Systems and methods for improving air curtains in refrigerated display cases

Abstract

A refrigerated display case includes a duct for directing an air stream, an air curtain discharge, an advance discharge opening, and an air curtain return. The air curtain discharge is coupled to the duct to discharge the air stream to produce an air curtain. The advance discharge opening is coupled to the duct upstream of the air curtain discharge to produce an auxiliary air stream directed towards the air curtain, forming a redirected air curtain. The air curtain return receives the redirected air curtain for recirculation to the duct.

1 . A refrigerated display case having a front, the refrigerated display case comprising:
 a duct configured to direct an air stream flow therethrough;   an air curtain discharge coupled to the duct and configured to direct the air stream to produce an air curtain across a front of the refrigerated display case;   an advance discharge opening formed in the duct to direct a portion of the air stream to produce an auxiliary air stream directed into the refrigerated display case and towards an inside of the air curtain, forming a redirected air curtain; and   an air curtain return configured to receive the redirected air curtain.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1 , further comprising a deflector proximate the advance discharge opening, the deflector configured to redirect the air stream received by the advance discharge opening and produce the auxiliary air stream. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 2 , wherein the deflector is defined by an angle from a vertical line; and
 wherein the angle is twenty degrees.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one repositionable shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1 , wherein the advance discharge opening is selectively repositionable such that the auxiliary air stream can be selectively repositioned to a target location on the air curtain. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1 , wherein the advance discharge opening is selectively operable between and open position and a closed position such that the auxiliary air stream can be selectively throttled. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1 , further comprising a deflector proximate the advance discharge opening, the deflector configured to redirect the air stream received by the advance discharge opening and produce the auxiliary air stream. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerated display case having a front, the refrigerated display case comprising:
 a passage configured to direct a flow of an air stream therethrough;   an air curtain discharge coupled to the passage and structured to direct the air stream to produce an air curtain across a front of the refrigerated display case;   an advance discharge opening provided in the passage upstream of the air curtain discharge to direct a portion of the air stream to produce an auxiliary air stream directed into the refrigerated display case and towards an inside of the air curtain, forming a redirected air curtain;   an air curtain return configured to receive the redirected air curtain;   a shelf;   a sensor coupled to the shelf and configured to obtain sensor data; and   an external device communicable with the sensor and the advance discharge opening.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 8 , wherein the external device is configured to facilitate selective repositioning of the advance discharge opening. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 8 , wherein the external device is configured to facilitate automatic repositioning of the advance discharge opening based on the sensor data.