US1982375A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

F. CONRAD ET AL 1,982,375

REFRIGERATOR Filed July 8, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1934.

INVENTOR F.Conrm;d & C. Aolborg BY ATTORNEY WITNESS Nov. 27, 1934- F. CONRAD ET AL REFRIGERATOR Filed July 8, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HI T | I'll.

NVENTOR F -Gonrad l- C- Anibal-Q ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1934. F. CONRAD ET AL REFRIGERATOR Filed July '8 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR EConrod C. Annual-Q BY 0v, Q1; wwv

ATTORNEY WITNESS Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STA REFRIGERATOR Frank Conrad and Christian Aalborg, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 8, 1927, Serial No. 204,401

12 Claims.

Our invention relates to refrigerators, more particularly to refrigerators of the compression type and of small capacity, suchas are suitable for household use, and it has for an object to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall operate more effectively, quietly, efficiently and reliably than apparatus of this character heretofore constructed. It has fora further object to provide a refrigerator in which all of the working or moving parts are entirely enclosed in a hermetically sealed casing, whereby leakage of the refrigerant fluid, as well as lubricant, is prevented.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent upon the further description of our invention, may be attained by the employment of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, in sectional elevation, showing one form of refrigerator arranged in .accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 3, of the compression unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line IIIIII, of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are partial, sectional views taken on the lines IV+IV and V--V of Fig. 3, respectively; a

Fig. 6 is a view, in elevation, of that portion of the compressor unit shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the condenser shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the condenser with the hood removed;

Fig. 9 is a view, in elevation, of the condenser;

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the evaporator or cooling element shown in Fig. l; and,

Fig. 11 is an end view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the evaporator shown in Fig. 10.

It has heretofore been proposed to construct domestic refrigerating machines wherein the compressor and the motor for driving the compressor are hermetically sealed in a single, fluidtight casing so as to avoid the requirement for a stufling box or gland in order to prevent leakage of both the refrigerating fluid and the lubriv eating fluid. However, in machines of this charact-er, it has been customary to provide an external fan driven by a separate and independent mo or for creating a forced circulation of air over the condenser in order that the necessary heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor may be dissipated. However, in machines of this character, the external fan requires periodic attention, such as oiling, etc., so that the idea of providing a refrigerating machine capable of operating indefinitely without any care or attention is defeated. As a result of the foregoing, it has been proposed to locate the compressormotor unit together with its enclosing casing, as well as the condenser, upon the top of the refrigerator box, and to permit the heat generated by both the compressor and the motor, as well as the heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor to be radiated to the atmosphere. However, there is some objection to this arrangement in that the compressor-motor unit, as well as the condenser, must be located in an exposed position where'it is open to viewand where it. becomes rather unsightly in a relatively short period of time due to the natural deposit thereon of dust, dirt, grease, etc.

We have, therefore, devised a form of refrigerating machine in which all the moving or working parts are totally enclosed, but which, atthe same time, permits the compressor and. motor unit, as well as the condenser, to be so located, with respect to the refrigerator box structure, that they are entirely hidden fromview, so that the appearance of the entire refrigerating unit may always be of the highest order. We accomplish the foregoing by providing a hermetically sealed compressor-motor unit in a bottom or lower compartment of the refrigerator box structure, the unit being so arranged that the heat generated by both the compressor and the motor is radiated through the walls of the enclosing casing. In addition, the condenser is preferably located upon the rear wall of the box and is arranged to have a natural draft circulation of air thereover for absorbing the heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor. In this way, the motor-compressor unit, as well as the condenser unit, may be properly cooled without requiring any external fan, or separate motor for driving the fan. At the same time, the motor-compressor unit, as well as the condenser, are so located that they are not exposed to view and, consequently, do not detract from the appearance of the refrigerator box structure.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of our invention, we show in Fig. 1 a refrigerator box structure 10, embodying front and rear walls 11 and 12. Located in the upper portion of the refrigerator box structure is a cooling or food storage compartment 13, and located in the lower portion is a machin ery compartment 14. The cooling compartment 13 is provided with an access door 15 in the usual manner, while the machinery compartment 14, is preferably provided in all of its walls, except the rear wall, with suitable ventilating openings or louvers 16. The rear wall of the machinery compartment may be left entirely open except for the box supporting structure 17 and the machinery supporting structure 18.

Located within the machinery compartment 14 is a compressor-motor unit 19 which is supported upon a suitable bracket 20 carried by the machinery supporting structure 18. Also supported upon the machinery supporting structure 18 and located upon the rear wall 12 of the box is a condenser 21, while disposed within the cooling compartment 13 is the cooling element or evaporator 22. The evaporator 22 is supported upon a removable portion 23, forming a part of the rear wall and carried by the supporting structure 18, the opening in the rear wall being sufiicient to permit the evaporator 22 to be withdrawn therethrough. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the motor-compressor unit 19, condenser 21 and the evaporator 22, together with the machinery supporting structure 18, may be entirely removed from the refrigerator box structure as a single unit. This is especially advantageous in servicing the machine as the entire machinery may be readily replaced although its different elements are located in relatively different portions of the box structure.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, for a detailed description of the motorcompressor unit 19. As shown in Fig. 2, we provide a casing 31 consisting of a central cylinder or sleeve member 32 equipped at its respective ends with suitable enclosures 33 and 34. The enclosures 33 and '34 are retained against the cylinder 32 by means of flange rings 35 and tension members or bolts 36 spaced circumferentially about the cylinder 32 and so arranged as to hold both the enclosures 33 and 34 in fluid-tight engagement with the central cylinder 32. Suitable gaskets or soldering strips 3'7 may be provided between the enclosures and the cylinder for insuring a hermetic seal.

Provided within the cylinder 32 is a partition wall or spider 38 dividing the casing 31 into, what may be termed, a motor-chamber 39 and-a compressor-chamber 41. Located within the motor chamber 39 is a motor 40 having its stationaryelement 41 supported directly in the cylinder 32 and its rotating element 42 connected by means of an annular cup-shaped member 43 to a drive shaft 44. The latter is retained in suitable bearings 45 and 46 provided in a longitudinally ex-.

tending sleeve 4'7 formed upon the partition wall 38. I

Located within the compressor chamber 41 is a compressor 51 which is of the reciprocating, oscillating cylinder type. The compressor 51 comprises essentially a crank pin 52 provided on one end of the drive shaft 44. Operatively connected to the crank pin 52 is a piston rod- 53 rigidly secured to a piston 54. Associated with the piston'54 is a cylinder 55 arranged to oscillate upon a journal 56 located in a face plate 57. The face plate 57 forms with a portion of the partition 38 a suction chamber 58 having a refrigerant vapor inlet 59, shown in Fig. 2. Suitable inlet ports 61 are provided in the face plate 57, as well as the cylinder 55, for permitting the admission of refrigerant vapor to the latter, while suitable discharge ports 62 are located oppositely in the cylinder. Suitable discharge valves 63 of the spring-flap type are associated with the discharge ports 62.

The cylinder 55 is retained in bearing engagement with'the face plate 57 by means of a yoke 64. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the yoke 64 is composed of suitable lugs 65 provided on the partition wall 38, and a bridge plate 66 secured to the lugs by means of screws or bolts 67. The cylinder 55,.as well as the bridge plate 66, are provided with cooperative journal portions 68 which together with the journal 56 maintain the axis of oscillation of the cylinder. A spring 69 is interposed between the bridge plate 66 and the cylinder 55 for retaining the latter at all times in bearing engagement with the face plate 5'7.

Referring again to .Figs. 2 and 3, the lower portion of the partition wall 38 is provided with drainage holes '71 for permitting the passage of lubricant, while located in the upper portion of the partition wall 38 is a'suitable opening '72 for permitting the passage of refrigerant vapor. Provided in the upper portion of the casing is a compressed refrigerant vapor outlet '70.

Secured to the compressor end of the drive shaft 44 is a pinion '73 which meshes with a gear 74 journaled upon a pin '75 fixed in the partition wall 38, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The pinion 73 and the gear '74 are utilized for effecting a splash system of lubrication for the working parts of the compressor and the motor, a

'level of lubricant being normally maintained posed about the pinion and gear '73 and '74, as

well as the compressor, is a baille 7'7 which defines with the casing 31 a lubricant splash chamber '78. The lower portion '79 of the baffle '78 is preferably perforated so that the foreign particles are prevented from reaching the gear '74.

As shown in Fig. 3, the axis of the compressor is inclined at a slight angle below the horizontal but above the level of the lubricant, the pinion '73 and the gear '74 being utilized to splash the lubricant upon the working parts of the compressor. The gear '74 is preferably constructed of some material, suchas fiber, which will insure silent operation. The pinion '73 is provided with a counter-weighted portion '79 so arranged as to compensate for the unbalance created by rotation of the crank pin.

Lubricant is conveyed to the bearings 45 and 46 by means of spiral grooves 81 provided in the drive shaft 44,- the lubricant discharged from the bearing 45 being returned to the lubricant chamber '78 by a passage 82 located in the sleeve 4'7. Lubricant is conveyed to the cylinder 55 by means of passages 83 and 84 provided in the connecting rod 53 and the piston 54, respectively. Suitable supporting feet 85 are provided on the cylinder 32 for supporting the entire unit upon the bracket 20. 1

Referring now to Figs. '7 to 9 inclusive, the condenser 21 comprises essentially a refrigerant vapor intake manifold 91 and a refrigerant condensate outlet manifold 92. Connected at their respective ends to the manifold are two condenser coils 93 and 94 connected in parallel and so arranged that free drainage is insured to the condensate outlet 92, the coils being preferably formed in the manner illustrated. A housing 95 encloses the condensing coils 93 and 94 and forms a vertically extending flue 96, open at the lower end 97 and provided at its upper end with a perforated hood 98, so arranged as to prevent stoppage of the air passage through the flue as may be caused by the placing of any foreign articles upon the top of the flue. As shown in Fig. 1, the casing 95 is preferably extended above the condenser to the top of the refrigerator box in order to produce as much draft as possible. Suitable brackets 99 are provided within the casing 95 for retaining the coils 93 and 94 in position. Apertures 100 are provided in the frame structure 18 and in,the condenser supports 95 for the reception of suitable bolts to fasten the condenser to the frame structure 18.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, the evaporator or cooling element 22 embodies a casing 101, having a suitable access door 102 provided in its front portion. The casing 101 and the access door 102 are preferably composed of a material, such as cast iron, which has a high thermal storage capacity. Supported upon the top of the casing 101 is an expansion valve 103 provided with an inlet 104 for receiving refrigerant condensate from the condenser. The outlet 105 of the expansion valve 'is connected to an expansion coil 106 which is arranged interiorly of the casing 101.

As shown in the drawings, the expansion coil 106 is arranged in direct heat-conducting relation with both the side as well as the rear walls of the casing 101. The expansion coil 106 is preferably formed as illustrated in the drawings, its discharge end 107 connecting to a fitting 108, for returning the refrigerant vapor to the compressor. Suitable brackets 109 are provided for holding the expansion coil 106 in direct metal-tometal contact with the walls of the casing 101. Brackets 110 are also provided for retaining a plurality of ice trays 111 in the manner illustrated. I As shown in Fig. 1, a conduit 115 is provided for conveying refrigerant vapor from the outlet of the motor-pump unit 19 to the intake manifold 91 of the condenser.

A conduit 116 is provided for conveying the condensed refrigerant to the inlet of the expansion valve 103, while the refrigerant vapor withdrawn from the expansion coil is conveyed by conduit 117 to the inlet 59 of the motor-pump unit 19.

From the foregoing description, the operition of our refrigerator will be apparent. The refrigerator is first charged with a suitable refrigerant, such as methyl chloride, and a suitable lubricant, such as mineral oil. -Upon the motor 40 being connected with a source of electrical energy, the compressor 51 is actuated and a reduction in pressure in the expansion coil 106 is effected, resulting in vaporization of the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough and vin the absorption of heat from the interior of the casing 101, as well as from the interior of the cooling chamber 13. The refrigerant vapor generated in the expansion coil 1 06 is Withdrawn through the conduit 117 to the inlet chamber 58 of the motor pump unit 19. The refrigerant vapor enters the cylinder 55 of the compressor when the intake ports 61 in the face plate and in the cylinder are in communication. It is compressed and discharged through the discharge ports 62 and spring valves 63 to the interior of the casing 31. In other words, the discharge pressure of the compressor prevails throughout the interior of the casing 31. The heat generated by the compressor is thus dissipated through the intermediary of the refrigerant vapor to the walls of the casing while the motor heat is radiated directly through the walls of the casing.

Compressed refrigerant vapor leaves the casing 31 through the outlet 70 and enters the intake manifold 91 of the condenser. The refrigerant vapor is divided between the two coils 93 and 94 and sufficient heat is absorbed to effect condensation, the condensate draining into the lower portion of both coils and leaving the condenser through the outlet manifold 92. The casing 95 of the condenser is formed in the shape of a flue so as to induce the natural circulation of cooling air upwardly through the casing and over the coils. As shown in Fig. 1, the casing is pref erably extended above the condenser to the top of the refrigerator box in order to obtain as much draft as possible. Upon attainment of a prede termined pressure in the evaporator, the expansion valve 103 opens to permit the condensed refrigerant to enter the expansion coil 106 in a manner well understood in the art.

As will be apparent from Figs. 10 and 11, the cooling element 22 is so arranged that the expansion coil is located in direct proximity with the ice trays 111. Furthermore, the casing 101 entirely encloses the expansion coil about the ice trays so that extremely rapid ice-making is assured. At the same time, the enclosing casing 101 is composed of a material having a high thermal storage capacity so that starting and stopping of the machine is made less frequent and a consequent economy in current consumption is effected. All these advantages are obtained without the employment of a brine tank with its attendant disadvantages.

Lubrication of the compressor mechanism is effected in a novel manner by means of the pinion 73 and gear 74 which continually splash lubricant about the lubricant chamber 78. The lubricant is thus deposited upon the various working parts and is afterwards returned to the lower portion of the casing. Suitable ducts 81 are provided for insuring positive lubrication of the bearings 45 and 46, while the ducts 83 and 84 insure thorough lubrication of the compressor cylinder. We have found a lubricating system of the splash type to be extremely reliable and effective for thoroughly lubricating the compression mechanism of refrigerators, especially of those types in which the compression mechanism is, totally enclosed. The details of the compression and lubrication system are claimed in our divisional application Serial No. 439,408, filed March 27, 1930 for Pump. for refrigerating apparatus.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have invented a novel form of refrigerating apparatus which embodies no external moving or working parts. The entire apparatus is hermetically sealed so that the possibility of leakage of either oil or refrigerant is eliminated. At the same time the arrangement of the parts is such that the entire refrigerating apparatus may be readily removed from the refrigerator box structure to permit ready servicing.

While we have shown our invention in but one form. it will be obvious to those skilled in the' art, that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:-

1. A self-contained mechanical refrigerator comprising a cabinet having superposed compartments including an insulated food storage compartment having a movable closure and a machine compartment, an insulating 'partition between said compartments, a compression unit disposed in the machine compartments, a removable portion formed in a wall of the food storage compartment, a heat absorbing unit mounted on said removable portion, a common supporting means for the compression mechanism and the removable wall portion and refrigerant conduits operatively connecting the compression and heat-absorbing units, said conduits extending for a considerable portion of their length substantially parallel to the common supporting means.

2. A self-contained mechanical refrigerator comprising a cabinet provided with a pair of superposed compartments, one of said compartments being provided with insulated walls and a movable door member for providing access to the compartment, one of said walls having a removable portion, an evaporator unit mountedon said removable portion, a compression unit 1ocated in another of said compartments, a common supporting means for the compression unit, the removable wall portion and the evaporator unit, and refrigerant conduits operatively interconnecting the compression and evaporator units.

3. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a machine compartment, and a heat insulated food storage compartment the latter compartment being provided with a movabledoor closure member, said compartments being arranged vertically one above the other, a compression unit arranged in the machine compartment and-an evaporator unit disposed in the food storage compartment, conduits connecting said units, a common support, independent of the cabinet, for said compression unit and said evaporator unit, said cabinet being so constructed and arranged that the operatively connected evaporator unit and the compression unit may be removed from the rear of said cabinet through openings provided in the rear walls of the storage compartment and the machine compartment respectively.

4. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet including an apparatus compartment anda refrigerating compartment above said apparatus compartment having an aperture in a wall thereof, and

refrigerating apparatus including a condensing unit, a frame, and an evaporator supported laterally from said frame, said refrigerating apparatus adapted to be removably secured as a unit -in said cabinet, so that the evaporator extends paratus unit being adapted, to be secured to said refrigerator cabinet so that the compressor unit is within the apparatus compartment, the condensers are within the flue, and the evaporator is withinthe refrigerating compartment.

6. A refrigerator including an apparatus compartment having air inlet openings therein, a flue extending vertically from the rear of said apparatus compartment, 9, refrigerating compartment positioned above said apparatus compartment and having an aperture in the'rear wall thereof, a refrigerating unit including a frame, a compressor mounted on said frame; a closure member for'said aperture mounted on said frame, an evaporator supported by said closure member and adapted to be inserted through said aperture, condensers mountedon said frame, said refrigerating unit adapted to be secured in such position that the evaporator is within the refrigerating chamber, the closure member seals the aperture the compressor is within, the apparatus chamber, andthe condensers are within said flue.

7. A refrigerator including an apparatus compartment, a refrigerating compartment above said apparatus compartment and formed in part by a wall having an aperture therein, a flue at the rear of said compartments, an assembly .including a frame, a compressor mounted on said frame, a closure member for said aperture mounted on the frame, an evaporator supported by said closure member and adapted to be inserted through said aperture, and condensing means mounted on said frame, said refrigerating unit adapted to be secured in such position that the evaporator is within the refrigerating compartment, the closure member seals the aperture, the

ing means mounted on the frame-for location in said chamber, and an evaporator and a motorcompressor unit connected in spaced relation on said frame.

9. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet formedwith an insulated food compartment, a lower apparatus compartment and a vertically-extending draft compartment, a refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator located in the food compartment and a refrigerant translating means in said lower compartment, means providing for a flow of air in heat exchange relation-with said means, condensing means disposed in the draft compartment, said draft compartment formed with an opening in the lower part thereof for receiving said air and an opening in the upper part thereof for discharging said air, said refrigerating apparatus being removable from said cabinet as a unit. 10. In a refrigerating unit comprising a refrigerator body having a refrigerating compartment superimposed on a compartment having a mechanical refrigerating apparatus, openings formed in both compartments, framework comprising a horizontal'bracket extending into the lower compartment and a vertical member extending up the back of the body in detachable relation thereto, a closure for the refrigerating compartment opening secured to said vertical member, a freezer unit mounted on the inner face of said closure, and mechanical refrigerating apparatus supported by said horizontal bracket within the lower compartment.

11. In a refrigerator, the combination of a cabinet having vertically-extending front and rear walls spaced substantially from each other from the top to the bottom, an internally-extending partition dividing the cabinet into an upper compartment and a lower machinery compartment, refrigerating apparatus including a refrigerant translating mechanism and an evaporator, said refrigerating compartment having a door opening in the front wall thereof and an opening in the rear wall thereof for the insertion and removal of the evaporator, and said machinery compartment having an opening provided in the rear wall thereof for the insertion and removal of the refrigerant translating mechanism, a supporting frame structure for the refrigerating apparatus and having an upper portion for supporting the evaporator within the refrigerator compartment and a lower portion for supporting the refrigerant translating mechanism beneath the evaporator within the machinery compartment, said supporting structure being constructed and arranged to provide for insertion and removal of the refrigerating apparatus through the rear wall of the cabinet as a single assembly, and

a plug member carried by the supporting structure for sealing the opening in the refrigerator compartment.

12. A refrigerator section comprising a base portion and an upright portion, refrigerating apparatus mounted in said refrigerator section including a cooling unit mounted on the upright portion and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, a cabinet having an aperture therein

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