US2205364A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 18,1940. I L. A. PHILIPP.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed may 51, 19s4= 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. Lanes/r01: 4. P/l/L/PP mm; MXM

J1me 1940-. L. A. PHILIPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Origihal Filed May 31, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Aqupzzrcz 1y. PHIL/PP BY llllllllll I'Illilllflifllllll! 3 7 lllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1| IIIIIIII Illlllllllll I WWVWK ATTORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet *5 \INVENTQR.

' ATTORNEY.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I a I I I L A PHILIPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS O i'i'ginal Filed May 31; 1934 F 51940. UL: A. PHIALIPP I 5,364

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Ma :51, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvzu'roa. Law/gem:- 4 PH ATTORNEY.

Patented June 18, 1940 V 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nrzrarcnim'rmc mlinnrns Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Maryland Application May 31, 1934, sol-n1 no. access Renewed March 9, 193'! 15 Claims, (01. 02-119- My invention pertains to refrigerator -comside mounted modification of the cooling unitv pressor and evaporating units and more particstructure; I,

. ularly to a non-frosting two temperature refrig-' Fig- 10 is a Sect ona V n line thereof;

erator cooling and freezing structure united with Fig. 1-1 is a cross-sectional view on line XI,XI a compressor unit. thereof; 1 w

It is an object of my invention to provide a Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken through a renon-frosting refrigerator cooling structure which frigerator cabinet showing a modification of my is especially effective and bonvenient for use in invention comp s a Se da y ys em; a d two temperature systems. Fig. 1-3 is a diagrammatic view representing the It is also an object of my invention to provide cooperative relation of the various elements as 10 a' unitary refrigerator cooling structure. comprisinterconnected in my two temperature refrigerating cooling means and freezing means normally ing system.

mounted in separate compartments of a refrig- Referring more specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and erator cabinet in such a manner that theymay 4 of the drawings the structure, as shown, combe conveniently removed as a unit. prises a refrigerator cabinet I of the usual heat 15 -It is a further object of my invention to proinsulating construction including a removable vide a non-frosting refrigerator cooling strucheat insulating closure member 2 which is supture in which the heat absorbing elements in the ported on hinges 3 at one side of the cabinet in separate freezing and food storage compartments the usual manner. A heat insulating-wall I9 .20 are conveniently removable with the compressor horizontally disposed between a food'compartg as a unit for shipping and installation, while the ment' 5 and a machine compartment 5 includes porcelain partition member enclosing the freeza removable portion I comprising abase mounting chamber remains permanently mounted in ing member on which the compressor machine the cabinet for protection. unit and the associated elements are removably 5 The invention itself, however, both as to its mounted in the cabinet. The machine unit comorganization and its method of operation; together prises a compressor enclosed in a suitable herwith additional objects and advantages thereof, metically Sealed Cas d interconnected will best be understood from the following det ou h suita e con uit m an I w th the usual scription of specific embodiments, whe read in condenser for compressing and condensing the l conjunction iththe accompanying drawings, in refrigerant. From the condenser It the refrigh h; erant passes through a conduit l5 to a high side Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken transfloat Valve as will more fullyset forth versely through a refrigerator cabinet provided, sequenfll A fan adjacent the l4. withaunitary-non-frosting two temperature 0001- circulates air therethrough and the machm'e ing unit in accordance with my invention; comp 't e may be Pmvidd with Vents in the 35 Fig. 2 is a sectional 'view taken on line II--II usual The p essor maybe conofFig. 1; trolled to operate intermittently in accordance.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line with thefiempevlatlll'e conditions Within e r 111 111 thereof; M I frigerator cabinet by a heatresponsiveswitch in Fig. 4 is a perspective viewshowing a partition the usual manner- I In accordance with my invention the interl i g 21 3:3852?s loi i f i sig i z transfitting surfaces between the edges of the remov' able heat insulating base I, and the adjacent par- I versely through remgerato? Showmg. aqotyer tition or wall l9 are beveledwhereby the weight .embodment of cooler mm of the compressor machine thereon forces them 5 u n. P catfme into close fitting relation. A gasket 22 of yield- 6 1s a sectmnal on able material, such as rubber for example, is

thereof; I provided between the interfitting beveled sur- F 7 3 a sectlonal'vlew slmwmga sw faces to insure that a well sealed contact is es-.

, tional view taken on line VII-VII thereof; tablished. I H a c Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the finned cool- The f nd compartment 5 i led by finned ing p t Structure cooling the food pa defrosting cooling plates 24 which are suspended ment; Y on suitable supports 25 from the lower side of the Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken transremovable .base member I. Heat absorbing fins s versely through a refrigerator cabinet showing a 25 are provided on the cooling: plates 24 by se- 5 I 'Qflfinfi channel shaped metallic: strips 21 in intiniate:thermoconductives relation thereon in I structure of substantially ,U. shaped cross secany suitable manner as by welding or soldering. The heatis carried away from the cooling plates by passing a refrigerant through coils of suitable conduit secured thereto in heat-conductive relation.

A portion of the food compartment space 5 within the cabinet'is enclosed as a freezing cham-- ber ll, by a partition member 3| which is permanently secured tothe cabinet structure. The

partition member 3| is preferably a sheet metal tion closed at one end as shown in Fig. 4, and it is preferably provided with a hardcoating of 'vitreous enamel such as porcelain to present a pleasing appearance. Wide flanges 32 project laterally from the open edges of the partition member adjacent the open end of the U and are provided with holes 33 to receive screws or other fastening means for securing the partition member permanently to'the upper'wall of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1..

The partition member II is mounted directly beneath thecompressor unit assembly,-and the wide flanges 32 along the sides of the permanently mounted partition member are provided withelongated slots 34 through which the cool-.- ingplates, depending from the: removable machine base 1 may be readily inserted or with-- drawn as the compressor unit is installed, or removed for shipping. The front openings of the freezing chamber 3. are definedby a front plate 31 which may be secured to lugs 38 projecting .laterally from the front edge thereof.

The front plate is preferably providedwith a porcelain-finish and is of pleasing contour having aperipheral curved or tapered flange or skirt to conceal the edge of the partitionmember and the adjacent cooling platesllfi The freezing chamber enclosed within thepon celain partition member is cooled by freezing plates ll which are secured together in parallel horizontally disposedxelation and supported by suitable brackets 42 depending downwardly from the compressor base I. The freezing plates comprise shelves for the reception of various articles a or freezing trays '40, as shown in Fig. '6, and they are connected together by conduits 4! in order' that refrigerant may be passed therethrough.

Each of the freezing plates ll "may comprise a hollow chamber forthe vaporization of the refrigerant, or each hollow plate may: enclose a brine or other heat storing medium surrounding coils of conduit through which the'refrigerant may pass in the usual manner.

It will be apparent that thefreezing plate assembly-within the permanently mounted porcelain chamber, together with theflnned cooling plates adjacent the outer surface thereof may be readily removed we unit with the compressor,

since they are all rigidly=secured to the heatinsulating machine base I. When the unit is installed the freezing plates shelves II 'are lowered tothelr proper positions adjacent the openings in the front of the freezingchamber, the finned cooling plates 24 areinserted through the elongated slots 34 adjacent the. outer sidewall surfaces of the freezing chamber-and the weight of the compressor machine on theheat insulating base 1 causes itsbeveled edge surfaces to .be wedged into tight sealed engagement with the.

' adjacent beveled surfaces of the upper wall of the refrigerator cabinet.

The plates tion member.

4| and me cooling plates mosses- 24 are operatively interconnected in series rela- I tion through suitable conduit means for the pas- J sage of refrigerant therethrough.

In accordance with another embodiment of'my invention a finned cooling unit his provided between the rear wall of the f chamber and the cabinet. By this arrangement the cooling plate is concealed behind the freezing chammay be entirely omitted or made relatively'narrow. The front plate 8! is narrower and more useful storage space is available. The inter connection-of the elements of the system is similar to that set" forth previously and shown in Fig., 12, except that a single cooling plate is used. The cabinet is cooled by the finned cooling plate 6| andpartly from the freezing chamber 62.

l'nanother modification especially suitable for small refrigerators, my non-frosting two temperature cooling unit may be mounted at one side of the cabinet thereby creating a compact structure as shown 1nFigs. 9, 110, and 11. In

accordance with this modification a removable machine base ll comprising .a portion of the upper heatinsulating wall 12 of the food com' partment is disposed adjacent one side wall of thecabinet, which alsoserves as one of the enclosing walls of the freezing'chamber ll. A porcelain partition member 14 which encloses the freezing chamber 18 comprises a structure of substantially L shaped cross section as. shown inthe sectional view in Fig. 9. Flanges Ii project- 1 ing laterally from the partition member'are p'ro-' J videdflwith apertures through which fastening means 11 may operatively engage the rear-wall l8 permanently supportthe partiof the cabinet to In this simplifledconstruction the rear wall of the cabinet also encloses the rear of the free z-.

ing chamber 13 The front edge of the partition member is provided with a. lateral flange II for securing a front plate 82. A baiile plate 83 is also provided in parallel spaced relation to the side wall of the freezing chamber to control the air circulation and it is supported between the front plate I! and the rear wall I! of the cabi- A drip plate is provided to drain the moisture from the unit and it is supported in paring; chamber 13 between-the front plate 02 and the'rea-r wall of the cabinet to which it may be- 7 secured by'a flange ll clamped by the fastening -means I! which also secures the partition unit 14. It is also desirable to provide an auxiliary net to which it is secured by suitable flangesll.-

allel spaced relation to, the bottom of the freezdrip deflecting strip ll adjacent the side wall of i the refrigerator under the freezing chamber.

The adjacent edges of the drip strip 9| and-the drip plate .0 are preferable turned downwardly to facilitate drainage into the usual drip pan II which issupported. on a shelf 08 in the usual manner.

'In masr'mgmen a in those previously described the freezing plates II are suspended from the removable machine base portion ll of the uppercabinet wall by suitable brackets 42. A single flnned cooling Plate 24 is..suspe nded from the machine II by a suitable bracket memberill between the baflie plate 83 and the -tion with the freezing and side wall of the freezing chamber.

Whcn'the compressor and the associated elements mounted on the machine base are re- 7 moved, the freezing plate M and the cooling plate 24 are withdrawn as a unit from the porcclain partition member I4 which vispermanently secured to the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 10 the freezing plates 4I serveas shelves to support the freezing trays 40 within the freezing chamber and to provide a freezing compartment at the bottom of the chamber. -The various elements of the compressor unit are mounted upon the heat insulated base in.interconnected relacoolin'g elements in the cabinet.

In Fig. 12 I'have shown an embodiment of my invention in which the cooling plate 'Illl for cooling the food compartment is mounted within the freezing chamber enclosed by theiporcelain par- I tition member I02. .Thc outward surface of the cooling plate IOI is of flat smooth formation adapted to fit in close. thermal abutting relation against the inside of the freezing chamber wall.

The cooling plate may be lifted freely from the chamber with the removable condenser :unit assembly from which it is suspended. The cooling plate is connected to receive refrigerant from the condenser which also supplies the freezing plates in the freezing chamber as in the previous embodiments. Asealed evaporator I04 is rigidly secured on the outside of the freezing chamber of vaporization is transmitted and it is then dis sipated by the associated system.- The refrigerant condenser and compressor are removable as a unit with the cooling plate IIII and the freezing plates 4| by simply lifting the structure upwardly from the cabinet.

In operation the refrigerant compressor unit I2 may supply liquefied refrigerant to the heat absorbing elements through a system such as that diagrammatically represented in Fig. 13. The compressor pumps refrigerant vapor under high pressure into the condenser I4 and the condensed refrigerant from the condenser I4 passes through the float regulating valve I6 into the coils of the finned cooling plate 24 positioned adjacent one side of the freezing chamber. After the refrigerant expands through the coils'of' the cooling plate, an interconnected conduit carries it through a pressure reducing weight valve 49' into the freezing plates 4I within the freezing chamber. The refrigerant then passes through the freezing plates 4| or coils therein provided in series relation through interconnected conduits 45. From the last freezing plate of the series the refrigerant vapor" is drawn through a suction line 53 to the compressor I2. The pressure reducing wcightvalvc 48 through which the refrigerant passes between the cooling plate and the freezing plates serves to operatethe respective freezing and cooling elementsat different pressures and consequently at different temperatures in accordance with the selected .or adjusted characteristics of the valve. The preferredop crating temperature of the coolingplate is such that it will defrost between operating cycles. In

the embodiment of Fig. 12 the operating temperature of the. cooling plate. IOI is preferably such that the secondary evaporator may defrost between cycles. This provides a, nonfrost element for cooling circulating air in the food com- I partm'ent.

' Although the connection of the cooling plates andgthe freezing plates in series relation pro-' vides a convenient system it will be apparent that the respective cooling and freezing elements may also be arranged in parallel if desired. At times .it may be desirable toconnect thesuction line to the cooling element andpass the high pressure refrigerant first into the freezing plates. A drip pan is provided on a shelf under the freezing chamber in the usual manner.

The arrangement and adjustment of the system to provide various temperatures within the two temperature zones may be readily accomplished by suitably adjusting or selecting 'the various elements such as the pressure reducing valveand the compressor unit elements. I prefer to so select and adjust the elements of my system that the cooling plates will operate at such temperatures that frosting is avoided or defrosting is accomplished automatically between P operations of the compressor. v

It will be seen that I, haveprovided a nonfrosting refrigerator cooling unit which may be advantageously utilized in combination with a two temperature system and a cabinet structure comprising a permanently mounted porcelain freezing chamber whereby the heat absorbing elements normally mounted in the-separate freezing and food storage compartments are eonven iently removable with the compressor as a unit. for shipping and installation, while the porcelain -'partition member enclosing thefreezing chamber [remains permanently mounted in the cabinet for protection.

While it is necessary for the purposes of illustration to describe the several disclosed-forms of my invention in detail, it will be apparent that the invention is not so limited and that other forms and applications thereof are embraced within the scope of the appended claims I claim as my invention: *1. Incombination in a refrigerator, heat -insulating walls enclosing a food compartment, an

, adjacent machine compartment, a base mounting member comprising a removable portionof the adjacent .hcat insulating wall, arefrigerant compressor unit in themachine compartment mounted on said base member, a partition member in said food compartmentenclosing a freez-- ing chamber, flanges projecting from the upper edges of the partition member laterally beyond" the removable base memberfor permanently securing said partition member to. the cabinet, a coating of vitreous enamel on said partition member, cooling means supported from the base member, in an operative position adjacent said member, freezing means. supported from 'said base member within said chamber, an operativcly connected refrigerant compressormounted on said base member whereby the porcelaincoated partition member remains protected in the cabi- '70 net when the compressor assembly is removedfor shipping. v

2. In combination in a refrigerator, heat insulating walls enclosing a food compartment, an

adjacent machine compartment, a removable base mounting member comprising a removable from the removable base member into the freezing compartment. g

. 3. A freezing chamber partitionmember com- 1 prising a sheet metal structure of substantially U-shaped cross-section closed at one end, wide flanges-projecting laterally from the open end of the U for securing the member to a cabinet, apertures in said flanges wherein quick removable cooling means may pass freely adjacent the external surfaces of the side wallsof the freezing chamber.

4. In combination .with a refrigerator including a heat insulated cabinet and a refrigerant compressor unit. mounted upon'a removable base comprising a portion of a heat insulating wall of the cabinet, a partition member enclosing a portion of the space within the cabinet for a freezing chamberadjacent the removable base, said if so partition member comprising a sheet metal strucf ture of substantially U-shaped cross section,

- means' for' securing the ends of the U-section to the cabinet, cooling means suspended from the base to extend freely into the cabinet adjacent the walls of the freezing chamber, freezing means suspended from the base to extend freely into the freezing chamber through the open U-section of the partition member, and means operatively connecting the respective cooling means 4) and freezing means with the compressor unit.

5. In combination in a refrigerator, heat insulating walls comprising a heat insulated cabinet, a machine compartment adjacent one of the heat insulating walls of said cabinet, a removable portion of saidwall compri ins a s a refrigerant compressorunit-mounted in saidmachine compartment on said base, a partition member for enclosing aportion of the space within said cabinet for a freezing chamber, said partition s member comprising a sheet metal structure of substantially U shaped cross'-section closed at one end, wide flanges projecting laterally from the open ends of the U sectionfor securing the partition member to the cabinet, apertures in said .fiisngesthrough which cooling means may pass freely adjacent the external surfaces of the walls of the freezing chamber, cooling means supported from the base to'extend freely into the cabinet through said apertures, freezing means supported from the base to extend freely into the freezing chamber through the open U section of, the partition member, and .means ,operatively connect- I ing 'said compressorunit'with the cooling means and the freezing means.

to 6. A freezing chamber partition member comprising a vertical wall having a horizontal flange,

' said flange being provided with a cutaway portionto provide a space for cooling means to pass I freely adjacent the external'surface of said ver-s 70 than wall to provide for the ready removal of said cooling means froma point adjacent said verticalwalL; M

7. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, partition means. in said cabinet defining a Q chamber, being provided with an side of said partition member.

aaoasea open end for receiving heat absorbing means and said partition means having a cutaway portion "for receiving additional heat absorbing means.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprislnga cabinet having an' opening, sheet metal partition means in said cabinet defining a chamber, said i chamber having an open end in alignment with said cabinet opening,.movable wall structure ar-'- ranged for closing said cabinet opening," a refrigerant-eva'porating element adjacent said movable wall structure and extending into said chamber, said evaporating elementbeing movable through said cabinet opening, said partition means having an opening forsaid chamber and a door for clos-v ing said opening to thereby gain access to said-' element.- v

9. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a sheet metal wall, arefrlgerant evaporating element in physical contact with one side of said wall and l a second refrigerant evaporating element in physical contact with the 'other side of said wall di-. rectly opposite the first element.

7 l0. Refrigerating apparatus. comprising a partition member, heat absorbing-means including difierentportions located on oneside of said partition member, means for maintaining a temperature differential between said different portions, and heat absorbing means locatedon the opposite 11. An evaporator for refrigerating systems so comprising in combination, refrigerant conveying means arranged to define awall of, asharp freezing compartment, a refrigerated shelf disposed horilontally within said freezing compartment. for supporting a receptacle adapted to contain a 'subas stance to be congealed or frozen, a closed chamber containing a temperature holdover substance adjacent to and in intimate thermal contact with said shelf,"and means for supporting said refrigerated shelf and said ,chamber in spaced-relation o, to the walls 'of said freezing compartment.

. 12. An evaporator for refrigerating systems comprising in combination, refrigerant conveying means arranged to define a .wall of a sharp freezing compartment, '9. refrigerated shelf disposed horizontally within said freezing compart-' ment forsupporting a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, 9'.

closed chamber containing a temperature Holdover substance adlacentto and in intimate thermal contact-with said shelf, and means; for supporting said refrigerated shelf and said chamber in spaced relation to the walls of said freezing compartment, saidlast named means being'of a material 'separatejfrom and independent of the walls of said compartment and of -the hold-over chamber and-shelf.

13. An evaporator for refrigerating systems comprising in combination, refrigerant conveying means arranged to-define a wall of asharp freezing compartment, means forming a com bined receptacle receiving shelFand closed container, saidcombined shelf and container being. L

disposed horizontally within said freezing comm. partment and said container having a temperature hold-over substance therein, and means for supporting'said combined shelf and container in spaced relation to the walls of said freezing compartment."

,14. An evaporator forrefrigerating systems comprising incombiriation, refrigerant conveyf ing means'arrangedto define a wall of a sharp freezing compartment, means forming a combined receptacle receiving refrigerated shelf and temperature holdover element, said' combined 15 shelf and element being disposed horizontally within said freezing compartment, and means for supporting said combined shelf and element in spaced relation to the walls of said freezing compartment.

15. An evaporator for. refrigerating systems comprising in combination, refrigerant conveying means arranged to define a wall of a sharp freezing compartment, means forming a temperature holdoverelement, said element being disposed horizontally within said freezing compartment and providing a shelf for the reception of a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to becongealed or frozen; and means for supporting saidelement in spaced relation to the walls of said freezing compartment.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

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