US1656918A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

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A. A. KUCH-IER REFRIGERATOR Filed June 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 595 6 37'( '33 LEVEL oFL/QU/D WORK /A/G FLU/D zgn-1 @@g @88 er sa gw ,1 0. LEVEL OFL/QU/D a WORK /NG- FL U/D LEVEL OPL/Gufo I 77 2.9 WORK/NG PLU/D l o H oo L u i :e 5,2/ l i' Wl NESSES:

AALZIIabeI lNvENToR ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A.A.KUCHER REFRIGERATOR Filed June 4, 1923 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1928.

WITNESSES OZ.

Patented Jan. 24, 1928. A

UNITED STATES ANDREW A. KUCHER, 0F CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application `filed J'une 4, 1923. Serial No. 643,363.

My invention relates to refrigcrating machines, particularly to small capacity machines ot' the compression type which are suitable for household use and it has for an object to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall includel evaporators having a high capacity and efficiency for absorbing heat and which shall occupy a minimum amount of space consistent with their capacity.

It has for a further object to associate with Vthe evaporators, adequ/ate facilities for the manufacture of ice for table or similar uses and, if ice is not required, the use of the same facilities for the storage of cold medium, thereby materially increasing the capacity of the refrigeration cycle.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a surge tank which shall compensate for iluctuations in volumetric displacement of the Working Huid contained in theevaporators, and which shall be so disposed With respect to the evapo-rators as to insure a maximum body of liquid working fluid being present therein at all times. -f

Another object 'of my invention is the provision of a thermo-seal between the socalled high-pressure and low-pressure sides of the ap aratus, that is, between the condenser ang the evaporators, during periods of inactivit of the compressor, by means o which a ac-kflow of the hot vapors from the condenser, through the compressor to the evaporators is prevented, and the consequent transmission of heat from the condenser to the evaporators retarded to such a degree as to be negligible.

Still'another object of my invention is to materially reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the Working fluid prior to its entrance into the evaporators Vby arranging the conduit for conveying the same concentrically Within the conveyingr means for returning the Working fluid from the evaporators to the compressor.

lhese and other objects, which will be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention may be obtained by the employment of the apparatus hereinaft'er described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a View in longitudinal section illustrating a refrigerator in which my invention may be practiced; Fig. 2 is a. sectional elevation showing a modified form of conduit for supplying Working fluid to the evapo. rators; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line III-III of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the surge tank and connecting piping shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the surge tank shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating a modified form of connecting piping; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View of the ice drawers shown in Figs. l and 3; and Fig. 7 is a sectional elevationy taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Compression refrigerators nominally comprise a chamber in which a working fluid is evaporated at a relatively low pressure'and temperature, a chamber yin which the vapors are condensed at a higher pressure and temperature, a compression mechanism for translating the vapors from the evaporation chamber to the condensing chamber, and a valved conduit for returning the condensed Huid at a reduced pressure into the evaporation chamber. The cycle is continuous during any period of operation,v heat being absorbed from the medium surrounding the evaporation chamber to secure the desired refrigerating efect, which heat is removed from the apparatus by bringing. an outside medium into heat exchanging relation to the contents of the condensing chamber. Appas ratus of this character is generally operated ,.gintermittently; fior example, a period of operation of from one to one and one-fourth hours being followed by a period of inactivitybf from one and one-half to two hours, the length of the periods depending upon 'the duty imposed upon the refrigerator and upon the setting of the automatic devices which control the starting and stopping of' the compression mechanism.

The' working uid generally employed ,in my apparatus of the above t pe is a combination of arefrigerant an a lubricant 'which readily mix one -Witli' the other to form a homogeneous liquid or physical solution, and Which l disclose in a copending application, serially numbered 617,844, led February 8, 1923, and entitled Refrigera tors. ll have found that With the use of a Working fluid of this nature, evaporation is productive of a very violent foaming and some means for maintaining the evapo rators in a completely Hooded condition a; `all times must be provided.

l therefore provide, in addition to the evaporation chamber or evaporators, a surge tank of ample capacity Which contains a body of liquid Workin fluid. The outlets of the evaporators free y communicate with the surge tank below the level of the liquid therein and in this way, free egress of the Working fluid from the evaporators during periods of expansion; and a return of the Working fluid during periods of contraction is permitted. All foam occasioned by the ebullition of the working fluid is consequently lcarried over-into the surge tank, insuring a maximum storage of liquid Working fluid in the evaporators at all times.

ln addition, in intermittently operating refrigeration machines having a rotary compressor, durin nonoperation of the latter, there is considerable leakage of the hot vapors from the condenser through the compressor to the evaporators. y'lhis leakage continues until such time yas an equalization of pressures has been established. 'lt has heretofore been proposed'to prevent a backilow of the vapor by the installation of a check fvalve in the connecting pipe line. This arrangement is not entirely ssatisfactory, however, due to the rapid Wear of the moving parts of the valve, the possibility of the check sticking or becoming dislodged,

kand because of the objectionable noises created thereby.

ln. my apparatus, l incorporate a thermoseal in the surge tank, consisting of a body of liquid Working iiuid interposed between the compressor and the outlet means of the evaporators. l The hot vapors from the condenser which flow back through the compressor, during periods of inactivity, are confined to the upper. portion of the sur e tank by thisj body of liquid Working fluid and are, therefore, prevented from entering the evaporators. This arrangement involves no moving parts, is absolutely noliseless, and is effective under all working conditions. The hot vapors beingcnined to the upper portion of the `surge tank, that is, above the level of the liquid contained therein, conduction of heat to the lower or liquid containing portion, during inactive periods, is extremely slow since the liquidtherein is in a quiescent state. As the outlets from the evaporators are submerged in the liquid in the surge tank, conductivity of heat back through the outlet conductin means to the evaporators is negligible. have found from -numerous experiments, that with the use of my apparatus, the time required for defrosting or the conduction of"anyY appreciable amount of heat from the con` denser to the evaporators is considerably in excess of the length of time of the inactive period of the refrigeration cycle. The eva oratore of my apparatus are consequent y unalfected by the backflow of vapors from intente the condenser and thus what may be termed a thermo-seal is obtained between the highpressure and low-pressure sides o f the apparatus.

ln refrigerators having the reducing valve located in the condensing chamber or remote from the evaporators, as in the present apparatus, rapid evaporation of the liquid Working fluid While on its Way to the evap- ,orators is-produced, resulting in a loss of refrigerating effect. ln the'arrangement of the ypresent apparatus, the downfioiv liquid is surrounded by the upgoing vapors which are substantially at the low temperature of the evaporators, and consequently the working fluid is delivered to the evaporators substantially as a liquid at the temperature of the evaporators.

J l show in the accompanyin compression refrigerator em odying my novel apparatus. It is to be understood lthat this invention may be practiced in other types of compression machines and that the apparatus illustrated and herein described is employed by way of example andas an aid in presenting a clear exposition of my invention.

1n the drawings, 9 designates a refrigerator box having mounted thereon a condensing chamber 10 belovaT which is suspended a surge tank 11 and a plurality of evaporators 12. Disposedin the condensing chamber 10 is a compressor 13 of any Well-known type, which is driven through a'v shaft 14 by a suitable motor 15. rl'he condensing chamber 10 comprises a bell or dome 1G secured to a base plate 17 and to a pedestal 18, as by bolts 19. The motor 15 is housed Within a vCasin 2l which, as shown, is aninverted cup-s aped casting secured to the base plate 17 and supporting the compressor 13. Mounted upon the `casing 21 is a receptacle 2 2 which surrounds the compressor 13 and which communicates with the 'condensing chamber through a vapor outlet 28 provided in the upper portion thereof, and a liquid outlet 24 disposed at the liquid Working level.

The compressor 13 discharges through a conduit 25 toward abaile 2G which substann tially separates the liquid and vapor iin-4 pinged thereon. An inverted bent tube 27 isprovided for conveying the liquid, which falls from the baffle 26 and accumulates in the receptacle 22, to the compression mechanism for sealing and lubricating the saine. Coils 28 are arranged in the upper portion of the dome 16 for condensing vapor which drawings a Apasses through the outlet 23 from the com presser. They are provided with inlet and outlet connections which pass Without the chamber 10.

Condensed working fluid is conveyed from the condensing chamber 1 0 to the evaporators by means of a conduit 29. Disposed in the conduit 29 is a pressure reducing valve 3l which is actuated by a float 32 in such manner, that upon a predetermined rise of liquid level within the condensing chamber, the valve 31 will open to permit a flow of liquid working fluid to the `evaporators. The discharge conduit 29 extends through the surgetank 11, as shown to a larger scale in Fig. 4. It terminatesy a short distance below the surge tank 11- where it enters a distributing manifold 31 and is in slidable engagement with the bore thereof. The manifold 31 is provided with a threaded portion which engages a stuffing box 32 which is fixed to .the surge tank. Suitable packing 33 is interposed between the stuffing box 32 and the threaded portion of the manifold 31 for maintaininga fluid-tight connection between the conduit 29 and the bore of the stuffing box 32. I have found from experiment, tzliat by extending the conduit 29 into a distributing manifold 34, as shown in Fig. 5, and by making theconduit and the manifold a close sliding. fit, the leakage of fluid therebetween is so small as to be negligible. Both types of construction, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, have proven very satisfactoryin service, as they not only permit freedom of relative movement between the condensing and evaporating portions of the apparatus, but greatly facilitate assembly.

Connected to the'distributing manifold -31 are a plurality of auxiliary conduits 35 for the distribution of the working fluid to the respective evaporators.' I have found from experiment, that the arrangement of distribution conduits, as shown in Fig. 1, is best adapted for work of this character in that it provides equal distribution of the working lfluid to the several evaporators, thereby insuring equal performance by each evaporator. I may, however provide a distribution conduit as shown in 2. It comprises a main conduit 36 of ample bore, connected to which are a plurality of auxiliary conduits 37 of relatively smaller bore and having the required ilow area.,'which communicate with the respective evapon rators. The length of travel of the working fluid through the smaller conduits 37 is reduced to a minimum, and consequently frictional resistance is lessened, but the distribution qualities are not... quite as effective, in certain respects, as my preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

The evaporators 12 are each composed of two hollow cylinders 38 and 39 arranged concentrically. The space intervening between the two cylinders comprises a compartment for the circulation of a. working fluid and is sealed at both ends by a hollow circular disc 41. The hollow portion of the inner cylinder 38 comprises an ice making compartment and is sealed at one end only by a circular disc 42. It has been found to y be of much importance to so arrange the discs 41 and '42 that the edges of the cylinders 38 and 39 extend to the outer surfaces thereof, thereby making all joints visible from the outside and greatly facilitating the location of leaks when testing.

An ice drawer 43.is disposed in each of. the ice making compartments of the evaporators 12. This drawer .may be preferably constructed of aluminum or any other suitable material. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it is provided with aplurality of adjacent vertically-disposed cylindrical compartments or molds 44- for containing a congealable liquid, such as water. A Upon solidification of the liquid, the cakes of ice may be removed from the drawer, or, if no ice is required,

the drawers may be retained in the evaporators and serve as a means of cold storage. Each of the cylindrical compartments or molds 44 is provided with a gradually decrcasingbore in order-to facilitate removal of the ice therefrom. The drawer is provided with bearing pads 45 and 46 adapted to slidably engage the internal circular surfaces of the evaporator cylinders 38. One end of the drawer is provided with an extended flange portion 47 equipped with ay knob 48. The extended flange portion 47 covers the open end of the inner cylinder 38, and prevents direct circulation of air between the ice making compartment and the interior ofthe refrigerator box.

The refrigerant vapors are removed from the evaporators 12 by means of conduits 49 communicating with the surge tank 11. The surge tank 11 is preferably of circular conformation,' and has disposed therein, as shown in Fig. 4, an upwardly-extending sleeve member 51 and an outer downwardlyextending sleeve member 52, dividing the tank into three compartments, or what may be termed an inlet compartment 53. an outlet compartment 54, and an intermediate compartment 55. All three compartments communicate at the upper ends thereof for the passage' of refrigerant vapor, con'nnuiiication between the inletand intermediate compartments being `by means of a plurality of circular openings 56 spaced circumferen# v small lioleor opening 58 is provided in the upstanding sleeve 51' between'f the levell of 213:0.;

the liquid working fluid in the intermediate compartment 55 and the lower or inlet end of the conduit 57. This hole or opening permits a restricted flow of liquid working fluid from the intermediate compartment 55 to the outlet compartment 54, when the level of the liquid in the latter compartment is lower than in the intermediate compartment.

The operation of the apparatus thus described is as follows: The condensing chamber and the surge tank are both filled to a level, such as indicated on the drawings, with a working fluid consisting of a refrigerant and lubricant which readily mix one with the other to form a homogeneous liquid or physical solution. rlhe evaporators, having their outlet conduits 49 disposedbelow the level ofthe liquid in the surge tank, have their circulat-ing compartments filled with the fluid. Prior to starting themotor, a quantity of the liquid Working fluid fills the outlet compartment 54 of the surge tank to the same-level as the intermediate and inlet compartments. The lirst rotations of the compressor draw this liquid into the compressor so that a thorough riming of the moving parts is obtained during the initial period of operation. As the rotation of the compressor continues, the level of the liquid in the outlet compartment 54 is lowered until it is substantially contiguous to the .lowermost surfaces of the conduit 57 and the compressor begins to draw refrigerant vapor. A fine stream or spray of the liquid working fluid present in the intermediate compartment 55 enters the outlet compartment 54 through the opening 58 and is entrained in the vapors flowing through the conduit 57 to the compressor. The liquid working fluid thuis` delivered to the pump is sufiicient ifn quantity, after starting, to effect a thorough lubrication and sealing thereof, and is supplied continuously as long as the compressor is in operation.

When a predetermined cooling action has resulted from the operation of the machine,

automatic mechanism (not shown) cuts off the current to the motor and thus stops the pumping action. During the period of rest which follows, the level of the liquid in the out-let compartment 54 rises until it is substantially equal to the level ofthe liquid in the other compartments of the surge tank, thereby placing the mechanism in readiness for starting again.

During the early portion of the inactive period, or until'such time as thel pressures in the condensing, or high pressure side of the apparatus, and the evaporating, or low pressure side of the apparatus, become equali ized, the hot vapor from the condenser leaks back through the compressor to the sur e tank and is confined above the level of t ie liquid therein. The conduit 49, which communicates with the evaporators, being astenia disposed below the level of the liquid in the surge tank, however, a very adequate seal ing means is effected and the hot vapor is confined to the upper portion of the tank 1l, and all leakage to the relatively cool evaporators is prevented. In order to further increase the efficiency of my apparatus, l inserta considerable portion of the surge tank which is above the 'level of the liquid `contained therein, or in other words, that portion which at times contains hot vapor from the condenser, into the insulated top of the refrigerator box and thereby prevent any radiation of heat to the storage compartment.

Furthermore, conduction of heat is so rctarded as to be of no effective consequence. The hot vapor impinges upon the upper sur face of the liquid Working fluid, and is partly condensed. The conduction of heat to the liquid in the tank is extremely slow due to the absence of any thermo-Siphon effect. As the conduits 49 communicate with the surge tank below the level ot' the liquid therein, conduction of heat to the entrant portion of said conduit is considerably retarded. In addition, theheat must he conducted back .through the conduits 49 before reaching the evaporators. The time period required, therefore, for the heat of the vapor from the condenser to reach the evaporators by conduction through the liquid working fluid, is considerably longer than the inactive period of the refrigeration cycle, and consequently the evaporators are protected at all times from the heat of the warm vapor which may flow back from the condenser.

I have found from experiment, that to insure a steady supply of liquid tothe outlet by means of the restricted opening 58, it is necessary that the supply liquid inthe compartment 55 be relatively quiescent. For this reason, I have provided a sleeve member 52, which serves to baille the opening 58 from the inlet connections, thereby insuring complete tranquility of liquid in the intermediate compartment.

Rerfrigerant vapor having en'trained therein a. quantity of liquid working fluid is drawn up through the conduit ,by the compressor 13 and discharged through the conduit 25 against the baille 26. The van porand liquid are substantially separated thereby, the liquid fallinginto the lower 'portion of the receptacle 22 and the vapor passing out through "the opening to the condensing chamber l0. Within this cham ber, the hot vapor is condensed by the cooling action of the coils 28 and the liquid falls to the lower part of the chamber. Upon accumulation of sufficient liquid therein, the float 32 moves to open the valve 3l to permit a flow of liquid working fluid through the discharge conduit 29. The liq- 'lli the auxiliary conduits 35. vChilling Veffect is then produced in the normal manner by the evaporization of the cooling agent caused by the low vacuum pressures maintained in the evaporators by the compressor.

Heat is absorbed from the refrigerator box, or air surrounding the outer ysurfaces ofthe evaporators, as well as from the inner or ice making compartments. Upon suiicient absorption of heat from the storage box to produce a predetermined lower temperature therein, an automatic mechanism (not shown) cuts off the current to the`V motor and t 1hl 1(si stops the circulation of the working The conduits 49 enter the surge tank 11 below the level of the lliquid working fluid therein. The circulating compartments 4of the evaporators are consequently completely flooded with liquid during the period of operation of the compressor as well as during the period of inactivity. By this arrangement, a maximum amount ofrefrigerant liquid is present in the evaporators during the entire period of inactivity, which,

because of the high specific heat of the liq-` uid, rovides a largecold storage, or heat absor ing body within the refrigerator box. This large heat absorbing capacity of the working fluid within the evaporators prolongs the period of inactivity of the mechanical apparatus, or the timefrequired for the temperature in the box to raise an amount suiiicient to cause the automatic mechanism to again start the motor.

The temperature within the inner or ice making compartments of the evaporators is independent of the storage compartment temperature, as there is no circulation of air between i the two. Ice may ordinarily be formed in the ice drawers 43 during one period of operation of the machine, the temperatures within thericegnaking compartments remaining substantially constant durin the riod of inactivity.

have shown my invention in but one main embodiment, with certain alternative detail constructions, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that Yit is not so limited, but is suscleptible of various other chan es and mod` ing rom the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. p

What I claim is: v

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a tank communicating with the evaporator, means forl conveying liquid refrigeranttothe evaporator, means for conveying refrigerant vapor v liquid working fluid in the refrigerant vapor cations, without depart--V from the surge tank, and means for entraining a liquid in the refrigerant vapor removed from the sur e tank.

2. In a re rigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a surge tank containing a body of liquid and communicating with fthe evaporator, means for conveying liquid refrigerant to vtheevaporator, means vfor conveying refrigerant vapor from the surge tank, andmeans for entraining a quantity of the liquid contained in the -surge tank in the refrigerant vapor removed therefrom.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a pluralit of evaporators having concentric inner andy outer heat absorbing surfaces and receiving a refrigerant a surge tank, means for conveying the refrigerant from the evaporators to the surge tank, and outlet means provided in the surge tank for the refrigerant vapors.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com-A bination of an evaporator, a/surge tank communicating with the evaporator and con taining a body of liquid working fluid, means for conveying liquid working fluid to the evaporator, means for conveying refrigerant vapor from the surge tank, and means located within thesurge tankfor entraining removed therefrom.

5. In--a refrigerating apparatus, the com# bination of an evaporator, a compressor for withdrawing refrigerant vapor form the evaporator, a surge tank communicating with the evaporator and containing a body of liquid, means for conveying refrigerant liquid to the evaporator, and means for en-u training liquid from the sur e tank in the refrigerant vapor passing to t 1e compressor.

6. In a lrefrlgerating apparatus, the com- 105 bination of an evaporator, means for conveying refrigerant liquid to the eva rator, a surge tan containing a bod o liquid communicating means provided tween the surge tank and the evaporator, said com- 110 -it to the condenser, a surge tank disposed in the fluid withdrawal path, andmeans disposed within thesurge tank and responsive upon a stoppage 4of the flow= for accumulating a liguid in said 'with.

drawal path, said li uid sealing the pathfor preventing the bac -low of fluidfrom the condenser to the evaporator. w

8. In. a refrigerating apparatus, the combination -of a condenser, a compressor, an

evaporator, a surge tank interposed between l the compressor and the evaporator, 'and means responsive upon a stoppage of the flow from the evaporator to the compressor for accumulating a body of liquid in the withdrawal path, said body of li uid sealing the path for preventing the ack-flow of fluid from the condenser through the compressor to the evaporator.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a condenser, an evaporator, a

compressor for withdrawing fluid from the evaporator and discharging it at a higher pressure to the condenser, a surge tank disposed between the evaporator and the inlet of the compressor, said surge tank being disposed at a higher elevation than the evaporator, and means responsive upon a stoppage of the `uflow from the evaporator to the compressor for accumulating a body of liquid in the withdrawal path, said body of liquid sealing the path for reventing the back-How of fluid from t e condenser through the compressor to the evaporator.

10. In an intermittently operated refrigerating apparatus, thev combination of an evaporator, a surge tank, means for conveying liquid working fluid to the evaporator,

means for conveying refrigerant vapor and liquid workingfluid from the evaporator to the surge tank, means for periodically' removing refrigerant vapor from the surge tank, and means provided in the surge tank for introducing liquid working fluid into the vapor removal means, the liquid working fluid passing out of the surge tank with the vapor during 'the operation of the mal chine and accumulating in the removal means for forming a liquid seal during inoperation of the machine. r

11. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, means for withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the evaporator, a surge tank containing liquid Working lfluid disposed in said withdrawal means,

and means embodied in the surge tank for entraining liquid working fluid in the re- Y frigerant vapor passing therethrough.

12. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a compressor for withdrawing refrigerant vapor from ,the evaporator, a surge tank through which the vaporremoved from the evaporator passes, said surge tank containing a bod of liquid working fluid, and means embo ied in the surge tank for entraining a quantity of liquid working 4fluid in the vapor removed from the eva orator.

13. In a re rigerating apparatus, the combination of a condenser, an evaporator, a

compressor for translating refrigerant vapor from the evaporator to the condenser, a surge tankinterposed between the evaporator and theinlet of the compressor, said surge tank being disposed at a higher elevationjthan the evaporator and containing a body of liquid working Huid, and means embodied in the surge tank for entraining liquid working fluid in the refrigerant vapor passing to the compressor for sealing and lubricating the same.

14. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a condenser, a refrigerator box, an evaporator disposed within the refrigerator box, a compressor for withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and discharging it at a higher pressure to the condenser, a surge tank containing a body of liquid working fluid and disposed within the refrigerator box, the refrigerant vapor passing through the surge tank prior to its entrance into the compressor, and means embodied in' the surge tank for entraining liquid working fluid in the vapor passing to the compressor.

l5. A surge tank for a refrigerating apparatus having inlet and outlet compart ments containing working fluid liquid and vapor, an inlet provided in the inlet compartment, an outlet provided in the outlet compartment, and separate communicating means provided between the compartments for the passage of the liquid andthe vapor.

16. A surge tank for a refrigerating apparatus having inlet and outlet compartments :each containing working fluid liquid and vapor, an inlet provided in the inlet compartment, an outlet provided in the outlet compartment, separate communicating means provided between the compartments for the passage of liquid and vapor, and means provided within the tank for insuring a uniform flow of liquid between the compartments.

17. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a compressor, means for condensingV the refrigerant vapor discharged by the compressor, a. chamber for receiving the condensed refrigerant fluid, a conduit connecting the chamber with the inlet of the compressor for withdrawing refrigerant vapor therefrom, said conduit depending into the chamber below the level ofthe liquid' contained therein, a second conduit having one end open and one end closed surrounding the depending portion of the first conduit, the closed end being spaced below the entrant portion of the first conduit and the open end eing disposed above the level of the liquid in the chamber, and an opening provided in the second conduit for permitting a pre determined quantity of liquid to enter the interior of the second conduit and to become entrained in the refrigerant vapor entering the first conduit for passage to the compressor.

18. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a compressor, means for condensing the refrigerant vapor dischargedby the compressor, a chamber for receiving the condensed refrigerant'fiuid, a conduit connecting said chamber with the inlet of the compressor for withdrawing refrigerant vapor therefrom, said conduit depending into the chamber below the level of the liquid contained therein, a second conduit having one end open and one end closed surrounding the depending portion of thelirst conduit, the closed end of said conduit beingspaced below the entrant portion of the first conduit and the open end being disposed above the level of the liquid in the chamber, an opening provided in the second conduit for permitting apredetermined quantity of liquid to enter the interior of the second conduit and to become ent-rained in the refrigerant vapor passing through the first conduit to the compressor, and means associated with the second conduit for insuring a uniform flow of liquid through the opening provided therein. Y

19. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a compressor, means for condensing the refrigerant vapor discharged by the compressor, a chamber for receiving, the condensed refrigerant fluid, partition means dividing the chamber into an inlet compartment connecting with the condensing means and an outlet compartment connecting with the inlet of the compressor for vwithdrawing refrigerant vapor from\ the chamber, an opening provided in the partition means for permitting the passage 0f vapor from the inlet to the outlet compartment, and a second opening having a relatively small flow area provided in the partition means for permitting the passage of liquid from the inlet to the outlet compartment, whereby a small quantity of'liquid is entrained in the refrigerant vapor passing to the compressor.

20. ,In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a compressor, means for condensing the refrigerant vapor discharged by the compressor, a chamber having an inlet compartment for the admission of liquid discharged by the condensing means and an outlet compartment communicating with the inlet of the compressor for the removal of refrigerant vapor from the chamber, and communicating means for the unrestricted -passage of vapor and for the restricted passage of liquid between the compartments, whereby a predetermined quantity of liquid is entrained inthe refrigerant vapor passing to the compressor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of May,

ANDREW A. KUCHERV.'

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