US2603070A

US2603070A - Refrigerated transportation unit

Info

Publication number: US2603070A
Application number: US611365A
Authority: US
Inventors: Forrest E Gilmore
Original assignee: FRIGID TRANSP Co Inc
Current assignee: FRIGID TRANSP Co Inc; FRIGID TRANSPORT COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1945-08-18
Filing date: 1945-08-18
Publication date: 1952-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1969-07-15

Description

July 15, 1952 F. E. GILMORE 2,603,070

REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT Filed Aug. 18, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

/ 0/P/P57' 6/4 HOPE ATTO/PA/[YS J y 1952 F. E. GILMORE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 INVENTOR 5/6955? 4. 6/4 MO/Pf E N R o i am July 15, 1952 F. E. GILMORE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 INVENTOR fa/ppzsr 4. 6/4/1052- BY flw v- ATTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 F. E. GILMORE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT July 15, 1952 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 19 TTUP/VEYS Ticlfj.

July 15, 1952 F. E. GILMORE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 I", III

- INVENTOR. fb/PPtIST zf. 6/4 NO/Pf ATTOP/V/VS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 18, 194

A .w. wk H H ILI A Hil y/Ill? I KEN NVENTIOR. f /F/Pfsr 6/4 moms y 1952 F. E. GILMORE 2,603,070

REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT Filed Aug. 18, 1945 I r '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 l3 INVENTOR. 01:1. /:&/P/P57, 6/4/7094 WTLW Patented July 15, 1952 2,603,070 REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT Forrest E. Gilmore, Bartlesville, Okla., assignor,

by mesne assignments; to Frigid Transport Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 18, 1945, Serial No. 611,365

6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerated transportation units.

The inventionis shown herein as applied to an automotive truck, but it is apparent that the same principles may be applied to other forms of transportation units and certain items are useful in refrigerated systems generally.

In the transportation unit of the present invention, the cooling element is a portionof an absorption refrigeration system contained in an insulated body and the unit has mounted thereon one or more absorbent holders for collecting the vaporized refrigerant. The remaining elements of an absorption system, namely, the generator, the dehydrator, the condenser and the storage tanks for the liquid refrigerant and the weak and strong liquors are located at a central station at which the units are serviced.

Each central station serves a large number of transportation units. As each transportation unit enters a central station, the absorbers are emptied of their charge of strong liquor, the evaporator is recharged with refrigerant and the absorbers are recharged with weak liquor or absorbent whereupon the transportation unit is ready to resume its travel with full refrigeration capacity. The transportation unit may be designed for twenty-four-hour or longer service without recharging at the will of the designer.

The present application is directed to numerous features making for the economical construction-"- and operation of the transportation unit, the efficient operation of the refrigeration system and the efiicient and easy emptying and recharging of the transportation unit.v

transportation unit wherein there are two cooling compartments which are accessible independently of the other.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the operation of the cooling unit is controllable by the operator from the outside of the insulating body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a transportation unit of the above-identified character, arrangements whereby the re-" an improved arrangement for insuring complete saturation of the spent absorbent by the refrigerant.

A still further object of the invention is a novel arrangement of absorbers and connections there- .--3 One obJect of the invention is to provide a- Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 Fig, 4 is a diagrammatic view of the cooling apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section through one absorbent holder;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 through another absorbent holder;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged section. through the refrigerant holder;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the connection for use in filling or emptying the absorbent holder;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the connection for use in charging the refrigerant holder;

j Fig. 11 is a section on the line l|ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a partially diagrammatic view of a modification, and

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3l3 of'Fig. 12. In the embodiment herein shown, a suitably insulated body or enclosure [0 is supported by the chassis of an automobile truck having an operators cab mounted forward of the body. A generally cylindrical tank ll is supported horizontally near the top of the enclosure lli transversely thereof. A pipe I2' communicates at one end with a cylindrical housing I3 vertically supported within the tank ll near the top thereof and contains a valve seat It for co-operation with a ball valve 15 to control flow into the tank If (Fig/7). I The remaining end of the pipe l2 communicates with a coupling member l6 carried by the bodylfl (Figs. 1 and 10).

Two pairs of headers I7 and IS depend from the tank I I in communication therewith and each pair of headers supports a plurality of transversely arranged horizontal pipes l9 having finned cooling surfaces 20. Each header ll 'extends nearly to the top of the tank ll whereas each header l3 terminates flush with the inner surface of said tank. The tank l l together with the headers and cfinned pipes constitute'the evaporator of an absorption refrigerating system (Figs. 1, 3 and 4).

Ave'rtical plate 2| of the same width as the body l0 locatedbetween'the: twosets' ofpipes I9 and may extend to the floor of the body to divide the body into two compartments for which suitable doors may be provided. In the plate 2| is provided an opening 22 which receives a horizontal tray 23 arranged below the pipes 19 for the purpose of collecting dripping from said pipes. A drainage pipe 24 leads from the tray 23 to a point below the bottom of the body.

Two generally

cylindrical tanks

25 and 26 having valve-controlled vents 25a. and 26a are ho'rizontally supported beneath the body longitudinally thereof in position to be contacted by the stream of air flowing beneath the body upon forward movement of the vehicle and constitutes the absorbent holder for the refrigerating system. A pipe 21 leads to the tank 25 from a coupling member 28 supported by the vehicle and terminates near the bottom of the tank 25. A pipe 29 leads from the top of the tank I l to one end of a tubular casing 30 in the bottom of the tank 25 and having at its other end a conical discharge nozzle 30a. enclosed by a boss 30b'havin'g a lateral port 300 beyon'd'the nozzle end communicating with one end of an upwardly inclined pipe 3| within the tank 25. In the pipe '29 there is provided a manually adjustable back pressure regulating 'valve'32 and a manually operated valve "32aupstr'eam of the valve 32 while a pipe 33 leadsfrom the pipe 29 at a point between the valve 32a and the tank H to a pressure gage 34 arrangedon the outside of the front wall of the body IOi'n'a positidn'to be readily visible to the truck operator. A pipe 35 leads from a point near the top of the tank 25 into the bottom of the tahk-26 and communicates with a tubular casing36 intermediate its ends. The casing 36 has a conical discharge nozzle 36a enclosed by a boss 36b having-a port 36c'beyond the nozzle end and communicating with one end of 'an upwardly inclined pipe "31 within the tank 26. At'the other end of thecasi'ng '36 there is provideda downwardly extending tube 38 t'erminating near'the 'bottom of the tank26 and 'containinga ball check valve -35arrangedto permit "inflow only. A pipe "40 controlled by a manually operated valve 4| leads to the tank 26 from'the pipe 29' at a point between the valve-32 and the tank ll.

'The'tank II is supported from the ceiling-by a ffra r'ne 42 which also supports a pair of plates 43 and '44 of substantially the same width-as'the body In exterior of the 'eoils l5. The space above and below the coils l "between'thep'artition 2| "and the plates 43 and44is' open so as 'to provide a chimney efiect with respect to each coilfor' circulatingthe air in eachcompartm'ent over acon.

A float 45 is carried by a 'forked arm 46 which 'is'in'ounted on a cross pin 41 free'to'rotate in rgi steringhol'es in the casin '13. A CQ'm'IB'iS a'd'justablyfastened on the pin 41 by means'of a 'set'scre'w 49 and underlies'thevalve seatl4in 'p'ositionto' project throughs'aid seat sufficiently to engage the ball valve I5'to lift'it fromits'seat. Thecam48 is provided 'witha'depression 50 to "receive the ball I5 in one position of the cam 'topermit the ball to' fit the seat'l4 to prevent inflow through the casing I3. :A'n adjustable counterweight 5] is mounted on the "arm'ws' opposite the 'fioat 45. The cam 48 is adjusted on the pin 41 so that the recess50is 'in po'sitionto receive the ball when'the liquid in the tank ll hasrea'ched the desired level and prevent'further inflow.

To prepare the system for operation; anhydrous 'ammonia'is introduced'intothe tank I l by means --'subsequently to be described through the coupling member 16, pipe 12 and housing l3 until a predetermined depth of liquid refrigerant has been obtained in the tank whereupon the valve 15 seats to prevent further flow to the tank. Weak liquor is introduced into the

absorbers

25 and 26 by means subsequently to be described through the coupling member 28, pipe 21 and pipe 35. The tank 25 first fills up to the level of the top of the pipe 35, after which the weak liquor flows through the pipe 35 into the tank 26 through casing 36. Flow is continued until the desired level of liquid is attained in the tank 26. When both

tanks

25 and 26 are filled, liquid is contained within the pipes 3| and 31 to the full extent thereof.

During operation, anhydrous ammonia flows from the tank I I through the headers l8 into the pipes I5 in which it is vaporized, thereby taking up heat from the enclosure to lower its temperature. The vaporized refrigerant flows through the headers I1 to the tank [I from which it is discharged through the pipe 29 and

valves

32a and 32 into the casing 30 from which it flows through the pipe 3| in which it is thoroughly contacted with the liquid therein to promote absorption'of the vaporized refrigerant by the weak liquor in the tank. When'the liquid in the tank 25 has lost itsabsorptive capacity, additional vaporized refrigerant introduced into the tank 25 passes from the tank through the pipe 35 into the tank 26 byway of the casing36 and pipe-31. The vaporized refrigerant thus introduced into the tank 26 is thoroughly contacted with the liquid in thetank to promote-absorption of the ammonia vapor by the weak liquor contained in the tank.

After a period of operation, both

tanks

25 and 26 are drained and fresh weak liquor is introduced. In draining, the coupling member 28 is connected to a'suitable suction source and liquid is drained through the pipe 21 from'the-tank 25. As liquid is withdrawn from the tank 25, itis replenished by liquid flowing from the chamber 26 under the influence of the greater pressure existing in the-tank 2'6. Liquid flows from the tank 26 by wayof theinlet-38 into the'casing from whence it-flows through the-pipe35 into the tank '25 which remains full-until the tank'26 is empty.

The discharge of liquid from the tanks may be facilitated by openingthevalve 4|, thereby supplying to the liquid in the tank'28 the pressure existingi'n' the tank I I.

As shown in Figs, 8 and9, the coupling 28 comprises a housing '52 communicating with the pipe 21 and provided'at one end with avalveseat 53 which is adapted'to receive a ball-valve 54 contained in the housing. -A helical'spring 55 carries a spider 56 for engagement-with the-ball54 to bias "the. ballinto engagement with the seat-53. A second coupling member 51 comprises a tubular housing having a port 58. Quick detachable means 59 of any suitable construction and having an actuating hand wheel to are provided 'for clamping the two

coupling members

28 and 21 together with their opposing faces in liquid-tight contact. A ste'm'6l; is'rotatably' supported within the coupling 51 with a portion extending exteriorly of the casing a'nd'to'which a-hand wheel 62 is attached. A thre'aded'portion of the stem 6| engages a feed nut63 mounted within the casing so that rotation of the stem produces axia1'm'ovement-thereof. The 'stemjfil has a he'a'd"'64 for engagement with the ball54. A fiexibleli'ose 55 is connected to thhe'port58 and leads tea-source of weak liquor. With the coupling 51 disengaged from the"couplingmember '28, the ball5'4 automaticallyseatsto close 'thepassageway through is mounted in the housing for movement toward and away from the valve seat II and has a threaded bore into which extends the threaded portion of a stem 13 having one end exterior of the housing andequipped with a hand wheel '14.

ment of the stem 13. A second coupling member for co-operation with the coupling member I6 consists of a housing I6 having a frusto-conical valve seat 'II at one end. Astem I8 is rotatably supported within the housing I6 by a feed nut I9 having engagement with a threaded portion of the stem I8 whereby axial movement of the stem is effected upon rotation thereof. At one end, the stem is equipped with a frusto-conical valve 80 adapted to engage the seat TI and at its opposite end is provided with a hand wheel 8| exterior of the casing. Quick detachablemeans 82 of any suitable construction and having an actuating hand wheel 83 are provided for connecting together the two coupling members with their opposing ends in contact and with the outer faces of the valve 12 and 80 in contact. The casing I is connected to the pipe I2 whilethe casing 15 is connected to a flexible hose 84 connected to a source of liquid anhydrous ammonia. Normally, the valve 72 engages the valve seat 'II to prevent escape of refrigerant from the tank When it is desired to charge the tank II with anhydrous ammonia; the casing I6 isconnected to the casing I0 as shown in Figs. 10 and ll-with the valves I2 and 80 engaging the valve seats II and I1 respectively. The hand wheels 14 and BI are then rotated to retract the valves from their valve seats to permit the flow of anhydrous ammonia from the hose 84 through the casings 16 and I0 into the pipe I2. After the tank II has been charged, the hand wheels 14 and 8| are rotated to engage the valves with their valve seats, after which the casing I6 is disconnected from the casing I0. The arrangement of valves I2 and 80 with their outer faces in engagement when both are seated, prevents any loss of anhydrousammonia during charging.

When it is desired to charge the

tanks

25 and 26 with weak liquor, the coupling member 57 is attached to the coupling 28 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 with the head 64 in its retracted position. The hand wheel 62 is then operated to disengage the ball 54 from its seat 53 against the action of the spring 55, thereby permitting influx of'weak liquid from the hose 65 through the port 58 around the head 64 and ball 54 into the housing 52 and thence through the pipe 21. After the

tanks

25 and 26 have been charged with weak liquor to the desired depth, the hand wheel 62 is rotated to retract the head 84 and permit the ball 54 again to engage its seat 53. Upon disengagement of the coupling member from the coupling member 28, the only loss of weak liquor is that contained in the small space between the exposed surface of the ball 54 and the adjacent end of the coupling member 51.

Instead of a float-controlled valve in the tank II, flow of anhydrous ammonia thereto may be regulated by the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. In this arrangement, a non-magnetic metal cup 85 is screwed into a threaded boss 86 provided in the wall of the tank I I. The

A collar 75 on the stem I3 prevents axial move- 6 end of the. cup is closed by-a secondnon-magnetic metalcup 81 having threaded engagement with the rimof the cup 85. The, cup85 rotatably supports a shaft 88 to which is. attached-an arm 89 carrying'a. float 90 atits outer end. .A permanent bar magnet 9| is carried by the shaft 88within the cup 85 and a pointer 92 of magnetic metal is rotatably supportedby the bottom of the cup 81 to which it'is electrically connected.

:The cup 81 supports an insulatedstationary contact 93 in position to beiengaged' by one end;of the pointer 92. A conductor leads from .the

contact 93, to the'positive poleof a battery95. A pipe-96 provided. with "aiself-closing magnetic valve 9'! and with a meter 98 is connected to the-hose v84'leading to the coupling member 16. One terminal of the'magnetic valve 91 is connected through the armature and contact of a relay 99' to the negative pole. of the battery95.

The negative pole of thebattery 9515 also connected through the coil of a relay,- 99 and; conductor I00. to thetruck chassis, thereby providing. an electrical connection between the-negative pole .;of the battery -.and the pointer v 92 through the pipe I2 and tank II. With the pointer 92 out of engagement with the contact 93, the relay 99 is de-energized, causing engagement of the relay armature with its contact to close the energizing circuit for the valve 9'Ito maintain it open. Rotation of th magnet 9| produces corresponding rotation of the pointer 92 and engagement of the latter with the contact 93 closes the electrical circuit through the coil of relay 99 with consequent de-energization of thevalve 96 to effect closing of the valve.

With the contents of the tank I I at a low level, the pointer 92 is spaced from the contact: 93. Upon introduction of liquid in'the tank II, rotation is effected of the shaft 88 through the medium of the float 90 to move the pointer 92toward the contact 93 to eventually produce engagement therebetween upon attainment. of a predetermined liquid level in the tank. The engagement of the pointer 92 with the contact 93 closes the circuit as previously described to close the magnetic valve 91 and interrupt flow, to the tank.

The arrangement above described also serves as a liquid level indicator as the pointer 92 is visible from the exterior of the tank. By means of a dial, the amount of liquidinthe tank at any time can be determined by reference to the position of the pointer 92 with respect to the dial.

The temperature maintained withinthe tank may be regulated bymanual adjustment of the back pressure control valve 32. Also, means are provided for controlling the temperature within the body either in conjunction with or'independently of the valve 32 by use of a temperature-responsive element arranged within the insulated body. For this purpose, a by-pass IOI is provided around the

valves

32a and 32. A pipe I02 controlled byla manually-operated valve. I03

. leads fromv the pipe 29 to the by -pass IOI from a terminal of the magnetic valve is connected to the negative pole of the battery I06 through a thermostat I 01 arranged in the body I0. A manuallwoperated switch 1 0811s provided: in the elecitrical fcircuit just described! The valve: is closed upon de-energization .andr-opens upon energize tion. 'Thetthermostat is'closed :at high temperatures and opens I at lower temperatureswith :the valves I03 .and I05 closedzand .the waive T100 open, vaporfflowsfrom the tank-H to the tank 25 through "th I back :pre'ssure'control valveu which under theseicircumstances' is the sole temperature regulator for the :body. -With the valves 32a and -l031closed1and the valve 105 :open, vaporflows from the tank 'l'l ntoiithe tank 25 through the valve 104 and theiltemp'eraturexin the :body is regulated solely by the 1 thermostat 1'01. With-the valves 32aiand I05 closed,rand;the 1va'ivefl03 .open, vapor from'theitank I Ifiowssuccessively through'the valves mlrand 32ito .the Ltank -HCand'the temperature in the 'bodyis'under the Joint control oi. the 'two re'gulating'cmeans. when the "by-pass :is closed,'. the switch l 08 may be opened, thereby avoiding all possibility of ;unnecessary drainage-10f the; battery I06 shouldwthe thermostat (01 *close during a period of .non-

:opera'tlon of the refrigeration :system.

I claim: 1. -A mobile refrigerated :transportation .iunit comprising :amhassis, arrinsulated body;mounted on :said chassis, an absorption refrigeration :sys tem evaporator mounted within :the :insulated 1 body and consisting of a 2 storage itank'xrnounted :adj'acent "the top :of said :body and two :sets 'of vertically'disposedtcoils connected thereto, azpartition icxtending :between'said coils. and dividing Jtheiinsulated bodylinto separatedcompartments "theaabsorber for the passage io'frefrigeration vapors, a second :pipe leading to the'storage tank 'fo'r ifilling the'same' iwithl refi i'gerantga' third pipe leading to the absorber whereby'meisamemay be i filled with or 'emp'tiedntof absorbent,4detachable means :for Tconnecting said second and "third pipes to 1 appropriate storage rtanksxand valves for controlling 'flow through isaid -last-named pipes to the first na'm'ed; storage-tank Land the absorber respectively. 1 1 r 1 1 4. A "moblle refrigeratedtransporta'tion unit comprisingia chassis, an insulated body mounted 'thereon, an absorption refrigeration system evaporator including a tank and evaporating coils within said body, a first absorber-and second absorber mprinted on said -chassis, a first '8 pipe leading from the top-of said tank'to the bottom of said first absorber, a second pipe leading from the top of said first absorber to the bottom of said second absorber, a third pipecommunicating with the bottom of said first absorber, a back pressure regulating valve in said first pipe, a fourth pipe leading to the top of said second absorber from said first pipe at-a point between said back pressure regulating valve and said tank, and a manually operated valve in said fourth pipe.

5. An absorption refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, a first and a second absorbent tank, a first hollow casing in said ,first tank having a discharge nozzle, a first :pipeleading from the evaporator to said first casing, a first tube fitting over said first casing nozzle-in fluid-tight relation thereto and having a port beyond the end of said nozzle, a second-hollow casingin said second absorber and having a :dis-

charge nozzle, a second pipe leading from an elevated point insaid first tank to said second casing, a second tube fitting said second casing nozzle in fluid-tight relationand having a port .beyondthe end of said'nozzle, a passageway providing communication between the interior of said second casing and said second tank, and a check valve in said passageway permitting'only flow into said second casing.

6. An absorption refrigeration system according to claim 5 characterized by aback pressure regulating valve in said first pipe, a third pipe leading to said second tank from said first pipe at a point between said back pressure regulating valve and said evaporator, and a manually actuated valve controlling flow through said'third pipe.

- FORREST E. GILMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 193,375 Lucas ..-July 24, 1877 967,992 Starr Aug. 23, 1910 1,072,245 Makowsky Sept. 2, 1913 1,199,380 Hiller Sept. 26, 1919 1,531,133 lReplogle Mar. 24, 1925 1,703,351 Molesworthet a1. Feb. 26, 1929 1,750,763 Molesworth etal. -Mar. 18, 1930 11,919,861 Bergdoll Aug. 18, 1931 $2,316,791 Irwin Apr. 20, 1943 2,316,792 Irwin Apr. 20, 1943 2,348,478 .Jones May '9, 1944 2,374,972 Biehl May 1, 1945 (2,377,332 Erland Af Kleen June 5, 1945 2,436,945 Sutton Mar. 2, 1948 02,446,636 Coons "Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 27,607 Great Britain 'Dec. 13, 1903 of 1903