Air curtain arrangement for a cold storage doorway with dynamic airflow-directing system and method
US8376822B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 4, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24F2009/002
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An air curtain arrangement and method of operating the arrangement are provided. The arrangement includes at least one air curtain unit having a supply plenum, a return air duct, and an intermediate air duct therebetween and separates relatively warm and cold areas. The air curtain discharges an air stream across a doorway from an outlet aperture of a discharge plenum toward an air return duct, at a discharge angle. A portion of the air stream is received at an inlet aperture of the return air duct. The portion of the air stream that is received at the air return duct is monitored. The discharge angle is adjusted to maximize the portion of the air that is received. One embodiment controls the discharge angle based on the temperature of the received portion of the air stream. Another embodiment senses the force of the air stream received proximate the inlet aperture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.