US1751899A - Cooling unit - Google Patents

Description

March 25,` 1930.

H WHITFIELD COOLING IJNIT Filed kJuly 30, '1927 2 Sheets-Sheel 1 Hd, H m/e DNn N.

Il" A w. A H H AMwch 25, i930. .H WHHFELD' 1,751,899

COOLING UNIT Filed July 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOH HIS A TTOHNEY l/ Harry A. w/ve/d,

Patented Mar. 25, 1930 PATENT OFFICE HARRY A. WHITFIELD, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY COOLING UNIT Application' led July 30,

The. invention relates to cooling units for refrigerating machines and more particularly to means applicable tosuch units for preventing the ice drawers of said units from l freezing in their closed position.

- dles of the drawers and then lifting up when` The cooling units of refrigerating machines are provided with one or more drawers, for freezing ice or desserts. While the drawers are closed during the process of freezing the ice, or the drawers might be empty, moisture from the atmosphere and from the foods placed in the refrigerator col- -lects on the cooling unit and all its parts and freezes. Because of this collecting and freezing of the moisture upon the cooling unit the ice trays or drawers become frozen in position. If not frozen too hard the drawers may be removed by tapping or twisting the hanpulling the drawers out, or, placing a steaming v cloth against the front of the drawers. However as a rule they become frozen so hard that it is necessaryto defrost the vcooling unit. This entails shutting olf the entire system which causes great annoyance and inconvenience as the refrigerator must'be opened to the atmosphere while the unit is being defrosted and the contents become heated and may spoil. It also takes considerable time during which one must wait for his frozen dessert or ice cubes. Rather than have all this bother the user very often will force the drawers open with some handy tool, resulting in ruining them for further use.

The vobject of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty and to provide means of an exceedingly simple nat-ure forcooperating with the drawers and their supporting means to absolutely prevent the drawers from freezing to their supporting means.

Several forms 0f theyinvention are described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. Referring-to said drawings: Y v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation ofone. type of cooling unit extensively used. In-this View parts are broken out to illustrate the invention;

Y Fig. 2^is a fragmentary cross sectional view 1927. Serial No. 209,418.

on a larger scale of one drawer and its supporting means;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional perspective view showing a modification; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another modification.

The cooling unit illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a drawer support vor compartment 6 which houses a plurality of drawers 7. These drawers or trays may be of any suitable shape or size and as illustrated, the two upper ones have division walls for forming ice cubes and the lower one may be larger and is used for freezing desserts.

The conduit 8 leading from Ia condensing coil or other source 'supplies the refrigerant solution to the header 9 from where it circulates through the-staggered U-tubes 10. The fluid boils in the U-tubes and is converted into a gas during which time it absorbs the heat and causes refrigeration. The gas passes off through the conduit 11 which leads tov a compressor or suitable mechanism to condense it and bring it back to a liquid state, whence it is again su plied to the inlet conduit 8.V The foregoing briefly describes a well known form of cooling unit. Numerous other types of cooling units are employed in mechanical refrigeration and the invention is applicable to all of them.

As heretofore explained when the cooling unit `is in operation Athe moisture from the atmosphere and foods in the refrigerator will collect on all parts of the unit and freeze. The freezing of the collected moisture at the points of contact between the drawers and the compartment or the drawer supports causes the drawers to freeze shut, making it very dicult and almost impossible to open them. The invention provides means for preventing this.

Secured to the supports l2 are troughs 13 which carr an absorbent material, preferably remova le felt strips 14. The troughs 13 are preferably of non-rusting material. The strips'14 are saturated with a solution of glycerine, glycerol or lfluid having a low freezing polnt. Glycerine is particularly advantageous to use as a solution for this purpose. It has a low freezing point and does not tend to evaporate rapidly. It is odorless and will not taint even the most 'delicate foods that may be placed in the refrigerator'. It is inexpensive and a small amount will saturate the pads/14 and last for a great length of time. It acts as a perfect lubricant under the conditions it is exposed to inthe cooling unit and the drawers may be' readily opened at any time withoutA the inconvenience and annoyance of finding them frozen in their closed position. y

@ther holders 15 and strips 16 may be used at the sides of the drawers. In fact the invention contemplates suitable means for applying glycerine, glycerol or a fluid having similar properties, at all points of Contact between the drawers and the parts of the unit. It is desirable to have the strips removable so that they may readily and inexpensively be renewed when soiled or worn after long usage.

Fig. 4 shows an alternate form in which the trough 17 carries aremovable member 18 which is provided with a series of pockets for holding discs or insets 19 of absorbent material to which the glycerine may be applied.

Fig. 5 illustrates another form in which the wall of the drawer support 12 may be suitably formed as indicated at.20 to carry the strip 21 of absorbent material for the glycerine.

The carrying medium for the glycerine might be of any desired shape and supported in any suitable manner at the points of contact between the drawers and their supports or the compartment. While glycerine has been found to be the most desirable and easiest obtainable iuid to use, all others having the same properties would be acceptable.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought my invention will be clear and it is obvious that numerous changes in detail and form may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cooling unit for a refrigerating machine, means for chilling the unit, drawer supporting means located within the unit,

drawers carried bysaid supporting means,`

and means cooperating with said supportin means and said drawers for preventing sai drawers fromq freezing to said supporting means, said means including a carrying medium for a fluid havin a low freezing point.

2. In a cooling unit or a refrigeratmg machine, means for chilling the unit, drawer supporting means located within the unit, drawers carried by said supporting means, and means cooperatingwith said supportin means and said drawers for preventing sai drawers from freezin to said sup partingI means, said means me uamg remove, le absorbent members and a Huid having a low 4. In a cooling unit for a refrigerating mai chine, means for chilling the unit, drawer supporting means located Within the unit, drawers carried by said supporting means, and means cooperating with said drawers, said cooperating means-including a carrying medium for for preventing the drawers from freezing in said unit. p i

5. In a cooling unit the combination with a cooling compartment, of a drawer adapted to be sup orted in said compartment, absorbent members contacting with said drawer, and a Huid havin@ a'low freezing point carried by said absorbent members, thereby preventing the drawer from freezing in said compartment. 6. In a cooling unit the combination with a'cooling compartment, of a drawer adapted to .be supported in said compartment, and glycerine saturated members contacting with said drawer, thereby preventing the drawer from freezing in said compartment.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

` l HARRY A. WHITFIELD.

n glycerine, and `a quantity of glycerine carried by said cooperating means

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