Back to results
US 6,960,129 B2Granted
Conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway
AssigneeHCR Incorporated
InventorsPaul Ashley, Colin D. Johnstone, Peter R. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway is disclosed. The vestibule includes a frame that supports inner and outer moveable door-forming members. The vestibule also includes a heater that circulates air between the inner and outer door-forming members and a variable-speed fan that varies flow of the air between the inner and outer door-forming members. In one embodiment, the airflow from the fan increases upon the opening of the door-forming members and decreases upon the closing of the door-forming members.
Claims21
A conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway, comprising:
- a frame that supports inner and outer moveable door-forming members, wherein the frame comprises first and second side members positioned on opposite sides of the doorway opening;
- a heater that conditions air between the inner and outer door-forming members;
- a fan that varies flow of the air between the inner and outer door-forming members;
- air discharge means that receives the air from the fan and discharges the air across the doorway opening, wherein the air discharge means comprises a pair of blades running generally lengthwise along the first side member, wherein the blades direct air discharged from an opening positioned between the blades across the doorway opening to an inlet in the second side member, wherein the blades are positioned in a first orientation when the door-forming members are closed and automatically adjust to a second orientation when the door-forming members are open;
- and
- air return means that receives the air discharged across the doorway opening and returns the air to the fan for recirculation.
3 more elements
A conditioned vestibule comprising:
- a frame that defines a doorway opening, the frame comprising first and second vertical side members and a horizontal top member connected to top portions of the first and second side members;
- a first set of moveable door-forming members connected to the frame;
- a variable-speed fan that circulates air across the opening and varies flow of the air by increasing the flow automatically upon opening of the door-forming members and decreases the flow automatically upon closing of the door-forming members;
- and
- an air discharge means that changes a direction in which air is discharged across the opening based upon whether the door-forming members are in an open position or a closed position.
2 more elements
A conditioned vestibule comprising:
- means for supporting first and second door-forming members to define a doorway opening;
- means for opening and closing the first and second door-forming members;
- means for circulating air between the first and second door-forming members,
- wherein said means comprises means for directing the air in a first direction when the door-forming members are in an open position and in a second direction when the door-forming members are in a closed position;
- and
- means for varying circulation of the air depending upon a position of the first and second door-forming members.
3 more elements
A conditioned vestibule for use in connection with a cold storage room, the vestibule comprising:
- a frame comprising
- first and second substantially parallel side members, wherein the first side member comprises an air discharge means running along substantially the entire length of first side member and wherein the second side member comprises an air inlet;
- a top member connected to the first and second side members, wherein the top member and the first and second side members define a doorway opening;
- inner and outer bi-parting door-forming members connected to the frame, wherein the door-forming members can be positioned in open and closed positions, wherein the inner and outer door-forming members are spaced apart from each other by a distance in the range of 250-2500 millimeters when the door-forming members are in the closed position;
- and
- wherein the air discharge means directs air in a first direction when the first and second door-forming members are in the open position and in a second direction when the first and second door-forming members are in the second position;
- a heater;
- and
- a fan in communication with the heater, wherein the fan circulates air across the doorway opening from the air discharge means to the air inlet, wherein the fan circulates air at a first speed when the door-forming members are in the closed position and automatically increases the air speed to a second speed that is 50-500% faster than the first speed when the door-forming members are in the open position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.