US3889487A — Cooling system for beverage coolers

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

In a beverage cooler having a heat exchanger and an air circulating fan or blower for directing air flow across the heat exchanger to cool the air, apparatus readily attachable to the heat exchanger for limiting the amount and direction of the cold air circulation comprising a baffle member with an air-obstructing body portion adapted to be oriented transversely of the direction in which the fan faces and spaced peripheral side wall portions extending from the body portion that provide an abutting periphery for locating the body portion spaced from an external surface of the heat exchanger through which air is moved by said fan and against which the baffle member is secured and that provide openings through which air can flow relative to the heat exchanger in a direction transverse to that in which the fan faces, said body portion being generally plate-like with at least one elongated cavity formed therein, open in the direction the side wall portions extend from the body portion, for creating turbulence in a flow of air directed against said body portion.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 178 words

In a beverage cooler having a heat exchanger and an air circulating fan or blower for directing air flow across the heat exchanger to cool the air, apparatus readily attachable to the heat exchanger for limiting the amount and direction of the cold air circulation comprising a baffle member with an air-obstructing body portion adapted to be oriented transversely of the direction in which the fan faces and spaced peripheral side wall portions extending from the body portion that provide an abutting periphery for locating the body portion spaced from an external surface of the heat exchanger through which air is moved by said fan and against which the baffle member is secured and that provide openings through which air can flow relative to the heat exchanger in a direction transverse to that in which the fan faces, said body portion being generally plate-like with at least one elongated cavity formed therein, open in the direction the side wall portions extend from the body portion, for creating turbulence in a flow of air directed against said body portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side wall portions define two openings on opposite sides of the body portion, one opening being larger than the other so that different quantities of air are directed in generally opposite directions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including an aperture in said body portion for the escape of air directed against said body portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said aperture is adjacent one of said side wall portions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein there are two elongated cavities in said body portion and said aperture is between the two.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said side wall portions are curved to direct air in a circulating path within the baffle member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said elongated cavity is deeper centrally of its length than at its ends.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said elongated cavity is wider centrally of its length than at its ends.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said elongated cavity intersects said aperture.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a duct directly communicating with said aperture for conveying air between said heat exchanger and a location spaced therefrom.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 151 words

In a beverage cooler having a refrigerated chamber, a tubular faucet standard opening into said chamber and through which a beverage dispensing conduit extends with substantial space therebetween, a heat exchanger within an upper portion of the chamber and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, adjunct apparatus attached to said heat exchanger for moving cooled air through said faucet standard, comprising a baffle with skirt-like side wall portions spaced about the periphery of the baffle to provide side openings, a portion of said baffle forming a cavity that extends across a major portion of the baffle, the depth of said cavity being greatest at a portion thereof adjacent a central portion of the baffle and being least at a portion adjacent a peripheral portion of the baffle, an aperture through said baffle, and a tubular conduit communicating between said aperture and said faucet standard.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 151 words

In a beverage cooler having a refrigerated chamber, a tubular faucet standard opening into said chamber and through which a beverage dispensing conduit extends with substantial space therebetween, a heat exchanger within an upper portion of the chamber and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, adjunct apparatus attached to said heat exchanger for moving cooled air through said faucet standard, comprising a baffle with skirt-like side wall portions spaced about the periphery of the baffle to provide side openings, a portion of said baffle forming a cavity that extends across a major portion of the baffle, the depth of said cavity being greatest at a portion thereof adjacent a central portion of the baffle and being least at a portion adjacent a peripheral portion of the baffle, an aperture through said baffle, and a tubular conduit communicating between said aperture and said faucet standard.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said side wall portions are curved, include means for securing the baffle to a heat exchange with the baffle spaced therefrom, and provide openings of different area at opposite locations about the periphery to direct flows of air of different quantities in different directions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including a second cavity constructed as the fIrst each displaced on opposite sides of the center of the baffle, and wherein the aperture is between the cavities and adjacent a side wall portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the baffle is secured across an air discharge passage of said heat exchanger.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 126 words

In a beverage cooler having a refrigerated chamber, a tubular faucet standard opening into said chamber and through which a beverage dispensing conduit extends with substantial space therebetween, a heat exchanger within the chamber and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, adjunct apparatus attached to said heat exchanger for moving cooled air through said faucet standard, comprising a baffle adjacent the heat exchanger located to partially obstruct air drawn to the heat exchanger by the fan, an aperture in said baffle permitting air to be drawn through the baffle to the heat exchanger by the fan, and a conduit communicating between the aperture and the tubular faucet standard for drawing air from the faucet standard to the heat exchanger.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 126 words

In a beverage cooler having a refrigerated chamber, a tubular faucet standard opening into said chamber and through which a beverage dispensing conduit extends with substantial space therebetween, a heat exchanger within the chamber and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, adjunct apparatus attached to said heat exchanger for moving cooled air through said faucet standard, comprising a baffle adjacent the heat exchanger located to partially obstruct air drawn to the heat exchanger by the fan, an aperture in said baffle permitting air to be drawn through the baffle to the heat exchanger by the fan, and a conduit communicating between the aperture and the tubular faucet standard for drawing air from the faucet standard to the heat exchanger.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said baffle has skirt-like sidewall portions about the periphery that space the baffle from an air inlet to the heat exchanger when the side wall abuts the heat exchanger, thereby preventing complete obstruction by the baffle of air flow from immediately adjacent the heat exchanger and causing air other than that drawn through the conduit to be drawn predominantly laterally of the direction the fan blows.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 148 words

In a method of cooling a beverage dispensing faucet and adjacent conduit carried by a hollow faucet standard that communicates with a refrigerated chamber having a heat exchanger in an upper portion and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, and for retarding cold air loss when the refrigerated chamber is opened, the steps comprising: substantially blocking the direct flow of air discharged from the heat exchanger and directing a major portion of the blocked flow to the upper region of the chamber and to said faucet standard where it can be promptly recirculated while directing a minor portion of the flow to lower regions of the chamber, whereby the faucet standard is cooled, predominantly cold air is recirculated in upper regions of the chamber, and the amount of air blown from the chamber when the chamber is opened is substantially reduced.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 148 words

In a method of cooling a beverage dispensing faucet and adjacent conduit carried by a hollow faucet standard that communicates with a refrigerated chamber having a heat exchanger in an upper portion and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, and for retarding cold air loss when the refrigerated chamber is opened, the steps comprising: substantially blocking the direct flow of air discharged from the heat exchanger and directing a major portion of the blocked flow to the upper region of the chamber and to said faucet standard where it can be promptly recirculated while directing a minor portion of the flow to lower regions of the chamber, whereby the faucet standard is cooled, predominantly cold air is recirculated in upper regions of the chamber, and the amount of air blown from the chamber when the chamber is opened is substantially reduced.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 115 words

In a method of cooling a beverage dispensing faucet and adjacent conduit carried by a hollow faucet standard that communicates with a refrigerated chamber having a heat exchanger and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, the steps comprising blocking air moved across the heat exchanger by the fan, causing the air to circulate within a confined zone a major part to discharge under pressure created by the fan through a conduit leading from said zone to the faucet standard and a minor part to discharge directly to the chamber, and allowing the air to escape from the conduit into the faucet standard and then return to the chamber.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 115 words

In a method of cooling a beverage dispensing faucet and adjacent conduit carried by a hollow faucet standard that communicates with a refrigerated chamber having a heat exchanger and a fan or blower associated with the heat exchanger for moving air thereacross, the steps comprising blocking air moved across the heat exchanger by the fan, causing the air to circulate within a confined zone a major part to discharge under pressure created by the fan through a conduit leading from said zone to the faucet standard and a minor part to discharge directly to the chamber, and allowing the air to escape from the conduit into the faucet standard and then return to the chamber.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of expanding the air as it discharges from the conduit to the faucet standard.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of modifying a refrigerated beverage cooler to cool a dispensing faucet and adjacent beverage conduit carried by a hollow faucet standard that communicates with a refrigerated chamber having a heat exchanger and a fan or blower, comprising applying a baffle against the heat exchanger to block a flow of air moved by the fan across the heat exchanger, providing a passage that allows a minor portion of the blocked flow to escape laterally of the baffle directly to the chamber, connecting a flexible duct from the baffle to the faucet standard, creating turbulence in the blocked flow of air, and directing a major portion of the blocked flow through the duct to the faucet standard.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of modifying a refrigerated beverage cooler to cool a dispensing faucet and adjacent beverage conduit carried by a hollow faucet standard that communicates with a refrigerated chamber having a heat exchanger and a fan or blower, comprising applying a baffle against the heat exchanger to block a flow of air moved by the fan across the heat exchanger, providing a passage that allows a minor portion of the blocked flow to escape laterally of the baffle directly to the chamber, connecting a flexible duct from the baffle to the faucet standard, creating turbulence in the blocked flow of air, and directing a major portion of the blocked flow through the duct to the faucet standard.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-06-16	1978-12-16	1979-06-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-06-16	1982-12-16	1983-06-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-06-16	1986-12-16	1987-06-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cooling system for beverage coolers

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