US3664149A - Controlled refrigeration application to a metallic conveyor belt - Google Patents

Controlled refrigeration application to a metallic conveyor belt Download PDF

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Publication number
US3664149A
US3664149A US84022A US3664149DA US3664149A US 3664149 A US3664149 A US 3664149A US 84022 A US84022 A US 84022A US 3664149D A US3664149D A US 3664149DA US 3664149 A US3664149 A US 3664149A
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United States
Prior art keywords
trough
conveyor belt
refrigerant
drive
drain pan
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Expired - Lifetime
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US84022A
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English (en)
Inventor
Milton W Garland
Bruce S Schaeffer
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Frick Co Inc
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Frick Co Inc
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Assigned to CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE reassignment CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D13/00—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms
    • F25D13/06—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
    • F25D13/062—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space with refrigerated conveyors

Definitions

  • ABSIRACT Apparatus for controlling the flow of refrigerant in direct engagement with the bottom surface of a metallic conveyor belt.
  • the apparatus includes an open-top trough the ends and sides of which are in contact with the bottom surface of the conveyor belt and the sides of the trough permit leakage and control the flow of refrigerant regardless of the change in viscosity due to varying temperatures of the refrigerant.
  • This invention relates generally to apparatus for modifying temperatures of various objects and relates particularly to refrigeration equipment using brine as a refrigerant in contact with a metallic conveyor belt to effect rapid transfer of heat from articles carried on said belt.
  • the present invention is an apparatus for controlling the flow of viscous refrigerant through an open-top trough with the refrigerant in direct contact with the lower surface ofa metallic conveyor belt and evenly distributing the flow of refrigerant throughout the area of the trough without lifting the belt from the trough and without trapping air or other insulating material between the refrigerant and the bottom surface of the belt.
  • An overflow trough controlled by an adjustable weir is located along both sides of the open-top trough and discharges refrigerant into a drain pan.
  • a collecting tank is located below and in communication with the drain pan to reduce the floor space requirements for the freezer system.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating system having an open-top trough with a metallic conveyor belt supported by the upper surfaces of the trough, a drain pan extending entirely around the open-top trough, and a refrigerant sump located between the upper and lower runs of the metallic belt conveyor.
  • FIG. I is a side elevation illustrating one application of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the central portion of the system with portions of the belt broken away for clarity.
  • FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 9.
  • a refrigerating system 15 having a metallic conveyor belt 16 with a drive mechanism 17 at one end and an idler mechanism 18 at the opposite end.
  • the conveyor belt 16 has a V-belt 19 bonded or otherwise attached thereto on the inner periphery adjacent opposite sides.
  • the drive mechanism 17 and the idler mechanism 18 each includes a shaft 20 journaled in bearings 21 at opposite sides of the belt 16.
  • a pair of spaced pulleys 22 are fixed to the shaft 20 and such pulleys are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the V-belts l9 and are adapted to frictionally engage such belts.
  • At least one support and drive wheel 23 is mounted on the shaft 20 and such support wheel is provided with a frictional surface which engages the belt 16 intermediate the sides thereof. As illustrated in FIGS.
  • the support and drive wheel 23 includes a pulley 24 having a V- belt 25 bonded or otherwise attached around the entire periphery of the pulley in such a manner that the outer surface of the V-belt 25 will engage the inner surface of the conveyor belt 16 and support and drive the same by frictional engagement. It is noted that the support and drive wheel 23 could be substantially solid with a flat periphery having a coating of rubber, neoprene or other frictional material which would engage the inner surface of the belt 16 and support and drive the same.
  • the conveyor belt 16 can be driven in any desired manner, such as by a power plant 26 disposed adjacent to one end of the conveyor belt 16 and connected by a shaft 27 to a speed reduction member 28.
  • a speed reducer includes an output shaft 29 on which a drive sprocket 30 is mounted and the drive sprocket is connected by a chain 31 to a driven sprocket 32 carried by the shaft 20 of the drive mechanism.
  • an open-top trough 35 is provided which is mounted within a drain pan 36.
  • the drain pan is relatively shallow and includes side walls 37, end walls 38 and a bottom wall 39. Spaced inwardly from the side and end walls of the drain pan, the open-top trough 35 includes side walls 40 and end walls 41 which are welded or otherwise attached to the bottom wall 39 of the drain pan.
  • the side walls 40 and end walls 41 are adapted to engage and support the lower surface of the conveyor belt 16 and therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, the upper surfaces of such side and end walls are disposed at an elevation slightly higher than the top of the drive and idler mechanisms 17 and 18.
  • a refrigerant such as a brine solution of calcium chloride is pumped under a low pressure into the area defined by the side walls 40, end walls 41, bottom wall 39 of the drain pan and the bottom surface of the conveyor belt 16 so that the refrigerant is in direct contact with the bottom surface of the conveyor belt.
  • the upper surfaces of the side walls 40 are provided with a series of equally spaced notches or serrations 42 in the area between the end walls 41.
  • Refrigerant at a temperature of from minus 30 F to minus 40 F is pumped from a chiller (not shown) through an inlet pipe 43 (FIG. 4) into a header 44 located within the open-top trough to fill the trough.
  • the brine solution is highly viscous so that as the trough is filled until the brine solution is in direct contact with the bottom surface of the conveyor belt 16, such brine solution will slowly flow out of the trough through the notches or serrations 42.
  • a spacer 45 is connected to the outer surface of each of the side walls 40 and on each of such spacers is adjustably mounted a weir or gate 46 defining an overflow trough 47, the weir 46 extending along the side walls for the full length of the notches 42.
  • the weir 46 is provided with a plurality of slots 48 along its lower edge in which bolts 49 carried by the spacers 45 are adjustably received. Up-anddown movement of the weir 46 controls the amount of refrigerant flow from the open-top trough 35.
  • the side walls 40 extend beyond the end wall 41 and the upper surfaces of such side walls curve downwardly about a radius starting approximately at the center line of the seal 50.
  • the radius or curvature of the side walls is not less than the radius of bending at the drive mechanism 17.
  • Liquid refrigerant which overflows the weir 46 is collected in the drain pan 36 and flows through openings 53 in the bottom wall 39 and falls by gravity into a collection tank or sump 54 located directly below the drain pan 36. From the collection tank the refrigerant flows through a pipe 55 to the chiller (not shown) for recirculation through the inlet pipe 43 and header 44 into the open-top trough 35. To provide for drainage of the open-top trough 35, when desired a drain line 58 having cut-off valve 59 therein extends through the bottom wall 39 and provides communication between the open-top trough 35 and the collection tank 54. The valve 59 is accessible through one of the openings 53 in the drain pan.
  • a pressure relief mechanism be provided for the open-top trough so that pressure within the trough will not raise the conveyor belt 16 out of engagement with the side walls 40.
  • the sleeve includes an internal bore having a valve seat 61 at its lower end.
  • a valve member 62 mounted on one end ofa shaft 63 normally engages the valve seat 61 to prevent flow of refrigerant fluid through the sleeve 60.
  • a spring 64 is disposed about the shaft 63 and has one end in engagement with the bottom surface of the valve 62 and the other end in engagement with a support member 65.
  • the support member is provided with an opening or guideway 66 through which the shaft 63 extends to maintain the valve 62 in alignment with the sleeve 60.
  • the amount of tension applied to the spring 64 could be adjusted by making the support member in two overlapping portions connected together by fasteners received within slots carried by at least one of the overlapping members. Movement of the lower member toward the upper member would increase the tension on the spring 64 and movement of the lower member away from the upper member would decrease such tension.
  • the pressure relief valve is particularly useful during the initial operation of the refrigeration system since the viscosity of the brine refrigerant is substantially less due to its warm condition when starting.
  • the brine refrigerant normally flows through preset pressure-regulating valves which are set to provide a predetermined pressure when the brine is at a temperature of minus 30 F to minus 40 F. Since the pressure of the refrigerant is in direct proportion to the viscosity, a refrigerant with less viscosity will flow through the pressure-regulating valves at a greater velocity and at a greater pressure than a more viscous refrigerant and therefore the greater pressure may cause harmful damage to the conveyor belt if the relief valve is not present.
  • a brine refrigerant of calcium chloride is cooled in a chiller and then introduced through the inlet pipe 43 and the header 44 into the open-top trough 35.
  • air is forced through the notches 42 in the side walls 40 until the refrigerant engages the bottom surface of the conveyor belt 16.
  • the notches 42 extend substantially the full length of the open-top trough and therefore refrigerant will flow through such notches and provide equal distribution of refrigerant fluid throughout the entire trough.
  • Controlled refrigeration apparatus comprising an endless metallic conveyor belt, a drive mechanism at one end of said belt and an idler mechanism at the opposite end thereof, an open-top trough located between said drive mechanism and said idler mechanism, said trough including side and end walls with the upper portion of said side and end walls being disposed at an elevation higher than the top of the drive and idler mechanisms, said side walls adapted to engage the bottom surface of the upper run of said conveyor belt, a drain pan disposed below and around the sides and ends of said trough, the upper portion of the side walls of said trough having a plurality of notches in the area between said end walls, an adjustable weir spaced from and generally parallel with each of said side walls and defining an overflow trough, said weirs being adjustable during operation, means for adjusting each of said weirs in a generally vertical direction, means for introducing a viscous brine refrigerant having a temperature between approximately minus 30 F.
  • said drive mechanism includes a drive shaft, a pair of spaced pulleys fixed to said shaft, a pair of spaced generally parallel V-belts fixed to the inner periphery of said conveyor belt, said pulleys adapted to frictionally engage said V-belts, and means for driving said shaft, whereby the rotating of said shaft causes movement of said conveyor belt.
  • the structure of claim 1 including a collection sump located directly below said drain pan, said drain pan having at least one opening providing communication between the drain pan and the collection sump.
  • the structure of claim 5 including a pressure relief valve providing communication between said open-top trough and said collection sump for discharging refrigerant from said trough into said sump when the pressure of the refrigerant within the trough exceeds a predetermined amount.
  • Controlled refrigeration apparatus comprising an endless metallic conveyor belt, a pair of spaced generally parallel V- belts connected to the inner periphery of said conveyor belt, a drive mechanism at one end of said conveyor belt and an idler mechanism at the opposite end thereof, each of said drive and idler mechanisms including a shaft, a pair of pulleys fixed to said shaft, said pulleys being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of said V-belts, said pulleys adapted to receive said V-belts and drive said conveyor belt thereby,
  • an intermediate support and drive wheel located between said pulleys, said drive wheel having a frictional surface adapted to engage and drive said conveyor belt intermediate said pulleys, means for driving the shaft of said drive mechanism, an opentop trough located between said drive mechanism and said idler mechanism and between the upper and lower runs of said conveyor belt, said trough including side and end walls with the upper portion of said side and end walls being disposed above the top of the drive and idler mechanisms.
  • the upper portion of said side walls having a plurality of notches disposed between said end walls, a weir located outwardly of and generally parallel to said side walls and defining an overflow trough, said weirs being adjustable during operation, means for adjusting each of said weirs relative to the upper surface of said side walls, the upper portion of said side walls adapted to engage and support the bottom surface of the upper run of said conveyor belt, a drain pan having a bottom wall located below said trough and having side and end walls outwardly of the side and end walls of said trough, means for introducing a viscous brine refrigerant having a temperature between approximately minus 30 F. and minus 40 F.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
US84022A 1970-10-26 1970-10-26 Controlled refrigeration application to a metallic conveyor belt Expired - Lifetime US3664149A (en)

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US8402270A 1970-10-26 1970-10-26

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3844133A (en) * 1973-08-06 1974-10-29 Frick Co Double conveyor contact freezer
US3872681A (en) * 1973-08-06 1975-03-25 Frick Co Temperature modifying method utilizing a double conveyor contact freezer
US3992994A (en) * 1974-01-08 1976-11-23 Mitter & Co. Screen printer with cleaning means and means to control runoff
US5460015A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-24 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezer with imperforate conveyor belt
US5467612A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-21 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezing system for fragible food products
WO2005003657A1 (en) * 2003-07-02 2005-01-13 Frigoscandia Equipment Ab Contact freezer
EP1589307A1 (de) * 2004-04-22 2005-10-26 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zum Kühlen und/oder Gefrieren von Produkten
US10890365B2 (en) 2018-09-28 2021-01-12 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Software logic in a solid-production system

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1781750A (en) * 1928-06-27 1930-11-18 Harold C Dodge Conveyer
US2080103A (en) * 1934-04-10 1937-05-11 Processes Inc Z Method and apparatus for refrigerating food products
US2124233A (en) * 1934-12-03 1938-07-19 Fuel Treating Products Co Treatment of calcium magnesium chloride
US2437492A (en) * 1944-03-25 1948-03-09 Sandvik Steel Inc Means for transferring heat to or from material on band conveyors
US2808236A (en) * 1953-04-29 1957-10-01 Diamond Alkali Co Crystallizing apparatus
US2844359A (en) * 1955-05-06 1958-07-22 Sandvikens Jernverks Ab Means for cooling or heating of materials
CA599818A (en) * 1960-06-14 Sandvik Steel Steel belt conveyor and assembly
US3280590A (en) * 1964-01-09 1966-10-25 Sandvikens Jernverks Ab Apparatus for cooling or heating material on a band conveyor
US3327839A (en) * 1965-07-08 1967-06-27 Ajem Lab Inc Conveyor apparatus
US3387464A (en) * 1967-02-03 1968-06-11 Walter H. Martin Quick-freeze installation with radiant cooling
US3402568A (en) * 1965-06-25 1968-09-24 Sucher Packing Co Quick freezing of food products
US3584471A (en) * 1969-08-15 1971-06-15 Pennwalt Corp Continuous freezing apparatus including cooling platen

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA599818A (en) * 1960-06-14 Sandvik Steel Steel belt conveyor and assembly
US1781750A (en) * 1928-06-27 1930-11-18 Harold C Dodge Conveyer
US2080103A (en) * 1934-04-10 1937-05-11 Processes Inc Z Method and apparatus for refrigerating food products
US2124233A (en) * 1934-12-03 1938-07-19 Fuel Treating Products Co Treatment of calcium magnesium chloride
US2437492A (en) * 1944-03-25 1948-03-09 Sandvik Steel Inc Means for transferring heat to or from material on band conveyors
US2808236A (en) * 1953-04-29 1957-10-01 Diamond Alkali Co Crystallizing apparatus
US2844359A (en) * 1955-05-06 1958-07-22 Sandvikens Jernverks Ab Means for cooling or heating of materials
US3280590A (en) * 1964-01-09 1966-10-25 Sandvikens Jernverks Ab Apparatus for cooling or heating material on a band conveyor
US3402568A (en) * 1965-06-25 1968-09-24 Sucher Packing Co Quick freezing of food products
US3327839A (en) * 1965-07-08 1967-06-27 Ajem Lab Inc Conveyor apparatus
US3387464A (en) * 1967-02-03 1968-06-11 Walter H. Martin Quick-freeze installation with radiant cooling
US3584471A (en) * 1969-08-15 1971-06-15 Pennwalt Corp Continuous freezing apparatus including cooling platen

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3844133A (en) * 1973-08-06 1974-10-29 Frick Co Double conveyor contact freezer
US3872681A (en) * 1973-08-06 1975-03-25 Frick Co Temperature modifying method utilizing a double conveyor contact freezer
US3992994A (en) * 1974-01-08 1976-11-23 Mitter & Co. Screen printer with cleaning means and means to control runoff
US5460015A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-24 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezer with imperforate conveyor belt
US5467612A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-21 Liquid Carbonic Corporation Freezing system for fragible food products
WO2005003657A1 (en) * 2003-07-02 2005-01-13 Frigoscandia Equipment Ab Contact freezer
EP1589307A1 (de) * 2004-04-22 2005-10-26 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zum Kühlen und/oder Gefrieren von Produkten
US20050262867A1 (en) * 2004-04-22 2005-12-01 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Device for refrigerating and/or freezing products
US7322206B2 (en) 2004-04-22 2008-01-29 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Device for refrigerating and/or freezing products
US10890365B2 (en) 2018-09-28 2021-01-12 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Software logic in a solid-production system

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Publication number Publication date
ZA708728B (en) 1971-10-27
JPS4939581B1 (https=) 1974-10-26

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Owner name: CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005156/0705

Effective date: 19881215