US1507398A

US1507398A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US1507398A
Application number: US662625A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Mouron; Samuel M Mouron
Original assignee: Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1923-09-14
Filing date: 1923-09-14
Publication date: 1924-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1941-09-02

Description

Sept, 2. 1924. 1,507,398

R. A. MOURON ET AL REFRIGERATOR 14 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept.

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d m r Y R E CFO .N T M WR Na 0 3 WM w NM m m A Qm M 3 mmm N Se t. 2, 1924. 1,507,398

R. A. MOURON ET AL REFRIGERATOR Filed Sent. 14 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTOR Robertfl.Mouron and, fiimucl ZQIMourqn;

ATTORN'EY Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,507,398 PATENT orrlca.

ROFERT A. MOURON AND SAMUEL M. MOURON, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, AS-

SIGNORS TO HOLCOMB & HOKE MFG. 00., OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A COBPORA- TION OF INDIANA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed September 14, 1923. Serial no. 662,625.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT A. MoURoN and SAMUEL M. MOURON, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, inv

the county of Marion and State of Indiana,

have invented a new and useful Refrigerator, of which the following is a specification.

In the use of display-counter refrigeralu tors, it is quite desirable that the finer cuts of meats be displayed as nearly as possible adjacent the glass top of the display portion of the counter, but heretofore it has been found inadvisable to use the upper shelf for this purpose because the degree of refrigeration attainable adjacent the upper shelf has been so much less than the degree of refrigeration attainable at the bottom of the counter that it hasnot been sufficient for this class of goods.

The object of our present invention is to produce a display-counter refrigerator of such character that a sufficient degree of refrigeration, closely approximating that attainable in the bottom of the case, may be attained adjacent the upper shelf which is placed fairly closely beneath the transparent top of the case.

A further object of our invention is to 3 produce a display-counter of the character described having a multiple door structure of such character that extraction of goods from the counter may be made through a comparatively small opening, while, to facilitate cleaning, a much larger door, carrying the doors for the smaller openings, may be opened.

A further object of our invention ,is to provide various improvements in details of construction of the refrigerant container, and other details as will facilitate use and improve the refrigerating qualities of the device. e

The aocomparllzying drawings illustrate our invention. ig. 1, a side elevation in partial vertical section of a display-counter refrigerator embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a'perspective of one of the refrigerant chambers, and Fig. 5, a fragmentary detail of a portion of one of the refrigerant chambers and the adJacent partition.

In the drawings, 10 indicates themain body formed with suitable insulating walls and divided into a central refrigerating chamber 11 and two refrigerant chambers 12, one at each end, the division being accomplished at each end by two vertically aligned, vertically spaced and preferably insulated

partitions

13 and 14, the top of partition 13 being spaced from the top of the main body, as shown in Fig. 1, to form an air passage 15; the bottom of the lower partition being spaced from the bottom of the main body to form an air passage 16; and the two partitions being spaced from each other to form an intermediate air passage 17, which is preferably funnel shaped, with its smaller end toward the refrigerating chamber 11..

Arranged close to the bottom of chamber 11 is a display shelf 18 which is preferably formed of longitudinally arranged slats, as

clearly shown in Fig. 2, slightly spaced from each other to permit air circulation but arranged closely enou h together to obstruct View of persons in ront of the casing and looking through the transparent front 20, so that the bottom of chamber 11 and the drainage trough 21 cannot be seen.

Arranged in each end of the chamber 11, substantially flush with the top of partition 14 is a horizontal plate 22, substantially imperforate, and preferably of glass, each plate being conveniently supported at its ends by transverse supports 23 and 24 and extending nearly, but not quite, to the middle of thechamber 11.

Arranged longitudinally of chamber 11 at the front and back of the chamber, immediately above plates 22, are angle irons 25 upon which may be laid, closely adjacent the tops of plates 22, suitable shelves 26 for the reception and support of articles to be refrigerated and displayed, said shelves being conveniently formed of sufficiently stiff wire fabric.

The top and front of the refrigerating 100 chamber 11 are preferably formed of transparent sheets 30, in the usual manner, and access is had to chamber 11, through the rear wall of body 10, by means of large doors 31which preferably have a vertical 105 dimension substantially equal to the vertical dimension of chamber 11 to facilitate clean ing of the chamber. The opening of such door, in order to obtain a piece of goods upon one or another of the shelves in cham- 110 her 11, would result in too great a loss of cold air and, therefore, in order to avoid this difiiculty, we perforate door 31 immediately above each display shelf with a smaller perforation 32 and provide for each perforation a closing door 33 and operable independently of the door 31.

Access to each refrigerant chamber 12 is had through a large opening 35 in the rear wall of the main body and normally closed by door 36. Mounted in each refrigerant chamber is a refrigerant container 37 comprising two leg-like portions 38, separated by an air passage 39, the open upper end of which is flush with the top of the container and the lower end of which communicates with a longitudinal passage 40, preferably of gradually increasing vertical dimension approaching passage 17, the delivery end of this passage being registered with passage 17. The horizontal dimensions of the container 37 are somewhat less than the horizontal dimensions of chamber 12 within which it is mounted, and the gap between the top of partition 14 and the adjacent wall of the container is bridged by a flange 41 secured to the container 37, the arrangement being such that the refrigerated air passing downwardly through passage39 and later- 9 ally through passage 40, and that passing down between the container and partition 13, is compelled to flow out through passage 17 and onto and along the horizontal partition 22. r In order to increase the amount of refrigerated air which will be delivered to passage 17, we deem it advisable to perforate the vertical wall of container 37, adjacent partition 13, as indicatedat 42, 42 l-in' such manner as to retain the refrigerantbut permit outflow of refrigerated air. This is most conveniently accomplished by comparatively large perforations through the wall of the container which perforations are protected by a suitable screen, as shown.

Below the bottom o'fpassage 40 we pro :vide a: small transverse passage 43- which connects the two legs 38 and serves as an I equalizer for liquid accumulating in the refrigerant container. The rear wall of the container is perforated, at 44, to permit outflow of surplus water to a. vertical drain passage 45 which delivers to a drip pan 46 arranged in the bottom of the refrigerant chamber-12 and delivering to the adjacent drain trough 2 1.

In order to facilitate the charging of the refrigerant container 37 with a suitable refri rant, such for instance as crushed ice an 1; salt, we provide the container 37 with suitable supporting wheels 47 resting upon 48 arranged in chamber 12 and supplemented by hinged extensions 49 which :extended from body 10, when door 36 is opened, and supported by. suitable hinged legs 50. Tracks 48 are so formed and arranged-es not to materially interfere with the flow ofrefrigerated air downwardly along the sides of legs 38 to passage 16.

In operation, air refrigerated by the contents of container 37, will flow downwardly along the walls of the legs of the container; downwardly and laterally through

passages

39 and 40; and downwardly and laterally through the refrigerant and screens42. The refrigerated air which flows through

passages

39 and 40 and through the screens 42 and between the container and the adjacent partition 13, will flow through passage 17 onto and along the horizontal partition 22, while the refrigerated air flowing downwardly along the remaining portions of the wall of the container 37 will bedelivered to passage 16 and will flow from thence outwardly along the bottom of the chamber 11 adjacent shelf 18.

As the air is warmed by the contents of the chamber 11, it will rise to the upper part of the chamber and pass from thence through passages 15 into the refrigerant chambers, the warmer air from the lower portion of compartment 11 passing upward-, ly between the adjacent ends of the two partitions 22.

It will, of course, be understood, that while we have shown our invention as embodied .in a'structure comprising a refrigerant chamber in each end, a satisfactory construction may be made, along the lines indicated above, in which only one refrigerant chamber is provided, either at one end of the main body or at an intermediate point.

We have found from actual tests of the apparatus described above that refrigeration of the space immediately adjacent the top of shelves 22 may be brought and maintained to within four to six degrees of refrigeration adjacent the bottom shelf 18, and Jeelow freezing point if desired, so that with our construction it is possible for the merchant to display his highest 'and most perishable grades of meats and other goods on the top shelf where,the v are most readily visible to customers.

- We claim as our invention:

1. In a refrigerator of the display-counter type, the combination of a main body divided by a pair of verticall -separated transverse partitions into a re rigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a horizontal partition of less length, than the refrigerating chamber arranged transversely lengthwise of said chamber at an intermediate point in the height of the chamber and below the lower edge of the upper transversev partition, and a refrigerant container, ar-

ranged in the refrigerant chamber so that some of the air refrigerated by the contained refrigerant will pass from the refrigerant chamber directly to the top of said horizontal'partition and other refrigerated air will pass from the refrigerant chamberbeneath the lower edge of the lower partition into the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber, a return passage being formed between the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber and the upper portion of the refrigerant chamber.

2. A refrigerator comprising a main hollow body divided by a transverse partition structure into a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber, said transverse partition structure providing acommunication between the lower part of the refrigerant chamber and the lower part of the refrigerating chamber, a communication between the upper part of the refrigerating chamber and the upper part of the refrigerant chamber, and an intermediate communication between an intermediate portion of the refrigerant chamber and an intermediate portion of the refrigerating chamber, a flow-defining transparent partition of less length than the refrigerating chamber arranged in the refrigerating chamber below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber, and

means arranged within the refrigerant chamber for supporting a refrigerant and directing portions of the refrigerated air to and through the intermediate communication and the lower communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber.

3. A refrigerator comprising a main hollow body divided by a transverse partition structure into a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber, said transverse partition structure providing a communication between the lower part of the refrigerant chamber and the lower part of the refrigerating chamber, a communication between the upper part of the refrigerating chamber and the upper part of the refrigerant chamher, and an intermediate communication between an intermediate portion of the refrigerant chamber and an intermediate portion of the refrigerating chamber, ,a flowdefining partition of less length than the refrigerating chamber arranged in the refrigerating chamber below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating cha her, and means arranged within the refrig rant chamber for supporting a refrigerant and directing portions of the refrigerated air to and throu h the intermediate communication and the lower communication between the refrigerant chamberand refrigerating chamber.

4. A refrigerator comprising a main hollow; body divided by a transverse partition structure into a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber, said transverse partition structure providing a communication 'erating between the lower part of the refrigerant chamber and the lower part of the refrigerating chamber, a communication between the upper part of the refrigerating chamber and theupper part of the refrigerant chamber, and an intermediate communication betweenan intermediate portion of the refrigerant chamber and an intermediate portion of the refrigerating chamber, a flow-defining transparent partition of less length than the refrigerating chamber arranged in the refrigerating chamber below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber, a refrigerant container arranged within the refrigerant chamber and having a vertical extent both above and below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber and provided with means to divert a portion of refrigerated air laterally to the said intermediate communication.

5. A refrigerator comprising a main hollow body divided by a transverse partition structure into a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber, said transverse partition structure providing a communication between the lower part of the refrigerant chamber and the lower part of the refrigerating chamber, a communication between the upper part of the refrigerating chamher and the upper part of the refrigerant chamber, and an intermediate communication between an intermediate portion of the refrigerant chamber and an intermediate portion of the refrigerating chamber, a flowdefining partition of less length than the refrigerating chamber arranged in the refrigerating chamber below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber, a refri erant container arranged within the re rigerant chamber and having a vertical extent both above and below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chambeer and provided with means to divert a portion of refrigerated air laterally to the said intermediate communication.

6. A refrigerator comprising a main holrefrigerating chamber. said transverse partition structure providing a communication between the lower part of the refrigerant chamber and the lower part of the refrigchamber, a communication between the upper part of the refrigerating chamber and the upper part of the/refrigerant' chamber, and an intermediate com munication between an intermediate portion of the refrigerant chamber and an intermediate portion of the refrigerating chamber, a flow-defining transparent partition of-less length than the refrigerating chamber arranged in the refrigerating chamber below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber, a refrigerant container mounted in the refrigerant chamber and havin a vertical extent both above and below t e intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and the refrigerating chamber, said refrigerant container embodying a vertical air passage having a lateral outlet arranged to register with said intermediate communication.

7. A refrigerator comprising a main hollow body divided by a transverse partition structure into a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber, said transverse partition structure providing a communication between the lower part of the refrigerant chamber and the lower part of the refrigerating chamber, a communication between the upper part of the refrigerating chamber and the upper part of the refrigerant chamber, and an intermediate communication between an intermediat' portion of the refrigerant chamber an an intermediate portion of the refrigerating chamber, a flowdefining partition of less length than the refrigerating chamber arranged in the re-* frigerating chamber below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and refrigerating chamber, a refrigerant container mounted in the refrig-- erant chamber and having a vertical extent both above and below the intermediate communication between the refrigerant chamber and the refrigerating chamber, said refrigerant container embodying a vertical air passage having a lateral outlet arranged to register with said intermediate communication.

8. A display-counter refrigerator comprising a main bod having a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber with transparent front and top wall portions, an imperforate transparent partition arranged in the refrigerating chamber at intermediate line in the height thereof and extended from the refrigerant chamber, and two cold air passages leading from the refrigerant chamber to the refrigerating chamber, one above and one below said transparent partition.

9. In a-display-counter refrigerator, the combination of the main body comprising a refrigerant chamber and a refrigerating chamber having article-receiving elements at different levels, a main door giving ac cess to the interior of the refrigerating chamber at more than one level, and a plurality of smaller doors carried by the main door at different levels and giving access therethrough into the refrigerating chamber at different levels. 1

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 11th day of September, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty three.

ROBERT A. MOURON. SAMUEL M. MOURON.