False-Bottom Insert in Cold Food Display Wells for Freeze Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional forced cold air wells often freeze or dry food by blowing cold air directly onto food pans, and the cold air return inlet functions as an ambient air inlet rather than a true return, leading to inefficient cooling.
Innovation Solution
A cold food display unit with a false bottom insert that separates the food pan from the cooling air supply, providing two opposing flows of cooling air and an ambient air intake to prevent direct cooling and ensure even distribution of cooling effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cold air is blown directly onto the food pan surface, then cooling efficiency is improved, but food freezing and drying occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The insert acts as an intermediary component positioned between the cold air discharge and the food pan. It redirects the cold air flow paths so that air flows along the sides of the insert rather than directly onto the food pan surface, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency while preventing direct contact freezing and drying of the food
Solution Approach 2:
The insert divides the single cold air flow into multiple separate flow paths along the sides of the insert. This segmentation distributes the cold air more evenly across the food pan surface area without concentrating it in one location, improving cooling uniformity while preventing localized freezing
2Device complexity
If cold air return inlet is positioned opposite the cold air discharge, then air flow path is simplified, but the return inlet functions as ambient air inlet rather than cold air return
Solution Approach 1:
The insert serves as a mediator that redirects cold air flows to travel along its sides and return to the cold air return inlet. This ensures the return inlet actually receives cold air from the food pan area rather than ambient air from the display case, improving cold air return efficiency without significantly increasing system complexity
3Device complexity
If single direction cold air flow is used, then device structure is simplified, but cooling uniformity across the food pan is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The insert segments the single cold air flow into multiple flow paths along its sides, creating multiple discharge points that distribute cold air across different areas of the food pan. This achieves better cooling uniformity while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The insert introduces a new spatial dimension for air flow distribution by channeling air along its side surfaces. This creates multi-directional flow patterns from a single discharge source, improving cooling uniformity without requiring multiple separate air supply units
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces the likelihood of food freezing and ensures consistent cooling across the food pan by directing cooling air in opposing directions and using an ambient air intake, improving upon the inefficiencies of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigeration system including an evaporator positioned within a housing, wherein the housing is positioned within the receptacle below the bottom of the insert, wherein a cooling air outlet is formed in the housing, and wherein a fan is located within the housing and is configured to blow air across the evaporator, thereby providing cooling air at a positive static pressure
Implementation Method 2
a fan is located within the housing and is configured to blow air across the evaporator, thereby providing cooling air at a positive static pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A cold food display unit includes a well defining a receptacle, an insert positioned within the receptacle, a refrigeration system, a first cooling air discharge, and a second cooling air discharge. The insert is positioned within the receptacle to form a first cooling air flow path and a second cooling air flow path. The refrigeration system includes a cooling air outlet positioned within the receptacle to provide cooling air to the first and second cooling air flow paths. The first cooling air discharge discharges a first flow of cooling air toward the second side of the well, and the second cooling air discharge discharges a second flow of cooling air toward the first side of the well.