Modular refrigeration cassette
The interior space within a refrigeration unit cassette ( 50 ) associated with a refrigerated merchandiser ( 10 ) is divided by a division wall ( 68 ) into a first section in air flow communication with the interior product display space of the cabinet ( 20 ), and a second section isolated from said first section and in fluid flow communication with the environment exterior of the cabinet. An evaporator module ( 160 ) disposed within the first section, and a condenser module ( 170 ) and a compressor are disposed within the second section. The refrigeration cassette ( 50 ) is selectively insertable in to and out of the equipment compartment to facilitate servicing of the refrigeration equipment therein, including removal and replacement of the evaporator module ( 160 ) and the condenser module ( 170 ).
1 . A refrigeration cassette for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet having a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, said refrigeration cassette disposed in operative association with the interior space in an equipment compartment separated from the refrigerated interior space by a common wall, the common wall having a first opening therein providing air flow communication between the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment; said refrigeration cassette comprising:
a generally box-like structure defining an interior space having a first section in air flow communication with said first opening, and a second section isolated from said first section and in fluid flow communication with the environment exterior of the cabinet;
an evaporator module disposed within said first section;
a condenser module disposed within said second section; and
a compressor connected in refrigerant flow communication with said evaporator module and said condenser module for circulating refrigeration through said evaporator module and said condenser module;
said box-like structure being selectively insertable in to and out of the equipment compartment.
2 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 1 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within the housing, and an evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the evaporator coil and mounted to the housing.
3 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 1 wherein said condenser module includes a condenser coil and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the condenser coil.
4 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 1 further comprising a liner disposed within said first section of the interior space of said box-like structure; said liner including a bowl-like depression adapted to receive said evaporator module.
5 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said liner includes a downwardly sloping tray-like forward portion and an aft portion having a bowl-like depression.
6 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 5 wherein said liner has contoured surfaces to reduce airflow losses.
7 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said liner is made of a material having a relatively high chemical resistance.
8 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said liner is made of a plastic material.
9 . A refrigeration cassette for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet having a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, said refrigeration cassette disposed in operative association with the interior space in an equipment compartment separated from the refrigerated interior space by a common wall, the common wall having a first opening therein providing air flow communication between the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment; said refrigeration cassette comprising:
a generally box-like structure a front plate, a back plate, a pair of side plates and a base plate collectively defining an interior space;
a division wall extending between the respective side plates of said pair of side plates to divide the interior space within said box-like structure into a first section in air flow communication with said first opening, and a second section isolated from said first section and in fluid flow communication with the environment exterior of the cabinet;
an evaporator module disposed within said first section;
a condenser module disposed within said second section; and
a compressor connected in refrigerant flow communication with said evaporator module and said condenser module for circulating refrigeration through said evaporator module and said condenser module;
said box-like structure being selectively insertable in to and out of the equipment compartment.
10 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within the housing, and at least one evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the evaporator coil and mounted to the housing.
11 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein said condenser module includes a condenser coil and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the condenser coil.
12 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 further comprising a liner disposed within said first section of the interior space of said box-like structure; said liner including a bowl-like depression adapted to receive said evaporator module.
13 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein said liner includes a downwardly sloping tray-like forward portion and an aft portion having a bowl-like depression.
14 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 13 wherein said liner has contoured surfaces to reduce airflow losses.
15 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 12 wherein said liner is made of a material having a relatively high chemical resistance.
16 . A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 12 wherein said liner is made of a plastic material.
17 . A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior space, comprising:
a cabinet having a plurality of walls defining the interior space;
a refrigeration unit compartment separated from the interior space by one of the plurality of cabinet walls as a common wall;
an opening in the common wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space through said common wall into the compartment;
a refrigeration cassette selectively positionable into and out of the refrigeration unit compartment, said refrigeration cassette having a front plate, a back plate, a pair of side plates and a base plate forming a box-like structure defining an interior space, and having a division wall dividing the interior space into a first section in air flow communication with the air return inlet and a second section isolated from said first section and in fluid flow communication with an environment exterior of the cabinet;
an evaporator module disposed within said first section;
a condenser module disposed within said second section; and
a compressor connected in refrigerant flow communication with said evaporator module and said condenser module for circulating refrigeration through said evaporator module and said condenser module.
18 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 17 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within the housing, and at least one evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the evaporator coil and mounted to the housing.
19 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 18 wherein said condenser module includes a condenser coil and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the condenser coil mounted to a common base adapted to be mounted to the base plate of said refrigeration cassette.
20 . A refrigeration merchandiser as recited in claim 17 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within the housing, and a plurality of evaporator fan/motor assemblies operatively associated with the evaporator coil and mounted to the housing.