US1498123A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1924.

E. RUMPLER ET AL REFRIGERATI NG APPARATUS Filed June a, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,498,123 PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND RUMPLER, F BERlitIN-JO'HANNISTHAL, AND ALBERT RENNAU, OF BERLIN- TEGEL, GERMANY SAID RENNAU ASSIGNOR TO SAID RUMPLEIR.

REFRIGERATING- APPARATUS.

Application filed June 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDMUND RUMPLER and ALBERT RENNAU, both citizens of the Republic of Germany, and residents of Germany at Berlin-Johannisthal and Berlin- .Tegel, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Refrigerating Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, which includes an evaporator, a condenser and a vessel serving alternately as a boiler and as an absorber. Upon heating the boiler a liquetiable gas is driven out of the absorbent liquid, cooled in the condenser, liquefied, and delivered to the evaporator under boiler pressure. Upon later 0001- ingthe boiler, the pressure is reduced and the liquefied gas evaporates and returns to be re-absorbed in the liquid.

The main object of this invention is to better adapt apparatus of this character for use in small plants, as for instance household refrigerators, provision chambers or rooms where it is not practical to employ a skilled attendant to control the operation of the apparatus and keep it in proper working condition. 1

By means of the present invention the controlling parts are so simplified that the apparatus can be properly controlled by a household servant or other person unskilled in the theory of operation or details of construction of a refrigerating apparatus.

Furthermore, the apparatus cannot be injured by improper operation or failure of the supply of heating or cooling medium,

and the refrigerant medium is sealed in a loss or need for replenishing, and gas cannot leak out or water or air leak in.

As one important feature of the invention there is provided a single pipe connection from the evaporator through the condenser to the interior of the boiler-absorber, and this pipe within the boiler-absorber may communicate with either the vapor space during heating operation or the liquid space during absorbing operation.

As another important feature there is provided means whereby the heat is automatically applied to the boiler upon con-- necting the pipe With the vapor space, and

closed system so that there is no liability of 1922. Serial No. 566,367.

is shut off upon connectin the pipe with the llquid space. A furthe important feature involves novel means whereby any liq uid which may have collected in the evaporator may be returned to the boiler. A further important feature involves the automatic control of the cooling water upon the reversal of operation from the heating.

step to the absorbing step, or vice versa.

Other important features will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of apparatus embodying the invn- In the construction illustratedin Fig. 1

there is provided a vessel 10 which is adapted to serve both as a boiler and as an absorber. This vessel is connected by a conduit 11 to a second vessel 12 which serves as a separator or dehydrator to remove from the gas any steam or liquid which may be carried along with it during the heating stage. The separator 12 is connected by a gas conduit 13 to a condenser 14, and the latter is connected by a gas conduit 15 to the evaporator 16. The evaporator is located within the chamber or room to be cooled, while the rest of the apparatus is located outside. lVe have illustrated di agrammatically a room or provision chamber having insulating walls 17. The evaporator may include top and bottom headers '18 and 19 connected by vertical pipes 20,.

and the evaporator as a whole may serve as a partition within the chamber and between storage compartments upon opposite sides, as indicated in Fig. 1 The evaporator may have a small double walled vessel 21 connected thereto, and adapted to receive water which may be frozen to produce a small quantity of vice.

The means for heating the boiler is shown diagrammatically as including an electric resistance coil 22 an elec? a clock work for breaking the electric cir-- cuit after'a predetermined time interval of boiler heating operation, aswill be more fully explained hereinafter. The coohng water circuit includes a supply conduit 27 leading through a condenser coil 28, thence through acooling coil 29 in the separator chamber.- 12, and thence to a three-way valve 30. From this three-way valve the cooling water may flow either directly to the waste through a pipe 31 or it may flow through a coil 32 disposed within or in cooling relationship to the vessel 10. This coil is connected to the waste through a manually operable valve 33.

As one important tion, the gas conduit 11 between the boilerabsorber and the separator 12 may connect either with the vapor space or with the liquid space of the boiler-absorber. As shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a pipe 34 within the vessel 10, and pivoted .at one end. The gas pipe 11. extends through the hollow pivotal support so as to engage with this pipe, and the pivotal support has an external lever 35 whereby the inner end of the pipe 34 may be raised or lowered The pipe is shown in solid lines in its raised po sition, and in dotted lines in its lowered osition. The lever 35 is connected by a ink 36to the valvelever 37 of the threewayvalve 30, and an extension of this link or. a projection on the valve lever constitutes the movable member of the switch 25. The normal operation of the apparatus abovedescribed is as follows. The lever 35 is moved to its lowered position which raises the opening of the pipe 34 to the gas space of the vessel 10,01osestheelectric circuit at the switch 25', and turns the three-way valve so that the liquid flows directly from this valve throu h the waste pipe 31. At the same time the e ectric circuit is closed at the clock work 26, and the clock work started. The electric current through theresistance coil 22 causes the liquid in the vessel 10 to be heated, and the liquefiable gas (preferably I ammonia) isdriven off through the pipe 34" and gas pipe 11 to the separator 12. Here any steam carried along by the gas is condensed while the gas travels on through the pipe 13-to the condenser 14, and the resulting liquefied gas flows on to the evaporator. After a predetermined interval of heating operation the lever 35 should be shifted to the raised position. This will lower the pipe 34 to a point below the liquid level in the vessel 10, will break the electric circuit at the switch'25, and will turn the three-way valve. 30 so that thecooling' water will now flow from this valve through the feature of the inven-.

condenser and separator to the vessel 10, and i will enter the liquid ata point below the level of the latter so that thevessel 10 now serves as an absorber. The gas pipe 11 leads from the lowest point in the separator 12 so that any liquid which may have been car ried over into or condensed in the separator will be returned to the main body of liquid in the vessel 10. The rapidity of the evaporation of' the liquefied gas and the heat absorbing efiect in the chamber 17 will vary with the speed at which the gas is reabsorbed in the liquid, and this will vary with the speed or extent to which the temperature of the liquid is lowered. This may be readily controlled by properly setting the valve 33.

With this valve wide open, there will be a rapidity of the evaporation of the liquefied gas may bereduced with corresponding lessening of the refrigerating effect but lengthening of the time interval between successive heating periods. After the apparatus is installed the valve may be properly set by experiment and will not ordinarily need to be changed except possibly to have it open a little wider for summer than for winter operation.

It will be noted that the water supply is delivered continuously through the coil 28 of the condenser, and the coil 29 of the separator, irrespective of whether or not it passes through the coil 32 of the absorber. Thus, the gas produced in the evaporator comes into heat interchanging relationship with the cooling water in both the coil and the separator before the gas re-enters the absorber, and before the water flows to the coil 32. Thus the water in the coil has its temperature reduced materially below that of the ordinary water supply, and is therefore capable of cooling the absorber to a comparatively low temperature, and facilitating the very rapid cooling of the absorber or the cooling of it to such a low temperature that there is the maximum or substantially complete 'reabsorption of -the, gas from the evaporator.

It will be noted that the only operation which it is necessary for the attendant to perform is the lowering of the lever 35 when the heating operation is to begin, and raising it When the heating operation is completed.

' gets to shift the lever when the gas has been driven out of the liquid and re-liquefied inthe evaporator, no damage will be done to the apparatus. The clock work switch breaks the electric circuit and stops the heating operation, and even though the lever 34 remains in its raised position and the three-Way valve 30 keeps the water shut off from the coil 32, there will still be a slow coolingof the boiler by radiation to the atmosphere and a slow re-absorption of the gas with corresponding evaporation from the evaporator. The only effect will be a very much reduced cooling action in the evaporator.

As one important feature of .the invention there is provided a pipe connection 39 between the gas-pipe 13 and the lowermost point of the evaporator. This pipe 39 is connected to the gas pipe 13 by a three-way valve 40 which is normally in the position indicated so as 'to provide free flow therethrough between the absorber and condenser, and to close the upper end of the pipe 39. If during shipment of the apparatus or during long continued use, liquid collects in the evaporator, such liquid may be easily and quickly returned to the vessel 10. After the end of the heating operation the threeway valve may be turned so as to connect the pipe 39 with the separator 12.

.As the pressure in the separator and vessel 10 drops for thebeginning of the absorption step of the process, the partial vacuum produced, together with the accumulated pressure in the upper part of the evaporator will force any liquid in the lower portion :of the evaporator up through. the pipe 39 and past the three-way valve 40 to the gas pipe 13, and thence through the separator and pipe 11 to the vessel 10. This step need be performed'only at very infrequent intervals, as in the normal operation little or none of the water from theboiler 'can reach the evaporator, as it will be condensed and separated out in the separator 12. The time interval for -theshifting of the lever 35 may be determined by experiment for each type of apparatus, and the clock work may be set in accordance with the time each experiment shows is necessary for the heating period. Obviously the heating period will 7 be very short compared to the absorbing and cooling period, and in apparatus which has been built a heating period of one hour each twenty-four hours is sufieient.

We do not wish to be limited to the specific means shown in Fig. 1 for establishing communication between the gas pipe 11 and either the vapor space or the liquid space of the boiler.

In Fig. 2 we have illustrated diagrammatically a system similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but with more complete electrical control. The ipe 34 within the boilerabsorber, instea of having a manually operable handle, as in Fig. 1 has an electromagnet 42 for raising it when the circuit is closed. The valve 30 in the water circulating system also has an electro-magnet 54 acting against a spring 55 and serving to control the flow of cooling water to the coil 32 of the boiler-absorber. The electromagnets 42 and 54 are in the same electric circuit with the heating coil 22, so that when the circuit is closed at the switch 25, the heat will be turned on, the ipe 34 will be raised to bring its opening a ove the liquid level, and thevalve 30 will be turned to shut off the water from flowing to the coil 32. The valve 30 is so positioned that the water supply entering from the pipe 27 may flow either through the pipe 56 to the cooling coil 32 of the absorber, and thence to the waste 57, or it may flow from the pipe 27 to the pipe 58, thence through the condenser 14 to the outlet 59, and then to the waste. tocontrol only the flow through the pipe 56, while permitting a continuous flow through the pipe 58 and the condenser. A valve 60 at the outlet of the coil 32 may be set to regulate the flow through the coil, and thus control the rapidity of the cooling eflfect. The evaporator is diagrammatically illustrated as including a container 61 and a coil 62, and within the container may be a pocket or chamber 63 in which water may be frozen to form ice. The container and evaporating coil may if desired be in a separate compartment having a closure 64 in the nature of a venetian blind so that the air around the evaporator may be prevented from circulating around the main portion of the room to be cooled during the heating period when there is no evaporation of liquefied gas takin place.

The switch 25 may be closed manually or in any other suitable way for starting the heating effect, and when the gas has been driven off, the switch may be manually opened or the circuit may be interrupted by clock work, as shown in Fig. 1, or in any other suitable way. For automatically open- The valve 30 may be such as.

ing the circuit, recourse may be had to a heat responsive element, such as a thermometer 65 controlling an electric cricuit 66 which in turn may be utilized in any well known manner for instance through a relay for controlling the main electric circuit, which includes the heater 22 and the mag nets 42 and 54. v

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated diagrammatically an apparatus which may be utilized for automatically turning on and off the current at the desired time intervals. A clock work serves to rotate a disk 67 continuouslyand at uniform speed. The main portion of this disk is of insulation, but a contact portion 68 will serve once during each revolution to connect the circuit across a pair of brushes 70. These brushes may be in the main electric circuit which includes the heating coil 22, the electro-magnet 4:2 and if desired the additional electro-magnet 54. The length of the contact strip 68 will control the time of the heating period. It will be noted that this is comparatively short in respect to the circumference of the disk 67. l

While we have specifically referred to electric means for heating the boiler liquid, it is understood that other heating means are applicable. In Fig. 2 inclusive the heating unit is indicated as being Within a tube or cartridge adapted to be slipped into a pocket or recess in the boiler. This permits the cartridge to be removed and replaced or repaired without opening up the boiler. If other form of heating means should be employed, as for instance a gas burner, the same electric circuit as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 might be employed but a magnet in the circuit would operate to turn on and off the supply valve ofrthe burner leaving only a small pilot light burning. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vessel containing a liquid adapted to alternatelyoperate as a boiler and as an absorber, an evaporator, a fluid connection between the vessel and the evaporator, said connection including a tube disposed in the vessel and movable relatively thereto, and a lever member for moving the tube to a position inwhich its free end is immersed in the liquid or to a position in which it -is disposed above the level of the liquid.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vessel containing a liquid adapted to alternately operate as a boiler and as an absorber, an evaporator, a fluid connection between the vessel and the evaporator, sai connection including a tube disposed in the vessel and movable relatively thereto, a handle member for moving the tube to a position in which its free end is immersed in the liquid or to a position in which it is disposed above the level of the liquid, means connected to said handle member for effecting the supply of heat to said vessel when the tube is in the last mentioned position and shutting off the supply of heat when in the first mentioned position.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vessel containing a liquid adapted to alternately operate as a boiler and as an absorber, an evaporator, a fluid connection between the vessel and the evaporator, said connection including a tube disposed in the vessel and. movable relatively thereto, a lever member for moving the tube to a position in which its free end is immersed in the liquid or to a position in which it is disposed above the level of the liquid, and means for supplying cooling liquid in heat interchanging relationship to said vessel when said tube is in the first mentioned position.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a vessel containing a liquid adapted to alternately operate as a boiler and as an ab- I sorber, an evaporator, a fluid connection between the vessel and the evaporator, said connection including a tube disposed in the vessel and movable relatively thereto, a handle member for moving the tube to a position in which 'its free end is immersed in the liquid or to a position in which it is disposed above the level of the liquid, means for heating said vessel when said tube is in the second mentioned position, and means for cooling said vessel when said tube is in the first mentioned position;

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, a closed vessel containing aliquid adapted to absorb a gas, a gas tube for delivering gas therefrom or thereto and havingan opening disposed within the vessel, a handle member for changing the relative position of the liquid level and the opening of the tube to either immerse the opening of the tube in the liquid or to'dispose it above the level of the liquid, a valve for supplying cooling liquid to said vessel, an electric heating ele- 'ment in the vessel, a switch for controlling the supply of electric heating current to said vessel, and connections between said handle member, valve and switch for operating them simultaneously.

Signed at Berlin, Germany, this 18th day d of May, A. D. 1922.

EDMUND RUMPLER. ALBERT RENNAU. \Vitnesses:

E. H. HERMAN, R. G. ALLsPALL.

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