US2183509A

US2183509A - Water cooler

Info

Publication number: US2183509A
Application number: US182451A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence C Smith
Original assignee: Fedders Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Fedders Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1937-12-30
Filing date: 1937-12-30
Publication date: 1939-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-12

Description

Cross Reference,-

, l www Hmm WATER COOLER FiledA Dec. 30, 1957 Gttorneg Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES WATER. COOLER Lawrence C. Smith, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Fedders Manufacturing Company,

falo, N. Y.

Inc., Buf- Applcation December 30, 1937, Serial No. 182,451

3 Claims.

lIhis invention relates to water coolers of the refrigerated type.

The invention is directed to a water container and a refrigerant jacket, which are mutually 5 formed to provide an annular evaporator of the flooded type, including inlet and suction headers, and a novel interccmmunicating duct system. The entire device is constructed with a view to economy of space and ease of production, l as it is chiefiy formed of two tubular sheet metal members which lend themselves to advantageous formation to provide extensive refrigerant surface and large water capacity.

In the drawing: i Fig. l is a top view of the cooler; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section therethrough. y

The cooling unit is provided with a water reservoir or tank I0, which is in the form of a shell having an end wall II and a cylindrical side Wall I2. The sidewall is formedwith annular refrigerant grooves I3 to 2 I, which preferably increase in size progressively to the largest groove 2I.

A refrigerant jacket comprising a tube 22 is applied over the wall I2, and its lower extremity 23 is spun inward and brazed to the end Wall II. The upper extremity 2liof the tube is spun inward about the adjoining extremity 25 of the shell, after a cover plate 26 has been positioned :Io over the open end of the shell. This joint is then brazed as indicated by the numeral 21, to seal both the cover plate and jacket to the shell.

The tube 22 is formed with an internal groove 28 which registers with the uppermost groove 2l of the shell, and forms therewith a refrigerant header chamber 36, which is substantially in the form of a torus.

Refrigerant is supplied to the jacket through a feed conduit 3l which discharges into the low- 4U ermost groove I3 through a suitable fitting 32. A control element such as a thermostatic valve V is interposed in the conduit 3| to control the rate of supply.

It will be observed that the shell wall I2 and tube 22 are concentrically spaced, as indicated by the numeral 33, so that annu-lar communicating passages connect adjacent grooves. Refrigerant introduced into the inlet header or lower groove I3 thus passes into the successive grooves in its 50 passage toward the suction chamber 30, and expands and gasifes therein. The restricted passages between adjacent grooves insures uniform distribution of the gas and liquid volumes in each groove, and prevents the familiar violent upward 55 surges. I'he increasingly greater volumetric capacities of succeeding grooves aid in this effect, and thus the products of ebullition enter the chamber 3U without agitating the liquid contents in any substantial degree.

A pipe 35 enters the groove 28, and its open 5 end is disposed near the top of the chamber for withdrawing gas therefrom for direction to the compressor elements of the refrigeration system.

The tank I0 is supplied with water through a 10l fitting 36 extending through the cover plate 2B. The water, obtained from a suitable supp-ly such as a gravity feed or city pressure line, enters the tank ID and impinges upon a deflector plate 3l which is formed with a peripheral flange 38 se- 15 cured to the plate 26. The plate 3l is provided with pierced holes 39 near its periphery for directing the Water toward the cold wall I2 of the tank. Being there immediately exposed to a maximum cooling effect, the water continuesl to 2QV move downward in the tank and thus causes circulation of the previously cooled water, thereby preventing stratification and the accompanying freezing effects.

Water is withdrawn from the tank through a 25 pipe 40 which enters the bottom wall II thereof` The pipe 40 is provided with a connection leading to a bubbler fitting 4I or similar dispenser. To prevent the accumulation of air volumes at the top of the tank, I provide a small injector 30 tube which projects from the pipe d0 to the upper regions of the tank. A capped fitting 42 enters the lowest point of the tank I0, and it pro-vides a clean-out opening.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various geometrical formations of the unit may be varied to a considerable degree without departing from the principles of the invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim.:

l. A Water cooler comprising a tank having a substantially cylindrical wall and adapted to be disposed on a vertical axis, water inlet and outlet conduits communicating with the tank, a tubular refrigerant jacket enclosing the cylindrical wall 45 and having its extremities secured to the tank, said wall and jacket being mutually formed adjacent their upper ends to provide an annular header substantially in the form of a torus, the remaining portions of the wall and jacket being concentrically spaced to provide the walls of an evaporation chamber communicating with said header, one of the walls of said evaporation chamber being formed with annular grooves, refrigerant supply means communicating with the evaporation chamber, and a suction pipe communicating with the header.

2. A water cooler comprising a tank having a substantially cylindrical Wall and adapted to be disposed on a vertical axis, Water inlet and outlet conduits communicating with the tank, a tubular refrigerant jacket enclosing the cylindrical wall and having its extremities secured to the tank, said Wall and jacket being mutually formed adjacent their upper ends to provide an annular header substantially in the form of a torus, the remaining portions of the Wall and jacket being concentrically spaced to provide the Walls of an evaporation chamber communicating with said header, the tank wall in said evaporation chamber being formed with inward extending annular grooves, refrigerant supply means communicating with the evaporation chamber, and a suction pipe communicating with the header.

3. A water cooler comprising a tank having a substantially cylindrical wall and adapted to be disposed on a vertical axis, water inlet and outlet conduits communicating with the tank, a tubular refrigerant jacket enclosing the cylindrical wall and having its extremities secured to the tank, said Wall and jacket being mutually formed adjacent their upper ends to provide an annular header substantially in the form of a torus, the remaining portions of the wall and jacket being concentrically spaced to provide the walls of an evaporation chamber communicating with said header, one of the Walls of said evaporation chamber being formed with spaced groovesI increasing in size progressively toward said header, refrigerant supply means communicating with the evaporation chamber, and a suction pipe communicating with the header.

LAWRENCE C. SMITH.