US1933256A - Method and apparatus for refrigerating and carbonating - Google Patents

Description

oct. 31, 1933. J, Q GOOSMANN 1,933,256

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATING AND CARBONATING Original Filed May 10, 1931 PrmurgAaaafJ WI /2 I 8 15 //////l l/ll/I/l/l/ I I B ,T/Kmwhlw E INVENTOR Jusfus C. Gamma/m BY. his ATTORNEYS. IA +S LI Patented 9on3 1933 ro STATES METHOD APPARATUS I FOR REFRIG- ERATING AND CARBONATING Justus O. Goosmann, Mount Vernon, N. Y., as-

signor to American Dryice Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application May 10, 1930, Serial No. 451,244, now Patent No. 1,926,278. Divided and this application April 7, 1931. Serial No.

10 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a method and apparatus by means of which liquids and solids may be refrigerated and, if desired, liquids carbonated.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a refrigerating and carbonating apparatus employing a solid refrigerant, such as solid carbon dioxide.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus by means of which a solid refrigerant, such as solid carbon dioxide, is changed to the gaseous phase, then changed to the liquid phase, employed as a refrigerating medium while in the liquid phase, and then changed again to the gaseous phase to be used for impregnating and carbonating purposes.

A further object ofthis invention is the provision of an apparatus for utilizing refrigerating media, such as carbon dioxide, in accordance with the above phase changes.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 451,244, filed May 10, 1930, now matured into Patent No. 1,926,278.

These and many other objects, as will appear from the following disclosure, are attained by means of the method and apparatus of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, relative location of parts, steps and series of steps, all as will beexplained in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing:

The figure is a diagrammatic view with some parts in cross-section of a combined refrigerating and carbonating or impregnating apparatus.

The prime purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerating and liquid impregnating or carbonating apparatus for the use of a solid refrigerating medium such as, for example, solid carbon dioxide or other solidified gases. In the form of apparatus shown in the figure both refrigerating and liquid impregnating apparatus have been shown in a single system, but it is of course apparent that a complete system employing the principles of this invention need only comprise either the refrigerating apparatus alone or the liquid cooling and impregnating apparatus alone.

The apparatus and method of this invention will be best understood by direct reference to the disclosure in the drawing and a description of the operation of the apparatus disclosed therein. At 1 is shown a suitably constructed chamber which may be in best practice covered with heat insulating material. This chamber is provided with a cover 2 which may be closed in gas tight relation with the chamber by means of any suitable locking mechanism 3. The confined volume formed by this closed chamber has been indicated by the reference letter A. At 4 is a pressure control valve connected to the interior of the chamber and of adjustable construction, so that it will automatically maintain any desired gas pressure within the chamber. Such a valve is of well known construction in many forms and need not be described in detail here.

Near the top of chamber 1 is an exit port 5 to which is connected a pipe 6 which terminates in the cylinder of pump '7. Pump '7 is of the ordinary type which takes in the medium being pumped on the suction stroke and expels it on the compression stroke. The delivery port of the pump is connected by pipe 8 to one end of the pipe coil 9 disposed within chamber 1. The other end of the coil 9 is connected by pipe 10 to the inlet of the float valve 14. The float valve 14 is shown disposed within the refrigerating chamber 13. At 12 is diagrammatically illustrated a' fluid pressure operated switch which controls the circuit for the motor which operates the pump '1. The fluid pressure actuated switch 12 has been shown diagrammatically, since many forms of it are well known in the art. A pipe 11 extends from pipe 10 to the fluid pressure actuated member of switch 12.

The outlet port of the float valve 14 is connected to one end of the refrigerating coil 15. The other end of these coils is connected to the thermostatic valve 16 which has also been disclosed diagrammatically, since numerous forms of it are well known in the art. A thermostatic tube 17 exposed to the temperature within the refrigerating chamber 13 is connected to the thermostatic valve in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art. The confined space provided by the refrigerating chamber 13 has been indicated by the reference letter B. Valve 16 is connected by pipes 18 and 20 to the outlet port of Arranged in chamber C is a pipe coil 24 which is connected at one end to pipe 20. A liquid inlet connection to chamber C is shown at 26. At 27 is a thermostatic valve which connects with chamber 0 through pipe 28 and which also connects with this chamber through passage 29, so that the fluid in chamber C may flow through valve 27 tocontrol its operation.- It has the purpose of controlling the flow of refrigerant through coil 24 with relation to the temperature of the liquid in chamber C.

The outlet of coil 24 is connected to pipe 30 through valve 27. Pipe 30 is connected to pressure regulating valve 46. This valve is provided with a pressure gauge 47 and is connected to chamber D by pipe 48. Near the bottom of chamber D is the fluid outlet pipe 50. 31 represents a closure member which fits over the opening of wall 25. The closure member 31 is secured to a,

vertical pipe 32 which opens into chamber C at its lower end. In this pipe is a valve 34 which is operated by means of the float 33 which slides vertically on pipe 32.

The valve 34 is operated by lever 38 which is connected by the link 37 to lever 36 which is pivoted at one end on the float and at its other end on link 35 which in turn is supported at its upper end on the pipe. The top of tank 23 is provided with a cover 43 through which extends a centering and securing means for the upper end of pipe 32. This means consists of a rod having a conical end 45 for engagement with the upper end of pipe 32 and for closing the end thereof. The rod is operated by the hand wheel 44 and may be moved vertically by reason of its threaded engagement with the hole in the cover through which it passes. Secured to the vertical pipe 32 are 'a series of pans. The pans 40 are of smaller diameter than the pans 41 which are disposed under them. Openings 39 are provided in pipe 32 just above the pans 40. Near the top of the casing 23 is provided a gas blow-01f valve 42 which may be adjusted to maintain any desired gas pressure within chamber D.

It may be well to briefly point out here that the pressure regulating and gas blow- oil valves 4, 19, 42 and 46 are of the same construction. These valves are very well known in the art and are usually but not necessarily of the diaphragm type which may be adjusted so that they will not operate to permit the escape of gas or liquid until a predetermined pressure is exceeded. Likewise, the float valves 14 and 21 are of usual and wellknown construction for maintaining a predetermined liquid level. The thermostatic valves 16 and 27 are also of well-known construction as is the thermostatic control tube 17.

The operation of this apparatus is as follows: First, it may be pointed out that refrigerating chamber B may be used in the system without the liquid cooling and impregnating tank 23. Likewise, the refrigerating chamber B may be eliminated and only the tank 23 employed. They are both shown in the same system to illustrate the economy of the present invention in utilizing one source of solid refrigerating medium for refrigerating, cooling and impregnating materials.

While the operation of this apparatus will be described in connection with solid carbon dioxide, it may be pointed out .that any suitable solidified gas may be employed. Solid carbon dioxide is placed in chamber A in the form of small pieces or lumps which are piled within and around the coil 9. Cover 2 is then closed and sealed by means of the locking means 3. As the solid carbon dioxide evaporates the gas formed is withdrawn through port 5 and pipe 6 by means of pump 7. The gas is compressed and delivered through pipe 8 to coil 9. This gas travelling through the coil 9 embedded in the cold solid carbon dioxide is condensed. The heat of compression taken on by the gas is exchanged through the walls of coil 9 and supplies the heat of vaporization for the solid carbon dioxide. As a result the gas in coil 9 is sufiiciently chilled to liquefy it. As an actual matter of fact, coil 9 may be called a condenser coil.

It may be well to point out here that although a pump 9 is shown for insuring circulation of the gas and liquid, it is not essential since. such circulation may be secured by the temperature gradient in the cycle. In other words, the gas produced in chamber A could be directly conducted into coil 9 through which it will flow downwardly and condense by reason of its own pressure. However, to accelerate the flow of the medium and to insure definitely the change in condition from vapor into liquid, the use of a compressor, such as illustrated, is at least desirable even if not entirely necessary. The valve 4 acts to maintain a predetermined gas pressure within the chamber A and permits the escape of excess gas when this pressure is exceeded. The condensed liquid then flows down through pipe 10. If the pressure in pipe 10 exceeds a predetermined amount, the pressure actuated switch 12 opens a circuit to the motor which drives the compressor shutting it down until such time as the pressure within pipe 10 falls suiiiciently to permit switch 12 to close. The liquid flowing through pipe 10 is delivered to both float valves 14 and 21. These float valves maintain a predetermined liquid level therein and allow the wet vapors coming oil the liquid to enter the cooling pipes 15 and 24. The cold liquid in pipe 15 serves to cool chamber B, and similarly the liquid in coil 24 00018 the liquid in chamber C which is delivered therein through pipe 26. This liquid may, for example, be water which it is desired to carbonate. The temperature in chamber B is controlled by thermostatic valve 16 which receives the vapors coming from coil 15. A further control is efiected by the thermostatic tube 17 which is located within chamber B so as to be subject to the temperature therein. The gases which exit from the thermostatic valve 16 are conducted through pipes 18 and 20 to the coils 24. Any surplus gas in these pipes is expelled through the exhaust valve 19. The gas and liquid carbon dioxide delivered to coil 24 serves to cool the water as it passes through chamber C.

The dry carbon dioxide gas coming from coil 24 is then conducted through pipe 30 to the pressure regulating valve 46 which is so adjusted as to deliver gas into chamber D at the proper carbonating pressure. It is interesting to point out here that as is well known, the cooler a liquid is the more easily it may be impregnated with gas for a given pressure. Thus the cooling coils 24 are utilized to chill the water to be impregnated with gas to thus aid in its absorption of gas in chamber D. The water passes from chamber C upwardly through pipe 32 and is delivered into pans 40 through openings 39. It then trickles over the edge of pans 40 into pans 41 and falls over the edge of them to the bottom of chamber D. During this movement of the water, carbon dioxide gas from chamber D is absorbed by it. Float valve 33 operates to maintain a desired water level within chamber D. The gas impregnated or carbonated water is drawn oil through the discharge pipe 50. 'As pointed out before, valve 42 acts to relieve chamber D of any excessive pressure. The outlet from coil 24 is also controlled by the thermostatic valve 27. as well as the pressure regulating valve 46, and since the gas volume coming through the refrigerating coils is ample a constant gas pressure is maintained in chamber D.

It is only when both float valves 14 and 21 are shut off that the pressure in pipe 11 builds up sufilciently to open switch 12.

It will be apparent then by means of this apparatus that solid carbon dioxide may be employed to do useful refrigerating work in the most eflective manner.

In the systems disclosed, it is apparent that the apparatus is adaptable for use in effecting low temperature refrigeration within stationary or portable refrigerators, such as those used in the home or on trucks, refrigerator railway cars and "other carriers. In fact, the principles of this invention may readily be applied to any form of refrigerating chamber and gas impregnating or carbonating apparatus.

It will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that I have devised an apparatus involving certain principles of construction and operation which may be embodied in many physical forms without departing from these principles, and I do not therefore desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure given for purposes of illustration, but

rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A method of cooling and carbonating liquids by utilizing solid carbon dioxide comprising the steps of sublimating solid carbon dioxide, circulating the carbon dioxide gas formed through solid carbon dioxide to condense it into liquid carbon dioxide, circulating the liquid carbon dioxide through a body of liquid to be treated to chill it and mixing carbon dioxide gas with the chilled liquid.

2. A method of cooling and carbonating liquids by utilizing solid carbon dioxide comprising the steps of sublimating solid carbon dioxide, circulating the carbon dioxide gas formed through solid carbon dioxide to condense it into liquid carbon dioxide, circulating and evaporating the liquid carbon dioxide in proximity to a body of liquid to be treated to chill it, and mixing the carbon dioxide gas formed with the chilled liquid under pressure to carbonate it.

3. In a cooling and carbonating apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a condenser coil and a cooling coil connected together, a tank for the condenser coil, a connection between the interior of the tank and the condenser coil, means in said connection for insuring the circulating of cooling medium therein, a chamber for the cooling coil having a liquid inlet therein, a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, and a connection between the cooling coil and the second chamber to secure delivery of gas thereto for mixture with the liquid delivered into the second chamber.

4. In a cooling and carbonating apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a condenser coil and a cooling coil connected together, a tank for the condenser coil, a connection between the interior of the tank and the condenser coil, means in said connection for insuring the circulation of cooling medium therein, a chamber for the cooling coil having a liquid inlet therein, a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, a connection between the cooling coil and the second chamber to secure delivery of gas thereto for mixture with the liquid delivered into the second chamber, and means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level within the second chamber.

5. In a cooling and carbonating apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a tank to receive solid carbon dioxide, a condenser coil in said tank in communication with the interior of the tank, a cooling coil connected to said condenser coil, a float valve in the connection between the coils, a chamber for the cooling coil through which the liquid to be cooled and carbonated passes, a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, means for controlling the flow of liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber, and a connection from the cooling coil to the second chamber to effect the delivery of carbon dioxide gas into the second chamber.

6. In a cooling and carbonating apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a tank to receive solid carbon dioxide, a condenser coil in said tank in communication with the interior of the tank, a cooling coil connected to said condenser coil, a float valve in the connection between the coils, a chamber for the cooling coil through which the liquid to be cooled and carbonated passes, a second chamber in communication .with the first chamber, means for controlling the flow of liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber, a connection from the cooling coil to the second chamber to eilect the delivery of carbon dioxide gas into the second chamber, and means in the second chamber for effecting an intimate mixture of the liquid and gas delivered thereinto.

7. In a combined cooling and carbonating ap paratus,'the combination comprising a tank, a condenser coil in the tank, a connection between the condenser coil and the interior of the tank, two cooling coils each connected to the condenser coil, a container for each cooling coil, the container for one of the cooling coils being arranged to permit the circulation of liquid therethrough, a carbonating chamber connected to the chamber through which liquid circulates, means for controlling the delivery of liquid to the carbonating chamber, a connection between the cooling coil in the chamber through which liquid circulates and the carbonating chamber, and means for effecting an intimate mixture between the gas and liquid delivered to the carbonating chamber.

8. A carbonating device of 'the type described, comprising a container having two compartments, 9. connection between the compartments including means for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, a cooling coil in one of the compartments, a connection between the cooling coil and the remaining compartment, and a thermostatic valve in said connection subject to the temperature of the liquid.

9. In a refrigerating device as described, the combination comprising a container having a cooling compartment and a carbonating compartment, a liquid inlet connection to the cooling compartment, a cooling coil in the cooling compartment, a liquid connection between the cooling compartment and the carbonating compartment, means for controlling the delivery of the liquid from the cooling compartment into the carbonating compartment, a pipe connection bemaaase partment, a-cooling coil in the cooling compartment, a pipe connection between the cooling coil and the carbonating compartment, a pipe connection between the cooling compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and means in this second pipe connection for controlling the delivery oi liquid into the carbonating compartment and for maintaining a desired liquid level therein;

JUSTUS C. GOOSMANN.

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