US2385525A

US2385525A - Refrigeration apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2385525A
Application number: US475726A
Authority: US
Inventors: Graham S Mccloy
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1943-02-13
Filing date: 1943-02-13
Publication date: 1945-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1962-09-25

Description

Sept. 25, 1945. G s, MCC OY 2,385,525

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1945 ITNESSESz E 2 INVENTOR 0% r (immmd M 610) w'i ae aaak 1 ,invention as will be Patented Sept. 25, 1945 'Graham 8. McCioy, Sprin Westinghouse El meld, Masa, aslignor to ectric Corporation, burgh, Pa., a corporation of Pcnnoyl East Pittavanla Application February 1a, 194:, Serial No. 473,726

' 6 Claim. (01. 62-4) A still further object of my invention is to produce an improved signalling system of the concealed from view produce a simplified mechanism of the type set forth which may be placed in a position for automatic or for manual operation, or which may be rendered altogether inactive by the manipulation of a single switch from one designated position to another.

A still further object of my invention is to produce an improved electric circuit for energizing the signalling system and the defrosting control mechanism in cooperation with the refrigeration apparatus itself and the standard temperature control thereof.

These and other objects are effected by my apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part. of this application,.in which: V

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a preferred form of an electric circuit for carrying out 'my invention;

- Fig. 3 is an, enlarged view of an instrument panel on which control devices are mounted: and Fig. 4 is a view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section of the panel shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, I show a refrigerator l0 having a food compartment I2, a heat exchange unit I, a lamp l8, and a door M. The lamp I6 is normally energized by an to illuminate the food compartment l2.

location. which would. be con- At a suitable to the lead L: by a wire shown nor described in detail. it being suflicient at stated'intervais to which it may nor described in detail. Also mounted on the 35 panel 24 is a m1 "in w ch is used-to actuate 2) which is connected 53 and which will be hereinafter further describe three-way switch '52 (Fig.

26, 48 and I0, and

preferably carried by the panel 24, are a relarelatively weak siglucent material.

For a description of the manner in which the elements above described are cooperatively interis directed to Fig. 2 circuit is illustrated.

is preferably white and the lamp 56 is of a difl'erent color, such as in which a be seen that it is connected directly nected to one of the terminals Beginning with the clock mechanism 28, it will to the leads Li. and L: by the wires 88 and 8| so that as long as the power supply circuit is energized, the clock mechanism 28 will remain in operationto actuate the switch 38 regardless of any other adjustments or settings of the remaining parts of the apparatus.

Referring now to the switch 48, it will be seen that it is connected through the

wires

44 and 82 to a switching device 83. The switching device 83 has terminals 85 which coact with the terminal of the switch 38, and terminals 88, 81 and a: which coact with the terminal of the switch The panel lamp 54 is eonnectedto the-wire 44 by a wire 88 and is connected by a wire I8 to a terminal 12 of the switch 28 which, as will be seen from Fig. 2, is of the double acting type.

' The wire 18 also leads toone side of the food compartment lamp l8, the other side of said lamp being connected by a wire 14 to the wire 44. The lamps 54 and i8 are therefore connected in parallel with one another and in series to the switching device 83 through the wire 82.

The other terminal 15 of the switch 28 is connected through awire 18 to one side of the si nal lamp 58, the other side of which is connected directly to the lead La of the power supply circuit.

The switch 28 also includes

terminals

88 and 82 which are normally separated from the terminals l2 and 15 when the door I8 is closed, and

which are urged into contact with the terminals 12 and 18 when the door 28 is opened. The

terminals

88 and 82 are connected directly to the lead L1 of the supply circuit. The wire 82 iscon- 84 of the switching device 83 by e. wire 84, and to the terminal 88 or the switch 52 by a wire 88. The other terminal 84 is connected to the terminal 58 of the switch 52 by a wire 88.

Operation With the clock mechanism 28 in non-defrosting position so that the switch 38 is in contact with the terminals 84 and with the switch 52 in position A, which on thedial 58 is marked "automatic defrost, the

wires

82 and 44 are electrically connected, through the wires-84, 88, and 53, to the lead 112. In this position of the parts, the refrigerating apparatus 3| will operate subject to the opening and closing of the switch 48 by the temperature control 33 in response to changes in temperature of the unit l4. In this position of the parts, also, and when the clock mechanism has arrived at defrosting position, which is deter= mined by the setting of the dial 28, the switch 38is opened (see Fig. 2) and the

wires

82 and 44 are electrically thus interrupting apparatus 3| which will remain inactive,

less of the position of the switch 48, until the predetermined'period of timeto which the clock has been set shall have expired. When the clock mechanism 28 has again closed the switch 38, the refrigerating apparatus 3| will again be in operation, due to the fact that the high temperature in the unit M will have also closed the switch 48. The length of time through which the refrigerating apparatus will the defrosting clock according to the particular requirement of the unit, or the location in which the unit is' used, and it is only pointedout here that this length of time should be enough to per-' by the setting oi! to food stored mit melting of an frost accumulating on the unit I.

Again, with the parts the refrigerating apparatus is in opwhen the reless whether eration or not, it will be seen that, irigerator door I8 is opened the closed and the circuit of the lamps l8 and 54 is completed through the

terminals

88 and 12, the wires 18, I4, 82, 84, 88, 44 and 53, and the lamps i8 and 54 will be energized. If, with the parts still in the same position but with the switch 38 open, due to the action of the clock mechanism 28 the door I8 is opened, the lamps |8 and 58 will obviously not be energized. This will indicate that the unit I4 is being defrosted. In order to indicate power failure, either in the supply circuit L1, L2 or in the refrigerating apparatus circuit itself, which would render the apparatus 8| inactive and would also deenergize the lamps l8 and 54, but which failure may not be detected in good time, I provide the auxiliary signal'lamp 58 which is connected directly to the supply circuit Li, La through terminals 82 and 18 so that, as long as the lamp 58 is in order and as long as there is. power in the supply circuit L1, L2, and as long as the internal circuit of the refrigerator circuit energized whenever the door regardless of the position of the switch 38. of the clock mechanism 28, or the switch 52. The function of the signal lamp 58 is to prevent damage in the refrigerator which would result from prolonged, undetected failure of the refrigerator apparatus.

If the switch 52 is moved to position B which, on the dial 58, is marked manual defrost," it follows that the circuit 83 is disconnected from the lead La so'that the switching device of the re- 4o frigerating apparatus 3| is also broken. This will I when continuous refrigeration render the apparatus 3| inactive and will also energize the lamps i5 and 54, regardless of the position of the switch 38. If the switch 52 is moved to position 0, which on the dial 58 is marked no defrost," it will be seen that the switching device 83 will be connected through the

wires

86 and 53 to the lead L2, and, since the refrigerating apparatus 3| is connected by the wire 42 to the lead L1, and by the

wires

44 and 82 to the switching device 83, the circuit of the refrigerating apparatus 3| will remain closed, regardless of the position of the switch 38 of clock mechanism 28. Therefrigerating apparatus 3| now operatesonly subject to the position of the switch 48, as determined by the temperature control 33. This position of the parts is desirable is needed for freezing ice cream or the like in the unit |4'. Also, in this position of the par-ts, when the door as is opened the circuit of the lights l8 and 54 will be closed through the

wires

82, 86 and 53, and the lights will be energized.

The

lamps

58 and 54 are so placed in relation to the

dials

25,48 and 58 so that these dials are normally illuminated by the lamp 54, and the rel,- atively weak light from, the small, and preferably red, lamp 58 will be dominated by the relatively strong light from the large lamp 54 so as to be substantially invisible when gized. When the lamp 54 is deenergized during the defrosting cycle, the light from the lamp 58 will be visible so as to indicate that the power supply is in order, but that the unit I4 is being defrosted.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides still in the position described but with the switch 38 closed, and regardwitch 28 is the lamp 54 is enerav switch 52 which ntrol inasmuch as it efrosting" when it is frosting cycle by the manual defrosting if such prior to its expected occurr complete c may be set to "automatic d desired to control the de clock mechanism, to defrosting be needed rence through action frigeration when it is While I have shown my inventi energizing all of said lamps when the door of said refrigerator is opened, a heat-exchange unit for cooling said foodcompartment, refrigerating means for maintainingsaid unit at below freezing temperature, and means for periodically rendering said refrigerating apparatus inactive to allow defrosting of said'unit, of means for prolight from said second lamp whereby the light from said signal lamp is dominated by thelight from said second lamp and issuhptantlally in-.

visible when said second lamp is energized. The structure recited in claim 3 wherein said signal lamp is of a color different from the desire, therefore, s shall be placed therecolor 01' said second lamp and the light from said signal lamp is also weaker than the light from 7 said second lamp whereby'the light from said sigas are specifically set forth in the appended nal lamp is dominated by the light from said second lamp and is substantially invisible when said second lamp is energized. v

6. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of a cabinet, a door for said cabinet, electrically-driven refrigerating apparatus, said ap- .ergizing of said lamp when said door is opened from the interior of said cabinet, supply lines for supplyingelectric power to said refrigerating apparatus, a defrost switch for interrupting the electric current to said refrigerating apparatus to allow said cooling'unit to defrost, a second switch actuated by said door to open when said door is closed and to close when said door is while said refrigerating m l dicate that said unit is bein 2. The combination with food compartment, a lam cans is inactive, to ina refrigerator having a p therein for illumia panel on which consaid lamp only when said door is 'openra second 'signal lamp, and electric conductors connecting PS when the door of said -exchange unit for ment, refrigerating unit at below freez and means for eriodically renrefrigerator is opened, cooling said food compart means for maint ing temperature.

said second signal lamp and both of said switches in series to said supply lines to energize said second signal lamp only when the door is open and when said refrigerating apparatus is not defrosting, both of saidlamps being extinguished when said door is closed, whereby when said door is opened, lighting of both of said signal lamps indering said re'fri allow defrosting venting the ener when said door ing means is ina being defrosted.

gerating apparatu inactive to or said unit, of meansfor pregization of both of said lamps is opened while saidrefrigeratctive, to indicate that said unit is dicates that the refrigerating apparatus is not defrosting, lighting of only said first signal lamp indicates that the refrigerating apparatus is not operating because of the opening of said defrost *switch and the. failure of both of said signal '3. The combination wi a food compartment,

', nating said'compartm trol devices are mo luminating said co nallamp in proximity to sai th 3 refrigerat a lamp therein f eat a panel on which cond lamp for iluxiliary sigd panel, means for unted, I a secon ntroldevice lamps to light indicates that thenrefrigerating apparatus is not operating bec'ause of a failure of power tosaid supply lines.

GRAHAM s. macros.