US2178042A - Refrigerated display stand - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to fruit and vegetable disv play stands for markets, grocery stores and the like and has for its object to provide a new and highly efficient refrigerated and air conditioned stand. f

A further object is to provide a refrigerated vegetable display stand which is cooled by the` use of solid carbon dioxide in a sealed closed and insulated casing cooling a secondary refrigerant in a closed separate circuit, said circuit being in contact with the carbon dioxide during part of its cycle for the cooling of the refrigerant in the secondary circuit.

A still further object is to provide a primary refrigerant, in an insulated casing, a secondary refrigerant in av closed circuit in contact with said primaryv refrigerant atv one part of its cycle. and a stand in which said refrigerants are operated, said stand having perforate or screen shelves over part of the secondarycircuit to cool any articles set on said stand and said stand containing a blower vfor air to cause air currents to pass around the secondary refrigerant coils and up through said vegetables or articles on said stand to cool them and keep them clean and free from dust, insects, and flies; the blower intake lbeing covered by suitable filters.

A still further object is to provide a refriger'- ated, aerated vegetable stand having means to introduce a spray of water up onto the vegetables as needed to keep them perfectly without drying them out. l

These objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views and as described in the speciiication forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

vFigure 1 is a perspective view of the stand parts cut away to show the interior thereof, with this stand used preferably for fruits, no water being shown.

Figure- 2 is a vertical section of a two shelf stand with water distribution shown for use when vegetables are displayed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the screen sections showing one way of getting water in a spray to the vegetables.

Figure 4 is a section of one portion of the case showing a pump in the secondary refrigerant circuit to create ilow of the refrigerant when needed and a thermostat to control such flow. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the driving the level of the top sure 8 for said chamber to .a toggle lock 9 across the top thereof holding the 1c 2| is connected with the coil l5 to make a pletely closed,continuous flow for the secondary 30 motor.v for the blower in the air cleaner showing a thermostatic control for said motor to control the ow of air through the stand.

In Figure 1 of the drawing I have shown the case as A, having step like front B, with separate 5 On one end of the casing A,

shelves 5, 6, and 1. e I provide a'carbon dioxide chamber C set above shelf, with an insulated clobe locked in place by closure rmly in place in sealed relation to the chamber. The chamber is insulated and is made `by inner walls I0, and outer walls il, set spaced apart, and carrying spaced apart sheets of metal or other types of highlyreflective foil I2 there- 1I between for insulating the chamber and making it impervious to atmospheric temperatures.

In the bottom of the chamber C there is a coil l5 carrying a secondary refrigerant such as ls used in other types of chanical refrigerators. This coil is connected by a vertical pipe. I6, which is extended down one end of the casing A, andl across the end at Isa to the front and there it is joined to longitudinal coils I1, which are longitudinal coils I9, longitudinal coils 20 and longitudinal coils 2| along the respective steps 5, 6 and Tl and on the top step l, the end of the coil comrefrigerant. The vertical pipe I6 is insulated, by insulation 26 to keep it cool and cause the refrigerant to make its cycle. Solid carbon dioxide is .then placed in the chamber C and the refrigerat- Y As-the refrigerant is 35 ing system is in operation. cooled ln the coil I 5 it travels down the `pipe I 8, and as, it passes through the coils in the steps of the case its temperature is naturally raised to cause a circulation. In the event that such circulation is not sumcient, I then provide external means such as a pump22 in the secondary circuit shown in Figure 4 or a heating coil of elec'- trical energy over some of the pipe in the upward end of the coils, or other suitable means for circulation may be employed instead of the pump.

As shown in the drawing the coils are close to the horizontal steps of the stand and each step is made with the top perforated or of screen mesh material E. At one end 25 of the casing l provide an air cleaner and circulator F, said circulator consisting of a casing FI, carrying a rotary blower shown ln dotted lines 26, with the` top of the casing FI ,open at 21 and screened at 28. Under this screen I then provide removable electrical, gas and me- 20 joined to vertical coils I8, g5

' as shown in Figure clean all air passing into the case. Ihe blower is open "into they interior of the case and blows air into the case, depending upon the amount desired and the temperature desired in the stand. A sheave wheel 'Il drives the blower 26, by a belt 30a which is driven by a motor M inside the case. A suitable cover may be placed over the sheave wheel and belt if needed.

Inside the case A I then provide suitable de-Y flecting battles 33, Il, 15, and il for the upper two shelves, and bames 31, 3l, $9 and 40 for the lower shelf and to properly distribute the air A from the blower to pass up through all surfaces of the shelves with equal force. i y lIn cases where vegetables are to be kept, such 2. only the water pipes P are provided along the shelves and are perforated adjacent the screen shelves to cause a fine stream or spray of water'to be carried up into the vegetables when the device is in operation. In Figure 2 the casing A is madeonly as a two shelf stand instead of a three shelf and the top shelf is double width, only the front portion thereof being shown as the back portion is on alignment with the case C. However if desired the third shelf on a level with shelf stand with less the top and still may be made Width and have a three height.

In Figure' 3 I have shown another way of spraying the water 'onto the vegetables which consists of a longitudinal distributing pipe IB carrying lateral spray pipes 46 said pipes being perforated on the top sides to spray the water upwardly at an angle through the screen, and onto the vegetables.

In Figure 4 I have shown a corner of the case A, showing the pipe Ita, with a force pump 32 mounted in the secondary circuit driven by a motor H and controlled by a thermostat T said thermostat to control the motor to turn the pump onl or ofi as the temperature in the stand requires. The thermostat T is preferably mounted about the center of'the medialshelf to give the approximate temperature throughout the entire stand.

In Figure 5 I have shown the thermostat Tl to control the motor M of the blowerv Il. with the sheave wheel 30 and belt 30a shown to drive the fan from the motor. The motor may be turned on or off as required and the thermostat may be the same thermostat as the one shown in Figure 4 or may be an independent one if desired.

It will be obvious. that if needed the back of each 'step like shelf of the case may be perforated if desired to allow `somecold air to pass in through the back of each stack of vegetables whenl they are on the shelves. Also other modiilcations in the construction may be made in this device without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

said shelves; means causing the air to v ing under said perforated steps, all being connected and with the top one leading back to the coil in the solid carbon dioxide chamber to form a completely closed secondary refrigerant circuit; y

an air cleaner in one end of said casing; a blower in said cleaner to draw air therethrough and force it out through said perforate steps; 4and suitable bailles in said casing to equally divide the air from said blower and cleaner and divert it through the perforate steps in equal quantities.

2. In a display stand of the type described the combination of a closed casing having the front formed. into shelves on different elevations; perforated bases in said shelves, a solid carbon dioxide chamber in said casing; a coil in said chamber leading down and connected with other coils mounted adjacent each shelf and back to the coil in the chamber to completely seal the circuit for a secondary refrigerant; means to draw clean air into said case and force it out through the shelves in equal amounts and means to introduce a spray of water through the perforate shelves onto the contents.

y3. In a display stand of the class described the combination of a case; step like perforate shelves in said case; a solid carbon dioxide chamber in said case; a secondary refrigerant system mounted in said case with the coils adjacent said shelves and with the highest point of the system in the solid carbon dioxide chamber; and a blower to force air through said case and out of 4said perforate shelves.`

4. In a display stand of the class described the combination of a case having step like shelves; screens carried in said shelves; cooling coils mounted adjacent said shelves having `one portion of said coils cooled by contact with solid carbon dioxide; and a blower to force air into said case and out through said screens.

5. In a display stand of the class described the combination of a case having` step like shelves with the' shelves carrying screens; secondary refrigerant cooling lcoils mounted under and near to cool said coils from a primary refrigerant chamber; and Aa blower to force air through said case and out of said shelves pass over s aid coils.

6. The elements set out in claim 5 in combination with water pipes to create a spray of water onto said screens.

CLARENCE I. JUSTEEEIM.

and sealed to retard sub'\

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