GB965184A - Improved cooler, more especially for milk churns - Google Patents

Abstract

965,184. Cooling liquids in bulk. ETABLISSEMENTS P. LANGLET S.A. Jan. 31, 1962 Feb. 1, 1961; Sept. 26, 1961; Jan. 16, 1962], No. 3718/62. Headings F4H and F4S. A liquid cooler, especially for cooling milk churns, comprises a thermally insulated water tank divided into a relatively large working chamber which may receive the churns and a buffer chamber containing an evaporator supplied by a refrigerating unit, water being pumped from the buffer chamber to a distribution device at the bottom of the working chamber, and being returned to the buffer chamber via an overflow which keeps the level of water in the working chamber constant. As shown, Figs. 1 and 2, the tank 9 supported on a timber frame comprises foam plastic insulation between plastic outer and inner casings 11, 12 reinforced at the top by a U-member 13. The tank may be covered by further insulated elements 77 (only one shown). A partition 16 divides the tank into a working chamber 17 having a capacity for nine milk churns and a buffer chamber 18 containing an evaporator coil 25. When the water in the working chamber rises above the indicated level, it is returned to the buffer chamber via overflow member 19a having rows of apertures 21a, 22a which direct the water over the surface of the evaporator, and additional apertures in raised flange 20a to deal with the sudden large overflow caused by the introduction of an additional churn. Water from the buffer chamber is passed via pipe 48 to pump 36, pipe 56 and distributer piping 57 having apertures 61a for directing turbulencecreating streams of water upwards between the churns. The churns are supported on a grating having churn-positioning angle members 64b and a partially filled churn is prevented from floating by a yoke member 73a carried on crossmember 72a. The yoke members are adjustable and interchangeable to deal with different shapes of churn. The pump 36 and the compressor-condenser refrigerating unit 33 are housed in a plastic protective hood 52 at one side of the tank, and are brought into operation by a thermostatic switch 75 which, as shown, is connected to a bulb 76a carried by a metal plate 76b supported on the coil 25 in such a way that the water from the overflow flows over the bulb. The working chamber has a drainage pipe 45, the pipes 45 and 48 being enclosed in insulation below the tank. A tube 81b limits the amount of siphoning which occurs between the chamber 17 and 18 when the pump is not working. Various modifications are described. For example, the thermostat bulb may be positioned in the chamber 17 and additional control elements responsive, e.g., to pressure in the evaporator or to the thickness of ice formed thereon, may be provided. The control circuit for the pump and refrigerating unit may include a start-up time switch which over-rides the thermostatic control. The apertures 61a may be arranged to direct water on to the bases of the churns. The width of the buffer chamber may be increased, e.g. by extending the tank over the pump and refrigerating unit 33a as illustrated in Fig. 12. In place of the churns, the working chamber may be adapted to receive a bulk milk container 51c, Fig. 15, having an agitator 51e and discharge tube 51d extending through an aperture in the tank.