US2979922A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Mu -u- April 18, 1961 J. T. DE WITTE ETAL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. John 7: Dew/fie. Clifford H. Wu r/z.

Their Attorney.

April 1961 J. T. DE WITTE ETAL 2,979,922

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D Clifford /-l. Wurfz.

- Their Ar orney- April 1961 J. T. DE WITTE ET AL 2,979,922

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

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Their Afiorney,

I 2,919,922 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS John T. De Witte and Clifford H. Wurtz, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 30, 1958, Ser. No. 745,597

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-447) This invention pertains to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to multiple compartment refrigerators having a freezing compartment and an above-freezing compartment insulated from each other.

The advantages of refrigerators with separate refrige.ated surfaces in separate thermally insulated compartments for household use have been long known, but such refrigerators have only been available at high prices.

It is an object of this invention to provide a two-compartment refrigerator which will be competitive with low-cost refrigerators.

It is another object of this invention to provide an economical plate type evaporator arrangement which will provide suitable freezing surfaces in the freezing compartment and suitable cooling surfaces in the abovefreezing compartment.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a single roll bonded plate type evaporator construction which may be cut and bent to provide a plurality of separate plate evaporators.

These and other objects are attained in the forms shown in the drawings in which a roll bonded plate type evaporator is provided with extensive plate type refrigerated surfaces in three different separated sections thereof connected by suitable refrigerant passages which are cut and bent to form horizontal plate sections for the upper and lower portions of the freezing compartment and a vertical plate section for the above-freezing compartment with the connecting refrigerant passages located in integral connecting webbing.

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 embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly diagrammatic,

of a two-compartment refrigerator embodying .one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the arrangement of the combined inlet and outlet passage arrangement of the evaporating means;

I States Patenffi- Figure 3 is a plan view of evaporating means shown in Figure 1 in the flat condition before thebending thereof;

Figure 4 is a plan view of'a slightly modified form of evaporating means in the flat condition; a

Figure 5 is another form of evaporatin-glmeans in the flat condition; and

Figure 6 is a' perspective view of. a'nothertwo-comv partment refrigerator with the freezing compartment beneath the above-freezing compartment incorporatingthe evaporating means shown in FigureS.

Referring now more particularlyto Figure 1, there is show diagrammatically a refrigeratorcabinet 20, illustrated'indot-dash lines including abelow-freezing compartmentr22 aboveand an abovefree 'zing compartment 24 below. Beneath the above fr'eezirig compartment 2,979,922 Patented Apr. 18

plate section 36 is located a sufficient distance beneath the top 38 of the cabinet to provide a shelf and space thereabove for receiving ice trays such as the tray 40. These two horizontal plate sections 34 and 36 are connected by an integral web 42 containing refrigerant passages and are further connected by a second integral 'Web 44 containing refrigerant passages connecting with a vertical plate 46 located spaced but parallel and adjacent the rear wall of the above-freezing compartment 24. The capillary tube 48 connected to the outlet of the condenser 30 extends within the suction line 50 to the combined entrance and exit 52 to the plate section 46; Thiscombined entrance and exit is shown in enlarged form in Figure 2 and shows the capillary tube 48 extending to a restricted passage portion 54 in the plate 45, While the suction line 50 fits into and connects with a much larger passage 56 having a side entrance 58.

Referring now both to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that the restricted portion 54 connects directly with a passage 60 extending through the webs 44 and 42 to the entrance 62 at the lower left-hand corner of the plate section 34. The plate section, 34 is provided with a Waffle pattern of refrigerant passages substantially throughout its entire area and has an entrance 6?. on one side and connecting with the passage 69 and exit 64 on the opposite side connecting with a passage 66 extending through the web 42 to the upper plate section 36. The upper plate section 36 may be provided with either serpentine passages 68, as shown, or with a waffle-type of passage, shown in Figure 4. The refrigerant normally collects by gravity first in the refrigerated plate section 34 and the surplus of refrigerant will flow from the passages 68 through the passages 70 in the web 44 to the passage 72 extending through the plate section 46 to the left side thereof to the entrance at the bottom of. a waffie-type refrigerant passage section 74.

At the diagonally opposite corner of the waffie-type refrigerant 'passagesection 74 there connects the refrigerant passage 58 connecting with the side of the passage 56 and the suction line 50 as shown in Figure 2 for return to the sealed motor-compressor unit 28. I

' The sealed motor-compressor unit is controlled by a thermostatic switch 76 set for a' defrosting cycle having its thermosensitive element or bulb 78 in contact with the lower right-hand portion of the plate section 46.

This control arrangement'causes the plate sections 34 and 36 to be kept filled with liquid refrigerant while the 'plate section receives sufficient surplus to maintain proper above-freezing refrigerating temperatures in the compartment 24. 1 Y

The entire evaporator is made in the flat form'shown in Figure 3 by some suitable form'of brazing or bonding process providing passagesof theconfiguration shown in Figures 3 or 4. Preferably, the entire structure is made' by the roll bonding process'illustrated'in the Long .tube 48, as shown in Figure 2. .226 connects to a refrigerant passage 228 formed in the plate extending through the web portion 239 connecting 44, as indicated by the reference character 84. The plate sections 36 and 34 are then folded forwardly into the shape shown in Figure l; The connections of the capillary tube 48 and the suction line 543 are then made at the entrance 52 and the refrigerating system is assembled into the cabinet Ztl, as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 4, there is a somewhat similar arrangement in which a roll bonded plate 121 is provided with refrigerant passage portions of the waffle type 123, 125 and 127 in the top, middle and bottom portions thereof. A connecting entrance passage 122 connecting with the restricted portion 131 is provided adjacent the upper right-hand corner of the waffle-type portion 129 in a manner somewhat similar to that of Figures 2 and 3. The restricted portion 131 connects to a passage 133 extending around the portion 1.25 to the lower left handvcorner thereof. The lower right-hand corner of the corner section 125 connects to a refrigerant passage .135 extending beneath and up the left-hand edge of the plate 121 to the lower left-hand corner of the wafiletype refrigerant passage section 123. The upper righthand corner of the waffle-type section 123 is connected by the passage 137 to the lower left-hand corner of the wafiie-type refrigerant passage section 127. The upper right-hand corner of the waffle-type section 127 connects to the side of the combined entrance and exit 129 in a manner similar to that of Figure 3.

in this form, only a single U-shaped cut 139 is provided around the section 125 and specifically between the section 225 and the passage 133. The sections 123 and 125 are bent at right angles to the plane of the plate 121 to form refrigerated surfaces for the top and bottom of the upper below-freezing compartment 22, while the lower section 127 extends into the abovefreez-ing compartment 24. The upper sections, either 36 .or 123, may either be spaced below the top of the freezing compartment to provide a shelf for the ice trays as, or they may form the inner surface of the top of the freezing compartment 22.

in Figure 5, there is shown another form of plate 229 somewhat similar to the plate 121. This plate, however, differs from the plates of Figures 3 or 4 in that the plate section for cooling the above-freezing compartment has only one web connection with the other plates. This plate 228 also difers fromthe plates of Figures 3 and 4 in that it is intended for a refrigerator with the freezing compartment at the bottom, as shown in Figure 6.

Referring now in detail to Figure 5, the plate section 22% is shown as provided with a large rectangular refrigerant passage section 222 of the wafile-type construction having a combined entrance and exit passageway 22% in its upper left-hand corner leading to the restricted portion 226 provided for receiving the capillary This restricted portion with the upper right-hand portion of a dual waffle-type of refrigerant passage section'designated by the reference characters 232 and 234. The purpose of dividing the two sections in this manner is to provide better distribution of refrigerant as well as to provide a faster freezing section in setcion 232. The connecting passage 236 between the two is diagonally opposite the entrance to the section 232 andthe exit to the section 234 which connects to the refrigerant passage 2238 extending through the web 240. v v

This passage 238 extends about the divided refrigerant passage sections 242; and 244 of the wafie type plate and connects to the upper right-hand corner of the portion or section 242. The connecting refrigertant passage 246 between the sections 242 and 244 is located at the bottom between the sections diagonally opposite the entrance to the section 242 and the exit to the section 244.

This provides good distribution and a slightly greater refrigerating effect in the section 242. The exit of the section 244 connects with a refrigerant passage 248 extending through the web 24% across the top or above the sections 232 and 234 through the web 239 to the lower right-hand corner of the refrigerant passage section 222 of the waffle-plate type. The upper left-hand corner of the section or portion 222 connects to the combined inlet and discharge portion 224 in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2. A continuous cut 250 is provided extending from between the section 244 and the passage 248 as well as between the section or portion 242 and the passage 248 and having a wide extension 252 extending from the upper right-hand corner of the section 242 to the left edge of the plate 220.

The combined sections 242 and 244 are bent perpendicular to the section 222 and the combined sections 232 and 234 are also bent perpendicularly into the arrangement shown in Figure 6 with the portions 232 and 234 forming the bottom of the below-freezing compartment 254 in the cabinet 256. The combined sections 242 and 244- are spaced from the insulating partition 258 so as to provide a shelf on which ice trays 26% may rest. The partition 258 divides the below-freezing compartmentr254 .rom the above-freezing compartment 262. The web 240 provides a connection between the two plate sections in the freezing compartment 254 while the web 230 provides the connection between the combined plate sections 242 and 244, in the upper portion of the freezing compartment with the plate section 222 located adjacent the back wall of the above-freezing compartment 262. The evaporator structure in Figure 6 connects to the remainder of the refrigerating system in the same manner as shown in Figure 1.

Thus, this single plate with passages and cuts properly located can be formed to provide sufficient refrigerating surfaces for both the above-freezing and below-freezing compartments without having any more surfaces than are necessary and economical. The system is simple, with a single thermostatic control providing adequate regulation for all environmental conditions found in homes throughout the nation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitut s a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

- What is claimed is as follows: i

1. A household refrigerator having insulating walls onclosing two separate compartments to be cooled with an insulating wall separating the compartments, a single one piece plate type evaporator for cooling both compartments, said evaporator having a first generally plane and generally rectangular plate section constituting the cen- "tral portion and a second generally plane and generally rectangular plate section spaced from and parallel to said first section constituting one end portion and a third generally plane and generally rectangular plate section constituting the opposite end portion arranged perpendicularly to the first and second section's, said first and second -to and withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said third section of said evaporator.

2. 'A household refrigerator having insulating walls r'eiiclosing a: below-freezing compartment and an" abovefreezing compartment located one above the other with an insulating wall separating the compartments, a'single one-piece plate type evaporator for cooling both compartments, said evaporator having a first, generally plane and generally rectangular plate section extending over the major portion of one horizontal wall of the belowfreezing compartment constituting its central portion and a second generally plane and generally rectangular plate section extending parallel and adjacent the major portion of the opposite horizontal wall of the below-freezing compartment constituting one of its end portions and a third generally plane and generallyrectangular plate section within said above-freezing compartment constituting its opposite end portion, said evaporator having narrow integral plate connections extending between said sections and refrigerant passages extending through said sections and connections, said third section having a combined entrance and exitextending inwardly from one edge and having one branch connecting with a refrigerant passage in said third section and a second branch having a stricted portion in said third section connecting with one of said refrigerant passages extending through one of said narrow connections tosaid first section and through another of said narrow connections to said second section and returning through said connections to said refrigerant passage in said third section, and means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said evaporator including an outer suction tube connecting with said combined entrance and exit and an inner liquid tube extending through said outerv tube and said combined entrance and exit to said re stricted portion.

3. A household refrigerator having insulating walls enclosing an upper below-freezing compartment and a lower above-freezing compartment with an insulating wall separating the compartments, a single one-piece plate type evaporator extending into both compartments for cooling them, said evaporator having a first generally plane and generally rectangular plate section extending over the major portion of the bottom of the below-freezing com partment constituting the portion intermediate its end portions and a second generally plane and generally rectangular plate section extending over and being spaced above and substantially parallel to the major portion of the first section and being spaced below the top of the below-freezing compartment to provide an ice tray supporting shelf constituting its upper one end portion and a third generally plane and generally rectangular plate section in said above-freezing compartment constituting its opposite end portion, said evaporator having narrow first integral narrow connecting portion extending upward- 1y adjacent the rear wall and a second generally plane and generally rectangular plate section also located in said one compartment integrally connected at the rear to the upper end of said first narrow portion and a third generally plane and generally rectangular plate section located in the second compartment provided with a second integral nar row connecting portion extending downwardly adjacent the rear wall and being integrally connected to said second plate section, said evaporator having refrigerant passages extending continuously through said sections and said narrow connecting portions, and means for supply ing liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said passages.

5. A household refrigerator having insulating walls enclosing two separate compartments to be cooled with an insulating wall separating the compartments, a single onepiece plate type evaporator for cooling both compart' ments, said evaporator having a horizontal first generally plane and generally rectangular plate section provided with a lateral rearward offset portion and an integral first narrow connecting portion extending from the front edge of said offset portion'and a horizontal second generally plane and generally rectangular plate section having at its rear edge an integral connection with said first narrow portion and having an integral second narrow connecting portion extending from its rear edge and a vertical third generally plane and generally rectangular plate section having an integral connectionat one edge with said second narrow portion, two of said sections being located in one of said compartments and the other section being located in the other compartment, said evaporator having refrigerant passages extending continuously through said sections and said .narrow connecting portions, and means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said passages.

6. A household refrigerator having insulating walls including a rear wall enclosing two separate compartments to be cooled with an insulating wall separating the compartments, a single one-piece plate type evaporatorformed out of a single rectangular plate structure for cooling both compartments, one end section of said evaporator being bent away from the rear wall at right angles from integral plate connections extending between said sections and continuous refrigerant passages extending serially first to said first section and then to said second section and finally to said third section, and means for supply liquid insulating wall separating the compartments and a rear.

wall, a single one-piece plate type'evaporator for cooling both compartments, said evaporator having a first general ly plane and generally rectangular plate section located in one of said compartments provided at the rear with .a

the remainder thereof, the center section of said evapovrator being cut out except for narrow integral connecting strip means from the remainder thereof and bent away from the rear wall into parallel relationship with said one end section, said one end and center sections being located in one of said compartments, the opposite end section of said evaporator being located in the second com partment, said evaporator .having refrigerant passages extending continuously through said sections-and narrow strip means, and means for supplying liquid refrigerant to and for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said evaporator. I 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,573 Staebler et a1. .Tune 5, 6 2,795,113 Wurtz June- 11, 1957 2,795,117 Herndon et a1. -..'June 11, 1957 2,848,200 Jacobs Aug. 19, 1958

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