US794630A - Refrigerator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JULY l1, 1905.

A. H. MERRILL. RBFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29,1904.

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Wfz/zesses x UNITED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

ARTHUR H. MERRILL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,630, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed November 29, 1904. Serial No. 234,742.

To @ZZ wlw/0m, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerators, and has for its object the provision of improvements whereby defective conditions existing in old structures are overcome and a better refrigerative effect is the result.

In the class of articles to which my invention relates moisture condenses on various parts, and particularly on the bottom of the ice-receptacle, from which it drops into the storage-compartment below with more or less detrimental effect on the articles of food supported on the shelves thereof; and a further object of my invention is the provision of means which by preventing this condensation provide a cool dry compartment for the perishable articles.

Other objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a refrigerator involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail in section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 of an improved tray.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the frame of a refrigerator, said frame being of any approved form and construction, and 6 the usual hinged cover thereof. Within the frame and designated by 7 is a metallic shell extending from top to bottom, said shell being spaced at the desired distance from `the sides by usual means to provide dead-air spaces 8. Partitions 9 divide these air-spaces into two compartments, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Secured within the chamber of the refrigerator and soldered at its lower edges to the usual oor-lining 4 is a casing 10., having an open bottom and a top slotted at 10 to rovide cold-air ducts. In forming these s ots 5o the walls thereof are raised by the punching operation, so that water falling from the tray hereinafter described cannot enter the same. This casing is open at the front to permit access thereto, the opening being closed by the usual door, and is so located in the shell that a space 11 for the reception of water dripping from the ice-tank is formed between the two.

Designated by 12 is the ice-tank, provided with perforations 12 to permit the escape of drip, and below said ice-tank and supporting the same is a tray 13 of peculiar construction, said tray resting on top ofthe casing 10. To provide for the circulation of air, the tray 13 is slotted at 13, the slots having raised walls to prevent the escape of water. Flanges 132 prevent the passage of water from the tray, except at the ends, where it is perforated at 14 to permit the same, the rows of perforations being located adjacent to the water-space 11, as shown in Fig. 2, while at the back the tray is deiiected at 133 to guide the drip to said water-space. In the bottom of the tray are rows of sockets 15, three rows being shown, although more or less may be employed without departure from the invention, and in these sockets are plugs 16, of cork or other suitable material, which rest upon the top of the casing 10 and separate the tray therefrom. While plugs of any material may be employed, cork does not absorb moisture and is of more or less yielding structure, so that the tray andice-tank are suported on what may be termed cork cushions,77 which are advantageous in practice. Similar rows of sockets 17 in the top of the tray are provided for the reception of plugs 18, upon which the ice-tank is supported. Although rows of sockets and plugs are shown, the invention is not limited thereto, for such parts may be variously arranged Without departure therefrom.

To draw off the water from the chamber 1 1, a siphon 19, the short leg of which communicates with said chamber at 20, is employed; but other devices may be substituted for this purpose, if desired.

By separating the metallic tray from the casing and the metallic ice-tank from the tray spaces areformed for the passage of IOO cold air the currents of which effectually preclude deposit of moisture on the under side of the tray and circulating through the casing apply refrigerative effect to the perishable articles supported on the usual shelves 21 thereof.

In the operation of my improved refrigerator drip from the ice-tank passes through perforations 12 and falls upon the tray, from which `it passes over the deflected side 133 and through the perforations 14 to the waterspace 1 1. From what has been stated it will be seen that the cold drip-water is retained for a long period in the space 1 1 and that the refrigerative effect thereof is utilized in keeping down the temperature, thus retarding the melting of the ice and saving expense therein. Furthermore, by precluding the deposit of moisture on the under side of the tray veXatious drip therefrom is avoided and the foodcompartment is always kept in a cool and dry condition, these results being accomplished by separating the metallic parts from each other by the plugs described.

Changes may be made in the various details of the invention and in the shape and position of the parts without departure from the invention, which is not limited in these respects to the construction shown.

Having thus described my invention,'what I claim isf- 1. In a refrigerator, the combination, with a metallic casing open at the front, and consttuting a storage-compartment, said casing having a top provided with air-passages, of a tray; projections on the under side of said tray resting on the top of said casing, and serving to separate the tray from the storagecompartment; an ice-tank, havin means for the escape of water; and projections on the upper side of the tray for supporting the icetank, and thereby forming an air-passage between the bottom of said ice-tank and said tray.

2. In a refrigerator, the combination, with a stora e-casing having an integral top and sides, o a tray, supports on the under side of said tray, and resting on the top of said storage-casing; an ice-tank, and supports on the top of said tray upon which the ice-tank is mounted, whereby air-passages are formed between the bottom of the tray and the top of the storage-casing, and between the top of the tray and the bottom of the ice-tank.

3. In a refrigerator, the combination, with a storage-casing, of a shell separated from said casing to form a water-chamber; an icetank; a tray upon which the ice-tank is supported, said tray having flanged ends located over the water-chamber, and adjacent to said ends perforations to permit the escape of water to said water-chamber.

4. In a refrigerator, the combination, with a storage-casing, of a shell' separated from said casing, to form a water-space; a perforated tray insulated from the top of the storage-casing, and having flanged ends and a downwardly-deflected side 3 and an ice-tank supported by the tray.

5. In a refrigerator, the combination, with a storage-casing, and with a water-chamber surrounding said casin on three sides, of a tray having flanged an perforated ends, and a downwardly-projecting side; plugs for separating said tray from the top of the casing; an ice-tank; and plugs for separating the tray from said ice-tank.

6. A tray for refrigerators, provided with flanged ends, perforations adjacent to said ends, a downwardly-flanged side, and a series of upwardly and downwardly projecting plugs.

7. The combination, with the frame of a refrigerator, of a casing inserted in said frame, and open at its front, said casing having a top uniting the sides thereof; a waterchamber partially surrounding said casing; a tray g plugs on the under side of said tray for separating the tray from the top of the casing; plugs on the upper side of said tray; and an ice-receptacle supported upon the plugs on the upper side of the tray.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR H. MERRILL. Witnesses:

F. E. ANDERsoN, W. L. WAKEFIELD.

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