US1868961A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1932.` E, 1 AHRENS 1,868,961

REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1929 "kuur IE-@ INVE'NTO Z l Y6 m,

ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 19@

UNITED sTATEs PATE-.NT OFFICE EDWIN J'. AHRENS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, -TO BUEBEN ELI OTTENHEIMER, OF BALTIMORE,

BEFBIGERATING APPARATUS Application led August 24, 1929. Serial No. 388,138..

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus. One of its objects is to provide improved .means to render the contents lof refrigerated show-cases clearly visible from the exterior and prevent deposits of dust or moisture upon the transparent panels thereof. Another object is to provide for one or more chambers in communication with the spaces between the double transparent walled sections of the` walled sectlons of a refrigerated show-case a chamber in communication with a plurality of spaces between said plural walls so arranged as to cause an automatic circulation from one of said spaces through said chamber into another of said spaces, a dehydrating substance in said chamber in the path of said circulation, and preferably means to remove and replace said dehydrating substance if and when required. My"invention also comprisescertain details of form and arrangement, and combination of components, all of which will be fully set forth "in the description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Flg. 1 1s a central vertical section through a refrigerated show-case embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detailtaken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detachable container for a'dehydrating substance.-

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, illustratin a modification.

ig. 5-is a front view of a portion of the ap aratus shown in-Fig. 4.

t is desirable to employ refrigerated showcases for the display ofmeats, candies, and other goods requiring refrigeration, and in order to prevent excessive refrigeration losses,

it is requisite'to employ two or more glass panels with interposed sealed air spaces to' act asl insulating' spaces. In practice these sealed air spaces are not entirely free from moisture, and are not entirely free fromdust,

and upon the application of refrigerated air to the inside transparent panel and relatively much warmer air to the outside panel, a condensation of moisture or combined moisture and dust is liable to occur locally so as to materially obscure .vision through the transparentwall sections of the refrigerated showcase, and to also materially detract from the appearanceof the show-case.` Where a'dehydrating substance is sealed into the spares between the transparent wall sections, if a leakage of moisture occurs, an abnormal accumulation of moisture in the leaking space is liable to occur, necessitating removal 'of the panels and repairs.

In order to obviate these various difficulties, I provide either with each space between transparent panels, or with each group of s aces, a chamber having communication t rough one or more conduits with said space, l

or with the respective spaces of a group, so arranged as to cause a natural or automatic draft under iniluenceof the material differences in tem erature from said chamber to and from said space, or from one of the spaces of a group through said chamber and into another of said spaces.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one i embodiment of my invention, in which 15 re resents the framework of a show-case. e front of the show-case is illustrated as comprising three transparent panels, 16, 17, and 18, set in the framework 15 'andspaced apart by means of parting strip 19, and 20, to form arm chambers 21 and 22, which are sealed oft' from communication with the exterior or interior of the casing by varnishng vthe joints or similar sealing means. A transparent panel 23 is mounted in the top of the casing 15. A door 24 is hinged at 25 and latched 'at 26, and provided with two glass panels 27 and 28, and an interposedV air space 29. If desired two or more panels with interposed air spaces may be emp oyed in place of the single panel`23 at the top of the casing. The ends ofthe casing are preferably provided with two or more transparent panels with interposed air spaces similar to those shown at the front of the casing. A chamber 30 is thus provided within the casing to hold and display the goods to be vended. The door 24 gives access to the chamber 30 to introduce and remove the goods. A refrigerating coil 31, through which cold brine or gas is circulated, serves to keep the chamber 30 and its contents refrigerated to any desired extent. The air spaces between the transparent panels act as heat insulating members, and reduce the refrigerating losses, while at the same time enabling the goods within the chamber 30 to be observed from the exterior of the casing.

The lower sections of the parting strips 19 are provided each preferably with two or more perforations 32, and the parting strips 20, preferably with two or more perforations 33. Beneath the parting strips 19 and 2O is placed a fine mesh wire screen 34 extending beneath the perforations 32 and 33. Located in the wall of the casing 15 is a chamber 37 closed by means of a detachable lid or plate 35, located either in the front or rear face of the wall of the casing 15. A tray or container 36 is located detachably in the chamber 37 and serves to hold a dehydrating substance, such as calcium chloride. Interposed between the plate 35 and the adjacent wall of the container 36 is a body 39 of heat insulating material, sheet cork, for instance. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plate 35 is held in place by means of a series of screws 38. Ports 40 lead downwardly from the perforations 32 and screen 34 to the chamber 37. Ports 41 lead downwardly from the perforations 33 and screen 34 to the chamber 37.

Since the temperature to which the panel 18 is exposed is much lower than the temperature to which the panel 16 is exposed, the air in the lspace 22 is cooled below the temperature in the space 21, and the air in space 21 is lower than the temperature of the air outside of the panel 16. Also the application of low temperatures from the chamber 30 to the panel 18 causes cool air currents to flow downwardly along the face of the panel 18 within the space 22. and counter currents to How upwardly within space 22 along the face of panel 17 and other places wherever the air is warmer than at the face of the panel 18. In a similar manner air currents are set up within the space 21 downwardly where low temperatures exist, along the face of panel 17, and upwardly along the face of panel 16, for instance. Similar air currents are set up within the air space 29 and at the ends of the casing.

It is of minor importance to keep the space 29 free from moisture as it is not directly in the View of customers, and is not used by customers to view the contents of chamber 30. The transparent panels and air spaces at the ends of the show-case are preferably but not necessarily dehydrated as described for the front panels and air spaces, as the front panels are chiefly in View and chiefly employed by customers to view the contents of chamber 30.

The air within the air spaces such as 21 and 22 contains a certain amount of moisture, and the moisture and dust tend under the influence of refrigeration within the chamber 30 to deposit upon the faces of the panels such as 16, 17, and 18, and to reduce their transparency, and the ability of customers to see the goods within the chamber 30 through said panels and to materially detract from the appearance of the show-case.

By connecting the spaces such as 21 and 22 by means of ports such as 32 and 33 with thechamber 37, there are formed connecting channels which serve both to connect the A'chamber 37 with the space 21 so as to provide for a circulation of air from space 21 to and from the chamber 37, and also to provide for an air circulation from space 22, where a plurality of air spaces are employed to and from the chamber 37, and also where a plurality of air spaces are employed to provide an air circulation through the chamber 37 to and fro from air space 21 to air space 22. The container 36 and its contents comprising a dehydrating substance being located in chamber 37 in the path of air currents flowing through chamber 37 to and from the air spaces, enables and insures the continuous removal of any moisture from the air sealed within the air space or spaces and communieating chamber 37, thereby causing the dust to settle out by gravity and the panels to continue in a clean transparent condition as when first assembled. At intervals of six months to a year, or more often in humid localities, the lid 35 and insulation 39 may be removed and the container 36 removed and cleaned and its dehydrating contents renewed, after which the container 36 is replaced and the chamber 37 sealed by replacing the insulation 39 and the lid 35. In the modification Figs. 4 and 5 a lid 52 corresponding to the lid 35 of Fig. 1 is detachably held in place by means of a latch bar 53 hinged at 54 and latched to the casing 15 at 55. A hand lever 56 is pivotally attached to the middle portion of the bar 53 and provided with an eccentric 57 to bear upon and hold the plate 52 in place, and at the same time provide a means adapted to more quickly detach and replace the lid 52 than the screws shown in Fig. 1.

It is impossible without excessive expense to entirely or completely seal air within the spaces so as to prevent introduction of moisture therein from time to time, and the means herein 4Shown and described provides for an pearance, and provides for renewal of the dehydrating material all at a minimum of attention and expense.

The apparatus herein shown and described is capable of considerable modification within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: n 1. In a refrigerated show-case a casing enclosing a refrigerated chamber, a window to display the contents of said refrigerated chamber comprising a plurality of transparent panels delining an interposed substantially sealed air space, a chamber containing Y' a dehydrating substance located in the wall of said casing having a port leading therefrom to said substantially sealed air spaces and an-entrance from one face of the casing Wall, a lid detachably attached to the face of said casing t-o close the entrance to said dehydrating chamber and readily releasable lever mechanism operable to hold said lid detachably in place, the port leading from said air space to said dehydrating chamber being of sufficient capacity to maintain a circulation of air to and fro from said air space to said dehydrating chamber.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a window frame,.a plurality of spacedv panes mounted in said frame to provide space between said panes, strips spacing said'panels from each other, a dehydrating chamber located in the wall of said casing, ports communicating with the spaces between said panels and the dehydrating chamber, a removable tray in said dehydrating chamber, a moisture absorbing medium located within said tray, said dehydrating chamber having a door communicating therewith, means comprising a layer of heat insulated material located between said door and said tray for preventing the entrance of heated air to the said chamber and alatch on said door for holding the same in readily releasable position said latch having means for tightly holding said door` against said casing.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, a window frame, a plurality of spaced panes mounted in said Aframe to provide space between said panes, strips spacing said panels from each other, a dehydrating chamber located in the wall of said casing, ports communicating with the species between said panels and the dehydrating chamber, a removable tray in said dehydrating chamber, a moisture absorbing medium located within said tray, said dehydrating chamber having a door communicating therewith, means comprising a layer of heat insulated material located between said door and said tray for preventing the entrance of heated air to the said chamber and a latch on said door `for holdin the same in readily releasable position said atch having means for tightly holding said door against said casing including a cam portion movable against said door.

In testimony whereof I have' aixed my signature.

EDWIN J. AHRENS.

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