US2319890A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1943- 1 R. H. swAR'r 2,319,890

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS o H fa 32 Fvg' J5: ya 0 JNVENTOR 12M/M152: l(- 5W/IRT May 25, 1943. R. H. swAR'r 2,319,890

I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-sheet 2 May 25, 1943. R. H. swAR-r REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25. 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FEM/web l# .wam'r BY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS ATTORNEY.

May 25, 1943. R. H. swAR-r REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2 5, 1940 5 sheets-Sheet 5 le/Ma ll. wmzr WIJZ. M,

ATTORNEY.

ous refrigerant coming Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATE REFRIGERATING A PPARATUS .a

Richard H. Swart;l Detroit, Mich., asslgnorgto Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Application November 25, 1940, serial No. sssgsn 1 (01462-99).

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rerigerating apparatus, and more particularly to such type of apparatus as is used for the refrigeration and storage of bottled beverages and the like.

One of the objects of is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet wherein a compartment is to .be maintained at a substantially uniform refrigerating temperature throughout and to arrange to accomplish this in a new and improved manner.

Another ob'jectvis` to provide an improved refrigerating system for maintaining a refrigerating temperature throughout a compartment wherein the cooling element is located outside the compartment and Acomprises a refrigerant evaporating conduit secured in heat exchange relation to a plurality of the sides of the'compartment. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerant accumulating element at the outletof a refrigerant evaporating element which functions not only as a refrigerant disengaging means, but also as an effective heatI absorbing means aiding in maintaining a refrigerating temperature in a compartment to be cooled. v 4

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved refrigerant accumulating element at the outlet lof a refrigerant evaporating element whereinan inclined disengaging zone is provided for separating the liquid from the gasefrom the evaporating element and wherein the separated liquid refrigerant is collected in a heat absorbing zone to assist'the evaporating element in refrigerating a refrigerator storage compartment.-

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved door arrangement and seal therefor for gaining access to and sealing the storage compartmen of my refrigerator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a preferred the present invention I form -of refrigerant Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view -taken along line 'l-l of Fig. 2;` Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of a modified form of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in cross-section; Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified vention with parts broken away; and Y have .provided a beverage Lso some kind Fig. l0 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Iii-I0 of Fig. 9.

In accordance with the present invention, I

cooler cabinet wherein a storage compartment is cooled by a long sinuous refrigerant evaporating conduit placed in heat exchange relation with the outside of a box-like liner forming thecompartment. This conduit is arranged so as to pass refrigerant in thermal exchange with the bottom and as many sides of the liner as may be necessary to refrigerate properly the interior of the' compartment. In a system ofthis kind,. during certain periods of operation, some liquid refrigerant may be carried through the conduit. Hence of liq 'd accumulator or trap is fpro-A vided at the outlet of the coil to prevent return of liquid refrigerant to the compresson Ac-v cordingly I have devised an improved refrger-l ant accumulator'which not only eectiv'ely disengages gaseous from liquid or vaporous refrigerant but alsoV serves as a heat absorbing system itself. This accumulator comprises a long straight conduit closed at both ends and slightly larger in cross-section than that used in the refrigerant evaporating element. This conduit` is secured in heatv exchange. relation to the outside of the liner of the storage compartment above the outlet end of the evaporating element and is inclined to facilitate the collection of liquid refrigerant in its lower end. 'I'he upper end of the accumulating conduit has an opening communicating with the outlet end of the evaporating element for the admission of vaporous, liquid and gaseous refrigerant. Some distance down the inclined conduit another opening is provided embodiment of my invention with parts broken away and parts shown in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view with parts broken away and parts shown in cross-section;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view with parts bre-ken away and parts shown in cross-section;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary crosszsectional view in perspective of the breaker strip and lid support;

'casing 22 and an through which separated gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn. The lower end of the accumulating conduit serves as a collecting zone for the separated liquid refrigerant which is then utilized to absorb heat from the beverage cooler storage compartment. The accumulator 'provides-a disengagingspace. of great width and .relatively small height. A

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates in general a refrigerator cabinet adaptedfor the refrigeration and storage of botlike either in a Wet or dry state. The cabinet includes an outer sheet metal inner sheet metal casing 24 which is suspendedwithin the outer casing'from a horizontal wood frame 26. The latter is se-y accumulator used in my inmember 12 in place.

cured to'the upper edge of vthe outer casing and is partially covered by metal trim 21. .The inner casing 24 serves as the liner of a storage compartment 28. Insulation 29 is interposed between the inner and outer casings' around the sides of the compartment 28. A sheet metal partition 30 cooperates with the bottom of casing 24 to form a space below the storage compartment in which insulation '32 is inserted. Below partition 30 is located a machine compartment 34 enclosed on front and sides by the outer metal casing 22, the back of the machine compartment being left open. The outer casing 22 is rigidly supported on pcdestals 36 which also support an angle iron frame structure 38 for carrying a condensing unit. A metal bracket 40 between the angle iron frame work and the botttom of the storage compartment serves as additional supporting means. A valve controlled drain member 4I is provided for emptying tank 24 when desired.

The storage compartment 28 has an opening 42 at the top through which access to the interior of the compartment may be had. This opening is provided with a rubber gasket 44 that extends around the entire periphery of the opening. This gasket has a horizontally extending upper portion 48 and a verticallyextending lower portion 48. The upper portion of the gasket is fastened to the top of the cabinet by means of an inverted L-shaped retaining member 50. Part of the upper portion 46 is caught beneath the retaining member 50while the rest is brought back over the retaining member, thereby concealing it, and down into the opening 42. The lower portion 48 is positionedA in a cutaway or recessed portion of the wood frame member 26 and has a relatively thin extension 52 at its lowest end which is adapted to be secured over the top of the lining member 24 in a manner to be described.

Within the opening 42 of the compartment 28 there is also provided a gasketed rail or ledge 56 for supporting 1ids.` This gasketed rail comprises an inverted L-shaped member 60 whose upper portion is completely enclosed by a at top rubber gasket 62. The latter has a depending lower portion 64 which, along with the extension 52 of the gasket 44, is rmly secured between the mem ber 60 and the top of the casing 24 to the wood frame 26 by means of screw members 55.

Supported upon the gasketed rail 56 within the opening to the compartment 28 are two pairs of hinged lids 58 which areA adapted to completely close the opening 42. The lid proper comprises a hard rubber top 68 having an annular depending portion 68 and cross-ribs 69.' To obtain a better, sealing contact with the gasketed rail B than aorded by the hard rubber, an annular strip of soft rubber is formed ing portion B8. Insulation 1| is placed within the recessed portions of the lid and a sheet metal retaining member 12 is pressed into the bottom. A handle 14 is secured to the lid by means of a bolt 16 and nut 11 which also helps to retain Two of these lids are hingedly fastened together by means of an inverted U-shaped soft rubber strip 18. Screw members 19, in cooperation with threaded members 80 in the lid proper, serve to secure one leg of the strip 18 to each lid. To lend rigidity to the construction metal strips 8| are placed between the rubber strip 18 and the hard rubber lid. Protuberances or beads 82 on the lower ends of the legs of the rubber hinge abut each other and serve to keep the lids properly spaced, On

- one of the pairs of hinged 'lids there is provided a integral with the depend` rubber cushioning gasket -83 which serves as sealing means between adjacent lids of the different pairs at the center of the opening 42. This gasket comprises two hollow portions 84 and 85. A strip of rigid material 81 is inserted into the hollow portion 84 and is secured to the end of the lid. The other hollow portion is much larger and is very flexible. It abuts the end of the lid forming part of the other pair and serves to seal the two pair of lids together against passage of air .and moisture therebetween into the compartment 28. This sealing gasket 83 eliminates the necessity of having a cross bar at the center of the opening 42, thereby facilitating loading of the compartment 28 upon removal of the two pairs of lids.

The compartment 28 is maintained at a refrigs -erating temperature by a refrigerating apparatus which includes a heat absorbing element 1 and a condensing unit 9|. The heat absorbing element includes my improved accumulating element, designated by the numeral 92. The element 90 comprises beside the accumulating ele ment 92 a single continuous refrigerant evaporating conduit 94 which is directly secured to the outside of liner 24 by any suitable means, such as soldering. The actual wrapping of the liner with the conduit is effected by first bending the entire length of the conduit in a horizontal plane into sinuous sections which are to be associated with the respective sides and bottom of the box-like liner 24.V Then the liner 24 is placed on top of the coiled conduit and the i various sections are folded upwardly 'and secured to the sides of the liner. In the present embodiment the conduit is arranged so that refrigerant will first circulate through section 96 of the conduit secured to one end of the liner, then to section 98 along one side of liner, thence to the bottom section |00 and finally up the other side through section |02 to the accumulati-ng element 92.

My improved accumulating element comprises a straight conduit or tube |04 which is closed at l both' ends and which extends nearly the entire length of one side of the liner 24 in heat exchange relation therewith. The conduit is secured to the liner ina slightly sloping or inclined position in order to collect liquid in the lower end. The upper end of the accumulating conduit is connected to the inlet end |06 of the refrigerant evaporating conduit 94 which projects somewhat into the tube |04 in order to prevent liquid collecting in the tube from flowing back. An outlet |01 to the accumulating conduit.' |04 is provided about halfway up the tube and is connected to a conduit |08 leading to the condensing unit 9|. By placing the inlet |06 and outlet |01 -in these positions a path of some length is provided in which the liquid and gaseous refrigerant may become disengaged.- Furthermore, by

placing the liquid inlet at the upper end the full charge of refrigerant.

- engaging space.

terior surface of the entire length of the conduit parts.

||1 from which it is delivtube ||8 which controls livers it to. a receiver ered to a small diameter the flow of the liquid to th element 90. The small diameter tube and the vapor return conduit |08 are preferably secured in thermal exchange -its open upper end and liquid supply conduits H8, respectively. To

control the operation of the condensing unit a thermostat is provided. This thermostat is rendered responsive to .the evaporating element 90 by means of a thermo bulb located in a well |28 vwhich is preferably soldered to both the tank 24 and the conduit section 98. If desired the bulb may be secured to lthe tank or to the refrigerant conduit alone. cess to the thermostat |26 to adjust its setting may be had through a removable panel |30 on the front of the cabinet 20.

. As the liquid refrigerant delivered to the evaporating element 90 by the condensing unit 9| circulates through conduit 94 it. absorbs heat from the compartment 28 and part of it is converted into refrigerant vapor. By the time this mixture of liquid and gaseous refrigerant 4reaches and the entrance to the theend of conduit 94 accumulator 92 'while it may be predominantly vapor it nevertheless contains some liquid refrigerant, the quantity depending upon the initial This mixture is projected into the accumulating conduit |04. As it progresses downwardly liquid refrigerant is precipitated out and collects on the walls of the conduit I 04. This separated liquid then flows toward the lower end of the conduit out of the way of possibl'e entrainment byincoming gas. The gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn through-vapor conduit |08 to th condensing unit. It will be observed that the zone between the inlet |06 and outlet |01 of the accumulator, being of substantial length and cross-section, affords an excellent dis- At, the same time, s ince the in# becomes wet with separated liquid refrigerant and the lower end is filled with the accumulated liquid, a considerable contribution is made to the heat absorption characteristics of the evaporating element 90.

In Fig. 8 there is shown meral |30. The modified form has a larger storage compartment, designated by the numeral |3I.

which has an access opening |32 in the top of the same width as in the described vcabinet' 20 being adapted to receive in the samemanner thev lids 58. A top wall. |34 covers the interposcd. Otherwise the cabinet construction is essentially the same as that of 'cabinet 20 and corresponding numbers designate corresponding A more extended evaporating element |40 is utilized to refrigerate compartment |3|, an additional section |42 being added, thereby rendering the compartment completely enclosed by a refrigerant evaporating conduit on all four sides and bottom. The operation of the system is the a 'modification of my improved refrigerator cabinet, designated by nutemperature of the Acv same as -that usedin connection with cabinet 20,

previously described.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a modified form of conduit-connected in series to the outlet my improved accumulating element. The construction of this modified form is such as to be readily and cheaply man factured. It comprises a conduitwhich like conduit I 04 is secured to the liner of the storage compartment in an inclined position. Its lower end is closed and into are inserted the outlet end |52 of the rest of the evaporating element and the end |54 of a vapor return conduit. The end |52 projects into conduit |50 somewhat further than conduit |54. These two conduits |52 and |54 are of smaller cross-section than conduit |50 and are of such a size that together they fit tightly into the open end |5'| of conduit |50. A completely fluid tight ing the end of conduit |50 around the two conduits |52 and |54 and sealing thereto with solder or the like. The mixture of liquid refrigerant and gaseous refrigerant entering the conduit |50 |52 separates into its liquid and gaseous components, the liquid collecting along the lower end of the conduit |50 while the gas is withdrawn through conduit |54.

It will therefore an effective accumulator which occupies little more space than the levaporator proper so that the insulation may be uniform in size and the inner and outer walls need not be bulged to accommodate it. Also it will be noted that the lids or doors effectively seal the cabinet while they are arranged to quickly gain access to the storage compartment.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit 'of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a boxlike liner, a serpentine refrigerant evaporating from conduits 'conduit in heat exchange relation with said liner,

and a second and larger refrigerant evaporating of said iirst conduit and secured in a substantially straight line tilted position in heat exchange relation to said liner above the outlet end of said first conduit, said second conduit having its inlet and outlet located in the higher portion thereof.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an inner lining, an outer casing, a refrigerant conduit secured to the outer surface of said inner lining, a

refrigerant A accumulator whose Width in cross section does not greatly exceed the width in cross section of. said conduit associated with the outlet of said conduit and being positioned between said in contact with said` inner liningand outer casing lining and insulation positioned between said conduit and outer casing.

A3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a box-like liner, an

`outer casing and insulation between said liner and casing;

a refrigerant evaporator coil secured to the outer wall of said liner adjacent said insulation, a second refrigerant conduit slightly larger in cross section than the first named conduit secured to the outer wall of said liner and one end thereof located on a higher elevation than the other end thereof and being arranged t0 store liquid inthe latter end thereof.

RICHARD H. SWART.

seal is obtained by pressbe noted that I have provided-

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