Secondary airflow distribution for a display case

Abstract

A display case cools and displays products. A first fan system circulates cool air through the display case. The cool air is directed downwardly along a front of the display case to form a primary air curtain. A second fan system circulates ambient air to generate a secondary air curtain. The secondary air curtain is located between the primary air curtain and the outside environment, trapping the primary air curtain near an interior display volume of the display case. Each end of the second fan system is several inches shorter than the display case to allow for case to case attachment. The second fan system includes a louver near each of the side walls and a front of the second fan system. Each louver includes a plurality of slanted panels. The louvers direct the ambient air towards the side walls of the display case to improve the secondary discharge air velocity in a front corner area of the display case.

1 . A refrigerated case comprising:
 a display area having an interior compartment and side walls;   a first fan system that directs air along a front of the refrigerated case to form a first air curtain; and   a second fan system that directs ambient air along the front of the refrigerated case to form a second air curtain, wherein the first air curtain is between the interior compartment and the second air curtain, and the second fan system includes at least one deflector that directs at least some of the ambient air towards one of the side walls of the refrigerated case.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fan system includes a first fan and a first motor located in a lower portion of the refrigerated case and an evaporator coil to cool the air. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the air is directed downwardly to form the first air curtain. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second fan system is located above the interior compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second fan system includes a second fan and a second motor, wherein the second fan draws the ambient air into the second fan system. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  further including a panel, wherein the ambient air flows under the panel and is directed downwardly to form the second air curtain. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 6  wherein the panel includes the at least one deflector. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 6  wherein the at least one deflector includes two deflectors and the panel includes the two deflectors, wherein each of the two deflectors is located near the one of the side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one deflector includes a plurality of slanted panels each separated by a slot that allow the ambient air to flow through the at least one deflector and towards the one of the side walls. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the display area has a display area length and the second fan system has a fan length, and the display area length is greater than the fan length. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one deflector is located near the front of the refrigerated case. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one deflector extends only partially along a depth of the second fan system. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one deflector is at least one louver. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerated case comprising:
 a display area having an interior compartment and side walls;   a first fan system that directs air along a front of the case to form a first air curtain, wherein the first fan system includes a first fan and a first motor located in a lower portion of the refrigerated case and an evaporator coil to cool the air; and   a second fan system that directs ambient air along the front of the case to form a second air curtain, wherein the second fan system includes a second fan and a second motor, wherein the second fan draws the ambient air into the second fan system, the first air curtain is between the interior compartment and the second air curtain, and the second fan system includes at least one deflector that directs at least some of the ambient air towards one of the side walls of the refrigerated case.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 14  further including a panel, wherein the air is directed downwardly to form the first air curtain and the ambient air flows under the panel and is directed downwardly to form the second air curtain. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 14  wherein the at least one deflector includes two deflectors and the panel includes the two deflectors, wherein each of the two deflectors is located near the one of the side walls. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 14  wherein the at least one deflector includes a plurality of slanted panels each separated by a slot that allow the ambient air to flow through the at least one deflector and towards the one of the side walls. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerated case as recited in  claim 14  wherein the at least one deflector is at least one louver. 
     
     
         19 . A method of cooling a refrigerated case, the method comprising the steps of:
 directing air along a front of the refrigerated case to form a first air curtain;   directing ambient air along the front of the refrigerated case to form a second air curtain, wherein the first air curtain is between an interior compartment and the second air curtain; and   directing at least some of the ambient air towards at least one side wall of the refrigerated case.