US2559087A

US2559087A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2559087A
Application number: US781957A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence A Philipp
Original assignee: Nash Kelvinator Corp
Current assignee: American Motors Corp
Priority date: 1947-10-24
Filing date: 1947-10-24
Publication date: 1951-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-03

Description

July 3, 1951 A. PHILIPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1947 INVENTOR. Lnwesucz H- PHILJPP BY R1- TORNEY Patented July 3, 1951 I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a

corporation of Maryland Application October 24, 1947, Serial No. 781,957

This invention relates generally to refrigerators and more particularly "in composite refrigerator cabinet panels.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet panel of composite construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved composite refrigerator door to decrease heat conduction between an outer door casing and an inner door panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved composite refrigerator cabinet panel of decreased heat conducting qualities which is in expensive to manufacture.

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 refrigerator including a cabinet shown with an access door open, embodying features-of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona view of the refrigerator door, taken along the line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in'section of the door, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is 'a sectional view of a rear panel of the door, shown removed therefrom.

In the drawings, there is shown a refrigerator having a cabinet, designated generally by the numeral 20. The cabinet 26 has a food storage compartment 22 which may be cooled by a refrigerant'evaporator of any suitable type; the present evaporator having an ice making compartment closed at the front thereof by an interior door 24. The front of the cabinet has an access opening to compartment 22 which is closed by an outer or main access door 26 which may be hinged to one side of the cabinet 20.

. 7 Claims. (Cl. 2o 35 outer surface, as at 40,

a lip or bumper portion 44. The gasket base 42 and the bumper portion 44 are joined togetherin a manner to form a channel which faces inwardlyto receive an outer marginal portion of the composite panel 30. This gasket 38 may be made of rubber 'or of any other'suitable material.

In accordance with my invention I make the composite rear panel 30 of a central panel'member 48 are flush or coplanar.

The'door 26 comprises, in general, an outer metal-casing 28 and an inner or rear composite panel 30. The composite panel 30 closes the back of the metal door casing 28 forming therewith a hollow door structure or shell. Heat insulation- 32 of any suitable type is preferably provided in the hollow door structure to decrease heat leakage through the door into the cabinet interior.

The door casing 28 may be made of thin sheet steel formed in general dish-like shape having a rear, inturned reinforcing flange 34. flange 34 preferably extends along the casing top, sides and bottom and is preferably reinforced by bending inwardly, a marginal flange portion 86 thereof. Attached to the casing flange 84 is a This.

her 46 and an outer panel extension or heat breaker strip 48. The panel 46 is preferably made of a light weight sheet material, such as inexpensive sheet steel and the size of the panel 46 is madesuch that its peripheral edge terminates in spaced relation to and inwardly of the casing flange portion 36 so as to decrease heat conduction therebetween. The panelextension member 48 is made of a low heat conductive material, such as flber board. This panel extension member 48 extends preferably around the entire periphery of the panel 46 in. the manner of a frame to provide-a'good heat break between the under the application of pressure; Preferably, the overlapping portion of the panel 46 is offset inwardly, as at 41, so that the outer surfaces of the panel member 46 and of its extension mem- Cemented to the exterior, flush surfaces of thepanel 46 and its extension 48 is a finish covering 54, preferably a thin sheet of plastic material. This plastic sheet 54 covers the joints between the panel 46' and panel extension 48. The plastic cover sheet 54 is cemented to the panel 46 and panel extension 48 preferably by rubber cementjand preferably under the application of heat. Prior to the. cementing of the panel member 46 and panel extension together, the panel 46 is preferably formed, as at 56, to provide a bead, giving added rigidity to the panel, and at thesame time may be formed to provide the offset flange 41. The stiffening head 56 is preferably continuous, extending along and in spaced relation to the sides, top and bottom edges of the panel 46. When the outer plastic covering 54 is cemented under pressure to the panel member, the plastic covering is pressed to take the form of the bead and of the flange 41; the plastic covering being set to fit complementary with the panel formations. When thedoor is assembled, an outer marginal portion of panel extension and the plastic cover sheet are received in the channel of the rubber gasket 38, spacing the metal panel member 46 from the metal casing of the front of the cabinet around the cabinet access opening to form a seal. In general, the gasket 38 comprises a base 42 and ness.

28. Spaced, spring fasteners 58 or other suitable means may be provided for attaching the gasket 38 and composite panel to the casing flange 34. Aligning apertures may be p ovided in the casing flange 34, panel extension and in the cover 54 to receive the fastening 58. The cover sheet 54 need not extend entirely to the outer edges of the panel extension 48, but instead may terminate inwardly of the fasteners.

For use in household refrigerators inexpensive hot rolled sheet steel of approximately twenty thousandths thickness may be used to form the member 46 and the sheet 54 may be formed of plastic approximately ten thousandths in thick- These sheets may be united by any suitable cement and pressed together and in some instances when certain types of cement are used it may be desirable to apply heat during the pressing operation.

Since the

members

46 and 54 are united to the frame of fibre board 48 and the board 48 secured to the casing 28 a rigid door construction is provided. This is accomplished by inexpensive sheet steel without requiring any form of corrosive preventing coating such as rust proofing or coating of vitreous enamel because the plastic member 54 protects the member 46 from moisture present in therefrigerator while the insulating fibre board provides a breaker strip between the metal member 46 and the casing 28.

In the interior of refrigerators certain amount of moisture tends to form on the innerwalls'and some moisture may form on the plastic member 54. Some of such moisture is absorbedin the plastic member. tendingto cause the member 54 to expand. Such expansion is eliminated by the extension member of low heat conductive mate- 'rial extending outwardly from the periphery of said panel member, a cementitious material cementing said panel member and said extension member together and sealing the joint therebetween, and a sheet of plastic material cemented to corresponding surfaces of said panel member and said ext'ensionmember further sealing said joint.

3. A composite refrigerator cabinet panel comprising, an inner metal panel member, an outer heat breaker strip extending along the periphery of said metal panel member, means securing said metal panel member and said heat breaker strip together, and a sheet of plastic material cemented to and flat against corresponding surfaces of said metallic panel member and said breaker strip.

4. A composite refrigerator cabinet panel comprising, an inner metal panel member, an outer heat breaker strip extending along the periphery of said metal panel member, means securing said metal panel member and said heat breaker strip together, a sheet of plastic material cemented to and flat against corresponding surfaces of said metallic panel member and said breaker strip,

sheet metal member 46 being. united to the mem-. 1

her 54. In View of the fact that member 54 cannot expand it can be secured to the casing 28 to aid in forming'atrigid door whereas if the member 54 should be allowed to expand while being secured to the' easingIB'I therme'mber 54 would buckle and' -in some instances buckle i'nsaid heat insulating member. "40

edge spaced inward wardly and tend to engage objects storedfin the refrigerator; 1

From the foregoing description, it iwill bei noted that I have provided an improved door construca connecting mei'nbe' and complementary stiffening deformations in said inner metal panel and in said sheet of plastic material inwardly of said breaker strip,

', 5..A composite refrigerator cabinet door comprising, an outer casing having an inturned flange, a rear panel member having an outer peripheral edge spaced inwardly from said inturned f flange. aheat insulating member overlapping said inturned flange and 'overlappin'g'a marginal edge'portion of said inner panel closing the joint therebetween, and an outer-cover member cover-- ing the outer surfaces-of said rear panel and 6. A composite refrigerator cabinet door comprising, anouter casinghavingfaninturned flange, f a rear} panelmember, its} outer peripheral-- c said; inturned flange, heatconductingmm, I at fportions of "said terial -overlappin d flanges closing pace therebetween, and a plastic covering n lthe' outer surfaces of said tion to decrease heat conduction between-inner; and outer parts of' the; door It will also be noted that I have provided an'improvedrefrigerw tor panel of composite'construction iniwhi'ch the door panel and'its outer'finish cover are cement edrtogeth'er and-tea marginal panel-extension member'or'breaker strip to-decreaseheat con-i duction and also decrease cost of manufacturing refrigerator cabinet panels.

inturned flange, a rear panel member having an i outer peripheral edge spaced from said inturned j fflange, a plastic breaker strip overlapping said inturned flange and said inner panel closing the Although only a preferred form of theinvention has been illustrated, and-that form described of sa d breaker strip, a fastener connecting said in detail, 'it will be apparent to ,those skflle'd in the art that various modifications may be made therein without} departing from the spiritof'the invention or from the scope of the ,appendedf.

claims. 4

Iclaim:' I 1. A composite refrigerator panel comprising,

a panel member of sheet material, a panel exten-' sion member of low heat conductive material extending outwardly of the periphery of saidpanel member and forming a joint therewith, and a sheet of plastic material cemented flat against 'rear' panel' and of said connecting member.

7. A composite, refrigerator cabinet door comprising, an outer sheet, metal casing having a rear spaceftherebetween, means attaching said rear paneland 'sa'id breaker strip together, a gasket attached'to said inturned flange having an inf'wardly facing channel receiving an outer portion gasket and said breaker strip to said inturned flange, and a covering on the outer surface of -;said rear panel and on the outer surface of said breaker strip covering the joint therebetween.

A. PHILIPP.

.REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record inthe flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,309,001 I Nave et al. Jan. 19, 1943