US2509011A

US2509011A - Heat transfer apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2509011A
Application number: US732183A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert E Moore
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1947-03-04
Filing date: 1947-03-04
Publication date: 1950-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-23

Description

May 23, 1950 R. E. MOORE HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1947 Ina/enter: Robert E. Moore,

& w; ?CM

His Attorney.

PatcntedMyZS, 1950 HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS Robert E, Moore, Baltimo'c, Md., assi gnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 4, 1947, Serial No. 732.183

My invention relates to heat transfer apparatus and more particularly to heat transfer panels arranged to be moved toward and away from each other.

For use in maintaining predetermined temperature conditions, it is sometimes desirable to provide panels with which a conduit for heat transfer fluid is associated. For example, in the preservation of foods and particularly in the freezing and storing of foods which are to be maintained in a frozen condition there is sometimes provided a cabinet having refrigerated panels which may be arranged vertically as partitions or horizontally as shelves. Where several such panels are employed the overall refrlgerated panel assembly may require a substantial space because of the spacing between the individual panels. Where it is necessary to ship a complete refrigerating unit including panels, for example for replacement purposes, the necessary shipping package under such conditions is quite bulky. such a refrigerated panel assembly is also unwieldly for handling during manufacture prior to assembly in the cabinet. I overcome these difliculties by providing a structure wherein the refrigerated panel 'assembly may be collapsed 'when not assembled in the cabinet. This affords a very compact package for shlpment and also simplies transportation and handling during the manufacturing process prior to assembly in the cabinet. It provides a further advantage during manufacture in' that the refrigerating system may be evacuated with the panels in the collapsed position, thereby enabling the use of a much smaller evacuating chamber than would normally be required.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a heat transfer apparatus including a plurality of heat transfer panels wherein the panels may be arranged in a compact collapsed relationship.

It is another object of my invention to provide a heat transfer panel assembly which may be readily assembled within and disassembled from a cabinet.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a plurality of heat transfer panels which may be folded together to form a compact package and which may be readily spaced apart for installation in a cabinet.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a cabinet including heat transfer panel assembly wherein the panel assembly may be readily adapted to small variations in spacing between shelf supports in the cabinet.

Furtler objects and advantages of my invens Claims. (ci. 257-22 z tion will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this speciflcation.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet provided with panels employed as shelves and embodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows the refrigerated panel assembly separated from the cabinet and illustrates the shelves in spaced relationship; Fig. 3 shows the panel assembly in the collapsed position; Fig. 4 shows an arrangement for mounting the shelves on the inner wall of the refrigerator cabinet; and Fig. 5 shows an alternative arrangement for mounting the shelves on the inner wall.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a refrigerator cabinet i which includes an outer metal wall 2 and an inner metal wall or liner 3, which forms a food preservation compartment 4 within the cabinet. A door 5 is provided for closing the front opening of the food preservation compartment 4. The top of the food preservation compartment 4 is completed by a metal panel 6 which rests on flanges on the top of the liner 3. In order to provide surfaces on which food may be placed for freezing or storage, there are located within the food preservation compartment l a plurality of heat transfer shelves or panels 1, 8 and I which may be cooled by suitable refrigerant. The liner 3 is provided with a plurality of horizontal openings o, H and |2 through which the shelves may be introduced for assembly within the cabinet. In order to support the forward portion of the shelves, brackets !3, II and l5 are provided along the side walls of the liner 3. The shelves are secured to the brackets by screws IS or other suitable fastening devices.

Referring now to Fig. 2, liquid refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerated shelf assembly from any suitable condensing apparatus (not shown) through a flow restricting tube l'l, sometimes referred to as a "capillary" tube. A dryer li is provided for absorbing moisture which may collect in the system. The refrigerant is supplied in series through extended conduits IS, 20, 2l and 22 which are arranged in heat exchange relationship with the panel 8 and the shelves 1, l and 9 respeotively. Vaporized refrigerant collects in a header 23 and is withdrawn by the condensing apparatus through a suction line 24 which is secured along part of its length in heat exchange relationship with the restricting tube I'l. Although in order to secure additional re- &500.011

!rigeration within the compartment 4, I have provided the refrigerant conducting conduit I! for cooling the panel I which forms the top o! the food preservation compartment 4. this conduit may be eliminated, ii' deslred. and the total refrigeration supplied through the conduits associated with the selves 1. 8 and 3. Also, while I have shown three refrigerated shelves it will be apparent that a smaller or a larger number of refrigerated shelves may be employed within the scope of my invention. Further, the refrlgerant-conducting system may be formed of a multiple section conduit, as illustrated in the drawing, for convenience in manui'acture, or it may. if desired, be i'ormed o! one continuous conduit, eliminating the necessity for the jolnts 25. !I and 21 shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the shelf 8, the major portion of the conduit !I which is located between the points indicated at 28 and 23, is brazed or otherwise rigldly Secured to the under surface of the shelf 8 in good heat conducting relation therewith. The sections 30 and 3I extending from the

points

28 and 29 respectively to an edge of the shelf are not brazed or otherwise rigldly Secured to the surface of the shelf and are, therefoie, free for limited movement relative to the shelf. In order to prevent lateral motion of the free portion 30 of the conduit 2! and at the same time to permit a turning or twisting movement of this portion 30 a clamp 32 or other suitable fastening device is provided.

The clamp is fixed to the shelf 8 by brazlng or by any other suitable fastening arrangement and is shaped to fit about the portion 30 of the conduit. The clamp thus prevents lateral motion of the conduit but does not grip the conduit tightly so that turning or twisting motion is still permitted. A similar clamp 33 is provided for the portion 3l of the conduit.

In order to bridge the space between adjacent shelves 'I and 8, the conduit Zi includes a bridging portion 34 which extends diagonally upward from the edge of shelf 8 toward the shelf '1, and the end of this portion 34 of the conduit 2! is joined to the conduit 20, which is similarly arranged in heat exchange relationship with the shelf 1, the bridglng portion 34 thus being arranged intermediate the extended portions of the conduits 20 and ZI. From the portion 3l the conduit !I extends diagonally downward, as indicated at 35, to join with an upwardly extending bridgingportion of the conduit 22. The arrangement of the refrigerant conducting conduit on the shelves 'I and 9 and on the panel 6 is similar to that described in detail with' regard to shelf 8. The conduit associated with each of these members is provided with at least one section which is free to twist relative to its associated panel or shelf. Thus the conduit 19 includes an extended portion which is brazed to the top surface of the panel 6 over substantially its entire length, but is provided with a section 36 which is not rigidly fixed to the panel 6 and is free to twist relative thereto. Similarly, the conduit associated with shelf 'I includes sections 31 and 38 which are free to twist relative to shelf 1. The shelf 3 includes a section 39 which is not rigidly fixed to the shelf and is free to twist relative thereto. The

sections

36, 31, 38 and 39 are held against laterai motion by clamps 3Sa, na, 38a and 33a, respectively, which are similar to the clamps 32 and 33 and permit turning or twisting of the respective sections.

The sections of the conduits adiacent the duit 20. which is associated with the shell 'also twists in a clockwise direction. This permits the bridging portion 40 of the conduit 20 to Swing into the plane of the panel 6 and the shelf 'I as they approach one another. A similar action of corresponding parts takes place as the shelf 'I and the shelf 8 are moved toward each other, and the same applies to the adiacent shelves 8 and 9. Hence the provision of conduit sections adjacent the edges of the respective shelves in such a manner that a twisting movement is afiorded permits the assembly to be readily collapsed without any strain or injury to the component parts. When it is desired to install the assembly in the cabinet the shelves are pulled apart the required distance and inserted through the openlngs provided for the purpose in the liner 3. If desired, fiexible connecting elements, such as

chains

4l, 42 and 43. may be employed between the panels 6, '1, 8 and 9 to limit theextent to which the assembly may be expanded. The restricting tube i'l is of small diameter and is sufflciently fiexible that it may be folded when the shelf assembly is collapsed, and lt readily unfolds when the assembly is expanded. The shelf asembly described above not only provides for collapsing upon disassembly from the cabinet but the adjustability of the shelves also affords compensation for slight variations in the spacing of the openings o, H and z.

In Fig. 4 there is shown an arrangement for mounting the several shelves within the openings provided in the liner 3. For purposes of illustration, the mounting of the shelf 8 is shown. Adjacent the opening il the liner 3 is provided with

flanges

44 and 45, which may be formed from the metal of the liner 3 during the stamping operation. The shelf 8 is supported on the fiange H by suitable fastening devices'such as bolts and nuts, one of each being shown at li. 41. In order to further support the shelf 8 and to provide a closure for the opening il in the inner liner, a plate 48 of substantially L-shaped cross-section is fastened to the shelf 8 and to the fiange 44 by the bolt and

nut

46, 41, previously mentioned. The lower end of the plate 48 is Secured to the inner liner 3 by a bolt 49 and a nut 50 or by any other suitable fastening device. The forward portion of the sheif I is further supported by brackets |4 Secured to the side of the liner 3, as previously explained.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modified arrangement for mounting the shelves on the liner and for closing the openings in the liner. The shelf 8' is provided with a closure plate 48' which is brazed or otherwise secured to a downwardly extending portion 5! of the shelf. The refrigerant conducting conduit ZI' extends through the closure plate 48' and through the downwardly extending portion 5! of the shelf. In order to mount the sheli on the liner the closure plate 38' is Secured at its upper extremity to the liner 3' by bolts and nuts or other suitable fastening devices. one of which is shown at 52 and 53 in Fig. 5. The

ti lower end of a closure plate 48' is similarly secured to the liner 3' by nuts and bolts, one of which is indicated at 54 and 55 in Fig. 5.

' while I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention as applied to a refrigerator cabinet, it will be apparent that my invention may be employed equally well in the construction of panels for heating equipment. I do not, therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the specific constructionshown and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scop oi' my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A heat transfer apparatuscomprising a. pair of panels arranged in spaced and generally parallel planes, and a conduit having an extended portion secured in-heat exchange relationship psition adiacent and generally parallel to each o her.

4. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a pair v tended portions having a section extending to with each of said panels for affecting the tem-' r perature of said panels, the portion of said conduit intermediate said extended portions diagonally bridging the space between said panels, each of said extended portions having a section adjacent said intermediate portion and connected directly thereto which is disposed adjacent the face of its respective panel and is free of rigid engagement therewith so that said section is free to twist relative to its respective panel whereby said intermediate portion may swing relative to said panels for permitting said panels to move to a collapsed position adjacent and generally parallel to each other. V

2. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a pair of panels arranged in spaced and generally parallel planes. and a' continuous conduit for spplying heat transfer fluid in heat exchange relationship with said panels, said conduit including an extended portion in heat exchange relationship with each of said panels for aflecting the temperature of said panels, and a portion intermediate said extended portions diagonally bridging the space between said panels, each of said extended portions having a section adjacent said intermediate portion and integral therewith which is arranged in the same plane as the remainder of its respective extended portion and is free of rigid engagement with its respective panel so that said section is free to twist relative to its respective panel whereby said intermediate portion may swing relative to said panels for per- !hitting said panels to move to a collapsed position adiacent and generally parallel to each other.

3. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a pair of panels arranged in spaced and generally parallel planes, an extended conduit secured in I cured to said panel for preventin'g later-al move- 'ment' while permittin'g heat exchange reiationship with each of said conduit may swing relative to said panels for permittingsaidpanelstomovetoacollapsed an edge of its respective panel and connected directly to said bridging portion, said. section being free of rigid engagement with its respective panel so that it is free to twist relative to its respective panel whereby said bridging portion may swing relative to said panels for permitting said panels to move to a collapsed position adjacent and generally parailel to each other.

5. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a pair of panels arranged in spaced and generally parallel planes, a conduit having an extended portion secured in heat exchange relationship with each of said panels tor aflecting the temperature of said panels, the portion of said conduit .intermediate said extended portions bridging the gap between said panels, each of said extended portions including a section which is rigidly secured to its respective panel and a sectermediate portion being connected to said second sections whereby said intermediate portion may swir-g relative to said panels for permitting said panels to move toward and away from each other in generally' parallel reationship. I

6. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a panel, an extended conduit secured in heat exchange relationship with said panel for affecting' the temperature of said panel, the 'major portion of 'said extended conduit being rigidly secured to said panel, the remaining portion of said conduit being free of rigid engagement with said panel so that said remaining portion is free to twist relative to said panel, and' a clamp sesaid twisting movement.

nonem' E. MOORE.

an-mamane c'ran 'The following rei'erences are of flle of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,961,070 -Murphy May 29, 1934 &007.701 Apple July 9, 1935 4 &1051151 Money Jan. 18, 1938 1158544 Rastin May 2, 1939 2,231,012 Kleist Feb. 11,- '1941 2,313,499 Alyne Mar. 9, 1943 &327.355 Kieist Aug. 24., 1943 :seem

record in the