US2059593A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

H. R. LORANGER REFRIGERATING' APPARATUS Original Filed May 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnoawtoz NW0 3, 19%.; H, R, RANGER ma ma REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Original Filed May 27, 1929 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .M oi

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Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT QFEEQE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application May 2'7, 1929, Serial No. 366,118 Renewed May 7, 1935 11 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus particularly adapted, but not restricted, to the commercial ice cream cabinet type.

One of its objects is to provide an improved 5 cabinet which is simple and economical to manufacture and to assemble.

Another object is to increase the amount of insulation in a cabinet.

Another object is to prevent moisture from entering the cabinet.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to construct a cabinet of self-supporting metallic shells enclosing hermetically sealed insulation thereby enabling effective insulation 15 such as cork, to also fill the space usually taken by the easily warped wood supporting frame members.

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 perspective View of a cabinet constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of the upper left hand corner portion of Fig. 2, and V Fig. 4 is a cross section on lines 4- i of Fig. 1.

It has hitherto been the practice of constructing the type of cabinet commonly referred to as an ice cream cabinet with a framework generally of wood and to support by this framework insulation and outer panels surrounding the usual brine tank. It has been found however that this outer panel construction quite frequently allows the access of moisture to the interior of the cabinet. Furthermore where the framework has been composed of wood, warping has resulted from the moisture getting on the inside of the cabinet. It has been necessary in some cases to bake the cabinet inside of a large oven to drive out moisture that has accumulated on the inside of the cabinet. The presence of heavy wood members inside the cabinet has also used up space that could be filled with the more efficient cork insulation. Accordingly it is the purpose of this invention to do away with the usual wood 50 frame and to allow a space usually devoted to the framework to be taken up by the more efficient cork insulation. The invention also contemplates hermetically sealing the insulation of the cabinet. These objects are accomplished by 55: utilizing a self-supporting metal shell as a casing for the cabinet and by sealing the insulation in such metallic shell by means of a cement.

A perspective View of such a cabinet is disclosed in Fig. 1 composed of a lower base It and a removable top it having lids l2 opening to the usual place of storage for the ice cream. The lower base member it may be composed of a one piece sheet metal shell construction. From a manufacturing standpoint however it is preferred to construct this shell of a plurality of sheet metal panels such as the base panel 93, front panel M, side panels l5 and a rear panel not disclosed. Between each of these panels is preferably a corner insert it more fully disclosed in Fig. 4. These panels are effectively joined at their edges in a manner to make the casing airtight and moisture-tight. A bottom panel has the strengthening ribs ll extending across it and the side panels also have the strengthening ribs 58 formed as a pleasing design. The side panels may have their lower edge l9 bent over into a supporting edge for the cabinet as disclosed in Fig. 2. Additional supports 2% may extend across the base of the cabinet. The material of these panels and supports is preferably steel and of such a thickness as to be self-supporting. The interior of this lower base may be thoroughly coated with a bituminous cement and suitable insulation placed on the bottom and sides. As disclosed a slab of rock cork 22 is placed on the bottom of the cabinet and other slabs of rock cork 23 and E l are placed about the sides and reaching almost to the top of the side panels. A brine tank 25 is coated on its outside with bituminous cement and is then placed in the cabinet with its lower panel 26 resting on the lower insulation 22. The bituminous cement is then allowed to seep into all cracks and crevices between the inner side of the metal shell base it and the outer surface of the brine tank 25. As the cement is usually applied in a warm liquid state, the resulting cooling and solidifying hermetrically seals the insulation in the metallic shell.

The removable top it has preferably a selfsupporting metallic shell 2'! to support the inner parts thereof. While one piece may be used it is desirable from a manufacturing standpoint to have a second piece 28 welded to the first piece 2? to form a strong curved top. The first shell El may have a downwardly extending flange 29 W ring 32. A stainless steel sleeve 33 is placed about the opening and has its outer portion lapped over the top of the cabinet. Fastening means such as screw 34 extends through the sleeve 33, the sleeve 3!, the flange 29 and the supporting ring 32. The interior side of the shell, ring and sleeve 3| are then thoroughly coated with bituminous cement 35 and an insulation 36, such as one or more slabs of rock cork suitably perforated for the openings of the ice cream compartments, is placed within the shell and hermetically sealed therein by means of additional bituminous cement. If desired, an outer panel of Monel 3! or other stainless material may be forced over the metallic shield 2'! for protective and decorating purposes.

One or more cans or containers 38 are inserted through suitable openings in the top cover 40 of the brine tank. A sleeve of stainless steel 39 is placed within their upper portions and the sleeve and can are suitably fixed to the top of the brine tank by means of indentations M and 62 made above and below the contact of the can with the top of the brine tank. The cans and brine tank top are then placed within the cabinet and the cover of the brine tank is secured to the brine tank by any convenient fastening means extending through the flange 43 on the upper portion of the brine tank.

A plurality of supporting members 44 preferably extend around the outer top of the metallic base it These are preferably in the shape of angle irons and as disclosed in Fig. 4 have projections 45 at an overlapping angle towards each other which are secured to one another by fastening means such as the bolts 46. The upper shell 28 has a projection i! extending downwardly therefrom in order to overlap the upper edge of the base portion iii. A seal 38 preferably in the form of a rubber strip is placed between this projection 41 and the upper edge of the base of the shell i i. A supporting band 59 is placed about the juncture of the top and bottom portions and fastening means extends through these lastmentioned members which removably secures the top portion to the base portion. A suitable removable insulation material 5! such as kapok is compressed between the top and base portions when the top portion is put in place. The brine 52 may be cooled in any preferred manner. As disclosed, a boiler 53 extends into the tank in the rear panel of the cabinet and has the depending tubes 54 attached thereto. This cooling unit is preferably of the flooded float-controlled type such as disclosed in the patent to R. G. Osborn, 1,556,708, issued October 13, 1925. Any suitable condenser unit such as disclosed in the patent to G. M. Troup, Patent 1,704,522 may be connected to the tank 53 for the supply of refrigerant. A removable panel 55 allows removal of the cooling unit from the exterior if such removal is necessary. Any suitable opening through a sleeve in the top portion may be made for the insertion of the brine into the brine tank. The sleeve would of course be surrounded by bituminous cement to maintain the hermetical sealing of the top portion.

There has thus been disclosed a cabinet utilizing the exterior shell as a supporting means for the interior structure. The absence of the usual frame members of the interior of the casing allows a greater use of the cork, resulting in better insulation. Due to the greater quantity of insulation, a cheaper grade of insulation could be used. Insulation has been effectively hermetically sealed with the result that moisture can not get in to rot or damage the cork. The form of the cabinet is very economical to construct due to the absence of any operations normally performed upon the frame members of such a cabinet. A decided saving of material is also effected by using the outer shell as a supporting means for the cabinet.

Many modifications in the preferred form disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Advantages of the invention may be obtained by using either the top or the base with other forms of construction. It is not desired to limit the invention to the specific form of easing or joints.

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 the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metallic walls forming a receptacle, outer metal walls spaced from the inner Walls and forming an outer container, insulating material in the space between said walls, a unitary removable top wall structure for said lower containing portion, said unitary top wall structure including an outer metal wall and insulating material fastened to the outer metal wall, said top wall structure being provided with a plurality of service openings extending therethrough, and means independent of the top wall structure for insulating and preventing heat transfer between said unitary top wall structure and said lower containing portion of the cabinet.

2. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metallic walls forming a receptacle, outer metal walls spaced from the inner walls and forming an outer container, insulating material in the space between said walls, a unitary removable top wall structure for said lower containing portion, said unitary top wall structure including an outer metal wall and insulating material sealed to the outer metal wall, said top wall structure being provided with a plurality of service openings extending therethrough and means for sealing the joint between said removable unitary top wall structure and said lower containing portion, to prevent the leakage of external air into the interior of the cabinet.

3. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metallic walls forming a receptacle, outer metal walls spaced from the inner walls and forming an outer container, insulating material in the space between said walls, said insulating material being sealed against the ingress of moisture thereto, a removable top wall structure for said lower con taining portion, said top wall structure including an outer metal wall and insulating material sealed against the ingress of moisture thereto, said top wall structure being provided with a plurality of service openings extending therethrough, and means for preventing the transfer of heat from all of said outer metal walls to said inner walls and from the top wall structure to the lower containing portion, said top wall structure being removable as a unit.

4. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metallic walls forming a receptacle, outer metal walls spaced from the inner Walls and forming an outer container, insulating material in the space between said walls, said insulating material being sealed against the ingress of moisture thereto, a removable top wall structure for said lower containing portion, said top wall structure including an outer metal wall and insulating material sealed against the ingress of moisture thereto, said top wall structure being provided with a plurality of service openings extending therethrough and removable insulation independent of the lower containing portion and the top wall structure between said lower portion and said upper removable wall structure.

5. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metallic walls forming a receptacle, outer metal walls spaced from the inner wall and forming an outer container, insulating material in the space between said walls, a unitary removable top wall structure for said lower containing portion, said unitary top wall structure including an outer sheet metal wall and insulating material fastened to said outer metal wall by a sealing material, said sealing material surrounding said insulating material and causing said insulating material to adhere to said outer metal wall.

6. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metal walls and outer metal walls spaced from the inner metal walls and thermally insulated therefrom, insulation between the inner and outer metal walls, a unitary removable top wall structure for covering the lower containing portion, said top wall structure having an outer sheet metal covering and a material having low heat conductivity beneath the top outer sheet metal covering and permanently fastened thereto so as to be removable as aunit, said top wall structure having a plurality of service openings extending therethrough, and removable fastening means constituting the sole means for fastening the top wall structure to the lower containing portion for connecting the top sheet metal covering of the top wall structure to the outer metal walls of the lower containing portion, said fastening means being exposed to and accessible from the exterior of said cabinet without removing portions of the cabinet.

7. An ice cream cabinet comprising a lower containing portion including inner metal walls and outer metal walls spaced from the inner metal walls and thermally insulated therefrom, insulation between the inner and outer metal walls, a unitary removable top wall structure for covering the lower containing portion, said top wall structure having an outer sheet metal covering and a material having low heat conductivity beneath the top outer sheet metal covering and permanently fastened thereto so as to be removable as a unit, said top wall structure having a plurality of service openings extending therethrough, and said service openings being lined with sleeves permanently fastened to the top sheet metal covering and the material having low heat conductivity, means for sealing the joint between the removable upper top wall structure and the lower containing portion, and exposed removable fastening means constituting the sole means for fastening the top wall structure to the lower containing portion for connecting the top sheet metal covering of the top wall structure to the outer metal walls of the lower containing portion.

8. A refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination, a wall structure including inner and outer metal members with insulating material therebetween, the inner metal member of said wall structure forming a receptacle within said cabinet, a removable unitary wall portion for said cabinet including an outer metal member and insulating material fastened thereto, said removable wall portion of said cabinet having an opening therein affording access to said receptacle, and means for securing said removable unitary wall portion to the outer metal member of said wall structure, said securing means being exposed to and accessible from the exterior of said cabinet without removing portions of the cabinet.

9. A refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination, a wall structure including inner and outer metal members with insulating material therebetween, the inner metal member of said wall structure forming a receptacle within said cabinet, a removable unitary wall portion for said cabinet including an outer metal member and insulating material fastened thereto, said removable wall portion of said cabinet having an opening therein affording access to said receptacle, means independent of said removable wall portion for preventing the transference of heat thereto from said wall structure, and means for securing said removable unitary wall portion to the outer metal member of said wall structure, said securing means being exposed to and accessible from the exterior of said cabinet without removing portions of the cabinet.

10. A refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination, a wall structure including inner and outer metal members with insulating material therebetween, the inner metal member of said wall structure forming a receptacle within said cabinet, a removable unitary Wall portion for said cabinet including an outer metal member and insulating material fastened thereto, said removable wall portion of said cabinet having an opening therein affording access to said receptacle, and means for securing the outer metal member of said removable unitary wall portion to the outer metal member of said wall structure, said securing means being exposed to and accessible from the exterior of said cabinet without removing portions of the cabinet.

11. A refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination, a wall structure including inner and outer metal members with insulating material therebetween, the inner metal member of said wall structure forming a receptacle within said cabinet, a removable unitary wall portion for said cabinet including an outer metal member and insulating material fastened thereto, said removable wall portion of said cabinet having an opening therein affording access to said receptacle, means independent of said removable wall portion for preventing the transference of heat thereto from said wall structure, and means for securing the outer metal member of said removable unitary wall portion to the outer metal member of said wall structure, said securing means being exposed to and accessible from the exterior of said cabinet without removing portions of the cabinet.

I-IU'BERT R. LORAN'GER.

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