U.S. patent application number 15/060655 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for cold room combination vent and light.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kason Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Kason Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Burl M. Finkelstein, Raymond J. Hiller, Brett A. Mitchell.
Application Number | 20170254579 15/060655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59722294 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170254579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hiller; Raymond J. ; et
al. |
September 7, 2017 |
COLD ROOM COMBINATION VENT AND LIGHT
Abstract
A combination light and pressure relief vent (10) is disclosed
which includes a housing (11), a valve assembly (12), and a light
assembly (13). The housing include a valve body (16), port tube
(17), and an outside louver (18). The valve body has a low pressure
intake port (25), a high pressure intake port (26), and a low
pressure exhaust port (27). The valve assembly includes a low
pressure intake valve (40), a high pressure intake valve (42), and
a low pressure exhaust valve (44). The light assembly includes a
heat sink casing (51) which partially defines a heat chamber (52).
The casing has a front wall (55) to which is mounted an LED module
(57). A lens cover (61) is coupled to the front surface of the
casing. Heat generated by the LED module is transferred through the
casing to the heat chamber to warm the valve assembly.
Inventors: |
Hiller; Raymond J.; (Newnan,
GA) ; Mitchell; Brett A.; (Newnan, GA) ;
Finkelstein; Burl M.; (Newnan, GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kason Industries, Inc. |
Newnan |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kason Industries, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
59722294 |
Appl. No.: |
15/060655 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 21/04 20130101;
F25D 17/047 20130101; F25D 27/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04; F25D 13/00 20060101 F25D013/00; F25D 21/08 20060101
F25D021/08; F25D 27/00 20060101 F25D027/00 |
Claims
1. A combination cold room light and vent comprising: a housing
mountable to a cold room structure, said housing defining a heat
chamber; at least one air control valve coupled to said housing and
in thermal communication with said heat chamber, and a light source
coupled to said housing, said light source being in thermal
communication with said at least one air control valve through said
heat chamber so that heat generated by the light source warms the
at least one air control valve.
2. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 1 further
comprising a thermally conductive casing partially defining said
heat chamber of said housing, and wherein said light source is
mounted to said thermally conductive casing.
3. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 2 wherein said
housing is configured to receive said heat chamber within an
interior space of said housing.
4. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 3 wherein said
thermally conductive casing includes a light source mounting wall
and peripheral sidewalls extending from said light source mounting
wall.
5. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 1 wherein said
at least one air control valve includes a low pressure air control
intake valve and a high pressure air control intake valve.
6. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 5 wherein
further comprising an air control exhaust valve.
7. The combination cold room light and vent wherein said light
source is an LED light.
8. A combination cold room light and vent comprising: a tubular
housing; an air control valve assembly coupled to said tubular
housing, and a light assembly positioned to illuminate the interior
of a cold room, said light assembly being in thermally
communication with said air control valve assembly so as to heat
said light assembly through the transfer of heat generated by said
light assembly during activation of the light assembly.
9. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 8 wherein said
tubular housing includes a thermally conductive casing partially
defining a heat chamber, and wherein said light assembly is in
thermal communication with said thermally conductive casing.
10. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 9 wherein
said housing receives said thermally conductive casing within an
interior space of said housing.
11. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 10 wherein
said thermally conductive casing includes a light source mounting
wall and peripheral sidewalls extending from said light source
mounting wall.
12. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 8 wherein
said air control valve assembly includes a low pressure air control
intake valve and a high pressure air control intake valve.
13. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 12 wherein
said air control valve assembly also includes an air control
exhaust valve.
14. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 8 wherein
said light assembly includes an LED light.
15. A combination cold room light and vent comprising: a housing; a
thermally conductive casing coupled to said housing, the
combination of said housing and said thermally conductive casing
defining a heat chamber; an air control valve coupled to said
housing, said air control valve being in thermal communication with
said heat chamber, and a light source thermally coupled to said
thermally conductive casing, whereby heat generated by the light
source warms the thermally conductive casing, thereby warming the
heat chamber so as to warm the air control valve.
16. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 15 wherein
said housing is configured to receive said thermally conductive
casing therein.
17. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 16 wherein
said thermally conductive casing includes a light source mounting
wall and peripheral sidewalls extending from said light source
mounting wall.
18. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 15 wherein
said air control valve is a low pressure air control intake valve,
and further comprising a high pressure air control intake
valve.
19. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 18 further
comprising an air control exhaust valve.
20. The combination cold room light and vent of claim 15 wherein
said light source is an LED light.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to pressure relief vent used on
temperature controlled enclosures such as walk-in freezers and test
chambers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many temperature controlled commercial enclosed spaces need
to be equipped with pressure relief ports or vents which are
sometimes referred to as ventilators or ventilator ports. This is
particularly true where the sealed space is subjected to
temperature related gas volume variations that must be
relieved.
[0003] Cold rooms typically have a neutral air pressure. To achieve
the neutral air pressure passive ports are suitable for these
enclosures. However existing passive pressure relief ports, meaning
those without fans or blowers, have often permitted air migration
where there is no significant pressure differential. With walk-in
freezers this causes undesirable condensation and frosting.
Frosting is a substantial problem that occurs as ambient warm air
drawn into a low temperature chamber releases significant amounts
of moisture relative to the change in dew point of the air at high
and low temperatures. Air is drawn through the port after each door
opening cycle as the warm air that entered the enclosure cools and
contracts. If venting does not occur, a partial vacuum results
which make it difficult to reopen the door. In extreme cases, the
enclosures can even collapse.
[0004] A temperature rise in the enclosure between cooling cycles,
and especially during a defrost cycle, creates a need to vent air
to prevent pressure buildup. Again, failure to vent this pressure,
with adequate relief capacity, can cause the chamber to
rupture.
[0005] Passive pressure relief ports are in wide commercial use
today. Large structures require the movement of a large amount of
air to equalize the pressure between the inside and the outside of
the enclosure. Existing vents can be either of a large size or a
gang of small sized vents. This large amount of air carries with it
a large amount of moisture. This moisture can condense almost
immediately upon contact with the cold air and cold surfaces of the
enclosure. If this occurs, a large ice block may form on the
interior wall, which may eventually block the inflow of air through
the port. This large ice block may also pose a potential danger to
someone should it fall from the wall.
[0006] Another problem with cold rooms is that high negative
pressure may be dangerous as the warm air entering the cold room
enters with the entrance of a person. This warm air subsequently
cools and creates a negative pressure within the cold room. This
negative pressure may hold the door in a closed position until the
room normalizes. A person within the cold room may become panicked
when unable to open the door. Today's vents alleviate small amounts
of incoming warm air, but are inadequate to deal with large volumes
of warm air associated with multiple door entries or large sliding
doors.
[0007] Yet another problem is the icing of certain valves
associated with vents of cold rooms. Moisture entering the cold
room may condense as ice upon the valves, thereby preventing them
from opening properly. One solution to this problem has been to
simply chip the ice off the valve or remove it with the use of a
heat gun. These solutions are time consuming and inadequate as it
may damage the vent, cause bodily injury, and be only effective
once the problem is discovered. As such, some vents have included
resistive heaters. However, should the heater fail the problem will
go unresolved until the heat is repaired.
[0008] Accordingly, it is seen that a need exists for a pressure
release vent that prevents the formation of ice thereon. It thus is
to be provision of such a pressure relief port that the present
invention is primarily directed
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In a preferred form of the invention a combination cold room
light and vent comprises a housing defining a heat chamber, at
least one air control valve coupled to the housing heat chamber,
and a light source coupled to the housing heat chamber, the light
source being in thermal communication with the at least one air
control valve through the heat chamber. With this construction,
heat generated by the light source warms the at least one air
control valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cold room vent and light
that embodies principles of the invention in its preferred
form.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the cold room
vent and light of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cold room vent and
light of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a
combination light and pressure relief ventilator or vent 10 in a
preferred form of the invention, referred to hereinafter simply as
vent. The vent 10 is used with a temperature controlled enclosure,
such as a freezer, refrigerator or other cold room, all of which
are referred collectively herein as cold room.
[0014] The vent 10 includes a housing 11, a valve assembly 12, and
a light assembly 13. The housing 11 includes a thermal valve body
16, a tubular port tube 17, and an outside louver 18. The housing
11 is typically mounted to the wall of the cold room with the valve
body 16 mounted to the inside surface and the outside louver 18
mounted to the outside surface. The housing 11 is typically made of
a plastic material or the like.
[0015] The valve body 16 is generally rectangular in shape with a
central tube portion 20 and an outwardly extending peripheral
mounting flange 21 with flange mounting holes 22 therein through
which mounting screws are passed to couple the valve body to the
inside surface of the cold room. The valve body 16 has and interior
stop wall 24 which has a low pressure intake port 25, a high
pressure intake port 26, and a low pressure exhaust port 27. The
interior stop wall 24 is positioned inwardly from the front surface
29, including the peripheral mounting flange 21, so as to define an
interior chamber 31. Each port 25, 26 and 27 has a central bar 32
with a valve mounting hole 33 therein.
[0016] The valve body 16 central tube portion 20 is configured to
telescopically mate with port tube 17 which extends through the
interior of the cold room walls. The port tube 17 is telescopically
coupled at an opposite end to the outside louver 18.
[0017] The outside louver 18 has an outwardly extending mounting
flange 35 with mounting holes 36 therein through which mounting
screws extend to couple the louver 18 to the outside surface of the
cold room. The louver 18 includes a drip deflecting hood 37 and a
screen 38 therein to prevent the entrance of dirt, foreign object,
insects or other pests.
[0018] The valve assembly 12 is coupled to and may be considered to
be a portion of the valve body 16. The valve assembly 12 includes a
low pressure intake valve 40 having a mounting stem 41 extending
through the valve mounting hole 33 of the low pressure intake port
25, a high pressure intake valve 42 having a mounting stem 43
extending through the valve mounting hole 33 of the high pressure
intake port 26, and a low pressure exhaust valve 44 having a
mounting stem 45 extending through the valve mounting hole 33 of
the low pressure exhaust port 27. Valves 40, 42 and 44 are all
considered to be air flow control valves. The end of the stem of
each valve 40, 42 and 44 is coupled to a spring 47, washer 48 and
push in stud 49 which bias each valve towards a closed position.
Each spring 47 resides within a spring seat or pocket 50 which
holds the spring in place. Each spring 47 is configured to allow
the valve to move from a closed position to an open position
against the biasing force of the spring 47, as explained in more
detail hereinafter.
[0019] The low pressure intake valve 40 and the high pressure
intake valve 42 each have the same size and configuration. However,
the valve mounting hole pocket 50 of the low pressure intake valve
40 is configured to be deeper than the pocket 50, or positioned
farther from the end of the stem, of the high pressure intake valve
42 so that the associated spring 47 of the low pressure intake
valve 40 is less compressed than that of the high pressure intake
valve. This difference in spring compressions allows the valves 40
and 42 to be the same construction to aid in manufacturing,
inventory and installation, yet allows for different opening
pressures for each, i.e., the low pressure intake valve 40 opens
first due to the spring compression being less than that of the
high pressure intake valve 42.
[0020] The light assembly 13 includes a rectangular box shaped LED
heat sink casing 51 which is configured to telescopically fit
within the interior chamber 31 of the valve body 16, so as to
enclosure and thereby form a heat chamber 52 through the
combination of the casing 51 and valve body 16. The casing is
preferably made of a heat conductive metal, such as aluminum. The
casing 51 is maintained in position by casing mounting screws 54.
The casing 51 has a front wall or surface 55, to which is mounted
an LED module 57 containing a plurality of LED diodes 58, and four
peripheral sidewalls 56. A combination lens gasket and LED
thermally conductive pad 58 is position between the LED module 57
and the front surface 55 of the casing 51. The LED module and pad
are held in position through a mounting screw 59. A transparent or
translucent lens or lens cover 61 is coupled to the front surface
55 of the casing to cover the LED module 57 through lens cover
mounting screws 61. An LED driver 63 is electrically coupled to the
LED module 57. The LED driver 63 is positioned within the housing
11 and coupled to a source of electric current, such as a
conventional A.C. line.
[0021] In use, the vent 10 is mounted to the wall of a cold room
with the valve body mounted to the interior surface and the outside
louver mounted to the exterior surface of the cold room wall. The
vent 10 allows for an asymmetrical, dual stage venting of pressure
within the cold room. Should the cold room door be opened and a
small amount of air is introduced into the cold room (small
volume), the low pressure intake valve 40 overcomes the biasing
force of its spring 47 to move to an open position. The opening of
the low pressure intake valve 40 allows the entrance, flow, or
passage of a small volume of air into the cold room to offset the
condensing of the small volume of warm air which creates a negative
pressure. The low pressure intake valve 40 opens at a negative
pressure level of approximately 0.4 inches of water. The valve
allows a flow rate of 10 CFM at 0.5 inches of water.
[0022] Should the cold room door be opened and a large amount of
air is introduced into the cold room (high volume), both the low
pressure intake valve 40 and the high pressure intake valve 42
overcome the biasing forces of their springs 47 to each move to
their open positions. The opening of both the low pressure intake
valve 40 and the high pressure intake valve 42 allows the entrance
or passage of a large volume of air into the cold room in a very
fast manner to offset the condensing of the large volume of warm
air which creates a large negative pressure. The high pressure
intake valve 42 may be thought of as a second stage valve in the
event when a large amount of air is needed to be taken in to
relieve the pressure within the cold room. The process commences
with the low pressure intake valve 40 opening as previously
described. The high pressure intake valve 42 then opens at a
negative pressure level of approximately 0.7 inches of water. The
high pressure intake valve allows a flow rate of 30 CFM at 1.0
inches of water. The quick equalization of the pressure through the
opening of both valves prevents the cold room door from being stuck
closed due to negative pressure within the cold room, which
minimizes the potential of one panicking due to the inability to
temporarily open the door.
[0023] As the room equalizes from the experience of negative
pressure, the high pressure intake valve 42 will first return to
its seated position once the air pressure returns to a level below
approximately 0.7 inches of water. The air pressure within the cold
room continues to drop by air passing through the low pressure
intake valve 40, until the pressure reaches approximately 0.4
inches of water wherein the low pressure intake valve 40 will also
move to its closed position. The end results is a cold room which
is generally at a neutral pressure.
[0024] The exhaust valve 44 overcomes the biasing force of its
spring 47 when positive pressure exists within the cold room. The
exhaust valve 44 opens at a positive pressure level of less than
0.6 inches of water. The exhaust valve allows a flow rate of 10 CFM
at 0.5 inches of water. The cold room may experience positive
pressure when one slams a door shut or when the air therein warms,
such as when the cold room is going through a defrost mode. This
positive pressure may prevent the full closing of the refrigerator
door.
[0025] Thus, the flow or venting of air into the cold room is
controlled by at least two valves while the flow of air out of the
cold room is controlled by a single valve, all valves being the
same size. This arrangement provides for an asymmetric flow of air
into the cold room which is approximately twice the amount as the
flow out of the cold room. Of course, the number of valves or their
sizes may also be different so long as the valve controlled flow
into the cold room is much greater than the valve controlled flow
out of the cold room.
[0026] The vent is preferably designed so that the LED module 57 is
always energized to provide constant light within the cold room.
The use of LED lights facilitates this due to their low power
consumption. The heat generated by the constantly illuminated LED
module 57 thermally passes through the thermal pad 58 to the LED
heat sink casing 51, i.e., the LED module is in thermal
communication with the LED heat sink casing 51. This heating of the
LED heat sink casing 51 constantly warms the air within the
interior chamber 31 of the valve body 16 and thus warms the intake
valves 40 and 42 and exhaust valve 44. The warming of the valves
prevents the formation of ice upon the valves which would prevent
them from properly opening or closing, i.e., prevents the valves
from freezing in place within their respective ports. It should be
noted that this heating is economical as the cold room should be
constantly illuminated regardless.
[0027] It should be understood that the combination of a light and
vent also reduces cost and labor as both features are achieved
through the mounting of a single unit which includes both
functions.
[0028] It should be understood that the difference in spring
compressions may also be achieved through the use of different
sized springs, different valve stem lengths, the addition of a
spacer to compress the spring, or any other method of achieving
different compression forces associated with the springs.
[0029] It thus is seen that a vent is now provided which avoids the
formation of ice on the vent valves and allows for both small and
large amounts of air venting. Though it has been described in
detail in its preferred form, it should be realized that many
modifications, additions and deletions may be made without
departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth
in the following claims.
* * * * *