US1796276A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1931. F. w. ANDREWS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 51 192'.

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK W. ANDREWS, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed March 31,

This invention relates to mechanical refrigerating apparatus used to cool circulating liquids, such as drinking water.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved cooler in which there is an intimate thermal contact between the cooling agent and the liquid to be cooled.

Another object is to provide an improved form of cooler which will withstand high pressures.

It is also among the objects of the inven tion to reduce the cost of manufacture and simplify the construction and installation of coolers of this type, and to provide a cooler adapted to be used with existing standard types of evaporators.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerating apparatus embodying my invention, the structure of the cooler itself being shown. I

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of a modification, corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

Referring to the drawings, a container or tank 10 of rectangular form having a cover 10a is insulated by walls, top and bottom, preferably composed of a layer of cork 11 and an outer impervious covering 12, such as wood or metal. The container may be filled with liquid thru a pipe 13. Inside the con.

tainer is an evaporator, shown for example, as a header 14, forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant, and a number of loops of pipe 15 communicating with the header.' The loops and header are preferably so proportioned that they enclose nearly all the volume of the tank, as clearly shown in the drawings. The evaporator is supported in the tank by boltin g the flange 16 of the header to the side wall.

59 The evaporator is submerged in a bath of 1927. Serial No. 179,984.

liquid, such as water or brine, the bath being cooled in the well known manner by thecvaporation of liquid refrigerant in the evaporator. Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the header through pipe 19, and caused to evaporate, by any suitable refrigerating apparatus, such as that shown, in which a pump 20, driven by a motor 21 withdraws gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator thru a suction pipe 22. The refrigerant is compressed by the pump and delivered to a condenser 23 where it is liquified and delivered to a receiver 24: and eventually thru pipe 19 back' to the evaporator, preferably under the control of a float valve, not shown. The motor is started and stopped in response to refrigerating demand by an automatic switch 26.

For the purpose of cooling a supply of water, a water tank 30 is placed in the bath, within the loops of the evaporator, being preferably supported on legs 31. The cooler is intended to form a high-pressure source of supply of drinking water, suitable for installation in tall buildings. The tank 30 is there fore ma'de to'withstand high pressure, being I preferably cylindrical, as this is the most economical shape in which to make a highpressure container. The pressure tank is supplied with water thru a pipe 32 which may be connected with a high-pressure source of supply, such as a city water system. Cool water is drawn off as required thru a discharge line 33, which may supply a number of drinking fountains or bubblers 34.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modified form of evaporator, the remainder of the apparatus being the same as previously described. In this construction the header 14 has depending refrigerant conduits 15 which do not pass entirely around the tank 30, but each of whichv is disposed wholly on one side of the tank. These conduits are exemplified as hair pin loops of pipe, each loop having both its ends secured to the same side of the header. This has the advantage of permitting removal or replacement of an evaporator without disturbing the-tank 30 or its connections, and-yet the tank 30 is substantially surrounded by the evaporator, being enclosed on three sides.

For the bath in which the tank and evaporator are immersed, I may use brine, or other so-called non-freezing solution, but when the device is used to cool drinking water, I prefer a waterbath. Good-cool drinking Water is at a temperature considerably above freezing, for example, 40 F., therefore a :nonfreezing solution is not necessary. Moreover by using as a bath a liquid freezing at the same temperature as the liquid to be cooled, I avoid any danger of bursting the pressure tank. In case the control apparatus 26 should fail to stop the compressor, for any reason, the water in the bath will freeze around the evaporator,v tubes. The -ice formed provides insulation between the evaporator and the water tank, which retards the absorption of heat by the evaporator. Therefore, within limits which will ordinarily be encountered even if the machine keeps on running, the Water in the tank 30 will not freeze. Consequently there is no danger of bursting the tank. On the other hand, if a non-freezin bath were used, the Water in the tank would be quickly frozen, should therefrigeratingsystem fail to stop.

The constructions described have the following advantages. The evaporator and water tank are submerged in a bath, which pro.-'

vides thermalconducting means having intimate contact with the evaporator and water tank. The use of a round high-pressure tank within a rectangular low-pressure tank results in considerable manufacturing economy, because a rectangular tank simplifies the problem of insulation and a low-pressure tank which can be left open simplifies the problems of transportation and installation of the evaporatorin the tank. Furthermore, the cylindrical tank fits neatly Within the evaporators shown, which are of standard commercial form and readily obtainable. This obviates any need for special forms of evaporators. It will also be noticed that the refrigerant circulating system and the circulating system for the liquid to be cooled are independent of each other. Thus shoulda leak occur in the evaporator, the liquid will not be contaminated.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the'scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

' l. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a container for liquid, a refrigerant evaporator in the container including a plurality of conduits for refrigerant, and a high-pressure tank substantially enclosed by the evaporator and provided with an inlet and an outlet for circulating liquid to be cooled.

- 2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a container for liquid, a refrigdrical vertical pressure liquid cooling receptacle with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, said receptacle being located within saidrefrigerant loops.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

FRANK W. ANDREWS.

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