US814523A - Refrigerator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

S. DI VECCHIO. REPRIGERATOR. APPLICATION FILED we. 11. 1904.

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28 Lugwww W/ rfv 55555 STEFANO DI VECCHIO, OF SAN FRANCISCO,A CALIFORNIA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1 906.

Application filed August l1, 1904. Seria] No. 220,425.

-To all '1r/"1,0m it 11i/(ty concern.-

Be it known that I, STEFANO'DI VECCHIO, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Refrigerator, of which the following is a specification, reference being had it must be dry as well, and since the air which A has been in Contact '.vith the melting ice is more or less saturated with moisture means must be devised for preventing this dampness from entering the storage-chamber, and if this is not accomplished the utility of the refrigerator is greatly impaired. For instance, meats when placed in a room of low temperature, but in which there is dampness, soon become soft and sticky, while in a room with the air dry even though at a higher temperature, they remain firn and smooth and retain their natural color. [n attempting to produce this dr)T cold so essential to the successful operation of a refrigerator many devices have been employed; but so far as I am aware none has as yet been provided that accomplished the desired end notwithstanding the usr of elaborate systems of ilues to force the circulation of the air, and these iiues were expensive and occu ied much valuable space which if employe for storage purposes would have greatly enhanced the utility of the refrigerator.

In this improved refrigerator cold is produced by either ice or a system of refrigerating-pipes alone, as formerly, or both may be used together. These advantages, combined with that of a special sweat-proof drainingpan, provide for all of the points requisite to insure successful refrigeration, and it is believed that the result is the most perfect., practical, produced.

In the ceoznpanying drawings. Figui-e 1 is and economical refrigerator yet tioned with the base and most of the bottom section broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of part of the drainingpan` and the rack upon which the ice rests. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the ice box or chest with a part of the systemof refrigerating-pipes attached thereto. FigV lA is a diagrammatic perspective view of the complete refrigerator. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the wall of the refrigerator, showing agroove used in joining sections placed one upon the other. Fi 6 is a perspective view of one corner of t e refrigerator, showing the manner in which tlie sections forming it are secured together and exposing the manner of construction of the insulated walls'. Fig. 7 is a broken perspec. tive view of the frame of the draining-pan- F ig. 8 is a sectional wiew of part of the base and the side resting upon it, showing details of construction.

This style of refrigerator can be built of any desired dimensions, from eighi feet in height upward; but to avr-id obscurity' *he refrigerator herein described will be consideren? as twelve feet in height and twelve feet in length, with a breadth of six Feet, as whatever may be said of this size will apply equally to those of different dimensions.

For convenience in shipping and erection the walls are constructed in sections, as A B C, usually four feel' wide and of the same length as the refrigerxtor itself. Each section com rises an inner wall 1 and a double outer Wa l 2, between the layers of which is secured a thickness of specially-prepared paper 3, like the so-called paraffinaper, which is imperviable both as regar( s moisture and heat. These walls are secured to o posite sides of posts 4 and scantlin'gs 5, p aced at suitable intervals. To the inner side of the exterior wall 2 are nailed furring strips or slats 6, to which is tacked a thickn ss of heavy absorbent er 7 known as w 1 operate t 0..r tif.l. all

moisture coming in contact withuitwfrom `Dbre-tween the slats and also for a continuous air-space, as-E, between the absorbent paper and the inner wall. The space E is made twice the width of the space D, preferably. All the boards used in the two layers of the double outer wall and in the inner wall are tongued and grooved, making as close a fit as possible. This construction of' the a view of the refrigerator vertically cross-see- IGO lIO

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walls makes complete insulation a fact, for materials are used which are waterproof and throu h which heat cannot be transmitted, and fixe cost of manufactureis less than though mineral wool or other expensive materials were used.

The ends of sections combining to form the corners of the refrigerator are built to interlock in order that the transmission of heat and moisture, which is prevented by the construction of the walls, shall not be permitted To illustrate the manner of interlocking, let us refer to Fig. 6 and supposethe boards forming the outer and inner walls to be inch boards. The outside board of the double outer wall of one of the interlocking sections will then be extended about two inches past its end post and the inner board of the same wall one inch past the post. In the other interlocking section the outside board of the double outer wall will be located beyond its own post and extended past the post of the first section a distance of about one inch, and the inner board thereof will be cut flush with the post of the first section. This will allow the four boards in the outer walls of the two sections to meet at right angles and abut squarely one against another, the inside boards resting also u on contiguous sides of the post of the st section, which will be the corner-post, as shown. The inner Wall of the first section is run in between the two posts and against the inside board of the double outer wall of the second section, and the inner wall of the second section is cut flush with its post and terminates in the rear of the inner wall of the first section, upon which it bears. An even corner is thus produced whichwhen its several parts are fastened together by means of lag-screws 8, as illustrated, is as nearly air and water tight as ossible and at the same time very firm.

n order to insure a snug fit of the sections placed one u on another, the top ends of the outside boar s of the sections are extended a suitable distance-say four inches-and their lower ends drawn up a similar distance, thus providing something u on which the bottom ends of the inner boar s of the superimposed sections may abut and be held firmly in place. They are secured more firmly together by means of a wooden bar 9, about seven-eighths of an inch-square, fitted into grooves 10 in the scantlings 5 of the abutting sections, which bar when inserted in its grooves acts as a lock, preventing any slipping,vFi s. 1 and 5.

It is usual to construct tis style of refrigerator upon a base of its own, which, as shown in Fig. 8, may be formed b securing joists, as 11, to the floor 12 of the uilding where it is to be erected and nailing to the u per side of the joists a floor 13 of tongued an grooved or closely joined boards. The lowermost sections A of therefrigerator rest upon the floor 13 and are kept in place by sills, as 14,

provided around the same, the outside boards of each section bearing upontheir respective sill and the inner boards directly upon the floor within the sill; but this base is not necessary, since cold air descends and heated air ascends, and the one would not escape from nor the other be admitted into the'storagechamber through the iioor, and the refri erator may consequently with perfect sa ety be constructed immediately upon the floor of the building.

The ceiling is conveniently constructed in sections F G, Fig. 1, in the same manner and of the same materials as the Walls, and the sections may be made to interlock with those of the walls and be screwed to them in a manner similar to that in which the corners are formed. For the sake of appearance a cornice 15 is secured around the top of the refrigerator, and strips 16, supporting it, are nailed to the sides near the corners.

The boards forming the outside ofthe refrigerator may be grooved half-way between' their edges in order to present a neater appearance, and they are so shown in the drawings hereto attached, Fig. 4. The wood used in constructing this refrigerator is usually pine; but other woods may be used.

In the front wall of the refrigerator two doors are provided--a large one, H, opening into the storage-chamber and a smaller one, I, o ening into the ice-chamber to admit the ice. The doors are built of materials the same as those of which the walls are constructed and fit into bevel or lock j ambs. Windows J may be provided, one on each side of the lower door or in the side walls or at any point desired, and three panes of glass are used in each case, thus providing two dead-air spaces between them and preventing the transmission of heat or the escape of cold.

The interior of this refrigerator is divided into two rooms or chambers K L, one above the other,which are separated bya rack upon which the ice rests. The upper chamber is about half as large as the llower and is devoted exclusively to the cooling apparatus, if any be used, and the ice. The rack upon which the ice rests forms the iioor of the uper chamber and is constructed by placing eams 17 transversely of the refrigerator about a foot apart and laying slats 18 across them at intervals of a few inches, leaving, however, a space of about a foot between the side wall of the refrigerator and the first Slat on each side. The cross-beams rest upon and are secured to sills 19, nailed or screwed to the side walls of the refrigerator and runnin the entire len th of the same. The slats are oose, though firmly set in notches or depressions 20, cut in thesurfaces of the beams. Upon this rack is placed an uncovered and bottomless wooden ice box or chest 21,- which is made of such a height as to inclose the ice completely and at the same time permit the circulation of air above it, the ice being admitted through the door I in the end wall of the refrigerator and through a corresponding opening in the front end of the box 21. On the inside of this box is secured a U-shaped system of refrigerating-pipes 22, the feed-pipe 23 of which connects with the coldgenerating machinery on the outside (not shown) and is passed over the top of the box and through the side wall of the refrigerator near the top and rear. An air-space of not less than six inches is left between the ice-box and the walls of the refrigerator all around, so that the air passing up between will be cooled by coming in contact with the ice and the moisture will be condensed before descending into the lower chamber of the refrigerator, which is the storage-room. The advantage in using a system of refrigeratingpipes lies in the fact that much less ice is consumed than is necessary when ice alone is used, and the refrigerator is therefore so constructed that such a system may be supplied at any time it may become desirable tothe owner without necessitating any change in the refrigerator, except the cutting of a hole in one of its side walls through which to run the feed-pipe, and as the pipes will be placed around the inside of the ice-box no space will be taken which was previously in use for any purpose.

Directly under the rack 17 1S is placed the draining-pan, which is as long as the interior of the refrigerator and but little wider than the ice-box 21 above it and is supported by wooden brackets 24, secured to the end walls of the refrigerator, Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The pan proper is made of zinc, tin, or other suitable metal (designated by M) and is fitted over a specially-constructed frame, which is conveniently built in three sections N O P, and thus permits the same facility in shipping and handling this part as is characteristic of the other parts of the refrigerator. The sections N and O are placed side by side a short distance one from the other and are interconnected on their adjacent sides by the section P, which forms an overhanging bridge-piece or arched roof above them and constitutes a centrally-raised portion of thc pan, leaving a central air-space Q thereunder between the two sections N and O. The air-space Q may be closed on the under side for the sake of improving the general appearance of the interior of the refrigerator by means of boards 25, placed over the opening and secured to the bottom of the sections N and O, as shown. The two sections N and O consist each of a box-like structure, having a bottoni 26, sides 27, and ends 2S. On the bottom 26 just Within the sides 27 are secured two longitudinal bars 29, and to these is tacked a sheet of the same kind of absorbent paper 7 as is used in the construction of the walls of the refrigerator, thereby forming an air-chamber R between the bottom and the absorbent paper in each outer section of the frame of the draining-pan. (See Fig. 7 in addition to the figures above referred to.) A row of ventilating-holes 30 are bored in the sides 27 and adjoining bars 29 of each section N O to allow free circulation of the ambient air in these chambers R. Cleats 31, running transversely, are nailed over the sheet of absorbent paper 7 and to the bars 29 at a suitable distance apart in each section N O, and upon them and over the edges of each section, which are raised above them, is set the metallic lining or sheeting M. The metal M of the pan,1t will be observed, is insulated from the ab# sorbent paper by the cleats 31. The middle section or centrally-raised portion P, that spans and covers the air-space Q, is similar in construction to the sections N O, over the inner sides of which it extends and upon which it rests, except that it is on a smaller scale and convexo-concave transversely with the convex side uppermost. It comprises a top sheet of metal M, longitudinal bars 32, to the upper sides of which this sheet M is secured, a sheet of absorbent paper 7, tacked to ,the under sides of these bars, and cleats33, placed under and across the absorbent paper and also secured to the under sides of the bars 32. The outer sections N O are inclined inwardly and downwardly toward each other, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, in order that their inner sides, over which the sides of the convex part P project, Inay be the lowest and shall accordingly cause the corresponding angular bends or corners of the metal lining M to be proportionately lowered, thereby forming two gutters, as at S T, wherein will be collected all the water that may drip from the melting ice above, whether it is shed by the central arched part of the pan or runs down from the raised sides lof the pan, so that no water will be sufered to spread or allowed to stand for any appreciable length of time over a larger surface than is expedient to allow. The pan as a whole is given a rearward trend or dip of about one inch in five feet, that the water may be led inwardly and immediately carried to the rear and out of the refrigerator through a waste-pipe, as 34. This pipe is provided with a suitable trap 35 and has two branches 36 and 37, passing up, respectively, through the outer sections N O and opening into the pan on each side of its centrally-raised portion, Where the gutters S T are formed. The discharge end of the pipe 34 runs through the floor of the refrigerator and is connected with the sewer or other convenient place for depositing the water. a tion of this pan is simple and inexpensive, 1t is nevertheless of extreme importance, since by its agency, aided by the complete insulation of the walls of the refrigerator, the air in the storage-chamber is kept uniformly dry,

Though the construc-.

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as well as at a low temperature, and the substances placed in the storage-chamber are kept better and longer than would be possible without the pan.

The lower chamberLis used exclusively for storage pur oses, and it may be fitted with rows of hoo s, shelves, drawers, or any other appliances the owner may deem suitable, and the arrangement thereof may be conveniently changed at any time. Also the spaces between the draining-pan and the side walls of the refrigerator permit the posts supporting the interior fittings to extend above and lean against either the walls or the pan, thereby affording a means for hanging sides of beef or other meats in rows one above another without allowing them to touch orrest against each other, and much more can be stored in this refrigerator than in any other of the same size.

As already stated, this style of refrigerator may be built of any desired dimensions and will prove as useful and well adapted for use in hotels, saloons, restaurants, grocerystores, clubs, public institutions, and families as in butcher-shops and general markets.

In this refrigerator it is unnecessary to force the circulation of air in order to secure dryness in the storage-chamber, since the draining-pan operates to take up and lead away not only the drippings occasioned by the melting of the ice, but also the moisture which is condensed from the air in the upper chamber, and as a consequence elaborate systems of flues or other cumbersome appliances 3 5 are unnecessary and much expense and valuable space are saved. By the manner of insulating the walls another most desirable result is attained, the minimum consumption of ice, and consequently the minimum is reached in oost of refrigeration.

The'many great advantages of this invention are apparent,and hence will not be dilated upon, nor will the modifications which may obviously be made in the several parts of the invention be alluded to; but it is intended that all modifications as to form or structure shall be fully covered by the subjoined claim.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A refrigerator including a storage-chamber and an ice-chamber above it, an ice-supporte ing rack separating said chambers one from the other, and a draining-pan under said rack, said pan comprising three coacting sections having each a frame, a sheet of insulated absorbent paper therein, a metallic lining insulated from said sheet, means for causing a circulation of air under; the absorbent paper, 'a''d'alis'cliag'iilto a dr-pe with asitable trap and connections.

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

STEFANO DI VECCHIO.

Witnesses:

A. H. STE. MAME, GEO. F. CAVALLI.

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