US1930808A

US1930808A - Cooling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1930808A
Application number: US641032A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin F Hulbert
Original assignee: PETROLAGAR LAB Inc
Current assignee: PETROLAGAR LAB Inc; PETROLAGAR LABORATORIES Inc
Priority date: 1932-11-03
Filing date: 1932-11-03
Publication date: 1933-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1950-10-17

Description

Oct. 17, 1933. E. F. HULBERT COOLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1932 EQ2/Jb Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,930,808 oooLiNo- ArrAnATUs Edwin F. `Hulbert, Glen View, lll., assigner to Petrolagar Laboratories, incorporated, Niles Center, lill., a corporation of Delaware Application November 3, 1932.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved cooling apparatus of a type particularly adapted for cooling fluids. l

It is an object of this invention to provide a cooling apparatus which will serve to cool fluids, such as for instance, liquids, at a relatively rapid rate, and with a high degree or efficiency and economy, and further, to provide a cooling apparatus adapted for use with a cooling medium of 10 any suitable character such as for example, water or any other desired medium. v

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cooling apparatus provided with relatively large cooling surfaces of material having high heat conductivity and between which is provided a relatively thin space for the substance being cooled and through which the substance being cooled may be passed continuously at a relatively rapid rate, and with only a relatively small volume of the substance being cooled contained therein at any one time.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cooling apparatus in which the two cooling surfaces move relative to each other and whic' exerts a positive forcing pressure on the substance being cooled whereby the substance is positively fedthrough the cooling apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cooling apparatus, the cooling surfaces of which are always maintained free and clear of the substance being cooled whereby it is admirably adapted for cooling various substances such as emulsions which tend to thicken or congeal when cooled.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cooling apparatus of cylindrical formation having an inner rotating drum mounted in a stationary cylinder with a space therebetween for accommodating the substance to be cooled and in connection with which the inner drum rotates in a manner to exert a positive feeding force on the substance being cooled and -to operate Scrapers which Ythoroughly cleanse the cooling surfaces.

These and other objects not specifically enumerated are contemplated for this invention as will readily appear to one skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

The particular example of the invention hereinafter described maybe better understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a cooling apparatus constructed in accordance with this in- Serial No. 641,032

(Cl.v 257-111) vention, shown partly in cross section for disclosing the interior construction thereof, and

Figure 2 is a plan cross sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

By referring to the rdrawing it will be noted that this invention is illustrated as embodied in a cooling apparatus comprising an outer cylindrical member 1l) which is closed at the top by a plate 1l and at the bottom by a plate l2. The wall of the cylindrical member l0 is hollow to 65 provide an internal space 13 for accommodating a cooling medium. The space 13 is interrupted by a partition and strengthening web ll which is arrange in spiral formation so thatthe internal space 13 will also be of spiral formation. cooling medium employed enters at the top through pipe 15, which connects with pipe 16, controlled by valve 17 whereby the cooling medium,which may be water, air or any other desired fluid, enters directly through the outer wall the cylindrical member l0 into the top portion of the spiral cavity 13. After-passing through the spiral cavity 13 the cooling medium is then discharged through pipe 18, controlled by Valve 19, into pipe 20.

Thetop and bottom plates 11 and 12 are provided with

bearing openings

21 and 22 respectively which bearing openings are located to a slight degree eccentrically with respect to the cylindrical member 10. Top and bottom plates 11 and 12 are secured and sealed by a suitable means not shown, to the cylindrical member 10 so that the closed cylinder formed thereby will be tightly sealed against leakage of the fluid substance passing therethrough for cooling.

Internally of the cylindrical member 10 is an inner rotating drum 23, which is provided with double side walls forming the coolingl medium space 24. Here again, a spiral partition and strengthening web 25 is provided so as to form a 95 spiral passage in the space 24 for the cooling medium. Communicating with the upperportion of the spiral passage is a duct 26 which is formed in the upper wall 27 of the inner cylindrical drum which duct passes upwardly as at 28 100 through the hub or shaft 29 provided centrally of the upper Wall 27. The discharged cooling medium passes through a discharge duct 30 formed in; the bottom wall 31 of the inner cylindrical drum which duct passes downwardly as at 32 105 ,through the hub or shaft 33 provided centrally of the lower wall 31. The upper and

lower shafts

29 and 33 are mounted respectively in

bearings

21 and 22 previously referred to and each is sealed against leakage by means of a gland 34 and pack- 110 can ist

mg whereby the inner drum may be rotated without leakage of iiuid passing through the interior thereof.

From an inspection of Figure 2, it will be noted that at spaced intervals, on the surface of the inner drum, radially extending guideways 36 are provided in which blades 37 are mounted. These blades extend the iull height of the drum and are pressed outwardly by means of springs 38 so that their outer edges always contact the inner surface of the outer cylindrical member 10.

The cooling medium for the inner drum is supplied through

ducts

28 and 39` the latter of which is in communication with a collar 40 rotatably mounted on shaft 29 and provided with an internal annular groove 41 in communication with duct 39. Annular groove 4l of collar 40 also communicates with pipe 42 and pipe 16 and thence to a source of supply of the cooling medium. The discharge from the inner drum, after passing through duct 32 passes into the opening 43 and collar 44 which collar has a rotary iit on the end of the shaft 33. From thence, it passes to pipe 45 on to the discharge pipe 20. Inlet pipe 42 and outlet pipe 45 are controlled by valves 46 and 47 respectively. It is to be understood that collars 40 and 44 are provided with suitable packing whereby a iuid medium may be continuously passed into and out of the inner drum without leakage while permitting rotation of the drum. The drum may be rotated from a source of power, not shown, such as by a worm in mesh with the worm gear 48, mounted on the upper end of the shaft 29.

From an inspection of Figure 2 it will be noted that the iiuid to be cooled is fed into the apparatus at the bottom thereof through pipe which is in communication with the opening 51 provided in the bottom plate 12. Opening 51 leads upwardly and communicates with the space between the cylinder member 1G and the inner drum 23 at a Ypoint in the circumference substantially as represented in the drawing. The discharge is at the top through pipe 52 which communicates with the channel 54 which leads in to the top of the space between the cylindrical vmember in the drum at a point in thecircumference substantially as represented in the drawing. In other words, it will be noted that the arrangement of the inner rotating drum with its sliding vanes and the position of the inlet and outlet openings is similar to a rotary pump having an eccentrically mounted rotor with sliding vanes Wherefore the rotation of the drum will exert a positive feeding force on the substance being cooled and thereby cause it to pass rapidly through the lcooling apparatus.

It will be further noted that this construction provides a relatively narrow space 55 between the inner surface of the outer cylinder member and the outer surface of the inner drum which space is crescent shape and extends throughout the entire height of the apparatus; that the space is surrounded by cooling walls of metal vor other substance of high heat conductivity and that spirally arranged passages are provided in the walls of the inner drum and outer cylinder for the continuous passage of the cooling medium therethrough. As the substance to be cooled passes from the bottom upwardly, and the cooling medium passes from the top'downwardly, a very efficient cooling action is provided with the progressive but rapid removal of heat from the substance being cooled. The eccentricity oi the axis ofthe inner drum with respect to the outer cylinder is such that the Walls thereof come into substantial contact as at 56 so that no material can accumulate on the surface of the inner drum, Likewise, by the action of the sliding vanes which continuously scrape the inner surface of the outer cylindrical member, these walls are kept clean at all times. This fact makes for greater efliciency in that ace cumulations of the material on the walls is prevented such as would tend to insulate the walls and interfere with the conduction of heat to the cooling medium.

The apparatus is further subject to very accurate control because any desired cooling medium may be selected and the rate of flow of the medium to the walls of the cylinder and drum may be selected as desired. Furthermore, passage of the `medium being cooled through the cooling apparatus may be determined by the speed of rotation of the drum wherefore a very accurate and positive control is provided. As above pointed out the passage or the medium being cooled through the cooler is positive in character wherefore it must enter and leave in a definite time interval which provides very accurate timing for contact with the cooling surfaces.

The apparatus of this invention is obviously adapted for cooling all sorts and types of fluids either gaseous or liquid and has particular usefulness in connection with coolingliquid substances such as milk, or the like. By way of illustration, this Ycooler is being nowv successfully used with excellent results in connection with the preparation of emulsions composed of mineral oil and a suspension oi agar-agar in water, in which practice the temperature of the emulsion is lowered from approximately 120 degrees F. to substantially 60 or 'ZOdegrees F. in a period of less than one minute, with artesian well and Y" chilled water, as the cooling medium. In this practiceffour units of the type here disclosed are placed in series and the rotation of the drums so timed as to cause 'the passage of the emulsion through all four units in a period of Yless than one minute. Artesian well lwater is used in the rst two units and chilled water in the second two units.

It is to be noted that a relatively large cooling surface is provided whereby the substance be- Y ing cooled is presented in the form of a relatively thin massin contact with cooling surfaces on both sides and yet the apparatus is free'from clogging due to the scraping action and the positive feeding of the substance through the apl paratus.

In the preparation of the emulsion above referred to there is a decided tendency for the emulsion to thicken or congeal at the lower temperature, particularly on the chilling surfaces,

Vbut with the present apparatus, no dihculty on this account is met with, due to the continuous scraping and cleaning action provided.

It will be noted from the foregoing that this invention provides a new and improved cooling apparatus which embodies all of the objects speciied therefor. The above disclosure is given merely by way of illustration and should not be considered as limiting the invention in any respect as the scope of this invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cooling apparatus comprising a closed cylinder and al drum in said cylinder mounted eccentrically thereto, said cylinder and drum ICU being adapted for relative rotary movement and to provide therebetween a relatively narrow crescent shaped cooling chamber, the walls of said cylinder and drum having internal spirally arranged cavities for accommodating a cooling medium.

2. A cooling apparatus comprising a closed cylinder and a drum in said cylinder mounted eccentrically thereto, said cylinder and drum being adapted for relative rotary movement and to provide therebetween a relatively narrow crescent shaped cooling chamber, the walls of said cylinder and drum having internal spirally arranged cavities for accommodating a cooling medium flowing in one direction and inlets and outlets to said cooling chamber for the ilow of a substance to be cooled in a counter direction.

3. A cooling apparatus comprising a closed stationary cylinder, a drum in said cylinder rotatably mounted eccentrically thereto providing a crescent shaped cooling chamber between said cylinder and drum, cavities for cooling medium in the walls of said cylinder and drum, and movable vanes mounted on the surface of said drum for sliding contact against the inner surface of said cylinder said cooling chamber having inlets and outlets disposed respectively adjacent the opposite ends of said crescent chamber.

4. A cooling apparatus comprising a closed stationary cylinder, a drum in said cylinder rotatably mounted eccentrically thereto providing a crescent shaped cooling chamber between said cylinder and drum, cavities for cooling medium in the walls of said cylinder and drum, and movable vanes mounted on the surface of said drum for sliding contact against the inner surface of said cylinder, said cooling chamber having inlets and outlets disposed respectively adjacent the opposite ends of said crescent chamber and respectively at the top and bottom of said apparatus.

5. A cooling apparatus comprising a closed stationary cylinder, a drum in said cylinder rotatably mounted eccentrically thereto providing a crescent shaped cooling chamber between said cylinder and drum, spiral cavities in the walls of said cylinder and drum for accommodating a cooling medium for iiow in one direction, movable vanes mounted on said drum for sliding contact against the inner surface of said cylinder, and inlets and outlets for said cooling chamber disposed respectively adjacent the opposite ends of said crescent chamber.

6. A cooling apparatus comprising a closed stationary cylinder; a drum in said cylinder rotatably mounted eccentrically thereto providing a crescent shaped cooling chamber between said cylinder and drum, spiral cavities in the walls of said cylinder and drum for accommodating a cooling medium for iiow in one direction, movable vanes mounted on said drum for sliding contact against the inner surface of said cylinder, and inlets and outlets for said cooling chamber disposed respectively adjacent the opposite ends of said crescent chamber and respectively at the top and bottom of said apparatus for iiow of substance to be cooled in direction opposed to the flow of saidA cooling medium.

EDWIN F. HULBERT.