US2446066A - Mixing unit for refrigerators - Google Patents

Description

July 27,1948. M. TATE 2,446,066

MIXING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1945 M Merze Tale July 27, 1948. M. TATE MIXING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

Fild Dec. 25, 1943 Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IVHXING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS Merzc Tate, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 23, 1943, Serial No. 515,411

It is particularly aimed to provide a construction which is exceedingly simple, practical and relatively inexpensive.

More specifically, I aim to provide a unit in connection with the freezing compartment operated by a motor mounted by such compartment on the exterior and having a rotatable part extending through the top for driving connection with mixing apparatus and detachably engageable with such parts, and compactly mounted within the freezing compartment in such manner that available space may be used for various purposes.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an electric refrigerator looking toward the front, with the refrigerating compartment open and equipped with my improvement;

Figure 2 is a substantially central vertical sectional view through my improvement;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the container;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the supporting means for the container;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section showing the indentation engagement between the base of the container and the support; and

Figure 7 is an elevation of a conventional type double rotary beater which may be used in the container or mixer.

A refrigerator is fragmentarily suggested in the drawings at ID, in which H is the conventional freezing compartment. This construction is to be considered as conventional as the invention is adaptable to any electric refrigerator or the equivalent.

Within the casing or housing of the freezing unit H, I dispose a container I2 as compactly as desired and of any desired capacity, for instance, two quarts. It is clear that this container I 2 may be made of glass, any desired plastic, metal or other material. It has a removable cover I3 of the same or different material as the container l 2 and the cover has a depending rim M for sur- 2 Claims. (01. 62-414) rounding engagement with the upper edge of the container. i

The container and associated parts are adapted to be mounted Within the unit II in any suitable manner, but preferably on a removable shelfM' which may have an extension or tongue l5 at the front to facilitate manipulation. This shelf l4 may rest and slide on ledges l6 arranged at any suitable elevation within the unit H and beneath the ledges Hi, the space not actually used while the mixer is being used, may also be utilized for instance, to receive trays l1.

Upon the top of the shelf I4, I mount a mat or block i8, either permanently, or removably, upon which the container i2 rests and is held against rotation. This end is preferably accomplished by providing longitudinally extending ribs IS on the under surface of the base of container l2, for removable engagement in grooves 20 in the upper surface of the mat or block l8. Additionally, a central depression 2| is provided in said base of the constainerwhich provides anexterlor boss and a corresponding depression 22 to accommodate the boss, is provided centrally in the upper surface of the mat or block [8.

Within the container I2 I use a suitable dasher such as that disclosed at 23. This dasher has a central shaft 24 whose lower end is rounded and is journaled in the depression 2| as shown. Its upper end is journaled in a tubular bearing 25 provided on the cover l3, and which bearing permanently mounts packing 26 for engagement with the shaft 24. Such shaft has a squared extension or the equivalent 21. l

Said dasher is adapted to be driven by a switch controlled electric motor 28 which is separate and additional to the equipment of the refrigerator, the same being of the cushioned and encased type with lifetime lubricant sealed within. The switch may be provided at any suitable location. This motor has brackets 29 mounting it on top of the unit II and its main shaft or an extension at 30 depends through a central opening 3i in the top wall of the unit H and has a square or other shaped socket 32 corresponding with the configuration of'the extension 21. As a result of this construction, rotation of the shaft 3.0 by the motor 28 will rotate the dasher, while the container 12 is held stationary. The container may be raised sufficiently to disengage ribs l9 from the grooves 20 and the depression 2| from the depression 22', so that shelf I4 and block Hi can be withdrawn from beneath container l2 so that the container can be lowered to disengage the extension 2'! of the dasher from the socket 32, and the units removed from the freezing unit. The reverse operation takes place in replacing the unit for a freezing, stirring or cooling operation.

Any preferred type of dasher 23 may be used. As shown, this dasher has blades 33 alternating from opposite sides thereof, so that spaces occur therebetween. It Will also be noted that these blades arereversely, curved inwardly. atmtheir free ends as ,at 34 in order to scrapeeeffectivelythe inner wall of the container and give the material therein a centripetal motion.

It is to be understood that if the motor is removed, I may provide any suitable irtype iio'f closure for the opening 3 l.

In lieu of the dasher 23, a double rotarybeater of conventional form as disclosed iinqEigure might be substituted. The beaters are shown at 35 journaled on vertical rods 35' carried -by-an arch shaped support 36, which includes a shaft portiont'! to fit:the bearing 25 and be .engaged by the packing 28 and also a squared extension? similar-to that a'tlzlto function-in the'samevmanner.

It is clear-that th'eunit isto be :used' for =agitating any' desired mixtures, for cooling them, :or -for making ice cream, sherbets,- or the equivalent. The motor, as StatecL-isunder switch controLan'd the temperature'within the unit I lis'controllable by the usual mechanism in modern refrigerators. The dasher 23 may be made in a single piece and the curvature at 34 causes theibladeto impart a. centrifugal motion to the contents of=tl-ie container-as well as toscrapethe same 'from the inner surface of the lattenpreventingthem premature- 0 1y freezing to the: sides 'of thecontainer arid the alternate arrangement. of the blades and openings enables the whipping of mixtures-atthe center andbeating in an upward direction.

The-parts may be readily removedand-replaced,

and detached for-washing and cleaning.

' Various changes -ma y -be resorted to provided 4 they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination with the freezing unit of a 5 refrigerator, a support therein having a groove, a receptacle resting on the support and having a rib engaged in the groove, said receptacle having a depression exteriorly providing a boss, said support having a depression receiving the boss, a 10 coveron the receptacle, a dasher'iwithim the receptacle having a shaft journaled in "the first- .mentioned depression, said shaft extending through and above the cover, a motor mounted on i'the-xexterior ofthe unit, said motorhaving a 1,5 rotatable part extending through the top of the unit, -anddetachably engaged with said shaft to \drive/thesame.

2. In combination with the freezing unit of a refrigerator, a support therein having a groove, a 20 receptacle restin on thesupport and having a rib engaged: in:-the groove, =said :receptaclahauing a depression :exteriorly providing. ELIJIJOSS, said-support; having ",3- depression receivingv the aboss, -.a cover on the receptacle, a dasher within-the-,-z:eceptacle having a shaft journaledpin the zfirstmentioned depression, said tshaft ':extending through and above the cover,.-a motonmounted-on therexteriorcof the unit, said motorzhavingararotatable part extending through :t-he top 10f the 0 unit, an-d detachably-aen aged awithesaimshaftito drive-the same, said cover: having a bearin -ena ed -rbyesaid shaft, and said-rb earingshaving "Name :Date' Powers Jan. f6,: 1"931 Number

Images