US1153712A - Refrigerating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

E.RUU& REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1912.

PatentedSept. 14, 1915. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I

INYENTOR E. RUUD. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS APIPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1912.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mveN'roR WN MN wrmss sss mansrarne are rrren EDWIN RUUD, OF PITTSBURGH; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T RUUD MANUFAC- TUBING- COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

REFRIGNRATING APPARATUS.

- Patented Sept. 14, 1 915.

Application filed May 6, 1912. Serial No. 695,432..

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic refrigerating apparatus of absorption type that requires no attention after being installed and started,

, the apparatus being caused to repeat its cycle of operations automatically by the substance that causes refrigeration. Attention and care of an operator are unnecessary, the apparatus being self-contained and selfoperated. i

A further object of the invention is to provide for automatically controlling the temperature of the refrigerator, refrigeration'being stopped when the desired degree of cold it attained, so that it is quite impossible for freezing or damaging low temperatures to be created within the refrigerating compartment.

Still a further purposeis to provide two separate controlling means for the gas supply, one being controlled by the substance that causes refrigeration, and the other by the temperature of the generator, so that the supply of gas will be diminished or cut ofi when the generator has attained a suficiently high temperature before the productof ghe generator has accumulated in suf:

ficient' amount to operate the gas valve mechanism controlled thereby.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the appa ratus, the several parts being in'theposition they assume when the generator is in action and before it begins to act as an absorber. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the several parts, in the positions they assume when refrigeration is going on, with the generator shut off, and with the generator-absorber acting as an absorber. Also included in Fig. 2 are several features of modified constructon.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the tank or container which initially serves as'a generator and subsequently as an absorber, the former when the burner or heater is active for generating ammonia vapor and gas, and operating as an absorber when the depleted liquid remaining thereinfollowing the generating process is reabsorbing the ammonia after it has accomplished refrigeration. A vapor and gas outlet pipe 3 extends from the top generator 2 to separating coil 4: immediately above and connected to condenser coil 5. Coil l serves to separate the initial condensate from the gas and drains it back into the generator, while the substantially pure ammonla gas and vapor pass into the condenser coil. 1

The lower end of condenser coil 5 connects with a tank-like receiver 6 which is movable vertically with its supporting lever 7, the latter fulcrumed at 8 and carrying counterweight 9. A fixed stop 10 extends between lugs 11 and 12 projecting from receiver 6, said stop and lugs limiting the upward and downward movement of the receiver. Counterweight 9 is adapted to shift or roll on lever 7 between stops 7' and 7". When container 6 is elevated as in Fig. l the lever is inclined sutliciently to cause the weight.

to shift outwardly against stop 7 and exert maximum resistance to the lowering of receiver 6. But when the latter fills suiticiently to overcome the weight and lower, the weight shifts inwardly against stops 7", as in Fig. 2, thereby decreasing the leverage and permitting the receiver to remain in lowered position until empty or approximately so.

Connected to the bottom of receiver 6 is coil 13 of pipe 14- which extends to the refrigerator 15, where it connects with the refrigerating coil 16 in manner presently to be explained. In the adaptation shown in Fig. 1, a thermostatic valve 17, mounted in the end of generator 2, is interposed in pipe 14. and controls the flow from receiver 6 to the refrigerating coil, as will presently appear. In the adaptation of Fig. 2, valve 17 is omitted, pipe 14 extending uninterruptedly from receiver 6 to the refrigerator.

At the refrigerator, pipe 14: connects with the'thermostatic valve 18 whichis controlled by the temperature of the refrigerating chamber and governs the admission of the refrigerating substance into the refrigerating coil 16. The refrigerating coil: or pipe third ammonia and two-thirds water.

' ward discharge into the absorber from the condenser.

The generator heating means consists of a gas burner 22 to which gas is supplied through pipe 24: in which is interposed valve 25. Stem '26 of this valve is adjustably connected to one end of lever 27 fulcrumed between its ends and at its op osite end connected to snap spring 28. link 29 connects lever 27 with the counterweighted end of the receiver-supporting lever A bracket 30=provides a convenient support for levers 7 and 27, also for valve .25, and one end of the bracket may be shaped as shown to provide the stop 10. The outer end of snap spring 28 may be connected to a downward extension 30 of the bracket.

In the preferred ararngement, gas supply pipe 24 is provided with a thermostatic valve 32 fixed in the end of container 2 opposite valve 17, valve 32 proportioning the flow of gas to the temperature of the liquid in the container, the action of the thermostat being such as to contract the gas passage as the temperature rises and to cut oil the gas altogether when the desired maximum temperature has been attained. I

33 is a constantly burning pilot for burner 22. Container 2 may be provided with a pressure gage 34 and thermometer 35".

In operation, generator 2 is nearly filled with water and ammonia, the proportions as commercially obtainable being about one- With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1,

gas valve 25 is open, and the liquid being cold or relatively cool thermostatic valve 32 is also open. Receiver 6 isempty, or substantially so, and is in elevated position with lug 11 engaging stop 10. Under these conditionsgenerator 2 and its contents are gradually heated, and as the temperature rises ammonia vapor aiid gas are generated, and

- under the increasing pressure the vapor and gas ass off through pipe 3 into separator 41 w ich results indraining the initial condensate back through pipe 3, and substantially 'ure ammonia gas, or vapor or both, are de 'vered through check valve 21 into the condenser coil 5 where, under proper temperatufe' and pressure conditions, the gas and'vapor are liquefied, the liquid discharging into receiver 6. This operation will continue until practically all of the armmonia has been extracted from the liquid in enerator 2 when the weight of the scen mu lated liquid ammonia in receiver 6 ever-- comes counterweight 9 and the receiver lowers to the position shown in Fi 2 with lug 12 engaging 10,- the' convo utions of condenser coil 5 and coil 13 being sufiiciently flexible to permit of thevertical movement of the receiver without hindrance. The

counterweighted end of later 7 is of eourse elevated as the receiver lowers, and through link connection 29 burner control-ling lever 27 is oscillated and gas supply valve 25 closed. Snap spring 28 is so arranged that initially it opposes the movement of lever 27 in either direction and accelerates the last portions of each of said movements, the spring being contracted by such initial movements and expanding during the completion of such movement. Link 29 is slotted vertically at 31 to receive connecting pin 31 of lever 7. Normally, pin 31 is approximately midway the ends of the slot, whether the mechanism is holding valve 25 open, as in Fig. 1, or closed as in Fig. 2. Slot 31 permits lever 7 to move either up or down through the major portion of its throw without affecting the gas valve, the latter being closed or opened by a sudden and complete movement instead of closing or opening gradually as receiver 6 lowers or raises, the movement being accelerated, as above indi cated, by spring 28. This insures positive predetermined action from the burner, prevents injury thereto resulting fromv gradual increase and decrease of heat, and avoids flickering or variation in the flame. lVith receiver 6 in lowered position and-the gas shut ofl from burner 22 generator 2 cools down to a point where the depleted liquid or poor liquor will absorb ammonia vapor, whereupon the generator becomes an absorber. The arrangement is preferably such that thermostatic valve 17 remains closed until the liquid is some degrees below the point at which. absorption will begin. But when the temperature has lowered suifinia from receiver 6 is permitted to flow through pipe 14 and into the normally open thermostatic valve 18 and into refri era-ting coil 16 where cold is developed ue to the expansion and vaporization of the liquid, valve 18 being .in effect an expansion valve. The ammonia vapor,- with the heat absorbed from refrigerator 15, isconductedth'rough pipe 19 into chamber 2 which, as before stated, has now become an absorber, the vapor flowing past check valve 20. This absorption process continues until all'of the liquid is absorbed from receiver 6, or until the temperature of refrigerator 15 is reduced as low asdesired, determined by the adjustmentof valve 18.- H the minimum temperature is reached before tank 61s emptied and hence before it'rises from the position shown in Fi' 2 to that of Fig. 1, valve 18 closes and t e circulation is shut 0E, and the apparatus remains at a standstill until the temperature of the refrigerator rises suficiently' to open valve 18 for the continuation of the refrigerating and absorbing processes and'until receiver 61s relieved of enough of it's contents to be receiver rises and the parts resume the positions shown in Fig. '1 which results in opening gas valve and starting burner 22 and again heating up the rehabilated liquid in generator 2. The pressure in the generator soon overcomes the pressure in pipe 19 and closes check valve 20, and the absorber is transformed into a generator and so continues until substantially all of the ammonia is again extracted from the liquid in con tainer 2. When the liquid within the con tainer attains a sufliciently high temperature and 32, are quite important. Valve 25 acts positvely to shut oh the supply at the completion of the generating process, and

valve 32 either diminishes the supply or cuts it ofi altogether when the liquid has attained a sutficiently. high temperature before the completion of such generation, thus preventing the generator from becoming overheated.

I use the term refrigerating coil in its 1 broad sense, meaning thereby any form of conduit for the vapor that will accomplish refrigeration regardless of whether located 1 within a refrigerating chamber or wherever it-is desired to accomplish refri ,eration. 'In the embodiment here shown, t e stemlike extension of valve 18 is embraced by the refrigerating coil so that when the re frigerator attains the desired minimum temperature the valve is closed and refrigeration stops until the temperature rises su'fliciently to openit. By this means the re-' frigerating process is so controlled that it is absolutely impossible for the refrigerator to attain a damaging low temperature.

While I prefer to provide two separate means for controlling the flow of liquid ammonia to the refrigerating coil, viz., valves 17 and 18, valve 17 may be dispensed ,with, as in Fig. 2, the flow being controlled entirely by valve 18 which, in turn, is di-- rectly controlled by the temperature of the refrigerator.

llnlieu of thermostatic valve 32 for the gas supply, the valve mechanism shown in Fig.2 may be employed wherein valve 4Q in gas pipe 24 is held normally open by spring 41 which bears against diaphragm 42 to which pressure from generator 2 is cominunicated through pipe 43, with the result that when suficiently'high pressure has-been attained spring 41 is compressed and valve 40 partially or completely closed, as determined by the pressure.

llhe operation of the, apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 presupposes such atmospheric conditions as will cool the condenser coil 5 sufficiently toperform its function, and like- Wise will suficiently cool chamber 2 to constitute it an absorber. However, climatic conditions or the normal temperature of the compartments in which the apparatus is located may be too high to be effective. In,

such case, the expedient illustrated'in Fig. 2

may be resorted to in which a considerable portion of the chamber coil is inclosed in a water tank 44,enough pf the coil convolutions remaining beneath the tank 'to compensate for the vertical movement of receiver 6. 45 is a water supply pipe which delivers to the double acting valve 46 from which leads a pipe 47 to'tank 44 and another pipe 48 into chamber 2, being preferably coiled therein as indicated at 49 and leading therefrom at" 50.. 51 is the overflow pipe for tank 44. By this arrangement when chamher 2 is acting as an absorber the double valve 46 is closed to pipe 4'T and open to .pipe 48 so that water circulates through coil 49 and assists very materially in lowering the temperature of the depleted liquid remaining in chamber 2, thereby increasing its efficiency as anabsorber. As valve 46 is operated conjointly with gas valve 25, the opening of the latter, as in Fig. 1, will close valve 46 to pipe 48 and open it to pipe 47 thereby establishing circulation of water through tank 44 and increasing the efficiency of the condenser. The cooling efiect of the water is transmitted alternately to the condenser and to the generator-absorber, these efi'ects alternating with the alternations of the apparatus from generating and condensing to refrigerating and absorbing, as will be understood.

The thermostatic valves 17, 18 and 32, the gas valves 25 and 40, and the water valve 46, are all old and well known to those skilledin the 'art and detailed illustration and description are believed unnecessary.

While it is designed primarily that refrigeration shall take place only when the parts are in the positions or adjustments shown in Fig. 2, or in other words when chamber 2 is operating as an absorber, the cold produced during such alternating peduring the generating and condensing period, but if necessary a receptacle containing brine may be placed within the refrigerator, or other means may be employed for storing up the cold and giving it oil when the refrigerating coil cannot be active. ll refer herein to the use of ammonia because its properties are well known, and because it is generally used in refrigerating plants; It will be understood, however, that any other fluid having like or similar characteristics may be employed without departing from the invention.

I claim 1. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a riods is ordinarily sufficient to maintain the refrigerator at sufiiciently low temperature generator, annpright flexible condenser coil connected thereto, a vertlcally movable receiver to which the flexible coil is connected,

counterweight means sustaining the receiver normally elevated but adapted to be overbalanced and' the receiver depressed by liquid accumulated in the receiver, a heater for the generator, heater controlling means movable with the receiver, and a refrigeratrespectively to the generator and the re-q frigerator for controlling the passage of fluid from the condenser to the refrigerating coil, and condenser heating means.

a 3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser, a refrigerating coil adapted to communicate with the refrigerator and with the condenser, a gas burner for the generator, a gas supply pipe leading to the burner, two valves controlling the flow of gas to the burner, means actuated by the condition of the generator contents for actuating one of the valves, and means actuated in part by the product from the condenser and in part by a'counter'weight for actuating the other of said Valves. 0

4; Re igerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser, a refrigerating coil adapted to communicate with the condenser and with the generator, a gas burne1 for the generator, and two independent automatically operated valves for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, one valve actuated by the llquid inthegenerator and the other valve by liquid from the condenser.

-5 Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser communicating there'- with consisting of an upright flexible coil, a vertically movable receiver connected 'to thelower end of the condenser, a refrigerating coil, a pipe coiled adjacent to the receiver and connected to the latter and to the refrigerating coil and adapted to compen sate forthe vertical movement of the receiver,..a eounterweighted support for the receiver, a heater for the generator, and

heater controlling means movable with the.

receiver 6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser connected thereto, a vertically movable receiver into which the condenser discharges i and which is depressed by liquid accumulated therein, means for restoring the receiver to raised position when depleted of liquid, a heater for the generator, heater controlling means having as loose connection with the receiver and actuated only by the last portions. of the opposite vertical movements of the receiver to start and stop the heater, and a refrigerating coil adapted to communicate withithe receiver and with the generator. L

7. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser connected thereto, a vertically movable receiver into which the condenser discharges and which is depressed by the weight of liquid accumulated therein, means opposing depression of the receiver and for elevating it when depleted of liquid, a heater for the generator, a refrigerating coil adapted to communicate with the receiver and with the generator, and a thermostatic valve exposed to the temperature of the refrigerating coil and controlling the 8G I passage of fluid into the latter from the condenser.-.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser connected thereto, a

vertically movable receiver, into'which the '85 I condenser discharges and which is depressed by the weight of liquid accumulated therein, L

means opposing depression of the receiver and for elevating it when depleted of,liquid, a heater for the generator, a refrigerating coil adapted to communicate with the receiver and with the generator, and a th er'mostatic valve exposed to the temperature of the generator for controlling the passage of fluid from the condenser to the refrigerating coil. I Y In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceof'two witnesses v 1 EDWIN RUUD; Witnesses 1 i J. M. Nnsnrr',

F. E. Gamma

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