US1827815A

US1827815A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1827815A
Application number: US149760A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry B Hull
Original assignee: Frigidaire Corp
Current assignee: Frigidaire Corp
Priority date: 1926-11-20
Filing date: 1926-11-20
Publication date: 1931-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1948-10-20

Description

Oct. 20, 1931. HULL 1,827,815 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20; 1926 .l atented @ct. 2% E231 enema E. HULL, 0E DAYTON, OHIO, AS$IGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGHMETTS, TQ THIGH)- a: CORPORATION; A GOBPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING- AEEARATUS Application filed November ac, 1926. Serial Ito. Marco.

This'invention relates to cooling units for mechanical refrigerators, and more pa ticularly to cooling units which are adapt d to be installed in refrigerating cabinets of the household type. However, it is to be understood that the present invention may be adapted for larger refrigerating cabinets of the commercial type.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved and compact cooling unit which, when installed in a refrigerator, will maintain the food or storage compartment of the refrigerator at the desired temperature not too cold for general refrigeration, and whichwill at the same time provide colder or freezing temperatures for quickly and efficiently freezing or congealing substances. My invention contemplates the provision ofwhat may be termed a freezing zone for the quick freezing or congealing of substances placed therein, and what may be termed a cooling zone which is adapted to provide the general refrigeration for the refrigerator. Tn carrying out my invention, I provide a header containing a quantity of liquid refrigerant and to which duct means are connected in parallel circuit relation. A portion of the duct means provides the freezing zone and another portion lies outwardly of the freezing zone. To protect the freezing zone from the warming eifects of the circulating air of cooling medium, which flows over the cooling unit, 1 provide a shield for the freezing zone and arrange the material of the outwardly lying portion, so as to provide a cooling zone throughout the length of the freezing zone to thus precool the circulating airbefore it comes in contact with the shield of the freezing zone.

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 clear ly shown.

I In the drawings:

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; and

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

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a refrigerator cabinet which provides an t..- shaped foodcompartment 21 separated from a cooling compartment 22 by a horizontal par-, tition 23 and a vertical partition 24. The partition 24: is provided with a flue 25, admitting relatively warm air from the food compartment 21 to the cooling compartment 22; and the partition 23 is provided with a flue 26, admitting cooled air from the compartment 22 to the compartment 21. The partition 23 supports a bafie 27 which prevents moisture, dripplng from the cooling unit vabove, from entering the flue 26. The baffle 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 within 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 a compressor and condenser (not shown) through a pipe 33 and'a fitting 34. Refrigerant is admitted from the fitting 3 as needed, by a float-controlled valve (not shown), of suitable construction, located within the header 30. Expanded refrigerant is conducted back to the compressor through a fitting 35 and a pipe 36. The refrigerating compressor and condenser with, which the

pipes

33 and 36 are connected, may be located outside of the cabinet, if desired, or may be bound or provide between them a quick-freezing space or zone 41. A plurality of ducts 42,

which lie outwardly of, and are spaced more remote from the space 41 are located in the air currents which circulate through the fines and 26. These ducts are provided by two horizontal rows of similar pipe coils of metal of good thermal conductivity connected at their ends with the header, the larger coils which provide the ducts 42 surrounding the smaller coils which provide the ducts 40.

The space 41 is adapted to receive metal shelves or sleeves 43 which are attached to and thermally connected with the ducts 40. These shelves receive metal trays 44 which contain a substance to befrozen.

In order more effectively to shield or iso late the space 41 from an currents, metal shields are provided between the

ducts

40 and 42. These shields are preferabl of metal of good thermal conductivity an are supported by and thermally connected-with the header to serve as fins for the header. By arranging the shields as shown, a compact cooling unit is provided which provides widely different temperatures for quickly freezing substances and for the general refrigeration of the refrigerator. The freezing zone is within the cooling zone which construction provides a compact structure. The shield prevents the circulating air from coming in contactwith the freezing zone and the ducts 42 precool the circulating air before it comes in contact with the shield. Thus it is apparent that, since the cooling zone extends throughout the length of the freezin zone,

with the aid of the shields, a relative y cold zone may be had within the air-cooling zone.

Not only do the plates 45 protect the ducts 40 from the warming effect of the air currents, but also serve to limit the accumulation of frost upon these pipes so that this frost will not-be permitted to impede the circulation of air between the ducts 42.

. In operation, the space 41 will become much colder than other portions of the cooling chamber 22, so that substances within the trays 44 may be frozen, while the circulating air may be 'efi'ectively cooled to the desired low temperature without freezing articles within the food compartment. Frost will accumulate upon the ducts 40 to a greater extent than upon the ducts 42 since the latter are subjected to currents of relatively warm air during the idle periods of the refrigerating machine. Frost may build up between the ducts 40 and the plates 45 at a relatively rapid rate, but Will accumulate upon the sides of the plates 45 more remote from the ducts 40 at a much slower rate since thesesides of the plates are exposed to air currents. Hence, it is apparent the space 41 will be isolated and insulated by the ducts 40, thefrost coating thereon and the plates 45 to provide a relatlvely cold region for quick freezing; and that these plates 45 protect the ducts 42 from rapid accumulation of frost so that said ducts ma effectively cool the circulating air.

. 1ile the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a pre ferred 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 adapted to be placed in the path of a cooling medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header and a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, said means including a portion providing a freezing zone, and another portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone, the material of the secondmentioned portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the circulating medium, and plates thermally connected with and supported by the header, said plates beingdisposed between said portion immedi ately adjacent the freezing zone.

- 2. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adap; ed to be placed in the path of a cooling medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header and a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, said means including a portion providing a freezing'zone, and another portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone, the material of the secondmention'ed portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone 1n the path of the circulating medium, and plates thermally connected with the header and disposed on opposite sides of the freezing zone and between said portions.

3. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of a cooling medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header and a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, said means including a portion providing a freezing zone, and another portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone, the material ofthe secondmentioned, portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the circulating medium, and means thermally connected with the header and providing a shield for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

4. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header and a plurality of I duct means connected with the header in par 7 along the length of the freezing zone, and a shield means cooperating with the header to provide an enclosure for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

5. Acooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to beplaced in the path of the mediumto be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header and a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, said means having a portion providing a freezing zone, and another portion providing a cooling zone, the material of said second-mentioned portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone and arranged substantially coextensive with the freezing zone to provide a cooling zone along the length of the freezing zone, and shield means interposed between said por-v tions and cooperating with the header to provide an enclosure for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

6. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereb said cooling unit comprising a header an a plurality of duct means connected with the header in parallel circuit relation, said means having a portion providing a freezing zone,.and another portion providing a cooling zone, the

ranged substantially coextensive with the freezing zone toprovide a cooling zone along the length of the freezing zone, and shield means interposed between and arranged substantially coextensive with said ortlon said shield means cooperating with t eheader to provide an enclosure for shielding the freezing zone from-the action of the circulating medium.

7. A cooling unit adapted tobe placed in the path of circulating medium down thereover, said cooling unit including a header, ducts connected-with the header and spaced apart to provide a freezing zone, a shield connected to the header above the connection of said ducts witli theheader, and duct means connected witlii-Ttlie header above the connection of the first ducts and the header, said ducts lying spaced from thefreezing zone in the p th of the circulating medium, said shield extending downwardly between the first ducts and said duct means for shieldin the freezing zone from the warming action 0 v the circulating medium.

8. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of circulating medium for cooling I such medium, said cooling unit including a header, spaced apart ducts extending below the header and connected therewith to provide a freezing zone therebetween, duct means connected with the header and lying spaced from the side of saidfreezing zone in the path of the circulating medium, and a shield between said first mentioned ducts and said duct means and cooperating with the header for shielding the warming act1on of the circulating medium.

In testimony whereof I hereto afix my signature.

HARRY B,

material of said second-mentioned portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone and ar reezing zone from the