US2509612A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1950 L. A. PHlLlPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1946 Iii 1121-6 INVENTOR.

BY 1 An/ze/vas 14 fin; MP

Patented May 30, 3950 BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich, asslgnor to Nash-Kelvlnator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Maryland Application February 20, 1946, Serial No. 649,069

8 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to an improved domestic refrigerator that can be manufactured economically and wherein juxtaposed food storage and ice freezing compartments are provided.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved refrigerator having spaced food storage and ice freezing compartments insulated from each other in a simple and economical manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an economical refrigerator having spaced compartments adapted to operate at different temperature and humidity conditions, and wherein maximum economy of space is maintained throughout.

Another object resides in the provision of a refrigerator having juxtaposed food storage and ice freezing compartments wherein a baflle of non-conducting material is interposed between the insulation of the compartments to prevent the transmission of cold from the insulation of the ice freezing compartment to the insulation of the food storage compartment, and wherein a removable bailie member is employed to separate the feed storage and ice freezing compartments.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator wherein the condenser is secured to external walls of the cabinet to dissipate heat and to utilize the space normally occupied by the condenser for storing and refrigerating foods.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the use of spaced non-conducting members to separate ice freezing and food storage compartments in an economical and eflicient manner.

Another object is to employ the inner and outer walls of a refrigerator as refrigerant condensing and evaporating members to utilize the space within the cabinet in a more eflicient manner, and to provide spaced food storage and ice freezing compartments separated by removable non-conducting members to provide an economical refrigerator.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being bad for that purpose to the sub-joined claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts through the several views:

Fig. l is a front sectional view, partly in eleva- 2 tion of a domestic refrigerator embodying the resent invention? Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrow, with the access door in place. and shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the refrigerating cycle;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line H of Fig. 2, loolflng in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-45 of Fig. 5,1ooking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the 'phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1

to 4, it will be noted that a domestic refrigerator is housed within a cabinet having an outer wall or shell having interconnected top, side, back and bottom walls I, l2, l4 and I6, respectively.

The space within the cabinet is divided into food storage and ice freezing compartments II and 20 by inner liners or shells. The food storage compartment I8 is defined by a generally horizontally disposed upper wall 22 and generally vertically disposed back and side walls 24 and 26. The ice freezingcompartment 20 is defined by a horizontal bottom and vertically extending bottom, back and side walls 28, 30 and I2. The space between the food storage compartment it and the ice freezing compartment 201 is closed by a removable panel 34, preferably formed of non-conducting material, suchas glass.

A mechanism compartment 36 is defined by outer back walls 38 and 40 parallel with. the outer side and back walls I! and I4, respectively, is provided in the bottom of the cabinet to receive a motor compressor unit 42. The ice freezing compartment 20 has walls 44 and I6 spaced from and parallel to the walls 38 and 40, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to provide substantially uniform space for insulation around the entire ice freezing com- 86 partment. Suitable insulation 48 and formed of cork fibrous material is interposed between the outer casing and the inner shells defining the food storage and ice freezing compartments and it, respectively, to retard the flow of heat into the refrigerated compartments to minimize the escape of cold therefrom. The insulation surrounding the ice freezing compartment it is, as illustrated, thicker than the insulation surrounding the food storage compartment because the ice freezing compartment operates at a lower temperature than the food storage cornpartment it. A baffle 52, preferably formed of non-conducting material, such, for example, as a phenolic resinous product, is interposed between the insulation 58 and surrounding the food storage and ice freezing compartments iii and The baffle introduces a temperature break between the insulation 68 and 50 to prevent the flow of cold from the ice freezing compartment iiner to the food storage compartment iiner S8. The breaker strip also seals the upper part of insulation 56] against infiltration of air. Thus, moisture in the air in insulation :18 cannot come into contact with the exterior walls of the compartment 2i] or the evaporator surround it and freeze out therefrom.

It will be observed that the baffle projects nearly to the inner edge of the insulation 58 surrounding the ice freezing compartment 2e, and, therefore, provides a ledge St to support the outer edges of the panel 34 positioned between the food storage and ice freezing compartments i8 and 263. The panel 34 engages the ledge 54 of the bafile 52 in surface contact to securely seal the space between the compartments in an efficient and economical manner. The panel 34 may readily be removed for cleaning and reinserted.

The back wall M of the cabinet is open in alignment with the mechanism compartment 36 to permit the escape of heat developed by operation of the motor compressor unit t2. Flues 56 secured to the back wall M are provided to direct convection currents upwardly to insure adequate cooling of the motor compressor unit 42.

Liquid refrigerant evaporators of any convenlent type, such, for example, as a network of interconnected conduits or tubes 58 and 60 bonded to the outer surface of the inner shells of the food storage and ice freezing compartments l8 and 20, respectively, are employed to receive liquid refrigerant from a refrigerant condenser element of any suitable type, such, for example, as a series of interconnected conduits or tubes 62 bonded to the inner surface of some or all of the thin metal external walls I 0, l2, l4 and IS in heat exchange relation therewith.

A conduit 64 connected with the outlet of the motor' compressor unit 42 is provided to direct the compressed gaseous refrigerant to the condenser tubes 62, preferably at the top of the cabinet. The gaseous refrigerant is liquefied in the refrigerant condenser and the liquid is delivered to a strainer 66 and into the refrigerant evaporator 58 associated with the food storage compartment IS. A liquid refrigerant pressure differential restriction 68 is interposed between the refrigerant evaporators 58 and 60 to maintain the pressure of the refrigerant in the evaporator tubes 60 associated with the ice freezing compartment 20 lower than the pressure in the refrigerant evaporator tubes 58 associated with the food storage compartment 18.

The ice freezing compartment 20 will, therefore, operate at a lower temperature than the food storage compartment l8. The liquid refrigerant is converted to the gaseous form in the evaporator lift, and the gas is withdrawn from an accumulator it connected to the inlet of the motor compressor unit 62 by a conduit if.

The operation of this improved refrigerator, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3, is follows. The motor compressor 42 draws gaseous refrigerant from accumulator it connected to refrigerant evaporator 63 associated with ice freezing compartment 20 and compresses lt. If desired, substantially the entire outer surface of the cabinet may be employed as a heat exchange medium dissipate heat from the compressed gaseous refrigerant to convert it to the liquid form. Liquid refrigerant flows through the strainer 86 and is introduced into the refrigerant evaporator tubes 58 surrounding the food storage compartment i8.

The liquid refrigerant successively flows through the evaporator tubes 53 and 60, absorbing heat from the walls defining the inner shells of the food storage and ice freezing compartments it and 20, respectively, due to the thermal connection of the tubes with the thin metal walls. The temperature of the food storage and ice freezing compartments is then reduced. The restriction 68 between the evaporators 58 and i0 is effective to operate the ice freezing compartment 20 at a lower temperature than the food storage compartment l8.

When the refrigerant has absorbed a predetermined amount of heat it is again withdrawn from the evaporator tubes in the form of gaseous refrigerant by the motor compressor unit 42.

through the accumulator l0 whereupon the refrigerating cycle is repeated.

The space within the food storage compartment I8 is divided by means of a. plurality of vertically spaced shelves I4, preferably formed of transparent material, such, for example, as glass, to insure ease of cleaning and sanitary operation. The shelves are supported at their front ends on spaced supports 16, preferably formed of non-conducting material, such as a phenolic resinous product. It will be noted that small clearance spaces are provided between the back and sides of the shelves H and the walls of the inner shell forming the food storage compartment l8. Similar clearance spaces are provided between the front of the supports I6 and the inner liner 18 of a. door 80 to permit limited circulation 'of air between the shelves 14 to maintain substantially uniformly temperature and humidity conditions throughout the food storage compartment IS.

The door 80 is provided with an outer wall 82 spaced from the inner liner 18 formed of a phenolic resinous product, or other suitable nonconducting material, to provide a space for suitable insulation material to thermally insulate the closure for the food storage and ice freezing compartments l8 and 20. Resilient sealing members or bumpers 84 formed of rubber, or other Suitable material, are provided on the metallic portion of the door to engage a. contoured portion of the walls l0, l2 and 16 of the cabinet.

The inner wall or liner 18 of the door 80 is provided with a resilient sealing member 86, preferably formed of non-conducting material, such as rubber, to engage a member 88 formed of nonconducting material carried by the removable panel 34 to insure complete sealing of the food storage compartment I 8 from the ice freezing compartment 20 when the access door 80 is closed.

The ice freezing compartment I8 is provided with a wall ll having a plurality of vertically spaced shelves I! forthe reception of ice trays II. The wall SI is preferably aligned with or is a continuation of the wall It to insure maximum economy of the space within the cabinet. The space ll between the vertically extended walls ll and II and the side wall l! remote from the ice trays II is available for the reception of other articles to be frozen.

The fixed restriction GI maintains the pressure inthe refrigerant evaporator 80 lower than in the evaporator It whereupon the temperature in the ice freezing compartment will be lower than the temperature in the food storage compartment ll. The temperature in the compartment 20 must of necessity be below the freezing point of water, whereas the temperature in the food storage compartment II is preferably above the freezing point of water so that a desired degree of humidity will be in suspension to aid in the preservation of foodstuffs.

The baflle 52 prevents the diffusion of cold from the ice freezing compartment to the food storage compartment l8. Moisture deposited in the insulation 48 by diffusion from the food storage compartment II will, therefore, not freeze in the insulation 50.

When the door 80 is closed the sealing member it engages the member 88 and cooperates with the panel 34 and baille 52 to completely isolate the food storage compartment I8 from the ice freezing compartment 20.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar in many respects to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. Corresponding parts have, therefore, been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of Hill.

A shelf lfll is positioned in the ice freezing compartment ill and extends the full width of the compartment above the mechanism compartment I36 to receive a plurality of ice trays I03, as illustrated. If desired, the ice making portion of the evaporator may be extended in contact with the underside of shelf llll.

A double walled removable panel I05 formed of non-conducting material, such as glass, is employed to seal the space between the food storage and ice freezing compartments rather than the single panel 34 employed in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. A resilient spacer lil'l formed of rubber, or other suitable material, may be interposed between the plates I09 and i II to provide a fluid tight seal between the plates. It will be apparent that if desired the space between the plates I09 and ill may be evacuated to increase its insulating qualities.

In both embodiments illustrated, the closure member 34 or I05 between the food storage and ice freezing compartments I8 and 20 may be securely bonded to the inner edges of the baiile 52 byany suitable cementitious material or resilient liner to positively prevent escape of cold from the ice freezing compartment 20 to the food storage compartment l8 and to prevent flow of. air from insulation 18 to insulation 50.

The same refrigerating system may be used in connection with refrigerator shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, 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:

l. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet, a mechanism compartment in the bottom of the cabinet. insulation surrounding a partition of the mechanism compartment and formingwalls of an ice freezing compartment in the lower portion of the cabinet, a food storage compartment in the upper portion of the cabinet, insulation surrounding walls of the food storage compartment, a bailie interposed between and separating the insulation surrounding the ice freezing and food storage compartment, and a sealing member aligned with the baffle and separating the ice freezing and food storage compartments.

2. In a refrigerator, a, casing, a substantially horizontally disposed generally U-shaped banle positioned within the casing, food storage and ice freezing compartment shells positioned within the casing and spaced therefrom above and below the baffle, insulation between each of said shells and the casing, and a closure member closing the space between the shells.

3. In a refrigerator, cabinet rear and side walls, a door opening between said side walls and opposite said rear wall, doormeans closing said opening, a ledge extending along said rear and side walls and terminating adjacent said door means, a removable partition resting on said ledge and cooperating therewith and with said rear and side walls to form separate upper and lower compartments, and sealing means between said partition and said door means and also between said door means and the terminal edges of said ledge.

4. In a refrigerator, a cabinet outer casing, liner means within said casing forming inner surfaces of the cabinet side and rear walls, a ledge extending along said liner means around the side and rear walls forming a closed joint therewith, a removable partition resting on said ledge and cooperating therewith and with said liner means to form separate upper and lower compartments, and a bailie adjacent said ledge extending from said liner means to the inner surface of said casing along said side and rear walls.

5. In a refrigerator, a cabinet outer casing, liner means within said casing forming the inner surfaces of side and rear walls of the cabinet, a ledge extending along said liner mean around the side and rear walls, a removable partition resting on said ledge and cooperatingtherewith and with said liner means to form separate upper and lower compartments, and a U-shaped baflle member extending from said liner means outwardly to said casing along said side and rear walls.

6. In a refrigerator, a cabinet outer casing, an upper liner member within said casing forming inner side and rear wall surfaces of an upper food storage compartment, a lower liner member within said casing forming inner side and rear wall surfaces of a lower freezing compartment, said lower liner member being spaced inwardly of said upper liner member, a ledge formed out of said lower liner member and extending outwardly to said upper liner member around the side and rear wall surfaces, a. partition resting on said ledge and separating said compartments, and an extension of said ledge to said casing separating the space between said upper liner member and easing from the space between said lower liner member and casing in the side and rear walls.

'7. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, cabinet liner means of general U-shape in cross section 7 defining walls of a refrigerated storage space extending substantially from top to bottom of the cabinet, an offset in said liner means forming a machinery compartment occupying one lower corner of the space within the liner walls at the rear thereof so that the refrigerated storage space extends above and laterally and also across the front of the machinery compartment, access door means forming substantially the entire front wall of said refrigerated storage space from the top wall down to the bottom wall, a refrigerant evaporator arranged in heat absorbing relationship with the refrigerated storage space above tor-compressor unit in said machinery compartment, a, refrigerant condenser tube extending from said motor-compressor upwardly from said machinery compartment and operatively connecting said motor-compressor unit and said evaporator, and a plurality of shelves in said refrigerated space located above said machinery compartment.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, cabinet liner means of general U-shape in cross section defining walls of a refrigerated storage space from top to bottom of the cabinet, an offset in said cabinet liner forming a machinery compartment in one lower corner only of the space within the confines of said liner at the rear thereof so that the refrigerated storage space extends above and laterally and also across the front of the machinery compartment, access door means forming substantially the entire front wall of said refrigerated storage space from the top wall down to the bottom wall and spaced forwardly of said offset, a refrigerant evaporator arranged in heat absorbing relationship with the refrigerated storage space above said machinery compartment, a refrigerant motor-compressor unit in said machinery compartment operatively connected to said refrigerant evaporator, and a box-like storage container occupying substantially all of the space in front of said machinery compartment laterally of the refrigerated storage space at the bottom of the cabinet, said storage container cooperating to form one side wall of the storage space at the bottom thereof.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,731,711 Davenport Oct. 15, 1929 2,107,076 Mason Feb. 1, 1938 2,228,144 Miller Jan. 7, 1941 2,356,781 Morrison Aug. 29, 1944 2,393,238 Dailey Jan. 22, 1946 2,430,456 Dailey Nov. 11, 1947 2,435,102 Rundell Jan. 27, 1948 2,440,628 Bauman Apr. 27, 1948 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,509,612

May 30, 1950 LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1 line 25, for the word feed read food; column 3, line 26, for therefrom read thereon; column 6, line 4; for partition read portion;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read With;}these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the fcase in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 29th dey of August, A. 33.1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommiuianer of Paton.

Images