Reach-in cooler

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the reach-in cooler incorporates a roof structure which includes a ceiling and a roof that are spaced from each other to form an air distribution plenum. The air distribution plenum includes an air return inlet and an air distribution outlet, and communicates with air return passage via the air return inlet. Preferably, the air return passage is formed between the back of the cooler and a partition. The refrigerated space of the cooler is disposed below the roof structure and communicates with the air return passage. Additionally, a refrigeration unit, which includes a refrigeration coil and a fan, communicates with the air return passage so that the fan moves air from the refrigerated space, through said air return passage, through the air return inlet and into the air distribution plenum. The air then is directed through the refrigeration coils for delivery through the air distribution outlet and into the refrigerated space for cooling the refrigerated space. Preferably, the partition incorporates air return orifices so that the fan draws air from the refrigerated space through the air return orifices and into the air return passage. Back-to-back configurations and method aspects also are provided.

1 . A reach-in cooler for containing refrigerated products, comprising: 
 a roof structure, a base, a front and a back;    said roof structure having a ceiling and a roof, said ceiling and said roof being spaced from each other and forming an air distribution plenum therebetween, said air distribution plenum having an air return inlet and an air distribution outlet;    a partition spaced from said back and forming a first air return passage therebetween, said first air return passage engaging in fluid communication with said air distribution plenum via said air return inlet;    a refrigerated space disposed below said roof structure and defined by said ceiling, said base, said front and said partition, said refrigerated space engaging in fluid communication with said first air return passage;    a refrigeration unit having a refrigeration coil and a fan, said refrigeration unit engaging in fluid communication with said first air return passage such that said fan moves air from said refrigerated space, through said first air return passage, through said air return inlet and into said air distribution plenum, and then through said refrigeration coils for delivery through said air distribution outlet and into said refrigerated space for cooling said refrigerated space;    said partition having air return orifices formed therethrough such that said fan draws air from said refrigerated space through said air return orifices and into said first air return passage.    
     
     
         2 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 1   , wherein said partition has a lower end, said lower end being spaced from said base to form a return opening such that said fan draws air from said refrigerated space through said return opening and into said first air return passage.  
     
     
         3 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 1   , wherein said base has a tank and a floor spaced from said tank and forming a second air return passage therebetween, said refrigerated space engaging in fluid communication with said second air return passage such that said fan draws air from said refrigerated space through second air return passage and into said first air return passage.  
     
     
         4 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 1   , wherein said front has a display opening and a door, said display opening adapted and arranged for providing access to said refrigerated space, said door hingedly mounted to said front and movable between an opened and a closed position, in said closed position said door preventing access through said display opening to said refrigerated space.  
     
     
         5 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 4   , wherein said air distribution outlet has a nozzle such that air delivered from said air distribution plenum and into said refrigerated space passes through said nozzle and forms an air curtain extending downwardly adjacent said display opening within said refrigerated space.  
     
     
         6 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 1   , wherein said reach-in cooler has a support structure configured for providing structural support thereto, said support structure having a plurality of framing sections, said framing sections being arranged in a spaced relationship with each other, each of said framing sections having first and second vertical framing members and first and second joists, said first and second vertical framing members being spaced from each other and forming said first air return passage, said first and second joists extending outwardly from said first and second vertical framing members toward said front face, said first and second joists being spaced from each other and forming said air distribution plenum.  
     
     
         7 . A reach-in cooler for containing refrigerated products, comprising: 
 first and second cooler structures,    each of said cooler structures having a roof structure, a base, a front and a back, said cooler structures being arranged in a back-to-back configuration with each other such that said first cooler defines a first refrigerated space and said second cooler defines a second refrigerated space with a common air return passage disposed between said first and second refrigerated spaces, said first air return passage being defined by first and second partitions,    each of said roof structures having a ceiling and a roof spaced from each other and forming an air distribution plenum therebetween such that, in said back-to-back configuration, said air distribution plenums of said first and second coolers engage in fluid communication with each other to form a common air distribution plenum, said common air distribution plenum having an air return inlet and first and second air distribution outlets, said first air distribution outlet being arranged adjacent to said front of said first cooler structure, said second air distribution outlet being arranged adjacent to said front of said second cooler structure;    said common air return passage engaging in fluid communication with said common air distribution plenum via said air return inlet;    a refrigeration unit having first and second refrigeration coils and a fan disposed therebetween, said first refrigeration coil being arranged above said first refrigerated space, said second refrigeration coil being arranged above said second refrigerated space, said refrigeration unit engaging in fluid communication with said common air return passage such that said fan moves air from said first and second refrigerated spaces, through said common air return passage, through said air return inlet and into said common air distribution plenum, and then through said first and second refrigeration coils for delivery through said first and second air distribution outlets and into said first and second refrigerated spaces for cooling said refrigerated spaces;    said first and second partitions having air return orifices formed therethrough such that said fan draws air from said first and second refrigerated spaces through said air return orifices and into said common air return passage.    
     
     
         8 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 7   , wherein said base of said first cooler structure has a floor and a first air return passage formed below said floor, said first air return passage engaging in fluid communication with said common air return passage, and wherein said base of said second cooler structure has a floor and a second air return passage formed below said floor, said second air return passage engaging in fluid communication with said common air return passage such that said fan draws air from said first refrigerated space through said first air return passage and into said common air return passage, and said fan air from said second refrigerated space through said second air return passage and into said common air return passage.  
     
     
         9 . The reach-in cooler of    claim 7   , wherein said reach-in cooler has a support structure configured for providing structural support thereto, said support structure having a plurality of framing sections, said framing sections being arranged in a spaced relationship with each other, each of said framing sections having first and second vertical framing members and first and second joists, said first and second vertical framing members being spaced from each other and forming said common air return passage, said first and second joists extending outwardly from said first and second vertical framing members toward said fronts of said first and second cooler structures, said first and second joists being spaced from each other and forming said common air distribution plenum.  
     
     
         10 . A method for displaying refrigerated products, comprising the steps of: 
 providing first and second cooler structures, each of said cooler structures having a ceiling, a floor, a front, a back, and a partition spaced form said back, said first cooler defining a first refrigerated space and said second cooler defining a second refrigerated space;    arranging said first and second cooler structures in a back-to-back configuration with each other such that a common air return passage is formed therebetween, said common air return passage being defined by said partitions of said first and second cooler structures,    moving air from said first and second refrigerated spaces, upwardly through said common air return passage and above said ceilings of said cooler structures;    cooling the air, and;    delivering the cooled air outwardly toward said fronts of said cooler structures and then downwardly into said first and second refrigerated spaces for cooling said refrigerated spaces.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising the steps of: 
 drawing portions of the air delivered into said first and second refrigerated spaces into said common air return passage at a plurality of distances measured along said partitions from said ceilings, and;    drawing additional portions of the air delivered into said first and second refrigerated spaces across said floors of said first and second cooler structures and into said common air return passage.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the step of drawing portions of the air delivered into said first and second refrigerated spaces comprises drawing portions of the air across shelving and into said common air return passage, said shelving extending into said first and second refrigerated spaces from said partitions.