Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0001] Reference is made to and this application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/663,409, filed March 18,

2005, and entitled EVAP MOTOR MOUNTING BRACKET, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0002] This application is related to the following applications subject to assignment to the common assignee of this application and filed with the United

States Patent and Trademark Office on the same date as this application:

International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US05/(Attorney Docket No.

210J17PCT), entitled "REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER";

International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US05/( Attorney Docket No.

210_816PCT, entitled "SEALING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATION

CASSETTE";

International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US05/(Attorney Docket No.

210J20PCT, entitled "MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE";

International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US05/(Attorney Docket No.

210_879PCT, entitled "MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE WITH

CONDENSATE EVAPORATIVE TRAY"; and

International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US05/(Attorney Docket No.

210_818PCT, entitled "BOTTOM DECK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATED

MERCHANDISER".

Each of the afore-listed patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to supporting a fan and motor assembly in general and, more particularly, to a bracket for supporting an evaporator fan and its associated motor in a limited flow passage of a refrigerated merchandiser.

Background of the Invention

[0004] Refrigerated merchandisers have a refrigeration system associated therewith for providing the cooled environment within a refrigerated interior product space defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigeration systems of such refrigerated merchandisers commonly employ the well-known Carnot refrigeration cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively associated with the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet, as well as a condenser, a condenser fan, and compressor. In stand alone cabinets, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in an equipment compartment separate from and insulated from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. A refrigerant is circulated by a compressor through refrigerant lines connecting the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. Air within the insulated refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet is circulated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant so as to cool the air. The evaporator and evaporator fan may be disposed within the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the upper region thereof.

[0005] However, it is well-known that the evaporator and evaporator fan may also be housed in the equipment compartment in a section of the equipment compartment insulated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated merchandisers of this type may be used as product display cabinets for refrigerated or frozen foods, as vending machines, and as cold beverage merchandisers in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail establishments. For example, cold beverages, such as soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, etc. are commonly in refrigerated merchandisers for self-service purchase by customers. Conventional beverage merchandisers of this type include an insulated cabinet defining a refrigerated interior product display space having one or more glass doors that provide access to that product display space. The beverage product, typically in cans or bottles, single or in six-packs, is stored on shelves within the refrigerated display zone of the cabinet. To purchase a beverage, the

customer opens one of the doors and reaches into the refrigerated cabinet to retrieve the desired product from the shelf.

[0006] Refrigerated merchandisers equipped with refrigeration units disposed beneath the refrigerated cabinet are disclosed, for example, by Rudick et al. in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,347,827; 5,402,654; 5,417,079; and 5,417,081. In these refrigerated merchandisers, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit flows up from the equipment compartment through a flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet, along the top wall of the cabinet toward the front of the cabinet and down the front of the cabinet to the floor, also referred to as the bottom deck, of the product display zone. Refrigerated air may also enter the product display zone from the rear flow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display zone. The refrigerated air from the product display zone returns to the refrigeration unit through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor.

[0007] It has been recognized that mounting the components of the refrigeration unit on a common platform that may be slid into and out of the equipment compartment disposed in the bottom of the display cabinet renders the refrigeration unit more accessible for cleaning and other servicing. For example, U.S. Patent 5,678,421, Maynard et al., discloses a refrigerated merchandiser having a modular refrigeration unit that may be removed from a compartment in the bottom of the cabinet for ease of servicing. The condenser and its associated fan are mounted to the forward end of a bottom tray. The evaporator and its associated fan are mounted to the aft side of an upright bulkhead that is mounted to the rearward end of the tray aft of the condenser/condenser fan assembly. The motor driving the evaporator fan is mounted to the bulkhead by means of a generally U-shaped plate having side flanges which are bolted to the bulkhead. Although effective for supporting the evaporator fan and motor assembly, a plate bracket presents a relatively high drag to air flowing into the evaporator fan. Further, the air flowing past such a relatively large plate mounting bracket may generate an undesirable level of noise.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] It is an object of one aspect the invention to provide a relatively low profile bracket for supporting a motor driving an evaporator fan.

[0009] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting a motor driving an evaporator fan having a relatively low drag characteristic.

[0010] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting a motor driving an evaporator fan having a relatively low noise characteristic.

[0011] It is an object of a further aspect of the invention to provide a fan, motor and improved mounting bracket assembly.

[0012] A bracket is provided for mounting a multi-bladed fan and its associated motor to a support member. The bracket has a body having a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom. The legs are disposed in an asymmetrical relationship with respect to the plurality of blades on the multi-bladed fan. The legs may also be unequal in number to the plurality of fan blades.

[0013] In an embodiment, the bracket includes a generally T-shaped body having a longitudinally extending member and a cross-member extending laterally to the longitudinally extending member, a first leg extending outwardly from an end of the longitudinally extending member, a second leg extending outwardly from a first end of the cross-member, and a third leg extending outwardly from a second end of the cross-member laterally opposite the first end of the cross- member. Each leg may have a foot extending outwardly therefrom, each foot having a hole therethrough for receiving a fastener for mounting said bracket to said support member

[0014] In a further aspect of the invention, a fan, motor and bracket assembly is provided including a motor having a drive shaft, a fan having a plurality of blades disposed circumferentially about and extending outwardly from a central fan hub mounted to the drive shaft of the motor, and a bracket having body adapted for mounting the motor thereto. The bracket has a body having a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom, each leg adapted to be mounted to a support

structure. The legs are disposed in an asymmetrical arrangement with respect to the plurality of fan blades and are unequal in number to the number of fan blades. [0015] In one embodiment of the fan, motor and bracket assembly, the bracket includes a generally T-shaped body having a longitudinally extending member and a cross-member extending laterally to the longitudinally extending member, a first leg extending outwardly from an end of the longitudinally extending member, a second leg extending outwardly from a first end of the cross-member, and a third leg extending outwardly from a second end of the cross-member laterally opposite the first end of the cross- member. At least one hole is provided in the body for receiving a fastener for mounting the motor to the body. Each leg has a foot extending therefrom and having a hole therethrough for receiving a fastener for mounting the bracket to the support member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] For a further understanding of these and objects of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, where:

[0017] Figure 1 is a sectioned side elevation view of a refrigerated merchandiser equipped with a bottom-mounted refrigeration unit cassette;

[0018] Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation view taken along line 2-2 of

Figure 1;

[0019] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the refrigeration unit cassette of

Figure 1 showing a pair of evaporator fan/motor assemblies mounted therein;

[0020] Figure 4 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of a fan, motor and bracket assembly in accord with the invention;

[0021] Figure 5 is an end elevation view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4 with the motor removed for clarity of illustration;

[0022] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing of the embodiment of the support bracket of the present invention depicted in Figs. 4 and 5; and

[0023] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing of another embodiment of the support bracket of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, there is depicted a refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, including an interior product display space 100 for holding product 110 to be purchased, such as for example bottled or canned soda, milk, water, juices, fruit drinks, beer and other beverages. Although the invention will be described herein with reference to the depicted embodiment of a refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, it is to be understood that that invention may be applied to other refrigerated display merchandisers for displaying perishable and frozen comestibles and beverages, including for example meats, poultry, fish, diary products, prepackaged frozen foods, and other products that need to be maintained in a controlled environment.

[0025] The beverage merchandiser 10 includes a cabinet 20 defining a refrigerated interior product display space 100 and a separate equipment compartment 55 disposed separate from, and may be heat transfer insulated from, the refrigerated interior product display space 100. The cabinet 20 has a top wall 22 and a surrounding side wall structure including a rear wall 34, a front wall 32, and opposed generally vertically extending side walls 36 and 38. The cabinet also includes a lower wall 24 disposed between the refrigerated interior product display space 100 located thereabove and the equipment compartment 55 located there beneath. The interior product display space 100 may be accessed from exteriorly of the cabinet 20 through an access opening, which in the depicted embodiment is an open area at the front of the cabinet. This open area may be open to the environment or be covered, as in the depicted embodiment, by at least one door 40 mounted to the cabinet 20. The door 40 extends across the open area and has a transparent viewing area, for example a glass panel, through which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 can be viewed. The door 40 is selectively positionable between a closed position covering the open area and an open position in which consumers may access the interior product display space 100 to remove a product for purchase. Although the embodiment of the display merchandiser 10 depicted in the drawing has only one door 40, it is to be understood that the display merchandiser may have one, two, three or more doors that collectively cover the

open area when in the closed position. The door or doors 40 may be mounted to the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, for example on hinges for pivotal movement or on a track for sliding movement between an open and closed position. [0026] In the depicted embodiment, the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, rear wall 34 and the side walls 36 and 38 are heat transfer insulated for insulating the refrigerated interior product display space 100, from the environment exterior of the interior product display space 100. A plurality of shelvesl 12 are disposed within the interior product display space 100. The shelves 112 are adapted as appropriate to support the particular product 100 being displayed for purchase. The specific number, arrangement and configuration of the shelves 112 is not germane to the invention and is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art to select for the particular product 100 being displayed.

[0027] A rear panel 134 is provided spaced inwardly of the rear side wall 34 to establish, in part, a refrigerated air supply duct 104 between the rear side wall 34 and a rear panel 134. The interior product display space 100 within the refrigerated interior of the display cabinet 20 is bounded by the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, the side walls 36, 38, and in part by each of the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134. In the depicted embodiment, refrigerated air enters into the product display space 100 to cool product displayed therein in part through an air outlet 109 at the upper end of the air supply duct 104 and in part through a plurality of openings 135 provided in the rear panel 134. Refrigerated air exits the product display space 100 through an opening 102 provided in the lower wall 24. [0028] The equipment compartment 55 is located within the cabinet 20 beneath the lower wall 24 and is separated by the lower wall 24 from the refrigerated interior product display space 100 of the cabinet 20. The lower wall 24 forms a common wall separating the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment. The lower wall has a top surface that forms the floor or deck of the interior product display space 100 and has an under surface that faces the refrigeration cassette 50 housed within the equipment compartment. The refrigeration unit 15 includes an evaporator 60 and at least one associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62, a condenser 70 and at least one associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and a compressor 74. The evaporator 60 and its associated

evaporator tan/motor assembly 62 are housed within a first section 53 of a refrigeration unit cassette 50 which is separated by division wall 68 from a second section 57 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 wherein the condenser 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72 and the compressor 74 are housed. [0029] The evaporator 60, the condenser 70 and the compressor 74 are coupled in a closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) in a conventional manner for refrigerating air from the interior product display space 100 via the well- known Carnot cycle. The condenser fan/motor assembly 72, typically a single fan and motor, is operative, typically only when the compressor 74 is in operation, to draw air from outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10, such as for example from the ambient environment external thereof through the front grille 12 provided in the lower front of the cabinet 20 and through the condenser 70. As the external air passes through the condenser 70 in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant being passed therethrough by the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air heated. Having traversed the condenser 70, this air is exhausted out of the compartment 55 through an opening at the rear of the cabinet to return to the external environment. A portion of the ambient air drawn into the equipment compartment passes over the compressor 74 to assist in cooling the compressor. [0030] The cooled refrigerant passes from the condenser 70 through the closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) to the evaporator 60. An evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 or a plurality of evaporator fan/motor assemblies operate to draw air into the evaporator compartment of the refrigeration cassette 50 from the interior product display space 100 through the air return inlet opening 102 in the lower wall 24 and thence pass the air through the evaporator 60 to and through the refrigerated air supply duct 104 to return to the product display space 100. As the circulating air passes through the evaporator 60, the air is cooled as it passes in heat exchange relationship with the chilled refrigerant passed through the evaporator 60 by the compressor 74 and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated. The evaporator fan 62 circulates refrigerated air having traversed the evaporator 60 from the evaporator compartment 53 back into the refrigerated interior product display space 100 through a return air outlet 108 located in the aft portion of the lower wall 24 at the rear of the compartment and opening into refrigerated air supply duct 104.

[0031] A cover plate 120 may be disposed over the return air inlet 102 in spaced relationship with and superadjacent the lower wall 24 thereby forming flow passage between the cover plate 120 and the lower wall 24 through which refrigerated air returning from the product display space 100 flows into the air return inlet 102. The cover plate 120 covers the air return inlet 102, thereby preventing spills or leaks from product in the product display space 100 from flowing into the evaporator compartment of the refrigeration unit 15 and fouling the evaporator and/or evaporator fan assembly. Further, the cover plate 120 causes the downwardly directed refrigerated air to flow outwardly toward the surrounding walls of the cabinet as the refrigerated air approaches the lower region of the product display space 100 in order to pass beneath the cover plate 120 into the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24. In doing so, the refrigerated air passes through the product on the lower shelves to more evenly cool that product and to block the refrigerated air from tunneling downwardly directly into the return air return inlet 102. In one embodiment, the cover plate 120 includes a circumferential flange 126 extending generally vertically downwardly therefrom to the lower wall 24 for supporting the cover plate 120 over the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 125 are provided in the circumferential flange 126 to form the air flow passage connecting the refrigerated product display space 100 in flow communication with the air return inlet 102.

[0032] Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, the refrigeration unit cassette

50 comprises a generally rectangular box-like structure having a top flange 52, a base plate 54, and a surrounding structure of side plates 56 extending generally vertically between the top flange 52 and the base plate 54, including a front plate 56A, a back plate 56B, and opposed side plates 56C. The division wall 68 extends between the opposed side plates 56C from an upper, forward region of the interior of the refrigeration cassette 50 to the back plate 56B to separate the interior of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into the aforementioned first section 53, i.e. the evaporator compartment, and second section 57, i.e. the condenser/compressor compartment. An opening 51 A opens in air flow communication with the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24 through which air returning from the product display space 100 passes into the evaporator compartment 53. One or more evaporator

ian/motor asseniDiies o/ are disposed within the evaporator compartment 53 upstream of the evaporator 60 for drawing air from the product display space 100 into the evaporator compartment 53 and passing that air through the evaporator 60. The condenser 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are mounted to a common support plate that is adapted to be mounted to the base plate 54 which forms the floor of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. An opening 59 is provided in the front plate 56A through which ambient air is drawn by the condenser fan 72 from the store environment through the grille 12 in the lower front wall of the cabinet and passed through the condenser 70. The base plate 54 may be slidably mounted within the compartment 55 to facilitate disposition into and out of the compartment 55 in order to facilitate servicing of the refrigeration equipment mounted thereon. A condensate tray 76 may be provided beneath the evaporator 60 to collect condensate dripping from the condenser 70 and the evaporator 60 and draining the collected condensate to a waste line. The condensate tray 76 serves as a condensate evaporative tray wherein condensate collecting therein is evaporated by hot air exhausted from the condenser as the hot air passes over the condensate tray 76.

[0033] A sealing member 58 is positioned between the lower wall 24 and the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and a lifting apparatus 150 for placing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into sealing relationship with the lower wall 24, which separates the refrigerated interior product display space 100 from the equipment compartment 55. Sealing member 58 may be mounted to the under surface of the lower wall 24 about the opening 102 in the lower wall 24, or may be mounted or simply carried, as illustrated, upon to the upper surface of the top flange 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. The sealing member 58 extends at least about the opening 51 in the top flange 52, which is substantially commensurate with the opening 102 in the lower wall 24, and also extends about the opening 108 in the lower wall 24 disposed rearward of the opening 51. The sealing member 58 prevents refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 from the product display space 100 from bypassing the evaporator 60 and instead flowing directly into the inlet 108 to the air supply duct 104 from the air return inlet 102. The sealing member 58 also prevents ambient air from externally of the cabinet, such as the ambient air that has been

αrawn inrougn me ironτ gπile 12 to pass through the condenser 70, from being drawn into the refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 through the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24 and the inlet opening in the top flange 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50.

[0034] Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, each evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 includes a fan 63, a motor 90 and a support bracket 80. The fan 63 has a plurality of blades 61 disposed circumferentially at spaced intervals about a central hub 64, for example four blades disposed at spaced intervals of ninety degrees about the circumference of the hub. The motor 90 may be any conventional fan motor having a drive shaft 92 extending along a central longitudinal axis 91. The central hub 64 is mounted as in conventional practice to a drive shaft 92 of an associated motor 90. The motor 90 is mounted to support bracket 80, which is mounted to a suitable support member, such as the fan shroud 96.

[0035] Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, in the exemplary embodiments of the invention depicted, the bracket 80 is a three-legged structure having a generally T-shaped body 82 having a longitudinal member 84 and a cross-member 86 extending laterally across a proximal end of the longitudinal member 84, a leg 85 extending outwardly from a distal end of the longitudinal member 84, and a pair of legs 87and 89 extending outwardly from the opposite ends of the cross-member 86. Each of the legs 85, 87 and 89 has a foot 98 extending outwardly from its distal end. Each foot 98 has a mounting hole 99 therethrough. The support bracket 80 is mounted to the evaporator housing 96 by fasteners inserted through the mounting holes 99 and secured to the evaporator fan shroud, such as for example by bolts 92 threaded into the manifold.

[0036] The longitudinal member 84 of the support bracket 80 has a pair of mounting holes 93 extending therethrough. The evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 is mounted to the longitudinal member 84 by means of fasteners inserted through the mounting holes 93 and secured to the casing of the motor 90, such as for example by bolts 92 threaded into the motor casing. The motor 90 is mounted to the underside of the longitudinal member 84 whereby the fan 63, which is mounted to the drive shaft of the motor 90 in a conventional manner, is properly positioned within a

respective opening b$ m the evaporator fan shroud 64 for passing air flow through the evaporator 60.

[0037] The fan/motor assembly support bracket 80 of the invention presents a very limited profile to air flow being drawn into the evaporator 60. Therefore, the support bracket 80 creates little drag and does not significantly distribute the air flowing past the bracket. Additionally, the legs 85, 87 and 89 of the bracket 80 are disposed in an asymmetrical arrangement with respect to the plurality of blades 61 on the fan 63. In the embodiment of the bracket 80 depicted in Figure 6, the two legs 87 and 89 extend perpendicularly outwardly from the body 82 of the bracket at the opposite ends of the cross-member 86. In the embodiment of the bracket 80 depicted in Figure 7, the two legs 87 and 89 extend outwardly from the body 82 of the bracket, but not perpendicularly therewith, from the opposite ends of the cross- member 86. Additionally, in the embodiment of the bracket 80 depicted in Figure 7, the two legs 87 and 89 are connected at their distal end by an additional cross- member adding further structural rigidity to the bracket.

[0038] In either embodiment of the bracket 80, the three legs of the support bracket 80 are disposed in a generally T-shaped arrangement, while the four blades 61 of the fan 63 are arranged in a conventional manner at equal intervals, i.e. ninety degrees apart, about the central longitudinal axis 91 through the motor 90. Thus, the number of legs is not equal to the number of fan blades 61, and the three legs 85, 87 and 89 of the support bracket 80 are disposed asymmetrically with respect to the four blades 61 of the fan 63. Therefore, the potential for cyclic harmonics, and consequent increased noise, being generated as the fan blades simultaneously rotate past a corresponding number of legs, for example as would be the case with a four bladed fan and a symmetrical four legged support bracket, is avoided. [0039] The support bracket 80 has been described herein with reference to the three-legged embodiment and a four-bladed fan 63 as depicted in the drawings for purposes of illustration and to facilitate understanding of the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that modifications, some of which may have been alluded to hereinbefore, may be made to the depicted embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, with if the fan/motor assembly included a five bladed fan, a T-shaped, three-legged support

bracket or a cross-shaped, four legged bracket could be used in accord with the invention as not only would the number of legs in either case not be equal to the number of fan blades, the positioning of the bracket legs would be asymmetrical with respect to the blades of a five bladed fan. A T-shaped, three-legged support bracket could even be used in accord with the invention to support a fan/motor assembly having a fan with three circumferentially symmetrically spaced blades since the three support legs 85, 87, 89 of the T-shaped support bracket 80 would be asymmetrically positioned with respect to the three fan blades.