US1839939A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan `5, 1932 K.A WRIGHT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26,.

1927 s sheets-sheet jlb/MMWR.

LEONARD KAY WRIGHT;

b1 SS w ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1932. l.. K. WRIGHT 1,339,939

REFRIGERATING VAPPARATUS Filed Jan. 26. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l/V VEN TUR LEONARD KAY WRIGHT.

f i I N IF' l A TTHNEY Patented Jan.l 5, 193,24

UNITED STATES LEONARD KAY WRIGHT,

or ASTORIA, NEW Yom:

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application nica January 2s, 1927. serial No. 153,661.

This invention relates to an improvedrefrigerating apparatus of theabsorption type.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple compact construction of apparatus 5 involving a minimum number' of elements with substantially no moving parts and with practically the entire apparatus welded in a state of permanent rest so as to decrease the effect of wear and tear due to movement and to eliminate waste due to leakage of either the rcfrigerating medium or the cooling liquid.

A further object is to provide an apparatus in which such devices as Water traps, separators,etc., are eliminated and in which the operation controlling the How of the refrigerating liquid and the cooling liquid, as well as the applicationeof heat, is automatically controlled by the condition of the apparatus v A itself so that when once started the apparatus' requires a minimum of attention.

ln general the apparatus comprises a receptac e functioning as an absorber-genera- F tor in which is disposed a mixture of a re- 2" rigeratling agent and an absorbent therefor such as amixture of water and ammonia. This generator is connected to another receptacle functioning as a condenser-receiver. Both the generator and the receiver are provided 3Q with coilsof p ipe through which flows cool- -ing Huid. Thls flow, however, is alternate i in action and the alternation of flo-w is con# 4t-'rolled by automatic devices. The receiver is connected to an expansion valve whichQ in turn is connected to a refrigerating coil disposed in a refrigerating chamber, .the-other 'end of the refrigerating coil being connected back to the generator.v The generator is yheated by anysuitable. means such as elec- 40 tric heating means or gas heatingmeans and as the heat is applied the automatic switching device is set to cause the cooling lfluid to flow through the condenserbut-not throughthe generator. Due to the heat vthe refrgerating medium'is gasitied-'and passes to thecon denser through a check valve which permits it to pass to the condenser but not reversely. As the gas enters the condenser it iscondensed by contact with the cooling coil. This causes the refrigerating medium to gradually pass from the generator to the condenser causing an increase in the pressure of the condenser. As this pressure increases beyond a predetermined value a pressure responsive means associated with the automatic switching apparatus causes the switch to be thrown to a position in which the heating means is cut oii' and the cooling uid flow is changed from the condenser to the generator. This causes a cooling to be effected in the generator resulting in a drop in pressure in the generator which is continued through the refrigerating coils to the expansion valve permitting said valve to open and allow the refrigerating liquid condensed in the receiver to pass through the expansion valve. This action results in the expansion of the liquid through the valve to the refrigerating coils and the suckingof said gas back into the generator by the absorptive inuence of the absorbing a ent therein. The ow of the refrigerant rom the condenser causes a drop in pressure therein and when this pressure has reached the predetermined minimum value` thepressure responsive means causes the switch to throw in the opposite direction turning the heat on to the generator and. changing the low of the cooling fluid from t the generator to the receiver, whereupon the cycle is repeated. 80 It will be noted that in this apparatus the only moving parts are the expansion valve, the check valve and the automatic switch and that the movement of these parts is not continuous and only slight in amount so that the wear on the apparatus is substantially noth-` ing. It will furthermore be noted that the parts which comprise the circuit for the flow of the refrigerant 'and the cooling uid are i in a state of permanent rest so that they can l solidity and compactness of construction and operation and Aby reason of-this state permitting substantially no leakage from the system. Provision is .also made that any water or absorbing medium which passes 'A over from the generator tothe condenser with theA gas is automatically returned to. the generator, thus eliminating the necessityfor separators, Water traps, etc,`

be .permanently weldediin place making for section.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-'5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6*(3 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred form of the invention includes an absorber-generator tank 10 disposed over a condenser-receiver tank 11, a refrigerating chamber l2 and expansion valve 13. The generator 10 contains a coil of pipe 14 for the passage of cooling fluid and the receiver 11 contains a similar coil 15. rlhe discharge ends of both these coils connect to a pipe 16 leadin to any suitable outlet. It will be noted hat the coil 15 is helical n shape and of large diameter substantiallyy filling the tank 11. The coils 14 and 15 are connected respectively by inlet pipes 17 and 18, and the pipes are connected to a three way valve 2O to be further described,

Disposed near the bottom of generator tank 10 is an apertured end 21 of a pipe 22 leading to the lower end of refrigerating coil 23, disposed in the refrigerating chamber 12. The upper end of this coil is connected by pipe 24 to the low pressure side of thel eX- p pansion valve 13. rlhe high pressure side of this expansion valve is connected by pipe 25 which projects into the receiver tank 11 to a point near the bottom thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A pipe 26 extends from within the generator 10 near the top thereof to the top of receiver tank 11. A check valve 27 is interposed in this pipe. The upper end of this pipe within the tank 10 is provided with a curved baiile plate 26a.- A pipe 28 'connects to pipe 26 between' the check valve 27 and the top ofreceiver tank 11 and has therein a safety device which may be in the form of a frangible silver disc 29 in the event of high pressure being generated in the pipe A gas burner 30 is disposed beneath the generator tank 10 and is connected by pipe 31 to a one way gas valve 32 to be described further. A pilot light 33 is connected by pipe 34 to the main gas supply pipe `35 in which is disposed an automatic shut-oit' device 36 of any standard make.

Additional and alternative heating means such as electric heating units37 and 38 are disposed within the generator tank 10 and connected by suitable wires 39, 40, 41 and 42 to switch fingers 43 and 46. Power wires 44 end. This stem bears against and actuates a rable adjusting nuts 69 and 70'on either side is moved one wa or the other beyond a neuand 45 are connected to switch fingers 47 and 48.

The expansion valve has a low pressure chamber 49 and a high pressure chamber 50, a diaphragm 51 backed by spring 52, a valve "l0 stem 53 and a valve ,54. When the pressure in the chamber 49 is below a 'certain value the spring 52 forces the diaphragm 51 to open the valve 54 andK allow communication between the chambers 49 and 50.

A small pipe 55 extends from the top of receiver tank 11 to a pressure responsive device shown in Fig. 4. This device comprises a diaphragm 56 having a stem 57 on its upper bell-crank lever 58 restrained'by a spring 59. The lever 58 has a pin 60 therein engaging a notch in a lever 61 connected by a link 62 to lever 63 which in turn connects to a rod 64. All these elements are mounted within a casing 65. Supported on a bracket 66 to the casing is a switch plate 67. rlhis is pivoted on a shaft 68 on the bracket 66 and is aperturedto receive thc end of rod 64 with suitthereof. A rod 71 throughthe upper end 4 of the switch arm 67 at its opposite ends is connected to springs 72 and 73 to produce the well known snap action of the arm as the arm 95 tral position. y he lower end of the arm 67 is provided with an insulating plate 74 hav-v ing contact bars 75 and 76 thereon, adapted respectively to make contacts between switch fingers 43, 48 and 47, 46.`

`At one end the shaft 68 is connected by collar 77 to shaft 78 of the one-way gas valve 32 which at its upper side connects with gas pipe 31 and at itslower side connects with gas inlet pipe 35. At its other end shaft 68 lis 105 connected by collar 79 with the shaft 8O of the two-way cooling fluid valve 20. This valve at the top thereof connects with pipe 417; at the bottom thereof connects with pipe 18 and laterally thereof connects with .t main water inlet pipe 81.

In describing the operation of the device 1 will assume that a mixture of water and am,- monia, preferably a 30 to 40% solution of ammonia is in tank 10; that the cooling Huid is 115 connected to flow through the coils 15 in the receiver 11 and that the hea-tinnr element either the gas heating element or the electric heating units are turned on so that heat is being applied to generator tank 10. This heating of the' generator will result in the production of ammonia gas which will pass out through the pipe 26, through the check valve 27 and into the top of receiver 11, where it will come in contact with the condensin coils 15 and will be condensed into a liqui A continuation of this action will cause the pressure to increase in the condenser 11 to any desired amount which in this case is preferably about pounds, an amount slightly 139 pressure responsive device shown in Fig. 4.

The movement of this dia hragm will actuate the stem 57 and throng the intermediary of the lever s stem described will snap` the switch plate 6 to the right opening the electrical circuit, closing the gas valve and changing the flow of the cooling fluid from pipe 18 to pipe 17 thus stopping the heating of the generator 10 and applying the coolin action of the Huid in pipe 14 thereto which w1ll cause a drop in pressure in the generator 1Q. This drop in pressure will be continued throu h pipe 22 and the refrigerating coils 28 to t e low side'of the expansion valve permitting the valve to open and allow the refrigerant stored under pressure in condenser 11 to fiow through pipe 25 through said valve and expand 1n the form of a gas and pass through the refrigerating coils back through pipe 22 into the generator absorber 10. This action is further accelerated by the ainity of the absorbent in the generator 10 for the refrigerant.

As soon as the pressure in the condenser 11 drops a predetermined amount the pressure responsive device shown in Fig. 4 will act by the dropping of the diaphragm 56 to throw the switch in the opposlte direction turning on the heating apparatus and switching the flow-of vcooling fluid from the enerator 10 to the condenser l1. It will be o served that as soon as the pressure is reduced sufficiently far in the generator 10 to permit the expansion valve to open the first medium to pass through the pipe fromthe bottom of condenser 11 will be any Water whichvhas inadvertently passed intoV the condenser from the generator although the baille plate 26a is intended to eliminate this passage of water as much as possible. The water will-flow first by reason of its greater density than ammonia and will consequently be returned to the generator .before the ammonia has com-- menced any cooling action in the coils 23.

The check lvalve 27 will prevent a back flow of gas from the condenser to the enerator and the safety device 29 will break i too high a-pressure is inadvertently generated in the system either in the generator or condenser. The automatic shut-off device 36 is of standard type to shut ofl'the 'low of gas if the pilot 25 should go out.

It is therefore quite noticeable that this apparatus has a minimum number of moving parts and that the movement of these parts is very slight and only occurs at infrequent intervals so that the wear and tear due to any movement is substantially nil. Furthermore it is quite apparent that practically the entire apparatus can be welded in a position of rest makingthose parts of the system that transmit gas or fluid capable of being sealed tight so that leakage is reduced to zero. The fact that the number of parts is reduced to a .minimum,` eliminating the necessity -for water-traps, separators and cumbersome motor drivenapparatus, permits the entire assembly to be arranged in a very compact form. l Preferably the generator is at the top because the heat from the burner -naturally iiowing upward will immediately pass away from the other apparatus and in so doing cause a natural draft of cool air from the bottom .around the other apparatus tending to increase` they efficiency. Although not v shown, a casing is firmly built around the parts illustrated with apertures in the top and bottom .to facilitate this natural draft of cool air upwards through the assembly.

It is of course apparent that other refrigerating media than a water and ammonia solution can be used and it is within my contemplation to use media which are solids at normal temperatures if desired. Furthermore it is apparent that the medium which is being cooled by disposition in or circulation through the. refrigcrating chamber 12 may be any desired medium.

This application is a continuation in part of mv co-pending application, Serial Number 118.275, filed June 24. 1926, entitled Refrigerating apparatus, in Division 44, Room 253.

I claim: l

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising anY absorber-generator, a, condenser-receiver, coils for cooling the generator and receiver, means for heating the generator, means for automatically starting and stopping the application of heat and controlling the cooling means, and means responsive to pressure in the condenser-receiver for operating the automatic controller.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a condenser-receiver, means for cooling the generator and receiver, means including electricity for heating-the generator, means for automatically starting and stopping the application of heat and controlling the cooling means, and means responsive to pressure generated in the condenser receiver for operating the automatic controller.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a condenser-receiver, cooling coils in the generator and receiver, means for controlling the alternate introduction of cooling fluid to the coils in said generator and receiver, and means responsive t'o denser-receiver for alternately heating and cooling the absorber-generator, connection between the generator and the receiver, a safety valve in said connection, refrigerating coils, a connection between the refrigerating coils and the generator, connections between the receiver and the refrigerating coils, and an expansion valve in said last mentioned connection.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorbergenerator, a condenser-receiver, means responsive to the pressure in the condenser-receiver for alternately heating and cooling the absorber-generator, connections between the generator and the receiver, refrigerating coils, a connection between the re- 'trigerating coils and the generator, connections between the receiver and the refrigerating coils, anexpansion valve in said last mentioned connection, the connections from the refrigerating coils to the generator and receiver extending to the bottom of each respectively.

(i. A refrigerating apparatus. comprising an absorber-generator, a condenser-receiver, means responsive to the pressure in the condenser-receiver for alternately heating and coolingr the absorber-generator, a connection extending from the top of the generator to the top of the receiver, refrigerating coils, a connection extending fronrthe bottom of the refrigerating coils to the bottom of the generator, a connection between the bottom of the receiver and the topof the refrigerating coils and an expansion valve in said last mentioned connection.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an ,absorbergenerator, a condenser-receiver, means for heating the yabsorbergenerator, separate means in the generator and condenser for cooling the same, an automatic switch for controlling the heating means and for alternately applying the cooling means to the absorberand condenser-receiver, and means responsive to pressure in the condenser for actuating ythe switch, a connecl tion between the top of the generator and the top of the receiver, refrigerating colis, a connection between the bottom of the receiver and the top of the refrigerating coils, a connection between the bottom of the refrigerating coils andthe bottom of the generator and an expansion valve disposed in the connection between the receiver and the refrigerating coils.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a condenser-receiver Adisposed therebelow, means for heating the absorber-generator disposed at the bottom thereof, separate means in the generator and condenser for cooling the same, an automatic switch for controlling the heating means and for alternately applying the cooling means to the absorber and condenser-receiver, said switch disposed adjacent the receiver, and

tion between the bottom of the refrigerating coils and the bottom of the generator and an expansion valve disposed in the connection between the receiver and the refrigerating coils. i

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a mixture of an absorbent and a refrigerant therein, means for heating the generator to volatilize the refrigerant, cooling means in the generator and the receiver, connections between the generator and receiver, an expansion valve, means for passing the condensed refrigerant under pressure through the expansion valve, refrigerating coils, connections between the bottom of said coils and valve, connections between the refrigerating coils and the generator, controlling means for cutting ofi' the heat from the generator and simultaneously switching the cooling action to the generator from the receiver when the pressure in the receiver reaches a predetermined high value and for reversing said action when the pressure'in the-receiver falls to a pre-determined lowl value.

10. A retrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a. condenser-receiver, connections therebetween, a cooling means in the generator, cooling means in the receiver, means responsive to pressure in the receiver,

ytor switching the application of cooling fluid from the generator to the receiver `and vice versa, said pressure responsive means arranged to apply cooling fiuifd to the generator when the pressure in the receiver exceeds a predetermined amount.

ll. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a condenser-receiver, connections therebetween, a cooling means in the generator, cooling means in the receiver, means responsive to pressure in the receiver for switching the application of cooling fluid fram the generator to the receiver and vice versa, said pressure responsive means arranged to apply cooling iiuid to the generator when the pressure in the receiver exceeds a predetermined amount, means for heating the generator, said heating means being controlled by the pressure responsive meansand adapted to be cut oft' when the pressure in the receiver exceeds a predetermined amount. l

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 24th day `of January, A. vD. 1927.

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