US2209431A

US2209431A - Humidifier for mechanical refrigerators

Info

Publication number: US2209431A
Application number: US235733A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tull Robert Harrell
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1938-10-19
Filing date: 1938-10-19
Publication date: 1940-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1957-07-30

Description

July 30, 1940. R. H. TULL HUMIDIFIER FOR MECHANICAL REFRIGERATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1938 2 av S'roaaqs. 5915::

Fxq. 1.

INVENTOR ROBERT H. Tu\

WITNESSES:

Patented July 30, 1940 2,209.43 j nunnnmma row ATE NT OFFICE REFRIGERAT BS Robert Harrell Tull, Springfield, .asaignor to Westinghouse Electric '8; Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pm, acorporation of Pennsylvania Application October 19. .1938. serial no; gasses Claims. (01. 2-103) This invention relates to mechanical refrigerators and more especially to a means for increasing and regulating the humidity of the refrigerated chamber. The invention is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No.

218,270, filed July 9, 1938 and assignedto the, Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Com-1t,"

pany.

One object of the invention is to provide a 10 means for increasing the humidity of the refrigerated chamber by raising the temperature of an exposed body of water therein.

Another object is to provide a means for regulating the humidity of the refrigerated chamber by controlling the exposed surface of a body of water therein.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the cabinet on the line I-I of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

F g. 2 is a vertical section through the cabinet on the line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and, 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the adjustable drain on the line III- IlI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral l0 designates a cabinet of conventional construction which comprises an outer shell H and ahorizontal partition l2 therein. The partition l2 divides the cabinet -l0 into an upper refrigerated food storage chamber l3 and a lower machine compartment l4.. The bottom edges ll: of the shell II are turned inwardly and blocks iii are secured to their lower surfaces to form feet on which the cabinet l0 rests. On the upper surfaces ofthe inturned edges I 5 is a platform l1" upon which is secured a refrigerant liquefying unit 18 of the well-known compressor-condenser type.

The food storage chamber. l3 comprises an inner shell l9 and heat insulating material 2'] between adjacent portions of theinner shell l9 and the outer shell I l and between the inner shell 19 and the partition l2. An opening 22 in the front wall and'a hinged door 23 therein provide for access to the chamber l3. A cooling unit 24 or evaporator is located in the upper portionof the storage chamber l3 which unit-24 is secured in the food storage chamber l3 in a slightly inclined position. The cooling unit 24 comprises through which a tube 28 passes back and forth. The tube 23 communicates through

ducts

21 and 28 with the refrigerant liquefying unit l8.

Below and parallel to the cooling unit 24 is a series of Z-shaped channels 29 which channels 5 overlap but are spaced from one another to per- .mit the passage of air therebetween. These I channels 29 catch the water which condenses and drops from the cooling unit 24 and conducts this water to a trough 3| from which it drains through 10- a tube 32 passing through the refrigerating chamber l3 into a reservoir 33 formed in the bottom of the inner. shell IS. A drain pipe 34 connects with this reservoir 33 but has its entrance opening 35 located somewhat above the bottom of the reserl6 voir 33 so that the latter retains a small amount of water to humidify the refrigerated chamber l3. A foraminated false bottom 36 is supported above the surface of the water to providea space 31 through which air may be circulated. Con- 50 nected with this space 31 is an inlet conduit 38 of a blower element 39 comprising a casing 4|, a fan 42 and a motor 43 for driving the fan 42. The fan 42 draws the air from the space 31 .and passes it through a vertical duct '44 located in 25 the refrigerated chamber l3, through a divergent adapter 45 to the larger end of the tapered air space 46 above the cooling unit 24. From here the air flows through the cooling unit 24 throughthe space between the Z-shaped channels 29, 30 through the refrigerated chamber l3, through the foraminations the false bottom 36,. over the water in the reservoir 33 where it ishumidif ed and then recirculated by the fan 42. t

The humidity obtained by this device, 3|

ever, is usually not suflicient and means; he, therefore, provided to slightly heat the water in the reservoir 33 to increase the evaporation thereof. This is done most economically by utilizing the heat of the liquid refrigerant as it leaves the 4. compressor, as will be explained presently.

The refrigerant liquefying unit l8 comprises a casing 41 enclosing a motor-driven compressor (not shown) which withdraws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator 24 through a tube 28, corn- 45 presses it, and passes it through a tube 49 to the condenser 5i wherein it is cooled andliquefied and then passes it through a tube 21 to an expansion valve 52 and thence to the evaporator 24. The refrigerant liquid in the tube 21 is still 50 considerably above room temperature and a portion of this tube 21 is led through the water reservoir/33 to heat the water therein.

It will be observed thatthere is substantially no decrease in the eillciency of the refrigerating cycle by heating the water inthe reservoir fl mthismanner as the'heat remaining in the'liquefled refrigerant, is-usually dissipated by evaporation of or cooling by refrigerantrin the system,

passing'therethro'ugh, as best shown-in Fig. 2.

The height of the entrance'opening of the drain pipe 34 is made adjustable by providing a cup-shaped depression 54 in the bottom of the reservoir-'33 near the portion of the tube 21 in the reservoir 33 and arranging the drain pipe 34 so that a threaded portion of this pipe 34 projects upwardly through the bottom of the cup 54. An internally threaded hollow member engages the thread of the drain pipe 34 and is provided with an opening 35 in its side which forms the entrance opening 35 referred to above. The hollow member 55 is also provided with a handwheel 56 by means of which it may be screwed upwardly or downwardly on the threaded end of the drainpipe 34 to change the elevation of the entrance opening 35 and thereby change the height of the water in the reservoir 33. The change in height of the water results in a change in the exposed surface of the water in the inclined bottom of the reservoir 33 and hence in the humidity of the 0 food chamber I3 of the refrigerator.

35 a means for regulating this humidity.

While I have shown my 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 therein without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are set forth in the appending claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber, a water pan therein, an evaporative cooling unit for said chamber, means for conveying the condensate from said cooling unit to said water pan, a condenser exterior of the insulated chamber for condensing the refrigerant evaporated by said cooling unit, a tube for conducting the condensed refrigerant from said condenser to the evaporative cooling unit, said tube being in heat exchange relationship with the' water normally in the water pan to increase the vaporization of said water andthereby increase the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

2. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber, a water pan therein, an evaporative cooling unit for said chamber, means for conveying the condensate from said cooling unit to said water pan, means for circulating the air in said chamber over the surface of the water normally in the water pan, a condenser exterior of said insulated chamber for condensing the refrigerant evaporated by said cooling unit, a tube for conducting the condensed refrigerant from said condenser to'the evaporative cooling unit, said tube being in heat ex change relationship with the water normally in the water pan to increase the vaporization of said water and thereby increase the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

3. In a mechanical refrigerator,- the combinetion of aninsulatedchamber providing a storage I compartment, a water pan therein, an evaporative cooling unit for said. chamber, means forconveying the condensate from said cooling unit to said water-pan, means for circulating the air in said chamber first over the cooling unit, then through the storage compartment, and, thereafter, over the surface of the water normally in the water pan, a condenser exterior of said insulated chamber for condensing the refrigerant evaporated by said cooling unit, a tube for conducting the condensed refrigerant from said condenser to the evaporative cooling unit, said tube being in heat exchange relationship with the water normally in the water pan to increase the vaporization of said water and thereby increase the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

.4. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber providing a storage compartment, a water pan therein and adjacent to and covering substantially the entire bottom wall of said chamber, an evaporative cooling unit for said chamber, means for conveying the cohdensate from said cooling unit to said water pan, means for circulating the air in said chamber first over the cooling unit, then through the storage compartment, and, thereafter, over the surface of the water normally in the water pan, a condenser exterior of said insulated chamber for condensing the refrigerant evaporated by said cooling unit, a tube for conducting the condensed refrigerant from said condenser to the evaporative cooling unit, said tube being in heat exchange relationship with the water normally in the water pan to increase the vaporization of said water and thereby increase the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

5. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber, a cooling unit and a water pan therein, said water pan having an inclined bottom, means for conveying the condensate from said cooling unit to said water pan, a drainage opening near the lower portion of the inclined bottom of said water pan, means for varying the elevation of said drainage opening progressively to vary the height and thereby-the exposed surface of the water normally in said pan to control the evaporation of said water in orderto regulate the humidity of the air in th insulated chamber.

6. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber, a cooling unit and water pan therein, said water pan having an inclined bottom, means for conveying the condensate from said cooling unit to said water pan, means for circulating the air in said cabinet over the surface of the water normallyzin the water pan, a drainage opening near the lower portion of the inclined bottom of said water pan, means for varying the elevation of said drainage opening progressively to vary the height and thereby the exposed surface of the water normally in said pan to control the evaporation of said water in order to regulate the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

7. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber, a cooling unit and a water pan therein remote from said cooling unit, said water pan having an inclined bottom, means for conveying the condensate from said cooling unit to said water pan, means for circulating the air in said chamber over the cooling unit and over the surface of the water normally in the water pan, a drainage opening near the lower portion of the inclined bottom of said water pan, means for varying the elevation of said drainage opening'to vary the height and thereby the exposed surface of .the water normally in said pan to control the evaporation of said water in order to regulate the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

8. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of an insulated chamber, an evaporative cooling unit and water pan therein, said water pan having an inclined bottom, means for conveying the condensate .from said cooling unit to said water pan, a drainage opening near the lower portion of the inclined bottom of said water pan. means for varying the elevation of said drainage opening to vary the height and thereby the exposed surface of the water normally in said pan, means for circulating the air in said chamber over the cooling unit and over the surface of the water normally in the water pan, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant evaporated by said cooling unit, a tube for conducting the condensed refrigerant from said condenser to the evaporator, said tube passing through the water normally in the water pan to transfer some of the heat of the condensed refrigerant to said water to increase the vaporization of the water and thereby increase the humidity of the air in the insulated chamber.

' ROBERT HARRELL TULL.