US1688881A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

J.4 R. REPLOGLE REFRIGERATOR Filed May 21. 1921 A v vena/to@ if, mogg movement of the louter end of the lever 23,

means of a knife edge to the post 38. A lever 39 has one end pivotally connected to the post 38 by means of a knife edge and its free end f pivotally connected to the link 31. 'lfwo springs one of which is shown at 40 connect the outer ends of the levers 37 and 39 in such a manner that when the levers are moved in either direction past dead center7 the spiiiigs will cause them to move with a quick action to the limits of their movements. A latch 41 is provided with a'hook 42 which extends through a slot 43 in the lever 37 and is adapted to limit the upward movement of' said lever. rlhe latch 41 is provided with a notch 44 which is adapted to engage the lever 37 at the outer edge of the slot 43 when the levers 37 and 39 are at the lower limit of their movement. The notch 44 is adapted to hold the lever 37 in lowered position until the lever 39 is elevated to such a position that the extension 45 thereon engages the projection 46 on the latch and moves the same forwardly' against the tension of the spring 47, thus releasing the lever 37 and permitting the springs 40 to snap the same upwardly to the limit of its movement.

In the operation of the device, when the thermostat rises above a predetermined temperature the pressure therein will increase due to the expansion of the vapor therein and will cause an elongation of the bellows 16, which, in turn, will cause an upward with a corresponding lowering of the weighted lever-arm 28, thus lowering the link 31. The lowering of the link 31 will carry the lever 39 downward past dead center and the springs 40-will snap the contact plate 34 in engagement with' the conductor posts 32 and 33, thus closing the circuit and starting the motor. n

Any suitable system of wiring may be y employed] As shown' diagrammatically in thel ligure, the `current may be traced through the hand switch 48, wire 49, conductor post 33,' Contact plate 34, post 32, wire 50 to one terminal ofthe motor 8, back'through the other terminal ofthe motor and the wire 51 t the switch 48.

In refrigerators of the compression type, 'it is necessary to employ a cooling fluid, usually water, to absorb and conduct away the heatof the compressed refrigerant vapor in order to condense the same. In devices'that are automatically controlled the compressor is operated intermittently and hence .it is not necessary that the coolinguid run` con-' tinuously. It'is the usualpr'actice in such devices to o' erate the water valve` by mechanism contro ed by pressure within the condenser; the mechanism being'so arranged and weasel adjusted that the water valve will not begin to open until after the motor starts and the compressor has built up the pressure within the condenser to-a predetermined limit. In order to prevent the opening of the water valve in these pressure controlled devices and the consequent loss of' water, while the motor is at rest, it is necessary to set the pressure limit at a point slightly above the pressure corresponding to the environment temperature at the hottest season of the year; and since the compressor is not heat insulated, this limit is necessarily determined by the highest probable room temperature. ln other words, in order to prevent the opening of the valve and the consequent loss of water while the compressor is at rest, it-is necessary to set the pressure limit for the control at a. point greatly in excess of what is necessary to condense the refrigerant vapor at the temperature of the cooling fluid, and when set at this high limit, it will, of course, be necessary for the compressor to operate at all times against this high pressure which very materially decreases the efficiency of the apparatus as well .the starting and stopping of the motor, the pressure against-which the compressor must work would be only what is necessary to condense the refrigerant vapor at the temperature of the Water flowing through the condenser, and since this would be much less than that under the above systeimin fact, only about one half as much,-it follows that this arrangement ischeapcr to operate and much more efficient than devices lhaving" pressure control. y

The above function is accomplished by the mechanism which will now be described. .A

A pipe orl water conduit 52 is adapted to be connected to a water main and tov one end of tlie condenser coil 11. A pipe 53 lis connected to the other end of the condenser coil 11 for conducting the water to the sewer. A valve 54 is provided for controlling the flow of water through -the pipe 52. This valve is operated by a solenoid 55 against the tension of a spring 56. The solenoid is venergized through the conductors 57 and 58 which as shown are arranged in shunt with the motor, but may of course be connected in series with the same. When the circuit is closed, the solenoid operates to open `the valveand when the circuit is open the spring-56 closes the valve.

It sometimes happens that for one reason or another, the flow of wat/er through" the pipe 52 is wholly or partially interrupted and in which event the pressure `within the condenser would soon become excessive -unless some provision is made for stopping the motor.

One form of mechanism for accomplishing.

this functi'on will now be described. The pipe 52 is provided with an extension 59 which is connected to one end of a corrugated longitudinally extensible member or bellows 60. The opposite end of the bellows 60 is provided with a cap 61 which is pivotally connected to a link 62 which, in turn, is piv-v oted to a support as at 63. The inner end of the lever 62 is provided with an adjustable weight 64. The outer end of the lever 62 is pivotally connected to a link 65, the lower end of which is provided with a loop 66 through which passes the arm 28. The arrangement is such that so long as the pressure in the pipe 52 and extension 59 does not fall below a predetermined minimum, the arm 28 has freedom of movement within the loop 66. When, however, the pressure in the pipe 52 and extension 59 falls below a predetermined minimum the weight 64 will compress the bellows 60, thus elevating the link 65, which, in turn, will elevate the arm 28 and link 31 to open the circuit and stop the motor. By means of the adjustable Weights 30 and 64 the device may be set to open the switch at any suitable predetermined pressure in the bellows.

As a further precaution, the compressorcondenser may be provided with a pipe and safety valve 67 similar to that shown in patent to Bechtold & Mellows, No. 1,276,612, August 20, 1918. This valve will open by excessive pressure and permit the of compressed refrigerant vapor back into the low pressure side of the system.

It will be understood that various changes in the shape, size, proportions, details of construction, and arrangement of parts may be discharge resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to thestructure herein set forth, but

Vlfhat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a refrigerant system, al passage for cooling water associated therewith, an electrically actuated valve in said passage, a motor for said system, an electric circuit connecting both the motor and the valve with an electric current supply, a switch in said .circuit for opening and closin the same, fluid pressure actuated means mec ianically connected to said switch for operating the same, and auxiliary means mechanically connected to said switch for opening it when the pressure in said water passage falls to a predetermined minimum, said auxiliary means operating independently of said fluid pressure means to actuate said switch.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a refrigerant system, al passage for cooling water associated therewith, an electrically actuated valve in said passage, a motor for said system, an electric circuit connecting both the motor and the valve with an electric current supply, a switch device in said circuit for opening and closing the electric circuit and thereby controlling the valve and the motor, independent actuating means mechanically connected to said switch device and comprising a fluid pressure device responsive to temperature changes and an auxiliary fluid pres- 1 sure device responsive to pressure changes in the cooling water passage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

- JOHN R. REPLOGLE.

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