US3861168A

US3861168A - Carbon dioxide cooling machine

Info

Publication number: US3861168A
Application number: US397999A
Authority: US
Inventors: William John Sayers
Original assignee: UNION ICE CO
Current assignee: UNION ICE CO
Priority date: 1973-09-17
Filing date: 1973-09-17
Publication date: 1975-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-21

Abstract

For use with a container, such as a food container, having a top opening therein there is provided a housing or shroud with an outlet defined by a margin adapted to fit against the container in registry with the opening. The shroud supports a shaft arranged on a generally horizontal axis and carrying a gas horn directed toward the outlet and the opening. The horn is supplied with carbon dioxide through a flexible tube and a control valve. The shaft is driven to oscillate between adjustable extremes. The shroud has a controlled discharge opening in addition to the outlet and preferably is suspended for movement over the container and is provided with means so that it can be lowered into abutment with the container and lifted therefrom.

Description

United States Patent Sayers Jan. 21, 1975 [5 CARBON DIOXIDE COOLING MACHINE Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin [75] Inventor: William John Sayers, Hacienda Ass'smnt Exammer'f Ronald Capossela Heights Calif. Attorney, Agent, or Fnm-Lothrop & West [73] Assignee: The Union Ice Company; San

Francisco, Calif. [57] ABSTRACT For use with a container, such as a food container, [22] Flled' Sept 1973 having a top opening therein there is provided a hous- [21] Appl. No.: 397,999 ing or shroud with an outlet defined by a margin adapted to fit against the container in registry with the [52] U S Cl 62/388 222/533 239/242 opening. The shroud supports a shaft arranged on a [51] 525d 3/12 generally horizontal axis and carrying a gas horn di- [58] Field 62/384 rected toward the outlet and the opening The horn is 62/387 supplied with carbon dioxide through a flexible tube and a control valve. The shaft is driven to oscillate between adjustable extremes. The shroud has a con- [56] References cued trolled discharge opening in addition to the outlet and UNITED STATES PATENTS preferably is suspended for movement over the con- 2,058,973 10/1936 Goosrnan 62/387 X tainer and is provided with means so that it can be E i g 222,533 X lowered into abutment with the container and lifted oun ain 3,799,445 3 1974 Marino 239/242 therefrom 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CARBON DIOXIDE COOLING MACHINE In the preservation of food in large portable containers, especially for use in airplane transport and the like, it is customary to afford containers having openings therein for the receipt of a refrigerant. Many different kinds of refrigerators have bee-n utilized with varying degrees of success. There is a requirement for a means for quickly supplying such containers in large numbers with adequate refrigerant and to do so without the necessity of utilizing sophisticated labor or close supervision. There is furthermore a requirement for accomplishing the refrigeration in an economical, sanitary and satisfactory manner. There is also a general requirement for improving the refrigeration of such food transport containers.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a carbon dioxide cooling machine adapted to be utilized with available food containers and effective to refrigerate such containers quickly, easily and effectively with carbon dioxide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide cooling machine that can readily be positioned and operated even by relatively unskilled labor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide cooling machine that can simply and inexpensively be built and maintained.

A further object of the invention is in general to provide a carbon dioxide cooling machine that is effective to distribute available carbon dioxide to the receiving container.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide cooling machine effective to provide a measured amount of refrigerant to a container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide cooling machine that is generally an improvement in the field of refrigerating devices.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical form of carbon dioxide cooling machine pursuant to the invention arranged for use in connection with astandard container;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail, showing in cross-section, on the line 33 of FIG. 2, some of the interior construction of the device;

FIG. 4 is a view in cross-section, the planes of which are indicated by the lines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail, showing in crosssection on the line 55 of FIG. 4, a part of the motor reversing mechanism.

While the carbon dioxide cooling machine pursuant to the invention can be embodied in-a large number of different ways, partly depending upon the environment of use, it has with success been incorporated as shown herein for operation in connection with a container 6 of a kind now typically used in connection with airplane transport and for containing food for passenger consumption. The container 6 is usually an insulated, portable member adapted to rest on the floor 7. It is normally provided in its upper portion 8 or on top with a relatively narrow but transversely elongated rectangular opening 9 bounded by a resilient gasket 11 or frame and normally closed by a hinged lid 12 carried on a pivot shaft 13. The lid can be swung through 180 to open position to one side of the opening 9, as shown in FIG. 1, andcan be swung back to occupy the opening 9 against the gasket 11 to effectuate a proper, tight closure. A latch 14 is provided to hold the lid in closed position under normal circumstances.

In the area into which the filled container 6 is brought and disposed for refrigeration, it is convenient to provide an overhead conveyor rail 16 from whichv depends a movable frame 17 carried on rollers 18 so that the frame can be easily and quickly transported. On the frame 17 is a lever 19 extending to a suitable hand or power control mechanism 21 at one end. The lever is pivoted at a fulcrum 22 intermediate its ends and at its far end is connected by a link 23 to a cooling machine structure 24. There are guides 26 between the structure 24 and the frame 17 so that upon operation of the lever 19 by the control 21, the structure 24 can readily be lifted and lowered in a chosen location as established by the instantaneous-position of the frame 17.

Mounted on the structure 24 or forming part thereof is a housing 31 or shroud conveniently constructed of sheet metal and having a generally uniform dimension in a fore and aft direction but having an increase in transverse width from its upper portion toward its lower portion. The shroud is of an approximately wedge shape or is approximately triangular in configuration in end elevation, as shown in FIG. 2. The shroud is defined by a forward wall 32 and a rearward wall 33 as well

asby sidewalls

34 and 36, the latter of which diverge in a downward direction and end in generally parallel

lower portions

37 and 38. The bottom of the shroud has an outlet 39 defined by a margin 41, conveniently an angle iron, adapted to abut against and closely engage the generally resilient gasket 11 on the container 6, when the shroud is properly positioned relative thereto.

The upper portion of the shroud 31 is relatively narrow and the

side walls

34 and 36 merge with generally parallel walls 42 and" 43 meeting a top wall 44. An aperture 46 in the top wall is extended by a tubular outlet 47 in which a butterfly valve 48 is movably disposed. The tube 47 is joined to a flexible hose 49 leading to a convenient discharge or exhaust mechanism.

Joined with the shroud 31 is a housing 51 including a frame plate 52 on which is mounted a bearing 53 carrying a horizontally disposed shaft 54 extending from within the housing 51 through the closely fitting rearwardwall 33-into the interior of the shroud 31.

On the shroud-enclosed portion of the shaft 54 there is fastened a fitting 56 connected to a gas horn 57 depending into the interior of the shroud and directed toward the outlet 39 thereof. The fitting 56 is supported on the body of a valve 58 controlled by a solenoid 59, the body of the valve 58 being fixed on the shaft 54. There is a flexible connector 61 extending from the valve body to a tube 62 connectedto a suitable source of carbon dioxide (not shown).

The shaft 54 at its other end is joined through a double acting, overrunning or maximum torque slipping clutch 63 to a reduction gear 64 on an electric motor 66. The motor is mounted on the plate S2'within the housing 51 and is supplied with electricity from a suitable source.

In the electrical circuit to the motor 66 are interposed

reversing switches

67 and 68 supported on the plate 52. Each of the reversing switches is actuated by a spring lever 69 and 71. These levers are respectively in the oscillation path of

actuators

72 and 73 extending from collars 74 angularly settable on the shaft 54. Also in the circuit to the motor 66, as shown in FIG. 1, is a manually settable timer 76. There may also be main off and on switches and like control devices.

In the operation of the device, the lever 19 is actuated to hold the movable device in an upper position. The carriage frame 17 is then moved on the conveyor rail 16 into a position over the container 6. The lever 19 is again actuated to lower the device so that the outlet 39 is substantially coincident with the opening 9 and so that the margin 41 is sealed by gravity against the gasket 11. The electrical mechanisms are energized. The motor 66 then rotates the shaft 54 at the beginning of a time period as set by the timer 76. Also, and preferably simultaneously, the energized solenoid 59 opens the valve in the body 58. This permits carbon dioxide under pressure to'flow through the tube 62 and through the connector 61 and the fitting 56 into the horn S7 for expansion therein and discharge therefrom through the outlet 39.

The carbon dioxide from the horn travels through the outlet 39 and through the opening 9 into the container 6. Any container air which is displaced or any gas which is in excess travels upwardly and is carried out through the outlet 47 to the exhaust system subject to control by the valve or damper 48.

After the motor 66 has operated briefly it has rotated the shaft 54 to an extent to bring one of the

actuators

72 or 73 into abutment with its respective switch lever 69 or 71. Whichever one of the switches is thus actuated is effective to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 66. This occurs at one extreme position of oscillation of the horn 57 when the horn is near one of the

side walls

34 or 36. The motor then being reversed, operates in the opposite direction so that the shaft 54 similarly oscillates in the reverse direction. The horn 57 correspondingly is moved back in an arcuate traverse toward the opposite one of the

walls

34 or 36. When such wall is approached the other actuator comes into abutment with the other switch lever and the motor is again reversed to resume its original direction of rotation. Should there be a momentary jam, the excessive torque causes the clutch 63 to slip temporarily so there is no overload damage to the motor or the connected mechanism.

In this way the horn is swept back and forth in an arcuate or pendulum-like path to discharge in various directions through the outlet 39 and the opening 9 and thus to distribute the discharged carbon dioxide in the container 6. This operation continues until the manually set timer 76 interrupts the electric circuit to the motor 66, thus causing it to stop and likewise interrupts the circuit to the solenoid 59 so that the valve 58 closes and prevents further in-flow of carbon dioxide.

The setting of the timer and the angular setting of the

actuators

72 and 73 on the shaft 54 are all adjusted or arranged so that the oscillating sweep of the horn is through an optimum angle and the period of operation of the mechanism is for a desired time span.

In this way there is afforded a means of introducing carbon dioxide to a container 6 for a predetermined period and over a predetermined area so that appropriate refrigeration is attained. The mechanism upon the conclusion of the refrigeration step is lifted from the container 6 by operation of the lever 19 and the mechanism can then be repeatedly and similarly utilized with successive containers.

What is claimed is:

l. A carbon dioxide cooling machine for use with a container having an opening comprising a frame including a substantially enclosed shroud having a margin defining an outlet, means for moving said shroud away from and into abutment with said container with the interior of said shroud in communication through said outlet and said opening with the interior of said container, a shaft extending into said shroud, means on said frame for supporting said shaft for oscillation, a gas horn fixed on said shaft inside said shroud and directed toward said outlet, means on said frame for oscillating said shaft and said horn from side to side of said outlet, and means extending into said shroud and connected to said gas horn for supplying said gas horn with carbon dioxide.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said opening is at the top of said container and said margin is at the bottom of said shroud and in which said frame rests upon said container when said shroud is in abutment with said container.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which said shroud moving means suspends said frame from an overhead support.

4. A device as in claim 1 including means in addition to said outlet for releasing gas from said shroud.

5. A device as in claim 4 including means for controlling flow through said additional releasing means.

6. A device as in claim 1 in which said oscillating means includes a reversible electric motor rotatably coupled to said shaft, an electrical switch electrically connected for reversing said motor, and means on said shaft and effective in a fraction of one revolution of said shaft for actuating said electrical switch.

7. A device as in claim 6 including means for changing the rotary position of said actuating means on said shaft.

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide cooling machine for use with a container having an opening comprising a frame including a substantially enclosed shroud having a margin defining an outlet, means for moving said shroud away from and into abUtment with said container with the interior of said shroud in communication through said outlet and said opening with the interior of said container, a shaft extending into said shroud, means on said frame for supporting said shaft for oscillation, a gas horn fixed on said shaft inside said shroud and directed toward said outlet, means on said frame for oscillating said shaft and said horn from side to side of said outlet, and means extending into said shroud and connected to said gas horn for supplying said gas horn with carbon dioxide.