US1703318A - Refrigerator cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Feb. ze, 1929. 1,703,318

G. Mur-FLY REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed April 5, 1926 Paented Feb. 26,1929. .l

UNITED i STATES 1,103,318 PATENT oFFic-E.

GLENN MUFFLY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 COPELAND PRODUCTS,

' INCORPORATED, Ol' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COBPORATION-0F MICHIGAN.

BEFBIGERATOR CABINET.

Application filed April 3, 1926. Serial No. 99,626.

This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets which are cooled by the evaporation of a* liquid refrigerant, or like processes, and particularly to cabinets which are combined with refrigerating machines which are built as a unit. The combination of a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerating machine is not new, but in existing designs of this nature the refrigerating machines are not as accessible for adjustmentsl and repairs as they should be. The objects of this invention are to combine a refrigerator and a refrigerating machine in such manner that the refrigerating machine (or operating part of the system), the expansion chamber or coils, and the cooling surface may be built in one unit so as to be easily removed. from the cabinet for adjustment and repairs, or the removable unit may be quickly replaced by another unit so as to afford continuous operation of the refrigerator while the refrigerating unit which has been removed is being repaired. Another object of this invention is to provide for removing the refrigerating unit without employing any special hoist or tackle and without requiring any additional head-room over the refrigerator.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the arrangement, combinati'on and construction of the various parts of my improved device, as described in the` specification, claimed in my claims, and shown in the accompanying' drawing, in which:

The single figure is a vertical section of a refrigerator, certain parts being broken away, showing the refrigerating machine and cooling surface installed.

I have shown a cabinet having conventionally insulated walls 1 and an insulated door or removable wall section 2.

The refrigerating machine illustrated is of a. conventional ty e, employing the compressor 3 driven by t e motor 4 to deliver compressed gas to the condenser 5. The refrigerant is delivered from the compressor 3 to the condenser 5 and from there to an expansion coil within the tank 6 through piping 11 and an expansion valve 12. After being gasiiied, the refrigerant passes again to the compressor through the pipe 20.

The design and operation of the system follows conventional practice, but the construction is such that the entire machine and the brine tank 6 with their connections and fittings may be removed from the refrigerator as one unit along with the refrigerator door or removable wall section 2, which is made part of the reirigerating unit assembly. That is to say, the brine tank 6 is suspended by the bracket 9 from the inside ofthe closure 2, and ythe operating mechanism is mounted on the base 8, which is secured by the angle bracket 21 to the outside of the closure 2. The piping 11 and 2O extend through the closure 2.

The cabinet opening is tapered as at 22 and the edge of the closure 2 is likewise tapered as at 28. An insulator strip 24, of rubber, rubberized fabric or other suitable material, is positioned on the end of the cabinet walls, surrounding the opening, and' the edge 25 of the closure 2 is adapted to iit against the strip, being drawn tightly against the same by screws 10, so as to complete an insulated joint. A hood 13 may be placed over the operating mechanism, if desired.

When service or repair operations are necessary the service man first removes the hood 18, then removes the screws 10'which secure the door 2 to the cabinet walls 1, after which the refrigerating unit, including the closure 2, and the brine tank 6 can be withdrawn horizontally from the refrigerator cabinet proper.

It will be seen that I have provided a refrigerator cabinet of a general L shape, with operating mechanism mounted on the base of the L, cooling means in the side of the L and a'removable insulated door or closure between the two, bot-h being secured to the door or closure so as to be removable therewith in a horizontal plane, thereby permitting the positioning of the cabinet under a ledge or other like obstruction.

There are a large number of alternative constructions which would embody the elements of this inventiomfor instance, where I have shown the brine tank and describe a coolin coil within said tank, I desire it to be understood that I might employ an expansion coil without the tank, or I might employr an expansion chamber in some other form-than a coil. Another optional construction would be to use the flooded type of system with a oat valve control instead of the expansion valve control mentioned herein. It is also understood that this invention applies equally to the compressor type of relfrigerating machines and the absorption type said mechanism, said element being remov-l able through said opening without being disconnected from said mechanism.

2. A refrigerator cabinet provided with an upper surface comprising an upper and a lower horizontal fixed ortions separated by an opening, a base mem r mounted for hori- 'zontal movement on said lower portion, a

door for said opening secured to said base, a heat absorbing element secured to the inside of said door, a heat dissipating mechanism exterior to said door, and piping connecting said element and said mechanism, said base, door, element and mechanism being horizontally movable as a unit on sgid lower portion to bring said door into and out of cooperative relationship with said opening. r

3. A refrigerator cabinet having a fixed top comprising an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion, a vertically disposed opening between said portions, a base horizontally movable on said lower portion, a door for said opening carried by said base, a heat absorbing element carried by the inner face of said foor, a heat dissipating mechanism carried by said base, connections between -said element and said mechanism, and means for securing lsaid door against movement in said opening, said base, door,

element and mechanism being movable as a unit to position said door into or out of cooperative relationship with said opening, and said portions being separated by a distance greater than the maximum height of any or all of said mechanism.

i GLENN MUFFLY.

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