US2265084A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1941.

DU B. SMITH ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Conrad R Buchei'. IQnDuBois SmiHn.

TTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. DU B. SMITH ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1940 INVENTORS. Conrad R. Buchef. BY Ian DuBois SmH'h.

m m z E m a a Bra n ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Ian Du Bois Smith. South Pasadena, and Conrad Robert Buchet, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 11, 1940, Serial No. 360,824

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigeration apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigeration apparatus including a novel refrigerant circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigeration apparatus including multiple stage compression for the refrigerant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration apparatus including fluid means for compressing the refrigerant.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an improved refrigeration apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the gear pump taken on line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the rotary valve taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the evaporator tanks with portions thereof in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary section through one of the receiver tanks showing a modified form of compression means.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters we have indicated our improved refrigeration apparatus generally at I0. As shown the device I0 includes a pair of 'tanks 12 and I3, a receiver tank l4, an expansion coil 15, a gear pump I6, a rotary valve II, a compressor l8 and a drive means which is shown as an electric motor l6.

As shown each of the evaporator tanks l2 and I3 includes a vertically disposed hollow cylindrical housing 20 having cooling fins 2| thereon. The top of the housing is closed by a cap member 22 and the bottom is closed by a cap member 23.

The bottom cap 23 includes a vertically disposed hollow cylinder 24 integral therewith and which is coaxial with the housing 20 spaced therefrom and terminates below the upper cap 22.

The upper end of the cylinder 24 is closed by a dome shaped cap 25 which is threadedly secured thereto as at 26. The cap 25 includes a transverse horizontal partition 21 having an upwardly convergent valve seat aperture 28 therein.

Supported on the upper end of the cylinder 24 and clamped thereto by the cap 25 we provide a plate 29 having a central aperture 30 therein.

and having therebelow a cage portion 3| in which a buoyant ball member 32 is positioned.

Communicating with the interior of the cap 25 we provide a conduit 33 which extends upwardly into the interior of the cap 22. The conduit 33 has a check valve 34 therein which permits passage from the cylinder 20 into the cap 25 as indicated by the arrow but prevents passage in the opposite direction. 3

Surrounding the cylinder 2 and spaced therefrom we provide a coiled conduit member 35 the upper portion of which terminates in a conduit portion 36 which communicates with the interior of the cap 25 and has a check valve 37 therein adjacent'the cap.

The check valve 3? permits passage through the conduit from the cap to the coil as indicated by the arrow but prevents passage in the opposite direction.

Directly surrounding the cylinder 24 we provide a coiled conduit member 38, Within and adjacent one side of the housing 26 we provide a vertical conduit 39 which extends out of the housing adjacent the top thereof and communicates with a check valve 40.

The check valve 40 permits passage into the conduit 39 as indicated by the arrow but prevents passage in the opposite direction. I

Adjacent the tops thereof below the caps 22 the tanks I2 and I3 are'connected by a conduit 4| and adjacent their lower ends above the caps 23 they are similarly connected by a conduit 42.

As shown in Fig. 6 the receiver 14 comprises a hollow horizontally disposed closed tank 43 having a conduit coil 44 therein,

As shown in Fig. 3 the gear pump I6 is of the conventional type including a housing 45 having intercommunicating chambers '35 and 41 therein in which meshing gear members 48 and 49 mounted on shafts Wand 5| respectively are positioned. The housing 45 further includes an inlet port 52 and opposite therefrom an outlet port 53 both of which communicate with the chambers 46 and 47 as shown.

The rotary valve device ll may be of any desired type and as shown in Fig. 4 includes a hous ing 55 having a cylindrical recess 55 therein, an inlet port 51, an outlet port 58 opposite the port 51, and at right angles to the inletand outlet ports opposed ports 59 and 5E). The ports 51 and 58 are shown as vertical and the ports 59 and 60 are shown as horizontal. In the recess 58 a roof the shaft the valve Bl includes passageways of the gear pump I6 through the medium of a l belt I2.

The drive shaft 59 of the gear pump I6 has-a pulley I3 thereon which through the medium of a belt I4 drives a pulley I5 on the operating shaft 62 of the rotary valve device ,I 1.. p

One end of a conduit I6 communicates with the outlet port 58 of the valve I1 and the opposite end communicates with the inlet port 52 of the gear pump I6.

The outlet 53 of the gear pump I8 is ethilecta by a conduit I6 to the inlet port 51 of the rotary valve I'I.

One end of a conduit 11 communicates with the port 59 of the valve I1 and the opposite end communicates with the interior of the cylinder 24 in the tank I2 through the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 5. The conduit I1 preferably has a plurality of cooling fins I8 thereon.

One end of a conduit I9 communicates with the port 68 of the valve I! and the opposite end communicates with the cylinder 24 in the tank I3 through the bottom thereof. The conduit'19 like the conduit I8 has a plurality of cooling fins 89 thereon. v

The lower end of the coil in the tank I2 is connected by a conduit 8| to a T fitting 82 and .the'lower end of the coil 35 in the tank I3 is connected by a conduit 83 to the fitting 82.

The fitting 82 is connected by a conduit 84 to theintake 85 of the compressor I8.

The upper end of the coil 38 of the tank I2 is connected by a conduit 86 to a T fitting 81 and the upper end of the coil 38 in the tank I3 is connected by a conduit 88 to the fitting 81.

The fitting 81 is connected by a conduit 89 to the outlet 90 of the compressor I8.

.The lower end of the coil 38 in the tank I2 is connected by a conduit 9I to a T fitting 92 and the lower end of the coil 38 in the tank I3 is connected by a conduit 93 to the fitting 92.

One end of a conduit 94 communicates with the fitting 92 and the opposite end communicates with the interior of the receiver 43 through the top thereof.

One end of a conduit 95 having a control valve 96 therein communicates with the interior of the receiver tank 43 through the bottom thereof and the oppositeend communicates with one end of the expansion coil I5. 7 y

The other end of the expansion coil I5 communicates with one end of a conduit 98 the oppositeend of which communicates with the coil '44 in the receiver 43.

The opposite end of the coil 44 communicates with one end of a conduit 99 the opposite end of which communicates with a fitting I0 0.

The fitting I08 is connected by a conduit IOI to the check valve 48 of the tank I3 and by a pipe I02 to the check valve of the tank I2.

In operation a predetermined amount of refrigerant fluid such as aqua ammonia is introduced in the refrigeration system until the tanks I2 and I3 are approximately two thirds full as indicated bythe-broken line I83 in Fig. 5... j cylinders 24 in the tanks and I3, the

gear pump I6, the valve I I and the associated piping contains a predetermined amount of fluid, which may or may not be refrigerant fluid.

The amount of fluid in the cylinders 24 and associated parts is such that when the level of the fluid in one of the cylinders is adjacent the top thereof the fluid level in the other cylinder is adjacent the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 5. When the motor I9 is started to operate the device the gear pump I6 draws fluid through the conduit I6 from the outlet 58 of the rotary valve I] and forces it through the conduit 16' into the inlet 51 of the rotary valve I1.

As the valve member 63 rotates it alternately affords communication between the conduit 11 and the inlet 5! and at the same time between the conduit I9 and the outlet 58 and then affords communication between the inlet 51 and the conduit. I9v and at the same time between the outlet 58 and the conduit 11.

When the valve member 63 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 fluid is being drawn through the conduit 19 from the cylinder 24 in the tank I3 and forced through the conduit 11 into the cylinder 24 of the tank I2.

When the valve member 63 rotates to afford communication between the inlet 5'! and the conduit I9 and between the outlet 58 and the conduit 'II fluid is drawn through the conduit 11 from the cylinder 24 in the tank I2 and forced through the conduit I9 into the cylinder 24 in the tank I3.

Thus as the device operates the fluid in the cylinders 24 alternately rises and lowers thus acting as a piston within the cylinders.

When the fluid in one of the cylinders 24 moves downward ammonia vapor is drawn through the conduit 33 and check valve 34 into. the cap 25 and into the cylinder 24 and as the fluid in the cylinder rises the ammonia vapor is forced out of the cylinder and cap through the check valve 3'! and conduit 36 into and through the coil 35. From the coil 35 it passes through the conduit 84 into the compressor I8 wherein it is further compressed and forced therefrom through the conduit 89 into the upper end of the coil 38. As it is passed downward through the coil 38 the am--.' monia vapor condenses and the refrigerant'fluid is forced out of the lower end of the' coil and through the conduit 94 into the receiver I4.

From the receiver I4 the refrigerant fluid is forced through the conduit into the expansion coil 95 wherein it again vaporizes. From the expansion coil 95 the vapor is forced through the conduit 98 into and through the coil 44 in the 1 receiver I4 and thence through the conduit 99 and through the check valve 49 into the conduit 39 in the tank wherein it is forced downward and expelled therefrom into the aqua ammonia in the tank adjacent the bottom of the tank.

The fluid within the cylinders 24 is retained therein 'by the action of the ball members 32. Should the fluid rise too high the ball member floats into the aperture 28 and prevents discharge therethrough.

In Fig. 7 we have shown a, fragmentary section through one of the cylinders 24 wherein a fluid other than the refrigerant is used. In this instance mercury indicated at I65 is used in the fluid in the cylinder and above the mercury a quantity of oil I 86 having a buoyant disc I 8! thereon is provided to' form a seal to prevent the refrigerant vapors. from mixing with the mercury.

,It will be appreciated that the vapor pump comprisingthe cylinders 28 and 24 and the gear. pump I6 and the rotary valve device IImay be adapted for use in apparatus other than'refrigeration equipment.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have provided a novel refrigeration apparatus which is simple in construction and highly eflicient in use.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. A refrigeration apparatus including a tank, a receiver and an expansion coil, a compression member, a cylinder member Within said tank, a refrigerant in said tank and surrounding said cylinder, a liquid in said cylinder, means to reciprocate said liquid, valve means to cause the liquid to act as a piston to draw refrigerant material into said cylinder and force it therefrom to said compressor member, means whereby said compressor member forces refrigerant into and through said receiver to said expansion coil and means to direct said refrigerant from said expansion coil into said tank.

2. A refrigeration apparatus including a pair of tanks, a receiver, an expansion coil and a compressor member, a cylinder member within each of said tanks, a refrigerant in each of said tanks, intercommunicating passageways between said tanks, a coiled conduit in each of said tanks, a liquid in each of said cylinders, means to reciprocate the liquid in said cylinders, valved conduit means to cause liquid in the cylinders to act as oppositely moving pistons to draw refrigerant vapors from said tanks and force it through said coils to said compressor member, means whereby said compressor forces refrigerant into and through said receiver to said expansion coil, and means to direct said refrigerant from said expansion coil back into said tanks.

3. A refrigeration apparatus including a pair of tanks, a receiver, an expansion coil and a compressor member, a coiled conduit in said receiver tank, a cylinder member within each of said tanks, a refrigerant in each of said tanks, intercommunicating passageways between said tanks, a coiled conduit in each of said tanks, a second coiled conduit in each of said tanks, said coiled conduits being partly submerged in the refrigerant in said tanks, a liquid in each of said cylinders, means to reciprocate the liquid from one cylinder to the other to cause a piston action to draw refrigerant vapors from said tanks and force it through said first coils in said tanks to said compressor member, and means whereby said compressor member forces refrigerant through said second coils in said tanks and into and through said tank to said expansion coils, thence through said coil in said receiver and back into said tanks.

4. A refrigeration apparatus including a pair of tanks, a receiver tank, an expansion coil, a compressor member, and a pump member, a coiled conduit in said receiver, a cylinder member in each of said tanks, a refrigerant in each of said tanks, intercommunicating passageways between said tanks, a coiled conduit in each of said tanks, 9. second coiled conduit in each of said tanks, said coiled conduits being partly submerged in said refrigerant in said tanks, a liquid in each of said cylinders, conduit means connecting each of said cylinders and said pump member, flow control means interposed in said conduit means to alternately direct flow from .said pump to one of said cylinders and direct ciprocate said liquid in said cylinders to thereby cause said liquids to act as oppositely moving pistons to draw refrigerant vapors from said tanks and force it through said first coils in said tank to said compressor member, conduit means permitting said compressor member to force refrigerant through said second coils in said tanks and into and through said receiver to said expansion coils, thence through said coil in said receiver and back into said tanks below the fluid level therein.

5. In a refrigeration apparatus, a closed vertical tank, a hollow cylinder within said tank and spaced therefrom, liquid refrigerant surrounding said cylinder and partially filling said tank, gaseous refrigerant filling the space above said liquid refrigerant, fluid within said cylinder, means to pump fluid alternately from and to the cylinder, valve means on the cylinder to permit passage of gaseous refrigerant from said tank into said cylinder upon withdrawal of said fluid,

a coiled conduit surrounding said cylinder, a compressor, one end of said coiled conduit communicating with the intake of said compressor, the other end of said conduit communicating with the interior of said cylinder and adapted to receive gaseous refrigerant therefrom upon the rise of said fluid therein, a second coiled conduit within said tank and surrounding said cylinder one end of said second conduit communicating with the discharge of said compressor, a receiver, the other end of said second conduit communicating with said receiver, a conduit leading from said receiver to the interior of said tanks below the surface of the liquid refrigerant therein, an expansion coil and a conduit from said receiver communicating with the expansion coil.

6. In a refrigeration apparatus, a pair of closed vertical tanks, a hollow cylinder within each of said tanks and spaced therefrom, liquid refrigerant surrounding said cylinders and partially filling said tanks, gaseous refrigerant filling the space above said liquid refrigerant, fluid within said cylinders, a gear pump adapted to pump the fluid alternately from one cylinder to the other, valve means to alternate the direction of flow from one cylinder to the other, valve means at the top of each cylinder adapted to permit passage of gaseous refrigerant from said tank into each cylinder upon withdrawal of fluid therefrom, a coiled conduit surrounding said cylinders, a compressor, one end of said coiled conduit communicating with the intake of said compressor, the other end of said conduit communicating with the interiors of said cylinders and adapted to receive gaseous refrigerant therefrom upon the rise of said fluid therein, a second coiled conduit within said tanks and surrounding said cylinders, one end of said second conduit communicating with the discharge of said compressor, a receiver, the other end of said second conduit communicating with said receiver, a conduit leading from said receiver to the interiors of said tanks below the surface of the liquid refrigerant therein, an expansion coil and a conduit affording communication between said receiver and said expansion coil.

IAN DU 3018 SMITH. CONRAD ROBERT BUCHET.

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