US2509613A

US2509613A - Two-temperature refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US2509613A
Application number: US767910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence A Philipp
Original assignee: Nash Kelvinator Corp
Current assignee: American Motors Corp
Priority date: 1947-08-11
Filing date: 1947-08-11
Publication date: 1950-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-30

Description

May 30, 1950 L. A. PHILIPP Two-TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l.. Lkr

grilli/gaaf n INVENTOR. Laune-uc: H-Rwu BY W .a/hw romvtv Filed Aug. fre-5 May 30, 1950 L. A. PHILIPP Two-TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR 6 Shoet's-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. l1, 1947 INVENTOR. nu/Psw: PH/UPP i g' B/ZIA.,-

` Haren/wry May 30, 1950 L.. A. PHILIPP 2,509,613

nmmPERATURE REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VE N TOR. nu/eswc: H. Pfl/UPP BYMWLLM Hrromvfv May 30, 1950 L.. A. PHlLlPP Y 2,509,613

TWO-TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 11,v 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 54 v 74 f'IzE-H 4,86 05 m] 42 "l may u 24 30o l254 50"/.Jll 7*234 WM ff, 6M

H T Toen/fr May 30, 1950 A. PHILIPP TWO-TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 11, 1947 INVENTOR. nwnewf fil BWL/PP BY W l. El M HT roe/ver Patented May 30, 1950 TWO-TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Nash-Kelvlnator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Maryland Application August 1l, 1947, Serial No. 767,910

12 Claims.

This invention-relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to household refrigerators.

The present invention is a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application. Serial No. 634,442, filed Dec. 12, 1945, for Refrigerating apparatus. n

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement of a refrigerator cabinet and refrigerator machinery therein to increase cooling compartment capacity of the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of a refrigerator cabinet and refrigerator machinery to increase cooling compartment capacity of the cabinet and at the same time to provide for ready accessibility to the machinery.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the above mentioned character in which the arrangement induces natural iiow of air over the refrigerant condensing machinery to carry away the heat of condensation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of refrigeratng apparatus in a refrigerator cabinet to utilize space at the bottom of the cabinet for a cooling compartment at the front and a refrigerator machinery compartment at the rear, in the lower portion of the cabinet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatus ofthe above mentioned character for multiple temperature refrigerating apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement in a refrigerator of a refrigerant evaporator a downwardly swinging access door therefor and a drip bale beneath the evaporator. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet having an inclined back wall of a mechanism compartment for the reception of a motor-compressor unit and a condenser at the back o1' the cabinet.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a refrigerator wherein more economical `use is t `2 n t available for refrigerating purposes by utilizing a mechanism compartment of generally triangular shape in cross section positioned at the back of the cabinet, and employing a relatively flat rcfrigerant condenser to reduce the space required for housing the refrigerant condenser.

Yet a stillfurther object of the inventionrresides in the provision of a domestic refrigerator having a two temperature system wherein refrigerant evaporator tubes are bonded to the walls defining a food storage compartment, and another refrigerant evaporator is associated with an ice freezing compartment positioned in the food storage compartment and to provide for dividing the compartment into three distinct zones wherein different humidity conditions are maintained. l

Yet a still further object resides in the provision of a domestic refrigerator having a food storage compartment embodying high and low humidity compartments. t

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerating apparatus having parts broken away and in section embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a refrigerating system of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerating apparatus taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l; t

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view' of the refrigerating apparatus' taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of an upper portion of the refrigerating apparatus of Figure 3; l

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of an evaporator of the refrigerating system;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the evaporator taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear view of the refrigerating apparatus;

Fig. 10 ls a view similar to Figure 9 showing the modification thereof;

Fig. 11 is a. iront view in elevation of a modied form of refrigerator embodying features of my invention and illustrated with the access door removed; l

Fig. 12 is a view taken along line i2-|2 of Figure 1l in the direction of the arrows showing the cabinet in cross section plus the access door in elevation;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of the refrigerating system used in the refrigerator shown in Figures 11 and 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, similar to Figure 12 of a modified form embodying features of my invention; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, similar to Figure 14 of a still further modifi form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, and flrst to Figures 1 to 10 inclusive, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet of the household type, designated generally by the numeral 20. The cabinet includes an outer sheet metal casing 22 and an inner sheet metal liner 24. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the metal liner 24, in the present instance, is sectionally constructed comprising, an upper liner member 26 and a lower liner member 28 joined together, preferably in overlapping relation as shown in Fig. 3. Interposed between the outer metal casing 22 and the metal liner 24 is heat insulation 38 which may be of any suitable type. The inner surface of the liner 24 forms a compartment` extending from top to bottom of the cabinet, having a top wall 33, side walls 34, a rear wall 36 and a bottom wall 38. The front of the cabinet 20 may be closed by a single door 39 extending from top to bottom of the cabinet, but two or more doors may be used, if desired. The cabinet bottom wall rests on an open framework, supporting base 40 which is mounted on feet so that air may circulate beneath the cabinet.

The cabinet 20 has an upper freezing compartment 42, an intermediate food cooling compartment 44 and a, lower, high humidity vegetable cooling compartment 48. In the upper freezing compartment 42 is a metal, box-like refrigerant evaporator unit 41 having a front access opening, closed by a door 48 which is located just inside the cabinet door 39. For convenience, the evaporator unit door 48 is hinged at its lower edge, as at 45, so that the door need not be supported manually during storage or removal of articles from the unit 41. One leaf of the hinge is provided with a stop 49 engageable by the other leaf of the hinge to limit downward opening of the door.

The evaporator unit 41 is located adjacent the cabinet top wall 33 from which it may be suspended by bolts 5l. As shown, the evaporator unit 41 extends between the cabinet side walls 34 and between the cabinet door 39 and the rear wall 36, suflcient space being provided between the evaporator unit walls and the cabinet liner 24 to allow limited circulation of air around the unit` Immediately below and adjacent the underside of the evaporator unit 41, I provide an insulating drip baille and partition which separates the freezing compartment 42 and the food cooling compartment 44 from each other. This baille is located intermediate the evaporator unit 41 and the hinge pivots of the evaporator unit door so as to conserve food storage compartment space by arranging the baille close to the underside of unit 41. In order that the baille-partition 50 may extend entirely beneath and slightly beyond the evaporator unit at the front of the cabinet I recess the evaporator unit door 48, as at 55, to receive the forward edge of the baille partition.

In the food cooling compartment 44, a number 4 of shelves 52 are provided which may be imperiorated glass shelves to support foodstuffs and other items to be cooled. These shelves 52 are preferably spaced from the liner 24 and from the cabinet door 39 to allow restricted circulation of air throughout the cooling compartment 44. Spaced below the lowermost shelf 52, a partition shelf 54 separates the food cooling compartment 44 and the high humidity vegetable cooling compartment 48 from each other.

The refrigerant evaporator unit 41 comprises, a sheet metal evaporator structure 53 having a horizontal leg 56 and a vertical leg 58 formed to contain the refrigerant. Integral top and side walls 60, 6I respectively of the evaporator unit are made of sheet metal material and is supported by and secured to the evaporator leg 58, by an angle bracket 52 which is secured to the upper end of the vertical leg 58 of the evaporator. Secured to and engaging the upper surface of the plate 60 is a refrigerant circulating coil 84 which is connected at one end thereof to a refrigerant inlet in the evaporator leg 58. Also in'the vertical leg 58 of the evaporator there is a header 55. Around the forward edge of this evaporatorunit 41, a rubber seal 10 is preferably provided for sealing engagement by the evaporator door 48. Icetrays, foods, etc. -may be placed in this low temperature evaporator unit 41. On defrosting of the system, water is drained from the box-like cooling element through drain holes 51 provided and located at the junctures of the evaporator leg 55 and side walls 6l of the unit.

In orde ,.to utilize the lower portion of the` cabinet fl "cooling purposes and still have the refrigerating machinery located in the bottom of the cabinet, I arranged a lower portion of the cabinet rear wall, as at 12, at an angle extending downwardly and forwardly to the cabinet bottom wall to provide a machinery compartment 14 rearwardly and beneath this sloped wall, or rearwardly of the high humidity compartment 46. As shown, rear side portions of the outer casing 22, the sloped wall 12 and the supporting base 40 cooperate to form the machinery compartment. The back of the machinery compartment 14 is open as shown in Figures 3, 9, and 10. Mounted on the base 40 in the machinery compartment 14 is a motor compressor unit 15 and a condenser 18 which are laterally positioned and disposed adjacent the sloped wall 12. The motor compressor unit 16 is of the hermetically sealed type. The condenser 18 is of these-called flat type comprising a sinuous coil and a plurality of spaced plate fins 80. This condenser 18 is arranged in the machinery compartment 14 at an angle to the sloped wall 12, the lower end of the condenser being closer to the sloped wall than the upper end of the condenser. Below the condenser 18, the supporting base 48 is provided with a large opening 4| to allow air to flow upwardly from beneath the cabinet over the condenser 18 to carry away the heat of condensation. Secured to the back of the vertical, rear wall por'- tion of the cabinet, a flue 82 is provided to induce flow of air upwardly through the machinery compartment 14. This flue 82 is arranged on the back of the cabinet such that a lower end yportion thereof overhangs the sloped wail 12 of the machinery compartment. The flue 82 receives the upper end of the condenser 18 which extends into the iiue at the lower end thereof (see Figure 3). The construction and arrangement of the machinery compartment and machinery therein of the modification of Figure 10 is the same as the above described refrigerator and therefore like parts are designated by like numerals to avoid unnecessary repetitions de scription. In the modification of Figure 10 a large capacity condenser 18' is provided by extending the condenser over the motor compressor unit 16 so that an upper portion of the condenser extends substantially entirely across the width of the machinery compartment 14.

On the other side of the sloping wall portion 12 from the machine compartment, the high humidity compartment 46 is l provided with a pair of laterally positioned vegetable containers 84 slidably supported on rails 86 which are in turn supported on pins 88, secured in and to the sides of the liner 24. Below these vegetable containers 84 a vegetable storage bin 90 is provided, hinged at its lower edge, as at 92. A relatively high humidity is maintained in the compartment 46 due to the partition shelf 54 which restricts circulation of air between this compartment and the upper food storage compartment 44.

The cooling compartment 44 and the high humidity compartment 46 are cooled by a secondary rei'rigerating system including an evaporator 94 and a condenser `96. The evaporator 94 is ypreferably of `the sinuous` coil type and is secured to and against the outer surface of the inclinedportion of the liner member 26 and to the back wall of the upper liner member 28 to absorb heat from the liner and cool compartments 44 and 46. The secondary refrigerating system condenser 96 is preferably imbedded in the rear wall insulation, adjacent the freezing evaporator unit 41. The condenser 96 consists preferably of a metal tank or container. Both ends of the evaporator coil 94 are in open communication with and are connected to the condenser tank, one, or the upper end 98 of the coil 94 being disposed adjacent the lower portion of the tank `and the outlet end of the evaporator coil 94 being positioned near the upper end of the tank. By this arrangement, liquid refrigerant which is condensed in the tank 96 enters the evaporator coil end 98 whence it hows through the evaporator coil, and passes out of the coil outlet end |00 into the tank 96 to be condensed. The primary system evaporator 41 and the secondary system evaporators 94 are respectively relatively low and relatively high temperature evaporators. A thermostat 93 having a bulb 91 responsive to evaporator temperature, controls operation of the motor-compressor unit. The thermostat 93 is preferably imbedded in the insulation of the cabinet top wall.

From the condenser 18, liquid refrigerant is delivered through a small diameter capillary tube |02 to the freezing evaporator unit 41. This tube |02 has an intermediate, refrigerant evaporating or heat exchange portion |04 which is wrapped around the condenser tank 96 and held in good thermal contact therewith to provide a heat exchange. The refrigerant, after leaving the heat exchange portion |04, enters the inlet of the coil 64 of the freezing evaporator unit 41 and passing through this coil enters the vertical leg 58 of the evaporator. Gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator header 66 for return through conduit |06 to the condensing unit at the bottom of the cabinet.

The insulating drip baille-partition 50, is of general rectangular shape in cross section extending substantially horizontally between the cabinet door and the rear liner wall and between opposite sides of the liner. The side and rear edges of the drip baille partition, position close to the inner liner wall surface so as to limit air circulation between the freezing compartment 42 and the food storage compartment 44. Preferably, the drip baille-partition 50 comprises, a lower dished member |08, an upper dished member H0 and insulation H6. These dished mem- .bers |08, 0 are nested in spaced relation with the insulation ||6 interposed therebetween. Outer, engaging marginal or ilanged portions of the dished members |08l ||0 are preferably ared upwardly. These flanges may abe welded or be otherwise suitably secured together. The dished members |08, I|0 are made of a low heat conducting material which may be phenolic or other suitable material.

In the rear flange of the drip baille 50, a depression ||8 is provided in the form of a spout from which water drips, on defrosting the refrigerator, onto a rounded, inwardly directed projection |22 formed out of the cabinet rear wall liner. The water runs down the rear wall of the cabinet and down the inclined lower portion thereof into a removable drip receiver |24 located in the high humidity compartment 46. This drip receiver |24 may, as shown, be mounted on the pivoted or tiltable storage bin 90. Also, on defrosting the system, frost water runs down the inner surfaces of the side and rear walls of the liner and is caught in a trough or channel |26 which directs the water into the receiver |24. This channel |26 is disposed in the lower, high humidity compartment 46 and may be welded or be otherwise secured to the side and rear Walls of the lower liner 28 at an angle, or longitudinally inclined so as to cause gravityiow to the receiver |24.

During operation of the system, the secondary evaporator absorbs heat through the cabinet liner without the collection of frost on the liner, at least part of the time. If any frost should collect it would melt off during the oil-phase of the refrigerating cycle. When melted the water would run down the liner walls into vessel |24. Also during operation frost accumulates on the ice making evaporator. However, this accumulation of frost is slight because of door 48 and drip pan 50 and, accordingly the system requires defrosting only after long periods of operation. Since the pan 50 allows some circulation of air from above to below its edges and in the reverse directions and since shelves 52 are spaced from the front door and the rear wall of the cabinet some air from between the shelves 52 may come in contact with the ice making evaporator and thus freeze out some of the moisture from such circulating air. This aids in controlling the relative humidity between the shelves 52. Further details of the manner in which the system herein in Figs. 1 to 3 and the manner in which the relative humidity is controlled may be found in my Patent 2,361,792, issued Oct. 31, 1944, `for Refrigerating apparatus wherein the operation of the system is the same as herein disclosed.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that I have provided an improved refrigerator in which the food storage refrigerant space extends to the bottom of the cabinet forwardly of the machinery compartment to provide additional food storage cooling space without locating the machinery outside of the cabinet. It will further be noted that I have provided an improved arrangement of evaporator door and drip baille so that the door may be arranged to swing downwardly and so that the baille may extend toward the door to catch all drip alud` to limit air asoaeia 2 circulation between the freezing and cooling compartment at the front of the cabinet.

Referring now to Figs. l1 and l2, it will be observed that a refrigerator cabinet 202 includes an outer shell or casing 205 consisting of interconnected back, side, top and bottom walls 2| 0, 2|2, 2I4 and 2|6 respectively. The back side and bottom walls 2|0 and 2 I6 are joined together near the bottom of the cabinet by an angularly inclined wall 2|8 which cooperates with the side walls to form a mechanism compartment 220 of general triangular shape in cross section.

An inner shell or liner 22| consisting of interconnected back, side, top and

bottom walls

222, 224, 226, and 228 respectively is positioned within the outer` shell to provide substantially uniform space for the reception of suitable insulation 230 interposed between the inner and outer shells. The insulation 230 may be of any suitable type such for example as cork or fibrous material or any good insulating material.

A breaker strip 234 formed of any good nonconducting material, such as, phenolic plastic is interposed between the Walls defining the inner and outer shells to thermally insulate the inner and outer shells from each other. An access door 236 preferably having an outer metal shell 238 and an inner liner 240 formed of non-conducting material such for example as phenolic plastic is provided to close the front access opening to the food storage compartment 242. Suitable insulation 244 is provided between the outer shell 238 and the inner liner 240 of the door. A gasket or sealing member 246 preferably formed of resilient non-conducting material such as rubber is interposed between the access door 236 and the walls of the outer shell.

A refrigerant evaporator 241 positioned in the upper portion of the food storage compartment 242 is formed for example of interconnected sheets 248 for the reception of liquid refrigerant. The evaporator 241 includes enlarged headers 250 and 25| which serve as inlet and outlet headers respectively. The evaporator is preferably U- shaped and in addition to cooling the food storage compartment may be used for freezing substances.

The space within the food storage compartment 242 is divided by a plurality of spaced

shelves

254 and 256 for the reception of articles f varying sizes. Preferably the shelves are of the imperforate type, such as, transparent glass. The space between the lower shelves 256 may be closed by auxiliary access doors 258 which may be hinged, for example, to the cabinet bottom wall adjacent the front edge thereof. These auxiliary doors 258 aid in effecting higher humidity conditions in the food storage chambers 262 than in the chambers 264 which are without such auxiliary access doors. The doors 258 are preferably provided with handles 265.

Refrigerant evaporator tubes 268 bonded in heat exchange relation with certain of the walls of the inner shell, such for example as the back walls 222 and side walls 224, are provided to extract heat from the food storage compartment 242.

A pair of laterally positioned bins 210 having vertical front walls 212 aligned with the auxiliary access doors 213 are provided with handles 214 and are hinged for example at 216 to tilt forwardly out of the food storage compartment to permit access to the space within the bin. One bin is attached to each door 213. Back walls 218 of the bins 210 are arranged so as to occupy positions adjacent to and substantially parallel with the angularly inclined wall 232 of the inner shell so as to utilize all of the space at the lower front portion of the cabinet for the storage of foods to be cooled. The bins 210 are formed of interconnected strips of material preferably wire to permit circulation of air through the bins.

The

shelves

254 and 256 are spaced from the back Wall 222 as illustrated at 284 to permit limited circulation of air above and below

shelves

254 and 256. The upper portion of the food storage compartment will normally operate under lower humidity conditions than the lower portion thereof because the opening of the access door 236 permits moisture to escape whereas the spaces being closed by the auxiliary access doors 258 and 213 will normally be maintained at higher humidity conditions because of the less frequent exposure of these chambers to the atmosphere. The humidity is also controlled by the manner in which the compartment 242 is cooled as is hereinafter described. The spaces below shelves 256 may thus be advantageously utilized for the storage of foodstuffs that are best preserved under high humidity conditions.

A motor-compressor unit 290 positioned in the mechanism compartment 220 at the back of the cabinet is provided to receive gaseous refrigerant from the headers 25| of the refrigerant evaporator 248 through a vapor return conduit 29|, and to pump it through a conduit 292 leading tov the top of a. refrigerant condenser 294. The condenser 294 comprises a tube 296 of serpentine formation and having heat radiating surfaces or fins 291 secured in heat exchange relation thereto to permit the rapid dissipation of heat from the compressed gaseous refrigerant circulated through the refrigerant condenser tube 296 tovconvert it to the liquid form.

By positioning the refrigerant condenser 294 on the angularly inclined Wall I8 of the outer shell or cabinet, very little space is required to receive the compressor 280 and condenser 294. A flue 298 is positioned at the rear of compressor 290. Preferably the condenser is positioned on an lnclined angle with respect to wall 2I8 with the lower part being closer to wall 2|8. This enables air to enter the open bottom of compartment 220 and rise upwardly through the condenser and in so doing the air passes through the condenser from one side to the other to thus aid in cooling the condenser.

Within the compartment 242 and surrounding evaporator 241 is a casing 300. This casing may be made of sheet metal material, plastic or other suitable material. The casing is L- shaped with the vertical leg extending up to and in engagement with wall 224 and the horizontal leg extending up to and in engagement with side wall 226. The front of the casing is closed by door 30|. Preferably, the L-shaped casing is spaced slightly from the rear wall 222 to allow a limited circulation of air between compartment 242 and the interior of casing 300 for the purpose hereinafter described. A drip pan 302 is positioned below casing 300.

The operation of the system is as follows: Gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the outlet header 25| of evaporator 241 through the vapor return conduit 29| to the intake side of the motor compressor unit 290. The compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to condenser 294 wherein it is liquied and from which it is delivered to evaporator 268 through a strainer 304 and a small diameter tube 306. 'Ihe 9 tube 888 is of such size as to allow only the necessary amount of liquid to enter into the evaporator 268. From the evaporator 268 the liquid refrigerant flows through a fixed restriction 308, which may be a small oriilce or an elongated tube. The refrigerant then enters the inlet 260 of evaporator 241. Because of the xed restriction 388 the pressure in the evaporator 288 is maintained higher than the pressure in` the evaporator 241 and consequently the evaporator operates at a higher temperature `than evaporator 241. It is thus possible to operate evaporator 268 so that it operates above the freezing temperature of water while the evaporator 241 may operate well below freezing so as to freeze ice cubes and the like. As shown, the evaporator 268 is coiled about the inner liner of the casing 22! and may be secured to the outer surface of said casing along the

side walls

224 and 226 and rear wall 222 and inclined wall 232. Preferably, the evaporator 268 is wound about said walls in the form of a serpentine coil. Other forms of winding may be used, however. under certain circumstances. The evaporator 241 being placed in the upper part of thefood Storage compartment 242 is utilized for freezing ice cubes and the like as well as for cooling the upper portion of the food storage compartment lying above the shelves 256. This evaporator is effective to cool the circulating air above the shelves 256 to a temperature higher than the temperature of theair below shelves 256 is cooled by evaporator 266 because of the casing 308 which substantially surrounds the evaporator 241. Some heat from the upper portion ofthe compartment 242 is absorbed by the evaporator 24i by a ilowng between the evaporator edge of the casing ililll and the rear wall 222 of the liner 221. The casing 38d also tends to cool the circulating air because the casing is reduced in temperature by radiation and due to convection currents between the casing 300 and evaporator 247i. However, the circulating air in the upper portion of the compartment 242 is not cooled to as low a temperature as the circulating air in the lower portion of the compartment 242 below shelves 256. Also, the humidity in the upper portion of the compartment 242 is at a lower relative humidity than the relative humidity below shelves 256 because some of the moisture in the circulating air in the upper part of the compartment 242 is condensed out on the casing 386 and other moisture is frozen out on the evaporator 241. The degree of moisture frozen out from such circulating air depends upon the space between the casing 300 and the rear wall 222 of liner 22l. The greater the space the greater the air flow to the evaporator 241 and the greater the freeze out of moisture from said circulating air. Furthermore, the humidity conditions in the upper part of the compartment 242 is at a lower relative humidity than that below shelves 256 because of the doors 258 and 213 closing the front portions of the chambers immediately at the rear of said doors. The doors serve to prevent loss of high humidity when the main door 236 is opened.` Since the evaporator 268 substantially surrounds the inner casing 22| below shelves 256 and since this evaporator is secured to the liner 22 l, the liner presents a large refrigerated surface which heat is absorbed through into the evaporator 268. With this large heat absorbing effective area the temperature of theevaporator 268 may be close to the temperature that it is to maintain in air below shelves each other. It is to be noted that the

shelves

264 and 268 are slightly spaced `from the rear wall 222 of liner 22| to allow a space from each of the chambers below shelves 266 upwardly where air may iiow between the easing 800 and rear wall 222 of liner 22| so that some air may contact the evaporator241. This circulation is desired so as to condense out any excess moisture which may fon-m in the spaces below the shelves 266. Preferably, thespaces below shelves 266 are operated at temperatures slightly below that of the temperature above shelves 266 so that if vegetables and the like are stored below shelves 256 the moisture contained in said vegetables will not readily be dill'used out as would take place if the temperature below shelves 256 were higher than that thereabove. With this arrangement it is possible to store vegetables or the like as well as other food stuff which require storage in high humidity condition with rela tively low temperatures below shelves 256 and in bins 216. Under the circumstances the vegetables will stay crisp and fresh for long periods of time without the use,of special receptacles for their storage.

If desired, the two bins 21D may be formed as a single bin extending from one side of the `cabinet to the other while the doors 213 may be formed as a single door should such arrangement be desirable. Preferably, the doors 256 and 213 are made of transparent material, such as glass or plastic, so that the contents stored in the spaces below shelves 256 may be readily visible when the main door 236 is opened.

By having the rear wall of the cabinet placed on an incline, it is possible to have a food storage space from the entire top to the bottom wall of the refrigerator and to close the front of the cabinet with a single door. By placing the condenser on an incline it occupies very little space. By placing the condenser on an incline with respect to the rear inclined wall of the cabinet a very efcient condition for arrangement is presented because air may then enter the open bottom of the compartment 226 and when rising will pass through the condenser from one side to the other while the inclined wall of the cabinet will cooperate with the flue 298 to provide a triangular shaped flue for the heat emitting motor compressor unit and condenser, thus providing an improved condensing arrangement. Furthermore, byarranging the rear wall 2|8 on an incline the heat dissipated between theinclined wall and the condenser tends to rise upwardly and does not flowto the evaporator 268 on wall 232 to such an extent as would take place if the wall 232 were in a horizontal position and `the condenser positioned inmediately therebethan any of the compartments thereabove because none of the moisture from the lowermost compartment will be `frozen out on evaporator `241. Thus three separate degrees of humidity will be maintained. Relatively low humidity g will be maintained in compartment 242, intermediate humidity in the central compartment 262 and relatively high humidity in the lowermost compartment 262. Also if desired the lowermost compartment may operate at a lower temperature than any of the compartments thereabove depending upon the number of loops of evaporators 268 positioned about said lowermost compartment.

As will be noted in Fig. the condenser is positioned to extend from the lower to the upper portion of the mechanism compartment on one side of the compressor and has an extension over the top of the compressor. This provides adequate condensing surface while at the same time allows the compressor to be placed immediately behind the sloping wall to minimize the size of the mechanism compartment. The condenser arrangement in cabinets shown in Figs. 11 and 12 may be the same as in the cabinet shown in 1013.10.

It will be apparent that I have provided a refrigerator that can be economically fabricated and embodying a two temperature system wherein a relatively low temperature somewhat below the freezing .point of water is insured in the ice freezing compartment, and a higher temperature somewhat above the freezing point of water is insured in the food storage compartment 242. It will also be apparent that zones of different humidity conditions are provided in the

food storage compartments

242 and 262, and that l temperature and humidity conditions most suited to the preservation of various types of food stuffs can readily be made available.

Fig. 14 illustrates a modified form of the invention that is similar in many respects to that illustrated in Figs. ll to 13. It may be refrigerated by the same refrigerating system and in like manner.

It will be noted that storage bins 320 are formed in the bottom of the food storage compartment 322 by means of spaced partitions 324 secured to and extending forwardly from the angularly inclined wall 328 of the inner shell defining the food storage compartment. 'I'he bins 320 are particularly advantageous for the storage of vegetables that are best preserved under relatively high humidity conditions at temperatures somewhat above the freezing point of water. The partitions 324 have angularly inclined top surfaces extending downwardly from the angularly inclined back wall 326 to a vertically disposed partition 330 extending across the front access opening of the food storage compartment near the bottom thereof as illustrated. The partition 330 may have a. frame 332 of any desired contour such for example as rectangular. supporting an ornamental panel 334 that may be formed of any desired material such for example as a plastic or of transparent material such as glass to permit visual'observation of the contents oi' the vstorage bins 320. If desired a plurality of partitions 324 can be positioned at spaced intervals to divide the space across the front of the cabinet into any desired number of compartments of desired sizes.

As shown in Fig. 14, the access door 336 is provided with a contoured portion 338 adjacent the lowermost shelf 351, and may be provided with a gasket member 360 in the form of a re- 338 is in the closed position as illustrated to substantially seal the space between the upper portion of the food storage compartment and the space beneath the shelf 351 defining the vegetable storage bin. To gain access to the vegetable storage bins it is only necessary to open the access door 336 whereupon articles positioned in the storage bins 320 may be readily reached. The lowermost shelf 351 extends rearwardly and engages wall 332 while upper shelves similar to shelves 256 (Fig. 12) may be spaced slightly from the rear wall.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 15 is similar in many respects to that illustrated in Fig. 14. It may be refrigerated by the same system as shown in connection with Figs. 1l to 13 and in like manner. It will be noted that a. temperature break in the form of a gasket 380 is secured to the lower of the shelves 388, and that upper and

lower access doors

390 and 392 are provided to close vertically spaced portions of the front access opening of the cabinet.

The upper door 390 is provided with a gasket strip 396 adapted to engage the temperature break 380 to close the space within the food storage compartment above the lower shelf 386. The access door 392 is provided with a gasket strip 398 so proportioned as to also engage the temperature break 380. The lower glass shelf 386 engages wall 400 while the upper glass shelves are slightly spaced from wall 200.

The lower access door 392 is provided to close the space beneath the lower shelf 386 having the food storage bins 40| positioned therein. The bins 40| include a panel 403 which extends across the entire lower part of the compartment adjacent the inner side of the door 392. It will be apparent that either the upper or

lower access door

390 and 392 can be opened without permitting the escape of refrigerated air from the other compartment.

Although preferred and modified forms have been illustrated, and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Rei'rigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having an outer metal casing, a metal liner forming walls of a storage compartment, insulation between said casing and said liner, said outer casing having vertical side walls and having an inclined lower back wall portion extending between and cooperating with said vertical side walls to provide a machinery compartment at the lower rear part of the cabinet of general triangular shape in cross section, a refrigerant evaporating elementarranged to cool said storage compartment, a motor-compressor unit positioned in said machinery compartment and operatively connected to said refrigerant evaporating element, and a flat type refrigerant condenser positioned in said machine compartment adjacent to said inclined back wall and being operatively connected to said motor-compressor unit and to said refrigerant evaporating element, said condenser being positioned on an incline with respect to said inclined wall with the lower portion of the condenser being closer to said inclined wall than the upper portion of said condenser.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a compartment and having front, rear and side walls, a refrigerant evaporator arranged t0 cool said compartment, the rear wall of said cabinet having a lower inwardly and downwardly sloping portion extending across the cabinet between said side walls, a motor-compressor unit immediately beneath and adjacent said sloping wall portion operatively connected to said evaporator, a flue extending upwardly adjacent the rear wall of said cabinet, said flue having a, lower end portion terminating in overlapping relation to an upper portion of said sloping wall portion, and a refrigerant condenser disposed immediately beneath said sloping wall portion extending upwardly and outwardly to said ue and being operatively connected to said motor-compressor unit and to said evaporator.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment extending substantially from top to bottom of the cabinet and having an access opening leading to said compartment, closure means for said opening, the rear wall of said cabinet having an inclined portion sloping downwardly toward said access opening, wall means extending across the lower portion of said access opening to retain refrigerated air in the lower part of said food storage cornpartment, a, refrigerant evaporating element in said inclined portion and a motor-compressor unit operatively connected to said evaporating element and being positioned at the rear of said inclined portion of said rear wall.

4. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment extending substantially from top to bottom of the cabinet and having an access opening leading to said compartment, closure means for said opening, the rear wall of said cabinet having an inclined portion sloping downwardly toward said access opening, wall means extending across the lower portion of said access opening to retain refrigerated air in the lower part of said food storage compartment, sealing means dividing the upper and lower portions of said compartment into zones of different relative humidities, a refrigerant evaporating element in said inclined portion for cooling air in said compartment below said sealing means, a refrigerant evaporating element in said cabinet for cooling air in said compartment above said sealing means and a motorcompressor unit positioned at the rear of said inclined portion of said rear wall.

5. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a compartment and having front, side and rear walls, a refrigerant evaporator arranged in heat exchange relation with said compartment, the rear wall of said cabinet having a lower inclined portion extending downi wardly toward the front of said cabinet, a metal liner forming said compartment, a motor-compressor unit disposed immediately beneath and adjacent said inclined wall portion and being operatively connected to said evaporator, a refrigerant condenser disposed immediately beneath and adjacent said inclined wall portion and being operatively connected to said motorcompressor unit and to said evaporator and a secondary refrigerating system evaporator en gaging said liner adjacent said inclined wall portion for absorbing heat therefrom to cool said compartment.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a compartment and having rear and side walls, a refrigerant evaporator arranged to cool said compartment, the rear wall of said cabinet having a lower inwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending across the cabinet between said side walls, a motor-compressor unit disposed immediately beneath and adjacent said inclined wall portion operatively connected to said evaporator, a flue extending upwardly adiacent the rear wall of said cabinet. said flue having a lower portion overlapping said inclined wall portion terminating above said motor-compressor unit, and a refrigerant condenser disposed immediately beneath said inclined wall portion extending upwardly and outwardly to said ue and being operatively connected to said motorcompressor unit and to said evaporator.

7. In a, refrigerating apparatus, a cabinet, a refrigerant evaporator in said cabinet having a freezing compartment, said compartment having an access opening, an insulated door closing said opening, a hinge attaching said door adjacent its lower edge to said cabinet below said evaporator, a horizontally extending elongated recess in the inner side of said door above said hinge and entirely below said evaporator, and a drip bailie disposed immediately below said evaporator and extending into said door recess.

8. In refrigerating apparatus a, cabinet having an outer metal casing forming outer walls including a lower inclined rear wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the cabinet, a metal liner forming the inner wall surface of the cabinet including a lower inclined rear wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the cabinet in spaced substantially parallel relation to said casing inclined wall portion, insulatior'rbetween said `casing and said liner, a shelf partition in said cabinet separating an upper food storage compartment from a lower food storage compartment, said inclined wall portions separating said lower food storage compartment from a machinery compartment rearwardly thereof, an evaporator in said upper food storage compartment, refrigerant condensing means in said machinery compartment operatively connected to said evaporator, a drip baffle disposed beneath said evaporator arranged to drip water onto the rear wall of the liner, a drip receiver disposed in said lower food storage compartment adjacent the inclined liner portion to receive the water, and a channel secured to the liner in the lower food storage compartment arranged to direct water into said drip receiver.

9. In reirigerating apparatus a cabinet having an outer metal casing forming the outer walls thereof including a lower inclined rear wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the cabinet, a metal liner forming the inner wall surfaces of the cabinet including .a lower inclined rear portion spaced from and extending substantially parallel with the inclined casing portion, insulation between the casing and said liner, a substantially horizontal partition disposed in the cabinet and cooperating with said liner to provide an upper food storage compartment and a lower food storage compartment, the inclined liner and casing portions separating the lower food storage compartment from a machinery compartment rearwardly thereof, refrigerant condensing means in said machinery compartment adjacent said casing inclined portion, a refrigerant evaporator engaging the the outer surface of said liner inclined portion and being operatively connected to said condensing means, said evaporator beiner arrange to absorb heat from said liner to cool said upper and lower food storage compartments, a refrigerant evaporator arranged to cool said upper food storage compartment operatively connected to said condensing means, a drip baille arranged to collect drip water from said second named evaporator and being arranged to drip water on the rear wall of the liner, 9, drip receiver in said lower food storage compartment adjacent said inclined liner portion, a channel attached to the inner surface of said liner in said lower food storage compartment, said channel being inclined on the sides of said liner and arranged to direct water into said drip receiver.

10. Refrigerating apparatus comprising, a cabinet having a compartment and having side and rear Walls, a refrigerant evaporator disposed in and arranged to cool said compartment, the rear wall of said cabinet having a lower inwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending across the cabinet between said side walls, said inclined wall portion cooperating with the opposite sides of said cabinet to provide a machinery compartment of triangular shape in cross section, a iiue on the back wall of the cabinet having a lower end terminating at a level intermediate the upper and lower extremes of said inclined Wall portion and forming an upper rear wall of said machinery compartment, a motor-compressor in said machinery compartment operatively connected to said evaporator, a refrigerant condenser in said machinery compartment operatively connected to said evaporator and to said motor-compressor, and a base supporting said cabinet having an opening beneath said machinery compartment for upward iiow of air therethrough.

11. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a liner forming a compartment, heat absorbing means on the exterior surface of said liner, a refrigerant evaporator in said cabinet, a drip receiver for collecting drip water from said evaporator and being arranged to conduct such water to said liner, channel means on a 16 wall of said liner for receiving said drip water. a tiltable Ibin in the lower part of said compartment and a vessel in said bin for receiving said drip water from said channel means.

12. In refrigerating apparatus, a cabinet liner having side and rear walls of a storage compartment, a refrigerant evaporator in heat exchange relationship with said liner, said liner having a lower inclined rear wall portion extending downwardly and forwardly from the rear wall, a trough extending along the inner side surface of said liner and along said inclined rear liner portion to conduct defrost water therefrom, said trough being inclined and having a discharge aperturev in the portion thereof along said inclined rear liner portion, a removable storage container below said trough having a rear wall adjacent said inclined liner portion, and a removable vessel on said liner rear wall beneath the discharge in said trough.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIP?.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the