US1634813A

US1634813A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1634813A
Application number: US120714A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas C Whitehead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-07-06
Filing date: 1926-07-06
Publication date: 1927-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1944-07-05

Description

,634,813 July 5 19257' T. c. WHITEHEAD REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed July 1926 Patented July 5,. 1927.

UNITED 'STATES THOMAS C. WHITEHEAD',

or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. I

hApplication led July 6,

v frigeration as now` extensively practiced it is necessary to employ the services of skilled engineers or mechanics to assemble and service the apparatus 1n use. This is particularly disadvantageous in connection with' that type of electrical refrigerating apparatus which is sold without the refrigerator cabinet for installation by 'the purchaser-in an ordinary commercial type of refrigerator, because this type of apparatus is saleable over the other types which include as a part thereof the cabinet, particularly because it may be more economically sold and is presumed to require-less servicing by skilled refrigeration experts.

However, with this type of apparatus as heretofore manufactured it has been necessary in practice' 'to employ the services of skilled mechanics for the purpose of assembling and setting up the apparatus in connection with the refrigerator-and for testing and adjusting the apparatus v.prior to use. The need for' such service increases' the cost of the apparatus accordingly and is particularly burdensome to the manufacturer when the ap aratus is sold in rural districts remote rom the distributing branch of the manufacturer. l s

It is .therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide a refrigerating apparatus which may be conveniently and satisfactorily manufactured and shipped -in two separate units vwhich when received by the urchaser may be readily set u and assem- Eled in connection with the refrigerator box.

Another objec'tof this invention consists in so constructing the apparatus and the connection betweenthe two units thereof that the entire apparatus may be readily set up and 'tested at the factory whereupon the "conduits connecting the two units may be sealed or closed by suitably arranged valves, to confine the refrigerant within each unit, and the conduits disconnected or uncoupled to facilitate a separate packing and shipment thereof to the purchaser. With such a construction the purchaser can mount the compressor and condenser unit exteriorly of the refrigerator box and the expansion coil unit interiorly thereof and by extending the connecting conduits `of one of these units 'through the wall of the box and further by connecting the corresponding conduits of the two units by a valved coupling on the ends of these tubes the apparatus will be ready 1926. Serial No. 120,714.

for use merely by opening the valves in the tubes which places the units in communication with one another.

The above and otherobjects, advantages and novel details of construction of the invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrative of the invention associated with a refrigerator box.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the conduit. tubes coupling element.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through this coupling element and Figure 4 is a sectional View therethrough taken substantially on aplane indicated by line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Referring now particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters indi) ca 'te like parts, it will be noted that there is' fragmentarily illustrateda refrigerator box 10 provided with a refrigerant containing compartment 11.

e mechanical or electrical refrigerating apparatus consists of two units A'and B. 'The unit A includes a base 12 upon whicha motor 13, compressor 14 and condenser 15 are mounted. The motor 13 will drive 'the compressor through a belt herein indicated by the reference character 16.

The unit B ,includes an expansion coil 17 disposed within a brine tank 18. The reference character 19 indicates an expansion valve interposed in the tube or conduit 20 connected to the inlet end ofthe expansion coil 17. The reference character 21 indicates a tube connected to the outlet end of the expansion coil 17. The top loop or the upper part of the condenser 15 isv connected' to the discharge sideof 'the compressor by means of a conduit 22 and the lowermost loopl or part of the condenser is provided wit conduit 24 companion to the conduit 23 is connected to 'the inlet side of the compressor 14. Thus it will be seen that the two units A and B of the apparatus are each provided with a pair of

tubes

23 and 24, and 20 and 21 respect1vely, which when connected will operatively associate these units. y"

As one convenient means for detachably connecting these two sets of tubes and for affording a valve control for the refrigerant contained in either lor both of these units, I

Uliv

an outlet conduit or tube 23. A tube or' in any suitable manner.

have provided a valve coupling element 25 illustrated more particularly in Figures 2 to 4; inclusive. This coupling element consists of two;` corresponding or companion parts 26 each of which is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending passages 27 for connection respectively with the

conduits

20 and 21 or 23 and 24. Each of the couplingelement parts 26 is provided with a'valve 28, herein shown as a rotary valve, provided with ports 29 adapted to be brought into or out of registration with the passages 27. Each valve will referably be rotated through the medium o an irregular shaped projection 30 on one end thereof engageable by wrench or like tool. The two parts 26 of the couplino'. element may be united or coupled together by means of .longitudinally extending bolts 31.

In operation the unit A of the apparatus may conveniently` be mounted or placed upon the top of the refrigerator box and the unit B will be placed Within the compartment 11 and mounted or supported therein Inasmuch as it is preferable that the entire surface of the tank 18 be exposed .to a circulation of the air the unit B should be so positioned Within the com artment 11 as to accomplish this. In the il ustrative embodiment of the invention as herein shown and described the tank 18 is supported spaced from the bottom of the compartment 11 by means o f legs or other supports 32. 4

The units A and B may then be operatively connected by uniting the parts 26 of the coupling element 25. For accomplishing this either the

tubes

23 and 24 of the unit A are passed into the box 10 through an opening 33 formed in the Wall thereof or the

tubes

20 and 21 of the unit B ma be passed outwardly through the wall o the box l0 through the opening 33. Obviously the purchaser of the apparatus may cut the hole 33 through the wall of the box 10 at any desired point but as it would be less conspicuous at the rear of the box the openinU 33 is shown herein as located at that point. Obviously only a relative] small opening 33 need be cut into the refrigerator wall and after either set of tubes have been inserted therethrough the space around the tubes. may beiclosed in any suitable manner.

With the units A and B mounted exteriorly and interiorly of the refrigerator as just described and with the ends of the tubes of these units connected together through the medium of the coupling element 25, the apparatus will be in condition for operation merely by opening the valves 28 whereupon l a free circulation is provided for the refrigerant through the entire apparatus.

The valved coupling` element not only affords convenient means for readil connecting and disconnecting the conduits of the two units but also providesmeans for retaining Within each unit the refrigerant present therein after the testing of the apparatus at the factory. Thus the manufacturer may place in the system asuficient amount of refrigerant and by connecting the two units as described may subject the'. a paratus to a thorough test to ascertain positlvel that the entire apparatus is free from aws and Works satisfactorily. He then may close the valves 28 in-each of the coupling element parts 26 and disconnect the coupling element to permit the shi ment of the units. The purchaser upon receipt of the apparatus may install the same in the manner aforedescribed and by opening the valves 28 may place the units in communication With one another ready for use.

Obviously the unit .A need not bel mounted upon the refrigerator box but may be disposed in any other convenient place. Furthermore the unit B need not include a brine tank 18 but may consist solely of an expansion coil. Furthermore the character and arrangement'of the apparatus mounted on the base l2 of the unit A may differ as found desirable orexpedient. Furthermore thermostatic or other automatic control means may be associated with the apparatus for controlling the motor 13. VIn a like manner other types of coupling elements 25 may be utilized with equal effectiveness and the( valves herein shown as associated with the companion parts of the coupling element may obviously be disposed at other oints in the apparatus and retainfthe rerigerant in the units just as effectively. A

It will therefore be apparent that the principles of this invention Vare capable of expression in various types of apparatus and the conventional form of construction herein shown is .for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting in any respect the principles of the invention. Reservation is therefore made to make such changes in the essential and all of the nonessential details of the invention as may come within the purview of the accompanying-claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A refrigerating apparatus formed of two separate units one of which consists of a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted ony said base, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unit being mounted within a refrigerator box, conduits vconnected to said condenser and compressor, corresponding conduits connected to said expansion coil `and a valved coupling element. comprising heads connected to they ends of each set of conduits, said heads being provided with passages extending longitudinally thereof and connectin 'with the aforesaid conduits2 valves carrie by said heads for closing sald passages and l compressor,

means for securing the said heads together.

2. A refrigeratxng apparatus formed of two separate units one of which consists of a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted on said base, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unit eing conduits connected to said condenser and corresponding conduits connected ,to said expansion coil-and a valved coupling element comprising heads connected to the ends of each set of conduits, said heads being provided with longitudinally extending passages adapted to register with each other and to communicate with the aforesaid conduits, valves carried by said heads and extending transversely of said passages for closing the same, and means for securing the said heads together..

3. A. refrigerating apparatus formed of two separate units, a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted on said base, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unit being mounted within. a refrigerator box, conduits connected to said condenser and compressor, corresponding conduits connected to said expansion coil and a valved coupling element comprising heads connected to mounted within a refrigerator box,

one of which consists of` the ends of each set of conduits, and having flat abutting end faces, said heads being provided with longitudinally extending passages adapted to register with each other and for communicating withthe aforesaid conduits, and means for holding said faces in abutting relation and said passagesin registration with each other.

4. A refrigerating apparatus formed of two separate units, one of which consists of a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted on said base, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unit being mounted within -a refrigerator box,

conduits connected to said condenser and 4 compressor, corresponding conduits Iconnected to said expansion coil, and a valved coupling element comprising heads connected to the ends of each set of conduits, and having flat abutting end faces, said heads being provided with centrally disposed passages communicating with the aforesaid conduits, and having spaced longitudinally extendin openin s on each side of said passages andr bolts a apte-d to engage said openings for holding vsaid end faces in abutting relation. In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

THOMAS C. WHI'IEHEAD.