US-12624875-B2 - Open-walled, temperature controlled environment

Abstract

An accessible cooling environment includes a back wall, an opening opposite the back wall, a roof panel, first and second side walls at least partially defining the opening, and an interior space at least partially defined by the back wall, roof panel, and first and second side wall. A fan configured to circulate air through the interior space, an evaporator disposed inside the interior space, and an air curtain assembly configured to form an air barrier adjacent to the opening. The air curtain assembly includes one or more deflectors for separating the air barrier into a first air curtain and a second air curtain. The first air curtain has a first temperature and the second air curtain has a temperature lower than the first temperature.

Inventors

• James M. Costanza
• Rahul Sharma
• Michael Cline

Assignees

• KPS GLOBAL LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20210513

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An accessible cooling environment comprising: a back wall, an opening opposite the back wall, a roof, first and second side walls at least partially defining the opening, and an interior space at least partially defined by the back wall, roof, and first and second side walls; a barrier disposed in the opening and extending between the first and second side walls, the barrier slidably movable between a closed position, in which the barrier sealingly engages a floor along a first seal, the first seal having a width substantially similar to a width of the barrier and a length extending along a bottom edge of the barrier, and sealingly engages the first and second side walls along respective second seals, one along a first side edge of the barrier and another along a second side edge of the barrier and the barrier being slidably connected to the first and second sidewalls, and an open position, in which the barrier is spaced upwardly away from the floor; an evaporator disposed in the interior space and having an input and a coil; a control system connected to the evaporator, the control system comprising: at least one sensor coupled to the evaporator and configured to capture sensor data associated with a temperature of at least one of the input and the coil of the evaporator; one or more processors; a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: receive the sensor data captured by the at least one sensor; analyze the sensor data to identify a status or condition associated with the evaporator; and send a signal to the evaporator to heat or cool based on the status or condition identified.
2. 2 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 1 , further comprising an air curtain assembly including a fan and one or more deflectors, the fan and the one or more deflectors configured to form an air barrier and channel the air barrier adjacent the opening, the air barrier including a first air curtain at a first temperature and a second air curtain at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.
3. 3 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 2 , wherein the one or more deflectors of the air curtain assembly is disposed between the opening and the fan to separate the first and second air curtains.
4. 4 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 2 , wherein the air barrier includes a third air curtain having a temperature lower than the temperature of the second air curtain.
5. 5 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 4 , wherein the temperature of the first air curtain is in a range of 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of the second air curtain is in a range of 33 degrees Fahrenheit to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature of the third air curtain is in a range of 25 degrees Fahrenheit to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. 6 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 2 , further comprising a diffuser having a variable height and disposed closer to a front of the opening than the one or more deflectors, the diffuser and including a plurality of channels forming a honeycomb structure.
7. 7 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 6 , wherein a height of the diffuser varies across a length extending between the first and second side walls.
8. 8 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 6 , further comprising a second diffuser adjacent to the diffuser.
9. 9 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a first sensor disposed at the input of the evaporator and a second sensor disposed inside the evaporator.
10. 10 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to compare sensor data of the at least one sensor, and to send a signal to the evaporator to raise the temperature of the evaporator to initiate a defrost cycle.
11. 11 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed between the barrier and the floor when the barrier is in the closed position.
12. 12 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 1 , further comprising a shelf disposed in the interior space and a curved air deflector adjacent to an exterior edge of the shelf.
13. 13 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 12 , further comprising a light coupled to the shelf and disposed adjacent to an interior surface of the curved air deflector.
14. 14 . An accessible cooling environment comprising: a back wall, an opening opposite the back wall, a roof panel, first and second side walls at least partially defining the opening, and an interior space at least partially defined by the back wall, roof panel, and first and second side walls; at least one fan configured to circulate air through the interior space; an evaporator disposed inside the interior space; an air curtain assembly configured to form an air barrier adjacent to the opening, the air curtain assembly including one or more deflectors for separating the air barrier into a first air curtain and a second air curtain; a barrier disposed in the opening and extending between the first and second side walls, the barrier slidably movable between a closed position, in which the barrier sealingly engages a floor along a first seal, the first seal having a width substantially similar to a width of the barrier and a length extending along a bottom edge of the barrier, and sealingly engages the first and second side walls along respective second seals, one along a first side edge of the barrier and another along a second side edge of the barrier and the barrier being slidably connected to the first and second sidewalls, and an open position, in which the barrier is spaced upwardly away from the floor; and a diffuser having a plurality of channels and a variable height as the diffuser extends between the first and second side walls.
15. 15 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 14 , wherein the first air curtain has a first temperature and the second air curtain has a temperature lower than the first temperature.
16. 16 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 14 , wherein the air barrier includes a third air curtain having a temperature lower than the temperature of the second air curtain.
17. 17 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 16 , wherein the third air curtain is disposed adjacent to the interior space, the first air curtain is disposed adjacent to the opening, and the second air curtain is disposed between the first air curtain and the third air curtain.
18. 18 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 14 , further comprising a shelf disposed in the interior space and a curved air deflector adjacent to an exterior edge of the shelf.
19. 19 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 18 , further comprising a light coupled to the shelf and disposed adjacent to an interior surface of the curved air deflector.
20. 20 . The accessible cooling environment of claim 14 , further comprising a defrost system connected to the evaporator, the defrost system comprising: at least one sensor coupled to the evaporator and configured to capture sensor data associated with a temperature of at least one of an input and a coil of the evaporator; one or more processors; a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: receive sensor data captured by the at least one sensor; analyze the sensor data to identify a status or condition associated with the evaporator; and send a signal to the evaporator to heat or cool based on the status or condition identified.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This present application is the US national phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/032214, filed May 13, 2021, which claims priority to, and the benefit of the filing dates of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/117,677, filed Nov. 24, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/168,207, filed Mar. 30, 2021. Each of the priority applications, US 63/117,677, US 62/168,207, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to a cooling environment, and more particularly, to temperature controlled cooling environment having an open wall. BACKGROUND Refrigerated enclosures and refrigerated display cases are common storage solutions for produce and other products requiring refrigeration in supermarkets throughout the world. Some enclosures may be small scale solutions, where a customer can open a door of a refrigerated case to access shelves of produce or reach into an open refrigerated display case. Other enclosures may be large scale solutions, where a customer may enter an enclosed refrigerated environment or large space to access refrigerated products. However, both small and large scale refrigeration systems face challenges in both keeping the product cool while reducing heat transfer into the refrigerated space when either a door or an entrance to the refrigerated space is open to ambient temperatures. SUMMARY In accordance with a first exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an accessible cooling environment may include a back wall, an opening opposite the back wall, a roof, first and second side walls at least partially defining the opening, and an interior space at least partially defined by the back wall, roof, and first and second side walls. A barrier may be disposed in the opening and extending between the first and second side walls, the barrier movable from a closed position, in which the barrier sealingly engages a floor and an open position, in which the barrier is spaced away from the floor. An evaporator may be disposed in the interior space and having an input and a coil. A control system may be connected to the evaporator. The control system may include at least one sensor coupled to the evaporator and configured to capture sensor data associated with a temperature of at least one of the input and the coil of the evaporator. The control system may include one or more processors and a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to receive the sensor data captured by the at least one sensor, analyze the sensor data to identify a status or condition associated with the evaporator, and send a signal to the evaporator to heat or cool based on the status or condition identified. In accordance with a second exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an accessible cooling environment may include a back wall, an opening opposite the back wall, a roof panel, first and second side walls at least partially defining the opening, and an interior space at least partially defined by the back wall, roof panel, and first and second side walls. A fan may be configured to circulate air through the interior space and an evaporator may be disposed inside the interior space. An air curtain assembly may be configured to form an air barrier adjacent to the opening. The air curtain assembly may include one or more deflectors for separating the air barrier into a first air curtain and a second air curtain. The first air curtain may have a first temperature and the second air curtain may have a temperature lower than the first temperature. In further accordance with any one or more of the foregoing first and second exemplary aspects, an accessible cooling environment may include any one or more of the following preferred forms. In one preferred form, the accessible cooling environment may include an air curtain assembly. In a preferred form, the air curtain assembly may include a fan and one or more deflectors. In a preferred form, the fan and the one or more deflectors may be configured to form an air barrier and channel the air barrier adjacent the opening. In a preferred form, the air barrier may include a first air curtain at a first temperature and a second air curtain at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. In another preferred form, the one or more deflectors of the air curtain assembly may be disposed between the opening and the fan to separate the first and second air curtains. In another preferred form, the air barrier may include a third air curtain having a temperature lower than the temperature of the second air curtain. In a preferred form, the temperature of the first air curtain may be in a range of approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit. In a preferred form, the temperature of the second