US2024297A

US2024297A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2024297A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1935-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1952-12-17

Description

Dec. 17, 1935.

J. A. MACREADY/ REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 192.8

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z6 1 EL 71 r Z a A w s- A 5:: :1 .4 6:3 52 A :3 A S A C: A C: A :3 s A 5: A. :3 u A :13 A C: 5 A :2 A A: A Z A :2 5 A E A 5:: s 4 S A :12 x A C: A S A A :2. s

Dec. 17, 1935. J. A. MACREADY 2,024,297

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 17, 1935.

J. A. MACREADY V REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 17, .1935

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS John A. Macready, Dayton, Ohio, asslgnor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 28, 1928, Serial No. 808,928

14 Claims. (01. 62-141) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a mechanical cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft. 2'

An object of this invention is to provide a water cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft which cooler is provided with an auxiliary compartment for cooling other substances such as bottled beverages and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical water cooler capable of cooling other substances in addition to the water on draft.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a water cooler embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical view partly in section-and partly in elevation of the water cooler shown in.

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken transversely thereto;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the cover of the water cooler shown in Figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical elevation of a slightly modified water cooler embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical view in elevation of a portion of a water cooler similar to that shown in Fig. 5 but somewhat modified;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 9, with the front of the cabinet included;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 9, with the front of the cabinet included;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of the cabinet of the type shown in Fig. 6 with the front panel removed;

Fig. 10 is-a cross-section taken along the line Ill-l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view somewhat enlarged taken along the line H of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 12 is a detailed vertical elevation with parts 1 'broken away of a portion of the cabinet shown in .Fig. 6.

A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft, and comprising features of this invention, may comprise a substantially upright cabinet generally gag.

ignated as 20. It may be provided with an insulated section, generally designated as 2 I. which section may preferably extend substantially across said cabinet. The section 2| may include a water cooling zone 22 and a bottle, or beverage, cooling zone 23. Preferably one or both of said

zones

22 and 23 may extend substantially across the insulated section 2 I. A heat conducting metal piece 24 may be placed between said zones. The heat conducting capacity of the metal piece 24 may be sufliclent, taken in its relation with the fluids in contact therewith, to maintain a substantially equal temperature between the

zones

22 and 23. Ordinarily a temperature gradient of 5 or 6 F. may be considered within the meaning of substantially equal temperatures so that a difference in temperature of 5 or 6 F. between

zones

22 and 23 may come within the scope of this invention for reasons hereafter to be more fully explained. 7

Cooling means may be provided in at least one of the zones, and in this particular embodiment a body of evaporated refrigerant may be placed in at least one of said zones. As a specific em bodiment, a substantially cylindrical float valve controlled evaporator 25 may be placed in the zone 22. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the wall of the evaporator 25 is a different wall from the heat conducting metal piece 24, but a thermal contact is still maintained since the piece 24 continues vertically upward to form the side 26 of the water cooling zone 22. The heat transfering capacity of the piece 24 together with the fluids in contact therewith is sufiicient to maintain the temperatures of the

zones

22 and 23 substantially equal.

The evaporator 25 may be supplied with liquid refrigerant from a refrigerant liquefying unit placed, for instance, in the compartment 30 of the cabinet 20. The compartment 30 together with the insulated section 2i may be ,so placed as to form a substantially straight upright cabinet as shown in the drawings. The refrigerant liquefying unit :may boot the character described in the application of John A. Macready for Refrigerating apparatus, Serial No. 308,927 filed Sept. 28, 1928, and shown in Fig. 13 of this application. The refrigerating system, including evaporator 25 and the refrigerant liquefying unit may be also similar to the application of John A. Macready for Refrigerating apparatus, Serial No. 296,239, filed July 30,1928.

It has been found that water on draft ordinarily is most palatable at a temperature of about 50 F. This temperatin'e may be slightly varied to meet difl'erent conditions. For instance, water to be supplied at a factory ordinarily should be at about 55 F. in order to prevent cramps from being produced by water chilled to too low a temperature where it is liable to be drunk in great quantities by persons overheated by relatively great physical effort, whereas water which is supplied in ofllcebuildings and the like may be a few degrees cooler than 50 F.

Whichever temperature is selected, the bottle or beverage cooling zone 23 may be substantially the same or slightly cooler or warmer than 50" F. and this temperature will be found sufficiently cold for ordinary refrigerating purposes to which the cabinet may be put, such as the cooling of bottled beverages, which should be at about the same temperature as the cooled water, and articles of similar character. Thus it is seen that when the bottle cooling zone 23 is kept substantially at the same temperature as the most palatable temperature of the water on draft, that the bottle cooling zone will also be very satisfactory for the type of refrigerating purposes to which the water cooler may be put. It has been found that when the refrigerant in the evaporator 25 is S02 that a very satisfactory operating pressure may be between 2 and 12 pounds, so that an automatic switch, controlling the operation of the refrigerant liquefying unit in accordance with the pressures in the evaporated refrigerant line, may be placed to operate within these pressures and a very satisfactory temperature may be maintained within the

zones

22 and 23. 0

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the cabinet may comprise a skeleton metal framework made of corner vertical angle irons joined horizontally at the top by horizontal angle irons 4i and joined at the bottom by'angle irons similar to angle irons 4i, not shown. On top of the angle irons 4i may be placed a rectangular wooden frame 42. The water cooling zone may comprise a substantially boxlike water tank formed by the bottom metal piece 24 joined integrally with the

sides

28, 27, 28 and 28a to form a substantially rectangular tank. The last named sides may be provided with outwardly extending flanges 29 which are adapted to rest on the wooden frame 42, preferably in a notch 43 formed in the frame 42. The evaporator 25 may be of the float valve controlled type of the character disclosed in the application Serial No. 296,-

239 or m the patent to R. G. Osborn, No. 1,556,708

patented October 13, 1925 with the exception that the dependent loops may be omitted so as to form a substantially cylindrical spun brass boiler. On top of the flange 29, a sub-cover 44 may be placed, and if desired, agasket 45 may be positioned between the sub-cover 44 and the flange. An upper cover 46 may rest on top of the cabinet. The subcover 44 may be provided with an upwardly di- 4 rected cylindrical flange 41 adapted to telescope in a downwardly directed cylindrical flange 48 formed in the cover 46. The tank may be filled with water either by a bucket or by a demijohn adapted to be inverted and inserted through the openings formed by the

flanges

41 and 48. When a demijohn is used, a gasket 49 may be placed on the cover 46 to cushion the demijohn. When the tank is filled by a bucket or a hose, 9. cover 50 may be substituted in place of the demijohn'and the gasket 49, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

A faucet 5 I carried by the plate 5 la,connected to the water tank by pipe 5") extending through opening an: extends from the cabinet. A wastewater receptacle 52 may be attached to the cabinet. If desired, the receptacle 52 may be provided with a cover 53 adapted to have a warning signal when it has reason of the downwardly extending cavity 54. This may be of the character more fully disclosed in the application of J. A. Macrcady for Refrigersltgizrgg apparatus, Serial No. 308,927 died Sept. 28,

The detachable shell or outer panel structure of the cabinet may be of the character disclosed in the application of J. A. Macready, Serial No. 308,- 927 aforesaid. In general, the panel structure may comprise two similar front and back panels 55 provided with vertical right angled flanges 56. Two mutually similar side panels 51 may be provided with substantially straight edges. The flanges 56 are adapted to fit over the straight edges 57. Thus by attaching the edges 56 by means of screws 58 to the vertical angle irons 40 the panels 51 are held in place on the cabinet. When a door is provided for the zone 23 in the side of the cabinet, one of the panels 51 must be provided with a suitable opening. Thus as shown in Fig. l, a door 59 may be hinged to the cabinet by the hinges 6B and may be locked by the latch (ii. The bottoms of the angle irons 46 may be provided with outwardly extending knobs 62 on which the panels 55 and 5? rest to position the same with respect to the threaded openings, not shown, in the angle irons 49 for thereception of screws 53. The flange construction of

panels

55 and 51 is similar to the construction of panels Hi0 and H33 to be described, with the exception that the

panels

55 and 57 extend substantially throughout the vertical extent of the cabinet.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the zone 23 may be formed by a second box-like lining having sides it provided with an outwardly directed oilset ii which is adapted to receive the lower portion of the water tank forming the zone 22. A slightly inwardly directed flange opening 72 may be provided to form a door opening. The flanged opening offset 12 may be secured by nails or the like to another rectangular flange 13 which may be secured to two vertical angle irons 40 and to a horizontal angle iron '14. This angle iron 14 and three similar ones are adapted to support the box-like structure forming the

zones

22 and 23 together'with the insulation 15 of the .section 2i. A wood cushion 74a may be placed on the angle irons 14 and a metal panel 14b 11 may be placed over the flange 1B and the offset opening portion I2 in order to form a neat appearing door opening.

The refrigerant liquefying unit may be carried by the skeleton framework. Thus the subframework 295 may be suspended from the angle irons 40 by means of

hooks

203 and 204 attached to the bolt and

nut structure

206 and 209 which rests on a rubber washer 208 which in 'turn rests on the lugs 201. This suspension structure is provided at each of four comers of the subframe 295., When the liquefying unit is of the compression type, it may comprise a compressor 230 driven by a motor-231 through the medium 'of a belt 299. The compressor 230 delivers compressed refrigerant to the condenser 23| which .in' turn delivers refrigerant to the receiver 232. From thence liquefied refrigerant is carried by become substantially filled by compressor is-controlled by a starting and stopping switch 288 which is conveniently made responsive to the refrigerant pressure in the return line 284.

The structure is constructed so as to provide a flue so that air will pass into one portion of the casing through the condenser and be discharged from a remote portion of the casing. To this end the motor 281 is provided with a fan 28'! which forces air through the condenser. If the fan is rotated in one direction, air will pass through the condenser from the right to the left of the casing and will be discharged at a remote point through the louvres 228 at a point remote in the casing.

The cabinet shown in Fig. 5 may be of a slightly modified character wherein a door 80 is placed at the front of the cabinet and the receptaclejl, corresponding to receptacle 82, may be placed to'one side of the center of the front in order to provide a space for the door 80. The bottle cooling zone of the modification shown in Fig. 5 may be of the same vertical and horizontal extent and substantially of similar construction as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the only difference being that the door opening is at the front of the cabinet instead of at the side.

In Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive, the cabinet shown in Fig. 5 has been modifled to the extent that the insulated section 2I is provided with a separate set of panels from the panels forming the compartment for the refrigerant liquefying unit. Thus an upper front panel 82 is adapted to telescope over a lower front panel 88. A substantially box-like angle iron frame may be formed by the insulated zone and it may comprise corner vertical angle irons 84 and comer upper horizontal angle irons 88 and lower horizontal corner angle irons 86. These angle irons may be secured together by welding and may be reenforced," if desired, by gussets 81. At the front of the cabinet, a wooden frame may be placed in order to provide a door jamb for the door open-' ing of the cabinet. An upper horizontal wooden member 88 may span the front angle irons 84. A lower horizontal wooden piece 89 may be joined to the upper piece 88 by means of vertical wood members 80 and SI. These wood members may be suitably dovetailed as shown-in the drawings. 'Members SI and 88 may have

suitable notches

82 and 88 formed in them in order to receivethe

angle irons

8,4 and 88 and the gusset 81 and to provide a surface flush with the angle irons. The faucet from the water cooling zone may pass through the opening 04. The door may be built around the opening formed by the wooden framework in a manner similar to that shown in Fig 2, by providing a corresponding offset door opening 85 in the bottle cooling compartment and by providing a corresponding flange 96 in the front panel IOI. Suitable finishing strips 81 of wood or thelike may be secured in this door opening. The evaporator 25 may be of the same character as that disclosed in the description relative to Figs. 1 to 5.

The compartment 80a. shown in Fig. 9 may be formed by a substantially box-like angle iron frame having vertical corner angle iron members 88 joined by horizontal upper and lower corner angle irons 88. The channel-shaped outer panels I00 and 82 may be'provided with vertical flanges I02. These flanges are adapted to be secured to the angle irons 84' by screws 58a similar to screws 88. The side panels I08 are adapted to by 11 inches horizontally.

be secured between the flanges I02 and the angle irons 88 in a manner similar to that disclosed in the description of the panel structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The panels I00, 82 and I08 are adapted to have a slightly greater horizontal extent than the lower panels 88 and I08. The front and back lower panels 88 may be provided with vertical flanges I08. The flanges I08 are adapted to be secured to the vertical angle irons 88 by screws 58a and are adapted to secure therebetween the side lower panels I08. The upper boxlike frame may, if desired, be slightly larger than the lower box-like frame, thus permitting the upper panels to telescope more easily over the lower panels as shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12.

The water tank and the box forming the zone 28 may be made of porcelain enameled sheet metal or tinned copper. The insulation may be corkboard or rock-cork which may be attached to these linings by means of a bituminous cement.

If desired, a substantially rectangular wooden frame IIO may be placed in any or all of the cabinets herein disclosed. The rectangular frame I I0 is adapted to flt around the outer per-'25 tion of the evaporator 25. A removable insulation III which may be corkboard, rock-board, balsam wood or the like, may be placed within the frame H0 and this may be removed in order to have access to the flttings II2 of evaporator 80 25. A suitable drain opening and drain plug I I8 may be placed in the bottom of the water tank if desired.

The outer panels may be covered by any suitable material, such as porcelain enamel or lac- 85 quer of the type known in the trade as Duco. Merely by way of example. the water tank or zone 22 may be about 10 inches deep and 9 by 11 inches in horizontal dimensions. The evaporator 25 may be chrome plated on the exterior, and the boiler proper may be 5 inches in diameter and 10 inches long, when using SO: under evaporating pressures between two and 12 pounds. The zone 28 may be about 10 inches high and 9 The heat transferring capacity of the partition between the two

zones

22 and 28 when constructed as herein disclosed is sufficient to maintain substantially equal temperatures in said zones within the range herein specified. Thus the heat transferring capacity of the partition together with the fluids in contact therewith is sufficient to transfer indirectly to the refrigerant all of the heat leakage into the zone 28 sufficiently rapidly to maintain the desired temperatures.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of co the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A'mechanical water cooler .of the type used principally for cooling water on draft comprising substantially straight upright cabinet, having an insulated section extending substantially across said cabinet, a portion of said cabinet forming a water cooling zone extending substantially across said section, a portion of said cabinet forming a bottle cooling zone extending substantially across said section below said water cooling zone, a heat conductingpartition between said zones of sufficient heat transferring capacity with the fluids in contact therewith to maintain said zones at substantially the same temperature, means for introducing water in liquid form into said water cooling zone without removing elements forming said water cooling zone, means for removing cooled water from said water cooling zone without removing elements forming said water cooling zone, and an automatic mechanical refrigerating system having a float valve controlled.

evaporator in thermal contact with said section to maintain said zones at temperatures to render liquids palatable.

2. A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft comprising a substantially straight upright cabinet-having an insulated section extending substantially across said cabinet, a portion of said cabinet forming a water cooling zone extending substantially across said section, a portion of said cabinet forming a bottle cooling zone, said zones extending substantially across said insulated section, a heat conducting partition between said zones of sufllcient heat transferring capacity with the fluids in contact therewith to maintain said zones at substantially the same temperature, means for introducing water in liquid form into said water cooling zone without removing ele- 1 principally for cooling water on draft comprisinga cabinet provided with an insulated water compartment zone and. an insulated bottle compartment zone adjacent said water compartment zone, said zones extending substantially across said cabinet, means for introducing water in liquid form into said water cooling zone 'without remov-' ing elements forming said water cooling zone, means for removing cooled water from said water cooling zone without removing elements forming said water cooling zone, a heat conducting partition between said compartment zones, and a float valve controlled cooling unit in said water compartment zone.

4. A mechanical water .cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft comprising a cabinet provided with an insulated water oompartment zone and an insulated bottle compartment zone, said zones extending substantially across said cabinet, means for introducing water in liquid form into said water coolingzone without removing elements forming said water cooling zone, means for removing cooled water from said water cooling zone without removing elements forming said water cooling zone, a float valve controlled refrigerant unit in one of said compartments, and a partition between the water compartment zone and the bottle compartment zone permitting thermal exchange 'betweensaid compartment zones. v

5. A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft comprising a cabinet having an insulatedsection comprising an insulated open-top water tank, an insulated, box-like, open-topped bottle compartment covered by the bottom of said tank, and an evaporator in said water tank.

6. A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for cooling water on draft comprising a cabinet having an nsulated section comprising aninsulated open-top water tank, an insulated, box-like, open-topped bottle compartment'covered by the bottom of said tank, and a 5 substantially cylindrical, float valve controlled evaporator in said water tank, 7. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a frame, an evaporator and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and a detachable casing for saidlo frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator. 8. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a skeleton frame having mounted thereon a refrigerating apparatus, and a detachable shell enclosing said skeleton frame. J l5 9. A device of the class described, comprising a frame structure, an evaporator supported by said frame structure, a refrigerating unit for cooling said evaporator, a jacket of insulation around the evaporator and adetachable shell enelosing the frame structure, refrigerating unit and evaporator. 10. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a skeleton frame having mounted thereon a refrigerating apparatus, and a detachable shell enclosing said skeleton frame, said casing having an opening in its front and a faucet permitting the. discharge of liquid therethrough.

11. In a. liquid cooling apparatus, a frame,

. an evaporator and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and 'a detachable casing for said frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator, said apparatus having a plurality of sides, and said detachable casing including a plate on one side of said apparatus having a relatively straight edge at a comer of said apparatus and another plate on another side of saidapparatus and having an edge bent over said corner of said appara us.

12. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a framed) an evaporator and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and a detachable caslngfor said frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator, said apparatus having, a pluralityof sides, and said detachable casing including a plate on one side of said apparatus having a relatively straight edge at a corner of said apparatus and another plate 'on another side, of said apparatus and-having an edge bent over said corner of said apparatus, one

of said edges overlapping the other of said edges 13. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a frame, an evaporator and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and a detachable casing for said frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator, said apparatus having four sides, saiddetachable casing including two plates ontwosides of said apparatus respectively having relatively straight edges at corners of said apparatus and two other plates. having edges bentover said corners of said apparatus. '00 14. In. a liquid cooling app ratus, a frame, anevaporator-and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and a detachable casing for said frame, refrigerating unit and evaporatorysaid apparatus having four sides, said detachable cases ing including two plates on two sides of said apparatus respectively-having relatively straight edges at corners of said apparatus and two other plates having edges bent over said corners of said apparatus, said last named edges being in over- 7o,

lapping relation with said first named edges.

. j JOHN A. MACREADY, I

CERTIFICATE or coRREc'rIoN, 5

Patent No. 2,024,297. December 17,- 1935.

mm. manner.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, after line 51, insert the following:

Figure 15 is a. view in crosssection of a portion of the cabinet showing; in

particular, the mounting of the motor-compressor-condenser within the machine compartment. and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.