Access tunnel for low temperature freezing systems
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-021/06
F25D-011/00
A47B-081/00
출원번호
US-0347431
(2003-01-21)
발명자
/ 주소
Narehood, Abraham C.
출원인 / 주소
Kendro Laboratory Products, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Baker &
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
A method and apparatus for accessing low temperature refrigeration systems is provided. In one embodiment, an access tunnel is provided and a heater, an access door, a vacuum insulation panel, a thermal break, a sealing gasket that mates with a sealing surface together or in part(s) helps to prevent
A method and apparatus for accessing low temperature refrigeration systems is provided. In one embodiment, an access tunnel is provided and a heater, an access door, a vacuum insulation panel, a thermal break, a sealing gasket that mates with a sealing surface together or in part(s) helps to prevent condensation from forming on the exterior of the freezer.
대표청구항▼
1. A tunnel assembly for a cooling apparatus having a plurality of insulated walls, the tunnel assembly comprising:a tunnel located within a door of the cooling apparatus, the tunnel defined by a thermal break that is formed in one of the insulated walls, the tunnel allowing access through said door
1. A tunnel assembly for a cooling apparatus having a plurality of insulated walls, the tunnel assembly comprising:a tunnel located within a door of the cooling apparatus, the tunnel defined by a thermal break that is formed in one of the insulated walls, the tunnel allowing access through said door to an interior portion of the cooling apparatus and the thermal break having an inside surface facing the interior portion of the cooling apparatus and an outside surface facing an exterior portion of the cooling apparatus; a heater positioned on the outside surface of the thermal break and near an opening end of the tunnel, wherein the heater's temperature is set above the dew point temperature of the environment surrounding the cooling apparatus; and an access door that covers an exterior opening of the tunnel and is movably mounted to provide access to the tunnel. 2. The tunnel assembly of claim 1 further comprising:at least one sealing gasket coupled to the access door to seal the access door with the tunnel; a sealing surface for sealing with the at least one sealing gasket; and a vacuum insulation panel positioned within one of the insulated walls. 3. The tunnel assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal break and access door are made from a low thermal conductive material selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a plastic, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a Teflon?, a polypropylene, other low thermal conductive material and a combination thereof.4. The tunnel assembly of claim 2, wherein the sealing surface is made from a material selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a plastic, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a Teflon?, a polypropylene, other low thermal conductive material and a combination thereof.5. The tunnel assembly of clalm 1, wherein the access door is moveable in at least one direction to allow access to the tunnel.6. A method of accessing an interior of a cooling apparatus comprising:providing a door having at least one insulated wall for the cooling apparatus; locating an access tunnel within the door and forming the access tunnel through the at least one insulated wall of the door defined by a thermal break; covering the access tunnel with an access door; moving the access door to access the access tunnel; and positioning a heater on an outside surface of the thermal break and near an opening of the access tunnel; and setting a temperature of the heater above the dew point temperature of the environment surrounding the cooling apparatus to prevent condensation from forming. 7. The method of accessing of claim 6, further comprising coupling a sealing gasket to the access door to mate with a sealing surface on the exterior surface of the at least one insulated wall, the sealing surface made from a low thermal conductive material.8. The method of accessing of claim 7, wherein the low thermal conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a plastic, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a Teflon?, a polypropylene, other low thermal conductive material and a combination thereof.9. The method of accessing of claim 6, wherein moving the access door is in the direction that is selected from a group consisting of left, right, up, down, diagonally, other direction that allows access to the access tunnel and a combination thereof.10. An access tunnel system for a cooling system having a plurality of insulated walls, comprising:a first means for accessing an interior of the cooling system; a second means located within said first accessing means for accessing an interior of the cooling system defined by a means for reducing thermal conductivity that has an inside surface facing an interior portion of the cooling system and an outside surface facing an exterior portion of the cooling system and formed in one of the insulated walls of the cooling system; a means for heating located on the outside surface of means for reducing thermal conductivity and near an open end of the second accessing means, wherein the means for heating is set at a temperature above the dew point of the environment surrounding the cooling system; a means for covering the open end of the second accessing means and having a means for sealing thereon that mates with a sealing surface on the outside surface of one of the insulated walls; and a means for insulating positioned within the one insulated wall to prevent heat from entering the interior of the cooling apparatus. 11. The access tunnel system of claim 10, wherein the means for reducing a thermal conductivity, means for covering, means for insulating, and the sealing surface are made from a low thermal conductive material that is selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a plastic, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a Teflon?, a polypropylene, other low thermal conductive material and a combination thereof.12. The access tunnel system of claim 10, wherein the means for covering is movable in at least one direction to allow access to the second accessing means.13. The access tunnel system of claim 12, wherein the direction of movement is selected from a group consisting of left, right, up, down, diagonally, other directions and a combination thereof.14. The access tunnel of claim 10, wherein the means for sealing is made from silicon.15. The access tunnel of claim 10, wherein the means for insulating is positioned on each side of the second accessing means.16. The access tunnel of claim 10, wherein the second accessing means is at least as wide as the operator hand's or the robot's hand.17. The access tunnel of claim 10, wherein the means for sealing is made from a low thermal conductive material.18. An access tunnel for a freezer having a plurality of insulated walls, comprising:a tunnel located within a door of the freezer, the tunnel defined by a thermal break extending from an interior portion of one insulated wall to an exterior portion of said one insulated wall, the thermal break having an inside surface facing the interior portion and an outside surface facing the exterior portion; a heater mounted on said outside surface of the thermal break and proximal to an exterior opening of said tunnel, wherein the heater's temperature is set above the dew point temperature of the environment surrounding the freezer; an insulated access door mounted to cover said exterior opening of said tunnel, the insulated access door having at least one sealing gasket mounted thereon; a sealing surface provided on said exterior surface to sealingly mate with the sealing gasket; and a vacuum insulated panel positioned within said one insulated wall.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
McGrath Ralph D. (Granville OH) Kline Bret E. (Columbus OH) Musgave Dwight S. (Granville OH), Appliance cabinet construction.
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