Refrigeration deck system for vending machine

Abstract

A vending machine includes a product compartment, a duct opening into the product compartment, and a self-contained refrigeration system. The refrigeration system includes a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber includes first and second openings. The second chamber includes third and fourth openings. An evaporator coil and evaporator fan are mounted in the first chamber. The evaporator fan moves air from the first opening, through the evaporator coil, to the second opening. A condensing coil, compressor, and compressor fan are mounted in the second chamber. The compressor fan moves air from the third opening, through the condensing coil, over the compressor, to the fourth opening. The housing thermally insulates the first chamber from both the second chamber and an exterior of the housing. The housing also seals the first chamber, such that substantially all air in the first chamber enters the first chamber through the first opening and exits the first chamber through the second opening. The housing is further adapted to automatically couple the first opening to the product storage compartment and the second opening to the duct when the housing is inserted into the vending machine.

1 . A self-contained refrigeration system, comprising:
 a housing comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber includes a first opening and a second opening and the second chamber includes a third opening and a fourth opening;   an evaporator coil and an evaporator fan are mounted in the first chamber, the evaporator fan adapted to move air from the first opening, through the evaporator coil, and to the second opening; and   a condensing coil, a compressor, and a compressor fan are mounted in the second chamber, the compressor fan adapted to move air from the third opening, through the condensing coil, over a surface of the compressor, and to the fourth opening.   wherein the housing is adapted to:
 thermally insulate the first chamber from the second chamber and from an exterior of the housing; 
 seal the first chamber, such that substantially all air in the first chamber enters and exits the first chamber through the first opening and the second opening, respectively; and 
 automatically couple the first opening and the second opening to a product compartment of a vending machine when the housing is inserted into the vending machine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is further adapted to seal the second chamber, such that substantially all air in the second opening enters and exits the second chamber through the third opening and the fourth opening, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a molded housing. 
     
     
         4 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 3 , wherein the molded housing comprises an insulting material. 
     
     
         5 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 3 , wherein the molded housing comprises a first portion and a molded second portion, one of the first portion and the second portion adapted to interconnect to the other of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises structural elements adapted to increase a strength of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of handles adapted to facilitate manual insertion of the housing into the vending machine. 
     
     
         8 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a detachable access panel, wherein removal of the access panel provides access to the condensing coil while the housing is inserted in the vending machine. 
     
     
         9 . The self-contained refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the condensing coil is larger than the evaporator coil. 
     
     
         10 . A vending machine, comprising:
 a product compartment;   a duct opening into the product compartment; and   a self-contained refrigeration system,   wherein the self-contained refrigeration system comprises:
 a housing comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber includes a first opening and a second opening and the second chamber includes a third opening and a fourth opening; 
 an evaporator coil and an evaporator fan mounted in the first chamber and adapted to move air from the first opening, through the evaporator coil, to the second opening; and 
 a condensing coil, a compressor and a compressor fan mounted in the second chamber, the compressor fan adapted to move air from the third opening, through the condensing coil, over a surface of the compressor, to the fourth opening. 
 wherein the housing is adapted to:
 thermally insulate the first chamber from the second chamber and from an exterior of the housing; 
 seal the first chamber, such that substantially all air in the first chamber enters and exits the first chamber through the first opening and the second opening, respectively; and 
 automatically couple the first opening to the product storage compartment and the second opening to the duct when the housing is inserted into the vending machine. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein the housing is further adapted to seal the second chamber, such that substantially all air in the second chamber enters and exits the second chamber through the third opening and the fourth opening, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a molded housing. 
     
     
         13 . The vending machine of  claim 12 , wherein the molded housing comprises an insulting material. 
     
     
         14 . The vending machine of  claim 12 , wherein the molded housing comprises a first portion and a molded second portion, one of the first portion and the second portion adapted to interconnect to the other of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         15 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a detachable access panel, wherein removal of the access panel provides access to the condensing coil while the housing is inserted in the vending machine. 
     
     
         16 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein the condensing coil is larger than the evaporator coil. 
     
     
         17 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein one of the vending machine and the housing comprises a gasket, the gasket adapted to improve one of the coupling of the first opening to the product storage compartment and the coupling of the second opening to the duct. 
     
     
         18 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the vending machine further comprises an interlocking mechanism mechanically coupling the housing to the vending machine, the interlocking mechanism adapted to position the housing to apply positive pressure to the gasket. 
     
     
         19 . A vending machine, comprising:
 a product compartment; and   a self-contained refrigeration system adapted for insertion into the vending machine, wherein the self-contained refrigeration system includes a molded housing comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, first thermal insulation between the first chamber and the second chamber, and second thermal insulation between the first chamber and an exterior of the housing,   wherein the self-contained refrigeration system is adapted to:
 pull air from the product compartment into the first chamber through a first opening in the molded housing, cool the air pulled from the product compartment, and return the cooled air to the product compartment through a second opening in the molded housing, such that substantially all air in the first chamber enters and exits the first chamber through the first opening and the second opening, respectively; and 
 pull air from outside the vending machine into the second chamber through a third opening in the molded housing, transfer heat into the air pulled from outside the vending machine, and return the heated air outside the vending machine through a fourth opening in the molded housing, and 
 automatically couple the first opening and the second opening to the product storage compartment when the housing is inserted into the vending machine. 
   
     
     
         20 . The vending machine of  claim 19 , wherein one of the vending machine and the housing comprises a gasket, the gasket adapted to improve the coupling of one of the first opening and the second opening to the product storage compartment.