Back to results
US 11,662,134 B2Granted
Hot airflow management systems and methods for coolers
AssigneePepsiCo, Inc.
InventorPrashant Desphande
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Coolers with airflow management systems are disclosed. The coolers include a cabinet that has a door with a transparent section. A refrigeration unit is coupled to the cabinet. The refrigeration unit has an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The cross sectional area of the airflow outlet is less than the cross sectional area of the airflow inlet. The refrigeration unit is fluidly coupled to an airflow management system that is in fluid communication with the airflow outlet. The airflow management system includes discharge vents and turbulence reduction vents.
Claims20
A cooler comprising:
- a cabinet having a door with a transparent section;
- a refrigeration unit coupled to the cabinet, the refrigeration unit comprising:
- an airflow inlet,
- an airflow outlet coupled to a bottom surface of the refrigeration unit, and
- a condenser disposed between the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet;
- and and
- an airflow management system comprising:
- an airflow management system inlet in fluid communication with the airflow outlet of the refrigeration unit such that an air mass exits the airflow outlet of the refrigeration unit into the airflow management system inlet,
- one or more discharge vents, and
- one or more turbulence reduction vents, wherein the turbulence reduction vents are orthogonal to the discharge vents,
- wherein a cross sectional area of the airflow outlet is less than a cross sectional area of the airflow inlet such that when an air mass enters the airflow inlet and exists the airflow outlet the velocity of the air mass is greater at the airflow outlet than at the airflow inlet.
8 more elements
A cooler comprising:
- a cabinet having a primary space having a primary space height and a secondary space having a secondary space height, the secondary space extending from the primary space, and the primary space height greater than the secondary space height;
- a refrigeration unit having a first portion and a second portion, a height of the second portion being less than a height of the first portion such that an empty space is defined above the second portion;
- an airflow management system fluidly coupled to the second portion, the airflow management system comprising an airflow management system inlet coupled to a bottom surface of the refrigeration unit and in fluid communication with the second portion of the refrigeration unit such that an air mass exits the second portion of the refrigeration unit into the airflow management system inlet;
- and
- a condenser disposed within the second portion,
- wherein the cabinet is disposed on the refrigeration unit, and
- wherein the secondary space comprises a storage compartment disposed within the empty space.
4 more elements
A cooler comprising:
- an airflow management system comprising:
- a housing having a discharge panel and a side panel,
- discharge vents formed in the discharge panel,
- a turbulence reduction vent formed in the side panel, and
- an arced plate disposed within the housing and extending from a base of the housing, configured to redirect an air mass from a substantially horizontal trajectory to a substantially vertical trajectory and through the discharge vent formed in the discharge panel.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.