초록 ▼

A refrigerated food preparation table having a food preparation surface, a refrigerated food storage chamber, and a food plenum chamber adjacent to the food preparation surface. An air baffle assembly including a venturi restriction creates a resilient and uniform cool air curtain distributed across

A refrigerated food preparation table having a food preparation surface, a refrigerated food storage chamber, and a food plenum chamber adjacent to the food preparation surface. An air baffle assembly including a venturi restriction creates a resilient and uniform cool air curtain distributed across the top of food bins disposed within the food plenum chamber. One portion of the returning airflow, which is relatively warmer, having been exposed to higher ambient temperatures, circulates around the food bins and another portion of the returning airflow cools the refrigerated food storage chamber before entering a refrigeration coil/blower chamber to begin the cycle anew. The configuration maintains foodstuffs within the unit between 32.degree. and 40.degree. F.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [38.] An open-top chilling apparatus for maintaining food items at a temperature less than ambient air while providing convenient access to the food items, the open-top chilling apparatus comprising:a housing defining a plenum chamber comprising elongated front and rear walls

[ What is claimed is:] [38.] An open-top chilling apparatus for maintaining food items at a temperature less than ambient air while providing convenient access to the food items, the open-top chilling apparatus comprising:a housing defining a plenum chamber comprising elongated front and rear walls connected by opposing end walls to define the plenum chamber, each wall terminating in an upper edge to define an open top providing access to the plenum chamber and fluid communication thereof with the ambient air;a food container having a peripheral wall provided with an upper edge defining an open face and mounted to the housing within the plenum chamber so that the open face is accessible through the open top of the housing, thereby permitting access to the food container through the open top;a chilled-air source for supplying chilled air to the plenum chamber;a chilled-air conduit comprising an inlet opening in fluid communication with the chilled-air source and adjacent to and spanning only a portion of the rear wall, a discharge opening near the open face of the food container to direct at least a portion of the chilled air across the open face, and an air diffuser positioned between the inlet opening and the chilled-air discharge opening to laterally direct the chilled air across a greater span of the rear wall than the span of the inlet opening; anda venturi chamber to accelerate the chilled air in the chilled-air conduit so that the speed of the chilled air exiting the chilled-air conduit discharge opening is accelerated to form a curtain of accelerated chilled air across the open face of the food container to effectively separate the ambient air outside the housing from the chilled air within the plenum chamber.