Patent US6460372B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6460372B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Evaporator for medium temperature refrigerated merchandiser
Assignee: Hill Phoenix Inc
•
Filing: 2001-05-04
•
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 15:40
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2715321A
Cited
US3577744A
Cited
US3681896A
Cited
US3800551A
Cited
US4272969A
Cited
US4434843A
Cited
US4569390A
Cited
US4644758A
Cited
US5179845A
Cited
US5682944A
Cited
US5832995A
Cited
US5743098A
Cited
US5799728A
Cited
US6076368A
Cited
US6167619B1
Cited
US6102107A
Cited
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 |