US1715361A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 4, l929 F. J. HEIDEMAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

nnfl flllhwmx,

Q .LII IIITLR A TTORNEY June 4, 1929.4

A F. J. HEIDEMAN 1.715.361

REFR I GERAT I NG APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2l, 1925 2 Sheets--Shee'kl 2 f Ff A /1 TTORNEY Patented .lune 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRED .1. Hammam, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssrGNon. -or NINE'I'Y ran cmu' 'ro 'moms c. wnrrnnnan, on, am Rouen, IIIcHIeAN.

murnmnnarme Arranamus,

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a sensitizer designed to afford a thermal control more re-l sponsive to the changes in `temperature and consequently effecting a greater eiiciency m the operation of the refrigerating apparatus.

simplify, render more eiicient, and improve generally devices of this character and the above as well as otherl objects, advantages, and novel details of construction, will be made more apparent as this description pro'- ceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein one illustrative embodiment of the invention .is shown and wherein f Fig. 1' is a fragmentary sectional view through a refrigerating apparatus with my invention attached thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device detached,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 2. e 1

Referring now particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be noted that there is illustrated the .wall 10 of the refrigerator or like compartment into which a brine or other non-freezing Huid tank 11'is disposed. The

4ir'tank 11 maybe of any suitable design and is shown as provided with the customary expansion coil 12.v the outlet end of which is 4connected to a fitting 13 arranged at the top of tank 11. -The refrigerating means ows into the inlet en d (not shown) of expansion coil 12, through this coil and out through the end thereof which is connected to fitting 13.

The sensitizer forming the subject matter of this inventionconsists of a casing indi* The invention has also among its objects to cated generally b the reference character 14 55 provided with a ase iiange 15 by mea'ns of which connection is made with the portion 16 of the fitting for theend of tube 12. The casingA or shell 14 of the sensitizer is formed with a longitudinal ibore 17 which connects with a nipple 18 threaded therein as at 19. A tube 20 connected to the nipple 18 extends through the refrigerator wall and on to the intake port of the compressor. Bore 17 con'- nects with a branch bore or passageway 21, which in turnconnects with the fitting 13 at the end of expansion tube 12. With the con- Y struction thus far described it will be apparent that the refrigerating medium -ilowing out through the end of expansion coil 12 has ap uninterrupted ow through the sensitizer to the conduit or tube 2O through which it is conducted back to the compressor.

The casing .14 of the sensitizer is formed preferably parallel with and adjacent to the bore 17, with a chamber 22 closed at one end and communicating 'at the other with a nipple 23 threaded in the casing as at 24 and to which nipple a relatively small gauge tube 25 is connected. This tube preferably runs parallel 80. with and ad'acent to tube 20 Vand also passes outwardly t rough the wall of the refrigerator. This tube is adapted t'o be connected to a thermostat or thermal-controlled switch for controlling the compressor motor of the apparatus. While any desired type of thermostat involving a sylphon may be employed I have conventionally illustrated that form of thermostat more fully described and illustrated in my copending application, Serial Number 57,7 92, filed Sept. 21, 1925. This thermostat consists essentially of a sylphon 26 connected to tube 25 by means of a nipplev 27, this sylphon controlling an electric switch 28 through the medium of a switch-operating 95 arm 29and a plunger 30 controlled directly by the sylphon. f

The'tubes 20 and 25 which are arranged in parallel proximity to one another as they pass through the refrigerator wall are preferably insulated therefrom by a rubber gland or washer 31 (see particularly Fig. 1).

Communication is provided between bore 17 and chamber 22 by means of a restricted orifice 32 formed in the wall 33 extending between the two. This orifice 32 is adapted to be controlled by a needle valve member 34 threaded into aninteriorly threaded proiec tion 35 on casing 14. This projection is also exteriorly threaded for the reception of a packing nut 36.

In charging the thermo-control circuit the needle valve 34 is backed out sufficiently to open orifice 32 whereupon the vcompressor or pump is operated to exhaust all the air or other fluids from the thermo-control circuit. By suitable manipulation of the lvalve of the refrigerating apparatus this maybe accomplished while the refrigerant is maintained accumulated in the condenser. After a com,- plete exhaustion of the air from thethermocontrol circuit refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit is admitted into the thermo-control circuit by `suitably manipulating the valves to permit the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant circuit. After the thermocontrol circuit is fully charged to the desired pressure the orifice 32 which provides for communication between the chamber 22 and the bore 17 of the refrigerant circuit, is closed by means of the needle valve 34 whereupon the refrigerant conducted to the thermo-control circuit is trapped therein. This method of charging the thermo-control circuit is highly efficient and practical as it permits the charging of this thermo-control circuit from the refrigerant already contained in the system and shipped with the apparatus and permits the thermo-control'circuit to be fully charged after the entire apparatus has been set up and ready for operation. It eliminates the necessity of having available for use a separate supply of refrigerant or other thermo-responsive fluid and also enables a relatively unskilled attendant to properly condition the apparatus for use. Furthermore, if, after continued use the amount ofy thermo-responsive Huid in the thermo-control clrcuit becomes lnsuiiiclent either because of leakage or other causes it may be recharged,from the refrigerant circuit without much interruption to the operation of the refrigerating apparatus. f

Great importance is attached to the strategio disposition of the sensitizer which, as will be noted, is arranged on the top of the brine tank 11' at the point where the highest temperature throughout the refrigerator is encountered. In other words` the sensitizer is placed on top of the brine tank at the outlet end of the expansion coil and as a consequence, is subjected to greater'changes in temperature and is furthermore disposed at a point where it will be the first to be affected by a rise in temperature and the last to be affected by a fall in temperature. Consequently. the temperature of the refrigrator may be efficiently controlled from this pointand the control apparatus made more responsive.

The `refrigerating medium or thermo-responsive fluid trapped in the closed portion or chamber 22 of the sensitizer is affected. by induction, by the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through bore 17 of the sensi- -tizer and on throlgh tube 20 to the compressor. It is also a ected by the temperature of the air surrounding the sensitizer casing as well as b the temperature of the adjacent wall of the rine tank to which it is attached in heat transmitting contact. When the temperature of the refrigerant 4in bore 17 and consequently the surrounding air and brine tank wall rises to such an extent as to cause an expansion of the fluid contained in chamber 22, a displacement of the column of fluid in tube 25 will occur, which in turn will expand the sylphon and operate the thermalcontrolled switch in the customary manner. When, however, the tempertaure of the refrigerant invbore 17 and of the surrounding air and adjacent brine tank wall has dropped the fluid in chamber 22 will contract, permitting a movement of the fiuid in tube 25 in a direction away from the syphon whereupon the sylphon will collapse and the electric switch controlled thereby will be opened.

If desirable, the sensitizer may be adjusted, by backing out needle valve 34, and thus opening orifice 32, so as to function in response to the pressure in the expansion coil conduit. In this instance chamber 22 is in directcommunication with the expansion coil and tube 20 and by suitably adjusting the spring opposing the expanding movement of the sylphon the sensitizer Will operate to affect the expansion and contraction of the sylphon substantially in the same manner as above pointed out.l` The sylphon will then be operated in dependence upon the changes in pressure in the expansion coil, which variances in pressure are dependent uponV the temperature of the refrigerating medium.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the point at which the sensitizer is mounted, that is upon the top of the brine tank 11. is extremely advantageous because of the effect upon the sensitizer of the higher temperature at this point in the refrigerator. Furthermore, the association with the refrigerating apparatus of a sensitizer constructed in accordance with this invention eliminates the necessity of arranging the thermostat within the refrigerator upon the brine tank or immediately adjacent thereto, and consequently eliminates the necesslty of disposing the electric conduits runmng from the switch on the thermostat to the compressor motor, through the. wall of the, refrigerator and to the interior thereof. With the present construction the thermostat is disposed outside the refrigerator and electric wires need not be `assocated with the refrigerator in any manner whatsoever.

While the tank 11 has been repeatedly referred to as a brine tank and will be so referred to in the claims. it should beunderstood that in the place of brine various other types of non-freezing fiuid may lbe employed or a boiler or cooling coil may be used without a wissel,

tank containing a nonfreezing duid and I therefore do not wish to be limited. to the use of brine in the tank lll orto a tank.

While the invention has been described and illustrated somewhat in detail, it will be readily apparent to those shilied in this particu!= lar art that various changes and modifications may he resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and to this end reservation is made to makeH such changes as may come Within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

L In a refrigerating apparatus, the conn bination with a brine tank and an expansion coil, of a sensitizer mounted on the top .of said tank and arranged adjacent the discharge end of the expansion coil, a, pressure responsive device connected to said sensitizer, and ad` justable means within the sensitizer adjustable to selectively cause the pressure respons sivedevice to be actuated either directly by the pressure in the expansion coil or indirect ly by' the temperature thereof.

2., In a refrigerating apparatus, anexpansion coil, a sensitizer adjacent the expansion coil, a pressure responsive device controlled by the sensitizer', and means for'causing the said sensitizer and pressure responsive device to be selectively operable either indirectly by the tempera-ture or directly by the pressure Ain the expansion coil.

3. In a refrigerating:apparatus, an expansion coil, a sensitizer adjacent the expansion coil, a pressure responsive device controlled by thev sensitizer, and a valve in the sensitizer, the said valve being movable to two extreme positions in one of which the sensitizer and the e pressure res onsive device connected thereto are contro led by the. temperature of the7 expansion coil and in the other of Y'which the sensitizer and the pressure responsive device connected thereto are'controlled by the pressure in the expansion coil. h

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, a sensitizer comprising a casing having a bore in constant communication, with the outlet of the expanf sion coil of the apparatus, said casing being formed with a. chamber 'connected to a pres-A sure-responsive device and containing 'a thermo-responsive means, and means to selectively cause the pressure-responsive device to he actuated either directly by the pressure in the expansion coil or indirectly by the temperature thereof.

` 5 In a refrigerating apparatus, a compressor, an expansion coil, a sensitizer'comprising a casing formed with a parallelly arranged bore and chamber, said bore being'connected to the outlet end of the expansion coil'and adapted for connection to the intake port of the compressor, said chamber being connected to a pressure-responsive device for control- 'ling the compressor motor switch and containing a thermo-responsive fluid, and means to selectively cause the pressure-responsive device to be actuated either directly by the pressure in the expansion coil or indirectly by the temperature thereof.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with an expansion coil, of a sensitizer associated therewith, a pressure-responsive device spaced from the said sensitizer but connected thereto, thermo-responsive means or'controlling the fluid pressure within the pressure-responsive device, and means to selectively cause the pressure-responsive device to be actuated either directly by the pressure in the expansion coilio'r indirectly by the temperature thereof.

7. In Aa refrigerating apparatus, an expansiorrcoil, a pressure-'responsive device, a

scnsitizer comprising a casing provided with a passage connected to and permitting the discharge therethrough of the refrigerating medium from the coil and providedalso with .a chamber connected tothe pressure-responsive device, and means toselectively cause the pressure-responsive device to be actuated either directly by the pressure in the expansion"\coil or indirectly by the temperature thereof.u

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com? bination with an expansion coil, of a'sensitizer connected to the expansion coil, a pressure, res onsive device connected to said sensitlzer,

FRED J. HEIDEMAN.

Images