US1827807A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 1e, 192e grwenfo@ x MAA wrf Y v '/l, Grammy Patented @et 20, 123i were sra.- enr' rie RALPH H. CHILTON, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application led November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,105.

This invention relates to cooling unitsfor mechanical refrigerators, and more particularly to cooling units which are adapted to-` be installed in refrigerating cabinets of the household type. However, it isto be understood that the present invention may be adapted for larger refrigerating cabinets of the commercial type. y

The present invention includes among its objects the provision of a coolingunit of simple and economicalconstruction which will quickly congeal or freeze substances which are placed within a freezing compartment provided by the unit, and which will eRectively cool the food compartment of the cab-v inet.

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: y

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet with the doors open in order to show the food compartment and a cooling unit within a cooling compartment;

Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing the front view of the cooling unit which is suspended within the cooling compartment of a cabinet, the walls of which are shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cooling unit drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the cooling unit.

VReierring to the drawings, 2O designates a refrigerator cabinet which provides an L- shaped food compartment 21 separated from a cooling compartment 22 by a horizontal partition 23 and a vertical partition 24. The partition 24 is provided with a flue 25, ad-

mitting relatively warm air from the food y compartment 21 to the cooling compartment 22; and the partition 23 is provided with a iiue 26, admitting cooled air from the compartment 22 to the compartment 2 1. The partition 23 supports a ba'iie 27 which prevents moisture, dripping from the cooling unit above, from entering the iiue 26.' The baiiie 27 directs such moisture upon the upper surface of the partition 23, and this moisture is conducted away through a drain pipe 28.

The cooling unit located with-in the cooling compartment 22, includes a boiler or header 30 attached to the top wall of the cabinet by bracket members 31 and 32. Condensed refrigerant is conducted to the header 30 from partment having a removable front wall 37 provided with louvers 38.

Below the header 30 are Vlocated one or more metal sleeves 40 of good thermal conductivity having walls for enclosing substances to be frozen or congealed which may be placed in metal trays 41 insertable within the sleeves. The sleeves 4()l are superposed preferably below the header 30. A plurality of metal ducts 42 of good thermal conductivity are connected at their upper ends with the header and are closed at their lower ends. These ducts are arranged preferably in two opposed horizontal rows, one row on each side of the sleeves 40. Each duct includes vertical portions 43 alternating with loops 44. The vertical portions 43 are in thermal Contact with the sleeves 44 and are attached thereto to provide what may be termed a freezing zone between them for quickly treez ing or congealing a substance, and the loops 44 are spaced from the sleeves and are adapted to be subjected to the air which circulates through the cooling chamber 22 and therefore provide what may be termed a cooling zone for the circulating air or medium.

Since. the sleeves 40 are somewhat isolated from air'currcnts by' the header 30 located above them and nested within the cooling i zone, the header and portions shield thefreez- `the ducts than about the loop portions 44.

The loops 44 being entirely subjected to warmer air circulating through the cooling chamber, the accumulation of frost upon these coils will be relatively slow7 permitting them to properly cool the circulating air. During the idle periods of the refrigerating machine defrosting of the loops 44 may take place, but some frost will remain upon the duct portionsl 43 and sleeves 40 to maintain them at the desired low temperature during the idle period. I

The present invention provides for freezing substances and for cooling the circulating air of the refrigerator cabinet by means of ducts having the minimum number of connections with the head. When separate ducts are employed for cooling the air and for quick-freezing, at least two rows of connections upon each side of the header have been required. Since each duct of the present invention has thermal transfer portions for quick-freezing alternating with thermal transfer portions in the air currents, only one row of connections on each side of the header is required.

While the forms of embodiment of the prescnt 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:-

1. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising, a header, supporting means adapted to carry an ice tray, and a plurality of metal ducts of good thermal conductivity attached to the header, each having A a plurality of portions thermally connected with said supporting means, said portionsaltr-:mating with a plurality of other portions of the same duct, said latter portions lying outwardly from said supporting means and adapted to be subjected to air circulating adjacent the unit.

2. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprlsing, an elongated, horizontal header, supporting means adapted to carry an icc trav and located below the header, and a plurality of ducts depending from the header on both sides of the supporting means, each duct having a plurality of portions thermally connected with said supporting means, said portions alternating with a plurality of other portions of the same duct, said latter' portions lying outwardly from said supporting means and adapted to be subjected to air circulating adjacent the unit.

'3. A cooling unit according to claim 2 in which each duct has vertical portions thermally connected with the supporting means alternating with loops spaced from the means and adapted to be subjected to air circulating adjacent the unit.

4. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path'of the circulating medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposed conduit means, each having a plurality of portions extending inwardly and cooperating with like portions of the opposed conduit to provide a freezing zone and each conduit including a plurality of outwardly extending portions adapted to extend in the path of the circulating medium to provide a cooling zone.

5. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of the circulating medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposed conduit means, one of said conduit means having a plurality of portions extending inwardly, said inwardly extending portions cooperating with one another to,v provide one side of a freezing zone, another of the opposed conduit means providing another side of said freezing zone, said first conduit means having a plurality of outwardly extending portions adapted to extend in the path of the circulating medium to provide a cooling zone.

6. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of the circulating medium 'to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposed conduit means, one of said conduit means having outwardly and inwardly bent portions, the inwardly bent portion cooperating with one another to provide one side" of a freezing zone, another of the opposed conduit means providing another side of said freezing zone and the outwardly bent portion adapted to extend in the path of the circulating medium to provide a cooling zone.

7. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposed conduit means, one of said conduit means having a plurality of portions cooperating with one another to provide one side of a freezing zone, another of the opposed conduit means providing another side of said freezing zone and having alternating loops lying outwardly and adapted to extend in the path of the circulating medium.

8. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising opposed ducts, one of said ducts having spaced-apart upright portions and an interconnecting loop.

9. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising opposed ducts', one of said ducts having spaced-apart upright portions and an interconnecting and outwardly extending loop portion.

lO A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising opposed ducts, one of Lesmo? said ducts having spaced-apart loop portions and an inter-connecting inwardly extending upright portion.

11. A cooling unit'l for mechanical refrlgerators comprising a plurality of aligned ducts each having an upright portion and a loop, the 'upright portion of one duct being Y connected in series circuitl relation with the loop of the same duct.

12. A cooling unit for mechanical rfrigerators comprising a header adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a plurality of opposed ducts connected with the header in parallel circuit relation along the header,A certain of said ducts having spaced-apart upright portions and inter-connecting loop.

13. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of a circulating medium to be cooled and having a zone for an ice tray, said cooling unit including conduit means having an outwardly and an inwardly extending portion connected in `series circuit relation, the inwardly extending portion providing a part ofla vertically extending side of said zone and the outwardly extending portion being dis# posed youtwardly of the same side of said zone in more intimate thermal relation with the medium to be cooled.

In testimony whereof I hereto a'lx my signature. y

. RALPH H. CHILTON.

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