US1812034A - Pump - Google Patents

Description

J. H. BROWN June 30, 1931.

PUMP

Filed May 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1/227! AZ Zrawzz raw.-

Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED s'rras PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. BROWN, OF HOLLYVTOOI), CiLIFGIt-NIEA, ASSIGNOR, BY FIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INSTANT-ICE CORPORATION, A GORI-ORATION OF DELAWARE PUMP Application filed May 2,

The invention relates to refrigerating machines primarily design for household use and has for its object the obtaining of a machine having the following advantages over the average machines now in use for the same purpose. 7

' First; decrease in the cost of manufacture.

Second; increased efficiency.

Third; decrease in the space dimensions required for its installation.

Fourth; lowering the cost of shipment.

Fifth; reduction in weight so that the unit may be handled and installed by a single workman.

Sixth; decrease in cost of operation.

Seventh; freedom from corrosion by the refrigerant.

Eighth; decrease in the cost of repairs.

In the present state of the art ammonia is the refrigerant in most general use in commercial refrigerating plants and to a very limited extent in domestic machines. It has been found, however, that in small machines there are certain objections to the use of ammonia and as a consequence other refrigerants such as sulphur dioxide (S0 have come into more general use for these small machines. I have discovered that by certain changes in construction of the machine the difliculties encountered in the use of ammonia may be eliminated and that consequently its greater efficiency as a refrigerant can be taken advantage of. I have also discovered that one of the most serious objections to the use of ammonia (the suffocating gas evolved when it escapes from the machine) may be avoided by limiting the quantity of refrigerant used to very much less than heretofore deemed necessary. My invention therefore consists in the general reorganization of the machine and in certain specific features of construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings; I

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section 1927. Serial No. 188,309.

partly in elevation through my improved machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the upper portion of the cylinder and piston.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the chambered housing.

Figure l is an enlarged section through the regulator.

Generally described my improved machine comprises a base A on which is mounted a compressor unit B and an electric motor C for operating the same. The compressor includes a cylinder D preferably integral with a combined crank and gear case E, also a cylinder head F, a piston G, connecting-rod H and crank shaft 1. The'casing E is divided by a partition E into a crank chamber E and a gear chamber E but these chambers are in communication with each other through the gas passage E and oil passage E through the wall E respectively in the upper and lower portion thereof The crank shaft I-is journaled in bearings in the partition E, integral end head E and removable end head J. Alignedbushings KJK, K 7 are placed in these several parts to form the journal bearings and as the end journals do not extend through the heads there will be no opportunity for escape of the refrigerant gas therethrough. The crank shaft is driven 7 from a parallel shaft L through the medium of a step down gearing M, M arranged in the compartment E The shaftL is journaled preferably in ball bearings L and passes outward fromt-he chamber E through a packing gland N this being preferably pro vided with an adjustable capN' and spring N tensioned thereby to automatically take up wear and to maintain the seal. The motor C has its shaft C"substantially aligned as with the shaft L but connected thereto through a flexible coupling C which compensates for any slight inaccuracy in alignment.

The inlet and outlet valvesfor the compressor are located respectively at the upper end of the piston and at the upper end of the cylinder. The construction of these valves is a very important feature of my invention through the use of which I have obtained results not secured by other types of valve. Each valve comprises a ported flat seat plate and a disc of exceedingly thin and flexible resilient material normally engaging said seat. The seat for the inlet vlave is the upper end of the piston which has a circular series of ports covered by the flexible disc P which latter is centrally secured to the piston head by the screw P. The seat for the outlet valve is formed by a plate Q located in a countersunk recess Q, at the upper end of the cylinder casing and marginally secured by screws Q This plate Q is also provided with i a circular series of ports 6 normally covered by the flexible disc P which is centrally apertured to flt a hub Q projecting upward from the plate Q and is secured by a clamping screw Qfl washer Q and spacer Q. The plate Q, on its lower side is centrally recessed to receive the screw P on the piston so that the piston may take its full stroke with a minimum of clearance and without interference by the screw with the plate Q.

As has been stated, the discs P and P are formed of very tin and flexible resilient material preferably sheet steel, and I have found that a thickness of from six to eight thousandths of an inch is suitable for the purpose. Due to this flexibility each disc will accurate 1y conform to the face of the seat so that a very slight gaseous pressure operating thereon is sufficient to maintain a gas tight seal. hen however. the pressure is reversed and acts upward upon the disc through the ports in their seats a flexing and dishing is produced which will supply a free passage for the gas. The cylinder head F has a portion fitting in the countersunk recess Q, of the cylinder, this portion being fashioned to provide clearance for the hub Q} and securing screw Q,*. There is also a central gas passage F through the head surrounded by an an nular water passage F The passage It communicates with a passage in a super head R having a stepped engagement with the head F and this passage R is laterally connected to the condenser S which extends downward therefrom into a chamber within the base A. The condenser S has a series of parallel loops arranged within the base, the end loop having an upward extension S located centrally of the base between the motor and the This condenser is preferably formed of an outer conduit which conveys the refrigerant and an inner conduit S for carrying cooling water. The conduit S has one end extending laterally through the head R and having a. loop S connecting it with the annular water passage F The opposite ends of the concentrically arranged conduits are connected to a water regulator T mounted on a bracket U preferably forming a portion of a cover U for the gear case E, the construction of the water regulator being as follows:

This housing of the regulator T has a chamber T therein in communication with the outer or refrigerant conduit S and forming a storage receptacle for the liquid refrigerant. One wall of this chamber is formed by the flexible diaphragm T marginally clamped by the cover T on which a lever T is fulcrumed at T. T is a member resting on the diaphragm and having an upwardly projecting finger engaging a notch T in the lever T adjacent to its fulcrum or pivot T One end of the lever T is connected with a tension spring T while the opposite end of the lever is attached to the stem T of a water controlling valve T This valve T controls the passage with which the water conduit S of the condenser is connected and the arrangement is such that whenever the pressure of the gas in the chamber T reaches a predetermined height the diaphragm T Will be deflected outwardly rocking the lever T to open the valve T. On the other hand when the pressure within the chamber T falls, the tension of the spring T will move the lever T in the opposite direction thereby closing the valve T The construction as thus far described together with a. suit-able expansion or refrigerating coil V and a pressure reducing or expansion valve W used in connection there with, constitutes the complete apparatus. The compressor unit may be located either in a compartment of the refrigerator or in any other convenient location and its dimensions are such that very little space is required; also its total weight is such that it can be handled and carried by one man which reduces the cost of installation and service. The expansion valve may be of any suitable construction but as shown comprises the chambered housing V having a flexible diaphragm lV therein engaging the stem of a valve V. controlling the passage of the refrigerant from the high pressure to the low pressure side of the system. The diaphragm W has afollower resting thereon and under the tension of a spring ll which tension may be adjusted by a screw VV". Thus the valve may be set to maintain any predetermined differential pressure between the two sides of the system.

In charging the apparatus a comparatively small quantity of liquid ammonia is introduced and I have found that from three to five ounces is suiiicient when used with an expansion coil of three-eighths inch steel tubing sixty-seven feet in length the compressor having a piston one and one-half inches in diameter and-one and three-quarters inches stroke. Such a small quantity of the refrigerant would not be dangerous even if the whole were permitted to escape from the apparatus which would seldom if ever, occur. Thus one great objection to the use of ammonia is overcome.

In connecting the apparatus with the water supply the water is admitted to the conduit S through the condenser coils S in a direc tion which is reverse from the flow of the refrigerant therethrough. This has the effect of subjecting the coolest portion of the refrigerant to the action of the coldest water so that a greater reduction in temperature is obtained than would be the case if the flow of both fluids were in'the same direction. After passing through the condenser coil and into the water passage F of the head F the water is discharged through any suitable conduit to the drain. The consumption of water will be proportional to the refrigeration and at times the flow is completely out off so that there is no needless waste of water.

To guard against accident in case of an abnormal pressure in the system I preferably provide means for stopping the motor under such condition. As shown diagrammatically an automatically opening electric switch X controlling. the motor circuit is normally lock closed by a catch X and an arm X for releasing said catch extends into the path of the lever T Under normal operation the lever T will not move far enough to actuate the arm X but should the pressure in the system rise to an abnormal height due to failure in cooling or from any other cause this would move the lever T suficiently to actuate the arm X releasing the catch X and permitting the switch to automatically open. This would stop the motor and therefore prevent further rise in pressure.

The operation of the machine Will be understood without further description but in brief is as follows: The expansion coil V having one end connected with the crank case, the operation of the compressor will continuously withdraw ammonia gas from the low pressure side of the system compressing and ejecting the same into the high pressure side. In this operation the flexible discs P and P will alternately close and open their respective ports and by reason of the fact that these discs are always attached centrally to their seats and have their marginal portions progressively flexed away from the same, the operation will be noiseless. This is particlarly advantageous where the compressor is installed in the refrigerator box where valve noise would be very objectionable. Another advantage of the valve construction is that clearances are reduced to the minimum so that substantially the full volume of gas filling the cylinder on the downward stroke of the piston will be compressed and ejected through the valves.

hat I claim as my invention is:

In a compressor, the combination of a crank case having a partition therein dividing the space enclosed into a crank chamber and a gear chamber, said partition having JOHN H. BROWN.

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