US2045627A - Refrigerated package - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1936. J, H. WOOLL 5, v

' REFRIGERATED PACKAGE Original Filed Aug. 2]., 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SOL/0. ca

TIE EI INVENTOR. JO/l/V /JWM ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES BEFR-I'GERATED PACKAGE John H; Wooll, San r'i-imim, Calif.

Application August 21, 1933, Serial No. 686,024 Renewed January 20, 1936 mssurc 24 Claims. (01. 62-015) This application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 605,541 filed April 15, 1932, now matured into Patent No. 1,986,993, is-

sued January 8, 1935.

This invention relates to a refrigerated package, particularly one employing solid C02 as the refrigerant.

Heretofore, for example, ice cream manufacturers have shipped and delivered packages containing ice cream and frozen puddings and other perishable, frozen products wherein the packaged article was refrigerated by solid CO2. However, the refrigerant was either merely thrown in the container about the packaged article or was otherwise placed in the package so that the article was unduly cooled-cooled to such a low temperature that the article could not be sewed or eaten with facility because the article was frozen to a hard, rigid state instead of only to a semiplastic consistency. When it is pointed out that solid CO2 has a temperature approximating 110 F. and that this extremely cold refrigerant is allowed to act more or less uncontrolled, the aforementioned difiiculties are apparent.

Solid CO2 is relatively inexpensive and the practice heretofore has been to employ a considerable quantity in a single package. However, the control and protection maintained for the refrigerant has been relatively inefiective so that while the packaged article was at first cooled to a very low temperature, after ten or twelve hours had elapsed, the refrigerating protection of the solid 00: was exhausted and spoiling of the product resulted. I

In accordance with the present invention, the refrigerating effect of the solid CO: is controlled to the end that the packaged article is maintained at a suitable and a desired temperature over a relatively long period of time, less solid CO:

erants, solid G0: has largely displaced these re-,

frigerants. Some manufacturers and purveyors still insist upon their use because of the aforementioned difiiculties with the solid CO2. and because the temperature of ice is better suited to .the refrigeration of these perishable products, as

Due, however, to the weight, I

well as beer, flowers, fish, shell fish, fruits, vegetables, and the like, than that of solid 00:. In accordancewith this invention, I am enabled to provide the refrigerating effect of ice with solid CO: while avoiding those difliculties attendant upon-the use of ice heretofore.

It is in general the object of the present invention to provide a refrigerated package wherein solid CO: is employed to provide the cold source but wherein the refrigerating temperature is maintained at approximately that of ice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerated package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solid CO; package, the effective refrigerating temperature of which is maintained at substantially that of ice even though the block of solid 00: originally provided has shrunk in size.

The invention possesses other advantageous features and objects, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear in the following wherein a present preferred package of my invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a package of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a container for the solid C02.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a clip.

Figure 4 is a section through the assembled container of Figure 2. v

Figure 5 and Figure 6 are sections through other containers for solid CO2.

In Figure 1 I have shown my invention as applied to a package for products to be refrigerated. This package is formed of a four-sided outer container ll having end flaps l2 folding inwardly from one pair of opposite sides to provide a first cover and other end flaps l3 folding inwardly from the otherpair of opposite sides to provide a second and anouter cover. The container is formed of any suitable material having a high heat insulating value. In the preferred package, I have used successfully the ordinary corrugated paper board construction although other suitable boardsas straw board can be used. An inner liner I is inserted in the container II. In the preferredform, this has consisted of a sheet of double corrugated paper board folded to conform-to the container and tobeinsertable therein. Of course, another form of ii be used or omitted if desired, if theg o ut f are alone sufllcientlyeifective.

An end piece It is positioned betw enthe liner and the flap l2 and a similar piece i1 is placed at the top so that the whole container is more or less of a uniform thickness. These pieces are conveniently made of the same material as the liner H.

, The solid CO2 is preferably positionedat the top of the container ll, conveniently on the piece I! so that it is readily positioned after the container is filled. In accordance with this in-' vention, the CO2 is carried in a container i8 formed of water absorbing material or including such a material. As appears in Figure 2, the container i8 is made from a single sheet to include base is, end walls 20 and end flaps 2| which fold relative to each other on crease lines 29 to provide a container in which the end flaps overlap as appears in Figure 4. The end walls 20 include extensions 22 which fold inwardly to seal the ends. Side walls 23 and side fiaps 24 fold on crease lines 29 relative to the rest of the blank respectively, to engage extensions 22 and overlie the overlapping end flaps 2|. The container described has proven particularly effective and efficient in packaging the solid CO2. Usually a block 30 of the compressed and solid C0: of the size of base I9 is inserted in the container. In this way, uniform refrigeration of different packages is assured.

In accordance with my invention, prior to the time when the container I8 is filled with ice, it is dipped into water or a brine, or otherwise wetted, preferably saturated, so that when the solid CO2 is placed therein and the container closed, the various parts freeze together to provide a practically sealed container for the solid C02. At the same time the CO2 becomes virtually sealed within a solid block of ice so that its refrigerating effect is reduced to that of ice and packaged products in the container are not chilled any more than as if ice were'used.

While the previously described structure is satisfactory, I have found that more uniform refrigeration over a longer period is secured by providing a film or sheet of a good heat conductor adjacent the solid CO2 and preferably contiguous thereto so as to be in contact with the solid CO2, in the container. Thus in Figure 4 I have shown a sheet 25 of metal upon which the solid CO: rests. Tests I have made show that a more uniform temperature is maintained and over a longer period of time when this is used, even though the metal sheet or film was relatively very thinas thin as a film of metallic paint. In addition, when the metal is omitted, the frozen container softens at the corners and edges, allowingthe CO2 gas to escape more readily as well as preventing uniform refrigeration as the unit has different temperatures at different points on its surface.

The metal film or sheet can extend entirely about the solid CO2, as disclosed in my aforementioned application, to provide a cage therefore or it can extend only partially, as appearsin Figures 4 and 6. In either case, it provides a certain mechanical protection as well as equalizing and distributing the heat absorbing effect of the solid C02. The film or sheet can be porous, as a wire cage or screen, if desired, and is preferably inside the outer absorbent material so that the outer ice shield is cooled uniformly. Such packages are useful not only in connection with a container II as that disclosed, but also in refrigerating boxes offish; fruit etc., as a refrigerating 'unit. These can be made up directly at the plant producing the solidified CO: if desired. Instead of absorbent paper, a fabric or other absorbent can be used if desired. Somewhat the same eilect as wetting the absorbent can be obtained by exposing the cold dry package to the atmosphere of the container, particularly a moist one; wetting of the. material surrounding the solid CO: and formation of the ice film can be obtained in this manner.

The container I8 is secured in place by a metal strip 26 pointed at both ends. The ends are bent on the crease lines 21 to form a U to receive the container, the pointed ends being forced through the top piece l8 and bent over. With a large container ii, extra containers It can be suspended in the container l l as by screens, webs, or perforated sheets, or placed among the packages in the container.

After the container Ii is made up, the flaps are secured by suitable fasteners, preferably adhesive tape 3| so that a sealed unit is provided. If desired, a vent tube can be extended from the CO: container to the atmosphere if it is desired that products in the container ll not come into contact with this gas. Thus, a short tube can pass between the flaps to seal that small opening providing a ready escape to the atmosphere.

I have found that the effectiveness of the unit is increased if the interior surface 28 of the liner and the pieces I! and I8 are bright and of a reflecting nature. Thus by covering these with polished tin or lead foil, a metallic foil of high lustre and polish or by painting them with a metallic paint or otherwise giving them a bright surface, the unit will be maintained cold for a longer period. In practice, the liner and other pieces are painted with an aluminum paint and then buffed so as to improve its reflective quality.

It is a feature of the packing of my invention that by lining the interior of the package with a sheath of thin metal, for example, the passage of moisture out of the interior of the package is prevented. While a first impression is usually -that this is not of consequence, it is nevertheless a material advantage, an advantage readily recognized where it is pointed out that corrugated paper boxes are subject to failure mechanically if subjected to a moist atmosphere. Thus, a corrugated box filled with fruit, or other water containing material, able to give of! moisture, will, if placed in cold storage, fail mechanically because the moisture from within the box passes into the paper board. However, if the box he first lined with the foil, for example, the box is able to resist the internal humidification and the external cold atmosphere which acts, in the absence of the foil, to pull the moisture continually out of the fruit and into the box wherein it causes mechanical failure. In this manner the refrigerated package of my invention successfully resists what can be termed self destruction. Instead of utilizing a container i8 which is made of absorbent material, the container can be lined or coated with an absorbent material or fabric which can be saturated.

' It is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made herein within the spirit of my invention as defined in the claims. Also, the term "package" as used herein and in the claims is intended to include, not only those structures commonly recognized as such, but also structures such as a refrigerator of a more or less permanent nature-and other containers and receptacles suited to the purpose and adapted to cooperate with embodiments of featum of my inventions to provide useful and advantageous structures.

I clalm:-- v

1. A package of carbon dioxide in solid form enclosed in absorbent material impregnated with ice and including a metallic sheet member between the carbon dioxide and the material.

2. A package of carbon dioxide in solid form enclosed in absorbent material impregnated with ice, said package including a metallic sheet member between the carbon dioxide and the material.

3. Means for packag ng a block of solid CO: comprising a cage for said block and a casing of fibrous material for both said cage and said block, said fibrous material being wetted with a material frozen by carbon dioxide ice so that said fibrous material is impregnated with ice.

4. A package for solid carbon dioxide including an absorbent container and an inner metallic lining, said container being wetted with a liquid frozen by solid carbon dioxide in said container so .that said container becomes impregnated with ice to control refrigeration thereby.

5. A package for solid carbon dioxide including an absorbent container impregnated with ice and an inner metallic lining at least partially surrounding solid carbon dioxide therein.

6. A package comprising a heat insulating container, and a refrigerating unit therefor comprising an ice impregnated container for carbon di oxide in solid form and a metal sheet member ad- 'jacent said carbon dioxide.

'7. A package comprising a heat insulating coning an ice impregnated container for carbon dioxide in solid form and a metal sheet member contiguous to said carbon dioxide. I

8. A refrigerator package comprising a heat insulating container having its interior surfaces covered with a polished metal foil of a light reflecting nature, and a container for carbon dioxide in solid form including an absorbent material saturated with a liquid frozen by the solid carbon dioxide to provide a refrigerating unit for said outer container.

9. A refrigerator package comprising an outer heat insulating container having its interior surfaces covered with a polished metal foil of a light reflecting nature, a closure member for said outer container, an inner container for carbon dioxide in solid form carried by said member and including a absorbent material saturated with a liquid frozen by the solid carbon dioxide to provide a refrigerating unit in a humidifying relation with said outer container.

10. A refrigerating unit for a package having products therein in a moisture containing atmosphere, said unit comprising solid carbon dioxide enclosed in absorbent material which is exposed to said atmosphere and which is ice impregnated to maintain a desired humidity in said package.

11. A refrigerating unit for a package having products therein in a moisture containing atmosphere, said, unit comprising solid carbon dioxide and a metal sheet member enclosed in absorbent material which is exposed to said atmosphere to become ice impregnated.

12. A package comprising a main container, and means for controlling evaporation of a carbon dioxide refrigerant therein comprising a refrigerant container adapted for ice impregnation situated in humidifying communication with said main container and exposed to the atmosphere in said main container. I Y

13. A package for solid carbon dioxide comprising a metallic support for said solid carbon dioxide, and an outer container for said support, said outer container being of absorbent material and impregnated with a material frozen by said 5 solid carbon dioxide.

14. A package for solid carbon dioxide comprising a metallic member adjacent said solid carbon dioxide, and an outer container for said ice impregnated absorbent material positioned inside said box. 20

16. A refrigerated package comprising a box formed of paper board and having interior end and side walls, a thin metallic foil sheet of high lustre and polish attached to each of said walls, to provide an interior lining for said box, and a package of solid carbon dioxide enclosed in an ice impregnated absorbent material positioned inside said box, said package including a metallic sheet member between the carbon dioxide and said absorbent material.

17. In combination with a box formed of paper and corrugated paper secured together in board form with an adhesive to provide an interior space for products, said box being subject to failure as a mechanical structure upon prolonged subjection to a humid atmosphere, a bright metal foil sheath attached to the innermost surfaces of said box to form a substantially continuous metal sheath lining protecting said board against failure due to a humid atmosphere in said space; means providing a substantially humid atmosphere in said space, and means for refrigerating said space.

18. In combination with a box formed of paper and corrugated paper secured together in board form with an adhesive to provide an interior space for products, said box being subject to fallure as a mechanical structure upon prolonged subjection to a humid atmosphere, a bright metal foilsheath attached to the innermost surfaces of said box to form a substantially continuous metal sheath lining protecting said board against failure due to a humid atmosphere in said space; means providing a cold but humid atmosphere in 55 said space.

19. A package comprising a heat insulating container, and a refrigerating unit therefor comprising an absorbent container for solid carbon dioxide, said container being ice impregnated, 60 exposed to the atmosphere in the refrigerator and positioned in said heat insulating container to humidify said container.

20. A refrigerator package comprising an outer heat insulating container, and an inner con- 5 tainer for carbon dioxide in solid form including an absorbent material exposed to the atmosphere in said outer container and saturated with a liquid frozen by the solid carbon dioxide to provide a refrigerating unit in a humidifying relation with said outer container.

21. A refrigerator package comprising an outer heat insulating container formed of corrugated paper board, and a container for carbon dioxide in solid form within said outer container and after said solid carbon dioxide is exhausted without releasing said liquid into said container as it melts.

22. A refrigerator package comprising an outer heat insulating container formed of corrugated paper board, and an inner container for carbon dioxide in solid form supported in an upper portion of said outer container and including an absorbent material exposed to the atmosphere in said outer container and saturated with a liquid frozen by the solid carbon dioxide to provide a refrigerating unit in a humidifying relation with said outer container even after said solid carbon dioxide is exhausted without dropping liquid in said absorbent material on products in said outer container.

23. A refrigerator package comprising an outer heat insulating container formed of corrugated paper board, an inner container for carbon dioxide in solid form supported in the upper portion of said outer container and including an absorbent material exposed to the atmosphere in said outer container and impregnated with ice to provide a refrigerating unit in a humidifying relation with said outer container.

24. In combination with a box formed of paper and corrugated paper secured together in board form with an adhesive to provide an interior space for products, said box being subject to failure as a mechanical structure upon prolonged subjection to a humid atmosphere; a bright metal foil sheath attached to the innermost surfaces of said box to form a substantially continuous metal sheath lining protecting said board against failure due to a humid atmosphere in said space; and means positioned inside said box and in contact with the atmosphere therein for maintaining said atmosphere cold and humid.

JOHN H. WOOLL.

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