US2560309A - Refrigerator system for produce stands - Google Patents

Description

July 10,1951 H. Y. STEBBINS REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM FOR PRODUCE STANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 IN V EN TOR Harry X Stebbz'ns ATTOR EYS July 10, 1951 H. Y. STEBBINS REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM FOR PRODUCE STANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. Harry Y Stabbins A Z TORNEYS Patented July 10, 1951 .G'eneralA'meriCaniTransportation.Corlloratiom Chicago; Ill a corporation ofNe w"Yorke ApplicationtflctoherzS, 1949;Ser'ia;l1Nzo. 120,325;

This invention relates to refrigerated display racks ofthe open'top svariety andrhas for its.;principahobject' the provision of .aa-new and-improved device of.'.-.this kind..

It-is amain obiectqof the invention.-.to provide a: refrigerated penatopdisplavmacle :capable of fitting in the same space. as the prior'rartnon-refrigerated racks;

nnothereohject :of the-invention. isato provide a refrigerating iapparatussoapable? of: :being fitted into rexisting: displaywacks;

Another. 'object- {Ofeg'bhfi illI/GhfiQIlbiS "to .;provide a:refrigenating:apparatus:for.rdisplayrrackszthat is: capable: 10f.- -being. readilyi altered :to vary-stile dimensions ontheseveralgbinsiormedinithe rack: 7 Another objeetof thefinventioni-is to:;.provide:;a r fri er t n pp ratus: for wopen top; displ y racks whioh can be manufactured :at -;low cost w-ithout-: sacrifieing :quality; hand which- 103,11 .be maintained cleanand:sanitary'economically.

Further objects-30f the invention :not'zspeoificallyementioned here will. :be apparent; :from' the detailedrdeseriptionqand .claimswhich follomireferenceabeing had to the1accompanyingsdrawings in which -a'preferredembodiment -of the invention. ise'shown I by way of examplerand "in which? Fig. 1 is a plan-view:of v arrefrigerating iapparatus .-=-instal-1ed in a:;d-isplayrack;o'f typicahproportions;

.Fig. 2 .is -i an end elevational: viewof r the arack shown in Fig. -1* with :the compressor condenser unit diagrammatically i'illustrated;

Fig. 3 --is ;a.frag-mentary crossesectiona'l' view takemsubsta-ntial-lyalong the line 3'- 3:of"-Eig;.;1 looking in theidirection of the arr.ows;;1and

Fig-.4is' a "fragmentary v'crossesectional view taken substantially along theTlineA -A of Fig. ,1 looking? in therdireotion-of the arrows.

Opentop @display :racks of approximately counter" height are-frequently employed to :display merchandise such was fruits and vegetables; oftentimes such racks are generally rectangular having-widths of approximately. three 156.8131 and lengths :of: ten or twelve ifeet-or more depending uponwthe spaceavailable; *Such-box-like racks are supported 1 upon: suitable :supports with -:the bottom of the=-rack-inclinedvslight1y= so: that -the rear edge of the-rack 'is'several ,inches'higher than the .frontwe'dge; Therackis usuallyadivided inter-a plurality ;'ofgenerallysrectangular bins, in whichproducts-ofvarious kinds are displayed ffor sale. :O-ftentimes:mirrorsextend upwardly from the rear edge of the rack ,atr-such-an angleasto enhance the appearance of the display.- 1t-:is*to such amaek that the .instant-.-invention relates.

iswwel lcunderstood: by:,those,skilledrinthe ant-fruitsrandevegetables will {remain inta-nbe'tter =and=-oonsequently saleablerconditionfor. a longer period of time ifrtheyuare. maintainedunder refrigeration. .In the priorsartof whichl amaware numerous z-effortsqhave. Joeentmade. .to apply .reirigeration to "uses-of this kind,=;.centairr of. these endeavors .-resulting.,-insaqolosed:case refrigerated and maintainedtattproper temperature with the .aid 'QfqdQOI'S or lids that-serve to confine the cooled airfin-olosemroximity tottheproduce. .Such devices; while they-1,-may.-im prove the: keeping .gua'lity ofethe-tfruits.and-vegetables, rlar elytdetea-t their owntpunposerby,induoingtcustomenrersistance, it being-v wel-l understood .that ;in.:self.- service stores customerstare.reluctantsto open refrigeratortdoors-and the likeztoisecure the merchandise. 7

51m other instances ine thev prion: art .of which I 'am.--aware,.-the;netrigeratedsdisplay rack constitutes-ea complete new- .unitmftentimes differing in d-imensions iii-romthe vracks-Mcommonlyt used and-as 1a-,result-,=the-expense ofichange-over from anon erefrigeratedrto aretrigerated rack has been so egreat-as -to greatlyr.limit :the "use. -of the im.- proved :device.

The wpresentwinventioni seeks-- to 1 provide a-.refrigerated: openetopldisplay :raok. whiohvcan -,be maderto preeisely' the same: dimensions as racks new inwuse; the refrigerating 11nit-of.-whichCracks if desiredl can the installed. in existing non re- .frj'geratefd:raokswithayminimum ofwexpense.

To this end andwi-nwaccordance with.'the teach- ,ings of: the presentijinvention the refrigerating .unitsandsupportswtheretorxform the-partitions by which :the-:.-rack =is divided: into a plurality-of independentqgenerally rectangular: open top binsor compartments. 'The'.- pi pesforming the .coils through whichthe-heatexchangeimediumtis circulatecl mares-supported iimsupport members :-.disposedaatrightranglesto Qt-he zpi-persand' extending fromzedgestmedgezofwthetrackr fUsua-llwthepipes will extend longitudinallyofthe mack "and the supports fromra side :toxside vthereof, ,-;-however; if desired; the 'melative positionsmay lief-changed.

The s'upnortsraresnot secured to -the1 pipesbut rather are capable of sliding freely-therealong, and: thenpipeasections ."intervening :betweentadjacent supports are --;cov.,ered (planar: members tightlyaembraoingthe: pipesand abutting-against the-supports to space thesupportslongitudinally of the-pipe and :170. form: sidewallsfor the. compantm'ent. The: supports; .being ,rmovable', permit adiustmentcof-rthedeneth 10f: the individnal=com-- natments, ethewidthwf .whiohweompantmentds preferably more or less permanent in a particular installation. Spacing members such as are used to cover the pipe can be provided in several lengths in a particular rack, thereby forming compartments of different sizes and by interchanging these members and malging corresponding adjustment of the supporting members smaller and larger bins can be repositioned in the rack as desired.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the rack of the type to which the present invention relates consists of a bottom plate I from opposite sides of which generally vertical walls 2 and 3 extend being joined at the ends of the base plate by end walls 4 and 5 respectively. The bottom plate l is preferably composed of metal or, if of wood, provided with a metal upper facing. The box-like structure so formed is supported upon a suitable base 5, the details of which form no part of the present invention, this support 5 supporting the base plate at an angle with respect to the horizontal which angle approximates 15 thereby to elevate the rear side 3 of the rack somewhat above the front 2. Frequently along the front edge 2 of the rack is a glass front panel 1 in which are display cards giving the price and other pertinent data relative to the contents of the bins. Extending upwardly from the rear side 3 of the rack may be a mirror 8 along the upper side of which is a suitably shaded source of light 9 by which the contents of the rack are illuminated. The rack just described will be recognized as a more or less standard fruit and vegetable display rack now commonly used in chain stores and the like.

As will be seen in Figs. 1-4 inclusive the boxlike rack is divided into generally rectangular pockets by the refrigerating apparatus of the present invention, such apparatus consisting of a plurality of pipes arranged in vertical rows l0, ll, 12 and 13, which rows are shown to extend from end to end of the rack. Cross connecting pipes I4 and I5 connect the individual pipes together to form a coil through which a refrigerating medium may enter through pipe' 16 and flow through the bottom ones of the pipes in each of the rows, thence to the next pipes and so on leaving the coil through the pipe l1. As shown each of the pipe rows H], ll, 12 and I3 contains four individual pipes located one above the other; this arrangement being subject to variation within the teachings of the invention.

The pipes thus forming the refrigerating coil are supported by suitable supports 20 which are preferably generally U-shaped members that extend between and abut against the sides 2 and 3 of the rack. These U-shaped members, preferably formed of metal, contain rows of perforations 2| through which the pipes project. The members 20 are disposed with the open end of the U downwardand flanges 22 are extended outwardly and rest upon the bottom or base plane I of the racl; to support the pipes thereabove.

The holes 2| are of such dimension that the supports 20 may be moved longitudinally of the pipes without difficulty.

Fitting between adjacent supports 20 and over each row of pipes therebetween, such as for example row H, is a spacer 25 composed of metal and of generally U-shaped section. This spacer 25 is of such dimension as to snugly fit over and engage the pipes in the row as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the spacer 25 abut against adjacent onesof the supports 20, thereby fixing those supe *2 ports longitudinally of the pipes. Spacers 25 have flange-like projections 26 located at their bottom edges, which projections rest upon the flanges 22 of the supports 20 thereby spacing the spacers slightly ofi of the bottom plate I of the rack.

The number of supports will depend upon the desired dimensions of the compartments to be formed and upon the length of the rack. In Fig. 1 a few supports 20 are shown, and it will be understood that supports will be provided as required. As will be apparent, the distance between adjacent supports 20 will depend upon the length of the spacers 25 and the dimensions of the compartments or bins in the rack will likewise be so governed. By providing at the edges 2 and 3 of the rack a spacer 21 which is essentiallyjust half of the spacer 25, the pipes in run ID of the coil will be covered andthe compartment 30 will be bounded by smooth planar metallic walls capable of efiiciently transmitting heat from the produce to the refrigerating coils by conduction. Compartments! will be similarly bounded by adjacent supports 20 and adjacent spacers 25 and compartment 32 by the supports 20, the spacer 25 on the pipes in run l2 and the side spacer ad jacent the front wall 2 of the rack.

At the ends 4 and 5 of the rack cross-connecting coils l4 and I5 are covered by suitable plates which essentially consist of half the supports 20.

The compressor-condenser unit employed forms no part of the present invention as there are a number of such units available on the open market. As shown the compressor 35 is driven by a suitable motor 36, and draws refrigerant through the pipe l1 and forces it through pipe 31 into the condenser 38 where the refrigerant is liquefied and returned to the coil through pipe Hi, there being suitable control valves interposed in the customary manner.

In certain instances, such as for example, to ripen fruit that is received too green for immediate sale, it may be advantageous to apply heat -to the display rack. For such operation pipes l 6,' l| and 31 are connected so that the coil in the rack becomes the condenser and the condenser 38 becomes the evaporator.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the refrigerating apparatus of the present invention' is capable of being installed in existing racks or in new racks of the same dimensions. The apparatus itself forms dividers that bound the individual. compartments by smooth planar metallic walls through which heat may be conducted efi'iciently. The refrigerating apparatus does not in any way interfere with the manner in which the merchandise is displayed both directly and through images reflected by the mirror. The refrigerating apparatus can be built economically without sacrificing quality and can be maintained in clean, sanitary condition without difficulty.

While I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what I consider new and desire'to have protectedby Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; a refrigerating coil extending back and forthfrom end to end of the rack and having a plurality of layers disposed with sections of the coil in each layer aligned vertically with corre sponding sections in the other layers; lateral partition members extendin from side to side of the rack and containing perforations through which said coil extends; and longitudinal partition members engaging the vertically aligned sections of said coil and abutting against adjacent ones of said lateral partition members to space the latter members longitudinally of the coil and to divide the rack into individual open top compartments arranged in a plurality of rows that extend from end to end of the rack, with each row containing a plurality of compartments.

2. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; a rectangular bottom plate; a plurality of planar perforated generally U-shaped metallic supports disposed on said plate in spaced apart upright position and extendin from side to side thereof; metallic pipes extending from end to end of the rack and through the perforations in said supports at substantially right angles there to, said supports holding the pipes in spaced apart vertical rows extending from end to end of the rack; end pipes connecting said pipes together to form a continuous coil through which a heat exchange medium may be passed; and metallic separators each engaging the pipes in a section of a row and abutted against adjacent ones of said supports and forming with the supports, walls dividin the rack into a plurality of individual open top compartments.

3. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; arectangular bottom plate member; a refrigerating coil disposed above said bottom member and extending back and forth from end to end thereof, said coil having a plurality of layers disposed with sections of each layer aligned vertically with corresponding sections of the other layers; a plurality of lateral partition members extending from side to side of the rack each containing perforations through which the coil sections extend to permit movement of the member longitudinally of the rack and coil; and a plurality of longitudinal partition members engaging the vertically aligned sections of said coil and abutting against adjacent ones of said lateral partition members to position the latter members longitudinally of the coil and to divide the rack into individual open top compartments.

4. In a display rack of the open type; a bottom plate; a plurality of supporting members of generally U-section disposed in parallel spaced apart relation on said plate and extending from edge to edge thereof, said members each containing a plurality of perforations arranged in spaced apart vertically disposed rows with a plurality of perforations in each row, and with the rows and perforations therein in each member aligned with a corresponding row and perforation in the other members; a heat exchanger coil threaded through said perforations and extending from edge to edge of the plate and forming a plurality of spaced apart vertically aligned coil sections; and a separator of generally U-shaped section fitted over each coil section and abutting adjacent ones of said supporting members to form with said supporting members a plurality of individual open top compartments in said rack.

5. A refrigerating unit adapted for use in an existing display rack having a bottom plate and side walls extending upwardly therefrom around the periphery thereof comprising: generally U- shaped supports disposed in parallel relation upon said plate and extending between opposite ones of said side walls, said supports being perforated; a heat exchange coil extending through the perforations in said supports and supported thereby in a plurality of parallel vertically disposed sections each extending between the other opposite ones of said side walls with a section along the inner face of each of the first said opposite side walls; metallic cover plates for said coil sections abutted against adjacent ones of said supports and extending therebetween; and metallic end cover plates disposed alongside the inside faces of said other opposite ones of said side walls, said supports, cover plates, and end cover plates dividing said rack into a plurality of independent open top bins, each of which is bounded by walls through which heat may pass by conduction.

6. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; a rectangular bottom plate member; a refrigerating coil disposed above said bottom member and having a plurality of spaced apart sections extending from end to end of said member, each section containing a plurality of pipes disposed in vertical alignment; a plurality of la eral partition members each having a plurality of perforations arranged in spaced apart vertical rows through which perforations said coil projects; feet on said lateral members engaging said plate member to support the partition member thereon thereby to support the coil above said bottom member, said partition members being movable on said bottom plate longitudinally of said rack and pipes; and a plurality of generally U-shaped members each engaging both sides of the vertically disposed pipes in a coil section and abutting against adjacent ones of said lateral partition members to fix those members longitudinally of the rack and pipes and with the lateral members to divide the rack into a plurality of individual open top compartments.

HARRY Y. STEBBINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,428,243 Raskin Sept, 30, 1947 2,500,679 I-Iawley Mar. 14, 1950

Images