국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0368032
(2012-02-07)
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등록번호 |
US-8925346
(2015-01-06)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Natarajan, Mahesh
- Ingle, Tushar
- Khadatkar, Rajendra
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
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대리인 / 주소 |
Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
54 |
초록
▼
A high performance freezer includes a deck and a cabinet supported above the deck and having a cabinet housing defining a generally cylindrical shape. The freezer includes a door supported by the cabinet housing that moves between open and closed positions by sliding or pivoting generally along the
A high performance freezer includes a deck and a cabinet supported above the deck and having a cabinet housing defining a generally cylindrical shape. The freezer includes a door supported by the cabinet housing that moves between open and closed positions by sliding or pivoting generally along the side wall of the cabinet. The freezer further includes a refrigeration system mounted at least partially within the deck and partially within the cabinet to refrigerate an inner chamber of the freezer. The cylindrical shape of the cabinet enables rotation of shelves within the inner chamber and a maximized storage space with a minimal floor space required.
대표청구항
▼
1. A freezer, comprising: a deck;a cabinet supported above the deck and having a cabinet housing and a chamber wall located within the cabinet housing and defining an inner chamber, the cabinet housing having a generally cylindrical shape along the cabinet's length and defining an outer opening for
1. A freezer, comprising: a deck;a cabinet supported above the deck and having a cabinet housing and a chamber wall located within the cabinet housing and defining an inner chamber, the cabinet housing having a generally cylindrical shape along the cabinet's length and defining an outer opening for providing access to the inner chamber;a door supported by the cabinet housing and being configured to move between open and closed positions relative to the outer opening;a two-stage cascade refrigeration system mounted at least partially within the deck and comprising: a first refrigeration stage defining a first fluid circuit for circulating a first refrigerant, the first refrigeration stage having a first compressor, a first expansion device, and an evaporator in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit, with the evaporator being in thermal communication with the chamber wall to refrigerate the inner chamber;a second refrigeration stage defining a second fluid circuit for circulating a second refrigerant, the second refrigeration stage having a second compressor, a condenser and a second expansion device in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit; anda heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first and second fluid circuits, wherein the freezer operates to provide a temperature within the inner chamber in a range from about −30° C. to about −80° C.;an upstanding, elongated shaft located within the inner chamber;a plurality of vertically spaced, rotatable shelves operatively coupled to the elongated shaft and configured to support articles within the inner chamber;a shelf motor operatively coupled to the elongated shaft and configured to rotate the shaft and at least one of the plurality of shelves;an electromagnetic clutch member coupled to the elongated shaft and associated with at least one of the plurality of shelves; andan armature coupled to the at least one shelf, the electromagnetic clutch member operable to magnetically attract and engage the armature to enable rotation of the at least one shelf with the elongated shaft. 2. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger and the first expansion device are located in the space defined between the cabinet housing and the chamber wall. 3. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the cabinet housing includes a top panel and a side panel having a generally cylindrical shape and defining the outer opening for providing access to the inner chamber, and wherein the cabinet wall includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, the side wall having a generally cylindrical shape along the side wall's length and defining an inner opening for providing access to the inner chamber from the outer opening. 4. The freezer of claim 3, wherein the evaporator is located in a space defined between the cabinet housing and the chamber wall, and further wherein the evaporator is located adjacent to and in thermal communication with the top wall, the side wall, and the bottom wall. 5. The freezer of claim 4, wherein the evaporator includes an evaporator coil that follows a sinusoidal pattern adjacent to the side wall and follows a coil pattern adjacent to each of the top wall and the bottom wall. 6. The freezer of claim 1, further comprising: a latch mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and to unlock the door to enable movement of the door from the closed position to the open position. 7. The freezer of claim 1, further comprising: a latch mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and to unlock the door to enable movement of the door from the closed position to the open position, wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring-biased cam latch pivotally coupled to the door and a pin follower operatively coupled to the cabinet housing, the cam latch being configured to engage the pin follower when the latch mechanism locks the door in the closed position. 8. The freezer of claim 7, further comprising: a handle operatively coupled to the cam latch and configured to move the cam latch out of engagement with the pin follower against the spring bias when the door is to be moved from the closed position to the open position. 9. The freezer of claim 8, wherein the pin follower of the latch mechanism is coupled to the top panel of the cabinet housing, and the latch mechanism further includes a lower cam latch coupled to the handle and a lower pin follower coupled to the bottom wall of the chamber wall, the lower cam latch being configured to engage the lower pin follower when the latch mechanism locks the door in the closed position. 10. The freezer of claim 7, wherein the door includes a sealing gasket located proximate the outer opening, the sealing gasket being compressed into sealed engagement with the door and the outer cabinet housing when the latch mechanism locks the door in the closed position. 11. The freezer of claim 10, wherein the sealing gasket is configured to decompress when the cam latch is disengaged from the pin follower so as to move the door away from the outer opening and enable movement of the door to the open position. 12. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the door has a generally arcuate shape, the cabinet housing includes a side panel having a generally cylindrical shape and defining the outer opening, and the freezer further comprises: first and second links each pivotally coupled to the door and the cabinet housing such that the door moves generally circumferentially along the side panel of the cabinet housing during travel of the door between the open and closed positions. 13. The freezer of claim 12, further comprising: a door motor operatively coupled to one of the first and second links and configured to drive the door between the open and closed positions. 14. The freezer of claim 13, further comprising: a user interface panel located on the door and operatively coupled to the door motor to control operation of the door motor. 15. The freezer of claim 1, further comprising: a door motor operatively coupled to the door and configured to drive the door between the open and closed positions; anda user interface panel located on the door and operatively coupled to the door motor to control operation of the door motor, wherein the user interface panel is electrically connected to a power supply by a cord extending from the door into the cabinet housing, the cord extending through a cord guard that extends and retracts within the cabinet housing to move with the door between the open and closed positions, wherein the cord guard includes a plurality of chain links in a series with the cord extending through the chain links, with the chain links being pivotable relative to each other to enable the cord guard to fold upon itself during extension and retraction of the cord guard relative to the cabinet housing. 16. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the freezer further comprises: a plurality of doors having respective open and closed positions and providing access to different portions of the inner chamber through the outer opening, the plurality of doors being movable between their respective open and closed positions independent of one another. 17. The freezer of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of doors is slidable between their respective open and closed positions along a side panel of the cabinet housing. 18. The freezer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of shelves is removably supported by the chamber wall such that a position of each shelf is vertically adjustable. 19. The freezer of claim 18, further comprising: a plurality of roller bearings supported by the chamber wall,wherein each shelf is rotatably supported by the plurality of roller bearings. 20. The freezer of claim 19, wherein a side wall of the chamber wall includes a plurality of pin apertures and each of the plurality of roller bearings includes a respective pin, and further wherein each of the plurality of pin apertures is configured to receive a respective pin of the plurality of roller bearings. 21. The freezer of claim 1, wherein each shelf is independently rotatable relative to another shelf. 22. The freezer of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of electromagnetic clutch members coupled to the elongated shaft and associated with the plurality of shelves;a plurality of armatures coupled to the plurality of shelves; anda controller operatively coupled to the shelf motor and the electromagnetic clutch members,wherein the controller is operable to actuate the shelf motor and one of the electromagnetic clutch members to rotate the elongated shaft and the shelf associated with the actuated electromagnetic clutch member. 23. The freezer of claim 22, further comprising: a user interface panel operatively coupled to the controller and configured to receive information from a user related to an article to be accessed within the inner chamber,wherein the controller is configured to rotate a shelf of the plurality of shelves on which the article is supported to a position accessible by the user through the outer opening. 24. The freezer of claim 23, wherein the user interface panel is electrically connected to a power supply by a cord extending from the door into the cabinet housing, the cord extending through a cord guard that extends and retracts within the cabinet housing to move with the door between the open and closed positions. 25. The freezer of claim 23, further comprising: an optical sensor operatively coupled to the controller and responsive to rotation of the elongated shaft so that at least one of the plurality of shelves is selectively indexable relative to the outer opening. 26. The freezer of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of vertically oriented dividers extending radially outwardly from adjacent the elongated shaft and dividing at least one of the plurality of shelves into a plurality of shelf compartments. 27. The freezer of claim 26, wherein the plurality of dividers is configured so as to provide selective access to one of the plurality of shelf compartments associated with one of the plurality of shelves through the outer opening while blocking access to adjacent shelf compartments associated with the one of the plurality of shelves through the outer opening. 28. The freezer of claim 27, further comprising: a plurality of racks configured to each be insertable into a respective one of the plurality of shelf compartments. 29. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the door includes a generally arcuate shape, the cabinet housing includes a side panel having a generally cylindrical shape and defining the outer opening, and the freezer further comprises:first and second links each pivotally coupled to the door and also pivotally coupled to the cabinet housing to cause the door to move generally circumferentially along the side panel of the cabinet housing during travel of the door between the open and closed positions, the first and second links being independent from one another and spaced apart from one another so as to enable an entirety of the door to remain adjacent to the side panel during circumferential movement of the door between the open and closed positions. 30. The freezer of claim 29, further comprising: a door motor operatively coupled to one of the first and second links and configured to drive the door between the open and closed positions. 31. The freezer of claim 30, further comprising: a user interface panel located on the door and operatively coupled to the door motor to control operation of the door motor. 32. The freezer of claim 31, wherein the user interface panel is electrically connected to a power supply by a cord extending from the door into the cabinet housing, the cord extending through a cord guard that extends and retracts within the cabinet housing to move with the door between the open and closed positions. 33. The freezer of claim 29, further comprising: a latch mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and to unlock the door to enable movement of the door from the closed position to the open position. 34. The freezer of claim 33, wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring-biased cam latch pivotally coupled to the door and a pin follower operatively coupled to the cabinet housing, the cam latch being configured to engage the pin follower when the latch mechanism locks the door in the closed position. 35. The freezer of claim 34, further comprising: a handle operatively coupled to the cam latch and configured to move the cam latch out of engagement with the pin follower against the spring bias when the door is to be moved from the closed position to the open position.
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