US3585814A

US3585814A - Refrigerated unit

Info

Publication number: US3585814A
Application number: US773685*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gabriel Van Cauwenberge
Original assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
Current assignee: Alcatel Lucent NV
Priority date: 1967-09-29
Filing date: 1968-09-19
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22
Also published as: BE704470A; NL6813917A; GB1207226A

Abstract

A self-contained refrigeration unit wherein two evaporators and fans associated therewith are mounted in a refrigeration space, the first evaporator operating at one evaporating temperature and the second evaporator operating at a lower evaporating temperature. The fans circulate air successively over the first and second evaporators, through a storage area input port, within the storage area of the refrigerator unit and to a storage area output port from which it is returned to the first evaporator. Deflector vanes are provided at the air input port to disperse the incoming air thereby preventing turbulence and to reduce the quantity of ambient air which enters the output port which is located at the side of the storage area opposite the side where the input port is located.

Description

nited States Patent [72] Inventor Gabriel Van Cauwenberge Geel, Belgium [21] Appl. No. 773,685

[22] Filed Sept. 19, 1968 [45] Patented June 22, 1971 [73] Assignee lnternational Standard Electric Corporation New York, N.Y.

[32] Priority Sept. 29, 1967 [33] Belgium [54] REFRIGERATED UNIT 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 62/255, 62/289, 62/502 [51] 1nt.Cl F25d 11/00 [50] Field of Search 62/502, 510,114, 332,175, 335, 95, 289, 97, 255, 256

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,579 6/1932 Morse 62/97 X 2,682,756 7/1954 Clark 62/335 Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Attorneys-C. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J. Baum and Paul W. Hemminger 1 ACT: A self-contained refrigeration unit wherein two evaporators and fans associated therewith are mounted in a refrigeration space, the first evaporator operating at one evaporating temperature and the second evaporator operating at a lower evaporating temperature. The fans circulate air successively over the first and second evaporators, through a storage area input port, within the storage area of the refrigerator unit and to a storage area output port from which it is returned to the first evaporator. Deflector vanes are provided at the air input port to disperse the incoming air thereby preventing turbulence and to reduce the quantity of ambient air which enters the output port which is located at the side of the storage area opposite the side where the input port is located.

PATENTEDJUNZZIHYI' $585,814

SHEET 1 UF 4 lnvenlor G VAN (IAUWENBIERGIC Altar PATENTEU JUH22 197i SHEET 4 Inventor VAN (IAUWI'INBI IRHI-I REFRIGERATED UNIT The present invention relates to a refrigerated unit including a cabinet with an area for storing goods and with a refrigeration space wherein two evaporators and air blowing means are mounted, the first of said evaporators operating at a first evaporation temperature which is higher than the second evaporation temperature at which said second evaporator operates and said air blowing means circulating air successively over said first and second evaporators and within said area over said goods.

Such a refrigerated unit is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,185.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerated unit of the above type wherein the heat to be evacuated is a minimum and the efficiency with which this heat is evacuated is a maximum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated unit which is selfcontained.

The present refrigerated unit is particularly characterized in that said first and said second evaporator form part of a first and a second refrigerating circuit respectively.

It should be noted that a refrigerated unit including two evaporators which respectively form part of two separate refrigerating circuits is already known per se from U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,607. This known refrigerated unit is however not of the same type as the one of the invention.

Another characteristic of the present refrigerated unit is that said first and said second evaporator operate with a first and a second refrigerant respectively.

The invention also relates to a refrigerated unit including a first and a second motor which drives a first and a second compressor respectively, said first and second compressors forming part of a first and a second refrigerating circuit respectively. Such a refrigerated unit is already known from U.S. Pat No. 3,146,607.

The refrigerated unit according to the invention is particularly characterized in that it further includes electrical control means, for said first and second motors, which control said motors in such a manner that said second motor is started a predetermined time delay after said first motor.

The invention also relates to a refrigerated unit including a cabinet with an area for storing goods and with a refrigeration space including at least one evaporator and air blowing means for circulating air successively over said evaporator(s) and within said area over said goods.

The refrigerated unit according to the invention is particularly characterized in that it includes means for decreasing the axial velocity of said circulating air when entering said area through an inlet thereof, said axial velocity being measured along an axial direction corresponding to the shortest distance between said inlet and an outlet of said area for said circulating air.

The invention further also relates to a refrigerated unit with a refrigerating space wherein are mounted at least one evaporator and defrosting means, said defrosting means including heating resistances for said evaporator which is constituted by a serpentine tubing having radial fins characterized in this that first one of said heating resistances are mounted within tubular elements which are integral with said fins.

The invention also relates to a refrigerated unit including at least one refrigerating circuit with at least one evaporator and defrosting means for said evaporator, characterized in that said defrosting means include a drain channel which terminates in an evaporator pan through which passes the tubing interconnecting the compressor and the condenser of said refrigerating circuit.

The above mentioned and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by referring to the following description of an embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross section along line 1-1 in FIG. 2 of a refrigerated unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section along line Il-ll of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section along line Ill-Ill of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows part of a refrigerating circuit forming part of the refrigerated unit of FIG. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 shows an electrical control circuit for controlling the operation of this refrigerated unit.

Principally referring to FIG. 1 to 4, the refrigerated unit shown includes a supporting structure which is constituted by two

longitudinal beams

1 and 2 having a U-shaped cross section and by three transverse beams 3, 4, 5, secured to the upper flanges of the longitudinal beams l and 2. Four legs such as 6, 7, 8 having a T-shaped cross section are screwed in the lower flanges of the longitudinal beams l and 2.

An open-topped heat insulated outer cabinet 9 is secured to the above supporting structure. This insulated outer cabinet 9 has a front wall 10, a backwall 11, a bottom wall 12 and end walls 1315 and 16-18, the bottom wall 12 being substantially shorter than the front and back walls 10 and 11. End wall 13-15 has a vertical portion 13, an inwardly directed horizontal portion 14 and another vertical portion 15 with a plurality of holes (not shown). Likewise end wall 16-18 has a vertical portion 16, and inwardly directed horizontal portion 17 and another vertical portion 18 with a plurality of holes such as 22, 23 and 24. The insulation used is for instance polyurethane.

The above insulated

vertical portions

13 and 16 of the end walls 13--15 and 16-18 are downwardly prolonged by noninsulated vertical wall portions 25 and 26 respectively. Finally, the outer cabinet 9 is covered by an enveloping wall 27.

The above supporting structure 1--5, the front and back walls 10, 11 and the

end wall portions

14, 15, 25, delimit a first chamber 28, the bottom of which is constituted by a plurality of transverse beams (not shown) secured to the longitudinal beams l, 2, and forming part of the supporting structure. Likewise, the supporting structure 1-5, the front and back walls l0, l1, and the end wall portions l7, 18, 26, delimit a second chamber 29, the bottom of which is also constituted by a plurality of transverse beams (not shown) secured to the

longitudinal beams

1, 2, and also forming part of the above supporting structure.

The refrigerated unit includes a first and a second refrigerating circuit which are each of a classical construction and include each at least a compressor, a condenser, expansion means and an evaporator, these devices being mutually coupled in this order.

Part 30 of the first refrigerating circuit includes the compressor, the condenser and the expansion means, the evaporator being indicated by reference numeral 31. The motor driving the latter compressor is indicated by reference numeral 19 in FIG. 5. Likewise part 32 of the second refrigerating circuit includes the compressor, the condenser and the expansion means, the evaporator being indicated by reference numeral 33. The latter compressor and condenser are indicated by the reference numerals 21 and 35 in FIG. 4 and the motor driving the latter compressor 21 is indicated by reference numeral 34 in FIG. 5. These compressor 21 and condenser 35 are intercoupled by a serpentine tubing 36 arranged in an evaporator pan 37 wherein a drain line 42 terminates. The above part 30 of the first refrigerating circuit is mounted in the first chamber 28, and the above part 32 of the second refrigerating circuit is mounted in the second chamber 29.

The front and backwalls 10, 11, the bottom wall 12 and the insulated end wall portions 15, 18, delimit a refrigerating space 38 on the bottom of which an insulating board 39 is arranged. This insulating board 39 is covered by a metal plate 108 and has a longitudinal groove 41 and a longitudinal drain channel 40 which communicates with space 38 through openings (not shown) in the metal plate 108.

Drain channel 40 is located substantially in the middle of board 39 and groove 41 is located between drain channel 40 and back wall 11. The thickness of insulating board 39 decreases, on the one hand, from its longitudinal edges towards the drain channel Ml and, on the other hand, from its transverse edge in contact with end wall portion 15 to its transverse edge in contact with end wall portion 113. Near the latter edge the drain channel 49 communicates with the above evaporator pan 37 of the second refrigerating circuit via drain line 4l2. A tubular element 4l3 wherein an electrical heating resistance (not shown) is mounted, is arranged in drain channel 40 and a similar tubular heating element M is provided in groove 41.

The above evaporators 311 and 33 are mounted side by side on the insulating board 39 and between the drain channel 30 and the backwall lll. Evaporator 31 includes three series connected identical evaporator elements 45, Alb, 47, whereas evaporator 33 is constituted by a single evaporator element 43 which is similar to the elements 45, as, &7. Each of these evaporator elements such as & is constituted by a serpentine coil having a plurality of transversally and vertically extending radial fins, such as 49, which are spaced apart longitudinally. This serpentine coil includes eight interconnected pipes which, when considered in cross section, are arranged at the angles of two adjacent squares.

Two tubular heating elements such as 59, 5E, each enclos ing a heating resistance, are mounted lengthwise of the evaporator element 35, These

tubular elements

39, 51, are integral with the fins of this evaporator element. The heating resistances mounted in these tubular heating elements may be easily inserted in and removed from these elements since they are accessible from chamber 29 through holes such as 22, 23, in the end wall portion 13 of this chamber 29. Also the heating resistances mounted in the tubular heating elements 43, Ml, may easily be removed from and inserted in these elements through suitable openings (not shown) in one of the end wall portions H5 or R8. The heating resistances mounted in the

tubular heating elements

13, 34%, are electrically connected in series and both connected in parallel with the parallel connected heating resistances mounted in the tubular elements 59, 5 l.

The

above parts

39 and 32 of the first and second refrigerating circuits, mounted in the respective chambers 28 and 29, are coupled to the respective evaporators 3E and 33 through openings (not shown) in the end wall portions l5 and R3 respectively. Two fans 29 (PEG. 5) and 52 (FIG. l) are mounted in the above refrigerating space 38 substantially at one fourth of the length of this space from the end wall portion 115 and )13 respectively.

A separating wall 33 is arranged in the refrigerating space 33 and extends from front wall 110 to backwall ill, the evaporator tubes passing through holes in this wall 53. A heat insulating board 54 rests on the evaporators 311, 33, and the housings of the

fans

29 and 52 and thus constitutes the top wall of the refrigerating space 33.

A defrost regulating thermostat 55 is arranged on insulating board 39 and near drain channel 30, and a refrigeration controlling thermostat 56 (only shown in H6. 5) is arranged in the refrigerating space 38 so as to be influenced by the air circulating in this space.

The front and backwalls l9 and Ill have inwardly directed beak-shaped

portions

57 and 58 respectively. A wall 59 is suspended from the inwardly directed portion 58 of backwall ill by means of a plurality of elements at) to 6 3 which also support three

louvers

65, 6b and 67. The suspended wall 59 and the backwall Ill delimit a longitudinally extending space 63 which communicates at one end with the rear part of evaporator 33 and at the other end with the display area 69 via four

longitudinal inlet passages

70 and 73, delimited by the louvers 65 to 67.

Likewise wall 74', is suspended from the inwardly directed portion 57 of front wall 110 by means of a plurality of elements such as 75 which are similar to the above elements 60 to 64. The suspended wall 74 and front wall 110 delimit a longitudinally extending space 76 which communicates at one end with the space behind the

fans

29 and 52 and at the other end with the display area 69 through the longitudinal air outlet passage 77. The suspended walls 59 and 743 are provided with L-shaped edges, the plates we to 1105 being supported thereon. These plates R00 to 105 constitute a display area upon which goods may be stored.

In the above space 63 delimited by the backwall ill and the suspended wall 59, are located l3 L-shaped deflector pieces '78 to which are secured to this backwall 2111. From the middle of this wall Ill wherein the deflecting piece 73 is mounted perpendicularly to the bottom R2 of the cabinet 9, the angles between the deflector pieces 79 to 841 and $5 to 90 and vertical planes which are parallel to the end walls 15, 116, gradually increase towards these end walls. These angles are respectively equal to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 63. An L-shaped plate 91 is further mounted in front of the

openings

22, 23, in the end wall portion 118. A similar L-shaped plate 1110 is mounted in front of the end wall portion l5.

Principally referring to H0. 5, the electrical control circuit shown therein is adapted to control the operation of the motor 119 of the compressor of the first refrigerating circuit, of the motor 34 of the compressor 2B, of the second refrigerating circuit, of the

fans

20 and 52 and of the heating resistances in the tubular elements such as 43, 414, 59, 511. This electrical control circuit includes two power supply leads 92 and 93 coupled to the mains, a timer motor 94 of a classical construction periodically modifying the position of changeover contact 95, a time delay thermal relay 96 also of classical construction and including a resistance 97 and a heat controlled bimetallic changeover contact 93, and the above refrigeration and defrost controlling

thermostats

56 and 55 represented by their break contacts.

Motor 19, which is a single phase AC motor, is connected across the power supply lines 92, 93, in series with the break contact of changeover contact and thermostat break contact 56. Motor 34 which is also a single phase AC motor is connected across the same power supply lines 92, 93, in series with the break contact 56 and the make contact of changeover contact 93. Timer motor 94'; is directly connected across the power supply lines 92, 93, and thermal relay 96 is connected across these lines in series with break contact of changeover contact 95 and thermostat break contact 56. A resistance 99 is hereby branched across the break contact of change over contact 98 so that it is normally short-circuited. The

fans

20 and 52 are branched in parallel between the power supply leads 92, 93, via the break contact of changeover contact 95. The above heating resistances which will hereinafter be referred to as 43, M, 59, 511, are connected in parallel across the same power supply leads 92, 93, via the make contact of this changeover contact 95 and the defrost thermostat break contact 55.

Resistance

33 and 44 are hereby connected in series,

The operation of the above described refrigerated unit is described hereinafter.

The refrigerated unit which has a display surface of 2 m is placed in an ambient atmosphere having a temperature of 20 C., a relative humidity of 50 percent and a velocity of 0.05 msec. This refrigerated unit is adapted to maintain goods stored in the display area at a temperature lower than 1 3 C., although every eight hours the evaporators 3H and 33 are brought at a temperature of 5 C. during a defrost period of maximum twenty minutes. The first refrigerating circuit operates with the refrigerant R12 and its evaporator 31 has a temperature of 30 C., and the second refrigerating circuit operates with the refrigerant R22 and its evaporator 33 has a temperature of 35 C. The

fans

20 and 52 displace m of air per hour.

When the single phase mains is connected to the power supply lines 92, 93 compressor motor 19 is operated via the break contact of changeover contact 95 and the thermostat break contact 56 so that the first refrigerating circuit starts operating.

Simultaneously a current flows across the power supply lines 92, 93 via the break contact of changeover contact 95, thermostat break contact 56, resistance 99 short-circuited by break contact of changeover contact 98 and resistance 97.

Consequently, resistance 97 is heated so that after a predetermined time delay the associated bimetallic changeover con tact 98 is operated. Due to this, compressor motor 34 is also branched across the power supply lines 92, 93 so that also the second refrigerating circuit starts operating.

It should be noted that the time delay thus realized between the moments at which the motors l9 and 34 start operating, has been provided in order not to excessively load the single phase mains. When started, these motors indeed require a relatively high current.

It should also be noted that after changeover contact 98 has changed its position, resistance 99 is branched in series with resistance 97, thus decreasing the current flowing through the latter resistance. This decreased current is however sufficient to maintain changeover contact 98 in its operative position. However, since the bimetallic element is thus slightly cooled, the changeover contact 98 is enabled to return more rapidly to its rest position when the motor 34 of the second refrigerating circuit is switched off, e.g. at the start-of a defrost period.

When the mains are connected to the power supply lines 92, 93 also the timer motor 94 and the fans and 52 are operated. Consequently, a volume of 180 m of air per hour is circulated from the refrigerating space 38 back to this space via evaporator 31, evaporator 33, longitudinal passage 68, inlet openings 70 to 73, display area 69, outlet opening 77 and longitudinal space 76. Plates 91 and 110 hereby prevent a turbulent movement of this air near the junction between the

wall portions

14, 15 and 17,18.

In the longitudinal space 68 the circulated air is divided in a plurality of airstreams by the deflector pieces 78 to 90, so that this air is brought into contact with the whole of the suspended wall 59. By the louvers 65 to 67 these airstreams are further each divided in four air layers which are slightly inclined downwardly. in each of these air layers the air filets follow different directions since they make different angles with vertical planes which are parallel to the end walls 13-15 and 1618, these air filets being directed towards the one or the other of these end walls or the fictive prolongation thereof.

The aim of the louvers 65 to 67 is to provide air layers moving in a substantially laminar flow, thereby minimizing the intermixt or entrainment of ambient air and the migration of moisture from the ambient air in the display area.

Due to the oblique direction followed by each of the air filets in each of the four layers the axial velocity of each of these air filets is reduced, the axial direction being considered along a horizontal line in one of the above vertical lines. The laminar flow of the adjacent ambient air is thus changed into a turbulent flow due to which the amount of ambient air, which becomes intermixed or is entrained with the four air layers, is further reduced.

As well the deflector pieces 79 to 90 as the louvers 65 to 67 hence increase the operating efficiency of the refrigerated unit since the less ambient air is intermixed with the above four air layers the less heat the latter layers take up from the ambient air and the less these layers must be cooled by the refrigerating circuits.

Another measure which increases the efficiency of the refrigerated unit is the relatively thick horizontal protective air layer between the inwardly directed

portions

57 and 58 and the end walls 1315, 16-18 of the cabinet 9. This protective air layer is indeed substantially not afiected by the air moving over the cabinet 9 so that substantially no ambient air is mixed with this air layer. The latter air layer will substantially also not be intermixed with the four laminar air layers flowing in the display area, as already mentioned.

Still another measure which increases the operation efficiency of the refrigerated unit is the location of the edge 106 at the crossing of the

planes

107 and 108 of the inwardly directed portion 57 and the suitable inclination of these planes. This edge 106 is indeed located at a place where the temperature difference between adjacent horizontal air layers is maximum and the inclination of the

surfaces

107 and 108 is such that the airstreams impinging thereon are deflected outside the cabinet 9 and through the outlet opening 77 respectively.

After a certain operation time of the refrigerated unit, the goods in the display area are at the required temperature lower than 18 C. The air when leaving this area through opening 77 has then a temperature of 21 C., a relative humidity of percent and an absolute humidity of 1.06 g/m.

When this air is forced by

fans

20 and 52 into contact with the tubes of evaporator 31 of the first refrigerating circuit, it is substantially completely dehumidified and cooled from 21 C. to 28 C. since the evaporator 31 operates at -30 C. This first refrigerating unit which is capable of eliminating about 680 kcal./h when 5.8 m lh of R12 circulates therein also eliminates substantially all the losses occurring through the insulated walls.

When the thus dehumidified and cooled. air is further forced by

fans

20 and 52 into contact with the tubes of evaporator 33 of the second refrigerating circuit which operates at 35" C. and is capable of eliminating about 280 kcaL/h when 0.205 m-"/h of R22 circulates therein, it is further cooled from 28 C. to 32 C.

It 25 been found that when circulating m of air per hour and at a temperature of -32" C., the temperature of the stored goods did not become higher than -l 8 C.

From the above it follows that the circulating air is cooled in two steps successively by the first refrigerating circuit which includes the evaporator 31 which operates at a temperature of 30 C. and through which circulate 5.8 m /h of R12 and by the second refrigerating circuit which includes the evaporator 33 which operates at a temperature of 35 C. and through which circulates 0.205 m /h of R22. This mode of operation has been adopted for the following reasons:

refrigerant R12 is much cheaper than refrigerant R22 so that it is advantageous to eliminate most of the heat by means of refrigerant R12;

the heat capable of being eliminated by the first refrigerating circuit however more rapidly decreases with decreasing temperature than the second heat capable of being eliminated by the second refrigerating circuit. More particularly, at 35 C. this heat is much larger for the second refrigerating circuit than for the first;

at the operation temperature of 30 C. of the evaporator 31 the temperature difference with that of the circulating air which at 2l C. is sufficient to have a good heat transfer from the air to the evaporator 31. At this temperature the heat-elimination of the first refrigerating circuit is comparable to that the second refrigerating circuit would have at the same temperature. At this temperature the air is substantially completely dehumidified.

During the above refrigerating operation frost accumulations are built up on the fins of the

evaporators

31 and 33 due to which the heat transfer of the circulating air to these evaporators decreases. In order to limit this decrease to a reasonable value, every eight hours timer motor 94 operates its associated changeover contact 95 and maintains this contact in the operated position for 20 minutes. Due to this the operation of the

motors

19 and 34 and of the fans 20 and 5 2 is stopped and simultaneously a current starts flowing through the

heating resistances

43, 44, 50, 51 via the defrost thermostat break contact 55.

The heating resistances in the

tubular elements

50, 51 and 44, raise the temperature of the

evaporators

31 and 33 to substantially +5 C. Hereby the radial fins of these elements which are also the fins of the

evaporators

31, 32, provide for uniform and highly efficient distribution of the heat over the

evaporators

31 and 33. The water formed by the melting frost is drained through drain channel 40 and drain line 41 to evaporator pan 37.

The heating resistance in the tubular element 44 prevents the accumulation of ice in the drain channel 40 which would impede rapid removal of the water formed by melting frost. Since the defrosting operation is carried out quickly with a minimum of interruption in the refrigerating operation, it is indeed necessary to provide for rapid removal of the water in this operation, otherwise the water still present in the drain channel would tend to freeze when the refrigerating cycle is again started.

It should be noted that the drain water collected in the evaporator pan 37 is evaporated by the refrigerant passing in the tubing 36 between compressor 211 and condenser 35 of the second refrigerating circuit. Thus, no tubing has to be provided for draining this water out of the room wherein the display unit is located. The refrigerated unit is hence really a selfcontained unit.

As soon as the defrost controlling thermostat 55 detects a temperature of C. it opens its break contact due to which the resistances 43, M and 5d, 511 are switched off from the mains. The time interval elapsing between this moment and the moment the timer motor 94 returns its changeover contact 95 to its rest condition is used to realize the complete removal of the melted frost through drain channel 40.

When changeover contact 95 has reached its rest position, the motors 119 and 345 are again successively started since the thermostat break contact 56 is in its rest position. lndeed, the temperature of the air wherein this thermostat is located is relatively high immediately after a defrosting operation. Also the fans and 52 are again started.

lt should be noted that when during the normal operation of the refrigerated unit temperature measured by thermostat 56 decreases below a predetermined value, the corresponding break contact is opened. Due to this both motors l9 and 3d are stopped, but the

fans

20, 52 continue operating. independently from this fact a defrost operation may be started.

llt should be noted that the separating wall 53 between the two fans 26), 52 has been provided in order to prevent a part of the amount of air displaced by one of these fans to enter the other fan when the latter is not operating, for instance due to a defect.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

llclaim:

l. A. refrigerator unit comprising:

a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space;

a structure for supporting the cabinet;

a first evaporator which forms part of a first refrigeration circuit mounted in said refrigeration space;

a second evaporator which forms part of a second refrigeration circuit mounted in said refrigeration space,

said first evaporator operating at a first evaporating temperature and the second evaporator operating at a lower evaporating temperature than that of said first evaporator;

air blowing means circulating air successively over said first and second evaporators and within said storage area; each of said refrigerating circuits comprising;

a motor;

a compressor driven by said motor;

a condenser; and

expansion means,

each of said motors, compressors, condensers, and expansion means being mounted together on said supporting structure; and

wherein said cabinet comprises a pair of lateral walls and a pair of end walls, each having an inwardly projecting horizontal portion such that the length of the lateral walls delimiting a lower part of the cabinet is smaller than the length of the lateral wall delimiting an upper part thereof, each of said compressors, said motors, said condensers, and said first and second refrigerating circuits being mounted on said supporting structure in first and second chambers located adjacent to the one and the other ends of said lower part of said cabinet respectively and both below said upper part thereof.

2. A refrigerator unit comprising:

a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space;

a structure for supporting the cabinet;

air blowing means circulating air successively over said first and second evaporators and within said storage area;

each of said refrigerating circuits comprising;

a motor;

a compressor driven by said motor;

a condenser; and

expansion means,

each of said motors, compressors, condensers and expansion means being mounted together on said supporting structure; and

wherein said refrigeration space comprises defrosting means and a drain channel which terminates in an evaporator pan through which passes tubing interconnecting the compressor and the condenser of one of said refrigerating circuits; and

an evaporator pan mounted on said supporting structure so that said refrigerator unit is self-contained.

3. A refrigerator unit comprising:

a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space; I

at least one evaporator mounted in said refrigeration space;

air blowing means mounted in said refrigeration space for circulating air successively over said evaporator and within said storage area;

air inlet means in said storage area;

air outlet means in said storage area;

wherein said cabinet comprises a pair oflateral walls;

a pair of end walls, each of which has an inwardly projecting horizontal portion such that the length of the lateral walls delimiting a lower part of the cabinet is smaller than the length of the lateral walls delimiting an upper part thereof;

an inner cabinet delimiting said storage area mounted in said upper part of said cabinet so that the lateral walls of said cabinet and said inner cabinet delimit first and second longitudinal spaces which at their one end both communicate with said area via said air inlet means and said air outlet means respectively and at their other end both communicate with said lower part of said cabinet which constitutes said refrigerating space; and

a plurality of deflector pieces which are mounted in said first longitudinal space and which, starting in the middle of said cabinet toward each of said end walls thereof making increasing angles with vertical planes which are parallel to said end walls so as to delimit passages, the cross sections of which increase toward said one end of said first longitudinal space for decreasing the axial velocity of said circulating air entering said storage area through said air inlet means by deflecting said air with respect to said axial direction before said air enters said area, said axial velocity being measured along an axial direction corresponding to the shortest distance between said air inlet means and said air outlet means.

41. A refrigerated unit comprising:

a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space;

at least one evaporator mounted in said refrigeration space;

air inlet means in said storage area;

air outlet means in said storage area;

9 10 means for decreasing the axial velocity of said circulating wherein said air inlet and said air outlet are located below air when entering said area through said inlet, said axial the fir t and econd of aid inwardly directed parts; and y bemg measured along axlal f' f wherein said second inwardly directed portion has a beakrespondling to the shortest distance between said inlet and 5 Shaped cross section and is delimited by fi t and Second said out et;

inclined planes, the inclinations of which are such that circulating air impinging on said first plane is deviated outside the cabinet and whereby circulating air impinging on said second plane is deviated toward said outlet.

wherein said cabinet comprises a pair of end walls and a pair of lateral walls having first and second inwardly directed portions respectively, said end walls and said inwardly directed portions delimiting an opening so that a protective zone of air is formed over said area, l0

Claims

1. A. refrigerator unit comprising: a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space; a structure for supporting the cabinet; a first evaporator which forms part of a first refrigeration circuit mounted in said refrigeration space; a second evaporator which forms part of a second refrigeration circuit mounted in said refrigeration space, said first evaporator operating at a first evaporating temperature and the second evaporator operating at a lower evaporating temperature than that of said first evaporator; air blowing means circulating air successively over said first and second evaporators and within said storage area; each of said refrigerating circuits comprising; a motor; a compressor driven by said motor; a condenser; and expansion means, each of said motors, compressors, condensers, and expansion means being mounted together on said supporting structure; and wherein said cabinet comprises a pair of lateral walls and a pair of end walls, each having an inwardly projecting horizontal portion such that the length of the lateral walls delimiting a lower part of the cabinet is smaller than the length of the lateral wall delimiting an upper part thereof, each of said compressors, said motors, said condensers, and said first and second refrigerating circuits being mounted on said supporting structure in first and second chambers located adjacent to the one and the other ends of said lower part of said cabinet respectively and both below said upper part thereof.

2. A refrigerator unit comprising: a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space; a structure for supporting the cabinet; a first evaporator which forms part of a first refrigeration circuit mounted in said refrigeration space; a second evaporator which forms part of a second refrigeration circuit mounted in said refrigeration space, said first evaporator operating at a first evaporating temperature and the second evaporator operating at a lower evaporating temperature than that of said first evaporator; air blowing means circulating air successively over said first and second evaporators and within said storage area; each of said refrigerating circuits comprising; a motor; a compressor driven by said motor; a condenser; and expansion means, each of said motors, compressors, condensers and expansion means being mounted together on said supporting structure; and wherein said refrigeration space comprises defrosting means and a dRain channel which terminates in an evaporator pan through which passes tubing interconnecting the compressor and the condenser of one of said refrigerating circuits; and an evaporator pan mounted on said supporting structure so that said refrigerator unit is self-contained.

3. A refrigerator unit comprising: a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space; at least one evaporator mounted in said refrigeration space; air blowing means mounted in said refrigeration space for circulating air successively over said evaporator and within said storage area; air inlet means in said storage area; air outlet means in said storage area; wherein said cabinet comprises a pair of lateral walls; a pair of end walls, each of which has an inwardly projecting horizontal portion such that the length of the lateral walls delimiting a lower part of the cabinet is smaller than the length of the lateral walls delimiting an upper part thereof; an inner cabinet delimiting said storage area mounted in said upper part of said cabinet so that the lateral walls of said cabinet and said inner cabinet delimit first and second longitudinal spaces which at their one end both communicate with said area via said air inlet means and said air outlet means respectively and at their other end both communicate with said lower part of said cabinet which constitutes said refrigerating space; and a plurality of deflector pieces which are mounted in said first longitudinal space and which, starting in the middle of said cabinet toward each of said end walls thereof making increasing angles with vertical planes which are parallel to said end walls so as to delimit passages, the cross sections of which increase toward said one end of said first longitudinal space for decreasing the axial velocity of said circulating air entering said storage area through said air inlet means by deflecting said air with respect to said axial direction before said air enters said area, said axial velocity being measured along an axial direction corresponding to the shortest distance between said air inlet means and said air outlet means.

4. A refrigerated unit comprising: a cabinet including an area for storing goods and a refrigeration space; at least one evaporator mounted in said refrigeration space; air blowing means mounted in said refrigeration space for circulating air successively over said evaporator and within said storage area; air inlet means in said storage area; air outlet means in said storage area; means for decreasing the axial velocity of said circulating air when entering said area through said inlet, said axial velocity being measured along an axial direction corresponding to the shortest distance between said inlet and said outlet; wherein said cabinet comprises a pair of end walls and a pair of lateral walls having first and second inwardly directed portions respectively, said end walls and said inwardly directed portions delimiting an opening so that a protective zone of air is formed over said area, wherein said air inlet and said air outlet are located below the first and second of said inwardly directed parts; and wherein said second inwardly directed portion has a beak-shaped cross section and is delimited by first and second inclined planes, the inclinations of which are such that circulating air impinging on said first plane is deviated outside the cabinet and whereby circulating air impinging on said second plane is deviated toward said outlet.