US2305645A - Air refrigerating and circulating facilities - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1942. E. A. swEELEY ETAL 2,305,645

AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATING FACILITIES Filed 'July '7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l ,1 sul? r//j l Il r" Dec. 22, 1942. E, A SWEELEY TAL 2,305,645

AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATING FACILITIES Filed July 7, .1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1942.

E. A. swEELEY Erm.

AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRGULATING FACILITIES Filed July '7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmc/Wto@ Patented Dec. 22, 1942 AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATING FACILITIES i Edward A. Sweeley, Alexandria, Va., and Norman T. Anderson, Washington, D. C.

Application July 7, 1938, Serial No. 218,022

(Cl. 62-1'l) 22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air refrigerating and circulating'facilities for railway refrigerator cars; tand more particularly to impro-vements in so-called overhead ice bunkers for the merchandise chambers of railway refrigerator cars and to improved means for circulating refrigerated air within a railway refrigerator car. The 'present invention, however, is also applicable to cars, trucks, ships and storage houses, generally, which require refrigeration to preserve the merchandise being transported -or stored.

The conventional railway refrigeratoi` cars now in general use are equipped with ice bunkers located at each end of the car. This type of ice bunker construction has certain definite disadvantages.

The conventional endice bunkers of a railway car usuallyhave a combined ice capacity of about live tons. Nevertheless, the total area of exposed surfaces presented by `auch an amount of ice for cooling the circulating air by direct contact therewith is comparatively small. This area might be increased to some extent by use of socalled divided basket bunkers for the car end ice bunkers, but would still be less than that desired. The greatest possible surface c'ontact between the ice and the air is desired as it facilitates cooling of the air and thereby promotes rapid movement of the air in its circulation between the car lading space and lthe ice bunkers.

In railway cars having conventional end ice bunkers, the circulating air must travel between the center or the door-way section of the car lading space and the opposite ends thereof to provide for both cooling of the air and refrigerating of the entire shipment of merchandise. The circulating air, therefore, has a relatively great distance to travel in a complete cycle'for refrigerating the car lading space. This substantial distance of travel for the refrigerating air reduces its rate of circulation. The rate of circulation of air in a refrigerator car is dependent not only on the difference between the temperament of overhead lice bunkers along-the entire length of the car may result in more rapid re,

frigeration and in a more uniform temperature throughout the car. lading space. Nevertheless, overhead ice bunkers have not, heretofore, come into general use for railway refrigerator cars. The previously proposed installations of overhead ice bunkers have certain objectionable features which preclude their acceptance in the railway art. One of the disadvantages in the prior proposals for overhead ice bunker installations is that they require very large supplies of ice and excessively heavy supports. Such installations would result in a top-heavy and, therefore,

impractical car. The prior art overhead ice bunkers present still another objection. Such ice bunkers extended across the entire width of the car lading space, and made it difdcult to prevent water or condensation from dripping on the lading.

The present invention provides a structure, which not only eliminates the disadvantages of the above described prior 4railway car end and overhead ice bunkers, but which also presents a number of important improvementsin the general facilities for refrigerating railway cars.

The present invention in the preferred embodiment illustrated by the accompanying drawings includes overhead ice bunkers or ice tank units. These novel overhead ice bunkers offer all the advantages of the prior art overhead ice bunkers, as well as a number of additional advantages.

The overhead ice bunkerinstallations of this invention are distinctly effective and efficient for car refrigeration. With railway car installations of the present, invention, the extent Voftravel of circulating air in a complete cycle is limited by the width of the car lading space rather than controlled by the length of the car lading space as is the case where end ice bunkers are provided. This invention, therefore, provides for more rapid cooling of the merchandise to be refrigerated. Furthermore, the ice bunkers of this invention provide Ifor the ice being spread out or distributed c-ver such a relatively large area that the refrigerating action of the ice upon the air to be cooled will be greatly facilitated and promote rapid circulation of the air. Another advantage afforded by the overhead ice bunkers of this invention is that they present a relatively large` bottom surface for heat exchange contact with air to be cooled. A

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide overhead ice bunkers or tank units of practical limits and willbe equalized between secured throughout the same.

tion forA overhead icetank units that`-they will such construction that the overhead weightl of the -ear, when provided with such tank units llled'with ice, will` be within permissible and the car'ends.

A' further object of this invention is to provide overhead 'ice tank units at diagonally opposite e corners of a refrigerator car and thereby leave the center or doorway section of the lading space unobstructed from car door to car ceiling.

Another object o f this invention is to provide overhead ice tank units at diagonally opposite vcorners ofthe car roof and to so support the icetank units that the car lading spaces adjacent thereto will be free of obstructions from l5 car floor to car ceiling.

. Another object of this invention is to provide overhead ice bunkers or tank units of such construction as to require only a relatively small depth and to allow additional headroom below the overhead ice tank units.

Another object of this invention is to provide railway cars with overhead ice bunkers which are formed in sections or units that may bel installed or removed independently of one another.

A still further object of this invention is to provide overhead ice tank units for holding an ice and salt mixture and also retaining a brine concentrate, whereby the tank units will combine the advantages of cooling by direct contact with ice and cooling by direct contact with refrigerated tank surfaces. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide railway cars with overhead ice tank umts of such constructionthat the car is adapted for use in either refrigerating or Ventilating its'shipment of merchandise. .If desired, the car may also be provided with vheating service by .placing car heaters in the doorway section of the car lading space or below the car iloor.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an overhead type of ice tank unit, in which 'the bottom thereof is of suchconstructionas to provide a support. for the ice and'also channels below the icefor draining the water and/or brine resulting from ice meltage.

Another object of this invention is to provide an overhead ice vtank unit with such construction for its exterior walls that they will .go not onlyfcontribiite to the rigidity of the unit but will also present an extensive area of sur-l Iace for exposure to circulating air and elect a more rapid circulation of the air over, through and around said ice tank unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice vtank unit with partition members extending between its inner sidewalls to reenforce the ice tankmnit, to preventsplashing of liquid within the unit, and to prevent 'shifting of the ioe within the unit. A

A stillfturther-object is to provide improved supporting means for overhead ice bunkers.

A furtherobject is to provide improved'means ior distributing refrigerated air into a car lading space, whereby a more uniformtemperature is Another object is to provide .such construcprovide adequate refrigeration for railway cars' 70 with smaller supplies of ice than those required by conventional ice bunkers. i 1

Other. objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, andthe accompanying draw- 75 vof the car as illustrated in the drawings.

` vidually.

ings which latter illustrate a embodiment of this invention.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure I'ls a topplan view-Lor a'railwa'y'ref frigerat'or car and overhead ice tank units.ar.

ranged therein in accordance withthls invention.

Figure'II is a longitudinal, vertical-cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of Figure I and illustrates an embodiment of this invention.

Figure III is a perspective view ofthe overhead ice tank units, bales and drip pan means .showninFigure II.- L

-vFigure IV is a transverse, vertical cross-sectional view taken on line IV-IVy of Figure I. with parts broken away to facilitate illustration. Figure V is avertical, cross-sectional detail view taken on line V-V of Figure I. with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

Figure VI is a rear elevational view of the ,ice tank unit at the end ofthe car in Figure II.

Figure VII is an' elevational view of one side of the ice tank unit adjacent the center of the car in FigureII, the Figure VII view being taken on line VII--VII of Figure II. v

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, they illustrate a conventional railway refrigerator car provided .with air refrigerating and circulating means embodying the present invention. The railway vcar has a lading space f I and the usual car iloor 2,' ceiling 3,- side walls 4, and end walls 5 see Figures II and IV). The yillustrated car is also of 'the Stype having centrally located side doors, and hatchways 1 extending through`the car roof. These hatchways 1 may be lined with metal' and are closed by means of hatchwaycovers 8. One of these hatchway covers 8 is omitted-in Figure I to provide a view of the interior of the car from above the car roof. These hatchway covers" 8 close the hatchways 1 when the car is to be used under refrigerating conditions and may be opened, as indicated by the dotted line position of the hatch cover 8 in Figure II, when ventilation of the car is desired. In the illustrated railway car, there arethree hatchways 'I at each side of the car, althoughr any desired number' may be provided. The hatchways'l are provided to permit loading of the car with ice and salt, but may be eliminated under lcertain circumstances if solid carbon dioxide is to be used as the refrigerant. The hatchways'lare desirable if additional solid carbon dioxide will be required by the car in transit or if the car will require ventilation. v l

The railway car is provided with two series -of icebunkers or tank units I0. 'Ihe two series of ice tank umts lo are arranged" overhead and adjacent opposite car side walls I. These two ,series of ice tank units fl! also preferably extend in opposite directions from adJacent the door section of the car to the respective ends .In the preferred practice oi'l this invention, a hatchway 1 'is provided for anddirectly over each ice tank unit I0, so that each may be serviced indi- Ice tank units A11 the ice tank umts In at the opposite sides y of the car may be and are shown in the drawings cf the same construction. A description of one ice tank unit Il! will,'therefore, sulcefor all. The ice tank units I0 preferably are relatively shallow to provide maximum head room below the units when supported adjacent the car ceilingv 3. The depth `of. the individual ice tank surface for direct contact with air to be cooled.4

The wall and bottom members I I, I2, I3 and I4 of an ice tank unit I0, however, might be formed tal flanges of their side angle irons I9 in close or abutting relation to define the upper limit for air spaces or passages 23 (see Figures III and V) extending between adjacent sides ofthe ice tank units Ill.l A similar air passage 24 is provided between the. car 'end wall 5 and the adjacent ice 'f tank unit I0 (see Figure V). The ice tank units of flat sheet metal with ns or flanges on its outer side to increase its area of cooling surface. The tank bottom I4 also preferably slopes (see Figure IV) from the front wall I2 to the rear` wall I3 to provide drainage for melting ice. The

'corrugations in the tank bottom I4 should also extend in the same direction as the slope thereof to facilitatev drainage of the ice tank unit III.- A drainage collecting trough I5 is provided adjacent the rear wall I3 by suitably shaping that part of the tank bottom I4.

The ice tank unit I0 maybe reinforced by partition means I6 extending between the opposite side walls II and similar partition means I1 extending between front and rear imperforate walls I2 ,and I3. These partition means I6Aand Il are preferably vformed of apertured, corrugated sheet metal, but may be formed of vother suitable material. These partition means I6 and I1 are I Each ice tank unit III has its upper wall portions of foraminous construction. The upper tank portion is preferably formed of wire screening I8, as shown in the drawings, but may also be formed from perforated plates or by a louvered construction. Where wire screening I8 is used,

it is desirable to provide a rigid reinforcing framework which may comprise side, front and metallic members ' I 9, 20, 2 I, and 22. The metallic members I9, 23 and 22 may be formed of angle iron, and the member 2l may be in the form of a channel bar. Ill which has now beendescribed may be secured to the adjacent tank unit 'parts bywelding, or in any other suitable manner, to provide a rigid and durable structure which requires no external also preferably welded to the tank unit side walls A ice.

Each part of the ice tank unitA reinforcement and will give eiiicient serviceover relatively long periods of time. It will be noted that the corner tie members or angle irons 22. are welded or otherwise rigidly secured at their lower ends to the lower imperforate ice tank portion and Aat their upper ends to the adjacent portions of the angleand/or channel irons (I9,

4the car. However, a single ice tank unit of appropriate length may' be substitutedfor each serie'sshown in the drawings. The ice tank units I0 of each series are arranged with the horizon- I0 at their upper edges are also spaced from the adjacent car side wall 4 (seeFgures III and IV) by their channel irons 2.I to provide a continuous air space or passage 25 along the adjacent car side wall 4. l

Each ice tank unit Ill may be supported from the adjacent inner car side wall 4 by means of hinge connections such as shown in Figures III,

IV and VII. Eachof these hinge connections` comprises a bracket 30 having a vertically extending ortion bolted to the car side wall 4.and a horizo tally extending armv portion 3I pivotally connected at its outer end to a strap 32 which may be weldedv or otherwise suitably secured to a tank bottom I4. The bracket 3U may be renforced by a web or brace portion 33 extending between and, secured to the vertical and horizontal parts of bracket 30. It willbe noted that this bracket 3|) not only serves to pivotally support its respective ice tank unit I0, but also serves to maintain the, desired distance between the lower portion thereof and the adjacent car side wall 4 for forming the air passage 25. Each tank unit I0 may be pivotally supported by two or more of the brackets 30 arranged on the adjacent side wall 4 in spaced relation.

A p eferred arrangement of ice tank units I0 is illustrated vin the drawings, but other arrangements maybe used without departing from the broader aspects of this invention, y y

Each ice-tank unit I0 is also secured in the merchandise chamber so as to =be maintained in the substantially horizontal position indicated by Figures II and IV for normal refrigerating serv- The ice tank units are preferably secured to the merchandise chamber ceiling 3 or car roof with the horizontal flanges or portions of the tank unit angle bars I9 and 20 abutting on the chamber ceiling 3. The tank units may be releasably secured in this operative position by removable bolts 35 (see Figures II and IV) extending through the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 20 and into or through adjacent car roof supporting members. The width of a tank unit II) is preferably about one-half the width of the car interior. The angle irons 20 will, therefore, be secured in place along substantially the longitudinal centerv of the car. If foraminous plates take the place of the screens I8,the former may be provided with flanges similar to the-horizontal flanges or portions of the angle and channel irons I9, 20 and 2|.

Combined air bape and drip pan means Each series of ice tank units III is also provided with means forming a continuous air bale and drip pan for all the ice tank units I0 in the series. This means may comprise a sheet metal member 36 for each ice tank unit I0. Each sheet metal member 36 has a vertical baille portion 31 constituting asection o f said continuous air baille. Another portion 38 of each sheet metal member 36 is disposed below the respective ice tank unit III to serve as its drip pan. 'I'his drip pan A38 preferably slopes downwardly toward itsv rearward portion which -is suitably shaped to provide a dripcollecting trough 39 (seeFigure IV). The combined baille and drip pan members 36 are preferably spaced from their respective ice tank units I8 to provide communicating air passages or conduits 40 and 4| (see Figure IV).

The air in cir-.

culating downwardly through air passage 40 and then through air passage 4| will be cooled and tend to reduce" in volume. It is, therefore, preferred that the air passage gradually becomes smaller in depth toward its outlet end adjacent the car side wall 4 to compensate for this change` in the air and to maintain maximum contact of the heads of the bolts 46 to the brackets 45 and having the nuts 41 threaded on their' respective belts as from the outer side ef the combined tiene and drip pan members 36.

The adjacent edges 48 of adjoining sheet metal members 36 preferably meet intermediate the ice tank units I0, as shown by Figures III and V. To

prevent the drip of the ice tank units |Il from passing between the adjacent drip pan edges 48, the

` latter may be assembled as shown vin Figure lV.

The drip pan edges 48 are preferably curved and arranged to provide a raised rib, over which is positioned a correspondingly curved removable strip 49 to serve as a co`ver plate or' seal forA the drip pan joint. T he sealing strip 49 and the curved drip pan edges 48 are secured in assembled relation and to adjacent brackets 45 by means of boli's 46, nuts 41 and washers 50, which latter are shaped to conform to the rib formed by the curved edges 48. A plurality of these brackets 45 lmay be so secured to the opposed sides of adjacent ice tank units I that alternate brackets 45 will be carried 1 by one of the ice tank units Il and the remaining brackets 45 by the other ice tank unit I0. This alternating arrangement of brackets 45 will serve not only to support the combined baille and drip pan members 36,but also to maintain the ice tank units l0 in the desired spaced relation for providing the air passages 23. A iointsuch as has just been described for adjacent drip pans 38 may also be provided for adjacent air baille members 31.

Although the combined drip pan and air baille means for a series of ice tank units I8 has been illustrated in the drawings as formed of a plurality of sheet metal members 36, it will be apparent that a single continuous member extending the entire length of the respective series of ice tank units Il might be used in their stead.

' At each car end; the adjacent drip pan member 38 may have an upstanding flange 5| (see Figures III, V and VI). The car ends may carry a plate member 52 having a lower o'set portion 53 to pro.-

vide with the car end wall a slot forreceiving the adjacent drip pan flange 5|. .This construction for the drip pans 38 at the car ends deects the drip and also prevents its splashing over the drip pan edge.

To avoid splashing of the drip on merchandise adjacent the doorway section of the car, the adjacent drippans 38 may have upstanding iianges or bailies 54 as shown in Flgures'V and VII.

. Means for draining ice tank units and'drip pansV 'rh'e drainage trough ls, of each' ice tank una a,sos,e45j Y A I8' slopes toward an outlet opening 58 which may be located below partition means |1 and midway between thetrough ends, as shown in Figure III. Thisoutlet opening 58 has threaded connection with a removable pipe fittings leading into a drain pipe 60 which terminates below the railway car. In order to provide for controlled discharge `of the brine concentrateK or other liquid from each ice tank unit I8, a valve 6| of any suitable form may be provided for each of the respective drain pipes 66. Each valve 6| is actuated by a link 62 connected at one end to an operating rod 63 which extends'upwardly through the car roof. The end of each operating rod 63 Figures IV and VI to open the respective valve 6 I and is'IOWered-tothe full line'position of those figures to close its valve 6I. Each handle 64 is preferably positioned to overlie the surrounding top edge br vframe of the respective hatchway 1, as shownin Figures I and IV, in order that its rod 63 must necessarily be in the lower position to close the respective valve 6I when the corresponding hatchway 1 is closed by a hatch cover 8. The hatch covers 8 are always in positionto close the hatchways 1 when the railway car is in transit and operating under refrigeration conditions; The valves 6I will,l therefore, be kept closed during car movements and prevent the brine concentrate from dropping von the right of way. Thel valves 6| cannot be opened when the hatch covers 8 are in the closed pomtion, nor can the hatchwayeovrers 8 be lowered to their closed position when the handles v64| are lying handle 64 when the former is in ,position to close its hatchway 1. The ice tank unit channel bars 2| may also be notched or apertured at 65 (see Figure III) to accommodate the rods 83 which extend therethrough.-

As air circulates along and -in contact with the imperforate walls Il, |2 and I3 and bottoms u ef the iee'tank units lo, it is refrigerated and loses at least some of its moisture content byv condensation. This condensate or drip is collected by the drip pans 38 and drains into the troughs 39. Each trough 38 has an outlet con- 'A nection 68 fitting into and detachable from a vpipe 61v which communicates with the respective drain pipe 60below its valve 6| for continuously discharging the condensate as rapidly as it collects on the respective drip pan 38. A detachable pipe tting 68 may be provided in each' pipes 81. It will also be noted here that the rear edges of the drip pans 38 are shapedto'so-accommodate the pipe fittings 59 that the drip pans may be removed or installed without'disturbina the Dipe fittings 59. i

' Side walland floor `racks vvin t e form of'a plurality of horizontally drrecte streams; and the remainder 'will find exit from the conduits 12 at their lower ends. f

The spacing of slats 1I may be uniform in acl cordance with conventional practice, but the preferred arrangement is to have the slats 1I adjacent the car oor 2 spaced further apart than theeslats 1I adjacent the ice tank units I0. The spacing of the slats 1I, for example,

may be such that theI area of outlet for the refrigerated air progressively increases from adjacent the ice tank units I to the car floor 2. By l spacing the slats1l in the manner indicated as preferred, the air will be so distributed within the lading space I as to provide a more uniform temperature' throughout the car lading space. The preferred spacing will provide for the greater party of the refrigerated air being released adjacent f the car floor, in order that there will be adequate cold air circulation over the entire width of the car. If themerchandise chamber is provided with a double deck, such as shown in Patents 2,077,649 and 2,077,650, dated April 20, 1937, or other multiple deck structure for supporting the lading, the side wall slats 1I may be so relatively spaced that larger spaces 13 are provided immediately below each deckte supply the space below each deck with sufiicient freshly cooled air, The uprights may be of solid construction,

. as shown in the drawings, to prevent air circulation between the`conduits 12 or may be of foraminated or perforated metal or othersuitable material to provide a'substantially continuous air space extending the full length of the side wall slats 1I and along the adjacent side Wall 4.

The end wall slats 14 (see Fig. II) may be lspaced similarly to the side wall slats 1I to present a uniform and more' attractive appearance.

The main car oor 2 is provided with a false or foraminous oor rack structure in the form of spaced iioor rack slats 15 extending longitudinally of the car. These floor slats 15 are supported by oor rack stringers 16 which extend transversely of the car and rest on the main car floor 2. The floor rack stringers 16 arel spaced apart to provide air conduits 11 extending 'along the car floor 2 from car side wall 4 to opposite car side wall 4. These floor conduits 11 receive their supplies of refrigerated air from the side wall conduits 12, which lose only part of their refrigerated air' through the slat spaces 13. If air circulation is desired below oor slats 15 for the fulllength of the car lading space I, the oor `floor conduits 11 into the lading space I.

Uniform spacing, according to conventional practice, may be provided for the floor slats 15.

such that they present a progressively increas- 'ing area of outlet openings from the side of the the outlet spaces 13 will supplement the cooling effect of the more limited flow of vcold air rising through the floor slat spaces 18 below the ice tank units I0. The refrigerated air will, therefore, be ,so distributed by the slatA spaces 13 and 18 that a substantially uniform temperature will bex rapidly secured and constantly maintained in' the car lading space I.

The drainage connections and pipes which are located within the car to carry oi ice meltage and water of condensation, are preferably placed within conveniently located side wall conduits 12. This arrangement will leave the lading space I clear of obstructions between the side wall slats 1I (see Fig. IV) and those at the opposite side of the merchandise chamber. In order to provide for ready access to the valves 6I and the pipes 61, the upper side wall slats 1I, for example, the uppermost two at the right in Fig. IV, may be releasably secured to the uprights 10, as by means of screws.

Air circulation i air passages 4I for cooling by direct contact with the 4corrugated exterior surfaces of the adjacent .l parts of the ice tank units I0. The cold air in tween adjacent ice tank units I0. Air entering 'rack stringers 16 may be of open work of foram- In a preferred construction, however, closer spacing is provided for the floor slats 15 which are positioned below the ice tank units I 0 than for the floor rack slats 15 at the opposite side of the car. The spacing of the floor slats 15l may be the ice tank units I-Il is chilled by direct contact with the ice. P art of this air, cooled directly by the ice, flows through the screens I8 at the rear of the ice tank units Ill and into the air spaces l 25 (see Figure IV), which communicate at their lower ends with the side wall conduits 12. Another part vof the air cooled by direct contact with the ice flows through the side screens I8 of the ice tank units I0 and downwardly in the air spaces 23, 24 and 55 (see Figure V) to the air passages 4I. All'the air cooled by the ice tank units I0 will, therefore, be directed into the side wall conduits 12 which supply the refrigerated air into the lading space I by way of outlet spaces 13 and also by way of oor conduits 11 and their outlet spaces 18.

The ice tank units I0 combine the advantages of two methods for refrigerating air and produce results which are not accomplished by either method when used alone. The two methods referred to are cooling by direct contact with ice and cooling by direct contact with surfaces refrigerated by a brine concentrate. By combining -the two types of air cooling, the ice tank units use of either method without the other, and provide in the lading space I a temperature or atmosphere diiiere'nt from that which `would be produced by the use of only one of said methods.

Another advantage provided by the combined type of ice tank unit I0 is that the air cooled by direct contact with the ice and salt mixture portion-retaining the brine concentrate. difference in temperature betweenY the air cooled by direct contact with the ice and salt mixture and the airv chilled by direct contact with the tank walls which retainl the brine concentrate n produces such modifying influence of one temperature on theother. that the.'formation of a frost incrustation on the outer surfaces ofthe tank unit I0 'is avoided. As a result, air will' come into'more intimate contact with the external surfaces of the tank units I0, and release a0 a greater number of 4heat units than it would otherwise. 'I'he eect is to provide a volume of 'refrigerated air which-is-,suitable for transportation of meat, dairy products, vegetables or fruit, y withoutv deterioration in either class of comg5 modity.

Cleaning and inspection of ice tank units I'he support and relativefarrangement which are provided by this invention for the ice tank umts III and the combined bailie and drip pan members 36 facilitate their individual inspection, cleaning and repairing. Asexplained in the fore'- going description, the pipe connections 59 and the pipes 61 are readily deta-chable from the re- 35 spective ice tank units I6 and drip pans 38. A removable pipe fitting 66 may 'be provided in each drain pipe 66, so that the pipes 61, the pipe connections 59 uand the valves 6I may be lowered or removed to permit ready removal of therespective drip pans 36 and lowering of the ice tank units I0.. The uppermost side wall slats. 1 I, for example, -the uppermost two at the right in Figure IV, are also removed to permit access to the valves 6I, the pipes 61, andsthe pipe ttings 68. 4

Each combined baille and drip pan member 36 is also lreadily detachable from its respective ice .tank unit III by removing the corresponding nuts I1. It will be noted at thispoint that each ice 'tank unit I0 provides the support for its respec- 50 tive bafiie and drip pan member 3'6, winch, therefore, need'not be, and preferably is not, connected to or supported directly by the car side walls 4 or car ceiling 3. The bolts 35 ofthe ice tank unit I 0 to be inspected, repaired or cleaned are then re- 55 will now be evident that the ice tank unitsllf in a series may be lowered and Vinspected either individually or as agroup. Reassembly of the ice tank units III, the combined bafile and drip pan. members 36, and the drainage connections mamalso be easily accomplished. It will be noted that the ice tank units, I0 carry brackets 45 to vwhich are weided the bolts 4s. This construetion greatly simpliiies attachment ofthe combined baille and drip pan members 36 to the respective '70 ice' tank units I6. y

The accompanying drawings show a railway refrigerator car with a single merchandise chamber or lading space I, but this invention obviously one merchandise chamber I. In the latter case,

all the 'merchandise chambers might be provided with similar arrangements of the air circulating, refrigerating and 'Ventilating means disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that the foregoing is illustrative, and that this invention includes all embodiments `and modifications coming within th scope of the appended claims. i y

We claim: f 1

1. In arailway refrigerator oar, the combination with a merchandise chamber havinga oeil:

ing, a door andside walls, of'an ice tank unit arranged adjacent the chamber ceiling and one of said side walls, a flange extendingirom the upper edge of said ice tank to space the same from said side wall, means mounted on said side wall and pivotally supporting the lower portion of said ice tank unit in spaced relation with `respect to said side wall, means securing said ice tank unit to the chamber ceiling and cooperating with said pivotal means to maintain said ice tank unit in position for refrigerating service.- said se- -curing means being releasable to permit said ice tank unit to be swung downwardly onl said pivotal support. Y

2. In a structure 'of the character described for a merchandise chamber to be refrigerated, the combination comprising an ice tank unit to contain a refrigerant, brackets carried by and extending from outer surfaces of said ice tank unit,

securing said drip pan means to said brackets and -in spaced relation lwith respect to said ice tank unit, and detachable drainage means for said ice tank unit and drip pan.

3. In a structure of the character described for a merchandise chamber to be refrigerated, the combination comprising a refrigerant container, brackets carried by said container, some of said brackets extending outwardly from a side wall of Y said container and other brackets extending below the bottom thereof, means including a bailie member and a drip pan, and means -detachably 5 securing said 'baille and drip pan means to said brackets with the' baiiie member arranged along and spaced from said side wall and with lthe drip l pan arranged below and spaced from the bottom ber ceiling, means providing a continuous watertight drip pan for all said container units and formed of a jplurality of sections, one section for each container unit, said drip pan sections being arranged side by side with their adjacent edges meeting below the space'intermediate thejrespective container units, brackets carried by and ex- .tending below saidcontainer units at the adjacent sides thereof, and means for releasably seeming said drip pan sections to said brackets.

5. A drip pan structure for overhead refrigerating means in a refrigerator car,'said drip pan comprising at least two sections placed side by side and havingadjacent portions curved and combined to form a rib, -a strip extending lengthwise of and overlying said rib to prevent drip from passing between the said sections, and means for maintaining said sections, rib and strip in assembled'relation.

6. An overhead ice tank unit comprising side and'bottom walls to provide a refrigerant conmay be used in railway cars having morer thantainer having its length andwidtli of greater d1.

- portions of said being of imperforate construction to retain an lasoaeezs mension than its depth, the upper portions of said side walls being of foraminous construction to surround an ice and salt mixturathe lower side walls and said bottom wall ice and brine mixture and presenting irregular outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area, means a rigid reinforcement and framework for said foraminous side wall portions, andi, means extending across the'interio'r of said container for reinforcing the side walls thereof.

'7. The combination with a railway car refrigf erator chamber, of a refrigerant tanksuspended therein, said tank comprising a reinforced imperforate bottom wall to support the refrigerant and carry off the' refrigerant fluid, and a coin-l bined baiiie and -drip pan of ixnperforate con- 7 tank unit imperforate portions for cooling by direct contact therewith. 1

11. In combination with a merchandise chamberto be refrigerated, an overhead ice tank unit 5 comprising side and 'bottom walls to provide a lproviding with said imperforate side wall portions refrigerant container, the upper portions of said side walls being of foraminous construction to surround anice and salt mixture, the lower portions of said side walls and said bottom wall being of imperforate construction to retain an ice and brine mixture and being of irregular contour in cross-section to provide strength for the container and to present irregular outer surfaces oi.' enlarged superficial area for contact with air to be cooled, and baille and drip pan means spaced porting means to secure said ice tank unit in normal position for refrigerating service and releasable to permit pivotal movement `of said ice tank unit, and air baffle means detachably secured to said ice tank unit. p

9. In combination with a railway refrigerator car merchandise chamber, an overhead tank unit constructed to retain an ice and brine mixture, brackets rigidly secured to and extending from the outer wall surfaces of said tank unit, and means including a combined drip pan and air baffle for said tank unit, said means being suspended from and detachably supported solely by said brackets. 10. In combination with a merchandise chamber to be refrigerated, an overhead ice tank unit arranged adjacent the chamber ceiling, said ice tank unit having side and bottom walls to provide a refrigerant container, the upperportions of said side Walls beingof foraminous construction to surround an ice and salt mixture, the

lower portions of said side walls and said bottom wall being cf imperforate construction to retain an ice and brine mixture and being of irregular contour in cross-section to provide strength for the container and to present irregular outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area for contact with air to be cooled, means pivotally connecting said tank unit to aside wall of said chamber, means detachably connecting an upper wall portion of said tank unit to the chamber ceiling and cooperating with said pivotal connecting means to maintain said tank unit in position for refrigerating service with said tank unit bottom wall suspended from and supported by the side Walls of the tank unit, and a combined drip pan and baiiie extending below said ice tank unit and upwardly at at least one side thereof to a level substantially l from and supported solely by said ice tank unit to provide therewith a passage for leading circulating air into contact with said outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area.

ber to be refrigerated and having side walls and a top wall or ceiling, an overhead ice tank unit comprising side and bottom walls to provide a refrigerant container, the upper portions of said side walls being of foraminous construction to surround an ice and salt mixture, the lower portions of said side walls and said bottom wall being-formed of imperforate corrugated sheet metal to retain an ice and brine mixture and to provide strength for the container las well as to present irregular 'outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area for contact with air to be cooled,

and means for detachably suspending said ice tank unit from the chamber ceiling and for pivotally connecting said tan'k unit to a chamber side wall, whereby the icetank unit is supported for refrigerating service and the lading space below and at the side of said ice tank unit is unobstructed by tank unit support means and where- .40 by the ice tank unit may be detached from seid chamber .ceiling and swung on the chamber side Wallpivotal connection for inspection and cleany 13. In combination with a merchandise chamber to be refrigerated,y an overhead ice tank unit tions of said side walls and said bottom wall being comprising side and'bottom walls to provide a' refrigerant container, the upperfportions of said side-walls being of foraminous construction to surround an ice and salt mixture, the lower porof imperforate construction to retain an ice and brine mixture and being of irregular contour in cross-section to provide strength for the container and to present irregular outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area for Contact with air to said outer surfaces of enlarged superficial areas to a side wall of said chamber, and at least one above 'the 1eve1 of the bottom wan er said tank unit, said drip pan and'bafiie and said tank unit being detachably connected and closely spaced to culate through said tank unit foraminous wall portions for cooling by direct 'contact with ice as well as along the irregular outer surfaces of said conduit to receive refrigerated air flowing from said passage and having side wall outlet openings through which the refrigerated air flows into said chamber, said conduit extending vertically at a side wall of said chamber and having itssaid openingsl of such size and position that openings at one level of said chamber present a greater Y section including an imperforate bottom wall and 12. In combination with a merchandise cham` i e d walls of the bottom section to the roof of the car. s

16. In a refrigerator car .having a roof provided with a hah opening. the combination with said roof of an ice container located within thev ladingespace of said car and an air ue structure cooperating with said container to promote a movement of air in a circuit having a portion parallel to a side wall of the car; said lcontainer including an ice supporting section and a foramipositions in said chamber, each of saidseries ex- I nous ic'e retaining section interposed between the first mentioned section and the roof of the car; the ice supporting section including side and end l walls, each in alinement with one of the walls of the ice retaining section, an imperforate bottom and a surge preventing structure arranged to form in effect a; plurality of bailies intersecting one another below said`hatch opening and each connecting one wall of the ice supporting section to the opposite Wall thereof; each baille being provided witha series of openings spaced above said imperforate bottom and having its top edge flush with the top edges of the walls connected by such baille;d the air flue structure including a wall section parallel to and spaced from one of the side walls of the container, a second wall'section extending from the first section in paral.

lelism with and in spaced relation .to said imperforate bottom and a third section extending from the second section in parallelism with and spaced relation t said side walls of the car.

17. A structure of the type setforth in claim 14 Awherein said container extends substantially to the roof of the car and wherein an upper portion thereof is foraminous. l

18. In a refrigerator car having a roof provided with a hatch opening, the combination with said roof cf an ice container located adjacent said roof and an air-flue structure cooperating with said container to promote a movement of air in a circuit having a portion parallel to the side wall of said car, said container having an imperiorate lower portion and a perforated upper portion, and a surge retarding structure arranged to form in effect a plurality of bailles intersecting one another below said hatch opening and dividing said container into compartments, each of said bailles connecting one wall of the container with the opposite wall thereof, said structure providing openings between said compartments, said air-flue structure including a wall section parallel to'and spaced from one of the side Walls of the container, a second wall section extending from the 'first section in substantial parallelism an'd in spaced relation to said imperforate bottom, and a third section extendingl from the.

side walls, said chamber being provided with ver. l tically extending air conduits lat each of the chamber side walls and transversely extending air conduits on the door of the chamber, said side .neath all imperforate side and end walls and having bailles' wall and floor conduits communicating with the "interior of the merchandise chamber and also with each other. the combination comprising two series of overhead ice tank units positioned adjacent the merchandise chamber ceiling and being located substantially at diametrically opposite tending along a side wall of said chamber for substantiany half t 1ength thereofl and having a width corresponding cated along one 'chamber side wall and the other series being located along the other chamber side wall,l whereby said chamber is adapted for loadf ing with merchandise below each ice tank vunit series from the chamber floor to adjacent the ice tank umts and for loading with merchandise from each tank unit series to the opposite chamber side wall for the full height of said chamber,

having a foraminous each 'of said ice tank units upper wall portion for an ice and salt mixture and an imperforate lower portion for a brine concentrate, and means providing an air baille and drip pan for each of wall portions of all the ice tank umts in the respective series-to provide said air'baiile and be- I the respective ice Atank units to provide said drip pan, each'of said means being spaced from the respective ice tank unit front wall portions and the respective ice tank unit bottom portions to provide with chandise chamber side wall air conduits; whereby warm air within the car will rise, pass over said baiiles, and-pass downwardly in adjacent side wall conduits -for distribution into said merchandise chamber from said side wall conduits 20. In a refrigerator car, the combination a. merchandise chamber. and a side wall, of a plurality of ice tank units arranged adjacent the chamber ceiling and said tside wall, a plurality of means pivotally supporting said ice units to provide for independent pivotal movement of each of said ice tank units, said plurality of means being mounted on said side wall. and means for each of said tank units to secure said tank units independently to said chamber ceiling and cooperating with said pivotal supporting means to maintain said tank f units in position for refrigerating service, the securing means for each tank unit being releasable to permit such tank unit to be swung downwardly on the corresponding pivotal supporting means independent of the position and movement of the other of said tank units.

21. An overhead ice' tank unit for refrigerator cars and the like, said ice tank unit comprising a refrigerantcontainer having its length and width of greater dimension than its depth, said container having foraminous upper side wall porl' tions for an ice and salt mixture and imperforate lower side wall portions and bottom for retaining a brine concentrate, and foraminous partition members extending across the interior of said v container and between opposite imperforate lower side wall portions thereof and being integrally secured to said opposite lower side wall portions and to said container bottom to-reinforce said refrigerant container side walls and bottom and to reduce surging of said brine partition members having their upper 'edges at a substantially to one-half the width of said chamber, one series being losaidserles oftank umts, each of said means extending along the front h said ice tank umts circulating passages opening into adjacent merat opposite sides of the chamber and from said floor conduits.

with having a ceiling, a iloor f concentrate, said level not substantially higher than the Aupper edg'es of said imperforate lower side Wall portions.

22. In a railway refrigerator car, the combination comprising a merchandise chamber, a hatchway extending through the car roof and chamber ceiling, a closure for said hatchway, an ice tank unit within said chamber and below said hatchway, said ice tank unit having at least an imperforate lower portion to retain a brine concentrate, a valve-controlled discharge for said tank unit, and operating means for said valve, said operating means extending at all times through the car roof adjacent said hatchway and having a handle extending toward and between said closure and hatchway. said operating means and handle being adapted to be raised for valve opening operations when said closure is removed from said hatchway and preventing closing of said hatchway by said closure except as said handle -is lowered to close said valve.

EDWARD A. SW'EELEY. NORMAN T. ANDERSON.

DISCLAIMER 2,305,645.Edward A. Sweeley, Alexandria, Va., and Norman T. Anderson, Washington, D. C. AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATING FACILITIES. Patent dated December 22, 1942. Disclaimer led July 21, 1943, by the patentees.

Hereby enter this disclaimer to claims 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 21 of said patent.

[Oficial Gazette August 10, 1943.]

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