1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for removing porting, and using geometry to create a heat soaked surface area in an ice area, and using a heat conducting material such as, e.g., aluminum, to conduct heat efficiently to prevent icing.
2. Related Art
Door assemblies such as used in freezer facilities typically are arranged to open and close within some type of guiding assembly, such as, e.g., a vertical pair of columns. However, the door assembly typically is not sealed with the guiding assembly, and some air flows into a space or gap between the door itself and the guiding assembly. Since the door assembly is configured in a freezer facility, the air that flows into the gap may cause build-up of frost and/or ice. This build-up of frost or ice can, over time, cause operational malfunctions and even damage to the door assembly or guiding assembly.
For example, FIG. 1 is a top view of a door assembly, according to the prior art. The door assembly 100 includes a door panel 105 that is configured to be guided by vertical panel supports 110a, 110b. The door panel 105 is configured to separate a freezer area 135 from a non-refrigerated area 140. The panel supports 110a, 110b may be mounted to a side column structure 136 that is substantially a vertical hollow column to permit mounting and to permit flowing of heated air therewith. The side column structure may be configured with a counter balance weight 130 that is used to assist in opening and closing the door by moving vertically within the side column structure 136 as needed when a door panel 105 is opened or closed. This may take some load off a motor (not shown) when moving the door panel 105. It is possible that the door panel 105 may comprise more than one actual door segment or panels stacked on one another, but, for simplicity, it is referred herein as a door panel. The door assembly 100 may be proximate or connected to a freezer wall 145, which may be a wall of a refrigerated building or room.
As shown in FIG. 1, the door panel 105 is typically positioned between the vertical supports 110a, 110b. One or more pairs of brush seals 115a-115d may be configured on the vertical supports 110a, 110b and configured to resist cold air (i.e., below freezing), but not all, from entering into a gap 120 from the freezer area 135. In an attempt to prevent ice buildup 116, a heat source 125 may be used to flow heated air into the substantially hollow side column structure 136, usually proximate a bottom area of the hollow side column structure 136 so that heated air can vent through holes 151 (FIG. 2) configured near the bottom of the hollow side column structure 136 to permit heated air flow into the interior area of the rectangular section 109a, 109b of vertical supports 110a, 110b so that the heated air can rise upwardly in the interior area of the rectangular section 109a, 109b that spans the height of the overall door panel 105. By conduction from the heated surface area of vertical supports 110a, 110b, via heat from rectangular section 109a, 109b, heat enters areas 120 in an attempt to keep this area 120 free from icing. This configuration works to a degree; however in many instances, ice formation still continues in the gap area 120 causing problems such as operational malfunctions such as frozen doors, or actual damage to the door panel 105 or door assembly 100. FIG. 2 is a side view of the side column structure 136 configured with vent holes 151 that are configured to heat the interior area of the rectangular section 109a, 109b of vertical supports 110a, 110b through vent holes 151.
There exists an unfulfilled need to provide a new solution to prevent frost and/or ice build-up in the gap of such a door assembly/guiding assembly to prevent ice build-up and associated problems.