Display deck for a temperature controlled case
AssigneeDover Systems, Inc.
InventorsBradley R. Schwichtenberg, J. Keith Norton, Dale D. Stevens, Peter F. Sosso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature controlled case defines a space for storage of products and includes a cooling system to circulate a fluid to maintain a temperature of the products in the space. A deck is provided within the space and has a stepped configuration to provide multiple product support surfaces configured to support the products. At least one cooling element is coupled to the deck and receives a coolant from the cooling system so that the product support surfaces provide contact cooling to the products.
Claims16
In a temperature controlled case defining a space for storage of products, including a cooling system configured to circulate a coolant to maintain a temperature of the products in the space, the improvement comprising a deck formed as a unitary member and disposed within the space, the deck having alternating planar segments and bent segments defining a stepped configuration to provide a plurality of product support surfaces configured to support the products and a first cooling element coupled to the deck and configured to receive a coolant from the cooling system so that a first one of the product support surfaces is configured to provide contact cooling to the products at a first temperature, and a second cooling element coupled to the deck and configured to receive coolant from the cooling system so that a second one of the product support surfaces is configured to provide contact cooling to the products at a second temperature;
- wherein at least one of the bent segments comprise an aperture configured to permit drainage of liquids from the deck.
An apparatus for the display of temperature controlled products, comprising:
- a case defining an enclosure, a sheet having a plurality of contiguous stepwise surfaces comprising alternating planar segments and bent segments, at least one of the bent segments including an aperture configured to permit drainage of fluids, a first cooling element integrated with one of the stepwise surfaces and a second cooling element integrated with another of the stepwise surfaces, the cooling elements configured to facilitate conductive heat transfer with the products, a cooling system configured to circulate a coolant to the cooling elements, and a control system configured to independently regulate a flow of coolant to each of the cooling elements to maintain a desired temperature of the products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.