US1892822A - Fluid pumping - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1933. 1 F, wHrrNEY 1,892,822

l FLUID PUMPING Filed April 13. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan;*3, 1933. 1 Ffwl-nTNEY 1,892,822

y FLUID PUMPING I Filed April 1s. 1928 2 Sheets-sheet 'Y 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LYMAN F. WHITNEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO STATOR REFRIGERATION, INC., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FLUID PUMPING Application led April 13, 1928. Serial No. 269,712.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method vfor pumping fluid and more particularly to a heat exchange system,

such as a refrigerating system of the general character disclosed in the copending application of Eastman A. Weaver, Serial No. 733,699, filed August 23, 1924, now Patent N o. 1,761,555, and my copending applications Serin NOS. 159,342; 159,343; 159,344,159345 and 159,346, filed January 6, 1927, and now issued as Patents No. 1,756,802, No. 1,761,762, No. 1,761,606, No. 1,761,553,211161 N0. 1,710,910 as well as the copending application of Daniel F. ComstoclgSerial No. 198,715, filed June 14, 1927, all of which are incorporated by reference in the present application.

The present inventionv discloses a system wherein a propellent Huid is vaporized to pump a refrigerant Huid at one point and later is condensed and while in the liquid phase is again used to provide a further pumping effect, More particularly the present invention provides a refrigerating system wherein refrigerant vapor is entrained in a plurality of streams of a motive or propellent vapor in one part of the system, the refrigerant and propellent vapors being subsequently condensed and a portion of the condensed propellant -being utilized further to pump the condensed refrigerant, while another portion of the condensed-propellant may be utilized to pump objectionable gases from the system. This apparatus therefore includes a propellent circuit (or circuits) and a refrigerant circuit having portions in common, whereinthe propellent vapor pumps the refrigerant vapor and wherein the propellent liquid pumps the refrigerant liquid. Thus the energy resulting from vaporization of the Apropellant serves to lift it to a region where a. part of'its kinetic energy is consumed in effecting refrigeration, while subsequently potential energy of the condensed propellant is used to return condensed refrigerant to a cooler at a higher level than the remainder of the apparatus and also, `if desired, to pump objectionable gases from the system.

Apparatus of this character may include a single propellent fluid receiving energy at a single part of thecircuit in order to eifect refrigeration, to exhaust objectionable gases, thus permitting maintenance of a sub-atmospheric pressure Within the system, and to pump condensed refrigerant to a refrigerator upon an upper Hoor. Accordingly refrigerating apparatus of this character may be installed in a house with the major portion of its essential elements located in the cellar and only the cooler and the connecting piping located above the flrst floor so that s ace is conserved within and in the region o the refrigerator proper. Furthermore, this desirable result may be attained without necessitating the use of moving parts, aside from the liquids themselves which normally circulate within the system, and Without necessitating high pressure within the system. lThe latter end is best attained by initially evacuj ating the system to a low, sub-atmospheric pressure and by subsequently exhausting noncondensable gases from the system, thereby compensating f-or any `slight leakage of gas into the system. Thus one part of the present system is designed to collect non-condensable gases of this character and to entrain the same in a stream of the condensed propellent liquid which circulates in the system, e. g. mercury, the mercury stream taking the gas to a vessel which is open to the .atmosphere Vand permitting the gas to .rise to the surface of the liquid contained in this vessel whereby it may be exhausted to the air.

The objects set forth above may be attained with particular advantage in a multi-stage pumping system, such as is more fully disclosed in my above-identified copending application No. 159,343. In a system of this character the propellant is divided into a. plurality of parallel streams in each of. which the pumped iuid is entrained to provide multi-stage compression. As a consequence, this division of the propellent vapor permits the separate use of streams of condensed propellant, one for the pumping of the refrigerant liquid andthe other for the purging of the system of non-condensable gases.

Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the sub- ]'oined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of the main part of the heat exchange and pumping system;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the cooler and connecting thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, somewhat schematic in character, of the assembly shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic View of the system as installed in a house;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail through a typical as irator assembly; and

1ig. 6 is a sectional detail of a by-pass contro Referring to the accompanying drawings which exemplify one embodiment of the invention and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 4 thereof, it may be seen that a system of this character receives its energy from a boiler 1 provided with a suitable -heating factor 2, such as a combustion box adapted to receive a gas flame. Any suitable propellent liquid, such as mercury, may be vaporized in the boiler 1 and rise through pipe 3, the upper end of which is connected to aspirator jets 4 and 5.` As the propellent vapor passes through these jets, there is a large increase in velocity and decrease in the pressure of the mercury vapor stream.

Liquid refrigerant is contained in a cooler 6 which may be located in a refrigerator 7 upon a floor 8 above the remainder of the system which may be located in a casing 13 as shown in Fig. 4. The cooler 6 is connected by a pipe 10 with a mixing chamber 9 at the outlet of the first stage aspirator 5. Vapor is drawn from the surface of the liquid refrigerant contained in the cooler 6 and passes through the duct 10 being entrained in the mercury stream which gives 'up kinetic energy in compression duct 11, thus pumping the refrigerant Vapor. This compression duct preferably inclines downwardly from the. outlet of nozzle 5, with whichk it is substantially aligned, and it ma have any suitable cooling means 12 with su cient capacity to effect the condensation of the major portion of the mercury ata comparatively high temperature. A suitable drain 14 is disposed at the lower end of duct 11 and is adapted to remove the condensed mercury from the refrigerant vapor which passes into a duct 15 forming an upwardly extending continuation of the compression duct 11. The temperature of the duct 11 is normally below the condensation point of mercury, but above the condensation point of the refrigerant at the pressure conditions prevailing within the system, so that the refrigerant vapor flows upwardly through passage 15 and through suitable cooling factors 17 and 18 which are adapted somewhat to reduce the volume of the vapor as it passes to the second stage pump, as more particularly set forth in my copending application Serial No. 159,342. A downwardly extending continuation 20 of pipe 15 is adapted to emit this refrigerant vapor into the second stage mixin chamber 21 wherein the pumped vapor is again entrained in a stream of propellent vapor passing downwardly through the inclined compression duct 22 that has an outlet 23 at its lower end adapted to receive the condensed propellant.

Duct 22 has an upwardly inclined continuation 25 which is connected to the lower part of a refrigerant condenser 26. The latter has sufficient capacity to effect ready condensation of the refrigerant vapor flowing through the system and may comprise inclined pipes which are adapted to permit the iiow of condensed refrigerant downwardly to a point from which it is to be pumped to the cooler.

Suitable auxiliary drains 30 and 31 may be provided for the mixing chambers 9 and 21 respectively to prevent the pocketing of any portion of the mercury which may condense before it passes into the compression funnel. Preferably drains 30 and 31 join the common vertical pipe 32, the lower end of which terminates at pipe 113 that in turn is connected to the boiler 1.

I may conveniently connect the means for pumping the refrigerant liquid to the propellent drain of one compression funnel while` connecting the means for pumping the noncondensable gases to the other funnel, although it is evident that either or both of these pumping means may be associated with a single stage refrigerant pump if desired.

Referring first to the lneans for returning the liquefied refrigerant to the cooler 6, it will be seen that the drain 14 at the outlet of the first stage compression funnel 11 is provided with a trap 40 at its lower end to permit the existence of different pressures at opposite sides thereof. One leg of trap 40 is connected to the chamber 43 forming the lower end of condenser 26. Pipe 50 of small diameter extends downwardly from the bottom of chamber 43 and preferably terminates at its lower end in a separating chamber 51 while a duct 52 extends from the side of this chamber and continues upwardly to the cooler to permit return of liquid refrigerant therethrough. The bottom of chamber 51 opens into the pipe 55 which has a general downward inclination.

Refrigerant liquefying in condenser 26 and passing by gravity into duct 50 is carried down the duct by the propellant which, emptying into chamber 43, passes down the duct on its return to the boiler. Duct 50 has an internal diameter which will prevent a fluid (lighter than mercury) which is being forced down the pipe by reason of the weight of the propellant above it, from escaping upwardly either by passing through the pro 130 pellant itself or between the latter and the walls of the duct. In other words, the internal diameter of this pipe is so proportioned in relation to the surface tension of the propellant that globules of propellant in poul'- ing down the pipe act like miniature pistons adapted to hold a quantity of refrigerant therebetween. Thus the mixture of mercury and refrigerant passes downwardly to the separating chamber 51 whence the lighter refrigerant tends to pass outwardly into the mouth of pipe 52, while the heavier propellant continues downwardly through pipe 55. Pipe 47 joins duct 55 below the chamber 51 so that propellant may be by-passed abouty duct 50, should the latter become clogged.

`Obviously the pressures at the lower end of pipes 50 and 52 tend to be equalized, i. e. the pressure due to the weight of the liquid in pipe 50 and the pressure thereabove is balvanced by pressure due to the weight of the liquid in pipe 52 and the pressure thereabove.

Since the liquid in the smaller tube comprised Cil a mixture of a comparatively heavy fluid such as mercury with a lighter refrigerant, such as water, while pipe 52 from its top down to the bend where it enters trap 51 may contain nothing but the refrigerant, it is evident that the height of the column pipe 52 may be many times as great as the column in pi e 50, so that the upper end of duct 52 may be located in 'a region at a considerable heightabove the m'aj or portion of the system.

The amount of refrigerant which can be carried down duct 50 and so back int-o the cooler depends (other conditions such as temperature etc. being the same) mainly on the quantity of propellant passing down this duct and the vertical distance between the top of the duct and the height to which mercury would stand in duc-t 55 were no mercury or.

water returning through duct 50. In the arrangement shownthis height would be at level A A as explained in the aforementioned copending application of Daniel F Comstock.

Fig. 2 illustrates in greater detail the arrangement of the cooler and its connecting pipes. The upper end of pipe 52 is provided with a horizontal continuation 63 which normally will be located above the surface of evaporation 64a of refrigerant contained within the cooler 6. This refrigerant may be water or a caustic or other suitable solution of water if desired. In either case the vaporizable portion of the refrigerant is comparatively light. Pipe 63 joins a vertically disposed pipe 64, the lower end of the latter terminating in a suitable chamber 65 that may contain mercury or any similar fluid. Chamber 65 is connected to the bottom rof the cooler by a pipe 66 which joins the trap below the level of the mercury therein, while the cooler and trap are also connected by a second pipe 67 which opens out of the upper end minating in a horizontal continuation 70 and f opening into the vapor duct 10.

The upper end of pipe 64 is provided with an internal by-pass 72 controllable by an ex' terior handle 74 (Fig. 5) and with a connection 7 3 to the upper portion of the vapor duct 1,0. By-pass 72 is normally opened only' when the systeln is initially evacuated or when it is desired to let gas into the system. The purpose of this by-pass is to prevent any siphoning of water out of the cooler when air is admitted to the system or to prevent any wild surges in the cooler from occurring while air trapped in pipes 52 and 64 passes through the cooler in evacuating the system.

It is evident'that liquid refrigerant returning to the cooler-'through pipe 52 passes downwardly through duct 64 to the chamber 65. Although the lower end of pipe 64 is immersed in mercury the weight of the re-- frigerant plus the vapor pressure above it will depress the propellant which tends to stand in the pipe thus permitting refrigerant to pass around the bottom of the pipe, thence upwardly to the top of the mercury and thence through. chamber 65 and pipe 67 to the lower part of the cooler. In the meantime, any stray mercury particles which may have collected within the cooler 6 will tend to raise the level ofqmercury standing in chamber 65 and pipe 68.. The system is so arranged however'that any rise in levels will cause mercury to pass through pipe 70 into ductl l() and thence into the main mercurycontaining portion of the system so that there can be no substantial accumulation of mercury in the cooler.

Referring to the pumping system for purging the system for non-condensable gases, it may be seen that the same is connected to the second stage pumping means, although obviously it may be utilized in conjunction with a single stage aspirating system such as shown in the copending application of DanielF. Comstock, Serial No. 198,715, or it may be connected to the outlet of the same stage which effects the pumping of the liquid refrigerant or by the necessary rearrangement of the system the means for purging non-condensable gases from the system may be connected to the second stage pump and the refrigerant pumping means connected to the first stage pump. The drain 23 at the' lower end of the second stage funnel 22 is continued in an inclined duct 90 which in turn has an upwardly extending extension 91 that has a horizontally disposed intermediate portion 92 (Fig. 3) and that joins the lower side of'a horizontal passage 94. The latter may be adapted to receive non-condensable gases which tend to collect due to the pressure imposed upon this portion of the apparatus by the pumping of the vapor in the system and due to the failure of these gases to condense with the refrigerant or propellant. The horizontal portion 92 of pipe section 91 is connected to the upper end of a vertical tube 100 of small internal diameter, the lower end of which is connected to means subsequently to be described.

It will be evident that propellent liquid received in drain 23 passes through duct 90 to pipe section 91 and piling up 1n the same reaches the horizontal portion thereof at the upper end of pipe 100. Normally the horizontal passage 94 and the upper end of pipe 91 are filled with non-condensable gas received from the upper end of the condenser. The internal diameter of pipe 100 is also so determined in relation to the surface tension of the propellant and the conditions prevailing within the system that the mercury will flow downwardly through the same in globules or drops which will engage the walls thereof and in effect form miniature pistons. Obviously the gas will be caught between these mercury globules and become entrained in t-he falling mercury stream. The lower end of pipe 100 is connected to a vertically disposed pipe 101, the upper end of the latter enters a vessel 102 which is open to the atmosphere. Normally this vessel contains mercury, and the lighter gas leaving the lower end of pipe 100 passes upwardly to and through the mercury in Vessel 102 so that it is exhausted tothe atmosphere. With the uon-condensable gas to be pumped in this manner, the mercury globules will also entrain a small amount of the refrigerant vapor which will be present with the non-condensable gases in the upper end ofthe condenser. However, the amount of actual water that is thus exhausted is negligible even over a long period of time. Obviously the pressure due to weight of the liquid column in pipe 100 and the pressure thereabove always tends to equal the pressure due to weight of the mer# cury in pipe 101 and vessel 102 plus theatmospheric pressure thereabove. Since the system is preferably run at a sub-atmospheric pressure, the upper end of pipe 100 may be considerably higher than the surface of the mercury in vessel 102.

The horizontal passageway 94 may also be provided with a drain 110, the lower end of which is connected to the lower portion of pipe 101 so that in case of the accidental stoppage of liquid flow through pipe 100 the mercury may pile up in pipe 91 until it reaches passage 94, whereupon it may flow downwardly through pipe 110. Adjoining the upper part of pipe 110 is a short inclined pipe section 112, the lower end of' which joins another upwardly exten ling pipe 113 that terminates in the trap 34, whence the mercury is returned to the boiler.

Obviously the pressure due to the height of the liquid column in pipe 110 plus the pressure thereabove must equal the pressures due to the heights of the columns in pipes 101 and 100 plus the respective pressures thereabove so that mercury returning to the boiler via pipes 90 and 100 will pile up in pipe 110 until it reaches pipe 112 when it will start to flow down to pipe 24 and thence return to the boiler. Thus variation of athospheric pressure or of pressure conditions within the pipe 100 will not affect the pressure withintheboiler because this pressure is balanced by the height of the column in pipe 113 and the location of the upper end of that member is above the maximum height to which mercury in pipe 113 will have to rise to balance this pressure under all normal conditions of operation. Similarly the lower end of pipe coming from the refrigerant pumping means is connected to the lower end of pipe 101 and is also adapted to maintain a column of fluid equaling the pressure effects of the columns in the connecting pipes as modified by the pressures existing thereabove, so that the condition of the refrigerant pumping means does not directly affect the boiler pressure, since mercury returning to the boiler from this portion of the apparatus must also pass upwardly through pipe 110 and downwardly through pipe 113.

It is evident that apparatus of this character is adapted to operate at a low pressure which may be determined by the height of the mercury columns and which in many parts of the apparatus may be sub-atmospheric so that it is particularly desirable to exhaust non-condensing gases which leak into the system. It is furthermore evident that apparatus of this character makes use of the kinetic energy of vaporized propellant to effect refrigeration, permits the separate condensation of the refrigerant and propellant in different parts of the system and the joining of condensed propellant and refrigerant in still another partv of the system, whereby the refrigerant may be pumped by the falling propellant so that the cooler may be at a considerably higher level than the main portion of the apparatus. Furthermore another portion of the condensed propellant may be utilized to remove condensed gases from the system, the conditions of the separate pumping means being substantially independent of each other and not affecting the boiler pressure.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising two fluid circuits with two portions in common, a propellant in'one of said circuits and a pumped fluid in the other circuit, a vaporizer for the propellant, means whereby the vaporized propellant may pump vapor of the other fluid in one of said common parts, and means whereby liquid propellant may pump the other-fluid in its liquid phase in another common part of the two circuits.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising two fluid circuits with two portions in common, a propellant in one of said circuits and a pumped fluid in the other circuit, a vaporizer for the propellant, means in one of said common portions whereby the vaporized propellant may draw vapor from the surface of a liquid which contains said pumped fluid, means for condensing the vapors, and means in another common portion of the two circuits whereby one condensed fluid may pump the other condensed fluid.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising two fluid circuits with two parts in common, a propellant in one of said circuits and a refrigerant in the other circuit, a vaporizer for the propellant a cooler containing liquid refrigerant in said refrigerant circuit, means in one of said common parts whereby the vaporized propellant may draw refrigerant vapor from the surface of said liquid, means for the separate condensation of the two vapors, means including a passage of restricted size for permitting the entrainment of condensed refrigerant between' moving globules of condensed propellant, and means for separating the liquids that have passed through the passage to permit the liquid refrigerant to pass back to the point of its evaporation.

4. A refrigerating, system comprising a propellant vaporizer, a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, means wherein refrigerant vapor from the cooler is entrainedin a stream of the vaporized propellant, condensing means for the vapors and means wherein condensed refrigerant is entrained by liquid propellant.

5. A refrigerating system comprising a propellant vaporizer, a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, means wherein refrigerant vapor from the cooler is entramed in a stream of the vaporized propellant, separate condensing means for the vapors, common means for receiving the condensed vapors, and means subse uently separating the liquid refrigerantand propellant, whence the former may be returned to the cooler and when the latter may return to the vaporizer.

6. Refrigerating apparatus including a cooler, a vaporizer, means for entrainng vapor from the cooler in vapor from the vaporizer, means for condensin the vapors thus mixed, and means. where y the condensed vapors thus obtained may gather in a column connected to and balanced with a column of the liqueed refrigerant, the latter terminating at the cooler, whereby liquid may be returned to the cooler.

7. Multi-stage `refrigeratingl apparatus comprising a vaporizer, a plurality of rei gions where a vaporized propellant may entrain refrigerant vapor, a condenser for the propellant succeeding each of said regio-ns, a condenser for the refrigerant, a duct for collecting liquid from the refrigerant condenser, a second duct for receiving non-condensable gases collected in said condenser, a pipe for condensed propellant forming an outlet for each propellant condenser, one of said outlet` pipes being connected to the first duct to permit entrainment of refrigerant liquid in a stream of condensed propellent liquid, and means for separating the liquids and returning the refrigerant to the cooler and the propellant to the vaporizer, another outlet pipe being connected tothe second duct to permit entrainment of gas in the stream 'of propellent liquid, and means for separating the gas from the propellant and for returning the latter to the vaporizer.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, pumping means for drawing refrigerant vapor from said cooler to provide refrigeration, a refrigerant condenser, a vaporizer to supply motive fluid for said pumping means, and additional pumping means utilizing motive fluid exhausted from said first-named pumping means for returning condensed refrigerant from the condenser to the cooler.

9. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, means for drawing vapor from the surface of said refrigerant, a condenser for liquefying the vaporized refrigerant, said cooler being l0- cated above said condenser, means for pumping condensed refrigerant from the region of said condenser to said cooler, and a common source of energy for said last-named means and for said means for drawing refrigerant vapor from the cooler. y

10. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, means utilizing the vapor of a propellent fluid to entrain refrigerant vapor, thus effecting refrigeration, a condenser for liquefying the vaporized refrigerant, the cooler being located above said condenser, means for pumping condensed refrigerant from theA region of said condenser to said cooler, and a common source of energy for said last-named means Aand for said means for entraining refrigerant vapor from the cooler.

11. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, a propellant vaporizer, means utilizing vaporized propellant to entrain refrigerant vapor, thus effecting refrigeration, a condenser for liquefying the vaporized refrigerant, the cooler being located above said condenser, means utilizing propellant exhausted from said first-named means for pumping condensed refrigerant from the region of said condenser to sald cooler, and means for returning the propellant from the pumping means to the vaporizer.

12. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, a refrigerant condenser, a propellant vaporizer, parallel propellant circuits connected to the vaporizer, means in said`circuits to effect the multi-stage pumping of refrigerant vapor from the cooler by entrainment successively in the parallel streams of propellant, pumping means in one of said circuits utilizing energy from the propellant for pumping liquefied refrigerant from the condenser to the cooler, and pumping means in the other circuit for exhausting objectionable gases from the system.

13. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, a refrigerant condenser, a propellant vaporizer, parallel propellant circuits connected to the vaporizer, means in said circuits to effect the multi-stage pumping of refrigerant vapor from the cooler by entrainment successively in the parallel streams of propellant, pumping means rin one of said circuits utilizing energy from the propellant for pumping liquefied refrigerant from the condenser to the cooler, and pumping means in the other circuit for exhausting objectionable gases from the system, ducts for returning the propellant streams from their parallel circuits to the vaporizer, and means for bypassing the propellant about either of said last-named pumping means upon clogging thereof.

14. Refrigerating apparatus comprisinga cooler containing liquid refrigerant, a refrigerant condenser, a propellant vaporizer, parallel propellant circuits connected to the vaporizer, means in said circuits to effect the multi-stage pumping of refrigerant vapor from the cooler by entrainment successively in the parallel streams of propellant, pumping means in one of said circuits utilizing energy from the propellant for pumping liquefied refrigerant from the condenser to the cooler, and pumping means in the other circuit for exhausting objectionable gases from the system, ducts for returning the propellant streams from their parallel circuits to the vaporizer, said ducts being arranged so that the condition of either of the last-named pumping means does not directly affect the condition of the vaporizer.

t 15. A refrigerating system comprising a propellant vaporizer, a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, an aspirator connected to the vaporizer and adapted to permit entrainment of refrigerant vapor from the cooler in a stream of vaporized propellant, a propellant condenser adjoining the aspirator outlet. said condenser being located above said vaporizer, piping to direct condensed propellant from the condenser back to the 'vapor- `izer, a refrigerant condenser located below.

said cooler, and means whereby the condensed propellant may entrain condensed refrigerant in a portion of said piping .to pump the same back to the cooler.

16. A refrigerating system comprising a propellant vaporizer, a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, an aspirator connected to the vaporizer and adapted to permit entrainment of refrigerant vapor in the cooler in a stream of vaporized propellant, a propellant condenser adjoining the aspirator outlet, said condenser being located above said vaporizer` piping to direct condensed propellant from the condenser back to the vaporizer, a refrigerant condenser located below said cooler, a duct of small diameter included in said piping whereby the propellant may drop through the same in globules, means at the upper end of said duct to permit entrainment of condensed refrigerant between said globules, a separating chamber at the lower end of said duct, a connection between said chamber and the cooler for returning refrigerant to the latter, and a connection between the chamber and the vaporizer for returning propellant to the vaporizer.

17. A refrigerating system comprising a propellant vaporizer, a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, an aspirator connected to the vaporizer and adapted to permit entrainment j of refrigerant vapor in the cooler in a stream of vaporized propellant, a propellant condenser adjoining the aspirator outlet,said condenser bein located above said vaporizer, piping to direct condensed propellant from the condenser back to the vaporizer, a refrigerant condenser located below said cooler, a duct of small diameter included in said piping whereby the propellant may drop through the same in globules, means at the upper end of said duct to permit entrainment of condensed refrigerant between said globules, a separating chamber at the lower end of said duct, a connection between said chamber and said cooler for returning refrigerant to the latter, and a connection between the chamber and the vaporizer for returning propellant to the vaporizer, said connection including ,a pipe of determined height above the vaporizer to maintain a liquid column substantially independent of the conditions within the remainder of the system, said column being arranged to balance the pressure within the vaporlzer.

18. The method of utilizing a single source of energy to effect refrigeration and to pump condensed refrigerant, comprising the vaporizing of a propellant, entraining of refrigerant vapor from a cooler in a stream of the vaporized propellant, separately condensing the propellant and refrigerant vapors, and entraining the latter between globules of the former to pump the latter back to the cooler.

19. Refrigeratin apparatus comprising a propellant vaporizing factor, a cooling factor containing liquid refrigerant and located at a different level than said vaporizer, the propellant and refrigerant liquids having different weights and the heavier of these liquids being located in the lower one of said factors, an aspirator disposed between the vaporizing and cooling factors, said aspirator being arranged to effect entrainment of refrigerant vapor from the cooler in a stream of propellant vapor from the vaporizing factor, means for the condensation of said vapors, a downwardly extending duct of small diameter adapted t' receive one of said condensed fluids entrained ,tween globules of the other uid, the lower part of said duct being connected to a separating chamber, an upwardly extending pipe connected to the side of said chamber, a downwardly extending pipe connected to the bottom of said chamber, one of said pipes being connected to the Vaporizing factor and the other to the cooling factor, whereby the heavier liquid may be returned to the lower of these two factors and the lighter fluid may be returned to the upper factor.

20. The method of obtaining refrigeration p with apparatus having a cooler at a level considerably higher than the major portion of the,x apparatus without necessitating high internal pressures, which comprises vaporizing a heavy propellant, entraining vapor from a light refrigerant liquid in a stream of the vaporized propellant, condensing the vapors at a point above the propellant vaporizer, causing movement of globules of the condensed propellant downward toward the vaporizer, entraining condensed refrigerant between said globules to form a column of the liquids, separating the refrigerant from the globules so that a column of the lighter refrigerant is formed to balance the column of mixed propellent globules and refrigerant and to have a greater height than the latter column, and returning refrigerant from the top of the refrigerant column to the cooler.

21. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, a vaporizer containing a heavier liquid propellant, condensing means for saidl vapors, means connected to the cooler and condensing means to permit the pumping of refrigerant vapor from the cooler by propellent vapor from the vaporizer, a pipe of restricted diameter receiving refrigerant and propellant thus lcondensed and arranged so that the former is entrained between globules of the heavier propellant, means ,for separating the refrigerant thus entrained and directing the same to the cooler, and means for returning the pro ellant from the separating means to the vaporizer.

22. .Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cooler containing liquid refrigerant, a vaport izer containing a heavier liquid propellant,

an aspirator connected to the cooler and to the vaporizer to permit propellant vapor to nump refrigerant vapor from the cooler, condensing means for the vapors located below the cooler, a downwardly extending tube of restricted diameter arranged to receive liquid refrigerant-and a part of the condensed propellant from said means, a duct connecting said tube to the cooler, whereby refrigerant is separated from the propellantand is lifted under the pressure of the globules thereof to the cooler, and means for returning the propellant from the tube to the vaporizer.

23. The method of obtaining refrigeration with apparatus having a cooler at a level higher than that of the major portion of the apparatus, which comprises drawing refrigerant vapor from the cooler, condensing this refrigerant vapor, causing the movement of globules of a liquid heavier than the refrigerant downwardly through a restricted passage, entraining bodies of liquid refrigerant between said'globules to form a column of refrigerant and heavy liquid globules, separating the refrigerant from the globules so that a column of the lighter refrigerant is formed to balance the first-named column and to have a greater height than the same, and returning refrigerant from the top of the refrigerant column to the cooler.

24. The method of obtaining refrigeration with apparatus having a cooler considerably higher than the major portion of theapparatus which comprises vaporizing a heavy liquid by boiling, employing the vapor of the heavy liquid to draw refrigerant vapor from the cooler, condensing the heavier liquid, condensing this refrigerant vapor, causing the movement of globules of the heavier liquid downwardly through a restricted passage, entraining bodies of the condensed refrigerant between said globules to form a column of refrigerant and heavy liquid globules, separating the refrigerant 'from the globules so that a column of the lighter refrigerant is formed to balance the first-named column and to have a greater height than the same, and returning refrigerant from the top of the refrigerant column to the cooler.

25. The method of obtaining 'refrigeration with apparatus having a cooler considerably higher than the major portion of the apparatus which comprises vaporizing a heavy liquid by boiling, employing the vapor of the heavy liquid to draw refrigerant vapor from the cooler, condensing the heavier liqlid, condensing this refrigerant vapor, causing the movement of globules of the heavier liquid downwardly through a restricted passage, entraining bodies of condensed f refrigerant between said globules to form a column of refrigerant and heavy liquid globules, separating the refrigerant from the globules so that a column' of the lighter refrigerant is formed to balance the first-named column and to have al greater height than the same, returning refrigerant from the top of the refrigerant column to the cooler, directing the heavy liquid to the top of a column of the same and introducing liquid from the lower end of this column into the boiler.

26. The method of refrigeration which involves the employment of a system including a cooler and a condenser and a duct of restricted diameter comprises the circulation of a refrigerant through the cooler and condenser by means of another working fluid of the system, thereafter employing one of said fluids to pump the other fluid to complete its circuit by introducing globules of one of the fluids in the duct of restricted diameter with bodies of the other fluid entrapped therebetween, and supplying suflicient energy to one of said Vfluids to pump the other fluid through said duct against an opposing pressure.

27. A refrigerating system comprising means utilizing the vapor of a heavy propellant liquid to pump the vapor of a lighter refrigerant in order to produce refrigeration, condensing means for the vapors, a tube of restricted diameter connected to the condensing means to receive condensed refrigerant and propellant, said tube being arranged so that bodies of refrigerant are entrained between globules of the heavy propellant, means at the end of the tube to separate the liquids, a duct for returning the propellant from the separating means to the vaporizer and a duct for directing the refrigerant from the separating means to the cooler.

28. Refrigerating apparatus employing refrigerant and a second fluid, said apparatus comprising a refrigerant circuit including a cooler, a second fluid circuit including a boiler, said circuits having a common part wherein the second fluid is effective in drawing refrigerant vapor from the cooler, condensing means, a tube of restricted diameter connected to said condensing means, said tube being arranged to receive alternate bodies of refrigerant and globules of the second fluid whereby one of the fluids pumps the other through the tube, said circuits being arranged to return the refrigerant and second fluid from said tube to the cooler and vaporizer respectively.

29. Refrigerating apparatus employing refrigerant and a second fluid, said apparatus comprising a refrigerant circuit including a cooler, a second fluid circuit including a boiler, said circuits having a common part wherein the second fluid is effective in drawing refrigerant Vapor from the cooler, condensing means, one of said circuits including a liquid column extending above the condensing means, lifting means for supplying liquid to said column, said lifting means including a tube of restricted diameter connected to said condensing means, said tube being arranged to receive alternate bodies of refrigerant and

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