US2330463A - Water cooler - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR.

iii Z11 7. 2211;

Sept. 28, 1943.

H. c. T. WHITTENBERG WATER COOLER Filed Sept. 8, 1941 .amwazayzzww..----- Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITE SIATES: PATENT OFFIGE '25330363 V I WATER oootna I-I arry C. T. Whittenberg; Louisville, Ky. Application September 8, 1941, Serial No. 410,091

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a water cooler utilized for maintaining drinking water therein at a low temperature.

The invention is designed primarily for use in connection with portable coolers such as used on construction jobs, it being possible through the use thereof, to supply chilled drinking water to workmen on the job.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient means for lowering the temperature of the water and also for prolonging the period during which the water will be chilled.

A further object is to provide a cooler the use of which involves the employment of a primary COO-ling medium which, in turn, produces a secondary chilling medium, the latter being formed of and being ultimately converted back into the Water to be dispensed.

Another object is to provide a cooler which is simple and compact in construction, formed of few parts, and is easily handled for the purposes intended.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the cooler, the same being shown with the cooling means and water therein Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a casing of any suitable size and proportions the walls of which are preferably insulated. If desired this casing may be provided with means whereby it can be readily carried from place to place so as to be useful in which is movable so as to afford access to the interior of the casing. As shown in the draw- 7 ing this closure can be connected to the casing by hinges 3.

A faucet 4 is connected to the bottom portion of the casing and can be located on any one of the walls thereof found most convenient. This faucet aifords an outlet for the liquid content of the container and is normally closed.

Removably mounted within the outer container I is an inner container 5 formed preferably of a metal which readily conducts heat and this inner container, which can rest on the bottom of the outer container I, has a top closure 6. This closure is removable to afford access to the interior of container 5 and, if desired, can be provided with a vent 1 opening upwardly through the closure 2. This vent, however, is not always essential because the closures 6 and 2 can be loosely mounted so as to permit escape of gases generated in the device as hereinafter explained.

To opposed sides of the inner container 5 are joined spacing brackets 8 so proportioned as to abut against the corresponding walls of the outer container and thus hold the inner container against movement toward and from said walls. Additional spacing brackets 9 extend from the other walls of the inner. container 5 for abutment against the corresponding walls of the outer container and obviously these brackets 8 and 9 all cooperate to holdthe inner container 5 properly centered within the outer container I.

In practice the inner'container 5 is partly or entirely filled with dry ice indicated at D. It is then lowered into the outer container I so as to be properly centered therein and after the closure 6 has been placed in position the water to be chilled is poured into the outer container so that it will extend around the inner container. The closure 2 is then moved to shut position.

The dry ice contained in the inner container 5 will quickly reduce the temperature of the wall of said container so that that portion of the water adjacent to the wall will soon be frozen into a solid sleeve of ice I with which the un-- frozen portion of the Water Will remain in contact. The unfrozen water will of course be quickly chilled. The cooler can readily be carried from place to place as before stated and when it is desired to dispense some of, the chilled water it is only necessary to open the faucet to permit a portion of the water to escape. As long as dry ice is within the inner container 5, a jacket or sleeve of ice will be maintained around said container and in the water. The cooler can be refilled with water as necessary. Ultimately, the dry ice will evaporate but after this evaporation has taken place, the jacket or sleeve of ice Will still remain in the water and continue to cool it until the ice is ultimately melted and the ice water dispensed with the other water in the container I.

By thus utilizing both a primary freezing element D and a secondary freezing element I, the period during which chilled water can be dispensed will be greatly prolonged beyond the time when the dry ice has completely evaporated.

In the drawing the unfrozen water has been indicated at W.

What is claimed is:

A portable water cooler including an outer container having an apertured closure, an inner container for holding a refrigerant, a closure on the inner container and spaced from the closure on the outer container, said inner container being removably mounted in the outer container and adapted to be surrounded by drinking water, a tubular member extending from the closure of the inner container and through the aperture in the cover of the outer container, means carried by and removable with the inner container for holding the inner container centered within the outer container, and a faucet located for the withdrawal of substantially all the drinking water in the cooler, said inner container being positioned and proportioned to carry a sleeve of ice therearound sufiicient in quantity to provide an effective holdover when a portion of the water is frozen and without interfering with withdrawal of the water through the faucet.

HARRY C. T. WHITTENBERG.

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