US2407159A - Refrigeration apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1946. w. P. JoNEs REFRI-GERATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. so, 1945 Patented Sept. 3, 1946 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Welten Baul Jones, Rydal, Bag, `misi-grunt,to Bhilco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., -a corporation .of

Pennsylvania Application January 30, 1945, 4Serial No. 575,204

2 Claims. (Cl. 625-102) This invention relates to refrigerationand more particularly .to refrigerationapnaratus designed forthe vstorage and dispensing of ice cream or other foodstuifs. Y

Cabinets for this purpose are conventionally of the horizontal top-access type, with cooling means formed, at least in part, integrally with thecabinet structure. Several Vdisadvantages arey associated with this type of constructionofjwhich the diihculty of servicingof the unit is the most important.

Like all mechanicalrefrigeration systems, those used forcoolng this Vtype of refrigerator cabinet are subject` to Vfailure which however infrequent is still serious because of the large quantity of perishable food that may be involved. Obviously, when such failures occur immediate service attention is imperative if .spoiiage .of the stored food is to be prevented. Such immediate service may be unavailable, or if available, the failure maybe of a character rendering the immediate repairs required to restore the unit to operation impossible.

The present invention has for its principal ob.- ject, therefore, the `provision of an improvedapparatus for storing and dispensing ice cream or other foodstuffs, which will be `free from the aforesaid disadvantages.

Another` object of the invention is to provideV an improved portable cooling unit for refrigerators.

The 'invention further contemplates provision or refrigeration apparatus of the `horizontal topaccess type of portablecooling means adapted for quick replacement in the event of system failure,

To this end the invention alsoV contemplates a horizontal topi-access cabinet having a portable cooling unit comprising the usual compressor, condenser and evaporator in series ow circuit all contained in a separate housing secured in convenient releasable manner to one end of the said cabinet and constructed and arranged so that More particularly the cooling uni-t of the present; invention is constructedand arranged So as to be readily` detachable from the main cabinet structure in a manner for quick and easy Vreplacement by another and operable unit in the event of a system failure.

A preferredembodiinent of the invention has beenillustrated in the attached drawing, Wherein: Y

`figure lisa partial longitudinal sectional and side elevational view of refrigeration apparatus embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a-horizontal sectional view of the apparatus taken substantially on `the line V2-2 thereof.

With reference to the drawing, the embodiment ofthe invention therein illustrated comprises an elongated generally rectangular cabinet structure lil constructed in accordancewith methods wellknown in the refrigerator art.

VMore specifically, the cabinet structure includes an outer shell II and an inner liner I2, the liner .being supported within the shell in thermally spaced relation therewith, as indicated at I3, and the space I3 being. lled with a suitable insulating material I4 of .known type.

Depending within the interior space I6, defined .by liner i2, are a plurality of containers I'I for .holding the ice cream or other refrigerated food.- stuff. While only two containers have been shown, it` should be understood that in practicing .the `invention any `desired number may be em.- zployed. The containers II are secured to the top Wall I8 of the cabinet structure Iin conventional manner, as at I9., the details of the securing means being omitted as unnecessary to a complete understanding of the invention. The vtop-access openings of the containers may be 4closed by suitable covers 2l `provided preferably with conventional sealing Ygaskets 2.2-

In the structure disclosed, the liner defined space. I5 is dividedinto upper and lower air passages-or channels, 23 and 24 respectively, by a horizontal baille member 26which, as more clearly shown in Figure `2, has its longitudinal side edges secured to the side walls 2T of the liner in suit- .ablemanner as, for example, by welding. It is to be noted that one end3of the baille 26, the right, as Jviewed in the drawing, terminatesin spaced relation 4with the endrwall 28 of the liner, as indicated `at 29, thereby affording open communication Vbetween the `air channels "23 and 24 at that end of space I5. 'The opposite end wall Bil `of the cabihet is .provided with `an opening 3I completely surrounded by an insulating'molding or breaker.- strip A32 which bridges the gap between the edges of Vthe outer shell and the inner liner required for a thermal break between `said shell andliner.

In accordance with the present invention a `second cabinet orfhousing structure .36 is provided `for the cooling ,unit-'Which includes. a compressor 31, condenser 38 and evaporator 39 all connected in series flow circuit as by conduits 4|. The condenser is supported in the upper portion of the wall 42 of housing 36 between opposed inwardly turned portions 43 of the wall and has its side edges enclosed between opposed members 44, see Figure 2. The condenser is cooled by an electric motor-driven fan 45, the said motor 46 being supported on a bracket 41 secured to the opposite wall 48 of housing 35. The compressor 31 is mounted on a pair of spaced supporting members 49, 49, the ends of which are secured to the said opposite walls in suitable manner, as by welding.

It is to be noted that thehousing 36 is provided with a plurality of short legs 50 which afford a space between the bottom wall '5| of the housing and the iioor 52 upon which the cabinet rests. The bottom wall 5| of the cabinet is provided with an opening 53 which permits free circulation of air from beneath the housing upwardly around the compressor and through the condenser when fan 45 is being actuated by the motor 45 in response to a demand for additional refrigeration.

The wall 48 comprises in effect a closure member for the opening 3| in the end wall 3l] of the main cabinet structure ID, As illustrated, this wall 48 is formed by spaced inner and outer panel members, 56 and 51 respectively, which are joined about their peripheries by top and bottom members 58 and 59, see Figure 1, and side members 6|, 62, 63 and B4, which form a box-like structure, said structure being lled with suitable insulating material indicated by the numeral 66. It will be noted that the members 58, '59, 63 and 64 have portions 61, 68, 39 and 'IB respectively, which extend into the opening 3| to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the cabinet wall.

The top member 5S also includes a downwardly turned portion 1I which substantially encloses the area bounded by closure panel 51 and portions 61, 58, 69 and 13, and forms this area into a vertical air space or chamber indicated at 12. The bafile 26 abuts the wall portion 1|, as shown in Figure l.

Within the upper portion of the air channel 12 is a blower rotor 13 which is driven by the motor 46 through a shaft 14 extending through the insulated closure member. It is to be understood that suitable bearings and fittings (not shown) will be provided for the shaft 14 in accordance with conventional mechanical practice.

The upper part of the said downwardly turned portion 1I of top member 58 is provided with an air inlet opening 16 in alignment with the centrifugal rotor 13. An opening 11 is also provided in the bottom part of the member 1I below'the baffle 25 in which opening the evaporator 39 is positioned, An extension 18 of lower member 68 supports the evaporator which extends upwardly to the said baille.

A peripheral gasket 19 is provided around the opening 3| and between the housing 36 and cabinet III so as to seal the joint therebetween Means is also provided to properly align the housing and cabinet structures when assembled and to hold them against accidental relative displacement. While any of several well known means may be utilized for this purpose, the illustrated structure employs a plurality of machine screws 8| the Shanks of which pass through a fixed portion of the housing 3B, such as lugs 82 (Figure l), or the shell (Figure 2), and is threaded into a fixed portion of cabinet I8, such as the shell I I, as indicated at 83. To facilitate removal of these screws,

access openings 84 have'been provided in the Cil 4 housing, each provided with a spring clip closure member of well known type.

A suitable electrical circuit (not shown), responsive to the temperature in space I6 of the cabinet III in accordance with well known refrigerator practice, may be provided to automatically control operation of the motor compressor 31 and of the motor 46.

In the use of the apparatus to cool the food stored in the containers I1 to the desired temperature, and to maintain said temperature, the apparatus is operated in response to said thermally responsive control circuit to produce a refrigerating effect in the evaporator 39 which then acts to absorb heat from the air within the space I6, said air being circulated over and in contact with the chilled surfaces of the evaporator. Circulation of the air is accomplished by the blower 13, the actuating motor 46 of which may be connected in series with the aforesaid control circuit so that when a demand for additional cooling develops, as evidenced by closing of the control circuit in response to increased temperature in the space I6, the motor 46 will be energized and through the blower will draw air from along the length of upper channel 23 and force it downwardly in chamber 4I and outwardly through the coils and fins of the evaporator. From the evaporator the cooled air passes along the length of lower compartment 24 and returns to the upper compartment through the space between the end of baille 26 and wall 28 of space I6. This circulation continues until the atmosphere within space I5 is reduced to the desired temperature, at which time the aforesaid control circuit will open to shut off further operation of the apparatus. It is to be understood that while the air is circulating as described it swirls around the containers in intimate heat exchange contact with the walls thereof, and also with the walls of the said space I3. Thus the heat entering through the insulated wall of chamber I and the walls of containers I1 is picked up by the circulating air and passed to the evaporator and to the refrigerant circulating therethrough in the manner well understood in the art.

The motor 46 will also operate the fan 45 to cool the condenser and compressor by drawing air from the iloor upwardly around the compressor and then forcing it outwardly through the condenser as described,

As previously pointed out such refrigerating systems are subject to occasional failure, at which times immediate service is imperative in order to prevent spoilage of the contents of containers I1. With the present invention the refrigerator may be restored to service by merely releasing the screws 8|, removing the inoperative unit, and immediately replacing it with an operative unit which may be left in place permanently or until the inoperative unit has been repaired at a service plant adequately equipped to restore it to proper running condition.

I claim:

1. In refrigeration apparatus, a heat-insulated cabinet having an apertured wall, a food container within and in spaced relation with the walls of said cabinet, a partition in the cabinet forming adjoining communicating passages each embracing a portion of said container, portable cooling means detachably connected to said cabinet and having an insulated wall adapted to close said aperture, said portable means further comprising compressor, condenser and motor elements mounted at the outer side of'said wall and an evaporator and an impeller mounted at the inner side of said Wall, said impeller being operatively connected with the said motor, and said evaporator and impeller being arranged With respect to said partition so that operation of the impeller is effective to set up a circulation of air through the passages and over the surfaces of the evaporator.

2. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination with a heat-insulated cabinet having an apertured side wall and an apertured top wall of a food container depending Within said cabinet through said top wall aperture, a horizontal partition dividing the interior of the cabinet into upper and lower passages respectively embracing the upper and lower portions of the container and communicating at the ends, portable cooling means detachably connected to said cabinet and having an insulated wall adapted to close said side wall aperture, said cooling means further comprising a compressor, a condenser and a motor at the outer side of said Wall, and an evaporator and an impeller at the inner side, said evaporator constituting an element of a refrigerating system including also said compressor and condenser and being located in one of said passages, and

said impellerbeing operatively connected with .said motor and being located in the other of said passages.

WELTON PAUL JONES.

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