US1279869A - Refrigerator. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL T. HOPKINS, OF STERLING, KANSAS.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed March 17, 1917.

weighing mechanism associated with the refrigerator in a manner that will permit the ice within the compartment provlded for its reception to be welghed whereby the person purchasing the ice from the dealer may determine whether the ice weighs more or less than the amount bargained for.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weighing mechanism associated with an indicator visible from the exterior of the refrigerator whereby the weight of the ice within the refrigerator may be observed thereby permitting the user to determine when the ice compartment needs to be refilled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a weighing mechanism within the ice compartment adaptedto support the ice at all times and constructed so that the melting ice will not contact with any of the working parts thus eliminating the possibility of corroded parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a refrigerator which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subjecteo.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated'the preferred form of my in vention, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the refrigerator showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the ice compartment door in open position as disclosing the scale platform.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the upper portion of the refrigerator showing the invention in applied posi* tion.

Referring to the drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 155,541.

and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the refrigerator lis constructed in any preferred manner or may include any standard make or design of refrigera tor. The upper or ice compartment 2 is pro vided with the door 3 for permitting the compartment to be tightly closed when the ice is inserted in the compartment.

Mounted upon the partition or wall a which separates the ice compartment 2 from the food compartment is the weighing scale which includes a base 5 having suitable supporting elements for supporting a scale platform 6. This base and the platform are preferably constructed from steel or any other suitable metal and has a coating or covering of white enamel to present a perfectly sanitary surface and to prevent corrosion of the metallic parts. A suitable pivoted scale beam 7 is connected to the scale and is extended through the inner wall of the refrigerator and has its terminal disposed in the air space 8 between the inner and outer walls of the refrigerator.

A coil tension spring 9 is fixed to the end of the beam 'T-and is extended downwardly through the air space and connected to a rigidly secured bolt 9 whereby the beam 7 may be held under the proper tension for supporting the platform 6 in the manner common to scales of similar character. Pivotally connected to the beam 7 and extending upwardly through the air space 8 is a connecting rod 10 pivotally connected to a rack bar 11, having its teeth in mesh with a pinion 12. This pinion is mounted upon a transverse shaft 13 extending across the air space 8, and having its outer end ournaled in the outer wall of the refrigerator. Cenwith the graduations on the dial 155.

From this description it will be obvious that when a quantity of ice is placed upon the platform 6, the weighing mechanism will be operated to cause the end of the beam 7 to rise thus imparting a movement to the I rack bar 11 which will rotate the pinion thus turning the indicator finger to register the quantity of ice. As the ice melts, the indieator linger will register the number of pounds of ice thus permitting it to be known, the time at which the ice coi'npartment should be replenished without necessarily opening the door thereof.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durable "refrigerator has been provided, the details of which embody the preferred form. I desire it to be understood, however; that slight changes in the minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

I claim:

The combination with a refrigerator hav ing an ice compartment and an outer casing separated from the ice compartment, thus forming an air space, a scale mounted in the ice compartment and carrying a platform, a beam projecting through the wall of Copies of this patent may be obtained for the ice compartment into the said air space, a lixcd clement below the said beam and provided with a coil, spring having one end connected to the beam, a rack bar mounted for reciprocatory movement in the said space, a connecting rod pivotally connected to the end of the said rack bar and to the end of the said beam for transmitting motion to the said rack bar when the beam is actuated, weight indicating means including a shaft having a pinionmounted thereon, engagable with the rack bar and adapted to be actuated by the rack bar when the said means is actuated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature n1 presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL T. HOPKINS.

five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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