US1839278A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

L. L. TORREY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Jan. 5 1932.

F1186 Sept. 24, 192 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Liar/my Jan..5, 1932. L. LSTCDRREY 1,839,278

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FiledSept- 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ Zlwgntop 9 2 LL, 7%19/71 74 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 PATENT LUGIEN L. TORREY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA REFRIGERATIN'G APPARATUS A plication filed September 24, 1924. Serial No. 739,579.

This invention relates to improvements in the refrigerating apparatus set forth in my application Serial No. 700,824, filed March 21, 1924:, now Patent No. 1,779,833 dated Oct. 28, 1930 and relates more particularly to the construction of the tank unit comprising the motor and pump, condenser coils and lubrlcation system.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which high speed rotary pumps may be utilized W1th proper efficiency and freedom from mechanical injury.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an effective oiling system for all the bearings and moving parts of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a structure in which the pumps, bearings, and motor are kept cool.

A further object is to provide a system of bearings Which preserve their alinement and which may be immediately dismounted for inspection and care.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus in which all moving parts with their lubricating system are enclosed.

A further object is to provide an enclosed pump and tank structure which may be readily dismounted and rapidly assembled in correct alinement.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus in which a rotary compressor may be operated without stuffing boxes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system in which the oil is delivered to the bearings under a predetermined head at all times and all speeds.

1V ith these and other objects in view, and having in general the purpose of securing a greater output with less power than has heretofore been possible in such apparatus, I have illustrated one form of construction of such refrigerating apparatus in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the tank with its component parts;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the pump and shaft assembly in relation to the other elements of the tank, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of the tank apparatus in the refrigerating system.

The refrigerating system (Fig. 3) in which this apparatus is employed comprises the tank 1 which delivers the compressed sulphur dioxide in liquid form through a valve 2 to the compression gas line 3, through which it flows to the expansion valve 4. In this valve, the pressure is released, and the cooling effect of the expanding gases is utilized in the expansion coil 5 located in a brine tank or other suitable chamber (not shown) for the purpose of cooling the contents of such a chamber. The expanded and heated gases return through pipe 6 and check Valve 7 to the tank 1, and if desired, a manual control valve such as 8 may be inserted in this pipe line.

The tank 1 comprises an outer casing or wall 10 with bottom 11, in general as shown in my copending application, with a cover .12 closing the upper portion of the tank and held in location by a series of suitable bolts 13. Within this tank is disposed the cooling coil 14 which is disposed immediately inside of the wall 10. The cooling Water is admitted to this cooling coil through the inlet nipple 15 at the top of the tank, and after traversing the length of the coil is discharged through a nipple 16 near the lower part of the tank.

The motor 17 is an electric motor of the completely enclosed type, and designed to operate in a vertical position. The leads 18 are passed out through the wall 10 of the tank by an electric plug and seal 19. By thus bringing the various connections through the walls of the tank, I am enabled to use a light steel cover instead of the heavy cast iron cover shown in my copending application.

This electric motor is composed of a field portion 20 and an upper end portion 20*. The field portion 20 is secured to and supported by a supporting member 22, whose upper end is shaped to conform to it, and

forms the lower end portion 20 of the electric motor. The portion 20 is carried by the integral spacers 20 which leave between them spaces for the passage of the gases contained within the tank. This assures a thor ough and uniform cooling of the motor bearings.

The supporting member 22 is formed in general as a cylinder, and has the outward 1y extending flange 23 at its intermediate section to receive the pump casing 2%, which is secured thereto by a series of bolts 25. The lower section of this member 22 is likewise cylindrical as shown at 26, but has a further flange 27 at its bottom with a rim or foot section 28 which rests on the bottom 11 of the tank. Lugs 29 are provided in the structure of the tank, at its bottom, for the purpose of guiding and retaining the member 22.

A web 30 in the upper portion of the member 22 has an inner cylindrical cup 31 to re ceive a thrust hearing, as will be set forth hereafter. Braces 32 are formed integrally in the member 22 to support the cup 31.

In the upper part of the tank is disposed a centering ring 33 having an inner ring 34 formed integrally therewith for the purpose of receiving, bracing and guiding the upper end 35 of the motor. This ring 33 has a se ries of set screws 36 for the purpose of exactly adjusting the motor into proper aline ment. This ring rests on the upper end 35 of the motor, and is held against upward movement by the cover 12 of the tank. It will thus be seen that the entire structure involving the member 22 and the motor 17, as well as the centering ring 33, is free within the tank, and in the absence of other connections, may be immediately removed for inspection and repair, upon the removal of the cover 12. In this way, a very simple and light construction is provided, with easy accessibility.

Bolted to the intermediate flange 23 of the member 22 is a pump casing 2st, as above re ferred to. This pump casing encloses an impeller pump 40 of any suitable construction which is properly designed for the movement and compression of the gases. This impeller is mounted on a shaft a1, whose downwardly extending end is received by a bronze-lined bearing 42 in the end cover 13 of the pump chamber. This bearing a2 is used to steady the shaft, but is not a step bearing, nor does it take the place of a thrust hearing. The end cover 43 is held rigidly in place by a series of bolts 4%.

The upper end of the impeller is closed by an end seat 45 which is held resiliently in position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The return of the expanded and heated gases by pipe 6, brings them to the suction nipple T6 of the tank. This nipple is secured in the side wall 10 of the tank, with an air and gas-tight joint. At its inner end,

it carries a threaded pipe union 47, which enables the rapid dismounting of this suction pipe line. The gases traversing the union 47 pass through the elbow 18 into the suction line proper 49, which leads them through a second elbow 50 to the pump inlet 51. After the gases have been compressed in the pump. they are delivered to the pump outlet and thence pass through the elbow 53 to the pump discharge line 55 which discharges them into the tank above the oil level. These gases are then cooled by the water contained in the coil 14 until they are condensed and liquefied. Since liquid sulphur dioxide is half as heavy again as the lubricating oil, liquid sulphur dioxide weighs about twelve pounds per gallon and the oil not exceeding eight pounds, the liquid refrigerating medium passes downward through the oil and collects in the bottom of the tank up to the approximate line indicated.

On the upper end of the pump chamber 2% is mounted a casting 55 which constitutes the casing of a geared oil pump. This casting 55 is rigidly held on the pump casing 24 by bolts 56, 57. The central bore of the casting receives a second bronze-lined bearing 58 for steadying the pump shaft 41. WVithin the upper portion of the casting is formed a chamber 59 for the geared oil pump. This oil pump comprises the two gears 60 and 61, the former being keyed on the pump shaft 41. and the latter being carried by a stud shaft 62. The pump chamber is closed at the top by a cover 63 which is held in place by the bolt 37. The lower part of the casting 55 is formed with an annular cup 6& to receive a spring 65. This spring 65 is supported between the casting 55 and the gas pump end seat 45. and serves to take up any wear therein. If desired, apiston ring or other sealing element 66 may be disposed in a suitable groove on the skirt of the end seat.

It will be noted that the oil pump is situated below the oil level in the tank. The oil pump is therefore enabled to withdraw oil from this tank through the inlet 67, and after passing around the gears 60 or 61, to deliver it through the pump delivery outlet 68, to the oil supply pipe 69. The main oil pipe line 70 is made with a number of T-memhers 71, 7 2, 73. which serve to divert the oil from the main oil line to the several bearings to be lubricated. At the upper end. the oil line "('0 ends in a bent-over discharge T l, which serves as an oil overflow to permit the excess of oil to be returned to the supply base. The several oil pipes 69. 75, 76 and 77. which furnish communication between the oil pump and the bearings, are each connected to the main oil pipe line 70 by a threadedv union 73 to facilitate dismounting of the system. It will be noted that the oil delivery pipe 75 leads to the thrust bearing for the pump assembly, and the delivery pipes 76 and 77 lead to the lubricating chambers for the electric motor 17.

The cup 31 above referred to receives the spherical bearing plate 80 in its cavity. This bearing plate is the support of a similarly shaped ball race 81. The mat-ing race 82 is disposed in operative relation to the race 81, and bet-ween them are the bearing balls 83. The lower end of the motor shaft 21 and the upper end of the pump shaft a1 are received by a sleeve Set which is keyed to these shafts by the pins 85 and 86. The lower end of the sleeve Si rests. upon the upper ball race 82, and thus is held in axial alinement by this ball thrust hearing. The concave shape of the lower race and its support, permit the motor and pump to aline themselves.

In addition to the pipe connections set forth above, a liquid sulphur dioxide discharge line 90 leads from a point below the sulphur dioxide level in the tank, and preferably from near its bottom, to the tank discharge 91, from which the gas passes to the valve 2 and gas line 3 mentioned above. In order to provide for the proper lubrication of the gas impeller pump 40, one or more ports 98 are provided in pump casing 24,1eading from the oil supply to the pump space.

The operation of this apparatus has already been described in my above referred to application, and need only be generally set forth herein. In operative condition, the condensed sulphur dioxide liquid establishes a level approximately as shown in the drawings, i. e., about at the top of the gas pump. Above this is a layer of oil extending to approximately the line indicated as oil level in the drawings, i. e., slightly above the oil pump. When the electric motor is set in operation, the expanded and heated gas is sucked under, for example, a vacuum sustaining a ten inch column of mercury, by the impeller from the expansion coil 5 through the pump inlet 51, and this same gas is delivered under a pressure, for example, of thirty-four and onehalf pounds per square inch gage pressure, through the pump outlet 52 and pipe 54 into the interior of the tank 1. This compressed gas fills the upper portion of the tank and is cooled therein by the water flowing through the coil 14 which may, for example, be at F. The gas is condensed under this temperature and pressure and flows down through the layer of oil to join the liquid sulphur dioxide mentioned above. The pressure to the upper part of the tank forces the liquid sulphur dioxide through the discharge line 90 to'the expansion valve 4, in which its pressure is released to effect a cooling from 70 F. to Zero. This chilling is utilized in the expansion coil 5, and the above procedure continues.

The forced lubrication of the shaft and motor bearings assures an abundant supply of. lubricant to the bearings, and the reduction of their temperature. The condensing coil. 1% serves not only to cool the gases in the tank, but also to stabilize the temperature of the motor, the pump bearings, and the pump itself; and by so doing, the machine is enabled to operate at a very low pressure. In this ay, a much larger quantity of gas may be handled with the same power, by using a relatively large tank. By use of the large tank and a large condensing coil, the water is used very eiiiciently, and a relatively small amount of cooling water will carry off a large amount of heat.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown in the drawings, nor described in the above example, but that innumerable changes may be made in the design and connection of the several parts, or in the type of pumps employed. No limitation can be set on the ap plication of this refrigerating apparatus other than that set forth by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A refrigerating unit comprising a con densing tank containing oil, a compressor in said tank, an oil pump in said tankbelow the level of the oil, a motor in said tank above the level of the oil, said compressor and said oil pump being driven by the motor, and conduits connected with said oil pump for supplying oil to the bearings of the said motor.

2. A refrigerating unit including a condensing, tank containing oil, a compressor in said tank, an electric motor driving said compressor, a thrust bearing between said compressor and said motor, an oil pump driven by said motor, said oil pump supplying oil to said bearing.

3. A refrigerating unit including a condensing tank, a compressor in said tank, an electricmotor in said tank and driving said compressor, a centering ring in said tank adapted to aline said motor, and a tank cover to hold said ring in position.

4. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tank, a compressor casing carried by said member, an impeller in said casing, an end seat in said casing, an oil pump casing carried by said compressor casing, and a spring between said pump c'asing and said end seat.

5. In a refrigerating unit, a supporting member, an electric motor, and a compressor carried by said member, and a thrust bearing between said motor and said compressor and carried by said member.

6. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tank and resting loosely upon the bottom thereof, a motor and a compressor mounted on said member and connected in driving relationship in said tank, and lugs on the 'inside of said tank to hold said member in spaced relation from the walls of said tank.

7. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a sup porting member in said tank, an electric motor and a compressor carried by said memher, an oil pump carried by said compressor, and an oil piping between said pump and said motor, so arranged that the member and its associated parts may be removed as a whole.

8. In a refrigerating unit, a supporting member formed with an intermediate web, an electric motor, and a compressor carried by said member, the shafts of said motor and said compressor connected by a sleeve coupling, and a thrust bearing on said web and carrying said sleeve coupling.

9. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, oil in the said tank, a cooling coil in the said tank and immersed in the said oil, an electric motor and an oil pump in the said tank, said oil pump driven from and supplying said motor with cooled lubricant from said oil.

10. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a. sup porting member loosely placed in said tank and maintained at spaced relation with the walls thereof at the bottom, a compressor, an oil pump and an electric motor positively assembled with regard to said member, a driving connection between said motor and said compressor and pump, an inlet conduit for supplying refrigerating agent to said compressor and connected to said tank and said compressor to prevent withdrawal of the assembly from said tank, a centering ring to hold the assembly alined in said tank, and a cover to seal said tank and to maintain the alined relation of such assembly.

11. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tank and maintained in spaced relation from the Walls thereof, a compressor carried by said member, an electric motor to drive said compressor and carried by said member, a centering ring to cooperate with the motor to aline said motor and supporting member in said tank.

12. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member loosely placed in said tank and maintained at spaced relation With the walls thereof at the bottom, a compressor, an

oil pump and an electric motor positively assembled with regard to said member, a driving connection between said motor and said compressor and pump, a centering ring to hold such assembly alined in said tank, and a cover to seal said tank and to maintain the alined relation of such assembly.

13. In a refrigerating unit including a closed tank, an electric motor and a compressor driven thereby in said tank, said tank being adapted to contain a supply of lubricating oil for the bearings of said motor and compressor, an oil pump driven by said -motor and taking oil from the supply in said tank, and conduits from said pump to supply oil to the bearings of said motor and compressor, whereby a closed lubricating oil circuit is maintained within said tank, said pump and conduits being connected with said tank so that all moving parts are contained within the sealed tank walls.

14:. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a cover for said tank and means to establish a hermetic seal therebetween, a supporting member in said tank resting freely on the bottom thereof, an electric motor and a compressor connected in driving relation and carried by said member, and means contacting said tank and spaced from the bottom thereof to hold the assembly of said member, said motor and said compressor spaced from the wall of the tank.

15. In a refrigerating unit, a tank adapted to contain a supply of lubricating oil therein, a supporting member resting on the bottom of said tank, a compressor carried by said member and located beneath the oil level, a

motor having one end plate integral with said member, said motor driving said compressor and located above said oil supply and a spacing device at the top of the tank and cooperating with the said motor to hold the said member in position.

16. In a refrigerating unit, a tank adapted to contain a supply of lubricating oil, a supporting member carried by said tank, a motor and a rotary compressor carried by said member and connected in direct driving relation by adivided vertical shaft, a rotary oil pump carried by said compressor and in direct driven relation with said shaft and pipe conduits including detachable connections connecting said pump and the motor bearings, whereby said motor can be separated from the compressor-pump assemb y by the division of said shaft at said connec ions;

17. In a refrigerating unit, a tank and a hermetically sealable cover therefor, a supporting member resting on the bottom of said tank and extending upward therein, a compressor carried by said member, a gas inlet connected to said tank and said compressor to secure the compressor in said tank, and guiding means held spaced from the wall of the tank and distant from the bottom thereof to hold said member spaced from said walls.

18. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a cover, means to lock said cover to said tank to hermetically close the same, a supporting member resting on the bottom of said tank, a compressor carried by said member, a gas inlet conduit passing through and connected to the wall of said tank and open at its inner end, a pipe attachment connected to said conduit and a pipe extending from said attachment to the compressor to supply refrigerant to the latter, so that when the cover has been removed from said tank, the attachment may be separated to release the connection established by said pipe and conduit between said compressor and said tank, so that the said member and compressor may be removedv from said tank, and so that when said at- 5 tachment is connected the compressor and member are held in position by said pipe and conduit.

19. A refrigerating unit comprising a tank adapted to contain a supply of oil, a

compressor located in said tank below the oil level therein and having a gravity conduit by which oil may pass into said compressor to seal the same, a motor in said tank above the level of the oil and connected to and operating said compressor, an oil pump located in said tank and mechanically driven by said motor, an intake conduit for said pump opening into said tank below the level of the oil, and a discharge conduit from said oil pump to supply oil to the bearings of said motor.

20. In a refrigerating unit, a tank adapted to contain oil, a rotary compressor located in said tank and below the level of said oil,

a motor located in said tank and above the level of said oil, means to form a driving con nection between said motor and said compressor, a gravity oil conduit admitting oil to said compressor and opening into said tank below the level of said oil, a refrigerant gas return conduit communicating with said compressor, and means for connecting said compressor to deliver the gas under pressure therefrom into said tank above the level of said oil so that the oil is returned directly into said tank.

21. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tank and carried by the walls thereof, a motor mounted on said 40 member and within said tank, a compressor assembly removably mounted on said member and within said tank, said motor driving said compressor, and an oil pump mounted on said compressor assembly intermediate said motor and compressor and drivenby said motor.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature. LUCIEN L. TORREY.

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