US2660505A

US2660505A - Refrigerator cabinet structure

Info

Publication number: US2660505A
Application number: US243832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Floyd R Eck
Original assignee: Motor Products Corp
Current assignee: Motor Products Corp
Priority date: 1951-08-27
Filing date: 1951-08-27
Publication date: 1953-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1970-11-24

Description

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. EcK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27. 1951 INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. EGK

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. ECK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 6v Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 27. 1951 INVENTOR.

ATTO RNES f f//C/ i C FLOYD R. ECK ABY ,MJ/f

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. ECK

' REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 27. 1951 INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. ECK

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. EcK 2,660,505

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 27. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.|O.

INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. ECK

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. EcK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 27. 1951 INVENTOR. FLOYD R. ECK

FIG.||.

Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE Floyd It. Eck, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of New York 2l) Claims.

This invention relates generally to refrigerator cabinets of the type equipped with mechanical refrigerating apparatus, and refers more particularly to improvements in the base structure of such cabinets.

It is an object or this invention to provide an exceptionally rigid structure composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of being inexpensively manufactured and assembled on a volume production basis.

It is another object of this invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet with a base structure providing ample space beneath the bottom wall of the outer shell for accommodating the motorcompresscr unit and condensor of suitable refrigerating apparatus.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a base structure which, although inexpensive to manufacture, affords exceptional stability; and at the same time, imparts a neat and pleasing appearance to the lower portions of the cabinet.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a iront elevational view of a rerigerator cabinet having the door removed for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line E-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure fl;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line fil-l of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower part oi the refrigerator cabinet structure;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on the line :ll-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 9 of Figure d;

Figure l0 is an exploded semidiagrammatic `perspective view of a part of the cabinet structure;

Figure ll is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 2;l

Figure 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view having certain parts removed for the sake o clearness; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective View partly in section of one lower rear corner of the refrigerator cabinet structure.

The refrigerator cabinet structure selected herein for the purpose of illustration comprises an outer shell 20 and an inner shell 2l. The outer shell 2t has top, bottom, side and

rear walls

22, 23, 2li and 25 respectively. The inner shell 2l has top, bottom, side and

rear walls

26, 2l, 28 and 29 respectively spaced laterally inwardly from the corresponding walls of the outer shell to provide a space 3Q of sucient depth to accommodate to a thick mass of heat insulating material 3l. The inner shell 2l provides a food storage compartment 32, and is open at the front to form an access opening 33, which is normally closed by a door (not shown) suitably hinged along one side edge to an adjacent side of the cabinet structure.

As shown particularly in Figure 13 of the drawings, the side and

rear walls

24 and 25 respectively of the outer shell 2l) extend below the bottom wall 23 to a point in close proximity to the floor or other surface on which the cabinet is supported. The opposite side edges of the bottom wall 23 are turned downwardly to provide side ilanges 34 which are flared outwardly to lit against the adjacent side walls of the outer shell 2l), and the rear edge is turned upwardly to provide a flange 35 which is welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall 25 of the outer shell. The front edge of the bottom Wall 23 extends forwardly to the plane of the access opening 33, and is turned upwardly (Figures 2 and l0) to provide an attaching flange 33.

In order to refrigerate the storage compartment 32. a cooling unit or an evaporator 3l is suitably supported within the compartment 32 adjacent the top of the latter. Refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 3l by apparatus 38 substantially housed within the space 39 provided below the bottom wall 23 of the outer shell 20. The apparatus 38 comprises a condenser 40 and a motor-compressor unit di. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the bottom Wall 23 of the outer shell 20 is inclined or bowed upwardly as at d2 to provide clearance for the top of the motor-compressor unit 4l. Also the portion of the bottom wall 2l of the inner shell 2l directly above the portion 42 of the bottom wall 23 is inclined upwardly to provide ample space between these portions for the heat insulating material 3l.

The refrigerant supply apparatus 33 is suitably supported within the space 39 on a rigid base structure 43. The specific manner in which the refrigerant supply apparatus is mounted on the base structure forms no part of the present invention and is not described in detail herein. The present invention concerns itself more particularly with the base structure d3, and this structure comprises a pair of base rails d4, a pair of vertical legs and a mullion 15.

The base rails li are shown in Figure l2 as spaced laterally from one another and as extending from the rear wall 23 of the outer shell 2@ to a point beyond the front of the cabinet. rlhe rails dd are generally channel-shaped in cross section (Figure l) and are arranged with the channels opening upwardly. The front ends of the rails 4.1i are rounded (Figure and are embosed downwardly tcprovide pads il which may directly engage the flooring; or in case leveling of the cabinet is required, may be provided with leveling screws lid. The leveling screws lil have threaded shank portions which respectively threadably engage suitable nuts i9 (Figure 3) respectively welded or otherwise secured to the undersides of the pads di.

The rear ends of the rails 54 are embossed downwardly to provide pads 56 and suitable nuts 5i are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the downwardly embossed portions 50 for threadably engaging leveling screws 52. As shown in Figure 13 or the drawings, the rear ends of the rails lli are turned upwardly to provide flanges 53 which are welded or otherwise secured to the rear panel of the outer shell 20.

` The outer side flanges 54 on the rails 4d respectively abut the side walls 24 of the outer shell 20. lt will be noted that the bottom Walls or" the rails 44 are slit at longitudinally spaced points adjacent the outer edges of the rails in the manner indicated by the reference character 55 in Figure l2 to provide tabs 56 (Figure 13) which are bent downwardly and are secured to the undersides of inturned anges 51 at the bottom edges of the side walls 24. Also the rear ends of the rails 44 may be connected together by a cross member 5t, if desired.

The vertical legs 't5 are respectively positioned within the rails 44 immediately in rear of the pads lil, and have base flanges 5d respectively welded or otherwise secured to the bottom walls of the rails 4d. The outer edge portions of the legs lili are turned laterally forwardly to form attaching ilanges 59, and the top edge portion of the legs are also turned laterally forwardly to form an attaching flange 6i). The inner edge portions are turned laterally rearwardly to provide a reinforcing ange 6i which cooperates with suitable ribs 62 embossed from the body portions or the legs and with the

ilanges

53, 59 and 65 to eilectively strengthen the legs. The outer edges of the legs 45, including the ilanges 59 are spaced laterally outwardly from adjacent sides of the rails ed; and for this purpose, the legs are notched as at 53, Figure 10 of the drawings.

The outer edge portions of the legs 45, including the flanges 59, are respectively located within inwardly opening channels S4 formed at the front edges of the side walls 24 of the outer shell 20. Referring again to Figure 10 of the drawings, it will be noted that the channels 5f! are formed by turning the front edge portions of the side walls 2d laterally inwardly, then laterally outwardly to provide ilanges 65 of double thickness, then rearwardly in embracing relationship to the inner surfaces of the side walls 24, and then again laterally inwardly 'G0 4 provide the ilanges EBS. This structure provides the base portions of the channels f with walls or" double thickness which are engaged by the on the legs The mullion dii extends along the bottom oi the access opening 33 between the side walls 25x of the outer shell. The mullion ft comprises a sheet metal rail having the bottom edge turned rearwardly to form a reinforcing ilange 7, and having the top edge fashioned to form an upwardly opening channel S8. r1he channel 65 is formed by turning the top portion of the mullion downwardly (Figure 3) to provide a flange G9 or" double thickness, then rearwardly to form the base "EQ of the channel ES, and then upwardly to form. the opposite frange ii of the channel The base lo seats on the flanges E@ of the legs d and is welded er otherwise securely fastened to these flanges. The opposite end portions of the mullion are oset rearwardly to provide recesses l2 for respec' vely receiving flanges E5 projecting inwardly from the front edges of the side walls 2d cf the outer shell 20. The flanges 65 are respectively welded or otherwise secured to the recessed portions 'i2 of the mullion 56. The ilange H of the mullion channel 51E is welded or otherwise xedly secured to the upstanding flange 35 at the front edge of the bottoni wall 23 of the outer shell 29, as shown particularly in Figure 3 of the drawings. Thus the mullion 136 not only provides a structural tie between the upper ends of the legs 25, but also serves as an effective brace for the lower portion of the outer shell 20.

lt will also be noted. from Figure l0 of the drawings that a portion of the mullion is embossed rearwardly to provide a recess i4 and the ange l! is notched in registration with the recess to provide a clearance opening 'l5 for the embossed portion. The purpose of the recess 14 is to permit convient passage of the plumbing provided for connecting the refrigerant supply apparatus 38 to the evaporator 3?. A cover 'I6 is provided for closing the embossed portion 14 and thereby impart a pleasing appearance to the front side of the mullion 5S.

In order to further stabilize the structure, the corners of the outer shell are reinforced by corner gussets 71. The gussets 'l1 have vertical legs '.13 respectively projecting into the channels 64 at the front edges of the side walls 24, and the legs 'I8 have forwardly projecting ilanges which are respectively rigidly secured to the base portions of the anges 54. The gussets 'il have horizontal legs 'I9 which extend into opposite ends of the mullion channel 68 and are rigidly secured to the base 10 of the channel 68. Thus the gussets 'I'I provide an additional rigid connection between the mullion 46 and the side walls 24 of the outer shell 2D. As shown in Figure 10 of the drawings the legs of the gussets have extended apertured portions 18 which serve as mountings for the door (not shown) of the refrigerator cabinet.

The walls of the inner shell 2| are turned laterally outwardly at the front edges to provide a reinforcing flange 80, and this flange is braced by corner brackets 8l secured to the flange 8S at the bottom front corners of the shell. 'The angle brackets 8l have lugs 82 which are respectively secured to webs 83 of the gussets 'I8 by fastener elements 84. The fastener elements 84 comprise studs 85 and nuts 8%. The nuts 86 are shown in Figure 9 of the drawings as secured to the rear sides of the webs 83 on the gussets 11, and cooperate with the studs 854 to hold the inner shell 2| in position relative to the outer shell 29. Suitable grommets BA1 of heat insulating material are located between the webs 83` on the gussets 'I1 and the angle brackets 9i to avoid heat transfer therebetween.

The opening directly below the bottom edge of the mullion 46 is concealed by a base trim member 88 in the form of a sheet metal housing having a front wall 89 and a top wall 90. The member 88 extends from one side wall 24 of the outer shell 20 to the opposite side wall, and the ends of the member are curved rearwardly to provide a pleasing appearance to the structure. As shown particularly in Figure 3 of the drawings, the front wall 89 of the trim member 88 is embossed rearwardly as at 9i and openings 92 are provided in the embossed portion 9i to provid-e in eiect a grill through which air may pass over the refrigerant supply apparatus 38.

The opposite ends of the member 88 are removably attached to the anges 65 on the side walls 24 by hangers 93 shown in Figures '7, 8 and of the drawings. The hangers 93 are weided or otherwise respectively secured to the anges 65 at the bottom of the outer shell and are provided with vertically spaced hooks 94. The opposite ends of the member 88 have inturned flanges 95, and these anges are formed with openings 9B adjacent the top edges thereof. The arrangement is such that the bottom edges of the flanges 95 are engageable by the bottom hooks 94 on the hangers 93, and the top hooks 94 onk the hangers respectively project through the openings 96 in the flanges 95 to engage the portions of the flanges above the openings 96. It will also be noted that suitable spacers 91 of resilient material are respectively secured to the flanges 95 in positions to abut the hangers 93 and prevent rattling or shifting movement of the member 88 relative to the hangers. It will be noted that the trim member S8 also projects over the pad portions 4l' of the supporting rails 44 and conceals the latter.

The space between the inner and outer shells at the front side of the cabinet is closed by a breaker strip 98 which extends completely around the access opening 33. The lower section 99 of the breaker strip is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings as having a bifurcated portion 00 at the bottom edge for receiving the top edge of the flange G9 on the mullion c6. The top edge of the section 99 has an upstanding flange IBI which engages the front side of the flange 89 on the inner shell and has lugs |92 which project through openings i913 in the flange 89. The breaker strip 98 is of a heat resistant flexible material. It will be noted from Figure l0 of the drawings that the corner brackets 8l are also apertured as at 104 in positions to register with the openings |03 at the bottom front corners of the flange 89 to receive the adjacent lugs 102. The side and top portions of the breaker strip may be similarly secured to the adjacent portions of the inner and outer shells. In any case the breaker strip 98 is formed of a heat resistant material having sufficient flexibility to permit snapping the strip in place.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having a bottom wall and having side walls which extend below the bottom wall, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter and lon cated between said siderwalls, a pair of vertical legsrespectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails adjacent the front ends of the latter, a mullion extending between the side walls below the bottom wall of the shell and having its opposite end portions respectively secured to the upper ends of the legs, and inturned flanges on the side walls respectively secured to opposite ends of the mullion.

2. The refrigerator cabinet structure defi-ned in claim 1 wherein the bottom corners of the shell are reinforced by corner gussets having vertical legs respectively secured to the shell and having horizontal legs secured. to the mullion.

3. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined inv claim 2 comprising an inner shell positioned within the outer shell and having side and bottom walls spaced laterally from the side and bottom walls of. the outer shell, angle brackets at the bottom corners of the inner shell having angularly disposed legs respectively secured to adjacent portions of the inner shell, and means for respectively securing the angle brackets to the corner gussets.

4^. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having a bottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, a pair of laterally spaced. base rails extending beneath the bottom wall from the front of the shell to the back of the latter and having the front ends projecting forwardly beyond the front of the shell, a pair of vertical' legs respectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails at points spaced rearwardly from the front end of said rails, a mul'lion extending along the front edge of the bottom Wall between the upper ends of the legs, said mullion being. secured to the legs and having the portion between the legs secured to the bottom wall, and a base trim member extending along the mullion at the bottom of the latter and having the opposite ends enclosing the fron-t end portions of the base rails.

5. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 4 having hangers removably engageable with opposite ends of the base trim member and having openings for air in the front wall of said trim member.

6. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having a bottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter and positioned between the side walls of the shell, a pair of vertical legs respectively secured at the lower ends to the base rails adjacent the front ends of the latter, a mullion positioned beneath the bottom wall and extending along the front edge of said bottom Wall between the vertical legs, said mullion being secured to the legs and having a portion secured to said bottom wall, and inturned flanges on the side walls of the shell and respectively secured to the opposite ends of the mullion.

7. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 6 wherein the mullion has a rearwardly embossed portion providing a vertically extending recess for accommodating a part of regrigerating apparatus, and a closure for said recess.

8. The refrigerator cabinet structure dened inv claim 6 wherein said legs have laterally turned flanges at the outer edges respectively engaging the side walls of the outer shell.

9. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having a bottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter and positioned between the side walls, a pair of vertical legs respectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails and having portions respectively engaging adjacent portions of the outer shell, a mullion extending from one side wall of the outer shell to the other side wall along the front edge of the bottom wall and secured to said legs, said mullion having the top edge turned downwardly to provide a reinforcing flange arranged in embracing relationship to the rear side of the mullion then turned rearwardly and then turned upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel, and a flange extending laterally from the front edge of the bottom wall of the shell and secured to the rear flange of the channel.

10. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 9 comprising corner gussets having vertical legs respectively secured to adjacent portions of said side walls and having horizontal legs seated within the upwardly opening channel on the mullion and secured to the base of said channel.

1l. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 10 wherein the front edges of the side walls have laterally inwardly opening channelshaped portions for respectively receiving the vertical legs of the corner gussets and wherein said vertical legs are secured to adjacent portions of the channels.

l2. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having a bottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending be# neath the bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter and positioned between the side walls, a pair of vertical legs respectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails and having portions respectively engaging adjacent portions of the outer shell, and a mullion extending from one side wall to the other along the front edge of the bottom wall and secured to the latter and to said legs, said mullion having the top edge portion turned to extend downwardly in embracing engagement with the rear side of the mullion then turned laterally rearwardly and then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel, a fiange turned laterally from the front edge of said bottorrL wall and secured to the rear flange of the channel, an inner shell positioned within the outer shell and having side and bottom walls spaced from the side and bottom walls of the outer shell, and a breaker strip bridging the space between the mullion and bottom wall of the inner shell and having the opposite edge portions respectively attached to the mullion and the front edge of the bottom wall of the inner shell.

13. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 12 comprising corner gussets having vertical legs respectively secured to the outer shell and having horizontal legs secured to the base portion of the upwardly opening channel on the mullion, corner angle brackets having angularly extending legs respectively secured to adjacent portions of the inner shell, and means for respectively securing the corner brackets to the gussets.

14. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having a bottom wall and having side walls which extend below the bottom wall, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter and located between said side walls, a pair of vertical legs respectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails adjacent the front ends of the latter, a mullion extending between the side walls of the shell along the front edge of the bottom wall of the shell and secured to both said bottom wall and said legs, and corner gussets having horizontally extending parts secured to the mullion at opposite ends of the latter and having vertically extending parts respectively secured to the adjacent side walls of the shell.

15. The refrigerator cabinet structure dened in claim 14 comprising liner supporting hangers respectively secured to said gussets.

16. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 14 wherein said legs have vertically extending flanges at the outer edges respectively embracing the side walls of the shell.

17. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 14 wherein the front vertical edges of the shell have laterally inwardly opening channel-shaped portions and wherein the vertical parts of the gussets respectively project into said channel-shaped portions.

18. The refrigerator cabinet structure dened in claim 17 wherein said legs have vertically extending bearing surfaces at the outer edges which respectively project into the channelshaped portions at the front edges of the side walls of the shell and have a bearing engagement with said walls.

19. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 18 wherein the opposite ends of the mullion respectively project into the channelshaped portions at the front edges of the side walls of the shell and are secured to said walls.

In a refrigerator cabinet structure, a shell open at the front and having a bottom wall, side walls projecting below the bottom wall and .hav-

- ing laterally inwardly opening channels extend ing along the front vertical edges, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the back thereof and located between said side walls, a pair of vertical legs respectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails adjacent the front ends thereof and having bearing surfaces at the outer edges respectively projecting into the channels and engaging said walls, a mullion extending between the side walls below the bottom wall of the shell and secured to the legs and said side walls.

FLOYD R. ECK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,047,996 Crosley July 2l, 1936 2,161,852 Collins June 13, 1939 2,319,415 Lightfoot May 18, 1943 2,399,963 Vinton May 7, 1946 2,454,727 Wherry Nov. 23, 1948 2,509,614 Philipp May 30, 1950 2,535,790 Fletcher Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,360 Australia May 21, 1947