US1372471A

US1372471A - Iceless food or like cooler

Info

Publication number: US1372471A
Application number: US331917A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank O Adams
Original assignee: SUCCESS CONCRETE NO ICE FOOD C
Current assignee: SUCCESS CONCRETE NO ICE FOOD C; SUCCESS CONCRETE NO-ICE FOOD COOLER Co
Priority date: 1919-10-20
Filing date: 1919-10-20
Publication date: 1921-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1938-03-22

Description

y no. ADAMS. ICELESS FOOD 0R LIKE COLER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20| 1919.

Patentd Mai'. 22 1921 III terior otmy improved y Fig. 2 is a perspective `view oi my UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..V

FRANK 0.,.ADAMS, OFSPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASIGNOR TO SUCCESS CONCRETE NO-IGE FOOD COOLER CO., OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

ICELESS FOOD OR LIKE COOLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed. October 2D, 1919. Serial No. 331,917.

T0 all whom it may concer/a:

Be it known that I, FRANK O. Ansi/11s, a citizen oit' the United States, residing in Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State ot Washington, and useful improvements in Iceless Food or like Coolers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in food or like coolers ot' that class wherein the lowering of the temperature therein is accomplished by evaporation resulting v.troni the moistening of the walls o1' the cooler. y

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the class described wherein the water storage means feeding means are self contained with respect to the cooler as a whole.

Another object of the invention is to providev a device of the class described wherein means are provided for the assured meistening of the entire area et' the side walls. The novel means for accomplishing this consists in the provision ot' a water reservoir post tioned approximately at the top oit the walls of the cooler and means whereby water contained in the reservoir is' fed downwardly into said walls.

Another object is to provide a device ci the class described wherein it is unnecessary to impregnate the bottomorwalls othe cooler with a waterproofing substance, thereby evading the possibility of an unpleasant or unhealthful odor within the cooler. p

A still further object-is to provide a device of the class described wherein the cover comprises an independent cooling unit' Still further objects and features of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be more particularly pointed out` in and by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective` view ci? the excooler. y

improved cooler' cover, showing portions thereof broken awayu to illustrate details of construction. J

Fig. 3 is a plan view lof the cooler with the cover removed. y

Fig. 4c isa section online fis-1ct Fig. 8. As illustrated, 10 .designates a relatively shallow pan consisting of bottom `11, side walls 12' and end walls 13 and 111. Pan 10 is have invented certain new` and the water ing wall 19 is cut away as at 25 to facilitate the constructed of non-porous material such as metal, which may be proofed against the action of water. Snugly fitting within pan 10 is the cooling receptacle indicated generally at 15. 'Receptacle 15 consists of bottom 16, side walls17 and

end walls

18 and 19. To reduce the weight ci the entire receptacle 15 and yet allow the corners to retain sufficient strength, the

walls

17, 18 and 19 are paneled as at 20. Receptacle 15 is constructed of concrete or like porous material and the mixture of this material is such that the

walls

17, 18

`and 19 will readily absorb and conduct water throughout their extent by capillary attraction.

I provide a reservoir 21 positioned around the top edge of receptacle 15 and preferably integral with and forming a part of the side and

end walls

17, 18 and 19. Reservoir 21 is preferably constructed by the addition of an upwardly turned flange 22 extending completely around the

walls

17, 18 and 19..

Flange 22 forms one wallof reservoir 21 y while the completing wall is formed by the portion 28 of the upper edges of

walls

17, 18 and 19. Flange 22 and portion 28 are construeted of concrete or like porous material identicalwith that comprising the rest of the receptacle 15 with the exception that the mii;- ture of material making up saidflange 22 and portion 23 is of such a nature as torender the walls oi5 reservoir 21 of a lower degree of porosity than that of the remaining

portion oi walls

17, 18 andi19.` The purpose of' this variance in degree of porosity will be hereinafter described.

A filler, overflow and water level indicating pocket is formed between pan 10 and wall `19 by pressing end wall 14 outwardly from end wall 19 at 28. A communicating passage between the interior ci? receptacle 15 and pocket 28 provided by corout end wall 19 as at 211:` (Fig. l). End

use oit pocket 28 as a filler. The upper edge et wall 141, where it 'forms the pocket 23', is turned down to 'lorm a lip 26 for a purpose to be `hereinafter described.

A! drainage port 27 leads outwardly from pocket 23 and is normally closed by cork or like closure means 28.

I have generally indicated the cover of my cooling device at 29. Cover 29 consistsof a panfBO constructed ot non-porous material such as metal. Running lengthwise of pan 30 and secured thereto by rivets 31, is the channel member 32 which strengthens the pan 30 and serves as reinforcement for the porous material 33, such as concrete, with which pan 30 is illed. A handle 34C is secured to pan 30 and member 32 by rivets 3i. Material 33 is poured into pan 30 and allowed to set, the overturned edges 35 ot pan 30 serving to protect the edges of material 33 and also maintain it within the pan.

By making the corners 15 of the receptacle 15 slightly lower than the rest of the receptacle, I provide a preferred means whereby there will be an air gap 29 at intervals between the upper edges of the receptacle 15 and the bottom of cover 29 so that air may circulate through the cooler. This insures the maintenance of fresh, clean air within the cooler, thereby rendering it sanitary and also hastening and then maintaining the lowered temperature within the cooler. In first charging the cooler, I fill the reservoir 21 with water.

I may also aid in the initial charging by pouring water into chamber 39, formed by bottom 16 and the lower portions of

walls

17, 18 and 19. This Filling ispreferably done through the pocket 23. The water will then from chamber 39 through the

walls

17, 18 and 19 by capillary attraction, and will pass downwardly through the same walls from the reservoir 21 by capillary attraction aided greatly by gravity. Thus the entire area, evento the topmost'edges, will be quickly and thoroughly moistened with water, the subsequent evaporation of which willV cool the interior of receptacle 15. After the initial charging it is only necessary to lill reservoir 21 about once every twenty-four hours, enough water finding its way from reservoir 21 to chamber 39 to maintain the water level inl chamber 39 practically constant.

At this point wish to emphasize the fact that the filling of reservoir 21 at proper intervals and the moistening of cover 29 is the only attention that the attendant need give the cooler to maintain it in a state of maximum eliiciency. It will be seen that this advantage is gained by the self contained features whereby the water storage and water feeding means for the receptacle 15 are one l*with the cooler itself.

1hepo'rosity of flanges 22 and portionv 23 is such that theyserve to regulate the feeding of water into the walls 17 liust the right in an even, moist condition. It will be seen that were the degree of porosity of the reservoir 21the same as that of the remaining portion of the

walls

17,18 and 19, the water would pass from reservoir 21 downwardly through

thefwalls

17, 18 and 19 so rapidly that the water in reservoir 21 would soon be be drawn upwardlv.

exhausted, with a resultant hastened drying of the said

walls

17, 18 and 19, thereby greatly impairing the sustained cooling qualities and general efliciency of the cooler.

A cooler to be of' any utility must have such height as would preclude the use of a material having such would allow capillary attraction to draw water to its upmost edges in suf'licient quantities to perform its cooling functions. It will be seen that in mj devi ce gravity assists the passage of water downwardly from the reservoir 21 and insures the moistening ot the entire surface ot the cooler. Furthermore, the water in chamber 39 is constantly assisting the moistening action throughout the lower portion ot the cooler and it, for any reason, reservoir 21 becomes exhausted there is a supply of water in chamber 39 sulicient to maintain moistures in the walls 17 18 and 19 to cause continued evaporation for a reasonable time, thereby saving the .ood contents of the cooler trom spoiling` until the reservoir 21 may be refilled.

The relative porosity et the walls of the reservoir 21 and the walls of the receptacle 15 is such that, in actual practice, reservoir 21 need be filled but about once every twentytour hours to maintain the walls 17. 1S and 19 evenly moistened and the water level 40 practically constant, thereby gaining maximum efiiciency.

Inasmuch as pan 10 is composed of a nonporous material and the water line can never come above the top edge of pan 10 due to passage 24 and pocket 23', it will be seen that it is unnecessary to water proof the interior of chamber 39. resulting in a saving of labor and eliminating the possibility of odor common to water proofing material. Pocket 23 will serve as an overfiow should the water level 40 rise within the receptacle 15 to a suflicient height to fill pocket 23. Pocket 23 also serves as a water level indicater so that the level within receptacle 15 may be ascertained at all times without raising the cover 29. Should this level rise too high, the water will first drip over lip 26 to warn the attendant and if this warning is not heeded the water will overHow through pocket 23 and prevent the water level 4;() from rising to or above the toed support '36, to be described.

ork or like closure means 28 may be removed should it be desired to lower the water level or drain the chamber 39.

A food or like support 36, made of nonporous material such as metal, is positioned within the receptacle 15 and is supported above and `substantially parallel with the bottom 16 by means of legs 37. Legs 37 are of such a height as will maintain support 36 above the maximum water level. Support 36 is provided with aperture 38 approximately in the center thereof to permit the a degree of porosity as insertion of a finger Jr`or the purpose or litting said support out ot receptacle 15.

l gain results by the use of my improved cover never before gained to my knowledge. Other types of coolers of this class either depend on drawing Water from the sides oi the receptacle by actual Contact therewith and the consequent capillary attraction, or else simply use the cover as a closure, not attempting to utilize it as a cooling,` agent. ln the iirst case, the method precludes the allowance of a loosely fitting cover and consequent circulation through the cooler. Fur thermore, it has been shown that it is practically impossible to depend en capillary attraction to draw Water in any quantity to the top edges of the receptacle and hence no appreciable amount of water can be drawn from the side Walls into the cover. In the second case, a cooling area of generous proportions has been overlooked.

ln practice, l pour Water over the entire surface of the porous material 33, compris ing the major portion of the cover 29 and find that this will maintain such material in a moist state during the entire period between the 'charging and recharging oi the reservoir 2l. The resulting evaporation gives ine a cooling unit independent of the water supply carried in reservoir 21 and chamber 39 and serves to greatly increase the eiliciency of the cooler' as a Whole.

l Wish to state that the cooling principle as applied to the introduction of Water through the top of the coolers Walls may be applied to food or like coolers irrespective or sine, even to entire rooms used or storing meats and the like.

l/lfhile I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, l

receptacle, a

do not Wish to be limited thereto except Jfor such limitations as the claims may import.

l claim:

l. ln a food or like cooler, a receptacle of concrete or like porous material, a reservoir formed integral with the upper Walls of said receptacle, said reservoir being con sti-acted of a material of a relatively low degree of porosity and said Walls being constructed of a material of a relatively high degree of porosity whereby water may pass by capillary attraction from said reservoir into said side Walls and whereby such passage is restricted.

\ 2. In a 'food or like cooler, a receptacle of porous material, a Water chamber Within said receptacle, a .Water reservoir positioned approximately at the top of the Walls of said cover for said receptacle, said cover comprising a pan of non-porous material, concrete or like porous material substantially :Filling said pan, and overturned edges on said pan extending partially over said porous material.

8. In a food or like cooler, a receptacle of porous material, a water chamberV Within said receptacle, a Water reservoir positioned approximately at the top of Walls or said receptacle, a cover Jfor said receptacle, said cover comprising a pan oi non-porous materi al, a channel member extending across and secured to said pan, a handle secured to said pan, and porous material substantially lling said pan.

In testimony whereof, I hereby aiiix my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

` FRANK O. ADAMS. llVitnesses JAMES B. GRAY, H. E. SCANTLEBURY.