Diversion defrost display cabinet

Claim 2

A refrigerated display case operable in refrigeration mode and in defrost mode, and having a product storage space, evaporator cooling means for cooling air, air propelling means for circulating air through said evaporator cooling means and into said product storage and display space; electrical control means operably associated with said air propelling means for controlling air flow about said product storage and display space; said electrical control means having connection means for electrical power supply; electrical resistance antisweat heaters for said display case and a first electrical circuit therefor; electrical resistance heater means for said evaporator means and a second electrical circuit therefor; both said first and said second electrical circuits being connected to said electrical control means; and said electrical control means being operable to electrically actuate said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters and deactivate said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters during said refrigeration mode and to activate said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters and deactivate said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters during said defrost mode to cause antisweat energy to be diverted to use for defrost.

Claim 3

A refrigerated display case operable in refrigeration mode and in defrost mode, and having a product display and storage space, evaporator cooling means for cooling air, air propelling means for circulating refrigerated air in one direction through said evaporator cooling means and about said display space and for circulating defrost air in the opposite direction through said evaporator cooling means; electrical control means operably associated with said propelling means for causing refrigerated air flow in said one direction during the refrigeration mode of said case and ambient air flow in said opposite direction during the defrost mode of said case; said electrical control means having connection means for electrical power supply; electrical resistance antisweat heaters for said display case, and a first electrical circuit therefor; electrical resistance heater means for defrosting said evaporator means, and a second electrical circuit therefor; both said first and said second electrical circuits being connected to said electrical control means; and said electrical control means being operable for activating said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters and deactivating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters during said refrigeration mode, and for activating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters and deactivating said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters during said defrost mode, whereby antisweat energy is diverted for defrost in combination with ambient air flow.

Claim 4

A refrigerated display case operable in refrigeration mode and in defrost mode, and having a product display and storage space, evaporator cooling means for cooling air, air propelling means for circulating refrigerated air in one direction through said evaporator cooling means and about said display space and for circulating defrost air in the opposite direction through said evaporator cooling means; electrical control means operably associated with said propelling means for causing refrigerated air flow in said one direction during the refrigeration mode of said case and ambient air flow in said opposite direction during the defrost mode of said case; said electrical control means having connection means for electrical power supply; electrical resistance antisweat heaters for said display case, and a first electrical circuit therefor; electrical resistance heater means for defrosting said evaporator means, and a second electrical circuit therefor; both said first and said second electrical circuits being connected to said electrical control means; and said electrical control means being operable for activating said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters and deactivating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters during said refrigeration mode, and for activating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters and deactivating said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters during said defrost mode, whereby antisweat energy is diverted for defrost in combination with ambient air flow.

Claim 5

The refrigerated display case in claim 2 being an open front display case having first conduit means for a recirculating refrigerated inner air curtain and second conduit means for an adjacent guard curtain during the refrigeration mode, said ambient air flow in said opposite direction in the defrost mode being heated by said defrost heaters prior to passage through said evaporator cooling means.

Claim 6

A refrigerated display case operable in refrigeration mode and defrost mode, and having a product storage space, evaporator cooling means for refrigerating air, air propelling means for circulating refrigerated air through said evaporator cooling means and into said product storage space; electrical control means operably associated with said propelling means for controlling air flow to deactivate said propelling means during said defrost mode and reactivate said propelling means during said refrigeration mode; electrical resistance antisweat heaters for said display case and a first electrical circuit therefor; electrical resistance heater means for said evaporator means and a second electrical circuit therefor; both said first and said second electrical circuits being connected to said electrical control means; and said electrical control means being operable for activating said propelling means and said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters and deactivating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters during said refrigeration mode and for activating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters and deactivating said propelling means and said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters during said defrost mode to cause antisweat energy to be diverted to defrost usage.

Claim 7

A refrigerated display case operable in refrigeration mode and defrost mode, and having a product storage space, evaporator cooling means for refrigerating air, air propelling means for circulating refrigerated air through said evaporator cooling means and into said product storage space; electrical control means operably associated with said propelling means for controlling air flow to deactivate said propelling means during said defrost mode and reactivate said propelling means during said refrigeration mode; electrical resistance antisweat heaters for said display case and a first electrical circuit therefor; electrical resistance heater means for said evaporator means and a second electrical circuit therefor; both said first and said second electrical circuits being connected to said electrical control means; and said electrical control means being operable for activating said propelling means and said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters and deactivating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters during said refrigeration mode and for activating said second electrical circuit with said defrost heaters and deactivating said propelling means and said first electrical circuit with said antisweat heaters during said defrost mode to cause antisweat energy to be diverted to defrost usage.

Claim 8

The refrigerated display case in claim 4 wherein said case includes an upper chamber above said product storage space housing said evaporator cooling means and said air propelling means, such that, during said defrost mode, heat from said defrost heaters is basically confined to said upper chamber.

Claim 9

The refrigerated display case in claim 5 wherein said defrost heaters are located immediately beneath said evaporator cooling means.