US1820012A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1931. Game-KEY I 1,820,012

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22, 1927 glvwenfoz GRANVILLE S. DICKEY, F DAYTON, OHIOQASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO I FRIG-IDATRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWE REFRIGERATTNG APPA i The present invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to refrigerating elements used in mechanically refrigerated cabinets which which a refrigerating element is described,

having a large freezing chamber in which means are provided intermediate its top and bottom for supporting a removable partition which divides the chamber into a plurality of spaces or chambers. In accordance with the present invention, it is an object to provide means for preventing the unintentional or accidental removal of this partition when the trays containing congealed foodstuffs are withdrawn.

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

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a mechanically refrigerated cabinet showing the improved element mounted therein;

Fig. 2 shows a front View of the refrigerating element with the ice trays removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional 'view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the lower, large freezing chamber equipped with two shallow tra s;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the large freezing chamber equipped with a large tray;

Fig. 5 shows a View of theimproved separatory shelf or partition used in the element;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of a portion of the 60 means used for locking the partition; and

Fig. 7 illustrates the manner of locking the partition to prevent accidental removal.

In using a refrigerating element of the kind described the substances to be congealed are placed in trays which are then pushed into sleeves within the device where they are subjected to the refrigerating action of the apparatus in the well-known manner. When the congealed substances are desired for use it is customary to remove the trays containing the same and hold them in an inverted position under a faucet of relatively warm water until the congealed material separates from the molds. When using a sleeve adapted for holding either one large tray or a plurality of small ones it may occur that the separatory partition used in adapting the sleeve for a plurality of trays may, under certain conditions, each as the presence of excess humidity freeze fast to the bottom of the trays. This may cause the shelves or partitions to be withdrawn unintentionally, thus causing annoyance. In case of such unsuspected withdrawal and premature detachment, the falling of the shelf may cause ersonal injury to the user or denting or ben ing of the shelf itself. By providing means for preventing such accidental withdrawal these disadvantages are obviated.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the figuresillustrate a refrigerator cabinet 20 having an impervious interior lining 21 and a wall 22 heat insulated as with corkboard or the like. A vertical internal partition 23 is suitably secured within the cabinet and divides the latter into a food storage compartment 24 and a cooling compartment 25, a passage or flue 26 being provided for the flow of air from the compartment 24 to compartment 25. The improved refrigerating element 30 is mounted within the compartment 25.

The refrigerating element 30 for the purpose of illustrating the present invention includes a header 31 adapted to contain a quantity of liquid refrigerant such as sul hur dioxide, the level of which is controlle by a float valve (not shown). Refrigerating medium is conducted to the header 31 by 100 means of a pipe 32 and is withdrawn therefrom through a pipe 33 by any suitable mechanism such for example as a compressor-condenser type of refrigerating apparatus.

Connected to the header and below the refrigerant level therein are a plurality of duct loops 35 and 36 which are preferably arranged in staggered relation. The refrigerating element thus described is substantially the same as that shown and described in the co ending application of Jesse G. King, Ser al No. 666,257, filed October 3, 1923.

There is also provided a relatively deep receptacle or sleeve 40, the side walls 41 (Fig. 2) of which are secured in good thermal contact with the inner legs of coils 35 and 36 as by soldering. These side walls are provided with oppositely disposed shoulders or ledges 42 either soldered or welded thereto or formed integral with the side walls by stamping. A bottom wall 43 con nects the side walls 41 and provides a support for an ice tray. The bottom wall 43 is preferably made integral with the side walls 41 whereb good thermal contact is assured between tie loops 35 and 36 and the tray which is adapted to rest upon said bottom wall. The receptacle 40 may be closed at the top as shown by an integral top wall 44 and the rear may be closed by a back wall 45, a metal sleeve being thus formed which is adapted to receive a deep ice tray.

By the use of a separatory partition or shell as described in the copending application of Harry B. Hull (Serial No. 196,062) above referred to the receptacle or sleeve 40 may also be utilized for holding a plurality of shallow trays. This shelf or partition is indicated by the numeral 46 in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 7 It consists preferably of a sheet of heat conducting metal such as copper which is placed upon the ledges or shoulders 42 intermediate the top and bottom walls of the' sleeve and which thus divides the sleeve into two compartments, 3'? and 38 (Fig. 3). It provides of course for the ready exchange of heat between the tray supported thereby and the refrigerating medium within the coils 35, 36.

In order to prevent accidental withdrawal of the partition 46, means are provided to retain it ,in place. A preferred method of accomplishing this end is shown by way of illustration in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7. The shelf or partition may have a bent-over rear end forming a hook 51 which engages with a cutaway partition 52 on the ledge or shoulder 42. In freezing water or other substances in trays placed in refrigerating elements of this character, it is not uncommon to have the tra freeze to the shelf, either because water is spilled on the shelf from the tray, or because moisture is conrea ers densed on the shelf. The hook. prevents accidental withdrawal of the shelf with the tray when the two are frozen together. The hoop is placed at the back of the shelf to prevent removal of the shelf when the tray is being disengaged from the shelf. Whenever a tray is frozen in the chamber, the natural tendency of the user is to lift up on the tray handle to separate the tray from the shelf. In most cases the shelf is also frozen to the support and lifting of the tray may separate the tray from the shelf leaving the shelf frozen to the support. However, in the event that the shelf is separated from the support and clings to the tray, the shelf still will not be accidentally removed from the chamber, because the hook 51 still. engages the shoulders at the back ends of the ledges 42 and retains the shelf in the chamber, even though its front end is elevated. When it is desired to remove the shelf, either with or without the tray, the hand is inserted beneath the shelfand the back end lifted vertically until the hook is disengaged after which the shelf may be withdrawn horizontally from the chamber. It is obvious that the retaining means described is merely illustrative and that other methods of retaining the partition may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a I relatively simple construction has been provided for cooling either a plurality of small trays or one large ice tray. Small trays 47 may be placed on the shelf or partition 46 and on the bottom wall 43 of sleeve 40 as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 2 or else one relatively deep tray 49 (see Figs. 1 and 4) may be used, in which case it is placed so as to rest directly upon the bottom wall 43, the partition 46 being removed. In either case, since the shelf 46 and the bottom wall 43 are in good thermal contact with the refrigerating medium, the substances in either type of tray will be cooled quickly. The Walls 41, 43, 44 and 45 together with the ice-tray front 49 provide an enclosure for the tray 48 and thus .shield same from circulating air. shallow trays are used, the fronts 50 thereof together with said walls of receptacle 40 serve to enclose the trays. Thus circulating air currents intended for cooling the food storage compartment 24 will not contact with either type of tray contained within receptacle 40. Since the trays are shielded from the relatively warm circulating air, the rapidity with which the substances contained therein will congeal is increased. By means of the arrangement described the trays may be removed without accidentally dragging the separatory shelf out of the sleeve.

lVhile the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a Likewise, if

Lemma preferredform it is to be understood. that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the sec of the claims which follow;

What is claimed is as follows:

'6 1. In a refrigerating element comprising a refrigerated enclosure adapted to receive trays of substances to be frozen, shelf supporting means therein, a shelf adapted to separate said enclosure into a plurality of smaller enclosures'eacli ada ted for receiving a tray, one extremity 0 said shelf supporting means being notched and one end of said shelf being hooked to-engage said notch, said hook and said notch being adapted to prevent accidental removal of said shelf when said shelf is fastened. to said tra by freezing but permitting removal of said shelf when desired by disengagement of said hook from said notch.

2. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemaking containers, shelf supporting means in the enclosure, a removable shelf adapted to separate the enclosure into a plurality of compartments each adapted to receive a container, and cooperatingvertical shoulders on the shelf and on the enclosure for preventing movement of the shelf in a horizontal direction, said shelf being movable in a vertical direction to disengage said shoulders and permit the removal of the shelf from the enclosure in a horizontal direction.

3., A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a sheet metal enclosure forming a chamber will adapted to receive ice-making containers, integral ledges formed in the sides of said enclosure and ada ted to support a shelf, said ledges being shorter than the length of the enclosure to provide shoulders ad acent the end of the enclosure, a removable shelf on the ledges for separating the enclosure into a plurality o compartments each adapted to receive a container, said sh'elf bein bent downwardly at one end to form shou ders adapted to engage the ends of said ledges to preventmovement of the shelf in a horizontal direction.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto afix my signature GRAMUILLE S. DIGKEY.

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