US1886656A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1932' LE ROY A. DROESCHER 1,836,656

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27. 1931 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES LE ROY A. DROESCI-IER, 0F WILLOW GROVE,

PATENT OFFICE PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO C. H.

Y, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed February 27, 1931. Serial No. 518,6?9.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to that type in which water or other material is cooled or frozen in cans or receptacles immersed in a cooling medium.

In accordance with my invention the receptacle for the water or other material to be cooled or frozen, and herein for brevity styled a can, is provided on its exterior with fins or strips, in contact with the cooling medium, and in good heat conducting relation with respect to the walls of the can.

More particularly in accordance with my invention the can is disposed within and spaced from an outer casing in which the fins or strips are so disposed as to form a plurality of multiple passages through which the cooling medium passes in definitely defined paths for definitely controlling circulation of the cooling medium with respect to the can, for increasing the velocity of the cool ing medium with respect to the can, and in general for accelerating the absorption of heat from the can into the cooling medium.

Further in accordance with my invention the casing falls short of the upper end of the can; and the can falls short of the lower end of the casing which latter is associated with further structure for defining a compartment communicating with the circulating system for the cooling medium.

Mv invention resides in structure of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention, and for an illustration of some of the forms it may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View, partly cut away, of can structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of can structure generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1, in association with means for effecting communication with the circulating system for the cooling medium;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, showing the can structure as disposed in a tank through which cooling medium is passed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a modified form of can structure;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 45.

Referring to Fig. 1, a can C of rectangular form, or any other suitable form including circular or cylindrical, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises the wall 1 of sheet metal or other suitable material of high heat conductivity.

lVelded, soldered, riveted or otherwise secured in good heat conducting relation with the outer sides of the wall 1 are the fins or strips 2,-preferably of sheet metal or other material of high heat conductivity. The fins or strlps 2 are suitably spaced from each other and are preferably disposed entirely around the can C. I

Surrounding and spaced from the can C isthe casing or housing K of any suitable material, preferably sheet metal. The fins or strips 2 are preferably attached at several convenient points to the inside of the casing K in any suitable way, as by welding, soldering or the like.

In my preferred arrangement the can C, fins or strips 2 and the outer casing K constitute a unitary can structure.

The can is provided with a bottom of any suitable structure. In the examples illus trated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom B is countersunk or dished, its downwardly extending flanges 3 extending to or adjacent the bottom of the can 0.

The can terminates short of the lower end of the housing or casing K, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, so that between the bottom B of the can and other suitable structure there may be formed a compartment through which the cooling medium is passed to or from the spaces between the fins or strips 2. In the examples illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the lower end of the casing K rests in a groove in the sealing member D of wood or other material resting upon or set into the bottom A of a tank in which the cans are disposed and to and from which flows the cooling medium such as cold brine, as indi-v cated in Fig. 3. The bottom of the casing K, the can bottom B, the sealing member D and the tank bottom A form a compartment E several cans communicate with a suitablemanifold 5 into which the cooling medium from a suitable source is delivered, passing thence through the pipes 4 into the comp'artments E upwardly through the multiple passages defined by the fins 2 and the walls of the can and casing, to thetop edge ofthe casingKfwhere it overflows short of the top of the can Gintothe-tank T which with its bottom A may be constructed o-fany suitable material, "for'ex-ample concrete, as indicated.

Withinfhe concrete may 'be embedded suitable metallicstructure 6 itself forming, if desired,-a closed sheet metaltank embedded in concrete ort'helike. VVithin thetank T is disposed a Wall or weir 7 which extends substantially to the same height as the casings K for maintai'ning within the compartment inwhichthe'several cans C are disposed a full height o'f'cooling medium notwithstanding irregularity in rate .of withdrawal of cooling'medium through the outlet pipe '8 opening into the "comp artment at the right of the weir 7 and preferably at a point substantiallybelow thetop of the weir. A

Figs. 4 and '5 indicate that'the can and its casingma y beofany other suitableshape; inthis example,"circular or cylindrical.

In Fig. "4 the casing K isitselfprovided with a bottom 9; spaced below thelower ends of the fins 2 and the bottom of the can C to form the compartment communicating withthepipe 4 for supplying cooling medium. In this instanceftheupper end ofthe pipe-*4 mayterminate in a tapered portion upon whichfits aitapered opening in the casingbottom-Q. fUpon'th'e bottom ;9 or'the pipe 4 may be provided amember-10, reinforcing thestructure at-and adjacent thepipe 4.

Can structure of the character'illustrated in Fig. 4itwill beu'nd'erstood may be used in the brinetankin-lieu oi'zthose specifically indicated in Fig.3.

By mystructurethe fins'serve more rapidly toiconduct 5 heat from the can L to the cooling medium. The'multiple passages between'the fins servealso to-increase the velocity of the cooling medium over the surface from which it is to absorb heat and at the same time serve definitely to control the 1 circulation of the cooling medium iandlini, general 'acceleratethe transfer of' heat into the cooling medium.

'lhe adva'ntages of-canstructure in accordance with my invention iareeevid'ent 'when compared with the -connnon practiceoif circulating brineior cooling medium in a tank in which are disposed r'ows of .cans or freezing receptacles, which system is characterized by stagnation or slow movement of a large proportion of the cooling medium outside of the more direct path or paths of circulation, resulting in low efiiciency. In accordance with my invention, however, the cooling medium is-definitely controlled; the entire periphery of the can isoperatingaat substantiallynniform and high efiiciency in effecting-heat transfer #to the cooling medium. Y-The'fins or strips, with their metallicbond to the can jproper, not; on-ly increase the area through which heat transfer may be effected, but definezipa'ssages -forzthe'cooling medium resulting in higher overall efficiency of the refrigerating or ice making system.

Structure of the characterhereindisclosed may 1 be utilized with any suitablesystem'for circulating the brine or cool-ingmediumyand for adequately lowering. its "temperature "to produce the degree of refrigeration desired, such as'th'e freezing of water into artificial ice. A suitable systenifor providing, circulating and lowering the temperature'of the cooling medium is disclosed inmy 'c'opending application Serial No. 521,414, filed .M'arch 10, 1931. I

Each receptacle unit, comprising a can'with its casing and appurtenances, isindividually removable and replaceable, and has adetachable connection with "the source of "cooling medium,

What I claimis':

A receptacle for material to berefrigerate'd comprising a'can, a casino surrounding andspaced' therefrom, and fins disposed within the space between said can and easing defining multiply connectedpassages for the cooling medium, said casing extending below the'bottom-of said-can to forma wall of a compartment for cooling medium communicating with said passages. V I

2. A receptacle for material to'berefrigerated comprising a can, a-casing surrounding and spaced therefroimand fins disposedwithin'the space between said can and easing defining multiply connected passages for the cooling medium, said casing extending below the bottom of said can, meansfor closing-off the bottom ofsaidcasingto forma compart ment with which saidrpassages communicate, and a cooling medium connection with. Esaid compartment.

3. A receptacle formaterial to be refriger- 1 ated comprising -a. can, acasing-surrounding and spaced-therefrom,'and fins disposed-within zthe spa"ce between said canvandacasing de-' fining multiple passages forthe cooling medium, said casing-extending-ibelow the bottom of saidican, and itself" openvatdts lower end, a'member forming 'a joint between the-lower end-of :said lcasing an d the wall lof'za tank to form below the bottom of the-Joan: a comp'artment communi'catingwvith: said-passages; and

a fluid medium connection with said compartment.

4. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casin surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within the space between said can and casing defining multiple passages for the cooling medium, said casing having a bottom spaced from the bottom of said can to form a compartment communicating witn said passages, and a cooling medium connection with said compartment.

5. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within the space between said can and casing defining multiple passages for the cooling medium, said casing terminating short of the top of said can, said casing extending below the bottom of said can to form a wall of a compartment for cooling medium communicating with each of said passages.

6. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within the space between said can and casing defining multiple passages for the cooling medium, said casing and fins terminating short of the top of said can, said casing extending below the bottom of said can, and means ex tending across the lower end of said casing to define a compartment for coolin medium communicating with each of said passages.

7. The combination with a tank for refrigerating medium, of a plurality of refrigerating receptacles disposed therein, a source of supply of refrigerating medium, each of said receptacles having a casing within which it is disposed, and fins disposed within the space between the receptacle and casing defining multiply connected passages for the cooling medium, and connections from said source of supply to said casings individually for applying to said receptacles multiple streams of cooling medium overflowing the tops of said casings into said tank.

8. The combination with a tank for refrigerating medium, of a plurality of refrigerating receptacles disposed therein, a source of supply of refrigerating medium, each of said receptacles having a casing within which it is disposed, and fins disposed within the space between the receptacle and easing defining multiply connected passages for the cooling medium, connections from said source of supply to said casings individually for applying to said receptacles multiple streams of cooling medium overflowing the tops of said casings into said tank, a weir in said tank extending substantially to the height of said casings, and an outlet for the refrigerating medium on the side of said weir opposite to said receptacles.

9. The combination with a refrigerating can, of fin structure on the exterior thereof forming multiple passages for the refrigerating medium, a compartment with which said passages respectively communicate, and means connecting said compartment with a source of supply of refrigerating medium.

10. In combination with a receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, fins disposed within the space between said can and easing defining multiple passages for the refrigerating medium, a compartment with which said passages respectively communicate, and means connecting said compartment with a source of supply of refrigerating medium.

11. In combination with a receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced there from, fins disposed within the space between said can and casing defining multiple passages for the refrigerating medium, said casing terminating short of the top of said can, and inlet structure adjacent the bottom of the can connecting said passages with a source of supply of refrigerating medium.

12. In combination with a receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, fins disposed within the space between said can and easing defining multiple passages for the refrigerating medium, said casing terminating short of the top of said can, inlet structure adjacent the bottom of the can connecting said passages with a source of supply of refrigerating medium, and means for causing the refrigerating medium to flow upwardly through said passages and to overflow at the upper edge of said casing.

13. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within the space between said can and casing defining multiple passages for the refrigerating medium, said casing and fins terminating short of the top of said can, said casing having a portion extending below the bottom of the can for connecting said passages with a source of supply of refrigerating medium.

LE ROY A. DROESOI-IER.

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