US1613721A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Jan 11 1927 H. l.. ROBERTS REFRIGERATOR Filed June 28, 1926 patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES HENBYLUCAS ROBERTS, OF GBIHBBY, ONTARIO, CANADA.

REFRIGERATEUR.

Application led .Tune 28, 1826. Serial No. 119,154.

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerators and the ob]ect is to provide a novel form of refrigerator which will be exceptionally economical and eicient in operation and in which a very dry atmosphere w1ll be maintained.

A further object is to eliminate to a great extent the loss due to warming of the refrigerator ordinarily caused during the opening and closing of the refrigerator to get at -articles placed therein. A further object is to improve the cleanllness and convenience of operation by having the ice entirely enclosed in a removable watertight container, which may be entirely removed from the refrigerator for filling and emptying, thus keeping the refrigerator clear from all dirt or foreign matter on the ice.

Other objects will appear 'in the course of the following specification.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-.-

Fig. 1 shows, in diagrammatic form, a central vertical section through a refrigera-l tor embodying my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an improved ice container used in my invention.

In the drawings, like .characters o'frefercnceyindicate corresponding parts in the two opening or port 4.and above this port is n,

baliie.

At the top of thechamber 3 the casing 1 is provided with an inlet port 6 and an outlet port 7. Covering the port 6' is anordinary Hap valve 8 which operates as an inlet valve and covering the port 7 is a similar loutlet valve 9.

The chamber 3 constitutes a compensating chamber as will be later explained.

Immediately below the partition. 2, the front wall of the casing 1 is provided with a circular oriicelO to permit insertion of a watertight lice container 11.

This container comprises. a cylindrical pail-like portion 12 and a lid 13 which has threaded engagement in the open end of the portion 12 and forms a closure therefor.

This lid 13 is of novel construction and in'. the form illustrated comprises a threaded cap portion 14 which has threaded engagement in the end of the portion 12.

This cap 14 has an enclosed central air chamber 15 which acts as an insulator.

Secured to the portion 14 is an outer cap 05 16, the interior of which is filled with heat insulating material 17 and between the portions 16 and 17 is a wooden disk 18.

The portion 16 is formed with an undercut shoulder 32 so that when the container is 70 inserted` into position within the refrigerator the portion 16 forms a closure for the opening 10 in the casing, the shoulder 32 abuttingagainst a rubber annulus 19.

Extending across the refrigerator are horizontal strips 20 which form supports upon which the container 11 rests.

Secured to these supports immediately below the container 11 is an absorbent sti-1p 21 which extends outwardly through the rear wall of the casing as indicated at B.

This absorbent strip 21 constitutes a wick positioned centrally below the' container and adapted to receive all drip from the exterior surface thereof.

This wick is not the full width of the refrigerator but is com aratively narrow so that ample space is le t at each side thereof to permit free air circulation therepast as will presently be explained.

The lower portion of the refrigerator below the container 11 is occupied by a number of drawers 22-23--24 and 25, which drawers may be the full width of the refrigerator and extend inwardly from the front thereof.

The drawers are superimposed one abo-ve the other and each drawer is of somewhat shorter length than the drawer next below so that when pushed full in there isan un- 100 c overed space indicate at A at the rear 'end of each drawer4 which spaces provide The cover 13 is then removed, any water in\ the container being emptied and the container is filled with ice after which'the cover 13 is replaced.

He then replaces the container in the refrigerator and, when pushed fully in, the lid '13 forms a secure closure for the opening 10 'in the refrigerator.

It is to be understood that the lid 13 forms a watertight closure for the container so that the ice and all water formed from the melting thereof remains within the container.

vThe air in the refrigerator is cooled and falls entering and filling the drawers throughthe openings A at the rear ends thereof. v

As previously stated the wick 21 is comparatively narrow so that ample clearance is provided at each side thereof to permit free circulation of air therepast and therefore the wick does not prevent the circulation of air from the upper (part to the lower part of the refrigerator an vice versa.

By my construction, whereby theai'r does not contact directly with theice, considerably greater economyis obtained and also a very dry atmosphere is maintained in the refrigerator. Y

Any moisture in the refrigerator which will condense on the exterior surface of the container will drip onto the absorbent strip 21, which strip will act as a wick and conduct this moisture outwardly through the casing to be evaporated from the portion B which projects into the outer air.

In this way moisture is removed from the interior of the refrigerator' so as to insure Va very dry atmosphere therein which of course is very desirable.

When any one of the drawers is drawn out, air from the compensating chamber 3 will be drawn downwardly'through the opening 4 in the partition 2 to compensate from the displacement of the withdrawn drawer and air will be drawn inwardly into the chamber 3 past the valve 8 but none of this warm' air from the outer atmosphere will pass through the opening 4 and will thus affect no warming ofthe portion of the refrigerator below the partition 2.

Also the opening of the drawer will not permit any inrush of warm air into therefrigerator sincethe opening in the refrigerator casing is at all times completely closed by the drawer. In this connection it is to be noted that the top edges of the drawers are a snug sliding fit against the partitions 26.

Also since the drawersremain at all times horizontal, when a drawer is partiall withdrawn, there will be no spilling oft e cold air out of the drawer so that when it is again pushed inwardly the same cold air remains in it as was therev before it was opened.

When the drawer is again closed, air is \driven upwardly through the opening 4 and .air from the compensating chamber 3 passes outwardly past the outlet valve 9.

The compensating chamber 3 has a cubic capacity n ot less than that of the largest drawer so that no cold air is wasted in closing the drawer'nor is any warm air from the outer atmosphere drawn past the opening 4 in the partition2 during the opening of the drawer.

The baffle 5 is provided immediately above Avdownwardly in the direction of the arrows so that this air does not pass directly to the outlet valve 9. Also additional baflles'l lare placed in front of the ports 6 and 7 so that the air passing inwardly or outwardly 'through these ports must come from the extreme upper portion of the chamber 3.

Itwill thus be noted that in my refrigerator the refrigerating compartment is practically always closed even when the drawers are drawn'out so that there is not free communication 'between the interior of therefrigerator and the outer air as is the case with the ordinary refrigerator having doorsA and this results in -a very economy 1n the use of ice.

greatly increased The partitions 26. are so .positioned that the tops of the drawers' are a very snug sliding` fit thereagainst, this being necessary to maintain the economy referred to above.

A feature of my invention is that, by having the ice enclosed entirely in a watertight container, the refrigerator may be maintained in a much cleaner condition so that no dirt or foreign matter 'on the ice has to be contended with.

lill

A further convenience is that the operanei-mit the escape of any cold'air or the inrush of any warm air.

While I have illustrated and described the use of one container 11 only, any desired number could be used in which case they might be placed horizontally side by side and a wick 2l would be placed below each container.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a novel type of refrigerator whereby the objects of'myinvention have been attained.

Various modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim `as my invention is:

1. In a refrigerator, an enclosed watertight ice container, and a wick below said container extending outwardly through the refrigerator casing 'and positioned to receive all drip from the exterior surface of the container.

2. In a, refrigerator, an enclosed watertightvce container supported in the upper portion thereof, a wick below said container positioned to receive all drip from the exterior surface thereof, said wick extending outwardly through the refrigerator casing, and a plurality of drawers in the lower portion of the refrigerator.

3. 'In a refrigerator, an enclosed watertight ice container supported in spaced relation from the top thereof, a plurality of drawers below said container, the portion of the refrigerator above said container forming an air chamber, and an inlet and4 an o`utlet valve communicating between said chamber and the outer air.

4. In a refrigerator, an enclosed watertight ice container supported in spaced relation from the top thereof, a plurality of drawers below said container, the portion of the refrigerator above said container forming a chamber, the cubic capacity of which is not less than that of the largest drawer, and an inlet and an outlet valve communicating between saidv chamber and the outer air.

5. In a refrigerator, an ice container in the upper portion thereof, a plurality of drawers in -the lower portion of the refrigerator, said drawers superimposed one above the other, each drawer being somewhat shorter in length than the drawer next below so as to leave an uncovered s ace at the rear end of each drawer when t e drawers are pushed fully inwardly.

6. In a refrigerator, an icecontainer in the upper portion thereof, a plurality of drawers in the lower portion of the refrigerator, said drawers superimposed one' above the other, each drawer being somewhat shorter in length than the drawer next below so as to leave an uncovered space at the rear end of each drawer when the drawers are pushed fully inwardly, and a horizontal partition between each drawer and the one next above, said partition forming a closure for the top of the drawer therebelow with the exception of the aforesaid uncovered space at the rear end of the drawer.

7. In a refrigerator, an enclosed ice container supported in spaced relation from the top thereof, the portion of the refrigerator above said cqntainerforming a chamber, the casing of the refrigerator having ports therethrough at the top of said chamber, automatic inlet and outlet valves controlling the opening and closing of said ports, 'a plurality of drawers in the lower portion of the refrigerator below said container, said drawers superim osed one' above the other, each drawer ing somewhat shorter in length than the drawer next below so as to leave an uncovered space at the rear end of each drawer when the drawers are'pushed fully inwardly, the cubic capacity of the chamber at the top of the refrigerator being not less than that of the largest drawer.

8. In a refrigerator, an enclosed ice container supported in spaced relation from the top thereof, the portion of the refrigerator above said container forming a chamber, the casing of the refrigerator havof said ing ports therethrough at the to chamber, automatic" inlet and out et valves controlling the opening and closing of said ports, a plurality of 'drawers in the lower portion of the refrigerator below said container, said drawers superimposed one above the other, each drawer being` somewhat shorter in length than the drawer next below so as to leave an uncovered space at the rear end of each drawer 'when the drawers are pushed fully inwardly, the cubic capacity of the chamber at the top of the refrigerator being not less than that of the largest drawer, and a wick below said container positioned to receive all drip from the exterior surface thereof, said wick extending outwardly through the refrigerator casing.

9. In a refrigerator according to claim 3,

a horizontal partition above the container forming the bottom of the compartment in 11. In a refrigerator, an enclosed Watertight ice containerin the form of a cylindrical vessel, a; removable insulated cover for the open end thereof, therrefrigeratorvcasing having a circular orice adapted to ermit insertion of said container en'dwise into the refrigerator, the cover forming a closure for the orifice in the refrigerator casing, and means for supporting the container Within 10 the refrigerator.

12. In a refrigerator, an enclosed Water-A tght ice container in the form of a cylin-l drical vessel, a removable insulated cover for the open end thereof, the refrigerator casing having a circular orifice adapted to permit insertion of said container endwise into the refrigerator, the cover forming a closure for the orifice in the refrigerator casing, means for supporting the container within the refrigerator, and a Wick below said container positioned to receive all drip` from the exterior surface of said container and extendn0* outwardly through the refrigerator cas- HENRY'LUCAS ROBERTS.

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