US1862635A - Controlling mechanism for refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1932. J. R. REPLOGLE 862635 CONTROLLING MECHANISM .FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. '7. 192'? UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE y JOHN `R.'REPLOGLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KELVINATOR CORPORATION, l

0]? DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN A-CONTIR( )LLING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application led February 7, 1927. Serial No. 166,277.

This invention relates to automatic control mechanism for` artificial refrigerating systems. j

Anobject of my invention is to maintain a predetermined range of low temperature in a chamber to' be cooled with an artificial re,- frigerating system in .which the power appliance is automatically controlled by mechanlsm responsive to the-temperature of the 'n refrigerant in the low side.

' Another object of my invention is to lprovide Ia fluid pressure device which isresponsive to the temperature ofthe refrigerant in the low side of an artificial ref rigerating sysn'i tem t aiectmechanism associated to control the operation of the power appliance.

parent as the description progresses, in which likeV characters designate like parts in the accompanying drawlng illustrating a` preferred embodiment of the invention.

Inthe drawing-r' F'g.'1 is a fragmentaryjsectional view ofa cooling unit including a brine tank and evap-` es-,orator showing my invention associated therewith.

\ Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the Same showing the controland refrigerant l conduits associated therewith, and

3o Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of anartificial refrigeratlng system incorporating the invention. Y

My invention lis associated with a refrigerating system of conventional construction sor-condenser unit A, and a power appliance or motor M.

. The cooling unit of the refri erating Lsystem includes a brine tank l() an an evapora- 4'0 tor 11 supported interiorly thereof, the ysaid evaporator "structure including a header 12 and depending 'pipe loops V13 secured to the header and in open communication therewith, one end of the evaporator header being closed 45 Vby the endplate 14. One wall of the brine tank is provided with a large opening 15, the closure plate 16 being secured to the brine tank by the bolts17 to close the opening. The end late 14 `of-the evaporator is secured 60 to the c osure plate, the entire evaporator v the casing 23 surmounting the compressor- These and other objects will be more ap v circuit between the evaporator and compreswhichcomprises a cooling unit B,- a compres structure being removed and inserted as a unitary structure through the large opening inthe wall of the brine tank. The end plate of the evaporator header is provided with refrigerant inlet and outlet passages 18 55 and 19 respectively, suitable float controlled,

valve lmechanism 20 being associated with the inlet passageto automatically maintain a substantial constant quantity of liquid -ref rigerant Withinthe evaporator and suitable valved couplings 21 are connected with these inlet and outlet passages. A refrigerant feed conduit 22 connects the lcoupling adjacent said inletxpassage 18 with a reservoir for the condensed refrigerant interiorly of condenser unit A and the refrigerant return conduit 22a connects the crankcase 24 of the compressor with the coupling adjacent the outlet passage 19, thus completing a closed 70 Sor, and the evaporator and refrigerant reservoir.

"The mechanism for controlling the operat1on of the system comprises a pressure controlled switch actuating mechanism 33 and thermal responsive means D connected there-- with which is associated with the low side of the refrigerating system.' The thermal responsive means includes a receptacle 25, prefsu e'rably a long copper tube, which is secured to the inner face of the end plate and extends interiorly of the evaporator. This tube is closed-"at its inner end by the plug 26 and is adapted to contain a heat responsive iuid that will expand when subjected to a rise in temperature. The interior of said tube is in open communication with the passage 27 through vthe end plate 14, and a fitting 29 is securedto the exterior face of the end plate, said fitting being provided with a passage 30 in open communication with the passage 27 and the interior of the tube. A conduit 32 connects the passage 30 with the pressure 95 controlled switch actuating mechanismy 33.A The particular form of switch mechanism forms no part of they present invention, and

is fully described in my (zo-pending application Serial No. 475,344, filed June 6, 1921,v 10o which has matured into Patent No. 1,823,002, dated September 15, 1931.

A rise in temperature within the evaporator will affect the fluid within the recep` tacle or tube 25, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid, the eect of this increased 1 pressure being transmitted through the comperature of the evaporator within a predetermined range.

As stated above, the fluid in the tube should be responsive to temperature changes and should expand when subjected to increased temperatures. Various fluids may be used in the tube, but I prefer to use the same heat responsive fluid within the tube which is used as the refrigerant in the refrigerating sys- .tem, for the reason that similar pressure con` ditions may be had within the tube as inthe evaporator, thereby giving more accurate results and permitting the accurate maintenance of temperatures in the evaporator within a predetermined range. j

I find it convenient to charge the tube with refrigerant taken from the evapora-tor. To accomplish this, the tube is inclined downwardly, the inner end of thetube being submergedl in the refrigerant. The plug that closesthe inner end o the tube is provided with a passage 40, and adjustably supports the valve 41 for closing the passage 40. The valve is carried by the valve stem 42 which extends interiorly of the tube and through the packing 43 into a chamber interiorly of the fitting 29. Access may be had to the valve stem by removing the plug 44, the end of the valve stem being shaped to permit the application of a wrench. vThus the passage 40 may be opened to permit refrigerant to flow into the tube by manually turning the valve stem, thereby unseating the valve carried by said valve stem. The valve is closed whenthe proper amount of refrigerant hasbeen admitted to the tube. lVith such a construction it is possible to recharge the tube with expansible fluid whenever necessary.

It will be noted that the mechanism described above permits the maintenance of predetermined range of low temperature in a chamber to be cooled. Temperature changes within said chamber affect the temperature of the refrigerant within the evaporator, causing vaporization of the liquid refrigerant and an increase in pressure therein. The temperature of the fluid in the tube extending interiorly of the evaporator is correspondingly affected, the rise in temperature causing the fluid to vaporize, thereby causing a corresponding increase in pressure.v When the pressure of the fluid reaches a predetermined maximum the power appliance is started in operation, the compressor operated thereby withdrawing vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator thereby reducing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, the temperature and pressure of the fluid in the tube being likewise affected. When the pressure of the fluid in the tube reaches a predetermined minimum, the power appliance is stopped.

The tube 25 is preferably submerged in the refrigerant to obtain a more direct thermal contact between the refrigerant in the evaporator and the fluid in the tube. lThe separate enclosed control means is solely responsive to temperature changes within the chamber to be cooled, and because of its location and the character of the fluid contained th erein', a very accurate and sensitive control may be had of the operation of the refrigerat'ing apparatus.

Various changes can be made in the type of heat responsive structure shown, and other details of the control mechanism, without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of what is claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination with an artificial refrigerating apparatus supplied with power including a refrigerant evaporator of a temperature responsive device for controlling the operation of the apparatus, comprising: an elongated tube disposedwithin the evaporator and having one end vsecured to a. wall thereof and connected to the power supply for the apparatus, means at the opposite end of the tube for admitting refrigerant from the evaporator to the tube and means for controlling said latter means.

2. The combination with an artificial refrigerating apparatus supplied with power including a refrigerant evaporator of a temperature responsive device for controlling the operation of the apparatus, comprising: an elongated tube disposed within the evapora.- tor and having one end secured to a wall of the evaporator and connected to the power supply for the apparatus, a valve at the opposite end of the tube whereby refrigerant may be admitted thereto, and means projecting from the first mentioned end of the tube for operating the valve. Y

3. The combination with an artificial refrigerating apparatus supplied with power including a refrigerant evaporator of a temperature responsive device for controlling the operation of the apparatus, comprising: an elongated tube disposed within the evaporator and having one end communicating with a passageway in the head and connected to signature.

Lacasse frigerating apparatus supplied with power y including a refrlgerant evaporator of a temperatue responsive device for controlling the operation of the apparatus, comprising: an elongated tube disposed within the evaporator and having one end secured to a wall of the evaporator and connected to the posite end of the tube Wherebyrerigerant may be admitted thereto, and means operable exteriorly of the evaporator for opemng and closing the valve. i

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my JOHN R. REPLOGLE.

powersupply for the apparatus, a valve ower .supply for the apparatus, a valve at t e op-

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