HK1119035A - Modular refrigeration cassette - Google Patents

Description

Modular refrigeration cassette

Cross Reference to Related Applications

U.S. provisional application No.60/663,112, filed 3/18/2005 and entitled "modular refrigeration cassette design for refrigerated merchandiser," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, is incorporated by reference and claims priority and benefit hereof.

This application is related to the following applications, which are assigned to a common assignee of the present application and filed on even date herewith with the united states patent and trademark office:

international patent application serial No. PCT/US 05/(attorney docket No.210_817PCT), entitled "refrigerated merchandiser";

international patent application serial No. PCT/US 05/(attorney docket No.210_816PCT), entitled "sealing system for a refrigerated case";

international patent application serial No. PCT/US 05/(attorney docket No.210_879PCT), entitled "modular refrigeration cassette with condensate evaporation tray";

international patent application serial No. PCT/US 05/(attorney docket No.210_818PCT), entitled "floor assembly for refrigerated merchandiser"; and

international patent application serial No. PCT/US 05/(attorney docket No.210_819PCT), entitled "evaporator fan/motor assembly mounting bracket".

The present application incorporates by reference each of the patent applications listed above in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to refrigerated merchandisers and, more particularly, to a refrigerated merchandiser including a refrigeration unit loaded within a compartment separate from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet.

Background

The refrigerated merchandiser has a refrigeration system associated therewith to provide a cooled environment within a refrigerated interior product space defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigeration systems of such refrigerated merchandisers typically employ the well-known carnot refrigeration cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan, a condenser fan and a compressor operatively associated with the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. In a free standing cabinet, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in an equipment compartment that is separate and isolated from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. Refrigerant lines connect the compressor, condenser and evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. Refrigerant is circulated by the compressor through a condenser and an evaporator before returning to the compressor. Air within the insulated refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet is circulated by an evaporator fan through an evaporator in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant to cool the air. The evaporator and evaporator fan may be disposed within the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, such as in an upper region thereof.

However, it is well known that the evaporator and evaporator fan may also be housed within an equipment compartment located within a portion of the equipment compartment that is isolated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated merchandisers of this type may be used in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail establishments as product display cases for refrigerated or frozen foods, as vending machines, and as cold beverage merchandisers. For example, cold beverages (e.g., soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, etc.) are typically purchased by consumers on a self-service basis within refrigerated merchandisers. Conventional beverage merchandisers of this type include an insulated cabinet defining a refrigerated interior product display space having one or more glass doors providing access to the product display space. Beverage products, typically in cans or bottles, are stored individually or in six packs on shelves within the refrigerated display space of the cabinet. To purchase a beverage, the consumer opens a door and reaches into the refrigerated cabinet to remove the desired product from the shelf.

Refrigerated merchandisers equipped with a refrigeration unit disposed beneath a refrigerated cabinet are disclosed, for example, by Rudick et al in U.S. patent nos. 5347827, 5402654, 5417079 and 5417081. In these refrigerated merchandisers, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit flows from the equipment compartment through the flow duct up the back wall of the cabinet and along the top wall of the cabinet toward the front of the cabinet and down the front of the cabinet to the floor of the product display zone. Refrigerated air may also pass from behind into the product display region through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display region. Refrigerated air from the product display zone is returned to the equipment compartment through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor where it enters upstream of the evaporator refrigeration unit.

The refrigeration unit disclosed therein includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor collectively configured on a base supported on a plurality of slides (skids) attached to the bottom of the base. The compressor and condenser are positioned on the front of the base and separated from the evaporator by a vertical partition disposed therebetween. The evaporator is disposed on top of an evaporator pan that collects water condensed from the air passing through the evaporator. The collected water flows from the evaporator pan to a shallow condenser pan located on the base pan in the condenser fan exhaust path, whereby the hot air discharged from the condenser fan passes over the condenser pan and evaporates the water collected therein.

In refrigerated merchandisers having air passages in the wall separating the refrigerated interior product space from the equipment compartment, liquids or other contaminants that may accidentally spill during operation, during operation or during transport may enter the refrigeration unit. Spilled liquid flowing into the refrigeration unit from the product display region through the air inlet may foul or otherwise damage refrigeration unit components such as the evaporator heat exchange coil, the motor, and the fan. Spilled liquids can also damage surfaces defining airflow paths through the refrigeration unit. Liquid spills can result from product breakage, cleaning and maintenance operations, or condensation within the product display region.

There is a need for a refrigeration cassette in which the cassette is adapted to handle spilled liquids and condensates without damaging refrigeration unit components or surfaces. The refrigeration cassette should also accommodate and facilitate the use of modular refrigeration unit components.

Summary of The Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration cassette having improved reliability and serviceability.

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigeration cassette adapted to expel liquid spills from vulnerable refrigeration unit components.

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigeration cassette incorporating a liner having a contoured surface for improved airflow.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigeration cassette incorporating a liner made of a material having improved chemical resistance.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigeration cassette adapted to accommodate and facilitate the use of modular refrigeration unit components.

A modular refrigeration cassette is provided for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet with a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers. The refrigeration cassette is disposed in operative association with an interior space within an equipment compartment separated from the refrigerated interior space by a common wall. The common wall has a first opening therein that provides air communication between the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment. The refrigeration cassette includes a generally box-like structure defining an interior space having a first portion in air flow communication with the first opening and a second portion isolated from the first portion and in fluid flow communication with an environment exterior to the cabinet. In an embodiment, the box-like structure comprises a front panel, a back panel, a pair of side panels and a base panel which together define an interior space, and a partition panel extending between respective side panels partitions the interior space within the box-like structure into respective first and second sections. An evaporator module is disposed within the first section. The condenser module and the compressor are disposed within the second section. A compressor is connected in refrigerant flow communication with the evaporator module and the condenser module for circulating refrigeration through the evaporator module and the condenser module. The box-like structure is selectively insertable into and removable from the equipment compartment.

The evaporator module can include a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within the housing, and an evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the evaporator coil and mounted on the housing. The condenser module may include a condenser coil and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the condenser coil.

The liner may be disposed within the first portion of the interior space of the refrigeration cassette and it includes a bowl-like recess adapted to receive the evaporator module. The liner may have a contoured surface for reducing airflow losses and may be made of plastic or other material having relatively high chemical resistance.

Brief description of the drawings

For a further understanding of the above and other objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

figure 1 is a sectional side view of a refrigerated merchandiser equipped with a modular refrigeration cassette;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular refrigeration cassette according to the present invention;

figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the modular refrigeration cassette depicted in figure 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along section 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

fig. 6 is a perspective view of a liner embodiment for the modular refrigeration cassette depicted in fig. 3.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring now specifically to fig. 1 and 2, a refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, generally designated 10, is described that includes an interior product display space 100 for containing a product 110, such as bottled or canned soda, milk, water, juices, fruit drinks, beer and other beverages. Although the invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment of a refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to other refrigerated display merchandisers for displaying perishable and frozen comestibles and beverages, including for example meats, poultry, fish, diary products, prepackaged frozen comestibles, and other products that need to be maintained in a controlled environment.

The beverage dispenser 10 includes a cabinet 20 housing a refrigerated interior product display space 100 and a separate equipment compartment 55 disposed separate and thermally isolated 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 therebelow and the equipment compartment 55 located therebelow. The interior product display space 100 is accessible from outside the cabinet 20 through an access opening, which in the depicted embodiment is an open area located at the front of the cabinet. As in the depicted embodiment, the open area may be open to the outside or covered by at least one door 40 mounted on the cabinet 20. The door 40 extends across the open area and has a transparent viewing area, such as a glass panel, through which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 is viewable. The door 40 is selectively positionable between a closed position covering the open area and an open position in which a consumer can access the interior product display space 100 to remove a product for purchase. Although the embodiment of the display merchandiser 10 depicted in the drawings has only one door 40, it should 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 40 may be mounted to the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, such as on a hinge for pivotal movement or on a track for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top wall 22, lower wall 24, rear wall 34 and side walls 36 and 38 are heat transfer insulated to isolate the refrigerated interior product display space 100 from the environment exterior of the interior product display space 100. A plurality of shelves 112 are disposed within the interior product display space 100. The shelves 112 are adapted to support the particular product being displayed for sale. The particular number, arrangement, and configuration of shelves 112 is not germane to the invention and is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art in selecting a particular product for display.

A rear panel 134 is provided spaced inwardly from the rear side wall 34 to partially establish the refrigerated air supply duct 104 between the rear side wall 34 and the rear panel 134. The interior product display space 100 within the refrigerated interior of the display case 20 is defined by the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, the side walls 36, 38 and by a portion of the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134, respectively. In the depicted embodiment, refrigerated air enters 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 provided in the lower wall 24.

The equipment compartment 55 is located within the cabinet 20 below the lower wall 24 and is separated from the refrigerated interior product display space 100 of the cabinet by the lower wall 24. 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 a floor or base of the interior product display space and has a lower surface that faces the refrigeration unit cassette 50 of the refrigeration unit 15 housed within the equipment compartment. The refrigeration unit 15 includes: an evaporator module 160 comprising an evaporator coil 60 disposed within a housing 61 and at least one associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62; a condenser module 170 including a condenser coil 70 and at least one associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72; and a compressor 74. The evaporator coil 60 and its associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 are housed within the first portion 53 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 separated from the second portion 57 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 by a dividing wall 68, and the condenser 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are housed within the second portion 57. The first portion 53 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 is sized to accommodate a range of evaporator modules 160 having different load capacities, while the second portion 57 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 is sized to accommodate a range of condenser modules 170 having different load capacities, thereby ensuring that a given cassette design can be used for a relatively wide range of refrigeration load capacities.

Referring now also to fig. 3, 4 and 5, the refrigeration unit cassette 50 includes a generally rectangular box-shaped structure defining an interior space having a top flange (top flange)52, a base plate 54, and a surrounding wall structure 56 extending generally vertically between the top flange 52 and the base plate 54, the surrounding wall structure 56 being formed of a front panel 56A, a back panel 56B and opposed side panels 56C. A dividing wall 68 extends between the opposed side plates 56C from the upper forward region of the cassette 50 to the back plate 56B to divide the interior of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into the first and second sections 53 and 57 described above. The condenser coil 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are mounted to the base plate 54 forming the floor pan of the cassette refrigeration unit 50. The condenser coil 70 and its associated condenser fan/motor assembly may be mounted to a common support plate adapted to be mounted to the base plate 54, thereby forming the condenser module 170. The base plate 54 is slidably mounted within the compartment 55 to facilitate access of the cassette 50 into and out of the compartment 55 and thus maintenance of the refrigeration equipment therein, including removal or replacement of the evaporator module 160 and the condenser module 170 in different units. A condensate tray 76 may be provided to collect condensate dripping from the evaporator coil 60. The condensate tray 76 acts as a condensate evaporation tray wherein condensate collected therein is evaporated by hot air flowing from the condenser as the hot air passes over the condensate tray 76.

The evaporator coil 60, the condenser coil 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 product interior display space 100 by the well-known carnot cycle. The condenser fan/motor assembly 72 (typically a single fan box motor) is operative (typically only when the compressor 74 is in operation) to draw air from outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10, such as from the ambient environment external thereto through the front grille 12 provided in the lower front wall 32 of the cabinet 20, through the opening 59 provided in the front panel 56A of the box 50 and over the condenser coil 70. As the outside air passes over the condenser coils 70 in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant passing through the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air is heated. After passing through the condenser coil 70, the heated air exits the compartment 55 to return to the outside environment through an exhaust channel 77 formed in the rear of the second portion 57 of the cassette 50 below the first portion 53. A portion of the air drawn through the cassette 50 by the condenser fan passes over the compressor 74 to help cool the compressor.

The cooled refrigerant is circulated from the condenser coil 70 to the evaporator coil 60 through a closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown). The evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 (which may be a single fan and motor or a plurality of fans with associated motors) is operative to draw air from the interior product display space 100 through the air return inlet opening 102 in the lower wall 24 into the first portion 53 (also referred to as the evaporator compartment) of the refrigeration unit 50 and thence pass the air over the evaporator coil 60 and back into the product display space 100 through the refrigerated air supply duct 104. As the circulating air passes over the evaporator coil 60, the air is cooled as it passes in heat exchange relationship with the cooled refrigerant circulated through the evaporator coil 60 by the compressor 74, and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated. The evaporator fan 62 circulates refrigerated air that has passed through the evaporator coil 60 from the evaporator compartment 53 back into the refrigerated interior product display space 100 through the return air outlet 108 of the lower wall 24 located rearwardly of the rear panel 134 and into the refrigerated air supply duct 104.

The cover plate 120 may be disposed over the return air inlet 102 in spaced relationship with and super-adjacent the base wall 24 thereby forming a flow passage between the cover plate 120 and the base 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 such that as the refrigerated air approaches the lower region of the product display space 100, the downwardly directed refrigerated air flows outwardly toward the surrounding walls of the cabinet 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 over the product on the lower shelves to more evenly cool the product and prevent the refrigerated air from leaking directly downward into the return air return inlet 102. The cover plate 120 also limits spillage or leakage from within the product display space 100 from flowing directly into the evaporator compartment 53 and fouling the evaporator and/or evaporator fan assembly.

In one embodiment, the cover plate 120 includes a circumferential flange 126 extending generally vertically downward therefrom to the base wall 24 for supporting the cover plate 120 above the air return inlet 102 in the base wall 24. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 125 are provided in the circumferential flange 126 to form air flow passages connecting the refrigerated interior space 100 in flow relationship with the air return inlet 102 to the evaporator compartment 53 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50.

The partition plate 68 has a forward portion 68A and an aft portion 68B. The rear portion 68B of the dividing plate 68 extends generally horizontally below the evaporator assembly in spaced relationship with and above the base plate 54 to form a passage 77 in the rear of the condenser compartment 57. The passageway 77 constitutes an exhaust channel through which the hot air exiting the condenser coil 70 exits the equipment compartment 55 to the environment outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10 through an opening located at the back of the cabinet 20. The condenser coil 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are mounted to the front of the base plate 54. The forward portion 68A of the division plate 68 slopes downwardly from the upper front region of the condenser compartment 57 to intersect the aft portion 68B of the division plate 68. In so doing, a converging passage 73 is defined between the base plate 54 and the forward portion 68A of the spacer plate that extends from the outlet of the condenser coil 70 to the opening of the exhaust channel 77. The converging passage 73 effectively defines a nozzle for accelerating the condenser discharge airflow therethrough to a relatively high velocity, that is, a velocity much higher than the velocity of the condenser discharge airflow exiting the condenser module 170. The forward portion 68A of the division plate 68 is depicted as having two sections of different slopes. However, it should be understood that the forward portion 68A of the division plate 68 may have a constant slope or even a curvilinear slope, if desired.

Condensate dripping from the evaporator coil 60 disposed in the rear portion of the evaporator compartment 53 flows through a drain conduit 89 passing through the partition wall 68 into a condensate tray 76 disposed in the exhaust channel 77 below the evaporator compartment 53 for collecting condensate dripping from the evaporator coil 60. The condensate tray 76 may be integrally formed within the base plate 54. For example, the condensate tray 76 may be defined by a raised edge 78 stamped into the base plate 54 as shown in fig. 4 and 5. Alternatively, the condensate tray 76 may be a separate structure secured to the base plate 54. For example, the condensate tray 76 may be defined by a raised edge 78 stamped or otherwise formed into the base plate 54 as shown in fig. 4 and 5. Alternatively, the condensate tray 76 may be a separate insert secured to the base plate 54. In this case, the condensate tray 76 may be formed of a different material than the base plate, such as a non-metallic material (e.g., ABS plastic) or stamped or otherwise formed from aluminum or other metallic material.

The condenser fan 72 draws ambient air through the condenser coil 70 to absorb heat from the refrigerant passing through the condenser coil in a conventional manner to condense the refrigerant. The heated air exiting the condenser 70 is accelerated as it passes through the converging passage 73 and into the exhaust channel 77. The high velocity hot air passing through the exhaust channel 77 passes over the surface of the condensate collected in the condensate tray 76. The high velocity characteristic of the heated air passing through the exhaust channel 77 enhances the evaporation of the condensate collected in the condensate tray 76 due to the increased evaporation rate of the condensate due to the enhanced contact of the air with the condensate.

Referring now specifically to fig. 3, 4 and 6, a plastic liner 80 may be inserted into the evaporator compartment 53 to protect the metal sheet surfaces forming the structure of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 from chemical attack by liquids that may spill over or flow into the cassette from the product display region 100. The plastic liner 80 is formed with a flange 82 extending circumferentially therearound, a downwardly sloping floor 84 at a forward end thereof, and a bowl-like recess 86 at a rearward end thereof. A plastic liner 80 is formed to be disposed within the compartment 53 super-adjacent to the spacer plate 68 with the flange 82 bearing on the top flange 52 of the cassette 50. The bowl-like recess 86 is adapted to receive an evaporator module 160, which is comprised of the evaporator 60, the housing 64, and one or more evaporator fan/motor assemblies 62, each mounted to the evaporator housing 64 by a support bracket 66. For example, the evaporator module 160 is releasably secured to the liner 80 and/or the side wall 56C of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 by bolts or screws. The bowl-like recess 86 is sized to accommodate a range of evaporator modules having different load capacities, thereby allowing a given refrigeration cassette to be used for a wide range of refrigeration load capacities. It is to be understood that the liner 80 may be formed of a non-plastic formable material that is more chemically resistant than the metal walls of the refrigeration cassette 50 and strong enough to support the evaporator module, such as, for example, fiberglass.

The plastic liner 80 is contoured to have a relative radius (geneous radii) so as to reduce airflow losses as refrigerated air passes from the product display region 100 through the evaporator 60 and into the refrigerated air supply duct 104. Additionally, channels 88 may be formed in the sloped floor pan 84 of the liner 80 to collect and direct any liquid that spills or flows into the refrigeration unit cassette 50.

A sealing system is provided which includes a sealing member 58 positioned between the lower wall 24 and the refrigeration unit cassette 50 and a positioning apparatus 150 for placing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 in sealing relationship with the common wall, which in the depicted embodiment is the lower wall 24 separating the refrigerated interior product display space 100 from the equipment compartment 55. The sealing system prevents refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 from the product display space 100 from bypassing the evaporator 60 and flowing directly into the inlet 108 from the air return inlet 102 to the air supply duct 104. The sealing system also prevents outside air from outside the refrigeration unit cassette 50 (e.g., outside air that has been drawn through the condenser 70 via the front grille 12) from being drawn into the refrigerated air that is returned to the refrigeration unit 15 via the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24.

The sealing member 58 may be mounted to the lower surface of the lower wall 24 about the opening 102 of the lower wall 24 or may be mounted or simply carried on the upper surface of the top flange 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. As shown in fig. 3, the sealing member 58 extends at least about the opening 51A to the refrigeration cassette 50, which is substantially commensurate with and in flow communication with the opening 102 in the lower wall 24. As shown in fig. 3, the sealing member 58 may also extend around an opening 51B provided behind the opening 51A, the opening 51B being open to communicate with the opening 108 in the lower wall 24. In the depicted embodiment, the seal member 58 is in the form of a rectangular frame extending along the top flange 52 with a cross member 58A extending along the top of the housing 64 of the evaporator module 60.

The sealing member 58 may comprise one or more compressible seals provided on the refrigeration unit cassette 50 that compress against the lower wall 24 when the cassette refrigeration unit 50 is raised within the compartment 55 as a result of operation of the positioning means 150. However, the sealing member 58 may also include one or more non-compressible seals, such as contact seals, that cooperate with and surround respective opposing surfaces of the refrigeration unit cassette and the common wall separating the refrigerated interior space from the equipment compartment, and respective openings therein to provide a desired sealing arrangement when the cassette refrigeration unit 50 is positioned to sandwich the sealing member 58 therebetween by operation of the lifting apparatus 150.

The refrigeration cassette of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings for the purpose of illustration and to facilitate the understanding of the invention. Modifications to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in which certain modifications have been suggested above, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A refrigeration cassette for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet having a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, said refrigeration cassette being disposed in operative association with said interior space within an equipment compartment separated from said refrigerated interior space by a common wall having a first opening therein providing air flow communication between said refrigerated interior space and said equipment compartment; the refrigeration cassette includes:

a generally box-shaped structure defining an interior space having a first portion in air communication with the first opening and a second portion isolated from the first portion and in fluid communication with an environment exterior to the cabinet;

an evaporator module disposed within the first section;

a condenser module disposed within the second portion; and

a compressor in refrigerant flow communication with the evaporator module and the condenser module, the compressor configured to perform a refrigeration cycle through the evaporator module and the condenser module;

the box-like structure is selectively insertable into and removable from the equipment compartment.

2. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 1 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within said housing, and an evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with said evaporator coil and mounted to said housing.

3. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 1 wherein said condenser module includes a condenser coil and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with said condenser coil.

4. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 1 further comprising a liner disposed within said first portion of said interior space of said box-like structure; the liner includes a bowl-like recess adapted to receive the evaporator module.

5. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said liner includes a downwardly sloping tray-like front portion and a rear portion having a bowl-like recess.

6. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 5 wherein said liner has a contoured surface to reduce airflow losses.

7. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said liner is made of a material having a relatively high chemical resistance.

8. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 4 wherein said liner is made of a plastic material.

9. A refrigeration cassette for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet having a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, said refrigeration cassette being disposed in operative association with said interior space within an equipment compartment separated from said refrigerated interior space by a common wall having a first opening therein providing air flow communication between said refrigerated interior space and said equipment compartment; the refrigeration cassette includes:

a generally box-shaped structure, a front panel, a back panel, a pair of side panels, and a base panel collectively defining an interior space;

a partition wall extending between respective ones of the pair of side panels to partition the interior space within the box-like structure into a first section in air flow communication with the first opening and a second section isolated from the first section and in fluid flow communication with the environment exterior of the cabinet;

an evaporator module disposed within the first section;

a condenser module disposed within the second portion; and

a compressor in refrigerant flow communication with the evaporator module and the condenser module, the compressor configured to perform a refrigeration cycle through the evaporator module and the condenser module;

the box-like structure is selectively insertable into and removable from the equipment compartment.

10. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within said housing, and at least one evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with said evaporator coil and mounted to said housing.

11. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein said condenser module includes a condenser coil and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with said condenser coil.

12. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 further comprising a liner disposed within said first portion of said interior space of said box-like structure; the liner includes a bowl-like recess adapted to receive the evaporator module.

13. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 9 wherein said liner includes a downwardly sloping tray-like front portion and a rear portion having a bowl-like recess.

14. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 13 wherein said liner has a contoured surface for reducing airflow losses.

15. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 12 wherein said liner is made of a material having a relatively high chemical resistance.

16. A refrigeration cassette as recited in claim 12 wherein said liner is made of a plastic material.

17. A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of walls defining the interior space;

a refrigeration unit compartment separated from the interior space by one of the plurality of cabinet walls as a common wall;

an opening in the common wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space through the common wall to the compartment;

a refrigeration cassette selectively positionable within and out of the refrigeration unit compartment, the refrigeration cassette having a front panel, a back panel, a pair of side panels, and a base panel to form a box-like structure defining an interior space, and the refrigeration cassette having a partition wall that partitions the interior space into a first portion in air flow communication with the air return inlet and a second portion isolated from the first portion and in fluid flow communication with an environment exterior of the cabinet;

an evaporator module disposed within the first section;

a condenser module disposed within the second portion; and

and the compressor is in refrigerant circulation connection with the evaporator module and the condenser module and is used for performing circulating refrigeration through the evaporator module and the condenser module.

18. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 17 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within said housing, and at least one evaporator fan/motor assembly operatively associated with said evaporator coil and mounted to said housing.

19. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 18 wherein the condenser module includes a condenser coil mounted to a common base adapted to be mounted to the base plate of the refrigeration cassette and a condenser fan/motor assembly operatively associated with the condenser coil.

20. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 17 wherein said evaporator module includes a housing, an evaporator coil disposed within said housing, and a plurality of evaporator fan/motor assemblies operatively associated with said evaporator coil and mounted to said housing.