US6460372B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Evaporator for medium temperature refrigerated merchandiser
Assignee: Hill Phoenix Inc
•
Filing: 2001-05-04
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Granted: 2002-10-08
•
Expires: 2021-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerated merchandiser ( 100 ) includes an upright, open-front, insulated cabinet ( 110 ) defining a product display area ( 125 ) connected in airflow communication with a compartment ( 120 ) via an air circulation circuit ( 122, 114, 116 ). The flow of refrigerant through the coils ( 46 ) of evaporator ( 40 ) is arranged to configure the evaporator ( 40 ) as a “thermodynamically counterflow” heat exchanger.
Inventors
- 👤 Kwok Kwong Fung
- 👤 Robert Hong Leung Chiang
- 👤 Eugene Duane Daddis, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:29
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F1/00; F28F1/10; F28F1/12; F28F1/24; F28F1/32; A; A47; A47F; A47F3/00; A47F3/04; A47F3/0439; A47F3/0469; F25; F25B; F25B39/00; F25B39/02; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/04; F28D1/047; F28D1/0477; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A refrigerated merchandiser including a cabinet defining a product display area and having a compartment separate from said product display area, an air circulation circuit connecting said product display area and said compartment in air flow communication, and an evaporator defining a refrigerant flow circuit and an air circulating fan disposed within said compartment in cooperative arrangement whereby air flow passing through said evaporator in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant passing through said evaporator, characterized in that said evaporator comprises: a first section wherein the refrigerant passes in physically parallel and thermodynamically counterflow relationship to the air flow; and a second section wherein the refrigerant passes in physically counterflow relationship with the air flow, said second section being upstream with respect to air flow of said first section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A refrigerated merchandiser including a cabinet defining a product display area and having a compartment separate from said product display area, an air circulation circuit connecting said product display area and said compartment in air flow communication, and an evaporator defining a refrigerant flow circuit and an air circulating fan disposed within said compartment in cooperative arrangement whereby air flow passing through said evaporator in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant passing through said evaporator, characterized in that said evaporator comprises: a first section wherein the refrigerant passes in physically parallel and thermodynamically counterflow relationship to the air flow; and a second section wherein the refrigerant passes in physically counterflow relationship with the air flow, said second section being upstream with respect to air flow of said first section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 1 further characterized in that said second section comprises a refrigerant superheat section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 1 further characterized in that said evaporator comprises a fin and tube heat exchanger having a fin density in the range of 6 fins per inch to 15 fins per inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 3 further characterized in that the fins of said evaporator have an enhanced heat transfer configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 4 further characterized in that the fins of said evaporator have a non-planar configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 5 further characterized in that the fins of said evaporator have a corrugated plate-like configuration.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-04-08 | 2006-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-07 | 2010-04-08 | 2010-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-07 | 2014-04-08 | 2014-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |