US2213155A - Refrigeration apparatus - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENTOR OPLA/VD E. 'YQKS/MER. BY

ATTORNE FIG. 8.

o. H. YOXSIMER REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Flled Jan. 12, 1939 3949" o. H. YOXSIMER REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12. 1939 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 FIG 4- INVENTOR, ORLAND H.YOX5IMER 'ATTORNE WITNESSES:

Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,213,155 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Orland H. Yoxsimer, East Springfield, Mass, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, 'Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 12, 1939, Serial No. 250,580 11 Claims. (01.220-9) My invention relates to refrigeration apparatus, and particularly to an improved refrigerator cabinet construction.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved construction for one of the shells of a refrigerator cabinet of the type formed of I inner and outer metal shells with heat insulaerator cabinet embodying my invention;

' It is still another object of my invention to provide an improved seal for the door of a refrigerator cabinet and particularly of a refrigerator cabinet of the type wherein the door is flush with the side walls of the refrigerator cabinet, or with the side and top walls thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet construction and assembly of the type wherein the breaker strips between the inner and outer shell of the cabinet are coplanar with the front wall thereof and more particularly of the type wherein the .cabinet door extends to the side walls of the cabinet and overlaps the coplanar breaker strips.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide an exceptionally rigid cabinet shell construction which facilitates handling and is of sufli'cient rigidity to support the cabinet door and to absorb thev shocks of slamming when the door is closed.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an outer shell construction for a refrigerator cabinet which is formed of asingle sheet of metal bent to provide top and-side walls and wherein.welding is dispensed with at the bends.

It is another object of my invention to provide a cabinet construction in which the breaker strips are coplanar with the front wall of the cabinet and wherein the space between the inner surfaces of the door and the breaker strips is minimized to prevent heatleakage-and is so arranged that contact between them is prevented.

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

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a retrie- Fig. 2 is ,a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1 with the cabinet-door closed;

provided with 29. The inner flange 291s cut away,

Fig. 315 .a similar sectional view taken on line III- 111 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of the outer shell of the refrigerator cabinet bent to its final form;

. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view of the outer shell before it is bent;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line.

VII-VII of Fig. 1, showing the cabinet door hinge support; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the construction of the outer shell at the corners where the side and bottom pockets formed on the outer shell are joined. I v

Referring specifically to the drawings for a detailed description of my invention, numeral ll designates generally a refrigerator cabinet having an outer shell I2 and an inner shell or food liner l3 defining a food storage compartment M. The food storage compartment It is thereof and a door generally indicated at it closes the access opening. The outer shell l2 of the cabinet is preferably formed of metal and the top and side walls I! and..l8, respectively, are formed from a single sheet of metal l9, shown in Fig. 6, which is bent to U-sha'pe, 'as shown in Fig. 4. The sides of the U form the side walls l1 and the bottom of the U forms the top wall l8 of the cabinet. A rear wall (not shown) is attached to the side and top walls in any suitable manner.

Before the sheet of metal i9 is bent to U-shape,

one edge 2| thereof, which later forms the front,

and top walls I! and IQ of the 'edge of the side cabinet, is formed into the shape best shown in Figs. 4 to 6 and 8, in the following manner. The edge 2| of the sheet 19 is first bent at right angles to the remainder of the sheet, as shown at 22. The sheet is then bentback on itself, as shown at 23, and isthen again bent at right angles, as shown at 24, and extends parallel to the side and top tance. The sheet is again bent at right angles; as shown .at 25, and extends parallel to the first bent portion, so that a generally U-shaped pocket 26 is formed in which one side of the U forms and the other side of the U forms-an inner flange before or'after forming the pocket 26 to facilitate bending the sheet into the inverted U shape shown in Fig. 4. The radii of the upper corners walls for an appreciable disa front flange or wall member 21, the bottom of the U forms the bottom 28 of the pocket an access opening it in the front at 3|, either of the cabinet is such that, with the cut-aways 3|, the metal does not crack or require slitting and does not require welding after bending.

The first advantage which is effected by bend erator cabinet II, as best shownin Figs. 3 and 8. i

The pocket '32 is formed by sheets of metal 33 and 34. The sheet 33 is bent at right angles} at 35, so that a flange 40 is formedto support a bottom wall 36 spaced from the food liner and a flange 31 is formed which is welded, at 38, to the inner flange 23 of .the U-shaped pocket 26. The sheet 34 provides a portion 33 of the outer shell l2 of the cabinet and extends upwardly to a point below the edge of the flange 31 of the sheet 33, where it is then bent back upon itself, at 4|, extends approximately to the level of the bend 35 on sheet 33, as shown at 42, and is then bent at right angles, at 43, and forms a flange 44 extending under the bottom wall 36 to assist flange 40 in supporting the wall 36. The flanges 40 and 44 and wall 36 may be connected together by screws 45. The sheet 34 is welded to the flange 29, at 46, a metal spacer 41 being provided therebetween.

After the sheet I3 is bent to U-shape and the I pocket 32 and bottom wall 36 are completed, the

food liner 3 is inserted within the outer shell l2 and heat insulation 41 is disposed between the side and top walls l1 and I6 and the food liner andbetween the bottom wall 36 and the food liner. As shown in Fig. .1, the food'liner |3 is-also supported on the flange 29 by gussets 48, one of which is disposed at each corner of the food liner l3. i

It is, therefore, to be noted that the pocket construction 26 supports the majority of the weight of the food liner I3 and heat;insulation 41. The support for the food liner l3 by means of gussets 48 is fully disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Anthony A. Quimper, Serial No. 241,937, filed November 23,1938, for Refrigeration apparatus, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Breaker strips 5|, formed of four flat sheets of heat insulating material meeting at the corners of the food liner l3, are nowattached to the cabinet The food liner l3 extends outwardly to a point slightly in back of the plane of the front of the cabinet H and is provided with a flange 52 parallel to the front of the cabinet and extending toward the flange 21 on the outer shell l2. Resilient devices 53 are disposed in the pockets 26 and 32 and s-shaped metal strips 54 are disposedalong one edge of the breaker strips 5|. The opposite edge of the breaker strip is forced into the pockets 26'and 32 and the resilient deveces 53 are compressed until the'strips 54 may be snapped over the flange 52 of the food liner l3. The devices 53 retain the breaker strips 5| in place since they exert a force towards flange 52 and also toward flange 21 on the outer shell l2. Cover pieces 55' are provided'at the corners of the food liner [3 to cover the meeting edges of the breaker strips 5|.

The form of the pockets 26 and 32 therefore,

. provide for attaching the breaker strips 5| to the cabinet without the use of nails or screws and also provide for disposition of the breaker strip in a plane parallel to the front of the cabinet The construction and method of assembling the breaker strips 5| are fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 244,765, filed December 9, 1938, for Refrigeration apparatus.

The door l6 for closing the food storage compartment I4 -is formed of an outer door pan 56,

4 preferably formed of metal and a flat inner sheet of relatively rigid heat insulating material 51 with heat insulation 58 therebetween. The flat 'inner sheet 51 does not extend into the food compartment l4 but its marginal edges extend to the side and top walls l1 and la of the cabinet The bottom of the door extends closely adjacent to apanel 59 which is disposed in front of the sheet of metal 34 which partially'forms the pocket 32 at the bottom of thefood liner l3. The

inner and outer shells of the door |6 are fastened together by screws 6| at the inner marginal edges thereof and acombined gasket and screw cover generally indicatedat 62 is held in position by the screws 6|. A gasket portion 63 is so positioned that it strikes the outer surface of the flange 21 and the doubled sheet 34 of the outer shell l2. 7

The fiange21 and doubled sheet 34 are sufflcientiy rigid because of their doubled construction to absorb the shocks of slamming the door, and as a result the breaker strips 5| are not damaged or dislodged. Furthermore, the, surface of Refrigerator cabinet.

The door I6 is hung on hinger 64 and the hinges are attached to the flanges 21 and 29 of the U-shaped pocket 26 by means of a bolt 65. A spacer Y66 and a backing plate 61 are provided to add rigidity to the hinge mounting but it is apparent that the outer shell construction l2 and particularly the form of the pocket 26 supports the entire weight of the door I6. I

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a new and useful cabinet construction which is simple and inexpensive but which performs the heretofore enumerated functions, which functions are numerous and extremely desirable, particularly in a cabinet of the type wherein the metal walls of the cabinet are substantially self-supporting without the use of internal framework of metal, wood, or the like.

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 opening, a breaker strip connecting said shells at the door opening, said outer shell having a pocket formed thereon peripherally of the door opening for receiving one marginal edge of said breaker, strip, said pocketat the top and sides of the door opening being formed by extending the metal of the outer shell toward the inner shell parallel to the front wall of'the cabinet, said metal then being bent backwardly upon itself, then in a direction inwardly from the front wall for an appreciable distance and thenrparallel' to the front wall again, saidinner shell extending substantially to the plane of the front wall of the cabinet, so that the breaker strip extending between said shells is also substantially parallel to the front wall of the cabinet, a door for closing the access opening and a gasket cooperating with said cabinet and door for sealing the access opening and disposed between the exterior surface of said pocket and said door, said gasket and breaker strip being spaced from each other at all'points when the door is closed.

2. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer metal shells forming a food compartment and top, rear, side and front walls of said cabinet, said front wall being pro -vide d with a door opening therein, said shells being spaced apart peripherally of the door opening, a breaker strip connecting said shells at the door opening, said outer shell having a pocket formed thereon peripherally of the door opening for receiving one marginal edge of said breaker strip, said pocket at the top and sides of the door opening being formed by extending the metal of the outer shell toward the inner shell parallel to the front wall of the cabinet, said metal then being bent backwardly upon itself.

then in a direction inwardly from the front wall for an appreciable distance and then parallel to the front wall again, said inner shell extendin substantially to the plane of the front wall of the cabinet, so that the breaker stripextending between said shells is also substantially parallel to the front wall of the cabinet, the exterior faces of said'pocketdefining a portion of the outer boundary of the front wall of the cabinet, a door for closing the access opening, which door is coextensive with those portions of the. outer boundary of said front wall which are defined by the exterior faces of said pocket and a gasket en'gaging'with the exterior faces of said pocket and with the inner periphery of said door, said gasket and breaker strip being spaced from each other at all points when the door is closed for its.

sealing the access opening.

3. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer shells having a door opening formed therein, said shells having-edge portions peripherally of the door opening, the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to forminwardly facing grooves substantially throughout the periphery of the door opening, said grooves at the top and sides of the door opening being formed with said edge portion of the outer shell having a portion bent at ,right angles to the outer shell, then back upon itself inwardly thereof and contacting said right' angle bent portion substantially throughout its surface to form a flange of double thickness, said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at'rig ht angles to the flange of double thickness and in contact with said outer shell,and said edge portion then having a portion bent upwardly at right angles to said last-named portion and terminating in spaced relation to said inner shell.

4.'A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and-outer shells having a door openingformed therein, said outer shellbeing bent to substantially U-shape' to form the top and side walls of the refrigerator cabinet, said shells having edge portions peripherally of the door opening, the metal .of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to form inwardly facing grooves substantially throughout the perlphery of the door opening-rand around the curves of said U-shape, said grooves at the top and sides of the door opening being formed with said edge portion of the outershell having a portion bent at right angles to the'outer shell, then back upon itself inwardly thereof and contacting said right angle bent portion substantially throughout its surface to form a flange'of double thickness, said edge portion then having forth inclaim 4 wherein the last-mentioned bent portion is cut back at the corners -of said u-shaped outer shell.

' 7. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer shells having a door opening formed therein, said shells having edge portions peripherally of the door opening, the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to form inwardly facing grooves substantially throughout the periphery of the door' opening; said grooves at the top and sides of the door opening being formed with said edge portion of the outer shell having a portion bent at right angles to the outer'shell, then back upon itself inwardly thereof and contacting said right angle bent portion substantially throughout its surface to form a flange of double thickness,

said edge portionthen having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to the flange of double thickness and in contact with said outer shell, and said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at'ri'ght angles to said last-named portion and terminating in spaced relation to .said inner shell, said inner shell having parallel flanges extending substantially peripherally of its edge portion and in substantially the same plane as said flange of double thickness, and a breaker strip extendinginto' said grooves and being'secured to tire flanges of said inner shell.

8. Arefrigerator cabinet construction comprising innerand outer shells having a door opening formed therein, said shells having edge portions peripherally of the -door opening, the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to form inwardly-facing grooves sub: stantially throughout the. periphery of the door opening, said grooves at the top and sides of the door openingbeing formedwith-said edge portion of the outer shell having a portion'bent at right angles to the outer shell, then back upon itself inwardly thereof and contacting: said right angle bent portion substantially throughout its surface to form a flange-of double thickness,

said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to the flange of double tthickness and in contact with said outer shell,

4- j 1 "aauawls and said edge portion then having a'portlon bent inwardly at right angles to said last-named portion and-terminating in spaced relation to said inner shell, said inner shell havng parallel flanges extending into said grooves and being'secured to .the flanges of said inner shell, and a door for closing said loor opening, said door being provided with a door gasket positioned to seat on i the exterior surface of the flange of double thickness.

9. A 'refrigerator cabinet ponstruction comprising inner and outer shells having a door opening formed therein, said shells havingedgeportions'peripherally'of the'door opening, the

metal of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to form inwardly-facing grooves substantially throughout the periphery of the door opening, said grooves at the top-and sides of the door opening being formed with said edge portion of the outer shell having a portion bent at right angles to the outer shell, then back upon itself inwardlythereof and contacting said right angle bent portion substantially throughout its surface to form a flangeof double thickness, said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to the flange of double thickness and in contact with said-outer shell, and saidedge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to said last-named portion and terminating in spaced relation to saidinner shell, said inner shell. having parallel flanges extending substantially peripherally of its .edge

portion and in substantially the same plane as said flange of-double thickness, a breaker strip extending into said grooves and being secured to the flanges of said inner shell, and a door for closing said .door opening, said door being provided with a door gasket positioned to seat on the exterior surface of the flange of double thickness, said exterior surface of the flange of double thickness extendingoutwardly of the front wall of the cabinet a greater distancethan said breaker strip or flange on said outer shell.

7 10. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer shells having a door opening formed therein, said shells having edge portions peripherally of the door opening-the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell be- .ing bent to form inwardly facing grooves substantially throughout the periphery of the door opening, said grooves at the top and sides of the door opening being formed with said edge portion'of the outer shell having a portion bent at right angles to the outer shell, then back upon itself inwardly thereof and contacting said right angle bent portion substantially throughout its surface to form a flange of double thickness, said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at right anglesto the flange of double thickness and in contact with said outer shell, and said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to said last-named portion and terminating in spaced' relation to said inner shell, said inner shell having parallel flanges extending substantially peripherally of its edge portion and substantially parallel to said flange of double thickness, and a substantially flat-faced breaker strip extending parallel to the plane of the door opening and being secured in said grooves in the outer'shell and to said flanges on the, inner shell.

11. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer shells having a door openingformed therein, said shells having edge portions peripherally of the door opening, the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to form inwardly-facing grooves substantially throughout the periphery of the door opening, said grooves at the top and sides of the door opening being formed with the edge portion of the outer shell having a substantially flat portion bent at right anglesto the outer shell, then bent inwardly and reversely thereof parallel and closely adjacent to said right angle bent portion to form therewith a substantiallysolid s olid flange, said edge portion then having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to said flange and parallel and closel'y adjacent to said outer shell to form therewith a solid reinforced wall portion, and said edge portion; then having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to said last-named portion and terminating in 'spacedrelation to said inner shell.

ORLAND H. YOXSIMER.

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