US77098A - Improved refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

.PATENT Frama.

HENRY A. ROBERTS, OF BSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED REFRIGERATOR.

Speeii cation forming part of Letters Patent No. 77.098, dated pri121, 1868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. ROBERTS, of Boston, county of Suolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Refri gerators; and to enable others skilled in the art to make and use tbe same, I will proceed to describe it by referring to the drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the gures.

The nature of this invention consists in constructing a refrigerator and provision-safe of two ormore sections or chambers fitting vertically one upon the other in such a manner that the sections can be easily and readily adjusted so as to increase or diminish its interior size or capacity, the said construction having upper and lower rims and inner and outer walls made of metal or other suitable material, either bolted, hermetically sealed, or soldered together so as to form an air-tight vacuum, each section being removable and adj ustable; so, if there is not a suflicient quantity of articles to be refrigerated to occupy the full capacity of any one section or chamber, that section can be divided, eut oll, or re inovedand reinstated at pleasure by first lifting or removing the cooling-chamber, then removing the division or unneeded section, and'reinstating the cooling-chamber upon the remaining section or chambers that contain the materials for refrigeration. By this arrangement I reduce or diminish the capacity lof the cham ber wholly in accordance with the quantity of materials to be refrigerated.l Thus it will be seen that I reduce materially the consumption of ice, as I diminish the capacity of the refrigerating'-chamber and obtain a result of economy which has never before been accomplished. y

" The nature of this invention further consists of the formation of a ,-frannl` or a series of frames conforming to the shape of the inte- -rior construction vof the refrigerator, so as to occupy all, or nearly all, ofthe interior eircom-pv ference .of the refrigerator. Said frame or ,yframes have au outer rim, with intersecting rims extending from one side to the other, thus forming between the rims open spaces, and into each space thus formed is placed a rcceptacle or receptacles so constructed as to occupy and utilize each and every space. lt Will be scenthat by this arrangement I do away with the ordinary refrigerator-shelves, and in their stead l adopt the receptacles as described for holding and containingthe arti cles intended for refrigeration, and said receptacles, by their formation, do utilize-the room within the refrigerator, thus doing away with placing different domestic articles or utensilssuch as an earthen pitcher, or -a plate, or pail, or can, Stefor holding food within the refrigerator, which mouopolizes the-room to disadvantage. By utilizing the room of a refrigerating-chamber, as by my invention, I am enabled to produce a structure of increased capacity and utility, and with great economy in the use of ice, and occupying but halt' of the space of the ordinary refrigerator.

The nature of this invention further consists in constructing an ice-receptacle which of itself is perfectly air-tight, movable and adjustable at'pleasurc, consisting of vertical flue'or a series of vertical ilues provided with open apertures at the top and bottom relatively to an intersecting horizontal llue having discharging-orifices for both circulating currents of air and the'products otatn'iosphcric condensation. When the same is arranged with a frigoritic chamber,producing results of refrigeration by meansv of internal continuons circulation of currents ot' air, the outer walls of which are perforatd and covered with iibrous or evaporating substance, through which a tine or series ot' lilies are arranged in any desirable position, either vertical or horizontal, and provided for circulation and condensation of air, partially to protect the walls from contact with the ice. rIuese lines are luovided'with radial conductors to increase the cooling and condensing surface therein.VA At .the outer edge, and joining the bottom of this ice-receptacle, is provided a'luidcup,for the purpose ot' supplyin the evaporating or fibrous surface with iluid,which renders it air-tight and presents a surface for evaporation. Near the top edge oi' this cup is provided a discharge-tube for the escape ofsurplus iluid. vA good resultof refrigeration can he produced by construetin g this ice-box [mrl'ectly air-tight, with or without the use ofthe ovaporating material 0r surface, by simply having one dischargcoriiicc from said 4box into the cup p; but it is believed that far greater and more successful results vwill be obtained by the use of perforated sides with fibrous material covering.

The nature of this invention further consists in the mode of manufacture,whereby I am en- 'abled to construct a refrigerator with its receptacles of anydesirable form or'shape ad apted for the trade or use. i

i ists.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is y a vertical section elevation of this refrigerator. Fig. 2 is a view of the receptacles andthe frames in which they are arranged or held while in` use, so as to completely utilize the room in a refrigerator'l A B C are three sections which compose the y body of this refrigerator, showing at a glance that it may be made and used in one, two, or more parts, as desirable. g

a a are the outer and inner walls, made of sheet metal or other suitable material.

c are the ring-anges by which the outer and inner walls are closed air-tight by means of bolts, soldering, or otherwise hermetically sealed to render the space air-tight.

c3 is the bottom, constructed with two thicknesses, impervious to air.

a4 are doors fitted closely to their respective openings, constructed hollow, of sheet metal or other suitable material, and hung in the usual way. t `a5 is a cover, also constructed hollow, of metal or other suitable material, and so that it will fit the upper end of either of the sections; Through the center of this cover is provided a ventoritice or tube, c. The only object of this vent-tube is to ventilate the box or receptacle when the freezing material is exhausted. Upon the inner wall of the sections are arranged rollers or brackets d, upon whichthe frames d ae supported and rotate, as desirable, either to fthe right or left, in order to bring any one of the receptacles placed therein directly before the door-openings. 4These receptacles e are made of porcelain, earthen, or metal material, and of the properv shape to utilize the room, as shown in Fig. 2. They (the sides or bottom) are made whole or perforated, as desirable, for the various articles which it may be desirable to place in them.

D is an ice-receptacle arranged in the upper portion of a refrigerator, composed wholly of metal or-other suitable material, the body h of which is perforated and united to a tight bottom, 2', slightly conical in shape.

7tr. are lines which pass through .tli'e bottom t' and the rim i' at the top of the box or receptacle, inside of which flues are arranged radial partitions, il to increase the cooling and condensing surface. m is a cover which closes the top or opening of the ice-box, thereby rendering it air-tight. The outside or perforated body of |`this receptacle is covered with a fibrous material, n, or

other evaporating material, for the purpose of cooling, desiccatin g, ordryin g the air by internal continuous circulation without coming in contact with the ice. The product of condensation passes down into the chamber or dow lo', thence through the discharge-tube o.

p is a fluid-cup, which receives the drip from the lower edge of the evaporating-surface and discharges the surplus iiuid through a tube, o', near theY upper edge of the cup, into the discharge tube o arranged between the walls of the refrigerator. This ice-box is supported in its proper place and position by means ot' proper brackets or projecting arms g.

For producing circulating currents of cool dry air in this lrefrigerator by means of ventilation, the introduction of the air directly upon the ice is entirely unnecessary. Both produce extravagant use of ice for producing the results of refrigeration and desiccation. In this refrigerator is produced moving currents of cool dry air by effective means--ic., by a resultof evaporation of duid or iiuids separately or in combination with ice. This cooling-receptacle is so constructed that it occupies the upper section of the refrigerator. In fact, it is made movable and adjustable, and is constructedwith -a cylindrical iiue or a series of cylindrical dues extending vertically from the top of the cooling-chamber, intersecting into a horizontal-flue covering or extending across thebottom of thecoolng-chamber, with an exitopening in the center for the discharge of the coolingor Icirculatin g currents of air into the refri geratin g chambers below. Within the vertical iiues are placed radial conductors that materially increase and extend the cooling and condensing surface of the receptacle.

The operation of this refrigerator is substantially as follows: When water or other evaporating iiuid placed within the frigoritlc chamber finds its way into the evaporating-cup p the evaporating material instantly absorbs the duid and extends. itself to the top of the absorbing material, The warm air at the top of this receptacle finds its way downward through the lues, in consequence of there being a difference in the temperature of the air surround- 'ing the evaporating material and the dues which are surrounded by the evaporating or absorbing material, which must be cooler within the receptacle than upon its exterior. 0011-' sequentlya current of air is produced, passing through exit of the horizontal iue and falling directly through the center of the refrigeratorsectionsbelow, Asadcnserair, falling through an orifice, creates a displacement of air that, may be before it, causing the same to arise, and in its gradual expansion passin gin its upward circulation in close proximity` with the absorbing and evaporating surface, itimbibes therefrom moisture in quantity wholly in accordance to its expansion and affinity therefor;

and in its further circulation downward through the iiues again the moisture that is absorbed is wholly condensed within the fines and upon` the radial conductors, and the atmosphere is t'reed, as-it were', of the moisture it has `mbibed fromjlthe. e'vaporating-srrrface.l By thi means vthe l'effectual separation, by condens': tion, of moisture from the'air takes place, andlthe air @becomes dr'y, and, in its circulation again downwardthroughthe center of the refrigerator-chambers, again coming in contact with the provisions and fruits, it absorbs therefrom lnoisture in its upward circulation. It follows .fclose by the inner circumference form of the `refrigerator in its ascent, andthe air is con- ;.tinnally expanding and still increasing its ca- ',pacity for moisture until it again reaches the evaporating or absorbing surface, and taking .therefrom ,by absorptiomthemoisture and causlling within the'receptacle a cooling effect. Thus vj-by this means I fully establish a result of in- -ternal continuous circulation of cool dry air.

..MWhen ice is introduced int -the cooling-receptaclea'great and important result is produced in economy in the use thereof', for, in

combination with the evaporating-surface, it

produces an effective cold, and a thorough ventilation of the ice is secured, removing the va- 'pors necessarily generated by the ice being ecnned in an air-tight chamber by means of 'Jhe exterior absorption.

-I believe I have thus shown the nature, construction, and operation of this invention so as to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same therefrom.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A refrigerator constructed of metal or other suitable material of two or more sections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Dimiuishing the interior capacity of a refrigerator-chamber b v dividing, cutting of, or removing a portion thereof, for the purpose of econornizing in the use of the cooling agent, substantially as described.

3. The movable and adjustable frame d', conforming to the interior shape of the refrigerator, with the receptacles c so formed that they fully utilize the interior capacity thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. An icebox having a close bottom, perforated sides covered with absorbing'brous material, whereby the box is rendered air-tight, substantially as described.

5. An ice-box, as above described, provided with a ue or series of dues, with or without ,r

vperforated sides or` evaporating-surface, substantially as described.

HENRY A; ROBERTS. [Les] Witnesses: /A l JOHN H. AILMAN, J. W. APPLETON.

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