U.S. patent application number 17/255106 was filed with the patent office on 2021-09-02 for refrigerated sales cabinet.
The applicant listed for this patent is Carrier Corporation, Hans-Joachim HUFF. Invention is credited to Hans-Joachim Huff.
Application Number | 20210270516 17/255106 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005638313 |
Filed Date | 2021-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210270516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huff; Hans-Joachim |
September 2, 2021 |
REFRIGERATED SALES CABINET
Abstract
A refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to exemplary
embodiments of the invention comprises a cabinet body (4) having a
real wall; a compressor (16) of a vapor compression cycle arranged
within a com-pressor compartment (14); and a riser conduit (22)
having an inlet port (24) at the compressor compartment (14) and an
outlet port (26) positioned outside, particularly behind the
cabinet body (4) and above the inlet port (24) such that gas,
including leaked refrigerant flows from the compressor compartment
(14) through the riser conduit (22) and exits the riser conduit
(22) through the outlet port (26).
Inventors: |
Huff; Hans-Joachim; (Mainz,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUFF; Hans-Joachim
Carrier Corporation |
Mainz-Kostheim
Palm Beach Gardens |
FL |
DE
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005638313 |
Appl. No.: |
17/255106 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
November 7, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/080474 |
371 Date: |
December 22, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2323/00261
20130101; F25D 23/003 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 9, 2018 |
EP |
18205430.4 |
Claims
1. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) comprising a cabinet body (4)
having a rear wall; a compressor (16) of a vapor compression cycle
arranged within a compressor compartment (14); and a riser conduit
(22) having an inlet port (24) at the compressor compartment (14)
and an outlet port (26) positioned outside, particularly behind the
cabinet body (4) and above the inlet port (24) such that gas,
including leaked refrigerant flows from the compressor compartment
(14) through the riser conduit (22) and exits the riser conduit
(22) through the outlet port (26).
2. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) of claim 1, wherein the riser
conduit (22) extends substantially in a vertical direction.
3. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) of claim 1, where in the outlet
port (26) of the riser conduit (22) is located behind the rear wall
(12) of the cabinet body (4) at a height between a middle portion
of the rear wall (12) and the roof portion, particularly at a
height of 1.50 to 2.00 meters above the floor on which the
refrigerated sales cabinet (2) stands.
4. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein the
riser conduit (22) is located at, within or behind the rear wall
(12) of the refrigerated sales cabinet (2).
5. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein at
least a portion of the riser conduit (22) is formed by the rear
face of the rear wall (12) of the cabinet body (4) and a ledge
(34), particularly a U-shaped ledge (34) mounted on the rear face
of the rear wall (12) of the refrigerated sales cabinet (2).
6. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein the
inlet port (24) of the riser conduit (22) is arranged at an upper
portion of the compressor compartment (14); and/or wherein the
outlet port (26) of the riser conduit (22) is arranged at or behind
the rear wall (12) of the refrigerated sales cabinet (2) so as to
discharge the gas, including the leaked refrigerant, from the
compressor compartment (14) to an environment behind the
refrigerated sales cabinet (2).
7. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein the
riser conduit (22) is formed as a fanless riser conduit (22).
8. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein the
compressor compartment (14) is arranged at or in the rear wall (12)
of the cabinet (2) body; and/or wherein the compressor compartment
(14) encloses at least one compressor (16) and separates the
interior of the compressor compartment (14) from the re-frigerated
sales space (6) and/or from the outside of the refrigerated sales
cabinet (2); and/or wherein the rear side of the compressor
compartment (14) is formed by a removable rear cover (32) closing
an opening within the rear wall (12) of the cabinet body (4).
9. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein the
refrigerated sales cabinet (2) is formed as a semi plug-in cabinet
(2); wherein the vapor compression cycle comprises at least one
compressor (16), at least one condenser (20), an expansion device
and an evaporator (30) and refrigerant conduits interconnecting
these elements and circulating a refrigerant therethrough; and
wherein the at least one condenser (20) is formed as a heat
exchanger transferring heat from the compressed hot refrigerant to
a brine.
10. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 1, wherein
the refrigerated sales cabinet (2) is formed as a plug-in cabinet;
wherein the vapor compression cycle comprises at least one
compressor (16), at least one condenser (20), an expansion device
and an evaporator (30) and refrigerant conduits interconnecting
these elements and circulating a refrigerant therethrough; and
wherein the at least one condenser (20) is formed as a heat
exchanger transferring heat from the compressed hot refrigerant to
ambient air.
11. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 9, wherein
the at least one condenser (20) is arranged at or on top of a roof
portion of the cabinet body (4); wherein the vapor compression
cycle further comprises a pressure line (18) extending between the
at least one compressor (16) and the at least one condenser (20);
and wherein the pressure line (18) extends behind the rear wall
(12) of the cabinet body (4) and is covered, at least partially, by
a ledge (34), particularly a U-shaped ledge (34), mounted on the
rear face of the real wall (12) of the refrigerated sales cabinet
(2), seen from behind.
12. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) according to claim 11, wherein
the interior space of the ledge (34), enclosed by the rear face of
the rear wall (12) of the cabinet body (4) and the inner surfaces
of the ledge (34) and which is not occupied by the pressure line
(18), forms at least part of the riser conduit (22); and/or wherein
the cross sectional area of such interior space is in the range of
2-8 cm.sup.2; or wherein the riser conduit (22) is formed
separately from the pressure line (18).
13. Refrigerated sales cabinet (2) comprising a cabinet body (4)
having a rear wall; a refrigerant containing component located in
the lower section of the refrigerated sales cabinet; and a riser
conduit having an inlet port (24) at the refrigerant containing
component and an outlet port (26) positioned outside, particularly
behind the cabinet body (4) and above the inlet port (24) such that
gas, including leaked refrigerant flows from the refrigerant
containing component through the riser conduit (22) and exits the
riser conduit (22) through the outlet port (26).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerated sales
cabinet.
[0002] In the prior art, refrigerated sales cabinets are known in
which the compressor of a vapor compression cycle is arranged at or
within the cabinet body. In such vapor compression cycle, a
refrigerant circulates through the elements of the vapor
compression cycle, in particular through the compressor, a
condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. The refrigerant
can be flammable or non-flammable.
[0003] There may occur situations where refrigerant, especially a
flammable refrigerant such as R290, exits the vapor compression
cycle through one or more leaks which can cause fire or even an
explosion. Some refrigerants, including flammable refrigerants have
the tendency to sink down to the bottom of the refrigerated sales
cabinet, when having exited the vapor compression cycle through a
leak. This is dangerous, since if the amount of leaked refrigerant
which collects at the bottom of the refrigerated sales cabinet
exceeds a certain threshold, there is a high risk of fire or even
an explosion, if such leaked refrigerant is somehow ignited.
[0004] There are regulations that limit the acceptable amount of
leaked refrigerant, particularly at the bottom of the refrigerated
sales cabinet. For example, the European regulation EN 60335-2-89
limits the acceptable amount of leaked refrigerant at the bottom of
the refrigerated sales cabinet such that the concentration of the
flammable gas is sufficiently below the lower flammability
limit.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a refrigerated sales cabinet which significantly reduces
the risk of damage by leaked refrigerant and which meets the
typical requirements of the existing regulations with respect to
the acceptable amount of leaked refrigerant.
[0006] A refrigerated sales cabinet according to exemplary
embodiments of the invention comprises: a cabinet body, the cabinet
body having a rear wall; a compressor of a vapor compression cycle
arranged within a compressor compartment; and a riser conduit
having an inlet port at the compressor compartment and an outlet
port positioned outside, particularly behind the cabinet body and
above the inlet port such that gas, including leaked refrigerant
may flow from the compressor compartment through the riser conduit
and exit the riser conduit through the outlet port to mix with
ambient air.
[0007] The inventors of the present patent invention have
understood that the risk of refrigerant leaking out of the vapor
compression cycle is particularly high at or in the vicinity of the
compressor, since the refrigerant within the compressor or leaving
the compressor through the pressure line is at a high pressure
level, and since the refrigerant conduit at the compressor
typically comprises bent and welded portions and/or manifolds,
which are susceptible for forming leaks therein. Typically the
compressor is arranged at the bottom of the refrigerated sales
cabinet, and therefore the bottom of the refrigerated sales cabinet
is typically the area where leaks are formed.
[0008] By the exemplary embodiments of the invention the risk that
leaked flammable refrigerant collects at the bottom of the
refrigerated sales cabinet, particularly within the compressor
compartment, and constitutes a considerable risk of fire and
explosion, can be considerably reduced or even fully avoided.
[0009] Hot, particularly pressurized refrigerant that might exit
the vapor compression cycle through a leak at the compressor or in
the vicinity of the compressor, rises through the riser conduit and
exits the same through its outlet port to mix with ambient air.
[0010] Thus, leaked refrigerant can be reliably evacuated from the
compressor compartment, which can also be called machine room. It
is reliably avoided that such leaked refrigerant will collect in
the bottom portion of the refrigerated sales cabinet, particularly
in the compressor compartment, where it would constitute a risk of
fire or explosion.
[0011] Accordingly, the refrigerated sales cabinet according to
exemplary embodiments of the invention ensures that the refrigerant
concentration at the bottom of the refrigerated sales cabinet,
particularly within the compressor compartment will stay below the
acceptable threshold stipulated by the typical regulations,
including the European regulation EN60335-2-89.
[0012] Furthermore, such riser is comparably easy and cheap to
manufacture and to retrofit within existing refrigerated sales
cabinet. No additional elements like fans are necessary.
[0013] The reason why some refrigerants, including typical
flammable refrigerants such as R290 have the tendency to sink down
to the bottom of the refrigerated sales cabinet, when having exited
the vapor compression cycle through a leak, is that they are
heavier than air, particularly have a higher density than air.
Therefore they tend to collect in the lowermost portion of the
refrigerated sales cabinet, particularly in the compressor
compartment.
[0014] However, when exiting the vapor compression cycle through a
leak at or in the vicinity of the compressor, such leaked
refrigerant is at a higher pressure level than the air within the
compressor compartment.
[0015] Therefore, the inventors of the present patent application
have discovered that such higher pressure level causes the leaked
refrigerant to flow through the riser conduit and to exit the same
through its outlet port where it mixes with ambient air. This
pressure differential is used to efficiently evacuate leaked
refrigerant from the compressor compartment.
[0016] The gas which is contained within the compressor compartment
typically is air which can be mixed with leaked gaseous
refrigerant, which is undesirable. Therefore, the expression "gas,
including leaked refrigerant" is used to specify the gas or
gas-leaked refrigerant mixture within the compressor
compartment.
[0017] When such discharged leaked refrigerant has mixed with
ambient air, particularly at a position behind the rear wall of the
cabinet body, such refrigerant and air mixture still is heavier
than the ambient air and tends to sink down, however, the
concentration of the refrigerant, particularly the flammable
refrigerant, in such mixture is lower than the acceptable threshold
stipulated in any of the existing regulations and is small enough
such that there is no risk of fire or explosion.
[0018] The diameter or cross-sectional area of the riser conduit
should be large enough such that it provides a comparably low flow
resistance.
[0019] The refrigerant sales cabinet is of the front access type
and can be equipped with or without doors at its front access
portion.
[0020] A suitable number of shelves on which the goods to be
presented can be placed and supported can be provided within the
refrigerated sales space.
[0021] The cabinet body typically provides a refrigerated sales
space for storing goods to be presented therein.
[0022] The compressor compartment is typically located at or in a
rear part of a bottom portion of the cabinet body.
[0023] In a first embodiment, the riser conduit extends
substantially in a vertical direction, which provides for a
particularly efficient discharge of the gas, particularly the
leaked refrigerant from the compressor compartment.
[0024] In another embodiment, the outlet port of the riser conduit
is located behind the rear wall of the cabinet body at a height
between a middle portion of the rear wall and the roof portion,
particularly at a height of 1.50 to 2.00 meters above the floor on
which the refrigerated sales cabinet stands.
[0025] If the outlet port is located at such height, the gas,
including the leaked refrigerant exiting such outlet port will mix
sufficiently with ambient air before sinking down to a bottom
portion outside the refrigerated sales cabinet.
[0026] The riser conduit can be located at, within or behind the
rear wall of the refrigerated sales cabinet.
[0027] According to another embodiment, at least a portion of the
riser conduit is formed by the rear face of the rear wall of the
cabinet body and a ledge, particularly a U-shaped ledge mounted on
the rear face of the real wall of the refrigerated sales
cabinet.
[0028] In another embodiment where the inlet port of the riser
conduit is arranged at an upper portion of the compressor
compartment, the gas, particularly the leaked refrigerant can be
discharged efficiently into an upper direction.
[0029] The outlet port of the riser conduit can be arranged at or
behind the rear wall of the refrigerated sales cabinet so as to
discharge the gas, including the leaked refrigerant, to an
environment behind the refrigerated sales cabinet, such that the
gas, in particularly the leaked refrigerant exiting such outlet
port will mix with ambient air behind the rear wall of the cabinet
body.
[0030] According to another embodiment, the riser conduit is formed
as a fanless riser conduit. For cost and manufacturing reasons, it
is particularly advantageous that no additional components like
fans, pumps or the like are needed for discharging the gas,
particularly the leaked refrigerant through such riser conduit.
[0031] According to another embodiment, the compressor compartment
is arranged at or in the rear wall of the cabinet body.
[0032] The compressor compartment can enclose at least one
compressor and separate the interior of the compressor compartment
in which the at least one compressor is arranged, from the
refrigerated sales space and/or from the outside of the
refrigerated sales cabinet.
[0033] The rear side of the compressor compartment can be formed by
a removable rear cover closing an opening within the rear wall of
the cabinet body.
[0034] Such compressor compartment provides for a compact design
and a safe and reliable operation of the refrigerated sales cabinet
while maximising the size of the available refrigerated sales
space. It has been found out, that such compressor compartments
often are not fully not gas-tight such that gas, particularly
refrigerant, can flow out of the same through existing gaps and can
accumulate on the floor on which the refrigerated sales cabinet
stands, where it would form a risk of fire or explosion. This risk,
however, is significantly reduced or even fully avoided by the
provision of a riser conduit according to the exemplary embodiment
of the invention.
[0035] If the rear cover of the compressor compartment is
removable, this allows for efficient repair, maintenance and
replacement operation of the compressor.
[0036] The refrigerated sales cabinet can be formed as semi-plug-in
cabinet; wherein the vapor compression cycle comprises at least one
compressor, at least one condenser, an expansion device and an
evaporator and refrigerant conduits interconnecting these elements
and circulating a refrigerant therethrough; and wherein the at
least one condenser is formed as a heat exchanger transferring heat
from the compressed hot refrigerant to a brine.
[0037] Such brine typically comprises brine conduits arranged at or
on top of the roof portion of the refrigerated sales cabinet. Such
semi-plug-in cabinet does not have condenser fans which could
contribute to mixing the gas, particularly the leaked refrigerant
discharged from the compressor compartment.
[0038] The refrigerated sales cabinet can also be formed as a
plug-in cabinet; wherein the vapor compression cycle comprises at
least one compressor, at least one condenser, an expansion device
and an evaporator and refrigerant conduits interconnecting these
elements and circulating a refrigerant therethrough; and wherein
the at least one condenser is formed as a heat exchanger
transferring heat from the compressed hot refrigerant to ambient
air.
[0039] The at least one condenser can be equipped with one or more
condenser fans. When arranging the outlet port of the riser conduit
in the vicinity of such condenser fans, the gas, particularly the
leaked refrigerant discharged from the compressor compartment can
be mixed particularly efficiently with ambient air at or above the
roof portion of the refrigerated sales cabinet.
[0040] According to another embodiment, the at least one condenser
is arranged at or on top of a roof portion of the cabinet body. The
vapor compression cycle can further comprise a pressure line
extending between the at least one compressor and the at least one
condenser. The pressure line can extend behind the rear wall of the
cabinet body and can be covered, at least partially, by a ledge,
particularly a U-shaped ledge, mounted on the rear face of the real
wall of the refrigerated sales cabinet, seen from behind. Such
ledge protects the pressure line, for example during transport of
the refrigerated sales cabinet.
[0041] According to another embodiment, the interior space of the
ledge, enclosed by the rear face of the rear wall of the cabinet
body and the inner surfaces of the ledge and which is not occupied
by the pressure line, forms the riser conduit. The cross section of
such interior space can be in the range of 2 to 8 cm.sup.2.
[0042] In this embodiment the interior space of the ledge which is
provided for protecting the pressure line from behind can be used
as riser conduit or at least as part of the riser conduit.
[0043] The cross-sectional area of the riser conduit can be in the
range of 2 to 8 cm.sup.2 providing for an efficient discharge of a
gas, particularly the leaked refrigerant from within the compressor
compartment.
[0044] Alternatively, the riser conduit can be formed separately
from the pressure line, for example as a separate vertical riser
conduit mounted to the rear face of the rear wall of the cabinet
body.
[0045] A refrigerated sales cabinet according to another exemplary
embodiment of the invention comprises a cabinet body having a rear
wall; a refrigerant containing component located in the lower
section of the refrigerated sales cabinet; and a riser conduit
having an inlet port at the refrigerant containing component and an
outlet port positioned outside, particularly behind the cabinet
body and above the inlet port such that gas, including leaked
refrigerant flows from the refrigerant containing component through
the riser conduit and exits the riser conduit through the outlet
port.
[0046] All the advantages and embodiments as explained above also
apply to such refrigerated sales cabinet and will not be repeated
here for reasons of brevity.
[0047] The refrigerant containing component can be any refrigerant
containing component located in the lower section of the cabinet
having a potential leak without significant air flow. By way of
such riser conduit, the refrigerant is quickly dispersed.
[0048] In the following, a refrigerated sales cabinet according to
exemplary embodiments of the invention is described in more detail
with respect to the enclosed Figs.
[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a refrigerated sales
cabinet according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0050] FIG. 2 shows a rear view onto the refrigerated sales cabinet
of FIG. 1;
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a more detailed perspective side view of the
refrigerated sales cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2; and
[0052] FIG. 4 shows a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of
the rear wall, the pressure line, the riser conduit and the
U-shaped ledge of the refrigerated sales cabinet, taken along the
line A-A-in FIG. 2.
[0053] The refrigerated sales cabinet 2 is of the front access type
and can be provided with or without doors on the front. The
refrigerated sales cabinet 2 can be a freezing cabinet providing
freezing temperatures within the refrigerated sales space and
comprising doors on the front (not shown). The refrigerated sales
cabinet can also be a cabinet providing cooling temperatures of
above 0.degree. C. within the refrigerated sales space, without
doors on the front (as shown). In the appended FIGS. 1 and 3, the
side walls are omitted for purpose of illustration.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet body of the refrigerated
sales cabinet comprises substantially horizontal bottom and roof
portions and a rear wall 12 connecting the rear ends of the bottom
and roof portions. The bottom and roof portions, the rear wall 12
and the side walls (not shown) and, optionally, doors provided at
the front (not shown) enclose a refrigerated sales space 6 in which
refrigerated goods to be sold are supported and presented, e.g. on
shelves 8.
[0055] The refrigerated sales space 6 formed in the interior of the
cabinet body 4 is enclosed by a bottom plate, a particularly
perforated rear wall and a ceiling plate. A cooling air cycle
circulates through the intermediate spaces between the bottom plate
of the refrigerated sales space 6 and the bottom portion of the
cabinet body 4, between the rear wall of the refrigerated sales
space 6 and the rear wall 12 of the cabinet body 4 and between the
ceiling plate of the refrigerated sales space 6 and the roof
portion of the cabinet body 4.
[0056] In these intermediate spaces, particularly between the rear
wall of the refrigerated sales space 6 and the rear wall 12 of the
cabinet body 4 at least one evaporator 30 can be arranged which is
shown in FIG. 3.
[0057] The cooled air exits through a cold air supply baffle at the
front end of the ceiling plate, flows downward forming a cooling
air curtain and enters the return air baffle at the front end of
the bottom plate of the refrigerated sales space 6.
[0058] The refrigerated sales cabinet 2 can be formed as plug-in
cabinet or a semi-plugin cabinet, which means that all the elements
of the vapor compression cycle, namely at least a compressor 6, a
condenser 20, an expansion device (not shown), an evaporator 30
(see FIG. 3) and refrigerant conduits circulating a refrigerant
therethrough, are integrated within or arranged at the refrigerated
sales cabinet 2.
[0059] At the bottom portion of the rear side of the refrigerated
sales cabinet 2, there is arranged a compressor compartment 14
enclosing a/the compressor 16. In the present embodiment, the
compressor compartment 14 is arranged within the rear wall 12 of
the cabinet body 4. The compressor compartment 14 comprises a
bottom plate, a front cover, a top cover and a removable rear cover
(not shown in FIG. 1). The front cover of the compressor
compartment 14 is arranged behind the lower portion of the rear
wall of the refrigerated sales space 6 so as to provide a passage
for the cooling air circuit therebetween.
[0060] The condenser 20 is located on top of the roof portion of
the cabinet body 4. A pressure line 18 connects the discharge side
of the compressor 16 to the inlet side of the condenser 20. This
pressure line 16 exits the compressor compartment 14 through its
top cover, it extends along the rear face of the rear wall 12 of
the cabinet body 4, is mounted with appropriate clamps or ledges to
the rear wall 12, makes a bend at its upper end and connects to the
inlet port of the condenser 20.
[0061] If the refrigerated sales cabinet 2 is formed as a
semi-plug-in cabinet, the condenser 20 transfers heat from the
compressed hot refrigerant to a brine circuit (not shown). The
brine circuit typically comprises brine conduits located on top of
the roof portion of the refrigerated sales cabinet 2.
[0062] If the refrigerated sales cabinet 2 is formed as a plug-in
cabinet, the condenser 20 is transferring heat from the compressed
hot refrigerant to the ambient air, and typically also comprises
condenser fans improving such heat transfer efficiency.
[0063] The refrigerated sales cabinet 2 further comprises a riser
conduit 22 having an inlet port 24 and an outlet port 26. The inlet
port 24 is located at an upper rear portion of the compressor
compartment 14. The outlet port 26 is arranged at a height of
typically 1.50 to 2.00 m above the floor on which the refrigerated
sales 2 stands.
[0064] The riser conduit 22 is formed in a fanless fashion and
discharges gas, including leaked refrigerant exiting the vapor
compression cycle at or in the vicinity of the compressor 16 in an
upwards direction. Such leaked refrigerant is typically at a higher
pressure level than the surrounding gas, particularly the air
within the compressor compartment 14.
[0065] Such discharged gas, including leaked refrigerant exits the
riser conduit 22 through its outlet port 26 and mixes with ambient
air behind the refrigerated sales cabinet 2. Thus the risk of fire
or explosion resulting from leaked flammable refrigerant is
significantly reduced or even fully avoided.
[0066] FIG. 2 shows a rear view onto the rear wall 12 of the
refrigerated sales cabinet 2.
[0067] The rear cover of the compressor compartment 14 can be
formed as removable rear cover plate. Furthermore, it can be seen
that the riser conduit 22 is formed as a U-shaped ledge 34 mounted
to the rear face of the rear wall 12 of the cabinet body 4, for
example by lateral attachment flanges that are screwed or otherwise
connected with the rear wall 12. This is shown in greater detail in
FIG. 4.
[0068] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the outlet port 26 is at a
position below the roof portion of the cabinet body 4, however, it
can also be positioned higher or in the vicinity of the roof
portion of the cabinet body 4.
[0069] In FIG. 2 only one compressor with compressor compartment
14, one riser conduit 22, one pressure line 18 and one condenser 20
are shown. However, it is to be understood that the refrigerated
sales cabinet 2 can also be equipped with a plurality of such
arrangements
[0070] FIG. 3 shows a perspective side view of a refrigerated sales
cabinet 2 in which more details are visible.
[0071] The particularly perforated rear wall of the refrigerated
sales space 6 is omitted for the purpose of illustration.
[0072] The evaporator 30 is arranged in front of the rear wall 12
of the cabinet body 4. Furthermore, it can be seen that the
removable rear cover 32 of the compressor compartment 14 closes an
opening within the rear wall 12 of the cabinet body 4. Furthermore,
elements like a night blind, lighting means, structural elements
and isolation means are depicted.
[0073] The riser conduit extends from an inlet port 24 at an upper
rear portion of the compressor compartment 14 to an outlet port 26
positioned approximately at 2/3 of the total height of the cabinet
body 4. By way of such riser conduit 22, as already explained
above, gas, including leaked refrigerant, can be discharged to mix
with ambient air such that the risk of fire or explosion can be
significantly reduced or even fully avoided.
[0074] FIG. 4 shows a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of
the rear wall 12, the pressure line 18, the riser conduit 22 and
the U-shaped ledge 34 of the refrigerated sales cabinet 2, taken
along the line A-A-in FIG. 2.
[0075] The riser conduit 22 is formed as a U-shaped ledge 34
mounted to the rear face of the rear wall 12 of the cabinet body 4,
for example by lateral attachment flanges 36 that are screwed or
otherwise connected with the rear wall 12.
[0076] The rear face of the rear wall 12 of the cabinet body 4 and
the inner surfaces of the U-shaped ledge 34, particularly of the
rear wall and the side wall portions of the U-shaped ledge 34,
enclose both the pressure line 18 and the riser conduit 22.
[0077] The pressure line 18 occupies part of the cross-sectional
area of the interior space enclosed by the rear face of the rear
wall 12 and the inner surfaces of the U-shaped ledge 34, and the
interior space of such cross-sectional area which is not occupied
by the pressure line 18 forms the riser conduit 22.
[0078] The cross-sectional area of such interior space is typically
in the range of 2 to 8 cm.sup.2.
[0079] While the invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the claims. In addition many modifications may be made to adopt
a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the scope of the claims.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention includes
all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0080] 2 refrigerated sales cabinet [0081] 4 cabinet body [0082] 6
refrigerated sales space [0083] 8 shelves [0084] 10 front access
portion [0085] 12 rear wall [0086] 14 compressor compartment [0087]
16 compressor [0088] 18 pressure line [0089] 20 condenser [0090] 22
riser conduit [0091] 24 inlet port [0092] 26 outlet port [0093] 30
evaporator [0094] 32 removable rear cover [0095] 34 U-shaped ledge
[0096] 36 lateral attachment flanges
* * * * *