defrosting condition; and deactivating the fan
when the step of sensing detects the defrosting condition to
undeflect the at least one baffle to a non-flexed position.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 further including the step of
cooling air in an evaporator, and the step of sensing includes
sensing a defrosting condition of the evaporator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a freezer
including flexible baffles proximate to the evaporator that are in
a vertical position due to gravity during a defrost mode to prevent
moisture from escaping into the freezer compartment and deflect due
to the airflow created by a fan during normal operation to allow
air to flow without hindrance.
[0002] Reach-in glass door freezers are commonly used in grocery
stores to store and freeze frozen food in a freezer compartment.
The freezer includes an evaporator that cools the air in the
freezer. Warm and humid air from the freezer compartment is drawn
into the evaporator by a fan. In the evaporator, the warm air from
the freezer compartment exchanges heat with the exterior air,
cooling the air. The cooled air is then returned to the freezer
compartment.
[0003] During normal operation, moisture on the evaporator forms
frost and ice, reducing the gap between the evaporator fins and
increasing resistance to the airflow through the evaporator. A
defrost mode is occasionally performed to melt the frost and ice
formed on the evaporator fins. During the defrost mode, the fan is
turned off and a heater is turned on. The heat generated by the
heater melts the ice and frost on the evaporator, generating a
significant amount of moisture. If the moisture enters the freezer
compartment, frost can form on the frozen food and affect the
appearance of the frozen food.
[0004] In prior freezers, rigid baffles are positioned proximate to
the evaporator to prevent the moisture generated during the defrost
mode from entering the freezer compartment. A drawback to employing
fixed baffles is that they block the airflow during normal
operation, causing an excessive pressure drop and misdistribution
of the airflow.
[0005] Hence, there is a need in the art for freezer that employs
flexible baffles to prevent moisture from entering the freezer
compartment during a defrost mode, but allows unhindered airflow
during normal operation, as well as overcomes the other drawbacks
of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A reach-in glass door freezer includes a freezer compartment
that stores and freezes frozen items, such as food. Warm and humid
air from the freezer compartment enters a fan panel through a
return air grill. A fan draws the air through an evaporator for
cooling. The cooled air then exits the fan panel through a rear
duct and reenters the freezer compartment to cool the frozen
items.
[0007] A first baffle is located in the fan panel between the
return air grill and the fan and a second baffle is located in the
fan panel between the rear duct and the evaporator. The baffles are
made of a lightweight and flexible material and are moveable
between a flexed position and a vertical non-flexed position.
[0008] During normal operation, the airflow created by the fan
deflects the baffles to the flexed position to allow the air to
flow through the fan panel unhindered. Moisture on the fins of the
evaporator can form frost and ice that increases resistance to the
airflow through the evaporator.
[0009] A defrost mode is performed to melt the ice and frost. The
fan is turned off and a heater is activated to melt the ice and
frost. When the fan is turned off, the baffles drop to a vertical,
straight position due to gravity. The vertical baffles create
resistance in the airflow and prevent heat and moisture generated
by the heater from entering the freezer compartment and forming
frost on the frozen items.
[0010] After defrosting is complete, the heater is then turned off
and the fan is activated to again cool the freezer compartment. The
force of the airflow created by the fan deflects the baffles to the
flexed position, allowing the air to flow through the fan panel
without any resistance.
[0011] These and other features of the present invention will be
best understood from the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The various features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The
drawing that accompany the detailed description can be briefly
described as follows:
[0013] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the reach-in glass door
freezer of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the fan panel of the
freezer during normal operation;
[0015] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the fan panel of the
freezer during a defrost mode;
[0016] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the
baffles of the present invention during normal operation; and
[0017] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the second embodiment of
the baffles of the present invention during a defrost mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example reach-in glass door freezer
10. A glass door 12 is pivotally attached to the freezer 10 by a
hinge 14 and is moveable between an open position and a closed
position. The freezer 10 defines a freezer compartment 16 that
stores and freezes frozen items 18, such as food. The frozen items
18 are stacked on shelves 20 in the freezer compartment 16.
[0019] When a shopper wants to obtain one of the frozen items 18,
the shopper pivots the door 12 to the open position and obtains the
desired frozen item 18. The shopper then closes the door 12 to
maintain the cool air in the freezer compartment 16.
[0020] As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the freezer 10 further
includes a fan panel 22. Warm and humid air from the freezer
compartment 16 enters the fan panel 22 through a return air grill
24. A fan 26 draws the air inside the fan panel 22 through an
evaporator 28 for cooling. In the evaporator 28, the warmed air
from the freezer compartment 16 exchanges heat with the exterior
air, cooling the air in the evaporator 28 to between approximately
-10.degree.and -20.degree.F. The cooled air then exits the fan
panel 22 through a rear duct 30 and reenters the freezer
compartment 16 to cool the frozen items 18.
[0021] A first baffle 32 and a second baffle 34 are located in the
fan panel 22 to prevent moisture from entering the freezer
compartment 16 during a defrost mode. The first baffle 32 is
located between the fan 26 and the return air grill 24 and a second
baffle 34 is located between the evaporator 28 and the rear duct
30. The baffles 32 and 34 are made of a lightweight and flexible
material and are moveable between a flexed position during normal
operation (shown in FIG. 2) and a vertical, non-flexed, straight
position during the defrost mode (as shown in FIG. 3).
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the baffles 32 and 34 during normal
operation. The airflow created by the fan 26 deflects the baffles
32 and 34 to the flexed position. Because the baffles 32 and 34 are
deflected, the air flowing through the fan panel 22 can flow
unhindered, reducing the pressure drop in the airflow and
preventing misdistribution of the airflow. That is, since the
baffles 32 and 34 are not straight and vertical, they do not
interrupt the airflow.
[0023] During normal operation, moisture on the fins 42 of the
evaporator 28 can freeze to form frost and ice. As the amount of
frost and ice on the fins 42 of the evaporator 28 increases, the
gap between the fins 42 decreases and increases resistance to the
airflow through the evaporator 28. A defrost mode is performed to
defrost and melt the frost and ice formed on the fins 42 of the
evaporator 28 and decrease resistance of the airflow through the
evaporator 28.
[0024] In one example, a defrost mode is initiated when a
defrosting sensor 44 detects a condition that necessitates
defrosting. For example, defrosting is needed when the defrosting
sensor 44 detects frost and ice on the fins 42 of the evaporator
28.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the fan panel 22 when the freezer 10 is
operating in the defrost mode. During the defrost mode, the fan 26
is off and a heater 38 in the fan panel is activated. The fan 26
does not create an airflow when the fan 26 is off, and the baffles
32 and 34 drop to a straight vertical position due to gravity. In
the vertical position, the baffles 32 and 34 create resistance in
the airflow and prevent heat and moisture generated by the heater
38 from exiting the rear duct 30 and the return air grill 24 of the
fan panel 22 and entering the freezer compartment 16. By preventing
the escape of moisture and fog into the freezer compartment 16, the
development of frost on the frozen items 18 is minimized. The water
that melts from the fins 42 of the evaporator 28 falls to a drain
pan 40 and drains towards the front the freezer 10.
[0026] After defrosting is complete, the heater 38 is turned off
and the fan 26 is activated to again cool the air in the freezer
compartment 16. When the fan 26 is activated, the force of the
airflow generated by the fan 26 deflects the baffles 32 and 34 to
the flexed position shown in FIG. 2, allowing air to flow through
the fan panel 22 without any resistance.
[0027] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an alternative baffle 132
including a plurality of baffle segments 134. A portion 136 of each
baffle segment 134 is attached to a vertical support 138. When the
fan 26 is activated, the baffle segments 134 pivot to the position
shown in FIG. 4. In this position, the air can flow uninterrupted
between the baffle segments 134 and through the fan panel 22. When
the fan 26 is turned off during a defrost mode, the baffle segments
134 drop and become substantially vertical to prevent moisture from
entering the freezer compartment 16. As shown exaggerated in FIG.
5, each baffle segment 134 has a length such that the baffles
segments 134 overlap when in the non-flexed position. By employing
baffles segments 134, the amount of noise generated by the baffle
132 is reduced.
[0028] The foregoing description is only exemplary of the
principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations of
the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.
The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed,
however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize
that certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope
of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described. For that reason the following
claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of
this invention.
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