US502437A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

w e h S W e e h S 2 L. L A D un K n H..

" (No Model.)

REPRIGBRATING APPARATUS.

` Pgtelited Aug. 1., 1893.

(No Model.) E D KENDALL 2 Smets-Sheena. RE'RI-GrRATINGf` APPARATUS..

Patented Aug. 1, 189s.4

l L. 0 f 6 lUNrrnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. KENDALL, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,437, dated August 1, 1893.

Application filed March 4, 1891. Serial No. 383,805. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD D. KENDALL,a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the production of coldand ice,

. and the invention more particularly resides in the novel refrigerating apparatus wherein the compressed gas is evaporated, this evaporation reducing by absorption the temperature of body of hydro-carbon throughwhich the vapor of the refrigerant passes, thereby lowering the temperature of a body of water placed near it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the compressing apparatus and connected condenser; Fig. 2,a vertical section showing the connection of a valve with a valve rod; Fig. 3 a vertical central section of the refrigerating apparatus in which water is frozen by the evaporation of the liquefied gas or vapor.

Similar figures refer to like parts through` out the several views.l

In Fig. l, is a cylindrical single acting pump cylinder l, vertically disposed within a strong metallic outer cylinder 2 of larger diameter than the pump barrel, which pump barrel is fastened to and supported by a strong casting 3 which seals the bottom of the outer cylinder 2. The pump barrel 1 is open at the top and is steadied there by three braces one of which 4 is shownin the figure by heavy' black lines. The plunger 5 of the pump is cup shaped and its bottom 6 conforms to the concaved portions7 of the casting 3. Within the plunger 5 at the bottom of valve 8 opening upward with stems 9 set in the perforated plate lO and in the center between the valves, is an upright hollowstem 11 which is attached to theA plunger rod 12, which rod may be connected with anyisource of power, as a hand lever or engine. This plunger rod is tubular as shown in heavy black for a part of its length, about equal to the stroke of the plunger in order to receive a tubular rod 13 smaller in diameter, which is connected with and actuates a valve 14. The tubular valve rod 13 passes through a stuiingbox 15 in the hollow stem 11 and extends up into the hollow of the plunger rod. The friction of the packing in the stuiiing box 15 ofthe stem 11 raises this rod 13 and its attached valve 14 when the plunger begins its upward stroke.

j i Thevalve 14 has its seat in the casting 3 or in a bushing inserted therein andis rigidly 'fastened to a spindle 16 which projects downited and stopped while the stuiiing box 15 in the stemll slides over the tubular valve rod 13 as the piston continues its pward stroke.

j Near the lower end of the tubular valve rod 13, and just above the valve 11 are placed small holes 2l which permit gas within the pump barrel to pass to and from the hollows of` the valve and plunger rods, according to the motion of the piston and pressure of the gas for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The cap 18 has openings 22 through its sides for the passage of gas to the pump barrel and is covered with a larger cap 23 into which enters the pipe 24'bringing gas or vapor to the compressor.

i In the space between the pump barrel 1 and the outer cylinder 2 is a coil of pipe 25, the ends of which are shown at 26 27, the end 26 being provided with a valve 28. Th rough this coil flows cold water. The coil is immersed in a non-volatile liquid or oil 29,which liquid is indifferent to or not chemically actedupon in connection with other refrigerants. A meas.-V ,1

ured quantity of the heavy hydrocarbon is poured into the outer cylinder 2 through the supply pipe 30 and valve 31,which enters the cylinder head V32 that closes the upper end of the cylinder. The surface Vof the hydrocarbon 29 when the plunger 5 stands midway of its stroke, should be at or near the line 33. A gage 34 may be attached to the cylinder 2 to indicate the quantity of contained hydrocarbon. A short tube 35 closed at its lower end is secured in an opening in the side of the cylinder 2 and projects downward at an angle into the hydrocarbon Within the cylinder. In this tube is put a small quantity of the hydrocarbon or other liquid (if the tube be of iron, mercury may be used), and in this liquid is immersed the bulb of a thermometer 36 to indicate the temperature of the hydrocarbon contained in the cylinder. This tube may be inserted into Athe cylinder at any suitable point.

The plunger rod 12 moves Within a sheath 37 the top of which sheath passes through and is fastened to the center of the cylinder head 32. The lower end of the sheath 37 should always be under the surface of the hydrocarbon. At either end of the sheath is a stuffing box 38, 39 containing suitable packing. A good packing for the upper stuffing box 38 is cotton imbued with soft potash soap, containing a small proportion of rosin. A cylinder 40 of thin sheet metal contracted conically at its upper end 4l, is disposed vertically between the pump barrel 1 and the outer cylinder 2. Two sh'ields or defiectors 42,43,which are pieces of thin sheet metal, are fastened in place to the sheath 37 and cylinder head 32 respectiveiy,and which prevent the projection 'of'V theagitated hydrocarbon out of the cylinder.

At 44 is shown the condenser which may be of any suitable form, or even dispensed with under circumstances mentioned farther on. A simple condensing coil may be used; but as it is desirable to have an abundant supply of the liquefied refrigerating agent, it is advantageous to use a capacious condenser. A useful form of condenser is a sufficiently strong and capacious shell 45 having heads 46, tubes 47, and tube sheets through which cold water Hows. The heads 46 and 55 form chambers 46 at both ends of the condenser.

4S is a pressure gage, 49 a pipe and 50 a valve to conduct a regulated supply of the liquefied gas or vapor to the brine tank, Fig. 3, or other refrigerating device.

A perforated diaphragm 5l distributes equally to the tubes 47 the water which enters the shell through the pipe 52, diaphragm 5l, up through the tubes 47 and out and away through the pipe 53. The pipe 54 connects the compression cylinder with the condenser, and enters both near the tops thereof.

Fig. 2 shows the mode of connecting the valve 14 with its actuating valve rod 13. At the lower end of the valve rod and preferably closing the same is a hemispherical knob 56 with the fiat side 57 uppermost, and is held within a socket 5S of larger dimensions in the upper part of the valve, by a bushing 59 which slides very loosely over the valve rod and screws into the upper and threaded part of the sides of the sockets. The conical valve 14 while secured to the end of the valve rod 13 has such lateralplay by reason of the socket connection as enables it to Iind and fit closely to its seat. If the valve rod were rigidly fastened to the valve and moving even slightly out of the central line of the correct valve m0- tion the valve could not adjust itself accurately to its seat; the accurately and timely seating. and closing of` this valve being very important. Y

Before proceeding to describe the structure of the refrigerating apparatus I shall set forth the operation of the compression and condensing devices.

When the plunger 5 is drawn upward the valve 14`is at once raised as far as the nuts 20 on the spindle 16 will permit, and gaseous sulphur dioxide delivered through the pipe 24 from some suitable source of supply, passed .through the chamber within the cap 23 and through the perforations of the inner cap 1S, to the interior ot' the pump barrel 1. The stufng box 15 in the stem 11 slides over the valve rod 13 and gas passes into the hollows of the valve rod 13 and plunger rod 12, and prevents the creation of a vacuum. Without the hollow valve rod, and aperture in the same, gas and liquid hydrocarbon (from desirable and calculated leakage at the plunger valve) would be gradually sucked into the plunger rod and interfere with the inotion of the plunger. As the plunger ascends, it carries upward the liquid hydrocarbon 29 that was within the pump barrel 1, and thereby the surface of the liquid is raised above the line 33; when the plunger descends the Valve 14 promptly finds its seat and the gas within the pump barrel, being compressed until it has power to raise the valves 8 within the bottom of the plunger, bubbles up through the liquid hydrocarbon 29 (which is cooled by the cold water pipe 25) and is thereby deprived of most of the heat developed by compression. From the upper part of the cylinder 2 the compressed gas passes through the pipe 54 to tho condenser 44, the plates 42, 43 preventing the hydrocarbon from being carried into the pipe 54. As the plunger 5 descends, the hydrocarbon falls directly into the pump barrel 1 until the surface of the liquid islowered to the contracted upper ends 41 of the metal cylinder 40, after which a portion of the hydrocarbon fiows downward outside of the cylinder 40, under its lower edge, and upward within the said cylinder and over the piping coil 25 on its way to the interior of the pump barrel, so that the motion, circulation, and cooling of the hydrocarbon exten ds to the bottom of the containing cylinder 2 and throughout the entire body of the liquid. f

The flow of cold water through the coiled pipe 25 is to be regulated so as to maintain a considerably higher temperature within the cylinder2than inthe condenser 44 unless it be IIO desired to dispense with a separate condenser and to liquefy the sulphur dioxide within the compressor. In this case the capacity of the cylinder 2, the quantity of hydrocarbon and the surface of cooling water pipes 25 should all be increased, and the action of the pump and consequent agitation of the liquid contents of thecylinder 2, should occasionally be stopped for a few minutes to allow the cornparatively heavy liquefied sulphur dioxide to subside and collect under the hydrocarbon, whence it may be discharged througha valve 90, near the bottom of the cylinder 2. ltis more convenient to use a separate condenser and then it suffices that excessive heating of the hydrocarbon is prevented. A temperature 65.5 centigrade, (150u Fahrenheit) is not excessive. The hydrocarbon is practically non-volatile at 163.5 centigrade or 400 Fahrenheit, but it is wellto keep the temperature near 100o Fahrenheit. The iiow of hydrocarbon outside of the pump barrel l and within it `and within the cup shaped plunger and over `upward and downward motion of the piston rod, and a small quantity, dribbling through the valve openings, drops to the bottom of the pump barrel l and smears the vseat of the conical valve 14 making it gas tight and any exp cess of hydrocarbon in the bottom of the pump barrel nds its way to the bottom of the cap 23 and is discharged occasionally through the cock 91 shown at that place inthe drawings.

I will now proceed to describe the structure and operation of the refrigerating apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3. This apparatus although it may be operated with different liqueable gases and vapors is particularly adapted for use with sulphur dioxide, which refrigerating agent only will be mentioned in the following description of my process of refrigeration, as such liquefiable gas has been mentioned in connection with the process usedin the compressing apparatus before described.

In Fig. 3 is shown the refrigerating or freezing apparatus in which water is frozen by the evaporation of the liquid sulphur dioxide. A strong vessel preferably ot' copper and slightly conical in form is disposed within a wider metallic vessel 61, and both vessels are far enough'removed from each other to suit the quantity of ice intended to be produced, and may be of any shape, but I prefer the cones, for their adaptability of removal one from the otherand the ice from both. The latter vessel stands within a wooden tub 62, which tub is lined with any suitable material 63 which is a non-conductor of heat and is provided with a centrally located aperture in its bottom. A good material is plaster of paris, packed in the tub with cloth cemented to the surface which is next to the vessel 6l as at 64, the cloth being finally imbued with drying oil. A cylinder 65 preferably of cop` per is supported vertically in the vessel 60. A pipe 66 passes through the removable cover 67 of vessel 60, and thelower end of this pipe G6 passes through the bushing 68 which closes the upper end of the cylinder 65. A short pipe 92 with a removable cap 93 passes down through the cover 67 of the vessel 60 and serves to permit of the pouring of the hydrocarbon into said vessel.

The bottom of the conical vessel GO is sealed by the annular ring 69, into which the cylinder 65 is screwed, it in turn being provided with an annular ring 70 whereby its bottom is sealed. The bottom of the vessel 6l is provided with a centrally disposed circular open- 71, having a short depending cylinder 72 into which a bung or cork 73 of vulcanized rubber or other suitable material is inserted, and is closed thereby, the bung 73 being provided with a centrally disposed hole for the ad1nission of a pipe hereinafterdescribed. A pipe 74 passes through the hole just before mentionedin the bung 73 which pipe is screwed into the annular ring 70 at the bottom of the vessel 65. The pipe 74 should be of brass or copper, tinned on the outside, to prevent adhesion (by formation of copper sulphide) to the vulcanized rubber bung. The lower end of pipe 74 and the upper end of pipe 66 may be closed with common corks or screw plugs to prevent circulation of air within the cylinder 65 while the compression apparatus is in op` eration.

A pipe 76 provided with a coupling 77, passes through the bushing 75 in the cover G7 of the vessel 60, down to very near the bottom of the same. This pipe is suitably connected with the pipe 49, Fig. l, leading from the condenser; and serves to carry the liquefied sulphur dioxide to the bottom of the vessel 60, the sulphur dioxide being there shown in heavy broken lines at 76. A short tube 77 is screwed in the cover 67 by the bushing 78, and is connected by means of the coupling 79 to the pipe 80, which pipe is in direct communication to the pipe 24;, Fig. l, and serves to convey gaseous sulphur dioxide to the compressor.

The vessel 60 contains a measured quantity of the same kind of heavy hydrocarbon 8l, that is contained within the cylinder 2 and surrounds the pump barrel l, Fig. l. A perforated and dished diaphragm 82 of sheet metal is fastened to and surrounds the cylinder 65 extending to or near the side of the vessel 60. The purpose of this diaphragm is to break up large bubbles of gas arising from the liquid sulphur dioxide 69 into smaller bubbles and distribute these small bubbles equally through the mass of hydrocarbon above it. and 6l contains a measured quantity of wa- The space between the vessels 60 IOO IIO

crates cold and reduces the temperature of ter 84 which is afterward congealed-into a mass conforming to the shape of the space between the vessels and 61.

The vessel 60 sets in a heavy ring of metal 84 which is part of a stationary bracket 85 of any suitable construction and iirmly secured to some fixed space such as a wall, &c., as 86. The outer vessel 61 and the tub 62 with its contained non-conductor are held by a wooden or other support 87 in which an opening 88 is cut, which support may be lowered when required so as to remove all outer parts of the apparatus from the suspended vessel 60 and its fixed appurtenances. A board 89 is secured over the vessel 61 surrounding the vessel 60 and covering the space between the said vessels for the purpose of preventing circulation of air within the said space'.

The operation of the refrigerating apparatus is as follows-z The several parts being arranged as described and shown, and the hydrocarbon 81 and water 83 having been supplied to their respective containing vessels, liquefied sulphur dioxide from the condenser 44, Fig. l, is allowed to pass through vessel 60, and liquid sulphur dioxide 76, by reason of'its comparatively great specific gravity, falling to the bottom of the vessel 60. When the compressor is operated the liquid sulphur dioxide evaporates rapidly, by reason of its great volatility, and the partial vacuum produced by the upward motion of the plunger of the pump, the resulting gas or vapor rising up through the hydrocarbon S1 atiirst in large bubbles which impinge against the perforated diaphragm82, are there broken up into smaller bubbles passing up through the hydrocarbon above the diaphragm and agitating it and passing out from the vessel 60 through the pipe 8O to the compressor, by which it is again compressed within the cylinder 1 Fig. 1. The evaporation of the sulphurdioxide 76 genafter which hot Water is poured through the pipe 66 into the cylinder 65, from which cylinder the Water escapes through the pipe 74, but the pipe 66 being of larger diameter than the pipe 74, a free supply of hot water keeps the cylinder quite full yet permitting it to slowly escape. This iiow of hot water quickly raises the temperature of the hydrocarbon 81, and the heat, passing through the sides of the vessel 60 slightly melts the suryface of the ice in contact therewith so that when the wooden support is lowered, the Iwooden tub 62, packing 63, vessel 61, cover 89, including the ice and excepting the vessel 60 and its fixed appurtenances are lowered,

l the'pipe 74 sliding through the tubular bung 73 which is in the bottom of the vessel 6l, l and the vessel 60 remaining suspended in the bracket ring 84. The vessel 61 containing the ice is then removed from its place within the wooden tub 63 and hot water is poured `ion the outside of it, and being then inverted the ice falls out or may be easily detached Iand disposed of as desired.

It will be plainly seen from the foregoing I have shown certain apparatus for compressing gas, and described a certain process of gas compression but do not claim the same herein, such being shown, described and claimed in an application filed by me on the 24th day of June, 18,91, Serial No. 397,273; the pipe 49 to the pipe 76 and thence into the j Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patl ent, is-

l. In a cold producing apparatus the combination of the tub, a contained vessel 6l, a non-conducting packing 63 between the tub and contained vessel, the said vessel having a downwardly extending annular ring 72, and

a bung 73 in said annulus, substantially as described.

2. In a cold producing apparatus, thecombination of a tub, a downwardly tapering vessel containedtherein, a non-conducting packying between the tub and the contained vessel and in direct contact therewith, and a downwardly tapering vessel contained within the other vessel, leaving a space between them in which the ice is formed, substantially as' described.

3. In an ice-producing apparatus, the coinbination of an outer vessel comprising a tub, a vessel for holding water to be frozen and a' non-conducting packing between the water ,holding vessel and the tub, an inner vessel for containing a refrigerant, the vessels being so disposed as to leave a space between them 'for containing the water to be frozen, and

stops limiting the motion, relative to the ice formed, of the inner vessel in one direction,

' and of the outer vessel in the opposite'di'rection, substantially as described.

4. In an 'ice producing apparatus the'vessel 60 having the sealing cover 67 at the top and -69 at the bottom thereof, means for conveying a refrigerant to and from said vessel, and

a vessel 65 smaller in diameter than the vessel 60 disposed within it and sealed therefrom, with pipes leading to and out from the said vessel 65, substantially as described.

5. In anice producing apparatus the vessel '60 having the sealing covers 67 at the top and IGO 69 at the bottom thereof, means for conveying a refrigerant to and from the said vessel, a vessel 65 smaller in diameter than the vessel 60 disposed within it and sealed there from, a perforated diaphragm S2 disposed about the vessel 65 and pipes leading to and out from the said vessel 65, substantially as described.

6. In anice producing apparatus the vessel having the sealing covers 67 at the top and 69 at the bottom thereof, a pipe 7 6 passing through the cover 67 and extending toward the bottom of said vessel, a pipe SO leading into said vessel, an inner vessel 65 smaller in diameter and disposed within the vessel 60 and sealed therefrom, a pipe 66 passing through the cover 67 into the vessel 65 and a pipe 74 leading from the bottom of said last mentioned vessel, substantially as described.

7. In a cold producing apparatus, a tub 62, a contained vessel 6l, a non-conductin g pack ing 63 between the tub and contained vessel the said vessel having an annular ring 72 extending downwardly through the tub, a bung 73 closing said annnlus, combined with the vessel 60 disposed wit-hin the vessel 6l with a space between them, said vessel 60 having the sealing covers 67 at the top and 69 at the bottom thereof, means for conveying a refrigerant to and from the said vessel, and a vessel 65 smaller in diameter than the vessel 60 disposed within it and sealed therefrom, pipes leading to and out from said vessel 65 and a perforated diaphragm disposed about the last mentioned vessel, substantially as described.

S. In a cold producing apparatus, a tub 62, a contained vessel 6l, a non-conducting packing 63 between the tub and contained vessel, the said vessel having an annular ring 72 eX- tending downwardly through the tub, a bung 73 closing said annulus, combined with the vessel 60 disposed within the vessel 6l, said vessel 60 having the sealing covers 67 at the top and 69 at the bottom thereof, a pipe 76 passing through the cover 67 and extending downwardly, a pipe 8O leading into said vessel, an inner vessel 65 smaller in diameter disposed within the said vessel, a pipe 66 passing through the cover 67 into the vessel 65 and a pipe 74 leading from the bottom 0f said last mentioned vessel and bung 73, substantially as described.

Signed at the city, county, and State of New York this 25th day of February, 1891.

EDWARD D. KENDALL.

Witnesses:

THos. B. CLIFFORD, .Iosnrrr L. LEVY.

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