James Alan Mathis

US Patent:

20100133290, Jun 3, 2010

Filed:

Oct 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/575392

Inventors:

James G. Luntz - St. Peters MO, US
James Robert Mathis - Aiken SC, US
Randy Gooch - Luebbering MO, US
William P. Stewart - St. Peters MO, US
Jose G. Avendano - Springfield IL, US
Joseph C. Fontecchio - St. Peters MO, US
Martin Shawn Egan - St. Louis MO, US

Assignee:

Dixie-Narco, Inc. - Williston SC

International Classification:

F25D 25/00
F25B 39/04
F25D 31/00
B65D 83/00

US Classification:

221 97, 62507, 622591, 221150 R

Abstract:

A vending machine includes a product compartment, a duct opening into the product compartment, and a self-contained refrigeration system. The refrigeration system includes a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber includes first and second openings. The second chamber includes third and fourth openings. An evaporator coil and evaporator fan are mounted in the first chamber. The evaporator fan moves air from the first opening, through the evaporator coil, to the second opening. A condensing coil, compressor, and compressor fan are mounted in the second chamber. The compressor fan moves air from the third opening, through the condensing coil, over the compressor, to the fourth opening. The housing thermally insulates the first chamber from both the second chamber and an exterior of the housing. The housing also seals the first chamber, such that substantially all air in the first chamber enters the first chamber through the first opening and exits the first chamber through the second opening. The housing is further adapted to automatically couple the first opening to the product storage compartment and the second opening to the duct when the housing is inserted into the vending machine.

US Patent:

20110265500, Nov 3, 2011

Filed:

Apr 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/096336

Inventors:

James Robert Mathis - Aiken SC, US
William Joseph Black - Southbury CT, US

Assignee:

CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC. - Bridgeton MO

International Classification:

F25D 17/06

US Classification:

62 89, 62186

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for operating a discharge cooling cycle in a refrigeration system. The method includes determining a first operating condition of the refrigeration system. The method also includes, based on the determination of the operating condition, activating an evaporator fan for a first predetermined period of time, deactivating the evaporator fan for a second predetermined period of time, and repeating the activating and deactivating until a second operating condition is detected.