US1185596A

US1185596A - Refrigerating apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US1185596A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur H Eddy
Original assignee: CHARLES E SHEPARD
Current assignee: CHARLES E SHEPARD
Priority date: 1910-06-17
Filing date: 1910-06-17
Publication date: 1916-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1933-05-30

Description

A. H. EDDY.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE IT. I910.

Patented May 30, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. H. EDDY. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I7. I910 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

QLQ/W MW Patented May 30, 1916.

A. H. EDDY.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1910.

l ,1 85,596. Patented May 30, 1916.

A. H. EDDY. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1?, 19m.

iltflfltfld May 30, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4. 6

fwaw hQ'fizawclsi Mr ARTHUR H. EDDY, OF WINDSOR,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES E. SHEPARD,

0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

REFRIGERATING' APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed June 17, 1910. Serial No. 567,407.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. EDDY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of \Vindsor, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention is an improved organized system or apparatus for use in artificial refrigeration, intended and adapted for releasing and directing the flow of refrigerating gas or fluid automatically under the control of the elemental properties and forces resident in the refrigerating fluid and in the heat absorbed, and to be absorbed, from the rooms or chambers to be cooled. As this art is generally practised, a. refrigerating fluid or gas, generally ammonia, is circulated under pressure in an endless system, in, or contiguous to the rooms or spaces to be cooled, which are provided with expansion coils or chambers in which the ammonia gas is allowed to expand, and absorb heat through the walls of the coil or chamber from the room or space outside of those walls. The expanded ammonia fluid or gas, with its absorbed heat, then flows or is pumped more or less unsystematically to apparatus wherein it is recompressed and cooled to extract the heat absorbed in the expansion coils, after which the fluid is again circulated through the system as needed. In this art, as heretofore practised, the flow of the fluid or gas, both to and from the expansion coils, has commonly required the personal care and watchfulness of an attendant, who at best could only very roughly approximate a uniform and correct control of the flow by means of manually operated valves. In the system of the present invention, however, the outflow of the gas from the expansion coil or chamber as well as the inflow of the gas thereto, is regulated automatically by internal conditions, independently of the pumps or other external adjuncts. The time and extent of the outflow is regulated by the pressue within the coil, thus preserving that pressure at a predetermined point, which in turn greatly increases the stability and usefulness of that pressure as a factor in the control of the inlet valve, which control it shares jointly with the temperature in the room outside of the coil. In this way, provision is made for effecting a prompt, automatic, and constant control of the flow of the gas both to and from the coils, thus utilizing the gas to the best advantage and thereby saving a great proportion of energy heretofore wasted by unnecessary or unutilized expansion and recompression.

\(Vhere some or all of the refrigerated rooms are frequently and irregularly opened and closed, the chilled food or other material taken out and warm material substituted, the work to be done by the circulating fluid varies greatly in the different rooms, and in the same rooms. For example, the refrigerated rooms of a provision store ordinarily remain closed nights and Sundays, during which time fairly uniform conditions prevail. But during the business days, which alternate with the nights, some or all of the cold rooms are opened more or less frequently, to take out the cooled goods and replace them with varying amounts of other goods containing more or less heat.

That heat, with the heat directly admitted by the more or less irregular opening and closing of the doors, and varying in amount and tennaerature according to the season, should be absorbed by the refrigerating fluid at all times to suit these varying conditions.

An important condition of efficiency and economy is that the refrigerating gas or fluid shall perform a regulated measure or quota of work at each cycle of its operation, and at each step in each cycle. To accomplish this the refrigerating fluid should be admitted to the expansion coils, and discharged therefrom only at such times and in such quantities as are compatible with itsproper expansion and consequent absorption of heat from the room to be cooled. \Vhenever the inflow of gas to the coil is suflicient by its expansion to reduce the temperature of that room to the desired degree, the inflow should be stopped and the gas held in the coil until it'has absorbed its allotted or regulated quota of heat. If at this point the surrounding temperature has not been reduced to the required or predetermined degree, the fluid should be released from that coil in suflicient quantity and its place taken by the flow and expansion of more gas from the supplf pipe in sufficient quantity and for the ength of time required to reduce the temperature to the desired degree; whereupon the further flow of the gas to and from that coil should be suspended, until the tem erature again rising above the prescribed egree calls for the replacement of the fluid by a further supply.

In cases where two or more refrigerators or cooling rooms are em loyed in the same establishment, it is desira le to operate and control them all in connection with a single circulating system and a single lant for recompressing and cooling the flui the inlets of the several expansion coils or chambers beingconnected with a single supply pipe, and all discharging either directly or ultimately into a common return pipe or system of pipes, leading to the compressing pump. In such cases it is not onl desirable to prevent the unnecessary anc wasteful flow of fluid from the coils, due to the action of the pump or other external influence, but it is also important to prevent backward inflow, into any of the expansion chambers or coils, of the fluid previously discharged therefrom, or discharged from another expansion coil or chamber, which by its pressure and temperature is capable of either absorbing more heat, or of transferring some of its own heat, to rooms which are already at their desired temperatures. In some instances, and especially where different rooms are to be maintained at different temperatures, it is desirable for more complete efficiency, to employ the refrigerating fluid in a series relation to the different rooms, absorbing an additional economical and regulated quota of heat from each in succession.

The fluent and volatile character of the ammonia which is commonly employed as a circulating medium, enables it to flow with great ease and rapidity through very small openings, especially under the pressures commonly employed. For this reason the valves and their seats should fit accurately together, so as to close tightly when it is desired to stop the flow, and should open to minutely graduated and limited extents, in accordance with the requirements of service. In other words, the valves employed should be sensitive, and be promptly and automatically responsive to the changes of temperature and pressure taking place during the absorption and transfer of the heat in the cooling chamber. It is found that hand regulated valves are unsuited for the purposes contemplated herein. since they are dependent upon personal attendance and operation, and even with the most careful and constant personal attention, only a rough approximation to roper regulating conditions can be obtaine by their use. This is particularly true in any attempt to regulate difi'erent chambers to different temperatures. Even if such hand operated valves could be accurately adjusted to the requirements of the respective refrigerating chambers, those adjustments woul remain even approximately correct, only during the uniform continuance of the exact conditions for which the valves were adjusted. Any change in the relative amount of heat to be absorbed from each chamber calls for a prompt and properly graduated change in the relative adjustment of the valves, which is impossible with hand regulated devices, even when the necessity and its extent are apprehended in season.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an organized system of apparatus for utilizing and directing the elemental properties and forces of the heat and of the refrigerating fluid to automatically regulate and control the flow of refrigerating gas or fluid, from a common source, to a plurality of cooling or'refrigerating rooms, and maintain the same or a different temperature in each, independently of the others; and also to discharge or release the expanded fluid 'With its varied conditions of heat and pressure from the respective coils into other coils or into a common return pipe, while avoiding backfiow of the fluid discharged from coils at a higher pressure into coils having a lower pressure. This enables different refrigerating rooms, connected with a common supply of the refrigerating fluid, to be maintained at the different temperatures best suited for different purposes. This requirement very commonly exists in the same establishment, as for example in a provision warehouse, or market, or cold storage plant, where it is desirable to maintain different commodities at different temperatures.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for directing and controlling the flow of the refrigerating fluid to a plurality of rooms or chambers in a succession or series arrangement in each of which the fluid absorbs a certain amount of heat, and then passes to the next chamber and undergoes further expansion, thereby economically absorbing a further amount of heat, the fluid passing from each chamber to the next and being finally released under the automatic control of the temperature and pressure conditions of the fluid itself and of the surrounding space to be cooled.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows an elevation of a circulating system embodying the present invention, and operating upon three cooling chambers A, B and C, connecting in parallel arrangement. Fig. 2 is an elevation in section and in enlarged scale of an approved arrange- Ill ment of the apparatus within the three chambers A, B and C of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view in section taken through its longitudinal center and in enlarged scale, of an approved form of inlet valve suitable for use as a part of the present apparatus. Fig. 4 is a side view also in crosssection and in enlarged scale, of an outlet valve suitable for use in the present apparatus. Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive are side elevations of a diagrammatic character, showing different arrangements and modificacations of the refrigerating chambers and their respective connections, both in parallel and series arrangements. Fig. 5 represents a. single chamber e nipped with the inlet and outlet valves of igs. 3 and 4, respectively. Fig. 6 shows two cooling chambers with their refrigerating coils connected in a series arrangement. Fig. 7

shows two chambers arranged in a modified series relation, in conjunction with an auxiliary coil in one of the chambers. Fig. 8 represents the three cooling chambers connected in an independent parallel system. Fig. 9 represents three rooms or chambers connected in another modified series system, with an auxiliary system in one of the chambers. Fig. 10 shows three rooms or chambers combined and connected in a still further modified series system.

A brief description will first be given of the principal features of the apparatus represented in Fig. 1. This shows three re frigerating rooms or chambers A, B and C, all of which receive refri erating fluid from a single supply pipe 1, t oughthe branch pipes 2; and all three dischar e into a common return pipe 3, throug the branch pipes 4. Each branch of the system is preferably provided with shut-

ofl valves

5 and 6, to enable any one or more of the branches to be entirely shut'ofi at will, wfhenhnot wanted in the regular operation 0 t It will usually be found convenient to vary the capacity of the pump 8 in accordance with the work being done; and this may be several. ways; for example, of the motor; or speed in transmission, both of whic ways are illustrated herein. The variable transmission device consists of the cone pulleys 12 and 13, provided with a belt 14, the pomtion of which with the plunger 18, leading or diaphragm in the pressure which connects by means of with the common return pipe 3.

to a piston chamber 19, the pipe 20 herein shown Increasing pressure in the return pipe, due to activity in the heat absorbing function, is thus transmitted to the pressure chamber 19, from which movement is transmitted by the described connection to the belt 14, shifting it to a position on the cone pulleys 12 and 13, which increases the speed of the pump, the parts being designed and proportioned so as to vary the speed in ap proximate proportion to the work being done. Or the lever 16 may be connected with the handle of acontroller 21 employed to control the speed of the electric motor. It is also desirable in some, ifv not in most, instances, to provide for automatically stopping the pump when the dischar e of expanded fluid ceases, and to automatically start the pump again whenever the rising pressure of the discharged fluid demands it. This is herein shown to be accomplished by means of a piston or diaphragm in a pressure chamber 22 connected by means of the branch pipe 23 with the common return pipe 3. The piston or diaphragm is connected by means of the rod 24 with the switch lever 25, and moves the said lever according to the pressure of gas in the return pipe, into contact with the terminals 26 or 27, the wires of which lead to a circuit maker and breaker 28, connected with the motor starter 29, which in turn is connected with the motor 11. These electrical connections may be of various kinds, and are so well understood that no occasion is seen for describing them further in detail.

he pump 8 operates to draw in the expanded refrigerating fluid or gas from the return pi e 3, and recompress it. The compressed uid leaves the pump through the pipe 32, which conducts It to any approved means for extracting the its revious cycle of operation, and prepares it ibr the next cycle. The means herein shown consist of a coil 33 connected with the pipe 32 and immersed in water contained in the tank 34, passing thence into the storage tank 35, which in turn communicates with the supply pipe 1, leading to the rooms A, B and C, thus completing the endless system. The water in which the coil 33 is immersed is preferably supplied to the tank 34 through the inlet 36, near the bottom of the tank, and leaves the tank through the outlet 37 near the to of the tank. The same water may be con noted by the pipe 38 to the water-jacket of the pump 8, discharging therefrom through the outlet 39 into any convenient waste pipe.

Suitable gages 40 and 41 may be employed upon the return and pressure pipes and else-.

where, for visibly indicating the pressures.

The three rooms A, B and C are herein shown to be connected in parallel relation to the system, the o eration of each branch system being conl ined to its own room. These three rooms are shown in Fig. 2 to be provided with different forms and arrangements of expansion coils, showing the adaptation of the system to diverse requirements. The refrigerating fluid conducted into each room or chamber by its branch supply pipe 2, is admitted to the expansion coils within the chambers, and after performing its allotted work is released and discharged through its branch outlet 4 into the common return pipe 3.

Various forms of valves may be employed at the inlets and outlets of the coils, some of which are shown in my own prior patents. The inlet valve illustrated herein is of the automatic expansion type shown in my U. S. Patent 853,505, granted to me May 14, 1907. This valve as shown in Fig. 3 has a disk valve 45 located on the inlet side of the valve seat 46. The stem 47 of the valve is connected on the outlet side of the valve seat with a diaphragm 48, above which is a pressure chamber 49, to which the admitted refrigerating fluid passes when the valve 45 is opened, and from which it finds its way through the assage 50 to the expansion coil Thus t e diaphragm is subjected on one side to the pressure of the fluid in the chamber 49, due to the expansion of the refrigeratin fluid in the coil 51, and is subjected on its opposite side to the pressure of a spring 52 interposed between the diaphragm 48 and another diaphragm .53, which upon its under side receives the pres sure due to the expansion of a liquid, such as alcohol in the thermic receptacle 54, which is placed in any desired portion of the room or compartment to be cooled. The under side of the diaphragm 48 is also subjected to the pressure of a spring 56, the tension of which can be adjusted by hand, by means of the right and left hand nut or turnbuckle 57, so as to adjust the balance of the opposing forces within the valve to suit desired temperatures. The details of construction of this valve are fully shown and described in my aforesaid Patent No. 853,505.

The expansion coils may be disposed in any convenient or desired way within the chambers, and may be employed in direct contact with the air, as in the case of the coils 51 and 59 in the rooms A and B; or they may be placed in tanks or boxes as shown by the coils 60 and 61. The coils may also be employed for cooling brine; and in fact may beapplied to any purposes now known in mechanical or artificial refrigeration. A preferred form of outlet or discharge valve is shown in Fig. 4 The valve head 64, for opening and closing the outlet port 65, is mounted on, or connected with a diaphragm 66, the under side of which is subjected to the pressure in the coil connected with the passage 67. The valve is yieldingly held to its seat by means of aspring 68, interposed between the disk late 69 and a collar 70. The tension 0 the spring may be adjusted by means of the screw 71, so as to hold the valve head 64 closed until overcome by the desired or redetermined ressure of expanded fluid in the coil. T us the flow of cooling fluid through the coil is automatically controlled at both ends of the coil by variations in the opposin pressures. When the temperature in a coo ing room reaches a desired or prescribed point, these opposing forces are in equilibrium, and the valves close and remain closed, thereby stopping all flow of the refrigerating fluid, and waste of ener y. As the temperature in the room is raised y the opening of doors or otherwise, it takes effect upon the thermic receptacle 54, and by the consequent expansion raises the diaphragm 53, and opens the valve 45, overcoming the pressure against the upper side of the diaphragm 48 of the fluid or gas already in the coil 51 and confined therein by the closed outlet valve 63. The expansion of the newly admitted fluid absorbs more heat from the room, increasing its own pressure, and continuing until it has absorbed an economic amount or proportion of the heat. As the heat is transferred from the outside to the inside of the coils, the opposing forces again approach a balance, closing the valve 45, as soon as the proper temperature relation is reached. If a considerable amount of heat is to be absorbed, due to the frequent opening of the room, or from any other cause, the expansive action within the thermic receptacle 54 continues in accordance with the heat still to be absorbed, thereby keeping the valve 45 open against the closing ten ency of the pressure in the coils. The tension of the outlet valve 63 is adjusted to :1. int which will hold the pressure of the re 'gerating fluid in the coil up to the point at which it receives its intended amount or quota of heat, beyond which point the continuing expansion of the fluid opens the valve 6%, and permits some of the fluid to discharge into the return pipe 3 in the arrangement represented in Fi 1, 2 and 8, or into the coils of other cham rs in the systems illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 10. The area of the outlet port 65, the tension of the spring 68, and the area of the diaphragm 66 are so proportioned as to prevent the return flow of heated fluid that has been discharged from the same or another coil. This, ially in the case of rooms maintaining different temperatures. efi'ectually prevents the backward flow of fluid or gas at a higher presure. into a coil intended for a lower pressure. This prevents any backward transfer of heat which has once been absorbed. This internal control of the flow of the liquid through the rooms to be refrigerated, entirely eliminates the coil 83 in the external control or influence of the varying pressures in the return pipe 3 and its branches, and of the pump employed for recompressing the fluid. It is desirable to avoid this external control or influence because of the variations of pressure in the return pipe, and in the operation of the pump, especially in the case of a common exhaust from a plurality of chambers in which different temperatures are to be maintained.

Various ways are illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 9 and 10, of the adaptation of the system in a series relation to a plurality of refrigerating rooms or chambers.

In Fig. 6 the coil 76 of the chamber 77 discharges into the coil 78 of the chamber 79.

ese coils are provided as shown in the figure, withinlet and

outlet valves

44 and 63 of the general character previously described herein, 0 erating under the control of the heat absor ed and to be absorbed for regulating the flow of refrigerating fluid, and preventing the return flow.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, the two rooms or

chambers

81 and 82 are served by a branch arranged in series, consistin of the room 81, discharging into the coil 84 in the room 82. In this arrangement, however, the room 82 is provided with an additional auxiliary or supplemental branch 85 of the system, operating through the coil 85. So long as the heat absorbin capacity of the coil 84 is sufficient to keep the room 82 at the desired temperature, the auxiliary coil 85 remains inactive, its inlet valve 44 being kept closed by the action of its thermic receptacle 54, as previously described. But when, for any reason, the coil in room 81 is inactive, or if active the fluid discharged therefrom is incapable of absorbing the heat from room 82 with suflicient rapidity, the temperature rising above the point predetermined for that room, operates through the thermic receptacle 54 to open the valve 44, thus admitting a supply of fluid to the coil 85 which operates as already described, until the temperature is reduced to the desired point.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, three rooms are provided with expansion coils arranged in a series relation, with an auxiliary branch in the third or last room. The coil 87 in the first room 88 receives its fluid from the common supply pipe 1 through the inlet valve 44 as required, and as determined by the balance of the opposing action of the fluid in the coil 87 and in the thermic rece tacle 54, as previously described. The fluid released or discharged from the coil 87 through the outlet valve 63 passes through a coil 89 in room 90 whence it is discharged through the outlet valve 63 to another outlet valve 63 into the common return pipe 3, this branch thereby acting in series in the two

rooms

88 and 90. A similar branch of the system acts in series through the coil 91 in the room 90, and the coil 92 in room 98. In addition to this series relation, the room 93 is provided with an auxiliary branch system of its own, operating through the coil 94. These coils are provided with the inlet valves 44 and outlet valves 63, previously described.

A still further modified arrangement is shown in Fig. 10, in which the expansion coil 96 in the room 97 connects in series with the coil 98 in the room 99, and with the coil 100 in room 101. An auxiliary branch coil 102 in room 99 receives the refrigerating fluid independently, under its own control, from the common supply pipe 1, and discharges into the pipe connectin the coils 98 and 100 in series, thus itself becoming auxiliary to the series. Similarly in room 101 an auxiliary branch coil 103 receives refrigerating fluid independently from the supply pipe 1, and discharges into the pipe connecting the series of coils common to the three rooms.

hese various modifications show some of the different ways in which this system or apparatus may by intelligent judgment and selection be adapted to various conditions.

fluid to and through the respective coils is governed by the local conditions. The influence of the heat to be absorbed, and the pressure produced within the coil by the absorption and consequent expansion of the fluid confined therein by the outlet valve are constantly opposed to each other, being balanced so as to close the inlet valve when the room is reduced to the desired temperature, and to open the inlet valve when the temperature is above the desired point, serving also to open the outlet valve when the pressure in the expansion coil, caused by the absorption of heat, indicates that it has absorbed the amount or quota of heat forwhich it is regulated, and that a further flow of the refrigerating fluid is needed to absorb the remaining heat.

An important advantage of the present system is that whereb it maintains different rooms connected with the same system at diflerent temperatures independently of each other. In the parallel arrangement of the system, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 8, each room is cooled by a single independent coil, and any room may be carried at the desired temperature. In a series arrangement of the system, where it is desired to maintain different temperatures in the different rooms, the series arrangement should preferably be so that the flow will be from rooms requiring higher temperature to rooms requiring lower temperature, so that the gas after absorbing an economical amount of heat from a given chamber, passes to a chamber in which lower temperature is required, and by further expansion is adapted to absorb heat therefrom and thereby lower the temperature.

As an illustrative example, it may be assumed that in the parallel arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the chambers A, B and C are to be maintained at temperatures of +0, 30 and 20 degrees, respectively, and that the coil temperatures are about :20 or 25 degrees below the respective chambers, in which case the coils work at temperatures of approximately 15, 5 and 0 degrees, respectively. By reference to standard tables showing the properties of saturated ammonia gas, it will be found that the equivalent gage pressures for these temperatures are about 28, 20 and 15 pounds, respectively. Therefore, the outlet valves 63 are adjusted to release at pressures of 28 pounds from the coil 51 of the room A, at 20 lbs, from the coils 59 and 60 of the room B, and at 15 lbs. from the coil 61 of the room C. The working pressure in the supply pipe 1 is assumed to be about 140 lbs. The inlet valves are adjusted so that with these back pressures of 9.8, 20 and 15 lbs, respectively, they will be opened by their respective thermo static receptacles 54 in opposition to these back pressures, when the temperatures of their respective chambers exceeds the assumed limits of 40, 30, and 20 degrees for the chambers A, B and C, respectively. Under these conditions, starting from equilib rium, a rise of temperature in one of the chambers would operate through its thermostat 54 to open the inlet valve -14, thus admitting a supply of ammonia, which by its expansion in .the coil would, as Well understood, absorb heat from the chamber. This absorption of heat would increase the pressure of the gas in the coil until it overcomes the resistance of the outlet valve of that coil. This transfer of the heat from the chamber and its conversion into pressure in the coil also serves to balance the forces controlling the inlet valve, so as to close it; the falling pressure from the thermostat 51 being overcome by the rising back pressure in the coil. If the coil is small relative to the size of the chamber, or if the chamber is frequently opened and more heat admitted, then the continuing pressure from the thermostat is not overcome by the rise of pressure in the coil, due to its absorption of heat. In such cases the expansion in the coil overcomes the resistance of the outlet valve, and escapes through the valve with out closing the inlet valve, which in response to the need thus indicated by the still unbalanced forces of admitted heat and its conversion to pressure in the coil, continues to flow into the coil and continues to expand and thus continues the absorption of heat until the temperature is reduced sufliciently to allow the inlet valve to close by the forces coming to an equilibrium, with the temperature at the desired point, and the pressure in the coil just failing to overcome the resistance of the outlet valve, thus stopping the flow of the fluid and the consequent waste of energy needed to recompress it. Obviously in this parallel system or arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, different temperatures desired in the different chambers A, B, C, are obtained by suitable adjustment of their respective inlet and outlet valves, so that the elemental forces in each will be balanced at the various desired temperatures.

In the series arrangement shown in Fig. 6 as an illustrative example, it may be assumed that the

rooms

77 and 79 are to be maintained at temperatures of 35 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively; and that this requires the

coils

76 and 78 to be respectively maintained at 15 degrees and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. It is assumed also that the relative sizes and uses of these rooms are such that room 79 gives up to its refrigerating coil 50% more heat than room 57 does to its coil. It is also assumed that the supply pipe 1 supplies liquid ammonia at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, at the pressure corresponding to the pressure of saturated ammonia vapor at that temperature, namely about 125 pounds per square inch gage pressure. The outlet valves 63 of rooms 77 and 7 9 are set at 63 and 19 pounds, respectively, gage pressure. The inlet valve M is adjusted to furnish refrigerating fluid in such quantity that each pound of the fluid absorbs about 160 British thermal units from room 77. Each pound of the fluid will also absorb 50% more than this from room 79, or 240 B. T. U. lnder these circumstances the fluid at the exhaust end of coil 76 will consist of about liquid and 45% vapor, while the fluid at the exhaust end of the coil 78 will be about 7% liquid and 93% vapor.

Auxiliary coils, like the coils 85 in Fig. 7. the coil 91 in Fig. 9, and the coils 102 and 103 in Fig. 10, may be employed where the temperature conditions are too irregular for control by the series system alone, or wherever for any reason a more exact control of the temperature is desired.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, the gas in the coil 87, having absorbed heat from the room 88 and thus reduced the temperature of that room to an economical degree relative to its desired temperature, passes to and expands in the lower pressure coil 89, thus absorbing heat from the chamber 90. Similarly, the gas in the coils 91 and 92 perform a due proportion of the work of absorbing the heat in the

chambers

90 and 93. acting in the chamber 90 in conjunction with the series coil 89 and the auxiliary coil 94. In the system illustrated in Fig. 10, the series arrangement is shown to extend through three chambers, taking from each the desired or predetermined amount or quota of heat.

These cooling rooms, or the separate expansion coils may be regarded as independent units, which may be assembled with other similar units at the pleasure of the designing engineer, in series or in parallel, or in both ways. The coils may receive their refrigerating fluid in series from each other, when the conditions are such that the gas or fluid discharged from one coil is still capable of doing useful work by further expansion in another coil, thus extending its heat absorbing capacity to its economical limit before being finally discharged into the common return pipe. Suitable auxiliary or supplemental coils may be provided wherever required, receiving their supply directly from the common supply pipe 1, automatically remaining closed as long as they are not required; but automatically opening and coming into action as soon as t eir services are called for. A plurality of cooling rooms thus equipped and connected in the system either in series or in parallel, or both, may

be maintained at different desired temperatures, receiving their refrigerating fluid from a common source of supply, utilizing to the utmost its heat absorbing capacity and returning it to the pump through a common return pipe, without any backflow or other interference between the respective coils or rooms. Not only are the services and attention of human operators dispensed with, but a much greater efficiency is secured than could be obtained by the most careful and devoted personal attention and services, because of the constant readiness and prompt response and efficient action of the system. This is due primarily to the fact that the system is at all times under the control of the elemental forces and properties of the heat which is being absorbed. The heat yet to be absorbed outside of the coils acts through the thermostat of thermic receiver 54 in a direction to open the inlet valve, thus tending to admit more fluid, while the heat already absorbed by the coil expands the refrigerating fluid, the increasing pressure of which acts upon the inlet valve and opposes its opening action; and at the same time extends forward to the outlet valve, tending to open it. \Vhen the desired temperature is reached in the cooling room, these forces are balanced and the refrigerating fluid is held back, thus preventing its Waste by unnecessary flow and expansion, with the consequent necessity for recompression. A disturbance of the balance of the elemental forces promptly operates to start the refrigerating action, which is kept up with an activity suited to varying requirements, until the tem erature is again reduced to the. required egree, and the forces again balanced. Thus the system goes on indefinitely.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific arrangements herein shown or suggested, since the invention can and should be adapted to different conditions in various ways, according to the skill and judgment of some one familiar with this art. Nor are the particular forms of coils or chambers or valves shown herein essential to its operation, since these may also be varied to suit different conditions.

I claim as my invention 1. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination, with an expansion chamber or coil for refrigerating fluid, or means for automatically releasing the fluid from the coil under control of the pressure Within the coil in substantial independence of pressure conditions external to the coil.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with an expanison chamber or coil for refrigerating fluid, a return pipe connected with the coil, and means under the control of the pressure Within the coil for automatically releasing that pressure from the coil to the return pipe in substantial independence of pressure conditions in the return pipe.

3. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with an expansion chamber or coil for refrigerating fluid, of a return pipe connecting with the outlet of the coil, a valve at the said outlet, means controlled by the pressure in the coil for opening the said valve to release the pressure from the coil into the return pipe in substantial independence of the pressure in that pipe, and adjustable means for imposing a variable resistance to the opening movement of the valve, whereby it may be adjusted to open at different pressures in the coil.

4. Refrigerating apparatus, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for the refrigerating fluid, an inlet valve for the coil, and an outlet valve for the coil subject to the control of the pressure within the coil and assisting in the control of the inlet valve.

5. Refrigerating apparatus, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for the refrigerating fluid, of an outlet port from the coil, a pressure operated valve closing the said port and having a pressure receiving surface exposed to the pressure from within the coil of an area greater than that of the said port.

6. The combination, with an expansion coil or chamber of a refrigerating system, of a discharge valve for controlling the outlet, closing the outlet from its inward side in the direction of the discharge flow, and

having a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in the coil.

7. The combination, with the expansion coil or chamber of a refrigerating system, of valve apparatus, including a head for closing the coil outlet from its inward side in the direction of the discharge outflow, and having a diaphragm connected with the said head and exposed to the pressure within the coil, whereby the valve head is retracted to open the outlet.

8. The combination, with the outlet of an expansion coil or chamber of a refrigerating system, of a discharge valve closing the outlet from its inner side in the direction of discharge through the outlet, a diaphragm exposed on one side to the pressure in the coil, and a tension spring holding the valve to its seat in opposition to the pressure from the coil against the diaphragm.

9. The combination, with the outlet of an expansion coil or chamber of a refrigerating system, of a discharge valve closing the outlet from its inner side in the direction of discharge through the outlet, a diaphragm exposed on its inner side to the pressure in the coil, and a tension spring on the outer side of the diaphragm, holding the valve to its seat in opposition to the pressure from the coil against the inner side of the diaphragm, and outwardly exposed means for manually varying the tension of the spring while the system is in operation.

10. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for refrigerating fluid, an inlet valve automatically controlling admission of the fluid to the coil, and an outlet valve closing in the direction of the outlet flow and controlled by the fluid pressure Within the coil to retract the valve and release the expanded fluid from the coil at a predetermined pressure in the coil, in substantial independence of other conditions.

11. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for the refrigerating fluid, an inlet valve for the coil operating under the influence of the pressure in the coil, and an outlet valve for the coil subject to the sole control of the pressure in the coil.

12. A refrigerating system, having in combination an expansion coil or chamber for refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve for the coil subject to the automatic control of the pressure within the coil and of the heat to be absorbed by the coil, and an adjustable outlet valve for confining the pressure in the coil to a predetermined degree as a factor in the automatic control of the inlet valve.

13. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve for the coil subject to, the automatic and joint control of the ressu'r'e within the coil and the heat to'be a sorbed by the coil, and means for confining the pressure in the coil to a predetermined and variable degree as a variable factor in the automatic control of the said inlet valve.

14. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion chamber or coil for refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve, subject to the joint and opposed control of the heat to be absorbed and of the pressure within the coil, and means at the outlet of the coil for confining the pressure to a predetermined and variable degree, whereby that pressure acts as a vanable factor in the automatic control of the said inlet valve.

15. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve sub ect to the joint and opposed control of the heat to be absorbed and of the ressure within the coil, and means for confinin and varying the pressure in the coil, inclu ing a valve at the coil outlet, operated by the pressure in the coil, and means for varying the tension of said valve.

16. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for the refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve subject to the joint and opposed control of the heat to be absorbed and of the pressure within the coil, and means at the outlet of the coil for confining the varying pressure therein, consisting of an outlet valve closing the outlet and provided with adjustable tension devices to variably oppose the opening influence, upon the outlet valve, of the pressure within the coil.

17. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve for the coil, subject to the joint opposed control of the heat to be absorbed and r of the pressure within the coil, and means at the outlet of the coil for confining and varying the pressure in the coil, including a valve closing the outlet, means operable by the pressure in the coil for opening the valve, and a variable tension device for yieldingly holding the valve in its closed position, in opposition to the pressure in the coil.

18. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber for refrigerating fluid, an expansion inlet valve for said coil, subject to the joint opposed control of the heat to be absorbed and of the pressure within the coil, and means at the outlet of the coil for confining and varying the pressure therein, including a valve for closing the outlet, and 2. diaphragm connected with the valve and subjeeted to the opening pressure of the fluid in the coil.

19. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber, an expansion inlet valve for the coil sub ject to the joint opposed control of the heat to be absorbed, and of the pressure in the coil,,and means at the outlet of the coil for confining and varying the pressure in the coil, including a valve closing the outlet from its inner side, and a diaphragm connected with the valve, and exposed to the pressure in the coil in a direction to retract and open the valve.

20. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil or chamber, an expansion inlet valve for the coil, sub ject to the joint opposed control of the heat to be absorbed, and of the pressure in the coil, and means at the outlet of the coil for confining and varying the pressure in the coil, including a valve closing the outlet from its inner side, a diaphragm connected with the valve and exposed to the pressure in the coil in a direction to open the valve, and a variable tension device for the valve, opposing the opening movement due to the pressure, and thereby varying the degree of pressure re uired to open the valve. 21. A re rigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil for refriger ating fluid, an outlet and an inlet valve for the coil, each provided With a. pressure diaphragm communicating with the coil, where- )y the opening and closing of the said valves are influenced by the pressure in the coil.

22. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil for refrigerating fluid, an inlet and an outlet valve for the coil, a diaphragm appurtenant to the inlet valve and exposedto the pressure of the expanding fluid in the coil in a direction to close the valve, and a diaphragm appurtenant to the outlet valve, exposed to the pressure in the coil in a direction tending to open the said valve.

23. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil for refrigerating fluid, an inlet valve and an outlet valve for the coil, diaphragms appurtenant to the respective valves and exposed to the pres sure within the coil in directions tending to open the outlet valve and close the inlet valve, and thermostatic means exterior to the coil applied to said inlet valve in a dime tion tending to open the valve.

24. A refrigerating system, including in combination an expansion coil for refrigerating fluid, an out ct valve for the coil provided with a. diaphragm exposed to the pressure within the coil in a direction tending to open the valve, variable tension means for yieldingly closing the valvc against the said pressure in the coil. inlet valve for the coil,

.n All providedwith a diaphragm exposed to the pressure n the coil in a direction tending to close the inlet valve, and thermostatic means exterior to the said coil applied to said valve valve is controlled by the pressure confined in the coil by the outlet valve in opposition to the influence of the heat externalto the coil.

25. A refrigerating system foraplurality of cooling rooms, including an expansion coil in each room, a supply line for the refrigerating fluid, a return line for the expanded fluid, an inlet valve from the su ply line to each coil, and an outlet valve rom each coil to the return line, operated by the pressure of the fluid within the coil.

26. A refrigerating system, including in combination a plurality of cooling rooms, expansion coils or chambers in the respective rooms, a circulating system for refrigerating fluid, including a supply pipe, and a return pipe common to the said rooms, and

means for maintaining difi'erent temperatures in the said rooms, including inlet valves for the respective coils, each subject to the joint control of the heat to be absorbed and of the pressure in its coil, and means at the respective coil outlets under the control of the pressure therein for conlining and varying the pressure in each coil, independently of the other coils.

27. A refrigeratin system, including in combination a plura ity of cooling rooms, expansion coils or chambers in the respective rooms, a circulating system for refrigerating fluid, including a supply pipe and a return pipe common to the said rooms, and means for maintaining different temperatures in the said rooms, including outlet valves for the respective coils independently adjustable to hold different pressures in the coils, and inlet valves for the respective coils operated under the joint control of the pressure Within the coil and of the heat yet to be absorbed by the coil.

28. A refrigerating system, including in combination of a plurality of cooling rooms, expansion coils or chambers in the respec tive rooms, a circulating system for refrigerating fluid, including a supply pipe and a return pipe common to the said rooms, and means for maintaining different temperatures in the said rooms, including outlet valves for the res )ective coils independently adjustable to hold dill'erent pressures in the coils, inlet valves for the respective coils operated under the joint control of the pressure within the coil and of the heat yet to be absorbed by the coil, and means for adjusting the inlet valve to balance its opposed opening and closing forces at different temperatures and pressures.

29. A refrigerating system. inchuling in combination a plurality of cooling rooms, expansion coils or chambers in the respective rooms. means for confining in each coil the effect of the heat absorbed by the coil, an inlet valve for the coil. means subject to the influence. of the heat absorbed and confined in the coil for closing the inlet valve. and means subject to the influence of the heat yet to be absorbed by the coil for opposing the valve closing means.

30. refrigerating system, including in combination a plurality of cooling rooms, an expansion coil or chamber arranged in series in a plurality of the rooms. inlet and outlet valves for the coil exposed to the closing and opening movement respectively, of the pressure within the coil. and a supplemental expansion coil in one of said rooms also provided with an inlet and an outlet valve, operated u rlmthe. control of the pressure in the coil.

31. A refrigerating system. including in combination a plurality of cooling rooms, an expansion coil or chamber extending in series through a plurality of the rooms, an inlet valve in the first room. subject to the joint control of the pressure in the coil and of the heat to be absorbed in the room. and an adjustable outlet valve at the end of the coil for the last room in the series controlled by the pressure in the said coil.

32. A refrigerating system, including in combination a plurality of cooling rooms. an expansion coil or chamber extending in series through a plurality of the rooms, an inlet valve in the first room operated under the joint control of the pressure in the coil and of the heat in the room to be cooled, and an outlet valve at the outlet of the coil of each room, each subject to the nressm-e in the coil of which it is the outlet.

12;. i\ refrigerating system, including in combination a plurality of cooling rooms,

expansion coils or chambers extending in series through a plurality of the rooms, an inlet valve for each room subject to the joint control of the pressure in the coil and of the heat in the room to be absorbed, outlet valves for the coils, each subject to the pressure in the coil of which it is the outlet, and an auxiliary expansion coil provided with its own inlet and outlet valves, subject to the operation of the pressure in the coil, and of the heat around the coil for supplementing when necessarv the work of the said series coil.

34. A refrigerating system, having a plurality of cooling rooms, a refrigerating coil in each room, a fluid supply line, a return line, an inlet valve between each refrigerating coil and its supply line automatically controlled by the transference of heat from the room to the coil, an adjustable outlet valve, located between each refrigerating coil and the return line, and controlled by the operation of the heat absorbed in the coil, a pump connected with the return-line, and means for varying the speed of the pump, according to the pressure in the re turn line.

35. A refrigerating system, having a plurality of cooling rooms, a refrigerating coil for each room, a supply line, a return line, means for controlling the inflow of liquid from the supply line to each refrigerating coil, and adjustable means for controlling the outflow from each refrigerating coil to the return line, said inflow and outflow controlling means being operated by the. pressure of the fluid in the respective coils.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 13th day of June. 1910.

ARTHUR H. EDDY.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLOTTE S. HULL, Canons-r: M. Buncuuc.

'ent temperatures and pressures.

29. A refrigerating system. including in expansion coils or chambers extending in series through a plurality of the rooms, an inlet valvefog each room sub ect to the combination a plurality of cooling rooms, joint control of the pressure in the coil and 50 5 expansion coils or chambers in the respecof the heat in the room to be absorbed, outtive rooms, means for confining in'each coil let valves for the coils, each subject to the the effect of the heat absorbed by the coil, pressure in the coilof which it is the outlet, an inlet valve for the coil, means subject and an auxiliary expansion coil provided to the influence of the heat absorbed and with its own inlet and outlet valves, subject 55 confined in the coil for closing the inlet to the operation of the pressure in the coil,

valve. and means subject to the influence of and 0f the heat around the coil for supplethe heat yet to be absorbed by the coil for menting when necessary the work of the opposing the valve closing means. said series coil.

30. A refrigerating system, including in 34. A refrigerating system, having a plu- 60 combination a plurality of cooling rooms, rality of cooling rooms, a refrigerating coil an expansion coil or chamber arranged in' in each room, a fluid supply line, a return series in a plurality of the rooms, inlet and line, an inlet valve between each refrigeratoutlet valves for the coil exposed to the ing coil and its supply line automatically closing and opening movement respectively, controlled by the transference of heat from 65 of the pressure within the coil, and a supthe room to the coil, an adjustable, outlet plemental expansion coil in one of said valve, located between each refrigerating rooms, also provided with an inlet and an coil and the return line, and controlled by outlet valve, operated under the control of the operation of the heat absorbed in the the pressure in the coil. coil, a pump connected with the return line, 70 31. A refrigerating system, including in and means for varying the speed of the combination a plurality of cooling rooms, pump, according to the pressure in the rean expansion coil or chamber extending in turn line. I series through a plurality of the rooms, an 35. A refrigerating system, having a pluinlet valve in the first room, subject to the rality of cooling rooms, a refrigerating coil 75 joint control of the pressure in the coil and for each room, a supply line, a return line,

of the heat to be absorbed in the room, and meansfor controlling the inflow of liquidv an adjustable outlet valve at the end of the from the supply line to each refrigerating coil for the last roomin the series controlled coil, and adjustable means for controlling by the pressure in the said coil. the outflow from each refrigerating coil 80 32. A refrigerating system, including in to the return line, said inflow and outflow combination a plurality of cooling rooms, controlling means being operated by the an expansion coil or chamber extending in pressure of the fluid in the respective coils. series through a plurality of the rooms, an In witness whereof I have signed my inlet valve in the first room operated under name to this specification in the presence of 85 the joint control of the pressure in the coil and of the heat in the room to be cooled, and an outlet valve at the outlet of the coil of each room, each subject to the pressure in the coil of which it is the outlet.

33. A refrigerating system, including in combination a plurality of cooling rooms,

tw'o subscribing witnesses, this 13th day of June, 1910.

ARTHUR H. EDDY.

W'itnesses:

CHARLOTTE S. HULL, Canonmn M. BRECKLE.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,185,596, granted May 30, 1916, upon the application of Arthur H. Eddy, of Windsor, Connecticut, for an improve mant in Refrigerating Apparatus, anerror appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 7, line 82, claim 1, for the word or read of; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correctionthcrein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July, A. D., 1916.

[sunk] F. W. H. CLAY,

Cl. 62- -6. Amlng Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,185,596, granted May 30, 1916,

upon the application of Arthur H. Eddy, of Windsor, Connecticut, for an improvement in Refrigerating Apparatus, anerror appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 7, line 82, claiin l, for the word or read of;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July, A. D., 1916.

[mun] F. W. H. CLAY,

, Ading Commissioner of Patentc.