US1974317A - Refrigerating machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 18, 1934- c. sTEENsTRuP REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1935 T Twve'ntor: Chvstiom Steenstrup, bg MM His Abbor-neg.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 REFRIGERATING MACHINE Christian Steenstrup, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corpora- .tion of New York Application April s, 193s, serial N0.'6s5,14

4 anims.

My invention relates to Vrefrigerating machines.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple, compact and eicient arrangement of a refrigerating machine having a forced draft air cooled condenser.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed l0 out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specication.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanyingvdrawing, in which Fig. 1` is a side elevation, partly in section, of a refrigerating machine embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another compressor casing and condenser for a -refrigerating machine embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I have shown a refrigerating machine, comprising a motor and compressor contained in a casing and an annular condenser 11 arranged about the casing 10 and secured thereto by heat radiating fins 12, the condenser being spaced from the casing to provide for the circulation of air. The compressor casing and condenser are mounted on a removable refrigerator cabinet top 13 below which 4an evaporator 14 is suspended on legs 15 for cooling a refrigerator cabinet. The compressor casingV 10 contains gaseous or vaporized refrigerant under high pressure produced by the compressor, and communicates with the condenser' 11 through a conduit 16. A flow control device 17 is connected between the condenser 11 and the evaporator 14 by conduits 18 and 19 for admitting liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser tothe evaporator, and preventing the ow of gaseous refrigerant thereto. A return conduit .20 is provided to convnect the evaporator 14 with the compressor casing 10, through which the refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator is withdrawn by the compressor.

In accordance with my invention, I construct the condenser 11 of a cylindrical inner metal shell 21 and an inverted cup-shaped outer metal shell 22, which is provided with a helical corrugation 23 in the portion in contact with the cylindrical shell 21. This corrugation forms a helical refrigerant conduit extending between the shells. upper end' of the shell 22' extends a substantial distance above the casing 10 and encloses a fan 24 driven by a motor 25 which is bolted to the top of the casing l0. The extension of the shell 22 provides an increased heat radiating area for the condenser. This fan produces al forced circula- The tion of air through the space between the casing 10 and the condenser 11 and about thegheat radiating fins 12. I provide louvers 26 in the upper portion of the cup-shaped shell 22 having sufficient area to permit substantially unobstructed passage of air circulated therethrough. In this way I.provide a refrigerating machine having a compact forced air refrigerant condenser. The construction of the refrigerant condenser 11 employing the shells 21 and 22 provides a maximum area in contact with the air passing through the space between the casing 10 and the condenser 11, so as to cool the condenser, the heat radiating fins and the casing. As the entire area of the heat radiating fins 12 is in the path of the forced air draft, a greatly increased cooling effect is obtained. The motor 25 is connected to an electrical circuit so as to operate the fan 24 whenever the motor and compressor of the refrigerating machine are in operation.

When the refrigerating machine shown in Fig. 1 is in operation, gaseous refrigerant is compressed in the casing 10 and flows out through the conduit 16 into thecondenser 11 Where it is cooled and liquefied by the currents of air produced by the fan 24 which is operated simultaneously with the compressor. Condensed refrigerant collects in the fow control device 17 and from there flows through the conduit 19 to the evaporator 14, where it is vaporized by absorption of heat from the refrigerant chambenand is then returned to the compressor by way of the conduit 20.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a compressor casing and condenser embodying a modification of my invention. Several elements in this vconstruction are identical with those in Fig. 1 and are designated by the same numbers. 'Ihis modification differs from that of Fig. 1 in thata shell is provided surrounding the entire condenser and secured to the top of the refrigerator to most effectively utilize the air circulated for cooling the condenser and casing. This embodiment of my invention provides a longer path for the forced air draft as it flows around the condenser on both sides thereof.

This construction includes a compressor casing 10 and an annular condenser 11 secured to the compressor casing in spaced relation thereto by radial heat radiating ns 12. Condenser 11 is. formed of the shell 27 secured to the heat radiating fins 12 and a corrugated shell 28 secured about the shell 27 and extending above the condenser and casing to form a protective shield for the motor 25 and fan 24 and to provide an extended heat radiating area for the condenser. The air circulated by the fan 24 is discharged from the open top of the shell 28. In order to direct the draft of air along both sides of the condenser 1l, I provide a cylindrical shell 29 secured to the refrigerator cabinet top 13 and spaced from the condenser 11.

It will'be'apparentthat in the operation of the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 2, the air circulated by the fan 24 will ow downwardly between the shells 28 and 29, so as to cool the outer shell 28 of the condenser 11, and then upwardly .between the inner shell 27 and the casing 10, so as to cool the inner shell 27 of the condenser the heat radiating fins and the casing. This circulation of air on both sides of the condenser 11 increases the cooling capacity thereof, and consequently increases the capacity of the refrigerating machine. 'Ihe refrigerating apparatus shown in Fig. 2 may be used with an evaporator connected thereto as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple, compact and efficient refrigerating system including a compressor casing and a forced draft air cooled condenser surrounding the same.

While I have described my invention in connection with a compressor refrigerating machine of a particular type, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the specic embodimentv shown and described, and intend in the appended A rugated lower portion forming a refrigerant condenser between said shells, and means including a motor driven fan arranged above said casing for producing a circulation of air around said ns and past said condenser to cool said condenser and said casing.

2. A refrigerating machine including a compression casing, a condenser including metal shells surrounding and spaced from said casing, means including a fan mounted above said casing for producing a circulation of air between said casing and said condenser, and means including an extension of one of said metal shells for enclosing said fan and for providing an extended heat radiating surface for said condenser.

3. A refrigerating machine including a closed compressor casing, a metal shell surrounding and spaced from said casing, a second metal shell secured to said first named shell and cooperating therewith to form a refrigerant condenser, a third metal shell surrounding and spaced from said second shell, and means including a fan arranged above said casing for producing a circulation of air downwardly between said second and third shells and upwardly between said casing and said first shell, one shell of said condenser being extended above said casing to provide additional heat radiating surface about said fan.

4. A refrigerating machine including a closed compressor casing a cylindrical metal shell surrounding said casing and arranged in spaced relation thereto, means including a motor driven fan mounted above said casing forl producing a circulation of air between said casing and said cylindrical shell, and an inverted cup-shaped shell surrounding said cylindrical shell and said motor driven fan, said cup-shaped shell having openings in the upper end thereof for permitting air to pass therethrough, said shells being sealed together to form a refrigerant condensing chamber.

CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP.

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