Modular heat transfer system
AssigneeTippmann Engineering, LLC
InventorsDaniel J. Tippmann, Robert T. Tippmann, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular air handler is adapted for installation in a racking assembly behind palletized product. The air handler operates to move air through the adjacent layers of palletized product upon placement of the palletized product in the adjacent space. The air handler can be deactivated in order to prevent unnecessary air flow when no palletized product is present in the adjacent space. A number of the modular air handlers may be provided for a racking assembly, such that individual pallet bays may be activated or deactivated as palletized product is deposited or withdrawn from the various pallet bays of the rack.
Claims20
A pallet rack assembly comprising:
- a pallet rack having a plurality of bays, each bay having:
- a bay width sized to receive a palletized product assembly including a pallet with a plurality of stacked cases received thereon;
- a bay height sized to receive the palletized product assembly;
- and
- a bay depth sized to receive at least two of the palletized product assembly, such that each bay defines a rearward bay and a forward bay sized to receive the palletized product assembly;
- and
- a modular air handler assembly received in at least one of the plurality of bays, the air handler assembly comprising:
- an enclosure having a first airflow aperture facing toward the forward bay and a second airflow aperture facing away from the forward bay, the first airflow aperture of the enclosure sized to be substantially or completely blocked by the palletized product assembly when the palletized product assembly is positioned in the forward bay;
- and
- an air handler in fluid communication with the second airflow aperture of the enclosure, such that the air handler is operable to drive air through the palletized product assembly via the first airflow aperture when the air handler is activated.
An air handler assembly, comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a plurality of panels defining an airflow pathway between a first airflow aperture and a second airflow aperture,
- the plurality of panels configured to admit an airflow at one of the first and second airflow apertures and expel the airflow at the other of the first and second airflow apertures,
- one of the first and second airflow apertures formed on a substantially upright surface of the enclosure, and
- the other of the first and second airflow apertures formed on an angled surface of the enclosure, the angled surface having an angled orientation relative to the horizontal and upright directions;
- and
- an air handler in fluid communication with the angled airflow aperture and operable to drive the airflow along the airflow pathway when the air handler is activated.
A method of effecting forced-air transfer through palletized product, the method comprising:
- loading an air handler assembly into a rearward pallet bay of a rack assembly, such that a first airflow aperture of the air handler assembly faces a forward pallet bay and a second airflow aperture faces rearward of the rack assembly, with an airflow pathway formed between the first and second airflow apertures;
- loading a palletized product assembly into the forward pallet bay such that the first airflow aperture is substantially or completely blocked by the palletized product assembly;
- and
- activating an air handler of the air handler assembly, the air handler in fluid communication with the second airflow aperture such that the step of activating drives an airflow through the palletized product assembly and along the airflow pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.