US2075838A - Mechanical refrigerator apparatus - Google Patents

Description

' 3 sheets-snelst 1 L. l..` ToRREY Filed Dec. V5, 1952 Illllllllllllll- IIIIIIIIL MECHANICAL REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS April 6, 1937.

April 6, 1937. L L. T oRREY MECHANICAL REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS Filed nec. :5, 1952 :s Vsheets-sheet 2 April 6, 1937- L. l.. ToRREY I 2,075,838

MECHANICAL REFRIGERATOR PPARATUS Filed Deo. 3, 1932 s sheets-sheet s' Mnl, '-2' m17 JS Pmi Patented pr. 6, 9'337 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEonANloAL REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS Lucien'L. Torrey, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December s, 1932, serial No. 645,602

8 claims. (ci. isz-116) This invention relates te/ mechanical refrigerator apparatus, and more particularly concerns improvements in such devices for household employment.

M any types of such devices have heretofore been proposed, and manufactured, in the endeavor to produce a structure which is competent of responding to the varied requirements of the household, and to give economic, satisfactory and 10 sanitary service under such varied conditions.

15 temperature for preservation and the necessities One of the objects .of` the present invention is to provide a ,storage chamber structure for such a system, in' which various food stuffs may be segregated according to their requirements of of maintainingvarious groups or classes of food stuis separated 'from one another to prevent deterioration of one or more articles by the absorption of odors from other articles.

Another `feature of the present invention is to provide a storage chamber structureofthis type in which independent compartments are( provided, with independent closing doors, wherebythe energy values represented by the cold` in the various compartments are not dissipated immediately upon opening a general door for the structure, along with the provision of independent means for cooling such compartments whereby they may be independently maintained at ldef sired predetermined temperatures in substantial independence of y one another.

Another feature ofthe present invention is the kprovision of a storage chamber structure comprising removable independent compartment dev vices, supported by a common frame, with the provision of means f orcooling the same which are mounted upon the 'same frame.

Still another feature of the, present invention is the 'provision of .a storage chamber structure 40 having general insulating walls and a general closing door, in conjunction with individual stor- Iage chambers and meansI for cooling Ithe same to diil'erent temperatures, along with the provi,

.sion 'of internal insulating walls to segregate chambers of higher temperature from those of lower temperature. A

A still further feature of thex present invention is the provision of individual storage chambers with independently sealed devices whereby thesame may be drained independently'without danger of'the transfer of odorsv from one chamber to another, or from the exterior to any chamber.

With these and other objects in View as will appear in .thepcourse of the following specification and claims, an illustrative forml yof coniaries, the Igeneral storage chamber, and the inv dividual compartments with their cooling means.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2.v

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 4a is a detail sectional view, showing a removable connection and trap f or the drainage system.

Figure 5 is aperspective view on a larger -scale showing a detail of the lassemblage of the frame, insulating pieces', front panel, and doors.

Figure 6 is`a vertical sectional view, showing the relationship of a compartment to the general drain tube.v l D Figure 7 is a fragmentary viewron a still larger sca1e,-ofv an individual drain for a compartment.

In these iig11res,"a general insulating casing I0 having side, top, bottom and rearwalls, each illustrated as formed of balsa plies and joined at from this door is a face panel P (Fig. 1 -illustrated as comprised of two sections each extending from top to bottom, and serving to close off within the general insulating structure a compartmentwithin which individual storage chambersand their cooling means maybe disposed.l The gereral drain pipe 281 is preferably removable, and `has its lower end received in la pocket of the bottom wall of casing ,lil (Fig. 4a) and is. supported at intervals along its length by ears 28e whichare received by the hooks 28h secured to the -rear wallofthe casing I0 (Figs. 3 and 6) In Figs. land 3, the structure is shown to have seven such individual storage chambers, denominated A, B, C, D, E, F, and, G, which are illustrated as being .of diierent arbitrarily selected dimensions. Each of these compartments is provided (Fl'g. 1) .with a door I 2a, |211, I2c, l2d, i.2e i2f, or lg-having a. pivotal mounting by hinges I3 (Figs. 1 and 6) to the face panel P'whereby they may swing down -to expose the contents oi the individual compartment; 'I'he center of gravity of the door when closed tends to hold it 1'0 work includes the vertical posts or uprights I6 and is braced'by suitable bolts I6 from the rear chamber wall I0. Extending horizontally between the rear posts I5 are pluralities of rails I1 arranged in pairs on each post so that (Fig. 2) they 15 .may receive between them the structure forming an individual storage chamber. The rails I1are preferably in the form of angle members which` form supporting members for the storage chamber structures. arranged in groups and constitute guide means on which the individual storage chamberstructures ,are slidable for permitting insertion and removal of the same. At the front of Ithese structures, the frame is Joined to the face panel P. The junctions of at least the front posts -I 6 to rails I1, and the junction of the face panels P to the frame are separableJso .that the face panels may be removed, to leave clear the space between the upper rail for one lower rail for the next higher chamber. These .rails are supported likewise `by brace members I9 (Fig.` 3) servingto relieve the attachments between the rails and posts from twisting strains whenF the front posts have been disengaged.

Since two vertical rowsof chambers are provided'in the illustrated form, gaps exist between the two pairs of posts i6 provided for e'ach row f, in the illustratedl construction, and between these pairs and the side walls of the casing I 0. These gaps are spanned at the front by an insulating piece 20 (Figs. 4 and 5) bolted to the central front posts I5; and by similar insulating pieces 20a located between the sidewalls and the lateral :front posts I5. Horizontal barsI I8 are connected to the rear posts I5 and e the side walls. These members v.therefore support the posts i6 with respect to the side walls and prevent lateral lmovement of these posts, while permitting the frame assembly to be withdrawn after removal of the securing means for the face panel P. 'Ihe front insulation pieces 20 and 20a are likewise secured directly to this face panel P itself. To' assist in insulating the spacebehind thegface panel, horizontal insulation pieces 20h are provided (Figs. 5 and 6).

- Slidable into each double pair of rails I 1 are the individualy ystorage 'chamber structures, which 'may be referred to as cans, and are indicated generally as A, B, C,.DE, F, and G in Fig. 2. As shown in the drawings, each of these cans has top, bottom, side and end walls 25, but Vis open at the front. Each can is received through an opening in the face panel which is normally closed by a door (Figs/1 and 61) Each opening is of slightly greater vertical dimension than the corresponding can,vand each can is provided in this illustrated form with the stop bar 25a be-- neath its bottom and spaced from the front edge a distance corresponding to the thickness of the face panel P. The can thus may be slid into position while its front end is raised, and the stop o bar 25a will then clear the lower-,edge of the yopening in the face panel P, and upon lowering 75 this bar will thereafter prevent the removal of 'Ihe supporting members are y lowestpoint or points 'to and front postschamber and the tend between the can until-its front edge has again been lifted.

correspondingly the raising and lowering move-,-

ment of the rear or inner end of the can permits the engagement of its discharge point 26, orA its withdrawal, inrespect to the liquid seal tube 21 which prevents the passage of odors into or out of the particular chamber, but adapted to discharge any dew or liquid into a general drain having a separable connection to a sealed conduit' 28a located beneath the general storage chamber and leading to a readily accessible location for a drip pail 29 (Fig. 2). 'I'he face panel P is prevented from normal withdrawal from the casing by the removable mo ding strips Pm. (Figs. 3 and 4).

Since only dew is separated, a very small pail capacity is suilicienty as it is ynot necessary t handle the' large volume of water'as'is the case with an ice refrigerator. the bottom wall I0 concave and leading at its the separable connections which provide seals, so .that any dew separated externally of the cansv is likewise passed through conduit 26a to the drip pail 26.

Since it is intended that the chambers A, B, and C shall be cooled to a lower temperature than the compartments D, E, F, and G, a vertical insulating partition 3|! is provided within the general space, extending from the back wall I0 to the insulating piece 20 behind the face panel P (Fig. 4) whereby to prevent the chambers .assuming the same temperature. Likewise, the chambers (and their cooling means. as described hereinafter) may be separated from one another by the horizontal insulating partitions 30a illustrated Between the chambers in the right-handrow in Fig. 2, extending from the insulating pieces 20h adjacent the face panel to the rear wall of cas-l ing I 0, and from the Avertical partition 30 to the side wall, to restrict heat transmission between chambers and their cooling means.

Each of the cans, being independently mounted on its rails I1, is alsoprovided with an independent cooling coil 35 which surrounds the rails for we particular can and rests on the mounting.

bars I1a. Each coilobviously may be easilyinserted andremoved, when front posts I5, face panel P and insulation pieces 20,- 2|Ia are withdrawn, by simply pulling it forward along the guide rails I1 (see Fig. 3).

Each of these coils is provided .with an independent expansion valve 36 or 31 (Fig. 2) whereby liquid refrigerant may be' released from a high pressureI conduit 3B into the corresponding coil for evaporation therein. refrigerant may thence'pass to-the gaseous refrigerant return pipes 39, 60 an'd `back to thecompressor. f l

It will particularly be noted that by regulating the expansion-valves independently of one another, the individual chambers maybe main'- tained at predetermined and closely regulated temperatures. The expansion` valves 26 are preferably of the vacuum. operated type, so that refrigeration is proceeding in these coils at all times, and they may be brought vto lvery low temperatures.. The temperature of the upper chamber A,for example, is preferably maintained around 18 F., so that water Vmay be quickly It is preferred to have 'I'he evaporated ture of around 16 F., sothat it is adapted forthe storage of products requiring a temperature below the freezing point of water, b because, of their odor or for like reasons bei unsatisfactory to maintain in the same chamber with freezing water or a jelly, for example, located in the chamber A. Such articles are cheeses, etc.

The lowest chamber C in the left-hand column may be maintained at a temperature of around 14 F., and thus will serve for long time storage of frozen meats, fish, vand like products which must not be raised to the melting point oftheir Juices. 2o The chambers in the right-hand column may similarly be graded in .temperature with the highest temperature, in the upper chamber D, of the order of 40 F., for example, so that it may be employed for the storage of fruits or vegetables which will not endure a lower temperature or the dehydration of a lower temperature. The other chambers E and F have successively lower temperatures, while the lowest chamber G is preferably maintained at F. It'will be seen that in 30 eachv row, the lowest temperature is maintained inthe lowest chamber, so that convection currents Within the general compartment 'are largely eliminated.

, Thusit will be noted that all of the chambers on the left are maintained at temperatures below the freezing point of water, while. those at the right are preferably maintained at higher temperatures. Therefore, no frost separation-occurs on the"wa1ls of these latter chambers when air is admitted thereto and the collecting dew is rapidly discharged through the individual drains 26 thereof. Since each of these drains is sub-A degree in each of these chambers. On the otherhand, the-temperatures in the chambers D, E, F, and G must be closely regulated and, maintained, and hence it is preferred to employ- 55 thermostatically operated expansion valves 31 for each of these chambers.

The power-compressor plant for manufacturv ing liquid refrigerant is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to comprise a motor structure M, a compressor structure N connected thereto, an air condenser R having a fan T d riven by an independentA elec tric motor S I'he gaseous refrigerant passing from the return conduits 39 enters a common '65 return conduit 50, and thus passes ultimately into the compressor N where it is raised to a highpressure and receives an increment of temperature. Leaving the compressor N by the conduitv 5I, this compressed hot gaseous refrigerant is 70 cooled incondenser R so that it condenses and then passes by aliquid refrigerant conduit 52 into the receiver 53. The Iliquid refrigerant exists therein under the high pressure of the system, and thus is raised in the liquid refrigerant con- 75 duit." in proportion as it is permitted to escape through the various expansion valves 36 and"v As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a housing is provided beneath the insulating casing for the reception of the apparatus for producing liquid refrigerant. This housing comprises a bottom wall for supportingA the elements of this apparatus, and the end walls lum, I 0n which are apertured, with the provision of louvres in the illustrated form,

for the passage of the air employed for cooling the compressed gaseous refrigerant. Rear and f tion of the fan T. Preferably (Fig. 3) the front wall Ills is formed as or provided with a vdoor structure includingthe bottom clip pieces I0v and the top catch Illw so` that this front wall may be removed to afford access to the mechanical parts and to the pail 29'so that these parts may be inspected, -removed and replaced as desired.

While an illustrative form of construction of the invention has been set forth von the'accompanying drawings, it is obvious thatA the features of the invention are not limitedto-this single `form of construction, but that the invention'may and including uprights and a plurality of supporting members extending between said uprights andsecured thereto, `said supporting members being arranged in groups to provide guide means, independent refrigerating chambers slidably mountedon said guide means, and refrigerating means carried by said guide means for cooling said chambers.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat insulating casing, a face panel for closing said casing and having a plurality of apertures therethrough,

aframework mounted in said casing and connected to said' face panel, said frarneworkiriclud-` ing uprights and groups of supporting members extending between said uprights for providing guides -inA alignment ,with said lapertures, independentv refrigerating chambers slidably mount- 'v .ed on saidguides, and refrigerating means supported by Said guides for cooling said chambers.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat insulating casing, a framework 'mounted in said casing and including uprights and a plurality of supporting members extending between said uprights and secured thereto, said supporting members being arranged in ,groups to provide guide means,

independent refrigerating chambersl slidably l and including uprights and a plurality of sup-V porting members extending between saiduprights and secured thereto, said supporting members being arranged in groups to provide guide means,

heat insulating walls dividing said casing into `a -pluralityof--compartments with a group of said supporting members disposed in each compartment, Independent refrigerating chambers slidably mounted on rsaid guide means. and' independently controlled refrigerating coils disposed 5 in each of said compartmentsfand carried by said guide means for independently cooling each of said chambers. l

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat insulating casing, a framework mounted in said casing 1o and including uprights and a plurality of supporting members extending between said uprights i and arranged in lgroups for providing guide means, a face panel for closing said casing and having a plurality of apertures therethrough, in- 15 dependentA refrigerating chambers mounted on said guide means and accessible and removable through one ofsaid apertures, and means for holding said framework andgsaid face panel against movement relative to the casing.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat insulatins casing, a plurality of independent refrigerating chambers removably mounted in said cas ing. independent refrigerating means for each of said chambers, each of said chambers having a 25 sloping bottomiiloor terminating at a collection pointywheneby dew may ilow thereto, a main drain pipe mounted in said casing, and independ- .ent liquid sealed drainage devices connectingl the said collection lpoints to said drain' pipe, said 30 drainage devices permitting removal of said chambers independently of movement of said maindrain pipe. i .'I. In a refrigerating apparatus, aheat insuhumming, s face panel for casing ma ming and having a plurality of apertures therethrough.

a framework mounted "in said casing and con.

nected to said face panel, said framework includf ing uprights and soups of supporting members extending between said uprights forl providing guides in alignment with said apertures, independent` refrigerating chambers slidably mounted on said guides and removable through said apertures, refrigerant conducting means surroundingl lating casing, a framework mounted in said cas' ing and including uprights and a plurality of supporting members extending between said uprights and arranged in groups ior providing guide means, a face panel for closing said casing and having therethrough a plurality of apertures, independent refrigerating chambers mounted on said guide means and accessible and removablethrough one of said apertures, independent reirigerant conducting devices surrounding and carried by each of said guide. means.' and-means for removably connecting said face panel to said casing whereby, upon removal thereof, an individual refrigerant conducting device may be removed from the casing. l,

LUCIEN L,

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